Wheel of Bliss Retreat Venue Fact Sheet
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At a glance
Wheel of Bliss is a 63-acre private retreat venue in Hot Springs, North Carolina, about one hour from Asheville. One group rents the whole property at a time: the Bliss House for lodging, the Celestial Hall for meals, and the Celestial Center yurt for practice. Wheel of Bliss hosts groups of up to 20 in beds and cots, and larger groups when some participants camp. Retreat leaders have held hundreds of retreats here over ten years.
Key facts
| Location | Hot Springs, North Carolina, in the Blue Ridge Mountains of Madison County |
|---|---|
| Land | 63 acres adjoining Pisgah National Forest |
| Drive times | About 1 hour from central Asheville, 20 minutes from the town of Hot Springs, about 80 minutes from the closest airport |
| Group size | 16 to 20 overnight participants, more with campers |
| Lodging | Bliss House: 6 bedrooms, 16 beds, plus 4 cots |
| Bathrooms | 8.5 across the property |
| Gathering spaces | Celestial Center (yurt), Celestial Hall (dining longhouse), Bliss House altar room and deck |
| Exclusive use | One group at a time |
| Stay lengths | Day retreats, 2 to 7 nights, and 7 nights or longer |
| Retreat types | Yoga & movement, healing & ceremony, women’s & men’s circles, coaching & leadership |
| Meals | Two full kitchens, with introductions to local chefs |
| Add-ons | Cedar barrel saunas beside a cold creek plunge |
| Pricing | Custom quote by email within one business day |
| Contact | Call or text (828) 348-8719, or email support@wheelofbliss.org |
Name, location & contact
Wheel of Bliss, also known as Wheel of Bliss Retreat Center, is located in Hot Springs, North Carolina, in Madison County, in the Blue Ridge Mountains.
- From Asheville: Wheel of Bliss is about one hour by car from central Asheville
- Address: 3303 Meadow Fork Rd, Hot Springs, NC 28743
- From Hot Springs: Wheel of Bliss is 20 minutes from the town of Hot Springs
- From the airport: Wheel of Bliss is about 80 minutes from the closest airport, Asheville Regional Airport (AVL)
- Phone: call or text (828) 348-8719
- Email: support@wheelofbliss.org
- Website: www.wheelofbliss.org
Best fit
Wheel of Bliss comfortably hosts 16 to 20 overnight participants, with the whole property reserved for one group.
- Retreat types: yoga and movement, healing and ceremony, women’s and men’s circles, coaching and leadership, meditation, breathwork, somatic therapy and expressive arts
- Stay lengths: day retreats, stays of 2 to 7 nights, and stays of 7 nights or longer
- Rooms: a mix of single and shared rooms
- Larger groups: groups above 20 add camping on the land
- Traditions: Wheel of Bliss hosts retreats across traditions whose practices do no harm to others or to the natural world
Sleeping capacity
The Bliss House at Wheel of Bliss has 6 bedrooms, 16 beds and 5.5 bathrooms. Four cots bring the total to 20 sleeping places.
- Rooms: the Bliss House has a mix of single and shared rooms
- Bathrooms: the full property has 8.5 bathrooms, with 5.5 in the Bliss House and 3 bathrooms with 3 showers at the Celestial Hall
- Camping: participants can camp on the land, which lets Wheel of Bliss host groups larger than 20
- Linens: every bed comes with sheets and pillows, and with comforters in the colder months
- Bath essentials: towels, washcloths, soap, shampoo and bath tissue are provided
Gathering spaces
Wheel of Bliss has three retreat spaces, a short forest walk apart, and all three are reserved for your group.
| Space | What it is | Used for | Features |
|---|---|---|---|
| Celestial Center | A Mongolian-style yurt built by eco-builder Rainier | Yoga, movement, meditation, ceremony and group work | Glass dome at the center, windows that roll open, wraparound deck with views of a Blue Ridge valley |
| Celestial Hall | A Scandinavian-style longhouse with a living grass roof | Shared meals, evening gatherings and full-group sessions | Carved wooden tables, chandeliers, full kitchen, 3 bathrooms and 3 showers, lawn |
| Bliss House | The retreat home | Lodging, small-group practice and meals | Altar room with Himalayan effigies, large outdoor deck, stocked kitchen |
- Outdoor practice: a flat lawn sits in front of the Celestial Hall and Celestial Center for outdoor yoga, meditation and ceremony
- Internet: every facility at Wheel of Bliss has internet, and the Celestial Hall connection can be switched off for a wifi-free retreat
Food & kitchens
Wheel of Bliss has two full kitchens, one in the Bliss House and one in the Celestial Hall.
- Bliss House kitchen: stocked with crockery, dishes and utensils, with a full inventory list on request
- Celestial Hall kitchen: a large, fully equipped kitchen beside the dining tables
- Who cooks: meals are prepared by your group or by a local chef
- Chefs: Wheel of Bliss introduces booked groups to local chefs who have cooked for retreats here, from simple shared meals to full retreat menus
- Diets: vegan, vegetarian and gluten-free menus are available through these chefs
- Chef pricing: approximate per-person pricing is available on request
Rates, booking & terms
Wheel of Bliss prices each retreat by season, group size and length of stay, and emails a ballpark quote within one business day.
