Background & Location
I had $200 of resort credit expiring from my AMEX Hilton Aspire Card at the end of June and was looking for a hotel in the Chattanooga, Tennessee area. To my surprise, a new resort, Cloudland at McLemore Resort, part of the Curio Collection by Hilton, had just opened in February of 2024. It was considered a resort by Hilton, so I was happy that I could apply the $200 to my stay.
Cloudland at McLemore Resort is about 30 miles south of Chattanooga, Tennessee, and about 120 miles from Atlanta, Georgia. It’s located in quite a remote area, in the northwest part of Georgia, near both the Alabama and Tennessee state lines. The resort offers 245 guest rooms, 3 restaurants, a spa, and multiple golf courses. It had a soft opening in February 2024, and an official opening just in May 2024, so it is quite new.
Rates for Cloudland start at around $300 per night before taxes and fees, or 85,000 Hilton Honors Points. I work with a travel agency, Fora Travel, and can assist in booking hotel stays. Feel free to email me at takeofftotravel@fora.travel or fill out the contact form at the bottom of this post if you have any inquiries.
Takeoff Points
Date of Stay: June 2024
Room Type: King Superior Mountain View With Balcony
Pros: Beautiful new resort with amazing common areas, a nice pool, and comfortable guest rooms.
Cons: Restaurant service had some quirks, $43 for valet parking, and there were no spa-like amenities in the guest rooms.
Takeoff Point: A solid retreat in the Chattanooga area, that provides a relaxing four-star stay.
Resort Fee and Parking Fee
Cloudland charges a $45 resort fee that includes:
- Bicycle rentals
- Curated library access
- Golf course transportation & golf bag storage
- $15 daily spa credit
- $10 daily golf practice facility credit
- 2 signature cocktails every evening
- Stargazing equipment.
Considering the resort is in a very remote area, I was a bit surprised to see only valet parking being available (no self-parking). Plus, it was an extra $43 a day. Quite high in my opinion.
Arrival
As you enter the McLemore Resort, there’s a gate with security, and then you’ll enter the resort. You’ll pass many million-dollar residential homes, and see the Golf Clubhouse, then go down the hill towards the hotel.
The valets will text you a link so you can easily call your car when you need it, which was helpful.
Upon entering the resort, I was immediately impressed by the two-story lobby and gorgeous views of the mountains and the resort.
To the left, is the reception area and sundries store.
To the right of the entrance is a nice library. I really liked the decor of the property. The property’s theme is the Scottish Highlands.
I did an online check-in via the Hilton Honors App and was upgraded from the entry-level King Room to the King Superior Mountain View With Balcony courtesy of my Hilton Honors Diamond Status. On the app, I was able to choose my room and picked the only room left on the top (4th) floor. I still wanted physical room keys, so I headed to the reception desk and was helped by a friendly associate.
She thanked me for being a Diamond Member and also explained that I would have a $30 Food and Beverage Credit ($15 per person) from my Diamond Status. This could be used at any dining establishment onsite(minus the Creag at the golf clubhouse). She also gave me a nice box of Yogurt-covered pretzels, plus some chocolates for using digital check-in.
The Room
As you enter the room on the left, there is a large marble luggage rack with built-in coat hangers. I loved this design, and the wood tones were relaxing.
There is also additional drawer storage underneath the built-in luggage rack. Next to that is a Keurig machine with six Keurig capsules of coffee and tea and a mini fridge for personal use. Also, there are two bottles of natural spring water in the room. The closet was attached with wooden hangers & safe. On the downside, no robes or slippers were provided, which would have been a nice touch for this resort.
The bathroom was nice, though pretty standard with the shower on the left and the water closet toward the right. On the plus side, there is ample counterspace and toiletries are provided by Hunter Lab from Australia. There is body lotion, a vanity kit, and a bar of soap at the sink as well as body wash, shampoo, and conditioner in refillable bottles in the shower.
