An Insider’s Look at Blackberry Farm, Cover Location For 2015 Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue

By: Brittany Bevis

When taking a look at the latest cover of the 2015 Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Edition, we noticed something very interesting… We’re not talking about the stunning woman in a barely there bikini. We’re more interested in what appears in the background of the image that was taken by fashion photographer Ben Watts as part of SI’s “Made in the USA” theme.

Is that a horse paddock fence in the background? We did a little research, and yes it is.

As part of a journey that takes readers across the country in celebration of famous American landscapes, SI cover girl Hannah Davis made a stop at Blackberry Farm, a Relais & Châteaux property located in the foothills of the Smoky Mountains in east Tennessee.

Of course, the specific details about the shoot are very hush, hush. However, we were able to confirm that a 10-day shoot did take place at the 4,200-acre estate featuring the Farm’s boathouse, farmhouse, horse stables, cultivated gardens, streams, and archery range, a very interesting choice for the first non-water based cover of a Sports Illustrated Swimsuit edition.

We were able to chat with Director of Marketing at Blackberry Farm, Sarah Elder Chabot, to get an inside look at the idyllic property that combines the features of a working farm with a luxury resort to create a boutique travel experience.

Nestled in the heart of the Great Smoky Mountains, Blackberry Farm is located in the small town of Walland, TN., a convenient 25 minute drive from the Knoxville airport. In addition to hosting some of the world’s finest cuisine and wines, the property provides a plethora of outdoor activities like fly fishing, horseback riding, nature hiking, sporting clays, and cycling.

Guests can learn from the property’s farmstead artisans by touring the cultivated gardens, spending a day in the life of a Blackberry Farm chef, or by going on a truffle hunt with the Farm’s Lagatto truffle dogs! Wine tasting, kayaking, and photography workshops sound incredible, but what we’re most interested in is the horse stables and many equestrian-themed excursions.

“Our dedicated equestrian program is really diverse and provides support for a lot of different levels of riders, from a very basic ride through the Smokey Mountains to Carriage Driving, Natural Horsemanship, and Fox Hunting,” Chabot says. “The equestrian program is led by John and Carla Hawkinson, who have a longtime career in the industry. We also have hunter paces all across the property, so you can gallop around and jump natural hedges, fences, cross rails, and logs. The obstacles are of a varying degree of difficulty depending on a rider’s ability.”

Check out the descriptions of the many guided horseback riding experiences offered at Blackberry Farm.

• The Farmstead Ride- Group Activity / Allow up to one hour– A relaxing way to explore the farm, at a leisurely pace that’s suitable for all levels of experience.
• The Field and Stream Ride– Private Activity / Allow up to two hours- Wander the fields and streams of Blackberry with your personal guide.
• Hunter Pace– Private Activity / Allow up to two hours- For the confident equestrian, comfortable posting the trot, in English tack, galloping and jumping (optional) in open and wooded terrain.
• Pony Time- For kids and parents / Allow one hour- Introduction to mini-and full-size horse: grooming, leading, tack, and lead line ride. Bring a camera!
• Recreational Riding Instruction– Private Activity / Allow up to two hours- English (jumping optional) or Western.
• Full Day Horse Clinic- Private Activity / Allow up to six hours– Topics include natural horsemanship, horse psychology, safety, grooming, tack, English or Western riding instruction in the ring and on the trail.
• Smokey Mountain Wilderness Ride- Lunch included / Allow three to five hours- For experienced riders, currently riding fit, confident over steep terrain and water crossings. Please contact stables for availability.
• Mounted Foxhunting- January 2-4, 2015; February 6-8, 2015; and March 6-8, 2015/ Allow four to six hours; Lease horses/instruction available- For experienced equestrians comfortable posting the trot in English tack and galloping rugged terrain. Jumping optional.
• Natural Horsemanship Experience- Allow one hour- Whether or not you choose to put your foot in the stirrup, savor the opportunity to “join up” with a horse, explore the essence of the human/horse relationship through non-verbal communication, action and perception. Arrive seeking an understanding of the horse and leave with a powerful connection.
• Carriage Rides- Rides by appointment only. Plan on hour or more- Clip-clop down a shady lane and amble through the countryside. Slow your pace of life. Experience scenic vistas and pure mountain streams from the cozy comfort of a horse-drawn carriage. If you are interested, your driver is well-versed in Blackberry history and local lore. Hoofbeats create a rhythm for a beautiful Blackberry memory.
• Recreational Carriage Driving Instruction– One–Two guests/Allow up to two hours– Introduction to harness, hitching, safe driving techniques; includes a drive around the farm.

“We have Quarter Horses, Paint Horses, and Warmbloods,” Chabot says. “A couple of our horses have even starred on the Travel Channel!”

One of Blackberry Farm’s horses that appears in the issue is Ready For Logan, a 2001 bay AQHA gelding by Pets Ready Chex and out of Sandy Cheetah. Ready For Logan does have a prior history in the show pen competing in western all-around events. Skyrocket To Stardum, a 2003 bay gelding by Intimidate The Sky and out of Winnie The Star, is also featured in a video on the SI website. Both horses are proudly owned by Greg Goldenburg. Other horses at Blackberry Farm include Cheez, Mac, Harlan, Van Winkle, and Bramble, 22 in total.

In addition to Blackberry Farm’s stable of horses, this real working farm boasts six acres of cultivated gardens and a collection of pigs, chicken, and sheep. Of course, the animals contribute to the visitor experience, but they have practical value as well.

“The pigs, chickens, and sheep all help to provide products for the restaurant,” Chabot says. “We make sheep’s milk cheese in the creamery, and we also have a preservation kitchen where we prepare dry mixes, jams, preserves, and pickles. We also have a butcher’s shop. All of this can be part of the guest experience, but it’s also meant to provide a really high level of cuisine.”

“We do have lot of wild blackberries and some cultivated ones as well. Actually, there is a story behind the name of Blackberry Farm. Back in the 1930s, the owner was scouting out a place to put her home when she snagged her stocking on a blackberry bramble, so she called the property Blackberry Farm.”

If you’re interested in booking a Smokey Mountain Wilderness Ride, Mounted Fox Hunting Expedition, or Natural Horsemanship Experience, visit www.BlackberryFarm.com to learn more about this hidden gem. For reservations and information, please call 800.557.8864.

“I’m thrilled, but not surprised, that Sports Illustrated chose to feature Blackberry Farm, one of Tennessee’s and the world’s treasures, in this year’s Swimsuit Edition,” says Commissioner Susan Whitaker, Tennessee Department of Tourist Development. “The magazine is known for choosing the most beautiful places in the world to feature some of the most beautiful women in the world. We look forward to welcoming Sports Illustrated readers from around the globe to experience our breathtaking scenic beauty in places like Blackberry Farm and the most exciting music scene on the planet right here in Tennessee.”

The Sports Illustrated Swimsuit issue is now available on newsstands, tablet, mobile and SI.com/Swimsuit.

Author’s Note: Apparently, Sports Illustrated was feeling a bit equine-inclined for the Swimsuit Issue, since a horse appears in another location in the edition as well! Click here to view a behind-the-scenes video of model Gigi Hadid who posed in Kauai with a local horse.