TOWNSEND, TENN.—Ofland Hotels, the Las Vegas–based outdoor hospitality company, recently broke ground on its second property, Ofland Smoky Mountains, in Townsend, Tenn.
The expansion into Tennessee marks a major milestone for the company, following the success of its flagship property, Ofland Escalante (formerly Yonder Escalante), which opened in 2021. The new boutique outdoor hotel will feature 75 cabins set on 27.6 acres located just five minutes from the Cades Cove entrance to the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. Ofland Smoky Mountains is expected to open in the summer of 2027, with reservations becoming available in January.
“Our guests will be coming to experience the Great Smoky Mountains. We’re not trying to compete with that,” said Noah Ellis, CEO of Ofland Hotels. ‘We’re five minutes from the entrance to Cades Cove, where guests will spend their days hiking and exploring the national park. Our job is to give them a place worth coming back to. A good meal, a hot shower under the stars, and a comfortable night’s sleep is just the start. Making sure every guest leaves happy is the top priority. Sending them home with a few new memories and a deeper appreciation for the outdoors is the cherry on top.”
The announcement was marked by a groundbreaking ceremony on Tuesday, September 15, where Ofland Hotels Founder Charles Tate, CEO Noah Ellis, Head of Development Luke Searcy, and CFO Ryan Terracino led a symbolic dig at the site of the future hotel.
Accommodations & Amenities
Ofland Smoky Mountains will offer 75 cabins, including 71 standard cabins and four ADA-accessible cabins. Each cabin will feature a studio-style layout with a queen bed and queen sofa bed with premium bedding, a kitchenette, an en-suite bathroom, and a private open-air shower. Each cabin’s exterior will include a wrap-around private deck with rocking chairs, a wood-burning campfire ring with a grill, and a picnic table. The lodge will serve as the property’s common area, housing the 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, campfire chef kits for a ready-to-grill fireside feast, and an outdoor drive-in movie theater with vintage trucks and seating for up to 150 guests.
Bookings will be available year-round. Ofland Smoky Mountains will also be available for buyouts and special events, including parties and conferences. The team bringing the project to life includes construction management group KDW and architecture firm Boundary Works, as well as local partners: Tyson & Associates, leading the build of the 27-acre site, and cabin manufacturer Wind River Built.
Regional-Inspired Design
Custom-built by Wind River Built, a Tennessee-based manufacturer of modular buildings, each 345-square-foot cabin pairs a residential level of craftsmanship with an immersive, nature-centric design.
Floor-to-ceiling windows and a red oak ceiling frame the living area, while maple cabinetry, honed granite counters, and champagne bronze fixtures carry the same finish quality into the kitchen and en-suite bath. Each cabin’s private open-air shower features Douglas fir slat privacy walls, large-format charcoal porcelain tile, LED valance lighting, and a Bromic radiant outdoor heater for use in cold weather. On the exterior, a Douglas fir post and beam porch with rocking chairs rounds out the mountain-inspired design.
The common area buildings, including the lodge and general store, draw their design inspiration directly from the historic architecture of Appalachia. Each building will be constructed using traditional materials that are designed to weather and age gracefully in the Southern climate. Natural wood siding, deep, shaded porches, and long, low-slung roof lines echo the homesteads of the original settlers. The familiar building forms are elevated with modern detailing and large openings that frame the property’s expansive views.
The interior of the lodge incorporates grounding earth tones, generous amounts of daylight, and natural materials. The environment is warm and welcoming from the moment guests check in, where they are greeted by a rustic timber reception desk. On the exterior of the lodge, a broad covered porch is the heart of the property, spanning from the drive-in theater to the pool. The porch opens up to the west and is lined with fire pits and comfortable lounge seating, creating a central gathering point for guests to enjoy their morning coffee, cool off in the afternoon shade, and watch the sun set across the surrounding hills.
Travis Pyke, CEO of Wind River Built, added the following about the collaboration: “Wind River Built is honored to partner with Ofland on a project that brings such a unique hospitality experience to the Great Smoky Mountains region. Over the past several years, we’ve had the opportunity to work closely with their team as this vision has taken shape, and it’s been exciting to help support a development that is so thoughtfully connected to the landscape, the guest experience, and the character of this destination. Ofland has built an incredible team around a strong vision, and we’re proud to play a role in bringing this one-of-a-kind project to life.”
Looking Ahead
The development of Ofland Smoky Mountains represents an investment of more than $25 million, the largest in the privately owned hospitality group’s history, and is expected to bring approximately 30 new permanent jobs to the Townsend community and surrounding area.
With Ofland Smoky Mountains now under construction, Ofland Zion (Utah) will move through the company’s active development pipeline. Ofland Zion will mark the company’s third property in its portfolio of boutique outdoor hotels, and its second property in Utah alongside flagship Ofland Escalante.
Additional details on Ofland Smoky Mountains will be announced in January 2027, ahead of the property’s summer 2027 opening.
