Eco-Cove Wildlife Sanctuary - an Elegant, Two Bedroom Mountain Vacation Home

Photo gallery for Eco-Cove Wildlife Sanctuary - an Elegant, Two Bedroom Mountain Vacation Home

A blue door with a small window and a welcome mat with a bird design.
A living room with a fireplace, a sofa, a chair, and a coffee table.
A dining area with a glass table, two chairs, and a view of the outdoors through large windows.
A kitchen with white cabinets, a blue countertop, a window with blue vases, and a wooden floor.
A porch with wicker rocking chairs and a glass table.

Reviews

10 out of 10
Exceptional

Highlights

  • Sledding nearby
    A rare find — snowy slopes for sledding are just minutes away.
2 bedrooms2+ bathroomsSleeps 4

Popular amenities

  • Hot tub on site
  • Onsite parking available
  • Kitchen
  • Air-conditioning
  • Balcony or patio
  • Refrigerator

Explore the area

View in a map
Marion, NC
  • Place, Historic Carson House
    ‪5 min drive‬
  • Place, Marion Greenway Trailhead
    ‪9 min drive‬
  • Place, Lake James
    ‪14 min drive‬
  • Airport, Asheville, NC (AVL-Asheville Regional)
    ‪52 min drive‬

Rooms & beds

2 bedrooms (sleeps 4)

Bedroom 1

1 King Bed

Bedroom 2

1 Queen Bed

Den

2 Single Beds

2 bathrooms, 1 half bathroom

Bathroom 1

Toilet · Shower only · Jetted bathtub

Bathroom 2

Bathtub or shower · Toilet

Den bath off entry

Spaces

Deck or patio
Porch or lanai
Kitchen
Garden
Dining area

About this property

Eco-Cove Wildlife Sanctuary - an Elegant, Two Bedroom Mountain Vacation Home

Eco Cove House is located on 117 acres, a National Wildlife Certified Wildlife Habitat, 7 miles between Marion and Old Fort, and 30 minutes from Asheville, NC. It is a private home in a romantic natural setting. An acre pond with koi, gardens, forests, and meadows form the ambiance you'll enjoy for a relaxing vacation. The home has a large living room, formal dining room, amenity-filled kitchen, a den with daybed and breakfast nook, 2 bedrooms, 2 & 1/2 baths and a 50' porch porch with rockers, tables, 2 chairs and a glider. A creek gurgles nearby.
This entire home is available for your vacation in Western North Carolina. The open floor plan unites the large living room, formal dining room, kitchen, breakfast nook and den (which has a trundle day bed available for up to 2 children at additional charge of $20.00 per child per day). The kitchen is fully stocked with cookware, implements, dishes, dishwasher, stove and oven, full refrigerator, a microwave, toaster oven, toaster, and regular coffee maker.
The King Master bedroom includes an ensuite bathroom with a shower, double sink, and hot tub (included in weekly rentals, but less than a week requires an additional $150.00 energy/water/sanitation fee for filling, draining and sanitizing.) The second bedroom offers a Queen bed with a full bathroom (bathtub/shower) across the hall.
Two rockers, a table, a glider, a bistro table and 2 chairs, and a lounge on our 50 foot long front porch offer a relaxing place where the sound of the nearby creek lulls our guests--a favorite place for many! Adults and children alike delight in lightning bugs on the yard beyond. Maintaining the colorful gardens on the property are my joy! A bench at the pond and dock where we feed our koi add delight to your experience.
Guests have the entire home for their use. We greet guests, unless previously arranged for a late arrival. Children must be accompanied on the property at all times by an adult.The house is 1500 square feet, all on one level with no stairs or steps. Parking is private, accommodating up to two cars.
An acre pond is on our property, with our pet koi that love to be fed! We are happy to give you fish food. Use of the pond for swimming or any day visitors beyond registered guests must be approved by the owners in advance.

NO PETS, SMOKING, OR TOBACCO PRODUCTS ARE ALLOWED.

Our home is on the property, not visible from the rental house. We are happy to accommodate your requests if possible, with any needs or local knowledge advice. Our goal is to make this the best stay you have ever had!

We built a 75 foot schooner in California, sailed it to the Caribbean, and chartered for up to 6 guests for a week at a time in the Virgin Islands for 14 years. During that time, we also built a 3 bedroom, 3 story villa with a pool and hot tub overlooking Hull Bay, St. Thomas. It was also offered for weekly rentals. So we have been in the business, so to speak, for over 30 years. We love people and are happy to share our stories if guests are interested, but otherwise completely respect your privacy.

I block time after each rental to ensure a through, safe cleaning, often mentioned in reviews from our guests. Your health and ours are of supreme importance to us.

There is satellite TV, DVD, VCR and a collection of movies onsite. In this rural mountain area, we have not been able to gain internet installation at the house, although guests with their own hotspots have been able to access service.
McDowell County's Lake James, multiple hiking trails, caves, waterfalls, forestland, gem mining, mountain bike races, and beauty draws hikers and nature lovers here. Wildlife, waterfowl, and songbirds delight our visitors.
Our private home offers the luxury of comfort and beauty, as well as proximity to other North Carolina mountain towns! Groceries, restaurants, breweries, wineries, bars, tennis courts, and golfing are available in Marion and Old Fort, each are 7 minutes away. We live on a state maintained road only 1/2 mile from 70 highway. I contact our guests with directions and other information before arrival, and welcome your questions. We hope you will join us at Eco Cove.

