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Rippling Waters Retreat | Riverfront Rustic Cabin

Photo gallery for Rippling Waters Retreat | Riverfront Rustic Cabin

The Cabin in Summer (1)
The Cabin in Summer (2)
The Cabin and the River (1)
The View of the River from the Porch Swings
The "Little" River, Townsend, TN (1)

Reviews

9.6 out of 10
Exceptional
3 bedrooms2 bathroomsSleeps 131253 sq ft

Popular amenities

  • Kitchen
  • Air-conditioning
  • Barbecue grill
  • Fireplace

Explore the area

View in a map
Townsend, TN
  • Place, River Rage Go-Kart Track
    ‪13 min walk‬
  • Place, Townsend Visitor Center
    ‪16 min walk‬
  • Place, Great Smoky Mountains Heritage Center
    ‪19 min walk‬
  • Airport, Knoxville, TN (TYS-McGhee Tyson)
    ‪32 min drive‬

Rooms & beds

3 bedrooms (sleeps 13)

Bedroom 1

1 Single Bed, 1 King Bed and 1 Double Bed

Bedroom 2

1 Double Bed

Bedroom 3

1 Queen Bed

Living Room 1

2 Double Sofa Beds

2 bathrooms

Bathroom 1

Bathtub or shower

Bathroom 2

Shower only

Spaces

Kitchen
Separate dining area
Number of living rooms

About this property

Rippling Waters Retreat | Riverfront Rustic Cabin

This cozy, rustic cabin is nestled on the bank of the scenic Little River in quaint Townsend, TN. Just a short drive from Pigeon Forge, Cades Cove, and other attractions, this rustic cabin combines the feeling of solemn remoteness with the convenience of local walking-distance amenities, including a grocery store, gas station, and many restaurants. We are family-friendly and welcome you to make a tradition out of bringing your family to Townsend each year, just like our family did when we were children!

Check-in is at 4:00 pm and check-out is at 10:00 am.

Add dates for prices

Amenities

Kitchen
Air conditioning
Barbecue grill
Fireplace

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House Rules

Check in after 4:00 PM
Minimum age to rent: 25
Check out before 10:00 AM
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Children

Children allowed: ages 0–17
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Events

No events allowed
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Pets

No 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 indicated that there is no 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

About the area

Townsend

Located in Townsend, this cabin is on a river. Ober Mountain is a popular attraction and the area's natural beauty can be seen at Great Smoky Mountains National Park and Cades Cove. Tube Junction and River Rage Go-Kart Track are also worth visiting.
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Map
Townsend, TN

What's nearby

  • Tube Junction - 6 min walk - 0.6 km
  • River Rage Go-Kart Track - 13 min walk - 1.2 km
  • Townsend Visitor Center - 16 min walk - 1.4 km
  • Great Smoky Mountains Heritage Center - 19 min walk - 1.7 km
  • Dark Island Swinging Bridge - 2 min drive - 1.3 km

Getting around

  • Alcoa - Knoxville Airport (TYS) - 34 min drive

Restaurants

  • ‪Peaceful Side Social - ‬11 min walk
  • ‪The Townsend Abbey - ‬19 min walk
  • ‪The Artistic Bean - ‬3 min walk
  • ‪Apple Valley Cafe Express - ‬5 min drive
  • ‪Elvira's Cafe - ‬10 min drive

Frequently asked questions

Is Rippling Waters Retreat | Riverfront Rustic Cabin pet-friendly?

No, pets are not allowed at this property.

How much does it cost to stay at Rippling Waters Retreat | Riverfront Rustic Cabin?

As of 16 Mar, 2026, prices found for a 1-night stay for 2 adults at Rippling Waters Retreat | Riverfront Rustic Cabin on 13 Apr, 2026 start from S$318, 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.

What time is check-in at Rippling Waters Retreat | Riverfront Rustic Cabin?

Check-in begins at 4:00 PM.

What time is check-out at Rippling Waters Retreat | Riverfront Rustic Cabin?

Checkout is at 10:00 AM.

Where is Rippling Waters Retreat | Riverfront Rustic Cabin located?

