Review: Heart of The Valley Motel
In summer 2023, Florian and I met up with our giveaway winner, Christina, and her friend, Jennifer, for a Shamrock Tour® out of Maggie Valley, NC. We planned the ride for early June, just before the busy season began, and we basically had Maggie Valley to ourselves—aside from a Chevy SSR club, which was in town the same weekend.
We spent four nights at the Heart of the Valley Motel, which is located just off the main strip of Maggie Valley.
You can’t see the motel from the road, but after following the driveway across Jonathans Creek, we saw the 15-room building for the first time, with levels in one long strip and parking directly in front of each room. The motel has recently been refurbished, so it looks quite modern despite having been around for several decades.
The rooms are spacious enough to accommodate up to two riders each, with an area to lay out damp riding gear to dry. The beds are comfortable, the sheets are soft, and I was able to easily peek at the bike out the window when I woke up in the middle of the night.
On each day of the tour, we enjoyed endless twisty roads, nearly empty of traffic. In the evenings, we gathered around the fire pit to share stories, plan the next riding day, and enjoy a couple of adult beverages.
The motel sits on the shores of Jonathans Creek, which gave me a perfect chance to catch trout in the mornings before saddling up to ride.
The Heart of the Valley Motel is within walking distance of several restaurants, shops, and the Wheels Through Time Museum. The Stompin’ Ground, a local dance hall known for its clogging competitions, is also next door.
As a matter of fact, the owners of the motel are cloggers themselves! They are also motorcycle enthusiasts, so you’ll have new best friends the instant you arrive.
Facts & Info
Amenities
- Parking spaces next to the rooms for easy access.
- Restaurants within walking distance.
- Easily accessible outlets for charging multiple electronics.
- Plenty of space in each room for two riders to spread out their gear.
- Fire pit for socializing after the ride.
- Access to Jonathans Creek for fishing.
Nearby Attractions
- Stompin’ Grounds
- Wheels Through Time Museum
- Great Smoky Mountains National Park
Nearby Roads
Maggie Valley is a fantastic base location for motorcyclists looking to explore the southern Appalachian Mountains. The Blue Ridge Parkway is nearby, making the Heart of the Valley Motel a great place to stop on your ride north.
You will also find Newfound Gap, SR 28, and Pisgah Hwy, all of which are some of the RoadRUNNER crew’s favorite roads to ride in the area.
To learn more about Maggie Valley and its epic motorcycling opportunities, check out our Shamrock Tour in the 2023 Special Collectors Issue.
Price
$79-$139/night
Location
Find it at 73 Heart Ln, Maggie Valley, NC.