Arrowmont: The Red Barn

One of Gatlinburg, Tennessee's greatest treasures - and best-kept secrets - sits tucked away just off of the Parkway at stoplight #3. Arrowmont School of Arts and Crafts offers one- and two-week workshops for all skill levels in a variety of media. Originally founded by the Phi Beta Pi Fraternity in 1912 as a settlement school, by the 1970s, Arrowmont had become a place for artists to gather, learn and socialize. I have been to Gatlinburg several times over the years, but never knew about Arrowmont - it's literally right on the Parkway - you just have to know where to look! While thinking about a vacation this year, I had planned to go to Gatlinburg, but didn't want to just be a tourist again. I thought about volunteering somewhere or taking a class. A basic web search for "gatlinburg craft classes" brought me to Arrowmont's web site - and I was hooked. The campus not only has great studios, but also provides accommodations and meals.

One of the most recognizable - and historic - buildings on campus is the Red Barn (above). It has had many uses in the past and currently serves as one of the dormitories for students. I would have stayed in the Barn except it has no air conditioning. There were a couple of cool nights the week I was there, but toward the end of the week, it got warm and humid. Here's some more about the Red Barn from the Arrowmont web site:

"The Red Barn was built in 1923 and served its purpose then as a model barn where boys of the Settlement School were taught the care of livestock. Later, the structure housed the first movie theatre in the Gatlinburg area. In 1959 the barn was renovated into housing for students who attended the summer Craft Workshop. The front half of the hayloft was retained as it originally was built to be used as a lounge called the Owl's Nest. Finally, in 1999, the Red Barn was remodeled once again to accommodate Arrowmont's continuing growth and expansion. The building is still used as housing for students participating in the School's workshops, but the structure was fortified and upgraded."

Recently, students from the University of Tennessee-Knoxville completed a digital history project about the Settlement School, Phi Beta Pi and Arrowmont. Here is a great picture of the Red Barn in 1956.