January 29, 2018
Nature Trail Trees Provide Year-Round Beauty
Have you stopped to notice the many different trees on the Buckhorn Inn Nature Trail? If you are here in the spring, you will be sure to notice our redbud trees with their striking magenta flowers. They contrast beautifully with the white-flowered dogwoods.
You also will find several specimens of American hornbeam, also know as ironwood or blue beech. It is called “ironwood because of the strong appearance of the bark. The saw-toothed leaves are very distinctive and turn orange to red in the fall.
Our trail features a southern red oak–an important contributor to our fall parade of colors. Nearby you will find an eastern hemlock. It has long horizontal branches, very small cones, and graceful foliage that nearly touches the ground. Hemlock was once extensively logged, and the bark was used to make tannic acid for tanning animal hides. We treat our hemlocks to prevent the wooly adelgid. This pest has decimated hemlocks in many other areas.
Perhaps no other tree is a s beautiful as the red maple. In the fall ours turns brilliant shades of red, yellow and orange–spectacular against the blue sky!
We have only one native pine on our property. It is an eastern white pine with five needles to a bundle.
While you are walking the trail, do not miss our two fragrant cloud dogwoods. Douglas Bebb discovered these trees on the Buckhorn property and patented them. You can see documents relating to this on display in our library. This rare mutation produces scented blossoms. Like the many types of dogwood found in the Smokies, the fragrant cloud is noted for its showy blossoms and scarlet berries. In the fall, these berries become an important source of food for wildlife. Native Americans used the rough bark to obtain red dye.
Trees are not the only highlight of the trail
If you have never walked our nature trail, we highly recommend you do so. The walk takes about an hour and covers about a mile. If you decide to only walk part of the trail, there are several points which make for an easy return. Be sure to wear proper footwear and to watch your step. Please stop by the Buckhorn Inn office to pick up a map that shows the route and the locations of numbered informational stakes.
The Nature Trail features many blooming trees.
January 22, 2018
Wine Weekend will be a Fine Weekend!
Gatlinburg offers many events and festivals for every interest, including wine!
Are you a wine aficionado or someone who would like to know more about wine? Are you interested in exploring local Tennessee products? If so, we recommend you plan to visit Gatlinburg April 13 & 14, 2018.
Two events will be taking place: the Gatlinburg Wine Tour and the Smoky Mountain Wine Fest. The Tour begins at 6:00 pm on April 13 and will visit local wineries and sipping establishments.
The Fest will be held from 1:00 to 6:00 pm on April 14 at Arrowmont School of Arts and Crafts. The $25 advance purchase tickets include a branded glass for tasting. Organizers expect more than 18 Tennessee wineries to participate. Some of the best restaurants in the Smoky Mountains will provide small plate tastings of their best dishes. Tickets and more information may be found at http://www.eventbrite.com/e/gatlinburg-wine-weekend-2018-tickets.
Tennessee Wine
Tennessee has a long history of wine-making, with as many as 90,000 gallons being produced annually in the 1880’s. The industry was introduced in this area by immigrants from Germany, Italy, and Switzerland. Prohibition hit the industry hard. However, in the 1970’s a resurgence of winemaking in the state was led by home vintners.
The industry in Tennessee focuses on French hybrid and native grape varieties. The grapes used in Eastern and Central Tennessee include cabernet sauvignon, cabernet franc, cayuga, chardonnay, chenin blanc, merlot, Riesling and viognier.
The industry has grown and matured in the state. Over the past few years Tennessee wines have earned gold, silver, and bronze medals in regional and international competitions. Today’s Tennessee wineries have a wine for every taste, from sparkling to fruity, from dry to dessert wines.
If you plan to attend the weekend, be sure to reserve your accommodation at the Buckhorn Inn soon!
January 15, 2018
Buckhorn Inn Celebrates 80th Anniversary
Throughout 2018 we will be taking a look back to 1938 to celebrate the 80th anniversary of the Buckhorn Inn. It was in 1938 that Douglas and Audrey Bebb first opened the doors to what has become the oldest inn in eastern Tennessee. We thought it would be fun to take a look back at what was going on in the world 80 years ago.
