Blackberry Mountain — Hotel in Maryville

Review

On paper Blackberry Mountain already looks excellent, but after a three night stay we can honestly say it far exceeded already lofty expectations.

Our room was one of the treehouses, which are cleverly located so you have level access to the door (with your own golf cart!), but a relatively private and beautiful view out of the floor-to-ceiling windows. The bed was huge and comfortable, and the bathroom was well stocked with Aesop products and a proper hairdryer (and a curler) - which often skimped on even in upmarket hotels. The AC was also modern, quiet, and easy to adjust.

In terms of other activities, we did a couple of yoga classes which take place in the spacious “hub” building. There’s a couple of studios and a gym, all with beautiful views out over the valley. The classes were personal even for a group of us, and we genuinely felt better after them even if there were a few creaks and cracks initially. The site is also crisscrossed with trails of varying intensity and trailheads than can be accessed on foot (or via your golf cart to avoid climbing several hundred meters on foot). We were going to do the Lexus off-road experience, but unfortunately only US drivers licenses were accepted. I understand this is a contractual thing though, and obviously won’t be a problem for domestic visitors.

Probably most deserving of a write up in a major news outlet however is the food. Breakfast and lunch each day was at the three sisters restaurant, as was dinner for two of our days - with one dinner at the fire tower which is worth a visit for the views alone. The menus partially rotate over three days, meaning a new set of pastries and dishes for breakfast, and new specials for lunch and dinner. The pastries are of note as they are gluten and lactose free but still some of the best baked goods we’ve ever had, as was the pre-dinner garlic flatbreads. The main courses were not excessive haute-cuisine - which can get a bit much for multiple nights - but were all executed flawlessly with some really clever and unexpected combinations. A rhubarb and jalepeno glazed pork loin was particularly effective.

The most memorable dish however was not on the menu, but was put together on the fly by the AM chef Bonnie using a rather giant morel mushroom we found on the wildflower walk (a recommended activity as well). The morel was handed off to a very excited chef, and reappeared half an hour later transformed into four immaculate canapés with fresh bread, burratta, truffle, and asparagus. I can’t think of many places that would have all the necessary parts for an experience like that.

Lastly then, the staff. Firstly, they universally do not expect or accept tips in person. Service is part of the cost of this place of course, but all the staff seemed genuinely personable and really added to the experience of our stay. There were some real characters in the restaurants whose descriptions of the various items on the menu both informed and entertained, and more generally everyone seemed very well coordinated - we very rarely needed to state our surnames or sign things as all the staff were on their brief perfectly and knew where to log or charge everything.

The more upscale a resort or hotel, the more small things can sour the experience, so it’s a serious credit that I honestly can’t think of any comments worth mentioning. Do hope to...

We just returned from a great 3 day stay at Blackberry Mountain. |The front desk staff, in particular Erin, was exceptionally warm and welcoming and always anxious to help during our stay. |We stayed in muscadine cottage. We found the accommodation to be comfortable and well appointed. |It was said to have an 80% occupancy rate while we were there , but it felt as if we had the whole place to ourselves most of the time. |You can get around everywhere in a golf cart or the staff very willingly will transport you anywhere in a private Lexus SUV. |The best thing we found at the mountain: the food. Every meal was truly exceptional. We enjoyed a couple dinners at Firetower. Beautiful and unique setting with over the top service by Jeremy. Three Sisters was also great for dinner as well as breakfast and lunch. The website seems to downplay lunch, but we found it to be very very good. |The resort has amazing hiking trails throughout the property. You can do guided or unguided hikes. The Valley has a nice family pool, pickleball and tennis courts and a small lake with paddle boards and a water slide. There is a nice fitness facility and indoor basketball court. There is also an adult pool by the Lodge. Fire pits and s'mores are available at the lodge for an after dinner experience. |Our activities included horseback riding. Our guide Tristian was awesome. The wine and cheese tasting was excellent. Sound bathing was a unique and very relaxing activity. We did a morning boot camp with Michael which was very good. We did the hike to breakfast and some unguided hiking on our own. |The spa is fairly small and not exceptional but our message service was good. |We did take advantage of the complimentary Lexus demo SUV and drove over to Blackberry Farm for a quick tour. You could certainly also explore some areas within the Smoky Mountains like Cades Cove easily. (They don't want you to eat at the Farm but you can visit there- front desk can arrange.)|Just a few things that could have been better- we had a pickleball lesson scheduled and the instructor failed to show up. Breakfast service was a little slower and not as on point as dinner or lunch. The bars do tend to start shutting down about 9:30, so if you want a nightcap, then order something at end of dinner or bring your own beverages to keep in your room. |A word on cost- if you are looking at a property like this to stay at, you are probably not pinching pennies. However, be aware that as a couple, you will end up spending at least $4000/day after all the service charges, taxes, alcohol, excursion costs are added in. ||We will definitely plan to return, if nothing else, just come for a few days to eat and hike! On our next trip, we will likely do a split stay with 3 days at the Farm and 3 days at the Mountain. The Farm is more of an old country club feel and the Mountain more fitness /...

I loved everything about this amazing vacation experience. From the moment we arrived till our last farewell the staff was warm, courteous and went above and beyond to meet our every request. The meals (all included) were some of the most delicious meals I’ve ever eaten. The freshest ingredients, incredible textures combined with creative flavor profiles results in exceptional dining experiences time after time. Whether you are a meat eater, pescatarian, gluten free or any other dietary restrictions the dining staff is happy to accommodate!

The room we stayed in was a stone cottage near the lodge. We appreciated the spacious accommodations with a convenient location to both the lodge and the hub (activities center). If you’re looking for something more unique you may want to consider the smaller Treehouses. These are built into a steep mountain side so your view is literally in the treetops!! Or another option is the more secluded log cabins at the mountain top by the Firetower. All are luxurious and perfectly appointed.

Some of the extras we appreciated included a dedicated golf cart to use for the duration of your stay so you can easily access all parts of the property.

yummy gourmet snacks in our room

the best trail mix ever available at the pool in the valley (perfect after a long hike).

eco friendly installation art at key points along the hiking trails.

the most accommodating and amazing staff I’ve ever encountered in any hospitality experience

This vacation is expensive but it was beyond my expectations and I will absolutely be...