Notes from the host
Blue Boar Lodge
Rent the Entire Woodlands Lodge
Special Offering (formerly operated as Blue Boar Inn, B & B)
If your home is not big enough to accommodate everyone on your guest list for any special gathering, The Blue Boar Lodge may be rented year round.
Plan a holiday retreat or summer get-a-way for your family and friends. Springtime arrives late March, when the old growth trees begin to green and daffodils start to bloom. By Summer, the weather is warm during the day, perfect for all of the outdoor activities and the mountains are green. Fall begins to arrive early October at the higher elevations and throughout the month into late November, the foliage colors are orange, red, and gold everywhere you look. The fall air is crisp & sunny during the day and at night, the fire pit is the best place to relax. December is also great for gathering around the fire pit and celebrating the Holidays with family and friends. Each season offers something special for your group to make memories!
The Lodge has 8 guest rooms, living room, dining room with seating for 32,
and a large commercial kitchen for you to cook your favorite meals. Outdoor covered deck and fire pit. Open Air Chapel. Boat dock on Lake Santeetlah. Swimming in lake. There are 4 bedrooms with King beds and 4 bedrooms with 2 Queen beds each. Each bedroom has a private bath, sitting area and porch. DTV and Wi-Fi (not 100% reliable due to remote location) are both available.
The Lodge is fully provisioned with linens, cooking ware, tableware, silverware and everything you need to make your stay comfortable. Just bring your personal items and food to prepare. Housekeeping services are not provided.
You can picnic by the pond or use our canoes and kayaks on Lake Santeetlah.
Enjoy the great hiking trails in the Joyce Kilmer Forest and ride the Cherohala Skyway or Tail of the Dragon.
The Lodge is children and pet friendly.
Must be over 25 years to sign rental documents.
Entry road, (gravel/dirt 1.3 miles) is not recommended for vehicles with low clearance.
$900-$1,049 per night plus 9.75% tax and a security deposit (refunded) of $400.00 Additional cleaning fee of $450.00 required.
Two-night minimum stay required.
What to expect in the surrounding area.
Graham County is located in the far reaches of Western North Carolina in the beautiful Great Smoky Mountains of the southern Appalachians. This region is home to the some of the highest and most remote mountains east of the Mississippi with elevations ranging from 1177 to 5560 feet. Graham County is nestled among hundreds of thousands of acres of wilderness full of stunning mountain landscapes and many breathtaking views.
Graham County is practically enclosed by rugged towering mountains on all sides. The western range of the Great Smoky Mountains separating Graham from Tennessee is called the Unicoi Mountains. The southern boundary is the Snowbird Mountains circling to Red Marble Gap, then swinging northward to Cheoah Bald. The northern border is the Little Tennessee River inundated by Fontana Lake. The Cheoah range and the Yellow Creek Mountains traverse the northern part of the county completely boxing in Graham County on all sides with the exception of the rocky gorge of the Cheoah River below Lake Santeetlah where the Little Tennessee enters Tennessee. It is then indeed little wonder that this region was one of the last regions of Western North Carolina to be settled by the white men. Graham County, a part of the Cherokee treaty lands, was not opened to settlement until President Jackson ordered the removal of the Indians in 1838.
Hundreds of hiking trails surround Santeetlah Lake amidst extremely biodiverse flora, awe-inspiring landscapes and intriguing wildlife. In addition to the encircling Nantahala National Forest, the Appalachian Trail can be reached to the east in less than ten miles. The Great Smoky Mountains National Park forms the northern border of Graham County providing visitors with popular camping, backpacking, fishing, wildlife viewing, and auto touring experiences. The 10,000 acres of the Snowbird Backcountry Area, where a group of Cherokee Native Americans hid from persecution on the Trail of Tears, is located south of the lake. Hunting, native trout fishing, primitive camping, and cascading waterfalls make this area a favorite among visitors. The Joyce Kilmer Memorial Forest is immediately situated on the western side of the lake. The protected area is a stunning preserve of forest that has never been harvested by man. Twenty-foot wide poplars and giant red oaks, silent in their ancientness, are among some of the magnificent specimen of life you will see.
