It All Started with an Old Farmhouse…
We first found the Historic John Ogle Farmhouse in 2012 when Bob (Dad) was working in the area and wanted to invest in a property instead of continuing to rent. He found the Farmhouse and walked through it many times, bringing Erin (his daughter) along to view it and envision what it could be. At the time, we had no idea what a gem the house truly was, as the original handmade brick fireplaces and tongue and groove walls were hidden behind more modern facades and covered in plaster.
As he began the process of renovation, Bob uncovered the beautiful original fireplaces and made a point of restoring and protecting them. He discovered the stack stone and beam foundation and decided to try to salvage the beams during the restoration for use elsewhere on the property. These beams became the mantles on the fireplaces. As they removed the plaster and many layers of paint from the walls, he discovered tongue and groove wood planks. Those planks became the walls you see throughout the first floor and upstairs bedrooms.
Bob also noticed the unique details on the eaves of the house and later learned these were handmade by a previous owner. As he redid the exterior of the house, he salvaged these and placed them in the same places they had been before. He also saved the extras, which were later turned into an art piece in the Farmhouse sunroom by his sister-in-law.
Bob’s siblings gather at the property each year for a family reunion and have enjoyed the expansion of the property, allowing more of their children and grandchildren to join them. Bob and his family also visit often, continuing to work on the property and also enjoying the setting. They especially enjoy watching the Dollywood fireworks and drone shows from the property and walking through the wildflower beds by the Lodge. They have also been known to have some very competitive games of cornhole behind the Farmhouse (Bob rarely wins despite his best efforts. Erin, Sarah, and Fred are simply much better cornhole players.).
