Southern Illumination and Sound utilizes Coastal Source’s in-house design team to create a sensational outdoor lighting and audio design to Defy the Elements™.

MOORESTOWN, NEW JERSEY, October 17, 2024 — Tucked along the Tuckasegee River in a quiet, rural pocket of Bryson City, North Carolina, the luxury cottages at Rivers Rest Resort embody all the characteristics of a visually stunning vacation getaway. A unique combination of rustic elegance, fresh air, a view of the Smoky Mountains, and an easy, unpretentious atmosphere attracts families, couples, and other groups to the resort. However, an expansive, high performance outdoor lighting and audio system, designed and installed by Southern Illumination and Sound, is often what guests notice first.

The decision by Rivers Rest owners Charles Gonzalez, Kevin Beauchesne, and Darrell Lakey to integrate light fixtures and speakers within the natural landscape was bold. If not designed and installed properly, the technology could have detracted from the scenery, making the property look and sound more like a theme park than the restful retreat that it is. It was important that Gonzalez align with a reputable manufacturer and integrator to achieve the right ambiance for his dream endeavor.

“It gets extremely dark here when the sun goes down,” Gonzalez says. “The stars sure look bright, but for our guests, it would have been near impossible to walk the grounds to find their cabin,” he explains.

Certainly, there are many choices when it comes to landscape lighting and outdoor speakers. Gonzalez also had his pick of area landscapers. But rather than leave the outcome to chance, he went with what he knew: Coastal Source and certified installer Southern Illumination and Sound. Having used Coastal Source outdoor light fixtures and speakers at his own residence, Gonzalez was familiar with the quality and dependability of the brand and was confident that a properly designed and installed system could make a great first and lasting impression for his newly opened vacation resort.

Southern Illumination and Sound’s Tray Griffin was the best fit for the project. “My company and I focus solely on outdoor audio and lighting installation and use strictly Coastal Source products,” he says.

Griffin had already proven himself a master at the trade, having installed Coastal Source fixtures and speakers at Gonzalez’s personal residence, as well as many luxury seaside homes in Florida.

After getting the lay of the land and carefully assessing Gonzalez’s needs and expectations, Griffin quickly went to work, coordinating with Coastal Source’s in-house design team to customize a multi-functional solution to enhance the natural beauty of the property. The design fosters a welcoming and safe atmosphere for guests, showcases themed murals and artwork, and transforms an old grain bin-turned-pavilion into a relaxing social space. Using Coastal Source’s plan as a guide, Griffin installed approximately 80 light fixtures, skillfully combining double-tier path lights, niche lights, and MR16 downlights to illuminate key areas while maintaining the tranquil ambiance of the property.

For audio the objective was keeping the volume low and the reproduction high. Griffin employed a variety of speaker styles within the Coastal Source portfolio. 8.0 Mini Ellipse Bollards line the pathways, while Contour and Razor speakers deliver songs to the entertainment pavilion—all said, about a dozen to blanket the property with ear-pleasing audio. “What impresses me most is not how loud the system gets, but how good the audio sounds at a low level,” enthuses Gonzalez.

Tray Griffin’s swift mastery of the Coastal Source brand is equally notable. “I’ve been an electrician for 30 years and a landscaper for 20, but outdoor lighting and audio are relatively new to me,” he admits. “Still, with my background, it felt like a natural progression, and thanks to the quality of Coastal Source products and their support, the transition was seamless.”

Southern Illumination and Sound holds the distinction of achieving Coastal Source Diamond Level status in its first year of selling the line.

Griffin credits Coastal Source’s Plug and Play cabling system for enabling a fast start. “As a landscaper, I know outdoor installations often evolve during a project—what’s on paper rarely reflects the outcome due to changes in the landscape. We can easily adjust the positions of fixtures and speakers on the fly to keep the project moving smoothly.”

Additionally, Griffin highlights the reliability of Coastal Source products, noting that callbacks for service are virtually eliminated. “Returning to a site to fix lesser-quality systems can be expensive, especially in harsh weather conditions. With Coastal Source, our work is built to last, allowing us to focus on growing our business instead of revisiting old projects.”

Charles Gonzalez shares in the success, with guests frequently praising the warm and inviting atmosphere at Rivers Rest, largely attributed to the Coastal Source lighting and audio enhancements. Coupled with the resort’s renowned southern hospitality, Rivers Rest enjoys significant repeat business and is even considering expanding to a second tiny home resort.

About Coastal Source:

Coastal Source outdoor audio and lighting products are built with integrity, using innovative design to solve real-world problems and endure intense environmental testing to yield the industry’s most reliable high-performance outdoor audio and lighting system available today. With more than 60 years of hands- on industry experience, Coastal Source pioneers solutions that help families share fun, memorable moments in their own great outdoors. To learn more, visit www.coastalsource.com.