Long View Resort is a full-service Scandinavian style micro-resort hanging from the mountainside near Pelohi Cove in Grassy Branch, approximately 10 minutes from downtown Bryson City.
“The views here are unobstructed and absolutely breathtaking from any room or suite you might be in when you’re here,” said Melissa Lambert, resort owner. “Long View has been well received in the year it’s been open, with many guests already returning for second and third stays.”
Lambert is also the owner of Sky Ridge Yurts in the Nantahala Gorge, multi-time winner of Best Glamping in the U.S.
“I built it (Sky Ridge Yurts) when my husband died way too young, so that I could keep my kids out of daycare and it was built before glamping was even a term,” said Lambert. “That meant we had a chance to perfect it before the world caught on that glamping was the next cool thing in vacationing, so we were positioned well to take the lead in the industry. I do consultations for other businesses considering opening glamping facilities. When I noticed we were doing more and more of these sessions, I decided it was time to find the next new thing and to me that’s a move away from the Airbnb mentality of just getting a key and letting yourself in and a move towards hosts welcoming guests personally and attending to their needs in the background of their stay.”
Long View Resort rests on roughly 10 acres. It was completed in phases beginning with its main guest lodge which opened in July 2024. Two additional longhouses opened in Octobter 2024 and the second pair opened this past April.
“Our full-service outdoor wellness spa completes the resort and opened officially in July of 2025,” said Lambert. “There are three king suites in the main lodge, each one with a huge view of the
mountain. One of those suites is fully handicap accessible. Guests also enjoy a home-cooked breakfast each morning in the lodge, and they can shop from a small selection of local artisans in our lobby market for handmade knitwear, leather and wood goods, local sweet treats, skincare and more. Up the hill, you will find four longhouses, perfect for those seeking a touch more privacy than the lodge has to offer. The longhouses boast private parking, private fire pits with available free firewood and a suite that includes a full European-sized kitchen, a bath featuring a walk-in shower and washer/dryer, a private king suite and a living room sofa that transforms into a queen bedroom at night. The longhouses are also designed with a full covered porch so you can enjoy the mountain view in any weather that might roll through.”
Hosts help guests plan enjoyable Appalachia adventures fit for them.
“The lodge is also where resort hosts will greet you each day to plan your day’s activities and offer local guidance to the best of what Bryson City has to offer,” Lambert said. “We also have commercial river tubes that we will load up for you for tubing in the area, as well as backpack coolers, dry bags and towels for use on your adventures while you’re here. We’ll also valet park your car if you’d like, though our fully paved drive makes that unnecessary for most. If you’re staying in a longhouse and don’t want to walk up and down the hill, our staff is always available for a golf cart ride to make things easier. Add to that our staff arranging adventure and dinner reservations if you’d like and an available personal chef on staff.”
Back at the resort, lodgers can relax under a shaded observation deck, complete with fire tables for a late evening recap.
Included in the price of the Long View stay is a full breakfast each day, in-room chocolates from the Chocolate Shoppe, complimentary southern sweet tea and lemonade each evening and fresh-baked cookies at night.
Wedding packages are available for smaller, intimate parties of less than 50 guests. The resort can lodge 22 people. However, Lambert’s nearby Sky Ridge location can lodge up to 36 additional wedding guests at a reduced rate when booking at Long View.
“Most brides use our observation deck for their ceremony and our main lobby for their reception, but we are happy to customize weddings to suite the vision of the happy couple,” Lambert said. “Weddings here come complete with Scandinavian-themed ceremony and reception seating and decor, so the overall styling is complete.”
Lambert was inspired by other travelers and resort owners during the pandemic.
“The idea came from seeing how much people wanted to interact with others during COVID at our first location at Sky Ridge Yurts coupled with our travels to European countries where hosts are far more attentive to guest needs for help, companionship and direction when visiting an area they aren’t familiar with,” she said. “Scandinavian styling has become popular in the US of late and it focuses on simplicity, thoughtfulness of amenities and luxury interiors. Often it presents itself with dark or black exteriors and warm earth tone interiors. This creates a sense of peace and comfort in the mind to go from harsh exterior to warm inside. It’s hard to explain exactly, but it is certainly something you feel when you experience it. Scandinavian spaces are never overcrowded, and the open space has a very inviting feel. Most describe it as elegant and extremely functional.”
Lambert gave a big shoutout to her construction crew. Long View construction was completed over an approximate three-year span by Michael Bowers and his first name crew: Tyler, Brian, Avery and Nathan.
“Those five became just like family to us but would still call me ma’am no matter how hard I tried to convince them they didn’t need to,” said Lambert. “They worked here quietly and consistently for over two years straight and not once did I ever question them or what they were doing. To say we grew to trust them is a complete understatement. Somehow, Michael just understood the project. With very little direction from me, he took the plans our architect drew and built something that exceeded our wildest dreams. He changed things that wouldn’t work. He watched subcontractors with a wise eye, never judgmental and corrected them when necessary, with a kind word. I watched them greet each other every day with hugs before they began their work. If I ever looked up the hill and didn’t see them, I’d always find them resting in the shade, sharing Little Debbie’s or fresh cucumbers from Michael’s garden. I never lifted a finger during this entire process, foreign to me because on our other projects we worked until we felt we might break. Michael would hardly let me unload even groceries from my car if he saw I was carrying anything at all. Even while they were raising roof rafters, he would always stop his crew and send them to move furniture, hang pictures, anything at all he might have perceived we could use a bit of help with.”
Lambert said the outcome of Long View’s construction exceeded her expectations.
“Every aspect of this place shows attention to detail and care about the end product,” she said. “In fact, we’ve had many people who are building their own homes in Bryson City now who stay here as their construction is underway who have commented on how meticulously this place has been built. Some have even asked for a meeting with my builder, and they all must laugh when find that Michael, a man of very few words, doesn’t have much to say about their prospective projects other than ‘sure’ when they ask if he can help.”
Over the past year, Long View Resort has received multiple five-star reviews from happy guests.
“If you can come inside, take in the majesty that surrounds you, here, in the Smoky Mountains,’ said Lambert.
“If you can relax enough on your vacation to take a long mid-day nap, we know we’ve done our job. When you come here, we want to be able to take care of any and everything you’ll allow us to handle so that you can experience Scandinavian elegance mixed with ample amounts of honest southern hospitality.”