What’s Cooking in Ellijay?

The Martyn House owners Rick Lucas and JoAnn Antonelli have decided to spread their life of luxury to the downtown community.

With the Downtown Development Authority in the works, many are wondering what new ideas will come to the downtown area, but one new business is already on its way. Lucas and Antonelli, owners of The Martyn House, a bed and breakfast located on a circa 1930 farm out on Flat Branch Rd, have decided to open up another business closer to the heart of the community. The new business will be called The Martyn House Inn Towne and will be an extension of the Martyn House’s current Glamping theme, which combines camping with glamour and luxury in the wild that provides a traditional sleeping experience.

The Martyn House Inn Towne will be a six room inn designed after a European Inn and will have a coffee shop and an experimental culinary kitchen school downstairs. The idea of the culinary kitchen is so that people can come in and take weekly two-hour classes or attend weekend workshops, but Antonelli states the big vision is in week long programs. Antonelli says, “Hopefully Chef’s will be able to come in from all over the country and teach people how to make foods such as pasta, breads, and sauces from Sunday to Thursday while they stay in the inn.” She says that while they are stayng in the inn, they will have the opportunity to experience hiking and bikes rides to attractions like Ellijay’s Harrison Park.

The downstairs of The Martyn House Inn Towne will also be used as an intimate event facility so they can continue hosting intimate events like they do on the farm of The Martyn House. Antonelli says they will be able to host small parties up to 40 people.

In 2011, The Martyn House was listed in Southern Living as 1 of 88 properties chosen for “Best Getaways in the US for a Unique Experience”. If The Martyn House Inn Towne ends up anything like its predecessor it will be Glamping. The Martyn House Inn Towne will be located next to the Cartecay Bike Shop on N. Main St. Antonelli says they hope to be open in the summer.