Old Edwards Inn and Spa Highlands: Blue Ridge Mountains European-style retreat palace with Madison's, heated outdoor mineral pools, and The Spa at Old Edwards

Perched amidst the cool mountain breezes and rhododendron forests of the southern Blue Ridge Mountains on the Highlands Plateau in Highlands, North Carolina, United States (at 4,118 feet elevation, just 2 hours from Asheville Regional Airport and Atlanta Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport), Old Edwards Inn and Spa Highlands opened as the American South’s premier luxury mountain retreat grand palace (part of Relais & Châteaux). Centered around a historic 1878 boarding house meticulously expanded into a sprawling European-style mountain estate, the 100-room luxury haven combines exposed rustic timber beams, Italian antique fireplaces, and native stone walls. Featuring the acclaimed farm-to-table dining institution Madison’s Restaurant and Wine Garden, two heated outdoor freshwater mineral swimming pools with whirlpools, access to the private 18-hole championship golf course at Old Edwards Club, and the Forbes Four-Star Spa at Old Edwards, this property is North Carolina’s ultimate luxury grand palace.

Arrival introduces travelers to unvarnished Appalachian mountain splendour and European country estate majesty: liveried estate hosts greet guests at the stone portico on Main Street before entering the historic living room parlor with crackling log fires, antique English oak paneling, and chilled regional sparkling cider or North Carolina craft beer with warm artisanal cheese biscuits. Day-one logistics focus on coordinating bespoke Blue Ridge hiking, golfing, and waterfall pursuits: taking private guided hikes along the scenic trails to Dry Falls and Cullasaja Gorge waterfalls (10 minutes away), playing 18 holes of championship golf at the private Tom Jackson-designed Old Edwards Club (10 minutes away), private boutique shopping and art gallery browsing along historic Main Street in Highlands (steps away), swimming in the heated mineral pools framed by mountain gardens, indulging in mountain herbal therapies at The Spa, sipping handcrafted cocktails in the Hummingbird Lounge, and reserving dinner at Madison’s.

Palace living balances active Blue Ridge mountain exploration with serene plateau wellness: The Spa at Old Edwards features private luxury treatment suites, Finnish saunas, steam rooms, private fireside relaxation lounges, and therapies utilizing organic mountain herbs, sweet orange, and red clay. Dining is an extraordinary Southern-European culinary summit: farm-to-table gastronomy at Madison’s (featuring Sunburst trout, Hickory Nut Gap beef, and international Grand Crus), casual fireside dining at The Grill Room, afternoon drinks in the Hummingbird Lounge, and in-room royal dining.

Accommodations comprise 100 rooms, luxury executive suites, and standalone multi-bedroom private cottages styled in European country textiles, Molton Brown amenities, radiant heated bathroom floors, and private furnished balconies or stone verandas framing the Blue Ridge Mountains or estate courtyards ranging from 40 to 220 square metres. Each residence features plush king beds with custom linens, and marble bathrooms with deep soaking bathtubs, embedded TV mirrors, and custom amenities.

Mountain purists, golfers, and luxury travelers seeking Highlands seclusion, Madison’s farm-to-table dining, and The Spa at Old Edwards in North Carolina should book Old Edwards Inn without hesitation. Grounded review consensus confirms legendary standing with a 4.9 out of 5 on Tripadvisor across 4,800 reviews and a 4.9 out of 5 on Google across 6,400 reviews.