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A Gem of a House by the River near Chapel Hill

Photo gallery for A Gem of a House by the River near Chapel Hill

Beauty surrounds you inside and out.
This room has hosted many soulful gatherings.
A cook's kitchen makes preparing meals a delight.
Light from the skylight hits the living room
Lots of space for games, gatherings, and gazing.

Reviews

9.8 out of 10
Exceptional
3 bedrooms2+ bathroomsSleeps 92100 sq ft

Popular amenities

  • Kitchen
  • Washer
  • Dryer
  • Air conditioning
  • Outdoor Space
  • Parking available

Explore the area

View in a map
Pittsboro, NC
  • Place, Bynum Community Park
    ‪3 min walk‬
  • Place, Cooper Mays Pottery
    ‪9 min walk‬
  • Place, Duke University
    ‪41 min drive‬
  • Airport, Raleigh, NC (RDU-Raleigh - Durham Intl.)
    ‪41 min drive‬

Rooms & beds

3 bedrooms (sleeps 9)

Downstairs bedroom

1 Queen Bed

Living Room 1

1 Double Sofa Bed

Living Room 2

1 Twin Futon

Master

1 King Bed

Upstairs suite

1 Queen Bed

2 bathrooms, 1 half bathroom

Downstairs bathroom

Toilet

Master bath

Bathtub or shower · Toilet

Upstairs en suite bathroom

Bathtub or shower · Toilet

Spaces

Deck or patio
Porch or lanai
Kitchen
Separate dining area
Garden
Dining area

About this property

A Gem of a House by the River near Chapel Hill

This serene home on a half-acre offers a haven away from the city for those needing a place to pause, nest, and rest. Sip tea on one of three porches, sit under the grand oak tree, and enjoy the heart-of-pine wood floors, modern kitchen, upstairs bedroom suite, ultra-comfortable beds, and all the conveniences for an easeful stay. Located in the tiny, charming town of Bynum, this one-of-a-kind house offers the chance to reset, with nature trails and the Haw River just outside the front door.

The 2,100-square-foot house is adorned with local art from the region and was originally two separate houses that was merged into one. There are cozy nooks throughout the house and ample yard. Ideal for cooking great meals, curling up on cozy couches, sleeping deeply, and listening to the crickets and river. A strong wifi signal via Eero mesh makes it a good place to work if need be. Find your refuge in this spacious yet cozy home in a unique village brimming with natural beauty close to the major hotspot that is North Carolina’s Triangle. Come roll with the river for a while.

For a tiny town, Bynum offers a multitude of attractions, from hiking trails along the Haw River to the world-famous artist Clyde Jones’ Critter House to the Bynum General Store, now a nonprofit that holds community art and music gatherings throughout the year. Fearrington Village and Pittsboro are only minutes away by car; organic food at the nearby co-op is only a seven-minute drive; and a dip in the river is literally a few hundred steps away from this magical house.

Our prices include all fees. No hidden fees.

Add dates for prices

Amenities

Kitchen
Washer
Dryer
Air conditioning
Outdoor Space
Parking available

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House Rules

Check in after 3:00 PM
Check out before 11:00 AM
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Children

Children allowed: ages 0-17
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Events

No events allowed
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Pets

No pets allowed
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Smoking

Smoking is not permitted
No wood fires in fireplaces. No parties

Important information

You need to know

Extra-person charges may apply and vary depending on property policy
Government-issued photo identification and a credit card, debit card, or cash deposit may be required at check-in for incidental charges
Special requests are subject to availability upon check-in and may incur additional charges; special requests cannot be guaranteed
Onsite parties or group events are strictly prohibited
Host has indicated there is a carbon monoxide detector on the property
Host has indicated there is a smoke detector on the property
Safety features at this property include a fire extinguisher and a first aid kit

About the neighborhood

Pittsboro

Located in Pittsboro, this vacation home is on a river. Franklin Street and Carrboro Farmers Market are worth checking out if shopping is on the agenda, while those wishing to experience the area's natural beauty can explore University Lake and Jordan Lake State Recreation Area. Looking to enjoy an event or a game while in town? See what's happening at Kenan Stadium or Dean Smith Center. Kayaking and water tubing offer great chances to get out on the surrounding water, or you can seek out an adventure with hiking/biking trails and ecotours nearby.
View more Vacation Homes in PittsboroOpens in a new window
Map
Pittsboro, NC

What's nearby

  • Bynum Community Park - 3 min walk - 0.3 km
  • Cooper Mays Pottery - 9 min walk - 0.8 km
  • University of North Carolina - 24 min drive - 20.8 km
  • Duke University - 41 min drive - 47.4 km
  • North Carolina State University - 41 min drive - 58.1 km

Getting around

  • Raleigh-Durham International Airport (RDU) - 39 min drive

Restaurants

  • ‪McDonald's - ‬5 min drive
  • ‪West End Kitchen - ‬9 min drive
  • ‪The Beer Den - ‬5 min drive
  • ‪Bojangles' Famous Chicken 'n Biscuits - ‬4 min drive
  • ‪Hops & Berry Taproom - ‬4 min drive

Frequently asked questions

Is A Gem of a House by the River near Chapel Hill pet-friendly?

