Fun for the Whole Team
Create the perfect itinerary of activities around our Forbes Five-Star resort to help your group improve teamwork, maximize potential and grow as individuals. Ready, set‌go!
–Sheila Johnson Founder & CEO, Salamander Hotels & Resorts
Unique Meeting Spaces Indoor From the 5,000-square-foot Middleburg Ballroom to the intimate setting of the Marshall Boardroom, Salamander Resort & Spa has spacious beautiful indoor event and meetings facilities, much of which opens to outdoor terraces. Unique indoor settings include the Aldie room, located in the resort’s world-class Equestrian Center, the Stallion Barn which is a 100+ year old stone building adjacent to the Grand Lawn and the Cooking Studio which may be reserved by groups for private events.
Outdoor Our outdoor spaces have been purpose-designed to accommodate groups including the 110,000-squarefoot Grand Lawn, an ideal venue for outdoor dining and social functions. The 7,000-square-foot stone and grass terrace extending from the Middleburg Ballroom’s foyer provides spectacular views of the equestrian center, culinary gardens and the mountains. Ideal for receptions and cocktail parties, it is a wonderful setting for a breakfast gathering in Spring-Summer-Fall. Surrounded by acres of meadows and fields, there are a wealth of outdoor venue options that our Virginia event team is pleased to review with you for your group activities and team building adventures.
Signature Experiences Golf Salamander Resort & Spa offers unparalleled golf experiences at four highly acclaimed courses in the region: Creighton Farms Golf Club, Evergreen Country Club, Bull Run Golf Club and Raspberry Falls Golf & Hunt Club. Located less than 30 minutes away
Treetop Zip Tour When your group takes a step off the platform and zip through the tree top canopy, it will be an experience they will truly never forget. Gliding from tree top platform to tree top platform, they’ll go across five different zip lines (from 270 feet to 670 feet long) and two suspension sky bridges (70 feet and 90 feet long). The course spans 20 acres and is over a half mile long.
SOAR Package For a truly unique team building and bonding session, combine our exciting Treetop Zip Tour with our powerful Emerge program.
Equi-Power This combines two powerful team activities into one – Equine Communication and Empower’s Tree Top Zip Tour. This innovative discovery program gives individuals and teams an opportunity to uncover their authentic communication, leadership and relationship style by connecting with horses and zipping through the trees. (This activity does not involve horseback riding.)
Rappelling Feeling extreme? Try our rappelling adventures on for size! This guided experience teaches guests how to rappel down distances of 30 feet to 50 feet! Available as an add-on to the Treetop Zip Tour or as a stand-alone adventure.
Survival Deluxe A completely unique experience. This venture will truly get your hands dirty as your team learns critical survival skills such as compass navigation, shelter building, snare trapping, and water filtration. 2 hours in the beauty of the wilderness with nothing but a few basic supplies and one goal: Survive. Does your team have what it takes?
Zip & Sip Deluxe Following the Tree Top Zip Tour, Empower will provide celebratory beverages for your group debrief upon conclusion of your experience. Choose from an assortment of beer, wine and house-made seasonal beverages.
Zip & Ride For the extra-adventurous! This combination allows for two completely unique perspectives of the beautiful Virginia countryside Salamander has to offer. Try our Treetop Zip Tour and then saddle up for a 1-hour horseback trail ride with the esteemed Equestrian Center.
Zip & Zen Looking for the complete rejuvenation experience for your group? Wind down and reflect after your big adventure with a Treetop Zip Tour plus a 50 minute well-being massage at the luxurious Salamander Spa.
Emerge Better Together Looking for the complete rejuvenation experience for your group? Wind down and reflect after your big adventure with a Treetop Zip Tour plus a 50 minute well-being massage at the luxurious Salamander Spa.
