Highlands, North Carolina
The Skyline Lodge
History Reborn
What it is
An iconic 1929 mountaintop chalet refreshed for today, with panoramic views, a topnotch steakhouse, and cozy rooms adorned in midcentury style.
What it isn't
Boring. Activities on offer include everything from hiking to nearby waterfalls with a former member of the British Army Special Forces, to yoga in a wildflower meadow.
What we think
Architect Arthur Kelsey, a Frank Lloyd Wright protegee, designed Skyline Lodge with some of Frank’s greatest hits: including hand-cut cedar shakes and native stone at every turn. But it’s the guest rooms themselves that will make you feel like you’ve entered a time warp, in the best way, thanks to their plaid upholstery, 1950s-inspired light fixtures and truly poetic views into the surrounding forests (ask for one with a terrace if you know what’s good for you). Our favorite room option might just be the 567 square foot Wright Suite, which would wow its namesake with two private balcones and a fireplace mantel hewn from granite found in the nearby hills. Whichever room category you choose, you’ll find homey touches, including heated tile floors in each bathroom, custom all-foam mattresses and Mozza coffee sachets for the tea kettles.
You're here because
The hotel was renovated in 2021, and although it nods to the historic, it feels brand spanking new…as fresh as the air outdoors here.
The Moment
After warming your post-hike tootsies by the roaring fire in the Oak Steakhouse, an outpost of the original in Charleston, S.C., you can’t help but continue the hygge you’re feeling. Tonight’s dinner: a dry-aged ribeye with bordelaise. Divine.
Restaurants & Bars
Oak Steakhouse - An innovative approach to steakhouse dining, alongside steakhouse classics.
Location
Within the dense pine forests of Highlands, North Carolina, less than three hours drive from Atlanta.