The Herald-News - News Story

Europe may be an ocean away, but one local resort, co-owned by a former resident of Paris, has found a way to attract European visitors with its "old world charm."

The idea for Grandview Mountain Cottages came when father-daughter team, "Papa" Phil Bourne and Ilaeka Villa, needed a way to keep the family's Tennessee mountain farm in one piece - and make it pay for itself.

Today the budding vacation rental business is attracting guests from far and wide, and with the home-cooked meals and warm hospitality guests receive, their popularity keeps growing.

One guest visiting from Paris, France, called the cottage she stayed in "a deluxe little house
on the prairie."

The mountain property had been a source of relaxation long before any international guests ever travelled to visit, though.

"My parents bought the farm in the '70s as a vacation place for us," Villa said. "After my father retired from IBM in 1984, he and my mother moved there and enjoyed a lot of organic gardening. And my mother was an artist."

Villa, who lived in Europe for a span of 15 years running an international consulting company and coordinating vacation rentals in Paris, returned to her family's farm when her mother became terminally ill.

After her mother's passing, Villa wracked her brain to come up with a way to preserve the farm's legacy, maintain an income and give her father a chance to exercise his talents and hobbies.

The solution came when they realized the popularity of their small guesthouse where family and friends stayed when they came to visit.

By the summer of 2008, Villa and Bourne had renovated that guesthouse, added a second cottage and have been open for business ever since.

According to Villa, the majority of their guests have come from out of state, though some have travelled all the way from Europe to try out southeast Tennessee's version of outdoor relaxation.

"It's really only been in the last six months that locals have really found out about us," Villa said. "For a while they didn't even know we existed, but now we have more locals and people from Nashville finding us, even just for a really nice long weekend getaway."

Past guests rave about the cottages, and there is plenty outdoors to pass the time. The nearby hiking trails, panoramic views and fishing ponds keep many guests occupied while others choose to go berry picking or enjoy the produce from the large organic garden.

After a day full of activities, the home-cooked meals are a hit with "Papa" as the chef in the 1800s farmhouse.

"My father's always been a chef as a hobby, so we deliver picnic baskets of homemade biscuits, butter and jam for breakfasts, and then Thursday through Sunday we offer organic
catering to our cottage guests," Villa said.

Villa and her father are just getting started, but they're hoping their small business will continue to grow and give them more chances to shower the gift of relaxation on their guests.

The vacation cottages, which allow pets at an extra charge, have become popular with pet owners who go on tours showing their animals.

"A lot of people want to give their pets a vacation after the shows," said Villa. "And then there are people who just want to take their animals out in the country with them."

For Villa, who has enjoyed adding touches of "European flair" to the relaxation experience, the chance to serve such a varied clientele is just one of the added perks. She added that individuals can set up appointments to tour the cottages or farm.

"We've had couples in their early 20s and early 90s," she said. "It seems to attract a lot of different people who just want to feel like they really can relax, explore and unwind-and still enjoy the amenities."

Elisabeth Hollingsworth can be reached at elisabeth.hollingsworth@rheaheraldnews.com.