Celebrating 20 Years at Pursell Farms

In the South, you leave the door open for people. Friends. Neighbors. Strangers. It’s the foundation of southern hospitality. Since 2003, that’s exactly what we’ve been doing here at Pursell Farms: opening our doors and tables to people.

It’s hard to believe that 20 years have passed since we opened up FarmLinksand later the resort at Pursell Farms. That decision has brought more joy to our doorstep than we could have ever imagined.

We’ve witnessed fairy tale weddings. Corporate events participants have rejuvenated their business. And let’s not forget the fierce competitions that have sprung up on the golf course!

However, none of this is possible unless we have guests to serve. That’s you! And we appreciate your support for the past two decades.

Please join us as we take a look back and a look forward and celebrate 20 years of Pursell Farms.

The History Of Pursell Farms

The 3,200-acre resort that now attracts so many has a storied history going back to the turn of the 20th century and the development of natural, and tech-based fertilizers.

The property where Pursell Farms now sits did not start out as a golf course at all. In the early part of the 20th century, Sylacauga Fertilizer Company got its start serving local farmers with seed and animal-produced fertilizers. This Alabama valley was hopping back then, sitting right in the center of the south’s cotton agriculture and cattle farming communities. On the leisure side, people flocked to nearby Talladega Springs to bask in the healing waters there, basically a mineral-rich sulfur spring that bubbled up in the center of town. The beginnings of Sylacauga Alabama’s resort country were taking shape.

Over the course of the next 80 years, Sylacauga Fertilizer Company became Pursell Technologies (PTI) specializing in a line of advanced slow-release fertilizer products. Along the way, David Pursell hatched an idea that would change the course of the family fertilizer business and catapult PTI into the big leagues; enter, FarmLinks Research and Demonstration Golf Course and The Experience at FarmLinks – an agronomic “Epcot” of sorts and a magnet for green-industry professionals and golf course superintendents. The farm became a proving ground for golf course superintendents from around the nation to come and experience the latest and greatest in “future” fertilizers and to see them perform side by side against the competitors.

That idea led to FarmLinks, the world’s first and only research and demonstration golf course – a course that was not even built for golfers! Eventually, after PTI was sold in 2006 to a Canadian-based agriculture company, Agrium Advance Technology, we evolved into a resort right here at Pursell Farms. We are proud of the traditions that started here and that continue here to this day.

Things to Do at Pursell Farms

Boredom isn’t an option at Pursell Farms.

Activity of all sorts is built into our days. Many guests kick off their adventures by taking a one-hour pedal bike tour.

Others head straight to the golf course for a round (or two) of golf.

We offer:

• Individual golfing events
• Tournaments
• Twilight play and more

Still, others find themselves at ORVIS® at Pursell Farms. Once there, a world of activities opens up to them.

These include:

• Sporting clays
• Wingshooting instruction
• The Fly Fishing school
• Hunting memberships
• Clubhouse activities

Many who join us for a bit of play at ORVIS® at Pursell Farms are participating in team-building activities for corporate events. Or they might be part of a bachelor party or a family reunion. Of course, some are here just for fun which is always in plentiful supply.

When it’s time to unwind, our guests book a treatment at the Spring House Spa. Our warm stone massage kneads away even the most stubborn knots.

Finally, it’s also perfectly okay to do nothing. That blissful, relaxed, do-nothing state of mind is always on the calendar at Pursell Farms.

In fact, the best place to do nothing at Pursell Farms is at the firepit. Come join us. We’ll save a seat for you.

Dining and Lodging at Pursell Farms

Excellent taste experiences are par for the course here at Pursell Farms. Food means more than basic sustenance here. It’s the embodiment of southern living and hospitality dating back to the family fertilizer business days when Jimmy and Chris Pursell would share meals with industry guests and build relationships that have carried through even to this day.

Our food offerings center around farm-to-table recipes. Our chefs create wholly original seasonal offerings. Yet, there’s something about them that evokes memories of Sunday dinners after church. Taking a meal here satisfies the hunger in your stomach and your soul.

Snack and meal options are plentiful at Pursell Farms. Here’s a look at what we offer.

