I recently had the pleasure of staying in two of the most historic inns in the Blue Ridge Mountains –the Eseeola Lodge in Linville, North Carolina, and the High Hampton Inn in Cashiers, North Carolina.

Eseeola Lodge . . .

The Eseeola Lodge

The Eseeola Lodge (http://eeseola.com) was built in 1892, four years after the wives of Linville’s developers convinced their husbands to create a resort instead a timber and mining town. Designed to capture the imaginations of mountain-going tourists, the lodge was built in a picturesque style using shingles made from chestnut bark.

Timber-pole balcony at The Eseeola

Although the original building burned in 1936, the present-day lodge is located in an annex built before the fire.  Also covered in chestnut bark shingles, it features balconies made from unmilled timber poles and a huge stacked stone fireplace that retain the picturesque ambiance of the original structure.

The Eseeola's lobby

When it was built in 1929, the annex housed only a double row of guest rooms. Since then, it has been substantially expanded to include a large living room and restaurant where guests gather and dine in a style where elegance and luxury meet rustic charm.

The bar at Eseeola Lodge

High Hampton Inn . . .

Twilight at High Hampton Inn

Civil War general, South Carolina governer, and US Senator Wade Hampton began summering in the Blue Ridge Mountains in 1800. Wade’s sister Caroline dubbed the hilltop property High Hampton, and in 1922, the McKee family purchased the hunting lodge and outbuildings, turning them into an inn (http://highhamptoninn.com) where generations of Southerners have summered ever since.

The terrace at High Hampton Inn

While the rooms and cottages are cozy and cool (air-conditioning is unnecessary, but wood-burning fireplaces offer welcome warmth on mountain nights), outdoor pleasures are high on the agenda. Those not inclined to fish or canoe can just sit on the terrace and gaze upon the sublime beauty of Rock Mountain.

The lobby at High Hampton Inn

Popular with families, High Hampton Inn has a huge lobby surrounding a stacked stone fireplace where bridge, backgammon, and book-reading are favorite indoor pursuits. Like the Eseeola, this inn burned in the 1930s. Despite the fact that there was a Depression going it, it was immediately rebuilt on the original location using the same local materials: pine, hickory, and wormy chestnut.

Front desk at High Hampton Inn

So . . . don’t forget to check in and check out the Southern comfort — and traditional architecture — of these historic inns. Whether it’s spring, summer, fall, or winter, these lodges will surround you with old-fashioned charm and natural beauty.

If you want to read more about the historic inns of Western North Carolina and see more of my pictures, you can read the article I wrote for WNC Magazine last summer at http://www.wncmagazine.com/feature/travel_feature/inn_style