BY ALLISON BERRY
Owner Tom Bevis refers to his Blueberry Hill Estate and Day Spa as “a little piece of heaven” in Orange County, Indiana.
Except it isn’t so little by earthly standards. Settled along a valley 12 miles east of French Lick and 50 miles south of Bloomington, the estate house occupies 14,000 square feet on 200 acres of rolling southern-Indiana countryside.
The expansive estate includes French Country-decorated guestrooms, a fine-dining restaurant, day spa, pool, and numerous places to curl up or sit back to relax. Owner and developer Bevis says he was inspired to build the southern-Indiana getaway after visits to day spas and bed and breakfasts across the country.
“What we’re developing here is unique,” he says, between mentions of building New England-style cottages and a top-notch wedding venue. “It’s not just a bed and breakfast; it’s not just a day spa. It’s a whole new experience.”
Blueberry Hill Estate is a destination getaway for special occasions or a much-needed day of pampering. Daily admission between 9 am and 5 pm costs $135, which includes breakfast, wine pairings with hors d’oeuvres, access to the pool and mineral baths, and outdoor activities including an 18-hole disc-golf course and hiking. Prices go up accordingly with the addition of dining and overnight stays in one of the estate rooms, or perhaps a small adventure at one of their “glamping” sites.
Initially popular on the West Coast, glamping is short for glamorous camping, and at Blueberry Hill Estate a glamping package includes a stay in a bungalow tent complete with bed, mini fridge, and furniture on a private deck on the hilltop. Add a bottle of wine and gourmet snacks, and you have what Bevis says is “exactly what we’re looking to do here. When you come here, we want you to feel special.”
Though leisure and relaxation are at the top of the estate’s list of priorities, they also are launching new events starting with Fall Harvest Festival, running the entire month of October, featuring wine pairings and gourmet food.
For full pricing information on rooms, daily admission, and events, visit the Blueberry Hill Estate website.
