Walland, United States
Blackberry Mountain: Secluded 5,200-acre Great Smoky Mountains wellness sanctuary in Walland with Firetower summit dining and Nest Spa
Rising across 5,200 protected wilderness acres in the Great Smoky Mountains of Walland, Tennessee, Blackberry Mountain opened in February 2019 as the active, wellness-focused sister retreat to the world-renowned Blackberry Farm. Designed by architect Keith Summerour, the mountain sanctuary dedicates over 2,800 acres to permanent land conservation. Forty-three stone cottages, treehouses, watchman cabins, and private homes blend rugged stone and timber with floor-to-ceiling glass to frame sweeping vistas of misty blue mountain ridges and untouched deciduous forests.
Arrival at the Mountain Lodge introduces travelers to panoramic alpine tranquility: personal hosts welcome guests before coordinating daily adventures across 25 miles of private hiking and mountain biking trails. Day-one logistics focus on planning active outdoor and wellness experiences: sunrise yoga at the summit Firetower, bouldering and rock climbing on private cliffs, trail running through rhododendron valleys, forest bathing with resident naturalists, and reserving dinner at Three Sisters.
Mountain living harmoniously integrates wellness, active exploration, and fine dining: the Nest Spa offers hydrotherapy soaking pools, herbal saunas, and holistic therapies, alongside an aerial yoga studio and gym. Dining spans modern Appalachian cuisine at Three Sisters in the Main Lodge and casual mountaintop dining at Firetower, set inside a restored 1950s fire lookout tower at the mountain summit with 360-degree views.
Accommodations comprise 43 stone cottages, cabins, and treehouses ranging from 60-square-metre Watchman Cabins to 75-square-metre Stone Cottages and 80-square-metre Treehouse Suites. Each residence features stacked stone fireplaces, custom reclaimed oak woodwork, private screened porches with valley views, king beds, and marble bathrooms with freestanding soaking tubs.
Active adventurers, wellness purists, and food connoisseurs seeking expansive mountain wilderness, summit firetower dining, and world-class trail exploration should book Blackberry Mountain without hesitation. Travelers seeking high-speed casino nightlife or flat road access should look elsewhere. Grounded review consensus confirms legendary standing with a 4.9 out of 5 on Tripadvisor across 340 reviews and a 4.8 out of 5 on Google across 280 reviews.
First day
- Arrive on the mountain and take in the sweeping views of the blue mist rolling over the ridges.
- Check into your stone cottage, light your fireplace, and relax on your private screened porch.
- Dine on modern Appalachian dishes at Three Sisters in the Mountain Lodge.
What guests say
Hotel Flock Score
Outstanding
Based on 237 published ratings
Category breakdown
Guests Love
Unmatched 5,200-Acre Wilderness
Guests love the 25 miles of private trails, breathtaking summit views from Firetower, and pristine nature.
Exceptional Food and Nest Spa
Reviewers praise Three Sisters tasting dinners, subterranean soaking pools, and restorative wellness classes.
Guests Warn
Mountain Road Navigation
Visitors note that traveling around the mountain in private golf carts requires comfortable pacing.
Active Lifestyle Focus
Travelers observe that the experience is oriented around hiking, wellness, and outdoor movement.
The overall score is a review-count-weighted average of named public platforms, normalized to /10. Category scores — including cleanliness and location — are Hotel Flock editorial readings of those reviews, not a platform's private formula. Hotel Flock is not affiliated with Tripadvisor, Booking.com, Trivago, or any other review site.
Awards & Recognition
Relais & Châteaux Mountain Sanctuary
Relais & Châteaux
In the stay
- Access to 25 miles of hiking trails, fitness studio, aerial yoga, and heated pool
- All daily gourmet breakfasts and dinners at Three Sisters or Firetower
- High-speed wireless internet and use of a personal golf cart for mountain transit
Usually extra
- –Guided rock climbing, bouldering, mountain biking, and fly-fishing excursions
- –Nest Spa restorative wellness therapies, private sound baths, and wine cellar tastings
Good to Know
- The mountain sanctuary features 43 cottages and homes set across 5,200 protected acres in the Smokies, designed by Keith Summerour.
- Includes 25 miles of private trails, summit Firetower restaurant, Nest Spa with subterranean pools, and aerial yoga.
- Located in Walland, Tennessee, a 25-minute drive from Knoxville McGhee Tyson Airport (TYS).
Editor's Note
Book a Stone Cottage with an outdoor soaking tub and fireplace, and hike up to the Firetower for a sunrise breakfast with 360-degree views of the Great Smoky Mountains.
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Reviewed by Hotel Flock · Last updated September 2026