Hubert Bebb was the architect for the Buckhorn Inn, built in 1938.
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This is also the 80th anniversary of . . .
- This week let’s take a look at what was going on in the arts and popular culture.
- Benny Goodman and his orchestra became the first jazz musicians to headline a show in New York City’s Carnegie Hall.
- The play Our Town by Thornton Wilder was performed for the first time in Princeton, NJ. The play earned him a Pulitzer Prize in the same year.
- Stravinsky’s Dumbarton Oaks premiers in Washington, DC.
- Aaron Copland and Eugene Loring’s ballet Billy the Kid premiers in Chicago.
- Superman appeared for the first time in Action Comics.
- Margaret Hamilton’s costume catches fire during the filming of The Wizard of Oz.
- The first cartoon featuring Bugs Bunny is released.
- Information Please debuts on NBC radio.
- Frida Kahlo had her first solo art exhibit.
- Porky and Daffy, a Loony Tunes animated short film, is released.
- Popular movies were Boys Town starring Spencer Tracey and Mickey Rooney, Jezebel starring Bette Davis, and Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs.
- The comic strip Dennis the Menace first appears.
- Northwestern University awards an honorary degree to Charlie McCarthy (a dummy).
- The Howard Hawks film Bringing Up Baby starring Katherine Hepburn and Cary Grant is released.
- Orson Welle’s radio adaptation of The War of the Worlds causes widespread panic.
- Kate Smith sings God Bless America for the first time on her radio show.
- Ella Fitzgerald records “A-Tisket, A-Tasket”. It hits #1 later in the year.
- Al Capp creates Sadie Hawkins Day.
- Notable births in 1938 include: Allen Toussaint, Joyce Carol Oates, Lawrence Block, Natalie Wood, Christopher Lloyd, Kenny Rogers and Jon Voight.
- The world lost in 1938: Blues singer Robert Johnson, author Thomas Wolfe, soprano Alma Gluck, and Popeye creator E.C. Segar.
- For more events, check out http://www.onthisday.com and http://www.thepeopleinhistory.com as well as Wikipedia.
Be sure to watch this space for periodic looks into the world in which the Buckhorn Inn’s first guests were living!
January 2, 2018
Public Library is a Local Treasure
Have you visited the Anna Porter Public Library during your travels to Gatlinburg? From the windows one can see beautiful mountain views! It is a very welcoming place to pull up a chair near the fireplace for a cozy read. Visitors to our area are welcome to use the facility and may borrow books well as use the computers and wifi. Services include books, movies, audio books, magazines, ebooks, newspapers and internet access. The library has resources for geneologists and schedules adult art and craft classes with local artisans.
Gatlinburg is fortunate to have a wonderful public library.
We are particularly fond of the library’s regional history special collection. This collection includes more than 600 historical items detailing the cultural and natural history of Gatlinburg, the Great Smoky Mountains, the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, and southern Appalachia. A unique feature of the collection is the group of historical audio tapes, with transcripts, which were recorded as long as 40 years ago. They also have oral history video tapes that were recorded more recently.
Monthly Book Club at the Library
John and I take great pride in being founding members of the book club that meets at the library. We meet at 6:30 on the 4th Tuesday of each month for lively conversation. Our taste in books ranges widely and our diversity brings interesting viewpoints to the discussion. This month we are reading A Gentleman in Moscow by Amor Towles and early feedback indicates our members are enjoying it. Future books include: Darkness at Noon by Arthur Koestler, A Confederacy of Dunces by John Kennedy Toole, The Invention of Wings by Sue Monk Kidd, and The Trial by Franz Kafka. If you are visiting, we would love to have you participate in our discussion. The full reading list and directions may be found on the website http://annaporterpl.org.
We suggest you visit the library the next time you are in our area.
December 18, 2017
Rachael Young: Second Mistress of Buckhorn Inn
Rachael Young brought grace and charm to the Buckhorn Inn.
