This isn’t an ordinary Southern back porch with rocking chairs. At Southall Farm & Inn, I step out beneath an overhang that evokes a vintage barn while sporting contemporary flair. A row of sofa-like loungers lines a pool that runs the length of the sitting porch—a true “soaking” porch. It contains a curated mineral bath, a house-built natural spring pool formulated with salts from South Africa and designed to mirror the healing properties of renowned geothermal springs. While soaking, I take in the working-farm-meets-five-star-wellness-resort surroundings of this 325-acre refuge, a place devoted to rest and renewal.
Set in the pastoral countryside that surrounds Franklin, Tennessee—just outside Nashville—Southall Farm & Inn blends tradition and modern design. New eco-contemporary buildings harmonize with the landscape and pay homage to the land’s agricultural legacy. The property includes an apple orchard of roughly 1,400 trees, seven apiaries, abundant heritage crops, greenhouses, hydroponic gardens, 16 villas, a main house with 62 airy guestrooms, a manmade lake and two seed-to-plate restaurants. At the heart of the estate, however, is a transformative spa that occupies a substantial portion of the lodge.
© Southall Farm & Inn
Even without its dedicated spa, Southall would function as a wellness destination. From the moment you arrive, the setting invites relaxation: lush views, winding trails, fragrant pines and flowers, bird song, robust architecture and a calm atmosphere all work together. The restaurants rely heavily on on-site produce and nearby farms; the apiaries supply honey and orchard apples appear in rooms and at the gym. Menus emphasize healthy choices, with smoothies, vibrant salads and farm-forward dishes. Outdoor offerings—forest bathing, falconry, fly-fishing, canoeing and an aerial adventure course—extend the restorative experience.
The spa is the resort’s centerpiece. Conceived by the owners as the property’s soul, The Spa at Southall is designed to support whatever guests seek—rest, physical detox or spiritual replenishment. You can spend a full day here: tending the medicinal herb garden, soaking in the porch mineral pool, attending classes in the yoga studio, using the state-of-the-art gym, joining meditation or sound bowl sessions, relaxing in the Himalayan salt sauna and sipping tea made from foraged herbs in the quiet room. While some treatments use farm-grown ingredients, most rituals feature clean, green product lines like Seed to Skin and Naturopathica.
Inspired by the earth and the farm’s ethos, the spa treats healing as a process of growth. Much as a gardener nurtures a seed, the spa provides tools for personal transformation, empowering guests to tend their own wellness. The facility includes eight treatment rooms and two suites staffed by therapists trained in both traditional and contemporary techniques. Several signature wellness experiences stand out.
© Southall Farm & Inn
The 120-minute, four-season Medicine Wheel ritual draws on Native American traditions, Appalachian herbal knowledge and shamanic practices to engage the intellectual, physical, emotional and spiritual facets of wellbeing. The treatment activates all five senses through aromatherapy, crystal work, massage and guided storytelling, leaving many guests with renewed perspective and a sense of inner shift.
The Pilgrimage is a 90-minute, therapist-guided energy ceremony that invites participants to explore their internal landscape with support and intention. Designed to foster clarity and reflection, it can act as a reset or the beginning of meaningful change.
The Himalayan Salt Sauna offers a distinctive, restorative experience. Heated Himalayan salt releases negative ions that many find calming; salt therapy may support respiratory health, reduce stress and promote relaxation.
Another standout is the house-crafted Mineral Pool, infused with hand-harvested South African salts and containing a complex blend of 60 essential minerals, including magnesium and potassium. Mineral soaks are known to enhance circulation, ease muscle tension, improve sleep and deepen relaxation—qualities that make the porch pool a beloved retreat for guests.