Chateau Élan started out as a winery, its vineyards arrayed around a chateau modeled on those in 16th-century France in a setting of rolling hills, 40 minutes north of Atlanta. It has since evolved into a 3,500-acre resort/residential estate with a 320-room inn, 45 holes of golf, eight restaurants, a 35,000-square-foot European-style spa, and a tennis center designed by former touring pro Stan Smith consisting of five hard and clay tennis courts and another four courts devoted to pickleball.
Alejandro Aguirre with Cliff Drysdale Tennis directs the tennis and pickleball complex. Originally from Venezuela, Alejandro brings more than 15 years of extensive experience teaching tennis and pickleball to a variety of players of all ages and skill levels. Prior to Chateau Elan he taught at and led programs at various locations including The Woodlands Country Club, Giammalva Racquet Club, and West Lake Country Club. As a junior, he was ranked among Venezuela’s top 10 players and excelled as a highly-ranked junior player in Texas. Alejandro is also certified as an ATP Professional Tennis Coach, along with holding USPTA and PPR certifications. Now at Chateau Elan, he stages introductory Tennis 101 clinics for those new to the game and Tennis 201 for those getting back to playing as well as the usual private and semi private lessons. Regular programming includes Fast Feed cardio sessions, open clinics, and junior programs. In addition, several times a year Cliff Drysdale Tennis stages Tennis and Wine weekends or Pickleball and Wine weekends that supplement the on-court sessions with private tour and tasting a local winery.
Court Complex: 3 hard courts, 2 Har-Tru courts, and 4 pickleball courts
Off Court
Golf: There are 63 holes of golf in total sit in the woodland-covered rolling hills.
Spa & Fitness Center: Housed in its own mansion, the 35,000-square-foot spa and fitness center affords guests with access to a variety of treatments and skincare services as well as to fitness Classes, sauna, hot tub, indoor pool and pool deck, daily afternoon tea, and a lakeside spa dining room open for breakfast and lunch.
The property invites biking (bicycles rental is included in the resort fee) and hiking on private roads and off-the-beaten-path trails through canopied forests of trees and past acres of vineyards.
Dining: Between restaurants, lounges, and a pool bar there are seven outlets for food and beverage drawing inspiration from the South, Mediterranean, and Irish culinary traditions as well as healthful spa cuisine. Notable among them are Marc Restaurant, an upscale chophouse; Versailles Restaurant and Bar, for French cuisine in the glass-topped atrium; and Louis’ House of Bourbon, a Southern gastro pub, and the lakeview Fleur de Lys in the spa for healthy breakfasts and lunches.
Accommodations
There are several options: rooms and suites in the Inn, suites in the Spa, and 2- and-3-bedroom golf villas with fulling equipped kitchens.
Getting there
Seasons: Year-round.
Travel Instructions: By air: Chateau Élan is a 80-minute drive from Atlanta-Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport (ATL).
51 Reviews on “Chateau Elan Winery & Resort - Cliff Drysdale Tennis”
Very Good
4.5
51 reviews
On Court Experience
5.0
Off Court Experience
4.9
Overall Tennis
5.0
Overall Pickleball
4.9
Adult Tennis Camp Experience
5.0
Tennis Instruction
5.0
Pickleball Instruction
4.9
Adult Tennis Camp Experience
5.0
Accomodations
4.9
Resort Amenities
4.9
LR
Hands down one of the best trips I’ve taken! The resort was stunning and the wine tasting was a dream, but what made it unforgettable were the tennis sessions with Alex and Luis. Their energy and coaching made the whole experience unforgettable.
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51 Reviews on “Chateau Elan Winery & Resort - Cliff Drysdale Tennis”
Hands down one of the best trips I’ve taken! The resort was stunning and the wine tasting was a dream, but what made it unforgettable were the tennis sessions with Alex and Luis. Their energy and coaching made the whole experience unforgettable.