6 minute read
A HIDDEN GEM IN COLUMBIA
MULETOWN FARM
PHOTOS BY KATHY FOX AND FOX CREATIVE
Muletown Farm is a hidden gem in Columbia that affords visitors the beauty of yesteryear without sacrificing the conveniences of today. Originally established in the early 1800s by the Armstrong family, this farm sits on 31 acres of rolling hills and breathtaking views.
The Brown family purchased Muletown Farm in 2016 and have done extensive work to preserve the old barns and log cabins that make the farm one of Columbia’s greatest reminders of a time passed. Their dream was to create a space for family and friends to enjoy each other and find deep rest in the countryside of Middle Tennessee. Since then, they have opened the property up to family and friends of all Columbia and Spring Hill residents. They have a total of four nightly rentals on the property as well as their personal family home.
The owners, Chris and Holly Brown, who have a disarming nature and a constant joking attitude towards each other, each vie for the chance to share their passion for the farm before the other. Holly won and stated, “It is hard to find a place that allows you to be in wide open spaces with your kids, your extended family, and your beloved pets. A place for kids to explore and freely chase curiosity, dogs to play fetch until their tongues can’t be rolled back into their mouths, and for families to sit around a bonfire and connect away from the everyday pressures of life. Our extended family lives out of town so we wanted to create a space not just for them but for the out-of-town family for all our Muletown neighbors. When out-of-town family comes to stay, local residents are welcome to come over for a cookout or kickball game on the farm. This is a place for family and to us, family means cousins and pets are always welcome. Our favorite thing is to host family reunions so that all cabins are filled with the joy and laughter of one family that is getting closer to each other while they stay.”
Whether it’s a reunion, a retreat for friends, or a business meet-up, Muletown Farm has no problem hosting large groups since their four rentals sleep a combined total of 25 people. “The history of the farm is quite extensive," said Chris Brown. “We are still trying to sort out what’s fact and legend, but legend has it that Davy Crockett stayed in one of our smaller log cabins. We have also heard that Revolutionary War memoirs were written inside these walls, which are the original hand-hewn logs of Muletown Manor. It blows our mind to think there have been 200 Christmases, 200 years of summer heat, and 200 fall-time lady bugs attempting to sneak through the cracks of the windows of each of these cabins.”
Not only is the space family friendly but so is the cost. “Both my husband and I grew up in families where taking a vacation was either not possible or very taxing on our parents,” said Brown. “And personally, as parents of three ourselves, we know what it feels like to need time away but not have the resources to get that time. We work very hard to keep our prices at or below the cost of local hotels around Columbia and Spring Hill. With a 4.97 rating on Airbnb, we are very proud of what we can offer families in comparison to a hotel.”
“When we first looked at this property, it was run down and forgotten. It had been on the market for awhile. And just like all the others who looked before, we too wondered if the amount of work needed would be too much. Would we bankrupt ourselves on something that was too far gone? But underneath all the worst case scenarios day dreams, we could see a glimmer of what could be. A beauty that others were missing. And before long, we were excited to restore something others had given up on," said Chris.
Chris further explained, "This place deserved to be beautiful again. It was run down, yes, but it wasn’t dead. It wasn’t over. And after 765 restoration projects, we have realized that the process of repairing this place is a picture of the story of my life. There was a time in my life, where I felt abandoned and forgotten, but God decided I was worth fighting for. He wanted me and he wanted me whole again. So with each project on this farm: repairing fences, rebuilding barns, restoring log cabins, this place is not just a reflection of what’s been done in me but also, of what Holly and I give our lives to. Both here at the farm and The Well, the church we started in 2021. Because we want to be a part of the repair process of people’s lives. We want to be a restorer ... of a farm, but more than that, of people’s hearts. Whether it’s a stay at the farm or finding community with others in our church, or an encounter with God in one of our services, we want to create safe spaces where the people of this great city feel rested and restored.”
Muletown Farm is a working hobby farm that adds new animals every spring. Currently, there is one horse, three bunnies, multiple chickens, a turkey, and two dogs, which sit on the throne of the farm. Guests are permitted and even encouraged to interact with the animals during their stay.
Additionally, Muletown Farm has become a local hot spot for photography and video shoots. From engagement photos to senior pictures or music videos with Luke Bryan and Jordan Davis, Muletown Farm can accommodate all your production needs. Chris explained, “We have had the best artists utilize our space. One day when I came home from work, I knew Luke Bryan was doing a shoot here, but I did not expect to find him sitting on the front porch visiting with our guests. And then, last year, Miranda Lambert shot a commercial here and she was so kind to my daughter. She not only took a picture with her, but she had her team send her a box full of her merchandise in my daughter’s size. It was like Christmas for her to open that gift from Miranda.”
For more information, follow them on social media at @muletownfarm, and visit Airbnb.com for bookings.
