Cozy log cabin near Nantahala rafting, Fontana Lake, Cherokee, Tail of Dragon
Cabin in Swain County
6 guests · 1 bedroom · 1 bath
Reasons to book
Free cancellationFull refund if you change your mind
Well priced for this locationProperty prices in this area are generally higher
Includes essentialsGarden, Kitchen or Kitchenette, Air conditioner and more
About this cabin rental
Our log cabin was built in 2011 and includes central heating and air conditioning, kitchen, bathroom, living area, dining area, 3 beds, grill, hot tub, washer/dryer, and fire-pit with firewood.
The downstairs open floor plan has a full kitchen with small convection oven, dining area, living room, full bathroom with washer/dryer and a sleeping area with full-size bed.
In the upper level, there are two open, pocket-loft beds (queen & full) for additional guests.
In the Fall of 2023, the following renovations were completed:
*Installation of central heating and air conditioning
*500-square-foot covered porch and patio with hot tub
*Additional landscaping
KITCHEN:
The kitchen contains the following:
- Deep, double sink
- four-burner, electric stovetop (pots, pans & cooking utensils provided)
- regular, two-door fridge with top-freezer
- LARGE toaster oven
- microwave
- coffee pot (coffee & filters provided)
- 2-slice toaster
- blender
- recycling & trash
NOTE: **The kitchen DOES NOT HAVE a conventional oven or a dishwasher**
COOKING ESSENTIALS PROVIDED:
- plates, bowls, mugs, glasses, utensils
- pots & pans, cooking utensils
- mixing bowls, cutting boards, casserole dishes, sheet pans
- sponges, cleaning cloths, kitchen towels
- coffee, coffee filters, tea, powdered creamer, sugar
- salt, pepper, basic spices & oil
BATHROOM:
The bathroom is located on the lower level with a stand-up shower, sink, toilet, and stacked washer/dryer unit. Starter soap, shampoo, conditioner, toilet paper and laundry detergent are provided for guests.
SLEEPING ARRANGEMENTS:
3 beds, made with fresh linens, pillows and blankets, provide room for 1-6 guests
1 Full-size platform bed in lower level
1 Queen-size pocket bed in upper level
1 Full-size pocket bed in upper level
ENVIRONMENTAL CONTROLS:
Cabin is equipped with central air and heat controlled by a thermostat. Solid window shutters help to regulate temperature within the cabin.
TECH:
- Fast Wireless Internet
- Large, Roku Smart T.V. with guest mode (guests can sign into their own personal accounts, like Netflix, Hulu, Prime Video and many more).
- Landline phone in the main living area.
OUTDOOR AMENITIES:
- Covered decks wrap two sides of the cabin
- 4 person Hot Tub on side deck, also covered.
- Charcoal Grill (fixed, outdoor, camp-style grill) with basic grill tools, charcoal, lighter fluid and lighter provided.
- Fire-pit in the side yard with firewood provided.
LOCATION & ATTRACTIONS:
The Moonshiner Cabin is a cozy little retreat in a great location, halfway between Bryson and the Nantahala River Gorge.
Get your cultural fix in Bryson, with shopping, dining, the GSM Train, two breweries, and an outfitters store with taproom and museums.
The quaint towns of Franklin, Highlands and Cashiers lie to the south along scenic Hwy 28. Asheville (the big city), makes an easy day trip, to the east, with shopping, dining and cultural activities. Cherokee with history, casinos and outdoor activities is just a 25 minute drive from the cabin.
Experience nature in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, and Nantahala River Gorge with rafting, tubing, fishing, hiking, zipping, horse back riding, scenic drives and waterfalls within 10 miles! 8 recreation rivers, 11 lakes, 1 national park, 2 national forests, 3 wilderness areas and much more!
The downstairs open floor plan has a full kitchen with small convection oven, dining area, living room, full bathroom with washer/dryer and a sleeping area with full-size bed.
