Cabin

Hippopatumus Haven

Waterfront cabin with kitchen and balcony

Photo gallery for Hippopatumus Haven

The views, and the snuggling, are even better in the winter.*
Exterior
Exterior
Thomas Kinkade  took this picture.  (not really)
A local artist carved our door

Reviews

9.6 out of 10
Exceptional
2 bedrooms2+ bathroomsSleeps 8

Popular amenities

  • Parking available
  • Dryer
  • Washer
  • Fireplace

Explore the area

View in a map
Blue Ridge, GA
  • Place, Ocoee River
    ‪1 min walk‬
  • Place, The Lilly Pad Village
    ‪2 min drive‬
  • Place, Blue Ridge Scenic Railway
    ‪12 min drive‬

Rooms & beds

2 bedrooms (sleeps 8)

Bunk Room

1 Single Bunk Bed and 1 Double Bed

Master Suite

1 King Bed

2 bathrooms, 1 half bathroom

Downstairs Bath

Toilet · Shower only

Main Level

Bathtub · Toilet

Master Bath

Toilet · Shower only

Spaces

Deck or patio
Kitchen
Balcony
Outdoor play area
Dining area

About this property

Hippopatumus Haven

This cabin was built with luxury, entertainment, and romance in mind, but since it's right on the best stretch of river in Fannin County, the Hippopotamuses have taken over. Still, you can cozy up with someone special in front of the hand-cut stone fireplace in our spacious great room. Enjoy a king-size master bedroom suite with a quaint personal balcony overlooking the Toccoa River.

Entertaining is easy in our fully equipped kitchen, including a gas range, microwave, coffee grinder, custom countertops, walk-in pantry, separate wet bar and bar-fridge, and complete sets of cookware and cutlery. Gather around the Kitchen Island while preparing dinner, or around the tv and fireplace in the connected great room, or around the full-size shuffleboard in the loft. Dine inside or out using either of our 8-person dinner tables.

The large private hot tub is perched on the hillside, overlooking the river. The kids will enjoy counting the hippopotami hiding throughout the cabin, or perhaps the shuffleboard and dartboard. Overstuffed chairs throughout the cabin allow for relaxation and reading.

Cook s’mores in our large dug-out fire pit steps away from the Toccoa River, or ribs on our charcoal grill. Enjoy great fishing and the best stretch of inner tubing around ends at our private sandy beach. (The hippos keep all the crocodiles away!)

On top of all that, we have wireless Internet and all the other amenities from home: satellite television, fresh linens, gas-assisted wood fireplace, washer and dryer, shag carpet on the bottom level, etc.

If you need more room, ask me about my Father’s cabin next door!


Keywords: Custom, hippopotamuses, Luxurious, Retreat, Resort, Dwelling, Aska, Aska Adventure Area

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Amenities

Kitchen
Washing machine
Dryer
Pet-friendly
Free WiFi
Air conditioning

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House Rules

Check in after 4:00 PM
Minimum age to rent: 21
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

Pets allowed
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Smoking

Smoking is not permitted

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
On-site parties or group events are strictly prohibited
Host has not indicated whether there is a carbon monoxide detector on the property; consider bringing a portable detector with you on the trip
Host has indicated that there is a smoke detector on the property
Safety features at this property include a fire extinguisher 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

We should mention

A car is recommended for transport to and from this property

About the area

Blue Ridge

Located in Blue Ridge, this cabin is in the city centre and on the waterfront. Blue Ridge Scenic Railway and Toccoa River Swinging Bridge are local landmarks, and some of the area's activities can be experienced at Blue Ridge Lake Marina and Mercier Orchards. Travelling with kids? Consider The Lilly Pad Village and Upper River Adventures. Discover the area's water adventures with kayaking and water tubing nearby, or enjoy the great outdoors with horse riding and hiking/biking trails.
Map
Blue Ridge, GA

What's nearby

  • Ocoee River - 1 min walk - 0.1 km
  • The Lilly Pad Village - 2 min drive - 2.1 km
  • Blue Ridge Lake - 3 min drive - 2.1 km
  • Blue Ridge Scenic Railway - 12 min drive - 15.0 km
  • Mercier Orchards - 14 min drive - 17.7 km

Getting around

  • Chattanooga, TN (CHA-Chattanooga Metropolitan) - 107 min drive

Restaurants

  • ‪The Trailer Drive In - ‬12 min drive
  • ‪Dillion Ash Resturant - ‬13 min drive
  • ‪Mountain Mama's Coffee Lounge - ‬12 min drive
  • ‪Southern Charm Restaurant - ‬12 min drive
  • ‪Fightingtown Tavern - ‬12 min drive

Frequently asked questions

Is Hippopatumus Haven pet-friendly?

