Lambuth Inn at Lake Junaluska

Erica at the front desk brought us a space heater when our room wouldn’t warm up, and it heated the room quickly. That end of the old hotel still uses a boiler. We were in room 301 for one night. It was clean, with a bathroom big enough for two people to shower, and a lovely view. At sunset the lake turned pink and purple. There’s a small balcony by the room overlooking Inspiration Point. Pros: cleanliness, hospitality, views. Cons: it’s an old building, and they may run out of space heaters lol.

For $140 a night in 2025, this felt like a normal hotel rate, and it was $20 less than the Orlando, FL hotel I’d stayed in. The Lambuth is a lot more interesting, too. After reading the reviews, I was ready to rough it and expected a cold, sleepless stay in a dusty old room. Both of my rooms turned out better than I expected, and the staff were really hospitable. On my first reservation, room # 216 was nice. The mini fridge stayed cold, and the microwave was just past the elevator beside the ice machine, close enough to be convenient. The beds and covers were soft and clean, and the heater worked. The bathroom was clean and nicely remodeled, though tight. I brought a hanging toiletry bag. Staff had folded the towels into a design, and the faucet aerator was clean. The vents were dusty, but that didn’t bother me for a temporary stay. The air felt a little stagnant, which wasn’t a priority for me. The second time, I was in Room 361. The view looked out over an A/C rooftop, but I didn’t mind because the beds were clean and soft. The bathroom had 1980s tile and was bigger than the one in room 216. The sheets were clean, there was a coffee pot and mini fridge, and the thermostat warmed the room within 30 minutes. My needs were met, and I’d come back. The front desk staff were welcoming and happy to chat, and they worked well as a team. The lobby has several kinds of tea and hot apple cider. My card was declined for some reason, but I knew it would get sorted out. The man at the front helped, and we had a good laugh about it. Parking in front is parallel parking, though there’s a regular, larger lot around the side. I’ve stayed at motels from Washington to New York, and this doesn’t feel like a motel. The reviews made it sound worse than a Red Roof Inn or Motel 8. For both stays I’d braced myself for a frigid boiler room with dusty carpets and hallways. I only needed a clean-enough mattress and no bugs, so the rooms exceeded my expectations. I was beyond happy with the stay and the staff’s hospitality.

A scenic place right on Lake Junaluska, with walking trails around the lake, a Chapel, restaurants, and a wedding venue. Fantastic stay, and I’ll be back for longer next time.

We decided to leave early after another sleepless night at The Lambuth. The view and the surrounding area partly made up for the stay, but the room didn’t impress me, and the layout felt cramped. The bathroom had no ventilation. At some point overnight, when it cooled off outside, the AC started blowing hot air. Without running it, the air felt stagnant. The beds were fair, and the cleaning seemed questionable. For what they charge, I personally don’t think it’s worth it. I might have rated the experience 1-2 stars. I gave it 3 because the building is old and a kind staff member listened to our complaints, then adjusted the bill. I expected to pay for all the nights we’d planned under the terms, so I was pleasantly surprised.