Falls Mill Log Cabin is a property in Belvidere, Tennessee. The Log Cabin, built in 1895, is on the grounds of historic Falls Mill, Home of the Museum of Power and Industry, Inc. The Museum property includes exhibits on 3 floors of the former textile factory, a blacksmith shop, 1890’s era one-room schoolhouse, as well as scenic grounds and waterfalls. The log cabin bed and breakfast “sleeps a family of 5” according to Jane. The cabin offers Wifi, satellite TV, a wood-burning fireplace, and electric heating and air conditioning. Breakfast is stocked in the cabin for guests’ convenience and includes homemade bread, pastries, ham and eggs, fresh fruit, cereal, coffee, and tea. The cabin has one queen size bed and a single bed in the loft, a twin-day bed with a trundle bed downstairs by the fireplace; its bathroom is located on the second floor.
Falls Mill Log Cabin is located in Belvidere, Tennessee. Lynchburg is 17 miles north of the bed and breakfast, and Winchester is about 10 miles east. The surrounding area consists of farmland, forests, and Factory Creek, which passes along the northern side of the property. The premises is on the 92-acre site of a nearly 150-year-old water-powered mill, the establishment's namesake. The waterwheel can be viewed by walking about 75 yards from the bed and breakfast, according to Jane, one of the property owners. The land is mainly wooded or consists of farmland.
Falls Mill Log Cabin serves as the bed and breakfast and is one single unit. The cabin is two levels with the bedroom and bathroom located in the loft. There is a queen bed and a single bed upstairs, and a day bed and trundle bed downstairs by the fireplace. The bathroom has a small shower and is located on the second floor. The first floor has a kitchenette that is equipped with a stove, oven, microwave, and small refrigerator, where guests can prepare breakfast. Additionally, fresh-baked bread and pastries are provided. The living room has glider rockers, a table and chairs, a DVD player, and WiFi access. The front porch has a rocking chair and a glider, and firewood is provided in the cooler months. Another balcony off the upstairs bedroom has rocking chairs, and Jane says a nearby waterfall can be heard from the porches of bed and breakfast. Visitors can walk about 50 yards from the cabin to actually see the waterfall and tour the mill building.
The previously-mentioned mill will be 150 years old in 2023 and is powered by water to this day. It also serves as a museum where Jane and her husband John host tours. The mill is open for visitors, Thursday through Saturday from 9:00 AM to 4:00 PM, and its operating season is from April 1 to November. Falls Mill Log Cabin has walking trails that lead to the waterfall, as mentioned earlier, and a 75-acre farm is open for guests to access if they would like to explore it. More on-site attractions include a reconstructed 1890s-era log schoolhouse building, blacksmith shop, corn crib, carriage house, and the log house where Jane and John reside.
Visitors can make their own breakfast or supper while staying at the bed and breakfast. Jane says that "people don't have to get dressed and see [them] first thing in the morning" but can instead watch the deer that pass by the house or "hang out" in their pajamas on the porch. Nonetheless, breakfast items are provided in the kitchen for visitors to make what they would like. Homemade bread and pastries, ham, eggs, cereal, grits, fresh fruit, pancake mix, juice, and coffee are all things that are offered to guests at their leisure. The owners also accommodate food allergies or dietary restrictions when requested in advance.
People who stay at Falls Mill Log Cabin can visit other attractions in the area. One such place is the Jack Daniel's Distillery in Lynchburg, which is open for tours 7 days a week, where visitors can learn how whiskey is made. The Cowan Railroad Museum is 20 miles from the bed and breakfast. Visitors can also visit Tims Ford Lake and Tims Ford State Park. The University of the South, Sewanee, located 25 miles from the mill, features Victorian Gothic architecture. All Saints Chapel, cathedral-like in appearance, is famous for its stained glass windows. Regarding places to eat, Jane recommends her guests try High Point, a gourmet restaurant which is located in a building that was once owned by Al Capone and currently serves a variety of seafood, steaks, pasta, and salads. She mentions that High Point serves a notable lobster bisque. Jane also suggests Western Sirloin Steakhouse, which specializes in steaks, seafood, and homemade soup and sandwiches. Finally, she recommends Papa Ron's Pizza & Italian Steakhouse, which serves steaks, pizza, pasta, salads, and sandwiches. The Eggplant Parmesan is a personal favorite of the owners.
