Pros

  • Quaint inn within waking distance of historic Blowing Rock village
  • Near restaurants, dining, and shopping
  • Charming, well-maintained guest rooms with country decor
  • In-room AC, flat-screen TVs, mini-fridges, and coffeemakers
  • Suites and cottages with gas fireplaces and kitchens
  • Lobby lounge with two fireplaces
  • Covered rocking chair porch and a brick patio
  • Free breakfast that includes eggs, waffles, sausage, and pastries
  • Free afternoon wine, cheese, and freshly baked chocolate chip cookies
  • Free on-site parking
  • Free Wi-Fi throughout
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Cons

  • Some units have bathrooms that need updating
  • No full restaurant or bar
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Bottom Line

The quaint, three-pearl Hillwinds Inn has a great location on a quiet street in Blowing Rock, within walking distance to the town's historic district and the shops on Main Street. The simple inn has few facilities, but free breakfast and an afternoon wine and cheese reception are included, and the hotel has a lovely brick patio and covered porch with rocking chairs. Its 20 guest rooms have charming, country decor, along with conveniences like AC, flat-screen TVs, coffeemakers, mini-fridges, and free Wi-Fi, and there are a few suites and cottages available, with gas fireplaces and kitchens. But some bathrooms, while tidy, could use an update, and the hotel doesn't have a full-service restaurant. Travelers looking for a budget stay nearby can consider Mountainaire Inn and Log Cabins.

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Amenities

  • Cribs
  • Internet
  • Pets Allowed

Oyster Hotel Review

The Village Inns of Blowing Rock: Hillwinds Inn

Scene

Simple mid-range inn with cozy common spaces

Decorated like a country home, the Hillwinds Inn has a main red-brick building with two suites, an annex with standard rooms across the parking lot, and a pair of adjoining cottages. The main office is essentially a living room, with a fireplace and a pair of traditional high-backed chairs across from a reception desk beside a bay window. A hallway leads into a more dedicated lounge with another fireplace and another seating area.  Around the corner, a small formal dining room connects to a larger casual breakfast room. Most guests here are couples, but the hotel also draws some families who take advantage of the cottages. 

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Location

On a side street, walking distance to the historic center's shops and restaurants 

The inn is located in Blowing Rock, a mountain village of antique shops and restaurants, most of which are about a five-minute walk away in the historic center on Main Street. There are a number of parks nearby and plenty of hiking trails in the area. Grandfather Mountain, the tallest mountain in the Blue Ridge Mountains, is approximately a 20-minute drive from the hotel. The Tweetsie Railroad Wild West Theme Park is a 10-minute drive away. Boone is under a 20-minute drive to the north, and Asheville is less than two hours away to the southwest. 

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Rooms

Relaxed rooms with mini-fridges; suites and cottages have fireplaces and kitchens

The inn has 20 charming guest rooms, with exterior entries and rocking chairs set outside doors. Rooms are dressed in contemporary, country decor, with hardwood floors and wooden furniture. Bedding options are king, queen, or two double beds, and all units have seating areas with tables and chairs. Free Wi-Fi comes standard, along with AC, flat-screen TVs, mini-fridges, and pod-style coffeemakers, and some also have microwaves. Bathrooms are basic but tidy, with shower/tub combos, hairdryers, and toiletries, although some are a bit dated and could use a refresh. 

The two one-bedroom suites have separate living rooms with gas fireplaces, and private balconies. In the Tarheel Suite, there's a wet bar with a mini-fridge and microwave, and the Davidson Suite adds a full kitchen and a bathroom with a whirlpool tub. There are also two one-bedroom cottages that can be joined into one large unit. Each has a king-size bed, and a full kitchen and dining room. 

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Features

Lots of freebies, including breakfast and a wine reception, but no full restaurant 

Facilities at Hillwinds Inn are limited, but the property does offer some nice freebies. Among them is a hot breakfast, with items including eggs, waffles, sausages, and pastries, served in the inn's casual breakfast room. Guests can also eat in the adjoining dining room, or outside on the small brick patio. Another perk is the free evening reception with wine, cheese, crackers, and freshly baked chocolate chip cookies. Wi-Fi throughout and on-site parking are also free. 

See More Features

Oyster Hotel Review

The Village Inns of Blowing Rock: Hillwinds Inn

Scene

Simple mid-range inn with cozy common spaces

Decorated like a country home, the Hillwinds Inn has a main red-brick building with two suites, an annex with standard rooms across the parking lot, and a pair of adjoining cottages. The main office is essentially a living room, with a fireplace and a pair of traditional high-backed chairs across from a reception desk beside a bay window. A hallway leads into a more dedicated lounge with another fireplace and another seating area.  Around the corner, a small formal dining room connects to a larger casual breakfast room. Most guests here are couples, but the hotel also draws some families who take advantage of the cottages. 

See More Scene

Location

On a side street, walking distance to the historic center's shops and restaurants 

The inn is located in Blowing Rock, a mountain village of antique shops and restaurants, most of which are about a five-minute walk away in the historic center on Main Street. There are a number of parks nearby and plenty of hiking trails in the area. Grandfather Mountain, the tallest mountain in the Blue Ridge Mountains, is approximately a 20-minute drive from the hotel. The Tweetsie Railroad Wild West Theme Park is a 10-minute drive away. Boone is under a 20-minute drive to the north, and Asheville is less than two hours away to the southwest. 

See More Location

Rooms

Relaxed rooms with mini-fridges; suites and cottages have fireplaces and kitchens

The inn has 20 charming guest rooms, with exterior entries and rocking chairs set outside doors. Rooms are dressed in contemporary, country decor, with hardwood floors and wooden furniture. Bedding options are king, queen, or two double beds, and all units have seating areas with tables and chairs. Free Wi-Fi comes standard, along with AC, flat-screen TVs, mini-fridges, and pod-style coffeemakers, and some also have microwaves. Bathrooms are basic but tidy, with shower/tub combos, hairdryers, and toiletries, although some are a bit dated and could use a refresh. 

The two one-bedroom suites have separate living rooms with gas fireplaces, and private balconies. In the Tarheel Suite, there's a wet bar with a mini-fridge and microwave, and the Davidson Suite adds a full kitchen and a bathroom with a whirlpool tub. There are also two one-bedroom cottages that can be joined into one large unit. Each has a king-size bed, and a full kitchen and dining room. 

See More Rooms

Features

Lots of freebies, including breakfast and a wine reception, but no full restaurant 

Facilities at Hillwinds Inn are limited, but the property does offer some nice freebies. Among them is a hot breakfast, with items including eggs, waffles, sausages, and pastries, served in the inn's casual breakfast room. Guests can also eat in the adjoining dining room, or outside on the small brick patio. Another perk is the free evening reception with wine, cheese, crackers, and freshly baked chocolate chip cookies. Wi-Fi throughout and on-site parking are also free. 

See More Features

Best Rates

Amenities

  • Air Conditioner

  • Balcony / Terrace / Patio

  • Business Center

  • Cabanas

  • Cable

  • Concierge

  • Cribs

  • Free Breakfast

  • Internet

  • Kids Allowed

  • Pets Allowed

  • Poolside Drink Service

  • Swim-Up Bar

  • Tennis Court

Disclaimer: This content was accurate at the time the hotel was reviewed. Please check our partner sites when booking to verify that details are still correct.