Vacation Rentals by Owner

Nicest Surprise - Great Vacation

Guest: Laurie (Whispering Pines, NC)
Date of Stay: 04/09/12 Review Submitted: 04/20/12

We had a wonderful, and cozy time for a week at this cabin. Very comfortable, and extremely cozy. Such a peaceful setting, and all the conveniences you'll need. Lots to do in the area, and a very comfy place to relax at night and in the morning. If you happen to find this cabin available, grab it. You won't be sorry.

Recommended for:Adventure seekers, people with disabilities, age 55+, girls getaway, romantic getaway, sightseeing.

Photos Don't Do It Justice

Guest: Rhonda H. (-)
Date of Stay: 04/04/12 Review Submitted: 04/09/12

We weren't sure what to expect from the photos, aside from lovely flowers, but it was so much more than we expected. Clean as a whistle, cute as a button and very comfortable. The out-buildings and chickens and swings and creek are so pleasant. You won't be disappointed. Gene was wonderful and we were sorry Diane was away during our visit - we've heard so many nice things about her. Grocery stores aren't too impressive but we found everything we really needed. Restaurants mostly close after lunch, so plan accordingly. We'd definitely stay here or at the sister property if we get back this way.

Owner response:Oh yes! Some of our locally owned restaurants only serve breakfast and lunch. Next time you are here you may want to try others like Fat Buddies, BBQ or Willy's BBQ; perhaps Gondolas Italian Cuisine or the Boiler Room. There are many we would recommend. If you have taste buds for a particular cuisine let us know. Many of our guests love the gourmet cuisine at Cafe Rel. They especially rave about the shrimp and grits! We happen to like the mushroom stuffed pasta and their pot roast. Let us know if we can help you make some good selections.

Recommended for:Adventure seekers, sightseeing.

Perfect!

Guest: Queens (Lexington, NC)
Date of Stay: 09/19/11 Review Submitted: 09/23/11

We thoroughly enjoyed our stay in this cabin on the hill - looking forward to a return visit. Loved our "double yoker" egg, courtesy of Diane and Gene's chickens!

Owner response:Our chicken, Hilda, has not been presenting us with delicious mountain eggs for sometime now. We are pleased she chose to share her one-time 2 yolk egg with Jerry and Celeste. We were afraid Hilda had forgotten us. A pleasant and timely gift.

Recommended for:Age 55+, romantic getaway, sightseeing.

We highly recommend this cabin!

Guest: kj (venice, fl)
Date of Stay: 07/26/11 Review Submitted: 08/03/11

This is the second year that we have enjoyed staying at this cabin. It was cozy, comfortable and well-located!

Recommended for:Age 55+, romantic getaway, sightseeing.

A MOST DELIGHTFUL VACATION EXPERIENCE!!

Guest: Shirley & Scott (Piqua, Ohio)
Date of Stay: 07/02/11 Review Submitted: 07/19/11

Loved our stay at the cabin. Rustic applies only to the outside of this comfortable cabin. We had a great stay, cabin is close to town and all shopping and attractions. The chickens are so much fun! We hated to leave and will return again for another stay. Gene and Diane are great hosts and make sure you have all you need plus Teddy the dog is so cute!

Recommended for:Adventure seekers, people with disabilities, age 55+, romantic getaway, sightseeing.

A MOST DELIGHTFUL VACATION EXPERIENCE!!

Guest: Shirley & Scott (Piqua, Ohio)
Date of Stay: 07/02/11 Review Submitted: 07/19/11

Loved our stay at the cabin. Rustic applies only to the outside of this comfortable cabin. We had a great stay, cabin is close to town and all shopping and attractions. The chickens are so much fun! We hated to leave and will return again for another stay. Gene and Diane are great hosts and make sure you have all you need plus Teddy the dog is so cute!

Owner response:Scott and Shirley were ideal guests. Scott named our 2 chickens as Hilda and Matilda and they responded with a favorable "cluck cluck". We are all, with Teddy, eagerly waiting for Scott and Shirley to come again and enjoy the Great Smokey Mountains with us again. Scott caught some keeper fish while here. Way to go Scott....

Recommended for:Adventure seekers, people with disabilities, age 55+, romantic getaway, sightseeing.

GW, Roz and Makenzie

Guest: Roz (Panama City, Florida)
Date of Stay: 05/25/11 Review Submitted: 06/01/11

Thank you Gene and Diane for a wonderful week in the most precious cabin ever!! You treated us like prince and princess. Could not have picked a more pleasant place to stay. The rustic cabin was quaint, cozy and just awesome and near everything. We are looking forward to coming back in November. Makenzie cannot stop talking about the flowers, cows, chickens, art. You two made the trip so special. Thank you again.

Recommended for:Adventure seekers, age 55+, sightseeing.