In the upper level, there are two open, pocket-loft beds (queen & full) for additional guests.
In the Fall of 2023, the following renovations were completed:
*Installation of central heating and air conditioning
*500-square-foot covered porch and patio with hot tub
*Additional landscaping
KITCHEN:
The kitchen contains the following:
- Deep, double sink
- four-burner, electric stovetop (pots, pans & cooking utensils provided)
- regular, two-door fridge with top-freezer
- LARGE toaster oven
- microwave
- coffee pot (coffee & filters provided)
- 2-slice toaster
- blender
- recycling & trash
NOTE: **The kitchen DOES NOT HAVE a conventional oven or a dishwasher**
COOKING ESSENTIALS PROVIDED:
- plates, bowls, mugs, glasses, utensils
- pots & pans, cooking utensils
- mixing bowls, cutting boards, casserole dishes, sheet pans
- sponges, cleaning cloths, kitchen towels
- coffee, coffee filters, tea, powdered creamer, sugar
- salt, pepper, basic spices & oil
BATHROOM:
The bathroom is located on the lower level with a stand-up shower, sink, toilet, and stacked washer/dryer unit. Starter soap, shampoo, conditioner, toilet paper and laundry detergent are provided for guests.
SLEEPING ARRANGEMENTS:
3 beds, made with fresh linens, pillows and blankets, provide room for 1-6 guests
1 Full-size platform bed in lower level
1 Queen-size pocket bed in upper level
1 Full-size pocket bed in upper level
ENVIRONMENTAL CONTROLS:
Cabin is equipped with central air and heat controlled by a thermostat. Solid window shutters help to regulate temperature within the cabin.
TECH:
- Fast Wireless Internet
- Large, Roku Smart T.V. with guest mode (guests can sign into their own personal accounts, like Netflix, Hulu, Prime Video and many more).
- Landline phone in the main living area.
OUTDOOR AMENITIES:
- Covered decks wrap two sides of the cabin
- 4 person Hot Tub on side deck, also covered.
- Charcoal Grill (fixed, outdoor, camp-style grill) with basic grill tools, charcoal, lighter fluid and lighter provided.
- Fire-pit in the side yard with firewood provided.
LOCATION & ATTRACTIONS:
The Moonshiner Cabin is a cozy little retreat in a great location, halfway between Bryson and the Nantahala River Gorge.
Get your cultural fix in Bryson, with shopping, dining, the GSM Train, two breweries, and an outfitters store with taproom and museums.
The quaint towns of Franklin, Highlands and Cashiers lie to the south along scenic Hwy 28. Asheville (the big city), makes an easy day trip, to the east, with shopping, dining and cultural activities. Cherokee with history, casinos and outdoor activities is just a 25 minute drive from the cabin.
Experience nature in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, and Nantahala River Gorge with rafting, tubing, fishing, hiking, zipping, horse back riding, scenic drives and waterfalls within 10 miles! 8 recreation rivers, 11 lakes, 1 national park, 2 national forests, 3 wilderness areas and much more!
Amenities
Air conditioner
Kitchen or Kitchenette
Internet / Wifi
Parking
Laundry
Balcony or Patio
Hot tub or spa
TV
Garden
Family friendly
Map of Swain County
$$$$
Ratings and reviews
5.0 / 5.0
Great location. Everything you need. Cute cabin. Be aware all 3 beds are full size.
Bring your hair dryer.
4.0 / 5.0
Great
5.0 / 5.0
Easy to get to the national park and Cherokee village... would definitely consider staying here again for our little family.
5.0 / 5.0
I was left to be in charge of setting everything up for this trip to bring our roadster to run the dragon during "Miatas at the Gap" and while my girlfriend was expecting a plain 'ol motel room, she was dropping the jaw with enthusiasm when we showed up at this wonderful little gem. The cabin was beautifully decorated in knotty pine throughout with post and beam and a fun loft. Decked out with any amenities you'd need to stay a few days and we even used the hot tub! Ease of use / check-in check-out and stay were very helpful. (The drive is kinda steep, so we were thankful to have rear-wheel drive.) Very nice stay and not 'buggy' like other outdoorsy places. Quiet and relaxing.
