Media Relations: Welcome .. Swag Biography .. Fact Sheet .. Photos .. Newsletter

Media Relations

Swag Fact Sheet

The Swag:

The Swag Country Inn sits on 250 acres atop a 5,000-foot ridge, 13 miles north of Waynesville, N.C. The inn has a private entrance to Great Smoky Mountains National Park. Its rustic, but sophisticated, setting offers guests a mountain meadow retreat, an award-winning restaurant, world-class hiking trails, and warm hospitality.

The Swag offers 15 luxurious and distinctive accommodations that will make any guest feel at home with wonderful food, interesting conversation and a range of memorable experiences. It is the perfect retreat for guests who love nature and expect the finest amenities.

The Ridge:

The beautiful ridge the inn sits atop has always been called “the swag” by the people who have lived in the area. The phrase refers to a dip between two mountain peaks—like the swag of a horse’s back or the way a drapery hangs.

Opened:

Opened as an inn for guests in 1982, The Swag is currently celebrating 26 years of award-winning excellence.

Awards and Accolades:

• Conde Nast Traveler (Jan 06) selected The Swag for the 12th annual "Conde Nast Gold List" as one of the world's best places to stay.
• Conde Nast Traveler (November 2005) ranks The Swag at 34th
  among the Top 75 hotels in the United States.
• New York Post (November 8, 2005) selected The Swag among 10 small inns worldwide for "sophisticated amenities and uncompromised privacy."
• Listed in the 2005 Zagat's Top U.S. Hotels, Resorts and Spas
• One of 12 "Romantic Hideways for 2005" by The Discerning Traveler, January/February 2005
• Andrew Harper's Hideaway Report, January 2005 as one of three "Memorable Retreats in Virginia, Tennessee and North Carolina."
• Gourmet Diners Society of North Carolina 2005 Golden Fork Award
• Gourmet Diners Society of North Carolina 2005 Country Inn Restaurant of Distinction
• Selected as one of 10 distinctive small hotels worldwide by Knight Ridder/Tribune Information (November 2004)

Accommodations:

Fifteen unique guest rooms, including three suites, are beautifully decorated with handcrafted interiors, and many feature private

balconies, steam showers and fireplaces. The Cabin, Two Story and Woodshed are separate buildings that include sitting rooms, fireplaces and private porches. One room is handicap accessible. Children under seven years old are welcome in the three cabins.

Restaurant:

Reservations are necessary. The award-winning restaurant is open 8-10:00 a.m. for a breakfast buffet; offers a gourmet carry-out picnic at noon; at 6 p.m., hors d’oeuvres in the main lodge living room; and one seating at 7 p.m. for the four-course dinner.

For lunch on Wednesdays, the chef serves a gourmet picnic high atop Gooseberry Knob at noon. Dinner is a social and elegant, but casual, event. Guests may be seated individually or at large pub-like tables. Note: A few outside dinner guests are taken by reservation only.

Rates:

Room rates vary between $400 to $725 per day with two night minimum stay. Rates include three meals for two people. 15% service charge, 6.75% state sales tax and 3% room tax are additional.

Services and Amenities:

The inn offers in each room a Bose CD player with XM satellite radio, luxurious robes, stocked refrigerator, assorted teas, coffee beans for grinders and coffee makers, daily delivery of the New York Times Digest, fax, e-mail port on telephones, hair dryer, ironing board and iron, makeup mirror and fine toiletries. A gift shop carries unique sportswear, books and more to entice the shopper.

Recreation:

The inn has a regulation racquetball court, croquet, horse shoes, badminton, world-class hiking trails on property, indoor volleyball, outdoor spa, sauna, guest naturalists, book and video library, games and cards. Yet many guests find themselves relaxing in a hammock overlooking the mountains.

Special Events:

Selected weeks throughout the season feature guest speakers, authors and workshops highlighting such areas as nature, the Great Smokies, hiking and birding. Each program is optional and, unless noted, there is no additional charge for participation.

Rental Facilities:

The Swag is available as a rental venue, accommodating full-service catering and space for private weddings, special events, small conference groups and business meetings. There is an executive meeting facility space for up to 25 people in a comfortable and informal setting. Audio-visual equipment and office support is available.

Management Team:

Deener Matthews, Innkeeper

Address:

The Swag Country Inn
2300 Swag Road
Waynesville, North Carolina 28785

Inn Location:

Nestled atop a 5,000-foot mountain above Waynesville, N.C. and 50 miles west of Asheville, N.C., the inn claims a mile frontage on the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. The inn is accessible from Charlotte, N.C., and Columbia, S.C., in three hours, from Atlanta, Ga., in three and one-half hours and from Knoxville, Tenn., in two hours.

Travel Directions:

From I-40, take exit #20 and go south on Highway 276. Proceed 2.8 miles and turn right at The Swag sign onto Grindstone Road. At the first stop sign, turn right on to Hemphill Road and follow The Swag signs for approximately three miles. Turn off your air conditioner—it is no longer necessary! Turn left onto The Swag Road (a gravel road), use low gear as you climb our private driveway and continue up for 2.5 miles through the forest until you reach the inn.

Reception Desk Hours:

8 a.m. to 10 p.m. from late April to mid-November (in season)
9 a.m. to 4 p.m., Monday through Friday, from December to April (out of season)

Contact Information:

Phone—828-926-0430 or 800-789-7672
Fax—828-926-2036
Web site—www.theswag.com

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