The Art of Living Retreat Center, surrounded by mountains, offers gardens, a playground, Shankara Ayurveda Spa treatments, yoga classes, hiking, and biking trails. Enjoy the vegetarian buffet restaurant and library for nourishment of body and mind.
Located in Boone, Art of Living Retreat Center is in the mountains. Boone Golf Club and Appalachian Ski Mtn. are worth checking out if an activity is on the agenda, while those wishing to experience the area's natural beauty can explore Tater Hill Lake Basin Habitat Preservation and Elk Knob Gameland. Looking to enjoy an event or a game while in town? See what's happening at Appalachian Soccer Stadium or Ted Mackorell Soccer Complex. Spend some time exploring the area's activities, including skiing. Visit our Boone travel guide
A coffee shop/cafe, a garden, and a playground are just a few of the amenities provided at Art of Living Retreat Center. Indulge in a massage, Ayurvedic treatments, and aromatherapy at Shankara Ayurveda Spa, the onsite spa. The on-site vegetarian cuisine buffet restaurant, Vegetarian Dining Hall, offers breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Yoga classes are offered at the gym; other things to do include hiking/biking. In addition to a library and laundry facilities, guests can connect to free in-room WiFi.
Other perks include:
Free self parking
Buffet breakfast (surcharge), smoke-free premises, and a water dispenser
A computer station, meeting rooms, and massage treatment rooms
Room features
All guestrooms are individually furnished, and offer comforts such as separate sitting areas, in addition to amenities like free WiFi.
Other conveniences in all rooms include:
Heating and fans
Bathrooms with shower/tub combinations and free toiletries
32-inch flat-screen TVs with satellite channels
Wardrobes/closets, separate sitting areas, and refrigerators
All inclusive details
This resort is all-inclusive. Onsite food and beverages are included in the room price (some restrictions may apply).
Gratuities and taxes
Gratuities are included and additional gratuities at guests' discretion are accepted.
Food and beverages
All buffet meals, snacks, and select beverages included
Activities and facilities/equipment
All onsite activities and use of facilities and equipment are included.
Daily buffet breakfast available 8:00 AM to 10:00 AM for a fee
A coffee shop/cafe
A restaurant
Coffee and tea in common areas
Restaurants on site
Vegetarian Dining Hall
Things to do
Full-service spa
Gym
Hiking/biking trails
Library
Playground
Steam room
Yoga classes
Family friendly
In-room microwave
In-room refrigerator
Laundry facilities
Playground
Conveniences
Gift shop/newsstand
Laundry facilities
Limited-hour front desk
Water dispenser
Guest services
No housekeeping service
Wedding services
Business services
22 square feet of conference space
Computer station
Meeting rooms
Outdoors
Garden
In the mountains
Picnic area
Full-service spa
Aromatherapy
Ayurvedic treatments
Deep-tissue massages
Facials
Hot stone massages
Prenatal massages
Spa treatment rooms
Steam room
Swedish massages
Thai massages
Accessibility
If you have requests for specific accessibility needs, please contact the property using the information on the reservation confirmation received after booking.
