Historic Tapoco Lodge Resort

My friend and I stopped in here for dinner after a long couple days of motorcycle riding. We ate outside right on the river. The ambiance is incredible! We split a pizza and had a few drinks. My old fashioned cocktail was good and my buddy enjoyed his beers. Service was great as well. I would definitely return!

The rooms are old and rustic due to keeping with their historical architecture. However, they do have all the modern amenities and the rooms are clean and comfortable. If you're looking for rustic charm, beautiful scenery, great food, friendly people and lots of nature you will love it here.

Really nice hotel in the Smokies. A room had a rustic field, but was well maintained. The food in the restaurant is OK. The location is pretty close to waterfalls hiking trails and some very scenic views. It’s also located very close to the tale of the Dragon. My favorite part? The fire pits. The hotel supplies, you with everything you need to make a nice toasty fire. would I stay there again? Absolutely.

Being a native North Carolinian, I have spent a lot of time in the mountains of Western NC (Go App State!), but had never even heard of Tapoco Lodge. My husband saw it on Tik Tok and we decided to book a weekend getaway to get away from it all. And boy, is it "away from it all", as there is very little commercialization around. But it was a fabulous stay! The service was great in the restaurant, the food and drinks were really good and the resort it itself was so quaint. Our cabin room was wonderful (although the walls are a bit thin or maybe our neighbors were just a little loud), the bed very comfy, the bathroom was very bright and well lit and the microwave, mini fridge and coffee maker were nice amenities to have. Having a meal or cocktails by the river was so relaxing. We would have loved to have utilized the fire pits, but it rained both nights of our stay. If you're thinking about booking, do it! Tapoco Lodge is a hidden gem!

We made reservations for their Thanksgiving dinner and the food and service were excellent! Our server Zelerie was very kind and attentive checking on us several times throughout our meal. We will definitely be back. Well done Zelerie and Tapoco!

Tapoco Lodge is super special to us! My husband and I have been going there for the past five years, and it’s become our yearly vacation spot. At first, it was just the two of us, but now we also bring our beautiful daughter, who has loved her visits too. The lodge is gorgeous, with stunning views of the river next to the seating area, winding roads, and the beautiful national forest all around. The historic building is just breathtaking. We got engaged at Tapoco Lodge in 2023, and we had our wedding reception there in 2025. The food is consistently amazing, and the staff is friendly and professional. A huge shout-out to Sherry for her passion in helping make our wedding dream come true. She was always there to support us, and her dedication made the planning process so much smoother. Whether you're after a romantic getaway, a fun trip with friends, or a family vacation, Tapoco Lodge is the place to be. Couples can enjoy hiking, swimming, and rafting, while my husband and his car-loving friends have a blast exploring the nearby Tail of the Dragon. After a day of adventure, we can’t wait to dive into delicious meals at the lodge. Even if you're not staying at Tapoco Lodge but are nearby for the Tail of the Dragon or an Airbnb trip, you have to stop here for food—you won’t be disappointed! For families, especially nature lovers, there’s so much to do. And if you’re thinking about a wedding, the scenery makes it a dream venue. Thank you to all the staff at Tapoco Lodge for making the past five years unforgettable. We’re already looking forward to our next visit in 2026!

We arrived late Christmas eve to find our cabin keypad wasn't working. No one was available on site to let us in so we were put up in an adjoining cabin. We didn't get in to our original cabin until 10am Christmas morning after maintenance had to change the battery in the keypad. Maintenance had to come again when we had no heat and we ended up with a space heater. Turns out, Mountain view cabins 1,2 and 3 all share one AC /heating unit and if one cabin turns on the AC, the other 2 can't get heat. Once that situation was recitifed, we joined about 30+ other guests later they evening for Christmas dinner that started at 5:30pm. By 7:30p, we had only been served our starter and appetizers. Rather than spend another hour or so waiting for our entrees and dessert, we asked for the rest of our meal to be boxed up so we could go back to our cabin. As a result of these issues, we left the next day, a day sooner than we planned. Regardless of all the issues we had, the staff were incredibly wonserful, including Jamie, the resort manager, who went above and beyond to salvage the remainder of our stay so that we could enjoy our time together walking the grounds with our fur baby and enjoying the amenities. We had stayed at Tapoco about a year ago as we were impressed with the resort when we stopped for lunch on our way back from riding the dragon. We stayed in White Oak cabin and I wanted to experience the lodge in all it's decorated Christmas splendor after seeing pictures of it online. Despite the problems we had, it was a relatively enjoyable stay and we plan to return. Just a little info on the lodge if you haven't been before: There are onsite laundry facilities, a bar, a restaurant that serves world class cuisine, an outside bar, patio seating that's enclosed and heated in the winter, open air with spectacular views of the river in the warmer months, endless trails to explore, plentiful seating along the river bank, including a dedicated smoking section and fire pits with wood provided. Our cabin was pet friendly and included a mini fridge and keruig. The lodge provided in room shampoo , conditioner, bodywash and hand soap, and the beds were comfy. Overall, even with the issues we experienced , we plan to return and stay in a cabin closer to the river if possible.

We stayed the first weekend of March at the Tapoco Lodge. It was a terrific experience. I was concerned because they do not have an elevator. They also do not have luggage carts. BUT, the lodge does have 1 ADA room with a roll in shower. It was perfect for us. This room is on the main floor of the lodge so it was very accessible. This room has a roll in shower and grab bars everywhere you need them. The room also is actually two bedrooms, one king and one queen. The staff drove us around to the lower floor where the restaurant is located. And the staff helped me bring in our luggage as my husband is not able to do that. I need to say more about the employees. The staff is amazing! They are helpful and happy. Every single person we encountered was ready to assist us and offered us services that made our stay fantastic. The entire lodge was clean and tidy. It has a rustic and luxurious atmosphere. Don't miss the pizza or the trout options in the restaurant. Breakfast was served on the main floor on a large, bright room with tables that overlooked the river right outside. Actually you could get breakfast served out on the patio outside the breakfast room. The dining area for lunch and dinner is on a lower floor and has an indoor dining room and a huge patio space. The patio overlooks the river where kayakers and rafters race by over tumbling cascades. We had a few magical days at Tapoco Lodge. I cannot recommend it enough.