Elks Crossing At Whiskey Ridge

09/03/2026

Our Favorite Home Decor store in Waynesville just opened a larger Store right on Main Street! We can't wait to check it out!

08/29/2026

🌈 There’s Beauty Around Every Corner in the Smokies

Sometimes, the best part of a Smoky Mountain getaway isn’t something you planned to see.

It’s the moment you step outside and realize the mountains have put on a show just for you. 🌄

This beautiful rainbow was captured by one of our guests at Elks Crossing at Whiskey Ridge, and honestly… this is exactly what we love about the Smokies. ❤️

The changing skies.
The layers of mountains.
The mist rolling through the valleys.
The wildlife you weren’t expecting.
The sunsets that make you stop what you’re doing.
And those little moments of beauty that seem to find you when you least expect them.

One of our favorite things about sharing Elks Crossing with our guests is seeing the Smokies through their eyes. 📸

We may have the privilege of calling this place home, but our guests often capture moments that remind us to slow down and appreciate just how incredible these mountains really are.

Come for the getaway.
Stay for the views.
Leave with memories you’ll be talking about for years. 🏔️❤️

And if you’re lucky… maybe the mountains will send a rainbow your way. 🌈

Elks Crossing at Whiskey Ridge
Where the mountains make their own memories.

08/17/2026

While visiting make sure this one is on your list! Their fudge is amazing!! Tiger Butter is my fav!
https://www.facebook.com/share/19Uya6gYxK/?mibextid=wwXIfr

One of the more magical little shops in Maggie Valley, North Carolina is Maggie Mountaineer Crafts, with its giant bear waiting to greet you out front just off the side of the road! This longtime Soco Road landmark has been part of the valley since 1950, back when the road was still dirt, and was among the earliest craft shops in the Great Smoky Mountains. In the early days, Cherokee women walked over from the nearby reservation carrying handmade baskets, blankets, corn husk dolls, beadwork, moccasins, and other goods for the shop. Sue and Austin Pendley bought the business from original owners Kim and Evelyn Parham in 1975, and much of the old wood and original foundation remains today. Inside, you’ll find homemade fudge, jams, honey, molasses, clothing, quilts, jewelry, mountain gifts, and plenty of home décor in the A Day in the Valley section. Their fudge has been a favorite for more than 30 years, and Aunt Maggie’s fudge is still made fresh daily from April through December. Out back, rocking chairs and decks overlook rushing Jonathan Creek, while the giant bear, vintage truck, and quirky outhouse make perfect roadside photo stops before you leave!

08/15/2026

These amazing animals are so much bigger than you think and fun to just watch! https://www.facebook.com/share/p/1CxhCbgCPj/?mibextid=wwXIfr

08/14/2026

So many things to explore! https://www.facebook.com/share/p/1GL8HysPVf/?mibextid=wwXIfr

Haywood County, NC is lucky to have so many amazing waterfalls right in our backyard! 💦🌿 From roadside gems to cascades worth the hike, there’s no shortage of beautiful spots to explore.

Which local waterfall is your favorite? 👇

📷:

08/13/2026

Love this one. So many amazing options!!! https://www.facebook.com/share/1JDiGdTtfh/?mibextid=wwXIfr

In just two months in the Smoky Mountains of NC, the Maggie Valley Fall Arts & Crafts Festival kicks off two full days of handmade crafts, festival food, mountain scenery, and fall fun in Maggie Valley, North Carolina! Held October 17–18, 2026, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., this longtime event brings more than 100 artists and crafters from across the Southeast to the Maggie Valley Festival Grounds. For two straight days you can wander rows of booths filled with one-of-a-kind items, including pottery, paintings, photography, jewelry, wooden bowls, furniture, yard art, seasonal decorations, soaps, and plenty of other handmade goods. It’s a great place to shop for something made locally or get an early start on Christmas gifts. Past festivals have also featured chainsaw carving demonstrations, where artists turn logs into detailed wood sculptures right on the grounds. Come hungry, because food vendors are another big part of the weekend, with barbecue, cheesesteaks, kettle corn, glazed nuts, coffee, and other festival favorites available while you explore. The festival has been held in Maggie Valley for more than three decades and is expected to draw over 10,000 visitors during the weekend. Admission is completely free, parking is free, and the festival takes place at 3374 Soco Road surrounded by the beautiful mountains of Western NC!

