The Eugenia Williams House, circa 1940s. Photo courtesy of the Knoxville News Sentinel.
Set high above the Tennessee River, the Eugenia Williams House is one of Knoxville’s most intriguing residences – designed by architect John Fanz Staub for Eugenia Williams, a solitary and stylish heiress. After decades as a private home, the property was gifted to the University of Tennessee upon Eugenia’s death in 1998 and in 2020 was acquired by the Aslan Foundation, which recognized both its architectural and ecological significance, as well as its potential as a place for public engagement. The Foundation’s six-year restoration of the house and its grounds honors Staub’s original design and Eugenia’s vision while opening a new chapter for the site – one that serves as a bridge between Knoxville’s history and its creative future.
The Eugenia Williams House at 4848 Lyons View Pike now invites visitors to step inside the long-closed gates to experience and explore a grand property. Nature lovers can traverse the trail system, take in Tennessee River views, and picnic on the lawn. History buffs can take a tour of a remarkable 1940s time capsule and attend a lecture. Arts enthusiasts can experience intimate events organized by some of our community’s premier arts and cultural organizations.
Access to the House is only available through scheduled, guided tours – offered up to four times per week – or by registering for cultural events. The house is not open for drop-in interior visits. Tour tickets can be purchased in advance through Knoxville Walking Tours (KnoxvilleWalkingTours.com/Eugenia-Williams-House). All tours and events are listed on the online calendar. Pre-registration is required due to limited capacity. The property is also available for private event rentals.
The park-like grounds offer wider access. During open hours of 10 am to 5 pm on Thursdays, Fridays, and Saturdays, visitors are welcome to enjoy the expansive front lawn, historic stone paths, and wooded walking trails. Please note that the trails and terrain are very steep in places; we encourage guests to explore at their own pace and use caution. Because of the historic nature of the property, on-site parking is limited and may be full during busy times.
About Eugenia Williams
Born in 1900, Eugenia was the only surviving child of Dr. David Williams, a local doctor and an early investor in Coca-Cola. With his partners, Dr. Williams purchased the right to bottle and distribute Coca-Cola within a 50-mile radius of Knoxville. With his resulting wealth, he purchased riverfront property on Lyons View and built a working estate complete with agricultural fields, an orchard, and a vineyard. Almost none of his family would live to see it. When Eugenia was 7, her 21-month-old sister Elizabeth died. Her mother, Ella Williams, died when Eugenia was 14. Her only remaining sibling, her 7-year-old brother David, died two years later in 1916.
In 1920, Eugenia married Gordon Chandler. During their time together, the couple was known to travel to New York and Chicago, as well as Florida’s Gulf Coast. In 1929, Dr. Williams died, leaving the property to Eugenia with special provisions to exclude Gordon Chandler from receiving any part of the estate in the event of their divorce. The marriage lasted until 1936. They had no children, and Eugenia never remarried.
She chose to raze her father’s home on the property to make way for her own. Eugenia is a case study for how a woman might assert her independence during the mid-1900s. She was a divorcee; she commissioned a new home of her own from a nationally known architect; and she carefully guarded her privacy and image.
In 1983, she went to live at St. Mary’s Hospital, where she remained until her death in 1998. In her will, she left her house to the University of Tennessee in memory of her father. It was her hope that it might serve as the university president’s home. That vision did not come to fruition. The Aslan Foundation purchased the property at a state auction in 2020.
About the Aslan Foundation
Established by Lindsay Young in 1994, the Aslan Foundation embraces the mission of preserving beauty, advancing livability, and supporting cultural assets in Knoxville, Tennessee. These were interests that Lindsay shared with his twin brother Robert and with Robert’s wife Rachael, both of whom helped guide the Foundation for its initial decade.
The Foundation strengthens the Knoxville community through its own directed projects, such as the Eugenia Williams House, High Ground Park, and Loghaven Artist Residency; its annual grantmaking program; and public-private partnerships, including the recent improvements to Augusta Quarry and Fort Dickerson Park. Its funding priorities include arts and culture, historic preservation, animal welfare, land conservation, outdoor recreation, and advancing livability in Knoxville.
For more information and to plan your visit, go to EugeniaWilliamsHouse.org.