The Millstone Retreat is a quiet walkout apartment in the peaceful home of Mike & Ivana (We live upstairs) that is centered between down town Knoxville and the Smoky Mountain exit 407. Being less than a mile off Interstate 40, we offer an easy in and out situation. The Retreat is a uniquely designed experience that combines all the modern conveniences that one would expect in an AB&B with a taste of life from the past. You will enter through your own entrance into an all season cedar sunroom where you can look out at nature through the large window and viewing panes of the 1928 Mighty Wurlitzer Organ that resides in the historic Tennessee Theatre. These panels were once used to view the analog mechanisms of the mighty 1928 Wurlitzer, but were removed when the organ went fully digital. The sunroom has a day bed with a trundle bed under it so 2 twin beds in that room. From there you can go into the large common room with an open floor plan that has a full kitchen, dining area and den. There is a wood burning stove housed under the 200 year old mantle where you can warm yourself by the fire on those cold Tennessee nights. The master bed room is off the kitchen area and hosts a king size bed and lots of room for the pac-n-play we have in the closet for infants. The second bed room is set up as a kid’s bedroom (but adults can sleep there in comfort as well). We wanted kids to feel special here. Being grandparents this is important to us. It comes with a large chalk board, play desk and all kinds of disinfected toys. This room has a queen bed and a twin bed as well. The bathroom is one of a kind. It has a roll in shower with 3 shower heads and a walk in tub. It was designed to give the feel of an old millhouse but with all the comforts you would expect. There is a stackable washer and dryer for your convenience as well. Outside, we have a gas grill under the cover of the deck next to the pool. Yes, we have a pool that is open from late May to about mid-September. It is a large in-ground pool with an LED multicolored light that makes for awesome night swims! By the pool there is a fire pit on our slate patio for those cooler nights to enjoy the evening. It is here that we have the family millstone set up as a table or bench. It came out of Smith creek up in the Statesville, Tennessee area. I have personally counted over 30 species of colorful song birds, raptors and game birds on our property & we feed them year round! We are only 15 minutes from Market Square, downtown Knoxville and Neyland Stadium. The Magee Tyson airport is only 35 mins from here. Your stay will include some fresh country eggs (as long as they are laying), courtesy of “the Ladies,” and I have a car service as well. Our desire is that we have travelers, vacationers and event goers to make the Millstone Retreat their personal place to stay every year. *WE DO NOT TAKE ANY FORM OF PAYMENT BUT CREDIT CARD THROUGH THIS SITE’S PAY ARRANGEMENTS !.
Our prices include all fees. No hidden fees.
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Amenities
Pool
Kitchen
Washing machine
Dryer
Free WiFi
Air conditioning
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Events allowed: family gatherings and birthday parties
As long as it is done in reasonable hour-say 11PM
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Pets
No pets allowed
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Smoking
Smoking allowed: in designated areas
Out side only
We want you to know we are not a party house where you are removed from neighbors & owners, we live upstairs. No loud noise after dark please!
If you need a place for loud party’s with a DJ late into the night this is not the place. You can stay & play in the pool as long as you are quiet
and party with friends & family if you use consideration of others.
Important information
You need to know
This property is managed by a private host (a party not acting within their trade, business or profession). EU consumer law, including the right of withdrawal, will not apply to your booking. The cancellation policy set by the private host will cover your booking.
Extra-person charges may apply and vary depending on property policy
Government-issued photo identification and a credit card, debit card or cash deposit may be required at check-in for incidental charges
Special requests are subject to availability upon check-in and may incur additional charges; special requests cannot be guaranteed
Parties and events (including family gatherings and birthday parties) are allowed on site. Maximum attendees: 9
Note from host: as long as it is done in reasonable hour-say 11PM
Host has indicated that there is a carbon monoxide detector on the property
Host has indicated that there is a smoke detector on the property
Safety features at this property include a fire extinguisher and a deadlock
About the area
Knoxville
Located in Strawberry Plains Pike, a neighbourhood in Knoxville, this apartment is near theme parks and in the mountains. Historic Ramsey House and Historic Southern Railway Station are local landmarks, and travellers looking to shop may want to visit East Gate Center and Knoxville Center. Travelling with kids? Consider Thorn Grove Community Park, or check out an event or a game at Neyland Stadium. Make sure you get close to the area's animals with activities such as game walks and birdwatching.