The elevation at the Blue Boar Lodge is 2,000 ft.
Keywords: Vacation Rental, Group Retreat, Lake Santeetlah, Family Get-a-way, Lakeside, private dock, woodlands setting.
(Formerly operated as Blue Boar Inn)
Answers to Frequently Asked Questions
Retreat owner or onsite property manager may greet you and show you around the facility upon arrival and will be available by telephone during your stay, for any questions or issues.
Lodge has Wi-Fi (not 100% reliable due to our remote location) You must bring your own laptop/tablet, none are provided.
Cell service works well near Lodge.
Lodge has one television in main gathering room, another in card room, both with DTV. There are no televisions in any guest rooms. Lodge has air conditioning and heat with individual temp controls in each guest room.
Bathrooms have combined tubs/showers. Please bring additional toilet paper as only a limited supply is provided.
Approach to Lodge is down a 1.3 mile well maintained gravel/dirt Forest Service road. Last portion is slight incline with “s” turns for consideration of those on motorcycles.
Lake Santeetlah is a short walk from the Lodge or you can drive and park at the lake landing.
Lodge has 3 canoes and 3 kayaks you can use. Life jackets are available (adult size only). Canoes and kayaks are on a trailer on the left side of the lake landing.
Bring your own fishing poles, (NC Fishing Lic required).
You can dock a small boat at no charge at our dock. You can put in a small boat at our lake landing or larger boat at Massey Branch Forest Service Boat Launch on Massey Branch Road.
There is adequate parking for approximately 8-10 cars in front of the Lodge with space for 3-5 cars in back.
Lodge has washer and dryer for use, bring your own detergent.
The cottages on the hillside behind the Lodge are privately owned and sometimes rented. You will see others on the road or at the lake but they will not interfere with your visit.
You are in the woods—watch for snakes, small critters, bugs, wasps, hornets, etc. Bring sun screen and bug spray.
Limited supply of firewood is provided for the fire pit beside covered deck. You will need to gather starter twigs or bring fire starter supplies.
There is an Ingles Grocery Store (7A-9P) in Robbinsville, 9 miles. Also, a Walgreens, fast food, post office.
Closest hospitals in Bryson City or Murphy—both about 50 minutes.
Graham County sells beer and wine only. Other spirits will have to be purchased elsewhere.
Walmart-- 50 minutes in Murphy
Joyce Kilmer Memorial Forest—4 miles—beautiful hiking trails
Cherohala Shyway—2 miles—scenic byway and hiking trails
Tail of the Dragon—about 35 minutes—Deals Gap
Nantahala Gorge—white water rafting—about 35 minutes
Tsali Mountain biking trails—about 35 minutes
Two marinas on Lake Santeetlah—Santeetlah Marina and Santeetlah Boat Rentals for gas/boat rentals.
Cheoah Ranger Station is about 15 minutes from Lodge—for camping, forest, lake questions
NC fishing license is required to fish Lake Santeetlah.
Forest Service Boat ramp is on Massey Branch Road—concrete ramp and parking.
Kitchen has dishes, glassware, silverware for approx 25-28 people with large pots, pans.
Kitchen has 6 burner gas stove with 24” x24” grill, convection oven and regular oven.
Kitchen has propane char grill, 2 19 cu. Ft freezeerless refrigerators, 1 7 cu ft. freezer, ice machine, commercial Bunn coffee machine (filters supplied), 1 microwave, 2 toasters, kitchen aid mixer, hand mixer, home dishwasher, lots of storage, counter, and work space.
There is one outdoor grill on the back deck area (propane) and two picnic tables.
Dining room has seating for up to 32.
Bring extra bags of ice for use in coolers for boating or hiking.
There is no food delivery service in Robbinsville.