The Essence Center is the perfect place to simply relax and enjoy the peace, serenity and tranquility as you go through the process of healing, mind, body and soul.

Located in the heart of the spectacular Blue Ridge Mountains of western North Carolina, The Essence Center is nestled on a private 24-acre estate, tucked in the middle of a 650 acre private cove, just six miles north of Asheville, North Carolina. Although we are only 3 miles from the freeway, our exclusive and private setting feels like we are worlds away from society, back in time, where wildlife is abundant, the air is fresh and clean and the sounds of nature echo gently through our property.

The Essence Center's 12,500sf facility includes a grand Great Room, filled with beautiful and comfortable furniture, a baby grand piano (we'd love to hear you play!), our 30' native stone fireplace and 30' floor-to-ceiling windows that provide stunning views of our private lake and surrounding mountains.

Our beautiful accommodations consist of large, comfortable rooms, each with 2 queen sized beds with plush bedding, a private bath with separate vanity area, and private decks with breathtaking lake and mountain views. There is plenty of closet space, cable TV and wi-fi internet in each room.

Our Natural Health Cafe seats 36 people comfortably, and includes the warmth and southern charm of tiffany lamps overhead, and large country-styled oak furniture. Your delicious spa cuisine meals will be served to you in our Cafe. You will have the opportunity to dine with other guests and with our wonderful staff members.

At The Essence Center, you will have entered one of the most beautiful settings on earth for restoring your health. You will feel like you have gone back in time to a place that is full of peace and serenity, far from the stresses of modern society. Our hardwood forests are abundant with wildlife, and privacy.

Our sprawling grounds include a rolling pastures with our beautiful horses grazing about. It is here that you will find our rescue animals, very happy and truly spoiled! They are wonderful assistants in our weekly Equine Assisted Psychotherapy sessions

Just in front of the Retreat Center, you will find our private 2-acre lake, surrounded by a paved, softly lit walkway for incredibly peaceful evening strolls. It is teaming with wildlife, including Bass, Brim, bull frogs, turtles and visiting ducks.

Beyond the lake is our vintage Artisan Village complete with restored historic buildings, including a water-wheel driven Gristmill, an old fashioned blacksmith shop and 'The Parlor', a quaint, authentically-styled massage therapy studio that is beside the original Outhouse, complete with a quintessential crescent moon carved in the door and (modernized!) running water. You'll also find our chicken house, the molasses press, our horseshoe pit and other interesting barns and pastures.

Our guests enjoy many miles of hiking trails in this luscious cove. We will provide maps for these trails, or you may opt to stay on our estate, and simply relax.

Located up a private walkway, just a short walk from our main facility, are Essence House Suites.

Our Exclusive accommodations are for guests who require the utmost privacy we have available. Ideally suited for high-profile guests or those who simply insist on having the best we have to offer, our adjoining suites are wonderful for those who choose to bring friends or loved ones to support them during their time at The Essence Center.

These exclusive accommodations are tucked away in our mystical pine forest, overlooking our private lake. Essence House is surrounded by hardwoods and abounding nature. It is not uncommon to see fox, deer, and even the occasional bob cat.

The sounds of nature echo magically and peacefully throughout the day and night as the serenity of cool mountain air cleanses the body, mind and soul.

Essence House has 2 spacious suites, each with a private bedroom, bathroom, living room, kitchenette and dining area. The units are joined by an expansive deck that provides the most spectacular views of the lake and surrounding mountains.

Both Essence House suites have cable TV.

Our Private accommodations are for clients who insist on the utmost privacy within Essence Retreat Center.

Each of our spacious guest rooms are lovingly decorated with unique art-work and inspirational messages.

Each private guest room has 2 queen sized beds with plush bedding for wonderful and peaceful sleeping. Each guest room also includes a private bathroom with a separate vanity area. There is plenty of closet space for all your personal belongings.

Unique to Essence Recovery Center is that each guest room has its own private deck. Ideal for quiet meditation or for reading a good book, these decks have the most stunning lake and/or mountain views imaginable.

In the Great Room, you will find yourself surrounded with soothing music, fresh mountain air, our 30’ native stone fireplace and 30’ floor-to-ceiling windows. You'll always have spectacular views of the mountains and our private grounds. Sitting out on our expansive deck and simply relaxing is a favorite past-time of our guests.

Just off the Great Room, you will find our Tea Buffet, where you will find many herbal teas for your enjoyment throughout the day, and our Natural Health Cafe, where our meals are served

Also off the Great Room, you will find our Gift & Book Shop Here you will find wonderful and inspirational books, natural skin-care products, and much more. We also keep a stock of personal hygiene products, just in case you forget something!

Outside, you'll find beautiful landscaping, flowering trees (like our Japanese Cherry Tree pictured here) and flowering bushes and lovely lawns. Inside, you'll find our FAR-Infrared Sauna.

All guest rooms include cable TV. A general use telephone is located in the loft.

Our Semi-Private package is for clients who do not mind sharing their guest room with another client.

If you have a friend or loved one who wishes to recover with you, or just support you while you are at Essence, you are welcome to share semi-private accommodations with that person.

If you are coming alone, we will select a roommate for you. As we admit clients once a week, there is the possibility that you will have more than one roommate during the course of your stay. We will always place women with women, and men with men, but cannot guarantee age or personality similarities.

Guest rooms and amenities are as listed above under "Private".

NOTE: At Essence, we do not use air conditioning in the summer. There are ceiling fans in all our guest rooms, and the mountain air is wonderfully cool at night. However, it can be warm during the day. If you have heat sensitivities, please consider this before coming to Essence.