The Little River Railroad and Lumber Company Museum
Place, The Little River Railroad and Lumber Company Museum
6 min walk
Dark Island Swinging Bridge
Place, Dark Island Swinging Bridge
11 min walk
Townsend Visitor Center
Place, Townsend Visitor Center
15 min walk
Knoxville, TN (TYS-McGhee Tyson)
Airport, Knoxville, TN (TYS-McGhee Tyson)
31 min drive
Rooms & beds
10 bedrooms (sleeps 40)
Bedroom 1
2 Queen Beds
Bedroom 2
2 Queen Beds
Bedroom 3
2 Queen Beds
Bedroom 4
2 Queen Beds
Bedroom 5
2 Queen Beds
Bedroom 6
2 Queen Beds
Bedroom 7
2 Queen Beds
Bedroom 8
2 Queen Beds
Bedroom 9
2 Queen Beds
Bedroom 10
2 Queen Beds
11 bathrooms, 2 half bathrooms
Bathroom 1
Toilet · Shower only · Jetted bathtub
Bathroom 2
Toilet · Shower only · Jetted bathtub
Bathroom 3
Toilet · Shower only
Bathroom 4
Toilet · Shower only
Bathroom 5
Toilet · Shower only
Bathroom 6
Toilet · Shower only
Bathroom 7
Toilet · Shower only
Bathroom 8
Toilet · Shower only
Bathroom 9
Toilet · Shower only
Bathroom 10
Toilet · Shower only
Bathroom 11
Toilet · Shower only
Bathroom 12
Toilet
Bathroom 13
Toilet
Spaces
Deck or patio
Porch or lanai
Kitchen
Balcony
Separate dining area
Garden
About this property
Retreats/Reunions Love Elk Lodge-10 bedrooms/WIFI/Stunning Mtn Views/Shared Pool
Welcome to Tuckaleechee Retreat Center, a Christian non-profit, which is home to the National Office for Children's Bible Ministries, Inc. We offer seven cabins/lodges of varying sizes, sleeping from 2-40 guests! The main lodge features a beautiful saltwater pool, which is available to all of our guests, open Memorial Day through Labor Day. All cabins have fully equipped kitchens, grills, hot tubs, and gas fireplaces (Firefly Lodge has an electric fireplace). Bed and bath linens are also provided! Activities available to all of our guests include the shared saltwater pool, corn hole, and fire pit.
The beautiful 2-story Elk Lodge offers ten bedrooms, each with two queen beds and private bath, some with desks; a large, fully equipped kitchen (commercial gas range and 2 convection ovens, two dishwashers, two refrigerators, pots/pans/utensils/silverware, and plenty of prep space), and large dining room with farmhouse-style tables, which seats 40-50 people and overlooks the pool. Adjacent to the dining room is a large family room with 15-person wrap-around sofa, dual-sided gas fireplace (available October through April), and flat screen Roku Cable TV/DVD.
Upstairs is the 1,500 square foot common room for meetings, chapels, or just hanging out. It offers a pool table, ping pong table, small seating area with Roku Cable TV/DVD on a rolling stand, chairs & tables for conference meetings/crafts, and laundry room with extra full bath. Free WIFI is provided throughout the lodge. Both top and bottom levels have decks that run the full length of the building, overlooking the mountains, complete with rocking chairs for enjoying the view. Elk Lodge is the perfect place for your family reunion, men's, women's or youth retreat, and so much more!
Please note: Elk Lodge is the main building at our retreat center and it is similar to a hotel-style building in that there are offices, guest rooms, and guest areas to hang-out. The offices are separated from the guest space by a sliding barn door. When guests are staying in the lodge, our office staff enter through the Staff-Only entrance and the sliding barn door is kept closed and locked, for your privacy. The guest rooms and guest common areas (kitchen, living room, dining room, and common room) are solely for your group to use during your stay.
There are 2 detached staff apartments upstairs. Both apartments have exterior exits so our staff members who live in those apartments will not enter the guest areas during the your stay. We provide a key for every bedroom if you wish to keep your personal belongings locked in your room during your stay. We have many returning family reunions and groups, representing thousands of guests that stay in Elk Lodge every year, and we have never had any issues. Please reach out to us with any questions regarding this. Thank you!
Discounts for first time bookings for CHURCH AND NON-PROFIT ORGANIZATIONS ARE AVAILABLE!
Our policies do not allow us to host wedding ceremonies on our property.
Guest will be required to sign Tuckaleechee Retreat Center's rental agreement after the booking is confirmed, which includes the rules and policies for our property including our no pets and no alcohol policy.
Our prices include all fees. No hidden fees.
Add dates for prices
Have a question?
AI iconBetaBeta
Get instant answers with AI powered search of property information and reviews.
ONLY outside, and please dispose of waste OUTSIDE.
