RT Lodge, the woodsy boutique inn tucked into Maryville College’s campus, is quietly stepping into a bigger spotlight. Fresh off a MICHELIN Guide recommendation for its restaurant, the property has rolled out a full-service Carriage House day spa and a new Meeting House. Owners say the upgrades are meant to turn dinner reservations into multi-night getaways and to attract more weddings and corporate retreats in the foothills of the Great Smoky Mountains.
RT Lodge first shared plans for the Carriage House spa and Meeting House in August 2025, describing the spa as a seven-treatment-room facility with an infrared sauna, a wet bar, and a dedicated spa menu, according to Blount Partnership. “The Carriage House spa will offer peaceful views and personalized hospitality for respite and rejuvenation,” RT Lodge president Beth McCabe Holman told the outlet. Local firms Johnson Architecture and Joseph Construction are handling the design and construction, the announcement notes.
New Spa and Event Spaces
On its website, RT Lodge pitches the Carriage House as a “high-touch, luxurious day spa” that pairs treatments with curated retail and champagne service. At the same time, the Meeting House is promoted as a flexible, tree-lined gathering space for retreats, weddings and small conferences, according to RT Lodge. The lodge also spotlights The Restaurant at RT Lodge and notes that overnight guests can take advantage of bike rentals and a hot breakfast. Management frames the additions as a way to keep more events and visitor spending on-site instead of sending groups into Knoxville.
Michelin Nod Sparks Interest
The Restaurant at RT Lodge appears as “MICHELIN Recommended” in the MICHELIN Guide American South edition, a distinction noted on the MICHELIN Guide. “I’ve always felt lucky to be the chef at a place that’s so beautiful,” chef Trevor Stockton told WVLT, calling the recognition meaningful for staff and the community.
What It Could Mean for Maryville…