Experience the Mirror Hotel
A one-of-a-kind experience is coming soon to North Carolina: Mirror Hotel will debut a batch of “invisible” cabins this May. According to the hotel, it’s the first property of its kind in the United States.
Perfect Location Near Asheville
Mirror Hotel sits on a 55-acre lot in Marshall, North Carolina—just 20 miles north of Asheville. Each of its 18 cabins will have reflective mirror-paneled walls—hence the name Mirror Hotel—that blend into the surrounding environment.
Joanna Cahill, the owner of Mirror Hotel, was inspired to create this property after crowdsourcing opinions from repeat guests at her other hospitality venture: Asheville Glamping. Asheville Glamping is an upscale off-the-grid campsite that opened in 2012, offering guests tent, dome, and tree house accommodations.
Cabin Design and Features
Guests can pick from two types of cabins: the 1,500-square-foot “Elevated” cabins that can sleep six guests and the 600-square-foot “Grounded” cabins that can house four guests. Elevated cabins, built on stilts, have three bedrooms, a full bath (with a shower and soaking tub), and a kitchen. Grounded cabins have a loft-style layout with an upstairs bedroom, a pull-out sofa on the ground level, and a shower.
All the cabins have a terrace large enough for some morning yoga or late-night stargazing and 15-foot-tall windows to soak in the views. Moreover, to truly deliver on privacy, there are no communal fire pits or a restaurant. Each cabin has its own hot tub (another great stargazing spot), a patio with a fire pit, pizza oven, pergola, and alfresco dining area.
The design deviates from other glamping concepts, with custom cabinetry and furniture, built-in beds, and high-end appliances. “Everything in our kitchens is custom,” Cahill said, “even our dishwasher has a custom panel so it matches the cabinets.”
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Unique Features of Mirror Hotel
To keep light pollution at a minimum, low lighting was used whenever possible. Additionally, to prevent birds from crashing into the reflective exterior of the cabins, the property invested in a protective coating that lets birds know there’s a solid surface on the horizon. “Fifty percent of bird strikes occur on residential windows,” Cahill said. “We wanted to make sure these buildings are not a hazard.”
Guests can also view piglets in the spring, as New Zealand Kunekune pigs are raised on the land. (This particular breed only grazes and, thus, is less destructive to the land.) Talks will be available for guests interested in learning more about the animals.
Aiming for a Specific Audience
What type of traveler is this property aiming to attract? “People who appreciate architecture and don’t want to be in crowded areas,” Cahill said. “People who love five-star hotels but don’t necessarily want to hear their neighbors.”
The seven Elevated cabins are slated to open in May, while the 11 Grounded cabins will debut at the end of 2023.
The property will welcome guests for stays during a VIP event in early April, featuring discounted rates of up to 50 percent: Elevated cabins start at $595 on weekdays and $795 on weekends, and Grounded cabins start at $299 on weekdays and $495 on weekends. Consider exploring more details here.
