Luxurious Toxaway Lakefront. Private Golf Club, Tennis, Boating, Hiking, Dining
House in Gloucester, NC
12 guests · 6 bedrooms · 6 baths
Reasons to book
Guests love it hereGuests give this property a top rating
Great for petsBring all your friends and family, even the furry ones
Top-tier experienceOne of the higher cost properties in the area
About this house rental
Welcome to Cardinal Zen. Access to the exclusive Lake Toxaway Golf & Tennis Club Easter to Thanksgiving.*** Since 1903, the Rockefellers, Vanderbilts, Firestones, Henry Ford, R. J. Reynolds, President James Buchanan, Thomas Edison and now America’s Fortune 500 CEO’s refer to this glorious private lake escape as "Little Switzerland."
Extraordinary 5-bedroom 5 and 1/2 bath, 6,000 square foot lake front home with 300-feet of lake frontage. Breathtaking water views from almost every room. Professionally furnished and decorated.
FEATURES
*Private rooms for peaceful escapes
* Motouk linens and pillow top mattresses
*Gourmet fully equipped kitchen (herbs, spices, Keurig pods, professional knives and cookware)
*Lakefront 6-person saline hot tub
*Two great rooms
*5-on suite king bedrooms
*Game room
*Fitness room
*Four wood burning fireplaces
*Screened porch with stunning lake and wooded views and wood burning fireplace
*Vast, gently sloping lawn with surrounding forest and creek. Perfect for children and adults.
***Club access requires guest membership for additional fees
ACTIVITIES
Golf, tennis(clay courts), pickle ball, croquet, fitness center
Swimming
Paddle boarding, kayaking, canoeing
Water skiing & tubing
Hiking (vast waterfall trails)
Fishing
Mountain biking
Horseback riding
Casual and fine dining
PRIVACY
Security cameras are only located outside the primary entrance to the front and rear of Cardinal Zen. They are not monitored and are only reviewed in the event of a security incident.
Amenities
Pool
Air conditioner
Pets allowed
Kitchen or Kitchenette
Internet / Wifi
Fireplace
Parking
Laundry
Balcony or Patio
Dishwasher
Hot tub or spa
TV
Gym or Fitness Center
Garden
Family friendly
Map of Gloucester, NC
$$$$
Reviews
10.0
Our family, including multiple members of all ages, had an incredible stay for the month of July at Cardinal Zen. The setting was idyllic, with the beautiful lake just steps away from our doorstep. One of the highlights was definitely the advantage of having a membership to the club, with the golf course nearby, which we took full advantage of.
The kitchen was beautifully stocked for the many meals we cooked, and we enjoyed visiting the nearby Greystone Inn for appetizers in the bar and lakefront dinners. Theresa, the property manager, was very quick to respond to any issues that arose, which made our stay even more comfortable.
The ease of boat rentals at the marina added to our experience, and the location was perfect for outdoor enthusiasts like us, with amazing waterfall hikes just a short drive away. The combination of serene lake views, convenient golf access, excellent dining options, responsive management, and stunning natural beauty made our vacation truly unforgettable.
10.0
We stayed at cardinal zen for a week late June 2024
We were 12,ranging from 2-68
The house is spectacular and beautifully appointed
The beds super comfy with great sheets and pillows and fluffy towels
The bedrooms very roomy and very tastefully appointed. The master looks just like the photos
With such a crowd, it was nice to have a large den off the kitchen, the living area, and a great screened in porch,allowing everyone to spread out
The game room was fun with games,ping pong, keyboard, and nintendo. The workout area was great
One of the bedrooms is a bit off to itself, which was great for little one with early bedtimes
The kitchen was great. The appliances are top of the line, and there are every kind and size of pots and pans! The china and glassware is not what you would expect in a rental.. beautiful, and the cabinets filled with spices
The front lawn is big and great for the kids. The dock is spacious with comfy furniture and large umbrellas to shade the sun. Everyone loved the paddle boards, kayaks and canoe. Blowup rings and fishing poles are a must. (Worms can be found at Toxaway Outfitters) Kids did bring water shoes
All and all a great rental. Thanks for sharing!