The second mistress of the Inn was my dear friend, Rachael Young. Rachael passed away at age 98 on December 8, 2017. Her love of Buckhorn and her keen decorating eye are very much in evidence today.
Knoxvillians Rachael, Robert and Lindsay Young bought the Inn from Douglas Bebb in 1978. Rachael explained to me that their key motivation was preserving the Inn as an important part of regional history and to protect it from commercialization. Many of the pieces of antique furniture currently at Buckhorn came from the Young family. Her background as an art professor at the University of Tennessee stood her in good stead as she guided the inn’s revitalization, including updating all the furniture and soft furnishings in the bedrooms and dining room and modernizing the kitchen. It was Rachael who introduced air conditioning to Buckhorn and converted the water tower to a bedroom–still one of our most special places. She brought a timeless, unstudied charm to this little mountain retreat.
Second Mistress of the Buckhorn Lived a Life of Accomplishment
Rachael Young was a highly accomplished woman. Intellectually gifted, she left Knoxville to attend Columbia University, a daring step for a young woman at that time, and went on in her lifetime to earn four academic degrees. During World War II, she worked for the Red Cross in England, France and Germany. After marriage and two children, she became a beloved and respected art professor at the University of Tennessee. A cancer survivor, she was anxious to begin a wellness community in order to provide cancer patients and their families the opportunity to be active participants in their healing. Now called the Cancer Support Network, the organization plays a vital role in regional cancer care. She was very interested in holistic medicine and she inspired the creation of our annual Mindfulness Meditation Retreat. We created Rachael’s Labyrinth in her honor. She was a woman full of effortless grace and full of laughter. As I began my time at Buckhorn, we had Sunday morning phone calls about the goings-on up here in the mountains and, bless her, she never gave me a bit of advice but one: “Don’t start your renovations in the kitchen as I did. It will use up all your resources and you won’t have enough to do the fun things.”
Rachael passed on her love of Buckhorn to me, and every day, in every way, she inspires me still.
November 28, 2017
Holly is a Seasonal Favorite at Buckhorn Inn
Have you admired the holly bushes on the Buckhorn Inn Nature Trail? We have two American specimens of this beautiful evergreen.
Many different types of birds feed on bitter holly berries.
The thick, spiny leaves provide color in the landscape year round. And wildlife, including many different bird species, feed on the bright red berries. Interestingly, the berries are hard and inedible during the fall and early winter months. It takes several frosts, or freezes, for the fruit to become softer.
Symbolism of Holly
To the ancient Druids, the leaves offered protection against evil spirts. In those days holly was often worn, sometimes as a wreath around the head. It was viewed as being a sacred plant because it remained green all winter.
In some traditions of Wicca, the Holly King is one of the faces of the Sun God. He was born at midsummer and rules from the autumnal equinox to the vernal equinox.
In the Christian faith, the sharp leaves harken to the crown of thorns worn by Jesus and the red berries symbolize drops of his blood.
The evergreen is often used in decorations for the Chinese New Year.
Growing Holly
Whether evergreen or deciduous, the plant prefers a moist location, and partial to full shade. It grows well planted under, or around, large trees. This plant can grow up to 50 feet in height, if not kept pruned to size. Therefore it can be grown as a tree, bush, or hedge. Both male and female plants of American holly are necessary to produce the bright red berries. It begins to produce small white spring flowers and then berries when the plant is four to five years old. You can find a wealth of information on growing this favorite from the Holly Society of America http://www.hollysocam.org
You can cut your own branches to fashion wreaths and centerpieces. Just be sure to wear protective gloves when working with holly–the leaves are sharp!
November 20, 2017
We Are Thankful for the Buckhorn Family
We are so pleased that many of our long-time guests refer to themselves as part of the “Buckhorn Family”! When John and I purchased the Buckhorn, we expected to provide travelers with a respite from the rush of everyday life, and an opportunity to renew their spirits in the tranquility of nature’s bounty. What has delighted us most is that we also are providing a place for family and friends to connect and celebrate each other. Nothing pleases us more than to have a couple or a group announce to us that this is their 5th, or 12th, or 27th visit to the Buckhorn!
