The Lodge at Smoky Cove · Whittier, North Carolina
The quiet side of the Smokies.
A 1940 stone lodge on its own mountaintop above Whittier, between Cherokee, Bryson City and the national park. Book a room, a suite or the entire lodge.
The setting
Above the valley, facing the Smokies
The lodge sits a paved mile up the mountain from US-74, with the ridges of the Smokies lined up across the valley. It is quiet up here, with woods on every side and the view straight ahead.
You are not cut off, though. Cherokee, Bryson City and the national park are fifteen to twenty-five minutes away, so you can spend the day out in the mountains and still be back up the hill for sunset.
Rooms & suites
The rooms
Seven rooms and suites you can book on their own, from $189 a night. Bringing a group? You can reserve part of the lodge or all fifteen bedrooms.
The one to book for a long weekend
The Blue Ridge Suite
- Sleeps 4
- King log bed + queen sleeper sofa
- Kitchen
- Private balcony
A king log bed, a gas-log fireplace with two armchairs pulled up to it, your own small kitchen, and a balcony that looks straight at the ridges. Come in through your own door or across the Grand Patio.
From $229/night
Scarlett Suite
- Sleeps 4
- King + queen sofa bed
- Private bath
A large suite with a king bed facing the view, a sitting area by the gas fireplace, and a queen sofa bed for a third and fourth guest.
From $199/night
Kress Family Suite
- Sleeps 16
- 5 bedrooms · 8 beds + sleeper sofa
- 2 full baths
The whole upper wing of the lodge: five bedrooms, two full baths, two living rooms, a renovated kitchen and picture windows full of mountains.
From $599/night
The Angler Room
- Sleeps 4
- 2 queens
- Private en-suite bath
A larger room with two new queen beds, a private bath with serious water pressure, and a 55-inch smart TV for rainy evenings.
From $189/night
Staying at Smoky Cove
Most days end at the fire pit
The stone fire pit sits out on the lawn with chairs pulled around it and the mountains straight ahead. Guests carry drinks down, watch the sun go behind the ridges and stay out long after it has gone.
Every room shares the fire pit, the Grand Patio, the Great Room and the hot tub.
The Grand Patio
Covered, front and center, facing the Smokies. It opens off the upstairs living area, and it is where guests gather through the day.
The Great Room
Timber trusses, a wood-burning stone fireplace, leather sofas and a pool table. The coffee bar is set out here every morning.
The cedar hot tub
Guests write about it more than anything else: the cedar, and the fog coming up the valley at dusk.
Plan your stay
Stay up here, explore everywhere
Cherokee, Bryson City, Dillsboro and the national park are all within 25 minutes of the lodge. Raft in summer, chase the color in fall, ski or ride The Polar Express in winter, and come back up the hill every evening.
- SpringWaterfalls running full and wildflowers in the park
- SummerWhitewater on the Nantahala, family rafting on the Tuck
- FallColor on the Parkway and elk in the rut
- WinterA ski day at Cataloochee and The Polar Express
Getting here
Smoky Cove Road climbs one paved mile from US-74 between Dillsboro and Cherokee. Any car makes it, and there’s a wooden Smoky Cove Rd sign at the turn.
The Lodge at Smoky Cove
1475 Smoky Cove Road, Suite A
Whittier, NC 28789
(828) 631-2531
Groups, reunions & retreats
The entire lodge, or just the part you need
For weddings, reunions, retreats and family gatherings. Take all fifteen bedrooms and the whole property, or reserve only as much of the lodge as your group needs.
Built by Samuel H. Kress
1940
The house Kress built
Samuel H. Kress, of the five-and-dime stores, put this house on the mountain as a family retreat. The beams were milled on the property, and some of that timber went to New York in trade for the Italian cut stone on the front of the lodge. His floors, walls and tile are still here.
Guest reviews
Guest reviews
The reviews live on the host’s Airbnb profile, which covers every Smoky Cove listing.
“Wow, what a gem! We had no idea how cool it would be when we booked it, and it blew us away when we arrived. The views, the cozy building and rooms, the super cool retro bathrooms — we will be back!”
Kate · Airbnb guest
“What a treasure of a place! The ULTIMATE in Smokey Mountain calm, view, charm. Our family enjoyed the terrace, hot tub, great room while there. It is located on a hill surrounded by nature with a fantastic view. We only heard birds and frogs.”
Helena · Airbnb guest
“The view from this bnb speaks for itself… absolutely stunning. Lisa was super responsive and helpful. She also gave us a tour of the home which is beautiful and historic. She made us feel right at home.”
Lindsay · Airbnb guest
Our sister property
Looking for a different kind of mountain stay?
The Old Blue Boar Inn is about an hour west in Robbinsville, steps from Lake Santeetlah. Where Smoky Cove is a historic lodge on its own mountaintop, the Blue Boar is a lakeside inn with breakfast on the table and a kayak waiting at the water.
- Steps from Lake Santeetlah
- Joyce Kilmer Memorial Forest
- Yellow Creek Falls and Hooper Bald
- Just off the Cherohala Skyway
- A short drive to the Tail of the Dragon
- Full breakfast included
- Free use of canoes, kayaks and paddleboards
- Pet friendly
Check your dates
Book direct here, or call and talk to someone who knows the lodge.