Suzanne and Jimmy
New orleans
10.0
Amazing house… This vacation was fantastic primarily due to this wonderful home on Lake Cardinal. House is beautiful and had everything you could possibly need. Host was very attentive and responded quickly to any questions I had prior to and during the stay. Will look forward to our next visit here.
10.0
What a fantastic week we had here! This house with all of the fantastic amenities along with use of the country club is a very rare find. The screen porch and the gentle sloping yard were huge favorites amongst our group. Theresa was also very responsive to any needs or questions we had. We typically don't go to the same place twice, but we have already booked this house again for next summer- Can't wait!
10.0
Beautiful house with a beautiful view of the lake.
10.0
Plenty of room and well appointed for our kids and grandkids. What a beautiful setting!
10.0
Also, notice this house is NOT on Lake Toxaway. It's on Cardinel Lake. A small, beautiful, quiet lake above it with no motors allowed. <3
8.0
Very nice vacation spot right on a private lake
10.0
We had a wonderful time at Cardinal Zen. The house was perfect for our group. The five bedrooms with their own bath is great for couples/families. Lots of room to spread out in the common areas! Outdoor screened in porch with fireplace was lovely for conversation. The great room with fireplace and open to kitchen was perfect for entire family to be together for game playing while meals were being prepped. The dining room with fireplace was lovely for all our meals, especially our Thanksgiving dinner (table nicely fits 11 or 12). The kitchen table was great for game playing and quick meals. The formal living room was nice for quiet morning coffee. The primary bedroom and bath was an escape and delight! We enjoyed sitting on the dock during the day for some sunshine. And several enjoyed the hot tub both during the day and evening hours. The house sound system was excellent. All equipment met and exceeded our expectations. As you can tell, we had a fantastic time. And Theresa made everything easy! Any question or need, she answered immediately. That made for a carefree planning process and week. A few even went out in the kayaks and canoe. This house would be wonderful any time of year!
10.0
The most enjoyed feature was the large gently sloping lawn and the dock for sitting with drinks and watching the kids on watercraft. Overall, a nice time for the family.
10.0
Truly a idyllic setting with all the amenities close by that you could experience in a week’s time.
10.0
The property was as described in the description.
Plenty of room to spread out and the kitchen was wonderful to cook in. All we needed was provided.
The furnishings were more than comfortable with so much style. The beds were extremely comfortable!!!
I would recommend this property.
10.0
We enjoyed our stay in this large house on the lake. wit had a great Dock for fishing and kayaking. Caught quite a bit of Bass! Hot tub on the back porch was a big hit with the kids. House is plenty big enough for everyone to get away to their own space. All rooms very large. Very unusual pieces of woodwork and art in the house. I enjoyed walking around and admiring it all. We didn't actually cook dinner while there but the kitchen had very high end nice appliances. Quiet area. Grounds all kept very neat. The screened in porch with real fireplace was awesome. Even got to light it a few times when the weather got chilly at night. Communication before arriving was great. No problems at all. Perfect house for a large group. Oh and the Basketball goal in front of house was a hit for the boys! Great stay and would return.
10.0
Beautiful home right on private lake with easy access to the dock. Pet friendly and our dogs had a blast splashing and exploring the forest paths. Private, quiet, spacious, fully stocked home with gorgeous views for working remotely while we tried to enjoy some down time. Great experience and hope to come back soon!
10.0
Very spacious home and great spot on the water to relax
10.0
This house is amazing. The views of the lake from every room of this spacious house were spectacular. The interior of this home was absolutely beautiful especially the works of art that adorned the walls. This home gives one a sense of peace and relaxation. There is a gentle slope from the back of the house to a wonderful dock with comfortable furniture to sit out on and take in the surroundings. We really enjoyed fishing from this spot and for those who want more adventure, kayaks and paddle boards were also provided. We arrived late our first night and Theresa had the lights on for us and relaxing music playing over the Sonos System as well as logs ready for an evening fire in one of the 3 fireplaces. This is definitely a home we hope to revisit!
10.0
Home is lovely. Extremely accommodating for a large group.
Hostess was very helpful in addressing questions and issues that arose.