08/12/2026

Always a favorite!! https://www.facebook.com/share/1EUodLtWQ9/?mibextid=wwXIfr

Since 1966, Joey’s Pancake House in the little Western North Carolina mountain town of Maggie Valley has been a favorite place to sit down for a big Smoky Mountain breakfast. The story began when Joey and Brenda O’Keefe visited Maggie Valley from Miami Beach that summer, spotted a small restaurant for lease, and decided to make the mountains their home. Today, the restaurant still has the comfortable, old-fashioned feel that has kept generations of locals and vacationers coming back. Pancakes are the star, with classic buttermilk stacks along with choices such as blueberry and pecan, but the menu also includes eggs, bacon, country ham, biscuits, waffles, and the popular hash brown casserole. Coffee keeps flowing, portions are hearty, and busy mornings can bring a line of hungry customers waiting outside. The mountain setting adds to the experience, with the Smokies rising around Maggie Valley just beyond the restaurant. Joey’s original run ended when Brenda retired and closed the restaurant in 2017, but new owners Roy and Sandra Milling bought the building and name and reopened it in 2018, keeping the longtime tradition alive. For many visitors, breakfast here has become as much a part of a Maggie Valley trip as the surrounding mountain scenery.

08/11/2026

☀️ SUMMER ISN’T OVER YET! 🏔️🦌

There’s still time to escape to the mountains! 🌲✨

Imagine slow mornings with a cup of coffee on the deck, cool mountain air, incredible views, afternoons exploring, and evenings gathered around the fire. 🔥☕️

Elks Crossing at Whiskey Ridge is your private Smoky Mountain getaway in Maggie Valley—sleeping up to 10 guests with 3 bedrooms, 3 bathrooms, a game room, expansive decks, firepit, and plenty of room to relax and reconnect. 🏡

Whether you're planning a family getaway, a friends' trip, or just need a little mountain therapy… your summer adventure is waiting! ❤️

📅 Check out the cabin, see more photos, and find your perfect dates:
BOOK ELKS CROSSING ON VRBO → ☀️ SUMMER ISN’T OVER YET! 🏔️🦌

There’s still time to escape to the mountains! 🌲✨

Imagine slow mornings with a cup of coffee on the deck, cool mountain air, incredible views, afternoons exploring, and evenings gathered around the fire. 🔥☕️

Elks Crossing at Whiskey Ridge is your private Smoky Mountain getaway in Maggie Valley—sleeping up to 10 guests with 3 bedrooms, 3 bathrooms, a game room, expansive decks, firepit, and plenty of room to relax and reconnect. 🏡

Whether you're planning a family getaway, a friends' trip, or just need a little mountain therapy… your summer adventure is waiting! ❤️

📅 Check out the cabin, see more photos, and find your perfect dates:
https://www.vrbo.com/2766526

Don't let summer slip away—come make some mountain memories! 🌄🦌



Don't let summer slip away—come make some mountain memories! 🌄🦌

08/10/2026

🍂 FALL IN HAYWOOD COUNTY JUST HITS DIFFERENT! 🍂

Southern Living recently highlighted Waynesville, Maggie Valley, and Lake Junaluska as some of the best mountain towns to visit this fall—and we couldn’t agree more! ❤️🏔️

Think colorful mountain views, crisp mornings, fall festivals, bluegrass, local shops, great food, and endless outdoor adventures. 🍎🎶🍁

And right here in Maggie Valley, NC, you’ll find Elks Crossing at Whiskey Ridge—the perfect home base for your fall mountain getaway!

Spend your days exploring Haywood County, chasing fall color along the Blue Ridge Parkway, and your evenings relaxing in the peaceful mountains at Elks Crossing. 🏔️🍂

Fall is calling… and we know just the place to stay. ❤️

Read the Southern Living article & start planning your fall escape

📍 Elks Crossing at Whiskey Ridge | Maggie Valley, NC
🍁 Where fall feels right at home.

Explore three charming towns within an easy drive of each other in North Carolina’s scenic Haywood County. Here’s what to do in Waynesville, Maggie Valley, and Lake Junaluska.

08/09/2026

🐔🍯🌿 Did You Know? Elks Crossing at Whiskey Ridge is Part of a Family of Brands!

If you've been following Elks Crossing, you know we love sharing the beauty of the Smoky Mountains, wildlife, and the peaceful outdoor lifestyle. But did you know our mountain retreat has a sister brand?

✨ Meet Whiskey Ridge Farms ✨

Located in Senoia, Georgia, Whiskey Ridge Farms is where our passion for country living comes to life. It's home to our flock of happy hens, farm-fresh eggs, buzzing honey bees, and plenty of four-legged (and feathered!) personalities—including our future duck dog, Diesel.

Although we're separated by a few hundred miles, both brands were built around the same values:

🌲 A love for the outdoors.
🦌 An appreciation for wildlife.
🐔 Farm-fresh eggs from happy hens.
🐝 Healthy honey bees and the sweet rewards they bring.
❤️ Creating places and experiences that bring people together.

Whether you're escaping to the mountains for a relaxing getaway at Elks Crossing or stopping by Whiskey Ridge Farms for a dozen fresh eggs (and soon, local honey!), you're supporting the same family and the same dream.

Our hope is to share a little piece of the Whiskey Ridge lifestyle—from the mountain views of Maggie Valley to the peaceful mornings on our Georgia farm.

Thank you for being part of our journey. We can't wait to share more adventures from both the mountains and the farm! 🏔️🐔🐝