Welcome from Deerwoode

Calm pond reflecting the blue sky and tall trees, with a grassy field and a wooden fence along a dirt road.

Colorful zinnias bloom along a garden bed beside a grassy lawn under a partly cloudy blue sky. Sunlit flower garden with blooming rose bushes in neat rows, green grass, and a distant pavilion under a partly cloudy blue sky.

This summer is in full swing and Mother Nature is showing off her amazing skills as evidenced by all the bright flowers, green landscape, birds and insects buzzing around, fish biting and new baby animals roaming around the property. Our new cutting wildflower garden has really taken off. It’s a beautiful addition to our native pollinator garden area. We are finally getting some rain to help fill the ponds and rivers too. These warm sunny days are perfect for exploring our grounds and the surrounding trails, waterfalls and local shops around town!

Guests are visiting us from all over to celebrate weddings, family gatherings, and outdoor adventures and we are thankful they chose to stay with us. Here are a few snippets from Google reviews provided by our recent guests we wanted to share:

The hospitality we received as soon as we arrived was outstanding. We enjoyed hiking, fishing and canoeing on the pond and also spent time at the river.
It was a perfect spot for the littles to play, explore, swim and just generally have fun. The cabins are comfortable with lots of rooms and space. We tubed on the river and explored the bamboo forest. The hosts are very responsive and helpful and made the stay a special one. I highly recommend.
We found the grounds of the reserve to be very inviting. We enjoyed watching a flock of twelve geese who frequently visited the small pond below the cabin.
We just got married here and I already can’t wait to come back! I had the wedding of my dreams and it was all thanks to Dionne and her fantastic team, and their beautiful property. I wish I could live there! I had multiple people tell me it was the best wedding they ever went to.
Deerwoode never disappoints. This was our 3rd time staying there. It is so close to all the great things Brevard has to offer but when you’re on the property you feel 1000 miles away. Love it. Cant wait to go back.

There’s still time to squeeze in a quick little mountain escape this year. Plan your visit soon and take advantage of our recently discounted nightly rates for late summer & fall stays. We can’t wait to welcome you!

The Deerwoode Team

New Entrance Wall & Signage

Guests are now greeted with a beautiful new entrance when they arrive. Our new stacked stone walls, adorned with a custom made metal signage, sit on both sides of the road when you drive through the front of our property. Once you enter, enjoy the single-lane, tree-lined drive as you transport yourself from everyday stresses to the peace and tranquility this magical place takes you.

We partnered with Metal Mountain Works, a local business, to bring our vision to life. They created the metal deer head and Deerwoode Reserve signage. We love it and hope that you do too!

Conserving Carolina Restoration Work at Deerwoode

“Some stories end with a ribbon cutting. This one ends with a healthy floodplain, a stabilized streambank, and nature taking the lead.

Three weeks before our final walk through Deerwoode Reserve, a significant storm rolled through Transylvania County — the kind of weather event that puts new restoration work to its first real test. When our team returned to the restoration site, what they found wasn’t damage. It was proof.

The work held. Every bit of it.”

Two-part outdoor scene: the top shows greenish, calm water along a rocky shore, the bottom shows a wooden dock extending from a stone embankment into the water with grassy banks.

Aerial view of a split site: top shows a cleared construction area with dirt mounds and an excavator; bottom shows a green field with remaining dirt patches.

Local Spotlight

Pisgah Coffee Roasters

We are proud to support our local coffee business and offer Pisgah Coffee Roasters coffee in each cabin. Pisgah Coffee Roasters opened in 2010 in WNC and remains committed to sourcing beans from the Cerrado region of Brazil, where familial bonds endure with the land and its stewards. Pisgah Coffee Roasters a family-owned and operated business, grateful for the opportunity to live, work, and explore the beauty of the Blue Ridge Mountains.

Brew your own cup of coffee to sip & enjoy a slow start to your morning!

Discover Deerwoode Reserve:
Where Life’s Best Gatherings Come Together

Tucked away on 175 private acres along the French Broad River, Deerwoode Reserve offers a one-of-a-kind mountain destination where families, friends, and colleagues can gather, reconnect, and celebrate. Just minutes from downtown Brevard, our nature preserve combines the charm of a historic summer camp with modern comforts and thoughtfully designed event spaces.

Whether you’re planning a family reunion, corporate retreat, or special celebration, Deerwoode Reserve provides the rare opportunity to bring everyone together in one place. Our collection of 11 renovated cabins accommodates up to 76 overnight guests, allowing loved ones to stay steps away from the festivities while enjoying the beauty of the Blue Ridge Mountains.