Check-out instructions
The host requires you to complete the following before checking out:
Load and start the dishwasher
Gather used towels
Remove personal items, remove leftover food and drinks and take out the rubbish
Turn off the lights, lock the doors and return the keys
Please put away used dishes after they are clean.
Please ensure no food residue or crumbs are left on counters.
(Room keys just need to be returned to the bowl in the kitchen.)
Failure to complete these may result in a negative review from the host.
NO ALCOHOL is permitted in any cabin or on the property. Thank you!
Important information
You need to know
Property # 254099vb
If you cancel your booking, you'll be subject to the host's cancellation policy. In accordance with UK consumer law, property booking services are not subject to the right of withdrawal.
This property is managed by a professional host. The provision of housing is linked to their trade, business or profession.
Extra-person charges may apply and vary depending on property policy
Government-issued photo identification and a credit card, debit card or cash deposit may be required at check-in for incidental charges
Special requests are subject to availability upon check-in and may incur additional charges; special requests cannot be guaranteed
Parties and events are allowed on site
Note from host: Parties NOT involving alcohol would be permitted.
Host has indicated that there are no carbon monoxide detectors or gas appliances on the property
Host has indicated that there is a smoke detector on the property
Safety features at this property include a fire extinguisher and a deadlock
This property has outdoor spaces, such as balconies, patios and terraces, which may not be suitable for children; if you have any concerns, we recommend contacting the property prior to your arrival to confirm that they can accommodate you in a suitable room
About the area
Townsend
Located in Townsend, this cabin is in a rural area and in the mountains. The area's natural beauty can be seen at Great Smoky Mountains National Park and Cades Cove. Travelling with kids? Consider Tube Junction and River Rage Go-Kart Track. Water tubing and fishing offer great chances to get out on the surrounding water, or you can seek out an adventure with mountain climbing and mountain biking nearby.
The Little River Railroad and Lumber Company Museum - 6 min walk - 0.6 km
Dark Island Swinging Bridge - 11 min walk - 0.9 km
Townsend Visitor Center - 15 min walk - 1.3 km
Shadows of the Past Hiking/Biking Trail - 15 min walk - 1.3 km
Tube Junction - 2 min drive - 2.3 km
Getting around
Alcoa - Knoxville Airport (TYS) - 31 min drive
Restaurants
Walland Shop Groceries And Gas - 10 min drive
Peaceful Side Social - 19 min walk
The Artistic Bean - 2 min drive
The Townsend Abbey - 10 min walk
Apple Valley Cafe Express - 3 min drive
Frequently asked questions
Does Retreats/Reunions Love Elk Lodge-10 bedrooms/WIFI/Stunning Mtn Views/Shared Pool have a pool?
Yes, this property has a pool.
How much does it cost to stay at Retreats/Reunions Love Elk Lodge-10 bedrooms/WIFI/Stunning Mtn Views/Shared Pool?
As of 11 May 2026, prices found for a 1-night stay for 2 adults at Retreats/Reunions Love Elk Lodge-10 bedrooms/WIFI/Stunning Mtn Views/Shared Pool on 11 Jan 2027 start from £1,082, including taxes and fees. This price is based on the lowest nightly price found in the last 24 hours for stays in the next 30 days. Prices are subject to change. Choose your dates for more accurate prices.
Is Retreats/Reunions Love Elk Lodge-10 bedrooms/WIFI/Stunning Mtn Views/Shared Pool pet-friendly?
No, pets are not allowed at this property.
How much is parking at Retreats/Reunions Love Elk Lodge-10 bedrooms/WIFI/Stunning Mtn Views/Shared Pool?
On-site parking is available at the property.
What time is check-in at Retreats/Reunions Love Elk Lodge-10 bedrooms/WIFI/Stunning Mtn Views/Shared Pool?
Check-in begins at 4:00 PM.
What time is check-out at Retreats/Reunions Love Elk Lodge-10 bedrooms/WIFI/Stunning Mtn Views/Shared Pool?
Checkout is at 10:00 AM.
Where is Retreats/Reunions Love Elk Lodge-10 bedrooms/WIFI/Stunning Mtn Views/Shared Pool located?
This family-friendly Townsend cabin is located in the mountains, within a 10-minute walk of The Little River Railroad and Lumber Company Museum and Dark Island Swinging Bridge. Great Smoky Mountains National Park is 2.7 mi (4.3 km) away.
Reviews
10
Exceptional
Reviews are presented in chronological order, subject to a moderation process, and verified unless otherwise labelled.
This was a perfect location for our family reunion. Plenty of bedrooms so we may have privacy. Large common rooms for family time and a large space upstairs for the kids to play. Well stocked kitchen. Cave tours, Zipline, horseback riding, antiquing, etc. plenty of local activities for those that want to get out of the cabin. Beautiful views from the porch when staying in. Everyone enjoyed our stay.
