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Swag Biography

Nestled atop a 5,000-foot mountain in Waynesville, N.C., The Swag is the highest elevation country inn east of the Mississippi. It boasts a one-mile frontage on the Great Smoky Mountains National Park and has its own private entrance into the park. The word "Swag" describes a dip between two mountain peaks along the Appalachians.

The Swag Country Inn is a paradise for nature lovers who seek the finest amenities in a sophisticated, but rustic, setting. Natural beauty surrounds the inn and offers guests a mountain meadow retreat with world-class hiking trails on a 250-acre estate. Fifteen unique and cozy guest rooms are decorated with beautiful handcrafted interiors and have features such as balconies, fireplaces, steam showers and feathered beds. Tantalizing breakfasts, gourmet picnic lunches, and four-course dinners are prepared daily by expert chefs. Renowned authors and naturalists are scheduled throughout the season to conduct workshops on the environment, hiking, and wildlife.

The Swag is listed the 2006 Zagat's Top U.S. Hotels, Resorts and Spas. In addition, Gourmet Diners Society of North Carolina honored the restaurant with the 2006 Golden Fork Award and named it Country Inn Restaurant of Distinction. Andrew Harper’s Hideaway Report (July 2002) featured the inn as one of several "Great Country Escapes".

Founded as a country inn by innkeeper and owner Deener Matthews in 1982, The Swag originally was built as a family home in 1971 by Deener and her husband, Dan, an Episcopal clergyman, who is rector of Trinity Church, Wall Street, in New York City. Today, Deener manages day-to-day operations at The Swag during the in-season from late April through mid-November.

Construction of the inn began when historic log buildings were reassembled in 1971 on high meadowland cleared for farming at the turn of the 20th century. The largest building was the Lonesome Valley Primitive Baptist Church from Tennessee. It forms the inn’s main living room. The oldest incorporated structure dates to 1795. Most of the logs were hand hewn from huge tulip poplar trees, which are rare today. The two and one-half mile private drive leading to the inn climbs more than 1,000 feet.

The Swag Country Inn rests along the Cataloochee Divide, an immense ridge that forms one of the National Park’s boundaries. Four of North Carolina’s six highest mountain ranges are visible: the Great Smokies to the northwest, the Plott Balsams and Richland Balsams to the southwest and the Black Mountains to the east. The Divide Trail, traveled by settlers for 200 years and by the Cherokee for many hundred more, passes just behind the inn.

Guests have an abundance of activities from which to choose. From a regulation racquetball court, croquet, horse shoes, badminton and world-class hiking trails to an outdoor spa, sauna, hammock for two and book and video library, guests can choose their own adventures. Throughout the on-property nature trail are private, secluded hideaway areas at which guests can read a book or sink into a hammock together or enjoy a gourmet picnic lunch. Naturalists and authors are scheduled during the in-season to conduct hands-on workshops, lead informal discussions or guide hiking excursions.

The Swag’s newest offerings include:

• a new picnic shelter atop Gooseberry Knob for picnicking rain or shine
• a remodeled Laurin's Room featuring a king bed, double steam shower with skylight, picture windows, wet bar and fireplace
• a gazebo that seats 24 guests
• a gourmet picnic hosted by the inn's chef every Wednesday at noon
• a remodeled Family Room with sitting room and fireplace, wet bar, cozy leather sofa, gracious front porch, steam shower for two and an elegant antique copper soaking tub
• a completely remodeled Terrace Room with sitting room, wet bar, two bathrooms, master bedroom with private stone porch and many other beautiful amenities--it's The Swag's most popular guest room
• an improved roadway on the two and one-half mile entrance drive up the mountain to The Swag--all major turns are now paved for easier driving

800.789.7672   |   letters@theswag.com   |   2300 Swag Road, Waynesville, NC 28785