“Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.”
Matthew 11:28
One afternoon in late February, I sat down with a cup of chamomile tea and one of my favorites, the latest edition of Victoria magazine. I was thumbing through, and the words “A Mountaintop Haven” grabbed my attention. It was a gorgeous two page spread of a highly recommended small country inn in the Great Smoky Mountains! I knew that “The Swag” was a place I now wanted to visit, so I immediately checked their website! I called and made reservations for the first week of May…I knew this would be the perfect get away for Butch and me! So we took off and after only five and a half hours of driving, we arrived at this scenic 250 acre property at an unbelievable altitude of 5000 feet. Breathtaking is an understatement! The owners are an amazing couple that built it as a family retreat in 1971 and decided in the early 80’s to share God’s beauty and blessings by opening it as a country inn…and I am so glad they did! This beautiful inn provides privacy with no noise, crowds or traffic…just the sound of birds and the beauty of the mountains. It can only accommodate 40 guests (which is perfect), so let’s not tell everyone about it…shh! It can be our little secret!
Nestled among peaks of 6,000 feet and bordering the Great Smoky Mountain Park, this rare mountaintop hideaway is a treasure to be discovered by nature lovers. In the Appalachian Mountains a “swag” is a dip between two mountain peaks not deep enough to be called a gap or a pass. So in case you wondered how the inn got its name, now you know.
Before we unpacked, the lounge chairs were calling our names!
In 1971, old log buildings were moved from Tennessee and other parts of North Carolina and reassembled on the high meadowland.
The largest was a church from Tennessee that forms the main living room and dining room.
The oldest incorporated structure dates to 1795. Most of the logs were hewn from huge, old poplar trees.
My sweet man works so hard and he never takes time to relax. This was exactly what I had hoped for!
Each evening at 6 p.m., guests congregate on the dog trot for hors d’oeuvres.
Chef Jake Schmidt prepares fresh farm to table cuisine that the foodie in me loved!
As you can see, preparations were being made on the dog trot by the friendly staff.
On our first night, we were celebrating Butch’s birthday a few weeks late. We were seated at a table for two…you can choose a private table or a large communal table.
Breakfast is served buffet style between 8 and 10 a.m. In the left hand corner of the dining room is a coffee and tea station with an espresso machine…have I mentioned how much I love espresso? The large table had an abundance of offerings…stone-ground grits, crispy bacon, perfectly cooked sausage, steel-cut oatmeal with all the trimmings, fluffy pancakes, house-made cinnamon rolls (my personal favorite), moist coffee cake, omelet station with all the fixings, and the lightest and fluffiest cheese biscuits. Of course, there were several choices of juice.
The dining room has two communal tables made from rare chestnut wood.
The living room with its large antler chandelier is welcoming any time of day. If the weather is cool, the wood burning fireplace will invite you to pull up a rocker and relax. The Stave puzzle on the coffee table intrigues guests to linger.
Every space in the inn exudes a casual and rustic elegance. Butch appreciated that coats and ties were not required for dinner.
The needlework tells about the owners. Their names Deener and Dan, along with the name of the inn, and the word Trinity. On September 11, 2001, Father Dan was the rector of Trinity Church Wall Street and its chapel, St. Paul’s, a historic place in the shadow of the World Trade Center. He was there when the towers fell. He helped firefighters and rescue workers, mothers and fathers, brothers and sisters who felt lost. He saw what he calls the “shadow of life.” Now he spends his time at this beautiful sanctuary that he designed!
Original artwork, rustic antiques, and woven rugs fill the public spaces, and the private rooms and suites.
There are several hideaways on the property with hammocks and chairs that are truly private.
I spent a quiet afternoon resting…
…while Butch hiked up to Hemphill Bald, a favorite trail of the guests at The Swag. The views were magnificent!
The bald is enclosed with an old split rail fence and endless views!
