Skyline Lodge

"This revamped motor lodge in the scenic Blue Ridge Mountains is a value-conscious option for appreciating North Carolina’s great outdoors in all seasons (It’s also a great choice for couples who like to travel with their dogs, even on romantic outings). Guest rooms surround a lifestyle-driven lawn (cornhole and s’mores, anyone?) where pups and peeps are free to roam. In-house restaurant, Oak Steakhouse, is located at the edge of the property, meaning fabulous drinking and dining is literally just steps away. Days here are often about rewarding hikes, and there are dozens of trails to choose from, including Whiteside Mountain, a short-but-steep two-mile trail with sweeping views from the highest vertical cliffs in the eastern United States. Discover the myriad, breathtaking waterfalls the Highlands are famed for, starting with the exhilarating ascent to High Falls in Lake Glenville’s Pines Recreation Area as well as a trip to serene Ranger Falls. In warmer months, look forward to boating, biking, horseback riding, and fly-fishing—you’re in prime North Carolina trout territory, after all (90 minutes from Asheville)." - Paul Rubio

Skyline Lodge

The Most Romantic Weekend Getaways in the US

"What’s to love: Though fall is our favorite time to visit, this revamped retro-chic motor lodge in the scenic Blue Ridge Mountains is a value-conscious option for appreciating North Carolina’s great outdoors in all seasons (It’s also a great choice for couples who like to travel with their dogs, even on romantic outings). Guest rooms surround a lifestyle-driven lawn (cornhole and s’mores, anyone?) where pups and peeps are free to roam. In-house restaurant, Oak Steakhouse, is located at the edge of the property, meaning fabulous drinking and dining are literally just steps away. Romance factor: Days here are often about rewarding hikes, and there are dozens of trails to choose from, including Whiteside Mountain, a short but steep two-mile Whiteside Mountain trail with sweeping views from the highest vertical cliffs in the eastern United States. Discover the myriad, breathtaking waterfalls the Highlands are famed for, starting with an exhilarating ascent to High Falls in Lake Glenville’s Pines Recreation Area as well as a trip to serene Ranger Falls. In warmer months, look forward to boating, biking, horseback riding, and fly-fishing—you’re in prime North Carolina trout territory, after all. Get there: A one-and-a-half-hour drive from Asheville by car; three-and-a-half hours from Atlanta" - Paul Rubio

How to Visit Highlands, North Carolina — America's Best Mountain Town

"Recently, the 1,088-person town was featured three times in the 2023 World's Best Awards with Old Edwards Inn and Spa, Half-Mile Farm, and Skyline Lodge each earning a spot on the list of the best resorts in the South." - Travel + Leisure Editors

Stylish Renovated Motor Lodges Are Popping Up Around the Country

"The outdoors-focused Skyline Lodge (doubles from $179) in Highlands, North Carolina — conceived in the 1930s as a hilltop casino and reborn in 1965 as a motel — reopened under new ownership in July 2021." - Travel + Leisure Editors

14 Retro Motor Lodges Around the United States

"When a Frank Lloyd Wright student drafted Skyline Lodge in the late 1920s, it was the classic motor court design that typified the era. Rounds of renovations later in the 20th century picked and prodded at the original structure, but a 2020 restoration helmed by Indigo Road Hospitality Group transformed it into a trendy haven in one of North Carolina's most loved mountain towns." - Travel + Leisure Editors

PaulafromKtown

Google

We had a brief but wonderful stay at the Lodge. The staff was extremely cordial and helpful. Our room was very nice with such comfortable beds. We enjoyed the balcony and view. Dinner at the restaurant on site was fabulous! It was so nice to be able to sit on the patio with our small dog and enjoy the steaks and trout. Best ever! Our dog was so happy to see other furry friends and explore the area. Highly recommend Skyline Lodge and hope to return in the fall.

Bonnie Bizzell

Google

Our stay was incredible; start to finish we felt like the most important guests and will happily return. The room felt bigger than the 300 sq feet listed. The location was serene and peaceful. The staff was accommodating and kind. Loved that our dog got a welcome package! Shout-out to the Oak Restaurant service team and manager Rich for taking such good care of us and our pup Finn. Plus, amazing food! Definitely one of the best places to be!

