MountainsTRYON

MAGIC IN THE

INTERNATIONAL EQUESTRIAN CENTER REACHES FOR NEW HEIGHTS IN 2017

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by Carly Weilminster

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Sitting against the picturesque background of the Blue Ridge Mountains of North Carolina, nestled into the rolling foothills below, is Tryon International Equestrian Center (TIEC) and Tryon Resort, one of the most expansive equestrian destinations in the world. Once a plot of land overcome with forest and untapped potential, the massive acreage now provides equestrians of numerous disciplines the opportunity to compete at the highest levels of sport.

This vision was the brainchild of Mark Bellissimo, CEO of Equestrian Sport Productions, LLC, and managing partner of the Wellington Equestrian Partners (WEP), and good friend and partner Roger Smith, the vision. What began as simple sketches upon a napkin, is now home to numerous national championships and continuous weeks of international competition, hosting the three Olympic disciplines of show jumping, dressage, and eventing, with broader breed specific shows on the horizon.

Currently spanning more than 1,400 acres, TIEC boasts 12 all-weather arenas with built-in drainage systems featuring connecting bridle paths and trails, more than 1,200 permanent stalls, nine on-site restaurants, and two in-house tack shops. Vendor cabins line the perimeter of the George H. Morris Arena, the centerpiece of the venue, which currently seats more than 6,000 spectators. A massive, 12-acre derby field hosted national and international competitions for the first time in 2016, and a recently-completed FEI CCI 3* cross-country track spans the length of a former 18-hole golf course, outfitted with top-of-the-line Bermuda turf and full irrigation, the only one of it’s its kind in the world.

Bellissimo, who serves as managing partner for Tryon Equestrian

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Partners, is well known for his successes in the equestrian industry, reshaping and revitalizing the Winter Equestrian Festival (WEF) at Palm Beach International Equestrian Center (PBIEC) in Wellington, FL. The effusive equestrian circuit has become the winter home for many of the world’s most talented individuals in equestrian sport, spanning from January to April each year. In addition, the Bellissimo family owns and operates the industry leading Chronicle of the Horse magazine, a staple of information for the sport horse industry since the early 1930s, UNtacked Magazine which highlights the uniqueness of equestrian lifestyle, and the world’s leading equestrian website www.coth.com, which tops more than nine million unique visitors. The Chronicle of the Horse Facebook Page currently informs almost 400,000 active followers.

The vision came to fruition in early 2014 as Bellissimo gathered a group of passionate equestrian families and created the Tryon Equestrian Partners (TEP). Competition was officially hosted at the venue in 2014, while internationally sanctioned FEI competition christened the facility in 2015. The location now provides equestrians with a new, multi-month and seasonal destination and has sparked a regenerated sense of economic growth for the local community, offering a world centered on the magic and majesty of the horse.

With backing and support from the local and state government, Tryon International Equestrian Center has become a driving economic power for the surrounding area, creating more than 600 jobs within the first year, a number that is expected to significantly increase as additional facilities open throughout the property. Development began with a three-phase concept to help tackle the immense amount of construction in

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separate sections, as to not interrupt equestrian competition being hosted at the facility during the year.

TIEC is ideally located in Mill Spring, NC, just 45 minutes from Asheville, NC, to the northwest, Greenville, SC, to the south, and an hour from Charlotte, NC, to the east, and sits in a moderate climate region resting amongst a mountainous backdrop in a mostly rural landscape. With more than $100 million invested to date, the growth and reach of TIEC has been reflected in its selection as host of the 2018 FEI World Equestrian Games™ to be hosted from September 10–23 of 2018.

“Our goal for this facility has always been to provide equestrian athletes and enthusiasts with a world-class venue that allows them to continue their competition schedules through the spring, summer, and fall seasons,” said Bellissimo. “The industry has seen a lack of FEI competitions throughout the years and that has forced riders to find other competition destinations to earn valuable international ranking points. We want to keep this sport growing and thriving in the United States, which has served as a huge motivational factor for us to move forward with the plans for this venue.”

Nearly two million cubic feet of earth have been moved throughout the construction process as plans moved forward over the past year and half, with more than 700 employees and staff members participating in the construction and maintenance of the facility. Accompanying the equestrian facilities, are a number of restaurants and on-site lodging options that have made the venue one of the most convenient horse show locations in the world. In an effort to make travel and lodging

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needs simpler for guests and competitors, TIEC offers on-site cabins with several size options including one-bedroom, three-bedroom, and five-bedroom cabins with weekly and seasonal rates. In addition, the 50-room Stable House Inn opened on October 10, 2015, to provide even greater on-site lodging options, with expansive plans for the future still in progress, including three additional on-site hotels and a full equestrian village.

“The feedback we’ve received from riders and competitors has been extremely rewarding. It has taken a lot of manpower and an immense amount of dedication from a wide variety of people who have helped this venue grow to what we see today,” Bellissimo commented. “We will continue to provide lower cost opportunities for equestrians of all disciplines and backgrounds in terms of access and use of the facility, and look forward to continuing with our plans for expansion and growth at TIEC. We are excited for the future of the venue and equestrian sport.”

Several on-site dining options are open daily throughout the competition week at TIEC such as Roger’s Diner, Blue Ginger Sushi, Tryon Café, The Triple Crown (Soups, Salads, and Subs), Campagna, Siesta Cantina, The General Store, The Silo Bar, Mane Street Coffee and Legends Grille, to name a few. Roger’s Diner, aptly named in recognition of facility co-partner Roger Smith, evokes a true 1950s feel and has quickly become a facility favorite, serving what some say are the best milkshakes around. Legends Grille, the sister eatery to Legends Club, a member-only dining experience offering full breakfast and lunch buffet options each day, is open for lunch and dinner and provides guests with a more expanded menu in a rustic dining atmosphere.

In addition to the construction and expansion of amenities on-site, the Tryon Equestrian Partners (TEP) have also invested in several other ventures in the region including the renovation and restoration of Cleghorn Golf & Sports Club in Rutherfordton, offering visitors and competitors access to a beautiful 18-hole George

Cobb-designed golf course at the base of the mountains, as well as full pool and sports court facilities. The Cleghorn Gun Club, also in Rutherfordton, opened in early 2016, and is just a short five-minute drive from both Cleghorn Golf & Sports Club and TIEC. Featuring a world-class clay-shooting course, Cleghorn Gun Club is open year round and serves as a strong supporting activity for locals and equestrians alike. The Lodge on Lake Lure, overlooking one of North Carolina’s most pristine lakes, is just an 18-minute drive from the facility and is also part of the expanding portfolio of the partnership. Quaint and quiet in nature, the Lodge provides an escape from the bustling horse show scene.

With the 2018 FEI World Equestrian Games™ Tryon on the horizon, the facility management is prepared and eager to welcome competitors and spectators from around the world to the Western Carolina region to experience and enjoy all that it has to offer. For more information please visit www.tryon.com or call (828) 863-1000.