Guest: Kyle and Holly
Date of Stay: 05/19/11 Review Submitted: 05/21/11

We came for our first year anniversay and could not have picked a more special place. Thank you so much for your hospitality. Here is advice for future renters of Orchard Hill Cottage. You must visit Cade's Cove. It's a long ride but well worth it. We also recommend Mason's Mtn. Mine. The mine is just 20 minutes from the cabin. Hard work yields results. Different food at Cyprus Restaurant in the Highlands. The best part of our trip was just pulling off on the side of the road and playing in the waterfalls and creeks.

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Guest: Stephen and Regan Tayman, Mick and Tyler
Date of Stay: 05/18/11 Review Submitted: 05/21/11

We highly recommend! # 1 Mining at The Rose Creek Mine.. we found lots of awesome gems, some being made into jewelry. Pack a lunch!! #2 Sheffield mine, we found smaller gems, mostly rubies. One was 23.5 carat. (having it made into a pendant) Both are close by and lots of fun. #3 Definitely go to the "Gem Factory".. It is a great shop. Chris will look at all of your "finds" and show you what can be made. Great prices!! #4 Drive up to Highlands--WOW. Stop at Dry Falls on the way up. You can walk under them. #5 Driver "under" Bridal Veil Falls--just because you can. We'll add more to the list when we return to our "new home away from home".

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Guest: Stephen, Regan, Mick and Tyler
Date of Stay: 05/18/11 Review Submitted: 05/21/11

It's like a "tree house" for adults. If you visit Franklin and stay somewhere else--you"ve missed the boat!!

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Guest: Marx and James
Date of Stay: 05/07/11 Review Submitted: 05/21/11

We wanted you to know that we thoroughly enjoyed our stay at your charming cabin. All the beautiful flowers growing around the cabin and the multitude of song birds were such a delight. Also, the pie you gave us was delicious. Thank you for everything.

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Guest: Rick and Anna
Date of Stay: 04/11/11 Review Submitted: 05/21/11

What a great place to "run away" to! We really felt at home. Gene and Diane felt like friends. "You have a special place here. We would love to come back"

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Wonderful place to "runaway" to.

Guest: Rick and Anna (Deputy, Indiana)
Date of Stay: 04/11/11 Review Submitted: 04/17/11

My husband and I really enjoyed our time at your cottage. It was very peaceful and relaxing. It was a very much needed break from our hectic schedule. Gene and Diane felt like old friends from the moment we met. We thank them very much for sharing with us their wonderful corner of the world, and making us feel welcome and at home. I could set on that front porch forever! We have stayed in much larger, fancier cabins but none of them were as comfy or inviting as this. We would love to stay again sometime.

Owner response:Rick and Anna were the ideal guests. We so appreciated their friendliness and care for our property. Our goal is to make every guest at Orchard Hill part of our family, if they choose, or they can have all the privacy they desire. Come and visit out mountain setting in a secluded part of "Peaceful Valley". You will be glad you did... .

Recommended for:Adventure seekers, age 55+, romantic getaway, sightseeing.

An easy comfortable stay

Guest: Mountain lovin' beach bums (Panama City Beach)
Date of Stay: 03/05/11 Review Submitted: 03/12/11

We enjoyed our stay in this quaint rustic cabin. It was perfect for the two of us. Gene and Diane were the most accommodating host from the reservations to our departure. We would recommend the cabin to anyone wanting a quiet getaway.

Owner response:Claire & Bob were ideal guests. They were courteous and a pleasure to have at Orchard Hill Cottage. We anticipate their return for their next visit to the Franklin area. Gene and Diane

Recommended for:Age 55+

Exactly what we needed

Guest: Joan & Jimmy (Pikeville N C)
Date of Stay: 10/28/10 Review Submitted: 11/04/10

One of George Washington Carver quotes was, '' take what you have, where you are, and make the most of it''. That's what Diane and Gene did with this cabin. It will take you back in time but it is also clean and relaxing. The perfet get away. Hope to return soon and have more time to get to know Diane and Gene better. They are good pepole.

Owner response:We certainly appreciated our guests, Joan & Jimmy. They are the caliber of guests we have been enjoying ever since we first started on this rustic cabin adventure. Thank you and welcome back! Gene & Diane

Recommended for:Adventure seekers, tourists without a car, romantic getaway, sightseeing.

Cottage Review

Guest: cjse88 (Roswell, GA, USA)
Date of Stay: 08/22/10 Review Submitted: 09/07/10

We had a wonderful time at the cabin. The cabin was very clean and well maintained. Gene and Diane were wonderful hosts. We would recommend this for anyone wanting a relaxing vacation. We relaxed on the porch, slept in, walked by the creek, visited antique stores in the area, had dinner out most nights, took drives around the area, and sometimes just did nothing. It was great! A couple of great places we ate: Dillard House (Dillard, GA) and Cafe Rel in Franklin.

Recommended for:Age 55+, romantic getaway, sightseeing.

Charming and restful getaway

Guest: Brigette (Miami, FL)
Date of Stay: 08/09/10 Review Submitted: 08/29/10

My daughters and I spent a relaxing and peaceful three nights in this charming cottage and can't wait to return. Gene and Diane were warm and welcoming hosts, and the cottage is just as perfect in person as it is in the photos. I am already dreaming of seeing those lovely hills in the autumn.

