Laughing Heart Lodge

I stayed at The Hostel at Laughing Heart and I really enjoyed myself. Tie runs a tight ship here with clean rooms and a well-​organized hostel. Caught up with some hiker buddies and got a good night’s sleep.

Stayed in the hostel. They have private rooms and bunks. The rates are reasonable. Paid $ 23 including tax for a room with 3 singles. The room’s baseboard heater was broken, but they provided a portable heater that kept the room plenty warm, there is an air conditioner for warmer days. The sheets were clean. The room was clean.
The hostel is rustic and charming. If you’re a Ritz Carlton kinda person, this isn’t for you. The hostel caters primarily to hikers on the App Trail.
There are 3 bathrooms with showers. A washer and dryer, which they charge $ 5 per load. There is also a kitchen stocked with pots, pans, plates, cups, and silverware. There is also a refrigerator.
At the entrance, there is a coffee maker and a microwave. They provide coffee, but you just have to make it. There are also clean towels to use when you take a shower.
The hostel is on the same grounds as a lodge/​bed and breakfast. The grounds are quaint and maintained nicely.
There is also free WI-​FI.
The staff was friendly and checked us in with a smile.

Great bang for your buck. Truck is really friendly and always available to help. Can do your laundry, have clean toiletries and towels, free coffee and water. Wifi works well, can hang out outside on hammocks and relax. Love this place!

I really wish I could give a glowing report, but we traveled 550 miles to arrive at a very awesome lodge in the midst of the Appalachian Trail where our reservation had not been recorded, there was no fire in the fireplace nor an offer of a glass of wine or hot chocolate, the night manager (a nice guy, but not an outgoing «host» kind of person) studiously made sure we even had a reservation, and we found breakfast was Continental. (He did get the word to the morning crew that we would at least appreciate some eggs.) Although the night guy conveyed an apology from the owners (the place is actually held in a trust), no one the next morning mentioned anything. I write this in hopes that they do better for future guests. Laughing Heart Lodge really deserves it.

We arrived to find a classic Carolina mountain lodge with fire blazing and all sorts of good books to read. Staff was helpful on several levels, including giving us ideas about good places to go for fall foliage. Rooms are smallish but the bath is large and it looks like everything has been redone, including fresh paint. Add a very reasonable rate in high season and you can understand why I’m giving it five stars.

This lodge definitely needs to be listed on Unilocal so I have made it happen! I attended a yoga retreat at the Laughing Heart Lodge this past weekend. The event was just what I needed and hope to attend future events.
Now, the lodge itself is really perfect for a retreat, a quiet weekend, or an overnight break from sleeping on the Appalachian Trail which is a short walk from the lodge. Rooms in the main lodge are comfortable, clean and have private bathrooms. There are also cabins and the hostel. A nice breakfast was served in the morning.
I love the lodge, the grounds, the garden. I love walking down the hill to the main part of Hot Springs — what a nice place to visit.