The Swag offers a variety of wood walking sticks that came in handy on the hiking trails. They are a gift to remember this beautiful hideaway in The Great Smoky Mountains.
Please stay tuned for part 2 of our getaway next week. Have you ever found a small gem of a place to rest and relax? I would love for you to comment and share with me!
Linking with:
Pieced Pastimes, Life on Lakeshore Drive, Coastal Charm, Dwellings-Heart of Your Home, Savvy Southern Style, French Country Cottage, Stone Gable, Confessions of a Plate Addict, Worthing Court, Between Naps on the Porch, Cedar Hill Farmhouse, A Stroll Thru Life, The Charm of Home, Katherines Corner, Share Your Cup, 21 Rosemary Lane, Love Of Home, Rattlebridge Farm, Rustic & Refined, Celebrate & Decorate, Chatham Hill on the Lake
I remember so very long ago tearing out pages in magazines of wonderful getaways…I need to get back to that process of discovering new places…but then again I have you! This place sounds and looks amazing. Looking forward to Part 2!
Shirley, I can’t say enough about it. The food, hospitality, the other couples we met, the casual elegance combined to equal perfection!
What a great story behind these owners. I’ll never forget all the stories that came from the chapel at Trinity Church after 911. We visit it every time we’re in NY…such a treasure of tragic but God-healing memories for so many. They served others so well and were the hands of God at a time of such need! i’d love to meet Father Dan. I understand why he chose to take part in creating such a respite. What gorgeous views, so restul and peaceful. The Swag is now on my bucket list!
Kim, Father Dan prayed a blessing over every dinner! It was truly a perfect getaway!
That looks so amazingly relaxing!
I will have to contact you for details to visit the place!
Very beautiful! Thanks for sharing!
Esther, you would love it…I hope you and Lewis find the time! Blessings sweet lady!
WOW! Well your sweet little getaway is not a secret anymore! LOL! Oh I love it just by looking at the pictures. So glad you and your sweet man got to spend some quality time like this together. I know what you mean about “resting”. My man is the same way. He works so hard that he looks forward to a little R & R and I want him to have it. I just loved the pictures Pam. Thanks for sharing this. Hugs and blessings, Cindy
Cindy, it was the perfect respite. We enjoyed every minute and can’t wait to return! Happy Weekend!
I love this place Pam, what a gem and a real find. The furnishings look gorgeous, it sounds perfect. I could imagine myself relaxing in that hammock and enjoying those views.
Joy, it really was perfect in every way. We never even got back in our car until we checked out!
I enjoyed hearing about your respite and seeing your beautiful pictures. I’m glad the two of you got a much needed rest. Looks like the perfect place to enjoy God’s beauty and rest.
Looking forward to Part 2.
Yes, it was absolutely wonderful! Thanks so much, Bonnie!
Maravilloso el relato que nos haces del lugar. Lo relatas tan bien que da la sensación de estar ahí mismo disfrutando de la naturaleza y de tanta paz. Sería totalmente obligado poder escaparse de vez en cuando a estos lugares que son como Santuarios de la Paz. Me alegro enormemente de que seáis conscientes de que la vida hay que disfrutarla, saborearla y captar de ella todo lo bueno que nos ofrece. Las vivencias quedarán para siempre grabadas en la mente y en el corazón y su recuerdo será muy beneficioso.
Gracias por compartir tan hermosas fotos y tan hermoso relato.
Siempre con afecto
Dolores
Wonderful the story that you make of the place. You relate it so well that it gives the feeling of being there enjoying nature and so much peace. It would be absolutely necessary to be able to escape from time to time to these places that are like Sanctuaries of Peace. I am very happy that you are aware that life has to be enjoyed, savored and taken from everything that is good. The experiences will be forever engraved in the mind and in the heart and its memory will be very beneficial.
Thank you for sharing such beautiful photos and such a beautiful story.
