I never imagined I’d follow in the footsteps of famed musicians, but I’m staying in an Airbnb where some of the greats laid down tracks that now play in millions of homes.
As the morning sun gilds the countryside of Middle Tennessee, I head for the kitchen, passing platinum records and pictures of Taylor Swift, who amassed a new generation of country music fans. Dolly Parton’s crimson-colored lips smile across the album cover of “A Holly Dolly Christmas.” Neil Diamond, Jack Harlow, Carrie Underwood, and other legends likely sipped coffee here, too. The atmosphere may be serene, but the walls thrum with possibility.
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I’m staying at Dark Horse Estate, a 1993 private recording studio that hosts three Airbnbs on a 10-acre property. It’s more than a tranquil retreat in Franklin, Tennessee, about 20 miles south of Nashville; it’s a glimpse at where music magic happens. The Manor, a 14,000-square-foot mansion that sleeps 16, includes seven bedrooms, 10 bathrooms, three kitchens, and a party barn that’s perfect for people with entourages. Shawn Mendes, 5 Seconds of Summer, Greta Van Fleet, and Jack Harlow slept there following its 2024 debut. I stayed in the Gatehouse, a more modest apartment in the recording studio building with a queen bed, daybed, and loft bed. The Bunkhouse rounds out Dark Horse’s accommodations, with four bunk beds encased within the stone walls of the studio’s bottom floor.
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Evergreen trees shade the pastoral grounds, planted to simulate the majesty of being in the Rocky Mountains, the owner’s other favorite place. Several chairs on the wooden porches are customized for guitar playing, making jam sessions even more seamless. My anxious energy dissipates as I breathe in the sweet Tennessee breeze.
Cortney Fries/Travel + Leisure
Guests can request tours of the three recording studios on property. Austin Woolsey, the studio manager, showed us recording consoles, shiny pianos, soundproof rooms with carpets on the walls and ceilings, and microphones. We witnessed artists at work, their passion palpable. “At 15 years old, Taylor Swift recorded her first album here,” said Woolsey. She was like any other young hopeful that records here today, owner Robin Crow shared. The staff was unaware of the superstardom that awaited the singer-songwriter. Now, more than 30 years later, Dark Horse has survived an era where most artists record at their own home studios, primarily because they offer a private creative escape. I wondered who might be crafting the next chart-topping hit here today?
Courtesy of Dark Horse Manor
Crow performed as an instrumental jazz rock guitarist for the first 25 years of his adult life. “When reality hit that I would never become a headliner, I opened Dark Horse Recording,” he said. The name is based on the idea of emerging as an unexpected winner. Within a couple years, it played a part in a dozen gold and platinum albums. Now, thousands of talented artists have added notes to Dark Horse’s legacy.
Woolsey is in awe of the fact that Parton’s voice once filled the space now occupied by his office. Other memorable moments include Shawn Mendes riding an electric dirt bike around the backyard and Jill Scott inviting Woolsey to eat dinner with her crew.
The property’s story makes me think of my teenage daughter, on the precipice of releasing her creative spirit into the world. I feel encouraged myself, as I continue to evolve at 47 years old, still taking great leaps and chasing what inspires me. Who would have thought an unassuming stay at an Airbnb would drum up so much inspiration? But that’s the quiet grace of Dark Horse Estate. It subtly radiates a feeling that anything can happen.
