Asheville Waterfront Retreats and Cozy Escapes

Upscale boutique waterfront hospitality in Asheville is an excellent option for visitors this leaf season. Asheville River Cabins and Firelight Cabins at Shope Creek are two of our picks for an out-of-the-ordinary Blue Ridge Mountain experience.

Asheville River Cabins

Sit fireside, watching the autumn sun slip behind the ridgeline, as it paints the evening sky in ombré shades of pink and gold. Wake to the sun slowly burning away the lingering fog above the mighty French Broad. Or try either option from your private hot tub, beverage in hand.

Asheville River Cabins immerses guests in a stunning natural setting with exceptional modern accommodations and amenities that cater to both families and adults.

In 2024, owners Brett Turner and Matt Bare transformed Asheville River Cabins from six original campground-style cabins to over 32 freestanding hideaways. The Garden View and River View cabins have a full kitchen, two smart TVs and a living area with an electric fireplace. With a private bedroom, full bath and a double twin loft area, these cabins sleep up to four people and are a perfect fit for a small family. The River View Cabins include a hot tub on their back porches facing the river.

The riverfront Looking Glass Cabins are especially popular for couples. According to Bare, “Guests love both the interior design and the livability. Nordic-inspired in their design, they feature a huge picture window with an unobstructed view of the French Broad River. It’s a truly peaceful experience.”

Shared amenities include the River Lodge communal gathering space, featuring a large fire pit, a seasonal provisions food truck serving Asheville craft beer and wine, and unobstructed river views from the Looking Glass Sauna.

Not long after completion of the expansion, Hurricane Helene bore down on the region. In preparation, Bare and Turner canceled a scheduled event, but they still had guests who decided to stay for the weekend. Bare recalled, “Our general manager was there, and our priority was making sure everyone was safe and comfortable. He opened the food truck, served food and the beer we had, and took care of people. He built a fire in the community fire pit, which sits just behind our River Lodge, and everyone just sat there together out of harm's way, watching the river rise, as it came and took away our six vintage cabins. Not in a million years did we think we’d see that. The previous record from the French Broad River was 22 feet. On that day, it hit 32 feet. It was devastating.”

Turner and Bare feel fortunate that in the wake of Helene, Asheville River Cabins sustained relatively little property damage. While they were heartbroken to lose the six original vintage cabins, Bare recognizes that “Many properties along the French Broad were devastated. The Asheville area as a whole saw a lot of impact, and while we were hit harder than many, it could have been much worse. It’s just a great comeback story. You can knock us down, but you can’t knock us out, and we’re coming back hard and heavy!”

If you enjoy hiking, biking, tubing or fishing, nearby nature trails and access to the French Broad River provide ample opportunities to explore. Leaf-peep from your private porch, visit the North Carolina Arboretum, pack a picnic and cruise the Blue Ridge Parkway or head to nearby Great Smoky Mountains National Park for an afternoon hike. Asheville River Cabins is the perfect base camp for all your outdoor adventures. However, if you find yourself ready for fine dining, serious shopping and family entertainment, Biltmore Park Town Square is just a couple of miles away from this remarkable rural retreat.

Firelight Cabins at Shope Creek

Snake your way along picturesque back roads through east Asheville that lead to a rural residential area along the banks of beautiful Shope Creek and the Firelight Cabins; eight modern units on 22 wooded acres. This tranquil oasis features nature trails, an abundance of wildflowers, a chicken coop, on-site organic vegetable and herb gardens and a communal pavilion and fireplace, perfect for gathering with others while enjoying cooler fall evenings.

Best friends Shari Robins and Amy Cavanaugh conceived Firelight Cabins during a conversation over shared wine. “We met 20 years ago while working together and always dreamed of creating a business that we would both enjoy working at daily. We decided to create a modern retreat that still felt grounded and natural. We worked to design an escape for guests that would provide a relaxed setting but would still be accessible enough to all the wonderful restaurants and small businesses the Asheville area has to offer. As we have gone through the process, our focus has been on adding amenities that we enjoy creating, such as gardens, trails, and meadows.”

And it’s those thoughtful amenities that make Firelight such a special place. The charm of these cabins lies in their attention to detail—fresh cream, eggs from the chickens and local craft beer are in the fridge. Amy has handcrafted herbal tea bags with dried herbs from the communal garden for steeping. There’s even a handwritten note encouraging guests to gather fresh vegetables and wildflowers from the on-site gardens. The fireplace has been pre-loaded with paper and kindling, ready for lighting. Local magazines and guides are on the coffee table.

Not only is Firelight a locally women-owned business, but Shari and Amy have intentionally sought out other female-owned businesses in Western North Carolina for both the design and landscaping processes. Shari explained, “We are always delighted at the opportunity to work with other women-owned businesses, as we tend to have a similar focus and process.”

Each Firelight cabin is strategically situated to afford guests extra privacy and unobstructed views. To ensure a peaceful and quiet respite, cabin occupancy is limited to two guests. A larger home is available on the property, easily accommodating four to five guests, making it perfect for a family or larger group. All cabins feature a private outdoor space with a hot tub just steps from the bedroom. Rooms are spacious and flooded with natural light, impeccably decorated in a Scandinavian-inspired style and rich in texture—a perfect blend of sleek, modern and cozy.

From unexpected mimosas and scones to hot chocolate and s'mores, these two super hosts want every guest to leave rejuvenated and inspired: “What we want most is for guests to feel relaxed and to be able to disconnect from the stresses of the day-to-day and connect with nature. We want guests to be able to enjoy simple pleasures like sitting by the stream and picking from the garden and then return to a clean, crisp cabin, which offers gorgeous views of the outdoors so they can really feel at home and refreshed.”

Whether you book a stay at Asheville River Cabins or Firelight at Shope Creek, grab a book, hang a hammock, pour a beverage, or head out to nearby hiking trails to soak in the mountain views, vibrant foliage and crisp autumn air.