4.0 / 5.0
I booked it for 2 nights but only stature one since my wife got sick and we had to stay enroute. Very steep grade getting up to the place. Normally wouldn't matter but we had a take in tow l on our suv one we got there our was nice. Lots of stuff tu do in the area.The owner wasn't responsive to any inquiries I made either through message or by my attempt to call.
5.0 / 5.0
Quiet and comfortable
5.0 / 5.0
My bf and I always look for something to book for our birthdays. This year we wanted a motorcycle trip in the mountains. Your place was very close to eating, and lots of attractions, plus the nice curvy roads to ride the bikes as well. Loved the very private location of this cabin. We will definitely be back. Hopefully this fall. Thank you!
5.0 / 5.0
Listing doesn’t do the cabin justice. Nice and beautiful. Could use a bigger bed but everything was still awesome!
5.0 / 5.0
We enjoyed our 39th anniversary at this wonderful cabin. It was stocked with everything we needed plus extras that made us feel welcomed. A quiet and peaceful weekend allowed us to enjoy the area.
5.0 / 5.0
The property was laid out well and tidy ,definitely will go back
4.0 / 5.0
The property was nice and enjoyed the quietness of the location. The cabin could use some deep dusting and a new light switch in the upstairs fan to turn lights off. In addition, the bed downstairs is awfully worn out and needs replacing.
5.0 / 5.0
was quiet and very private. everything was as listed except no active internet. Beautiful wood interior. house number sign on 28 takes a sharp eye.
1.0 / 5.0
Air conditioner did not work. It was hot no and couldn't sleep due to heat and uncomfortable bed. It was beautiful and peaceful but couldn't do it both nights. One uncomfortable night was all I could handle
1.0 / 5.0
Cabin listing was very misleading
After booking our stay & reading some of the reviews I reached out to the property owner with concerns about the hot tub working properly & the air conditioner cooling the house efficiently. I was told the hot tub had just been repaired & that the single window unit AC cooled the property very well. When my husband & I arrived the small window unit was set at 61゚& it was it was very warm inside probably close to 75-80°. We left for a few hours to see the town & have dinner & came back with no improvement. The window unit itself is clearly too small for the window & property sq footage& doesn't adequately seal to the window frame. There was saran wrap & aluminum foil tucked in the edges to "help" I suppose. We went to the Dollar General to buy a fan & some duct tape to put around the clearly unsealed & unfitting a window unit which helped to make it through the weekend but the cabin remained too warm for my comfort the entire stay even with my purchase of a fan. Also, when we arrived there was a water bottle with used snuff packets sitting on the floor by the bed, disgusting. All 3 beds are uncomfortable due to the mattress or the tiny loft area leaving no room to even turn over in bed without hitting an arm or elbow. The downstairs bed was very squeaky & loud. Non of the inside shutters had a latch so the one above my head on the downstairs bed let light in very early waking me before I would have liked. The garden pictured in the listing must have been from when the property was first bought & did not meet expectations by far. I myself am a plant lady & was looking forward to seeing the pretty flowers and using fresh herbs, but it was grown over with weeds & unkempt. The entire property inside & out was unkempt & should have regular cleaning and maintenance. My husband cleaned MANY cobwebs throughout the cabin & the light fixtures etc all needed thurough dusting. The cleanliness & temp of the cablin had us rethink our "stay in the cabin & grill steaks night" & we dined out entirely. The owner was impossible to contact with our issues after many attempts. While we enjoyed our visit to the Smokies, we would never stay here again nor recommend it. I have pictures of the AC unit before & after my attempt to improve & the garden, but do not see anywhere to post them here if I find somewhere I will surely post. If 0 stars could have been given that would have been my rating. We were already there for our visit from FL so made the best of it we could
3.0 / 5.0
Anniversary trip
The house is beautiful and the location is good. Unfortunately we did not get to use the hot tub which was one of the reasons we chose the cabin. We text and called leaving messages both places with no response. The host requests no messages through VRBO so we did not message through here, but used the number in the guest book. This is a beautiful area but we would not stay here again due to lack of contact from the host if there was an issue it would not be addressed.