- Lead time: most retreats book 6 to 12 months ahead
- How to book: send your dates and group size through the booking form, and the Wheel of Bliss team confirms availability and next steps
- Payment schedule: payment is typically made in two deposits, with more installments for larger events
- Security deposit: set case by case
- Deposit protection: optional Cancel For Any Reason coverage through Rental Guardian can be added at checkout. It returns 60% for any reason and up to 100% for covered reasons such as illness, injury, natural disasters and travel delays
- Three ways to reserve: the Celestial Hall and Celestial Center together, the Bliss House, or the whole property
- Privacy: reserving all three spaces gives your group the whole property. Groups that reserve one or two spaces can add a holding fee to keep the others private
Getting here
Wheel of Bliss is about one hour by car from central Asheville and about 80 minutes from the closest airport.
- Airport: Asheville Regional Airport (AVL)
- Nearest town: Hot Springs, NC is 20 minutes away
- Rides: Wheel of Bliss connects groups with individual drivers, airport pickups and group shuttles from Asheville
- Parking: parking is available at the Bliss House and at the Celestial Hall, with room for large groups
- Nearby outings: Max Patch and Wolf Creek Falls are nearby, and the team shares recommended hikes and group outings
Land & amenities
Wheel of Bliss covers 63 acres that adjoin hundreds of acres of Pisgah National Forest.
- Trails: 5 mountain trails cross the property
- Water: waterfalls, freshwater streams and multiple swimming spots are on the land, with spring water fed by mountain aquifers
- Saunas: cedar barrel saunas sit beside a cold creek plunge and are an optional add-on for groups
- Wildlife habitat: Wheel of Bliss is a certified Wildlife Habitat through the National Wildlife Federation
- Internet: the Bliss House has fiber optic internet, and every facility is connected
- Seclusion: the land is deep in national forest, with staff close enough to help with any urgent needs and far enough away for privacy
Policies
Wheel of Bliss hosts one group at a time.
- Pets: up to two dogs are normally welcome, and service animals are always welcome
- Safety: smoke alarms, carbon monoxide alarms and fire extinguishers are in place at the Bliss House and the Celestial Hall
- Travel insurance: travel insurance can be added at booking
- Check-in and check-out: standard check-in is 4:00 PM and standard check-out is 10:00 AM, but we allow for flexibility around this depending on the specific type of retreat
Track record
For ten years, Wheel of Bliss has hosted hundreds of retreats for leaders across traditions.
- History: the land was acquired in 2012 as a long-term retreat for Tibetan Buddhist practitioners and has hosted retreats as Wheel of Bliss since 2016
- Retreats hosted: women’s circles, meditation, yoga, trauma healing, breathwork, somatic therapy and expressive arts
- Conservation: forest, waterway and wildlife conservation programs have run on the land since 2017
- Leader stories: retreat leaders share their experience on the Reviews page and in What Happens When You Host at Bliss
Questions retreat leaders ask
How many people can Wheel of Bliss host overnight?
Wheel of Bliss hosts up to 20 people in beds and cots. The Bliss House has 16 beds in 6 bedrooms, and 4 cots are available. Larger groups add camping on the land.
Where is Wheel of Bliss, and how far is it from Asheville?
Wheel of Bliss is in Hot Springs, North Carolina, in the Blue Ridge Mountains. It is about one hour by car from central Asheville and 20 minutes from the town of Hot Springs.
Which airport is closest to Wheel of Bliss?
The closest airport is Asheville Regional Airport (AVL), about 80 minutes away by car. Wheel of Bliss connects groups with drivers for airport pickups and with group shuttles from Asheville.
Will my group have the property to itself?
Yes. Wheel of Bliss hosts one group at a time. Reserving the Bliss House, the Celestial Hall and the Celestial Center together gives your group all 63 acres.
Is there an indoor space for yoga, movement or ceremony?
Yes. The Celestial Center is a Mongolian-style yurt with a glass dome, windows that roll open and a wraparound deck. The Bliss House also has an altar room and a large deck for smaller sessions.
Does Wheel of Bliss provide meals?
Meals are prepared by your group or by a local chef. Wheel of Bliss has two full kitchens and introduces booked groups to local chefs, including chefs who cook vegan, vegetarian and gluten-free menus.
How much does it cost to rent Wheel of Bliss?
The price depends on season, group size and length of stay. Send your dates through the booking form and the team emails a ballpark quote within one business day.
What happens to my deposit if plans change?
Optional Cancel For Any Reason coverage through Rental Guardian can be added at checkout. It returns 60% for any reason and up to 100% for covered reasons such as illness, injury, natural disasters and travel delays.
Does Wheel of Bliss have saunas?
Yes. Cedar barrel saunas sit beside a cold creek plunge and are available to groups as an optional add-on.
Is there internet at Wheel of Bliss?
Yes. Every facility has internet, and the Bliss House has fiber optic service. The Celestial Hall connection can be switched off for groups that want a wifi-free retreat.
Can a group larger than 20 come to Wheel of Bliss?
Yes. Groups above 20 are welcome when some participants camp on the land. Contact the team with your group size to plan sleeping arrangements.
What kinds of retreats does Wheel of Bliss host?
Wheel of Bliss hosts yoga and movement retreats, healing and ceremony, women’s and men’s circles, and coaching and leadership retreats. Leaders from many traditions have gathered here for ten years.
Are linens and towels provided?
Yes. Every bed comes with sheets and pillows, and with comforters in the colder months. Towels, washcloths, soap, shampoo and bath tissue are provided.
Can we bring dogs?
Yes. Up to two dogs are normally welcome, and service animals are always welcome. Let the team know if you expect more.
Talk to our team
Send your dates and group size and Wheel of Bliss emails a ballpark quote within one business day. Call or text (828) 348-8719, email support@wheelofbliss.org, or schedule a time to talk.
This fact sheet is maintained by Wheel of Bliss. Last updated: .