Our Story

Lucille’s Mountain Top Inn & Spa was founded by Lucille Hlavenka and her husband George in 2001. After deciding to open a small inn, the Hlavenkas searched in a wide area for the perfect spot to build and ultimately found a small mountain top just off the historic Unicoi Turnpike, overlooking the pristine Blue Ridge Mountains and scenic Sautee Valley. The inn was designed by Mr. Hlavenka, a commercial architect, who laid out the guest rooms and common areas to take advantage of the outstanding views and to provide guests with the comforts and conveniences found only in the finest lodging accommodations.

The inn’s primary design influence is the American Arts and Crafts Style. The entry is warm and welcoming and the public areas are paneled in dark heavy wood. Many Arts and Crafts design touches can be found throughout the interior, like etched window panes, angular stained glass light fixtures, and an open main staircase. The building’s prominent exterior features are also styled consistent with the Arts and Crafts Movement, such as the square tapered columns of the driveway portico, the wide bracketed eaves, and the clerestory crow’s nest that provides outstanding 360 degree views of the surrounding valleys and mountains. When asked to describe the inn, guests often use the words contemporary, cozy, open, majestic, and comfortable, but the word most commonly used is “inviting.”

In 2006 a full-service day spa was built adjacent to the inn to offer both guests and local visitors, spa services in a relaxing, pristine environment. Connected to the inn by a covered breezeway, the Spa is decorated in soothing green and gold tones, reflecting the colors of the surrounding mountains just outside.  In 2014 a remodeling project added a new guest suite  that is the most luxurious of our guest accommodations, as well as an owners’ apartment.

In 2011 Lucille retired and handed over the reins to Jim Matthews and Jerry Morris, who maintained Lucille’s name in honor of the Inn and Spa’s founder. Competently assisted by the inn’s mascot and official greeter,  Gracie the Miniature Schnauzer and a team of professional innkeepers; they added their own influence to the inn and spa by focusing on exceptional service, outstanding food & wine, and facility upgrades. Their goal was for every guest of Lucille’s to have the best small inn experience of their lives…and judging by the huge increase in popularity of the Inn and Spa, they succeeded!

At the end of July, 2015, Charlie Anderson and her husband Chuck came in to pick up where Jim and Jerry left off.   Thus far they have renovated most of the rooms in the main building, opened the new Garden Suite, and added the Apartment.

June 18, 2020 April James became the new proprietor of Lucille’s and is excited to continue the traditions while adding her own special touches.

My goal is “invite every guest to experience the restoration of a peaceful and relaxing retreat,” so they can have the best small Inn experience of their life, bar none. The team and I look forward to showing you “where restoration meets the mountains” in North Georgia.