A Las Vegas-based hospitality company is expanding to the Great Smoky Mountains with cabins featuring heated open-air showers, a heated pool, hot tub and even a vintage drive-in movie theater.
Ofland Smoky Mountains broke ground in Townsend on Sept. 15. The boutique outdoor hotel is near the park's Cades Cove entrance via Laurel Creek Road and is the second outdoor property by Ofland Hotels.
"Guests who stay at Ofland want to connect with nature. They’re not looking for amusement parks or shopping tohave a great time," Ofland Hotels CEO Noah Ellis said in an email to Knox News.
"Townsend actually feels like the mountains. It's quieter. It moves a little more slowly. We want guests to feel like they've gotten the best of the Smokies, not just the souvenir
shops. Townsend offers that experience in a way that we know our guests will appreciate," Ellis continued.
The new hotel is expected to bring approximately 30 new permanent jobs to the Townsend community. Ofland Hotels has invested over $25 million in the development, making it the largest investment in the private company’s history.
Ofland Smoky Mountains is expected to open in the summer of 2027 with reservations becoming available in January, according to Ofland Hotels.
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What to expect during an Ofland Smoky Mountains stay
Ofland Smoky Mountains will feature 75 cabins on nearly 28 acres. Four of those cabins will be accessible to guests with wheelchairs or other needs.
All cabins will feature:
- A studio-style layout with a queen bed and queen sofa bed with premium bedding
- A kitchenette
- An en-suite bathroom
- A heated private open-air shower
- A wrap-around private deck with rocking chairs
- A wood-burning campfire ring with a grill and a picnic table
The cabins will be custom-built by Tennessee-based firm Wind River Built. Design and architecture elements are meant to embrace the nature and beauty of the Smokies and Appalachian culture.
And after a day of hiking or cruising Cades Cove, guests will be able to gather outside for a movie. The boutique hotel will have a drive-in theater with vintage trucks and seating for up to 150 people. The drive-in has become a guest-favorite at Ofland Hotels' flagship property in Utah.
"We're bringing that same experience to Townsend. Sitting in an old pickup truck under the stars, a bag of popcorn in hand, watching a classic movie you've probably seen a dozen times. It's the kind of shared, unhurried experience that makes a stay with us so special," Ellis said.
The lodge will serve as the property’s common area with the hotel’s front desk, a general store, fire pits and a food counter serving a Southern-inspired menu for breakfast and dinner.
Additional amenities will include a heated pool, an oversized hot tub and campfire kits for ready-to-grill meals.
How much is it to stay at Ofland Smoky Mountains?
Cabin rates will start at $249 per night with no resort or pet fees, according to Ofland Hotels. Bookings will be available year-round.
The entire Ofland Smoky Mountains property can be rented for special events.
Ofland Hotels also operates Ofland Escalante in Utah, which opened in 2021. Its third property, Ofland Zion, also will be in Utah.
Devarrick Turner is a trending news reporter. Email devarrick.turner@knoxnews.com.
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This article originally appeared on Knoxville News Sentinel: Cabins with open-air showers, drive-in movie theater coming to Townsend
