Susan Wiley Cooper Walker moved to East Tennessee from Pennsylvania in 1932 to be close to her sister, who was married to the Maryville College chaplain. Susan had a vision and built a 26-room, Classical-Revival-style home. She then surrounded it with a lush garden, meandering pathways, a carriage house and stately stonework, all adjacent to the campus where her sister lived.

It’s been 93 years, and Susan’s influence is still felt at the place she called Morningside. Over the years, her property has lived multiple lives, as a private residence, a restaurant and a corporate retreat and training center for restaurant company Ruby Tuesday (yes, that Ruby Tuesday). The main house, which is on the National Register of Historic Places, is now the centerpiece of the RT Lodge resort, created in 2021. Since then, it has become an under-the-radar getaway for girls groups, couples and destination weddings.

And the transformation continues. This fall, RT Lodge will open the Carriage House Spa, an element that will cement the retreat’s reputation as a place to get away from it all. Nfocus got an exclusive look at plans for the relaxation haven that is just steps from the main house. It will feature an infrared sauna, seven treatment rooms and two hot tubs. You’ll be able to indulge in a massage and then walk to the Morningside Room for a local beer or cocktail, or to an outdoor rocking chair where you can watch the koi pond and listen to the sounds of wildlife in the surrounding 155 acres. 

For as serene as Susan’s getaway is, nestled in the foothills of the Smoky Mountains, RT Lodge gets talked about for the level of hospitality it offers — attentive and familiar. The retreat itself provides a mountain-lodge-like feel, with a touch of refinement. 

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What’s nearby

Just 30 minutes from the Townsend entrance of Great Smoky Mountains National Park, this is what they call “the peaceful side of the Smokies.” Slide over to Tremont or Cades Cove to avoid the hubbub of Gatlinburg and Pigeon Forge. Maryville has a charming downtown with boutiques and breweries, worth exploring on foot or by bike.

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What to do

Yes, you can and should go into the national park to hike and fish. You can rent a Bronco as an add-on to your lodge reservation and do some off-roading in the mountains. 

But one of the gifts of RT Lodge is Susan’s grounds. Leave time to sit and watch the koi in the pond. Walk her paths and admire the gardens — rich with color in every season — or borrow a bicycle and pedal through the Maryville College campus. And what would a resort near a college campus be if there wasn’t disc golf or giant Jenga to play?

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Where to eat

Because RT Lodge is just 19 miles from downtown Knoxville, the Restaurant at RT is in regular dinner-date rotation for folks who live in the area. Chef Trevor Stockton is known for his meticulously crafted, ingredient-focused menus relying on local produce, and for using pork from his family’s Stockton Farms. Everything is made on-site, from pimento cheese to hot sauce to bread. 

Staying at RT Lodge makes the dining experience that much more special. You get to follow your leisurely meal with a walk under the stars and then taste some s’mores from the firepit before heading back to your room. (Yes, even if you have enjoyed one of pastry chef Caitlyn Cox’s desserts.) If you’re all about food, check out The Gathering, the lodge’s culinary weekend each fall.

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How to get a good night’s sleep

There’s something extra plush about the bedding at RT Lodge. While some of the rooms still have a bit of a corporate retreat vibe, they are outfitted to help you feel cozy for a night in the mountains, with wood furniture, decorative skis, plaid pillows and Barefoot Dreams robes.