The prominent resort, The Swag, is being purchased by a Knoxville couple. David and Annie Colquitt are purchasing The Swag, a popular mountain retreat near Waynesville, North Carolina.

David and Annie Colquitt, the new owners of the prominent mountain resort, The Swag. Image courtesy of Carol Viau.

The private, mountain top resort is located on 250 acres next to Great Smoky Mountains National Park. The Swag Country Inn sits along the Cataloochee Divide, an immense ridge that forms one of the National Park’s boundaries. Four of North Carolina’s six highest mountain ranges are visible from the inn. The Divide Trail, traveled by settlers for 200 years and by the Cherokee for many hundreds more, passes just behind the inn.

The Swag offers award-winning accommodations, fine dining, and spectacular mountain views at an elevation of 5,000 feet.

“Annie and I went there on our honeymoon seven years ago,” said David Colquitt, “and we realized what a special place it is. When we recently found out the owners were interested in selling The Swag, we didn’t want to miss the opportunity. We are excited to be part of The Swag’s future.”

The gathering room at The Swag Inn. Image by The Swag

The Swag consists of 14 rooms in cabins made of hand-hewn logs and decorated with antiques, regional artwork and handmade quilts. Most rooms have a private balcony, wood-burning stone fireplace and steam shower.

Most rooms at The Swag Inn have wood-burning fireplaces. Image by The Swag

Guests also can enjoy world-class hiking trails, lectures, massages, racquetball, badminton, croquet and a treehouse, among other activities.

The Colquitts are purchasing The Swag from Dan and Deener Matthews. Dan is a retired Episcopal priest who once was dean of St. John’s Episcopal Cathedral in downtown Knoxville. The Matthews bought the property in 1969 and, over time, have added rooms, cottages, outdoor programs and fine dining, turning The Swag into an award-winning retreat. In 2017, Conde Nast Traveler Readers’ Choice Awards named it one of the “Top Resorts in the South.”

“Our intention is to preserve what the Matthews have built,” Annie Colquitt said. “The Swag has been a special place for my family for decades.”

The sale of The Swag is expected to close prior to the start of the 2018 season on April 20.

The Swag offers luxurious accommodations, providing guests with a peaceful environment where they can rest, relax and rejuvenate. Located on a secluded mountaintop just outside Waynesville, North Carolina, the inn is an ideal destination for romantic getaways, weddings, corporate retreats and much more. The 2.5-mile private drive leading to the inn climbs more than 1,000 feet. For more information, visit The Swag online at www.theswag.com.