Situated on a river, this cabin is 0.3 mi (0.6 km) from Tube Junction and 1.8 mi (2.9 km) from Great Smoky Mountains National Park. Shadows of the Past Hiking/Biking Trail and River Rage Go-Kart Track are also within 1 mile (2 km).

Reviews

9.6

Exceptional

Reviews are presented in chronological order, subject to a moderation process, and verified unless otherwise labelled.
Learn moreOpens in a new window
Rating 10 - Excellent. 65 out of 82 reviews
Rating 8 - Good. 15 out of 82 reviews
Rating 6 - Okay. 2 out of 82 reviews
Rating 4 - Poor. 0 out of 82 reviews
Rating 2 - Terrible. 0 out of 82 reviews

9.4/10

Cleanliness

10/10

Amenities

10/10

Property conditions & facilities

9.8/10

Check-in

9.8/10

Communication

10/10

Location

9.6/10

Listing accuracy

Reviews

10/10 Excellent

Tami Williams

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, location, listing accuracy
Disliked: Communication
Wonderful cabin! Close to everything in Townsend . Clean and so comfortable!
Stayed 4 nights in Oct 2025

10/10 Excellent

Steven

Liked: Cleanliness, amenities, property conditions & facilities, communication
Everything was awesome and peaceful
Stayed 2 nights in Dec 2025

10/10 Excellent

Jeffery K.

Liked: Cleanliness, communication, location, listing accuracy

Great location

We loved the cabin and location
Stayed 5 nights in Nov 2024

10/10 Excellent

Roger L.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
So cozy, sound of the river was intoxicating! Swinging on the porch was wonderful. Will be back!
Stayed 4 nights in Nov 2025

10/10 Excellent

Misty A.

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

Great location

Great porch to relax on and watch the water. Townsend is always a great area to stay in
Stayed 2 nights in Apr 2025

10/10 Excellent

Robert C.

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

Nice Place.

3 nights in Townsend. Centrally located right on the river with easy access to GSMNP.
Stayed 3 nights in Apr 2025

10/10 Excellent

Nikki C.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Cabin was beautiful, right on the water! Kitchen was well stocked with everything we needed. Owners were responsive to any questions/concerns we had. Overall a fantastic place to stay!
Stayed 2 nights in Feb 2025

10/10 Excellent

Dawn L.

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

Gorgeous Location!

Amazing views, relaxing atmosphere, clean and exactly what we needed. Thank you!
Stayed 3 nights in May 2025

10/10 Excellent

Richard M.

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

Best Cabin in Townsend!

Cozy, comfy, BEAUTIFUL! I can’t wait to go back.
Stayed 4 nights in Apr 2024

10/10 Excellent

Phillip T.

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

Callahan First Baptist

Great location in Townsend city limits. Close to events, dinner outlets and the entrance to mountains.
Stayed 4 nights in Sep 2024

10/10 Excellent

Rebecca D.

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

Great stay

I would recommend this cabin to anyone. It was very clean and perfect location. We enjoyed the porch every night - watching the river and geese. I would give this cabin 10+ out of 10.
Stayed 4 nights in Jun 2024

8/10 Good

Whitney H.

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

Nice

We loved the location. It was very quiet and peaceful. It was very warm upstairs so bring fans.
Stayed 2 nights in Mar 2025

8/10 Good

Fred W.

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

Cabin on the River

There was 4 brothers and our sister on our 3rd annual sibling vacation in the Smoky Mountains. The swings on the back porch watching and listening to the Little River was our favorite evening experience. We truly enjoyed our stay!
Stayed 5 nights in Mar 2025

6/10 Okay

Brian A.

Liked: Check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Disliked: Cleanliness

Nice place and quiet

Cleaning people need to a better job,but therefore nice cabin
Stayed 5 nights in Dec 2022

10/10 Excellent

Mark L.

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

Great spot!

Loved the porch and river. So relaxing. Enjoyed it very much.
Stayed 3 nights in Mar 2024

10/10 Excellent

Diane L.

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

Great, relaxing family vacation/wedding.

Got in after dark, but was greeted with lights being on. First impression was AMAZING! My family felt very comfortable and enjoyed our stay. Listening to the Little River made it so relaxing. Great location and I would definitely recommend this cabin to others.
Stayed 6 nights in Nov 2024

10/10 Excellent

Greg W.

