An Honest Review of Stellara Resort's Luxury Treehouses

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Stellara Resort brands itself as a Smoky Mountain astronomy and astrology-themed resort for couples to reconnect with each other and with the skies. Down to their name, Stellara, derived from the word stellar, meaning “relating to the stars”, the resort incorporates the cosmos into their branding.

They offer glamping accommodations of mirror homes and treehouses with an astronomy theme through its custom packages like a computerized telescope upgrade, “Gift a Star,” “Gift the Night Sky,” an astrology birthday report, and an “Astrology: Know Thyself” package.

Their rentals also come with a telescope, book on moon phases, custom Japanese tea based on the moon season. Their digital presence reinforces the astronomy theme with monthly posts about celestial events and the moon calendar.

We booked the Rigel treehouse accommodation for one night, and we wanted to put it to the test to see if Stellara lived up to the hype. A couple from our team stayed at Stellara, documenting their honest feedback about the astrology-themed resort. Given the tight timeframe and our budget, we weren’t able to explore every amenity on-site; however, we were able to provide overall feedback about their stay to determine whether Stellara was worth it. With our review, we hope that we can help other couples decide on whether to stay at Stellara for their upcoming trip.

Our main takeaway: while the accommodations were unique and well-aligned with the astrology theme, the experience didn’t justify the astronomical $750/night price tag.

First Impressions and Digital Presence

Takeaway: Heavy Astronomy Branding and Large Social Media Presence

We started by analyzing Stellara’s digital presence to familiarize ourselves with their offerings and how they present themselves online, so we can compare that to what they actually offer.

From their website and online materials, it was clear their message as an astrology-themed resort for couples to reconnect with each other.

They offer packages to complete the celestial experience with an Astrology Know Thyself package, which includes a natal chart reading in which your astrological signs are analyzed and a transit report which analyzes how the positions of stars will impact your life over the next 12 months. They bring the astrological experience and customize it for couples by offering a Couples Package which provides compatibility and composite reports that analyze the partners individually and the relationship as a whole. The resort goes as far as to offer complementary Zodiac tea based on the sun season of the stay, as well as bath salts customized to the moon phase of the stay.

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Stellara partners with a lot of influencers on Instagram and Tiktok to help them promote their unique accommodations, and have garnered a relatively large following on each platform with 31.5k followers on Instagram and 11.8k followers on Tiktok. Their social media presence reinforces their celestial and romantic branding with many posts including couples and the romance packages they offer. Their most popular post is a partnership they did with Journey More of their glass houses which received over 130k likes.

Booking and Cost Overview

Our couple booked the Reigel treehouse for 1 night in October. The total price per night ended up being $750, and after all of the taxes and fees, the total was $1,051.88 for one night. This was for simply booking the accommodation without any packages or add-ons, as mentioned in the previous section.

The bottom line: it’s expensive.

Arrival and Check-In Experience

Takeaway: The Resort is Difficult to Access & Lacks Signage and Landscaping

Upon arrival at the resort, we had some issues trying to locate our unit. There were no signs anywhere on the resort, nothing for “Stellara Resort” making it difficult to know where to go. Although we had plugged in the exact location provided in the booking confirmation email, we still had issues getting to the property, as the location provided upon booking did not match the exact location of the unit.

In addition, the parking spaces were gravel, and there was lack of landscaping in the area. The property looked unfinished. When pulling up to the unit, we were surprised how different the surrounding area looked compared to what was shown online. Above, you’ll see a picture of what the gravel road looked like leading up to the property.

Once we were able to get to the proper unit, we had difficulty entering the treehouse. The door code did not immediately work, and there was no one to help. The reception was empty, and the lack of cell service in the resort made it very difficult to make any phone calls or reach out to anyone. We had to drive around until we had service before we were able to make a call or send a text, which we noticed was similar to what others were saying online as well.

On-Site Experience and Amenities

Takeaway: Upscale Lodging Perfect for Viewing the Sky; However, Lacking Some Basic Amenities

After settling in, we took note of the property itself and its amenities. The accommodation was very beautiful and modern, with a real sense of luxury.

We were immediately greeted with a large soaking tub and the celestial books as Stellara had advertised. All of the products, like the bath salts, soaps, tarot cards, shower gels, shampoos, and cosmetics were branded with Stellara.

We were largely impressed with the comfort of the treehouse. The house smelled very clean and fresh upon entering, as if there was an essential oil diffuser running to provide that smell. The beds were quite comfortable with plush linens as well. The bathroom was also very neat and clean with thick, high quality towels, with features like a vintage showerhead with 2 water outlets.

Stellara offered a few entertainment options to keep us busy. They offered a coffee and tea machine with 1 Nespresso and 1 kettle with Japanese tea selected according to the moon season. In addition, they had a 43 inch Sony TV for watching movies and television.

There was a large terrace located above the treehouse upon which there is the 4-seater jacuzzi, hot upon arrival, and a sky bed for viewing the night sky in comfort. The view from the deck was unobstructed and surrounded by trees, making it a perfect spot to stargaze. There was a BBQ pit and gas-powered firepit on the terrace as well; however, we weren’t able to get the firepit to work.

Moving on to the kitchen, we found that it lacked many of the basic appliances required to prepare meals. There was no microwave, stove, or oven, only an air fryer, which made it almost impossible to cook proper meals. In addition, given the remote location of the resort, the nearest restaurant and grocery store is about 20 minutes away, making it inconvenient to eat out or get groceries.

Final Verdict: Is Stellara Worth the Hype?

Overall, given the high price of the accommodation, we found that the experience at Stellara Resort wasn’t in line with the price of $750 / night.

We were surprised that although the treehouse has many upscale amenities, it was lacking some of the basics, like cooking appliances, cell service, signage and landscaping. In addition, the add-ons felt more like upsells than meaningful additions to their product, and the novelty of the astronomy theming wore off pretty quickly. It could be worth it for some couples looking for a one-time experience; however, there are many other options for romantic getaways that don’t necessarily break the bank.