Notes from the host
Smoky Mountain Skyline
Awesome long range views of Smoky Mts. and minutes to NOC, Tsali, and Lake Fontana.
Built in 2015, this immaculate, newly redecorated, mountain-side log home is a 3 bedroom, 2 1/2 bath, 2000 square foot home with two floors. The cabin sleeps 8 but the max number of adults is 6: the bunk beds are for the kids.
• Main level features a great room with fireplace, comfortable seating and tv, kitchen with stainless appliances and granite counters, dining room, master bedroom [king bed] & en suite master bath, plus a guest powder room.
• Also on main level, 3/4 wrap-around porch, with; chairs, BBQ grill and outside dining table [seating for 6]. Perfect for viewing the beautiful, long-range views of the Great Smoky Mountains, cook-outs and enjoying al fresco dining in the cool mountain air.
• The downstairs level includes two bedrooms [queen beds in both], a full bathroom and a spacious second living room with a 2nd fire place, tv, game console, bunks beds and pool table.
• Outside [on the lower level] is the hot tub and a stone fire pit.
• Our cabin is pet friendly and features pet stations at both the upper and lower outdoor areas. (Note: we limit pets to 2 dogs and no cats)
• This cabin has internet service with WiFi (includes latest WiFi extender/booster system), satellite tv service (with sports packages), 3 tv’s (ALL with robust DVR capability so you can record different games/movies/tv shows on each tv while you are out enjoying all the fantastic outdoor activities in the area and then watch them later at your leisure), gaming system and good cellular phone service.
• The cabin is located in a quiet, gated neighborhood with [year-round accessible] paved roads that are motorcycle and small trailer friendly.
• The cabin is conveniently located about 15 minutes from Bryson City, NC. where you will find supermarkets, shopping & dining as well as the famous POLAR EXPRESS / Great Smoky Mountains Railroad.
• This cabin is also perfectly located to enjoy all of the great outdoor activities that western North Carolina has to offer, such as...
◇ Tsali Recreation Area/US National Forest (approx. 10 minutes) – a top destination for mountain biking as well as hiking and horseback riding
◇ Lake Fontana (approx. 10 minutes) – boating (boat rentals available), fishing, etc.
◇ Nantahala Outdoor Center (NOC) (approx. 15 minutes) - family friendly whitewater rafting (class II & III) on the Nantahala River
◇ Deep Creek Tube Center & Campground (approx. 25 minutes) – family tubing, hiking, etc.
◇ Lake Nantahala (about 30 mins) - beautiful, crystal clear water. Great for boating (rentals available)
◇ The Great Smoky Mountains National Park (GSMNP) - approx. 35 minutes
◇ Nantahala National Forest (approx. 35 minutes) – hiking, camping, etc.
◇ Intermediate whitewater rafting (class III & IV) on the Ocoee River (approx. 90 minutes) – various outfitters
◇ Extreme whitewater rafting (class IV+ rafting) on the Cheoah River (approx. 50 to 60 minutes) – various outfitters
◇ The start of The Blue Ridge Parkway at Cherokee, NC (approx. 30-35 minutes) - America's greatest scenic drive stretches 469 miles from Cherokee, NC to Waynesboro, VA
◇ "The Tail of the Dragon" (Deals Gap, NC - approx.. 45 to 50 min - on the NC-Tennessee border) – eleven miles of the most famous motorcycle & sports car touring drive in the eastern half of the US - not for the faint of heart (or the easily car-sick)
◇ Harrah’s Casino, Cherokee, NC (approx. 30-35 minutes)
◇ Cherokee Indian Reservation (approx. 30-35 minutes) – Cherokee museum and cultural center plus many other activities such as hiking, fly fishing, golf, etc.
◇ The Biltmore Estate (Asheville - approx. 80-85 minutes) – tour the estate & gardens, winery, dining, etc.
◇ Asheville, NC - (approx. 80-85 minutes) – great dining, shopping, art galleries, etc.
◇ Highlands & Cashiers, NC - (approx. 80-90 minutes.) - shopping, dining & golf
◇ Gatlinburg , TN / Pigeon Forge & Dollywood – (approx. 90 minutes)
◇ Numerous waterfalls - too many to name. Enjoy searching for them.
◇ 469.226.7526
FAQ's...
