All the details are below, and here is the link to the membership sign-up form and here is a description of the amenities currently available.

What’s included in membership?
Members have use of the Spring House, the Writer’s Hut, and the grounds, as well as seasonal use of our boat on Lake Glenville (more on that below). We provide housekeeping between visits and during longer stays.

How many members do you expect to have in this first phase?
Until we complete the next phase of construction (probably some time in 2024), we plan to offer only about 15 memberships.

How does membership work?
Each lodging and the boat have a designated number of points associated with each date. Members may hold 10,000 points in reservation for future dates, and they may visit as much as they like on short notice provided no other members have those dates reserved. The calendar will always extend at least a year into the future.

How much does it cost?
Membership is $2,500 per quarter. When joining, members commit for the first year; thereafter, they may cancel any time.

May my friends or colleagues visit?
Yes, they may! Your loved ones, friends, and colleagues may join you or visit on their own as your guest.

How do reservations work?
In the first year or so, we’re going to employ a pretty low tech process: Members will have access to this calendar showing availability. They’ll text, call, or email to reserve their preferred dates, and they’ll be booked! This is how we did it during our “soft-launch” and it worked pretty well.

Again, members can hold in reservation up to 10,000 points in the future. As a reminder, they’ll receive a monthly statement showing which dates they have reserved.

The Big Ridge Membership Club model is a bit novel, and I haven’t found any off-the-shelf software tools available to handle this sort of system. Maybe something will emerge within a year or so, but I’m expecting that won’t happen and we’ll need to build something ourselves to be able to handle a larger membership. In the meantime, the small membership of our first phase allows us to make sure this sort of system works for our members, and make adjustments as needed.

Refundable first quarter
I don’t like the idea of committing anyone to something they don’t fully understand. As such, if you join prior to experiencing Big Ridge first-hand, but then decide after your first visit that it’s not right for you, we’ll cancel your membership and refund your first quarterly payment.

Dining not included (yet)
A significant part of the Big Ridge Mountain Club plan includes full-service, family-style dining, which will commence after we complete the next phase of development. In the meantime, the upper level of the Spring House has a fully-functional kitchen and the garden level has a robust kitchenette.

Important info about the boat
Members will also have access to our great sport boat (a 2012 Moomba Mojo) on nearby Lake Glenville. It’s available for your use from late May to late September. It is not as simple as a pontoon boat and therefore requires an hour-long orientation for the pilot with a member of our team. Simply let us know when it’s convenient for you, and we’ll make arrangements to do that when you’re up there.

What are you planning for the future?
We aim to break ground on the second phase of development in 2023. That will include the main lodge building (our working name is the Hamburg House), a pool and event pavilion, and another cottage. With completion of that phase, we’ll be able to fully-staff the club, and provide family style meals for members and full-time housekeeping.

This sounds great! How do I get started?
Look at our calendar and decide when you’d like to visit. Next, complete the membership form, setting your “start date” as the date of that visit. That date will be the date we process your first payment. Once you complete the form, you’ll automatically receive instructions for making all of your future reservations. Of course, if you have any questions, just ask. I look forward to seeing you in the mountains!

To view old (no longer in use) membership terms, visit this page.