At Terra Nova Center, the Sweat Lodge is offered as a sacred spiritual ceremony. The Sweat Lodge is held by Yona FrenchHawk, a Cherokee Wisdom Keeper, who carries this work with humility, reverence, and responsibility. The ceremony is held in the Cherokee tradition with respect for the Ancestors, Mother Earth, Spirit, and community.
When you come to the lodge, you are stepping into a living prayer space. Guests are asked to arrive with presence, respect, and an openness to being part of a shared ceremonial container.
Please use the links provided to register for upcoming Sweat Lodges. New dates added regularly. Please check back often, and sign up for our email list.
Register for Upcoming Dates:
What Is a Cherokee Sweat Lodge?
In Cherokee tradition, the Sweat Lodge is a place of purification, remembrance, and renewal. When you enter the lodge, you are entering the womb of Mother Earth—a space of darkness, heat, prayer, and rebirth.
The heated stones brought into the lodge are known as the Ancestors. They are invited in with respect, carrying wisdom, memory, and Spirit. As water is poured onto the Ancestors, steam rises, prayers are spoken, songs may be shared, and silence is honored. Each round of the lodge unfolds as it is meant to, guided by Spirit and the Ceremonial Leader.
Every ceremony is unique. Guests are invited to release what no longer serves, offer prayers for themselves or others, give thanks, or simply sit in communion with Spirit and Earth.
A Sacred Invitation
The Sweat Lodge at Terra Nova Center is offered in prayer, not performance.
In reverence, not spectacle.
In community, not isolation.
We walk this path in a good way, honoring the Ancestors, the land, the Wisdom Keeper, and one another.
If you feel called, you are welcome.
If you are uncertain, we encourage reflection before attending.
Guidance & Preparation
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All guests will meet at:
The Lighthouse Chapel
22 Terra Nova Lane
Cedar Mountain, NC 28718Upon arrival:
Guests will sign Terra Nova Center’s liability waiver
Receive a day pass for the grounds
Are invited to drop off their potluck dish in the kitchen
Fill water bottles and use restrooms before departing
From the chapel, guests will take a short 5–10 minute hike to the Sweat Lodge site.
The ceremony space is located near a single-lane gravel road with very limited parking. Participants with mobility concerns must call ahead so accommodations can be arranged in advance. Access support cannot be provided without prior notice.
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Please bring:
A water bottle (hydration is important)
A towel
A blanket or mat to sit on before entering the lodge
A change of clothing for after leaving the lodge
Comfortable, modest clothing suitable for heat and ceremony
A potluck dish to share for the feast following ceremony
A grounded, respectful presence
Please do not bring:
Phones, cameras, or recording devices
Alcohol, recreational drugs, or intoxicants
Avoid heavy meals before ceremony
Synthetic clothing that may be uncomfortable in heat
Guests are encouraged to eat lightly beforehand and arrive well hydrated. Listening to your body is part of living and moving in a good way.
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The Sweat Lodge is located in the same area as the Medicine Wheel and cold plunge spaces at Terra Nova Center.
Guests are welcome to engage with these spaces before or after the Sweat Lodge, with the understanding that they are sacred ceremonial spaces. We ask that all movement through these areas be done with reverence and mindfulness.
Participation in any temperature-variant ceremony—including Sweat Lodge and cold plunges—is always voluntary.
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A suggested donation to the Ceremonialist is $40 and should be given directly to them. Guests who wish to make an additional donation to Terra Nova Center in support of this type of work are welcome to do so at their discretion.
It is also customary to offer the Ceremonialist and Fire Tender a gift of sacred medicines (such as sage, lavender, tobacco, etc.) or another offering you may feel called to give. This is not a requirement, but a tradition for those who feel led to offer a gift.
In addition, guests are invited to place items on the altar outside the lodge. These items may be reclaimed after the lodge or, if the guest chooses, left at the altar as a permanent offering. You are encouraged to bring crystals and stones, pictures of loved ones, personal talismans, ect.
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The Sweat Lodge is a heat-based ceremonial environment and can be physically demanding. Guests should consult a medical professional before attending if they have, or suspect they may have:
Heart or cardiovascular conditions
High or low blood pressure
Respiratory conditions (including asthma)
Diabetes
Seizure disorders
Pregnancy
Heat sensitivity or history of heat-related illness
Any condition affected by heat, dehydration, or intense physical environments
By choosing to participate in the Sweat Lodge or any temperature-variant ceremony at Terra Nova Center, guests acknowledge that they do so at their own risk and personal liability, and are responsible for listening to and honoring their bodies.
**Woman on their moon cycle are encouraged to participate, however we ask that you share with the ceremonialist if it is your moon time in preparation for lodge.
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On-site lodging and camping are available based on availability.
Guests interested in staying overnight should inquire ahead of time to make arrangements by calling (828) 862-5909.
Where to Find Us
Set your GPS or navigation app to:
22 Terra Nova Lane, Cedar Mountain, NC, 28718
There are two main routes into the property. Please plan ahead and choose the option that works best for you:
1. US-64 / Hendersonville Highway Route (Through DuPont State Recreational Forest) This is the smoothest and most direct route for most visitors. Travel on US-64 (Hendersonville Highway) toward DuPont State Recreational Forest and follow your navigation to Terra Nova Lane. There is no gravel road on this route—it is paved all the way.
2. I-26 Route (via Green River Road) This route is fully accurate via GPS and used often, but please note: There are approximately 4 miles of gravel road along Green River Road before reaching Terra Nova Center. The road is passable, but guests may prefer to allow extra time and drive carefully, especially in wet weather.
Please allow a little extra travel time, especially if this is your first visit. Terra Nova is located in a beautiful forest setting, and arriving without rush ensures a smooth experience.
Yona FrenchHawk
A Cherokee Wisdom Keeper and Ceremonialist, born and raised on the Qualla Indian Boundary in the Great Smoky Mountains of Cherokee, North Carolina—the ancestral homeland of the Eastern Band of the Cherokee people. From childhood, he was shaped by the songs, stories, and ceremonial ways of his people, receiving teachings passed through his Grandfather and the generations before him. Yona carries this lineage as a sacred responsibility, honoring the Ancestors by keeping their wisdom alive.
Based in Western North Carolina, Yona offers ceremony, song, and storytelling as living medicine—bridging the ancient past with the present moment. His work calls us back into balance, right relationship, and remembrance of our shared belonging on Turtle Island. Through communal ceremony and individual guidance, Yona supports ancestral healing and embodied presence, sharing traditions not as history, but as a living way of life meant to be walked, sung, and remembered.
To learn more about Yona and his work, visit yonafrenchhawk.com/about.