East Tennessee's oldest Inn is celebrating 80 years. Buckhorn Inn opened in 1938 in Gatlinburg near the Great Smoky Mountains National Park
A pair of swans welcomes visitors to 25-acres of woods and meadow and the bed and breakfast known as the Buckhorn Inn.
"It's the sense of peace and serenity, the tradition of Buckhorn that is so important to us and to the guests that we serve," Lee Mellor said.
Lee and John Mellor are only the third owners in the 80-year history of the inn. They live on site and are hands-on innkeepers.
The founder, Douglas Bebb, picked the spot for its stunning views.
"When he picked it, it was a farm and there wasn't a tree on it. And one of the things he did in his first few years was to plant 36-hundred trees. And he sculpted the landscape so that you would never be able to see from this building another built structure," Lee said.
The views of the mountains remain spectacular. The main lodge, cottages and guest houses retain their charm.
"We feel it's an honor to own this Inn and it's a responsibility to maintain it. We have made lots of improvements on various things. I mean, we have tiled walk in showers, jaccuzis, king sized beds, a great WiFi system," she said.
Lee said the hospitality and excellent food make Buckhorn a destination for repeat visitors.
"Some people have been coming to Buckhorn longer than we have," she said. "So many of them have been coming for 30 and even 40 years. This is the place they always come for their anniversary. This is the place they recommend to their children for their honeymoon."
She and her husband traveled the world, living in Australia and other countries before settling in East Tennessee. She appreciates this place.
"One of the things people love about Buckhorn is its serenity and its character, its longevity, and the fact that when they pull into Buckhorn their blood pressure drops about 20 points," she said. "When they come to Buckhorn they feel like they are coming home. And we feel like we are greeting them to their second home."
It is the primary home for Lee and John Mellor and a couple of swans.
Some famous people have stayed at the Buckhorn Inn including Tipper Gore, Patricia Neal, and Walt Disney.