Cabin

Hidden Gem in the Smokies - Awenasa

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Hidden Gem in the Smokies - Awenasa
Your cozy cabin awaits!
Day or night, every season
Beautiful views from the side deck and the open back deck!
Breathtaking views of summer
Reviews
10

Exceptional

3 bedrooms2 bathroomsSleeps 6195 sq m

Popular amenities

  • Hot tubHot tubHot tub
  • FireplaceFireplaceFireplace
  • WasherWasherWasher
  • DryerDryerDryer
  • Free WiFiFree WiFiFree WiFi
  • KitchenKitchenKitchen

Check out the area

Map
Franklin, NC
  • Popular LocationMill Creek Country Club9 min drive
  • Popular LocationSmoky Mountain Center for the Performing Arts12 min drive
  • Popular LocationMason's Ruby and Sapphire Mine42 min drive
  • AirportAsheville, NC (AVL-Asheville Regional)85 min drive

Most relevant reviews

Rooms & beds

3 bedrooms (sleeps 6)

Downstairs Master

Loft

Upstairs Master

2 bathrooms

Downstairs Bath

Soap · Towels provided · Toilet · Shower only · Shampoo · Hair dryer

Upstairs Bath

Soap · Towels provided · Toilet · Shower only · Shampoo · Hair dryer

Spaces

Deck or patio
Porch or lanai
Kitchen
Dining Area

About this property

Hidden Gem in the Smokies - Awenasa

Welcome to our beautiful mountain cabin! Awenasa is Cherokee for “Our Home.” We hope you love it as much as we do! You'll be amazed by the layered mountain views of Nantahala National Forest in the Great Smoky Mountains. Our cabin sits at 3,000 feet and enjoys cool evening mountain breezes and wonderful peace and quiet. After a busy day of exploring and adventure, take in a beautiful mountain sunset and a sky full of stars. Experience why Awenasa will become your favorite place for a relaxing escape! Our cabin is considered Platinum level for executive travel.

The space
Enjoy our three-level, custom-built mountain cabin. Every space has been designed in unique and wonderful ways, to maximize its use! Details like vaulted metal ceilings, amazing custom lighting, audio speakers in virtually every room, fully stocked kitchen. And then the amazing outdoor areas, with the wrap around deck equipped with four steam bent rocking chairs, table and chairs with umbrella shade, and that amazing 5-person hot tub. With the 4-burner grill and the rustic fire pit - you'll find you have it all at Awenasa!

Guest access
Full access to the house, except for 3 storage closets.

Interaction with guests
We live in Franklin and will be available to take care of any questions or issues that may come up. We are also personally available by phone, text, or email. Lisa and I manage the property. Although we love meeting and getting to know our guests, we respect your privacy and can be invisible if you choose.

Other things to note
Our property directly borders Nantahala National Forest so you will enjoy breathtaking, unspoiled mountain and forest views! Great for bird watching and sightings of wild turkey, deer, fox, and even the occasional black bear, bobcat, and bald eagle. Also, to our east, you will view farmland and century-old barns, even a winding creek in the valley below. The best of both peaceful worlds - valleys and mountain forest!

The neighborhood
Awenasa is located in Franklin, North Carolina, United States.
Our mountain community consists of homes set on an acre or more. Ours is a three-acre lot, so you will have peace and privacy during your stay! Virtually zero road noise, no power lines to interrupt the breathtaking views, completely isolated from other homes, easily accessible on paved roads, and offers such a remote feeling though within easy access to the city of Franklin.

Getting around
Unlike many neighborhoods located outside of Franklin, access to all of the homes in our neighborhood is via paved roads and does not require a 4-wheel drive vehicle. Even with access to highways very close by at only 2.5 miles, from the cabin you will hear virtually no road noise. Such a quiet, private location but still so close to everything you might want or need: Downtown Franklin, Walmart, and the wonderful new Ingles Market grocery store (on Georgia Rd) are all within 7-8 miles.

