As Sirius sets below the horizon, a new restaurant will rise at the Crestwood Resort and Spa. The popular inn on Shulls Mill Road in Boone has seen abundant change throughout its 50-plus years, having first been built as a residence of Claus and Jean Moberg. Now owned by Moberg's son and daughter-in-law, Steve and Terry Moberg, what started as a simple home has transformed into an elegant, mountain lodge with countless amenities and a full-service spa.

L to R :: Lori Weatherman, Dominic Geraghty and Terry Moberg

Steve and Terry's intentions were simple, at first - open and run an inn. They soon realized a restaurant would be a necessity, and opened the Sirius restaurant at the inn, as well as the Dawg Star Bar. Steve, for reasons he has not even revealed to Terry, is known as the "Dog Man," and Terry found it only fitting that the restaurant and bar fit a similar description, though one of their first employees christened the bar "Dawg Star." The star Sirius is known as the dog star, as it is part of the constellation Canis Major.

However, the demands of operating and maintaining a restaurant began to dog the Dog Man, and the Mobergs decided to lease the space to Dominic and Meryle Geraghty. Originally from England, Dominic has lived in various locations throughout the United States. Though he and Meryle recently moved to the area from Massachusetts, Dominic made his mark as executive chef for the El Dorado hotel in Santa Fe, N.M. Meryle was once coowner of the Speckled Trout restaurant in Blowing Rock, and in Sante Fe, the two owned a small shop called Four and Twenty Blackbirds, in reference to the English nursery rhyme. Since Steve had known Meryle for more than 20 years, he made the Geraghtys an offer they wouldn't refuse. Of his move to the High Country, Dominic said, "It's the best move I've ever made." Dominic will man the kitchen, while Meryle will handle the front of the house. Dominic said he tries to define his cooking as "refined American cuisine with a touch of Europe, if you like." Since he's lived throughout the United States, including Anchorage, Alaska, Dominic likes to incorporate different elements to otherwise familiar dishes to avoid "the same old thing." This technique singles out flavors not commonly associated with the dishes.

Dominic said he'll enjoy the change of atmosphere, considering his former positions throughout the last 10 years have been particularly big, in terms of serving multitudes of customers. Crestwood will allow him to further hone his skills in a smaller, more comfortable atmosphere. The restaurant, still unnamed, is set to open in April. In the meantime, the Geraghtys are finalizing the menu and training kitchen staff to grow fully acclimated to the cuisine. "Dominic brings a completely brand new, fresh element we've never had here," Crestwood general manager Lori Weatherman said.

Fresh is the keyword, as the inn welcomes this newest addition. The inn is accustomed to addition, though. Claus Moberg attended the Yale School of Architecture, and his draft renderings, many of which date back to the 1920s, can be found throughout the inn's hallways and main areas, including a rendering of the Hound Ears clubhouse. ean Moberg is a retired interior decorator, and the two worked together on many projects, including Elk River and the Blowing Rock Country Club. While Claus would design the buildings, Jean would design their interiors. While driving along Shulls Mill Road one day, Claus noticed acres of particularly beautiful property. He contacted the owner, who offered the land at $25 an acre. Thinking they wouldn't have much need for anything more than 30 acres, Jean recommended they purchase 30. According to Terry, Steve can't help shaking his head when telling that particular story.

The original structure for the Inn at Crestwood was built in the late 1940s and finished in the early 1950s. Claus and Jean named the house Crestwood, as they owned a work studio in Hollywood. The house was two stories, though Claus designed another floor that his son, Steve, also a developer and contractor, built in the late 1970s. When Claus died 12 years ago, widow Jean was left in a predicament. She felt the house was simply too big to maintain and considered placing it on the market. Steve earned of this and offered to buy the house and build a new home for her in a neighboring development, which eventually grew into the Forest at Crestwood, a 23-home community located near the inn. Steve opened the development to the public, and began working on transforming the original house into an inn, which opened to the public in March 2004 - but not before Steve made several notable additions. However, the additions intermingle with aspects of the original home - some seamless, others more obvious.

The main dining room features a massive window that overlooks a majestic view of the Blue Ridge Mountains. Just outside the dining room are a spacious patio and lawn, which Weatherman said are ideal for weddings. Moving through the Dawg Star bar, one enters the house's original library, which Weatherman described as "very intimate," featuring a fireplace and the same spectacular view. A newer addition is the Maplewood Room, which will be open for its first full season this spring. Apart from the 15 guest rooms, including the deluxe Grandfather Suite, the inn features various meeting rooms available for rent by businesses, organizations and parties.

"People don't tend to know we're open to the public," Weatherman said. "The pillars and signage may give the impression of a gated community, but it's not." The same goes for the resort's spa, which features a heated indoor pool, exercise room, and a team of licensed massage therapists. The inn is also in the process of adding six three-level villas for rent to accompany its cottages, which are also available for rent. It's the balance of old and new, antiquated and modern, that seems to appeal to guests. The wrought iron "Crestwood" sign that once welcomed guests to the house now hangs from the fireplace mantle - another original piece. Sitting atop the mantle are Steve's and Terry's wedding photos, a sure sign the couple will carry on the Crestwood tradition.

For more information on Crestwood Resort and Spa, call 828-963-6646 or visit the following www.crestwoodnc.com on the Web.

Courtesy :: Watauga Democrat
By :: Frank Ruggiero