- Elk & Embers is a new mountain retreat in Waynesville, North Carolina, offering luxury safari tents, rustic log cabins, and a tree house; the resort is just 40 miles west of Asheville.
- Accommodations include modern comforts including soaking bathtubs, outdoor rain showers, and balconies overlooking the mountain range.
- The concierge team at the resort can assist with arranging activities like fly fishing and white-water rafting.
Elk & EmbersA new retreat, located in Waynesville in North Carolina’s Great Smoky Mountains, opened its doors in April.
The 108-acre property is home to luxury safari tents, rustic log cabins, and a tree house—all with soaking tubs, outdoor showers, mini bars stocked with local beer, wine, and cocktails, and complimentary breakfast.
Special touches are added to each accommodation, such as a wood burning fireplace or an electric stove. The Tanager Tent for instance, has an outdoor swing with mountain views. While the Goldfinch Tent, Tanager Tent and Nuthatch Tent have personal firepits that keep you warm as you gaze at stars. The Creekside Cabin is a carefully reconstructed 1872 cabin with an indoor/outdoor rainfall shower, an oversized bathtub with forest views, and the original hand-hewn timbers.
The 400-square foot Hemlock Treehouse offers the ultimate mountain retreat. It is suspended between pine and birch tree branches, with breathtaking views from all angles, including the deck and the king bed.
“Elk & Embers was born from a simple dream: To create a place where people can slow down, reconnect with nature, and feel the quiet magic of the mountains,” says Susan McLean, who founded the resort with her friend Kristina McLean.
Elk & Embers
“Kristina, I and my family have been coming here with our families for decades. Our ancestry can be traced to North Carolina and Tennessee.” We wanted to build more than a resort; Elk & Embers is a retreat where every sunrise, every firelit evening, and every shared moment becomes part of the story our guests take home with them.”
The resort’s location is prime. the Great Smoky Mountains The resort offers a wide range of outdoor activities, including hiking, white water rafting, and fly fishing. The resort’s concierge team will help you arrange your activities and even provide a packed lunch for you to take with you on the trip.
Elk & Embers
While Elk & Embers doesn’t have a restaurant, complimentary take-and-bake pizzas and ice cream are available at the Market Shed, situated at the heart of the resort. There is also a communal firepit, and lawn games such as cornhole.
Elk & Embers is only about 40 miles west of downtown AshevilleHome to the Biltmore Estate as well as local breweries and a celebrated dining scene.
Nightly rates at Elk & Embers start from $435, and you can book your stay at elkandembers.com.
