One-of-a-kind fantasy-themed Ancient Lore Village in Knoxville, TN

If you’re looking for a one-of-a-kind fantasy-themed place to stay and explore, Ancient Lore Village in Knoxville, Tennessee is the place! The village is only 15 minutes from downtown Knoxville! Kidding Around’s local mom, Jordan, spent an entire day at Ancient Lore Village and got to see what the hype was all about.

Ancient Lore Village opened its boutique resort in 2021 with the simple mission to, “bring people together.” The owner of the village, Tom Boyd along with co-owner Sandi Burdick, realized while on the campaign trail with Boyd’s son Randy, that there was so much hatred, intolerance, and division between people. This led Tom Boyd to write a fantasy novel full of characters who have many differences, but still live together in peace and harmony in The Ancient Lore Village. You can purchase the book and learn more here.

You can stay at the village overnight, explore the grounds for the day, attend special events, and so much more! Here is everything you need to know!

Before You Go

Here are a few things you will need before visiting Ancient Lore Village

• Sunscreen-this is an outdoor venue with a few indoor places to sit and chill
• Bug spray-you will need bug spray as it is outdoors and if you plan to hike the trails
• Closed-toed shoes-they require closed-toed shoes for axe-throwing and archery. If you’re walking the trails and exploring I also recommend closed-toed shoes.

Lodging

Ancient Lore Village has several options for staying overnight depending on the size of your group. They are currently building more treehouses for larger groups as of July 2024. You can stay in Bokee’s Bungalow (sleeps 8), Waterfall Villa (sleeps 4), Gremlin Dens (sleeps 2), Fairy Cottage (sleeps 2), Leprechaun Lair (sleeps 2), or the Orc Home (sleeps 2). Each house/space is ornately decorated to reflect the magical theme. You can check their availability here.

Activities

Even if you don’t want to spend the night at Ancient Lore Village, you can purchase a day pass or activity pass! These are timed passes so check the time slot when you book and choose the one that works best for you. I participated in the axe-throwing and archery and it was so much fun! They give you clear directions and then let you enjoy an hour of shooting arrows or throwing axes. Here are the activities you can enjoy with the activity and day pass:

• Village access to explore the grounds and gardens
• Axe-throwing
• Archery
• Fairy Guided Tours (Saturday and Sunday only)
• Self-guided audio tours with their free app you can download onto your phone
• Hiking trails
• Gremlin Gameyard (corn hole, giant connect four, and more!
• Signature cocktails at the bar (the activity pass does not include lunch)

Ultimate Day Pass VS Activity Pass

Even if you’re not staying on the property, you can still book an Ultimate Day Pass or an Activity Pass. Here are the differences:

Ultimate Day Pass:

• Cost: Adults (10+) $53, Children (3-9) $33, Children under 3 are free!
• Village access from 11:00 am to 2:30 pm (Sunday access hours are 10:30 am to 2:30 pm).
• Lunch (Monday through Saturday served at 12:30 pm and Sunday brunch served at 10:30 am or 1:30 pm). Check out the photos of my three-course meal below. They serve a house salad, chicken and veggie pasta, roll, and cheesecake for dessert. It was all very delicious!
• Axe + Archery Range Time (Monday through Saturday 1:30 pm to 2:30 pm, Sunday 11:30 am to 12:30 am or 3:00 pm to 4:00 pm).
• Fairy Guided Tours (weekends only)
• Self-guided audio tours
• Hiking Trails
• Gremlin Gameyard

Activity Pass:

• Cost: Adults (10+) $38, Children (3-9) $15, Children under 3 are free!
• Village access from 2:00 pm to 4:00 pm
• Axe throwing + Archery
• Fairy Guided Tours (weekends only)
• Self-guided audio tours
• Hiking Trails
• Gremlin Gameyard
• No lunch included in this pass

Hiking

I purchased a day pass for Ancient Lore Village and started my day off with a hike on one of their hiking trails. These trails are very quick hikes (2 miles total) and would be suitable for older children. There are clearly marked signs on the paths as well as complementary maps at the front desk.

I hiked up to Yeti’s Summit in less than thirty minutes and the other paths are also easily accessible. These trails are beginner-friendly as long as you wear closed-toed shoes. Although it is HOT in Knoxville this summer so use caution when being outdoors for any length of time.

Sunday Brunch

If you want to have a Sunday fun day, you can head over to Ancient Lore Village for brunch at 9:30 am or 12:00 pm. Here’s what to expect for Sunday Brunch:

• You can explore the village after brunch
• The menu changes weekly and is based on what is in season
• You can enjoy axe throwing and archery while there if you call and reserve a time slot
• You must make a brunch reservation to attend

Other Offerings

• Wedding packages with catering services
• Corporate events
• Private parties
• A calendar full of special events at the village including book clubs, mixology classes, and more!
• Learn more about their parties and events on the Ancient Lore Website.

Ancient Lore Village
7107 Sevierville Pike, Knoxville TN 37920
865.200.2434
Ancient Lore Village Website
Ancient Lore Village Instagram
Ancient Lore Village Facebook