TOWNSEND, Tn. – Following eight months of construction, the Dancing Bear Lodge is preparing to reopen an exciting new restaurant on their 34-acre property set in the foothills of the Smokies called the Dancing Bear Appalachian Bistro.
In November 2013, the popular restaurant on the grounds was destroyed in a tragic blaze. Mark and Sharon Oldham subsequently purchased the property last summer and broke ground for the ambitious, multi-million dollar construction project in January. They also acquired the Apple Valley Country Stores and Café next door, leveraging the café as a restaurant for Dancing Bear guests, updating the retail facility, while enhancing the café dramatically for tourists alike.
However, the crown jewel of their endeavors is the Dancing Bear Appalachian Bistro. The reopening of this dedicated restaurant and attached Lodge Event Center represents a resurrection of the core Dancing Bear property. The Oldhams have also used this period of construction to add four brand new accommodations on the grounds. Interest remains very high following months of updates on social media and Dancing Bear’s website, http://dancingbearlodge.com.
Soon, the Dancing Bear Appalachian Bistro, located at 7140 East Lamar Alexander Parkway in Townsend, will host a soft opening with invited guests who made charitable donations to the Great Smoky Mountains Heritage Center, the Tremont Institute and Prevent Child Abuse TN earlier this year. This trial run will give practical training to new employees before the business opens to the general public on Friday, August 21, at 4 pm. The hours will be Tuesdays through Sundays from 4-10 pm. Reservations are available by calling (865) 336-2138 or by visiting OpenTable.com. Winter hours will be curtailed.
“Our construction and design team has been working around the clock to complete the new Appalachian Bistro on schedule, and we have made great strides in accomplishing our goal,” said Mark Oldham. “People in Townsend excitedly told us they traveled to eat at our other restaurant in Chattanooga, Terra Mae, just to get a preview of what’s coming here.”
Adjoining the new restaurant, the rebuilt Lodge Event Center will host weddings, reunions, corporate meetings, and retreats. A new pavilion and event lawn suitable for outdoor gatherings will enhance the property directly adjacent to the Appalachian Bistro.
The “farm-to-table” restaurant focuses on regional cuisine using fresh, carefully sourced ingredients, including vegetables grown by the Oldhams from their dedicated farm on the property and in Middle Tennessee. Other local farms will be sourced for the freshest ingredients possible in every dish.
“Our seasonal ingredients and fresh local produce inspire the ingenuity of our chefs,” Oldham said. “Our menus will change often, which presents interesting challenges but will distinguish us from most restaurants. We’re comfortable taking the road less traveled.”
The Appalachian bistro is helmed by Head of Culinary Operations Shelley Cooper – a Memphis native who is also the Executive Chef at Terra Mae Appalachian Bistro – and General Manager Dustin Burnette, a Sweetwater resident with a rich family history in the restaurant business. Both studied at Johnson and Wales Culinary Institute in Charleston. Cooper has been featured in numerous publications, including Bon Appetit, Food Arts, Good Housekeeping, Food Arts, and Food and Wine magazines while honing her craft at acclaimed restaurants in San Francisco, Hilton Head, New Zealand, Los Angeles, Hawaii, and Alaska. Rounding out the team is Sous Chef Jeremiah Dennis, who comes fresh from top kitchens in Austin, Texas and Atlanta, Ga.
Cooper said cocktails at the restaurant will be carefully paired with dishes, and The Artistic Bean in Townsend is creating a coffee blend specifically made to compliment the foods as well. Regionally inspired foods prepared in creative ways inspired by Cooper’s global travels will take guests on a journey into artful, authentic cuisine.
“We are very proud of the Dancing Bear Appalachian Bistro,” Oldham said. “We’re looking forward to showing off the new restaurant and treating the East Tennessee community and our Dancing Bear guests to an elegant, yet relaxed dining experience, whether they’re enjoying a celebratory meal among friends and family or a romantic dinner for two on the Peaceful Side of the Smoky Mountains.”