Chetola Resort

500 Main St., Blowing Rock
828/295-5500
www.chetola.com [1]

Chetola Resort covers 87 acres in the heart of the Blue Ridge Mountains. The original owner, Lot Estes, purchased the land for just 5 cents per acre in 1846.

Chetola, which means “haven of rest” in Cherokee, is comprised of 47 rooms—42 standard guest rooms with queen or king beds in Chetola Lodge ($145–322) and five suites in the Bob Timberlake Inn at Chetola Resort ($209–369) that are decorated with Bob Timberlake artwork and furniture from the World of Bob Timberlake collection.

Each of the rooms is named for a current or former owner of the estate; all of the suites have fireplaces and whirlpool tubs. A shared guest kitchen in the Bob Timberlake Inn has a refrigerator stocked with bottled water, soda, and ice cream. A brand-new spa opened at the resort in 2009.

Other recreational facilities include an indoor pool, whirlpool and sauna, fitness center, hiking trails, yoga classes, and activities for children.

The centerpiece of the resort is Chetola Lake, where paddleboats and canoes are available to guests. Several of the rooms have balconies overlooking the lake. Room rates include breakfast.