Knoxville Convention Center - 15 min drive - 21.3 km
University of Tennessee - 15 min drive - 22.0 km
Neyland Stadium - 16 min drive - 22.3 km
Thompson–Boling Arena - 16 min drive - 22.9 km
Getting around
Alcoa - Knoxville Airport (TYS) - 32 min drive
Restaurants
McDonald's - 3 min drive
Bojangles - 4 min drive
Arby's - 4 min drive
Cracker Barrel - 4 min drive
Aubrey's Strawberry Plains - 18 min walk
Frequently asked questions
Does Millstone Retreat / basement walk-out Apt. w/a private entrance/driveway & pool have a pool?
Yes, this property has an outdoor pool.
Is Millstone Retreat / basement walk-out Apt. w/a private entrance/driveway & pool pet-friendly?
No, pets are not allowed at this property.
What time is check-in at Millstone Retreat / basement walk-out Apt. w/a private entrance/driveway & pool?
Check-in begins at 4:00 PM.
What time is check-out at Millstone Retreat / basement walk-out Apt. w/a private entrance/driveway & pool?
Checkout is at 11:00 AM.
Where is Millstone Retreat / basement walk-out Apt. w/a private entrance/driveway & pool located?
Located in the mountains, this family-friendly apartment building is within 6 mi (10 km) of Carter Sports Park, East Gate Center, and Carter Community Park. McBee Ferry Landing Park and Ruggles Ferry Golf Course are also within 6 miles (10 km).
Reviews
10
Exceptional
Reviews are presented in chronological order, subject to a moderation process, and verified unless otherwise labelled.Learn moreOpens in a new window
This was my 2nd time here. It was just as wonderful as the first. Quiet neighborhood but minutes from everything. Absolutely loved the pool. Would definitely come back.
We booked last minute and wanted a place with a pool. It’s on a dead end road. The pool was lovely - the property is very private. We were just 20 minutes from shopping or the Great Smokey Mountains National Park. There was a great restaurant just 5 minutes down the road and a Dollar General for any necessities. Very relaxing weekend.
We had a wonderful relaxing time! Everything was clean and ready to go on arrival! We enjoyed the pool and the great hospitality!
Bruce P.
Stayed 2 nights in Jul 2022
6/10 Okay
Lisa Kelly S.
3 Mar 2022
Liked: Check-in, communication, listing accuracy
Short-Term only
We stayed for two months while relocating, but it's more suitable for short stays. There is no comfortable seating other than a single recliner, and every surface, wall, drawer, cabinet, and closet is mostly full, so there's little space to put things of your own. It's peaceful on the patio and mostly quiet inside, although the owners (who live upstairs) were doing renovations most of the time we were there, and the construction noise along with heavy feet early in the morning were not ideal. If we had been there in the summer to take advantage of the pool and outside area it would probably have been more enjoyable. The location is extremely close to interstate 40, you can glimpse it from the patio, so it's very convenient. They were kind enough to put up a Christmas tree for us to enjoy, which was so nice, the chickens are wonderful entertainment, and the fresh eggs were a lovely gift.
PS Had we not had an elderly man with us who needed a walk in shower, we would have been out after the first week.
We had a wonderful stay. Place was cozy and quiet way better than some cheap hotel. Only 20 mins from the UT stadium and major stores in town. Our hosts were great and welcoming and even let us check in a little early since no one checked out the day we checked in. They left us homemade yummy cookies and also some fresh eggs their "Ladies" hens provided. Will definitely be staying here again when in the area. Thank you for a great stay.