8.0
beautiful home with 4 regular bedrooms and one bonus room, fantastic location, very peaceful and picturesque, great communication with manager
10.0
Spectacular Home on Cardinal Lake
Cardinal Zen is one of the best equipped and best maintained homes we have ever rented. The home is immaculate and all mechanicals functioned perfectly during our stay. Very private setting with views of Cardinal Lake from all first floor rooms. Property Manager and owner are very responsive. This was our second visit to Cardinal Zen and we look forward to returning in 2023.
10.0
Wonderful family time
Enjoyed this property so much. Beautiful home and interior. Wonderful location on Cardinal Lake where all got to enjoy the dock for fishing, paddle boards, and kayaks etc Extremely well stocked kitchen !! And the two washers and two dryers were great. Rented boats from marina for two days on Lake Toxaway for skiing and tubing.
Property manager was always available.
Would definitely recommend and would love to stay again in the future.
10.0
Cardinal Zen Indeed!
By far the nicest luxury rental property our family has visited. From plenty of water sports to a well-appointed kitchen, the property is designed for maximum comfort, enjoyment, and relaxation. Our family varied in ages, and there was something for everyone with exquisite views in a beautiful mountain and lakeside setting. Would highly recommend
10.0
Pure Perfection
The house and location surpassed our expectations. Beds were incredibly comfortable, the bathrooms were clean and spacious, and the kitchen was stocked with all the items one might need. Best of all, the view was spectacular. Additionally, the host was probably one of the best hosts we’ve encountered. We would recommend this home without hesitation!
10.0
The Perfect Vacation
We absolutely loved our stay, it was more than we could have imagined. Thank you
10.0
Great house on the lake
Great house! Great location for access to a mixture of both lake and mountain activities. Owner was very responsive. We will be coming back for future vacations.
8.0
Nice Lake Front Property
Large home that worked well for our extended family vacation.
10.0
Nearly Perfect
Pros
-CLEAN! Probably one of the cleanest properties we've rented
-Well equipped! No need to bring anything. Well stocked bar area
-Great location! quiet. Lake views from dock are wonderful
-Relaxed ambience! Surround sound, candles, fireplace
Cons
-a few mechanical issues with alarm system and door locks which were communicated to host
**There should be no cons at this price point
Bottom line: Excellent rental property. Will likely return!
10.0
Spectacular Property
Cardinal Zen is the rare property that exceeds the claims (and the photographs) made by the owner on the VRBO website. The house is immaculate, fully equipped, spacious (with several separate living areas for guests to either congregate or seek some privacy when desired) and all the mechanicals functioned as required. The master suite was very comfortable and all guest rooms were spacious and nicely furnished (as were the common areas). Theresa was exceptionally responsive during the booking process and Richard was always available to answer specific questions about the property. All in all an exceptional experience.
10.0
Beautiful view!!
Wonderful house, great location, gorgeous views, great fireplaces, extremely comfortable bed in master!
10.0
Memories at Cardinal Zen
Our family of 8 adults reunited for a week at Cardinal Zen. This comfortable house & lake property was perfect! We enjoyed morning coffee in the screened porch w/ a log fire, cooked in the well stocked kitchen, ate our evening meals in the large dining room, wine & cocktails on the dock w/ plenty of seating, gas grill worked great for our steaks & burgers, hot tub was relaxing and we loved the “Dark” location to view the stars! Theresa and Roberto were very responsive when a couple of minor issues arose. Quickly remedied! Paddle boards, kayaks, ping pong table, large TV’s and the whole house Sonos provided us with great entertainment! Thank you!!
10.0
Breathtaking lakefront home!
Our host, Theresa, was amazing! She familiarized us with everything we needed both with the home and the surrounding area. We love to cook and the gourmet kitchen was stocked with every possible amenity. The mattresses are dreamy. We ordered one to be delivered to our house! Pricey, but worth it! Matouk linens everywhere. There are AMAZING views of the water from almost every room. We had nightly fires on the screened porch overlooking the lake with the creek streaming by. Daily kayaking and paddle boarding on the lake was fun for everyone. We slept on the dock sofa for hours enjoying the cool breezes! We dined out at the Club and Greystone Inn. Both meals were outstanding. Breakfast outside at the Greystone was stunning. This is a special place; the most peaceful lake we’ve ever seen and we can’t wait to come back next year!
