"I could see why the founders had called their
ranch Cataloochee, the Cherokee term for 'wave upon wave.' Like a vast
sea, the tree-covered Smokies roll toward the horizon, the peaks tinted blue and
gray by haze."
from House Beautiful, April 1999
History
Tom and Judy Alexander founded the original Cataloochee Ranch® in 1933 in
Little Cataloochee Valley, within the present-day boundaries of the Great
Smoky Mountains National Park. In 1938, the Alexanders established the
Ranch on its present site, nearly 1,000 acres situated high above the resort town
of Maggie Valley.
For more than sixty years, the Alexanders and their offspring have operated
the Ranch as a guest resort
recognized for its beauty and recreational opportunities in publications such as
Southern Living, House Beautiful, Travel and Leisure, National Geographic and
The New York Times.
Recreation
Horseback riding is a favorite activity at Cataloochee. Half- or
full-day rides are guided by wranglers on trails which lead through dense forest
to stunning mountain views, and sometimes into Great
Smoky Mountain National Park itself. Falls House guests may join these
rides on a space-available basis.
Falls House guests also enjoy hiking the well-maintained network of
trails on the Ranch property and in the Park, fishing for rainbow trout in the
well-stocked pond a few steps from the back door, playing tennis, basketball or
horseshoes, or swimming in the Ranch pool.
When winter arrives, guests head for the slopes at Cataloochee
Ski Area, just a mile from Falls House. Beginner, intermediate and
advanced runs are kept busy from early December well into March, as the resort
takes advantage of its altitude and advanced snowmaking equipment.
Of course, one of the most favorite "recreational" activities at
Cataloochee Ranch is relaxation. Falls House guests love to sit in an
Adirondack rocker and read, or enjoy the fantastic view, or settle in before a
roaring fire in cooler weather.
Dining
Falls House has a bright, fully-equipped kitchen for the use of our
guests. But when guests don't feel like cooking, they are welcome
(on a space-available basis--so call ahead!) to purchase meals in the dining room at Cataloochee Ranch,
renowned for its family-style dining and cook-outs. During winter months when the
dining room is closed, meals are available at the Cataloochee Ski Lodge, a short
distance away.