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8 Reviews during prior Property Management:
Wonderful 4.9/5

A treasure in the mountains
5/5
Stayed Jul 2018
Patricia H.
This home was beautiful, with outstanding amenities and charm. The hot tub and views were amazing. We were sorry we had to leave. A great private getaway.
Submitted Jul 28, 2018

All the comforts!
5/5
Stayed Jul 2018
Gordon D.Grand Rapids
First time up the mountain is a bit of a white-knuckle experience, after that, no problem.
Worth the climb!
Views are amazing. There are 7 areas inside and out where you can relax, play cards, read, or socialize. This custom home has all of the little things that make a vacation great:
A generous welcome basket.
Comfortable beds.
High-end kitchen lacking nothing.
Top of the line Hot Tub with amazing jets and lighting.
Great entertainment and Music.
Great for 2 couples. Highly recommended.
Submitted Jul 19, 2018

Beautiful home, outstanding view! Highly recommend!
5/5
Stayed Jun 2018
Krista D.Chippewa Falls, WI

This place exceeded our expectations. We would definitely recommend it to family and friends. Very clean, well stocked, beautiful area.
Submitted Jun 14, 2018


Gorgeous Mountain Home with All the Amenities You Need!
5/5
Stayed Mar 2018
Christina H.

We were in love with this beautiful home just based on the pictures - trust us, the pictures do not do any justice to the beauty of the home. First of all, I was so impressed with the ingenious use of space both inside and outside. The entire home is beautifully designed and no space is wasted. The kitchen has everything you need to cook nice meals if you decide to eat in. There are two sitting rooms, a bedroom/full bath both upstairs and downstairs and the cutest loft with two twin beds. The best part is the outside - a porch with four rockers and the most incredible view, a patio with a dining table and grill, a fire pit and an amazing hot tub. We enjoyed every moment we were there and we will definitely be back.

Until we visited Franklin, we had no idea what a great little town it is. There are quite a few incredible restaurants (our favorites were Root & Barrel and Rizzo's Bakery & Bistro), many wonderful places to hike and sightsee, and nice shops to visit. The locals are so accommodating and friendly.

We are so grateful for a wonderful time of rest and relaxation in Franklin, NC!
Submitted Apr 10, 2018

Idyllic location for a quiet getaway and base to discover the area
5/5
Stayed Mar 2018
Hannah M.

We stayed at this house for a week of Spring Break. Such a beautiful cozy home with everything one needs and caring, personal touches. It was perfect for our 7-year-old boy, who especially loved roasting marshmallows on the fire and enjoying the hot tub after our hikes. Great location to explore many waterfalls and trails for day trips and only 15 mins to Franklin for any needs. On our days ‘at home’ we got in some good walking just going around the Garden Flats loop! Perfect vacation spot whether you want to be active or just relax and enjoy the stunning view from the deck or hot tub!
Submitted Apr 1, 2018


Perfect place to get away from it all!!
5/5
Stayed Dec 2017
DT- P.

Wow!! What a place! My husband and I spent Christmas here. If I could I would give it a 10. The house is absolutely beautiful, charmingly decorated, and well-stocked. We appreciated the welcoming package and all the little things around the house to make our visit more comfortable. I had no questions as to how anything works thanks to their detailed instructions. The drive was steep but manageable I just kept my eyes closed :) while my husband enjoyed the climb. The view was breathtaking and completely worth the drive. The house is very private and secluded. If you want to disconnect from everything and connect to nature this is the place. One of the best parts of the house is to waking up to the beautiful view of the mountains in the upstairs bedroom. The bed is comfortable and the fireplace in the bedroom makes it super cozy and romantic.❤ The second best thing about the house is the heavenly hot tub!! We couldn't get enough of it. Best hot tub ever!! The style and light made it very relaxing. We couldn't ask for more!! The only negative thing about this place is we didn't want to leave! Highly recommended! Thank you!!
Submitted Dec 30, 2017


Excellent
5/5
Stayed Oct 2017
Holly G.

