Lakeview at Fontana Soaking Cabana Resort — Hotel in Bryson City

We spent a few days here and it was hands-down the most relaxing trip I've ever been on. They've made it so easy, checking in and checking out are fast and effortless. The rooms/suites are simple and clean. Furniture was comfortable. Our suite had enough utensils to make breakfast and small meals as needed, and extra appliances such as toasters are available to borrow from the downstairs lending area. All purchasable items are honor system based making it friction free should you need to pick up anything.

The soaking cabana experience was a real highlight. I was somewhat skeptical on this given the price, but it was incredible. The combination of piping hot water, an overhead heater, soft spa music playing, and the cool outdoor breeze relaxed every sense as the sun began to set. The tub was plenty large enough for two, and it felt like two plus years of pandemic stress just melted away in minutes. I would absolutely recommend this add-on experience, it was truly worth every penny.

Likewise, the hammock seats outside were a great spot to just sit and relax, surrounded by greenery and nature. You hear a little road noise when outdoors, though it's not intrusive at all. From inside the room it's practically silent.

The resort staff were nearly invisible, very helpful if you needed anything but there's no banging on the door while yelling 'HOUSEKEEPING!' going on here. Shortly before arrival we got a text message with check in instructions. Throughout our stay we were able to respond to this text message with any questions, and got super fast and helpful answers. It really makes you realize how convoluted and inefficient traditional hotel processes are.

The location is perfect - remote and serene enough to unwind and decompress, yet a relatively short drive from Bryson City and Franklin. An Ingles grocery store is also close by, and several Wal-Mart stores are not much further out.

We took a ~45 minute drive to Dry Falls, and stopped at several other attractions along the way. A scenic trip of the Great Smokey Mountain railroad (departing from Bryson City just 12 minutes away from the resort) rounded off an excellent trip.

One word of advice - some of the nearby restaurants close fairly early, and are closed altogether on Monday/Tuesday. If you are planning to arrive much later than 5pm, I'd recommend securing dinner plans beforehand - either verifying what's open and how far away it is, or stopping for a meal on...

We’d stayed in 2018 and loved the experience. There was an old world European romantic charm to it then. They included French press coffee and light pastries/breakfast in the morning with your stay. This created a fun dynamic each morning with the opportunity to talk with other guests. The place seemed in better repair then. ||April 2025 was our current stay, and they’ve discontinued the French press coffee and pastries. Everything is an extra cost, except for the Walmart brand k-pod coffee which was awful. No yoga, and nothing in the gathering space - no magazines, books, games etc except for a few puzzles. There’s no community feel. ||The staff was very responsive and helpful when I asked for different sheets because those on the bed had a very strong fabric softener smell. They changed them the next day. ||We stayed in room 5, and to me the room smelled musty, my husband didn’t feel it smelled but they have dehumidifiers running. The room is dated, dressers have to be fought with to open, bed is lumpy and they don’t even have any tissues supplied. The toilet paper holder was broken in our room so the paper kept falling off. The couch was hard and formal, the inside chair was comfortable but the patio chairs cracked when we tried to sit on them, not allowing us to use the patio without hauling one of the inside chairs out. The webs on the patio are out of control, but there are crazy ambitious spiders in NC. It made for uncomfortable spaces.||My husband wanted ice and they said the ice maker just broke, and I could go to the BP to get some ice. Seemed like they should have sent someone to at minimum supply ice to guests until they got the machine fixed. Seemed like a customer service miss. ||The experience is not any level of luxury. It’s rustic, which may be just what some are looking for. Temper your expectations the images of the rooms on the website don’t reflect the reality of our room at least. We sadly won’t return and I won’t be referring friends here anymore...

This place is an absolute find! I only wish that I had known about it sooner! We stayed in the cozy suite with a patio that had a babbling brook running alongside the building and around the deck which added to the already peaceful environment. The accommodations were very clean and comfortable the suite was spacious and included everything one would need for a relaxing getaway. The view was breathtaking. We enjoyed the outdoor amenities such as the viewing deck and hang out areas, and the refreshing spring fed pool that boasts and 8 ft deep end which was an added bonus being able to tread water while looking out over the lake. The amenities were very thought out and well done and I loved their honor system market! We bought a few of the sandalwood candles that smell fantastic! Check in and check out was completely contactless with informative notes and texts left for you upon arrival, departure, and in lieu of your spa appointments. I really like this feature as it adds to the overall relaxation of the experience without any of the hassle and waiting at the front desk. T-Mobile doesn't work at all on the property which added to the unplugged element of my stay, bonus! We enjoyed the 2.5 mile hiking trail which is well manicured and shaded which allowed enjoyment even in the summer heat. The highlight, of course, was the soaking tub cabana! It was all it's cracked up to be and more! Very private with an incomparable view, and the tub was surprisingly comfortable for two. We loved it; we're going...