Area rugs in room
No elevator
Tile flooring in room
Wheelchair accessible (may have limitations)
Wheelchair-accessible parking
Wheelchair-accessible registration desk
More
3 floors
Banquet hall
Smoking not allowed
Room amenities
Bedroom
Bedsheets provided
Bathroom
Free toiletries
Hair dryer
Private bathroom
Shampoo
Shower/bathtub combination
Soap
Toilet paper
Towels provided
Entertainment
32-inch flat-screen TV with satellite channels
Food and drink
Cleaning supplies
Coffee/tea maker
Microwave
Refrigerator
More
Desk
Fan
Free local calls
Heating
Individual furnishings
Phone
Separate sitting area
Policies
Check-in
Check-in start time: 4:00 PM; Check-in end time: 10 PM
Late check-in subject to availability
Minimum check-in age: 18
Check-out
Check-out before 11 AM
Contactless check-out available
Special check-in instructions
The front desk is open daily from 7:00 AM - 10:00 PM
Front desk staffed during limited hours
If you are planning to arrive after 10:00 PM please contact the property in advance using the information on the booking confirmation
For any questions, please contact the property using the information on the booking confirmation
Information provided by the property may be translated using automated translation tools
Access methods
Front desk (limited hours)
Pets
Pets not allowed
Children and extra beds
Children are welcome
2 children, up to the age of 8 years, can stay for free if using existing beds when occupying the parent or guardian's room
Rollaway/extra beds are not available
Cribs (infant beds) are not available
Property payment types
Important information
You need to know
Extra-person charges may apply and vary depending on property policy
Government-issued photo identification and a credit card, debit card, or cash deposit may be required at check-in for incidental charges
Special requests are subject to availability upon check-in and may incur additional charges; special requests cannot be guaranteed
This property accepts credit cards; cash is not accepted
Air conditioning is not provided
Safety features at this property include a fire extinguisher, a smoke detector, and a first aid kit
We should mention
This property does not have elevators
Alcohol is not served at this property
Property is also known as
Blue Heaven Spa Art Living Retreat Center
Blue Heaven Spa Art Living Retreat Center Boone
Blue Heaven Spa Art Living Retreat Center Hotel
Blue Heaven Spa Art Living Retreat Center Hotel Boone
Shankara Ayurveda Spa Hotel Boone
Shankara Ayurveda Spa Hotel
Shankara Ayurveda Spa Boone
Art Living Retreat Center Hotel Boone
Art Living Retreat Center Hotel
Art Living Retreat Center Boone
Art Living Retreat Center
Blue Heaven Spa at the Art of Living Retreat Center
Art Living Retreat Center Resort Boone
Art Living Retreat Center Resort
Art Living Retreat Center Boo
Art of Living Retreat Center Boone
Art of Living Retreat Center Resort
Art of Living Retreat Center Resort Boone
Frequently asked questions
Is Art of Living Retreat Center pet-friendly?
No, pets are not allowed at this property.
How much is parking?
Self parking is free at this property.
What time is check-in at Art of Living Retreat Center?
Check-in start time: 4:00 PM; Check-in end time: 10 PM. Late check-in is available during limited hours.
What time is check-out at Art of Living Retreat Center?
Check-out is at 11 AM.
Are there all-inclusive benefits at Art of Living Retreat Center?
Yes, the property is all-inclusive. Food and beverages are included (with some restrictions), and activities include yoga classes.
Where is Art of Living Retreat Center located?
Situated in the mountains, this all-inclusive resort is within 6 mi (10 km) of Boone Golf Club, The Greenway Trail, and Arko Dog Park. Appalachian Cultural Museum and Appalachian Soccer Stadium are also within 9 mi (15 km).
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Reviews
Art of Living Retreat Center Reviews
8.2
Very Good
All reviews shown are from real guest experiences. Only travelers who have booked a stay with us can submit a review. We verify reviews according to our guidelines and publish all reviews, positive or negative.More informationOpens in a new window
I have not stayed in a hotel without air conditioning in years. If I had known, I would not have booked. North Carolina summers are too warm to be AC free.
It may be physically close to Boone, but it takes a while to drive there.minutes on winding road). There is no pool, vending machines and our room did not have AC. However, the room was super clean and comfortable. We stayed in late October and open ended widows. Most of all it was quiet. You won’t hear cars or orther people. Just wind through trees. On site cafeteria was non traditional food, so we drove to town.
If you just want peace and quiet this is the place.