5.0 / 5.0
Cozy Cabin perfect for couples!
My husband of 22 years, in May, celebrated a late Valentines and early Anniversary for a long weekend. It was heavenly, especially when it snowed. Beautifully decorated and warm and inviting. Didn't want to leave! Owners were very helpful and prompt with answers to our questions.
5.0 / 5.0
Cozy cabin
The cabin was nicely tucked on the side of the mountain with a secluded entrance which took you away from the world. The views were amazing and the craftsmanship of the cabin were truly rustic. The hot tub was used often and the peace outside the cabin was soothing. Would rent again if I ever went to the smokies again.
4.0 / 5.0
Summer Vacation
This was a cute little cabin for our family to stay in while on a little vacation this summer. Perfect for two adults and 3 small children. There is one small window unit for ac that didn’t put out a lot of cold air, had to go and buy fans to cool the place down. Would suggest bringing some if you plan to stay in the summer months. Would be good during the spring or fall seasons. We loved the area and glad we decided to come. Very pretty and lots to do. We would visit and stay again.
4.0 / 5.0
Great place to stay but
Well kept and maintained cabin. It was isolated enough to have a quite get away. Very clean bathroom and new laundry system. Kitchen was clean and has almost everything you need for pots and pans. There were various spices, cooking oil, sauces etc. Lot of space in cabin to move around and spread out. Decent WiFi and entertainment system. Here are few things which could be improved. Bed downstairs is not very comfortable. One of the beds upstairs is good but other one is very small. Hot tub was not functioning. There was no power to the hot tub. Tried various things including going under crawl space to look at fuses. We were super excited for hot tub but it was a bummer. Don’t expect much from the view perspective. The mountain view from cabin is nothing to boast about. You can barely see any mountains. Road from main road to cabin is not paved but good enough if you have good vehicle. We knew coming in that roads could be tough since it’s mountains. Make sure you have a suv or at least a car with high ground clearance. Overall it was good stay. I wish the hot tub was working.
3.0 / 5.0
Got there and the hot tub didn’t work and the air was awful. The window unit was one of the smallest
Bed was awful down stairs and was to hot to sleep upstairs
5.0 / 5.0
Nice secluded peaceful place
It was very reasonable and easy to rent.
1.0 / 5.0
Reservation was double-booked
I typically do not write reviews but I wanted to share my experience currently.
My husband and I, locals of Charleston South Carolina wanted to get away and have a mountain-like adventure for our first year wedding anniversary. We work polar opposite shifts, have different days off, work in a senior field that has been extremely rough during the COVID times, got married just after covid, and like any other couple saved up to spend some time away.
I booked this location, it looks amazing and I am sure it would have been and is. I received the confirmation email for my booking with the money we had saved up. We rationed and planned to make sure we had the money we needed. The day of, packed and leaving our home in SC we got a phone call stating that they had overbooked. Now, I've worked in hospitality, I know mistakes happen... but the oversight to not check the bookings for upcoming days that we had scheduled is pure neglectfulness.
The statement on the voicemail after the introduction and explanation that it was double booked was, " Feel really bad about this, I wrote this morning and have processed a full refund and an option to rebook it another day at no charge." -- You know, this is great, I appreciate the option. What I think upset me most was the comment next: " I am sure you can find something else, there are a lot of options in Bryson city." --- As far as a cabin rental, the same day, looking at 11:00 am everything was sold out. Also, a refund is great, however, it takes time to process that money back and left us dead-locked into a situation of limited monies. Personally, I don't think I have cried so much in frustration in a very long time. Ended up booking a hotel that ended up costing more than what the cabin would have been.