• Is your cabin in The Smoky Mountains or The Blue Ridge Mountains and what is the difference anyway? The answer is 'yes' to both. In fact, you can throw in The Appalachian Mountains as well. First, before we get started on the technical stuff you should know that for most people in this part of the country ‘The Smoky Mountains’ and ‘The Blue Ridge Mountains’ are interchangeable terms… for the most part. Now the technical part: looking at the big picture, The Appalachian Mountain Range is the big boy. It runs from upstate New York (well, actually into Canada) all the way down to central Alabama. Yes, Birmingham, AL is located in the southern extremes of the Appalachian Mtn. Range as are the Adirondack Mtns in upstate New York. Next, you have The Blue Ridge Mountains which are a sub-set of The Appalachian Mountain Range. The Blue Ridge Mountain Range extends 550 miles southwest from southern Pennsylvania through Maryland, West Virginia, Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee and Georgia. Then, smack in the middle of the Blue Ridge Mountain Range you have a smaller sub-division called The Smoky Mountains. The Smoky Mountains are centered right where The Park is – straddling the border of (western) North Carolina and (eastern) Tennessee. In fact, The Park is pretty much cut in half by the state line between the two with equal parts in each state. The Park is very large (The Park encompasses 522,419 acres or 816.28 sq. miles.) and it is also the most visited National Park in the US. It dominates the region. So, The Smoky Mountains are part of the Blue Ridge Mountain Range and both are part of The Appalachian Mountain Range.
• How close is your cabin to Great Smoky Mountains National Park (GSMNP)? Well, you can see GSMNP from our cabin (the mountains in the distance are IN The Park) and, as the crow flies we are about four miles due south of GSMNP (the only thing between us and GSMNP is Lake Fontana – the north shore of Lake Fontana is part of The Park. However, the nearest entrance to The Park is in Cherokee, NC (on the other side of Bryson City). Since Bryson City is about 15 to 20 minutes from the Park entrance in Cherokee and since our cabin is 15 minutes due west of Bryson City it’s fair to estimate about a 30-35 minute drive to the [southern] entrance of The Park from our cabin.
• How close is your cabin to The Appalachian Trail and how do I get there? First, for those that don’t know, The Appalachian Trail (or 'The AT') is a 2,175-mile (3,500 km) hiking trail that runs all the way from Mount Katahdin (Maine) to Springer Mountain (Georgia). The AT passes through a large part of the Appalachian Mountain system (including Great Smoky Mts Natl Park). Hiking on part of The AT is definitely on the To Do List for many people that come to this part of the country. ‘Hiking The Trail’ (as in ALL of it) is a major accomplishment. In fact, for avid hikers it’s the equivalent of climbing Mt. Everest. So, back to the question… as the crow flies we are just at 3 miles from The Trail. In fact, that point of The AT that is closest to us happens to be an access point to the Trail (there is parking there). Even better, that access point is at a very convenient (easy to find) location – basically at the Nantahala Outdoor Center (NOC) in Nantahala Gorge on Hwy 19. It is 14 minutes (by car) from our front door to the NOC.
o Can you reach The AT from the cabin on foot? In theory, yes. There is a National Forest Service 'trail' that starts about 100 yards from our cabin and it connects with The AT. However, that Forrest Service Trail is not maintained [at all] and in spots you would have to do a little mountaineering. I would HIGHLY suggest parking at the NOC and starting there.
o Here is a link to an online map of The Appalachian Trail… https://nps.maps.arcgis.com/apps/webappviewer/index.html?id=6298c848ba2a490588b7f6d25453e4e0
• How close is your cabin to the Nantahala Outdoor Center (NOC) and the other river rafting and kayaking outfitters on the Nantahala River. As mentioned earlier, the NOC is about a 14 minute drive from the cabin. Some river outfitters are a little closer and some further. All are about 12 to 16 minutes away.
• How close is your cabin to The Blue Ridge Parkway and how do I get there? Again, for those that don’t know, The Blue Ridge Parkway ('The Parkway') is America's longest linear park. It runs for 469 miles (755 km) through 29 Virginia and North Carolina counties, linking Shenandoah National Park to Great Smoky Mountains National Park. It is a scenic drive that runs mostly along the spine of the Blue Ridge Mountain Range. While The Appalachian Trail is not for everyone (not everyone is up to it) The Parkway IS for everyone. It is stunning and has some of highest and most scenic views on in the eastern half of America. If there is one thing every visitor to this area should do it is to drive a section of The Parkway. Now, back to the question… how close is the cabin to The Parkway? Since you reach the entrance (the actual southern starting point of The Parkway) in Cherokee, NC (just before you reach the entrance to The Park) the answer is, again, about 30 to 35 minutes. If you are thinking about doing a day trip to the Biltmore (Asheville) The Parkway will take you straight there. It will take longer than taking Hwy 74 (about 2 hours versus 1 hour and 15 minutes on the highway) but it is a much prettier drive.
