Ofland Hotels Breaks Ground on Second Property in Tennessee

Ofland Hotels has broken ground on its second property, Ofland Smoky Mountains, in Townsend, Tennessee. The project marks the company's first expansion following its flagship property, Ofland Escalante, which opened in 2021. The new hotel will be located five minutes from the Cades Cove entrance to Great Smoky Mountains National Park and is expected to open in summer 2027.

The property will feature 75 cabins, including 71 standard and four ADA-accessible units. Each 345-square-foot cabin will offer a studio-style layout with a queen bed, kitchenette, en-suite bathroom, and private open-air shower, along with an exterior deck featuring a wood-burning fire ring and 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 with a Southern-inspired menu for breakfast and dinner. Additional amenities will include a heated pool, hot tub, campfire chef kits, and an outdoor drive-in movie theater seating up to 150 guests.

The project team includes construction management group KDW, architecture firm Boundary Works, local site developer Tyson & Associates, and Tennessee-based cabin manufacturer Wind River Built.

Ofland Hotels CEO Noah Ellis said: "Our guests will be coming to experience the Great Smoky Mountains. We're not trying to compete with that." Wind River Built CEO Travis Pyke said the collaboration is "thoughtfully connected to the landscape, the guest experience, and the character of this destination."