TOWNSEND, Tenn. — Construction is expected to start during the summer of 2024 on a new "boutique" hotel in Townsend. Originally named Yonder Hospitality, the company changed its brand name to Ofland Hotels ahead of the construction.
The hotel will be named Ofland Great Smoky Mountains, and its design will focus on outdoor hospitality rooted in the local landscape. According to a release from developers, it will be located minutes from the Great Smoky Mountains and will offer guests a greenway path connecting to the park, complete with views of Rich Mountain.
It will be 27 acres large and include 75 accommodations, each featuring a bathroom with an outdoor shower and a private outdoor fire pit. There will also be an open-air lodge with indoor and outdoor seating that includes gas fire rings, food and drink space as well as a lounge pool and a hot tub. There will also be an outdoor movie screen and several acres of outdoor space.
The new hotel is expected to be located at 0 East Alexander Parkway in Townsend. It is expected to open for business in 2025, according to the release from developers.
The company previously opened a similar hotel in Utah, now named Ofland Escalante. It is styled after the Grand-Staircase Escalante National Monument, a natural formation in southern Utah.
Previous proposals for the hotel saw community pushback after some residents said they did not want to attract tourists and disrupt the area's quiet atmosphere. The new proposal includes fewer amenities and an overall smaller footprint.