Commanding sweeping Blue Ridge views, this titanic Arts and Crafts–style stone lodge harks back to a bygone era of mountain glamor. Each of the 36ft-wide lobby fireplaces can hold a standing grown man, and has its own elevator to the chimney. Beyond the spectacular public spaces, though, the guest rooms can seem small by modern standards.
As well as a gargantuan underground spa, with stone pools and indoor waterfalls (day pass $90), the hotel has a golf course, indoor and outdoor tennis courts, and a 'base camp' for the Nantahala Outdoor Center.