When referring to the atmosphere of Falls Mill Log Cabin, Jane, one of the owners, describes it as a "low-key" environment. She says it is a place where guests should feel "rested and refreshed" as well as "comfortable and cozy." To Jane, this has meant, in part, the avoidance of using decorations that can easily be broken. Most visitors are said to come from large cities to get away from the traffic and commotion. Jane says it is crucial for guests to have as much privacy as they want, and although she and her husband John live on-site in another house, they are happy to make sightseeing recommendations when asked.
Because Jane describes the bed and breakfast as a "low-key" place intended for guests to move at their leisure, not many events are held on the premises. They have hosted a few weddings in the past, but most activities consist of the on-site museum, blacksmith, or schoolhouse tours. Jane has also noticed that many photographers are attracted to Falls Mill Log Cabin and spend ample time taking pictures of the property's historic buildings, landscapes, or local wildlife.
According to Jane, most visitors consist of honeymoon couples, photographers, families, and retirees. Many of them visit repeatedly. She recollects a particular family who has stayed at the Falls Mill Log Cabin for the last 28 years. Their son proposed to his fiancé while staying at the property. The establishment is known chiefly for the mill, and Jane adds that many visitor reviews comment on the landscape and the tours. She also says her guests have appreciated the hospitality, as one visitor said, "Great place to stay. The owners are very friendly and always do [their] best to make your visit the best you will have. The cabin was well stocked and very clean and cozy feeling. Love this place. Set back away from main roads, so it's very quiet." Similarly, another guest commented, "Great place to stay and visit. Very historical place. Everyone here was polite, [and] they made our family feel like we were visiting family."
Regarding the bed and breakfast's policies, pets and smoking are not allowed indoors. Cabin renters are also required to be no less than 25 years old. With that being said, children are welcome to the property as long as they are accompanied by an adult. Additionally, the cabin is open year-round, but the mill is open from April 1 to November. Jane says her favorite season is during the spring, explaining that they "don't get a lot of fall colors," but in April, the azaleas, dogwoods, and redbud trees are in bloom.
Falls Mill was built in 1873 and operated as a wool and cotton factory. A cotton gin operated on the site for over 60 years. After that, the mill building operated as a woodworking shop, then the grain mill, and now the museum. The water wheel still powers a significant portion of the machinery in the building, and the Museum of Power and Industry, Inc. is found inside.
Jane and John Lovett, the current owners, purchased the property in 1984 and began hosting tours of the museum at that time. They opened the log cabin bed and breakfast for guests in 1989. The museum functions as a non-profit business, but Jane and John needed a way to pay their bills and receive income, so the cabin was reconstructed and turned into a bed and breakfast. They also rebuilt the schoolhouse building, blacksmith shop, corn crib, carriage house, and the house they currently live in. All of the log buildings have been moved from other locations and reconstructed on-site by the Lovetts.
Jane says she and John enjoy meeting the people that stay at their property. They like hearing the stories of people passing through, such as a couple from Washington state who were biking across the country to Washington D.C. or a man from Czechoslovakia who bought a car and was working his way around the country. John, in particular, likes to build and repair things, and Jane says he is happy whenever he has a project to work on. She finally remarks that they anticipate continuing the bed and breakfast for several more years, and she indicates that "if you're not enjoying what you're doing, then you shouldn't be doing it."
134 Falls Mill Road
Belvidere, Tennessee 37306
United States
Bed and Breakfast
Jane and John Lovett