Excellent stay. All things were thought out. Every need was met. The person/people responsible for furnishing the stay were very considerate. We would love to return every year.
Submitted Oct 31, 2017


Beautiful house with an amazing view
5/5
Stayed Oct 2017
Charles W.Lynn Haven, FL

The house is very nicely furnished and great for 1 or 2 couples. The views from the den and decks are of the valley and surrounding amazing. Highly recommend it.
Submitted Oct 28, 2017

Property manager

Todd & Lisa Wilson
Premier Host
Premier Host

Amenities

Hot tub
Kitchen
Washer
Dryer
Free WiFi
Air conditioning

House Rules

Check in after 3:00 PM
Minimum age to rent: 25
Check out before 11:00 AM

Children

Children allowed: ages 0-17

Events

No events allowed

Pets

No pets allowed

Smoking

Smoking is not permitted
Maximum 6 guests - NO EXCEPTIONS. List of Guest Names Required. Not safe or suitable for children (0-12 years) No smoking No pets No parties or events
Person making reservation is responsible for all guests. Violation of the rules will create add'l fees or termination of stay/ forfeiture of $'s pd.
Kids must be supervised due to steep terrain. Hot tub rules must be followed-Guests assume all risks. Speed Limit=15mph

Damage and incidentals

You will be responsible for any damage to the rental property caused by you or your party during your stay.

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, a first aid kit, and a deadbolt lock

We should mention

This property does not have elevators
A car is required for transportation to and from this property

About the area

Franklin

Located in Franklin, this cabin is in the mountains. Smoky Mountain Center for the Performing Arts and Franklin Gem and Mineral Museum are cultural highlights, and travelers looking to shop may want to visit Whistle Stop Mall and Mason Mountain Mine. Ruby City Gems & Minerals and Bryson City Gem Mine are also worth visiting. Discover the area's water adventures with rafting and fishing nearby, or enjoy the great outdoors with hiking and mountain biking.
Map
Franklin, NC

What's nearby

  • Mill Creek Country Club - 9 min drive
  • Smoky Mountain Center for the Performing Arts - 12 min drive
  • Nantahala River - 18 min drive
  • Rose Creek Mine - 22 min drive
  • Mason's Ruby and Sapphire Mine - 42 min drive

Getting around

  • Asheville Regional Airport (AVL) - 86 min drive

Restaurants

  • McDonald's - 12 min drive
  • Sonic Drive-In - 12 min drive
  • Fat Buddies Ribs & BBQ - 11 min drive
  • Burger King - 10 min drive
  • Las Barricas - 14 min drive

Reviews

10

Exceptional

Reviews are presented in chronological order, subject to a moderation process, and verified unless otherwise labelled.
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Rating 10 - Excellent. 67 out of 67 reviews" "
Rating 8 - Good. 0 out of 67 reviews" "
Rating 6 - Okay. 0 out of 67 reviews" "
Rating 4 - Poor. 0 out of 67 reviews" "
Rating 2 - Terrible. 0 out of 67 reviews" "

10/10

Cleanliness

10/10

Check-in

10/10

Communication

10/10

Location

10/10

Listing accuracy

Reviews

10/10 Excellent

Tanya H.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
INCREDIBLE AWENASA
Awenasa is outstanding in every way, with an exceptional view of the mountains and valley, and an amazing cabin. We decided to celebrate our 50th anniversary here. There is no place we could have loved more for the beauty of nature, the serenity, the charm of the cabin, and the hospitality, than Awenasa. Bill's favorite indoor areas were the upstairs bedroom and cozy sitting room with mountain views, and a shared fireplace. I found every square inch of the cabin and property delightfully fulfilling my every wish. There are four areas outside for enjoying this paradise, plus an extra gem of a wee chalet with its own view, TV, hammocks and comfy chairs. We especially loved the covered deck for reading, a cup of coffee, and of course the mountains. During a spring rain it is a lovely place to sip coffee. Todd and Lisa are such gracious and enjoyable hosts, wanting your stay to be wonderful. They have thought of everything needed and more to achieve that goal. After two weeks in paradise, it was very difficult to leave. Five stars is not nearly enough for Awenasa. Bill & Tanya Hager
Stayed 14 nights in Apr 2024

10/10 Excellent

Ashley B.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Wonderful piece of paradise in the mountains!
I can’t say enough wonderful things about this beautiful cabin. The owners are an absolute gem and play a huge part in making the stay so wonderful, comfortable and memorable. We stayed with our 4 children and fun and comfort was had by all. The views are absolutely spectacular - the best we’ve had. The cleanliness and “amenities” were so wonderful. We can’t wait to come stay again.
Stayed 4 nights in Mar 2024