No, pets are not allowed at this property.

How much does it cost to stay at A Gem of a House by the River near Chapel Hill?

As of Apr 3, 2026, prices found for a 1-night stay for 2 adults at A Gem of a House by the River near Chapel Hill on Apr 12, 2026 start from $220, including taxes and fees. This price is based on the lowest nightly price found in the last 24 hours for stays in the next 30 days. Prices are subject to change. Choose your dates for more accurate prices.

How much is parking?

Onsite parking is available at the property.

What time is check-in at A Gem of a House by the River near Chapel Hill?

Check-in begins at 3:00 PM.

What time is check-out at A Gem of a House by the River near Chapel Hill?

Check-out is at 11:00 AM.

Where is A Gem of a House by the River near Chapel Hill located?

Situated on a river, this vacation home is within a 10-minute walk of Bynum Community Park and Cooper Mays Pottery. Park at Briar Chapel and Mary Hayes Barber Holmes Park are also within 6 mi (10 km).

Reviews

9.8

Exceptional

Reviews are presented in chronological order, subject to a moderation process, and verified unless otherwise labeled.
Learn moreOpens in a new window
Rating 10 - Excellent. 23 out of 26 reviews
Rating 8 - Good. 3 out of 26 reviews
Rating 6 - Okay. 0 out of 26 reviews
Rating 4 - Poor. 0 out of 26 reviews
Rating 2 - Terrible. 0 out of 26 reviews

9.6/10

Cleanliness

10/10

Check-in

9.8/10

Communication

9.8/10

Location

9.8/10

Listing accuracy

Reviews

Verified

10/10 Excellent

nancy r.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
I have stayed at this house several times and I love everything about it!
Stayed 2 nights in Nov 2025
Verified

10/10 Excellent

nancy r.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
We loved the house, it was perfect for our 2 night stay
Stayed 2 nights in Jun 2025
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Grey S.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Quaint quiet and perfect

Great location. Multiple open spaces and porches! The entire family enjoyed our stay. We’ll be back for Shakori and another stay.
Stayed 3 nights in May 2025
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Christopher B.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Awesome

Great place
Stayed 7 nights in Jul 2024
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Haley H.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Cute and quaint!

Great stay! Clean so cute. Close to event center yet far enough for the quiet….
Stayed 2 nights in Aug 2024
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Laura A.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Wedding in Pittsboro

This was a great place for our family to stay during the several day wedding celebration. It is a quaint and quiet neighborhood that is close to all the local activities. If in the area we would stay there again. Thanks to our hosts!
Stayed 5 nights in Oct 2024
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Lee T.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
This house felt like a warm hug. There are books and art throughout. The walk to the bridge was delightful in the evening. If you like to cook, this is the place to do it. My grandkids enjoyed baking cookies and brownies. I made a nice dinner for the whole family. The hummingbirds and deer make regular visits to the garden. I’m looking forward to coming back! Host, Anna, does a great job with communication.
Stayed 8 nights in Jul 2025
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Judith S.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Colorful comfortable house

We enjoyed all the bright color, art and plants in this home. We came to town for a wedding and enjoyed exploring around Bynum and Pittsboro as well as relaxing in the cozy house.
Stayed 2 nights in Sep 2023
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Kay H.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Amazing

the property was like visiting my grandparents. There was history everywhere and modern mixed in for a well balanced beautiful home.
Stayed 2 nights in May 2020
Verified

8/10 Good

Jan & Dick D.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, listing accuracy

Much nicer inside than outside

We are senior citizens and had trouble navigating outside due to the uneven "sidewalk" and yard. The inside is quite large and very nice.
Stayed 28 nights in Mar 2023
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Lane N.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Terrific location!

We stayed for thanksgiving. We decided to bring the family together for the holidays. Our daughter who lives in Chapel Hill has health issues and can’t travel so the Bynum house was a great location for our feast. We came from NH, NY and TN. The house was everything we were looking for. Bynum is a very cool little village. People were very friendly. Plenty of wildlife wandering thru the yard. Short walk down to the river. Super place!
Stayed 3 nights in Nov 2024
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Marvin D.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

A

A
Stayed 2 nights in Jun 2024
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Cali F.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Perfect quaint country home!

