"Why book?
Cataloochee Ranch, a Relais & Châteaux property located in Maggie Valley, North Carolina, sits on 700-acres adjacent to Great Smoky Mountains National Park. The once rustic property reopened after an extensive renovation gave it an undeniably luxe-casual appeal. Here, you can frolic in the meadows, climb a mountain on horseback, and enjoy exquisitely prepared meals—and you won’t even notice that you don’t have cell service.Long inspired by ranches of the American West, owners Annie and David Colquitt (who also own boutique mountain resort The Swag right next door) bring a Southern flavor of ranches to the East Coast. For travelers seeking adventure and relaxation alongside excellent service and food, all in one place, it doesn’t get much better than this. The ranch offers sweeping views of the Great Smoky Mountains and makes a great jumping off point to explore them. It’s summer camp year-round with on-site activities like horseback riding, hiking, archery, and zip-lining as well as plenty of fireplaces to cozy up next to with a good book.
Set the scene
Cataloochee Ranch reflects its laidback Blue Ridge setting while never skimping on luxury. The mountains are almost always within view, whether from your cabin, the outdoor spaces, or the Ranch House (the dining hub of the property), but even when they’re not, the design keeps you firmly rooted in place. For instance, Switchback, the hotel’s restaurant designed by Smith Hanes Studio, ensconces you in salvaged wood logs from the barn that once stood on the ranch. Custom designed sofas in a soft green echoing vintage thermoses you might take camping invite you to cozy up by the dining room fireplace after your meal. The tastefully appointed cabins and common areas never feel so stuffy that you’d hate to drag in a little mud (it’s a ranch, mud happens).
One thing that stood out is how art-forward the property is. At dinner, I’d find myself staring at a handwoven textile by artist Crystal Gregory that adds a soft pop of color to the stone wall, while a stained glass window made by the former owner sparkled in a sun-filled hallway. It’s all incredibly personal and speaks to the contemporary-meets-traditional nature of the ranch.
The backstory
The ranch first opened in the 1930s and evolved in the years since. It’s always offered horseback riding, but its former accommodations were much more rustic until the Colquitts purchased the property in 2020 and breathed new life into it. One guest at dinner mentioned how he visited with his family growing up, and was excited to see that the soul of the ranch was not lost along with the changes made to the property.
The rooms
“Cozy” and “artful” are words that come to mind for each of the eleven cabins at Cataloochee. Norris Studio, helmed by Samantha Feurer who worked on Blackberry Mountain, nodded to the setting with reclaimed wood found in the millwork while heated bathroom flooring adds that touch of luxe you’d expect. A blend of new and vintage furnishings and artwork create a lived-in feel—no sterility here! Each cabin has its own personality and aesthetic. I shared the “Woody" cabin with my husband and our five-year-old and we delighted in the patina of the vintage wooden coffee table (it actually came with the property) and the hook rug depicting a mountain scene over the gas fireplace. Showering at home, without a view of the Plott Balsam mountain range from a picture window, just won’t be the same.
Food and drink
Every meal prepared by executive chef Jeb Aldrich and his team was a sheer delight. Aldrich, who formerly led the kitchen of Tiny Lou’s at Atlanta’s Hotel Clermont and worked for Charleston-based Indigo Road Hospitality Group, takes an Alpine-meets-Appalachian approach at Switchback. He prioritizes hyper local ingredients, uses a snazzy dry-ager for the steaks, lamb, and duck (you can see it from the dining room), prepares pasta in-house, and never gets too fussy with the presentation (I especially appreciated the liberal use of edible flowers on nearly every dish and drink). Standouts from our stay included the heaping salad of greens (some bitter, some sweet), house-made feta, pickled strawberries and toasted hazelnuts; the dry-aged Rohan duck complemented by black currants and crispy maitake mushrooms; and the wood-fired pizza topped with a baked egg, béchamel, and crispy mushrooms.
The pastries crafted by chef Angie Chen were a worthy indulgence. She made everything from buttery, layered biscuits and croissants at breakfast to beautifully plated desserts, like fluffy blueberry burrata cheesecake and a tender crusted strawberry rhubarb pie topped with tangy strawberry ice cream, for lunch and dinner.
When it comes to libations, the Tack Room was the place to be for a before (or after) dinner drink. The bar pays homage to the Goring in London with red lacquered ceilings and floors. The liquor license wasn’t ready yet as of my stay, but the wine list hit all the right notes and every day there was a new signature zero proof cocktail (my favorite was a zippy combination of white tea, Meyer lemon, and ginger beer).
The spa
Just being at the ranch with its abundant mountain air and outdoor access is a wellness boost all of its own, but an on-site spa is in the works. The as of yet unnamed spa likely won’t open until 2025, but when it does it will offer indoor and outdoor treatments including cold plunges. For now, guests can book treatments at The Swag’s Spa, the Still, with a tight menu of massages and facials.
The area
Set far off the main drag of Maggie Valley, which has the trappings of a kitschy beach town (t-shirt shops, dive bars, and motels galore), one could easily stay on property for the duration of the trip. That said, the ranch is also right next to Great Smoky Mountains National Park and only 10-minutes from the entrance to the Blue Ridge Parkway for those hoping to catch some additional spectacular vistas or go hiking elsewhere. The Cataloochee Ski Area sits adjacent to the property for skiers during the season, which tends to run from early November to late March. Other nearby towns worth driving to include Waynesville (about 20 minutes away), Sylva (less than an hour south) and Asheville (less than an hour east).
The service
Everyone at Cataloochee Ranch is incredibly friendly and helpful without being overbearing. Like the ranch’s sister property, the staff pays attention to the details at the ranch, whether it’s remembering that your kid likes to color with markers at dinner to the sweet little turndown treats at night. Rooms are cleaned daily as well as a touch-up in the evening.
For families
The cabins, which range from one-bedroom to three-bedroom (as well as a forthcoming six-suite lodge) make the lodge an excellent destination for multi-generational groups. My husband and I traveled with our five-year-old and were pleased to see plenty of other families with young kids staying there, too, with the young ones running around on the lawn or chatting gleefully at mealtimes. While there were also older couples on romantic getaways we never felt like we were a bother. The ranch may add childcare eventually, but for now it’s a great place for families to spend time together. We also found the staff to be excellent with kids.
Eco effort
Sustainability is part of the Relais & Châteaux ethos and at Cataloochee Ranch that’s no exception. They reduce single-use plastics by using refillable toiletry bottles in bathrooms, they recycle, support preservation group Friends of the Smokies, and work with local farmers and producers as much as possible. They’re also working towards an on-site garden and cattle program.
Accessibility
The property meets ADA compliance and prides itself on meeting guests where they are. Activities like hikes and horseback rides can be modified to meet a guest’s needs or limitations." - Lia Picard
