My husband and I just returned from a wonderful Labor Day weekend at Fire Mountain in the Highlands, N.C. My husband outdid himself this time as he is getting very good at finding these exceptional places to stay. We arrived on a beautiful afternoon to find a carefully arranged silver tray with champagne and homemade chocolate-covered strawberries. This is one of the many services a guest can request. Every Inn guest can enjoy compimentary GOURMET (I capitalize for emphasis) breakfast. Each breakfast includes homemade dishes from breads, egg dishes, fresh garden fruit and veggies, right down to the mountain's own home-grown strawberry jam harvested in the spring by chef and co-property manager Matthew, who has over 30 yrs in the hospitality industry. Guests can also order in advance, a gourmet breakfast delivered to your room and "artfully" presented in a beautiful basket. In addition to breakfasts, a guest may order a special lunch or dinner basket as well.

Speaking of "art" - the grounds and buildings of Fire Mountain have frequent displays of art including statuettes, busts, paintings, and pen and ink drawings located strategically throughout. They even have their own "Art Gallery" room where guests can enjoy their latest display of local art, practice music, or enjoy their morning yoga. Co-manager Hiram explained to me that he searches extensively to provide top-quality services such as massage to guests, which also can be offered in the "art gallery".

The staff is very knowledgeable about the area and can guide guests to great local restaurants and hiking trails that are specific to each guests preferences.

Go prepared to leave your work, home, or other worries behind as Fire Mountain is rustic with no TV’s, radio’s, etc are available. They are also an Ec0-friendly establishment and don’t have air-conditioning but they don’t need it. We were there during the Hurricane Isaac’s humidity back-lash and I, of all people, would have felt it if anyone did. The drive up from the main road and to all rooms and cabins is a gravel, one-way drive at points, but the view is spectacular from many points once you are there.
Needless to say - We were thrilled with our 1st visit to Fire Mountain and will be back

Patty and Phil

Serenity. Quietude. Tranquility. Rejuvenating. Relaxing. These are five reasons why we continue to enjoy our Fire Mountain Inn experiences. For our most recent visit (Labor Day Weekend 2012), we enjoyed the (immaculate) Pottery Barn meets rustic privacy of the Red Cedar cabin.

As a photographer, I love the bucolic vistas that includes horses, cows, farm land, bonfire and sunsets.

This link will take you to 30 of my 360-degree panorama images of Fire Mountain Inn that I have taken during multiple stays:
http://www.tourwrist.com/panos/49652

Fire Mountain Inn continues to be a great place to un-plug and re-charge. It's a special treat.
We look forward to our next escape. And, to visit the scenic Nantahala National Forest waterfallsand trails; and the restaurants in Highlands; particularly, Cyprus (a restaurant by and for foodies).

This was our second stay at Fire Mountain this year--our first was in March 2012 for my wife's birthday. We returned to Fire Mountain over the Labor Day weekend for a much needed break. Fire Mountain is a magical, relaxing, peaceful mountain-top resort with no TVs, clocks, computers, fax machines, or telephones. Once we arrived at Fire Mountain, we did not want to leave--even to go into the nearby town! The rooms are simple but beautiful; the service is outstanding; the property is magnificant; the gourmet breakfast is delicious; and the views are breathtaking. The overall feeling is one of peace and rest. Mathew and Hiram are very attentive and addressed our every need. We are already thinking about a return visit!

Secluded, beautiful - amazing views. We vacation in the mountains often and have been to some exceptional places. This ranks among our new favorites. The proximity to Highlands was a definite plus where quaint shops and excellent dining were found. The breakfast was unbelievable - fresh, prepared with attention to detail, and out of this world. Matthew and Hiram gave us great advice regarding where to go and what to see. It was absolutely perfect - a wonderful experience. We will definitely return.