My family (there were 7 of us) stayed here while in town for a wedding. We loved the uniqueness of this home along with the surrounding area. We were thrilled to find the bridge and Haw River. We explored the trails along the river everyday. If you enjoy the outdoors/water I would highly recommend checking the area out while you stay! The home was pristine when we arrived and the kitchen/dining room was plenty big and had everything we needed. The three bedrooms were spacious with comfortable beds! The only notable things (I don’t want to say “complaint” because they are all personal preference things and not a deal breaker or real problem at all!!) about the property was the home only has 3 regular beds, the other was a fold down couch and a sofa which would be great for children or smaller adults but we were a tall group (all but one being 6’ or taller) so the fold down couch wasn’t functional for us. I would just suggest this is something to keep in mind if you have a larger group! The other thing is there is a window in the upstairs bathroom that is right next to and at the level of the toilet. Just felt very awkward but a small curtain would do the trick. Overall, we absolutely loved this stay and would highly recommend it to anyone looking for a place to stay in the area! We would 100% stay here again!
Stayed 3 nights in Oct 2023
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Cathie R.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

New grandbaby

Excellent enjoyed are stay , will be back next year .
Stayed 7 nights in Oct 2022
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Teresa R.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

What a gem in Bynum!

We had family members meeting from different parts of the country to clean out a family home. The property provided a wonderful space to relax after a hard days work. It was clean and inviting. The layout is wonderful for multiple families with lots of cozy spots to talk and a wonderful kitchen and dining area to share meals. The location is perfect - country living steps from everything you need.
Stayed 7 nights in Jul 2022
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Alexandra K.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Charming Bynum Retreat

Where to begin? First of all, Anna the host of this lovely home, has been a delight to work with. My family and I rented this house for half the week for my wedding, and from the beginning of conversation she has been so informative! Before even booking she was willing to tell me how close she was in relation to our venue and what was in the surrounding area, which was a tremendous help. Upon arrival, Anna provided a very in depth description of the ins and outs of the home, so when we arrived there were no questions. Once we entered the house it instantly felt like home! There were no details unthought of and there was so much charm all throughout!! We had a lovely time full of laughter, games and food! If you are staying in the area I highly recommend, nay insist that you stay with Anna!!!
Stayed 5 nights in Jun 2022
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Anne H.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

A super interesting location for relaxing!

Bynum is a very relaxing and quiet location. We really enjoyed hanging out on the back porch & back yard of this home! If you are lucky, it will rain while you are there, so you can enjoy its lovely music on the metal roof! Don't miss the short stroll to the Bynum Bridge over the Haw River. (We even saw a bald eagle fly overhead at sunset there!) There is a trail directly alongside the north side of the river that was a lovely & easy walk. Then go back to this home's bathroom floor mosaic to find the depictions of the river and bridges you saw! Really interesting space and decor, we thoroughly enjoyed our stay!
Stayed 4 nights in Jul 2021
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Martha C.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Bynum bliss

Love staying in this charming house. Very comfortable and had everything we needed. Very convenient to everything we were doing in the area. Highly recommend staying at this house.
Stayed 4 nights in May 2021
Verified

8/10 Good

James L.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Lots of character

Great house. Lots of character inside and out. Quirky fun neighborhood nice for walking. Owner response was quick. Would definitely return.
Stayed 5 nights in Apr 2021
Verified

10/10 Excellent

CHRISTINE G.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Charming cottage.warm welcoming host

Magical .
Stayed 7 nights in Apr 2021
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Kyle S.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Perfect

We rented this house in order to fish nearby Jordan Lake. We enjoyed our stay and could fit our truck and boat in the driveway. Peaceful stay, would recommend.
Stayed 6 nights in Mar 2021
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Morgan V.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

A very cute and comfy home

I loved this home because of the style and character. It is very beautifully decorated and has lots of plants and feels homey (which tends to be important to me). There was plenty of space for my group of 5 and everything was clean and well kept. We enjoyed the tv and lots of books. I came to the area for a college visit, so I liked how close it was to Chapel Hill and surrounding cities. Thank you for an amazing stay!
Stayed 2 nights in Feb 2021
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Teresa S.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Charming home

The home was charming very clean and comfortable. Enjoyed the Haw River!
Stayed 3 nights in Jul 2020
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Diane L.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Fantastic Stay!!

The property was clean, kitchen was well equipped, and plenty of space both inside and outside. The neighborhood was quiet and we even saw a deer in the yard a couple of times. We would stay here again.
Stayed 5 nights in Jun 2020
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Travis H.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Fantastic Stay

We really enjoyed our stay in this lovely house and had a fun time exploring the area. There were so many intentional touches that the owner has made that made our stay even more special.
Stayed 5 nights in May 2020

About the host

Hosted by Anna Blackshaw

Host profile image

What makes this property unique

Anna’s place is located in Bynum, North Carolina, United States.
For a tiny town, Bynum offers a multitude of attractions, from hiking trails along the Haw River to the world-famous artist Clyde Jones’ Critter House to the Bynum General Store, now a nonprofit that holds community art and music gatherings throughout the year. Fearrington Village and Pittsboro are only minutes away by car; organic food at the nearby co-op is only a seven-minute drive; and a dip in the river is literally a few hundred steps away from this magical house.

Walk along the colorful car-free Bynum Bridge; hike or ride your bikes along the trails; walk up to the Bynum General Store for gatherings; gas, major stores, good restaurants only minutes away by car
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