This is Steven Whitson, who is the tour guide at the home and also a singer/song writer in Nashville. He was great and also a lot of fun, and he's very passionate about Fontanel and the family history! You can learn all about him here: Grab a CD while you're there. Click Here for Steven Whitson's Page
Steven was gracious enough to do a song for us while we were there and I put it on my youtube page. Check him out in his great post Halloween attire :-)
My aunt and I got a chance to drive up to Nashville on Saturday for a visit, so while we were there, I was able to get tickets to the Nashville Predators hockey game and we wanted to go over and tour "Fontanel", which was built by Barbara Mandrell's husband, Ken Dudney, for their family, and at one time, and maybe still is, the largest log home in the US.
We were thrilled at the added bonus of Barbara's daughter Jaimi Dudney being at the house that day and getting to talk to her and have our picture made with her.
The following is the story of Fontanel, followed by my photos from that day. I apologize, I neglected to take my kit lens for my camera so I had to take a mix of iPhone (iPhones really don't like ambient light) and Canon pics. I highly recommend this tour if you're ever in Nashville. It's just right outside of town, about 10 miles.
Be sure to watch the video clips too if you have time.
A little about Fontanel, including Barbara's daughter "Jaimi" who you'll see later in photos with me and with my aunt, as she was there the day we got to tour.
This one really tells the story of how they found the land, etc. Great aerial footage, and tour inside. This is Part 1
This is Part 2:
The story of the building of "Fontanel Mansion"
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. My photos and comments:
This is actually the front of the house, and I couldn't even get it in a picture, but you are greeted in the parking area by the three bears, which represent the three Dudney children.
This is considered the back of the home, and the big window topped curved part is the pool area in the center of the two wings of the house, and looks out over the chopper pad, which is the flat structure you see at the bottom of the photo
My aunt and I with the bears
Looking off the back of the home from one of the walkways
The view of one of the many porches. This one at the end was at the end of the long hallway that had all the bedrooms on it. It was a fabulous large deck where you could walk out of any of the bedrooms and be greeted by warm furnishings to sit among the trees
These two little guys greet you at the start of the tour
Some Barbara memorabilia up at the gift shop (out of order a bit, sorry)
The following are some of the furnishings of the various rooms
This was
called 'The Great Room" when Barbara saw it and said "This room is Great" 
The guitar signed by all of "The Eagles"
The Formal Dining Room
The Mandrell's
Barbara
Close up of "The Eagles" guitar
The beams in the great room are signed by hundreds of visitors and celebrities such as Oprah who is a very good friend of Barbara's and cooked with her in the family kitchen, and Big and Rich, many many others.
We got to climb the spiral staircase (seen in some of the photos above) that went out to another great deck looking down on the entrance to the drive. This is the view looking down onto the Great Room from the perch at the top of the staircase.
This is the porch at the top of the spiral staircase
Back in the day of the original Grand Ole Opry
The shoes that Barbara wore in her last performance before retiring.
A montage of many of the great photos throughout the home.
The "Harley Davidson" piano in the great room
The Soda Fountain room, complete booths, band stage, dispenser, fountain, juke box, you name it!
These are all from the the bedroom wing of the home
There's the bears again :-)
This is the shooting gallery down off the indoor pool
The pool, which is now covered and they hold weddings and events in this room. This is the inside of the room from the photo at the start with all the glass.
Sister (My Aunt) in the entrance of the home
Barbara's kids as they were growing
Back to the fountain room and bedrooms
I photo bombed myself. Lens was too intense to work in these rooms, so I was iPhone-ing it
Alabama's guitar
One of many songs that were written
One of the restrooms
The long hallway that all of the bedrooms were off of and led to that big porch I mentioned at the beginning. Each bedroom is off to either side of this hall and each bedroom has it's own bath, as well
Going back up the hallway to the center where there was another living area with a huge screen where they liked to sit and watch movies. Across the other side was the other wing that has the family kitchen and living area where the family liked to spend a lot of time (will be seen below)
The deck at the end of the long hallway. You could walk out of your bedroom and onto these decks and take in nature
Barbara and Ken on their wedding day
Barbara and Ken's bedroom
Sister with Jaimi Dudney (Mandrell)
Me with Jaimi Dudney (Mandrell)
Jaimi with her Mom
Barbara and Ken's bathroom
Barbara's bathtub, designed specifically to fit her height
Barbara's side
On Barbara's side
Barbara's Vanity
Barbara's vanity
Barbara and Ken's bathroom - Ken's side
More family photos
Entrance from the center section into the main kitchen
The family main kitchen on the left wing of the house. They liked to spend a lot of time here. Oprah was seen on one of the country shows cooking with Barbara here
Barbara, Ken and family. On the left is Jaimi who we got to meet
This is "Jake" and he watches over the pool parties
Jake has big blue eyes
Heading down from the center of the house between the two wings, which are divided by the pool area
I walked on water at "Fontanel"
Looking up from the pool
Shooting gallery was all shot up by a party that was had that included Kid Rock among others
The kitchen at the pool for cookouts while swimming
Deck off the pool area
More of the pool
Real flowers on all the tables at The Farm House
Lunch at the Fontanel "Farmhouse" restaurant. Delish!
Bluegrass during lunch
Top 20 Questions about Fontanel
- Who owns Fontanel? Dale Morris and Marc Oswald
- When was Fontanel built? Barbara Mandrell and her husband, Ken Dudney, built Fontanel is 1987
- How long did the Dudneys live at Fontanel? From 1988 to 2002.
- Where do Ken and Barbara live now? They live about 20 minutes away from Fontanel, outside of Nashville.
- Do Ken and Barbara have any involvement with Fontanel now? No. Ken and Barbara have had nothing to do with Fontanel since they sold the property in 2002
- Does Barbara Mandrell still perform? No. Barbara retired completely from music and performing in 1997.
- What does Barbara do now that she is retired? Barbara enjoys spending her time gardening and hanging out with her family.
- Do the bears at Fontanel represent anything? Yes. The three bears you see at Fontanel represent the Dudney children, Matthew, Jaime and Nathaniel.
- Does Barbara’s daughter work at Fontanel? Yes. Jaime Dudney is the Director of Hospitality.
- Has John Rich ever owned Fontanel? No. John Rich hosted Gone Country at Fontanel. John’s manager, Marc Oswald, owns Fontanel.
- Fontanel is 27,000 square feet.
- The property is 136 acres.
- Fontanel has 13 bathrooms.
- Where do the logs of Fontanel come from? The logs come from Montana. They are called Larch Pine.
- Is the Stone house gift shop new to the property? The Stone House is the original home on the property. The Dudneys lived there while the ‘big’ house was being built. Big Kenny (Big and Rich) also lived in the Stone house.
- Who does Dale Morris and Marc Oswald manage? Dale Morris and Marc Owald manage the careers of Alabama, Kenny Chesney, Gretchen Wilson and Big and Rich and others.
- What does Fontanel mean? Fontanel is the soft spot on a baby’s head.
- What is special about the dairy barn? The dairy barn by the Farmhouse Restaurant is original to the property. It was the first dairy barn to produce pasteurized milk.
- What is The Woods at Fontanel? The Woods at Fontanel is a 4500 seat amphitheater.
- What are The Trails at Fontanel? The Trails at Fontanel are free to everyone. The trail is about 2 and a half miles long. Dogs are welcome when leashed.