Shortly after they first struck up their relationship in 2019, Michael and Mary Blevins discovered that their skillsets and passion for developing luxury spaces complemented each other professionally and personally. After decades of high-end design and marketing strategies for the real estate and economic development sector, building and designing spaces for themselves, the now-married couple felt was the next natural progression to intertwine their skillsets from the ground up.

“Once we got together, we instantly recognized both of our skillsets and how well they played together,” Michael said.

With Michael’s 25-year background in real estate development and marketing complemented by his love of architecture and building plus Mary’s career in hospitality and interior design, the couple launched their own contracting company in 2022: Mason Dixon Brothers. They began by purchasing and renovating a historic storefront on Tazewell’s Main Street to create Haus of Taylor, an art gallery that doubles as an Airbnb and a showcase for the design and building skills of Mason Dixon Brothers.

As they completed Haus of Taylor, however, a larger vision began to take shape—one that extended beyond a single property and aimed to breathe new life into their hometown and the entire Southwest Virginia region. Ground zero for this revitalization is an 87-acre property they own, dubbed Ruakh Resort. They and Mason Dixon Brothers’ master carpenter Scott Fry are in the process of converting Ruakh into a getaway destination for concerts, events, and vacations.

This vision led Michael and Mary to the SBDC.

“Everything Mason Dixon does is focused toward making Ruakh a success and one of the biggest things to hit Southwest Virginia,” Michael says. “Mason Dixon really exists to fund that. In 10 years, we hope to have a little Red Rock in the back of the property – an outdoor amphitheater that attracts big names to a place where people may think there’s nothing.”

To secure funding that would make those first steps possible, Michael and Mary began working with the SBDC in February 2024 through a recommendation from the Tazewell County IEDA. Mt Empire SBDC Director Becki O’Quinn-Purdie and Southwest Virginia SBDC Director Denise Harmon helped them apply for a Virginia Coalfield Economic Development Authority (VCEDA) tourism grant. VCEDA approved a $10,000 grant that helped Michael and Mary build Ruakh Resort’s first luxury geodesic dome.

The Blevins’ 10-year plan is to erect more geodesic domes at Ruakh in proximity to other amenities like a common house kitchen and the aforementioned concert venue. And with Mason Dixon Brothers’ capabilities and the SBDC’s resources and funding connections, they intend to do all the work themselves.

“We just thought, we have 87 acres of fun land. How do we turn that into something that’s an attraction, that holds events like Bristol has and other places like that?” Michael said. “That’s what will help the community. Our ultimate goal is to have art and culture, art and music festivals, fall festivals and weddings. If we can get more lodging here, then that money stays in our community, in our county.”