Welcome to McKinley Edwards Inn

Historic Mountain Inn
In Bryson City, North Carolina

CLOSE TO EVERYTHING YET SLIGHTLY OFF THE BEATEN PATH

Spacious Guest Rooms

Activity Area

Delicious Breakfast

Located on a hillside overlooking Bryson City, with a view of the Great Smoky Mountains, the McKinley Edwards Inn offers a beautiful mountain setting in a historic Bryson City landmark. The Inn offers guests an upgraded continental breakfast in the main house, which has multiple common areas for activities such as watching TV, movies, playing board games or just visiting.
We love families and have created an amazing outdoor area with a giant Jenga, Bean Bag Toss, picnic tables and more. The kids can enjoy an hour of Arts and Crafts in the afternoon and the s'mores by the fire at night.

Guest rooms are located in a three-story building and is separated from the main house by a beautifully-landscaped courtyard with koi pond and fire pit.

Gateway to the Great Smoky Mountain National Park

Great Smoky Mountains National Park lies on the border between North Carolina and Tennessee. The park, which straddles the Great Smoky Mountains Ridgeline, has some of highest mountains east of the Rocky Mountains. Major peaks include Clingmans Dome and Mount Guyot. The Appalachian Trail also runs through the park. Great Smoky Mountains National Park is the most popular park in the United States, with millions of visitors in a typical year.

Great Smoky Mountains National Park offers numerous opportunities to experience a variety of outdoor activities. The park has around 850 miles of trails and dirt roads made for hiking, with dozens of miles along the Appalachian Trail. And, trails don't have to be difficult to be spectacular. For example, the Clingmans Dome trail and the Laurel Falls trail are both relatively easy hike, but both lead to spectacular views, well worth the effort to reach.

Fly fishing is another popular activity in Great Smoky Mountains National Park. Brook trout are native to the area, and brown trout and rainbows also populate the waterways. You can also enjoy horseback riding, water tubing, and bicycling at various park locations. And don't miss the shows fireflies put on in the early summer. The park has a number of firefly species, and they light up at night, between May and June.

Great Smoky Mountains Railroad

Great Smoky Mountains Railroad, with it's historic depot located in Bryson City, North Carolina, offers a variety of passenger-train excursions and special train-ride events throughout the year.

Great Smoky Mountains Railroad includes over 50 miles of track that run through the remote Western North Carolina countryside, crossing thorough massive river gorges, scenic valleys, and rugged Carolina Mountains.

Round trips can run from half day excursions to full day adventures. For example, the Nantahala Gorge Excursion is a 44-mile run through the Nantahala Gorge. This tour also passes by the Little Tennessee River, the Natahala River, and Fontana Lake. The Tuckasegee River Excursion runs 33 miles, through lush meadows and rustic old railroad towns.

During your trip, you'll be able to experience the unique beauty of the Western North Carolina countryside. There are over a hundred variety of trees in the area, as well as numerous flowering plants. Enjoy mountain laurel blooms, white dogwood blossoms, and startling flame azaleas. And, don't forget to look for the wild blackberries and blueberries dotting the fields along the way.

After you ride the Great Smoky Mountains Railroad, stick around in Bryson City for a while. Take in a meal, visit historic sites and museums, and meet the friendly folks that make our area the wonderful place it is.

Virtual Tour

View our rooms and grounds in our virtual tour to see every angle of your stay before booking!