On a 4,200-acre estate in the foothills of Tennessee’s Smoky Mountains, Blackberry Farm is one of the South’s most celebrated country inns. Those in the know commend its exquisite location, first-rate service and delicious food but there’s truly something for everyone at the Forbes Travel Guide Four-Star hotel.
The property’s two ponds and stream beckon anglers; other diversions include horseback riding, swimming, hiking and tennis. Epicureans savor the regionally inspired haute cuisine. And housed in a charming 1870s farmhouse, The Wellhouse spa offers unique treatments like Journey to our Deep Healing Woods, a forest bathing ritual that makes use of the inn's rustic environs.
Blackberry Farm began as a couple’s dream home in the 1930s (it got its name when one of the owners snagged her stocking on a blackberry bush) and was converted to an inn in 1976. Since that time, it has slowly expanded from a six-bedroom country inn to the 68-room luxury resort it is today.
The property’s two ponds and stream beckon anglers; other diversions include horseback riding, swimming, hiking and tennis. Epicureans savor the regionally inspired haute cuisine. And housed in a charming 1870s farmhouse, The Wellhouse spa offers unique treatments like Journey to our Deep Healing Woods, a forest bathing ritual that makes use of the inn's rustic environs.
Blackberry Farm began as a couple’s dream home in the 1930s (it got its name when one of the owners snagged her stocking on a blackberry bush) and was converted to an inn in 1976. Since that time, it has slowly expanded from a six-bedroom country inn to the 68-room luxury resort it is today.
Our Inspector's Highlights
- This classic, 1800s-style American farmhouse provides a secluded hideaway. Opt for one of the luxurious and inviting cottages — they feel like home.
- You’ll have plenty of activities to fulfill your days at this luxury Tennessee hotel. Go for a horseback ride, fly fish, hike through miles of scenic trails, bike, kayak or canoe, or have a gourmet meal with a bottle of wine.
- The rustic setting serves as inspiration for The Wellhouse's spa services, whether it's using healing herbs and flowers for a massage, giving Learning Lectures on topics like the science behind deep-healing woods or nutrition counseling that focuses on fresh farm ingredients. The charming spa is located in a 1800s farmhouse and has been beautifully restored.
- Blackberry Farm provides delivers Southern hospitality and gourmet food. Foodie flock here just to dine at the Four-Star Barn at Blackberry Farm. The culinary team contains a talented group of chefs, sommeliers, gardeners, bakers and others who have refined the art of preparing farm-to-table cuisine.
- The sprawling grounds are bucolic. Stroll through the verdant, winding trails; explore the tranquil nearby forests; or simply enjoy the sun-drenched hillside as you eat fluffy pancakes alfresco at the Main House.
Things to Know
- Blackberry has a packed calendar of special events. Live musical performances, wine tastings, special meals featuring rare wine pairings, cooking classes and demonstrations, and educational seminars are just a few.
- Blackberry Farm has an impressive 180,000-plus wine bottle collection and 8,000 unique selections on the list. Oenophiles can schedule time during their visit for in-depth tastings led by a sommelier.
- A portion of the luxury hotel's 4,200-acre property is set aside for farming, producing vegetables, herbs, honey, cider and various cheeses. The farm’s horses, sheep, llamas, chickens and dogs live on the property.
- Natural food foraged from the farm and the woods are on the menu at the innovative restaurant, including wild mushrooms, leeks, crabapples and huckleberries in not-to-be-missed dishes.
- Meals are included with your stay. However, alcohol as well as any food and drink at The Wellhouse and during activities will incur an extra charge.
The Rooms
- There’s no shortage of lodging options: estate rooms in the guest house of the Four-Star hotel share a common living room with cozy fireplaces, comfortable couches and a large bay window facing the mountains.
- Romantic one-bedroom cottage suites are tucked away and have covered porches with rocking chairs, wood-burning fireplaces and large bathrooms with a whirlpool tub.
- The two-level Farmhouse has three bedrooms, each with its own spacious bathroom. With a gourmet kitchen, large dining room and living room with a handcrafted stone fireplace, the Farmhouse is a wonderful retreat for hosting family or friends.
- The Farmstead Cottage comes with a dining room and a kitchen with gourmet appliances. This one-bedroom lodging has three wood-burning fireplaces and a flat-screen TV for ultimate stay-in comfort.
- An enormous mountain home tucked away in the Chilhowee Mountain Ridge, the Joe Pye Cottage has four bedrooms, a top-notch kitchen, living room with a handcrafted stone fireplace and a 20-foot waterfall near the entrance.
The Restaurants
- Breakfast and lunch are served daily in the Main House dining rooms, replete with hearty dishes based on the regional cuisine of the surrounding foothills, and lighter, healthier alternatives.
- On Sundays, sup on a continental breakfast in the Hickory Club room or when noon rolls around, take your midday meal out among nature; the staff will be happy to pack you a picnic lunch and recommend its favorite spots on the grounds to dine alfresco.
- Dinner can be found in the Four-Star Barn at Blackberry Farm in the center of the property, where the multi-course meal is designed around farm-fresh ingredients harvested just a few feet away.
- Within the Main House, The Dogwood bar opens daily and has two crackling fireplaces to cozy up next to with a cocktail, as well as a mountain view best admired from the veranda.
- The Dogwood and The Barn Bar specialize in whiskey and carry fine selections such as Pappy Van Winkle's Family Reserve 23-year. Several of the specialty cocktails incorporate whiskey as well, such as the Sazerac, made with Russell's Reserve Rye Whiskey, Absente and sugar, garnished with a twist of lemon.
Getting There
1471 West Millers Cove Road, Walland, Tennessee 37886
TEL865-984-8166
TEL865-984-8166
NEARBY AIRPORT(S)
TYS (35 min)
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