MOUNTAIN BLUE: The Top 26 Water-Related Businesses in the Blue Ridge

The votes are in, now it's time to celebrate the Best Water-Related Businesses in the Blue Ridge, as selected by our readers.

Best Waterfront Hotel / Resort

  • Platinum - Peaks of Otter Lodge (Bedford, VA)
  • Gold - Lake Junaluska Conference & Retreat Center (Waynesville, NC)
  • Silver - Chetola Resort (Blowing Rock, NC)
  • Honorable Mention - Bernard’s Landing Resort (Smith Mountain Lake, VA)
  • Honorable Mention - Fontana Village Resort (Fontana Dam, NC)
  • Honorable Mention - Stonewall Resort (Roanoke, WV)

Best Place to Stay With a Water Park

  • Platinum - Dollywood’s Splash Country (Pigeon Forge, TN)
  • Gold - Wilderness at the Smokies (Sevierville, TN)
  • Silver - Massanutten Resort (McGaheysville, VA)
  • Honorable Mention - Yogi Bear’s Jellystone Park Camp-Resort (Luray, VA)
  • Honorable Mention - ACE Adventure Resort (Oak Hill, WV)
  • Honorable Mention - Westgate Smoky Mountain Resort (Gatlinburg, TN)

Best Whitewater Rafting Co.

  • Platinum - Nantahala Outdoors Center / NOC (TN, NC, SC)
  • Gold - Adventures on the Gorge (Lansing, WV)
  • Silver - Rafting in the Smokies (Gatlinburg, TN)
  • Honorable Mention - ACE Adventure (Oak Hill, WV)

Best Fishing Store - Chain 

  • Platinum - Bass Pro Shop
  • Gold - Cabela’s
  • Silver - Orvis

Best Fishing Store

  • Platinum - Little River Outfitters (Townsend, TN)
  • Gold - Smoky Mountain Angler (Gatlinburg, TN)
  • Silver - Cohutta Fishing Company (2 locations in GA)
  • Honorable Mention - McFly Outdoors (3 locations in WV)
  • Honorable Mention - Hunter Banks Fly Fishing (Asheville, NC)
  • Honorable Mention - Mossy Creek Fly Fishing (Harrisonburg, VA)
  • Honorable Mention - Angler's Lane (Forest, VA)

About Our Mountain Blue Reader Survey: The winners above were selected by our readers in online voting that took place in early 2020. Our thanks to our readers for their time, expertise and knowledge in the voting. Please click here to view the rest of the winners!