What's a Virginia resort in Meadows of Dan have in common with a 10th century castle in Italy or an ocean property in Rhode Island?
These properties are among the world's best designed hotels, according to the latest rankings from Travel and Leisure magazine.
The Lodge at Primland in Meadows of Dan tied for first place, sharing the No. 1 spot with Castello de Casole, a castle on 4,000 acres in Sienna, Italy; and Ocean House in Watch Hill, RI.
The 12,000-acre Virginia mountain resort scored well with the magazine's readers, with many giving the property high marks for its serenity, use of indigenous materials, its observatory and its ridge-top golf course laid out by architect Donald Steel. The resort also offers three tree-house cabins, built into the tops of big trees overlooking the Dan River Gorge.
"This is another major achievement for our visionary family of owners who worked closely with the architectural team of CTC Design Studio Atlanta to create a lodge in harmony with the Virginia landscape," Steve Helms, vice president of Primland, said in a statement.
Earlier this year Primland was rated one of the Top 10 Luxury Hotels in the U.S. by Trip Advisor and in the Top 25 Hotels in the U.S. by US News and World Report. It also moved up the Travel and Leisure rankings of Top 100 Resorts in the World by moving up to No. 23 and also being listed as one of the top five in the U.S.