Sue S.
Stayed 3 nights in Apr 2026
Response from VrboOwner on 11 Apr 2026
Thank you so very much for your kind review! We are thrilled that y'all enjoyed a wonderful time at Elk Lodge and we look forward to hosting you again!
We did not have a lot of contact with Michael, but what little we did, he was responsible and courteous. We look forward to having him and his group back again.
The cabin was clean and very spacious. We used the kitchen each day and found all the supplies we needed.The location is nice for Townsend or Maryville events.
Lesley R.
Stayed 3 nights in Dec 2024
Response from VrboOwner on 6 Jan 2025
Thank you so much for coming. Please come again.
Sandy
We stayed at Elk Lodge it was beautiful. Each room had its own bathroom and the beds are comfortable. The kitchen is huge and had all the cookware and utensils we needed. The pool and hot tub were great.We enjoyed playing ping pong and pool and reminiscing around the fire pit. We had 24 people and had more then enough room to be together and also enough room to spread out. Everyone from 1 year old to 83 enjoyed themselves. I highly recommend staying here.
We enjoyed the spacious kitchen , dining room, and upstairs game room! Tho it was too cold to spend much time outside, there was enough space and activities indoors. Most of the older children and adults did the hike to the summit once. The living room with the couches along three walls was perfect for our Family Christmas program
Janet M.
Stayed 3 nights in Dec 2022
Archival
10/10 Excellent
Adele S.
20 Sept 2015
Terific For Family Reunion
Our family of 40 - (From ages 6 to 76) stayed here for a long weekend Family Reunion. It was perfect. Ms. Ruth and staff couldn't have been nicer or more helpful. We will stay here again and may will additional cabins for our growing family. The facilities were comfortable and very nice. The fully equipped kitchen with an commercial sized stove/cook top made meal prep easy for such a large crowd. It was really difficult to find accommodations for a group this big but this was perfect!!
Adele S.
Response from VrboOwner on 2 Apr 2020
Thank you for your glowing review. We appreciate you.
If you are looking for a place for more than 40 people, this is the right choice. The dinning room and meeting place are big. The property manager is super nice.
31 of us gathered for our family reunion. The Elk Lodge was perfect. The pool was in use most of the day. Rooms were comfortable with it's own private bath. The kitchen held anything you would need to cook meals. Everything was labeled well. The deck by the pool saw many tales told and unending laughs. There was a basketball hoop, corn hole game outside and a pool table upstairs. We plan to go back next year.
Very spacious! We had room for everybody to sit and visit, plenty of room to eat, work on crafts, gingerbread houses, 2 dishwashers, 2 refrigerators, commercial oven, a lot of kitchen utensils and anything you can imagine! Really enjoyed the stay and the great hospitality! Would recommend this Retreat Center to anybody and everybody. Thank you so much! We had our family Christmas there and dang songs to. Absolutely awesome place to stay. Thank you so much!🙏🙏💜💜
We really enjoyed our stay. Small maintenance issues such as Jacuzzi in room 3, oven not working.
Overall we enjoyed our stay.,
Audrey D.
Response from VrboOwner on 1 Jul 2020
We are thrilled to hear you enjoyed your stay with us!! We are resolving the jacuzzi tub issue as soon as possible and we apologize for the inconvenience. We are not aware of any problems with the oven. It is a bit of different procedure to turn it on because it is a confection oven. Our guest services team is always a phone call or text away for any issues that arise during your stay. Thank you for choosing TRC and we hope to host you in the future!!
We had a large group of youth and adults for our annual youth trip. The cabin was so spacious and accommodating. We had plenty of room to spread out and have devotions along with lots of fun. The property manager was extremely helpful and so easy to communicate with. They made sure everything was up to standard for us. We will definitely stay here again!
Shannon N.
Stayed 2 nights in Dec 2019
Response from VrboOwner on 2 Apr 2020
We are so glad you found us and were able to hold your retreat in Elk Lodge!! We can't wait to host you all again!
Cleanest place we have EVER had for reunion. Very well supplied kitchen. Rooms were large and comfortable. Five Stars.
Douglas P.
Stayed 3 nights in Jun 2019
Verified
10/10 Excellent
Tom R.
21 Mar 2019
SunOak UMC
Tremendous facility for our SunOak Family Retreat - from babies to grandparents, we all had plenty of room and space to gather and eat, worship, and play games. The staff is available and courteous!
Tom R.
Stayed 2 nights in Mar 2019
Response from VrboOwner on 2 Apr 2020
Thank you Tom for your kind words!! We loved having your group stay here at TRC. You are welcome back anytime!!
Verified
10/10 Excellent
Pat B.
