Apiculture and "Honey Sommeliers" Redefine Rural Luxury at Tennessee’s Southall Farm & Inn

Explore Southall Farm & Inn near Franklin, TN. Experience "Bee Still" meditation, apiary tours, and world-class honey tastings at this 500-acre luxury farm resort.

By: AXL Media

Published: Apr 7, 2026, 8:31 AM EDT

Source: Southern Living

The Strategic Design of an Invisible Apiary

While Southall Farm & Inn manages approximately eight million bees across eight distinct apiaries, the program is engineered for "invisible presence." Director of Activities Jay Williams utilized synthetic pheromone tracking via drone to identify optimal hive locations that align with natural bee behavior while maintaining distance from primary guest zones. This deliberate placement allows the resort to function as a high-density pollination site for its 500 acres of farmland without compromising the comfort of casual visitors. The program is managed by Williams and Katherine Hagan, an entomologist, both of whom are pursuing official honey sommelier certification in Bologna, Italy.

Experiential Offerings: From "Bee Still" to Apiary Tours

Southall has developed a tiered engagement model for its apiculture program, allowing guests to choose their level of interaction:

The Bee Cruise: A low-impact, guided vehicular tour providing visual observation of the farm's landscape and pollination corridors.

Guided Apiary Tour: A high-engagement experience involving full protective gear and direct hive manipulation, allowing guests to taste "warm" honey straight from the frame.