Keywords: House, Forest, Tranquility, Mountain home, hiking, pond, parking, nearby lake
Our prices include all fees. No hidden fees.

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House Rules

Check in after 1:00 PM
Check out before 1:00 PM
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Children

Children allowed: ages 0–17
Any more than 4 people are an extra charge.
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Events

No events allowed
Only with previous permission of owner
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Pets

No pets allowed
Non-negotiable, sorry.
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Smoking

Smoking is not permitted
No tobacco products anywhere on the property.
Children must be accompanied by an adult at all times on the property.

Important information

You need to know

Property Registration Number 98956
Property # 98956vb
This property is managed by a private host (a party not acting within their trade, business or profession). EU consumer law, including the right of withdrawal, will not apply to your booking. The cancellation policy set by the private host will cover your booking.
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
On-site parties or group events are strictly prohibited
Note from host: Only with previous permission of owner
Host has indicated that there is a carbon monoxide detector on the property
Host has indicated that there is a smoke detector on the property
Safety features at this property include a fire extinguisher, a first aid kit and a deadlock
This property has outdoor spaces, such as balconies, patios and terraces, which may not be suitable for children; if you have any concerns, we recommend contacting the property prior to your arrival to confirm that they can accommodate you in a suitable room

About the area

Marion

Located in Marion, this holiday home is in a rural area. Historic Carson House and Old Fort Railroad Museum are cultural highlights, and some of the area's landmarks include Arrowhead Monument and Davidson's Fort Historic Park. Ten Thousand Villages and Emerald Village are also worth visiting. Enjoy the area's slopes with cross-country skiing, snowboarding and skiing, and don't miss out on the sledging.
Map
Marion, NC

What's nearby

  • Historic Carson House - 5 min drive - 4.7 km
  • Marion Greenway Trailhead - 9 min drive - 8.1 km
  • McDowell County Courthouse - 12 min drive - 12.4 km
  • McDowell County Public Library - 12 min drive - 12.4 km
  • Lake James - 14 min drive - 14.7 km

Getting around

  • Asheville Regional Airport (AVL) - 50 min drive

Restaurants

  • ‪McDonald's - ‬12 min drive
  • ‪Starbucks - ‬14 min drive
  • ‪Sonic Drive-In - ‬9 min drive
  • ‪Hardee's - ‬10 min drive
  • ‪McDonald's - ‬8 min drive

Frequently asked questions

Is Eco-Cove Wildlife Sanctuary - an Elegant, Two Bedroom Mountain Vacation Home pet-friendly?

No, pets are not allowed at this property.

How much does it cost to stay at Eco-Cove Wildlife Sanctuary - an Elegant, Two Bedroom Mountain Vacation Home?

As of 20 Aug 2026, prices found for a 1-night stay for 2 adults at Eco-Cove Wildlife Sanctuary - an Elegant, Two Bedroom Mountain Vacation Home on 20 Dec 2026 start from £492, 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 at Eco-Cove Wildlife Sanctuary - an Elegant, Two Bedroom Mountain Vacation Home?

On-site parking is available at the property.

What time is check-in at Eco-Cove Wildlife Sanctuary - an Elegant, Two Bedroom Mountain Vacation Home?

Check-in begins at 1:00 PM.

What time is check-out at Eco-Cove Wildlife Sanctuary - an Elegant, Two Bedroom Mountain Vacation Home?

Checkout is at 1:00 PM.

Where is Eco-Cove Wildlife Sanctuary - an Elegant, Two Bedroom Mountain Vacation Home located?

Situated in a rural location, this holiday home is 2.1 mi (3.4 km) from Pisgah National Forest and 2.9 mi (4.7 km) from Historic Carson House. Catawba River and Marion Greenway Trailhead are also within 6 miles (10 km).

About the host

Hosted by Gabrielle Thompson

Host profile image
We built a 75' schooner in California and took guests for a week's sail throughout the Virgin Islands for 14 years. We decided to move to the mountains of North Carolina in 1991. We found our property at the end of the road next to the national park, and set about putting in an acre pond, a 35' pavilion, and many gardens. We have created a paradise that we adore. We wanted to share our beautiful location with guests, which we do with Eco Cove House.
Now that we are retired, we love to travel the world, but are always glad to come home to the prettiest place we know.

Why they chose this property

We love the natural beauty and tranquility of Eco Cove. It is secluded, yet only 1/2 mile from 70 Highway. As we are adjacent to the Pisgah National Forest and our property is mostly woods, meadows and ponds, we have an abundance of wildlife and bird varieties that visit. It is peaceful, and romantic.

What makes this property unique

The serenity and amazing variety of trees drew us here, yet the nearness to all of the myriad of activities that our mountains offer year round was another important aspect of our affection for Eco Cove. We lived in Black Mountain when we first moved here, but wanted the serenity of space and found it 20 minutes away. Asheville is our favorite city in the South. It brought us here after we left St. Thomas, the American Paradise. We established our own paradise in our cove.

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English
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