Lisa Galentine

Google

We were parents of the groom over a long weekend for a small wedding (about 30 people). Skyline was the perfect size for the event. Our room was nice with no issues. We loved the heated floor in the bathroom. We had a view overlooking the back so it was private and our door opened onto the center patio seating area. The families spent a lot of time out there over the weekend. It was a perfect place for gathering. We all went into town for breakfast and ate dinner Friday night onsite at The Oak Steakhouse. The food was great. Saturday night for the wedding and reception the food was also excellent. I can't say enough good about the staff - both in the restaurant, for the Friday private Cocktail Party, and for the wedding and reception. The service was top notch and everyone was so nice.

Freedom29129163501

Google

Quaint spot about 10 minutes out of town with a lot of potential. However, our room in particular was a little rough (111). After looking at reviews of the lodge, I know to ask for an updated room and the front desk clerk assured us we were on the updated side of the building on arrival. I do not know how to describe the smell of the room exactly, but it was musty/strong/bad. I did not immediately ask for a room change because of figured maybe this was common across the rooms in an older hotel… There was an air purifier in there that my husband turned up and personally washed the filter. There was also a dehumidifier running, as well as AC. We opened the windows while we could, pumped up the air purifier, and thought maybe we got ahead by the following morning. I mentioned this to the front desk clerk who seemed surprised we noted a smell. But when we got back to the room after a morning of adventures out and about, the stench was back. We packed up and left that night (foregoing the 2nd night stay) as I felt I would sleep better at home. I was even more disappointed when after doing some online searching that this exact room had a similar poor review that management responded to in April. Clearly no changes had been made. For 300$ plus a night for a room, we shouldn’t have to spend the stay trying to air it out. I have no idea if the other rooms had similar issues.

Rhonda Denton

Google

Our first time to stay at Skyline Lodge. It is a quiet relaxing place high in the mountains of Highlands, NC. A historic building built in the 1920s in the style of Frank Lloyd Wright. It sat for many years unused or abused but was renovated in 2021 but has retained much of the historic architecture. The Oakes restaurant and bar, part of the Lodge, has great food with outside sitting. Ray and I highly recommend staying here. The staff are all very attentive and helpful.

R J

Google

Rooms are clean and nice. Beds are comfy. It is a little far out of the downtown but that has it's appeal. The hotel was virtually empty when we checked in but they put us in a room that looked out on a walkway. That meant we either had to have the drapes closed or be seen by anyone walking by. We asked for a different room and they very nicely moved us. I'm so glad they did as it would not have been a good stay otherwise. The hot and cold water in our room was a little unpredictable . Hard to get cold water out of the tap and unable to get hot water in shower so both my husband and I had cold or lukewarm showers. There is a restaurant there but it is only open for dinner. That means there is no nearby breakfast option. They sell a few things in the lobby but not much choice. It would be nice if they offered muffins or bagels. Coffee is available in the lobby but it doesn't open until 7:30 a.m. Regardless of these small deficiencies, it is a nice place and I would stay there again.

Bryan Lapinski

Google

Nice hotel overall. The views and setting was really nice. We had a great meal at Oak. The only downside is our room was very musty, it had a smell that we couldn't get off ourselves or our clothes even after getting home and washing them. They had an air purifier in the room but it didn't help. For the lodge - my wife booked the reservation, we were on 111 on Friday night. She will e-mail you.

DAD TALK TODAY

Google

OK, I'm giving you five stars because of the people and the cleanliness. If you're looking for an affordable place, that's clean to stay. It is great for that. However, I hope the owners do see this because I'm not one of those people that are going to put a low rating on here off of a little nitpick. Get some new mattresses. 😂 That was the hardest mattress I think I have ever laid on in my life. You could feel the springs. If not for that, you would have the perfect location even though it's a little dated. I don't mind dated as long as it's clean. But that bed, Jesus Christ guys lol i'm nice and joking about it, but I'm surprised you haven't heard more complaints about that. Wish you luck I would stay here again just next time bring a mattress topper

Andrew F.

