Eastern Tennessee
SmokyMountains.org; @PeacefulSmokies
On the “Peaceful Side of the Smokies,” the Blount County towns of Maryville, Alcoa, and Townsend offer direct access to the Great Smoky Mountains National Park in a quieter, more relaxed atmosphere than busier tourism hubs, says Kim Mitchell, director of tourism development for Blount Partnership. “Our niche is retreat-style meetings with purpose. Groups can disconnect from urban distractions while enjoying professional amenities. We’re ideal for leadership retreats, board meetings, wellness events, and creative sessions.”
Connected to McGhee Tyson Airport (TYS) in Alcoa, 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 1,068-seat theater, a 244-seat recital hall, galleries, meeting rooms, and a plaza that can host
500 guests. The 57-room boutique RT
Lodge includes a restaurant, a spa, and a new glass-walled Meeting House seating 75 guests. Blackberry Farm is a 4,200-acre luxury resort with 68 guest rooms, fine dining, wellness programs, and activities. Tremont Lodge & Resort has 130 guest
rooms and an event center. Dancing Bear Lodge offers cottages, cabins, and villas
with event space for 50 guests.
Offsite venues include The Shed, a “smokehouse and juke joint” that can host 350 dinner guests; the 400-seat Capitol Theatre; and the 5,000-square-foot Showroom at Five Points, which accommodates 350 people.
