Dancing Bear Pool Time

Dancing Bear Lodge now offers access to the swimming pool at Laurel Valley, only minutes away from Dancing Bear. We welcome our guests to cool off from the hot summer sun in a full-sized pool and also a wading pool for the children. At the pool, our guests will find poolside food and beverage service while relaxing in a chaise lounge and enjoying the beautiful mountain view. This is a great way for the family to take a break from the heat and have fun together.

Children’s Summer Menu

Just in time for July family month, Chef Jeff Carter has created a special menu with kids just in mind. See what our chef is whipping up just for kids this summer!

Macaroni and Cheese
Chicken Tenders with Potatoes and Seasonal Vegetable
Grilled Cheese with Chips and Seasonal Vegetable
PB & J with Homemade Peanut Butter and Local Jam

Desserts
Chef’s Homemade Ice Cream
Seasonal Fruit

Cades Cove

Cades Cove is one of East Tennessee’s most treasured historic sites. It is a large valley surrounded by beautiful mountains and some of the most lively wildlife. On a typical summer day, you could see white-tailed deer, black bears, coyote, ground hogs, wild turkeys, raccoons, skunks, and many more. This area has a rich history beginning with the Cherokee Indians using it as a hunting grounds, and later being settled by Europeans around the 1820s. It offers a variety of historic buildings so that you can really paint a picture in their mind of what life was like in this village hundreds of years ago. Around the 11-mile loop that circles the cove, you can view three churches, a working grist mill, barns, log houses, and many other structures that have been restored. This site is great for picnics, hiking, and cycling. A visitor center and restrooms are also located on site.

Tubing

One of the best ways to see the Great Smoky Mountains is by water! One of Townsend’s best-kept secrets is tubing down the Little River. Located just minutes from Dancing Bear Lodge are several tubing services that all offer some of the best tubing around. Every trip includes an all day shuttle service so that you can tube as long or as little as you want, life jackets upon request and your choice of the size of tube. The river contains quiet spots where you can get out of your tubes and swim around and areas with great rapids so that you better hold on.

Tuckaleechee Caverns

The Tuckaleechee Caverns have been a part of Townsend’s history for hundreds of years. A legend recalls that the Cherokee Indians would use these caverns to hide from the white settlers until around 1850. The Caverns were finally opened to the public in 1931, but this only lasted for one year because of the Great Depression. Bill Vananda and Harry Myers of Townsend opened up the Caverns to the public in 1953 and they have remained open ever since. The site has some of the best formations of any cave in East Tennessee. The Caverns have what they call, “The Big Room.” This room is more than 400 feet long, 300 feet across, and 150 feet deep, with stalagmites as tall as 24 feet. One of the newest sections open to the public is the “Silver Falls.” This is actually a 200-foot double waterfall. Only the lower section can be fully viewed, but visitors can look at to see the lighted upper falls. Call (865) 448-2274 to book your visit today!

July is Family Focus Month

This July, we are inviting families from all over to join us at Dancing Bear Lodge. This is the perfect destination for families with so much to do, a great place to stay, and the best restaurant around. This month, we are offering activities that the whole family can enjoy. Dancing Bear offers access to a pool to cool off during this hot summer month, bicycles and equipment to head out and enjoy the land, hiking for those wanting to explore, volleyball on site, horseshoes for a little competitive game, smores by bonfire in the evening, and family movies with a popcorn bar! We also have activities around the area, such as fly fishing and golf, which are just a small charge. If you are looking for a place to bring the kids or grandkids, Dancing Bear Lodge is the place for you.

Father’s Day Brunch

Wondering what to do for dad this father’s day? Bring him to Dancing Bear Lodge & Restaurant for a tasty Father’s Day Brunch! Chef Carter has prepared the below menu for this Sunday. Don’t miss out!

Entrees:

14 oz Dry Aged Rib Eye with Yukon Mashed Potatoes

Creamed Baby Spinach, Herb Butter and House Made Demi-Glace

Pecan and Farro Dusted Rainbow Trout

Brussel Sprout Leaves, Crawfish and Corn Succotash, Spicy Brussel Sprout Slaw

Springer Mountain Chicken with Carolina Gold Rice Risotto

Parmesan Cheese, Asparagus, Mushrooms and Tarragon Jus

Center-Cut 10 oz Pork Chop with Marinated Mushrooms

Roasted Tomatoes, Green Beans, Mashed Yukon Gold Potatoes and Fried Onions

DBL BBQ Plate

Baby Back Ribs, Pulled Pork, Green Apple Slaw, Baked Beans, House Made Barbeque Sauce

Call Dancing Bear Lodge & Restaurant at (865) 448-6000 to make your reservation!

