Unexpected Comfort at the Deerfield Inn on Lake Chatuge

Unfortunately my Memorial Day was not as festive as one could hope — unexpected tragedy was why I spent the weekend in the North Carolina foothills near Lake Chatuge. Which under different circumstances would have been a perfect place to spend the holiday.

I’ll admit when I discovered my closest accommodation option was the Deerfield Inn in Hayesville, NC, I took a deep breath and prepared myself for an even less comfortable weekend. I’m not a terrible hotel snob, but as I’m sure you’ve experienced, privately run motels can be very hit or miss.  You might wind up with a gem or you might get bed bugs.

I did do a quick scan of local chains in the area, but the Holiday Inn & Suites and Ramada in Hiawassee had mixed reviews and were an extra 20 minutes away, not to mention about $40 more than the Deerfield’s $75 a night rate.

So I hoped for the best and it was just for one night. I was arriving in the area around 12:30, so decided to call ahead and see if there was any chance I could check in early. The phone was answered by a friendly person who said my room would be ready in 30 minutes and to drive safe! Well that was encouraging.

I showed up and had a pleasant check-in, I immediately took to the manager/(owner?), a fairly young woman who radiated good will and had spent sometime in DC getting a Master’s. I had been given room 10, right next to the office. I figured this was a good thing — if the walls were thin, that was one less neighbor in the night to worry about.

My room was great! Basic but spacious, and with unique furniture that added to its charm. They even had a bedspread similiar to my favorite one at home! I immediately started to relax.

The bathroom was extremely clean and updated, although simple. My only complaint was the toilet wasn’t quite affixed and had a tendency to rock a little bit. The sink/closet area could be walled off with curtains, which allowed for extra privacy without claustrophobia.

Since Hayesville & Hiawassee boast some good BBQ, I was happy to see a mini-fridge in case I wasn’t up to gigantic portions in one sitting. They served coffee and pastries in the morning in the main office, but upon request you could also get a coffeemaker for the room.

Overall I was satisfied, and when I looked out the one window, I was happy. The best part about the Deerfield Inn is the incredible view. It sits on a small hill overlooking the lake.

Each room has its own table & chairs in front (abet right in-front of the parking spaces) and they created a mini deck farther out so you can sun in some rockers and take in the unobstructed view. It was simple but heaven. I only wish I had had more time to spend out there.

I was gone for the whole day, arriving back around 10PM at night. I could hear voices in the guest room next door, the walls were thin, but the mattress was comfortable and I had no problem falling asleep.

It wasn’t until 3AM that my proximity to the office became a liability rather than an asset. I had left my window cracked open to get fresh cool air rather than use the a/c and I was startled awake by a pounding noise.

People were knocking heavily on the office door. From what I could make out, they’d showed up to another local hotel without a reservation, not realizing that it was no longer in operation. So they’d come down the road to the Deerfield Inn, determined to get accommodation.

If they had stayed at the other place in previous years, they should have realized hotels around here don’t have 24hr staff. That late/early check-ins require advance phone calls and planning. But these folks proceeded pound on the office door every 5 minutes for half an hour, loudly discussing what other doors they could knock on and if the nearby house was where the owners lived. It did them no credit that the reason for their rudeness was that they apparently needed to be at church at 8:30 the next morning. I was tempted to poke my head out and suggest the Holiday Inn/Ramada which I’m sure had 24 hour management, but I was still rattled and groggy.

I finally shut my window and turned on my air conditioning which effectively blocked out further noise, but it took a little while for me to fall back asleep. When I did wake up it was after 8:30, so I never figured out what happened to those folks.

The morning was perfect and I was wishing I hadn’t overslept so I could spend more time on the sundeck, but it was not to be. Reluctantly I started packing up my car and I as I was doing so, one of the housekeepers passed by.

She wished me a good trip and seemed genuinely interested in whether I had had a comfortable stay. Minutes later the manager/owner came by to wish me well and a sincere hope to see me again. Check out was incredibly informal, I just handed her the key and started the engine, wishing I had booked another night there instead of pricelining a hotel near the airport.

If I ever have need for accommodation in Hayesville again, I know I will look forward to staying at the Deerfield Inn, something I never assumed when I first booked it. And if you’re looking for a quiet weekend in the North Carolina foothills, definitely consider it — $75 a night for a clean comfortable room and amazing view is almost worth a special trip for.

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Heels First is the travels and tribulations of two twenty-something frequent fliers jumping into the world of travel. Join Keri and Jeanne as they tackle mileage runs, elite status, and of course–the perfect travel accessories. 

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