Over the last 20 years, Lee and John Mellor have added many wonderful guests to the Buckhorn Family.
Comments from Buckhorn Family Members
We gathered many comments from guests in the book The Buckhorn Experience”. Here is a sampling:
“The fireplace is the perfect backdrop for a cozy opportunity to chat with newly-made friends.” Cyndy
“We are sitting here tonight watching the fire, with a good wine. Everything here is peaceful. Why would you want to be anywhere else? This is and always will be my favorite place to stay.” Cindy and Lamar
“Our ninth visit is as memorable as ever. As my wife said to Lee, the Buckhorn trip is not like going away, it is like coming home!” Philip and Judy
“We do not leave this place behind, for in our hearts, we will always carry the love and beauty we found here.” Babe
“Our 12th trip to the Buckhorn was just as wonderful as the others. We look forward to returning next fall!” Grady and Cindy
“We have been coming here so long, we can’t agree just how many times we’ve been here!” June
“We celebrated our 35th wedding anniversary here with four other couples who have also been married for 35 years. Just as good as it was 10 years ago when we were all here for our 25th!” Mel and Bobbie
“There’s magic here. It’s subtle. Worries and fears slip off like ill-fitted garments.” Suzan
“Every time I go to the Buckhorn Inn, I always come away with new friends. I don’t go to the Buckhorn to get friends. I have plenty already. But these are special friends, who have shared the Buckhorn experience.” Douglas
Thank you to all our wonderful guests for being part of the Buckhorn family. We wish you a joyous Thanksgiving!
November 13, 2017
Dessert Is Always a Guest-Favorite at Buckhorn Inn
Guests tell us that dessert is a highlight of any Buckhorn Inn dinner. And why not! With such delights as coconut cream pie, apple-cranberry crisp, and our special “that” chocolate cake, all dinners end on a sweet note. But have you ever wondered about the history of dessert?
How Dessert Came to Be
Ancient peoples enjoyed dried fruits and nuts candied with honey. However it was not until the production of sugar that sweet dishes became popular parts of a meal. Sugar was expensive, so sweet treats were reserved, for the most part, for the wealthy and special occasions.
Desserts include pies, cakes, puddings, fruits, ice creams, and other sweet treats.
In Medieval Europe, sweet and savory dishes were served alongside each other. It was not until the 1600’s that service a la francaise (serving all dishes at once) became replaced with service a la russe (serving one course after another) and sweets claimed their place as the final course of a meal.
It was at that time that the word “dessert” came into popular use. The word comes from the French word “dessirvir” which means “to clear the table”. In other words, desserts were served after the table was cleared of main dishes. For more information on some of your favorite meal-enders, visit http://www.history.com/news/hungry-history/category/desserts
The recipe for one of our guest-favorites appears below. Enjoy!
Brown Butter Almond Torte with Sour Cherry Sauce
This torte is a favorite dessert at the Buckhorn Inn.
Torte
1/2 cup unsalted butter
1 tsp vanilla
1 cup blanched almonds
1/2 cup AP flour
1 cup sugar
3/4 tsp salt
6 large egg whites
1/3 cup sliced almonds
Preheat oven to 375 F. Butter and flour a 9″ round cake pan. Melt butter over moderately low heat. Continue to cook until golden brown with a nutlike fragrance. Cool and then stir in vanilla. In a food processor finely grind blanched almonds with flour, 2/3 c. sugar, and 1/2 tsp salt. With an electric mixer beat egg whites and remaining 1/4 tsp salt until they hold soft peaks. Gradually add remaining 1/3 cup sugar, beating until meringue holds stiff peaks. Fold in almond mixture. Then fold in butter mixture. Batter will deflate. Spread batter into cake pan and top with sliced almonds. Bake 35-40 minutes until tester comes out clean. Cool in pan on a rack 15 minutes. Remove from pan and cool completely.
Sour Cherry Sauce
3 cups sour cherries, pitted. (about 1 1/2 lbs.)
