Blackberry Farm Review: What to Know Before You Book

Blackberry Farm | Walland, Tennessee | Relais & Châteaux | Rates from ~$1,500/night

Blackberry Farm sits on 4,200 acres in the foothills of the Great Smoky Mountains in Walland, Tennessee. It is one of a handful of American properties that genuinely earns the Relais & Châteaux designation. For a certain kind of traveler, it has no real equal in the country: a working farm, a serious wine cellar, a culinary program rooted in Southern Appalachian tradition, and enough outdoor activity to fill a week without leaving the property.

I've been visiting since the Sam Beall era, when the property began earning the accolades it now has in spades. I returned with my kids this past June after a long absence. Here's what I found.

Great Smoky Mountains lake view from Blackberry Farm property in summer

The Bottom Line

Blackberry Farm is still excellent. It has grown, gotten busier, and some of the service precision that made it legendary has been refined; it is clear this is a property that has hit its stride and is running as well as ever. The food is as strong as always. The wine cellar remains one of the best in North America. If you book the right accommodation and go in with accurate expectations, it will still be one of the most memorable domestic trips you take.

Costs: What to Actually Budget

Room rates start around $1,500/night for entry-level accommodations. Houses start between $6,000 and $7,000/night. To that, add a 20% service charge on your room rate and most additional charges, plus 14.75% in taxes and fees.

Meals are included in the nightly rate: arrival dinner, daily breakfast, lunch, and dinner at The Dogwood or The Barn. Alcoholic beverages are not included. In-room dining and picnic lunches are charged separately and carry that same 20% service charge.

Activities are priced per person and not included in the room rate. Most guided experiences run $150–$325 per person depending on duration, and all carry the 20% service charge. Plan for this. A family of four doing two or three guided activities per day will add up fast.

Children ages 4 and up staying in a parent's room are $250/child/night plus tax and service charge, which covers meals and occupancy charges.

Accommodations: Which Room Type to Book

Not all rooms at Blackberry Farm are created equal.

Historic and Estate Rooms are the most centrally located and the most "original" to the property, but they're smaller and do not include golf carts. These rooms are good for couples who are traveling for shorter periods of time and who intend mostly to spend their time dining or at the spa.

Carriage House Suites offer more space and privacy. Layouts are compact but efficient. Second-floor suites require stairs; there is no elevator. The Tim Whisky Suite is the only fully ADA-accessible room on property.

Holly Glade Cottage Suites are generously sized with king beds, fireplaces, and private porches or patios. More secluded than the Carriage House and a good choice for couples.

Singing Brook Cottage Suites are my recommendation for families. Many have connecting room configurations, which is rare at a property like this. Spacious, private, and well laid out.

The Houses are the best experience on property. Newly built but designed to feel like a lived-in Southern estate: king bedrooms, full kitchens, screened porches, fireplaces, generous outdoor space. Starting at $6,000–7,000/night, they're priced accordingly. Garden House leans traditional and rustic. If you want something more contemporary, Blackberry Mountain (the sister property) skews modern.

Garden House king bedroom with fireplace, Blackberry Farm Tennessee

Golf carts are included with suites and houses. They are not included with Historic or Estate Rooms.

Dining

The Barn is the flagship fine dining restaurant and the best reason to come. Hyper-seasonal, hyper-local, rooted in Foothills Cuisine with serious technique behind it. Dress code applies: jackets recommended, no t-shirts or casual wear. Available to guests ages 10 and older. Reserve before you arrive.

The Dogwood is the more approachable option in the Main House. Breakfast (7:30–10:30am) and lunch (noon–2:30pm) are served here daily, with an all-day menu until 5:30pm. Families with children under 10 dine here at the 5:30–6:30pm family seating. Quality ranges from good to excellent at breakfast and lunch. Dinner is solid.

The Wine Cellar is over 150,000 bottles and one of the largest hotel wine cellars in North America. The list is particularly deep in Burgundy and includes serious allocations you won't find at most American restaurants. Private tastings start at $3,500 for up to six guests; individual tasting experiences start around $150–175 per person. Let the team guide you through at least one dinner. The cellar is the one thing about Blackberry Farm that remains beyond reproach.

One thing worth knowing: to-go orders from The Dogwood are not available. In-room dining is available but charged separately. If a picnic lunch sounds appealing, budget for it.

Seasonal farm-to-table dinner at The Barn, Blackberry Farm Relais & Châteaux

Activities

Blackberry Farm sits on 4,200 private acres with Great Smoky Mountains National Park directly beyond the property line. Swimming, tennis, pickleball, the fitness center, and leisure hiking are all complimentary. Nearly everything guided carries a per-person fee plus the 20% service charge.

