A New North Carolina Retreat Just Opened in the Great Smoky Mountains With Luxe Tents, Log Cabins, and a Treehouse

"Each accommodation is further customized with special touches, like a wood-burning fireplace or electric stove. The Tanager Tent, for example, is outfitted with an outdoor swing overlooking mountain vistas, while the Goldfinch, Tanager, and Nuthatch tents have personal firepits for keeping warm while stargazing. The Creekside Cabin, originally built in 1872 and carefully reconstructed using the same hand-hewn logs, sits alongside a secluded creek with an indoor/outdoor rain shower and an oversized tub with forest views."

"For those seeking the ultimate mountain escape, the 400-square-foot Hemlock Treehouse is suspended among pine and birch trees with unparalleled views from every angle, including the deck, the king-sized bed, and the outdoor shower. "Elk & Embers was born from a simple dream: To create a place where people can slow down, reconnect with nature, and feel the quiet magic of the mountains," says Susan McLean, who founded the resort with her friend Kristina McLean."

Elk & Embers occupies 108 acres in Waynesville, North Carolina, at the heart of the Great Smoky Mountains. Accommodations include luxury safari tents, rustic log cabins, and a suspended 400-square-foot Hemlock Treehouse, each featuring soaking tubs, outdoor showers, mini bars stocked with local beer, wine, and cocktails, and complimentary breakfast. Units include wood-burning fireplaces or electric stoves and selective extras such as outdoor swings, personal firepits, and indoor/outdoor rain showers; the Creekside Cabin was reconstructed with hand-hewn logs from its original 1872 structure. Founders Susan and Kristina McLean emphasize slowing down and reconnecting with nature. A concierge arranges hiking, rafting, fly fishing, and packed lunches for outings.

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