Yes, pets are allowed at this property. Some restrictions may apply, so please contact the property for more details.

How much is parking at Hippopatumus Haven?

On-site parking is available at the property.

What time is check-in at Hippopatumus Haven?

Check-in begins at 4:00 PM.

What time is check-out at Hippopatumus Haven?

Checkout is at 11:00 AM.

Where is Hippopatumus Haven located?

This family-friendly Blue Ridge cabin is located on the waterfront, just steps away from Chattahoochee National Forest and Ocoee River. The Lilly Pad Village and Blue Ridge Lake are also within 2 miles (3 km).

Reviews

9.6

Exceptional

9.2/10

Cleanliness

10/10

Staff & service

10/10

Amenities

10/10

Property conditions & facilities

10/10

Check-in

10/10

Communication

9.8/10

Location

9.6/10

Listing accuracy
Rating 10 - Excellent. 136 out of 168 reviews
Rating 8 - Good. 21 out of 168 reviews
Rating 6 - Okay. 8 out of 168 reviews
Rating 4 - Poor. 3 out of 168 reviews
Rating 2 - Terrible. 0 out of 168 reviews

Reviews

10/10 Excellent

jamie g.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
It was a great and comfortable stay! Lots of stairs but worth it with the beautiful view of the river!
Stayed 6 nights in Oct 2025

10/10 Excellent

Adam C.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
This is exactly what we needed!! Such a beautiful place, and the river was so relaxing with the camp fire and fishing!
Stayed 4 nights in Sep 2025

10/10 Excellent

Ryan P.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Our stay at the cabin was great. The location was perfect next to the river and close to several hiking trails. The kitchen had everything we needed for making meals. We really enjoyed our visit and hope to come back soon.
Stayed 3 nights in Aug 2025

10/10 Excellent

Veronica A.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Amazing location. Cabin was clean and we had Zero complaints! Highly recommend.
Stayed 2 nights in Jul 2025

8/10 Good

Brittany R.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Wonderful location- you can hear the river which is super relaxing! Great primary shower. Lots of stairs. Host was very responsive.
Stayed 3 nights in Aug 2025

10/10 Excellent

Haley S.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
We enjoyed our stay — the cabin is comfortable and clean. We especially liked all the decks overlooking the river.
Stayed 3 nights in Jun 2025

10/10 Excellent

Chris E.

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

Great place to relax with the family

The cabin and location were beyond our expectations. The host was very responsive to our needs. Can’t wait to go back!
Stayed 2 nights in Jun 2025

10/10 Excellent

Chris C.

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

Fun with the Hippos

great place would stay here again
Stayed 2 nights in Dec 2024

10/10 Excellent

Stephen S.

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

Great place

Great place and very relaxing stay. We all enjoyed it tremendously. Awesome hosts!
Stayed 2 nights in Nov 2024

10/10 Excellent

gabbie

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

Beautiful Home & Great Location

This was an amazing stay and the host was very responsive to all of our questions, we would definitely book here again when it is warmer to have a chance to swim. The house and river were absolutely breathtaking!
Stayed 3 nights in Feb 2025

10/10 Excellent

Merri C.

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

Relaxing in the Mountains

We came up for a quick two night getaway and had a wonderful time. The place was very dog friendly and had more than enough space to move around. There isn’t really a yard but the river is right across the small street so we just took our walks over there. Our dogs and toddler loved playing in the river but we spent more of our time on one of the porches. There are A LOT of stairs so just be aware of that.
Stayed 2 nights in Jun 2025

10/10 Excellent

Kim K.

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

Great Get Away

Nice, quiet location on the river
Stayed 3 nights in Oct 2024

8/10 Good

Christine Q.

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

Family Spring Break with Dog

Very nice property, we had a great time on the areas around the home hiking, fishing, and exploring. Be sure to visit the welcome center in town. We appreciate the hosts responsiveness on issues. It was great to be able to have our dog with us.
Stayed 5 nights in Mar 2025

10/10 Excellent

Emily W.