What truly sets Deerwoode Reserve apart is the experience beyond the event itself. Guests have exclusive access to hiking trails, fishing ponds, a paddle-friendly lake, swimming areas, hammocks, and direct access to the French Broad River. It’s a place where conversations linger around campfires, families create new traditions, and wedding weekends become unforgettable adventures.

From intimate gatherings, reunions and celebrations up to 200 guests, Deerwoode Reserve offers the perfect blend of natural beauty, privacy, and convenience. We’re currently booking 2027 weddings, reunions, and retreats, with select 2026 dates still available for intimate weddings, holiday parties, fundraising events, and special occasions.

Come experience a place where nature inspires connection and every gathering becomes a lasting memory. Visit our newly updated Groups & Gatherings Page & send an inquiry form to receive our informative Group Planning Toolkit!

Start Planning Today

Large group of people in matching blue shirts posing for a group photo under a rustic wooden pavilion.

Group of children in blue shirts playing a foam noodle game under a metal-roofed shelter in a covered pavilion.

Deerwoode Events

Drop-in Venue & Property Tours

August 5th, 19th and 26th, from 3-5 PM

Make memories in the mountains! We invite you to come tour our wedding & event venue, The Mayes Event Center at Deerwoode Reserve. On August 5, 19 and 26th, from 3-5pm, we’ll host a meet & greet with our event staff and show you our beautiful property & versatile venue.

Walk through all the spaces at the venue ~ the dressing suite, catering kitchen, reception hall, covered pavilion & outdoor patio. Imagine how your special day would feel as you visit our outdoor ceremony spots ~ The Chapel in the Trees and Lakeside Arbor. Meander through the garden, visit the swimming hole, and tour a cabin (if available) to appreciate all that our unique property has to offer.

Meet with our event staff to learn more about our wedding packages and event services. We offer everything from small, intimate celebrations to whole property gatherings. See if our property is the perfect fit for your wedding, celebration, family reunion, corporate retreat or holiday party. We would love to be the beautiful mountain backdrop for your wedding or event!

Tours are free to attend & open to the public. No need to RSVP. Just drop in on these select Wednesdays between 3-5 pm. Follow the signs to parking and enter at the Mayes Event Center. We hope to see you there!

Can’t make it at this time? No problem. We also offer virtual and in-person tours by appointment. Please contact us at 828-201-2615 or events@deerwoode.com with questions or to schedule your personal tour.

Promotional banner for Respira Yoga at Deerwood Reserve, showing two people practicing yoga on a wooden deck with a forest backdrop.

Respira Yoga
Mondays, 6 – 7 PM

This is a weekly class open to guests and to the publc! Lead by Respira Retreats instructors, Julie Paterson or Clare Desmelik, join us for yoga on Monday evenings from 6-7pm. Suggested donation (cash or venmo) $10-$20. No registration required!

Some helpful info…

Bring your own mat and water.
Come a little early as there is a short walk up to the Chapel in the Trees.
When you enter Deerwoode, follow signs to the parking area near the garden.
You will walk to the “Swimming Hole” which is up the hill behind the Event Center. You will see the Chapel in the Trees behind the swimming hole. Cross the bridge and come on up!

If it is raining, we will practice at the event center. **If there is lightning, class will not take place.

Summer Festival flyer with watercolor mountain background; Sat, Aug 8, 2026, 12–5 PM, Porter Center at Brevard College (presented by RE/MAX Land of the Waterfalls).

White Squirrel Artisan Market
August 8th from 12-5 PM at Brevard College

This is WSAM’s last big celebration of summer before school starts back. Spend the afternoon surrounded by incredible local makers, live music, amazing food, & the community that makes Western North Carolina so special. For the community. By the community. FREE & Family-Friendly event!

Shop 65+ local artisans
Enjoy live music all afternoon at the outdoor amphitheater
Bring a chair or blanket and relax by the creek
Grab lunch and sweet treats from local food vendors
Giveaways from RE/MAX Land of the Waterfalls
Raffle benefiting The Bread of Life

Learn More

collage from Music + Moonshine at Cedar Mountain Moonshine Distillery: outdoor stage with live band, audience seated at picnic tables, muraled wall that says 'Cedar Mountain', two Moonshine-branded cups, and performers on a wooden stage.

Music & Moonshine ~ Friday Nights
It’s time to SHINE!

Join us every Friday from 6–8 PM from Memorial Weekend to Labor Day Weekend for our Music & Moonshine live summer music series! This free, family-friendly outdoor event highlights incredible local musicians, rotating food trucks and our famous Moonshine Slushies! Bring a chair, bring your crew and kick off the weekend Cedar Mountain style—good vibes, great tunes and THE BEST SUMMER MEMORIES!

Learn More