Glen Choga Lodge
Why it's listed
Glen Choga Lodge is a large two-story log inn in a narrow, glen-like stream valley near Aquone in northwest Macon County. Built in 1934-1935 by Scottish-born Alexander and Margaret Hay Steuart, it has saddle-notched walls of mostly chestnut logs cut on the property, with interiors of hardwood boards sawn at an on-site mill. Its U-shaped plan holds nineteen or twenty bedrooms, a main hall, a dining room and a caretaker's quarters, with rustic porch and stair railings made of limbs and branches. The lodge operated as a summer hotel from 1 June through Labor Day, lit by kerosene lamps until the 1960s. Wartime shortages and the Nantahala River impoundment, which flooded Aquone and rerouted the old Franklin to Murphy road, isolated it and ended public operation after 1941. It was listed for its architecture and its place among interwar western North Carolina lodgings. Restored from 1979, it now serves as a family home.
Significance in brief: The lodge is cited as an important member of a small group of architecturally significant interwar hotels and lodgings in western North Carolina. It reflects growing tourism and appreciation of native materials, being built of chestnut logs and hardwoods cut and sawn on site. It is also significant in entertainment/recreation as a summer hotel.
Machine-generated summary. This summary was generated by a language model from the official nomination document and has not been reviewed line by line by an editor. It may contain errors. Check the source document before relying on any detail. Source: nomination document (PDF) · National Archives catalog entry. NRHP reference 96000538, listed April 23, 1996. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 50 Lodge Rd., Aquone |
|---|---|
| County | Macon County |
| Listed | April 23, 1996 |
| Reference number | 96000538 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1934-1941 |
| Architect / builder | Unknown (built by Alexander Breheurs Steuart and Margaret Willis Hay Steuart) |
| Architectural style | Adirondack Style; Other: Rustic |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Architecture, Entertainment/Recreation |
| Level of significance | State |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Now used as a single dwelling (second home) following restoration; the form describes it as well preserved. |
| Acreage | 18.4 |
| Coordinates | 35.19095, -83.68043 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
National Register listing is honorary: it recognises significance and does not restrict what a private owner may do without federal money or permits. It unlocks the 20% federal rehabilitation tax credit for income-producing buildings, state credits in many states, and Section 106 review when federal agencies are involved. See what listing means in practice.
General information, not legal or tax advice. Rules change; confirm with your State Historic Preservation Office or a qualified adviser.
Sources and further reading
- National Park Service, National Register of Historic Places database (snapshot May 2026), reference 96000538.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q18150826
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.