10.0
Spectacular lake front home. Our 3rd return visit.
This home and entire area are breathtaking and unique. The house was already one of our favorites in the world before we were surprised by the new furnishings this year. Our children always enjoy the kayaks and paddle boards while the adults lounge on the dock overlooking the extraordinary mountain views. I recommend the Country Club membership for golf, tennis, the lakeside infinity pool and dining. We also enjoyed cocktails and dinner for the first time at the Greystone Inn which is about 5-mintues from Cardinal Zen. We also discovered the Lady Lucy boat charter tour of Lake Toxaway. The homes going up around this lake are stunning. The tour guide clued us in on the long history of the lake. We took 2-amazing waterfall hikes which were easy with a guide. Dinner reservations during the summer months are needed for places like Osteria Del Monte (to die for!), Greystone and the Club. We hope to return every year to this very special place.
10.0
This is a lovely home with great space for a large family or group. Master bedroom on the ground floor, 3 additional bedrooms on second floor of the main house - each with a queen or king bed and their ensuite bathroom. There is a 5th bedroom separate from the main part of the house on the second floor above a rec-room space. House has paddle boards, kayak and canoe to enjoy on the quiet Cardinal Lake. Note for those who are not familiar with the area, this house is on Cardinal Lake/Upper Toxaway - NOT the main Lake Toxaway. Cardinal lake is a small, beautiful lake (no motorized boats). This house is a 5 minute drive from the Lake Toxaway Country Club and Marina - where you can rent motorized boats for enjoying on the main lake.
6.0
Great Yard and Fun Lake
Nice big yard for kids and games. Paddles boards and canoe on the lake was fun for all ages.
10.0
vaca
Love the area
8.0
Cardinal Lake Getaway
Loved the size of the house and location was perfect. The recessed rooms could be an issue for older individuals. Especially the step down into the master bedroom.
10.0
Relaxing at the lake.
Theresa, the property manager is very helpful. The children enjoyed the boating and the hot tub. The adults enjoyed sitting on the dock watching the children a d having coffee and drinks on the screened porch. Very relaxing. Thank you.
10.0
Beautiful, quiet lake house
It's a lovely lakefront estate, with perfect access to the quiet upper lake at Toxaway - ideal for families who want to be able to turn kids loose to paddle around and enjoy one of America's most beautiful areas.
10.0
Luxury and fun for the whole family
The house and the setting are perfect! There were so many activities for the family (ping pong, hot tub, kayaks). The beds were large and comfortable. The whole house sound system was amazing. And we even got to bring our dog! We can’t wait to come back!
10.0
Perfect
What a wonderful venue to reunite with family after a long Covid separation! The home and lake are beautiful in every way with plenty to do. Our grandchildren enjoyed kayaking, paddle boarding and the water was even warm enough for the little ones to play in the shallow area surrounding the dock while the adults soaked up the sunshine and views, did a little fishing and captained canoe rides. A trout fishing excursion, hike to Rainbow Falls, cooking together in the well-equipped kitchen, dinners in the formal dining room and leisurely conversation around the fireplace in the delightful screened-in porch rounded out our perfect week at Cardinal Zen!
10.0
Excellent property with great service, beautiful scenery
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FAQs
How much does this house cost compared to others in Gloucester?
The average price for a rental in Gloucester is $305 per night. This rental is $2,400 above the average.
Is parking included with this house?
Yes, parking is listed as an amenity at Luxurious Toxaway Lakefront. Private Golf Club, Tennis, Boating, Hiking, Dining. For more information, we encourage you to contact the property about where to park.
Is there a pool at this house?
Yes, a swimming pool is available for use at Luxurious Toxaway Lakefront. Private Golf Club, Tennis, Boating, Hiking, Dining. Enjoy the water!
Is Luxurious Toxaway Lakefront. Private Golf Club, Tennis, Boating, Hiking, Dining pet friendly?
Yes! This house is pet-friendly. For more information, we recommend contacting the booking provider about animal policies.
What amenities are available at Luxurious Toxaway Lakefront. Private Golf Club, Tennis, Boating, Hiking, Dining?
We found 15 amenities for this rental. This includes pool, air conditioner, pets allowed, kitchen or kitchenette, and internet / wifi.
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