When I sold the Charlotte Agenda to Axios, I wanted to go on a fancy weekend getaway with my wife.
I looked at Blackberry Farm’s pricing and thought — wtf, I just can’t do this. I even called the concierge and asked, “Do you all have any nice guy specials?” She laughed and replied, “No.”
I went to book at Palmetto Bluff. Then I looked at Primland. Then High Hampton (now owned by the Blackberry people).
But, I couldn’t get Blackberry Farm out of my head, so I decided YOLO. It was so good that we went back again the next year after hitting final business targets.
Location: On the foothills of the Great Smoky Mountains in Walland, TN, a 4.5 hour drive from Charlotte.
Booking: 3-night minimum. They have 68 guest rooms – historic rooms, estate rooms, cottage suites, hill cottages, farmstead cottages, and fancy houses.
- I stayed in the King Estate Room at the main house ($1,445/night before fees). Loved it.
- I booked the same room the next time, but they gave us a free upgrade to the Singing Brook Cottages (typically $2,445/night before fees). Loved it even more.
- If money was no object, the Carriage House Suites looked awesome ($3,295/night before fees).
- Houses cost about $10,000 per night, so you’ve got to be really rich to do that.
- Least expensive option is their single Queen Historic Room ($1,145/night before fees).
In the know: Luxury travel nerds know Blackberry Farm as the top resort in the Southeast.
- It’s got an understated vibe, but they’ve won all the fancy awards like Travel + Leisure’s #1 Resort in the South.
Service: It’s next level. My wife said she enjoyed a puzzle (pretty nerdy move, btw) and when we got back to our room, there was another puzzle waiting for us. It felt like the staff to guest ratio was 4:1.
Food: It’s the best food I’ve ever had, hands down. Food is included in the price tag (booze is not).
- Make sure you eat at The Barn each night and make reservations at least a month out to make sure you get the times you want.
Kids: Are you crazy?! Even though there’s a kid’s camp, I would not bring my kids at that price point — but maybe I’m a bad dad or I need to sell companies for more money 🙂
Don’t go: If you’re an “explorer” type traveler, this place would be your hell. It’s a spot you go to chill.
- My wife and I hiked around the 4,200-acre property, went fly fishing on site ($220 per person for 2 hours), and she did a spa treatment ($325 for 80min massage).
- I wanted to do a wine and cheese tasting, but at $325 per person, I just couldn’t pull the trigger.
- Here’s the full menu of activities with prices and spa and wellness services with prices.
Price check: For three nights, a handful of activities, and normal drinking — my final Blackberry Farm bill was $7,838. I know, horrifying, but I still close my eyes and think about “Life at the farm” (haha).
Next level: If you’re a billionaire like my bestie Ric Elias, you should buy one of the 67 properties sprinkled across the property. There’s already a handful of billionaires with homes there.
- As an owner, you’ll need to be an invite-only Blackberry Farm Club Member with a $150K initiation (80% refundable) and annual dues of $13,500.
- Ric, if you actually buy a house after reading this, I get to use it for free for 1 week every year — no blackout dates for me and I’ll be there when musicians like Noah Kahn play intimate concerts with my other billionaire buddies after we fly fish.
Tour: Here’s a look around Blackberry Farm.