I hope at one point if my husband and I get a chance to take a trip back into the Bryson City area that we do have a chance to communicate with this property to change the hurt feelings over this booking nightmare. I do not like to leave negative feedback but I feel the need to make it clear that this extremely affected our vacation that we were planning and I hope that adjustments to monitoring double bookings can be corrected well before the day of for future guests.
5.0 / 5.0
Quiet cabin for relaxing getaway!
We thoroughly enjoyed our stay at the cabin. It was private and had everything that we needed. We did drive past it as we didn’t see the numbers on the mailbox, but once we turned around we knew exactly what driveway we needed to drive up.
4.0 / 5.0
A nice quiet escape
I rented this cabin for a short girl's weekend with a friend. The location is wonderful, private but close enough to the highway and within 10-15 miles from multiple small towns with plenty of options for food and shopping. Although the cabin says it sleeps 6, I feel like that is really pushing the capacity (one bed barely has room for 1 adult). Disappointed that the description said it had air, but there was no air. The wifi was a little spotty at times but that can be expected for being in the middle of nowhere. Overall, a great experience. The cabin was cozy, clean, and (mostly) exactly as described in the post. I would definitely stay here again.
5.0 / 5.0
Great location
Very nice and fully-stocked cabin. Private, but close to highway and town.
4.0 / 5.0
Moonshiner Cabin
This property is absolutely beautiful. The location is secluded yet assessable to Byron City only a few minutes away. The only downside was the hot tub heater was broken and that was a big seller for us to stay, and the main floor bed is not comfortable. Otherwise, everything was easy to manage and a wonderful vacation spot!
5.0 / 5.0
Loved our Spring Break!
Everything exceeded our expectations. Ample of linens, everything available in the kitchen, the cabin was renovated and very cozy. Can't think of any thing negative about the property! The visitor manual was also filled with great information on nearby excursions, shops, and stores. The hot tub and fire pit were a great plus!
5.0 / 5.0
Girls trip on the AT
Quick response for booking with clear directions. Upon arrival the house number wasn’t visible from the road until we turned around. The cabin was very cute. The cabin set up was surprising since there wasn’t a lot of pictures. The beds upstairs were good for our girls trip. We each had our own bed. I couldn’t imagine another adult in the pocket bed. The hot tub was a welcome bonus for stay after hiking.
5.0 / 5.0
Romantic Mini Getaway
This cabin was perfect for us. We trailered a motorcycle here as some of our favorite place to ride a very close to this place. The ride up the driveway was a little steep , but we made it up without any problems. The property it self seemed very secluded. We enjoyed hiking Clingman's Dome as well the Loop of Indian Creek Falls, Tom Branch Falls and Juney Whank Falls, riding the motorcycle for hours around, but especially on the Dragon's Tail; hiking the Arch Rock, Alum Cave, Mount LeConte, traveling a little further on to Bluffs view then to Myrle Point (which took pretty much all day but was breathtaking!); and then finally enjoying the shops of Cherokee and Gatlinburg. We loved hurrying back and getting back to perfect cabin nestled in the woods. The hot tub was a perfect way to calm and relax especially because we were able to see the night sky filled with so many visible stars. Thank you so much for sharing your piece of heaven with us!
4.0 / 5.0
vacation
My family and I had a great time exploring Bryson and Cherokee from 8/14-8/19. Our stay at the moonshiner was clean and comfortable. We really liked it. The only negative was the outside/yard. The yard was very overgrown. The grass was so deep the kids couldn't play. They did have some good rains before we got there so we understood why the grass was deep. I text the property care taker 8/14 and was told it would be done Sunday 8/16. Sunday was perfect because the weather was clear and we rode the train that day. We got back and nothing had been done. Monday- nothing, Tuesday-nothing. No calls no nothing. Wednesday is our last day and we headed out late morning to longer grass than when we arrived. I was disappointed. Overall a nice place, but needs a caretaker who cares.
