Azalea Inn Bed & Breakfast

My wife and I stayed 9yrs ago and loved it and decided to go back. We had a great time and the service could not of been better.

Azalea B&B emailed us about 1 month before our scheduled stay and cancelled our reservation without giving a reason. This was my first attempt at staying at a bed and breakfast, but has now put me off of bed and breakfasts for future consideration.

I would highly recommend this Inn. Very nice owners, and you can not beat the location which is next to some of the better restaurants, and bars.

Innkeepers were wonderful and helpful, however breakfast was a bit sparse with no choice of menu. No drinks or real snacks available during the day, and the home was a bit cluttered. However, great parking and location!

The rooms were decorated nice and the atmosphere was pleasant. The inn keepers were nice and accomodating.

The Azalea Inn is a gorgeous, well-maintained, and clean B&B in Banner Elk. Frank and Karen, the owners, are welcoming and cook a delicious breakfast for their guests in the mornings. It's convenience to downtown Banner Elk made finding a place to eat dinner a breeze. The people of Banner Elk are the most welcoming folks my husband and I have ever met while on vacation. I encourage you to go experience this lovely place for a weekend get-a-way!

They have a room with no bath for $89 and a similar room with bath for $99. They have larger rooms upstairs with a bath. Out back, they have even larger amenities with whirlpools etc. I would recommend staying out back in the cottages etc since the walls in the house are paper thin. They give you a list of rules such as "quiet time after 9:00." That is another reason to stay out back. Staying in the main house is like visiting and or staying at mom and dad's house when you were like 22 or something.

I really enjoyed my trip to the Azalea Inn. It has a great location, the breakfast was delicious, and room was charming and clean.

A very enjoyable and relaxing stay. The location is beautiful and convenient. I highly recommend this B&B.

A little too blunt when it comes to the rules of the house...somewhat made us (people in our 50s) feel as if we were their kids, but otherwise, very enjoyable. Bed was extremely comfortable and room very nice.

[Resource Id: innkeeperresponse, Set: reviews]
I am responding to this review for the benefit of future guests so their expectations are properly set. I apologize for the preception this guest took away regarding our policies. It should be noted that the guest does not frequent B&B's hence this was a new experience. Almost every guest appreciates the information we provide in our Welcome Letters placed in their room. Within the Welcome Letter there are 4 rules which are common to most B&Bs. TIME FOR BREAKFAST, NO SMOKING, NO CANDLES, AND QUIET TIME AT 9 P.M. The balance of the letter provides information re. WIRELESS CODE, PARKING INFORMATION, FRONT DOOR ENTRANCE CODE, AVAILABLILITY OF HAIR DRYERS, CHECK OUT TIME ETC. This information may sound like common sense, but it really helps to have it in every room. Feedback from our customers is helpful in improving our business, but this review doesn't provide much substantive information. My impression was the 2 couples had a pleasant stay.

- Frank Wimbush (Owner)

We have been staying at Azalea Inn once or twice a year for about 10 years. It is a consistently great experience. The owners, Frank and Karen, put a lot of TLC into the place, and it shows.

We loved everything about our stay at the Azalea Inn. We were in town visiting our daughter and decided to try out the Inn. What a lovely surprise. Frank and Karen were wonderful and our room was perfect. When we asked Frank if our daughter could join us for breakfast the next day he went out of his way to accommodate us. The breakfast was delicious by the way! A great value, a great location, and wonderful hosts.

We recently ventured to the Boone-area for our 5th anniversary. The Azalea Inn was everything we had hoped it would be and more. Frank was particular helpful throughout our stay, recommending some great restaurants in the area for us. The property and landscape was meticulously detailed and well thought out. Breakfast was great, and they even remembered us telling them that my wife was on a vegetarian diet, by preparing her an alternative breakfast, without us asking, the next morning. Class act! We hope to stay here again. Many thanks! - Dan T.

This was our first time staying at a B&B; we enjoyed it very much. Karen and Frank were gracious and very hospitable. Overall, it was an outstanding weekend. I look forward to staying at the Azalea Inn B&B in the future.