Owner response:Gene and I can't express our thanks enough to all the travelers who chose our little rustic cabin as a place to rest in the hills. We look forward to serving new guest as well as our returning ones.

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Exactly what we imagined

Guest: Melody (Danielsville, Ga)
Date of Stay: 08/01/10 Review Submitted: 08/05/10

Thank you for everything. We had a great time !!! Your cabin was perfect and exactly what we had imagined it to be. God Bless Melody and Candace Homer

Recommended for:Girls getaway, romantic getaway, sightseeing.

Fairytale Cabin!!!

Guest: Elena & Carlos (Miami, FL)
Date of Stay: 07/27/10 Review Submitted: 08/03/10

This cabin is AMAZING!!!! It is decorated beautifully with lots of details and you can tell that lots of love was put into it. Very confortable for a couple! If you want to relax and enjoy a beautiful view then this is the cabin for you. The location is great too. It is located in a valley surrounded by mountains and near the town of Franklin, NC. There is also a lot of fun things to do in the nearby towns and national parks. We went hiking, white-water rafting, driving through scenic roads and waterfalls. & the best part is that my fiance proposed to me on the back porch with a beautiful view of the sun setting on the mountains! You will feel like you are living a fairytale! Thank You Gene & Diane! We loved our stay in the cabin! Can't wait to go back :)

Recommended for:Adventure seekers, age 55+, romantic getaway, sightseeing.

Guest: Kimberly
Date of Stay: 04/08/10 Review Submitted: 05/21/11

Orchard HillCottage was just what we needed!!The cottage was comfortable and well maintained. Gene was fantastic! We will be back!!

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Guest: Blane and Nancy Vickery (Dalton, GA)
Date of Stay: 08/12/07 Review Submitted: 08/12/07

This beautiful cabin is the perfect place to get away from it all! It provides an isolated, quiet place for R&R, while at the same time being close to many outdoor activities. Gene and Diane were wonderful hosts and graciously helped us anytime we asked. They have done an outstanding job constructing and decorating the cabin - you will love it!

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Guest: Anonymous
Date of Stay: 07/25/07 Review Submitted: 07/25/07

Not to be redundant, but I also would highly recommend Diane's and Gene's worry free, relaxing retreat for all the reasons already listed, but for me, as an artist, it's also topped off with the variety of inspiring Smokey Mountian views and quaint vignettes for endless plein air painting opportunities. Oh, how I wish I had had more time there! Thank you Diane and Gene for your wonderful hospitality!

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Guest: Don & Pam Lockard (Jacksonville, Florida)
Date of Stay: 07/25/07 Review Submitted: 07/25/07

We REALLY enjoyed our stay at your lovely cabin. Highly recommended for anyone looking to get away from it all and appreciate the peaceful country lifestyle. We will definately be back!!!

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Guest: Jennifer and Carrie (Roscoe, IL)
Date of Stay: 07/02/07 Review Submitted: 07/02/07

What a wonderful place! We just left and already can't wait to go back. If you're looking for somewhere to relax, this is the place you want to stay. Gene and Diane were very accomodating. The cottage was awesome. It was very cozy and really made you feel at home. The scenery around the cottage is breath-taking. Happy (Gene and Diane's dog), the sheep and the chickens were fun. We had the opportunity to feed the sheep and chickens. Now that we are back home in Illinois, we find ourselves missing North Carolina and our daily routine at the cottage. We would most definitely recommend this cabin. We are so happy that this is the place we chose to stay.

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Guest: Pat and Bruce Zellermayer (Altamonte Springs, FL)
Date of Stay: 06/01/07 Review Submitted: 06/01/07

The cabin is wonderful - every detail was intended to help us to "decompress" - which we did! Diane and Gene were so accommodating and willing to do whatever it took to make us comfortable. The sheep were a welcome addition to an already amazing pastoral setting. The mountain view was breath-taking - morning, noon and night. The flowers outside the cabin were like a French garden. It was great to be able to leave windows open for the fresh mountain air, even though the air conditioning was more than ample. The washer and dryer ended up being needed after my fall in the river by Highlands - a must see trip down NC 28. Plenty of good restaurants in the area, and bluegrass pickin' on the square every Saturday night in the summertime. We have found our "home away form home" until we can make North Carolina our permanent home! I can't wait to return in October - thanks for everything!

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Guest: Danielle Slaterpryce (Crestview, Florida)
Date of Stay: 05/09/07 Review Submitted: 05/09/07

I had the pleasure of staying in this beautiful cabin in February 2007. What a quaint and comfortable little place this is, wonderful eat in kitchen, welcoming living room, and very comfy bedroom not to mention a wonderful porch with an amazing view of the mountain. The owners are very accommodating. Can't wait to have an opportunity to go back.

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Guest: Deborah Cross (Atlanta, Ga)
Date of Stay: 04/18/07 Review Submitted: 04/18/07

Thanks for the wonderful experience in the cabin. I'll never forget the cold april weather and your warm hospitality.

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