Keep the view. Give the spirits the dining room.
For a birthday or bachelorette weekend at a Lake Lure house, the deck is a fine place for drinks. When it’s time for the mystery, I’d move indoors. The tabletop is part of my show: people need to see a small object, hear a quiet exchange, and catch the exact moment they no longer trust either one. The wind is an enthusiastic but unreliable stagehand.
My first choice for a group staying in together is Timothy Starnes & His Many Night Visitors, a two-hour comedy séance. Around ten to fifteen adults is a useful guide; the actual limit for a good view is how many fit comfortably at your table. Count chairs, not beds. A house that sleeps fourteen may seat six admirably and eight more in a spirit realm of their own.
Make the change from supper to show part of the plan.
Let one friend handle clearing, take coffee into the next room, then come back together to a bare tabletop. Leave a little light on faces and clear the tall centerpiece. The show is theatrical spirit magic and dark comedy, not a mediumship reading; nobody has to summon someone they miss to take part.
If several guests plan to leave early or your dining table is too small, I’d switch to a close-up station by the sofas. Send me the Lake Lure or Chimney Rock address, a photo of the dining setup, and the time dinner should finish. Confirm the owner is happy to have a performer, and let me know about steps between parking and the room so I can plan what to bring.