Always with affection
Dolores
Dolores, era verdaderamente un santuario con hermosas vistas, de la creación de Dios. Estoy haciendo todo lo posible para saborear y disfrutar cada momento, Dolores! ¡Gracias mi amigo y bendiciones a usted!
Dolores, it was truly a sanctuary with beautiful views,of God’s creation. I am doing my best to savor and enjoy every moment, Dolores! Thank you my friend and blessings to you!
What a fabulous spot. I love the rustic style and this has it in spades. I’d feel very comfy there inside or out, with those great views!
Thanks so much, Jeanie. It is truly a sanctuary!
This looks like a place I need to check out. We stayed at Blackberry Farm a couple of times and The Swag must be in the same area. Is that right?
We have been to Blackberry Farm a couple of times also. This is about 30 miles from Asheville, NC! It is a few miles from Waynesville, NC. I think you would really love it, Linda!
It looks so incredible Pam! How lovely to disconnect and be pampered while enjoying such nature’s beauty! I would be in the hammock too, and let my husband do the hiking! We experience the same peace when we are at the beach house alone, we are happy to just sit and gaze at the water…my husband worked so hard in his professional career and never got a chance to really relax, he was always on call and under pressure. Now that he’s retired he loves having nothing specific to do except relax as much as he wants! Traveling stresses him out, so I enjoy experiencing other places through my traveling friends!
Jenna
Jenna, I am so glad you all have the beach house that you get to enjoy and that your husband has the time to relax after years of stress! My husband is way past retirement age and his profession is so stressful. I am hoping he will slow down eventually! Happy weekend!
Pam, with those views and charming old buildings and all those little spots to relax, how could one NOT?!
Jean, thank you and it is really a charming place! Have a wonderful week!
What a beautiful place!
Yes, it was Joy!
Looks like a very quiet and relaxing place. Very cool.
It was truly a sanctuary!
What a beautiful place! Thank you for sharing it w/ us. 🙂
Thank you, Joy…it is truly beautiful!
The views are breathtaking! Amazing.
Thanks so much, Cristina!
What a beautiful place to visit. Seems so serene.
Yael from PlayingInCatnip.com
It is a beautiful place, thanks for stopping by!
In this trying and often hectic world this seems like the perfect getaway.
It truly is, Sandra!
What a beautiful place Pam! It sounds like something hubby and I would love. It reminds me of what hubby and I are going to do the first week in June. We booked a cottage in Carmel after seeing it in the Victoria magazine. Hubby’s birthday is June 5th, so we’ll be celebrating that as well. Thanks for sharing with SYC.
hugs,
Jann
Have fun in Carmel. I was there a few years ago and loved it!
Isn’t it wonderful to get away from everything and relax, leaving the rest of the world behind? I am blessed to have a couple of places I really enjoy going and doing that, too! Thanks for sharing at Celebrate Your Story!
Time away from everything was truly needed!
i saw your post at Jann’s site, and had to come visit… what a truly magnificent place to visit! In every way a relaxing time with every detail thought about to make your stay a truly relaxing one! How lovely that each meal is personalized, and that you can visit with other people who are staying there as well The Baldy trail looked like a really fun hike. So happy to meet you today… I live on a mountain and blog about it, and know firsthand just how amazing it is to live in the mountains 😉 Hugs to you today!
Thanks so much for visiting. The Swag is truly a sanctuary away from the noise and stress of everyday! I am jumping over to visit you! Hugs to you!
The Swag is not too far from us, just under an hour’s drive – it is like you were in my backyard! My go to place to relax is my veranda. We moved here just for that reason, to slow down, get out of the city, and appreciate the beauty in our world. We’ve been on our mountain for almost 15 years now, and still love it every day.
Carole, how wonderful to live in the gorgeous mountains!
Wow – 5000 feet! I have really enjoyed reading these posts – I think now I have fallen in love with the place! Thanks for sharing at Take Me Away!
Shelley
We loved it so much, we are planning another trip!