About McClain Resort

Close to home, yet it feels like miles away.

At McClain, you can truly get away from it all.

Step back to a simpler time. Enjoy the great outdoors, along with the best amenities today has to offer.

And step into another place altogether. Observe our exotic animals as they roam throughout the property, looking every bit as natural here as on the Serengeti.

Our wish is to extend a whole new experience, a Unique Southern Experience, to each of our guests. Whether you’re looking for somewhere to hold a special event or enjoy a weekend getaway, McClain is the place for you.

Our wish is to extend a whole new experience to each of our guests. Whether you’re looking for somewhere to hold a special event, enjoy a weekend getaway, or savor a soul-satisfying meal, McClain is that “somewhere.”

Who We Are

Buddy and Joni McClain are the proprietors of McClain Lodge, General Store & Restaurants. Buddy has owned and operated multiple restaurants for over 40 years, and Joni has provided impeccable event planning for over 25 years. Each embodies the hospitality made famous in our state. Together, they stop at nothing to bring every guest an unrivaled experience.

Both lifelong Mississippians, Buddy and Joni understand the nuances of planning and implementing a successful Southern event. They oversee all operations, from food service to technology, for everything ranging from weddings and family reunions to corporate events and church retreats.

“We fell in love. With each other … then with this place. When the opportunity arose for us to actually own the place where we had wed, we jumped at it.”

Buddy & Joni McClain

Our History

What is now a natural haven of nearly 2,000 acres began with a deal made from love. Buddy and Joni McClain, who had married in the Chapel, began what was to become a labor of love when they purchased the original 468-acre property. When adjoining acreage became available, they jumped at the chance to expand their domain. The added property included what is now the Guest House, which was built between 1837 and 1841. A descendant of the home once wrote that the property was spared from burning by Gen. Sherman on his infamous march through the South, though he did water his horses in the lake out front, and his men took food and other supplies. Now beautifully renovated, the Guest House offers all the amenities of home, coupled with the quaint feel of days gone by.

McClain Experiences

There are no words to describe what a perfect wedding we had this past weekend! The venue was beautiful, the food, as always, was delicious and the staff more than attentive. Beautiful! Beautiful! Beautiful!

~ K. Duncan & R. Jordan

My daughter recently had her wedding here. We had such a wonderful experience from start/planning to finish! The venue is so beautiful that it is hard to even decide where to hold the various parts of the ceremony! I worked with Angela Measells throughout the process. She is so organized and thorough! I would definitely recommend this venue to anyone wanting an amazing wedding experience! We loved the venue, lodge, reception hall, guest cabins, food, fire pit, etc. After the wedding they even made bags of leftover food for the bride’s parents, groom’s parents, and bride and groom. They truly thought of everything!!! Such an amazing experience! Thank you Angela Measells and your staff for making our day so special!

~ Misty S.

Thank you so much for all you did for Hannah's wedding it was amazing. A truly special night. The food was delicious. If you could please thank your staff as well, they were so professional and pleasant.

~ K. Robinson

Thank you for working with us for Mama Clara's Christmas! The venue worked out well for us. We received numerous complements on location and food. I appreciate you assistance.

~ D. Dean

I just wanted to tell you THANK YOU so much for the job that you and your staff did for our party Saturday night. The food, the presentation of the food, your staff …. every single thing and every single detail were just absolutely perfect!! We simply could not have been more pleased. The food is what everyone is still talking about today!! It was just delicious – and sooooo well presented!! We will definitely look forward to working with you again!

~ L. Zeigler

Your staff was courteous, professional, friendly, and responsive. We’re still receiving emails and texts from our guests raving about the outstanding buffet - the food was truly exquisite and creatively presented. I can see why McClain’s Lodge is a sought after wedding and event venue - you’re a class act and you helped make our party memorable. Thank you

~ T. Franco

Had our wedding here and loved the experience! they were able to handle my special requests and made our big day easy! Everyone loved the food and the Lodge was a great place to stay for our wedding night!

~ R. White

Great place for ANY event! They ROCK!

~ J. Stewart

Everything was absolutely perfect! I don't think I'll ever get tired of mentioning this place or visiting. The venue itself is breathtaking, and there are so many natural sights to take in and explore. The catering was the best I ever had; I wonder if we can just come back to eat? HA! The value was phenomenal for everything that we were able to receive (a beautiful venue, the best customer service, delicious food, and did I mention: zebras?)! & Thank you, Mrs. Angela, for being with us every step of the way, even when Roosevelt was being a Groomzilla.

~ C. Courtney

It's Beautiful! A place that you can Just lose yourself in the elegance of the atmosphere .

~ L. Mart

My husband and I had the pleasure of attending the 30th Annual Charity Ball of the Rankin County JA's. It was wonderful. We also had a cabin to stay the night. So nice and cozy, very accommodating, a bed to die for, very roomy. Have made plans already to attend next year. Thanks McClain Lodge.

