Slowing down in the UTV as we passed the hilly pasture, adventure guide Steven Reinhold pointed out two shiny black Heifers, grazing in the tall green grasses. The young females are among eight of Cataloochee Ranch’s very first beef cattle herd and will be bred later this year. These “Founding Mothers” are important to the vision of the cattle operation which practices sustainable agriculture growth while pioneering an innovative approach to cultivating quality cattle in the mountains of western North Carolina.
Tom Alexander founded the ranch 100 years ago and was credited for being one of the pioneers of the Aberdeen Black Angus breed in Haywood County. Once he passed away in the 1970s, the herd slowly dissolved. Today, the owners, Annie and David Colquitt, and their team are bringing back the Black Angus, which seem right at home.
Chef Jeb Aldrich for one, couldn’t be happier. The ultimate goal for the Cataloochee Ranch Beef Cattle herd is to provide meat to the community year-round and to the property’s signature restaurant he oversees. The main dining room’s soaring ceilings and massive wood beams remind you you’re at a ranch, but the food coming out from Chef Jeb’s kitchen will make you forget just about everything else. This is not your daddy’s steak on a plate. The nuanced flavors and beautiful plating are what you might expect from a Relais & Chateaux resort, a designation the ranch proudly holds.
The food is not fussy, just thoughtful and surprising in all the right ways.
It is this winning combination of earnest hospitality, love of the land and worldly refinement that make staying at Cataloochee Ranch so special.
Come for the horseback riding, bird watching, art workshops and guided hikes with adventure experts who live and breathe the local flora and fauna, geologic formations, wildlife and the history of one of the oldest mountain ranges in the world. Cataloochee Ranch spans 685 acres, with a significant portion held in a conservation easement.
And, stay for the sweeping views from the property and open balds spread across hundreds of acres along the southeastern border of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park.
The newly renovated cabins feel historic (some are) but the high thread count linens, attentive staff, beautifully appointed furnishings and spa-inspired bathrooms are everything we want when we travel today.
The Colquitts also own and operate The Swag, another stunning Relaix & Chateau boutique property, complete with a path outside the main lodge which, in 100 steps lands you in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park.
The drive time up to Waynesville, North Carolina is under three hours and once you park your car at your Cataloochee cottage, you’ll be on foot strolling, exploring, hiking, fishing and generally adventuring all across the Cataloochee Ranch.
Or, join me on my cottage porch and rock awhile - we’ll count our blessings for the land beneath our feet and its loving caretakers.
119 Ranch Dr
Maggie Valley, NC 28751