Fly Fishing is one of the signature activities. Hesse Creek runs through the property and the team manages it carefully. On-property guided trips start at $150/person; off-property float trips run higher. Worth prioritizing if it's on your list.

Horseback Riding departs from a 200-acre equestrian facility about a mile from the main entrance. All rides are private. The Field and Stream Trail Ride is the most popular. Pony Time is available for young children with a parent. Rides start at $175/person.

Clay Shooting, Archery, and Paintball take place at the Smoky Mountain Sports Club, which is off-property and about 45 minutes from the Farm. Plan accordingly if this is on your agenda.

Paddle Sports (canoeing, kayaking, and stand-up paddleboarding) run May through October and are also off-property. About 45 minutes away. Worth the drive, but factor in the travel time.

The Farmstead is one of the most quietly memorable parts of a stay for kids. Visiting the farm animals, gathering eggs in season, and touring the dairy barn costs around $150/person for a guided tour and is worth every bit of it.

Wine and spirit tastings range from accessible ($150–175/person for wine and cheese or a whiskey tasting) to serious splurges (the Bucket List Tasting at $1,250/person, private tastings starting at $3,500).

Farmside Pool at Blackberry Farm surrounded by meadow and lawn, Walland Tennessee

Kids and Families

Blackberry Farm is one of the most genuinely family-friendly luxury properties in the country. The programming is thoughtful and the property rewards exploration.

Camp Blackberry is available year-round for ages 3 and up. Sessions run morning (9am–1pm, lunch included), afternoon (1–5pm), and evening (5:30–9:30pm, dinner included). Each day features a rotating itinerary: culinary activities, outdoor adventure, art, wellness, and farm exploration. The cost is $140/session, plus the 20% service charge. Space is limited and advance booking through the concierge is required. Children whose parents have paid the $250/night child supplement have sessions covered in that fee.

Book Camp before you arrive. A morning session gives parents a real window for the spa, a fly fishing session, or a leisurely Barn dinner without rushing.

The Family Adventure Series is parent-child programming designed to be done together: stream exploration, adventure archery, family hikes, guided photo scavenger hunts, and paddle sports. Most activities start at age 2 with an accompanying adult and run $150–300 for a family of four. These are among the best-value experiences on property.

Youth Discovery is available for ages 10 and up at special times throughout the year: ceramics, jewelry making, orienteering, and farm-to-table gardening. Contact the concierge for availability.

Babysitting is available for children as young as 6 weeks at $35/hour per sitter, with a two-hour minimum. Book in advance; availability is limited.

Camp Blackberry kids program outdoor activity, Blackberry Farm Tennessee

Best Time to Visit

Fall is spectacular. October foliage in the Smokies is the real thing and the property feels built for it. Book at least six months out. Spring is quieter with excellent farm programming. Summer is peak family season with full outdoor activity availability. Winter is the least crowded and has its own appeal, though some off-property activities are weather-dependent.

How It Compares

Blackberry Farm is often compared to Twin Farms (Vermont), San Ysidro Ranch (California), and Post Ranch Inn (California). Twin Farms is more intimate and arguably more consistent on service. San Ysidro Ranch offers more flexibility on dining and room service. Post Ranch Inn does not allow guests under 18. Blackberry Farm is the strongest of this group for families and the most serious about wine and culinary programming. It is also the most physically active.

For international comparisons in the country-house-meets-serious-kitchen category, Ballyfin Demesne in Ireland and Le Manoir aux Quat'Saisons in the UK are the closest I can point to.

My Recommendation

Book a Singing Brook Suite or, if budget allows, one of the houses. Plan at least three nights. Reserve The Barn early. Let the wine team guide at least one meal. Book Camp Blackberry before you arrive if you have kids in the 3–10 range, and use that time for the spa, a hike, or a fly fishing session.

The service is softer than it used to be. The storytelling that once made every meal feel like a tutorial in Southern Appalachian provenance isn't as woven in as it was. But the bones of the property are exceptional. For families looking for a domestic trip that is simultaneously sophisticated and deeply kid-friendly, nothing else in the U.S. comes close.

Planning a trip to Blackberry Farm or weighing it against Blackberry Mountain? Reach out. I'm happy to help you figure out which property fits your group.

Blackberry Farm | Walland, Tennessee | Relais & Châteaux | Rates from approximately $1,500/night plus 20% service charge and 14.75% taxes and fees | Houses from $6,000–7,000/night

Farmstead at Blackberry Farm with dairy barn and farm animals, Walland Tennessee