Hard to find retreat center pretending to be a hotel. Check-in was difficult. Had I seen room prior I would not have booked and only stayed because unsure of refund. guesthouse room was more like a dorm room. Bathroom was cramped with bathtub shower which had no safety aids. My wife sipped and fell in the tub and we discovered that there was no night staff in the guest house,but at reception half a mile away. When we notified the morning staff of her fall they gave us a rubber mat for the tub and did not seem concerned if she was seriously hurt. She is bruised and still sore two days later. She didn't think that she had anything broken and preferred to leave as soon as we could. There was nobody at the guesthouse for check out and we had to go back to reception. Other than the retreat dinning hall the closest restaurant was seven miles away. We were not pleased and as I stated before, if I could have been assured of a refund I would have refused to stay.
Location is great. Facility is strange. Room was in a building quite far from reception. Had a bit of a "Shining" feel since not many guests were around.
We stayed at Shankara while visiting family in the area so we did not have time to try the spa treatments, but the quiet peaceful atmosphere was just what we needed. We plan to return and take advantage of the spa!
The views from this retreat center are extraordinary.
The vegetarian meals were delicious & innovative.
There are hiking trails for those not into meditation/yoga.
I did not book w/ that intention, but enjoyed the 2 classes I took.
Greatest thing is doing meals/activities ala carte; not just expensive packages.
Friendly, experienced, helpful staff.
Room was beautiful .it was one of the best sleep I have had in a long time! My husband and I had massage for 30. Minutes and at the end, we wish we had a full hour! It was that good. I also love the 24 hour tea room. We met with our friend for a late night tea.
Had a wonderful spa massage, very friendly staff, excellent dinner and breakfast! Absolutely the place to stay for a nice retreat. Yoga, Spa, Nature trails and so much more!!!
Just what we needed. Sufficient for a stay while attending a course nearby. We could have used a more comfortable chair in the room. Otherwise was good.
Verified traveler
4/10 Poor
Verified traveler
Sep 9, 2015
Disliked: Staff & service, room comfort
New Age Resort
No air conditioning in the room.
The Internet didn't work and when we called the front desk to ask about it, no one returned our call.
The desk isn't manned after 6pm so a late check in was difficult. It was extremely difficult to find - took over an hour after dark. It was even difficult to find the correct way to go upon departure! I had ZERO cell signal and the wi-fi signal was weak. They don't have/allow alcohol or meat. The room was clean but not comfortable. The bed was extremely hard.
Verified traveler
8/10 Good
Anne, St Paul, MN
Aug 15, 2015
Liked: Cleanliness, room comfort
Peace and quiet in the Mountains
Our 3 nights at the Spa were peaceful. I recommend booking any spa treatments ahead of time; we were able to squeeze in a massage, but not able to book everything we wanted. The vegetarian food was excellent, but be advised, it isn't a restaurant, you get the meal prepared by the chef for each meal - we loved not having to search for a vegetarian friendly restaurant, and never having to leave the top of the mountain. The view from the main dining hall building is the most spectacular thing you'll ever see. For a quiet, peaceful retreat, it was incredible, and was a nice respite in the middle of a more hectic vacation. Map out routes in and out ahead of time; GPS doesn't work in these mountains. No cell service, but you'll have internet while there.
everything was great with the exception of the check out and the TV service.
checkout took too long
TV service, no one told me of any problem with it.
need to communicate more with guest and have knowledgeable staff at front desk.
the views were spectacular, I would go back again
My wife and I stayed there over the 4th of July weekend. The staff were very friendly. The hotel was very clean and rooms were a good size. We enjoyed our stay and in all likelihood will visit again. There was no cell service at the hotel as it is high up on the mountain. We actually enjoyed being able to unplug for a few days. Spa area was very nice. Fitness room was equipped with enough exercise equipment to get a decent workout in. Great place to go if you want peace and quiet
Blue Heaven Spa is a very lovely and relaxing space...located high up in the mountains outside Boone,NC. The staff were very friendly and helpful and I enjoyed three wonderful nights while on a personal retreat. I plan to return in the near future.
My stay in the resort was great, just a little thing was that the heat in bedroom does not work properly,but the service gave us a portable heater, the views are beautiful, quiet, the food was good . of curse I recomend the place