Yelp

Nice place to stay. Restaurant is fantastic. Staff is helpful and friendly. View is decent. Probably awesome in the spring and fall. We visited in the dead if winter. Only negatives: If on the lower level, you can hear the people in the room above walk around. I would have appreciated firmer beds and feather pillows. And the shower could use slightly hotter water and more pressure.

Jenny G.

Yelp

We arrived early to the hotel and were pleasantly surprised to learn our room was ready. We were greeted by a very friendly woman at the counter who gave us check in instructions and our room key. When we entered our King Hemlock room where we were surprised to see stained furniture, absolutely no toilet paper, a used towel on a towel rack and hair in the bathroom sink. The deck was dirty as well. No one would sit on that unless they wanted stained clothing. I went back to the desk and told them what we encountered. She immediately apologized and offered us another room. The next room was nicer but the hotel fell short in general. There was no in-room safe or fridge. There was no exhaust fan in the bathroom so after a shower, everything on the counter was wet. The tile in the bathroom is super old and chipped and the ceiling drywall is also chipped everywhere. The floor's carpet also had several stains. The screen door was so hard to move and was semi-broken. The "Mountain View" we were supposed to have had zero Mountain View. I'm sure the hotel will say when the trees are green and not bare, they cannot guarantee the Mountain View but then you should say that in your description because when you book that-you pay more. The only Mountain View this property was from the on site restaurant. The WiFi was super slow. I had to turn off my WiFi to get my phone to work at all. They offer complementary drip coffee in the morning at the desk. Otherwise, you pay approximately $6.00 for a specialty coffee. There is no breakfast provided. Your credit card is immediately charged $100 for incidentals and is returned upon check out. I didn't care for that too much. Seemed high for a place that advertises as a great hotel but falls super short. I would not stay here again. The town of Highlands was worth a visit but for the price, stay somewhere else.

Latavia C.

Yelp

I've been highly eager to see the newly renovated Lodge as I've been following them on Instagram. Finally, a nice getaway to detox and bring in the Christmas holiday with my husband Marcus. We arrived with the staff ready to check us in and gave us the details/accommodation at Skyline. As, we open the door to our room the fresh scent of oak captivated us with a nice warm feeling. The room blends with the mountain view and lodge from the tea kettle, cozy chairs, soft bed and a bear to cuddle with. Lol You definitely would want to get snow in here. They also, have a restaurant that's on the premises. We really enjoyed our quick getaway with help of you. They text us during our stay to see if we needed anything or if they could do anything better. It's the simple things for us.

Ned L.

Yelp

It's okay. Room was ordinary with one of worst beds I've ever slept in; soft and lumpy. Broken furniture and trash evident. on grounds. No lobby so no place to go if spouse sleeping. in. No one wiped dew from outside chairs in the morning. A bit far from town and no restaurant for breakfast. Pet fee not mentioned when reservations made. Clean. Staff okay. View okay but not extraordinary. Hot water dial in shower didn't work so could only get warm water. Nice tiles on floor though. Lights left on in vacant rooms all night wasting energy. All in all, there are better options.

DL B.

Yelp

The setting is beautiful. The staff are friendly. The remodeled rooms are nicely and smartly done - quiet, clean and comfortable w/ very nice showers. Whoever decorated these rooms put a lot of thought and expertise into reimagining the potential and simplicity of what a "boutique lodge" guest room can be like. The restaurant is really good and a beautiful setting. It would have been nice to have breakfast, lunch and tea in there. More disappointing, except for the outdoor sitting area that used to be a swimming pool, the common areas SUCK. The downstairs area (open to guests) has cheap furniture stacked up against the walls, with a bar that offers nothing. Where there could and should be a spa - there isn't. It's just a dead and sad space. The porch room is begging to be used for something other than stacked chairs. And the music - AWFUL (loud coutnry / pop / rap music that kills the sense of tranquility and reason for escaping the city for the mountains. OWNERS: You're better off closing the entire downstairs (or using it strictly for group functions), instead of subjecting guests to an area that undermines everything else that's been so nicely done. While a great price point for the room and setting, I'd rather spend a little more and stay at the upscale "farm resort" just up the road from Skyline.

