Giant Stone Labyrinth of Eastern Tennessee

Last fall I was part of a team led by Thea Alvin that built a giant stone labyrinth in eastern Tennessee. Tucked into the foothills of the Smoky Mountains at Blackberry Mountain resort, the labyrinth will serve dual roles as a meditative space for guests and a memorial for a family member of the resort owner’s family. On his birth and death days, the rising sun will shine through windows built into the labyrinth walls and onto a seating boulder placed in the heart of the labyrinth.

In the upper right corner you can see some of us setting the last stones in the labyrinth

As amazing as the project was, the time spent and bonds formed with the ten other people on the crew left a lasting impression on me. We worked together. We lived together. We ate together. We struggled and laughed together. It was physically and mentally challenging to build this labyrinth with over 1,000 tons of stone in five weeks far from the comforts of home. But I never heard anyone complain. Even once. We were all to thrilled to be there, to build this thing, and to help each other do our best work.

The team (minus Molly)

Looking back on this project now (we’re finally allowed to share photos), I’m grateful to have been part of such an amazing build, but more so to be part of such an amazing group of people. I’ll carry this project with me for a long time.