Southall Farm and Inn – The Jewel of Leiper’s Fork

I was recently invited to check out a brand-new resort in Middle Tennessee that many compare to a couple of famous resorts in East Tennessee named after a wild dark fruit. The folks at Southall Farm and Inn understand the comparison. They don’t like to think of themselves that way, but rather an authentic experience in the Greater Nashville area, where life seems simpler, and one can truly unplug and unwind. The perfect blend of tradition and innovation is Southern Hospitality’s evolution in a bucolic setting.

A picture-perfect paradise nestled on 350 lush acres in the beautiful rolling hills of Franklin, Tennessee, this idyllic country hideaway has been an operating farm for 7 years. Travel and Leisure Magazine recently deemed Franklin one of the 50 best places to travel in 2022. In a January 2022 issue of the Robb Report, Southall is listed as one of the 45 best new luxury hotels to visit this year.

The Experience

Southall Farm and Inn, scheduled to open Labor Day Weekend, offers a relaxing, farm-to-fork experience with luxurious accommodations and tons of activities. They focus on sustainability in everything they do – honoring, and participating in, the circle of life while minimizing the human impact. 

Before your arrival, an assigned reservation specialist will reach out to learn more about your preferences and personalize your experience during your stay. This pastoral backdrop for a fantastic weekend escape, complete with a team of artisans that make every moment magic is everything a family or romantic couple’s getaway should be.

Once you valet your car, you will be greeted at a sit-down desk to check into your accommodations. Cottage guests will be whisked away in a golf cart to get you settled in. And then the fun begins!

Culinary

As a luxury culinary travel specialist, I was seriously geeking out over this place! The culinary program here is guided by multiple James Beard Award-nominated chef Tyler Brown (along with his team of nine executive chefs, a sommelier and a mixologist). It will focus on ingredients grown, raised, and foraged on the property. Southall provides immersive dining experiences, just steps away from where the ingredients are grown and raised. The property’s orchard and gardens grow 99% of the food served here.

Some of the exciting elements of this culinary program include six apiaries, a hydroponic greenhouse that produces thousands of pounds of leafy greens, and an aquaculture system that supplies striped bass.

Mary Amelia

Southall’s signature restaurant, open for dinner only, is a soul-stirring celebration of the farm’s bounty, a creative multi-course journey meant to be savored.

Sojourner

Available for breakfast, lunch, and dinner, Sojourner features homemade pastries, fresh-from-the-coop egg specialties, and seasonally inspired dishes.

Accommodations

The Inn at Southall features 62 spacious guestrooms and suites, from the entry-level Polk Room (500sf) to the Tennessee Suite (1520sf). In addition, 16 individual Hillside (1 and 2 bedroom) and Arbor Cottages feature stunning views and spacious outdoor living areas.

Activities

Guests will enjoy an array of activities here, from spending days exploring the farm (picking, beekeeping, and foraging) to adventure (water sports, falconry, e-bikes, paddle boarding, fly fishing, ax throwing, pickleball, ropes course, and miles of hiking trails) to wellness activities (sunrise yoga, fitness classes, and daily sunset meditation). 

There is a Speakeasy on the property (shhh – it’s a secret place they won’t talk about), a need-to-know only experience where surprise guest performers show up unexpectedly. Who knows who will show up next? It IS Nashville, after all!

Wellness

Southall’s Spa is Tennessee’s largest, with 10 treatment rooms, a mineral pool that fits 40 people, a Himalayan salt room, and a heated outdoor pool. Drawing on the healing powers of botanicals and other wholesome ingredients from the farm, the Spa offers a blend of ancient techniques and modern therapies that replenish and restore the body. Like the land itself, the Spa and a soothing mineral pool and calming herbal medicinal garden instill a deep sense of well-being in all who visit.

Other Spaces

Southall has several venues for events such as weddings and corporate events. The lawn, amphitheater, and jammery can also host private parties and corporate meetings and events, and several firepits are scattered throughout.

What’s In It For You?

I’m so glad you asked! If all this sounds intriguing, you are in luck!  My relationship with Southall will benefit you with amenities exclusive to Premiere Luxury Travel clients, including:

• Daily breakfast for 2
• $100 credit
• Welcome amenity 
• Upgrade upon arrival, based on availability
• Early check-in/late checkout upon availability 

So, if you’re celebrating a special occasion (or just in need of a pampering getaway), Southall is definitely a splurge worth making! It is a place where locals can have the perfect “staycation,” and my out-of-towners can enjoy a beautiful vacation!

To plan your next adventure, reach out to Premiere Luxury Travel today!