Gift For You

Start with superior hospitality and luxury accommodations. Blend with legendary cuisine and libations. And baste with the beauty of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park.

That’s the recipe for a truly delectable vacation at Blackberry Farm and Blackberry Mountain, sister properties in Walland, Tennessee, just 18 miles southeast of Knoxville’s McGee Tyson Airport and 13 miles northwest of the Townsend entrance to the Great Smoky Mountains Park. Don’t look for commercials or ads about the venues; word of mouth and media mentions keep both properties heavily booked nearly year-round.

Andrea Rule, brand manager at Blackberry Mountain, said staying at either Blackberry property is a bucket list experience.

“Food and wine and a well-done cocktail are certainly the Blackberry experience. It’s Southern hospitality at its finest,” she said.

History

Blackberry Farm dates to the 1930s, when the main house was built by Chicago businessman Dave Lasier and his wife, Florida, to

Winter Park Resort has announced a flurry of improvements for the 2022-23 ski season, beginning with new terrain in both The Cirque Territory and the Chutes on Mary Jane.

The anticipated new terrain in The Cirque is called “Jelly Roll,” because of its rolling steep pitch and its ability to hold light, fluffy snow for days after a storm. Additional terrain in the Chutes includes avalanche-controlled access to the popular “Powder Field” area between Trestle and the Chutes. The resort says skiers and riders will have access to almost twice as much expert-only terrain as last season.

Additionally, the resort announced:

More and earlier grooming

Enhancements to grooming operations will allow more and varied terrain opening as early as possible, according to the resort. With additional resources and staff for grooming,

LAKE MONTEZUMA – The former Beaver Creek Golf Course and historic ranch property has been sold to Sedona Vineyards LLC.

“We closed escrow on Aug. 31,” said Richard Chambers of Chambers Realty Group in Camp Verde. “It’s a pretty exciting deal.”

The property sold for $2.5 million, Chambers said, and it sold as one piece, which includes the former 18-hole golf course, the former Beaver Creek Ranch House property, 108 acres of agricultural land with water rights, a three-acre commercially zoned parcel, a clubhouse, equipment and a private residence.

Douglas J. Edgelow, of Phoenix, said they are looking forward to unveiling their plans for the property to the community very soon, but he said their intention is to have part of the golf course be vineyards. Edgelow is listed as the manager of the Sedona Vineyards LLC under the Arizona Corporation Commission.

However, Edgelow explained that golf courses are a

As the Cedar Creek Fire continues to burn, the Deschutes National Forest has released an expanded emergency closure area. This includes trailheads, lakes and other day-use areas.

But Elk Lake is not closed and Elk Lake Resort says the closure signage is confusing people — and hurting business.

“It has affected our business. Not a lot of people have been coming in,” said Elk Lake Resort bartender Lauren Farmer. “They see the sign that it’s cut off at Homer. It’s just south of Homer that it’s cut off at. We’re actually right there on the border of it.”

The Lake is on the literal border.

Elk Lake Trailhead, right across the street from Elk Lake Resort, is closed, but the resort still has its gates open.

RELATED: See the list of expanded emergency closures

But will it shut down soon?

“Absolutely not. It’s a little windy today but