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SMITH LAKE, ALABAMA | 40 PRIVATE ACRES | 170+ FIVE-STAR REVIEWS

Alabama's Private Waterfront Retreat Resort

Not a venue you visit for a Saturday.
A resort you take over for the weekend.

170

Five-Star Reviews

350

Events Hosted

40

Private Acres

60

Overnight Guests

Welcome to The Barn at Smith Lake

Tucked into 40 private acres on the shores of Lewis Smith Lake in Bremen, Alabama, The Barn at Smith Lake is unlike anything else in the Southeast.

It is not a single venue with a parking lot. It is a self-contained waterfront resort — five luxury lakefront homes, two architecturally extraordinary event spaces, boat rentals, lake access, and a hospitality team with 170+ five-star reviews — that your group books privately and completely.

Your guests arrive by car, or by boat. They check into their lakefront home. They wake up on the water. They celebrate, relax, and stay. No hotel shuttles. No shared lobbies. No public access. Just 40 private acres, a private lake, and a team that has made over 200 weekends unforgettable.

"We booked the entire property — some guests arrived by boat. We enjoyed lake activities, a rehearsal dinner at the Glass House, and held our ceremony on the lawn. It was truly the perfect weekend."

Keaton J.

Two World-Class Venues

Choose from The Barn — a 5,500 sq ft lakefront event hall for up to 250 guests — or The Glass House, an architecturally award-nominated intimate venue for up to 40, perched above the water on a lot surrounded on all sides by Smith Lake.

Explore The Venues
A large house with a metal roof overlooking a lake at sunset, surrounded by trees and greenery.
Modern white farmhouse with metal roof and wooden doors surrounded by green lawn and trees under a blue sky.

Five Luxury Lakefront Homes

The Glass House (sleeps 18), Glass House Cottage (6), Cottage One (10), Cottage Two (6–8), and Cape NOLA (18). All five are directly on the water. All five are fully stocked and guest-ready. Together they sleep 60. Book one home or book the entire resort.

Explore Accommodations

Every Occasion, One Private Property

Smiling bride in a white lace wedding dress with a denim jacket that reads 'Mrs. Scalzo' on wooden outdoor stairs surrounded by autumn foliage.

Weddings

Destination wedding weekends with on-site lodging for the entire party.

Family Reunions

35 beds, 40 acres, one private lakefront property.

Girls' Weekends

Bachelorette retreats and lake weekends on Smith Lake.

Corporate Retreats

Private lakeside gatherings your team will actually remember.

Milestone Celebrations

Birthdays, anniversaries, retirements — on the water.

Faith Retreats

Church and leadership retreats in a private natural setting.

Wooden deck with two Adirondack chairs overlooking calm blue water.

What Guests Are Saying

"The Barn at Smith Lake was absolutely stunning! My daughter got married Sept. 18 and we could not have picked a more perfect place. We loved every part of The Barn from personal to all the accommodations. All of our expectations were meet in the highest form. Shelly the wedding coordinator was amazing and since become a friend of mine! If you are looking for an absolutely amazing place to get married that has the most gorgeous views, I would 10/10 recommend The Barn! You will not regret it!"
Kelly McMahan
"We had the best experience at The Barn Smith Lake!! We rented The Barn, Glass House, Nola, and 3 cottages. Amazing views from every angle!! Shelly Gary (coordinator for The Barn) is the best!! She is so helpful with literally every aspect!! No complaints at all!"
Alexis McMahan
"My husband and I adored getting to have the ceremony and reception we originally planned to have at The Barn last fall! It was absolutely STUNNING and a dream come true! The team is incredible to work with. Shelly, the wedding coordinator, was so kind and made sure the details were taken care of, everything went smoothly, and that we were able to have a peaceful day. I'm so grateful for how easy they were to work with throughout our rescheduling process due to the pandemic. What a BLESSING! We're forever grateful. Best wedding venue in Alabama!!!"
Alana Sharp
"Our wedding at the Barn at Smith Lake was the wedding of our dreams! It's honestly something I still can't believe actually happened! From Day 1, Peter and his team were very responsive in communicating with us. We live in Ohio, and were having a destination wedding and they honestly made it easy! Shelly and her team worked so hard to make everything perfect and was so accommodating through everything. Shelly is so nice and weddings are truly a passion of hers and she finds a way to make anything work. Honestly, without her, we would not of had a pastor, because she found him for us! They really are a well oiled machine there! The scenery is absolutely beautiful and the property is so private, our guests were blown away. 10/10 recommend this place! Photo Cred: Mariah Oldacre Wedding and Lifestyle Photography"
Markie Weber
"This venue is absolutely stunning! The glass house and other cottages make it perfect for weddings with out of town family/ guests. We had our wedding here a couple weeks back and the entire weekend was better than I could have imagined. Best part: Shelly, the wedding planner!! She is amazing and was with us every step of the way. She takes care of everything and truly cares about you and your day. Highly recommend both the venue and Shelly!!"
Emily Ledet
"Beautiful venue! I had my wedding reception here July 31, 2021. I was originally supposed to have a large wedding at the barn May 9, 2020 but because of COVID we had to change our date several times. Peter, the venue owner, was incredibly flexible and understanding given our situation. Shelly, the venue coordinator, is a rockstar. We rented the glass house for an entire week leading up to our reception on Saturday. Shelly was our point of contact throughout the week. She was professional, personable and incredibly easy to work with. Shelly definitely knows what she's doing and I could not have asked for a better person to work with at my wedding. I highly recommend this venue, it was worth every penny! Thank you Peter and Shelly!!"
Mandy Hartley
"Planning a wedding can be extremely stressful but the whole management team - Shelly, Peter, and Diana- helped make our day the most perfect day of our lives. My husband and I chose the "Weekend Get-Away" package and it was the best decision we ever made! We had our ceremony/reception on Friday, leaving us Saturday to enjoy the lake. All of our guests really enjoyed their weekend here too. We will definitely be visiting again!!"
Karina Guevara
The Setting

