Policies

Cancellation policy

For all lodgings, except Mansion, Center Lodge, and Lakeside Retreat:

Travelers who cancel at least 30 days before check-in will get back 100% of the amount they've paid. If they cancel between 14 and 30 days before check-in, they'll get back 50%. Otherwise, they won't get a refund.

For Mansion, Center Lodge, and Lakeside Retreat:

Travelers who cancel at least 60 days before check-in will get back 100% of the amount they've paid. If they cancel between 30 and 60 days before check-in, they'll get back 50%. Otherwise, no refund will be available

house rules

Our rules are designed to provide for the safety of all our guests, maximize your group’s freedom while not compromising the experience of other guests, ensure the sustainability of our services, and provide access to the unique common areas of our amazing valley to all our guests at affordable prices. Breaking the house rules is not nice and may cost you money, so please read them over and agree to them before arriving. We encourage your feedback to improve the Rules. We do have a two (2) night minimum.

1) All lodging guests must pay Tennessee state (9.5%) and Williamson county (4%) short-term rental taxes. The public servants who pave our roads and who serve and protect us, appreciate your support.  

 2) A government-issued photo ID of all adults must be presented to staff prior to check-in. Check-in must be performed by the person making the reservation. If this person is not available or will arrive later, contact management prior to check-in to discuss alternate arrangements.  

3) Only the number of guests registered may be on premises. Exceptions only with documented permission of management. A guest list is required for events including, any attendants or vendors required to assist with your event. Unregistered guests are *trespassing* and may be prosecuted, so please do not invited them on premises without the management’s knowledge and permission. External surveillance monitor(s) help safeguard our guests and compliance with our house rules.  If uninvited guests are on premises you may be asked to leave without receiving any refund.

4) The Fork Inn insists on a safe environment; vehicle passes are required. Children of all ages wander local trails and creeks. Our guests and staff are safest when all adults and vehicles are known and identifiable. All visiting vehicles must have a parking pass display a parking displayed on windshield or rearview mirror when on our premises. The names and identification of all guests and visitors must be presented to management before they are allowed on premises. All cars on premises must have a parking pass or they may be towed.

5) Keep the place clean. Guests are responsible for cleaning grills and ovens if they are made greasy/dirty. Excess trash, messes requiring extra cleaning, or not leaving furniture/carpets in their places may result in a portion of your security deposit being withheld. Don’t place trash outside of bins (making it accessible to hungry critters).

6) Prohibited: Unsafe or disrespectful behavior. Pets (including walking pets outdoors on leashes; we are within a nature sanctuary and respect our ground-nesting birds) Indoor smoking. Firearms (except with owner’s permission), confetti, candles, or use of fireplaces and outside fire pits without permission, collecting firewood, bringing in new furniture/equipment or moving existing equipment/furniture without permission of owner, underage drinking of alcohol.

Parties / Events: All parties and events must be approved in advance by management. An additional fee and cash security deposit is required. Definition of Event: when approved non-Lodging guests or vendors are on premises. Music audible from outside of houses must end by 11:00. When more than 20 persons are present at a lodging or venue, a staff attendant ($30/hr) must be hired for the duration of the Event and during setup and takedown. Vendors must be approved before being allowed on site. Event insurance may be required if alcohol is served. Non-Lodging Guests may not use the residential driveway but must park (with parking passes visible) in designated area or parking lot which will be closed at the end of the Event. Parking passes are required for all vehicles. Day guests who are not disabled or elderly must to walk from the designated parking area to the place of the Event. Elderly or disabled persons may be shuttled to the Event site.

trash

We are honored to be Stewards of the beautiful Big East Fork Valley and expect our guests to help protect it.  We therefore require that you DON'T DUMP ON US. There is no free trash collection in the valley, so please be responsible for the volume and quality of trash that you leave behind. If you take all of your trash with you, we will return all of your Trash Deposit Fee. Get your refund on the deposit by reducing the volume of trash: 1) save compostable foodstuffs for our gardens and animals, 2) break down cardboard boxes, crush cans, and stack disposable plates and cups 3) collect our sweet spring water in large containers, and 4) leave usable food in your fridge after you leave. If you have more than a few bags, save money by paying an approved local vendor to remove your bagged trash.

Don’t place trash outside of bins making it accessible to hungry critters. Raccoons are the world’s messiest partiers.

If you leave un-bagged trash in the house or trash cans, or use trash bags greater than 15 gallons you will forfeit your trash deposit. Ouch! If you choose not contract with a local trash hauler and leave your bagged trash in the outside trash receptacles, your trash deposit refund will reduced by $5 per 13 - 15 gallon bag. Do not use bags greater than 15 gallons. So if you have more than a few bags of trash, you can save $$$ by calling an approved local trash hauler.

If you are checking out on noon Sunday, come bring your usable food, drink, and spirit(s) to the Center for Sustainable Stewardship’s Community Brunch, held every Sunday noon at the CSS Farm, 5400 Big East Fork Rd. Meet, greet, and express gratitude to the people who have worked hard to make your stay memorable. It takes a village to prepare and maintain our valley and its houses. Meet the Chief Steward and members of CSS who maintain the trails, take care of watercraft, groom the hiking trails, and care for the farm animals. And meet the Fork Inn team that landscape the houses, clean the rooms, prepare the laundry, and service our guests to give them the unique experiences found in the Big East Fork Valley.