Nestled in a bowl of trees in the Blue Ridge Mountains sits an incomparable estate: Blackberry Springs Farm. Blackberry Springs is a private haven for memorable summer vacations, corporate retreats, & unforgettable events. With two stylish homes you can easily spread out while sleeping 20 in beds w/ 7 of the 8 rooms being suites. 15 lush acres creates a playground for all ages w/ plenty of places to adventure, reconnect, and create a unique and unforgettable stay! When you round the corner and come onto Blackberry Springs property you’ll suck in your breath and wonder where this grand estate came from! We are an idyllic property to host retreats (yoga and empowerment groups love us), gather large groups of family and friends, and to host small events (contact us for more details on events). Scroll further down to see property layout but first read from the many ideas of things to do to create a truly unforgettable stay. POND PLAY! Let the kids jump from the cars and race to the end of the dock, jumping into the cool waters of our pond beneath the trees (a ladder is provided so kids can easily jump off the dock and climb back up). Or enjoy the paddle boat as you lazily go about the pond and enjoy what is almost always idyllic warm temps here. Don’t forget to host a fishing competition to see who can catch the most fish, or can someone catch Mr. Whiskers the elusive catfish? We provide fishing poles and the pond is stocked with bass, blue gill and catfish. At night throw a truly memorable event for the brave and watch Jaws as you float in the pond on your inter tube (outdoor movie equipment and inflatables provided). NIGHT FUN AT BLACKBERRY! At night, revive the art of storytelling as you tell chilling ghost stories around the evening fire while roasting marshmallows from our free S’mores gift baskets; or create two fires at the two different fire pits so the kids have a kid friendly ghost story option (fire pits are semi-close to one another). Don’t forget to look up and bask under the blanket of stars so easily seen in the country. If it’s summertime be delighted by the hundreds of fireflies that compete with the stars to light up the night sky. The kids will love running around catching fireflies to watch them light up in jars before they set them free. Grab glow sticks and enjoy a game of glow in the dark steal the flag on the grass outside. DINING EVENTS TO REMEMBER! Hosting memorable dinners here is easy plus our guests often bring in private chefs to make it easy and memorable (we have contacts for chefs). Our dining room is a fish bowl of windows looking out onto the mountains and pond. The dining table was custom made for the space and seats 12. We also provide a folding table and 8 additional chairs, seating 20 just in the dining room (four can also sit at the counter and another table can also be setup in the adjacent sitting room by the kitchen). Want to ditch the dining room and create a unique dining event? Surprise your guests with an Italian pizza night at our authentic Italian pizza oven. Setup a pizza charcuterie board with unique toppings like lemons, pears, gruyere, and pancetta; let your guests dress their own part of the pizza and then fire it in the outdoor pizza oven (pizzas only take 90 seconds to cook). Or have a pizza competition and see who can create the best slice of pizza and award the winner with a pizza trophy. Want to eat pond-side? Setup a table and chairs on the dock, bring down the candles, and enjoy the sound of the waterfall fountain in the pond. PLAY, PLAY, PLAY! Compete in an epic game night in the game room complete with fancy drinks being served from the wet bar, don’t forget to provide prizes so people give it their all. Or keep it breezy and play to your heart’s content with plenty of outdoor games provided like Horsehoes, outdoor Jenga, Cornhole, Slamo, etc. Pop some popcorn, grab some movie candy and setup our outdoor movie equipment for a unique movie night under the stars or trees, give this evening a twist and order cardboard cars for the kiddies to create a drive in movie night. Host a gathering on the large flagstone patio with a rustic barn as your background— this area was created for outdoor events and is a perfect place to dance, eat, or put a grand white tent over head. REST & RELAX! Don’t forget that every adventure needs just the right amount of pampering. Let us help you arrange spa services such as pedicures, manicures, and all sorts of massages to be performed onsite. Grab a hammock and swing from the trees. Meditate by our waterfall on the property. Enjoy a walk throughout the property and into the trees and take in the sounds of the forest. When the little ones have gone down, grab a glass of wine, and soak in the hot tub while enjoying peaceful views of the pond and mountains. OFF-SITE ADVENTURES! You’ll run out of days before you run out of excursions a short dive away. Blackberry Springs is a central hub of adventure! Just 15-20 mins away you can enjoy world class hiking, biking, zip lining, white water rafting, horse back riding, and restaurants. We are 30 mins to Asheville with its numerous trendy and innovative restaurant scene (Asheville just snagged the No. 1 spot in Yelp’s and Travel & Leisure’s top food city. Asheville also has one of the best craft beer scenes in the country, a spectacular arts and crafts scene, shopping, museums and the world famous Biltmore Mansion. We are 15 mins from the quaint town of Weaverville with it’s walkable Main Street with lovely coffee shops and restaurants; or grab dinner to go and enjoy a lovely walk and picnic at Lake Louise just minutes from Weaverville’s main street. We are 10 mins from historic Marshall with it’s fabulous up and coming downtown sitting just off the French Broad River. Enjoy dinner in the restored old