Even among six-foot weeds, Kip Summers was stunned by the views of a hog farm that would eventually become Arrington Vineyards.
He saw the Harpeth River Valley at a distance, the land's rolling green hills and pastures, unblemished by roads or cars.
The north facing slopes, he thought, would be ideal for growing vineyards.
Summers, a co-founder and co-owner of Arrington Vineyards, saw what residents saw centuries ago: a perfect mix of a beautiful landscape and fertile land.
After the initial trip, he brought his family to look at the land.
His kids thought it looked apocalyptic. Ten years later, the business draws visitors from all over Middle Tennessee for its wine and picturesque views.
The vineyards, along with the rise of luxury housing and event venues, has helped put Arrington on the map.
Polly Grammer, owner of Peachtree Farms, a horse stable, moved from Brentwood to Arrington in the 1980s.
"I just needed more space," Grammer said.
When asked about Arrington in the past, Grammer laughs.
"Very laidback, lazy community with nothing going on," she said.
"There are million dollar houses out here," she said. "Before it was just country houses and country living out here."
About 30 years later, Arrington is still a quiet community in southeastern Williamson County, nestled between Franklin and Murfreesboro.
Residents still have to drive about eight miles to Franklin or 20 miles to Murfreesboro to shop at a grocery store.
It's the same situation for restaurants, save for sandwiches served at the long standing Rapid Pak.
Besides a small strip of retail along Highway 96 — a mix of boutique clothing, antiques and home goods — there's just houses and farms.
Arrington doesn't have the hustle and bustle of cities like Franklin and Brentwood, but luxury development is on the rise in the unincorporated area.
King's Chapel started the rise of luxury housing in 2007.
Since its establishment, similar subdivisions like the Blackhawk subdivision and The Hideaway at Arrington have sprung up - and they're still not fully developed.
"I kind of had a vision of where I wanted to live," said King's Chapel Developer John Powell.
"A place where someone's backyard is not right beside me," Powell said. "A place where you could take your kids down to the pond, down to the creek."
Of the 700-acre property, only 350 acres will be developed. It's an intentional decision, Powell said.
Developers have capitalized on Arrington's scenery, pitching their neighborhoods as a peaceful escape from city living.
The neighborhoods are quiet, but still a short drive away from three major interstates: I-65, I-24 and I-840.
The average price for a new home at King's Chapel is about $700,000.
Past the gated entrance, custom homes built of stone and brick dot the subdivision.
New residents are welcomed with a $500 painting of their home, bottles of wine from Arrington Vineyards and dinner at the neighborhood's clubhouse.
The neighborhood even has a club director in charge of organizing neighborhood parties. At a late August party, the neighborhood paid for the flights and performances of Polynesian dancers who live in Florida and a steel drum band for the luau affair.
"We make our own lifestyle out here," Powell said.
About a 12-minute drive from King's Chapel, the Hideaway at Arrington, another luxury home subdivision, sits on more than 740-acres and boasts an 18-hole golf course.
Event venues have also taken off in recent years.
The Barn at Sycamore Farms opened in June 2016.
The venue's largest building has a high-vaulted ceiling where an 8-foot crystal chandelier, flanked by ribbons of cloth, hovers above the venue's wood floors.
A new concert and event venue, The Farm at Dolan's Creek, is also in the works.
Grammer said she understands what draws people to Arrington.
"Everything else is built up around," she said. "A lot of people still want a little bit of the country, a little bit of space around them."
Peaches n' cream corn, named for its sweet flavor, watermelon and more than a dozen other fruits and vegetables sit in crates at Burns produce stand, just around the corner from Arrington Vineyards.
Bobby Burns sits at the back of the stand, pointing at the two-lane road in front of the produce stand.
As a kid, he remembers Patton Road was just gravel.
"It was always dusty in the summertime. It had a lot of weeds growing up," Burns said. "The county never cut the road back, and there was just enough room for one car to go up the road."
He added: "If you ever met anyone, which was rare, you had to pull up into the weeds to let them pass."
The road is still quiet, but Burns said he can see cars line up on weekend afternoons when visitors drive into Arrington Vineyards.
After seeing the growth in other parts of the county, Burns doubts development will slow down in Arrington.
He said he hopes his business, which prides itself on its organic produce, can benefit from his new high-income neighbors.
Burns' family farm hasn't been immune from development pressure. The family has received numerous offers to sell their land, he said.
"We don't really want to sell it because this is home, this is where we've been raised," Burns said. "We've raised our children here."
"When you farm, you bleed, sweat and cry over the land at times. And the land becomes part of your soul," he said.
Two longtime Arrington families share the same passion for their farmland.
So much so, they made arrangements so the 590 acres of their farmland will remain undeveloped.
Perry Ozburn protected his 480 acres on Osburn Road in 2005.
Across the street, the late Lou Osborn Benson protected her 111 acres in 2001. Ginger Shirling, her daughter, now owns the land.
Keeping the land from development was made possible through conversation easements with the Land Trust for Tennessee.
Shirling said her mother began thinking about how to preserve the farm in the 1980s.
"Development was beginning. She could see there was going to be a lot of development pressure," Shirling said.
In 2001, the farm became the first property in Arrington and Williamson County to enter farmland into the conservation easement. Shirling's land may be sold, but it can not be developed, according to the easement.
"She was so relieved," Shirling said, referring to her mother.
Sixteen years later, Shirling said the decision to conserve the easement was perfect.
"My grandchildren think they're going to live here forever," Shirling said. "I hope they will."
Like Shirling's mother, Ozburn said he didn't want his property turned into a development.
"Over the last 10 years, I've probably had 10 people either drive up or call wanting to know if this property is available," he said.
"I have real strong concerns of killing the goose that laid the golden egg," Shirling said.
"If we think that this area is beautiful because of the rolling hills and green pastures, we might need to be careful to preserve that," Shirling said.
"But if we use appropriate planning and not allow growth until infrastructure can sustain it, then Williamson County can continue to grow and improve," Shirling said.
Near the back of her house, Shirling has what she calls her contemplation chair.
From the spot, Shirling can see horses graze on the land. The area is elevated so it catches gentle breezes from the wind.
"I can see the horses, the deer, the turkeys," Shirling said.
"Looking over the area that my grandfather farmed, I think about how nature impacts us everyday," Shirling said.
"This," Shirling said, pointing to the vast swath of land, "is why we wanted to retire and spend some time on the farm."
Reach Melanie Balakit at [email protected].
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