When planning a corporate retreat or nonprofit gala, choosing a venue that leaves a lasting impression is key. And what better way to spark conversation and add a touch of glamour to your event than by hosting at a venue with celebrity roots? From former homes of music legends to upscale eateries owned by sports icons, star-studded venues can be found across the Southeast that blend functionality with fascinating backstories.
Many famous folks have called the region home over the years, and a few erstwhile celebrity residences are open to the public for group tours and available for private group rentals. In Lebanon, Tennessee, 30 minutes northeast of Nashville, The Estate at Cherokee Dock—the one-time home of country singer Reba McEntire—is a retreat nestled on 15 acres of secluded waterfront property. Katherine Howe, marketing and public relations director for Infinity Hospitality, the company that manages the venue, says The Estate at Cherokee Dock’s Lakeview Event Center and Sunset Terrace work especially well for large meetings or dinners, and the Lakeside Lawn and Serenity Gardens are ideal for networking and cocktail hours. “Reba’s legacy definitely adds a layer of intrigue and charm,” she says. “We have seen companies and nonprofits lean into that story, whether it’s a nod to country music in an event theme or just using it as a fun conversation starter. People love knowing they’re walking the same halls she once did.”
In Macon, Georgia, The Big House Museum is located in the Vineville Avenue house where Southern rock group The Allman Brothers Band wrote and practiced some of their most well-known hits, including “Blue Sky” and “Ramblin’ Man,” and where original band members Berry Oakley, Gregg Allman, and Duane Allman lived with their families from 1970 to 1973. Today, the house is a museum commemorating the band, and it is full of instruments, awards, and other memorabilia. Private group tours are available, and the museum also offers five-hour event rentals that include access to outdoor spaces like the Charles H. Jones Pavilion—an ideal spot for serving company picnic fare—as well as the museum itself.
Graceland—Elvis Presley’s famous estate in Memphis, Tennessee—boasts a beautiful mansion, gardens, a museum full of the star’s automobiles, the Elvis-inspired Guest House at Graceland resort, and more for attendees to enjoy. “We are able to provide multiple options for any client’s needs, with the bonus of being at a rock ’n’ roll landmark,” says Graceland Director of Sales Lori Huffstutler. Planners might arrange exclusive after-hours tours of Presley’s former abode, the Graceland Mansion. And while the mansion itself does not have available function space out of respect for Presley’s family, Huffstutler says notable venues at the landmark include the 450-room resort with 20,000 square feet of space and a state-of-the-art theater; the Presley Motors Automobile Museum, where attendees can dine among Presley’s iconic vehicles, including his famous pink Cadillac; and the Jungle Room Bar inside the Graceland Exhibition Center, which holds up to 130 attendees reception-style.
Beyond places of residence, the region also is home to many celebrity-owned and -operated venues. In Jupiter, Florida, two restaurants owned by sports legends provide room to network and savor high-end cuisine: Upscale sports bar The Woods Jupiter and sophisticated waterfront eatery 1000 North. The flagship restaurant venture of golf star Tiger Woods, The Woods Jupiter serves up American fare such as baby back ribs with house-made barbecue sauce and features private dining space for up to 60 people. Basketball legend Michael Jordan, golfer Ernie Els, and former NFL New York Giant Tucker Frederickson are all partial owners of 1000 North. Here, attendees might enjoy Blackened American Red Snapper and Street Corn Caesar Salad in an outdoor terrace for 115 seated or the intimate wood-paneled dining room for up to 24.
Another star-studded Florida venue lies farther up the Atlantic coast in Vero Beach. Here, Cuban-born pop singer Gloria Estefan and her husband, music producer and songwriter Emilio Estefan, opened Costa d’Este Resort & Spa along the beach in 2008. The resort is ideal for small- to medium-size groups of up to 100. The resort’s Director of Sales and Marketing Tarin Tompson says its beachfront pool deck is the perfect setting for receptions, and its penthouse suite serves as a prime option for executive retreats or meetings of up to 10 people. Its Crystal Ballroom features 1,200 square feet of event space. “Emilio and Gloria Estefan bring a Miami-modern flair to Vero Beach with Costa d’Este,” Tompson says. “The resort’s design is inspired by their private home, and attendees will notice pieces depicting the famous pair, such as photos and artwork, throughout.”
To experience the essence of country music star Dolly Parton amid Tennessee’s Great Smoky Mountains, planners can book an event at Dollywood Theme Park or one of its resorts in Pigeon Forge, Tennessee, all jointly owned by Parton and Herschend Family Entertainment Corp., based in Peachtree Corners, Georgia. Event space abounds at Dollywood’s DreamMore Resort and Spa and HeartSong Lodge & Resort, which combined offer 32,000 square feet of event space. At the theme park, groups might tour the Dolly Parton Experience museum, ride one of its eight roller coasters, or enjoy live music at several on-site theaters. The theme park welcomes millions of visitors each year, and this year marks Dollywood’s 40th-anniversary season. “I’m so proud of all the people who have worked to make Dollywood what it is today,” Parton says in a prepared statement. “And just think, I spent opening day watching the parking lot because I was worried people might not show up.”
1000north.com
thebighousemuseum.com
cherokeedock.com
costadeste.com
dollywood.com
graceland.com
thewoods.tigerwoods.com