jail next to the train tracks and river and afterwards stroll the main street as you take in the local art scene and artisan shops. We are 7 mins from Mars Hill with its small main street and idyllic university where you can grab dinner if you want to eat closer to home. In the winter enjoy skiing at Wolf Laurel just 30 mins away. If you want to venture farther explore Smoky Mountain National Park, the most visited national park in the US and completely free- just 1.5 hours away. Wanna do a theme park day? Enjoy Dollywood or all that Gatlinburg has to offer just one hour and 45 mins away. If you’re looking for a home base to explore all that this amazing area has to offer, we are literally central to it all! House floorpans and layouts: THE MANOR HOUSE: For a virtual walk through go the site that allows you to upload movies (airbnb is blocking the site) and then /D9Yqg8CvKnc Front room: Reconnect with the whole group in this large front room with seating for eight and room to bring in chairs for 10-15 more (there are 10 dining room chairs and 8 plastic chairs). This room is a wall of glass and is a perfect place to hold group trainings or family/friend gatherings. Living room: The front room segues into a second living room area that has buttery soft leather recliners from Pottery Barn and vintage gaming boards where you can learn a new game. This open area is also connected to the kitchen and dining areas so that it is easy to chat while dinner is being prepared. This is also a space that extra dining ables and chairs can be setup if you need to seat more than the 20 people the dining room provides room for. Dining room: Voted the favorite room of the house, this recent addition has soaring ceilings adorned with tongue and groove wood giving it a Scandinavian design flare. It’s a fish bowl of floor to ceiling windows bringing the incredible mountains, pond, and extensive landscaping indoors. In fact from the front room into this space there are 20 windows and three sets of glass doors!!! At the center of this room is a handcrafted table made from the wood of an old tobacco barn; the table seats 10. There is also room and a folding table and chairs provided to seat another 8 in the dining room. In addition the large kitchen bar seats 4. The best spot in the dining room is easily one of our chairs facing the large windows outside. Grab your coffee in the morning or a bowl of ice cream on a hot day and kick your feet up to enjoy a quiet conversation as you stare at the breathtaking grounds. Lastly, we do have a soft velvety Mitchell Gold + Bob Williams sofa to further create this as a flex space to eat, read, nap, chat, and enjoy one another’s company in. Kitchen: We sincerely subscribe to Yotam Ottolenghi's belief, “Food can bring people together in a way nothing else could.” As such, this chef inspired kitchen is created to be a hub of gatherings. With two fridges, two freezers, a double oven, and a separate ice maker, we can easily host your large gathering’s food needs. From pots and pans to stocked spice cabinet, we want to make sure it’s easy to prep for your crew so you can focus on creating memories. Just off the kitchen you’ll enjoy our coffee bar complete with a Nespresso coffee machine, a Keurig and a normal coffee maker (complete with coffees for all machines). Half Bath: This large half bathroom is just off the living room areas. Laundry Room: Actually we have two laundry rooms- one in the basement and one on the main floor that doubles as a pantry and also has a second fridge/freezer. Plenty of room for even large groups to keep up on the beach towels from playing out at the pond. West Wing Library: This little library is a perfect place to curl up on our Pottery Barn leather chair, take in the views outside (this room has three sets of french doors) and grab a good book off the bookshelves to enjoy. Flexible Queen Suite: This room can be a flex room. It has a small half bath, a desk, large TV and a West Elm queen sleeper sofa. Some guests use this room as a TV room or an office, while others ask it to be made up as a bedroom. This room also has french doors to walk outside. Primary Suite: Considered the best bedroom in the house, this large room has five windows and expansive views of the pond and forest. No better spot than next to the windows on the swivel chairs to enjoy a good book, a cup of coffee, or quiet reflection as you stare outside. This room is complete with a king bed, TV and closet. Note— this room is next to a large bathroom but it is not connected and this large bathroom also services the upstairs bunk room. Upstairs Bunk Room: This is a great room for sleeping lots of kids or teens (or adults that don’t mind sharing). With three twins and a bunk bed that sleeps one on top and two on bottom— this room is fun to create memories in! This room is perched higher than any room and is also a room of windows with fabulous views of the pond and mountains! Downstairs Living Room and Game Room: The downstairs is a great place to host a game night with it’s wet bar complete with sink and mini fridge, poker table, and ping pong table. We also provide poker sets and board games, making this a truly fun area. In addition, we have a large sofa and TV to gather and watch movies. Downstairs King Suite: This room has a full bathroom that jack and jills with the living room, or you can lock it off if you don’t want anyone to share it. This room has a king size bed, desk to work at, and a TV. Downstairs Queen Suite: This room has a newly renovated full bathroom, queen bed, desk space to work at, and walkout to a space under the deck and out to the pond. Downstairs Laundry: This second set of washer/dryer is perfect for large groups to have plenty of ability to do lots of laundry if needed. Deck: The large deck with