Precipice Private Lodge: A Luxury Retreat in Highlands, North Carolina
Precipice Private Lodge at Dusk | Image Courtesy of Precipice Private Lodge
Recently, I had the pleasure of being invited to be among the first guests to stay at Precipice Private Lodge, and there are no words to adequately describe the home and its surroundings. I have traveled all over the world, and I can state without hesitation that no detail has been left unconsidered, and no luxury is forgone. I was lucky to spend a long weekend enjoying time with friends and soaking in the restorative powers of the mountains. But, before I get into the weekend and its adventures, I want to offer up a little back story about the home’s remarkable restoration.
Precipice owner Paul Hirshberg is a Nashville-native and a serial entrepreneur who has made Atlanta his home for more than 30 years. Paul was riding his motorcycle through the North Carolina mountains during the pandemic when he came upon the once-majestic Bear’s Den Lodge. Hirshberg remembered visiting the lodge as a child and was dismayed at its state of decay and disrepair. He purchased the property and spent more than five painstaking years and millions of dollars renovating the home, restoring it well beyond its former glory. The home is, in short, a luxury retreat on a grand scale. Surrounded by waterfalls and enveloped by the breathtaking mountains, the home exudes well-being, and that’s exactly as Hirshberg intended it.
Upon arrival at Precipice, my friends and I were welcomed by our gracious host who took our bags and encouraged us to slip out of our street shoes. Slippers are the only shoes allowed inside Precipice, and after a long day of travel, the simple act of removing our shoes and slipping into comfy slippers was an effective way to encourage relaxation. Our welcome was followed up with a refreshing champagne cocktail and a tour of the stunning home. After that, we were each shown to a jaw-dropping suite.
Precipice is comprised of six king suites, each uniquely designed and lavishly decorated. I was in the master suite, complete with a bearskin throw blanket on the bed, oversized fireplace, and a scenic balcony overlooking the breathtaking mountains. The ample master bathroom featured an indoor/outdoor shower, heated floors, and a free-standing soaking tub made of copper. The bathroom was stocked with indulgent bath products, a sumptuous robe, and crisp, white linens. Other bedrooms offered features like a sky-high tower bedroom overlooking the valley, a steam shower, and a fully-collapsible wall of windows that opened onto a waterfall. Other amenities in the home included a massive pool table, foot spas and spa chairs, a cozy library nook complete with fireplace, and comfortable places to rest in almost every direction.
Everyone spent the next hour exploring the house and grounds, enjoying some snacks prepared by the innkeeper. Then, our private chef arrived – a selection from a list of local, approved vendors curated by the owner and innkeeper. Our chef and his assistant prepared and served us the most remarkable four-course meal, including fresh produce from his very own farm. The meal was one of the best I’ve ever had with my favorite course being the rose petal-scented custard for dessert. We finished the first evening off sitting on the covered patio in front of the enormous wood-burning fireplace in our bathrobes, telling stories and enjoying a nightcap.
Day two, we began our day with a lovely breakfast prepared by the innkeeper followed by a visit to the house’s spa-sized steam shower. Our innkeeper filled the shower with eucalyptus leaves and supplied us with cold towels sprinkled with peppermint oil. A bowl of ice water in the corner of the shower was used to refresh our towels as the steam increased. It was exhilarating to start the day. After that, we showered and ventured into the lovely town of Highlands for some lunch and shopping. Our day ended back at the house spending time together sharing a meal we made in the house’s state-of-the-art kitchen.
On our third day, we were wowed again by a beautiful breakfast spread from the home’s innkeeper. We followed breakfast with a restorative yoga class in the lodge’s yoga studio. The studio comfortably fit us and an instructor, making it an intimate and comfortable space for exercise. Then, we went out for a beautiful hike. One of Paul Hirschberg’s hopes for those visiting Precipice is that they take advantage of the unprecedented access to local hiking trails and the glorious mountain ranges that surround the area. There are hikes for everyone – from beginners to experts. The lodge will help you hire a guide or simply point you in the right direction. We took Hirshberg’s advice to take the Old Iron Bridge hike – a self-guided, intermediate hike that’s both scenic and relaxing. The entire adventure lasts for one to two hours based on skill and speed. We really took our time and enjoyed the beauty of the turning leaves and the energy of the rushing water.
That afternoon, we were delighted to use some of the home’s additional wellness amenities. We spent an hour alternating between the lodge’s custom outdoor hot tub and the adjacent cold plunge pool, fed by the mountain streams that surround the home. It was a refreshing and exhilarating way to follow up our hike. The lodge’s sauna was a lovely way to punctuate our day of wellness. We enjoyed another lovely meal and toasted the day with a glass of wine on the patio. Everyone remarked how well they slept that evening, which I attribute to the day’s activities and the luxurious beds.
The next morning, we enjoyed another beautiful breakfast, and then packed up our cars for the drive home. Everyone was incredibly sad to be leaving such a remarkable place. Almost immediately upon returning home, the women I traveled with were all asking when we could schedule our return. If I have my way, a second trip to Precipice cannot come soon enough!
For those interested in a visit to Precipice, simply visit the lodge’s website, PrecipicePrivateLodge.com. Just fill out the reservation request form, and the Precipice staff will contact you directly to plan the ultimate visit. They will take into account your specific needs and interests, and they will help you execute a flawless visit. In summary, if you are looking for a luxury mountain vacation, an executive retreat, or a place to host a wellness weekend, Precipice Private Lodge is now, without question, my first choice.