Castle Peak Holdings, the investment and development company behind Trailborn, the first vertically-integrated hospitality brand specializing in designing and operating boutique hotels with full-service restaurants and bars exclusively located in the country’s most extraordinary outdoor destinations, today announced Trailborn Highlands will open on August 29 in downtown Highlands, North Carolina – an enchanting mountain town named for its high elevation. Highlands has long attracted nature seekers with its pristine beauty, temperate climate and prime location – a scenic mountain drive from Asheville and the Great Smoky Mountains and easily accessible from major Southeast metro hubs. Following the openings of Trailborn Rocky Mountains and Trailborn Rocky Mountains Outpost in Estes Park, Colorado, Trailborn Highlands marks the brand’s third hotel and second destination.
“We are thrilled to announce the opening of Trailborn Highlands, our newest addition to the brand’s portfolio. Nestled in the picturesque Blue Ridge Mountains town of Highlands, North Carolina, Trailborn Highlands is set to become a beacon for outdoor enthusiasts,” said Mike Weiss, Co-founder and Co-CEO of Castle Peak Holdings and Trailborn. “This marks an exciting evolution for the Trailborn brand, following the successful launch of our first properties at the entrance to Rocky Mountain National Park. With Trailborn Highlands, we continue our mission to create design-forward boutique accommodations and unparalleled hospitality experiences in the heart of our country’s most iconic destinations.”
Trailborn Highlands is the newest hotel to open in Highlands, surrounded by 4.5 acres of lush woods, the property features 63 guest rooms and a lounge with a central fireplace offering seasonal fresh fruit and artisan coffee in the mornings and sweet tea in the afternoons. The lounge opens up to an outdoor deck and backyard outfitted with lounge chairs and firepits. The property features the signature Trailborn retail market, featuring a curated assortment of local goods, branded merchandise, and a confectionery stand. The Azalea Room serves as a dynamic hospitality suite and private event space available to be reserved for bridal parties, meetings, and gatherings. Located steps from the hotel, The Cottage serves as an additional private gathering space housed in a log cabin that can be reserved for larger group gatherings and guest programming.
In time for fall, the property will also soon welcome the opening of a Nordic spa complete with a sauna, cold plunge showers, and fire pit, as well as the property’s crown jewel, The Highlands Supper Club, which will serve as a destination restaurant and a welcoming bar serving Southern fare in a historic log cabin setting. Originally built as a residence for a local family in 1924 by regionally renowned carpenter, Joe Webb, using local materials and hand tools, the historic structure will be reimagined as a hub for locals and travelers offering warmly lit evening gatherings and indulgent weekend brunches with a menu comprised of regionally-sourced ingredients, rich smoky flavors, hearty dishes and a beverage program celebrating spirit-forward cocktails, unpretentious wines, and local beers.
Inspired by the surrounding Blue Ridge Mountains, New York-based design studio, LOVEISENOUGH, worked closely with the Trailborn team to reimagine the existing property to amplify the hotel’s public spaces and guest rooms. Decorative elements were brought in to highlight the region’s abundance of talented artists with references to quilting, printmaking, and pottery. The hotel’s lobby and lounge seamlessly flow together and draw guests to take in the panoramic views of the surrounding forest that encapsulates the property. The lounge features numerous communal and intimate seating areas, complete with board games and a central gas fireplace, serving as a perfect place to enjoy morning coffee or relax from the day’s adventures. The guest rooms at Trailborn Highlands are thoughtfully designed as spaces to recharge, and include a variety of King and Double Queen layouts. Select rooms offer garden patios, gas fireplaces, and balconies with lounge chairs. Within the rooms, cherry wood adds warmth alongside fresh cream walls, and in-room amenities include quilted tapestries of the Blue Ridge Mountains through a collaboration with Haptic Labs, custom Parachute robes, Grown Alchemist bath products, Fellow kettles, portable Trailborn coolers, a curated mini bar with cold beverages and dry goods, Tivoli Bluetooth Radios, 50″ Smart TVs with streaming capabilities and Hi-speed WiFi.
Trailborn’s highly-curated approach to programming offers guests a variety of on-site culinary events, live music, and craft classes, as well as off-site excursions, such as guided hikes and fly fishing, in partnership with local experts. As a nod to the abundance of wildflowers located throughout Highlands and the property grounds, guests are gifted locally-inspired flower seed packets to take home and can also take part in floral design workshops. A staple across all Trailborn properties, guests are provided the essentials needed to enjoy the great outdoors, including bespoke Field Guides, bicycles for exploring the property grounds and town, branded coolers, and a savvy staff of committed team members that can help guests personalize their stays. Part of the brand’s “Keep Extraordinary” initiative and commitment to protecting the country’s most incredible destinations, a portion of proceeds from every room booking made on Trailborn’s website will go to the Highlands-Cashiers Land Trust, which focuses on conserving forests, wetlands, and vistas and protecting rare and endemic plants and animals in the Southern Appalachians.
“Our third property to open in a year, Trailborn Highlands is a significant milestone and a point of pride in our brand’s expansion, reinforcing our dedication to introducing Trailborn’s unique hospitality concept to incredible destinations all over the country,” said Ben Weinberg, Co-founder and Co-CEO of Castle Peak Holdings and Trailborn. “We are privileged to join the Highlands community, and establish a new gathering place in town for both locals and visitors to adopt a fresh perspective on one of the nation’s most breathtaking regions.”
Trailborn Highlands is within walking distance to the town’s main street lined with charming restaurants and shops, a short drive away from the region’s must-see waterfalls,hiking trails, water sports, and golf courses, and is within driving distance to The Blue Ridge Parkway and Great Smoky Mountains National Park, the two most visited national parks in the country. The hotel is only a two hour drive from Atlanta and Greenville, one and a half hours from Asheville, and three and a half hours from Charlotte, serving as a great weekend escape in the mountains.
