| home
>> media Fact
Sheet PDF
Download
and print the Fire
Mountain Fact Sheet
Reviews
Media
Southern
Living - Getaway from it all. The gadget -free escape -
November, 2012
Hiram
Wilkinson and Mathew Gillen built the mountaintop haven
about 3 miles west of Highlands to get away from their hectic
lives in Atlanta. the six rooms, six cabins and three cozy
treehouses are void of any TVs, or phones, but the inn's
staff stands ready to equip guests with all amenities (such
as extra bedding and matches to light the hand-laid fireplace).
"The goal is to have everything in place so guests
don't need to see anyone else the whole time they are here."
Hiram says. Of course if you want to see a little more of
the Highlands area, Hiram and Mathew will be happy to tell
you the best spots to shop and dine.
Author:
Stephanie Granada.
The
Wall Street Journal - Potpourri-Free B&Bs -
September 12, 2012
This
sprawling Smoky Mountain retreat holds 15 woodsy rooms,
including four log cabins and three treehouse nest reached
by boardwalks through the forest. Go there to disconnect
- there are no TVs, room phones or internet. The interiors
are equal parts shabby-chic and sparse, but baths boast
Philippe Stark fixtures and hottubs. The rave-earning breakfast,
served in the main inn, is made with fresh local produce.
Author:
Steve Garbarinol
Macon
County News - Tour of Inns provides historical experience,
gourmet delights -
December 2011
Fire
Mountain, Cabins & Treehouses. This Inn is a unique
mountaintop hideaway and is secluded on hundreds of mountaintop
acres just a few miles from the Highlands town limits. It
is a retreat composed of a sophisticated contemporary inn,
real mountaintop cabins and private and intimate treehouse
accommodations. Fire Mountain borders Highway 106 (Dillard
Rd.) approximately six miles from Highlands. Once you turn
onto Happy Hill Rd., all 15 accommodations sit a mile up
on top of Fire Mountain in the middle of the acreage at
an elevation of over 4,000 feet, and all have long-range
mountaintop views.
This will be the first
time that Fire Mountain has been open to the public since
its inception in 1996 by Hiram Wilkinson and Mathew Gillen.
The entire property has always been by reservation only
and for the exclusive use of its guests.
Author:
Mac Isaacs, contributing writer.
Trip
Advisor "Certificate of Excellence" awarded to
Fire Mountain -
September 2011& September 2012.
Awarded
to Fire Mountain for receiving an overall "Trip Advisor
Five Star Rating" from guests reviews.
CMN
Magazine / Destination Weddings -
December 2010
How about getting married in a tree house? Fire Mountain
Inn, Cabins & Treehouses in Highlands, North Carolina,
offers an upscale, grown up version of a treehouse.
Author:
Michelle Moore
Official
Southern Highroads Trail Blog - Highlands, North Carolina
Hotel: Romantic And Relaxing -
November 2010
Highlands
, North Carolina Hotels
have dotted the scenic landscape of the small village for
over a century. They have changed some with technology but
they still offer that unique atmosphere of southern hospitality
at its best. Highlands, North Carolina is known to have
less than a thousand regular inhabitants that call this
mountain getaway home. Although this is the case, typically
fifteen thousand tourists will call it their home away from
home at any given time during the travel season. Those who
visit Highlands need a place to rest their weary bones and
relax and Highlands , North Carolina Hotels are ready to
oblige.
Highlands, North Carolina Hotels do their part in making
Highlands one of the best kept getaway secrets in the south.
There are many people that have never heard of Highlands
, NC and therefore the pleasures that can be found there
are hidden from their view. Many others however have found
that this little Appalachian Mountain Paradise is the place
to go to ignite or rekindle romance or to simply relax in
a place where everybody knows your name.
For a truly unique lodging experience in Highlands it is
recommended that you give Fire Mountain a visit. No, Fire
Mountain is not a volcano but it does overflow with charm
and opportunities for romance. Fire Mountain is a lodging
destination that offers you a variety of options. Located
just a few moments outside of Highlands this hideaway offers
quaint little cabins, cozy tree houses and a charming country
inn. Streams, waterfalls and a mountain top view that will
simply take your breath away surround this retreat. Memories
are made of this.
Author:
Suzanne Najbrt lives in Atlanta with her family and regularly
travels Southern Highroads Trail and she also maintains
the Official Southern Highroads Trail Blog.