Lucinda L.

Yelp

I needed a getaway for two nights to get some work done. I'm glad I spotted the Skyline Lodge. This inn is an updated motor lodge up in the mountains near Highlands (about a 10 minute drive away.) One of the best features is the pavilion - a wide covered, open air structure. I worked there each day. Although it rained some of the time, I was sheltered. Nice and cool. The Oak Steakhouse was great. Very good service and food. This is definitely a place the local folks come to for fine dining. I would have liked included full service breakfast as opposed to picking up coffee and a pastry in the lobby.

Julie L.

Yelp

Love everything about this place! it's a pleasant, welcoming dog friendly lodge set on a gorgeous mountain top. It is just rustic enough that you feel comfortable and relaxed. The Oak Steakhouse is upscale and the food is sublime, we had one of the best meals there. The staff is immediately like family. The location is just a short drive to town, and then when you get tired of the crowds in high season you can just head back to the Skyline and sit by the fire pit and chill. We will go back, many times!

Tim R.

Yelp

This hotel charging $400 per night for cheapest room actually resembles a run down section 8 apartment complex found in any city across the US. Clearly not managed very well. Part of The Indigo Road Hospitality Group. Shame could be good under correct management.

Dana R.

Yelp

Very disappointed with both hotel and management. When spending almost $400 per night (including taxes) I would have at least expected a clean room! Not only was the shower not properly cleaned, but there was also a dead moth on the floor. Very disappointed

Tommi G.

Yelp

Skyline Lodge was a good stay. The room was clean and comfortable. We ate at the Oak restaurant a couple nights and the food was very good. We also enjoyed the pastry offered at the front desk in the mornings.

Sammy G.

Yelp

We loved our stay at Skyline Lodge. The room was nicely appointed and very comfortable. We had dinner one night as well as brunch on Sunday at the in-house Oak Steakhouse. Our meals, though expensive, were fabulous.

J Q.

Yelp

My husband and I had a wonderful experience staying at the Skyline Lodge. Reception staff was very welcoming. I had great drinks by Michael. Watched the UGA / Alabama game in their cozy living room area. This morning before going on a hike we had their delicious all you can eat breakfast buffet. David was very attentive and personable. My room was very nice and comfortable.

Gwen G.

Yelp

We loved our recent stay there!! The room was so nice and clean and the management team went "overboard" to accommodate us!! The restaurant there was sardine. Our waitress gave us a complimentary dish to pair with the meals we ordered!! We will go back for another weekend " getaway!"

Brittany D.

Yelp

Amazing service, insanely cute rooms and the exact vibes you want for a weekend away. I live in Denver and have recommended this place to all of my patients traveling to North Carolina. Literally cannot wait to go back!

Sarah M.

Yelp

We were driving through the Highlands and decided to stay the night, lucky for us Skyline Lodge had last minute availability! We loved our stay here and the staff was super kind. The complimentary coffee and homemade pastries were so nice and helped us relax right into our stay. The pastry chef even makes dog treats which our dog appreciated. If you stay here make sure to get a reservation at the Oak restaurant on property! It was delicious.

Tom S.

Yelp

The lodge was old and showed a lot of wear. Walls are thin which made for interesting night. Expensive for conditions... but great location

Carolyn E.

Yelp

I was fortunate enough to stay at the Skyline Lodge last night. The people were very helpful and friendly especially Isabel. (I hope I have your name right, Isabel. I apologize if I do not). Isabel helped me with the Wi-Fi connection, my phone, and wine. She was wonderful. We had dinner at the Oak Steakhouse. The food and service were great. The macaroni and cheese with bacon and the orange crème brûlée were excellent. The rooms have been remodeled and are very nice. I had a beautiful view. The best though was the heated bathroom floor. WoW. Hope you, too, get a chance to visit the charming town of Highlands and stay at the Skyline Lodge.

G O.

