Tuckaleechee Retreat Center and Cabins

Worth knowing

• Self-catering lodges rather than a dining-hall camp: the 40-person Elk Lodge has a commercial-style kitchen and a dining room seating 40-50.
• Bear Lodge pairs queen beds with twin bunks in every bedroom for families with kids.
• No alcohol and no pets on the property; hot tub open year-round, shared pool in summer.
• Bus access is limited: the driveway tops out around 15-passenger vans unless arranged ahead.

What the operator states

Sleeps

Elk Lodge sleeps 40 (10 bedrooms, two queen beds each); Bear Lodge 30+ (5 bedrooms, each with a queen and two sets of twin bunks); Firefly Lodge 22+ (4 bedrooms); Deer Lodge 14; Hemlock Haven 6-8; Cedar Cove 4-6; Blue Spruce 2. Seven properties; no campus total is stated.

Largest single building

Sleeps 40

Sleeping setup

Beds and bunks

Kitchen

Elk Lodge has a large kitchen with a commercial gas range, two convection ovens, two dishwashers and two refrigerators; Bear Lodge has two stoves, two dishwashers and two refrigerators. No meal service is offered.

Meals and dining

Groups cook for themselves. Elk Lodge dining room seats 40-50; Bear Lodge dining room seats 24.

Meeting space

Elk Lodge has a 1,500 sq ft upstairs common room with projector screen, whiteboard and conference chairs and tables, plus a downstairs family room with a 15-person sofa. Bear Lodge's lower level has a second living room with pool table and piano that doubles as meeting space.

Outdoors

Outdoor hot tub open year-round at Elk Lodge; shared saltwater pool open May-September, 9 AM-9 PM, for guests; gas fireplaces October-April.

Accessibility

A handicap ramp is listed at Elk Lodge; three Elk Lodge bedrooms are upstairs by stairs.

Parking and buses

Elk Lodge lot holds 12-15 vehicles; Bear Lodge lot holds 10-12 cars with overflow parking about a quarter mile away. The steep, winding driveway can't easily take vehicles larger than a 15-passenger van; large buses must be pre-arranged with guest services.

Pets

No pets.

Alcohol

No alcohol permitted on property.

Season

Pool May-September; fireplaces October-April; overall operating dates not stated.

Group rules

Owned and operated by Children's Bible Ministries (a Christian organization); rental profits go to its general fund. No pets, no alcohol; smoking outdoors only. Ask for its policies and FAQ.

Ask before you book

Built from what the operator's page left open when we checked.

1. Is your stated capacity the permitted occupancy, or a count of every bed and sofa?
2. What is the minimum stay?
3. What is the full price, with cleaning fees and taxes?

Copy these questions

Also read what "sleeps 30" really means and the full question list.

Where this came from