Trough Creek Laurel Lodge - Sleeps 20

This lodge housed our family of 3 adult siblings and spouses along with 10 adult nieces and nephews with plenty of room for all. Having a full bath on each of the 3 levels was great. The kitchen was fully equipped - we even used the crock pot! Refrigerator held all of our foods - although we did, as recommended by the owners, put drinks in coolers out on the porch. The porch is equipped with plenty of comfortable chairs, rockers and even a swing and turned out to be a great family gathering spot. The indoor furnishings are great too - huge dining table with comfy chairs was perfect for meals and card games. Loads of pillows - remember to bring your own linens (the washer and dryer work well so that's a plus) and bring your own firewood BUT there is plenty of wood in the forest surrounding the house so if you bring an axe and someone to chop - you'll be able to stock the campfire. Proximity to Trough Creek State Park is about 5 minutes so a family hike along the Rhodedendron Trail was a must - the trail crosses a suspension bridge, hugs a wall of rocks overlooking the creek to a waterfall. From the waterfall, you can ascend stone steps to Balanced Rock - beautiful. We had so many in our group that some fellow hikers asked if we were on a bus trip! The owners were courteous and so helpful answering some of our pre-trip questions - this is the 14th year we've done this reunion but the first time at this property - we give this all thumbs up and hope to be back next year.

We loved our stay this weekend. Very comfortable and roomy. It was nice to get away for a weekend and unplug. The kids enjoyed the pool table, ping pong, and fuse ball tables. We are going to try and make this an every year tradition.

It is a beautiful house and well maintained, the kitchen as everything you could need for a week or weekend in the woods. All the rooms were comfortable and the large great room with the large fireplace made for a wonderful place to gather. A large table for everyone to sit around made meal time a "family" like experience. The outside fire pit was large with plenty of chairs to sit around and roast marshmallows or just sit and talk around the fire. There is plenty of hiking and finding our way to the top of the mountain where there is a cross overlooking the lake was a special walk in the woods. Two different areas for playing with pool, ping pong and foosball allows for plenty of activities at night and on rainy days. This is just a great location and house for a family reunion or a small group retreat. Thanks for opening up your house, we look forward to making this an annual event.

Our daughters are scattered and with miles between us all, and their growing families it's hard to get together. My husband and I decided this year our Christmas gift would be a weekend in a cabin and time spent with each other. We couldn't have asked for better accommodations! The 16 of us fit perfectly and plenty to do, even when it was cold and rainy. We're definitely booking again!!

The house was fantastic for our group. We could all sit around the large table, there was a great fireplace, the kitchen was a good size and was well stocked, the pool and ping pong tables were lots of fun, and the beds nice and comfortable! Susan and Judd were very helpful with a few small issues we had and seemed very nice over the phone. We really enjoyed our time here and would definitely go back!