[PIANO PLAYING] ♪ >> I THINK IT ORIGINATED, REALLY, TRULY, IN 1933 WHEN OUR GREAT GRANDPA TOM AND JUDY CAME AND CREATED THIS MULTITUDE OF LODGING EXPERIENCE, FOOD EXPERIENCE.

THE WHOLE ATMOSPHERE OF CATALOOCHEE RANCH IS JUST EVERYWHERE.

>> PARK SERVICE CAME TO MY FATHER.

THEY KNEW THAT HE WAS VERY FAMILIAR WITH THE AREA, AND HE HAD BEEN INVOLVED WITH FORESTRY AND THE ACTUAL ESTABLISHMENT OF THE PARK, AND THEY SAID, "WE NEED -- TOM, WE NEED SOMEBODY TO BE IN A POSITION TO HOUSE THESE PEOPLE COMING TO THIS BEAUTIFUL PARK."

>> REPORTER: TOM AND JUDY ALEXANDER FOUNDED CATALOOCHEE RANCH, WHICH WAS ORIGINALLY LOCATED IN THE VALLEY.

IN 1938, ALEXANDER PURCHASED A LARGE PART OF THE PRESENT RANCH ON FIE TOP MOUNTAIN.

BORDERING THE NATIONAL PARK AND COMBINED WITH EXTRAORDINARY VIEWS AND COOL SUMMER TEMPERATURES, HE FELT IT WAS THE PERFECT VACATION DESTINATION.

>> THEY WERE THE FIRST COMMERCIAL PLACE, UM, FOR TOURISM IN THE GREAT SMOKY MOUNTAINS NATIONAL PARK.

AND WHEN THEY FIRST OPENED FOR BUSINESS, THEY HAD SEVERAL CABINS, WHICH MY MOTHER, BEING FROM VIRGINIA, WAS ABLE TO MAKE FAIRLY COMFORTABLE.

AND THEY HAD BROUGHT RUNNING WATER FROM A LITTLE SPRING HOUSE AND A CENTRAL KITCHEN.

SO THAT WAS THE FIRST CATALOOCHEE RANCH.

>> REPORTER: FOR MORE THAN 75 YEARS, GUESTS HAVE BEEN RETURNING YEAR AFTER YEAR TO RELAX AND ENJOY THE SWALE THE BLUE MOUNTAIN PEAKS.

ONE TRANSLATION OF THE CHEROKEE WORD "CATALOOCHEE" IS WAVE UPON WAVE, AND THAT'S EXACTLY WHAT IT LOOKS LIKE.

>> I THINK IN A WAY IT TAKES THEM BACK TO -- AT LEAST FOR THE OLDER GENERATION, IT TAKES THEM BACK TO WHEN TECHNOLOGY WASN'T AROUND.

>> WE WERE FISHING A LITTLE BIT WITH MY GRANDDAUGHTER.

AND SHE CAUGHT A FROG INSTEAD OF A FISH.

JUST TO BE ABLE TO GO OUT WITH HER AND ENJOY THE NATURE AND THE OUTDOORS LIKE THIS AND ENJOY THIS MUCH, IT'S VERY NICE.

♪ >> REPORTER: THERE ARE PLENTY OF THINGS TO DO YEAR-ROUND AT CATALOOCHEE RANCH.

EXPLORING THE BEAUTIFUL MOUNTAINS ON HORSEBACK WOULD HAVE TO BE ONE OF THE FAVORITES.

THERE ARE FIVE DIFFERENT TRAIL RIDES TO CHOOSE FROM.

>> WE HAVE PROBABLY THE BEST HORSEBACK RIDING ON THE EAST COAST.

>> I DO HORSEBACK TRAIL GUIDES.

AND WE GO OUT ON THE TRAILS, AND I LEAD THOSE RIDES.

IT'S A LOT OF FUN.

I LOVE IT.

>> REPORTER: AFTER A LONG DAY RIDING THE TRAILS, IT'S TIME FOR DINNER.

AN OLD-FASHIONED COOKOUT RANCH STYLE.

♪ >> SO THIS IS OUR NINTH, TENTH YEAR AT CATALOOCHEE.

AND THIS IS KIND OF THE STANDARD SATURDAY NIGHT MEAL, STEAK COOKOUT AND, YOU KNOW, STEAK AND CORN ON THE COB, SWEET POTATOES.

SO IT'S JUST A PLACE TO GET TOGETHER AND LAUGH AND ENJOY EACH OTHER.

>> WE JUST SAW THEM BRING OUT ALL THE DESSERTS.

WE CAN'T WAIT TO TRY ALL THOSE.

>> VERY COMFORTABLE ATMOSPHERE.

IT'S BASICALLY A FAMILY ATMOSPHERE.

AND I THINK IT'S A LEVEL OF ACCOMMODATION AND ANYTHING FROM VERY RELAXED AND COMFORTABLE TO A LITTLE MORE UPSCALE.

>> REPORTER: LODGING AT CATALOOCHEE IS AMAZING.

FROM COMFORTABLE ROOMS IN THE MAIN RANCH HOUSE TO INDIVIDUAL CABINS THAT SLEEP UP TO EIGHT, THERE'S A PLACE FOR EVERYONE HERE AT THIS HISTORIC RESORT.

>> EVERYONE THAT COMES UP HERE, I THINK, REALLY JUST LIKES TO GET AWAY FROM EVERYTHING THAT THEY'RE LEAVING BEHIND.

AND, YOU KNOW, ONCE YOU LEAVE, IT'S UNFORTUNATE, BUT YOU HAVE TO GO BACK TO THAT, BUT YOU ALWAYS KNOW THAT YOU CAN COME BACK THE NEXT YEAR, AND I THINK THAT'S A BEAUTIFUL THING, TOO, IS WE HAVE A LOT OF PEOPLE THAT KNOW, WELL, I KNOW IT'S NOT GOODBYE.

IT'S SEE YA LATER.

I'LL SEE YOU NEXT YEAR AT THE SAME TIME.

- CATALOOCHEE RANCH IS AT 119 RANCH DRIVE IN MAGGIE VALLEY.

TO BOOK A CABIN, GIVE THEM A CALL AT 828-926-1401 OR GO ONLINE TO CATALOOCHEE RANCH DOT COM.