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

Christmas Recovery Trip

We always visit Blue Ridge after Christmas as a time to rest, recover and reconnect. Your cabin provided us the space to do just that.
Stayed 5 nights in Dec 2024

8/10 Good

Heather L.

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

Wonderful water view location

Beautiful setting. Great location to just get away and relax.
Stayed 6 nights in May 2024

10/10 Excellent

Nathan Z.

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

Amazing stay!

The view every morning to the river was awesome and you could hear it if you open the windows it was so close. Just a short walk down to the river for some s’mores and good times! The rooms were spacious and it is about a 15 minute drive to downtown!
Stayed 6 nights in Oct 2024

10/10 Excellent

Bobbi B.

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

Great find

This property was great! The house was clean and comfortable! Plenty of room for our family of 5 and our fur babies! We loved the firm mattress in the master bedroom. Our girls said their beds were comfortable as well. We loved the stone countertops and showers. The hot tub was a bonus. The owners were great and we were able to get checked in a little early and we were able to enjoy extra time at the property! We had an issue with the key (my fault) and the owner was very helpful and understanding. We will be staying at this property again! Thanks for a great stay!!
Stayed 3 nights in May 2025

8/10 Good

Justin H.

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

Fun mountain getaway

Location right next to the river is great. Just walk down and you can swim or fish! Great for the family. Excellent communication with the owner.
Stayed 3 nights in Jun 2024

10/10 Excellent

Matt C.

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

Amazing view!!!

This was an amazing place to stay with an amazing view of the river. The kids loved the sandy area on the river. Would definitely recommend and would stay here again.
Stayed 4 nights in Mar 2022

10/10 Excellent

Deborah W.

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

Beautiful Week!

Enjoyed every minute of our stay! The home is easily accessible to town center but located on a small quiet cutoff road in the mountain side. Beautiful scenery and lots to do inside on the rainy days. We will be back!
Stayed 7 nights in Jul 2024

6/10 Okay

Helen F.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location

Spring Break Escape

Location great. Close enough to town and all of the fishing/hiking that we wanted to do. Very clean and the amount of space was perfect for us. Very limited supplies in the kitchen. If you plan on cooking bring all the extras that you may need (foil, anything for storage, spices etc.) Hot tube did not work, which was a satisfaction deal breaker for my husband. Very uncomfortable beds. Bring your own camping chairs if you want to sit by the river which is right across the street.
Stayed 4 nights in Apr 2025

10/10 Excellent

Nick R.

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

Spring break getaway

This cabin did not disappoint. Very large with plenty of space for the whole family. The river is right in front of you and the large windows and balconies provide an excellcent view. I would stay again.
Stayed 4 nights in Mar 2024

10/10 Excellent

Eric H.

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

Beautiful home in even more beautiful setting!

Absolutely beautiful home in an even more beautiful setting! You will not be disappointed! If you are on the fence about it, do not be!!
Stayed 3 nights in Sep 2024

10/10 Excellent

Lindsey J.

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

Relaxing stay

Our kids (12 and 16) had so much fun playing in the river and on the private beach. The hot tub was wonderful, as was the dart board and shuffleboard table. It was a relaxing, laid back vacation with good communication from the hosts!
Stayed 5 nights in Jun 2022

10/10 Excellent

Verified traveller

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
This property was exactly what we were looking for and what was advertised. Clean! The owner communicated quickly and was a pleasure to rent from. Great stay!
Stayed 3 nights in Nov 2019

About the host

Hosted by Karen Pizel

Host profile image
I live in Atlanta with my wife and we love to spend as many weekends as possible relaxing at this cabin, though I can't get her to help me clean the fish.

Why they chose this property

Me and my Father built this cabin in 2009. We live in Atlanta, but stay here or at his cabin next door whenever we can. But we can't bear to see them unused, so we rent it out when we aren't there. We know you will love it.

Also we are in the heart of the Aska adventure area.

What makes this property unique

We put a lot of effort into making this the perfect place to entertain friends and family. We love to cook so we outfitted the kitchen with everything we would ever need. We love games, so we put in a Dart Board, a shuffle Board, and even a ring on a string (it's a local thing). Some local friends carved us a beatuful door, and you will be amazed by the local stone countertops. I have a hard time calling this place a cabin, since it's nicer than my home and you will hardly be roughing it, but when you are sitting in front the fireplace with someone special to you, you'll absolutely love it.