Note: this page shares information about our Overnight Blue Ghost Retreat. If you’re short on time or are not interested in staying on site overnight, you might consider our 3hr Blue Ghost Firefly Night Hike instead.
Join us for an extraordinary overnight retreat dedicated to the search for the elusive Blue Ghost Fireflies—a rare and magical phenomenon found in only a handful of places in the world, including Western North Carolina! For just two short weeks each spring, they emerge, glowing with a soft, steady blue light that hovers close to the earth like whispers of starlight come down to dance.
This overnight retreat is your chance to experience their glow in the most meaningful way possible: with time, space, and presence — and without the crowds.
While our guided night hikes offer a glimpse into the magic, the overnight retreat lets you live inside it.
With just 8–10 overnight spots per night, this is our most intimate offering — a chance to immerse yourself in nature while allowing the experience to unfold gently over time. From arrival to departure, we create space for you to unplug, breathe deeply, and remember what it feels like to be fully alive in the present moment.
After dinner, you’ll join your guide for a mindfulness-based meander into the forest as twilight settles and the fireflies begin to emerge. With each breath and each step, the forest reveals more of its quiet magic.
Then, instead of returning to your car or the buzz of town, you’ll tuck into a cozy bed in a historic cabin nestled on the same protected land where the fireflies thrive. There are no distractions here — just stillness, stars, and the deep peace that follows wonder.
Wake to a peaceful mountain morning, move gently through a guided morning yoga class, and share breakfast with fellow travelers before heading back into the world — more grounded, more connected, and forever changed.
Early Bird Pricing in effect for a limited time!
Arrive between 5pm – 6pm and settle into your cozy accommodations.
Family Dinner:
Savor a delectable dinner with your retreat companions. Our family-style dinner will be prepared by Chef Katie with locally-sourced ingredients that celebrate the season’s bounty. Engage in meaningful conversation, and delight in the flavors of a thoughtfully prepared meal.
Guided Twilight Forest Adventure:
The evening begins with a gentle, guided stroll into a peaceful forest as the sun sets and sparkling fireflies emerge. We hope to see the elusive Blue Ghost Fireflies and will surely enjoy the forest at twilight and other beings present there.
Wholesome Continental Breakfast:
Wander the peaceful grounds and start your day at your leisure. We’ll prepare a delicious spread including traditional delights like fruit, toast, nut butter, whipped butter, overnight oats, coffee, and hot tea.
Invigorating Yoga Session: an opportunity to integrate the magic and wonder of this special experience before heading back out into the world. Move, breath, and stretch to the natural sounds of morning in the mountains.
Check Out:
Check out time is 10am. We hope you return home with a renewed sense of peace and a heart full of wonder!
Spend the evening in a cozy, charming, historic cabin overlooking a lake, just steps from the Blue Ghost Firefly forest we’ll visit on our guided night adventure. Enjoy spacious wraparound porches, crackling fire places, a full kitchen, common areas for getting to know your retreat companions, comfy beds, and hot showers!
Each cabin is equipped with a full kitchen, living room, bedrooms, and shared bathrooms. Your bed preferences will be noted during checkout, but please be aware that rooms are assigned on a first-come, first-served basis by our staff to optimize the limited space we have available. Note: only one solo occupancy room is available per night.