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

Rippling Waters EXCELLENT LOCATION

We spent 4 nights at the Rippling Waters cabin on the Little River in Townsend. Excellent location on River, very close to Wears Valley Road, the Townsend bike path, IGA grocery store and the hardware store. Plenty of room for our big family ! Will look to stay again.
Stayed 4 nights in Jul 2023

6/10 Okay

Denietra D.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, location

Nice relaxing and peaceful

So peaceful and the king bed was magical...i didnt want to get out
Stayed 4 nights in Nov 2024

8/10 Good

Marilyn M.

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

Lovely location next to river

Loved the location so close to the National Park/Cades Cove which we visited daily. The accommodations were comfortable and afforded us with everything we needed. An added bonus was enjoying a fire in the cabin in the evenings. Owners were responsive to any questions we had.
Stayed 7 nights in Feb 2023

10/10 Excellent

Donald S.

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

Great time

Great location, easy access to the river. The house stayed comfortably cool with temps in the 90’s. The pics of the house don’t do it justice.
Stayed 3 nights in Jun 2024

10/10 Excellent

Benjamin H.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
We loved the location, right on the river at the end of the road,the porch swings were great and very quiet. Overall the cabin was clean, we did find a sock, popcorn and a coaster under the tv in the living room and the refrigerator needs a good cleaning.The wood burning fireplace caused an odor in the cabin,reminded me of my childhood home, but my wife didn't like it. It is an older property and shows some age but I enjoyed it.
Stayed 4 nights in Aug 2025

8/10 Good

Breanna H.

Liked: Check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Our weekend

Overall the stay was pretty good. There were a few issues we ran into as far as things that house keeping had left behind. However, we immediately reached out to the property manager and she was very apologetic of the situations. The location was amazing. Our kiddos loved being so close to the water. Overall we would stay here again in the future.
Stayed 2 nights in Apr 2025

10/10 Excellent

Sandy G.

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

Rippling waters retreat

We had the best time at the cabin. Townsend is such of a lovely unique town. If you want to have a relaxing time you definitely want to stay here. It is in a great location. It is close to so many wonderful attractions without the busyness of a larger city. The cabin is very clean and has all of your basic necessities. The river is right behind it and you can relax by the water. It was just great! We enjoyed it immensely!
Stayed 4 nights in Oct 2024

10/10 Excellent

Anita C.

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

Fall is my favorite

We enjoyed it very much . I wish there was a floor plan of the cabin . At least a better description of the bedrooms . No tv’s upstairs we would not have rented if known.
Stayed 3 nights in Nov 2024

10/10 Excellent

Aaron K.

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

Perfectly situated for a family adventure!

PROS: + The park is five minutes away; none of the traffic and crowds of Gatlinburg / Pigeon Forge + Peaceful Side Social is a five minute walk and is the perfect place to grab dinner with kids (playground, great food, beautiful view, grocery store next door) + The sound of the Little River lulled us to sleep every night from the window above the bed CONS: - The only thing that comes to mind is the coffee maker, which made every type of coffee we put through it taste terrible FINAL THOUGHTS: This was a fantastic find and we definitely plan to come back in the future. We did five different hikes in the park, ate at Peaceful Side four times, loved the rustic feel of the cabin. Fantastic place!
Stayed 5 nights in Oct 2024

About the host

Hosted by Melanie Chandler

Host profile image
We are the Chandlers, owners and operators of what we think is one of the best little cabins in all of Tennessee. My (Michael’s) family began vacationing in Townsend when I was a child, and came back every Summer to enjoy the Great Smoky Mountains, the offerings of Pigeon Forge, and the awesome amenities that Townsend has to offer. Now, we bring our children here and create memories with them every year. Our cozy cabin is nestled on the bank of the scenic Little River, with access to more than 500 feet of river frontage. Just a short drive from Pigeon Forge, Cades Cove, and numerous attractions, this rustic cabin combines the feeling of solemn remoteness with the convenience of local walking-distance amenities, including a grocery store, gas station, and many restaurants. We are family friendly and welcome you to make a tradition of bringing your family to Townsend each year, just like us!

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