Blackberry Farm, Walland

My husband and I had a lovely experience at BBF. It is amazing! Yes, the prices are extreme but you are paying for a 5 star resort. I do agree with a previous poster that staff could be payed a considerable amount more if the pay rate is true. They are the ones who make it all happen. The only negative I saw while up there is a couple of housekeepers who seem too flirty (and seem to have relations with other staff, one man in particular) and a strange woman who works with the horses. My husband and I stopped by the stables just for fun and this woman seemed a bit off. I also noticed that she too seems to be taking numbers! We were tucked in a cozy spot on the creek and she and a flyfisherman didn't notice us there. Love or lust must be in the air up there! Overall a lovely trip though.

During my stay I found out that Sam Beall only pays these hard working young employees just $10 per hour! How's that make you feel for overpaying for a room of $950 a night!

My daughter and I spent a brief visit (not long enough) at Blackberry Farm and this is by far the most beautiful and relaxing place we have been. The grounds are breathtaking and the accommodations are very comfortable and elegant. It was very cold when we visited, however, the heated bathroom floors and the woodburning fireplace gave us a great way to warm up while in the room. The food was unbelievably fresh, abundant and delicious! We had to depart before lunch so the staff had lovely boxed lunches sitting on the seat of our car when it was pulled up upon check out. Finally, the service was nothing less than exemplary! In the dining rooms there were several who tended our table. Room service for breakfast was just as nice. The server who brought breakfast failed to bring utensils or china for our dreads and jam, however, we made due by what was available in the snack bar. This is a wonderful retreat for those that enjoy a quiet atmosphere with phenomenal service.

We too has heard about the farm and the restaurant. We called ahead and asked if we could dine there though we were not staying on the property. The clerk told us that we could make reservations and we traveled approx 4 1/2 hours (one way) to get there. It was a special occasion and we though it would be great fun. Upon our arrival the clerk was VERY rude and made us feel like "riff raff". We told them we had called ahead etc and we were all but told we were liars, that they do NOT and will NOT ever allow anyone to eat in their facility unless we were staying there. My Gosh! How embarrassed we were in front of friends, how awful we felt and were treated! If this kind of attitude is what someone might pay $750 a night for I would greatly prefer Holiday Inn!!

The place had everything a physically active human being could ever want to do and the best food and spa a person could experience.

Service was good but not exceptional. Meals were good but not exceptional. Rooms were clean and adequate but not exceptional. The rates would indicate exceptional service, meals and rooms. They did not deliver. It was a good experience but not exceptional. The rates were exceptionally high and we did not receive good value.

We recently stayed at Blackberry with family and friends. The scenery is incredible and the staff are friendly and extremely helpful. The farm has great outdoor activities with hiking, fly fishing and riding to name a few. The accomodations are superior and the beds are very comfortable. The food is good but not great. Breakfast was nice but the dinner was okay. I look forward to returning.

Our vacation to North Carolina and Tennessee happened to coincide with the 2007 restaurant issue of Bon Appitite. The Blackberry Farm was listed as one of the best restaurants for fried chicken in the United States. My husband is a fried chicken aficionado. We were excited about the opportunity. We were staying in Knoxville for a couple of days and Walland is nearby. Our party of four couples set out on an adventure to find the restaurant. We called ahead for directions and reservations, if necessary, for lunch. The representative that took our call was less than charming. In no uncertain terms we were told they were not open to the public. We shared that we had come from California, were excited about their review and "came all this way to eat fried chicken." We were told that we were lying and that they were not responsible for anything a magazine may write about them. She then told us that they only included fried chicken on the menu on Saturdays, and, I am sure, when she realized that it was Saturday, covered herself by saying that on this particular Saturday they were not offering fried chicken. We could however, eat in their dining room if we stayed at the hotel, and did we want to reserve a room. We went a ahead and drove to the farm just to see this bastion of exclusivity in the heart of the charming and beautiful Smoky Mountains. We asked one of the staff for a referral to a local restaurant where we might find some fried chicken. He kindly directed us to a really cute cafe down the road. Unfortunately, there was no chicken on the menu. I think it was being called a liar that upset us the most. The magazine will also receive a complaint about the article, but the magazine has nothing to do with the conduct of the staff at the hotel. The reservation clerk was on a mission to make sure we understood that they do not cater to riff raff.

I liked the friendliness and kindness of the staff. The food was excellent and that is an understatement. The beds are soft and comfy. The golf carts are available so that you can ride the paved paths all over the property. That was my most favorite thing because the property is gorgeous.