Ski & Stay
Ski & Stay: Check in to these lodges where après-ski combines a room, dining, and drinks
Bob Timberlake Inn at Chetola Resort
Appalachian Ski Mountain attracted Blowing Rock’s first winter tourists in the early 1960s. Today, savvy skiers choose the festively lit late-1800s manor house, decorated with Bob Timberlake’s signature furniture line. The inn features a warmly paneled restaurant, a cozy bar, and eight upscale estate rooms that overlook the lake. The artist’s wintry paintings and flickering firelight set the stage for a premier ski lodge experience (with spa treatments available). Rates from $229. www.chetola.com
Beech Alpen Inn
Overlooking the slopes of Beech Mountain Resort, this half-timber style inn is a true ski country hotel, with warm wood in the lobby and lounge, and exposed beams in 24 rooms. Many rooms face the slopes, with fireplaces, balconies, and view-window seating. The post-and-beam Alpen Restaurant and Bar is the place to enjoy a diverse menu beside a see-through fireplace and raise a glass after a day on the slopes. Rates from $109; www.beechmountaininns.com
Top of the Beech
A veritable ski lodge, this authentic rustic retreat on Beech Mountain is straight out of Vermont and the days when budget-conscious ski accommodations had real atmosphere. Slope-facing rooms have an awesome view. Ground level Bullwinkle’s Pizza and bar is a lively place to watch big-screen TV sports below historic photos of Ski Beech and antique skis. Rates from $89; www.beechmountaininns.com
4 Seasons at Beech
This alpine-style hotel (like the two aforementioned ones) is a short walk to eateries and Beech Mountain Resorts’ shuttle stops. Studio rooms and one-bedroom suites make it easy to economize with a refrigerator, small stove, microwave, toaster, dishwasher, and coffee maker. There’s in-house dining at Valle de Bravo Mexican Grill and bar, and occasional live music has included the mountain’s popular old-time string band, The Corklickers. Rates from $86; www.4seasonsatbeech.com
Cataloochee Ranch
This rustic resort offers one-of-a-kind ski lodge accommodations a mile high and a mile away from Cataloochee Ski Area in Maggie Valley. Have an Omigosh (a signature liqueur drink named after the ski area’s expert slope) in the base lodge bar, then head for Silverbell Lodge to mingle in the Balsam Room common area. Continental breakfast is served daily. Rooms accommodate two to six people. Rates from $124, with ski packages available; www.cataloocheeranch.com