Cataloochee Ranch offers luxury, relaxation and adventure!
As someone who ventures abroad often for work, I sometimes find myself forgetting how many travel treasures exist closer to home. A trip to Cataloochee Ranch in Maggie Valley, North Carolina, was just the reminder I needed.
The 825-acre resort on the edge of the Smoky Mountains walks the line between high-end and rustic, and it’s just a 3.5-hour drive from Buckhead. My husband and I made our way there last winter and discovered a wonderland where outdoor pursuits were a main attraction, and all of the resort-style luxuries were at our fingertips.
We arrived for our weekend stay after gingerly navigating some snow-covered mountain roads. After being buzzed through the gate, we checked in and drove farther to The Delano, our one bedroom cabin. Named for FDR, who was instrumental in creating the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, the accommodation featured a plush king-sized bed, living room with stacked stone fireplace, a bathroom with freestanding soaking tub and a wraparound porch with expansive mountain views. After settling in, we set out to explore.
At the front desk, we picked up artfully illustrated maps to a plethora of hiking trails such as Pine Tree Gap, Thunderbolt Knob and the ironically named Devil’s Britches, a short and gently winding trail that opens up to a charming picnic area. What I really wanted was to take a ride atop one of the working ranch’s 15 horses. When icy trails proved to be too precarious for the equine residents, the adventure team offered to take us on a trail ride in a souped-up UTV. What a ride: We got to see some of the remnants of 2024’s Hurricane Helene, including a multi-ton boulder that was pushed down the mountain to a new resting place in the middle of a creek. The highlight was a drive to the top of Hemphill Bald, a grass-covered crest that stands at 5,540 feet. From there, we could see miles in every direction.
Depending on the day, guests can sign on for a leather workshop, a pottery class or watercolor painting instruction with a local expert. More adventurous visitors may choose to try their hand at archery, axe throwing and air rifles, or tackle a challenge course of rope ladders set among the tree canopy. If you want to explore with someone who knows the area, sign up for a private guided history and ecology hike. Just about everything can be arranged via text message through the front desk—a convenient alternative to having to pick up the phone or decide on activities way in advance.
After so much adventuring, you’ll work up an appetite. Executive chef Jeb Adlrich, formerly of Atlanta favorites 4th & Swift and Tiny Lou’s, marries his European techniques with hyper-local Appalachian ingredients. The result is extraordinary. Over the entire weekend of eating meals at the property’s High Country at Switchback restaurant, some favorites included sunburst trout with sunchoke, sorghum and apples; prime ribeye sourced from the property; and the best calamari of my life that came with fried lemon slices and sumac aioli. The adjacent bar is cozy and turns out expertly made cocktails.
Much more is planned for this destination that already delights at every turn. After we visited, the resort added a gym complete with Technogym and yoga equipment, a “golf saloon” with a Trackman pro golf simulator and a pottery studio. In late 2026, a new pool and spa will debut. Regardless of when you visit, there’s just the right blend of activity and relaxation, high-falutin’ luxury and down-home hospitality.
CATALOOCHEE RANCH
828.926.1401
cataloocheeranch.com
@cataloocheeranch
