Chamber celebrates new owners of Farmhouse Inn in Madison | Business

The Farmhouse Inn at Hundred Acre Farm in Madison is undergoing a makeover as new owners settle in to revamp the property and welcome new guests to the grounds for a charming country getaway.

Leaders from the Madison-Morgan Chamber of Commerce gathered outside the Farmhouse Inn last week with new owners Leslie and Jim Cantrell to celebrate a new beginning for the beloved countryside lodging destination.

Just minutes from historic Madison, the rustic farmhouse and cottages surrounded by rolling rural hills and tranquil trails create the perfect atmosphere for retreats, weddings, reunions, family vacations or a romantic getaway.

“We purchased the Farmhouse Inn last August,” said Leslie Cantrell during the traditional ribbon cutting ceremony last Tuesday. Jim and Leslie moved to Morgan County from Decatur to take over the Farmhouse Inn. The couple befriended the previous owners, Crystal and Ellis Johnson, after “falling in love” with the bed and breakfast tucked away in Madison. The Cantrells have nearly 20 years experience in real estate sales and construction.

“We haven’t been homesick yet,” said Leslie. “We made the right decision. We love this place, we love our neighbors, and we love the community. It feels like home already.”

The Cantrells have added a four-legged friend to help keep the property’s chickens and other birds safe from local predators. Zena, a Great Pyrenees puppy, is learning the ropes to protect the inn’s livestock.

“She’s our little warrior,” said Leslie.

Leslie noted that she and her husband Jim are the third owners to take over the countryside bed and breakfast. “We call our third reign of ownership the restoration period.”

According to the Cantrells, the Farmhouse Inn now has been painted from top to bottom and features all new mattresses, linens, and furniture.

“Everything fabric has been replaced and updated,” said Leslie.

The Farmhouse Inn is also going green under the Cantrells’ ownership, with no single-use plastics, utilizing sustainable and recyclable materials and environmentally-friendly pesticides, and all fabrics and linens produced by a climate-neutral company. All the eggs come from the property’s chickens and the Cantrells prioritize locally-sourced food and locally-crafted furniture to use at the inn. The Cantrells are now working on improving the grounds with expanding the garden and landscaping.

“All of our meals are homemade and are created with locally sourced and/or organic foods whenever possible. We are working on local partnerships and hope to have most of the food we serve sourced from the immediate area within the next year. Our first local partner was Jin and Jenny of Oconee Roasters. We only serve their coffee. We serve the eggs laid by our free range chickens right here on Hundred Acre Farm. We plan to offer duck eggs next year,” shared Leslie. “We are very focused on being environmentally friendly and practice sustainability whenever, wherever we can. We practice organic gardening and organic land management. Our Solar panel provides 30 percent of the electricity for our two main buildings. We use only Seventh Generation and Meyers cleaning products. Our bedding is from Parachute Home, a certified carbon neutral company. Our guest room amenities are from Pharmacopia and they are natural, organic, and green. They are made with post consumer recycled bottles and all materials can be recycled again: cruelty-free and vegan, No synthetic fragrances, fillers or colors.”

Jim and Leslie hope people from all over will visit the Farmhouse Inn to discover the serene experience the simple life can afford.

“Our beautiful Bed & Breakfast Inn offers 12 bedrooms made up by our five private guest rooms, a five-bedroom farmhouse and two-bedroom cottage, with the latter two both having a living and dining area, kitchen, and laundry facilities,” said the Cantrells. “We offer all the modern conveniences and comforts for a getaway for two or a family celebration for up to 30 overnight guests. The Red Barn Reception Room, outdoor terrace, and adjacent lawns can be used for farm weddings, meetings, business retreats, family reunions, and other events for up to 200 guests.”