The Debut of Blackberry Mountain

For many years, Blackberry Farm in East Tennessee has been a favorite property of Andrew Harper members and a fixture at the top of our annual Reader Survey. (Currently, I give it a rating of 97.) Owned by the Beall family since 1976 and bordering the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, the resort is about to acquire a sibling, a 15-minute drive away.

Blackberry Mountain will be set on a 5,200-acre estate — 2,800 acres of which will be marked for conservation — and it will open with six traditional cabins, plus 13 cottages and multi-bedroom homes. An array of outdoor sports and adventures will include hiking, mountain biking, rock climbing, fly-fishing and horseback riding. In addition to a yoga studio, spin studio and gymnasium, the resort will offer a spa with an infinity-edge pool and two restaurants. The Firetower, a casual eatery constructed at the base of the historic Millstone Gap Lookout Tower, will offer 360-degree views of the Smoky Mountains, while Three Sisters in the lodge will specialize in wild, foraged ingredients. Reservations are being accepted for stays in late 2018.