Commanding a prominent stance at 4,000 feet in the heart of western North Carolina’s Blue Ridge Mountains, guests at the Inn at Yonahlossee Resort will discover in these 300 bucolic acres not a mere pot, but a paradise of honey. As a matter of fact, “Yonahlossee” is the Cherokee word meaning “Trail of the Bear,” and nothing less than sweet is the tapestry in these parts defined by mountain ranges and lush green valleys.
“Absolutely divine,” are the two words that Marketing Director Mary Jane Rice chooses when she describes the property that she began managing in the early 1990s. Her husband John, a developer, began renovating Yonahlossee in 1986.
“On the site where our inn is located was a girl’s camp that was founded in the early 1900s, I think 1913. So it is probably one of the most beautiful settings in Watauga County. It’s just lush with native rhododendrons, towering hardwoods. Our resort is bordered by (the Moses Cone Memorial) national park on three sides. We are truly in this little niche of absolute natural beauty. We are just minutes from the village of Blowing Rock, which has darling shops, wonderful restaurants; we’re two and a half miles from the Blue Ridge Parkway with miles and miles of hiking trails and scenic vistas,” she adds.
Outdoor adventurers take note: under the sky’s cinematic canopy, ranging in moods from azure to robin egg blue, 27 miles of hiking trails in the park beckon from the inn’s backdoor!
How sweet it is! Outdoors and indoors. Nestled in the pristine setting is the pure luxury of the eight guestrooms at the main inn and 12 cozy studio cottages. If you choose one of the cottages that is appropriately outfitted in bent twig headboards and side tables, it may take an extra effort to emerge. Describing the units, Mary Jane says, “These are actually built like little town homes, so they’re very private. They don’t share adjoining walls. They have private entrances. They have a little sitting area with gas-log fireplace, private deck, a bedroom sleeping area with either two queens or a king bed, of course, honeymooners would prefer the king; a nice bath with a circulating tub, so just really wonderful accommodations.”
Then again, with the undeniably to-die for, super feathery beds, sleeping in never felt so good! “In 2006, we replaced all the mattresses and box springs with pillow-top beds, the beds have down comforters,” Mary Jane explains.
Other amenities include circulating tubs, plush robes, complimentary toiletries, TVs, VCR/DVD players, wireless Internet connection and a host of things to make all those who visit the resort feel at home.
The deluxe continental breakfast offered by the inn, however, gets the job done when rousing any set of bones, no matter how lazy. “We always have a selection of dried cereals and there’s always fresh fruit; we always have bananas, apples and oranges and then seasonal fruits as well. We have a selection of bagels, Danish, English muffins; there’s oatmeal; there’s grits; yogurt; applesauce; peanut butter, jelly, various selections of all the Twinings Teas, coffees,” Mary Jane says.
Culinary delights stretch way past the morning fare. On property, the Gamekeeper Restaurant offers fine dining in an elegant, rustic atmosphere. Signature dishes include exotic wild game, fresh local trout and vegetarian selections, a cornucopia of locally grown organic ingredients. “It’s been acknowledged by Southern Living Magazine on several occasions. It was recently featured in our state magazine. It’s gotten high accolades throughout the years,” Mary Jane comments.
After dinner, paring calories is easy. “All the guests at the inn are entitled to all the amenities that are offered at our racquet club; those include six outdoor clay tennis courts, these are USGA Tournament-level courts. We have three indoor tennis courts, we have an indoor pool, two fitness centers and a sauna,” Mary Jane explains.
Guests staying at the inn also have numerous High Country festivals and activities to explore. A partial list of attractions includes: Grandfather Mountain, Linville Falls, Linville Caverns, Tweetsie Railroad, Blowing Rock Stage Company and the Appalachian State University. For a grand romance getaway, out of the variety of packages available, consider the Grande Romance package. The two-night stay (choice of guestroom at the inn or cottage) includes a $100 gift certificate to the Gamekeeper Restaurant, a dozen red roses, a basket of selected bath salts, massage oils, candles and a box of Godiva Chocolates.
“When we hire people to work here,” Mary Jane says, continuing, “we tell them, ‘your job’s really quite nice, all you have to do is just tell them what it is."
In addition, she says that digital photos on the web can make anything look good, “but we really are good.”
The land of honey is bear-y sweet at the Inn at Yonahlossee Resort; as sure as the day is long, you will come trekking back for more.
