Nestled atop the stunning cliffs of Rising Fawn, Georgia, Cloudland at McLemore Resort is a new 245-room luxury destination by Hilton that opened in 2023. Built on McLemore’s award-winning Highlands golf course and overlooking Cloudland Canyon State Park, the 203,000-square-foot resort offers world-class amenities, including a 20,000-square-foot conference center, spa, and fitness facility.
While the finished product is spectacular, the construction journey presented a series of unique challenges. Precision Concrete Construction, Inc. played a central role in overcoming them, ensuring the project was completed safely, on time, and within budget.
Overcoming a Remote and Challenging Jobsite
The resort’s location proved to be one of the greatest obstacles to construction. Perched 2,000 feet above sea level near a cliffside, the site was both difficult to access and exposed to colder-than-average temperatures. Steep ramps leading to the jobsite had to be regraded and soil cemented to withstand weather and traffic. Without these modifications, workers and equipment would have required four-wheel-drive vehicles to access the site.
Adding to the challenge, the resort’s footprint intersected with both a hillside and active golf course play areas. Large rock formations needed blasting and removal to establish deep shear foundations, while Precision’s crews often navigated material deliveries around golfers teeing off on the course’s first hole. Despite these logistical hurdles, the team’s close coordination with the general contractor, New South Construction Company, kept the project moving forward.
Innovation in Design and Construction
The design-build nature of the project meant plans evolved as construction progressed. Approximately 25% of the hotel’s structural drawings were incomplete at groundbreaking. Precision Concrete worked closely with the design team to adapt in real time, including accommodating a major change — the addition of an entire lower-level floor midway through construction.
To support this added level, Precision built a 16-foot-tall retaining wall stretching over 700 feet, creating terrace access to outdoor amenities such as a pool and bar area. When foundation loads required additional stability, the team coordinated with Keller North America to install deep rock anchors, ensuring the new structures were securely tied into the limestone bedrock.
The project also utilized two steel framing systems simultaneously: 60% heavy structural steel for public areas like restaurants and amenities, and 40% light-gauge steel for guest room floors. This hybrid approach allowed trades to work concurrently, saving both time and cost.
Creative Solutions for Concrete Challenges
In total, over 8,000 cubic yards of concrete were poured on the project, including 2,200 cubic yards of lightweight concrete for elevated slabs. The use of lightweight aggregate helped reduce structural loads, which in turn minimized steel and footing sizes — an especially important savings given historically high steel prices during construction.
Supplying this specialized material presented another challenge. The lightweight aggregate was shipped from over 350 miles away in North Carolina, and local plants had limited capacity to store it. To accelerate the required saturation process, Precision and its partners developed an inventive solution: submerging the aggregate in unused concrete truck drums. This cut the soaking time from three days to just one, preventing costly delays.
Further efficiency was achieved by substituting traditional steel wire mesh with macro synthetic fibers in slabs. This value-engineering decision eliminated heavy material handling, simplified installation, and saved the client time and money.
Safety and Collaboration at the Forefront
Safety was a top priority throughout the project. More than 40 Precision employees contributed nearly 40,000 work hours without a single lost-time incident. Daily stretch-and-flex sessions not only promoted worker safety but also boosted morale and encouraged other trades on site to participate. Supervisors ensured all workers maintained OSHA training requirements, reinforcing a culture of safety.
Equally important was collaboration. Weekly coordination meetings with the contractor and other trades allowed teams to anticipate challenges, adjust schedules, and resolve issues quickly. This cooperative spirit extended beyond Precision’s scope of work, with crews often assisting in tasks such as smoothing walls for waterproofing to ensure client satisfaction.
Award-Winning Results
The McLemore Resort & Hotel has already earned recognition for its excellence in construction. The project was honored with a First Place Award at the 2024 AGC Build Georgia Awards and the 2024 ACI of Georgia Outstanding Achievement Award in the Low Rise Buildings category.
Despite the cold weather, difficult terrain, and evolving design, Precision Concrete’s commitment to innovation, safety, and teamwork made this project a resounding success. Today, the resort stands as both a luxurious retreat and a testament to what can be achieved when challenges are met with collaboration and creativity.
