Here are the main people on the Bend of Ivy Lodge team. We are very proud of the experience that we collectively provide, and we'd like you to introduce you to the great people that most directly shape your experience.

Dava Melton

Dava has been the primary caterer at the Lodge since 2005. A professionally trained chef since 1997, she learned to cook at the side of her grandmother. She very consciously puts love into her food; the name of her business, Blessed 2 Cook, says it all. Specializing in locally grown, organic produce, she works closely with local farmers to integrate the freshest vegetables into delicious and healthy menus, and delights in meeting special dietary needs. Her quiet, nurturing, elegant presence is central to the Lodge experience. Dava is married, with two beautiful children.

Chance Folse

Chance is our part-time groundskeeper, and keeps things looking great. He is also a professional firefighter, master chef, and (best of all!) our son-in-law. Living with our daughter Alisia and grandson Miles, Chance originally hails from New Orleans, and is our token city boy. Strong as an ox, Chance was the main driving force in rebuilding the beautiful rockwork on our stream course a couple of years ago. (Pops, one of our baby goats, is also named after him.)

Carol Martin

You probably will not see Carol, who is very behind-the-scenes. Our bookkeeper, she comes half a day a week, and is the most accurate, diligent, and thorough person we've ever had in this role. When we are moving too fast to keep track of the paper flow, and money in/money out, Carol somehow manages to wrestle the resulting chaos into a reassuring representation of order.

Steady, competent, smart, and honest, Carol is both unassuming and absolutely essential to the effective operation of our business.