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 for families.
While we spent the days 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, Saturday tailgate parties at the Lookout Pavilion (our group’s meeting space), watch the game on the big screen, with concessions and a community vibe. You can 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.
While we spent the days fishing, the resort was buzzing with activity
The Little Arrow Outdoor Resort in Townsend, Tennessee sits along a winding stretch of the Little River