Best mountain views, period

Guest: Todd (Charlotte, NC)
Date of Stay: 10/06/11 Review Submitted: 10/09/11

I stayed at this house with some friends for a long weekend and I cannot rate the experience high enough. The property is beautiful and the mountain views are breathtaking. While most mountain houses have a view of a mountain or two, this house provides a view of multiple mountain ranges. The sunset is amazing. We hardly drove anywhere the 3 days we were there. One understated aspect of this place is the awesome hiking that is available. The Black Rock peak is only a 2 mile hike from the front door and there is a nice waterfall less than half a mile away. Black Rock peak is a must see if you are comfortable hiking moutain trails. 360 degree views of all the ranges and towns. We grilled out in the evenings and made full use of the hot tub and fire pit. As mentioned in other reviews, if you are expecting all the amenities of modern homes, like dishwashers and Internet, then you will be disappointed (I will mention that Verizon gets enough of a signal to surf the web, however AT&T cannot place a call). I highly recommend this property for anyone looking for an awesome nature experience.

Owner response:Hi Todd, Thanks for taking the time to write this. Your review does an excellent job of describing what a stay at Waterrock is all about! Thanks, Tama

Recommended for:Romantic getaway, sightseeing, adventure seekers, age 55+, families with teenagers.

Buddies and I enjoyed this house!

Guest: Stephen (Wilmington, North Carolina)
Date of Stay: 09/22/11 Review Submitted: 09/27/11

A bunch of buddies rented this house in the early fall (September 2011) and thoroughly enjoyed our stay. The road (if you haven't read the reviews) will surprise you as it states does take 3.7 miles and about 15 miles to get up. Once you get to the top of the road you can see FOREVER. So beautiful. I am NOT a mountain person, but even I enjoyed this place. They have a great hot tub overlooking the mountains of TN, they have a great steam room mixed in with your upstairs shower, the kitchen is huge, the place is comfortable all the way around. I had the priveledge of sleeping in the loft the first night (I would call first dibs on another bed if you are NOT a morning person). We went to Harrahs Cherokee every night for gambling and drinks and had a good time. ( I lost, but it was still fun ) Harrah's is packed every night and is about 10 minutes from the place's driveway. You can get the best of both worlds (Casino-out with lots of people and crowds and Home-away from everyone except who you come with) I would recommend this property to anyone and if you would like to email me to ask questions I am sure I will be willing to tell all. Also the others would probably too!

Recommended for:Romantic getaway, sightseeing, pet owners, adventure seekers, age 55+, families with young children.

Simply spectacular!

Guest: D. Burris (Asheville, NC)
Date of Stay: 04/09/11 Review Submitted: 08/06/11

Seeking an off-the-beaten-path, tranquil, one of a kind spot with a view of the Smokey Mountains like NO other? Look no further. First, this house’s location is phenomenal. A rugged vehicle is your best choice for traversing the mountians, but hey, that IS part of this place on earth and the perfect path to this exquisite retreat. You will experience “getting away from it all” from your first step onto this property. This mountain retreat is much more than your typical listing but they have covered all your basic needs quite well. So, once you arrive, just kick off the shoes, sit, relax, and do nothing while enjoying the quiet splendor of the landscape -- both far and near -- from a plethora of comfortable perches -- both in and outside. I was seeking a weekend getaway from a busy daily life, with my husband and our 6 children (ages 15 to 22). Our spring time retreat to this rental home was simply perfect. The house was spacious, the “playtime” offerings (movies, books, games, suggested hikes) were plentiful, and each room was nicely appointed with all the comforts of home (without all one’s personal clutter!). Outside we found a flat lawn to play on, large stones and cozy spaces inviting meditative thought, a fire ring, a pond full of tadpoles, and even a wood-fired hot tub -- something we had never seen before. After a little instruction reading (helpfully left in a folder for all visitors) we built a fire in the hot tub shoot and easily warmed the fresh mountain water (clean & cool when used without the heat option). What simple, elegant engineering... with a spectacular view! We could not have asked for more or imagine anything better. More than once since our stay here, my husband and I have discussed renting this property again. The house comfortably fit our family of 8, but could have easily fit invited friends, too, .... or (as we hope to revisit it) it could be a magical place to spend just being together as a twosome. We wish to kindly thank the owners of this Utopia for sharing their slice of heaven on earth. Mom of many in Asheville NC

Recommended for:Romantic getaway, tourists without a car, sightseeing, adventure seekers, girls getaway, age 55+, families with young children, families with teenagers.

Disappointed in Property

Guest: Disappointed (Heflin, AL/United States of America)
Date of Stay: 07/21/11 Review Submitted: 07/27/11

Water Rock is a beautiful home. However, there is no air conditioning. It was very hot in July when we stayed. We only stayed one of the three nights we had reserved. The road was terrible leading up to the house. We ended up having an accident coming down and had to call for emergency help. I would not recommend this property. The gardens were grown up and shabby looking. The yard needed to be mowed. The small pond in the garden had only a small amount of stagnant water in it.