Our family absolutely enjoyed our visit. We initially planned to stay with the rest of team at a downtown hotel but I was late getting my reservation in and missed out. After going a different route and finding this treasure I believe I lucked out! Mike and Ivana were wonderful hosts and the place was perfect. We had 3 teenage girls that were completely entertained swimming and watching movies when a storm moved through. They have asked when we can come back, which we completely intend to do our next trip south. Thank you again for everything!
I came to relieve stress, relax and have peace. I got all of those. Hosts are great. There if you need them but not intrusive. The place had everything you could want. I hated to leave. Hope to come again sometime.
We cannot say enough good things about our stay. The house was great The rooms and beds all comfortable and cozy. The property is amazing, so many places to sit and hang out or play. Our children had the time of their lives. The best part was the pool We picked this place because of the pictures of the pool and it DID NOT disappoint. Mike and Ivanna thank you so much for the memories
Perfect place in every way. This was our 2nd stay and we will be back! Mike was so great at communicating. He gave us a personal welcome. Very nice! Feel free to read my previous review for more details. Same experience this time.
This property and owners are perfect for us in many ways ! A gorgeous pool for all ! The grands loved it ! Chalkboards and toys in the bedroom big back yard is complete with a canopy of trees and a coop of chickens ! Fresh eggs furnished ! Everything you could want to relax and make everlasting memories !!
Beautiful guest suite with amazing views and things to do. Chickens to see and fresh eggs for breakfast. Pool was so fun too. We met Mike who was very friendly. Great communication from beginning to end. Will be back again.
I stayed here for a longer term (about 3 weeks) while house hunting and enjoyed my stay. Owners are very accommodating and friendly. The eggs are an awesome bonus and we certainly had plenty throughout our stay. The location is super convenient for Knoxville and the surrounding areas since I-40 is right nearby.
Definitely recommend staying here for both long and short term visits!
Excellent place for families. Very homey. Our hosts were wonderful and accommodating.
We absolutely loved the place. We will be renting again. It was a very relaxing environment. The pool was beautiful. Our host opened it earlier than usual because I asked about it!! So homey. The antique furnishings and decorations were an added plus a history lesson in itself. Also enjoyed watching the chickens.
We were pleasantly greeted by fresh cookies, eclectic decor including holiday decorations / vintage toys, a fireplace set such that all we had to do was light the match! Kitchen was extremely well stocked. Many little niceties throughout including fresh eggs and an adorable chicken coop out our door where we could feed the hens. We look forward to returning in warm weather to use the pool!
Maureen D.
Stayed 3 nights in Dec 2020
About the host
Hosted by Mike & Ivana Smith
Everyone asks me where I'm from. Well, I was born in Alaska, went to grade school in Missouri, Junior High in Germany, High School in San Antonio and I went to Baylor...Sic Em Bears!. Yea, my dad was in the Air Force/23 years and retired as a E9. Ivana is a Tennessee girl, from Lebanon, just outside of Nashville. She went to MTSU where she got her nursing degree. She works 12 hour shifts in patients home who were cold war veterans for a company that gets paid by US Depart of Labor. Ivana and I came here from Southern Illinois to start a business. We sold that business in 2016 and now I'm Simi-retired, but can’t sit still so I started a Limo Service... E T Limo www.etlimousine.com …. But sold that in 2023 and now I am more semiretired!
Why they chose this property
We bought this house because it had a great apartment for mikes dad, but he died shortly after moving in. So, we totally renovated and set up the apartment for friends and family to stay in as they played in the Smokeys or traveled to east TN. So we have opened it to you too! It was put together with YOU in mind.
What makes this property unique
We are half way between Bass Pro Shop, Exit 407, the exit for Sevierville, Pigeon Forge and Gatlinburg and down town Knoxville. This area of Tennessee has do much to see and do we just know we will see many people coming here to enjoy our blessings. We have a private driveway, private entrance and your own private covered patio. The pool is awesome for the summer and the fire pit is great for those cool nights! My ladies (chickens) provide entertainment, therapy and breakfast when they are laying The apartment bc us also a proverbial museum and full of eye candy!