Earthshine Lodge

Earthshine has been a part of the local community for 30 years, and it was exciting to hear the plans and passion that new owners Ali Lien and Anna Bracco are bringing to this treasured place in the Historic Toxaway Community.  Ali, Earthshine’s Director of Outdoor Education, lives in Cedar Mountain with her husband Chris and son Riley, and Anna, Earthshine’s Managing Director, lives in Davidson with her husband Nicolas and sons Lucas and William. Ali and Anna met in 2015 and quickly discovered a shared passion for nature and outdoor education. Ali has worked for over 20 years as a facilitator and teacher for outdoor/experiential programs, while Anna has spent her career working with executives as a leadership development consultant. They also share a personal connection to Earthshine. Ali was married there years ago, and Anna first visited as a teenager participating in team building programs, so when Earthshine recently went on the market, they knew this was the right place and time to partner together.

On a recent afternoon, Anna took a break from holiday decorating to reflect on the life experiences that have shaped her passion for outdoor education and led her to this new venture with Ali. Her time spent working at the Nantahala Outdoor Center under the leadership of Payson Kennedy had helped shape her perspective and inspired her the most. Payson passed on the philosophy that if you do what you truly love, you will never work another day in your life. Anna’s time at NOC as a raft guide during her college years deepened her passion for the outdoors and influenced her decision to pursue a career she is passionate about. While a lot of hard work goes into managing Earthshine, all these years later, this central philosophy still guides her.