Pigeon Forge theme park WildSide comes from the makers of Anakeesta
The new Smoky Mountains theme park WildSide offers bike trails and guided off-road tours on 900 acres.
Townsend is home to one of the three main entrances to the Great Smoky Mountains National Park and is often described as the most peaceful of them.
The new owners of a 1970s motel in Townsend are renovating it with that tranquility in mind.
By the 1970s, more and more attractions were popping up around Gatlinburg and the town was well on its way to becoming the bustling tourist destination it is today. But nearby Townsend remained quiet.
As the new owner of Tremont Lodge and Resort, Blake Dailey wants to ensure that the lodge’s amenities and interior design match the tranquility that already exists on the 10-acre property and in the national park’s surrounding area.
He and his wife Nicole Dailey purchased Tremont Lodge in late 2023 and moved to Maryville after his nine years of service in the U.S. Air Force.
This is the sixth hotel the couple has owned. In addition to the lodge in Townsend, they also own a property in Fort Walton Beach, Florida.
“Now we’re trying to restore the reputation it had all those years ago and get even better … with more modern amenities, better upgrades and really taking advantage of the many outdoor amenities that are here, because I think that’s a big incentive to bring people to the Smokies,” Blake Dailey said.
Renovation work began with a ceremonial groundbreaking on July 24. The majority of the work is scheduled to be completed by March 2025. The lodge will remain open during construction.
Stay in a Mountain Modern style room
Each room at the Tremont Lodge & Resort is being redesigned with six different room designs, and Blake Dailey hopes the variety will keep repeat customers happy.
Room rates are expected to range from $180 to $220 per night during peak season, with the first renovated units available for rent starting Labor Day.
The bridal suite will be the lodge’s most luxurious unit. There are plans for a bank of four vanities as well as a kitchen. An event space for weddings and other group activities will be renovated.
The resort is set to return to Tremont
The property has not one, not two, but three pools. The Daileys are expanding the lodge to include additional activity areas.
On one side of the property is a field with a playground that will soon become a miniature golf course and pickleball courts. A nearby screen is being upgraded so the lodge can host outdoor movie nights. They hope to offer some of the screenings with local food trucks for free to the community, Blake Dailey said.
This side of the property will also house the lodge’s new restaurant, which will be open to the public and guests. The menu is still being finalized, but the selection of craft beers and wines will be the focus.
The restaurant – the last project to be completed – will feature a grab-and-go area where visitors can pick up items they need for exploring the Smokies, such as prepackaged picnics, lunches, beverages, snacks and light camping gear.
Electric vehicle chargers will be installed in the restaurant’s parking lot. According to chargehub.com, there is only one location in Townsend with electric vehicle chargers.
The new centerpiece of the lodge will be a pavilion with an outdoor kitchen, seating areas and a fire pit for guests to gather around.
“I see the pavilion as a new statement and focal point of the property,” said Blake Dailey.
The pool next to the new pavilion will have a special addition: a bar where guests can order drinks and enjoy them poolside.
A fitness center and a game room are also planned. The latter will have table tennis, a pool table, shuffleboard, arcade games and a television with game consoles.
Building a community on the “peaceful side”
Blake Dailey believes the lodge can become a “center on the peaceful side.” Townsend, including Tremont Lodge and Resort, offers access to the park and nearby experiences without the hustle and bustle, crowds and traffic that visitors would have to experience in Gatlinburg or Pigeon Forge, he said.
He finds Townsend, which has a population of 550 according to 2020 U.S. Census data, “more secluded and intense.” He hopes the lodge can be a place that locals and visitors enjoy together.
“I would love it to just be a gathering place for the community,” Blake Dailey said. “We have the outdoor space that you can use, the playground, the restaurant, you can eat here, enjoy a beer after hiking or … have a date here or your wedding here.”
“It really should be a local meeting place that is not just for tourists but is really integrated into the community,” he added.
Hayden Dunbar is the storyteller reporter. Email: [email protected].
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