Historic Falcon Manor Celebrates Ten Years of Growth

However, they would have been surprised to know how much that day foreshadowed Falcon Manor's future.

In the last decade, it has evolved into a nationally recognized historic tourist attraction.  The mansion is open seven days a week year round for tours, attracting motorcoach groups from across the country and individual visitors from around the world.

PBS radio called it "Tennessee's Biltmore" in a nationally syndicated audio tour that won a first place award from the Tennessee Broadcaster's Association.

And Historic Falcon Manor is being represented at the country's top two tourism shows: the National Tour Association (NTA) convention, held in Charlotte this past week, and the American Bus Association (ABA) meeting, slated for New York City this winter.

Even the owners themselves didn't completely foresee the direction their labor of love would take.

"I showed up when the building was auctioned off in 1989 because, like so many people, I had always loved it and thought it deserved to be restored," said George McGlothin, whose sister was born in the hospital.  "Much to my surprise, I found myself with the winning -- and only -- bid."

When he recovered from the shock of buying a building in such apparently bad shape that no one else wanted it, McGlothin resolved to restore it.

"I grew up in McMinnville and had a good childhood here, so I wanted to give something back to the community," he remembered.

It soon became apparent that Faulkner's original mansion was an architectural treasure.  Even during restoration, the mansion drew visitors like a magnet.  Both local folks who remembered the hospital and complete strangers who were fascinated with the structure frequently interrupted work wanting a tour.

"We knew that would continue after we opened, so we offered an option for guided tours from the beginning," said McGlothin.  "But because the mansion was the only building we had at the time, naturally we used it then for everything we did."

Falcon Manor's evolution into a full-time tourist attraction started in January 1994 when "Tennessee Magazine" put the mansion and its owners on its cover.  The electric co-op magazine has over 400,000 readers statewide, and senior church groups from around the state called wanting to tour the mansion.

"We'd never given a thought to group tours before, but we soon realized it is a huge industry," said McGlothin.  "We tell Caney Fork Electric they put us in the group tour business."

When the groups came, they said it was one of their favorite mansions they had ever toured.  And when they asked where they could eat, it wasn't long before Falcon Manor combined lunches with the tours.

Realizing it was difficult for everyone in a large group to see and hear on a room-to-room mansion tour, McGlothin dressed in costume and began the telling history stories in a funny, Vaudeville-style monologue while the groups were seated for their meal.  His alter-ego "The Victorian Gentleman" was born.

The addition of a 2,000 square foot Victorian Carriage House dining facility and large commercial kitchen in 1998 made it possible to move food service and events out of the mansion, then more buildings provided a Visitors Center, Victorian Tea Room, and expanded Victorian Gift Shop.

Since then, the mansion itself has been used exclusively for tours.  Amusing stories about its history and the people whose lives it touch make it "the Victorian mansion where history is fun."

"Apparently the mansion 'knew' what it wanted to be.  We couldn't have envisioned a more exiting direction if we had planned it ourselves," McGlothin mused.  "Tourism is a wonderful business for Falcon Manor and for Warren County, and our walk-in and group tours are bringing a lot of people to this area."

For additional information contact Charlien McGlothin, General Manager
 E-mail:falconrest@falconrest.com
Phone: (931) 668-4444.
2645 Faulkner Springs Rd. * McMinnville, TN 37110