From left: Dan and Tammy Eldridge, Joseph, Merritt and Meredith Redman, and Katie Beth and Collin Eldridge run Grace Meadows Farm in Jonesborough. Photo credit: Lynne Harty

An East Tennessee farming family has transformed their farm’s history into a promising plan for the future. In 1998, Dan and Tammy Eldridge purchased 250 acres in Jonesborough, Tennessee. They named the property Grace Meadows Farm because they say it was only by “God’s grace” that they were allowed this beautiful slice of heaven on earth.

Over the past 25 years, the Eldridge family has cared for their slice of heaven by restoring and adding on to their pre-Civil War era barn and turning it into a popular wedding venue. Other barns on the land have also been transformed into a farm-to-table restaurant and a church.

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Creating a Grace Meadows Farm

Dan and Tammy had three young children, Meredith, Abigail and Collin, when they moved to the farm.

“The three of us grew up living for Saturdays when we could get out on the farm,” says Meredith, who still plays an important role in the operation.

While Dan and Tammy remain involved, they have welcomed their family into the fold as they focus more on the restaurant, The Kitchen at Grace Meadows.

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“We’re here every weekend and throughout the week,” says Joseph Redman, Meredith’s husband. “It’s a family business.”

Joseph, Meredith and their 4-year-old daughter, Merritt, are a big part of the business. Meredith always knew she wanted to raise her little girl on the farm.

“The memories my siblings and I made, and the memories Merritt has already gotten to make are priceless,” she says.

The wedding and event venue at Grace Meadows Farm in Jonesborough is the perfect spot for a Southern, romantic wedding. Photo credit: Lynne Harty

Adding Agritourism

Joseph helps take care of the fields and 150 head of cattle. The family also produces hay, corn silage and a variety of vegetables and fruits that they use in the restaurant. The farm offers hayrides in the warmer months and grows watermelons, sunflowers, pumpkins and gourds for sale on the farm.

“We’re just striving to keep family in the business and promote agriculture to the younger generations,” Joseph says.

He says the agritourism side of the operation came when they hosted a Coalition for Kids event in 2017 and noticed the children didn’t understand much about farming.

“These kids didn’t know where fish, milk or beef come from,” Joseph says. “And that’s a problem. We’re using our farm to share agriculture.”

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Meredith helped start a summer reading program at the farm in summer 2021 with themed kids’ nights each Wednesday in July.

“I talked about corn, read the kids a corn book, let them experience shelling corn in an old sheller and gave them each a sample of the creamed corn that we serve in the restaurant,” Meredith says. “Then I took them on a hayride to see the corn we had growing in the field at the time.”

They also tried their hand at sunflowers last year. Joseph planted a half-acre of sunflowers and welcomed visitors to take photos and pick their own bouquets of sunshine.

“They bloomed out beautifully and were such a draw for guests who got to witness them,” Meredith says.

Merritt Redman, daughter of Joseph and Meredith Redman, enjoys the sunflowers in the summer. Photo credit: Lynne Harty

Say “I Do”

Starting a wedding venue at Grace Meadows Farm had always unintentionally been a part of the Eldridge story.

For years, people asked to have weddings on the land, and the family let them. In the fall of 2010, they decided they could turn this into a business and pursue it. Today, they host close to 30 weddings each year, along with many corporate events.

The venue, housed in that restored 19^th-century barn, seats up to 500 people and is versatile for different types of events with three venue areas. The Gatherings space is 8,000 square feet in the original barn and includes a prominent natural stone fireplace with a walnut mantel harvested from the family farm. The former horse stalls are now the catering kitchen, and the building also features restrooms, dressing rooms, heating and air conditioning.

The Pavilion, built in 2015, fronts a 3-acre lake offering spectacular scenery. The Dock and Amphitheater are beautiful outdoor ceremony sites on the lake. The original farmhouse was built in the 1850s and has been restored for boutique weddings and other small gatherings.

The sites are all relaxing, peaceful and elegant.

“A recent wedding director said, ‘Every time I come to this place I feel as if I’m standing on holy ground,’ and I would have to agree,” Meredith says.

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The Kitchen at Grace Meadows Farm in Jonesborough offers homemade Southern recipes and beautiful scenery. Photo credit: Lynne Harty

Y’all Eat Yet?

After seeing success in agritourism and diversifying, the idea for The Kitchen at Grace Meadows Farm was born and opened its doors in December 2021.

The Kitchen bills itself as Appalachian taste served family style. The menu features homemade favorites including pot roast, fried chicken, catfish, Southern sides and sweets, including hot fudge cake, pecan pie, peanut butter pie and carrot cake.

“It’s all family recipes from my wife, her mother or her grandmother,” Joseph says.

The Kitchen has 80 employees and can seat 324 in the main dining area, with the other barns available for overflow seating.

The property has a restaurant, The Kitchen at Grace Meadows, as well as agritourism offerings while remaining a working farm. Photo credit: Lynne Harty

Future Endeavors on Grace Meadows Farm

Even with a farm, wedding venue, restaurant, catering business and agritourism offerings, the Eldridge family has no plans on stopping there.

“We’re looking to diversify for each season,” Joseph says.

The family wants to expand their farm to grow Christmas trees and have family fun events during the holidays. There are also plans to add a creamery, a farm animal exhibit and kid-centered play activities that focus on ag education.

“Whether it be that people come to eat, begin their future together here as husband and wife or a young kid, we hope they develop a knowledge and love for agriculture,” Meredith says. “Our goal is to reach people and allow Grace Meadows to be a place where others experience the memory making, joy and beauty of God’s creation that we have been blessed with.”

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If you go

Grace Meadows Farm
Location: 170 John France Road, Jonesborough
Agritourism offerings, including sunflowers, vary by season and are dependent on Mother Nature. Call ahead or find them on social media for up-to-date information.

Restaurant
Hours: Wednesday through Friday 4 to 8 p.m.; Saturday 7:30 to 11:30 a.m. and 2 to 8 p.m.
(423) 297-9199
thekitchenatgracemeadows.com

Wedding Venue
(423) 341-0722
gracemeadowsfarmtn.com

While You’re There: Visit the historic Main Street and Storytelling Center in Jonesborough, the oldest town in the state.

Photo credit: Lynne Harty