For 38 seasons, The Swag, a seasonal resort set at the southern edge of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, has been a welcoming mountain retreat.
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Built in the 1970s as a private residence, the property was opened to guests in the ’80s. Since then, other cottages have been added around the Swag House, so that the all-inclusive resort is now an intimate collection of 14 rooms plus a main lodge where you’ll find a library, massage room, and racquetball courts. Today, it’s owned by Knoxville couple David and Annie Colquitt, who have been quietly making updates in the off-season, but otherwise keeping the charm of this mountain getaway intact.
It sits at an altitude of 5,000 feet so everywhere you look there are sweeping views of the North Carolina mountains and, even better, during the high heat of summer, it’s a cool respite for those in need of an outdoor escape.
DO
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A low-slung wooden fence is all that separates the resort property line from the edge of the national park. Step through an opening and you’re presented with trail markers and multiple hiking options—it’s the resort’s primary activity throughout the season, which is why you’re gifted a hand-carved walking stick when you arrive. The resort brings in special event leaders throughout the season, who are experts in activities like hiking, storytelling, printmaking, mountain climbing, and photography. They stay at the resort for several days, and each morning, lead guests out into the great outdoors. Consider joining Dr. Michael Pelton for a bear hike in August, or Steve Yocom for a photography lesson in September. Or, simply ask the resort staff for their favorite paths to following on your own time.
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Chef Jake Schmidt
A few times each season (August and late September this year) The Swag offers a cooking school led by the resort’s talented chef, Jake Schmidt. Four informal, hands-on class sessions are held over the course of two days, giving guests the chance to cook alongside the chef. Sessions might include an intro to knife skills, and a tour of the property’s garden. Schmidt’s patient teaching style means you can ask all the questions you’d like, and sample all of the dishes you’ve made after each session.
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Speaking of meals, all are included with the room rate and are prepared by Schmidt and his team from a newly renovated kitchen. Once a chef for Asheville’s Omni Grove Park Inn, Schmidt has a long history of sourcing from around the region, so his menus are full of produce and proteins from many nearby farmers and producers.
Most nights, dinner is a four-course affair served inside Swag House at either private or communal tables. The hunting lodge-style room has a large fireplace at one end and a second-story balcony that houses the resort’s gift shop. Consider staying over on a Wednesday, when a grand lunchtime picnic spread is taken up the hill to Gooseberry Knob, where you’ll find a gazebo, hammock, and Adirondack chairs. On Thursdays, Schmidt pulls out the grill for a cookout and a local string band plays during social hour on the porch. For dinner, it might be a buffet of locally sourced chicken, sticky smoked ribs, and sliced heritage pork loins plus a selection of flavorful sides.
With so many active ways to spend the day, don’t skip breakfast, which is a hearty buffet set out each morning that might include shirred eggs, creamy grits, and the option of freshly made omelets. For lunch, you’re given options like a ham and cheddar sandwich and chips, which are packed up in a knapsack to be enjoyed during a hike.
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Woodshed Cabin
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Although a casual rusticity permeates the grounds and decor, the rooms are pure luxury. Outfitted with amenities like high-end linens, king-sized beds, and locally roasted coffee, most rooms have wood-burning stone fireplaces, sitting areas, porches, and kitchenettes stocked with trail mix and soft drinks. Request the Woodshed for a perch that looks directly into the park. It also has a stunning bathroom outfitted with an undulating copper tub, a steam shower, and a dry sauna. The cozy living room is one of the original property structures, a log cabin built in 1975. Bonus feature: There’s an outdoor shower on the porch, meaning you can stay connected to the great outdoors even after the hiking adventures are behind you.