MONEY

Knoxville's controversial Ancient Lore project pivots to become an event venue

Brenna McDermott
Knoxville News Sentinel

Entrepreneur Tom Boyd has found new life for his planned Ancient Lore Village development in South Knoxville. The property will be repositioned from a resort to a 40-acre event venue and is slated to book weddings beginning in October. 

Knoxville and Knox County Planning Commission approved the new development plan for Ancient Lore Village at Boyd Hollow – a rural retreat with an event facility with 3,200 square feet for up to 300 guests and a maximum of nine overnight accommodations. 

Guests stand outside a prototype cabin designed for the Ancient Lore Village resort on Sunday, Oct. 13, 2019, in Knoxville, Tenn.

The development will cater to weddings, social events, family reunions and other gatherings. 

"Our goal has always been to bring a quality hospitality experience to the Knoxville area," Tom Boyd, founder and chairman of Boyd Hollow Resorts Inc., said in a press release. "We are excited to be moving forward with a development plan that will help boost the local economy in South Knoxville and to provide a venue where people can celebrate in a unique and charming environment." 

The property is based on Boyd's creative works in partnership with DK Levy Architects, which designed the property, which will include walking trails, landscaping, stone walls and water features. 

Boyd said the company plans on building seven properties like this one within the next three years. Headquarters will remain in Knoxville. 

Accommodations will include places like Bokee's Bungalow, which includes a wood burning fireplace; Waterfall Villa, Gremlin Den, Orc Home, Fairy Cottage and Leprechaun Lair.

The Village at Westland Cove completed

The Village at Westland Cove has been completed this spring.

The Village at Westland Cove, a $29 million luxury apartment complex, was completed in March. The Farragut development consists of nine buildings with 240 one-, two- and three- bedroom units. The property includes a clubhouse, fitness center, pool, dog park, bocce ball court and garages. 

The developer is StoneRiver Company, LLC, the general contractor was Capstone Building Corp. of Birmingham, Alabama, and the architect is Wakefield Beasely and Associates. 

First tenant for Kern's Bakery announced

A rendering shows Flagship Kerns, the multifamily development opening this fall at the Kern's Bakery site.

Flourish Flower Truck announced in April it is opening a storefront inside the Kern's Bakery mixed use development. The business was the first tenant to announce it will be moving into the historic building, slated to open in 2021. Kern's Bakery will be a 16-acre mixed use development including apartments, a food hall, market, entertainment and a hotel. 

Flagship Kerns, the apartment community, is slated to open first in 2021. 

Several historic renovation projects underway

Knoxville City Council approved $643,000 in historic preservation grants to fund four projects. The Tennessee Theatre Foundation will use the funds for masonry repair, tuckpointing and window replacement on the facade. 

The Bijou Theatre will use funds to cover repairs to the masonry, electrical work and canopies on the Cumberland Avenue side of the historic building. 

Property owner Bob Monday will use funds to replace doors and repair brickwork of his Shanklin Flats restoration project at 101-103 E. Fourth Ave. And developers Laurence Eaton and Logan Higgins will use funds to replace doors, windows and transoms, install new windows and renovate brick work on the Scott Avenue side of its Lintz Lofts renovation project at 428 E. Scott Ave.