This All-Inclusive Tennessee Retreat Lets You Cozy Up Near The Smokies

Consider it a hidden gem.

A quiet country road follows the bends and curves through a maze of hollers in Loudon County, Tennessee. These humble foothills of Great Smoky Mountains National Park beckon travelers toward a peaceful getaway in a region known as the “Lakeway to the Smokies.” An abundance of scenic waterways paint the area, including a sinuous stretch of the slow-moving Tennessee River.

The country road turns up a long gravel driveway to a breathtaking 650-acre plot of rolling East Tennessee grasslands, forests, and gardens, fully hugged within one of the river’s horseshoe bends. Welcome to Windy Hill Farm and Preserve.

Steven Brewington inherited the land from his grandfather—lovingly referred to as “Big George.” “I was lucky enough to grow up living and working on a farm,” Brewington says. “And I want to share that experience with others. So, we say our farm is your farm while you’re here. Have a weekend stay at your family farm, get some respite, and return to the important stuff in life.”

Windy Hill Farm and Preserve is an intentionally small concept that offers a cozy stay where nature’s beauty is placed front and center. Its small-town ambiance invites you to relax and be yourself, while soaking up year-round mountains-meet-rivers views.

Things To Do

What makes Windy Hill Farm and Preserve a truly memorable glamping experience is its array of activities that keep guests entertained and connected to the land.

Day Activities

Your itinerary at Windy Hill may feel reminiscent of more youthful days at sleepaway camp. Guests can register for a variety of unique recreational activities, such as archery, fishing trips, five-stand clay target shooting, kayaking, paddle boarding, and mountain biking.

The property also hosts five miles of scenic hiking trails and leads a leisurely wine hike for those looking to sip and savor the nearby forests. Other experiences guests can sign up for include beekeeping demonstrations and honey tasting, bourbon tasting, cooking classes, yard games, and yoga.

Special Events

Throughout the year, Windy Hill plans special events like an Oktoberfest celebration, women’s retreat, and New Year’s Eve party. You can keep an eye on their event calendar to plan a trip around these experiences.

From spring through fall, the resort also hosts live music on Fridays on the Wilder patio, which you can pair with a four-course tasting menu. There are periodic larger, yet intimate outdoor concerts held on Windy Hill’s gorgeous Granary Stage, as well. Nothing quite beats the acoustics of nature at these shows. Enjoy golden hour light blanketing the performance, as fireflies twinkle in the grass behind the singers and crickets harmonize in the background.

Hunting and Conservation

Windy Hill is not only a boutique resort but also an upland preserve. Over the years, the team has spearheaded habitat restoration efforts to promote a rebound of the area’s highly endangered northern bobwhite quails.

Locals who said they hadn’t heard the quail’s distinct two-whistle call in more than 30 years have rejoiced in the song’s return since Windy Hill’s extensive planting of native warm-season grasses that attract the birds. Now with dozens of quail coveys on the property, Windy Hill leads personalized, guided quail hunting trips each fall into winter. 

Stay on the Grounds

Roosted atop a grassy knob, tucked under the shade of brilliant canopy leaves, nine small wooden cabins blend seamlessly into the countryside. The secluded cabins boast simple, thoughtful design details for a modern farmhouse vibe. The lodging is luxurious while invoking the feeling of finally having escaped to that remote, idyllic cabin in the woods we all dream about on particularly long days in the office.

Floor-to-ceiling windows provide panoramic views of the land and create the sensation of camping in the wild while ultimately cuddled up in all the modern comforts you could desire. Guests can sip hand-crafted teas and coffees from their room while watching an eastern meadowlark perched on a nearby fencepost sing its melodious, flute-like whistles.

The cabins circle a communal campfire ring that comes to life each night with s’mores and shared conversation between guests from its accompanying Adirondack lounge chairs. The paths to this gathering point are lit by the cool white of a glowing moon and the dim orange hue of metal lanterns placed on surrounding tree limbs.

Some cabins offer additional amenities like outdoor showers, dog-friendly options, and accessibility features. The property also recently added a small lodge with king- or queen-sized rooms, including an option for four adjoining rooms. Additionally, travelers can rent the property’s five-bedroom farmhouse near the river bluff for a memorable group gathering.

Indulge in Garden-to-Table Dining

Guests at Windy Hill Farm and Preserve are treated to all-inclusive dining at the property’s upscale restaurant, Wilder. Executive Chef Ben Warwick crafts hyperlocal, seasonal dishes for breakfast, lunch, and dinner that draw upon ingredients from the Windy Hill farm and area food producers.

The restaurant is named for the birthplace of farm founder “Big George,” who grew up near Wilder Coal Camp in Virginia’s Blue Ridge Mountains. The camp brought together vibrant people from diverse cultures, leading to internationally inspired culinary treats blended with the available Appalachian ingredients—an approach Chef Warwick centers in his own menu today as an homage to previous generations.

Enjoy seasonally inspired dinner favorites like buttermilk quail with duxelles, sherry, and honey, or smoked pork belly with brussels, maple, and apple. Wake for a breakfast of sweet potato hash with farro, walnuts, and a sunny-side-up egg, and return for a trout salad melt on an English muffin with provolone and pickles for lunch.

The restaurant has sweeping views of delightfully unkempt native grass meadows with old solitary oak trees standing in colorful glory atop ridgelines. Its stone-laid outdoor patio boasts twinkle lights and wily barn swallow families that zip in and out of nearby building rafters feeding their young. Simply put, it's a delight to behold.

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