I so enjoyed my visit up to Tennessee for Bella Rustica and being in that beautiful countryside was so exhilerating, even if the weather wasn’t exactly Fallish. It was hot! But, that didn’t stop me from having a great time and one of the highlights was taking a tour of Milky Way Farms manor house. It looks a bit like a castle, all Tudorish and massive and all.
For more pics, you can check out the website manor house here.
Near Pulaski, TN, this area of the South is so pretty with rolling hills, beautiful vistas and small town squares.
The farmhouse doesn’t look like a farmhouse, but more like a castle, a manor house. It’s huge and has recently been purchased by a father and daughter team and I think the plan is to do more events at the farm, like Bella Rustica, as well as luncheons and large group events. The farm was purchased in the 1930’s by Frank Mars, of candy bar fame and he employed hundreds of workers during those hard times. It is certainly a beautiful place to tour and I’m so glad we got to see inside the house. We got a tour from Lynn, one of the new home owners.
There was even a Kentucky Derby winning horse back in 1940!
This is the huge great room just inside the massive front doors. The home is plaster, wood and rock, very rustic, but pretty in an earthy way. Rock solid it is.
Check out these iron gates leading into the massive dining room, which seats around 40 people around the oval table.
Quite a sight to behold.
It’s dark inside, so very hard to get great pics on the fly, but I did my best. Have you ever seen a dining table this big?
Huge wood beams and one BIG table. Wow, is that something to behold.
The kitchen has been modernized for functions and taking care of crowds.
Pretty and functional with some nice views outside.
This large stone fireplace is in the great room.
Looking out at the beautiful countryside from one of the many windows in the house.
More rock and wood beams.
The outside of the home is so impressive too with the stacked stone and just the sheer magnitude of the manor house.
I can’t imagine how long it took to build this.
Lots of older vintage lighting still inside.
There are hallways with rows of bedrooms off of them, all with original bathrooms still intact.
Nicely done. Not sure if they are planning to run this as an inn eventually, but maybe.
This was “his” bedroom, Mr. Mars.
Large and stately room.
And this red one was “hers.”
Black and white vintage tile in most of the bathrooms.
Old radiators and antiques.
Check out this bathroom with the hex tiles, all coming back in style again.
Still pretty and classic.
Sitting area.
Love this pretty chandy and massive wood beams on the ceiling.
This area even has a screened in tiled porch with beautiful views. You can see the massive Magnolia trees outside.
One of the hallways.
Ahhh, how gorgeous is this?
Another pretty chandy.
Looking down from upstairs.
Another pretty bedroom.
And yet another porch with view.
Can’t take a tour of Milky Way Farms without having a Milky Way treat.
And a pretty vase of flowers as a greeting.
Rolling hills and hay rolls.
We checked out a couple of the barns too, some of the nicest barns I’ve ever seen.
The chandelier barn hosts wedding receptions, we heard.
How pretty is the door?
Soaring ceilings with a big ole’ chandy up high would be a great party barn.
You can imagine all the beautiful horses in these stalls.
That chandy is so pretty in here.
Lovely!
Loved the old wood doors and iron hardware.
It was such fun to visit this part of TN and get a glimpse into this beautiful Manor House at Milky Way Farms. If you’re in this part of the country, I’d definitely tell you to stop by and take a tour.
Driving back home, I had to snap a quick pic of See Rock City, one of the birdhouses and old barns that splash this sentiment across the South for as long as I can remember.
Lovely photo’s! I am wondering if there is just the one range in the kitchen. It seems like the kitchen might need a stove with more burners to adequately serve huge meals.
WOW! What a gorgeous place! Putting this on the list to visit one day.
It is interesting to see that “old” is coming back in style. What a lovely home. It is good that it is being put to use again, as it is perfect for weddings and receptions.
This place has some beautiful “bones”, but in dire need of some professional help in decorating, remodeling and landscaping. It is sad to me to see such an architectural beauty lacking in these areas. Sorry, I just see the true grandeur that could be in this place.
Hi, cdm, it does have great bones and I know, it looks dated just looking at it, but keep in mind the house was built in the 1930’s. Apparently over the years, it hasn’t been updated much at all, except for the kitchen.
