Highlands Corporate Retreats & Company Offsites
Mountain magic and main street charmDiscover Highlands
Highlands: Clarity at a Higher Elevation
Nestled in the Blue Ridge Mountains, Highlands, North Carolina offers a refreshing escape from the everyday, combining cool mountain air, lush forests, and refined charm to create an ideal setting for your retreat. With opportunities to hike and explore the area’s legendary waterfalls, zipline through the Appalachian canopy, play a round of golf on nearby mountain courses, or unwind at a local spa, the experience leans naturally toward time outdoors and an easy, unhurried pace.
RECOMMENDED VENUE
Old Edwards Inn and Spa
This refined mountain retreat blends European-style charm with the natural beauty of the Blue Ridge Mountains. A mix of rooms, suites, and cottages lends itself well to smaller group sessions alongside larger gatherings, while intimate meeting spaces and outdoor gathering areas are complemented by gardens, fireplaces, a full-service spa, and access to nearby mountain golf courses, creating an atmosphere that feels both elevated and leisurely.
Destination Snapshot
92 rooms and cottages
490/per night
3,000 sq ft of meeting space
60 miles from AVL
August - November
Centered on Highlands’ Main StreetEXCLUSIVELY WILDER
Team experiences
Canopy Zipline Course
Navigate a series of ziplines and aerial elements through the Appalachian canopy at Highlands Aerial Park. Moving through the course requires coordination and shared momentum, creating a high-energy experience where teams stay engaged, present, and working together from start to finish.
Guided Fly Fishing
Learn the art of fly fishing alongside experienced guides on the cold, clear streams of western North Carolina. Surrounded by quiet forests and flowing water, the experience blends patience, technique, and the timeless traditions of the Southern Appalachians.
Vinyard Tour and Wine Tasting
Spend an afternoon exploring local mountain vineyards, guided through a curated tasting led by a sommelier. As groups move through each pour, the experience encourages conversation, shared perspective, and a more relaxed kind of collaboration shaped by setting, pace, and discovery.
Blacksmithing Workshop
Learn the art of traditional blacksmithing alongside a local artisan, shaping heated steel into a handcrafted keepsake using centuries-old techniques. The hands-on experience offers a memorable way to connect with the region's rich Appalachian heritage.
SAMPLE AGENDA
See what your offsite could look like
Here’s a sample agenda to show how your offsite can come together.
Our experienced team is here to help you tailor the agenda to meet your team’s specific needs.
SAMPLE PRICING
Sample price for 100 people and 3 nights:
Here’s a sample pricing summary based on a group of 100 people:
Wilder’s Growth Framework
Built for Peak Productivity and Employee Retention.
Discovery Call
We begin with a targeted intake session to audit your current organizational challenges. In addition to discussing your favorite destination, we focus on specific business objectives like navigating mergers, resolving friction, or defining a new three-year vision.
Itinerary Design
We curate a high-stakes environment tailored to your goals. By removing the team from the traditional boardroom, we select sites and experiences that create the mental space necessary for divergent thinking and relationship building.
Retreat Experience
We manage all logistics during your retreat so your team can focus exclusively on the agenda. Our job is to ensure the environment eliminates cognitive loops and accelerates the pace of decision-making.
Accelerated Growth
The program concludes with a transition from the retreat environment back to the office. We provide a space for breakthroughs to ensure your team returns with the clarity and unified velocity required for growth.
Discovery Call
We begin with a targeted intake session to audit your current organizational challenges. In addition to discussing your favorite destination, we focus on specific business objectives like navigating mergers, resolving friction, or defining a new three-year vision.
Itinerary Design
We curate a high-stakes environment tailored to your goals. By removing the team from the traditional boardroom, we select sites and experiences that create the mental space necessary for divergent thinking and relationship building.
Retreat Experience
We manage all logistics during your retreat so your team can focus exclusively on the agenda. Our job is to ensure the environment eliminates cognitive loops and accelerates the pace of decision-making.
Accelerated Growth
The program concludes with a transition from the retreat environment back to the office. We provide a space for breakthroughs to ensure your team returns with the clarity and unified velocity required for growth.
Nature-based experiences built for breakthrough.
There's no better way
As a remote team, it's important for us to create an intentional space for us to come together and connect as more than co-workers. We believe there's no better way to do that than in nature and Wilder Retreats helped us do just that.
Chris Clark
CEO
The best experience ever.
We've worked with Wilder Retreats on over three retreats now and it's been the best experience ever. They have great locations in their pocket, work closely with you on budget and details, and are always a step ahead with planning. I don't know how we'd execute on our team offsites without them!
Britt Cooper
VP of Talent
Nothing short of magical!
Our time with Wilder Retreats in Yosemite was nothing short of magical. We explored, we laughed, and we grew together. It was a humbling reminder of the beauty and power of nature, and of the importance of fostering connections with those around us.
Lily Bakour
Head of Communications
We'd choose Wilder Retreats again without hesitation!
Wilder Retreats ran our firmwide offsite this year. It was clear we had a true partner in Wilder. From the earliest planning chats through the final goodbye for the airport, our Wilder Retreats team was responsive, organized, and upbeat, so much so that our own staff who worked with them to plan could simply enjoy the retreat instead of juggling logistics. The result was a relaxed, engaging few days where people could focus on connecting with colleagues and re‑energizing for the year ahead. We came away feeling both cared for and confident that we’d choose Wilder Retreats again without hesitation!
Emma Dyson
Chief of Staff
Highly recommend Wilder Retreats!
Wilder Retreats presented, organized and executed a company retreat in Big Sky for us. The details were communicated in a timely manner both prior to the event and during. Our group had an amazing time! I would highly recommend Wilder Retreats.
Megan Ortman
Business Development
READY TO TRANSFORM YOUR TEAM?
The path to a more aligned team starts here.
GOT QUESTIONS? WE’VE GOT ANSWERS
Frequently Asked Questions
Highlands combines luxury accommodations with the quiet atmosphere of the Blue Ridge Mountains, allowing teams to step away from daily distractions without sacrificing comfort. Its walkable downtown, mild summer climate, and proximity to waterfalls, forests, and outdoor experiences create an environment that naturally encourages focused conversations and meaningful time together.
The most popular months are May through October, when daytime temperatures typically range from the 60s to upper 70s°F. Spring brings blooming wildflowers, summer offers cool mountain weather, and fall is known for vibrant foliage throughout the Blue Ridge Mountains.
Highlands is approximately a 90-minute scenic drive from Asheville Regional Airport, making it an easy transfer for domestic travelers. International teams typically connect through Atlanta or Charlotte before a 2.5-hour drive into Highlands, where the winding roads through the Blue Ridge Mountains become part of the retreat experience.
International travelers can fly into Atlanta (ATL) or Charlotte (CLT), followed by a 2.5 hour scenic drive into Highlands. Domestic teams can arrive through Asheville Airport (AVL), located just 90 minutes from town.
Yes. Old Edwards Inn offers nearly 100 rooms, along with multiple indoor and outdoor meeting venues that can host executive retreats, leadership offsites, and larger corporate gatherings. Its campus-style layout provides flexibility for both smaller meetings and group events.
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