We enjoy visiting the mountains of North Carolina in the month of October when Fall festivities are in full swing and folks from all over come to the mountains to see the beauty of the changing leaves.
After staying at our mountain cabin for a few days enjoying the fresh cool breezes on the front porch with a good book, or hiking, or just enjoying the peacefulness, we are ready to venture out and sight-see around .
We had heard about the wonderful restaurant at the Historic Tapoco Lodge just north of Robbinsville and decided to make reservations to have dinner there one evening. Tapoco Lodge has a wonderful website showing all of their accommodations. If you would like to know more about the Lodge just click on the site below:
The map below shows where Tapoco Lodge is located. See Robbinsville in the below-left-middle section of the map. Follow Highway 129 northwest on up to Tapoco. As you can see it is located not too far from the Great Smoky Mountains National Park.
Tapoco Lodge
14981 Tapoco Road
Robbinsville, North Carolina
(828) 498-2325
Such a pretty Fall display just outside the gates of Tapoco Lodge.
Tapoco Lodge was built in 1930 by Alcoa Aluminium as part of hydroelectric efforts in Graham and Swain counties in North Carolina. For the next few decades it was used primarily for company functions.
Just past Tapoco Lodge is Cheoah Dam which was built by the Aluminum Company to supply electricity to the area.
By the way - Just a little interesting fact about this Dam - Portions of the 1993 movie The Fugitive starring Harrison Ford were filmed at Cheoah Dam. He was seen in one section of the movie actually jumping off from the top of this dam.
Cheoah Dam
The Lodge was opened to the public in 1995 and today is owned by a Robbinsville couple,
Ronnie and Terry, who have restored the Lodge to the glory of the original 1930s.
Ronnie and Terry, who have restored the Lodge to the glory of the original 1930s.
The Lodge is situated on 120 acres near the lush mountain region
of the Nantahala National Forest.
Tapoco is well known for it's hiking, rafting, kayaking, fishing and mountain biking.
The Lodge is right down the way from the famous Tail of the Dragon, which is an 11-mile winding road, very popular with sports car enthusiasts and motorcyclists. Many of the travelers to the Tail of the Dragon stay here at the Lodge.
Walking around to the back of the Lodge is almost as charming as the front.
Breakfast and lunch is sometimes served outside on the patio overlooking the creek.
Cheoah River in back of the Lodge.
Off to the side of the Lodge is a charmingly restored old-time gas station
that was very interesting to see.
Can you imagine gas being 17 cents a gallon!
How about these old gasoline pumps.
Walking on around the Lodge we spot a pathway leading up to one of the rental cabins up on the hill. The walkway is covered by these pretty pink Camellia Sasanqua petals.
Most of the Camellia Sasanqua blossoms had fallen from the tree, so I found this blossom in the below photo on the Internet to show you. The Sasanqua Camellia always blooms in the Fall. This flower was native to Japan and China and has been cultivated in the South for over two hundred years. It is recommended for zones 7 - 9.
We were told the Lodge has 20 cabin rooms available, plus 11 suites in the Lodge itself.
There is also a movie theatre located on the property showing all old-time movies.
Ronnie, one of the owners of Tapaco Lodge, was good enough to give us a golf-cart tour of the Lodge area. He then brought us back to the Lodge and the adjoining restaurant. The restaurant was named after his grandfather and is said to be one of the best restaurants in western North Carolina.
I love to try to capture the beauty all around us with my camera and was
given permission to feel free to take any photos I wished.
The front desk guest check-in room. As you walk through the double glass doors you enter the lobby.
The lobby is a combination lobby/museum.
How about this old car which was on display in the lobby.
And there was also movie equipment on display
which looked like it could have been from the 30s or 40s.
There was a gift shop in the lobby also.
We had very early dinner reservations and it looks like we were the first ones here.
By the time we left the restaurant was full of guests.
We were given a table by the window. It was so nice to see the beauty of the Cheoah River as we looked out the window while enjoying our dinner.
Everything on the menu looked good; it was hard to decide.
We started with salad which was very good.
We ordered a Rib Eye Steak dinner.
And a Beef Tenderloin dinner.
And then to top it off we enjoyed a Chocolate Cream Brulee.
Mmmmm how good!
Everything we ordered was very delicious. Our hosts at the Lodge could not have been more welcoming. We will definitely look forward to returning to this wonderful restaurant in the future.
I am so glad you came along with us on our tour of the old Historic Tapoco Lodge. Come along with us next time as we explore the Tail of the Dragon on our way on over to the beautiful Smokey Mountain National Park.
Wishing you blessings on this beautiful Fall day wherever you may be.
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