Yelp

Very nice just re opened..stayed one night really enjoyed the peaceful setting and very nice restaurant...get a high floor room facing the woods..can't help but relax..

Michael N.

Yelp

Mountain Retreat Fun! We ran away to check out the Cashiers Vallery area, and I managed to book a room here at the Skyline Lodge. We ended up getting a room near the tennis courts away from the main lodge. Rooms did not have Airconditioning, but it is not need for the cool mountain air (even in the month of JULY). The pool is clean and deep and would be a great place to get refreshed. Also make sure to got hot tubbing at night near the side of the lodge. Key things you need to hunt for if you visit. -locate the sauna -find the Loose Moose Lounge -Hot tub -and locate the activity room/ workout area All on all I had a great experience and enjoyed the 1960's Ski lodge feel of the place.

Adam B.

Yelp

My wife and I just got home from a weekend away at Skyline Lodge. What a perfect retreat - so many extra touches. The group who did the renovation should be commended. The hotel staff was super friendly and welcoming, same can be said for the bar and table staff at the Oak Room. Drink and food menu delivers top to bottom. It's the Highlands, so you get the crowd you get, but it barely distracts you from how special this place is. We will return, hopefully soon.

William W.

Yelp

Wow! What an amazing experience. We had an Airbnb cancel on our way to Highlands/Cashiers, and we were so lucky The Skyline Lodge could accommodate over 10 people at the last minute! The rooms were cozy, clean and roomy. The historic structure was well-kept and the staff was professional. The restaurant was excellent, (Awesome brunch!) with wait staff that was helpful and funny, and even offered to re-open on a day they don't usually open. We had large groups, lots of kids, and they were happy to accommodate us at every turn. Everyone went out of their way to make sure we had an enjoyable experience.

Insidethenetphoto J.

Yelp

Great place to stay. Comfy bed and pillows. Good shower. Great views. We enjoyed our stay very much.

Herb R.

Yelp

Absolutely disgusting place. My wife and I wanted to see before we rented. Manager said entire place is being cleaned and all is rented. He said go on website and book there. We looked at the pool area and the chaise lounges were falling apart. Workers there at the time said the place is a dive.

Karen L.

Yelp

Had a great breakfast here; I've attached a picture of it. It was delicious and the presentation was so good, I actually took a picture; I never do that. Sat outside; the setting was beautiful. The service was very good and we will definitely be back. Historic hotel and surroundings make it very cozy and charming. Also the prices were very reasonable!

Joanne J.

Yelp

Don't be fooled by the propaganda on the website or any brochures! This place was a hell hole! The rooms are disgusting and have little to no storage for personal items. The furniture was flea market rejects, drapes falling off the wall, filthy windows/screens, spiders hanging from their webs stuck to the ceiling and a disgusting musty smell to the room that infiltrates your clothes! Gaps under the door so large that pretty much anything could crawl in. Here's a little about the amenities... Tennis courts w/ dozens of large cracks under repair and caulked w/ white repair spackle in zig zags along the courts, pool not heated as advertised and freezing cold with a decrepit deck, the game room was in a rustic, musty, detached building w/ a Ping pong table and a small pool table that charges 75 cents per game. The exercise equipment is located in the same building and are in various stages of disrepair or have far exceeded their life expectancy... I.e circa 1980. Their stocked fish lake/pond looks like a mud hole for swine and the 'fishing poles for guest use' = 1 rod w/ a malfunctioning reel and no tip on the rod! The horse shoe pits contained the horse shoes with weeds that have grown over them keeping em' securely in the pits. A potentially nice breakfast basket is delivered to the room with muffins, yogurt, fruit and juice - as well as additional coffee pacs... Too bad they are delivered long past breakfast time - as in after 10:30.... I can't really fathom how this place manages to stay in business! The property manager or inn keeper walks around talking to her dog in baby talk all day and the front desk girl was nice but generally clueless. The place is on a nice piece of property in a decent location... Too bad it's in the wrong hands. Look elsewhere for lodging in Highlands...

Mary W.

