It all began in 1932, with the arrival in East Tennessee of Mrs. Susan Wiley Cooper Walker, the widow of a business associate of Andrew Carnegie’s and the sister-in-law of the President of Maryville College. Admiring her sister’s home in the campus woods, she convinced Trustees to allow her to build her home there, too, with the provision that it become the property of the College at her death.  She was in her seventies. Life at the home and gardens Mrs. Walker designed and named Morningside suited her well, and she lived until late in her 98^th year, when the property finally became the President’s home.  The residence and its surroundings stand as testament to her love of natural beauty and gracious hospitality.

After many years of being the presidential manse, Morningside was operated as an inn and then stood empty until 1997, when Ruby Tuesday, Inc, with its international headquarters nearby, acquired the property as a corporate retreat and for special events. The Main House and grounds were painstakingly restored and enhanced, and two overnight guest facilities were built to be compatible with the architectural grace of the original home. Today, we welcome you to this treasure in the woods for dinner, for overnight stays, and for special occasions, meetings, and gatherings of friends and family.