Owner response:We are disappointed that these guests did not choose the appropriate place for their vacation. I believe they may have preferred to be in downtown Cherokee or Pidgeon Forge. It is interesting to read the review that came in from just the week before, #2091297. This clearly demonstrates that beauty is in the eye of the beholder. I think that review beats any response I could come up with. I would suggest reading the whole thing as it has lots of good info about both Waterrock and what to expect in the area. Here are a few excerpts. It actually provides a very different take on the roads, ”The drive up to the house is very long but beautiful. Relax and enjoy the ride. We certainly did”, the gardens “With million dollar views from every corner, lush gardens, hummingbirds galore, and comfortable furnishings”,, and the overall experience, “Water Rock was a truly amazing experience...zen-like, ethereal, rejuvenating. We cannot wait to return”. The same house, same yard and gardens, and same road only one week earlier! To address the particular complaints, I can only offer the following thoughts.We have owned the home for 18 years, and at 4500 ft elevation have never felt the need for air conditioning. It clearly states that we do not have it on our website and VRBO. If you are someone who is used to air conditioning 24//7 it may feel different at first .The house has an energy efficient design. By opening downstairs windows and then the crows nest windows a wonderful cooling draft is created. A long sleeve shirt or even a jacket is often nice to have to enjoy coffee on the decks any summer morning .The roads are excellently maintained gravel roads, appropriate for any car other than perhaps a low riding sports car. Our website clearly describes the roads. In 18 years of renting 3 homes on this road this is the first person we are aware of driving off of them. . In regards to the gardens, the flowers, etc change seasonally of course. We have not been able to plant the vegetable gardens of some years past as we now live too far away. Most people, like the guests just one week before find the gardens beautiful. I can only suggest you read all the reviews and our website carefully to insure that Waterrock is the right vacation choice for you.

Recommended for:

Rejuvenating escape from everyday life

Guest: Heather (Jacksonville, Nc)
Date of Stay: 07/14/11 Review Submitted: 07/24/11

Located on top of mountain, this awe-inspiring peaceful retreat is the perfect escape. With million dollar views from every corner, lush gardens, hummingbirds galore, and comfortable furnishings, my family and I did not want to leave. An interesting and delightful collection of books, CDs, and DVDs awaits. Hike to a waterfall, and return to a good soak in the cedar, rustic hot tub located under the stars. We did not leave the homesite for the first 4 days of our week long vacation, finding plenty to do include family bonding over puzzles, cards, and boardgames. We do recommend Smokemount Stables for excellent trail rides and Tuckaseegee Outfitters for white water kayaking or rafting. For souvenirs, I recommend the Qualla Co-op. This is across from the Cherokee Museum (a must do) and offers true Cherokee art, etc. Most of the trinket places around Cherokee offer junk made in China. Did not visit Harrah's...not our thing. Remember Cherokee is a dry reservation, so buy your wine and beer prior to arrival. Water rock is well stocked with all cooking gear, etc and we made wonderful meals every night. Very slim choice of restaurants in town and you won't be able to beat the views from the dining room or the upper deck at Water Rock. The drive up to the house is very long but beautiful. Relax and enjoy the ride. We certainly did. Water Rock was a truly amazing experience...zen-like, ethereal, rejuvenating. We cannot wait to return. As a final note, the owners of this property are wonderful. All plans went without a hitch, and all promises kept. Thanks again.

Recommended for:Romantic getaway, tourists without a car, people with disabilities, sightseeing, pet owners, adventure seekers, girls getaway, age 55+, families with young children, families with teenagers.

Spectactular and Peaceful

Guest: Island Dwellers (St. George Island, FL)
Date of Stay: 10/17/10 Review Submitted: 10/25/10

What a way to relieve stress - back to nature. Wonderful hiking and spectactular 360 views wherever you looked was amazing. hit the fall color just right. The home is exactly that - a home not just a rental. Wonderful kitchen and the master bedroom - what a treat to wake up to such a view. The hot tub was fantastic after a day of hiking - just get the fire started go hiking and 5 hours later it is nice and toasty. We will definitely be staying here again.

Owner response:Thanks and so glad you enjoyed Waterrock so much!

Recommended for:Romantic getaway, sightseeing, pet owners, adventure seekers.

Wonderful Long Weekend

Guest: Janie (Loganville, GA)
Date of Stay: 09/04/10 Review Submitted: 09/13/10

The listing information and pictures are accurate, the home is clean, well-maintained and has everything you need for a great get-away. Kitchen is clean and fully stocked (pots, pans, coffee maker, crock pot, but take your own paper plates, etc.). The gardens are beautiful. We did not try the hot tub, it's labor intensive Take marshmallows for the campfire, there is plenty of ready-to-burn wood already cut and waiting. Every room in the home has a great view of the mountains. Owners are readily available by phone to answer questions, we have already recommended this property to friends. Thanks for a great weekend.

Recommended for:Romantic getaway, sightseeing, adventure seekers, girls getaway, age 55+, families with young children.

Wonderful experience

Guest: Star Gazer (Lexington, SC)
Date of Stay: 03/01/08 Review Submitted: 03/29/08

This is by far the best house we have rented in this area. The view is spectacular and I'm sure the flower gardens are nice in the spring. Hiking trails are close and there are wild animals are in the area. We saw several wild turkeys and a grouse. We even had one day of snow while the sun was out. The house is clean and well maintained. Take paper products as it doesn't have a dish washer. Our children loved the widow's watch as their private nook. The hot tub is labor intensive so we didn't try it. This is a great place to relax or to get out and hike. The waterfall is close and is gorgeous. Cherokee is close and Bryson City is only about 35 minutes away. Good restaurants in Bryson City. I would love to stay here again.

Recommended for:Romantic getaway, sightseeing, adventure seekers, girls getaway, families with teenagers.