Selena Einwechter is an inspiring woman with multi-faceted talents, including innkeeper, author, entrepreneur and motivational speaker. As founder and proprietor of Bed & Breakfast on Tiffany Hill, Selena brought her dreams to life on six tranquil acres in Mills River, North Carolina.
Travel writer Joy Steinberg recently stayed at Selena’s B&B to catch up and talk about how the inn, located in the mountains of western North Carolina, made it to number one on Southern Living magazine’s list of 2018 South’s Best Inns.
Selena, after more than 30 years of experience in a corporate career, you made the leap to pursue your dream of building a bed & breakfast. How did you how you make that dream a reality?
For years prior to departing corporate America, I studied the B&B industry by attending trade shows, traveling to B&B’s and even apprenticed at a property to learn all I could about the operations. As outlined in my book, Courage is Abundant in the Abstract, a floor plan, business plan, projection implementation plan, marketing plan and financial plan were all completed prior to making the transition. I wanted to prepare myself fully before taking the leap and leaving the security of my job.
The suites are a real drawcard of your B&B, which is your personal favorite and why?
That is a tough question as they are all uniquely different and reflect the essence of the towns they are named after. In the main B&B, my favorite is the Madison Suite as it is cozy and decorated with blue tones. Overall, the Mountain Brook Suite in the carriage house steals my heart with its spacious room and private side entry porch, not to mention the southern flair of the décor as it represents Alabama.
You’ve lived in Mills River for nearly a decade and I’m sure you have many special memories. As we approach the warmer months, what are some of your best summer memories in the area?
One of the things I enjoy about Western North Carolina is that you can do something different every week for a year and rarely repeat anything. It is truly amazing what this area offers from the Biltmore Estate, America’s largest home built by George Vanderbilt on an 8,000 acre estate, to quaint villages, breweries, wineries and farm-to-table restaurants galore.
Some of my favorite summer time memories include attending a concert at the Brevard Music Festival, one of the country’s champion summer music festivals, sitting under the stars with a picnic in tow and music under the stars on the lawn of the Biltmore Estate.
And I would be remiss if I did not mention welcoming guests to Tiffany Hill; both first timers and the ones who come year after year who have become our friends.
Selena, you researched properties around the South. What made you choose Mills River and what makes it so special for your guests and visitors to the area?
Every town our suites are named after were contenders, however, it was the mountains of Western North Carolina with all her waterfalls that stole my heart. We are situated in one of the most beautiful places of the United States with four distinct seasons.
In 1999, I had a vision of my dream B&B destination, a place where guests could come for rest and restoration and do as much or as little as they want. Mills River is that destination. Being here, I’m having the time of my life.
IF YOU GO
- Bed & Breakfast on Tiffany Hill
- Southern Living The South’s Best Inns 2018
- Brevard Music Festival
- Sky Top Orchard
- DuPont Forest
- Pisgah Forest
- Biltmore Estate
