INTO THE WOODS

You can’t go wrong at Asheville’s newest place to stay and play

Written by Charlie Mahanes / Photos Courtesy of Wrong Way River Lodge & Cabins

Wrong Way River Lodge & Cabins takes a fun new spin on mixing outdoor and urban environments to create a truly unique guest experience. Located in West Asheville, the venue features 16 triangular A-frame cabins, which, when lined up together, resemble a mountain range or river waves, according to the founders. These cabins capture a “Scappalachian” aesthetic, which successfully merges the beauty of Scandinavian design with the warmth of the Appalachians.

The Wrong Way moniker stems from the fact that the French Broad River across the street is one of the few rivers in the world along with the Nile—that flows South to North—the wrong way. Founders Joe Balcken and Shelton Steele have used this name to drive their approach to this new spot, adding their own unique spin on traditional lodging and hospitality concepts. The result is an innovative new spot that encourages outdoor adventure without compromising on quality.

Of these 16 cabins, 13 are standard size, priced between $135-$275 per night, depending on the season. These rooms sleep up to four people, with a queen size bed and queen sleeper sofa. The rooms also include a full bathroom, workspace, mini-fridge, microwave, electric kettle HVAC system, and high-speed Wi-Fi access. Televisions are not included in cabins to encourage outdoor activities. Lastly, each standard cabin has a private balcony that faces the greenway and river across the street.

Deluxe cabins, priced between $165-$325 per night, include the same features as the standard cabins, with a few added benefits. Deluxe cabins are designed with dormers, which allows for more space in the interior and for a wall to separate the bedroom and living room. Deluxe cabins also have larger back decks that face a natural wooded area. The result of these designs is a cozy room experience that helps make a trip memorable while still managing to encourage outdoor activities and adventure.

In addition to their cabins, Wrong Way features a two and a half story River Lodge open to all guests daily from 7am-9pm. This building serves as both a gathering space and a canteen, offering several grab-and-go options from Asheville’s Newstock Pantry, delivering their seasonally inspired, farm-sourced food multiple times per week to ensure maximum freshness. The Lodge also includes a 1,200 squarefoot event space called “The Eddy,” which is available to rent for private group events with a capacity of 36 seated and 60 standing guests. The space is fully equipped with dedicated bathrooms and a catering kitchen for outside caterers. The River Lodge also has an eight-person conference room upstairs (dubbed “The Boardroom”) with a 60-inch monitor and private outdoor balcony. With both the cabins and River Lodge, Wrong Way is perfect for group retreats, reunions, or other gatherings, as the layout of the space allows people to assemble, while also having their own downtime in their cabin.

Another strength of this exciting new spot is its convenient location. Wrong Way is located directly across the street from the French Broad River Greenway, where the Wrong Way Experience Program helps connect guests to local outdoor activities (including but not limited to stand-up paddleboarding, whitewater rafting, river tubing, and calm water paddling). Additionally, Asheville’s popular River Arts District and West Asheville’s Haywood Road area are each about one mile from Wrong Way. Lastly, Wrong Way is located roughly two miles from the famous Biltmore Estate and three miles from downtown. With this location, guests have lots of versatility with how they choose to spend their days. You can’t go wrong with Wrong Way!

Asheville Proper

We also had the pleasure of dining at a nearby restaurant, Asheville Proper, that we will definitely return to on our next visit. Located in the Grove Arcade and the culinary vision of Chef Owen McGlynn, alongside wife and partner Mindi McGlynn, Asheville Proper prepares locally-sourced food over a custom hardwood-fueled grill. The décor incorporates the historic Art Deco elements of the building with modern touches that provide a refined yet comfortable ambiance. The open kitchen allows you to witness the wood grill crackling and sparks flying through the smoke—dinner and a show! The menu changes often, but the emphasis is on infusing smoke into the meat, seafood and produce. We shared plates of grilled charred octopus, embered scallops, a dry-aged duck breast, and a wagyu flatiron along with crispy confit potatoes and embered brussels sprouts. The Parker House rolls with sea salt and whipped sage brown butter were amazing. The desserts even get a kiss of fire with s’mores topped with toasted marshmallow and a crème brulee of the day. They also host Chef’s tasting menus Sunday-Thursdays. We give “props” to this fine dining experience in Asheville. sl

Wrong Way River Lodge & Cabins / 9 Midnight Drive, Asheville, NC 28806 (use 191 Amboy Road, Asheville, NC 28806 for GPS) / (828) 585-7747 / wrongwaycampground.com / Facebook: Wrong Way River Lodge & Cabins, Instagram: wrongwaycampground Asheville Proper / 1 Page Avenue Suite 151, Asheville, NC 28801 / (828) 505-0909 / ashevilleproper.com / Reservations on Open Table / Open Sunday, Monday, Wednesday & Thursday 4:00pm-9:00pm. Friday & Saturday 4:00pm-10:00pm, closed Tuesdays