Sam Beall, Proprietor of Blackberry Farm in East Tennessee dies in skiing accident

KNOXVILLE (WDEF) – The operator of Knoxville’s Blackberry Farm has died in a skiing accident in Colorado on Thursday.

Sam Beall was 39 years old.

His father, Sandy Beall, founded the Ruby Tuesday chain.

Sam grew up working in the restaurants.

The UT graduate attended culinary school in California before working for his dad in Mobile.

But Beall eventually returned to East Tennessee and to Blackberry Farm where he was born.

It is a luxury hotel and resort off the Foothills Parkway going into the Smokies.

Beall oversaw the evolution of the Armstead, the Wellhouse and creation of two farm-to-table restaurants there.

Blackberry Farm has won travel + Leisure’s top hotel in North America, Bon Appetit’s best hotel for food lovers, and 3 James Beard Awards.

Beal leaves behind a wife and five children.

Hickory Construction in Alcoa released a statement on Beall saying, “Certainly from a business perspective, Sam was a man of immense talent. As anyone would attest who had the privilege of working with him, Sam led his team with a passion and an undeniable focus to craft Blackberry Farm into what it is today – an internationally renowned destination.”