Sam G.
Yelp
My now-wife and I got married here in November and it was absolutely everything that we could have hoped for and more.
* Location
RT Lodge is situated super conveniently close to Knoxville Airport (about a 10 minute drive) but it feels like a world of its own. It's tucked back in the woods near Maryville College and is super quiet and peaceful. There is lots of outdoors space with a large koi pond in the back of the main lodge and we spend hours walking and exploring in the neighboring woods.
* Lodging
The rooms are super comfortable and are very much going for a rustic-chic vibe. They are on the smaller side but very comfortable with super soft beds and Ralph Lauren linens. For the wedding, this was perfect because with 57 rooms, everyone was able to stay on premises and I don't think I heard a single complaint about the rooms.
In addition to the rooms there are a ton of nice common areas to stay. In the cooler weather, there are multiple fireplaces where you can curl up next to the fire, and in the warm weather the grounds are quite extensive.
* Food
Chef Trevor is incredible. The food here is really fantastic and far above what I had expected. For a normal stay, the restaurant is very nice, if a little pricey. Highlights include the fried chicken with homemade fermented jalapeno hot sauce and the homemade charcuterie with meat from the chef's family farm.
For the wedding, they were incredibly accommodating to the variety of dietary needs and did a great job pleasing everyone in attendance. Trevor took ample time to sit with us and come up with a menu that we were excited about and went out of his way to suggest ways that we could accommodate the vegetarians and vegans in the group (we had BBQ for the rehearsal dinner, so not an easy task).
And whether you're there for an event or just coming to the restaurant for dinner, every night you are invited to make s'mores by the firepit out behind the lodge.
* Wedding Planning
Ali and Phoebe were absolutely incredible when it came to actually planning the wedding. My wife and I weren't particularly interested in dealing with all the minutia, since we were quite busy, but they did a great job of planning everything on our behalf. From recommending vendors to asking for exactly what they needed from us, they really kept things moving in the right direction and pulled off an amazing event. We also appreciated their flexibility on the day of when we threw a couple of audibles and Ali took it in stride.
* The Verdict
Overall I'm certain that this will become a regular vacation spot for us. The staff is so friendly, the place is super comfortable, and the food is ridiculously good (as a couple who lives in NYC). Thank you to the staff for all the hard work and we're looking forward to our next trip.