Ofland Hotels breaks ground on second property in Tennessee

Ofland Hotels started construction on Ofland Smoky Mountains in Townsend, Tennessee, marking the Las Vegas company’s first move into the state and its second property overall. The $25 million outdoor hotel is slated to open in summer 2027, with reservations expected to open in January.

Why it matters: - Ofland Hotels is expanding beyond Utah for the first time, signaling that the outdoor-hospitality concept is moving into a new market. - Ofland Smoky Mountains adds lodging near Great Smoky Mountains National Park, where demand is tied to one of the country’s most visited outdoor destinations. - The project is part of more than $25 million in investment in Townsend, Tennessee.

What happened: - Ofland Hotels broke ground on Ofland Smoky Mountains in Townsend on Sept. 15. - The company’s founder Charles Tate, CEO Noah Ellis, head of development Luke Searcy and CFO Ryan Terracino took part in the ceremony. - The Tennessee project is Ofland Hotels’ second property, following Ofland Escalante in Utah, which opened in 2021. - The new hotel is expected to open in summer 2027. - Reservations are set to become available in January.

The details: - Ofland Smoky Mountains will have 75 cabins on 27.6 acres. - The site is about 5 minutes from the Cades Cove entrance to Great Smoky Mountains National Park. - Each cabin will include a queen bed, living area with sofa bed, kitchenette, en-suite bathroom and private open-air shower. - Cabin exteriors will include a private deck, wood-burning campfire ring with grill and a picnic table. - The lodge will hold the front desk, a general store, fire pits and a food counter with a Southern-inspired menu for breakfast and dinner. - Additional amenities will include a heated pool, oversized hot tub and an outdoor drive-in movie theater with vintage trucks and seating for up to 150 guests. - Bookings will be available year-round. - Rates will start at $249 per night. - The property will not charge resort fees or pet fees. - Ofland Smoky Mountains will also be available for buyouts and special events. - The project team includes KDW for construction management, Boundary Works for architecture, Wind River Built as cabin manufacturer and Tyson & Associates for construction. - Wind River Built is Tennessee-based and is making the 345-square-foot cabins. - Each cabin will feature floor-to-ceiling windows, maple cabinetry, honed granite counters and champagne bronze fixtures. - The open-air showers will include tall privacy walls, charcoal porcelain tile, valance lighting and an outdoor heater. - The cabins’ exterior design includes a post-and-beam porch inspired by Appalachian architecture. - The communal buildings will use natural wood siding, deep porches and low-slung roof lines designed to weather in the local climate. - The lodge interior will use earth tones, abundant daylight and a rustic timber reception desk. - The lodge exterior will include a broad covered porch with fire pits and lounge seating.

Between the lines: - Ofland is positioning the property around the national park experience rather than competing with it, focusing on a place to stay before and after outdoor activities. - The design language leans heavily into regional and Appalachian cues, which can help the brand feel more rooted in place than a standard roadside hotel. - The company is building a pipeline beyond Tennessee, with Ofland Zion next as its third development and second Utah property. - Wind River Built CEO Travis Pyke said the project reflects a closely coordinated effort to create a hospitality experience tied to the landscape and character of the destination.

What's next: - Ofland Hotels plans to open reservations in January. - Construction will continue toward a summer 2027 opening. - Ofland Zion remains next in the company’s development pipeline.

The bottom line: - Ofland Hotels is turning a successful Utah model into a broader outdoor-lodging brand, starting with a high-profile site near Great Smoky Mountains National Park.