A Sneak Peek at Tryon International Equestrian Center
Next year’s World Equestrian Games site at Tryon International Equestrian Center in Mill Spring, North Carolina, is a hive of activity. Have a look at how the facility is shaping up (an updated site plan will be published as soon as it becomes available).
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- Next year’s World Equestrian Games site at Tryon International Equestrian Center in Mill Spring, North Carolina, is a hive of activity
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- The area roads are being improved to allow better traffic flow, including this new traffic circle near the entrance.
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- What is currently the main arena will become a dressage/para-dressage ring during WEG; a massive main ring is being constructed where the grass derby field is now located.
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- Picture this: The existing derby field will be the site of the main stadium next September.
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- What do you get if you cross Walt Disney with the Energizer Bunny? The visionary Mark Bellissimo, seen standing in front of a plaque that thanks everyone who had a hand in getting TIEC up and running.
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- Mark stands at the site of the future five-star, 150-room Salamander Hotel perched above the show grounds. It will feature spacious suites, restaurants and bars, retail shops, a market, indoor and outdoor heated pools, fitness center, event space for weddings and meetings, and a large entertainment pavilion.
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- If you want something done right (and on time) do it yourself: A prototype of one of the mid-range modular hotel rooms Bellissimo is building in his nearby factory using robotic technology. This particular room model will be used in a second planned hotel on the site.
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- And they don’t ask for raises or take sick days … one of the robotic installations in the construction assembly line on the enormous factory floor. In the future the plant may turn out affordable and/or emergency housing.
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- Mark and wife Katherine with their future vision for the hotel.
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- The tract of land on the south end on the property where the driving competition will be held.
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- With apologies to golf course superintendants everywhere, the cross-country will run over a lovely old rolling golf course on the property.
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- This wire equine statue graces the front entrance to Legends Grille, which overlooks the current main arena.
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- There are 10 permanent restaurants at Tryon Resort (everything from burgers, deli sandwiches and sushi to classic Italian and fine dining) including Roger’s Diner (named after TIEC’s co-partner Roger Smith). Food truck “rodeos” will be available to provide quick meals during WEG.
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- There are lots of shopping options on site, including a spacious general store, seasonal vendors and boutiques and two Dover Saddlery locations.
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- Comfy cabins for riders. While 5 new hotels are planned for the site, it is likely that only 2 will be completed in the time remaining, and all spectator lodging options will be off-property.
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- This arena, when completed, will accommodate the Reining and Vaulting competitions at WEG.
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- One of several on-site RV/camping spots.
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- Make mine a double: the Silo Bar — now how fun is that?!
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- Give that man another watch: Kent Farrington won the feature $380,000 Rolex Grand Prix during Saturday Night Lights on Oct. 21st. Mexico’s Eugenio Garza (centre) was second and Richie Maloney of Ireland was third. Regular TIEC sponsor Rolex has graciously agreed to step back for a couple of weeks during WEG while Longines takes over.
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- One of the many local natural attractions: from atop Chimney Rock, an ancient monolith soaring 1,200 ft above the valley floor, guests can see more than 75 miles across Lake Lure (where ‘Dirty Dancing’ was filmed), the Blue Ridge Mountains and Carolina Piedmont.
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- The Chimney Rock State Park’s other star attraction is 404 ft Hickory Nut Falls, one of the tallest waterfalls east of the Mississippi River and featured in the movie “The Last of the Mohicans.”
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- Nearby Biltmore Estate in Asheville, NC. Nearly 179,000 square feet, this 8,000-acre estate is still owned by one of builder George Washington Vanderbilt II’s descendants. It is the largest privately-owned house in the United States.
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- The massive gardens at Biltmore. The estate and property have appeared in a number of films, including ‘Forrest Gump’, ‘My Fellow Americans’ and ‘Hannibal’.
More from Horse Sport:
After an exemplary career as one of Canada’s top Dressage riders, seven-time Olympian Christilot Boylen has announced her retirement from team competition.
For only the second time in its history, The Royal Agricultural Winter Fair has been cancelled but plans are being made for some virtual competitions.
As the Province of Ontario starts to reopen, The Royal’s Board and staff will adhere to all recommendations put forward by government and health officials.
Ontario Equestrian has recently released this update of several financial assistance packages available, including those for farm business.
