Sep. 19, 2025
RT Lodge, an approachable luxury retreat nestled in nature on the historic Maryville College campus, has unveiled plans for two new spaces – The Carriage House spa and the Meeting House, to offer an immersive experience for locals, travelers and corporate guests.
The lodge, renowned for its welcoming hospitality, inviting accommodations and gourmet dining, is expanding to feature a serene day spa and modern meeting space set among old growth trees.
Named after the updated 1930s Carriage House it occupies, the spa will offer facials, massages, an infrared sauna and comprehensive body treatments to accommodate individuals, couples and groups.
“The Carriage House spa will offer peaceful views and personalized hospitality for respite and rejuvenation,” said Beth McCabe Holman, president of RT Lodge. “Guests are invited to experience a massage, enjoy champagne, and take in natural surroundings under the arbor outside or from lounges thoughtfully positioned with tree views.”
The Carriage House will feature seven treatment rooms, including one designed with couples in mind. A wet bar will serve champagne, rosé and white wine. Guests may also order cuisine from a distinct spa menu and explore curated retail offerings, including HydroPeptide facial lines, comfort essentials like robes and pajamas, and eventually even signature RT Lodge products.
The boutique retreat also will unveil The Meeting House this fall, offering an escape from the routine for overnight events, weddings, corporate retreats and gatherings.
“We invite guests to leave the grind behind and collaborate among the trees,” Holman said. “The Meeting House at RT Lodge comprises reclaimed wood beams, peacock paver floors and glass walls that immerse you in the surrounding woods, offering distraction-free comfort that allows your group to be fully present together.”
Available for overnight guests, the space can accommodate up to 75 people and offers modern audiovisual amenities.
Local firms Johnson Architecture and Joseph Construction are overseeing the design and construction of both new facilities.
The boutique lodge already offers cozy overnight accommodations, gourmet cuisine and complimentary bike rentals. The new Meeting House and Carriage House spa will enhance and complement these offerings to create an immersive retreat experience in the foothills of the Smoky Mountains.
Guests can enjoy fine dining at The Restaurant at RT Lodge and creative cocktails in the Morningside Room. Overnight guests will enjoy the nourishment of a hot breakfast including eggs, bacon and homemade breads and pastries.
RT Lodge is located in charming Maryville, Tennessee, only minutes away from McGhee Tyson Airport, metropolitan Knoxville and the Great Smoky Mountains National Park.
About RT Lodge
RT Lodge, centered around the lovingly restored 1930s main house, is an approachable luxury retreat nestled in nature on the serene campus of Maryville College. The history of the lodge began in 1932 when Susan Wiley Cooper Walker, widow of Andrew Carnegie’s business associate John Walker, moved to Maryville and fell in love with the wooded grounds. Walker built a stately 26-room grand residence and adjacent Carraige House and named her home Morningside. After her death, the home was added to the National Register of Historic Places and has been home to a president’s residence for Maryville College, an inn and a corporate retreat and training facility for Ruby Tuesday. Today, the property is locally owned and dedicated to providing an authentic place of rest and retreat. Guests can experience genuine hospitality near the Great Smoky Mountains National Park with charming accommodations; a full-service day spa; unique meeting and gathering spaces; and celebrated fine cuisine and cocktails. Learn more at RTLodge.com.