Smith Lake, Alabama

Lewis Smith Lake is ranked the 3rd cleanest lake in the United States. Crystal-clear water, 500+ miles of shoreline, and a reputation among boaters and nature lovers that draws visitors from across the country. The Barn sits on a private peninsula with water views from nearly every angle — a setting that no constructed event space can replicate.

Located 45 minutes north of Birmingham, approximately less than 3 hours from Atlanta and Nashville, and accessible from anywhere in the Southeast. Far enough to feel like a true escape. Close enough to get there on a Thursday afternoon.

White porch swing hanging by chains with a view of a green lake and surrounding forest under a clear blue sky.
Stone patio area with a row of white flowers in front overlooking a river surrounded by forested hills.
Modern two-story house with metal roof, large glass windows, surrounded by landscaped garden and trees near a body of water.
Circular outdoor fire pit area with Adirondack chairs overlooks a misty lake surrounded by trees.
A large house with a metal roof situated on a wooded peninsula overlooking a calm river surrounded by dense forest.
Modern glass-walled house overlooking a misty river surrounded by trees and greenery on a clear sunny day.
OUR STORY | SMITH LAKE, ALABAMA

A Private Resort Born From a Lake House

The Barn at Smith Lake began the way the best things usually do: as a personal passion project.

A white lakeside house surrounded by trees with two docks extending into calm blue water.

The Glass House Was Built First

A modern glass house with a metal roof on a grassy cliff overlooking a calm lake surrounded by autumn trees.
The Glass House bedroom with hardwood floor, gray walls, two windows with blinds, a bed with a colorful patterned quilt and orange decorative pillow, and a wooden nightstand.
The Glass House spacious covered patio with wooden ceiling beams, two wooden armchairs, two purple chairs, a gray sofa, and a mounted flat-screen TV overlooking a lush green lake view.

A 5,500 square-foot architectural masterpiece designed by Christopher Architecture & Interiors, wrapped almost entirely in glass, sitting above the water of Lewis Smith Lake on a private lot surrounded on all sides by the lake. It was designed as a private home. It was nominated for House of the Year by Arch Daily, the world's most-visited architectural website. And guests who saw it immediately asked if they could host events there.

From that single request, The Barn at Smith Lake grew — a dedicated event barn, four additional lakefront homes, a hospitality team, and 250+ events later — into what it is today: the Southeast's most complete private waterfront retreat experience.

"The Barn Smith Lake was a stunning backdrop to a spectacular wedding celebration. We enjoyed all the amenities, from the immaculate, well-appointed on-property homes and the pristine lake to The Barn itself."

Giulia B.

Plan Your Perfect Event

Explore our lakeside venue, overnight accommodations, and scenic spaces designed for unforgettable celebrations.

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