Celebrating 50 Years of Blackberry Farm

Mary Celeste Beall has carried on her late husband Sam Beall’s farm-to-table dream at Blackberry Farm. Here, she looks back on the legendary family-owned hotel’s legacy and shares what’s in store for the future. 

What’s the origin story of Blackberry Farm?

My in-laws, Kreis Beall White and Sandy Beall, started Blackberry Farm as a six-room inn. So, it was certainly a much smaller operation than it is today. It truly began as welcoming people to their home, and that’s exactly what we want guests to feel when we welcome them today. Kreis and Sandy were young, excited about this land, and passionate about great hospitality. Kreis wanted a place where people felt comfortable and taken care of, where they could gather at the table like family. Those humble beginnings created the ethos of Blackberry Farm, and that spirit is what has made Blackberry Farm so special to so many people over the last 50 years.

What was the original vision for Blackberry Farm?

I think the vision was simply to run an inn. Kreis wanted to host, welcome, and cook, and she and Sandy wanted to share the beauty of the Great Smoky Mountains with visitors. When they first opened in 1976, they started with hosting corporate retreats. Then in 1990, they fully opened to the public. In the years since, we’ve added restaurants, built Bramble Hall, a beautiful venue, expanded the gardens, and hosted all kinds of events, including music, wellness, cycling, food and wine and many more. So, the vision has evolved over the years and continues to evolve five decades in. The Bealls have always been dreamers, and aren’t we all so lucky that they dreamed big.

What would you say is the heart and soul of the property?

The team, absolutely, is the heart and soul of Blackberry Farm and Blackberry Mountain. Great hospitality comes from the people. You can have the most beautiful setting in the world (and I’m biased, but I think we do), but it takes the best people to make guests from all over the world feel welcome and important.

What makes the cellar so special?

For one, the tunnel. It never gets old watching someone descend the stairs and experience the view of the wine tunnel for the first time. But, of course, what’s most special is the bottles it holds. The wine collection has been so thoughtfully curated over the years, and the bottles represent the incredible stories and lives of some of the greatest winemakers and importers in the world. It started with my husband, Sam, and continues with Andy Chabot and his team, but the effort to forge genuine relationships with vintners, producers, sommeliers, and leaders across the industry is the reason we have the collection we do today.

How has the spa evolved?

The spa had its own humble beginnings. It’s amazing how much the wellness industry has changed over the years, and I’m thankful for a thoughtful and talented team who help us maintain the ethos of our spa programming while evolving our treatments to create the most enjoyable and effective experiences for our guests. We keep a holistic connection to the land around us while always researching and learning about the best natural products and innovative techniques.

What is some of the newest programming that you’ve added to the property?

One of the incredible things about experiencing life in the Great Smoky Mountains is that while going on a guided hike, a horseback ride, or a fly fishing adventure – just to name a few! – may not be “new” programming at the Farm, you will never have the same experience twice. There is always something new to discover! You never know what surprises the land will offer that day. Our Blackberry Year events also create really unique opportunities to experience Blackberry Farm in a way that will only happen at that event with those people. We are so lucky to welcome leaders in culinary, wine, wellness and beyond who partner with the Blackberry team to create truly one-of-a-kind experiences. 

What was the inspiration for Blackberry Mountain?

When we first started thinking about Blackberry Mountain, it really wasn’t about how much we could build, it was about how much we could protect. Half of Blackberry Mountain’s 5,200 acres are in conservation, ensuring the land gets to prosper undisturbed. So we kept things intentionally low density and took our time placing everything where it felt right, rather than forcing the land to fit a plan. The goal was always for it to feel like the Mountain is still the main character, and we’re just lucky enough to be part of it. 

During the winter, we did some exciting renovations to the Lodge. We enclosed the dining terrace to create a new dining space, redesigned the Whippoorwill Bar, and installed beautiful new lighting and artwork. We also redesigned the Classroom in the Hub to accommodate an even broader range of classes. We’re finishing renovations now to reimagine the lower floor of the Lodge as a new private dining experience, and we’re finalizing some updates to the spa, Nest. We’ve added new wellness programming as well. 

What do the next 10 years at Blackberry look like?

You never know. Of course, we have some ideas and goals, but one of the beautiful things about Blackberry and the team here is that a new big idea may spark tomorrow, and this team will make it happen.