The shower was nice and large, and the showerhead had adjustable settings. I do wish there was a wand or rainfall function, and if the water pressure was a bit stronger. The towels were clean and soft.
Bedroom
Walking into the room there is a comfortable king-sized bed with nightstands on each side of it. One of the alarm clocks has a wireless charging tray and can serve as a Bluetooth speaker. In front of the bed is a makeshift desk area. Towards the window, there is a large chair and a small dining table.
The room is a bit on the smaller side at 300 square feet, but there is a large balcony with two chairs and a small table which I loved. It had great views of the pool area and the mountains so there are a lot of nature views.
Amenities
Selah Spa
Selah offers massages, body treatments, and facials. Along with treatments, there are steam rooms and saunas as well.
Cloudland Fitness Center
It is open 24 hours and is quite a good size. The coolest part of the fitness center is the Peloton Spin Studio in the back!
Cliff-edge Infinity Pool
I found the pool to be quite nice, and enjoyed my morning dip! It was so relaxing looking over the nearby scenery. The pool is open from 8 am to dusk and offers food service from the nearby Skyside lounge. There is also a hot tub.
Hiking
The resort offers plenty of hiking trails, and I decided to try the one that went below the perimeter of the resort. I feel like the paths weren’t outlined the best, and the signs were quite small.
Golfing
The hotel has two 18-hole courses, the Highlands, and the Keep (opening in Fall 2024). There is also a short 6-hole course called the Cairn.
Dining
The main restaurant is called Croft, and it features breakfast (brunch on weekends), lunch, and dinner. In sticking to the Scottish theme, Croft is named after the small farms sprinkled across Scotland.
I had breakfast before checkout, and while I found my omelet to be decent, I think they could upgrade their hot tea selection.
Also, I had dinner at Croft and loved the outdoor seating, and the steak I ordered was great. My travel companion also liked their salmon, though we both noticed that the service was on the slower side. Not a big issue, but I think they are just some grand opening staffing pains.
The fine dining establishment at Cloudland is called Aud Alliance and is described as where Scottish heritage meets French sophistication. There were no reservations available when we arrived, so we didn’t get to try it out on this trip. Currently, Aud Alliance is open from Tuesdays to Saturdays for dinner.
The Pocket Cafe is the lobby-level coffee shop. It serves an all-day menu from 6 am to 4 pm, and coffee, cocktails, and snacks from 4 pm to 7 pm. We got the evening cocktails that were included in the resort fee from here, and it was a pretty tasty honey limeade.
There’s both indoor and outdoor seating, and I enjoyed the view from outside.
Skyside is a poolside oasis with great views that serves an array of handcrafted cocktails, beverages, and bar bites. Current hours are 4 pm to 9 pm Tuesday-Thursday, and 11 am to 9 pm Friday & Saturday.
Lastly, the Creag is located outside the hotel at the Highlands Clubhouse. You can get a free ride on a golf cart to take you there by the resort staff. It’s open for breakfast, lunch, and dinner.
The Verdict
Overall, I had a great one-night visit to Cloudland at McLemore Resort part of the Curio Collection by Hilton. I liked the decor of the rooms and the view from the balcony. The setting feels quite picturesque, and it’s great for a little getaway.
Have you stayed at the Cloudland at McLemore Resort, Curio by Hilton? How was your experience? Comment below!
Cheers,
Ty
Have any questions? I’ve also started working with a travel agency, Fora Travel, and can assist in booking hotel stays or planning trips. Comment below or email me at takeofftotravel@gmail.com. You can also view all my other posts here! Thanks for stopping by!
Nice unique review! I’d also highly recommend checking out Lake Winnepesaukah (Amusement Park) about 30 minutes away. They have a 2 historic rides, a 1960’s out and back wooden roller coaster designed by John C. Allen and the oldest log flume in the United States built in the 1920’s. Kinda a hidden gem around here.
Thanks for reading and sharing!