"Thousands of tired, nerve-shaken, overcivilized people are beginning to find out that going to the mountains is going home; that wilderness is a necessity; and that mountain parks and reservations are useful not only as fountains of timber and irrigating rivers, but fountains of life.” John Muir

Our Environmental Commitment:

It is our mission to be the best bed and breakfast in Georgia, providing the highest level of hospitality and guest experience while preserving and promoting the unique historical and environmentally sensitive nature of our property and the area; we are committed to sustainability in all practices.

At the Beechwood Inn, we have attempted to use this philosophy in our analysis of the many long and short term decisions we make regarding the way we do business. Our goal is to minimize our use of natural resources while still providing a magnificent guest experience. The Inn is user-friendly, and we welcome guest suggestions and contributions on how to reduce the inn’s impact on our environment. Here are some of our programs:

• Extensive recycling program with guest recycling center on our porch for glass, plastic, aluminum, newspaper, cardboard

• We use Mrs. Myers Clean Day cleaning products (non-toxic, natural ingredients, biodegradeable, cruelty free) and recycled materials wherever appropriate

• Use of organic cotton linens & towels

• Use of organic and/or locally grown food as much as possible. Most of our dinner entree meats are natural (organic, no hormones, no antibiotics, no feed lots). We use many local and organic farms for fruits, vegetables, and cheeses; we use local farmer David Taylor’s free range chickens for eggs.

• Energy efficient appliances (all Energy Star Rated), lighting is mostly compact fluorescent bulbs (CFB) and other technology

• Landscaping using both historic and native plantings

• Composting of garden waste

• We avoid the use of pesticides, herbicide or commercial fertilizers on our gardens

• Low water use washer

• Guest Rooms: Low-flow showerhead (2.5 to 3.0 gpm); Fluorescent lighting where appropriate; Amenities – 100% natural, biodegradable, vegetable-oil base, dye-free, natural scents; hot water – 120 F; Linens changed between guests or on request only (towels on floor or in tub); 100% organic cotton linens; Extra blankets – room can be kept colder on winter nights if guests prefer; Glass water glasses no paper covers; Ceiling fans, No Styrofoam usage; Newly purchased furnishings of non-tropical hardwoods.

Our gardens support a variety of wild life and so you will not find it all manicured but hopefully a combination of mature trees, wild areas as well as flowerbeds and shrubs all part of our eco-system, helping to attract insects, butterflies, birds and mammals.

How our Guests Can Help

Bedding and towels are changed only at your request. Please turn out lights, turn off appliances and gas fireplaces when you leave rooms. The hall and stair lights are left on as a safety precaution and many of our outside lights are solar powered. We will make sure that the standby on appliances are switched off (it is estimated that the equivalent of 2 power stations would be saved if everyone did just that) Please recycle aluminum, paper, glass bottles, cardboard and plastic bottles on our porch in our re-cycling center.

Eco-Friendly Bamboo Towels – Soft and Absorbent

We have completely re-toweled the Beechwood Inn with Kassatex Bamboo Towels. Natural, hygienic and super absorbent, these luxurious towels are 65% Bamboo and 35% Egyptian cotton yarns. The bamboo yarn comes from the bamboo tree which grows in a pesticide free environment. Its natural antibacterial characteristic is hygienically ideal for daily use. Its absorption and softness is superior to cotton. The weave is comparable to micro-fiber. And Bamboo is a renewable resource!  We hope you enjoy this luxurious towel upgrade during your next visit to the Beechwood Inn.