1/2 cup sugar
1/2 cup water
1 tsp cornstarch
Bring cherries, sugar and water to a boil. In a cup stir together cornstarch and 1 tablespoon water until dissolved. Stir into cherry mixture. Simmer sauce 2 minutes and cool to room temperature. This recipe makes 6-8 servings.
October 29, 2017
Halloween Happenings at Buckhorn Inn
Scary carved faces were intended to keep the spirit of Stingy Jack at bay.
We love celebrating holidays at the Buckhorn Inn–and Halloween is no exception! Innkeeper Lee Mellor recently conducted a pumpkin carving workshop for our guests. They made some amazing Jack-o-lanterns!
Bats, witches, and ghosts. . . Oh My!
Have you ever wondered from where the tradition of pumpkin-carving came?
A Brief History of Halloween Jack-o-lanterns
It all began with an Irish folktale. The tale revolves around Stingy Jack, who fooled the devil twice. When he eventually died, he was too dishonest to go to Heaven. But the devil had been tricked into promising not to claim his soul. The devil sent him away from the gates of Hell with a single burning coal to light his way. Ever resourceful, Jack carved out a turnip to use as a lantern. In Ireland and England, children would put burning embers in carved turnips, beets, gourds, or potatoes and used them to frighten passers-by. The glowing vegetables often were placed by the front door of homes in order to scare away the spirit of Stingy Jack. The use of vegetable lanterns became associated with Samhain, an autumnal Celtic festival that marked the end of the harvest season.
When the Irish, English, and Scots came to the United States, they brought this tradition with them. Pumpkins, native to South America but long cultivated by Native Americans, became the perfect canvas for creating Jack-0-lanterns. In the early 1800’s, the celebration of Samhain was replaced by the Halloween traditions we know today.
If you carve a pumpkin this year, roasted pumpkin seeds make a delicious seasonal snack. You can find a recipe with several variations at http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/food-network-kitchen/pumpkin-seeds-recipe-2105941.
Jack-0-lanterns are one of the most common Halloween decorations. In legend they keep away evil spirts or guide lost souls home. But today they serve as a flickering sign of the season.
October 23, 2017
Mount Le Conte is Buckhorn Inn’s Backyard
The view of Mount Le Conte from the Buckhorn Inn veranda is breathtaking.
Rising 6,593 feet, Mount Le Conte accounts for the majestic view from the Buckhorn Inn veranda. It is the highest peak in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park that is entirely within the state of Tennessee. It is the third-highest peak in the national park, behind Clingman’s Dome and Mount Guyot.
Who is Mount Le Conte named after? There is a bit of controversy about that. Joseph Le Conte is listed by the United States Geological Survey as the famous geologist for whom the mountain was named. Others believe the mountain was in fact named for Joseph’s brother, John Le Conte, who was a physicist at South Carolina College. What we do know for sure is that Paul Adams, an enthusiastic hiker, had a major impact on this area. In 1924 he joined the Great Smoky Mountain Conservation Association, whose mission was to make the region into a national park. As part of the campaign Adams led a group of Washington DC dignitaries on a hike up the mountain so that they could appreciate first-hand its rugged beauty. The trip was successful and eventually the entire region became protected as part of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park.
There are five trails that hikers may use to reach the summit of Mount Le Conte. They are the Alum Cave, Boulevard, Bullhead, Rainbow Falls, and Trillium Gap Trails. Millions of years of erosion and weathering have given Mount Le Conte its gently sloping shape. It is composed largely of sandstone, siltstone, and shale that was formed hundreds of millions of years ago. One remnant of the Ice Age can be seen today–a dense stand of Southern Appalachian Spruce-Fir Forest blankets the upper slopes.
Lodging at the Top of Mount Le Conte
The Le Conte Lodge, established in 1925, is the inn with the highest elevation in the eastern United States. Guests may only access the lodge by hiking. Its inaccessibility means that supplies are brought to the lodge by llama train and helicopter. http://www.lecontelodge.com
During your next visit to the Buckhorn Inn we encourage you to appreciate Mount Le Conte, whether that means hiking to the summit or enjoying the view, spiced tea in hand, from one of our veranda rocking chairs.
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