African red wood is a great place to sit and enjoy the views or lovely weather. This deck is generally surrounded with potted flowers and trees in the summer. Greenhouse: The greenhouse is mostly used as a space to store inflatables and outdoor games. Outdoor Kitchen Area: This area sits perched above the pond and has two dining tables, a table top grill, and a sink with running water. We also provide a Weber grill to be used by the back door of the house. Firepit/horsehoes: This area has a space for fires, a flat green grassy area for playing, and everything you need for horseshoes. Waterfall: This is a lovely spot to sit and watch the small waterfall on our property. RV hookups: Ask for details but we do have a spot for RV hookups. THE LOFT SPACE: For a virtual walk through go to- the site that allows you to upload movies (airbnb is blocking the site) and then /shLQMPA1uMQ Entry: To enter the loft you do have a set of stairs to come up into the loft from the parking and then the loft is all one level. If stairs are an issue, the queen bedroom has a door and a deck where you can drop off guests where they can enter the loft without any stairs. Living Room: The loft was originally an old tobacco barn that was later converted into an office space. In 2021 we converted this space into a chic loft-type apartment. The loft is a 1700 square foot home above a hobby workshop (the bottom floor, that is not accessible to the loft, is only used as hobby wood project space by the owner— the loft feels like it’s all yours and is not a shared space). The loft is an open space concept with soaring ceilings, enormous windows, and unique custom made lighting. The brick wall in the kitchen lends a city vibe while the enormous windows are all about bringing the long-range mountain views inside. There is no better place for mountain views than the loft! Deck: The deck is a great place to take in the sunset, roast S’mores on the propane fire pit, and have long conversations as the stars come out to to play. The deck seats eight with outdoor seating. Kitchen: The kitchen is a favorite with brick walls, concrete counters, a beautiful weathered workbench used as an island, and a large window to stare out at the mountains from. Stocked with the essentials, a gas fired oven, and a Keurig/normal coffee maker, you have everything you need for cooking. Dining: This custom made dining table is a great place to enjoy a meal with a West Elm leather banquette to sit on. King Suite: This suite has a king bed, TV, and ensuite bathroom with shower/tub combo. Note- this room has an armoire but no closet. King Suite: This suite has a king bed, TV, and ensuite bathroom with large walk in shower. Note-this room has a dresser but no closet. Queen Suite: This room has a queen bed, TV, and amazing ensuite bathroom with walk in shower and large soaking tub. This room also has a door leading to outside and is a place where people who have a hard time stairs can come into the house and not deal with stairs at all. Half Bathroom This half bathroom is just off the living room. OTHER COMMUNAL SPACES Pole barn The pole barn is a beautiful backdrop (not accessible inside) to host events. In front of the barn is lovely landscaping, a flat grassy area, and a flagstone patio. This is a perfect space to throw up a tent if you needed cover for inclement weather. It’s also a great spot in between the manor and loft to gather and enjoy the outdoors. Fire pit There is a fire pit just off the flagstone patio area. Pizza Oven This space is a great place to try out an authentic Italian wood fired oven. Pizzas can be fired in 90 seconds, or enjoy other wood fired entrees and desserts. This spot also has a dining area to enjoy your wood fired creations. The pizza oven sits adjacent to the pole barn. FAQ: Q: Can we hold weddings or other large events there? A: Until end of April 2023 we are on hold for wedding gatherings— we are waiting for city ordinances to allow this. We are best suited for events with under 75 people. Our main issue is parking- we can park 20-30 cars. However, this is an idyllic setting for an elopement or wedding. We have a flagstone patio area in front of a new barn that is ideal for outdoor dining, putting up a tent, a reception area, etc. Q: Is there an additional fee to have an event here?A: Yes, we do charge a nonrefundable $2500 fee for events. Q: How far apart are the two houses? A: Close enough that if loft guests are on the deck and manor guests are on the front porch, you can yell to one another that it’s supper time :). It’s about a 5 min walk between the two houses or less than a minute’s drive. We do have a path between the two houses off the road that kids can run back and forth on. Q: Can we have people sleep on blow up beds or sofas if we have more than 20 people? A: Yes, we do allow up to 25 guests (unless you’re given permission for more). We do provide a blow up bed and bedding for an additional two people. In addition between the two houses there is three living rooms that have sofas or spots for a blow up sofa. Q: Is this property dog friendly? A: Yes and no. The outside property welcomes dogs as long as you clean up after your dog. Also, guests are welcome to have a dog in the loft area, however, due to allergy issues, we do not allow dogs in the manor house. Please notify us if you have a dog and to get permission. There is a non refundable $100 fee for bringing a pet. Q: Is this area private or will there be neighbors upset if we host an event? A: We do not have neighbors in sight on this property. There is a country road with cars that drive by so you will have country road traffic, but no neighbors in sight! Of course we always ask guests to be aware of noise after hours. City ordinances say noise must not leave the property after 10:00 pm.