Meet the Founders: Eva, Bryan, and Carter
In the spring of 2021, when a piece of land along Sevierville Pike in South Knoxville popped up on the real estate market, Eva Millwood and Bryan Foster followed their gut instincts and acquired the land, seeing an opportunity to contribute to the Urban Wilderness. The property was adjacent to Marie Myers Park, home of the Year-Round Get Down trails. For them, along with their business partner Carter Miller, the feeling was more than just an effort to preserve land and provide trails. The trio has the vision to fill a niche for something that does not yet exist in the area. They want to create a community hub, a place for people to come from near and far to gather after a day of adventuring through the Urban Wilderness.
What was the first moment you realized you wanted to make The Drop Inn happen?
Eva: When we walked down the overgrown hillside to where the first camping loop is eventually going to be. It was such a cool feeling to be plunged into the middle of a secret forest right down the road from the city. It was a feeling we wanted to share with other people!
What is one thing you want people to feel when they stay at The Drop Inn?
Bryan: A feeling of hospitality and a sense of community.
What’s one thing you feel when you are on-site at the Drop Inn?
Carter: The Christmas morning excitement.
In three words, describe The Drop Inn.
Bryan: Happy little holler.
Name one thing that you love about Knoxville.
Eva: I love how biodiverse this area is, and that protecting and preserving open space is such a priority for the city.
If you could make a billboard for the Urban Wilderness, what would it say?
Carter: A downtown dirt oasis, a bike ride to everything.
Collaborators