Where
2 Now, The Online Travel Magazine
- October 2010
The
Inn at Fire Mountain
Just
outside the town of Highlands, North Carolina, somewhere
off the Dillard Road over 4,000 feet above sea level is
the private mountain top hideaway of Fire Mountain. Situated
on over one hundred acres the property boasts expansive
mountain views and wonderful accommodations with a contemporary
flair.
The
trails on the property are a perfect prelude to the hiking
that's available in the area. You can walk through the horse
pasture with its long-range views, through the small, quiet
and private subdivision adjacent to the Inn's property,
all the way up to the top of the mountain where the vistas
seem endless. The climb is pretty steep but the benefit
is that the road is paved all the way to the top. On the
way back down take a look inside the art gallery in the
main building, check out the library next door and if your
room doesn't have a spa tub, take a restorative dip in the
one on the adjacent outdoor deck.
The
guest quarters include five cabins with six rooms, six rooms
in the Inn's main building and three private Treehouse rooms
that offer wrap-around decks for gazing at the breathtaking
mountain views. Innkeepers Hiram Wilkinson and Mathew Gillen
excel in providing their guests a wonderful experience.
Some
amenities that are included in the rate are gourmet breakfast
for Inn and Treehouse guests, indoor or outdoor spa tubs,
fireplaces in some cabins and BBQ grills on cabin decks
or patios. For a fee you can arrange an individual or couples
massage, order something from the seasonal dinner menu and
have it delivered to your room and if staying in one of
the cabins, order breakfast for two. A plus for pet owners
– the Inn allows pets in the cabins for those who wish to
bring their furry friends with them.
Choosing
to bring our new puppy with us, we reserved the Chickadee
cabin. It faced a pretty meadow and was flanked by giant
spruce trees that separated it from the huge organic garden.
A small fully equipped kitchen, queen-size bed, an enormous
spa tub in the middle of the room and a private patio facing
the meadow made for a long, luscious weekend.
Further
down the Dillard Road, heading towards Highlands, you'll
pass a couple of overlooks with panoramic views of the Blue
Ridge. In this part of North Carolina you are completely
immersed in, and surrounded by, the enormous Nantahala National
Forest. The trailheads for the Bartram Trail and to the
top of Scaly Mountain can be accessed here. We took the
one up to Scaly Mountain and were rewarded with a gorgeous
view and a welcome breeze at the top. Very steep at the
beginning, I was glad to be wearing hiking boots rather
than sneakers.
The
area is also known for its waterfalls and swimming holes.
We took a handful of short hikes to see several of these
throughout the area. From Highlands to the nearby town of
Cashiers, there were quite a few that ranged from Bridal
Veil Falls, directly on the road, to one that fed into a
pretty swimming hole about a five-minute walk from the road.
The
Inn's proximity to the town of Highlands made dining out
very convenient. Wolfgang's was a favorite and the shop
windows offered a way to walk off dinner that wasn't as
strenuous as our hikes had been during the day.
Before
our dinner at Wolfgang's I had an unexpected but enjoyable
encounter. While waiting for my husband to park the car,
I strolled down the alley adjacent to the restaurant and
came upon a small storefront window. Peering through it
I saw a collection of various wood turned vessels that were
exquisite. All different in size and shape, made from various
woods. Behind me, leaning on the wooden railing that separated
the alley from the restaurant's small garden, was a man
in overalls with a blue bandanna covering his head, holding
a slice of pizza in one hand and a bottle of Peroni in the
other.
When
I tried the shop's door it didn't open right away and considering
the hour, I assumed it was closed. The man behind me immediately
told me to please go right ahead and enter; the studio was
still open. Well, it turned out that he was the artist,
Robin Piscitelli, and he proceeded to show me the beautiful
wood turned vessels on display in the small studio. He answered
all my questions and showed me the machine in the next room
where he magically turns huge blocks of sugar maple, walnut,
chestnut and other varieties into beautiful works of art.
The finish on his pieces is absolutely spectacular, smooth
as glass and polished to a high sheen to show off the beauty
of the grain and the imperfections he feels gives each piece
its own unique character.
Later
on, I learned that he is a leading artist in the field,
taught by Paul Ferrel and influenced by David Ellsworth
with collectors all over the country. This was the first
time I ever had an accomplished artist patiently take the
time to share his art and let me see, however briefly, the
mind of an amazing talent. And because of him, on hot summer
days I always wash down a slice of pizza with an ice cold
Peroni.
back to top
|
