When author and fly-fishing guide Charity Rutter was looking for a home base for her Cast and Connect women’s fishing retreat, she needed a destination that was near the trout-rich streams in the Great Smoky Mountain National Park that she knows like the back of her hand. She needed a comfortable meeting space for presentations and a happy hour, a variety of accommodations for different groups and budgets and a large fire pit for s’mores and conversation.
The Little Arrow Outdoor Resort in Townsend, Tennessee, sits along a winding stretch of the Little River, just a stone’s throw from the entrance to the national park. There are 17 tiny homes, 10 glamping tents, two Airstreams, and four vacation homes on a wooded campus that’s like summer camp for discerning grown-ups. An on-site store, coffee lounge, and resort-style pool with a beautifully landscaped deck and hot tub, plus a playground and tipi, laundry, chat and chill community fire pit, community garden, basketball court, gaga ball pit, and pickleball courts make this a unique and welcoming spot.
While we spent the days hiking and fishing, the resort was buzzing with activity (in a good way) with families playing games, kids biking to the pool and folks fishing off the bridge, some catching dinner. There's rafting and hiking nearby, with private dog-friendly trails on the property.
This fall, attend Saturday tail-gate parties at the Lookout Pavilion (our group’s meeting space) to watch the game on the big screen, with concessions and a community vibe. Rent a golf cart to jet around the resort, or take a long, quiet walk along the river at night; turn off your flashlight and look for fireflies and stars. You won’t be disappointed.