Now a part of the Rock Springs Retreat Center complex, Paradise is currently known as Legendary Venues, a bridal and corporate event venue. But once upon a time, Paradise was the recording studio built in Gallatin by rock superstar and Rock Hall of Fame legend Leon Russell. Constructed in 1987 as a place to get away from it all and create music, the then underdeveloped Gallatin area ended up being too off the beaten track and Russell moved to Mt. Juliet in 1992. There he passed away in 2016.
The property was purchased by Kris Intress in 2023. Intress, the former CEO of global luxury hotel company WorldHotels, founded Rock Springs Retreat Center, a health resort located on 200-acres off Rock Springs Road in Castilian Springs, Tennessee, in 2021 as an extension of Fit Farm opened in 2017. When she saw that the Russell property was up for sale, and backed up to her own property, she decided to buy it.
Intress told Gallatin News, “My real estate agent sent me amazing photos, telling me it was available. It sounded like a perfect overflow location for my Rock Springs Wellness Center and was located nearby, but my husband and I discovered that it was a wreck. And even though he said he would divorce me if I bought it, I made a ridiculously low offer, which they accepted…And I’m still not divorced.”
For the last two years, Intress and her husband, Pat Steffan, have been renovating the property, doing much of the work themselves. The property includes a main house, a number of outbuildings, a pond, and 45 acres of rolling hills.
As they have reconstructed the dilapidated buildings, they have used Russell’s music and his many friends in the business as inspiration for their design. There are themed rooms created in the style of Barbara Streisand, Cher, Willie Nelson, Ray Charles, Whitney Houston, Janis Joplin, Eric Clapton, Tom Petty, Joe Cocker, Elton John, Johnny Cash, Jerry Lee Lewis and Bob Dylan.
Known for creating exceptional experiences, Intress and Steffan have made a point of developing an enchanting venue where everyone can craft timeless memories while enjoying the beauty of nature. They have a dedicated staff devoted to making bride and grooms’ dreams come true, the ideal anniversary celebration or any special event an affair tailored to the client’s needs and desires.
Elevated corporate events on this property blend tranquility and functionality, including team building and planning retreats. Says their website, “…our venue provides the ideal backdrop for fostering productivity, collaboration, and inspiration.”
Fit Farm at Rock Springs, Intress’ first business, was created because she found herself struggling with her own health while running WorldHotels. From that initial business, she developed a series of venues dedicated to offer her clients a beautiful space where they can enjoy natural beauty, healthy food, and follow a tailored experience based on personal wellness goals. Or plan the perfect wedding in one of three special spaces: The Springs, The Stable or Paradise Acres.
As the Legendary Venue blog notes, “Paradise Acres is a hidden gem just outside of Nashville and was previously owned by the Rock ‘n Roll Hall of Fame legend Leon Russell. Leon Russell was a phenomenal songwriter and session musician, making indispensable contributions to rock, pop, and country music, with his most notable works being “A Song For You,” “Delta Lady,” “Super Star,” and “The Union.”
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