~ S. Francingues

Very nice, peaceful, calming, serene place set way back on a huge acreage with several unique & exotic animals roaming the grass lands at the edge of the woods. The lodges and cabins are very well appointed in a rustic but elegant stained wood. You just feel at home as soon as you arrive. Trees, stream, Chapel in the backdrop with a wooden walking bridge from the lodges. The staff was wonderful! The catering was very nice and delicious!

~ J. Milner

Angela and the staff at McClain Lodge were nothing short of AMAZING! They made our wedding weekend absolutely PERFECT! The food at the rehearsal dinner & reception was DELICIOUS! The property was breath takingly GORGEOUS! The reception hall was BEAUTIFUL! I cannot say enough how sweet and polite the staff was! They made the weekend flow so smoothly! They truly went above and beyond anything I ever expected! It was such a wonderful experience! Thank y'all so much!!A testimonial would go here

~ C. Smith

McClain Lodge is the perfect atmosphere for a perfect wedding. As the father of the bride I wanted to be sure Lauren had everything she dreamed of on her special day. Angela and her staff helped to make it come true. The lodge is beautiful. The food was delicious. It was a good as it can get. Thank you McClain Lodge for helping us make her dream come true.

~ B. Neighbors

McClain Lodge truly gave my husband and I the "fairytale wedding." From the beautiful scenery, to the elegant atmosphere of the reception hall, our day was absolutely perfect. The staff went above and beyond to make everything wonderful. Thank you could never be enough.

~ S. Owens

We've had a long and fruitful relationship with McClain Lodge, hosting on average two student events each year. The facilities are fabulous and the level of service we receive from their staff is exceptional.

~ Dr. Jerry Clark, UMMC Chief Student Affairs Officer

The food by McClain Catering was delicious as usual. We have so much fun out there. It’s just beautiful. Each year we say that was the best party then the next year no that was the best party and on and on... We loved the bench around the fire pit - that was perfect!

~ Jennifer Jill Handy, Fresenius Medical Care

Thanks so much for the delicious food!  McClain Catering is getting top notch reviews from my senior adults for our Valentine's Banquet.

~ Lynda M. Assink, Senior Adult Coordinating. Ridgeland Recreations & Parks

Tony, Thank you for the wonderful food at our March 27th Board Retreat. We had a wonderful experience - the food was amazing! And, the hospitality was overflowing. I am coming back one day to make fluffly biscuits with you! Thanks again.

~ Tammy Amis, Chief of Staff - MCHS

Angela, Thank you for your work in organizing our rehearsal dinner. Debbie and I got so many compliments from family and friends on McClain Lodge, to the food and the service. Everything was well done! Please thank your staff: especially Tony, Leroy and Melissa. They all made this special occasion even more memorable.

~ Bill

We just wanted to say thanks for everything.  It was a wonderful event and our Mom thoroughly enjoyed herself as did our guests.  The food was great and so was your staff. Thanks again!

~ Markus and Michele Ware

Please accept my sincere appreciation for your help for our Hearts for Heroes awards ceremony. Our sixth annual event was one of our best yet! This year, we recognized firefighters from Brandon, Cleveland, Columbus, Flowood, Gulfport, Greenville, Diamondhead, Hattiesburg, Horn Lake and Olive Branch. In addition, we were honored to have Governor Bryant in attendance. Thank you for your commitment to the Mississippi Burn Foundation. We look forward to having our event at McClain Lodge next year!

~ Amanda Fontaine

Thanks so much for everything and for letting us use your beautiful property. You guys do an amazing job and we will tell everybody we know how highly we recommend it. Everybody at the wedding had a great time and kept commenting on how nice of a location we picked. Sarah and I are both very thankful for all of your help and hard work. We appreciate McClain Lodge very much!

~ One Happy Groom

Angela, thanks so much for all of your help… from day one until the end on Saturday! We could not have asked for a better staff to assist us with all of our needs. Hats off to Chef Tony… he was wonderful!

~ Tina

I work at TempStaff and have the honor of being in the Rankin County Leadership Class this year. I just want to thank you for allowing us to use your beautiful property for our overnight retreat! It was absolutely breathtaking and a breath of fresh air from the hustle and bustle.

~ Michelle Rhodes

Thank you so much for all of your hard work preparing for, setting up, & working the event Tuesday night to make sure it was a success. We had countless compliments how great the food was. I don't think anything could have been any better. I hope to have the pleasure of working with ya'll again.

~ M. Harper

I just wanted to tell you again how much we appreciate everyone yall did to make Brandi and Michael's wedding, reception and rehearsal dinner the type experience it was. All your staff was great to work with and so particular with things, making sure everything was covered for everyone. And - the food was GREAT! I cannot tell you how many compliments I heard on the food, place, staff and everything. Please tell Tony and everyone we said thank you!

~ Kathy Priddy

Elegant, beautiful setting, beautiful sunset, immaculate grounds. I didn't see one glitch in the evening! It was spectacular! I would recommend this venue for anyone planning a wedding or other function! So glad I was there to experience it!

~ Hara Koerber

5 Star Beautiful place for any event! The staff is the best I have ever worked with. And I must say Angela is the BEST; she did everything possible to make our wedding everything we asked for ..... thank you Angela and thank you McClain Lodge.

~ Jessica Freeny Lambert