OUR FARM

In 1990, co-founders Dick Conger and Larry Bannier were in need of a much larger farm to expand their successful and growing llama breeding business. On a handshake deal, they acquired 260 acres of unattended, wooded land on the backside of Signal Mountain in southern Tennessee.

The original, old and tattered road that led to the farm, dates back to the 1850s and was well-traveled during the Civil War. During the early 1950s, some of the property was timbered and a forest fire occurred in 1952. Aside from these events, the land had been untouched for 35 years, prior to Dick & Larry’s discovery.

While the two men had sought out a farmable property, Laurelwood was wooded land and not ideal for farming. Not to mention the lack of electricity or water access.

THE BARN

Dick and Larry gathered design inspiration from touring barns in Illinois and Indiana. Chattanooga architect, David Lyons, drew the design plans and construction commenced for the now-famous Laurelwood barn in 1991.

The barn was made from local resources, including virgin hemlock wood from trees that had fallen on the farm’s property after a great storm.

In the design of this structure, plans included attached living quarters, which provided two bed and breakfast style suites for out-of-town guests and clients.

Come spring 1992, the grand bard was complete.