The original owners of a bed and breakfast in Leesburg, Ala., knew of an old saying: “If you tell a woman a secret, it won’t be a secret.”
The Secret B&B consists of a main lodge with four guest rooms, but the main attractions are the themed private cabins.Using this logic as an advertising strategy, they named their business after the quote. Nearly two decades later, the Secret Bed & Breakfast Lodge remains proof that sometimes spilling the beans can be a good thing.
Current owners Charlie and Kris Thomas have owned the Secret for a little over a year, and they are as fond of the B&B as their guests. And what’s not to love? For starters, the Secret sits on top of Lookout Mountain and overlooks Weiss Lake, resulting in a panorama that is simply breathtaking. “We have 180-degree views of the lake and there’s a rooftop pool with an even better view,” says Kris. “It’s very quiet, very peaceful. It’s a great place to just come and relax and enjoy the views.”
Catering to couples, girls’ weekends and small events, the Secret, just an hour-and-a-half drive southwest from Chattanooga, can accommodate 22 people. The B&B consists of a main lodge with four guest rooms, but the main attractions are the themed private cabins: the Nautical Cottage, the Tree House, the Sugar Shack and an 1850’s-style Jailhouse.
The rooms’ amenities and the allure of the surrounding nature mean that guests don’t need to leave the property to have a delightful stay. “The best thing to do if you’re staying on the property is to just sit on the bluff and watch the sunset, and then look off of the other side of the mountain and watch all the lights come on in the valley below,” Kris says. “It’s magical.”
If visitors do want to explore the area, there are countless options. A drive-in movie theater is only a few minutes down the road. Farther out, visitors can find antique stores, restaurants (Kris recommends Mountain Parkway Grill and Tony’s Steak Barn), and even a glassblower’s studio.
The Secret sits on top of Lookout Mountain and overlooks Weiss Lake, resulting in a panorama that is simply breathtaking.And autumn, it seems, is the perfect time to take an afternoon drive through the region. “There are several fall festivals in towns around here,” Kris says. “We’re close to Little River Canyon and DeSoto Falls, which have just gorgeous foliage. But even if you’re staying on the property, it’s really nice to just sit outside with a book or a cup of coffee with the foliage all around you.”
A top-quality B&B serves a breakfast as memorable as its lodgings, and the Secret does not disappoint. Kris describes the morning meal as “pretty gourmet, but it’s also a typical country meal.”
Menu favorites include crème brûlée French toast, strawberry and cream cheese bake, eggs, fruit and more. The breakfast feast brings together the lodge’s visitors each morning, and Kris says that this is the best part of her job: getting to meet and converse with her guests over a good meal.
She has met people from several countries but says that most guests only travel a few hours from home to get to the Secret. Some come for the nearby rock climbing and other outdoor activities, but most, she says, just come to get away from it all – and they’ve come to the right place. “I just want them to leave relaxed,” she says. “We get couples who are too busy to spend time with each other and they come here and just take it slow and get to know each other again. We get people who are caught up in the hustle and bustle at work or home and they get to come here and just sit still and enjoy the quiet.
“I just want them to be refreshed.”
Here’s the secret: at the Secret Bed & Breakfast Lodge, you will be.
Rates are $75-$165 per night. For more information or to make reservations, visit The Secret’s website or call (256) 523-3825.