10/10 Excellent

Michael N., Wellington, FL

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Fantastic Mountain Getaway
We have been taking a Thankgiving vacation to the mountains for the last 5 years and this was far and away our favorite place! Location was great, cabin was clean and well equipped (including plenty of firewood). There is also a "bonus cabin" on the property that was perfect if you wanted to get some peace from your peace. :) Todd and Lisa were wonderful hosts and very attentive. They also keep the cleanest hot tub anywhere! Highly recommend!
Stayed 6 nights in Nov 2023

10/10 Excellent

mike g., Ormond Beach, Florida

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Picture perfect inside and out!
The home was spotless inside and out. A lot of thought went into all the big and small details being taken care of. You can’t find a better view anywhere in the vicinity that would be as awesome for a vacation. A paved road up the mountain to the top was an added bonus for us as Florida flat land drivers. Comfortable bedding helped provide a good nights sleep. Bathrooms were well supplied with both towels and beach towels for the jacuzzi. Coffee upstairs and downstairs for convenience. Todd and Lisa are great host that love sharing this awesome home with others. We thoroughly enjoyed our stay and look forward to returning in the future!
Stayed 7 nights in Jul 2023

10/10 Excellent

Kelly D.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Amazing mountain views, especially from the hot tub
Even more stunning in person. This is a lovely home with beautiful mountain views. It had everything we could have asked for including comfortable beds, great showers, a 5-person hot tub, and complete privacy. (A fully stocked grocery store was within 15 minutes.) It was also very clean and organized; helping us settle in very quickly. Attentive owners were very pleasant and helpful. We enjoyed many nearby hikes and waterfalls. Tip: ATT phones only had 1 bar of service. We bought a Verizon SIM card at Walmart to use as a hot spot.
Stayed 7 nights in Jun 2023

About the host

Hosted by Todd & Lisa Wilson

Host profile image
We were both born and raised in Oklahoma. Lisa is a retired Medical Technologist and Todd, after 20 years of designing golf courses, is the CFO for an oil and gas company in NE Oklahoma. We live in Franklin and manage/clean the property ourselves. It is our goal to provide the very best experience for those who visit our property! We've made many new friendships with our guests and have over 60% of our stays coming from return guests.

Why they chose this property

We searched all across western NC and fell in love with this property because of its incredible views, the custom architectural details, and close proximity to Franklin. The property location is ideal because of its easy access via paved roads, leading to a place that offers unequaled peace and privacy. It's part of a small residential development laid out to provide upscale homes with 1-5 acre lots. Our well-appointed custom-built cabin is situated almost at the top of the mountain and enjoys almost 180-degree unobstructed views of beautiful layered mountains! The house includes many interesting architectural details such as high metal ceilings upstairs and in the kitchen, and cedar-trimmed walls and ceilings throughout. It offers a variety of uniquely decorative and dimmable lighting both inside and out - including candle-lit windows at each end of the cabin - so romantic at night! For enjoying one's favorite music, use your phone's Bluetooth and music app to connect to the audio speakers located in virtually every room and outside deck. There's a large master shower with a built-in ceramic bench seat, two cute & cozy twin bed cubbies in the loft (with its own pirate chest), and so many other amazing features!

What makes this property unique

Awenasa offers some of the best views in the Great Smoky Mountains! And the house has many special features not expected from a vacation rental. Guests will experience a sense of peace, quiet, and privacy as they enjoy amazing views of the pristine mountains of Nantahala Forest and adjacent valleys. Although wonderfully isolated, the cabin has easy access to the highway and countless things to do within an hour's drive. The house was built to take advantage of the views from virtually every room, as well as from the outside covered side deck and the open-air back and shed decks. There's a beautiful and modern 5-person hot tub awaiting guests after a fun day of hiking, rafting, shopping, or other activities. Prepare your favorite meal in a fully stocked kitchen, on a large outdoor grill, or roast hot dogs and s'mores over the native stone fire pit. We strive to anticipate our guests' every need and we look forward to your visit to Awenasa!

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