Balsam Mountain Inn

The Grand Old Lady Hotel is perched at 3,500 ft. elevation in the community of Balsam, NC, in a gap dividing the towering Plott Balsam and Richland Balsam mountain ranges. Balsam Gap was once home to the highest passenger rail station in the east, and guests at the inn – then called the Balsam Mountain Springs Hotel – took day trips to nearby peaks, some of which rise to over 6,000 feet. Our guests still enjoy such trips – even more so perhaps – by hiking the nearby North Carolina Mountains-to-Sea Trail, or by driving the spectacular Blue Ridge Parkway, which has an entrance a half-mile from the inn and reaches some of its highest, wildest and most beautiful points nearby. The inn has gone through many changes throughout the years. In December 2017, the inn was purchased by Marzena B. Wyszynska, an experienced international hotelier. The inn needed extensive renovation including plumbing, electrical, heating systems and major cleaning when purchased. The walls and floors have been thoroughly cleaned, refurbished, and painted. There are new linens and bedding in the rooms. The antiques that resided at the inn are still here and new antiques have been inquired to maintain the inn’s history and charm. Refreshment and upgrades have been completed in April 1, 2018 when the Inn was once again open to guests. A full liquor bar was added as well in August 2018. Locally owned, Grand Old Lady Hotel has a magical front porch with rocking chairs and 2nd-floor terrace with panoramic mountain views, sometimes complemented by a double rainbow. While relaxing or awaiting dinner service guests are welcome to enjoy a cocktail or two at our “Spirits of the Inn” bar.