KDW is serving as construction manager on Ofland Smoky Mountains, a new 75-cabin outdoor hotel from Ofland Hotels and the company’s first property in Tennessee. The project broke ground in Townsend on September 15^th, marking the start of construction on a boutique outdoor hotel located just minutes from the Cades Cove entrance to Great Smoky Mountains National Park via Laurel Creek Road.

The groundbreaking ceremony brought together Ofland Hotels leadership, Townsend city representatives, and the project’s partners, including KDW, architecture firm Boundary Works, cabin manufacturer Wind River Built, and local builder Tyson & Associates.

About the Project

Ofland Smoky Mountains will sit on nearly 28 acres and include 75 cabins, 71 standard and four ADA-accessible. Each cabin will feature a studio-style layout with a queen bed and queen sofa bed, a kitchenette, an en-suite bathroom, and a private open-air shower, along with a wrap-around deck, rocking chairs, and a wood-burning campfire ring with a grill and picnic table.

The property’s lodge will serve as its common area, housing the front desk, a general store, fire pits, and a food counter serving a Southern-inspired breakfast and dinner menu. Additional amenities include a heated pool, an oversized hot tub, campfire kits for fireside meals, and an outdoor drive-in movie theater with vintage trucks and seating for up to 150 guests.

Design Rooted in Place

The cabins are custom-built off-site by Wind River Built, a Tennessee-based modular construction company. The lodge and general store draw their design from the historic architecture of Appalachia, with natural wood siding, deep porches, and low-slung rooflines built to weather the Southern climate.

Ofland Hotels CEO Noah Ellis described the approach in an interview with Knox News: “Townsend actually feels like the mountains. It’s quieter. It moves a little more slowly. We want guests to feel like they’ve gotten the best of the Smokies, not just the souvenir shops.”

Investment in the Townsend Community

Ofland Hotels has invested more than $25 million in the development, the largest investment in the privately owned company’s history. The project is expected to bring approximately 30 new permanent jobs to the Townsend community.

What’s Next

Ofland Smoky Mountains is expected to open in summer 2027, with reservations becoming available in January 2027. Cabin rates will start at $249 per night with no resort or pet fees, and the property will also be available for buyouts and special events.

This marks Ofland Hotels’ second outdoor property, following the 2021 opening of its flagship, Ofland Escalante, in Utah. A third property, Ofland Zion, is also in development in Utah.

KDW is proud to bring its construction management expertise to this project, adding to a growing portfolio of hospitality and commercial work across Texas, Tennessee, and beyond.