Rock Barn Golf and Spa is a special place. Cradled in the curve of the Catawba River, its rolling topography presents a tantalizing preview of the Blue Ridge Mountains. This premier golf course development, boasting two championship courses and an abundance of amenities, makes "living the good life" an everyday reality. Those responsible for creating this distinctive community possess a rare combination of vision and persistence: They are dreamers and they are doers. Two hundred years ago, another remarkable man settled in this area; he too dreamed big and labored long to bring his dreams to fruition. He established a large plantation and from the stones of Lyle's Creek fashioned a splendid rock barn. This impressive structure became a community landmark and is now listed on the National Register of Historical Places. This brief history will examine the origins of the Rock Barn and trace the development of the golf course community that proudly bears its name, Rock Barn Golf and Spa.