Little Switzerland, North Carolina
Skyline Village Inn and Cavern Tavern
12255 NC Hwy 226A
Little Switzerland, NC 28749
828-765-9394
The Skyline Village Inn & Cavern Tavern sits close enough to the Clinchfield Loops that you can hear trains squealing around the tight curves right from the east-facing balcony of your room, so be sure to ask for one of these if that turns you on. It's definitely "rustic" having been built in the 1940s, complete with squeaky wooden floors and older fixtures, but it's comfortable enough after a long drive--you can't get there from anywhere without a long drive. The new owner in May of 2004 was hoping to market the Skyline Inn to the hiker/bicyclist/backpacker crowd and I informed him of the railfan potential and gave him names of some magazines where he could advertise. It's a great stopover for the night if you are chasing trains on the Clinchfield.
You can get to the area of the tunnel on dirt backroads in about 5-10 minutes by automobile, but finding photo opps is much more difficult due to the terrain. Otherwise, it's a healthy drive down either side of the mountain back to track level.
Submitted by Bote Rail