Roamstead Lodge and Pavilion

Situated on the edge of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, Roamstead reimagines an existing dated campground as a modern and inclusive accommodation. New owners sought to renovate and add new program to an existing log cabin lodge, add a new outdoor pavilion for gatherings, and clean up the site around both to create a lush, inviting environment for guests.

Numerous additions to the existing lodge and surroundings by past owners had resulted in a cluttered and haphazard look and feel. The lodge itself consisted of an original one-story log cabin that had a balloon-framed second-story addition and deck set on top later. The design team proposed stripping away the miscellaneous structures and additions to reveal an archetypal gable roof building hiding within. This approach allowed the design team to extend the useful life of the existing structure while serving new purposes.

A portion of the lodge’s second floor was demolished to create a double-height interior space for a bar and lounge area. Given the mix of log cabin first level and balloon frame upper level, the design team developed a creative structural strategy of stiffening the layers of wall systems to act as one, using overlapping shear hold-downs and bracing the building using the new steel and wood-framed canopy around the building. Three new lodge rental rooms were added to the second level, with balconies projecting toward the main public green space.

The new steel and wood pavilion adjacent to the lodge and pool features a butterfly roof as an ‘inversion’ of the lodge’s gable. The pavilion serves as an outdoor dining space during the day, with a projector screen featuring movies for guests in the evening.

The resulting ensemble is a cohesive design held together by formal and material language distilled from the hodgepodge of previous elements. Roamstead serves as an excellent model for updating aging campgrounds to accommodate modern needs and challenges.

Framework for Design Excellence

Design for Water + Ecosystems
Prior to the renovation, the grounds around the lodge were covered in gravel with little consideration of the ecological effect the campground had on the three creeks running through it. Roamstead abuts Great Smoky Mountains National Park, the ‘Salamander Capital of the World’, so it was crucial to protect these creeks they inhabit. To that end, the design team replaced nearly all of the gravel with low-maintenance lawn and vegetation to reduce runoff, improve air quality, and create a more heat-absorptive surface.

Design for Wellbeing
The design of Roamstead’s campground, lodge, and pavilion connect occupants to the natural environment in a comfortable and accessible way. Care was taken to make public spaces welcoming, easy to navigate, and oriented to natural features. The location among towering trees and flowing creeks supports physical and mental wellbeing. The campground connects to the Maddron Bald Trail, home to some of the oldest cove hardwood trees in the national park. It also leads to its namesake, one of the park’s most significant heath balds.

Design for Resources
Reuse of existing materials was prioritized wherever possible, not only as a responsible reduction in waste, but as good stewards of the owners’ financial resources. New finish treatments on existing siding materials were chosen with longevity and environmental impact in mind.