The resort experience typically found in tropical locales has found its way to the Smokies in Pigeon Forge, Tennessee. With the opening of the River Stone Resort & Spa, the area will now have a premier resort complete with spa, indoor pool, arcade, lazy river and, eventually, a second phase will include an outdoor pool. The resort winds around the river and features décor that blends in with the mountain backdrop.
“This resort is gonna kinda raise the benchmark a little in this area,” River Stone general manager Mike Akers said. “This is a luxury resort that includes a number of things – a spa, convention center, wedding area and a nice lazy river that’s heatable for the winter. We’ve got an exercise room the size of a gymnasium.”
The first phase of the project is complete and includes 126 condos. After purchase, the owners can make their condo – ranging in size from 618 square foot single bedroom units to four-bedroom, four-bath suites with 1900 square feet – available for rental.
“When fully built, we’ll be able to hold around 1,500 people in over 326 condos,” Akers said. “We’ve been under construction for almost two years and will probably be completely finished in 2008. Building four is almost completely sold out already and we expect to break ground on building five in about two months.”
The spa, which will offer a full range of massages, facials and nail services, is scheduled to open on Mother’s Day Weekend.
“The spa will allow us to have a number of package deals, where men can come and golf and their wives can have a day of treatments," Akers said. “There will be services combined with bridal packages where the bride and her bridal party can prepare for the wedding.”
The resort also maintains a unique feature – some of the condos will be “pet-friendly.”
“We have started advertising on the animal friendly Web sites,” Akers said, “because around 20 of our condo owners have said that they would like for their condo to be pet-friendly. That will be a great feature to have as more people travel with their pets.”
As the condo facility gets up and running, Akers believes the River Stone will provide a new type of luxury to Pigeon Forge.
“We think we are really a resort,” Akers said. “We have a full service staff. We’re different from the typical condo project. There’s something here for everyone. That’s what I’m really trying to drive home.”
Pigeon Forge tourism, meanwhile, stands to benefit from the services River Stone will offer. “The city of Pigeon Forge is excited about the opening of River Stone Resort & Spa, and pleased to welcome them to the city,” City Manger Earlene Teaster said. “Tourism is the driving force behind the city businesses, and River Stone has catered to this market by creating an upscale, unique destination that tourists will want to experience and return repeatedly.”
Information courtesy of The Mountain Press