In Memoriam

It was with extreme sadness that I learned recently of the death of Sam Beall, the proprietor of Blackberry Farm, a distinguished country house hotel in Tennessee.

Beall was killed in a skiing accident at the indecently young age of 39, and he leaves behind a wife and five children. His parents purchased Blackberry Farm in 1976 and he took over its management in 2002. In the subsequent 14 years, Beall created what is arguably the finest hotel of its kind in America. Spells at the California Culinary Academy and The French Laundry inspired his passion for artisanal food and heirloom ingredients. This informed the delicious “Foothills Cuisine” at Blackberry Farm’s restaurant, The Barn. In September 2014, Hideaway Report subscribers voted Blackberry Farm the No. 1 Food and Wine Resort in the United States. Last year it was No. 2, just behind Auberge du Soleil. In the most recent update of The Harper Collection I awarded the property an overall rating of 97. The Hideaway Report is a publication devoted to some of life’s pleasures and is not really a place for an obituary, but in these tragic circumstances, I felt that it would be appropriate to express my profound respect for Sam Beall’s accomplishments and to extend my condolences to the members of his family. It is they who must now perpetuate his legacy of exceptionally refined Southern hospitality.