Stillness is something most people chase but rarely catch, which is why Kevin and Amalia Logan built a retreat where stillness comes looking for you.
North Star Nature Suites™, an intimate and design driven couples retreat in the Tennessee mountains, was founded in 2024 with a clear mission. The Logans envisioned a property that blended the restorative grounding of nature with the thoughtful comforts of modern luxury. Their journey began far from the foothills of Tennessee, but eventually led to a mountaintop that felt unmistakably like home.
“After raising our blended family in Minnesota, we had the opportunity to move to Nashville in 2021,” Amalia said. “It was just the two of us so we lived downtown while we determined where we wanted to settle down.” They explored every corner of the city and countryside, falling in love with its charm, culture and natural beauty. But after a year, the noise and congestion pushed them to seek something deeper. “We were ready to get out of the city and we were at a point in our careers where we wanted to do something more meaningful.”
The spark arrived through an unexpected article about glamping. “A light went off and we looked at each other and said ‘This is it! This is something that would allow us to marry our careers and build something we can really be passionate about,’” Amalia said.
That idea became the foundation for a refined couples retreat that lives in harmony with nature, elevates comfort and creates space for connection and inspiration. “We are no strangers to what defines luxury and the absence of luxurious experiences in nature was the inspiration for us to build the ultimate environment for connecting with one another in nature, but in perfect comfort.”
Their combined backgrounds made the vision even richer. Amalia brings nearly three decades of interior design experience through her firm, Matriarch Design, while Kevin spent 25 years shaping luxury identity and member experience for a major fitness brand. Together, they set out to design an immersive destination that felt refined, soulful and grounded in nature.
The first challenge was finding the right property. “We looked at nearly 100 properties before finding this one,” Kevin said. The moment they found the land, they knew. “When we first stepped foot on this beautiful unspoiled slice of heaven, we felt at peace as though this is where we were always meant to be.” Climbing the ridge where the eight Nature Suites™ now sit, they were stunned. “Our breath was taken away,” Amalia said. “Overlooking 60,000 acres of state protected land, Amalia’s vision came to life.”
Their design choices reflect deep respect for the land. “We wanted others to experience that same sense of belonging,” they explained. “We thoughtfully considered every decision from the initial sketch of the buildings to carefully clearing the site for optimal views and privacy. From the topography and use of space right through to the textures of the materials and even our signature fragrance, each suite is simple in form and beautifully detailed.” The result is a five-star suite immersed in nature, crafted to feel intentional rather than imposed.
The experience begins long before guests step inside their suite. “We have intentionally designed North Star Nature Suites™ for guests to feel excitement and anticipation ahead of their stay, solitude during their stay and a longing to return after their departure,” they said. Visitors often describe a shift the moment they turn onto the quiet country roads that lead to the property, winding alongside pastures and fields with mountains as the backdrop. By the time they cross the Caney Fork River and arrive at the gated entrance, calm has already begun its work.
Nature itself serves as healer, guide and companion. “Being in nature helps people heal by calming the mind and body,” they said. Zero noise pollution and zero light pollution give guests the rare gift of unbroken quiet. “We have created a place where guests can feel a sense of escapism, natural balance and harmony.”
Inside each Nature Suite™, luxury appears in thoughtful, comforting touches. Guests are welcomed by their signature fragrance and sweeping mountain views seen through floor to ceiling windows. Centered on a large fireplace, a comfy king bed is cloaked in Belgian linens and European goose down bedding while a cozy reading corner and romantic dining area set the tone for relaxation and connection. A well equipped kitchen and spa-inspired bathroom with heated floors, smart toilet and signature soaps add to the indulgent experience. Outdoors, a private hot tub, pizza oven, grill, smokeless firepit, heated chairs and panoramic views invite slow evenings under the stars.
Personalization is woven throughout the stay. Guests can request curated packages, take a UTV excursion to Lost Creek Falls or shop an in-suite collection curated by Amalia. “If you fall in love with any of the furnishings, rugs, decor, bedding or our signature fragrance and soaps, Amalia can order it and have it delivered to your home,” Kevin added.
For Amalia, luxury is not about excess. “Modern luxury is about environments that evoke feelings of warmth, energy and simple pleasure. Spaces that are soft, embracing and inspire a sense of harmony and natural balance,” she said. “Bringing my ethos to North Star Nature Suites™ enables our guests to experience an aesthetic that feels effortless yet intentional, approachable yet sophisticated and simple yet curated while being fully immersed in nature.”
The emotional impact of their work has surprised and moved them. Guestbook entries have become treasured keepsakes. One guest wrote, “ This is exactly what my heart needed after recently losing my Dad. I needed space to breathe and start the healing process. This atmosphere gave me that peace!” Another guest wrote, “Your design inspires me deeply as a fellow designer. Every thoughtful choice reminds me of why I fell in love with creating spaces in the first place.” A couple, while spending several days there during the husband's terminal illness, wrote, “We feel closer to heaven after spending time here.” “Overwhelmingly, guests leave messages of gratitude for creating and sharing this special place with them,” Amalia said.
Operating the retreat themselves gives the Logans a rare connection to their guests. “Because we live on site, we have the opportunity to engage with our guests and deliver an exceptional experience. We are involved in everything from reservations to housekeeping and guest experience to groundskeeping, ensuring each stay feels curated and each guest feels special.” Kevin said.
Located near Scotts Gulf State Wilderness Park, Fall Creek Falls, Rock Island and Burgess Falls, the retreat offers easy access to some of Tennessee’s most stunning natural landscapes. It has quickly become a destination for anniversaries, honeymoons, proposals, restorative company retreats and intimate celebrations.
For Kevin and Amalia, the mission is simple: create a place where beauty, presence and connection rise to the surface, effortlessly. And every person who arrives at North Star Nature Suites™ discovers that stillness is not something you must search for, because in this quiet mountaintop sanctuary, stillness finds you.
NorthStarNatureSuites.com
“Because we live on site, we have the opportunity to engage with our guests and deliver an exceptional experience. We are involved in everything from reservations to housekeeping and guest experience to groundskeeping, ensuring each stay feels curated and each guest feels special.”