Luxury Treetop Cottage | Artist's Retreat | Walk to Highlands Main St

We're not a property management company that handles other people's homes. Every rental in the Elevate portfolio is a property we own, personally curate, and pour genuine care into — and guests feel that difference the moment they arrive.
Elevate specializes in upscale boutique vacation rentals in and around Highlands, NC — one of the Southeast's most beloved mountain destinations. Our properties range from a legendary Joe Webb-designed treehouse to a luxury lakefront lodge. Each one has its own distinct character, but all share the same signature: warm wood walls, intentional design, functional luxury, and spaces that feel like somewhere, not just somewhere to sleep.
What sets us apart is simple — we care about the experience, not just the transaction. From setting the perfect ambiance before you arrive to sharing our insider list of area favorites, we're invested in making your stay genuinely unforgettable. It's why so many of our guests come back year after year, and why we know many of them by name.
When you book with Elevate, you're not booking a rental. You're booking a place you'll want to return to.

Adirondack Cottage isn't just a place to stay in Highlands — it's the kind of place people talk about long after they leave.
A former artist's studio perched among ancient hemlock trees and old-growth rhododendrons, this two-bedroom retreat earns its nickname "the treehouse" the moment you arrive. There is simply nothing else like it in Highlands. The soaring 20-foot vaulted ceilings, cascading skylights, spa-slate shower, and one-of-a-kind artisan décor deliver a luxury experience wrapped in genuine mountain character — the kind of charm that can't be manufactured or replicated.
Then there's the location. Tucked on a rare flat loop just a half-mile from Main Street, you can walk to Highlands' best restaurants, boutique shops, and galleries — and return each evening to complete privacy, surrounded by forest on all sides.
This is an owner-operated property, personally curated and maintained to the highest standard. Our guests return year after year — many by name — because once you've stayed here, nowhere else in Highlands quite compares.
The treehouse. The treetops. The one that everyone remembers.

🌲 Truly One-of-a-Kind Property

A former artist's studio converted into a luxury mountain retreat — there is no other property like Adirondack Cottage in Highlands. The architecture, history, and character simply can't be replicated.
🏡 Owner-Operated, Not Agency-Managed

Every detail of this property is personally curated and maintained by the owners. You're not dealing with a faceless management company — you're booking with people who genuinely care about your experience.
📍 Best Walkable Location in Highlands

Situated on a rare flat loop, Adirondack Cottage is a leisurely half-mile stroll from Main Street's best restaurants, shops, and galleries — no car needed once you arrive.
🌿 Complete Privacy in the Heart of Town

Surrounded on all sides by old-growth rhododendrons and ancient hemlock trees, the cottage feels like a private forest sanctuary — while remaining steps from everything Highlands has to offer.
✨ Luxury Finishes, Real Mountain Character

Spa-inspired slate shower, premium memory foam beds, soaring 20-foot vaulted ceilings, and cascading skylights — upscale comfort without the sterile, cookie-cutter feel of a typical vacation rental.
🐾 Pet Friendly

Bring the whole family. Pets are welcome with prior approval so your four-legged members don't have to miss the mountain adventure.
🔄 Guests Come Back — Year After Year

Adirondack Cottage has one of the highest return guest rates in Highlands. That's not an accident — it's the experience.