Tucked away on 4,200 wooded acres in the foothills of the Great Smoky Mountains, Blackberry Farm welcomes small groups of up to 75 to a destination renowned not only for its idyllic Tennessee scenery, but also for its world-class cuisine and recreation.

Elite businesses from across the country reserve Blackberry Farm for planning sessions, think tanks, and as a reward for outstanding performance. Groups requiring 5 or more guest rooms qualify for special rates; those requiring 40 or more rooms may book the entire property.

The Chestnut Cottage holds the largest meeting sites, the White Pine Room for up to 75 and the Birch Boardroom for up to 14. Between sessions, attendees can adjourn to the adjacent Hickory Club Room to unwind with billiards, table games, custom Stave puzzles, a good book from the library, or conversation by the fire or on the deck outside.

Planners seeking the ultimate in privacy favor the Guest House. It holds 11 accommodations, a stone veranda for cocktail parties, and a two-fireplace living room perfect for informal meetings. In addition, the Cove Cottage offers three bedrooms plus a meeting-dining room with seating for up to eight.

Casual receptions and barbecues gather in the great outdoors either poolside or at the Yallarhammer Pavilion. Overlooking Singing Brook Trout Pond, the pavilion features a stone fireplace and gorgeous pasture and mountain views. In the evenings, attendees can gather around the bonfire pit to enjoy s’mores, cocoa, and entertainment by regional storytellers and bluegrass bands.

Indoor banquets take place in three dining rooms at the Main House: Rhododendron, Azalea, and Mountain. The resort’s widely acclaimed Foothills Cuisine gained the retreat its Relais Gourmand designation, and the 160,000-bottle wine cellar wins perpetual accolades from the Wine Spectator. Proprietor Sam Beall presents food and wine events year-round—from cooking schools to wine tastings to grand epicurean events—all featuring celebrity chefs and vintners.

Attendees can fill their free time with hiking, biking, horseback riding, and Orvis-endorsed fly-fishing programs. While some relax with massages and facials at the Farmhouse Spa, others simply settle into the classic rocking chairs found throughout the property and soak in the views.

Above all, in keeping with its membership with Relais & Chateaux, the resort specializes in the royal treatment for every guest. In 2006, readers of Travel & Leisure ranked Blackberry Farm as number one in the world for guest service, while the Zagat survey named it the number two small hotel in the nation.