Capital Vacations has acquired key assets at Sunrise Ridge Resort in Pigeon Forge, Tennessee, adding 132 vacation ownership units to its portfolio and assuming roles as exclusive resort manager, rental manager, and vacation ownership sales and marketing agent for the property. The deal marks the company's third Smoky Mountains location, following its recent additions of Gatlinburg Town Square Resort and Mountain Meadows Resort.
Why the Smokies Matter
The region is no speculative bet. The Smoky Mountains draws more than 11.5 million visitors each year, making it one of the most active leisure travel corridors in the eastern United States. For hospitality operators and resort management companies alike, that sustained demand underpins investment in both property improvements and ancillary services — from food and beverage programming to guest-experience upgrades that keep return visitors spending on-property.
Capital Vacations plans to open a sales preview center at Sunrise Ridge and has committed to near-term improvements to unit interiors, landscaping, and shared amenities. The 132-unit property sits minutes from Pigeon Forge's main attraction corridor and features indoor and outdoor pools, a sauna, fitness center, arcade, and mountain views — an amenity mix that supports both leisure and group hospitality segments.
Strategic Clustering
Travis Bary, Co-President of Capital Vacations, framed the acquisition as part of a deliberate regional strategy. "Several factors drove our enthusiasm for this transaction, including the resort's prime location and amenities, a highly capable resort team, and our strategic focus on strengthening our footprint in the Smoky Mountains," Bary said. The clustering of three resorts within a single destination market allows the company to consolidate management overhead, cross-market vacation ownership products, and deliver consistent brand standards — a model increasingly favored by independent resort operators navigating tightening labor and operating cost environments.
The broader context matters for hospitality industry observers: vacation ownership and resort management companies have accelerated acquisition activity in drive-to leisure markets since the post-pandemic travel rebound. Mountain and outdoor destinations have proven particularly resilient, attracting travelers who prioritize experience-based stays over urban hotel alternatives. Capital Vacations, which partners with more than 200 independent resorts across the U.S. and Caribbean and services over one million travelers annually, is positioning its club membership model — Capital Vacations Club — as the connective tissue across its growing portfolio.
For food and beverage operators and hospitality vendors eyeing the Smoky Mountains market, a growing concentration of managed resort inventory signals expanding procurement opportunities. Properties under professional resort management tend to standardize vendor relationships and invest more consistently in guest-facing services, including dining and recreation, as part of broader hospitality management strategies designed to boost per-guest revenue.
Written by Michael Politz, Author of Guide to Restaurant Success: The Proven Process for Starting Any Restaurant Business From Scratch to Success (ISBN: 978-1-119-66896-1), Founder of Food & Beverage Magazine, the leading online magazine and resource in the industry. Designer of the Bluetooth logo and recognized in Entrepreneur Magazine's "Top 40 Under 40" for founding American Wholesale Floral, Politz is also the Co-founder of the Proof Awards and the CPG Awards and a partner in numerous consumer brands across the food and beverage sector.
