Our 5 Week Holiday Stay at The Ridge Outdoor Resort

Big Rig Friendly and Thoughtfully Designed

We travel in a 46 foot fifth wheel toy hauler, so maneuverability matters.

From the moment we arrived, we had no issues navigating the roads or sites. We stayed in 2 different sites during our time there- the first was a back in site and the second was a pull through. Both were level, wide, and with plenty of clearance to navigate and park easily. The layout of the resort is spacious and intentional, making it genuinely big rig friendly. If you are hesitant about bringing a large setup, you can feel confident here.

Some sites even take luxury up a notch with built in outdoor kitchens and private hot tubs right at your pad. It is the kind of feature that makes a long stay feel like a true retreat.

Resort Style Amenities for the Whole Family

This is not your average campground.

The resort features two pools, a lazy river, a year round hot tub, pickleball courts, basketball, a small stocked fishing pond, playground, and an on site arcade. Our kids, ages 6 to 12, were never bored.

The arcade quickly became a favorite hangout. The playground gave them room to burn off energy. The fishing pond offered a peaceful break from busier attraction days. There were other families staying long term as well, and our kids made friends that made the stay even more meaningful.

The pools looked incredible, and we are already planning a return trip in warmer months to fully enjoy the lazy river experience.

Thanksgiving Dinner at The Deli

One of the unexpected highlights of our holiday stay was Thanksgiving at The Deli on property.

They offered a full Thanksgiving dinner at a per person cost that made it completely worth it. No cooking inside a camper kitchen. No sink full of dishes. Just a warm, delicious meal in a festive setting.

For full time RV families or even short term holiday travelers, this was such a gift.

Christmas in the Smokies

We decorated our RV for Christmas, and several other families did too. Evening walks around the resort felt magical.

The office and event center were beautifully decorated for the season as well. It felt festive, welcoming, and cozy without being overwhelming.

Spending the holidays in the Smokies felt special instead of different.

Church and Community Right on Property

One of the most meaningful parts of our stay was discovering that Connect Church meets in The Ridge’s event center.

We attended multiple Sunday services and truly loved it. Pastor Anthony’s preaching was encouraging and relatable. It is a nondenominational church with a welcoming Tennessee vibe that made us feel at home immediately.

Our preteens enjoyed the middle school Sunday morning gathering and the evening midweek meetings. A couple of the youth group leaders even walked them back to the camper at the end of the evening. Our younger two appreciated the elementary classes. Our daughter even got to participate in their children’s Christmas concert. For traveling families, finding solid community while on the road can be hard. Having it right on property was a huge blessing.

Long Term Stay Convenience

Five weeks is long enough to truly evaluate how a resort operates.

The fitness center is well appointed and thoughtfully designed, which made it easy to maintain routine during a busy holiday season.

Mail and packages were easy to receive through the office, which is essential for full time families like ours.

Trash pickup happens twice daily right at your site. That level of service makes a long stay feel effortless.

The laundry facilities were very nice, and here is our Mile Markers tip:

Use the laundry room in the building with The Deli. It has industrial sized dryers that allow you to dry everything at once. For a family of six, that makes a huge difference.

Expansion and Continued Growth

The Ridge recently expanded to include more RV sites in a more wooded area of the property. The added greenery enhances the overall atmosphere while maintaining the high quality feel of the property.

We love seeing a resort invest in thoughtful growth while preserving the experience guests already love.

The Staff Makes It Five Stars

Amenities are important. Location is important.

But what truly makes The Ridge five stars is the people.

The staff was consistently kind and friendly throughout our entire five week stay. When you stay somewhere that long, you see how things really operate behind the scenes. The welcoming atmosphere never wavered.

It felt less like a campground and more like a community.

Would We Stay Again?

Without hesitation.

From big rig convenience to resort style amenities. From Thanksgiving dinner to Christmas lights. From Smoky Mountain adventures to peaceful evenings in the hot tub or by the fire pit.

The Ridge Outdoor Resort gave our family a holiday season filled with joy, ease, and connection.

We cannot wait to go back.