Callaway Gardens, a sprawling resort and garden complex an hour's drive from Atlanta International Airport, will mark its 50th anniversary with the September opening of The Southern Pine. This 54,000-square-foot facility will have 22,000 square feet of function space, a 150-seat restaurant, and outdoor terraces ideal for functions. The low-rise complex will feature lots of natural light and wood, stone, and other natural construction materials.

A shuttle will provide continuous service between The Southern Pine and the 155 two-bedroom cottages nearby. A stroll away are the Challenge Ropes Course and the 21,000-square-foot Beach Dome, adjacent to Robin Lake Beach, set up to handle banquets and exhibits.

The Southern Pine is a high-end conference facility but not in the traditional sense — there are no meal packages, and the resort is conducive to bringing families.

Among Callaway's other facilities are its convention center next to the 349-room Callaway Gardens Inn, with 17,000 square feet of function space. The Executive Center has 27 function rooms totaling 31,000 square feet, with 41 villas nearby.

Callaway Gardens, the second oldest resort in Georgia, began as a nature preserve and is run by a nonprofit foundation with a for-profit resort subsidiary. Among the offerings are a major horticultural center, fly-fishing, tennis, and 36 holes of golf, including Mountain View, home to the PGA Tour's Buick Challenge.