This Tennessee Resort Looks Like it Came Straight from ‘The Lord of the Rings’

When it comes time to plan a vacation, depending on the type of trip you're looking to take, finding a place to call home for a few days usually means looking at hotel, condo, resort, or cabin options. But sometimes, you want something a little different. Something you and the family will remember for years to come. I have no doubt a stay at this unique Tennessee resort that looks like it came from the mind of J.R.R. Tolkien will do exactly that.

Welcome to Ancient Lore Village

Located roughly 15 minutes south of downtown Knoxville in the foothills of the Great Smoky Mountains sits Ancient Lore Village. The boutique resort is not the brainchild of the famous author behind The Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit but of Tom Boyd, the father of the current University of Tennessee president, Randy Boyd. According to the resort's website, the idea of the resort started as a fairy tale story Tom came up with while traveling the state with his son as he campaigned to become the state's governor in 2018. As he explains in the two videos below, the trip brought gave him an up-close look at the "hatred, intolerance, and...misunderstanding" people have with each other. Bothered by what he experienced, he decided to write a book about a place where despite everyone's differences, they can all live together peacefully.

Not long after publishing the book, Tom got to work on making the fictitious Ancient Lore Village a reality. The Village features seven places to stay onsite, each based on the homes of the characters in the book. The largest is Bokee's Bungalow, a 1,600 square foot house built into the side of a hill that sleeps up to eight people and features two private bedrooms that each feature one queen bed. The bungalow also features four bunk beds and three private bathrooms.

The other options range in size from 1,000 square feet to 400 square feet, with each featuring designs specific to the characters from the book.

In addition to the fairy tale "dwellings," the resort also offers several things to do such as archery, axe throwing, an outdoor gaming area, and hiking trails.

We have a close family friend who lives in Knoxville, and I've been there many times in my life but had no idea this place existed until a friend of mine shared a video about it with me on Instagram. It looks pretty wild and nothing like any resort or hotel I've ever stayed in. I imagine it's definitely a place you'll remember for a long time if you decide to book a stay for a few days.

Learn more about Ancient Lore Village through its website.

[Sources: Ancient Lore Village / Ancient Lore Village on YouTube]