Knox News: Historic building restored for public use in Farragut, TN
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Campbell Station Inn reopens soon, renovated to honor its long history
Hayden DunbarKnoxville News Sentinel
Dec. 24, 2025, 5:01 a.m. ET
- The town of Farragut bought Campbell Station Inn in 2012, and the building is close to opening in its new capacity.
- Restoration work celebrates the structure's past and highlights some of its distinctive features.
- It was once an inn and later played a role in the Civil War.
During the more than 230 years it has stood in what is now Farragut, Campbell Station Inn has served as a fort, a family home and an inn hosting a future king and president. Now it's ready for its next incarnation.
Community anticipation rose when the town of Farragut bought the Campbell Station Inn in 2012, as did questions about how the historic landmark would be used. Restoration work is now complete and its new function as a welcome center and event space will launch soon.
The purchase of the house and property at 11409 Kingston Pike, as well as renovations, the development of the plaza and an exterior restroom cost $5,637,500.
Completed by Brewer Ingram Fuller Architects Inc., the work on the building means it can now accommodate a room dedicated to the site's history with a rotating display, as well another room that can be rented for events, plus offices for Farragut's tourism department.
Renovations honored the building's past and preserved many of the features that make the Campbell Station Inn so significant. In one room, which will become the information and gift shop, the historic hardwood floor has been restored to highlight the unique alternating dark and light wood pieces.
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The structure's interior has been painted in various shades selected based on uncovered previous colors that were used on the walls and other features. Some of the distinctive original wallpaper and decorative painting has been left exposed, too.
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"We don't have a ton of historic buildings, and nothing that's open to the public in Farragut. We have some old homes, but we don't have anything that the public can access," said Wendy Smith, communications manager for Farragut.
"So, to be able to provide this to the public is going to be a great thing. And I think people are going to love it."
The Campbell Station Inn will have a grand reopening Jan. 8, 2026, and the rental space will be available starting in February, according to a Farragut news release. Operating hours will be 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday.
History of the Campbell Station Inn
Campbell Station Inn in was built by Colonel David Campbell as a fortified blockhouse around 1787. The house had gun ports so that its settler residents could attack the area's indigenous peoples if they came too close.
Later, the house became an inn and hosted guests such as Andrew Jackson and Louis Philippe, who would go on to become King of France, according to the structure's historical marker.
History provided by the town of Farragut says the house was at one point purchased by Matthew Russell, and it stayed in the family for many years, which is why it has sometimes been called the Avery-Russell House.
During the Civil War, the building continued to be an integral site in the community. In the 1863 Battle of Campbell's Station, wounded soldiers on both sides were housed there.
Hayden Dunbar is the storyteller reporter. Email: hayden...@knoxnews.com. Instagram: @knoxstoryteller.
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