Secret Waters | Elopement Venue Highlands NC

Written By: Shayna Bigazzi | Issue: 2020/10 - October

Water. Aqua. Adam’s Ale (yes that is, actually, a synonym for water). 

Never has there ever been a more celebrated natural resource. It’s vital for all forms of life.

I am, myself, a Pisces, and for my whole life those around me have said things like, “You are such a Pisces!” 

And, although, I have no idea what that means, I do know I have felt personally drawn to water for as long as I can remember. 

And we are among the lucky few who get to spend a great deal of time in and around this locally abundant and sacred resource. In our beloved Nantahala temperate rainforest there are more hidden water sources than we could ever know. 

My most recent favorite find, Secret Waters, is an elopement venue with a stunning series of waterfalls, pools, terraces, and even a zipline — with the bonus of a private home perched perfectly to enjoy this rare oasis. Deck after deck of views draw you in and melt the outside world away. 

It’s far and away the purest and most sought-after elopement spot in town. Just a quick drive from downtown Highlands, this hidden aquatic playground is like nowhere you have ever been.  

Lao Tzu said, “Nothing is softer or more flexible than water, yet nothing can resist it.” 

Water gets what it wants. Gently, but surely. 

It has been held as sacred in all the world’s religions since the dawn of time. 

But moving water holds its own unique power. All rushing water creates negative ions as air molecules break apart. Researchers agree that exposure to a good splash of negative ions can positively affect your metabolism, immune system, digestion, blood pressure, sleep, and emotional state. 

I love when a negative becomes a positive! 

Invisible and unnoticeable, these negative ions are incredibly powerful. Breathe ‘em in and it’s like recharging your personal batteries. You feel immediately refreshed—you may even feel euphoric. The higher the concentration of negative ions, the better you feel. 

The plummeting waterfalls at Secret Waters are more than breathtaking—they are health-generating! 

The first lucky couple to wed here, Sance and Brittany, met the venue’s owners while buying plants. It was pure serendipity as they overheard the couple was in town to elope. They offered their sanctuary as a venue and a magical day ensued. 

As I walk around this soul-soothing piece of land I’m reminded of a beautiful letter written by Chief Seattle to the president of the United States, Franklin Pierce, in 1855: “This shining water that moves in the streams and rivers is not just water but the blood of our ancestors. If we sell you land, you must remember that it is sacred, and you must teach your children that it is sacred. The water’s murmur is the voice of my father’s father. The rivers are our brothers, they quench our thirst. The rivers carry our canoes, and feed our children. If we sell you our land, you must remember, and teach your children that the rivers are our brothers, and yours, and you must henceforth give the rivers the kindness you would give any brother.”

There is no question – this land will be loved and held sacred as long as these owners have anything to do with it!