Fire Mountain is a quiet inn nestled deep in the Nantahala National Forest. From arrival, co-owners Hiram and Mathew’s passion for the experience is apparent. I was greeted by Mathew and their adorable dog Lily, given a tour of the grounds, and handed maps of local hikes, waterfalls, and excellent places to eat in the nearby town of Highlands. The inn itself is thoughtfully decorated, a combination of rustic and posh which is typically a difficult balance to strike. And yet, they’ve achieved it with aplomb. I stayed in the Nantahala room at the Inn, drawn to the extra-large soaking tub that I used numerous times. I never expect these large tubs to fill adequately, and yet there was plentiful hot water to soak my cares away. The first thing you notice about Fire Mountain is the lack of modern distractions. There are no televisions and no radios. I had about two bars of LTE (Verizon) that kicked in right as I drove up the hill, allowing me to text my partner upon my arrival and feel like I could be “connected” if I chose to. The Inn also has guest WiFi which allowed me to do basic internet stuff as I pleased. It probably wouldn’t support any streaming service… then again, why anyone would want to watch Netflix up here is beyond me! The other thing you notice is the air, which is a few degrees cooler than the nearby town of Dillard down the mountain (and a proper 10+ degrees cooler than the Devil’s Doorstep I came from!). The humidity is low, even in mid-July. For this reason, Fire Mountain does not have air conditioning and doesn’t need it. Despite being a lifelong Southerner, I’m quite sensitive to heat, but the temperature was comfortable my entire trip. Following Mathew’s recommendation, I closed up my room in the morning and opened it back up mid-afternoon, leaving it open all night so I could rest peacefully serenaded by the crickets and tree frogs. I’m no stranger to this area, so the eight or nine mile drive into town was nothing to me. In fact, the winding mountain roads, two scenic overlooks, and abundant rhododendrons made each trip delightful. Hiram and Mathew’s recommendations for food, shopping, and sights helped me reconnect with the Highlands region in blissful ways. Breakfast at Fire Mountain is substantial. Each breakfast started with a plate of fresh fruit. Mathew additionally provided boxed lunches for me, perfect for carrying up a mountain or down one of the area’s many waterfall trails. I only wish I could have enjoyed dinner at the Inn, which was unfortunately not available during my stay. Such is life; I’ll just have to return another time! I'm running out of space, so I'll just say that Fire Mountain was a 10/10 recommend from me. I can't wait to return!
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