About
Only minutes from downtown Nashville but miles from ordinary, The Fontanel Mansion is a 27,000 square foot log home formerly owned by Country Music Hall of Fame® member Barbara Mandrell and her husband Ken Dudney. The home boasts three stories, over 20 rooms, thirteen bathrooms, five fireplaces, two kitchens, an indoor pool and even an indoor shooting range on 136 acres of pristine land. An exclusive spot for the stars, the home and grounds have been the setting for numerous photo and video shoots, CMT’s top-rated “Gone Country” show and more. Most recently, the mansion was one of the settings for the Hollywood hit movie Country Strong starring Gwyneth Paltrow and Tim McGraw.
The Mansion at Fontanel has been filled to the brim with photos, memorabilia and personal items from the period when the Mandrell/Dudney family lived there. Nashville’s only country music mansion tour, the Mansion gives visitors a sneak peek into the lives of country music greats by providing a truly interactive experience.
A tour of the Mansion is guided in small groups room by room, with amazing sights, special stories and maybe even some music along the way. Tour guides escort guests from the moment they walk into the front door through the entire home starting in the Great Room and ending in the glorious sunlit pool atrium. Every tour is unique.
Additionally, the personal collections of current owners Dale Morris and Marc Oswald are featured which include one of a kind items, personal photos, and keepsakes of the artists they currently manage, including Alabama, Kenny Chesney, Big & Rich, Gretchen Wilson and many others. But make no mistake, this is not a museum. At Fontanel, visitors get to do more than just look, guests will be welcome to touch, see, feel and relax in this magnificent home.
Tours are available Tuesday through Sunday from 10 a.m. until 3 p.m. Tickets are $21 for adults, $19 for Active Military & Educators, $18 for Seniors (60+), $11 for Youth (6-15 years) and Children under 6 are FREE. Groups of 15 or more should call the Group Sales Office at 877-820-TOUR (8687) or 615-724-1600, ext. 222 for discounts.
After touring the mansion, guests will have likely worked up an appetite. They can dine at The Farm House Restaurant at Fontanel. With over 140 seats, the Farm House showcases a “farm to fork” menu with items that feature local produce, dairy and meats delivered from area farms and sustainable sources. Offering southern-style comfort food with a fun creative twist, the Farm House has already received rave reviews in print and on television. The Farm House serves breakfast, lunch and dinner Tuesday through Thursday from 7:30 a.m. to 8:00 p.m., Friday and Saturday 7:30 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. and Sunday 7:30 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. The delicious menu can be viewed here. Guests are encouraged to bring their own wine to the Farm House Restaurant, and there is never a corkage fee.
A visit to Fontanel begins and ends at the Stone House. The original building on the Fontanel property, the Stone House Visitor's Center and Gift Shop is open Tuesday – Sunday from 9:00 am – 6:00 pm to welcome every visitor. Mansion tour and concert tickets are purchased at the Stone House. Additionally, after a tour, visitors stop back by the Stone House and browse through the incredible collection of unique and special gifts. The Stone House is a quaint and cozy little shop full of local crafts and jewelry, gardening supplies, gourmet gifts, home decor and unique Fontanel souvenirs.
There are many other exciting facets for visitors to the Fontanel Mansion in addition to the country music mansion tour. Guests who want to enjoy nature can hike or mountain bike The Trails at Fontanel, over two miles of trails that wind through the property. The trails are open Tuesday through Sunday from 7:30 a.m. until dusk and are free and open to the public. Pet lovers can even bring their dogs, as long as they are on a leash.
Unlike anywhere else in Nashville, the Woods at Fontanel is an outdoor music venue with a capacity for 4500 guests. Featuring state-of-the-art sound and a cozy wooded setting, the natural amphitheater space of the White's Creek valley will be the must-see (and must-hear) venue of the South. The Woods at Fontanel is also available for corporate picnics and events.
The Studio Gallery at Fontanel is perhaps the most versatile spot on the property. The 5,000 square foot multi-use performing arts facility was designed from the ground up to be the “session player” of Fontanel, standing in for almost any need any day. The building is fully-equipped for state-of-the-art television and video productions and is also an ideal event space. Whether you are looking for a home for a rehearsal dinner, corporate gathering or charity event, the Studio Gallery at Fontanel is perfect-suited to most any event needs.
Finally, Nashville has a unique musical showcase for visitors of all ages. Beginning May 2011, Music City On Stage! welcomes guests to the Studio Gallery at Fontanel each Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday evening to take part in an intimate dinner and performance from 7:00 – 9:00 p.m. Featuring some of Music City’s most talented up-and-comers, Music City On Stage! is packed with a wide range of hits and styles, showcasing why Nashville really is Music City! Each ticket purchase includes entry to the show, a delicious home-cooked meal with a choice of three entrees and a voucher to return and tour the amazing Fontanel Mansion.
In November Music City On Stage! becomes Music City Christmas to celebrate the sounds of the holiday season. The “dinnertainment” experience includes a home-cooked meal, an unforgettable evening of live music and a voucher to tour the Fontanel Mansion. Advance reservations for both shows are strongly recommended. Large parties are encouraged to contact the group sales department at 615-724-1600 x 222.
The Fontanel Mansion & Farm recently dedicated the property’s former dairy barn as the new Walden’s Puddle Wildlife Education Center at Fontanel. The unique partnership will not only showcase the important work of Walden’s Puddle providing care and treatment to sick, injured and orphaned wildlife, but will also educate visitors about the vast array of native Tennessee wildlife, much of it resident on Fontanel’s 136 acres.
The property is managed by Fontanel Attractions, made up of entertainment entrepreneurs Dale Morris and Marc Oswald, world-class developer, Alex Marks and co-operating partners Tom Morales, owner of TomKats, Inc. and Red Mountain Entertainment.
