Blackberry Farm (Tennessee)

Blackberry Farm is a 4,200-acre luxury hotel located in Walland, Tennessee, United States. The property resides off of West Millers Cove Road near the Great Smoky Mountains National Park,^[1] and is home to 62 estate and cottage rooms. The property is located within a 25-minute drive from the Knoxville airport and was rated the best small hotel in America by Zagat Survey in 2004.^[2]

History

Blackberry Farm was first built by Florida and David Lasier in 1940 and opened in May 1941. The plan for Blackberry was for it to be a mountain inn^[3] operated by David Lasier's sister, Ruth Lasier Harris and her husband, Jim. In 1952, the Lasiers sold the property to the Jarvis family. They also maintained it as an inn after two years living there by themselves. They made few changes to the property, but they did add a pool and had livestock. Then, the Jarvis family sold the property to Sandy and Kreis Beall in 1976 as a 9-room house along with the property. Proprietor Sam Beall, the son of Sandy and Kreis Beall, served as owner of the property after being raised at Blackberry Farm and learning how the property functions. His mother, Kreis Beall, undertook many modern renovations of the property.^[4] Sam died in February 2016 in a Colorado skiing accident.^[5]

Property details

Blackberry Farm hosts several different activities and events on and off property through culinary demonstrations, music concerts, and wine tastings.^[6] The property includes The Barn, a dining and entertainment venue, Farmhouse Spa, and several cottage houses available to guests. Throughout the property are trails, Hesse Creek, and activity centers for sports, clay shooting and horseback riding. The artisanal staff includes the chef, master gardener, baker, cheese maker, forger, butcher, sommelier, and several other experienced members. Blackberry Farm hosts several different artists, chefs, and musicians for different holidays, as well as hosting corporate meetings and weddings.

References

1. Cole, Jennifer V. "Experience Luxury at Blackberry Farm". Southern Living. Retrieved March 16, 2013.
2. "A Taste of Blackberry Farm". O, The Oprah Magazine. Fall 2007. Retrieved March 16, 2013.
3. {The Henry Lyle Report, "Four Miles from Walland on a Country Road" and "Blackberry Farm Gallery: The first year."}
4. "The Inn at Blackberry Farm - History". Blackberry Farm. Retrieved March 16, 2013.
5. Blackberry Farm's Sam Beall Has Died
6. "Blackberry Farm". Luxury Hotel Experts. Retrieved March 16, 2013.