Meandering up Fie Top Road in Maggie Valley, North Carolina, just as it seems you may eventually ride off the edge of the earth, you emerge atop a mountain ridge, a large rustic lodge appearing in the distance — the Cataloochee Ranch.
“The ranch has an amazing history and it’s always had this unique identity,” said Annie Colquitt. “It’s this special place in Haywood County and has been a draw (for almost a century).”
Alongside her husband, David, the Colquitts recently reopened the beloved Cataloochee Ranch. Purchased by the couple in 2020, the extensive and expensive renovation project itself has taken the better part of the two years to complete. The official grand reopening ribbon cutting celebration was held in March 2024.
“You want to preserve that sense of place because it’s really an important part of so many people’s stories,” Annie said of the ranch. “I get messages all the time from folks, that (the ranch) is where their family’s dearest memories are for vacations, marriages or best childhood memories — it’s that special.”
Coming to fruition in 1933, the Cataloochee Ranch was created by the Alexander family as a place of divine respite and outdoor adventure in the heart of Western North Carolina. The property itself overlooks the majestic Cataloochee Valley in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park.
“The Alexander family worked so hard and poured so much of themselves into [the ranch],” Annie said. “It was this incredible vision and hard work, this labor of love that’s an asset to the community.”
Whether it was horseback riding up to Hemphill Bald, hiking around the vast 700-acre property, evenings eating a hearty home-cooked meal with gusto or storytelling and music around a campfire under a canopy of stars, the Cataloochee Ranch remains an escape hatch from the chaos of daily life way down below.
“We want the ranch to be a place that locals love, but also a place that folks come from all over,” Annie said. “And we’ve built this adventure programming, where it can be horseback riding, the ropes course or even taking a watercolor class — adventure is not knowing how the story is going to end.”
For those wondering about the old-time aesthetics of the ranch, almost all of the buildings many are familiar with are still standing and operational. Besides the cozy cabins, there’s also the horse barn, which has now been transformed into The Hayloft event space with The Horseshoe outdoor amphitheater behind it, the numerous ranch horses grazing along the ridge just beyond that.
“I see people come here and rest,” Annie said. “They leave their stress and their to-do list when you get to the top of these mountains — this is a different world.”
The awe-inspiring main lodge building houses Switchback, a Southern Appalachian and European Alpine themed restaurant. It’s also home to The Hideout wine cellar, Tack Room bar and The Forge al fresco dining space.
“When I think about our guests, I believe we’re giving them something that their souls really need,” Annie said. “We’re providing something to people that humans need, something that makes us feel alive — it’s happening, it’s working.”
— Garret K. Woodward
BRMM Editor-at-Large
Want to go?
An iconic Western North Carolina property, the Cataloochee Ranch in Maggie Valley is now open year-round to the public for lodging, lunch, dinner and/or beverages onsite. There are also a handful of outdoor recreation amenities and experiential opportunities available.
To learn more about the ranch and/or to make a reservation, go to cataloocheeranch.com, call 828.926.1401 or email stay@cataloocheeranch.com.
Reservations are strongly encouraged.
