Welcome to the Family: Elk & Embers Luxury Mountain Resort Joins the Asheville Bed & Breakfast Association
- 18 hours ago
- 4 min read
We're thrilled to welcome Elk & Embers Luxury Mountain Resort to the Asheville Bed & Breakfast Association. Set on 108 acres bordering the Great Smoky Mountains National Park in Waynesville, Elk & Embers® brings something genuinely distinctive to our collection of inns, a luxury mountain hideaway where the wilderness begins just outside your door and every detail has been considered with care. If you've been dreaming of a getaway that pairs true comfort with deep immersion in nature, this one belongs at the top of your list.
About Elk & Embers
Elk & Embers® is the work of co-founders Kristina McLean and Susan McLean, who, together with their husbands, set out to create a place that could offer two things at once: the serenity of being surrounded by 108 private acres of forest, and the comfort of a thoughtfully appointed luxury stay. Perched at approximately 4,000 feet of elevation and bordering the national park, the resort opened just over a year ago and has quickly become a favorite for travelers seeking the rare combination of remote and refined.
It's a romantic retreat at heart, designed with couples in mind, but families are warmly welcomed too. With plenty of room to roam and adventures for every age, this is a unique place in Western North Carolina that delivers on an elevated guest experience. What sets Elk & Embers apart is the feeling that nothing has been left to chance. Guests consistently describe a place where every possible detail has been thought through, from the views framed by each window to the small touches waiting inside on arrival.
Where Refined Meets Wild
The accommodations at Elk & Embers are unlike anywhere else in our association. Rather than traditional guest rooms, the resort offers a distinctive collection of stays, each with its own character and breathtaking mountain views:
Luxury safari tents: Tanager, Nuthatch, and Goldfinch — for those who want to feel close to nature without sacrificing comfort
The Hemlock Treehouse: a one-of-a-kind perch among the trees
Crabtree Cabin and Creekside Cabin: cozy mountain retreats, with Creekside nestled beside a trout stream
Rainforest Cabin: the newest addition, available summer 2026
Whichever you choose, you'll find the same standard of comfort and design throughout. This is a place built for slowing down: stocked refrigerators, warm interiors, and the kind of quiet that only 108 acres can provide.
Adventure Right Outside Your Door
With more than five miles of private hiking trails and direct access to the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, Elk & Embers offers some of the easiest access to wilderness you'll find anywhere in Western North Carolina. Wherever your heart leads, your feet can follow.
Beyond hiking, the Elk & Embers team can help arrange a full slate of mountain experiences:
Elk hike-and-dine excursions: guided outings during peak season to view the Smokies' magnificent elk (booked in advance)
Horseback riding through the surrounding mountains
Whitewater rafting: a memorable day trip for the whole family
Guided tours and custom itinerary planning
Food and wine recommendations and reservations in Waynesville, a true mountain mecca for dining
Prefer to stay put? Many guests find they never want to leave the property at all, and with everything Elk & Embers provides on-site, they don't have to.
What Guests Are Saying
The reviews tell the story better than we can. Elk & Embers holds a perfect 5.0 rating across 80+ Google reviews, along with top marks on Tripadvisor, a remarkable achievement for a resort barely a year old.
Guests return again and again to the same themes: the staff and service are exceptional, the views are unforgettable, and the attention to detail rivals, and often surpasses that of high-end luxury hotels. Travelers describe arriving and immediately wanting to come back, stays that felt magical from the moment they passed through the gate, and a team that anticipates every need before it's spoken. It's the kind of feedback that tells you a place is something special.
A Mountain Escape, Closer Than You Think
One of the best things about Elk & Embers is how reachable it is. The resort sits just minutes from Asheville and within an easy drive of Charlotte, Atlanta, and many surrounding cities, close enough for a spontaneous weekend, remote enough to feel a world away.
Plan Your Stay at Elk & Embers
Ready to experience the Smokies from your own luxury hideaway?
Elk & Embers Luxury Mountain Resort Waynesville, North Carolina Phone: (828) 994-2222 Email: concierge@elkandembers.com Book online: elkandembers.com
Welcome to the Asheville Bed & Breakfast Association, Elk & Embers. We can't wait to send guests your way.
The Asheville Bed & Breakfast Association (ABBA) represents independently owned inns across Asheville and the surrounding mountain towns of Western North Carolina — from historic homes in downtown Asheville to country lodges and farmhouses in Weaverville, Hendersonville, Waynesville, and Marion. Every member inn is owner-operated, with innkeepers who live on the property, prepare a fresh multi-course breakfast each morning, and help guests discover the region’s best dining, trails, and hidden corners. It’s the difference between staying somewhere and being welcomed somewhere.