There are probably 20 bedrooms in both of those hallways upstairs, so it’s HUGE! You can imagine the money it will take to completely update all those rooms and the main living and dining spaces. Regardless of decor, it’s an amazing place to be enjoyed for its grandeur.
I think the antiques and 30’s baths gives it that much more character. Anyone can go out and lay down $$$$ and build something modern or fake vintage. I bet all those antiques are true to form nice antiques. I loved it! I agree they need to work on the landscaping but they’ve just bought it, give them some time. Thanks Rhoda for the pictures. I enjoyed it 🙂
I thought everything looked terrific. It all went with the style of the house. The only thing I might change is that one lightbulb. Loved those bathrooms.
Wow! Thanks for sharing all of the great pictures!
I’ll have to add that to my list of places to visit: how interesting!
Thanks for sharing!!
Rhoda, so glad you got to go to Milky Way…..we actually have a small farm in Pulaski, TN, and if nothing else the scenery is absolutely gorgeous. (My husband is from that area before I “snatched” him up and brought him to Alabama….(hahahah); only about 20 miles south at that.
Wish you had had time to visit some of the little out-of-the-way shops and even the nearby Amish community (where I got my tomates to can by your sweet mama’s recipe)…..a great place to kick back and casually tour…Enjoyed your notes….
R.G.
Another beauty Rhoda that you graciously bring to us. You know that book, “1001 Places to see before you die”? Well if this isn’t in there it should be! It’s on my growing list of places to see thanks in part to your blog. Maybe next year if Bella Rustica comes back. Would love to go! Your site is better than a magazine…as we get to few these homes for “free”. Eye candy for sure. Love the history of these homes! Thanks for brightening our day!
Perhaps it IS dated—but it is STILL grand!
Sounds like it’s back in some very loving hands once again.
Thank you so much for sharing, I’d LUV to tour it first hand!
And wouldn’t it be cool to get to stay in one of those bedrooms for a night!
Catherine
Beautiful post, Rhoda! You’ve captured the home wonderfully! It was such a treat trekking through the rooms with you and Sandra! So glad you came!
Donna
Thank you so much for sharing — I can’t wait to get back up to that area. Recently, coming home from Franklin, we stopped for gas at that exit on 65, and I asked how far to Pulaski. The attendant told me 19 miles “that way” and he pointed. We had seen a sign for a fabric store, and we had already decided to go back. I think it is called SS or something — did you happen to see it? We will definitely detour there to see this time we go — soon I hope! This house is incredible, truly of the earth.
How beautiful! I love the pictures.
What struck me about this huge and really overall beautiful place was the tile steps up to the bathtub. Wet feet and tile steps just sounds like an accident waiting to happen to me! It was beautiful, though.
I would love to cook for a huge dinner party where everyone was seated around that fabulous table! How fun! – Okay, maybe I would have it catered. But fun, nonetheless.
Beautiful!
WOW that is awesome! Glad you had a great time.
How do you do your Southern Hosp. name on your pix? I LOVE that font and have always wondered how you do that.
Can’t wait to see more pix of your house!
HI, Rose, I use Photoscape to do most of my photo editing. Most of the photo software will add logos to your pics, it’s easy! That font is called Anke.
Hi Rhoda,
With every interior shot, I kept thinking “Oh, what Rhoda could do with that!” Please tell me you had a chance to review your portfolio with the new owners? Are they considering having some professional design guidance? They should, it’s a big job, and I bet you have a million ideas.
Well, at any rate, I wanted you to know that I think you could do wonders with the place.
Beautiful photos, thanks for sharing them with us.
HI, Wendy, oh you are sweet, but I would be overwhelmed with doing a house of that magnitude. And I don’t think the new owners need my help, they will do just fine.
I love it! And they have the same exact stove as I do here at home, one of the best things I ever splurged on for myself.
Rhoda, I made the trip from North Alabama to show that Friday and loved it! The last time I had been at Milky Way was in high school for a high school sorority dance (40 years ago!!). I think I remember it being in the room with the Juliet balcony, but do remember being amazed at the house. Can’t wait to go to more events there!