Eastern Tennessee
SmokyMountains.org; @PeacefulSmokies
In the Greater Smokies Region, consisting of the Blount County towns of Maryville, Alcoa, and Townsend, planners will find the “peaceful side of the Smokies,” says Kim Mitchell, director of tourism for Blount Partnership. “Our location offers a serene gateway to the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, with easy access to urban amenities.”
Townsend has a rich Appalachian history. Maryville is home to a college and has a picturesque downtown. Alcoa is home to McGhee Tyson Airport (TYS) and is just 20 minutes from downtown Knoxville. “All three have meeting and retreat venues to house mid-size conferences and offer natural beauty, cultural richness, warm welcomes, and activities like hiking, fishing, biking, and scenic drives,” Mitchell says.
Tremont Lodge & Resort has completed renovations with additional updates on the way, including pickleball courts, putt-putt golf, and an outdoor movie theater, Mitchell says. The 130-room resort has a two-story event center with flexible space.
Connected to the airport, the 241-room Hilton Knoxville Airport has 20,873 square feet of conference space. On the Maryville College campus, Clayton Center for the Arts has a full schedule of performances, a 1,068-seat theater, and additional event spaces for 500 guests, and RT Lodge has 57 guest rooms and meeting space for 50 guests, with a 1,358-square-foot glass-walled Meeting House opening in fall 2025. Blackberry Farm is a 4,200-acre luxury boutique resort with fine dining, a full slate of activities, a spa, and wellness programs, plus 68 guest accommodations and indoor and outdoor spaces to host 140 guests. Dancing Bear Lodge has a variety of cottages, cabins, and villas with event space for 50 guests. Little Arrow Resort has cottages and tiny homes with pavilion space for 100 guests.
