Blackberry Farm

August 10, 2016 / Heather Somaini

Blackberry Farm
1471 West Millers Cove Road Walland, Tennessee 37886
blackberryfarm.com ($$$$$)

Eat AND Drink: One of the loveliest places on earth.

Blackberry Farm has a special place in my heart. My parents first experienced this magical resort and introduced it to me 10+ years ago. I was incredibly skeptical when they mentioned this “amazing” inn and restaurant so close to their new retirement home. What could be THAT amazing in Tennessee, right? Well it’s pretty damn amazing.

First off, let me tell you that even though I’ve eaten at the Blackberry Farm Barn, their main dining room, many times, I’ve never actually stayed overnight although my parents have and oddly enough, a friend of mine is there on vacation as I write. His response when I asked him what he thought: WOWZA.

Blackberry Farm was purchased and developed by Sandy and Kreiss Beall in 1976, the year their son Sam was born. The Beall’s moved their young family to the farm and began to develop the land into what it is today, eventually handing over the reins to Sam.
Sam is a delight and we had the good fortune to meet him on our first visit. We had been chatting up the staff in “the Barn” and wanted to purchase a few cookbooks for ourselves and friends before we left. The host insisted on checking to see if Sam was available to meet us and sign our cookbooks. He arrived very quickly, was incredibly gracious, and we adored spending a few minutes with him. Aside from the amazing food, wine, venue and service, it was a highlight of our night. Picture perfect. Sadly, Sam passed away in 2016 in a skiing accident and his widow, Mary Celeste Beall has taken over the full responsibility of Proprietor of Blackberry Farm. We feel incredibly lucky to have our few minutes with Sam many years ago and hope to meet Mary on a future outing.

Our first visit to Blackberry Farm was right after Christmas. The weather was cold, there was a slight snow on the ground and the Barn was decked out in all its holiday glory. White lights and roaring fireplaces everywhere. We were in heaven and thoroughly enjoyed our anniversary dinner – the chef’s tasting menu and wine pairings to match. We’ve returned in the winter and also in the summer and they never disappoint.

I took advantage of my friend vacationing there right now and had him snap a few pics of the current menu and scenery. He and his family are in heaven, enjoying every minute of their days in this enchanted locale. My parents...continue to enjoy the Farm every time they visit!