My wife and I have stayed at the Azalea Inn four times and each time it has been a wonderful experience. The cottage rooms are spacious and excellently decorated. The covered patio and garden are wonderful to enjoy in the evening while eating cheese and crackers and drinking a glass of wine. Karen and Frank are wonderful people and a joy to talk with. They really make you feel at home. We highly recommend a trip to Banner Elk to enjoy the area, relax, and stay at the Azalea Inn. Our next get away will be there (again) and hope to see and meet you. Many thanks to Karen and Frank.

Innkeepers Frank and Karen made us feel at home immediately and were very helpful in checking weather and suggesting interesting local places of interest.

A very hospitable B & B in the midst of beautiful scenery. Would definitely stay there again.

Very personal attention. Extremely comfortable and accomodating.

A very special experience. Owners were pleasant the location was superb. Would do it again.

My husband and I stayed at the Azalea Inn in late May for a few days. It was terrific! Frank and Karen made us feel welcome from the first moment we arrived. Our accommodations were spotless and comfortable and we were actually upgraded since we had been referred. The breakfast was plentiful and tasty. Frank's Frittata was the best! On our next visit to the area we will surely stay at the Azalea Inn. Susan and Joe Heidinger

My wife and I return to the Azalea Inn B&B in Banner Elk each year on Memorial Day weekend. The owners, Frank & Karen are always welcoming and provide a truly relaxing environment. Always helpful with offering new restaurants to try or events that are underway, they aim to please, and they hit the mark. I can't wait to get back for the next visit.

We recently completed what is probably our 9th or 10th stay at the Azalea Inn. What brings us back every time? It's simple. It is the care and attention to detail that the Innkeepers, Frank & Karen Wimbush have put into that little slice of Banner Elk heaven. Everything from the moment you step into the place is presented in warmth and hospitality. The landscaping, the decor, the soft sheets, the rooms, the food. . .everything! Frank & Karen have provided a sanctuary from the busyness of life that we have come to love. This Inn is an extension of the Innkeepers and it shows. We highly recommend The Azalea Inn!

We stayed at one of the cottages at the Azalea Inn. We loved it! It was nicely decorated & very cozy. The owners were great. We loved the breakfasts & the homemade cookies! We are already planning our next trip there

I felt as of we were family. They cooked an amazing breakfast for us and served us. Always asking if we needed coffee or anything. Everything was very clean and organized. Very cozy atmosphere. Felt like I was staying at my Grandparents house. Had our own porch and driveway. (willow room) Definitely will return next year. Right across from downtown banner elk. Great restaurants and local bars as well. Highly recommend for the price. Breakfast alone makes it worth it.

I just returned from a surprise weekend getaway in Banner Elk. My husband booked the Fox Den for our first two nights with a move to the Eagles Nest on the eve of our last night. Owners, Karen and Frank have truly out done themselves with this gorgeous Inn. From the moment we arrived they made us feel at home with their delightful hospitality. Once in our room I was greeted with a beautiful Orchid that my husband had arranged to have waiting for me in our room. I could not believe that Karen had gone out and found this amazing flower at his request and that they even printed out a letter from him for me to read at our arrival. I was shocked! The room was decorated to perfection and had a relaxed feel about it, even down to the fresh baked cookies that were left every evening. Karen and Frank out did themselves again when it came to breakfast, so worth waking up for. Trust me, don’t miss out on breakfast! It is a treat within itself and the owners take the time to speak with each and every guest. Great chance to find out some of the local hidden attractions or just good conversation while sipping on some of the best coffee I’ve ever had. I couldn’t imagine anything that would have made this weekend more special except if we had turned it into a week getaway. I am looking forward to returning to the Inn and would highly recommend staying here. Thank you Karen and Frank for the special attention you paid to making sure this was a memorable weekend. Patricia and Jason Heidinger, Liberty, NC

Going to Banner Elk in the winter is a yearly tradition for my wife and I. The Azalea Inn Bed & Breakfast is the only place we would consider lodging. The inn is located in the downtown area and is a stone throw away from all the Banner Elk restaurants. Frank and Karen are very hospitable and make an amazing breakfast. They also have soft drinks and homemade cookies that are available all day. The inn is a great value for all that you get!

The Rose room was nice and cozy and the bedding was very comfortable. We arrived in the evening and left the next morning to hit the slopes, which were only about 2 miles away. The breakfast was wonderful and just what we needed to start our day! Frank and Karen were great hosts...very kind and welcoming. Would definitely recommend this bed and breakfast to others.

