Written by: Emily Huffstetler
Little Arrow Outdoor Resort has become one of Townsend’s standout places to stay by offering a version of camping that feels a little more comfortable and a lot more memorable.
Located on the Peaceful Side of the Smokies, the resort features RV sites, cabins, glamping tents, tiny homes, Airstreams and vacation homes, along with guest favorites like a pool, hot tub, hiking trails, river access and a pavilion for events.
For Carmen Simpher, co-owner and CEO, the experience begins the moment guests arrive.
“What I like most is when guests come across the bridge, pull onto the property and you see the look on their face,” she said. “The mountains, the nature, the trees—that’s a win.”
Little Arrow began with a shared dream between Simpher, her sister and her brother-in-law.
“When the property where Little Arrow is came up for auction, my sister looked at me and said, ‘You know camping.’ She and my brother-in-law know tiny homes, and together we thought we could do something unique.”
Simpher said the project has brought their family closer together.
“It’s sometimes up and down, but you learn a really good trust,” she said. “Sometimes there’s trial and error, but you learn from the errors. I like to say, ‘You either win or you learn,’ and that’s what we do.”
Little Arrow’s appeal comes from the way it blends the outdoors with comfort. Guests can settle into a range of accommodations while enjoying amenities like the 24/7 Point & Feather Coffee Lounge, quiet hiking trails, a zero-entry pool with grottos and splash pad, a hot tub, sport courts, a dog park, two river access points, a boutique store, a playground and a community fire pit.
“I love to be outside, but I want a nice shower and a nice bed,” she said. “I’m done with sleeping on the dirt in a tent, so we elevated that.”
Her favorite way to explain it is simple.
“I like to camp, but my sister prefers the Ritz-Carlton, so together we try to create the best of both worlds.”
Groups can also book the Lookout Pavilion, which includes a double-sided fireplace, a catering kitchen, an audiovisual system and seating for up to 125 for weddings, reunions, parties and corporate retreats.
Amenities aside, the most meaningful part of Little Arrow is the way guests connect with the place and with each other.
“I hope my love for joy, my love for seeing people smile and the glory God’s given us in this beautiful location come through,” she said. “We want people to feel that and enjoy it.”
Over time, that has shown up in the lasting memories families build there.
“The people who were coming here years before we were even here, that’s pretty cool,” she said. “I’ll have people tell me their children learned to swim in the pool here, and now they have kids or grandkids of their own.”
“I love seeing kids and families having a good time together, not on screens, just outside enjoying nature and doing activities,” she said.
Simpher said the resort regularly welcomes visitors from near and afar.
“We are blessed to have both,” she said. “We love our locals. They’re usually really big repeat guests. But we also have guests from Florida, Alabama and Ohio.”
As Little Arrow expands, Simpher said protecting the resort’s identity matters just as much as adding something new.
“Customer service and the property, having things well maintained and well taken care of,” she said. “Those two top priorities are what we want to focus on: rolling out the red carpet to our guests, but also all the little details.”
That attention to detail comes naturally to her.
“For me, it’s difficult to turn it off,” Simpher said. “I get ideas at 9 p.m., and my management team will chuckle and say, ‘You emailed me at 9 p.m. last night,’ and I say, ‘Yeah, just leave it until tomorrow.’”
Recent additions include Secret Slice, the on-site pizza spot from the creators of Towns End Coffee + Shop, where guests and locals can stop by for pizza, wings and salads next to the Lookout Pavilion.
Simpher is just as thoughtful about what Little Arrow means for Townsend.
“We love Townsend,” she said. “Some people worry it might turn into something loud and bright, but no business I know wants that to happen. We want it to be a little more plush, more relaxed, with that peaceful mountain vibe.”
Her vision for that balance is “peaceful with a pulse.”
“We don’t want it to be a ghost town, but we also don’t want it to be a big, lit-up, loud circus,” she said.
She takes the same view of other businesses in Townsend.
“My other thing is community over competition,” Simpher said. “We want all of the businesses to thrive. If all of our business neighbors are doing well, we’re doing well.”
Little Arrow Base Camp RV Park, opening in July, reflects that broader vision for Townsend. Simpher said the site will offer 46 camper spaces, a refreshed store, river access and a location right on the greenway, making it easy for guests to walk or bike to nearby favorites like Burger Master, Company Distilling and the Great Smoky Mountains Heritage Center.
“The walkable aspect is huge,” she said. “You set up your camper, you’ve been working hard, and then you walk to Company Distilling and relax, have a cocktail and listen to some music. It’s a win.”
No matter which property guests choose to stay at, Simpher’s message is the same.
“Come here, have a good time and let us love on you.”
Born and raised in Maryville, Tennessee, with roots tracing back to Cades Cove, Emily Huffstetler is a proud Maryville College graduate and storyteller of the Greater Smokies region.
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