We embarrassed and humiliated ourselves so bad, we left early - would be a more appropriate title for this review. During their dinner @ our Fire + Water restaurant during the second evening of their stay this couple became inebriated as the dinner progressed. They were engaging others at their tables and becoming louder and louder. It became apparent as a result of complaints from other dining guests and staff members present that they needed to stop this behavior so that order could return to the dining room and so that our other dining guests could complete and enjoy their romantic dinners @ Fire + Water that evening. Therefore service of spirits was stopped for them. The husband took great offense and started yelling “you are a jerk, you are a jerk” and the wife did not even know what was happening. They departed the restaurant. Peace and quiet returned, romantic music could once again be heard and enjoyed, and our romantic prix-fix dinner continued without further interruption and concluded just prior to sunset which is experienced from each seat in the restaurant having dynamic sunset views that go out 50+ miles.
It turns out that they departed the next day, at some point, which we discovered when housekeeping went to perform maid service in their accommodation mid-afternoon. They never said good-by, they never informed anyone that they were departing, they never checked out, they never turned in their key. We just assumed, as did other guests, that they were too embarrassed and humiliated to continue their anniversary stay at Fire Mountain. Up to the time of the disruption at dinner, their stay in the Laurel Treehouse at Fire Mountain was incredible which they had continuously indicated to staff and all other guests that they came in contact with.
Accommodation: On June 28, 2018 of this year Parade Magazine (parade.com) listed Fire Mountain Laurel Treehouse as one of America’s 26 coolest treehouses. Laurel Treehouse has also been written about in many publications over the years from Southern Living Magazine to the New York Times travel section. The pictures on our website depict a very accurate image of the Laurel Treehouse. There is nothing altered to make it look like a grand gesture. People come to the mountains to be part of nature, not to just live in a room. This is a treehouse accommodation, really how big should it be? The treehouses at Fire Mountain are our most basic accommodations having the least of the amenities that we offer. The treehouse accommodations also are a great value being on the lower end of our rate scale and are extremely popular. If this couple had desired a larger accommodation with more amenities and with more expansive views we have that, but those accommodations do cost more.
The shower in Laurel is 36” x 36” which is of average size. There is 6 ½ square feet of shelves and storage drawers in the bath. Yes the bath has a normal sized pedestal sink. The bath also has a large glass window with long range views to the west. In addition to the bath the accommodation is large enough for a king bed, side tables and three way reading lamps, a chaise lounge with ottoman along with two closets both containing shelving and interior lighting. The walkway decking around the covered deck is 6 ft. wide (not 3 ft. as indicated in the review). The total deck square footage that surrounds the Laurel Treehouse is 807 sq. ft. and is for the exclusive use of this accommodation which is more decking than any other accommodation at Fire Mountain. The decking has a hammock, two portable folding teak chairs with canvas back and bottoms (which are clean) with a teak side table, a large cafe teak table with side teak chairs along with terra cotta pots with Kimberly Queen ferns. The entrance boardwalk from the private parking for the accommodation is a most special feature as it goes for a 120 feet through the woods surrounded by many flowering trees, plants and wild flowers. It is three feet wide. There is another entrance and exist to the accommodation if one should not like to use the boardwalk. Yes boardwalks and outdoor decks can be slippery when wet (ours are pressure washed on a regular basis) as we are in a temperate rain forest here in the Highlands. It is always advisable to wear outdoor athletic type shoes when walking the forests, grounds, outdoor decks, boardwalks and staircases at Fire Mountain and in the National Forests surrounding us. There are two sunset views from the decks both of which are long range out 40 to 50 miles. These views are not expansive (just long range). To make them expansive we would have to cut down all the trees surrounding the treehouses which we are not going to do hence the name Treehouse. If you desire long range expansive views from the top of Fire Mountain we have them in the main lodge building accommodations of the Fire Mountain Inn and from some of our mountaintop luxury cabins.
Food: We are very pleased that this couple found our cuisine to be very good, well-seasoned and cooked to perfection! Fire Mountain is known for top notch locally fresh sourced cuisine served at our Fire + Water Restaurant. Our prix fixe dinners are a great value and far from expensive. Every guest is emailed a dinner menus prior to arrival so that they will know what is provided and the costs. The price includes your starter, entrée, sides, breads, dessert, beverages and your gratuity. We only serve dinner to our guests and we desire for it to be not only great cuisine, but an incredible romantic dining experience with great service. We do not offer expensive wines at Fire + Water. If you desire expensive or top shelf wine we also would suggest that you bring your own.
Service: Service at Fire Mountain is a hallmark which we take great pride in and which is discussed and described in detail in many of the reviews regarding Fire Mountain on social media. No one ever insulted and berated this couple. Quite the contrary. They were having a grand time until they were told “no more drinking”. The husband immediately became incensed, stood up and began to act out even more than he and his wife had up until that point.
Conclusion: We are very sorry that this couple lost control that night as it was very embarrassing and humiliating for all concerned. A very high percentage of our guests return over and over to Fire Mountain and if you are a discerning traveler you will find that Fire Mountain is the perfect place to experience in your travels and a place that you will return to over and over as so many of our guests do!
Guests come to Fire Mountain to experience peace, quiet and serenity in a spectacular natural environment on hundreds of mountaintop acres. For 22 years Fire Mountain has been a secluded and romantic mountaintop hideaway for discerning couples to celebrate elopements, honeymoons, anniversaries, romantic getaways, vacations and other special times or events in their lives. Fire Mountain is a very unique and unconventional full service boutique mountaintop resort where guests are able to get in touch with spectacular nature and their sense of adventure, to spend quality time together in addition to celebrating special benchmarks in their lives and to also remove themselves from the stress of their everyday lives.
Hiram Wilkinson
General Partner