The Story of Ancient Lore Village

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At its heart, the story behind Ancient Lore Village is one of family, fellowship, and love of community. It all started with a father who accompanied his son on a once-in-a-lifetime journey.

A Statewide Tour

When Randy Boyd ran for Tennessee governor in 2018, he did what any good candidate would do: he took a trip across the Volunteer State to talk face-to-face with his fellow Tennesseans. He also did what any good son would do: he invited his dad, Tom Boyd, to go along.
Father and son, both successful entrepreneurs, traveled from town to town throughout Tennessee. No matter where they visited, however—be it a bustling city, a mid-sized town, or a tiny hamlet—the elder Boyd noticed a disturbing trend: people seemed impatient, unsettled, and intolerant. They weren’t engaging with one another, or listening to each other. They weren’t slowing down.

A Lasting Impact

Tom’s heart was heavy with what he had witnessed, and upon returning home he began to translate his thoughts onto paper. The 80-year-old wasn’t a stranger to writing; he had already authored two non-fiction books: A Father’s Son: The Development of an Entrepreneur, and Early Years: Early Life of Tom Boyd in the Rural South. But this story was to be different. Bokee’s Trek: Outcasts to the Inner Earth was Tom’s first fictional tale that combined the magic of fantasy with real-life themes of acceptance, understanding, and open-mindedness.

A New Vision

Brimming with the traditional fairy-tale characters of Dwarves, Elves, Leprechauns, Fairies, Gremlins and Yetis, and some new introductions found in Orcs and Willows, Bokee’s Trek describes the journey of Bokee, who becomes an unwitting leader in the quest to form the peaceful and more cooperative world of Ancient Lore Village.

As Tom wrote the book, he began to envision a bigger impact. What if he could replicate Ancient Lore Village in real life, making it a place of community and well-being that would leave its visitors feeling positive.

The Fairy Tale Comes to Life

Replicating the charming homes and peaceful surroundings of the characters in Bokee’s Trek, Tom founded a luxury resort that provided magical accommodations, ample amenities, and memory-making activities for group events, milestone moments, and significant celebrations.

The unique retreat, located South of downtown Knoxville just miles from popular Sevierville and Pigeon Forge, Tennessee, overlooks one of the Boyd family’s most treasured views: the beautiful and ever-changing scenery of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park.

Togetherness at Heart

Following Tom’s vision, Ancient Lore Village welcomes visitors young and old to a distraction-free environment that encompasses the story’s values – Determination, Bravery, Compassion, Humility, Empathy, Honesty, and Wisdom – all bound together by Respect. Ever accommodating, the resort offers beautifully decorated “dwellings”, guided tours, sumptuous meals, and fun activities no matter whether guests wish to stay for an afternoon, a day, or a week.

The Story Continues

As it turns out, Tom’s son Randy did not win the election for Governor of Tennessee. Instead, he was called upon for another important role: serving as the 26th President of the University of Tennessee’s statewide system.

Randy’s story is far from ending, as is Tom Boyd’s tale of Bokee’s journey that inspired Ancient Lore Village. We hope you’ll join us soon to experience “Hospitality with a Purpose”, and that our peaceful destination will find its own special place in your heart!