Yelp

I was very disappointed with this place. The room was old, outdated and smelled musty. Large gap under door which allowed bugs to crawl in. The cable TV was all fussy and the manager said "that is the best it will be, beside why stay at a hotel and watch TV". Won't ever stay there again and will not recommend!

A F.

Yelp

Very nice out of the way gem. Once you go you'll want to return. Great bar with fireplace. Nice brunch too.

Bonnie M.

Yelp

When we arrived we were told they did not see our reservation, but the manager quickly resolved that issue. The rooms were mediocre as we waiting on our bed were three stink bugs and a spider. We said okay, this is the mountains. We'll deal with that. The pool was not open, it was Memorial Day weekend and the AC was installed but not hooked up. WIFI did not work in our room and it smelled very musty. Based on that, we went casually (but not extremely casual) to dinner and were really disappointed at how the host treated us. He said they were slammed and we could be served if we didn't mind the wait, a table outside, and were not in a hurry. That was fine. We were too tired to go elsewhere and there was a nice view outside. There were two people at the bar, one party at a table inside and two parties at tables outside, The young man who was our waiter was what we found most pleasant about the experience and the host was what we appreciated the least. The food was okay but not what we would have expected for the price. We did not have to wait long at all once we were seated. We probably won't bother with this place again.

Linda B.

Yelp

We went because of an ad in the paper advertising nightly specials so we were not expecting much. We were just looking for something new and tired of Highland's parking issues and noisy restaurants. We are all seasoned diners and we were all very impressed with the decor, ambiance, perfect Martini, and wonderful food! This place is way up on a well paved road and fairly easy to find. It is truly a NC gem. It is a great place to talk, enjoy the view, and feast on a variety of options.

Susan H.

Yelp

Ok, first of all, I must compliment the overall beauty of this place and the nice breakfast buffet BUT, I'm writing about the room, and what they did to us was unacceptable. We had reservations 4 months before the event (a block of rooms were reserved) and yet when we checked in they had put us in the "conference center" --overflow and no rack for clothes, no A/C, stuck alone behind the tennis courts with nobody else! Then when we asked to be moved with the rest of the guests (and by the way 2 parties had cancelled by then but we didn't get their room) we were put in the dark, dank, musty basement. It was AWFUL! No internet down there, and ALL our clothes smelled so bad-- I was blown away how when we got home even the "CLEAN" clothes were nasty smelling and had to be washed. It was totally unfair to have to pay the same for our room as the other guests. I saw 5 other rooms and they were nice. Also, we had to have a roll-away bed and the room was too tight to even move in. Also, we paid for a fridge and it stayed warm so we had to throw away all the food. The manager was nasty to us and even though we were the third to check in of all the guests, (our "mistake" was mentioning first-come...) but we were not given a good room and she got in our face and was mean--my daughter said she "never wanted to see her again". I thought managers were supposed to be nice and help! It's pretty bad when the staff is nice but when they called the manager to help us find another room she became so agitated and put out by us it was awful. I overheard one of the housekeepers come in and tell her we could have "so and so's room and they could have ours" and then the manager (who didn't know I heard the whole thing) told the man on duty to take the housekeeper outside and tell her not to come in and talk about things like that in front of the guests! Hey, at least she was finding a solution. The basement was not the solution so if you go, MAKE SURE you are NOT stuck down there..it is truly hell.

Donna L.

Yelp

We were here over the Labor Day weekend for a wedding. A block of rooms had been reserved. A couple had been rented out to other people on expedia. They had to asked to leave. Even though we had our confirmations in hand we were all over charged by as much as $20 to $25 a night. It was eventually refunded and not cheerfully. In general office staff was rude. Rooms were not cleaned even after requested, they did come and pull comforter up over bed. Had no towels, requested some and was asked did we really need them. Said they had a limited number of towels. I said we had none , yes I needed them now. Will not be back. On check out tried to charge us again for our room, instead they owed us $50.

Skyline Lodge

The Most Romantic Weekend Getaways in the US

How to Visit Highlands, North Carolina — America's Best Mountain Town

Stylish Renovated Motor Lodges Are Popping Up Around the Country

14 Retro Motor Lodges Around the United States