The biggest challenge according to Anhold was “…the number of structures. Within the complex stand a huge outdoor bar, a custom-built fire pit, a stage and a large garden area. Devil’s Backbone consists of 9 buildings, surrounded by parking and a large event field.
While we weren’t designing the buildings, we were showing where they needed to go, we designed the layouts out the paths and the paver patios.” Designing this layout was no easy task. “We produced the overall design for the facility. “There was an architect designing the buildings and an engineer assisting with drainage and storm water management,” says Anhold. The design phase for the basecamp was a complex and lengthy negotiation of several moving parts. They wanted to bring that same inspiring and visionary environment to Devils Backbone, to fully match the site to the beer.”
“Steve is active in craft beer around the country and he and his wife have seen some of the best beer gardens in the world. “It’s an interesting story because the Crandalls already had an engineer and architect involved when we were invited to design the beer garden,” says Anhold. We spoke with David Anhold about designing and completing such an ambitious project and what it feels like to receive the Merit Award. The American Society of Landscape Architects is a national organization focused on “advancing landscape architecture through advocacy, communication, education, and fellowship.” The prestigious award signaled the project as a crowning achievement for the area. “We wanted to create an environment that was more conducive to events.” The end result included an outdoor bar set on Eagle Bay Pavers, along with paths to each of the buildings and the facility’s main gardens.In 2016, the beer garden received a Merit Award in the Design Category from the VA ASLA. “It was just an open area,” Heidi said in the article. brewpubs to get inspiration for the space at Devil’s Backbone, according to a recent article on C-Ville. The Crandalls traveled to several European biergartens and U.S. David Anhold of Anhold and Associates, PLC, designed the facility to fulfill the vision of Steve and Heidi Crandall, the owners. It was amazing having everything (ceremony, reception, and food & drink) handled through just one on-site vendor it made the entire planning process so stress-free and simple-and it kept costs down.Nestled at the base of the Blue Ridge Mountains, Devil’s Backbone Basecamp is a sprawling facility centered on a beautiful beer garden.
We had plenty of space to mingle, and we even got to play cornhole on the deck outside.Ĭat & Melanie were great to work with-responsive and accommodating. The Summit is a pretty enough space that you don't need to do too much in the way of decor, either. The food we chose was all delicious (you're allowed to have your chosen dessert made at an outside bakery, but otherwise you are eating Devils Backbone food), and they'll work with you to make sure the menu is just how you want it. We just wanted a simple reception with a buffet dinner & mingling, so the Summit was perfect for that. We chose to have a standing ceremony, but you are able to rent chairs if so desired. It is isolated from the main Devils Backbone campus, so it is private & quiet, and it has a beautiful backdrop of the mountains behind. There is a wooden arbor provided in the outdoor area in the back yard of one of the on-site houses, which are lovely and we rented (Three Ridges Haven & Retreat). However, if you have more people than that at your wedding, you are able to rent a tent to cover the outside area around the Summit to accommodate them. Devils Backbone was the absolute perfect place to host our intimate wedding this March! We had approximately 35-40 guests, which was the perfect amount of people for the outdoor ceremony venue and the Summit reception area.