5 Aug 2018
Our family of 33 really enjoyed our stay.
We enjoyed the place, pool, the facility, the hike up the mountain right by us, the large equipped kitchen(its really nice not to have to bring extra kitchen stuff)..the upstairs meeting room. All the kitchen tables and chairs ( most of our 18 grandchildren enjoyed working on crafts on the tables there was plenty of room). It was really great. A huge thank you for letting us stay at your place.
Pat B.
Stayed 5 nights in Jul 2018
Response from VrboOwner on 2 Apr 2020
Thank you so much for coming to Tuckaleechee Retreat Center....we were so glad to have your family and thankful that it worked out so well for your family reunion!
Do consider coming together!
Archival
10/10 Excellent
16 Jun 2015
weekend getaway
Enjoyed our time for a weekend away - a ladies retreat! Peaceful and relaxing. Enjoyed being so close to Gatlinburg area.
Archival
10/10 Excellent
Shelly N.
30 May 2015
Beautiful place!
We had an amazing time while at Elk lodge! The views were incredible and the staff was extremely friendly. I particularly love the huge wrap around couch in the living room that seats about 20 people. Everything was so cozy and relaxing! We will definitely be planning many more trips to Tuckaleechee in the future!
Shelly N.
Archival
10/10 Excellent
Kim P.
29 May 2015
Beautiful place for our Ladies Retreat!
Beautiful part of the mountains!! Very quiet. Away from the hustle and bustle of Gatlinburg but not so far away that you can't visit! Lovely place! The staff are very kind and helpful. Have visited many times and will visit again!!
Kim P.
Archival
10/10 Excellent
Marilyn S.
29 May 2015
Tuckaleechee Retreat Center
Elk Lodge is the place to stay if you have a large group (or a small one) who would like to stay together. Rooms are comfortable and well stocked with towels, etc. The kitchen is large and well maintained. The dining room has many tables, and there is a TV room that seats several. A gathering room on the second floor is a good place for all to meet. Tuckaleechee Retreat Center is located in Townsend (the quieter side of the Smokies) and is close to Cades Cove, a nice drive to Pigeon Forge (through Wear's Valley----beautiful) and not far from Gatlinburg. There is a pool, a hot tub, a large front porch with rocking chairs. Ruth and her staff go out of their way to make you comfortable.
Marilyn S.
Archival
10/10 Excellent
Richard C.
19 May 2015
Family Reunion
Our family has a reunion every January. We have held our reunion at the Elk Lodge in Townsend for many years now. They are so good to work with us to handle our needs. Everything is always clean, and well stocked with towels, linens, etc. The kitchen is huge and great for all of our family to be in there at the same time trying to fix our dishes. (There are 2 refrigerators, 2 dishwashers, 2 commercial stoves, and absolutely plenty of all the pans, glass mixing/baking dishes, silverware, plates, etc.) The dining room is really large and can accomodate our entire family. There are many tables, so we end up playing games after the meals. There is also a very large meeting room upstairs where we have our meeting/party. There are many things to do in the area also. The staff is very helpful, and great to work with you on your needs. Check it out, it's a great place to stay, and we love it!
Richard C.
About the host
Hosted by Sandy Hungerford
This property is owned and operated by Children's Bible Ministries and is home to the National office. The property is used by this ministry, but rented to others when not in use, to support the ministry. We host individuals, couples, family reunions, churches, college groups, and more!!
Why they chose this property
This cabin is in Townsend, TN which a peaceful town right beside the entrance to the Great Smoky Mountain National Park, one of the few free national parks in the U.S.!! We are nestled on the side of Little Mountain, overlooking the beautiful Dry Valley and Rich Mountain, where serenity abounds!
Townsend provides delicious restaurants, several options for river tubing, souvenir and antique shopping, museums, caverns, horseback riding, and more! The National Park has endless opportunities for hiking, biking, fishing, picnics, and viewing wildlife. A favorite is the Cades Cove Loop Rd which is 11 miles of scenery with wildlife in its natural habitat.
Just a short 30 minutes away, is Pigeon Forge, home of Dollywood and many fun tourist attractions and shopping options. Gatlinburg, located right beside Pigeon Forge, offers a wide range of attractions and shopping for the whole family!
Our online travel guide (link provided with the guest agreement after you book) offers our top recommendations for catering, restaurants, shopping, attractions, etc. We also offer a Welcome Book in each of our cabins/lodges with the same information. Contact our office to ask about discount tickets that may currently be available!
What makes this property unique
Most of our staff live on the property, so although our office hours are Monday-Friday from 9am-5pm, we are always just a phone call or text away if you have any needs during your stay! We love e-mail and social media, and we love to get to know our guests! We offer the opportunity for a full-property tour for all who are interested!
Languages:
English
Premier Host
They consistently provide great experiences for their guests