“Annual Summer Sale” set for June 12th and 13th

Mark your calendars for June 12^th and 13^th for the best savings that will be offered this year at Dancing Bear Lodge. These dates will be our 3^rd “Annual Summer Sale,” a two-day period in which we take reservations for July through October, offering $100 off regular room rates. Rates will vary depending on the style of room. We offer one and two-bedroom cabins as well as lodge rooms. These rates are only offered once a year and are perfect for people looking for a mountain getaway to the Smokies.

To take part in this great offer call (865) 448-6000 and make your reservation starting June 12^th!

4th of July Barbecue

Looking for a place to have a southern 4^th of July? Join us at Dancing Bear Lodge for some great family activities and the best barbecue around. This year, we will be featuring a barbecue plate with some of the south’s finest fixins’, barbecue pork, baby back ribs, green apple cole slaw, and baked beans! The town of Townsend, where Dancing Bear is located, also offers a round of fireworks for the whole family to enjoy. Call Dancing Bear Lodge now at (865) 448-6000 to make your reservation!

New Dishes on Summer Menu

Chef Carter of Dancing Bear Lodge & Restaurant is introducing his new summer menu featuring ingredients of this season. If you are looking for a fresh taste of East Tennessee, this is the menu for you:

Starters:

Blount County Yellow Tomato and Peach Gazpacho with Basil Oil

Romaine Salad with Benton’s Bacon, Crumbled Blue Cheese, Oven Dried Tomatoes, Garlic Croutons and Buttermilk Herb Dressing

Watermelon Salad with Sweet and Sour Cucumber, Sheep’s Milk Cheese, Arugula, Marinated Red Onions, Kalamata Olives and Lime Vinaigrette

Corn Bread and Heirloom Tomato Salad, Pickled Ramps, Goat Cheese, Buttermilk Dressing and Bibb Lettuce

Crispy Pork Belly with Falls Mill Grits and Green Tomato Relish


Entrees:

12 oz Dry Aged Rib Eye with Yukon Mashed Potatoes, Broccoli Romanesco, Herb Butter and House Made Demi-Glace

Pecan and Farro Dusted Rainbow Trout, Brussel Sprout Leaves, Crawfish and Corn Succotash, Spicy Brussel Sprout Slaw

Springer Mountain Chicken with Caroline Gold Rice Risotto, Parmesan Cheese, Asparagus, Mushrooms and Tarragon Jus

Sweet Tea Brined Pork Tenderloin with Corn Maque Choux, Local Peas, Country Ham, DBL Chow Chow

Copper River Sockeye Salmon with Celeriac Potato Puree, Local Ratatouille Vegetables and Tarragon Crème Fraiche

This menu is subject to change based on the availability of the ingredients.

Call (865) 448-6000 and make your reservations to dine with us today!

Charcuterie Plate

Dancing Bear Lodge & Restaurant is now featuring a number of delicious charcuteries, including Sopressata, Fennel Salumi and Housemade Pork & Duck Terrine. These wonderful cured meats are served with our own housemade mustard and toasted bread. Make your reservation today and try our featured Charcuterie Plate!

Summer Selection of Artisanal Cheeses

Dancing Bear Lodge & Restaurant is now showcasing a selection of cheeses from Sweet Grass Dairy including Thomasville Tomme, Green Hill and Asher Blue. These are some of the best cow’s milk cheeses with unique flavors that pair perfectly with our green tomato chutney, pickled grapes, rhubarb compote and beer bread. Join us at Dancing Bear Restaurant and ask your server to start your meal off with this selection of cheeses!

Smoky Mountain Family Photo Contest

Get the family photos ready! Dancing Bear Lodge is offering you a chance to win a two-night stay in July through our Smoky Mountain Family Photo Contest!

This is how it works:

To participate simply post a photo of your family in the Smoky Mountains on the Dancing Bear Lodge Facebook page as “Smoky Mountain Family Photo Contest.” 

You may start submitting on June 1 at noon EST. The timeline for submitting photos will be June 1-15, 2012.  Once submissions are closed on June 15 at noon EST, Dancing Bear Lodge will pick five photos as finalists.

Voting will be allowed from June 16 through June 25 at noon EST. The finalist with the most “likes” at that time will be announced the winner. The winner will receive a two night family stay at Dancing Bear Lodge in July. Certain restrictions apply and only one photo per person will be considered.

Don’t miss out on this wonderful opportunity to spend two nights at Dancing Bear Lodge!