Houseboat · Rooftop Bar · Walk to Neyland and Downtown

Wake up on a houseboat on the Tennessee River, coffee in hand, while the ducks paddle up to the back deck to say good morning. By afternoon you'll walk to Neyland or wander downtown Knoxville. By night the whole crew is up at the rooftop bar, string lights on, the game on the TV, the Gay Street Bridge glowing across the water. This is Rocky Top Retreat: three bedrooms, three decks, and a host named Kim who thinks of everything. A river view from bed? That too.

ABOUT THIS SPACE

Rocky Top Retreat is a renovated 76' x 16' widebody houseboat with 3 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms (boat people call them heads) and room for 6, moored in its own covered slip at the marina. It's a unique stay that still lives like a real home, which is why guests keep asking to stay longer.

The salon: Step in from the front deck and the whole crew fits. Sectional seating, big windows on both sides, and a 58" Samsung Smart TV right beside the boat's original helm. (Yes, take the captain's-hat photo.)

The galley: A full kitchen with a full-size fridge, electric range and oven, dishwasher, microwave, toaster and blender, with every cabinet labeled so you find the skillet on the first try. The quartz counter has a swirl that looks like moving water; Kim (that's me) picked it for exactly that reason.

Coffee and dining: A coffee bar with a Keurig, pods, tea, creamer and a cabinet of mugs sits next to a dining table for six. Board games, birthday cake, long breakfasts.

Sleeping:
• Primary stateroom: king bed with a river view through the window above it, looking out to the Gay Street Bridge. Closet, plus a door straight into the aft head.
• Queen berth up two steps, with its own smart TV.
• Queen berth down three steps (Our granddaughter calls it the "Big Girl" room), with its own smart TV.

The heads: Two full heads in a Jack-and-Jill layout share a stand-up shower that closes off completely. Towels, shampoo, conditioner, body wash and hair dryers are stocked.

Staying a while: A full-size stacked washer and dryer in the hallway, central heat and A/C, ceiling fans, dedicated Wi-Fi and a dedicated workspace make a week or two easy.

Three decks:
• Front deck: shaded table and chairs for coffee while the marina wakes up.
• Back deck: a covered patio table where the ducks come calling. Rumor says they knock.
• Rooftop bar: up the spiral stairs you'll find two bar counters with stools, a sectional and lounge chairs, an electric grill, and a 51" LG Smart TV with soundbar.

LOCATION & WHAT'S NEARBY

You're floating at the edge of downtown Knoxville, a few minutes from the Volunteer Landing riverwalk. Plenty of guests walk to Neyland and campus on game day. In July heat it's a real walk, so a quick rideshare is a smart backup. Drive times from the marina:
• Neyland Stadium & UT campus: walk it, or a short ride
• Gay Street & the Tennessee Theatre: about 5 min
• World's Fair Park & the Sunsphere: about 7 min
• Market Square, restaurants and live music: about 8 min
• The Old City's bars and live music: about 8 min
• Knoxville Museum of Art: about 8 min
• Kerns Food Hall, a past-guest favorite: a few minutes
• Covenant Health Park (Smokies baseball): about 10 min
• Suttree Landing Park: about 10 min
• Ijams Nature Center, trails and a swim hole: about 15 min
• Zoo Knoxville: about 15 min

Want time on the water? Knoxville Adventure Collective is in the first building as you leave the lot, and Volunteer Landing Marina rents pontoons. If you think you might want a pontoon, reserve it before you arrive.

WHO THIS HOME IS BEST FOR

• UT football crews: warm up at the rooftop bar on game day, then walk to Neyland with the crowd.
• Parents weekend families: three bedrooms for up to 6, and coffee on the bow before the campus tour.
• A girls trip or birthday weekend: six friends, three bedrooms, and a rooftop for the toasts.
• Couples after a unique stay: fall asleep to the river instead of a hotel hallway.
• Longer stays and remote work: full kitchen, washer and dryer, a workspace, and a slower rhythm on the water.

GUEST ACCESS

You'll have full, exclusive access to the entire boat and every onboard amenity for your stay — the salon, galley, all sleeping areas, both heads, and all three decks are yours alone. Check-in is self check-in via lockbox, no need to coordinate arrival times. Each vessel in the marina is privately owned; please enjoy access to Rocky Top Retreat only, unless another owner personally invites you aboard their boat.

PARKING

Free parking is provided on-site at the marina and is located under the bridge at the upper end of the parking lot. The marina allows 1 parking pass per boat. Your parking pass can be found in the kitchen of the boat. Please hang this from your mirror. From parking it's a short, 5-7 minute walk to the dock. Walk from the parking area and turn down the sidewalk beside Ruth's Chris (they have an awesome happy hour Monday-Friday 4-6 in the bar area. Dress is very casual in the bar. We often go in shorts and tee shirts.) After you cross the RR tracks, bear left and then cross the metal bridge on your right. After crossing the bridge, you will go to the gate on the left.

HOUSE RULES

This is a real, working marina, so a few rules keep the stay safe. The reserving guest must be 21+ and present, and only registered guests (max 6) are permitted on dock and boat. Guests 13 and older are welcome. Traveling with a child under 13? Message Kim before booking. Baby gear (crib, high chair) isn't provided.

Marine toilets: only natural body waste goes in the toilets. No toilet paper, wipes or feminine products; use the small bags at each toilet for tissue. Instructions are posted beside each toilet, and if anything else clogs the system, the service call is charged to the reserving guest.

No pets, no smoking, vaping, or e-cigarettes inside the boat. The boat stays in its slip — guest operation isn't permitted, and please don't adjust dock lines or shore power. Quiet hours run 10:00 PM to 8:00 AM, and Tennessee law prohibits swimming within 100 yards of any dock. Expect gentle rocking and slippery decks when wet — part of the houseboat experience. Exterior cameras monitor the dock walkways.

Walking distance to all UT sports and downtown Knoxville activities!