This was our first visit to the Azalea Inn and we had a wonderful expierence. The innkeepers Frank & Karen were great, always making sure we had everything that we needed. The breakfast was more than I was expecting, very nicely prepared and way more than I normally eat. The room was very well kept and the claw foot was very inviting. This is a great place for a get away weekend, with it's quick two hour drive from Charlotte.

The room was beautiful and cozy. This was exactly what we wanted and needed. Thanks!

Frank and Karen were wonderful. They welcomed us as if we were family, and that's how we felt throughout our stay.

We really like that the Rooster Cottage was secluded. It did feel like a private getaway. It would have been nice if the heat had been on before we got in because it took a while for the cottage to get comfortable, it was 19 degrees outside. The rooms where very nice, but the bathtub and dishes could have been a bit cleaner. The breakfast both mornings was perfect and the company very nice and friendly. We would more than likely stay at the Azalea again because we enjoyed the privacy so much.

The cottage we stayed in was excellent and private. The food was very good and service was also.

We enjoyed our stay at the Azalea Inn B and B. We stayed in the Elk Suite and it was amazing! Big, cozy, clean, and a jacuzzi big enough for two! Frank and Karen were very kind and provided great hospitality. The food was only average. Not bad, but not great. However, we thoroughly enjoyed our stay!

Beautiful B&B in the heart of Banner Elk. Frank and Karen are friendly, engaging people. The inn is clean, the food is wonderful. We had a great experience. We look forward to returning.

My wife and I stayed at the Azalea Inn during Valentine's Day last year as well as this year, and the owners Frank and Karen have ALWAYS made us feel so welcome. The Valentine's Day trip was my first time staying in a bed and breakfast. The rooms are so affordable, I often wonder why anyone would want to stay in a large chain hotel or somewhere more expensive. The room was clean and romantic. Breakfast is always top notch. In fact, the first time I was there, I thought they had their own hired chef doing the cooking! Frank and Karen are two of the most kind and genuine people who have a love of their community and enjoy serving and helping others. For a quick getaway or a week-long stay in beautiful Banner Elk, Azalea Inn Bed and Breakfast cannot be beat. ~Sincerely, Cliff & Sara Muncy

The host at the Azalea Inn made you feel right at home. The inn was beautiful and the rooms were cozy! Breakfast was delicious! I will be back!

My wife and I went to stay with Frank and Karen at the Azalea Inn 9 years ago for our honeymoon. We were very happy then and I decided to take my wife back for our 9th Anniversary surprise. I reserved the Ivy room and when we got there Frank had upgraded our room to the Azalea room for our anniversary. The stay was great and so was the room! The snow was awesome too. We woke up Sunday to around a foot of snow. We had a blast and recommend you go stay before this gem sells. We will miss Frank and Karen.

Our stay was great. I loved the Eagles Nest located in the back of the property. It was very quite and we really like being detached from the main house. Everything is right down town so you can walk in minutes to everything from this location. I would not stay anywhere because from now on ... this place had everything you need. I also liked the personal tables for Breakfest. It was nice to sit at a table alone with my husband.

Easy access to dining and wonderful breakfast. lovely setting

We stayed at Bear's Den Cottage and were blown away by how clean and magnificent the suite was. For the price, it definitely exceeded our expectations of what we would be getting. It was very cozy, roomy, and romantic. The whole place was very clean and Frank and Karen were very helpful throughout the entire stay. The breakfast was as you would expect it - which is to say, it wasn't bad at all but certainly wasn't a gourmet feast (though few breakfasts are, even those that we cook ourselves!). I would highly recommend a stay at the Azalea Inn B&B, specifically in the Bear's Den Cottage (or Eagle's Nest, as they're approximately the same).

My wife and I stayed at Azalea Inn B&B from Oct 17 to Oct 20, 2010. The B&B was outstanding. We booked the Azalea room for our stay. The room was great and very clean. The inn keepers and their dog were very friendly and helpful -- suggesting hiking in the area and local resterants within walking distance. The 8:30 am breakfast daily was great. There is a black board in the lobby with the menu for the next morning and soft drinks and fresh cookies for our choosing at any time of the day or night. I highly recommend this B&B.

