Travelers Rest, S.C., March 2026 – The Cliffs is excited to announce its newest General Manager, Jason Zeller, who will head operations for The Cliffs at Walnut Cove. Jason brings more than three decades of leadership experience across private clubs, luxury hotels, and exceptional restaurants. An active member in the Club Management Association of America, Jason brings a uniquely well-rounded operational perspective to club leadership.
“Jason was selected from an extremely large pool of candidates because his expertise in team development, training, program innovation, and project management was perfectly suited to the developing needs of The Cliffs at Walnut Cove,” said Rob Duckett, President of The Cliffs. “We are thrilled to welcome him to the team during this exciting period of growth, and we are confident he will deliver operational excellence to our membership.”
Jason has served as General Manager of Sunnyside Country Club in Fresno, California, for the past seven years, during which he strengthened organizational culture and built a high-performing team capable of supporting expanding operations. Through a hands-on and highly visible leadership style, he worked alongside his team to elevate the member experience, resulting in a significant increase in member satisfaction.
His energy, accessibility, and commitment to excellence have made a lasting impression on members, guests, and staff alike, and his teams have been recognized with numerous industry accolades. Jason’s leadership journey has been influenced by opportunities with some of the industry’s most respected organizations, including Four Seasons Resorts and several well-respected private clubs including The Club at Ibis and Turtle Creek Club, where he served as Executive Chef, and Escondido Golf & Lake Club where he led food, beverage, and clubhouse operations. These experiences shaped his belief that the strongest clubs honor tradition while continuously evolving to meet the needs of their members and team.
Known for his collaborative leadership style, Jason believes that great clubs are built by great teams. He is passionate about fostering a culture grounded in trust, accountability, and shared vision—empowering his team to succeed and ensuring the impact of that culture results in consistent, memorable member experiences across all areas of the club. Jason attended the prestigious Culinary Institute of America in Hyde Park, New York, where he received an associate’s degree in culinary arts, and he has also achieved the Level 1 Sommelier Certification.
Beyond his professional accomplishments, Jason is deeply devoted to his family. He and his wife, Anna, are proud parents to five children — Andrew (21), Nathan (18), Penelope (9), Liam (8), and Rue (6). In this active season of life, their children’s pursuits in soccer, baseball, tennis, and dance happily set the pace for the family’s daily rhythm. Together, they embrace every opportunity for adventure, whether discovering a new trail, traveling to a new city, exploring local cuisine, or spending time outdoors and on the water.
The Asheville Region — home to The Cliffs at Walnut Cove — is a scene of unparalleled natural beauty inspired by the ageless villages of Europe, nestled in a lush valley, bordered by the Pisgah National Forest and Blue Ridge Parkway, and just minutes from downtown Asheville. The town is on top of every travel writer’s list in no small part because everything thrives there – the fine arts, music, crafts, cuisine, and especially, craft brewing. Residents enjoy the convenience and excitement of living in one of the nation’s best small cities, with the calm and ease of a private golf community, including nationally acclaimed golf, dining, and a state-of-the-art Wellness Center. In September 2026, Asheville’s first PGA TOUR event since 1942 will take place at the Jack Nicklaus-designed course at The Cliffs at Walnut Cove, with the community hosting the Biltmore Championship Asheville from September 17 - 20, 2026.
About The Cliffs
The Cliffs is a collection of seven private, luxury residential mountain and lake club communities located in the Carolina Blue Ridge Mountains, between two of the nation’s top award-winning cities for quality of life – Greenville, S.C. and Asheville, N.C. – and Clemson, S.C., home to top-ranked Clemson University. The Cliffs’ suite of amenities for club members includes seven clubhouses, seven nationally recognized golf courses, seven wellness centers, multiple tennis and pickleball complexes, first padel courts at a private community in South Carolina, a marina, beach club, and equestrian center, more than a dozen restaurant and private event venues, and over 2,000 year-round programs and social activities to create timeless experiences. Homes at The Cliffs range in price from $800,000 to $6M+; homesites, starting at $125,000. For more information about real estate, membership, or to arrange a visit to The Cliffs, please contact 864.249.4364 or go to CliffsLiving.com