5.0 / 5.0
Peaceful and perfect.
Just what I wanted. The cabin was clean updated and private. No issues and close by to Bryson City. The quite setting was great. Would stay there again.
5.0 / 5.0
Me and my family loved the cabin so homey so peaceful and the caretaker was very nice and helpful
Nice clean..very way up in the mountains if that’s wat your looking for the view is very beautiful
5.0 / 5.0
Minutes from everything we planned to do on out weekend getaway
Our 1st night was a little rough. A storm come through and knocked out power for 1/2 the night. But our 2nd night was so much better. Its everything the add says. Easy to find. The bed down stairs is a little rough but the ones up stairs are great. We will definitely rent here again. The owner and property manager are very prompt to answer with any problems we had. We were able to do everything we planned and only a few miles to get there. The scenery is absolutely breath taking. It is worth the trip to stay here. Bryson City had fireworks shot off from the mountains which was 1 of my favorites. We look forward to staying here again.
4.0 / 5.0
Relaxing Stay!!!
10 minute drive to Bryson City. Plenty of activities within 30 minute drive.
4.0 / 5.0
Very cute cabin .... if you are looking to really be in the mountains, yes is the place to be.
Had a good experience overall, online listing states internet but we were unable to use, every attempt to log in will give us “incorrect password” message. we didnt really like that but overall well mantained clean and well supplied cabin !!!
5.0 / 5.0
Bryson City cabin
The moonshiner cabin and area were just what we were looking for. It is in a great location close to hiking, trout fishing, and small town shopping. The location is just a little ways off a highway but was amazingly quiet, tucked in on the side of a mountain. The caretaker was helpful and very quick to respond to my questions by text. The only drawback is that the main floor bed is a double and not a queen.
5.0 / 5.0
Clean and basic
Will be back would be just fine for the hubby and I
3.0 / 5.0
Neat cabin
Our family liked how the cabin was set up. It was great location. It was cost effective. There were two things we were very disappointed. There was not a hot tub for our stay. We wished they would have notified us that it was not going to be available. Then we had to make a big adjustment in our meal plans because the oven was not a regular oven. They need to have a cookie sheet or pizza pan that fits the toaster oven.
4.0 / 5.0
It was a cute cabin but the bed down stairs is very loud. You can not move at all with it making noise,definitely needs to be replaced.
4.0 / 5.0
Very Convenient Location
Pros : Great location! Great place for what we needed! Had all the amenities we needed! Board games and toiletries were a nice touch!
Cons : No doors to bedrooms so not ideal for non-family vacations. Master bed was a full and is VERY loud and pretty firm! Just rolling over will wake everyone in the house! Dirty dishes were left in the sink from the last guest.
We really did enjoy our stay and would choose this home again!
FAQs
How much does this cabin cost compared to others in Swain County?
The average price for a rental in Swain County is $263 per night. This rental is $106 less expensive than the average.
Is parking included with this cabin?
Yes, parking is listed as an amenity at Cozy log cabin near Nantahala rafting, Fontana Lake, Cherokee, Tail of Dragon. For more information, we encourage you to contact the property about where to park.
Is there a pool at this cabin?
We didn’t find pool listed as an amenity for this cabin. It may be worth double checking if a pool is important for your stay.
Is Cozy log cabin near Nantahala rafting, Fontana Lake, Cherokee, Tail of Dragon pet friendly?
Unfortunately, this cabin is not pet-friendly. Try searching again and filter for "Pets Allowed"
What amenities are available at Cozy log cabin near Nantahala rafting, Fontana Lake, Cherokee, Tail of Dragon?
We found 10 amenities for this rental. This includes air conditioner, kitchen or kitchenette, internet / wifi, parking, and laundry.
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