Archived News

Terrace Hotel renovation reaches finish line in time for spring conference season

fr terraceAbout 200 people gathered for the ribbon cutting of a $3.2-million renovation of the Terrace Hotel at Lake Junaluska, the anchor lodging facility of the conference and retreat center.

It’s rare that a hotel renovation would attract such pomp and circumstance, but Lake Junaluska Conference and Retreat Center is more than a hotel: it’s an economic engine for Haywood County.

“There are probably millions of people who have come to Haywood County over the past 100 years who would not have come if it weren’t for Lake Junaluska,” said Jack Ewing, executive director of Lake Junaluska. “We are an integral part of the economic development of Haywood County.”

Lake Junaluska has evolved from its humble beginnings of little more than a revival tent in a farm field 100 years ago to a full-service retreat campus. A long-range master plan aims to modernize and improve the buildings and grounds over the next decade — an overdue initiative to reverse the dated feel of some of the facilities.

The Terrace is no longer a cog in the conference center operations of Lake Junaluska, but is now billed as a hotel in a resort setting catering to the general public year-round.

“It is open for business for people who simply want to come stay in a beautiful place overlooking this marvelous lake and mountain scenery,” Ewing said.

Related Items

While the lobby, reception areas and rooms got a top-to-bottom makeover — they were stripped and gutted — the panoramic views were good to go as is.

Ultimately, the Terrace renovations dovetail with Lake Junaluska’s mission of Christian hospitality, transformation and renewal.

Smokey Mountain News Logo
SUPPORT THE SMOKY MOUNTAIN NEWS AND
INDEPENDENT, AWARD-WINNING JOURNALISM
Go to top
Payment Information

/

At our inception 20 years ago, we chose to be different. Unlike other news organizations, we made the decision to provide in-depth, regional reporting free to anyone who wanted access to it. We don’t plan to change that model. Support from our readers will help us maintain and strengthen the editorial independence that is crucial to our mission to help make Western North Carolina a better place to call home. If you are able, please support The Smoky Mountain News.

The Smoky Mountain News is a wholly private corporation. Reader contributions support the journalistic mission of SMN to remain independent. Your support of SMN does not constitute a charitable donation. If you have a question about contributing to SMN, please contact us.