Equestrian Programs All Trails Lead Here A rider’s paradise and easy introduction for beginners — the equestrian center is the most unique and authentic feature of the Salamander Resort & Spa. Set on 25 acres, our dedicated equestrian facility features a 14,000-square-foot stable complete with 22 stalls, 9 beautiful paddocks, spectacular 120’ x 240’ outdoor riding arena with ThorTurf footing and a classroom/dining venue, as well as the ability to introduce you to the fascinating world of polo. The objective of our Equestrian Program is to develop complete equestrians according to each rider’s individual goals and capabilities, while fostering a close relationship between horse and rider in a fun, nurturing environment. Choose from a wide range of programs and trail rides designed for the beginner to the experienced. Riding lessons are also available to all guests.
Equine Communication
Essential Horsemanship
An innovative personal discovery program with the goal of unveiling authentic communication, leadership and relationship style by connecting with horses. Participants gain valuable tools to carry into other aspects of their lives.This unique program partners horse and human to enlighten on the topics of leadership, authenticity, clear communication and the impact of body language & energy. Explore the world of “horse whispering” and experience an interaction like none other. 1-2 hour program depending on group size. Each participant receives a keepsake photo of their horse.
Whether you are new to horses or wanting to add to your equestrian skills, this program can cover anything from grooming and handling techniques to braiding, bandaging, tacking (English or Western) and everything in between. One hour in the Stable.
Countryside Trail Rides Discover the natural beauty of our countryside while riding our gentle trail horses. Your guide will take you through the wooded trails for a one hour leisurely walk to explore the resort grounds and picturesque countryside.
Riding Lessons Enjoy a private, one-hour session on one of our seasoned lesson horses. All lessons are conducted by our experienced staff and focus on balanced seat, centered riding, hunt seat on the flat, basic dressage and stock seat. Lessons may include grooming, leading, ground safety and riding
Dressage Demonstration The fundamental purpose of Dressage is to develop, through standardized progressive training methods, a horse’s natural athletic ability and willingness to perform, maximizing its potential as a riding horse. Hallmarks of Dressage are a horse’s smooth responses to a rider’s minimal aids, both effortlessly working in tandem as they perform predetermined movements. This Dressage Demonstration will showcase musical freestyle rides and includes photo opportunities with the horse and rider as well as a Q&A session, if desired.
Cupcake the Miniature Horse Meet the sweetest member of our team, Cupcake! Our resident miniature horse may be little in size but has big personality and is available to greet your team at a dinner event, reception or meeting. Take photos, meet & greet and bring the Equestrian theme to life with a visit from our tiny friend!
Group Tours Hiking Tours
Countryside Trail Rides
Between The Appalachian Trail, Sky Meadow National Park, Old Rag Trail and numerous other trails in the Blue Ridge & Shenandoah mountains – we can find a great group hiking trip for you and your group. Choose how long you want to hike & level of difficulty and we’ll select the perfect trail.
Experience the natural beauty of Middleburg’s famed hunt country astride docile trail horses as we meander through the woods and fields at a leisurely walk. 1 hour ride | Minimum of 2 weeks notice for reservation of up to 6 horses | No prior riding experience required
Guided Nature Hike Join an area naturalist and learn about the beautiful flora and fauna of the mid-Atlantic in every season – including fall foliage and winterwonderland. Bring your camera so you don’t miss one picture-perfect moment.
Middleburg History Walking Tour Enjoy a historic tour of Middleburg showcasing the National Sporting Museum and Library, America’s oldest running Inn, the Jacquelyn Kennedy Pavilion and other landmarks while learning about the area’s history dating back to the 1700s.
Winery Tours with Osborne Events Enjoy guided tastings at your choice of more than 80 wineries throughout Northern Virginia’s Wine Country, a region renowned for its Cabernet Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon, Chambourcin, Chardonnay, Mandolin, Merlot, Norton, Petit Verdot, Riesling, Sauvignon Blanc, Seyval, Vidal Blanc, Traminette and Zinfandel as well as many fruit wines.
Team Events Amazing Nature Race This competition takes advantage of Middleburg’s historic and outdoor traditions, challenging teams to flex their physical, mental and creative strengths by solving clues, discovering locations and completing contests to earn points on the quest for a victory. 3 hours | 12 participant minimum
Archery Tournament Archery Tournament From beginners to master marksmen, this archery class is a great opportunity to learn the fundamentals and safety behind the timeless sport. Led by one of our certified archery instructors out on our beautiful and secluded archery range, you will compete in numerous games and competitions that will test your skill and accuracy.
