See Life-Size Gingerbread House At Ritz-Carlton, Reynolds Plantation

A Ritz-Carlton Lodge tradition, this year’s oversized, intricate Gingerbread House is on display from November 26, 2009 to January 2, 2010. Locals and visitors are welcome to visit The Lodge's Lobby and see why this holiday favorite has become a part of many family memories.

It took Executive Pastry Chef Brian Sundeen and a team of pastry chefs and engineers 450 hours to construct the dramatic display which Sundeen calls “The Biggest Santa’s Bake Shop in The South.” This year’s hand-crafted house is 9 feet tall and 14 feet wide, features a candy store theme and is composed of edibles, including Gingerbread Tiles made with over 720 eggs, 346 pounds of sugar, 26 pounds of gingerbread spice and 1000 pounds of flour and decorated with 400 pounds of Royal Icing and 800 pounds of assorted gum drops and candies. A posted building permit was issued by Christmas County, North Pole by building inspector S. Claus.

New this year, groups of four or more are invited to book a Holiday Tour for a guided, behind-the-scenes peak at The Lodge at Christmas time, complete with fun and festive holiday activities.

From the 75-minute “Deck the Halls Tour” which includes a tour of the gingerbread house, a story read by Mrs. Claus, decorating a keepsake ornament with one of Santa’s elves and a visit from St. Nick himself for $10 per person, to the two-hour “Jingle Bell Rock Tour” which also offers decorating a personal, take-home gingerbread house for $85 per person, each tour is designed to bring joy and enjoyment to guests of all ages. Tours are available November 30 to December 23 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. and must be reserved one week in advance by calling (706) 467-7048.