Pomelo Grove: Happy Campers
Living in Tennessee has many benefits, including an abundance of gorgeous scenery and serene blocks of land to camp on. But while pitching a tent and sleeping right on the earth may sound euphoric for...
Lemon Lane Farm
Cultivating the sweet life on 118 acres
As we turned onto Possum Trot Road we passed signs for “Tiny House,” “Cowgirl Cabin,“ and then “Winnie Jane Bago.” Along the winding gravel road, we drove until we came to an old white farmhouse where we were greeted by a pot-bellied pig (Herbert) in the front yard. Such is your welcome to Lemon Lane Farm, a charming, bucolic 118 acres off the Cumberland Plateau owned and operated by Amy Thran.
A Nashvillian and business executive, Amy was on the early side of the Air BnB business with a dream of owning a farm. In 2018 she was going to rent out a rustic cabin and found that the entire property was for sale. It was originally owned by the Lemons, where they had raised their family, and included the original farmhouse, with 118 acres and a rustic cabin. She bought it, moved into the farmhouse, added a large porch, and got to work. She updated the rustic cabin named “Cowgirl,” then added a tiny house called “Tiny House” in a field overlooking the mountains. After “Tiny House” she added “Winnie Jane Bago” and next “Happy Camper,” for a total of 4 small, sweet places to stay.
Her goal? For folks to disconnect and discover nature and animals. And there is plenty of both.
Photo 1: Owner, Amy Thran and Herbert the pig
Photo 2: Ducks roaming about
Photo 3: A garden house and barn on the farm
Photo 4: Dinner and drinks by the fire. There is no shortage of firewood at the farm, a comfort to campers everywhere.
Amy is an admitted crazy animal person. She inherited Herbert the pig--who now sleeps in her living room -- from a neighbor in East Nashville, rescued Diego -- one of her dogs -- from the streets of Columbia, South America, not to mention her ducks, chickens, 2 donkeys, 3 other dogs, and bees. The animals roam the property and are super sweet and helpful for cleaning up after your dinner around the fire.
Lemon Lane isn’t exactly “glamping.” “We have 2 kinds of guests here -- those that love to camp and are splurging, and those who have never camped at all and want to push themselves,” said Amy.
We fall into the middle. We don’t need the Ritz in the middle of a field, but appreciate water, a bed, comfy chairs on a porch and some sort of bathroom facilities. And while Lemon Lane is lacking running water and stoves, it runneth over with charm. Amy is a big thrifter and DIYer. She loves to rescue furniture (in addition to animals) and other items from alleys and roadsides to upcycle for the farm. Just the case for the old potty, located in a charming bathroom with curtains and vintage “training cases” for all manner of restroom accoutrements. Old ladders make towel racks and used stainless steel restaurant tables make shelves.
Ingenious touches are everywhere. Rainwater is collected where it can be put into bags heated by the sun and used for the shower in the trees.
Photo 1: The welcoming deck at "Happy"
Photo 2: Restored interior of "Happy"
We stayed in “Happy Camper,” a 1950’s vintage “canned ham camper” that Amy obtained last year. Word has it that it was used in a Hollywood movie, which would make sense as it was in mint condition with all its charm—original wood cabinets that secured shut for driving, small sink, linoleum counter, dining table that turns into the bed, and vintage light fixtures and windows. “Happy Camper” is nestled into the woods with a large deck overlooking trees and a lake below.
Amy is tireless. She just blazed 3 miles of trails on the property perfect for hiking (and dunking into the cool stream that runs throughout). She has plans for nature massage tables amongst the trees, hot tubs adjacent to the pond for polar plunges, and a feeding area for deer. Her sweet life indeed. Experience it.
Lemon Lane Farm
2392 Possum Trot Rd
Grandview, TN 37337
(615) 496-8031
@lemonlanefarmtn
lemonlanefarm.com
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