Cornhole A fun addition to any outdoor social or cocktail party, this lawn game tests your accuracy as you attempt to toss cornfilled bags through a hole in a platform. Although cornhole has taken the world by storm, claims to its origination have come out of Germany, Ohio, Illinois and Kentucky
Lawn Olympics Choose from a wide variety of lawn games to be part of your Lawn Olympics. Teams will each partake in theses game and compete for the victory! Games will be set up on the Grand Lawn. A great group activity to do during a long lunch break. 1.5 hours | For groups 12 or more
Private Fitness Instruction In addition to personal training sessions, the Fitness Center offers classes in Stressburner Yoga: An Executive Program, Zumba, Boot Camp and Pilates as well as other styles of yoga, water-based programming and nature hikes. 1 hour | 10 participant minimum
Table Top Escape For the Table Top Escape, we would break down the group into teams of approximately 8 to 10 people. Each team would be located at one banquet table. All tables/teams would be given the same clues to solve in a similar manner as traditional “Escape Rooms”. Instead of escaping, the first team to unlock a treasure chest wins! This activity takes approximately 1 hour.
Wickets & Wine Whether you’d like an instructional session as a planned meeting break, an organized tournament or just a causal add-on to your outdoor event, croquet is an enjoyable way to bring the team together. You can add to the fun by introducing Piedmont wine favorites to the group. Choose from 6-wicket tournament croquet, backyard 9-wicket croquet or golf croquet
What Was I Drinking? Think you have the most keen palate in your group? Put it to the test! Relax with your team as you taste and rate wines. The winner is determined by the closest totals to the Wine Spectator ratings, but the fun really begins as you share your commentary with the team. 90 minutes
Sensory Board Building Teams will answer trivia questions, each questions answered correctly grants a new tool or part necessary for completing a sensory board. After the event these boards will be donated to a local nursing home. Sensory boards are a great tool which held aid those with people living with all stages of dementia, Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s or those who have suffered a stroke.
Bocce Ball This Italian lawn game is a great compliment to any outdoor social or cocktail party. See who in your group can throw the bocce closest to the Palino with the best accuracy. Whether you are interested in a casual lawn game or a serious competition, Bocce is a fun everyone! Rental includes set-up and take down up Bocce course and balls.
Bicycle Building Teams will be challenged with a serious of trivia questions. Each correct answer grants a new tool or part necessary to complete children’s bicycle. After the event these bicycles will be donated to a local community or school.
Culinary Classes Opening directly into the resort’s kitchen, our Cooking Studio will give you the opportunity to interact with the chefs of Salamander Resort & Spa.
Themed Cooking Studio Experience Examples Sushi 101 Work side-by-side with our Sushi Chef, Seuong Seo, and learn the art of hand-rolling sushi and how to select fish to best present its freshness.
Pasta Perfection Learn the art of making pasta and say arrivederci to store bought noodles! Our chefs will walk you through all of the steps in rolling pasta, using a pasta maker, and the difference between several types of noodles and gnocchi.
Secrets of Ceviche Dive into the world of this citrus-filled Latin American classic dish, utilizing ingredients such as bass, tuna and shellfish to make your very own, lightly cured ceviche.
Backyard BBQ Fusion Put a new twist on your favorite backyard BBQ dishes after this class! Our chefs will show you how to incorporate ingredients from different cultures and cuisines such as Thai, Korean BBQ and Cajun.
Be Adventurous Paintball Feel the adrenaline rush of the pursuit as you participate in one of the fastest growing sports in America. Each participant will receive a semi-automatic paintball gun, paintballs, a face shield and professional instruction for an exciting–and safe–outing.
