Of Place and Essence

Written By: Marlene Osteen | Issue: September 2024

One of the privileges and pleasures of writing these columns is the chance to chat with and get to know the individuals who are thoughtfully enhancing our community.

Recently, I had the opportunity to speak by phone with Mike Weiss, the visionary entrepreneur who recently acquired and renovated the former Highlands Inn Lodge and Log Cabin Restaurant at 96 Log Cabin Lane. Weiss, and his partner Ben Weinberg, co-founders of the new hotel concept, Trailborn, have transformed this landmark into a modern, nature-inspired boutique hotel and restaurant.

Weiss, a fast talker with an aura of considerable activity and churning thought, shared the inspiration behind Trailborn.

“Ben and I are passionate about outdoor travel, and we noticed a gap in the market for design-focused accommodations in iconic outdoor destinations,” he explained. “Many places offer a room and a shower, but we saw an opportunity to create something much more engaging, more experiential.”

The duo’s superpower seems to be their uncanny ability to identify extraordinary outdoor settings where the demand for quality accommodations is high. Highlands, often praised by friends and family, was already on Weiss’s radar. As Weiss and Weinberg looked more closely into investing in Highlands, they found that the town met all their criteria: exceptional activities, stunning waterfalls, the majestic Blue Ridge Mountains, and the chance to acquire a distinctive property.

“Though situated on the edge of downtown, the property feels nestled in the woods with ample space and includes the historic Joe Webb-designed log cabin, providing unique charm,” Weiss elaborated.

What followed was a complete renovation that was completed this summer and transformed the dated inn and shuttered restaurant into a must-visit 63 room hotel with a destination restaurant and bar. Their overarching goal? “To redesign the property to make it more of a place that celebrates the local surroundings,” Weiss explained, “We wanted to reflect the history and culture of Highlands.”

The completed project, Trailborn Highlands, is the product of a marriage between eminent tastemakers and precisely captured details – infinitesimal touches in synch with their surroundings. In the guests’ rooms the designers used earthy colors of forest green, dark cyan, maroon, cream, and golden yellow to mimic the hues found outdoors. In-room amenities like custom-designed quilts, local pottery, and printmaking pay homage to the Blue Ridge Mountains. In a nod to the locale’s abundance of wildflowers, a motif that is woven into the logo and décor, guests are given packets of seeds upon arrival.

The redesigned lobby space now includes a market offering local goods and a lounge and opens up onto a sprawling deck and backyard with picnic tables and fire pits. Additional outdoor spaces include a lily pond, flower gardens and a Nordic spa complete with a sauna and cold plunge showers.

The crown jewel of the property is the adjacent log cabin. Originally built in 1924 by regionally renowned carpenter, Joe Webb, using local materials and hand tools as a residence for a local family, the historic structure has been reimagined as The Highlands Supper Club. Embracing the original architectural details, they preserved the 1924 cabin’s architectural details, including 3 fireplaces, chestnut and pine beams and wide plank floors. The space is filled with curated memorabilia, wood prints, and custom wallpaper inspired by indigenous rhododendrons Repurposed log dining chairs are accompanied by wood benches and tables.

The menu features Appalachian cuisine and regional ingredients like NC oysters and in a nod to Joe Webb includes Chicken Two Ways – oven roasted, or buttermilk fried. To enhance its appeal, a bar was added within the restaurant, creating an inviting spot for a drink, a destination, and a hub for locals. Highlights of the bar menu include spirit-forward cocktails, such as a bacon washed old fashioned, and a selection of local beers.

As part of Trailborn’s “Keep Extraordinary” initiative a portion of every reservation booked directly is donated to the Highlands-Cashiers Land Trust to support local land conservation and preserve the great American outdoors.

As we wrapped up our conversation, Weiss shared, “Our goal in opening Trailborn Highlands was to create something that truly belongs here, something that will be here forever.”