Accessible only by seriously curvy roads with nicknames like “Hellbender” and “Tail of the Dragon” and situated a good 30 minutes from the nearest town, Fontana Village mountain resort on the shores of Fontana Lake takes the concept of getting away from it all to another level. But is there really enough to do in such a remote location to justify leaving the world behind?

The answer is a resounding yes. Fontana Village, nestled between the Nantahala National Forest and Great Smoky Mountains National Park in stunningly beautiful Graham County, is the largest resort in the Smokies —and exemplary of the all-inclusive breed of accommodation in rural, scenic areas that guests have come to rely on.

Mountain lodges today offer seclusion, but they also offer up a full menu of activities for their guests. Sure, there are scores of hiking trails and tons of scenery — the Appalachian Trail is minutes away by walk or shuttle.

But to enjoy recreation, guests don’t even have to leave the premises. A challenging 18-hole, state of the art disc golf course? Check. A totally renovated pool, complete with waterfalls and a lazy river? Check. Basketball and tennis courts? Check, check.

Yet the real fun begins with the litany of resort-sponsored activities largely crafted by outdoor programs director Jerry Span. By combining outdoor recreation — a top priority of mountain travelers – with the rich history of the Fontana Dam area, Span has created an agenda that has guests never wanting to leave.

On a sunny day in early September, Span piloted a group of guests on a day-long pontoon boat tour of Lake Fontana. The 32-mile lake was created in 1944 by damming the Little Tennessee River and its tributaries. Creation of the lake cut off access to communities that had flourished in the area since the 1800s. Guests on the Fontana Lake tour are treated to a tour of Hazel Creek, a once robust logging community complete with a school, movie theater, and train depot. Buildings, unoccupied for decades, are all that remains of the town.

The next stop on the boat tour is an abandoned copper mine. Span pieced together historical accounts of the area to determine the mine’s location. Behind a rusty fence, past overgrown shrubbery, guests can examine gaping black holes in the earth’s surface that once bustled with the promise of riches.

For those who want a different lake experience, the resort offers the Kayak Adventure. Guests learn about the history of the area all the while learning how to kayak. The trip involves a stop at College Dropout, a spot where guests can cliff-jump to cool off in the lake.

Activities at Fontana Village continue into the night, a time when the selection of things to do at a remote mountain resort is sometimes limited. But not at Fontana. Here, guests can take part in a night hike to Payne Town cemetery, named after Green Berry Payne, a farmer and Civil War veteran buried in the area.

“We already had day hikes,” says Span. “There’s just a different element at night. You hear more sounds and wildlife. IT has a natural ambience that guests don’t really experience and probably aren’t comfortable doing on their own.”

Span regales guests with the history and stories of family buried in the cemetery — a tough breed of Appalachian folk who were some of the original settlers of the area.

“I’m trying to tell the story to give people a glimpse of Appalachian living,” Span says.

One of Fontana Village’s most popular offerings derived from the night hike — a ghost tour. It starts at the late-1800s Gunter Cabin, a historical building located in the middle of resort property. The tour travels through a cemetery and down to what is now the resorts’ administration building, where guests have reported some odd sensations.

“Some people get weird feelings,” Span says. “This one guy could feel someone blowing on his neck, but there wasn’t anything there.”

By capitalizing on the unique character and beauty of the area, Span has planned an agenda that keeps guests occupied without having to stray far from where they’re staying.

“It seems like society is growing a little bit more adventurous,” Span says. “We want to provide the opportunity for them to do that and give them a good bang for their buck.”

All without having to leave the mountaintop.