Frank and Karen Wimbush were the most accommodating hosts we've had the pleasure of staying with in a long time. We were in Banner Elk for Lees-McRae College's Homecoming weekend and chose Azalea Inn because of its "intown" location. It really is in the heart of the little downtown, just a few hundred feet from what is still the towns only traffic light. Being that my wife is pregnant, we had just one tiny request and that was that they provide some decaf "organic" coffee from her.......IF they could. If not, we were certainly willing to bring our own. Whether or not they had to go out of their way to get it, we'll never know....but they did make sure to have some. The breakfasts? I'm always amazed at the B&B's that have great websites touting their inn, their history, their ratings, the location, and show pictures of the rooms and property, but fail to mention the BREAKFAST part of the Bed and Breakfast. Azalea Inn does a fabulous job with breakfast. We enjoyed three different days of breakfast ranging from homemade pancakes to granola/fruit casserole. Each breakfast was served with fresh fruits and a side of breakfast meat perfectly prepared. Juice, milk, coffee were always close by. Each night we arrived back at the inn, we were greeted with fresh cookies and drinks as we entered the private entrance. I could continue to ramble, but will wrap it up by saying how pleased we were to be able to spend a little time outside in their very well manicured yard with gardens, interesting garden art, lots of sitting private sitting areas tucked away for reading or napping. If you find yourself with a reason to be in Banner Elk, NC, consider treating yourself to a warm and hospitable stay with Frank and Karen. If you want a reason to be in Banner Elk, it's Frank and Karen. -Troy Tarpley (Macon, GA)

Wonderful place to stay...clean & hasts are very friendly and accomodating. We recommend it.

My husband & I booked a last minute weekend trip and were tremendously lucky in finding this B&B. The Wimbush's welcomed us like family to their comfortable Inn...the weekend before they were leaving the country on vacation no less. It turned out to be a rainy weekend in the mountains so we were at the B&B far more than we would've been otherwise, and we were blessed by wonderfully gracious hosts, yummy food, and well appointed room & living areas. There were several restaurants & shopping options a short walk away. We couldn't be happier with our choice, and we'd gladly stay here again anytime we could get away! :)

We have stayed with Frank and Karen now for 3 years in a row. There really is no way to hit the slopes of Beech or Sugar without first having one of Kare's breakfasts! the rooms are clean and exactly what you want in a country bed and breakfast. all amenities are provided for you all the way down to the glycerin soap they make for the guests! i only ever see it when it is covered with snow but i hear the gardens ouside the main house are amazing in the spring/summer/fall. My wife and i took my parents up last winter and they had a blast as well. i am already planning this winter's trip and as always i will choose my trip dates based on the availability of the "Willow" room.

We are welcomed as guests by Frank and Karen each fall for our week long annual vacation. We stay in one of the cottages which has lots of room and full cooking facilities which saves on take out. The breakfasts that Frank cooks are wonderful and we have taken away recipes to try at home. We love staying there so much we book our next stay before we leave. You won't be disappointed.

Frank and Karen are wonderful hosts! They are friendly, helpful, generous, and very involved in their community. Their B&B is beautiful and well-cared for, both inside and out. (Flower lovers will think they're in heaven!) The breakfasts were delicious and plentiful. We thoroughly enjoyed our stay, and plan to visit again!

This property welcomes you from the front white picket fence to the backyard flower bed. Breakfast and afternoon cookies were scrumptious. Outdoor art and peaceful seating areas give ample opportunity to sit and relax after a day of high country exploration.

Not far from the parkway, grandfather mountain, or shops with plenty of options for resturants close by. THe inn had a great breakfast both days of my stay.

The inn was clean, beautiful and :cozy". Warm touches everywhere and very comfortable. The property is beautifully maintained. Who wouldn't want to stay at Azalea!

The inn and innkeepers exceeded our expectations totally. Frank and Karen know how to treat guests and have a tremendous B&B right in town!

Our annual Memorial Day stay at the Azalea Inn was once again wonderful. The innkeepers are friendly and thoughtful. They are the reason we keep coming back, along with those wonderful breakfasts!

It was a wonderfully quiet, restful weekedn in a beautiful place.

Fireplace - hot! Tub - large! Bed - zzzzzzzzzzzz Very nice, very hospitable, great location. Will be back.