08/24/2023
Such an awesome place
Lake Rabun Hotel😍
A Message from Lake Rabun Hotel's Owner, Gwen North, and Assistant, Shams.
"Hi there, everyone.
I hope you’ve enjoyed seeing and gaining some familiarity with our wonderful staff. I’m so grateful to have them and proud of the work that they do every day. They all care about providing the best service they can to all of our customers, they really do. We’re like a family and when we’re open it’s understood we’re welcoming you into our home. Something about the Historic Lake Rabun Hotel inspires that. It’s in the bones of the place. I felt it when I first walked through the door in 2008, though at that time those bones were definitely creaking. Through my conversations with you and the reviews you’ve written, I know many of you experience a sense of always feeling welcomed, a good feeling, and a sense of specialness about the place.
As most of you know, I’m a northerner from Delaware. I’ve been asked hundreds of times why I bought the Lake Rabun Hotel. It needed so much work! It did indeed! And it was a long way from Delaware where I live…. part of the time now. I don’t have a good logical answer to that question. I wasn’t looking to buy anything in Georgia. I have a business in Delaware. But I’m a preservationist and when I walked in and saw that bark-less tree holding up the second floor, the large stone fireplace that looked European ( it was created by European stone masons), the fretwork around the doors, the use of heart pine throughout and custom-made furniture made by local craftsmen for the hotel and, of course, Lake Rabun right across the street. At that moment I knew I had walked into something very special. I also knew I had to save it and soon. It’s been a journey of learning a land and a culture and listening to tree frogs and contractors. After 15 years I know now that the decision to do this was an inspired one.
If you haven’t yet visited us, you have a little bit of magic waiting for you in one of the most beautiful spots in the country.
Come on over. You’ll be more than Welcome."
-Gwen North