January 2024 - Buckhorn Inn

January 17, 2024

Plein-Air Painting Workshops Held at Buckhorn Inn

For years now Rachael McCampbell has been leading plein-air workshops in the Smokies. Offering Buckhorn Inn as a home base for a painting trip has been a highlight. “I fell in love with the Buckhorn Inn the minute I walked in. The historical charm and beauty of the rooms, the property’s private setting and the views of the mountains really struck me. And of course the stellar food and friendly staff make this time in the mountains a perfect ‘Art-cation’,” she states.

McCampbell has been a professional artist her whole life. After graduating from the University of Georgia, she lived and worked in Italy, England, New York and Los Angeles, moving back to Franklin, TN in 2008. Having been raised on a farm in south Knoxville, the landscape always resonated with her. “We had a lease with the National Park for 10 years in Cades Cove. This was back when you could run cattle and horses there. We had a temporary residence (where the rangers lived) and spent glorious weekends in the mountains playing in streams all day. My love of the Smokies was cemented in my childhood.”

The workshops give artists of all levels the opportunity to enhance their plein-air skills.

Rachael’s art is inspired by the beauty of the Great Smoky Mountains.

Plein-Air Painting Inspired by Smoky Mountains

Sharing her love of the mountains and its inherent beauty is what inspires McCampbell to lead these trips each year. She also plans her painting time each year around the scheduled display of the synchronized fireflies in early June. “The magic of sitting in the dark watching the emergence and dance of these unique creatures is incredibly special for my guests. We have been honored to be invited to observe the fireflies and foxfire on a private property that abuts the Great Smoky Mountains National Park.”
McCampbell’s workshops are for 7 nights. She takes the group to different locales to paint, gives demonstrations and works with each student almost all day long. They gather before dinner to discuss all aspects of art and McCampbell sometimes does a second demo in the evening or a powerpoint presentation discussing art. “The trip is highly educational and hands-on but also very personal. My prayer is always that the folks who come on my trips become lifelong friends and painter buddies—and they DO!”

For more information, or to register for the 2024 painting workshop, please visit Rachael’s website http://Www.rachaelmccampbell.com

January 3, 2024

Buckhorn Inn Receives “Best Meal” Praise

Dinner at Buckhorn Inn was honored to be named a “best meal” of 2023 by The Grub Scout. The Grub Scout writes a regular column in the Knoxville News Sentinel. http://Www.knoxnews.com The Scout wrapped up the year by recapping some of his/her favorite restaurant outings. In the December 29 issue, he/she identified the 10 eateries that impressed him/her the most out of the more than 60 restaurants, food trucks, and other vendors he/she visited and reviewed in the previous 12 months. Here is the Buckhorn Inn review of the meal Chef Frank prepared as it appeared.

Buckhorn Inn

Although I lived in Sevier County for 10 years at one point in my life, I had never been to Buckhorn Inn until The Grub Spouse and I received a gift certificate to the Gatlinburg bed and breakfast. While there, we sat down to a dinner that turned out to be one of the highlights of our wedding anniversary celebration. The meal was served at a fixed price of $40 per person, and considering the food itself—five onion soup, rack of pork topped with peach barbecue sauce, duchess potato casserole, steamed broccoli, and a brown-butter almond torte with brandied cherries—not to mention the daytime views of Mount LeConte, adding Buckhorn Inn to be a Favorite 10 (you don’t have to be a guest to dine there) was a no-brainer.

Brown-butter almond torte is a delightful way to end a “best meal”.

The article featured a photo of our brown-butter almond torte with brandied cherries.

Other Mentioned Restaurants

The Buckhorn Inn was in excellent company! The Grub Scout recommended several of our favorite restaurants—and several which we are looking forward to trying. The Grub Scout also singled out Hong’s Kitchen, Knoxville; Tarik’s North African, South Knoxville; Fire & Salt, Oak Ridge; Seasons Innovative Bar & Grille, Farragut; Foothills Milling Cafe, Maryville; Van Edom’s Wine Bar, Farragut; Elkmont Station, Farragut; Wilder at Windy Hill Farm & Preserve, London County; and Fire & Smoke, Knoxville.

Here’s to another year of delightful dining!