Lexus go to Blackberry Mountain

Hike (or Take a Lexus) Up to Your Luxury Cabin at This New Resort in the Great Smoky Mountains

Situated in the heart of the Great Smoky Mountains, Blackberry Farm has been synonymous with rural luxury since it first opened to the public in 1990. In the decades that have passed, it has gained a loyal following for the remote, upscale, and epicurean adventures offered on its 4,200-acre expanse. So when the team announced it would be opening another property that would apply their unique brand of Southern hospitality to outdoor adventure, luxury-loving nature fanatics rejoiced.

That destination is Blackberry Mountain, a Relais & Châteaux property that officially opened in mid February. Situated seven miles away from Blackberry Farm, the 5,200-acre resort reflects the same caliber of service and focus on wellness and dining offered at its sister property, while also placing an emphasis on outdoor experiences, from rock climbing and mountain biking to fly-fishing and foraging.

Upon arrival, guests check in at the Lodge before hiking their way to accommodations or opting for a ride in the property’s line of Lexus house cars. Choose between two types of quarters: Stone Cottages or Watchman Cabins. There are 18 of the former, which house a private outdoor patio, wood-burning fireplace, and soaking tub, and six of the latter, which feature reclaimed wood, floor-to-ceiling windows, and wood-burning stoves.

Once settled, visitors can explore an array of happenings at the Hub, where a learning kitchen, arts and crafts space, and fitness center await (complete with a basketball court and indoor rock-climbing wall). Build up an appetite, then head to dinner at Three Sisters, where chef Josh Feathers helms a menu of seasonal, flavor-driven dishes.

Make time for a morning massage at the Nest, a subterranean spa with a sauna, salon, and outdoor infinity pool, then take breakfast or lunch at Firetower (pictured above), a restaurant located at the mountain’s peak that serves day-time fixes like flatbreads, bowls, and mussels.

Those who would rather dine al fresco can venture out on a chef-led picnic or trail-side cooking excursion.

Source: Nicole Schnitzler, Travel + Leisure