• Spend mornings with us in the inn, having coffee and cookies in the lobby.
• When you’re ready for breakfast, head over to the Grille. It’s open for breakfast and lunch. Guests grab a bite here right before they set out to play for the day.
• Get lunch or dinner started at Old Tom’s Pub. Start with something light, like a Caesar salad or popcorn shrimp. Or get straight to the hearty stuff. Order a mouth-watering cheeseburger or a New York steak. Top it off with the spirit of your choice.
• At the Arrington, it’s gourmet all the way. Enjoy a leisurely three-course meal after a day out on the course. Start off with  a crisp signature salad made with local produce before moving on to filet mignon and dessert for a meal that bookends the day perfectly. Finally, a glass of wine or a curated craft cocktail at the pub is the perfect way to cap off the evening before heading to your room.

Speaking of rooms, we’d be honored if you came here to stay with us. We’d love to be your home away from home.

Our lodging options include:

• The 40 room country-estate style Inn
• Hamilton House, or the ORVIS® Farm House.
• 8 bedroom Parker Lodge, 4 bedroom cabins, and cottages

Each option includes a variety of activity options, like biking and pedal boats, as well as car-charging stations, WiFi, and more.

What Our Guests Say About Us

Pursell Farms is magical! We came up for the long weekend and have enjoyed every minute. The grounds are gorgeous. The accommodations (we stayed in the Inn) are stylish and luxurious, but comfortable and homey at the same time. The staff are the epitome of southern hospitality. The food is very good with lots of options from casual to fine dining. […]

We chose a UTV tour, the spa, and golf for our activities. […] We loved the outdoor fire pit in the late afternoon and evenings. It’s a great spot to watch the sunset and enjoy a cocktail or a snack from the pub. Dawn H, TripAdvisor

Excellent stay as always. Ashley and Treasure were outstanding in their service to all of us. They were efficient and pleasant even when busy. Keith in the Tavern at the Inn was also great and friendly. All the staff did an excellent job. We go yearly and will continue to do so. The golf is amazing. Dan K, TripAdvisor

Ryan and I are so grateful to have had our wedding at Pursell Farms […] We are still getting so many compliments about the food, the cake, the view, the staff, and so much more! June 13th may not have looked like what we thought – it was BETTER!!! Thank you SO much Pursell staff, Mr. Fraser, Whitney, and Leslie!!! Alexis N, TripAdvisor

What Makes Pursell Farms Unique

We might as well just say it. When you stay at Pursell Farms, an invisible barrier of peace stands between you and the outside world. It’s like a 3,200-acre island surrounded by trees and southern hospitality.

Time stands still here. You notice it in the morning. People meet in the morning in the inn for complimentary coffee and cookies and stick around for the chit-chat.

At first, they talk about work and responsibilities. Then, conversations about the outside world die away. The peace of the morning begins to infuse guests’ souls. They remember they’re not at work here, even if they’re here for a corporate event.

There’s something about our grounds that just changes you.

Eventually, talk turns to why people are here: to attend a destination wedding, to paint a portrait of their pup, to go fly fishing with their grandpa.

At the Grille at the Clubhouse, some guests have already played a round of golf and are stopping in for a bite and maybe a souvenir FarmLinks polo or hat. The dew from the grasses on the course still lingers on their shoes as they find a table in the restaurant. They’ve built up an appetite for a home-cooked meal. Few things satisfy hunger quite like a farm-to-table lunch served with a smile and a little southern twang.

Still, others skip breakfast. Their cabin or cottage felt a bit too cozy to leave too early. That’s okay. Old Tom’s Pub caters to the late sleepers. We understand. Wedding festivities and family reunions make for late-night back porch talks.

Pursell Farms is a place where people take refuge from the outside world. The door is always open here and the inviting 3,200 acres is calling out for you to discover new adventures.

What’s Coming Next

The Farm is always evolving and refining itself. With the recent addition of a few new activities from ax throwing to 3-D archery plus horseback riding and even star-gazing, Pursell Farms is laying a foundation for a resort that will be here long into the future.

Let’s Keep the Celebration Going for Another 20 Years…

We’re proud to have celebrated with you over the last 20 years. We’d love to celebrate with you over the next 20 years and beyond.

We love celebrating with you, whatever you might be celebrating  – a wedding, a big deal closing, a bachelor party, an anniversary, a class reunion, a new business focus for the year, or just reconnecting with old friends. Book your next celebration with us and let our years of service and hospitality be the catalyst for the memories that you will take with you and what will bring you back again and again.

Stories from the Farm