$14M Historic Mountain Spa for sale in North Carolina

The Westglow Resort & Spa in Blowing Rock, North Carolina, is available now for $14 million.

“It’s being sold as a resort and spa – or it’s being sold as a private residence,” the listing agent explains, Steven Price with James B. Collier. “The spa – which is part of the resort and part of the sale – has consistently been ranked among the top 10 spas in the country and the world.”

The spa facilities are inside a massive 29,000 square foot main mansion built in the Greek Revival style. In an area best known for its rustic cabins, the spa’s distinctive design stands out.

“The historic property was built in 1917, by an artist named Elliot Dangerfield, like his private home in the mountains of North Carolina,” Price explains. “It remained in its family for several generations and was sold in the 1970s to the station’s former owner, who bought it as a private residence.”

Price adds that the previous owner came up with the idea of ​​converting the huge house into a hospitality facility and proceeded to build the spa.

The current owners bought the property in 2005 and made some renovations and additions. They maintain a private residence near the station which is not part of the sale, but the business they have built will pass on with the sale.

“I think people like the building. It’s an iconic structure,” says Price.

The 18-acre property has a total of 18 bedrooms. Six are in the main house and all have en-suite facilities. A room currently used as a reception room could be converted into another guest bedroom.

The remaining rooms are in a separate four-bedroom guest house, a triplex with three suites and two staff cottages.

The main house has a commercial kitchen, restaurant and plenty of living space.

Dangerfield originally named the house Westglow, an acknowledgment of the beauty of natural light in this location.

“The mansion faces west,” the agent said. “His comment on Westglow’s orientation and light quality was that the sunsets were never dazzling, always brilliant, that’s how it became Westglow.”

Spa facilities include an indoor pool, steam rooms and saunas, exercise facilities, eight treatment rooms, hydrotherapy rooms with Vichy showers, and locker rooms.

Beyond the glow of the sun, Price also says the views are unparalleled. The house sits on one of the highest points in Blowing Rock, he notes, and is one of the few properties in the area with 360-degree views.

“To the west is Grandfather Mountain,” he said. “To the east you look towards the Johns River Gorge. And to the southeast, if the weather is clear, you can see downtown Charlotte from the property.

Price says the current owners would like a new owner to build on the spa’s success.

“He’s very well known and has a loyal following,” he says. “Westglow is an integral part of the Blowing Rock community. It is a house that has existed for over 100 years and is an important structure in this area. He holds a special place in people’s hearts.

While sellers would prefer a buyer to operate the spa business, the agent recognizes another category of potential buyers.

“It could be someone wealthy who wants to have their own personal gym, which would be the spa,” he says.

In addition, they would have this magnificent historic property as their residence.

“We will find the right buyer for this property,” he adds. “That’s our goal.”