10 acres of PRIVACY with Awesome View, Hot Tub, Firepit

Shared the cabin with my brothers family with 10 total people, all ages 15 and up. The view from the front porch of the cabin was wonderful, especially just before sunrise. The high altitude provided cool evening breezes, even in late July. The Cataloochee Valley where the elk were brought in is just a 30 minute drive through the winding mountain road. We made several early morning and late evening trips to see them and even saw a young bear. The log cabin is beautiful with bed space for up to 12 people, but only two bathrooms. We had 4 teen to 22 year old boys share the loft. There is lots to see and do away from the hectic main park access of Cherokee or Gatlinburg. I would have given the cabin 5 stars, but there were a few negatives. I am a fairly light sleeper. The second story tongue and groove flooring is the ceiling, so without any insulation you hear every footstep at night from below. The living room furniture is somewhat worn but adequate with two couches and a chair, but no recliner. The AC was not real strong, but was not a major issue with open windows during the night, but did get a little warm in the loft during the day. There is no wifi, but cell service was pretty good for such a remote location, just make sure you have plenty of data to share. The long paved driveway going in is very steep with two hairpin turns. The walk up from the parking area is also steep, so this would not be a good place for someone with issues walking. We had no problems coming or going, but I guess this is the price you pay for an amazing view. This cabin is 25-30 minutes from town, so it is very peaceful and quiet, but if you want to eat out and spend a lot of time in town, be prepared for the drive. It was an hour to the main entrance of the park near Cherokee so we only spent one day there. We enjoyed the shorter drive to Cataloochee and the Big Creek area with fewer tourists. The kids loved the small hot tub and fire pit. The kitchen and dining room was really nice with seating for 8 at the table and two more at the large island. The upstairs king sized bed where my brother and his wife slept is a sleep number bed, so they were excited until they tried to adjust it and it did not work. All in all, we really enjoyed our stay and would go back again. The location was wonderful for what we like to do, view wildlife and hike in the Smokies. We would go back again.

This is a nice house in a good location. The driveway may be difficult for some, but we managed fine with a jeep and RAV4. If you have kids that stay up late I don't recommend letting them stay in the upstairs bedroom. You won't sleep well because you can hear everything downstairs because there is just a layer of wood between the first and second floors. Also in the living area there was s constant sprinkling of wood dust falling from the ceiling and making a little pile on the arm of the couch. We would wipe it off and it was not that big a deal.

That being said, the house itself was ok, but the first three days we endured without Hvac (needed repair and it was one of the hottest weeks), and tv (satellite was down). We arrived late Saturday and these things were fixed when we returned home Tuesday night. We spent over an hour on the phone with directv troubleshooting and the problem required a technician to come out. After that we were ready to get a refund and find another place to stay. Shelda asked us to give her a chance so we hung in there and she did get things fixed.

Flash forward, we got our deposit back but no other reimbursement for the three days without air conditioning and tv. We contacted Shelda and her response was that she had already dispensed the funds to the homeowner for that month and there would be no discount---but, when we came back she would give us a free night. Needless to say we are not coming back and don't plan on using Shelda, nor recommending her rentals if that is how she does business.

Hope this helps you in planning your vacation.

This property is out towards Cataloochee Valley, North Carolina. It's address says Waynesville, but it's actually more in Maggie Valley than Waynesville, off 276, exit 20 off I-40. The drive out to the house is fun, on curvy roads, and the driveway is a bit tricky, but we LOVE that it's way up and on 10 acres of land. We are about 20 minutes, give or take, from Maggie Valley, so to us, it's not too far out. Besides, we love to just hang out on the deck and cook at the house, because the VIEW is amazing!!! I've stayed here many many times now, and if the owners ever decided to sell it, I would try to buy it in a heart beat. It's really that perfect.

The kitchen is huge; lots of room for cooking with family and friends. The fire pit with hot tub make it a great place to just hang out and relax. We've heard the elk from the porch, and we've seen signs of bear there, too. It really is a place to get away from all the work/city/stresses of life.

Note: It really does sleep 10, but there are trundle beds, so for kids, you can add two more. Laundry facilities, dish washer, everything you need, except for paper products and soap. We usually bring in all our food, but you can head to Waynesville for groceries, or Maggie, but in Maggie it will cost you a bit more, and you won't find everything you may need. It is so close into the valley, you can beat the crowd and get a good spot to see the elk and hike.

Okay, so I have to say one thing negative. If you aren't in good shape, or have a hard time walking up hills, be aware that the walk from the driveway to the house can be a doozy, especially if you are bringing lots of things. My husband and I have no issues, but even for us, as avid hikers, we still are out of breath when done. We worked out that a cooler with wheels makes it easier.

I highly recommend this home to anyone. But please, take care of it, because I hope to own it one day. :)

We had a lovely time at this home. We have been renting from Shelda for years and have stayed in many of her log homes. Each one has it's own special characteristics. If you want privacy, this one is for you! Love it up in those mountains! Shelda and her team make everything special for you!