Clay Shooting Here’s a chance to try your hand at “golf with a shotgun.” You and your team will take dead aim at sporting clay targets thrown in a variety of trajectories, angles, speeds, elevations and distances. 2 hours | 6 person minimum | about 15 minutes away | No prior experience required
Trek Mountain Bike Rentals Whether you’d like to hit the trails for a cardiovascular workout or guided ride or just take a leisurely cruise into the quaint village of Middleburg for an afternoon of shopping, Salamander’s bike rentals are the way to travel. 3 hours | 5 participant maximum
White Water Rafting Hop in your raft, grab your paddle and navigate Class I-II+/III rapids on this seven-mile stretch of water where the Shenandoah and Potomac Rivers as well as Maryland, Virginia and West Virginia come together. Kayaking and tubing also available. Half day event | approximately 45 minutes away No previous experience required
Art Exploration Salamander Resort and Spa’s art instructional programming is led by Artist-inResidence Mary Jennings. Working as a professional artist in textile and interior design, Jennings has established herself as a mural artist for many years. She holds a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree from Moore College of Art and is also a graduate of Duke Ellington School of the Arts, Washington, D.C. Her work has been featured on several episodes of HGTV’s “Bed and Bath Design” and her fine art has been accepted in juried shows with the Torpedo Factory Gallery as well as other local galleries and exhibits. Jennings enjoys sharing the joy of creating art with participants of all skill levels. (Guaranteed participant numbers are required two weeks out for all classes listed below.)
Sip & Sketch Learn a new skill that fits our typical fast pace in a casual and fun environment. Imagine sitting around a table with friends, drinking a cool beer or sipping a glass of wine, while using unique materials and entertaining instruction.
Plein Air Painting Every season delivers its very own beautiful views surrounding the picturesque Salamander Resort & Spa. Under the instruction of Mary Jennings, these views are captured on canvas while enjoying the outside (weather permitting).
Pyro-Graphic Salamander Escape Hop in your raft, grab your paddle and navigate Class I-II+/III rapids on this Such a unique way of capturing the moment! Enjoy the relaxing process that requires each participant to the slowly create pyrography (writing with fire or wood-burning. Create a classic landscape, original design, quote or one-of-a-kind memento of their time at Salamander Resort and Spa.
Brushes & Bellinis Wind down at the end of the day and stir up some creativity at the same time by experiencing this social painting event. Enjoy painting a personal creation, suitable for framing and in keeping with the atmosphere of Salamander Resort & Spa.
Birds of Prey Interaction Our falconry and wildlife sanctuary invites Salamander Resort & Spa guests to experience the world of raptors up close. Her birds of prey, or raptors, are well trained ambassadors that will allow you to create lifelong memories and spark a lasting appreciation for these majestic hunters of the sky.
Ultimate Falconry For the person who really wants a more involved experience, select this interactive encounter into the world of falconry. Incorporating falconry first hand, this takes it to the next level. With nature as our classroom, experience the thrill of partnering with a raptor! Start off in the classroom and get exposed to the equipment, field training techniques and care of these magnificent raptors. Then we take the experience outside for the thrill of a lifetime as each participant has the opportunity to have a bird of prey fly to their gloved arm. Imagine the bird dropping from 20 feet high or approaching from 100 feet away as it is called to your glove!
Raptor Walk Around This unique interactive raptor experience will be the highlight of your event. A master falconer will stroll through with various raptors on her arm as she interacts with your guests. Bring a camera to capture your guests’ thrilling experience with birds of prey. Varying times | Excellent for groups of all sizes | Optional flight demonstration available
Owl Experience Our master falconer will lead you in an interactive session to get up close and personal with owls. This experience is available as a walk-around or presentation– perfect for a gathering around the Salamander firepit. Bring a camera for photo opportunities of your guests to pose with an owl. Varying times | Excellent for groups of all sizes
500 North Pendleton Street, Middleburg, Virginia 20117 | 540.326.4046
Whether you’re achieving goals in a meeting room or surpassing your wildest expectations on a one-of-a-kind adventure, I want every member of your group to feel right at home here at Salamander.
–Sheila Johnson
M I D D L E B U R G , V A | C H A R L E S T O N , S C | D E S T I N , F L | PA L M C O A S T, F L | TA M PA B AY, F L