Secluded Cabin Overlooking Fontana Lake & Smoky Mtns NP

Interior
Fridge, microwave, oven, stovetop
Fridge, microwave, oven, stovetop
Exterior
Property grounds
4.9
Outstanding(189 Reviews)

House in Stecoah, NC

12 guests · 5 bedrooms · 4 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
Includes essentialsGarden, Pets allowed, Kitchen or Kitchenette and more

About this house rental

This 3500 square-foot, secluded cabin is ideal for your family getaway or a retreat with that someone special.

Fontana Cabin is located in Graham County, North Carolina, at the very end of a winding gravel road that takes you through a tunnel of trees before revealing a distinctive house perched on top of a bluff above Fontana Lake. The approach into the Cabin is through the main deck, where you will have a hard time resisting the pull of the breathtaking view of crystal-clear Lake Fontana and the layered Smoky Mountains behind it.

On all sides of the Cabin, you are surrounded by either our 4-acre property or Public Lands, so all you see looking outside of the Cabin is Southern Appalachian deciduous forest. The view from the deck, where you will want to take your coffee as well as all your meals and your naps, changes hourly, daily, and seasonally, calling you to leave your cares behind as you tune into the rhythm of Nature.

Inside, you will find 5 separate bedrooms and 4 bathrooms that will provide your group the space, comfort, and flexibility it needs to make the place your temporary home. The house was built in 1968 and has been updated over the years to balance the best of its vintage and contemporary features, including most recently with a full-scale update of the Cabin decor, linens, kitchenware, and other amenities in September, 2021, a few months after we bought the place in July 2021, and ongoing smaller updates since then.

The kitchen is fully equipped with a farmhouse table that seats six, with a second table for 6 outside on the covered porch if you want to eat outside or if you have a bigger group. Like the table, almost all of the wood furnishings in the house are unique, handmade from re-purposed and re-finished salvaged wood from old buildings in the region.

Given our remote location, we have Starlink satellite Internet instead of wired broadband, but we have enough WiFi capability throughout the house for ordinary computing and streaming. Our cell phone booster in the house makes cell service strong even though it is weak on the road up to the Cabin.

Our LAKE VIEW is awesome, but there is NO DIRECT ACCESS TO THE LAKE from our property. Fontana Lake is a 29 mile-long crystal clear lake that has more than 240 miles of almost totally undeveloped shoreline. More than 90 percent of the land around the lake is owned by the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, Nantahala National Forest, or the Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA), so development has been kept to a minimum (including at our place, where TVA owns the bottom half of the 200-foot steep mountainside between the Cabin and the lake).

The good news is that the lake is surrounded by forest and provides an inspiring backdrop to every part of your stay at the Cabin, but the less good news is that you have to leave the property to get to the lake itself. If you do want to access the lake to fish, boat, kayak, or canoe, , there are a number of boat launches and marinas on the south side of the lake where we are located, including the public boat launch at the Cable Cove National Forest Recreation Area 20 minutes from the Cabin, and at the Fontana Village Marina, right at the Fontana Dam, 25 minutes from Cabin. Please also know that if you are hauling a trailer or driving an RV, we have plenty of parking at the Cabin, but the road and driveway into the place are not suitable for long trailers or long vehicles, so it's best to check with us before booking.

Whether you are seeking hiking, biking, boating, fishing, scenic driving, nature photography, motorcycling, whitewater rafting, or vacationing, you will find a full array of natural destinations, quaint shops and the rich history of North Carolina's most remote county within minutes of the Cabin.

Smoky Mountain National Park - 30 minutes to Park Entrance from Cabin
You can see the Southern edge of the park just across the Lake from the Cabin, and can access it via the water if you are boating, but the driving entrance is just North of Bryson City and Cherokee.

Whitewater Adventures - 30 minutes from Cabin
The western North Carolina mountains offer some of the best whitewater rafting/paddling rivers on the East Coast. Nantahala River's Class I, II, and III rapids and renowned providers such as the Nantahala Outdoor Center provide the perfect place for the entire family to have a taste of this exciting sport. If you are hardcore, the Cheoah River has Class IV and V rapids during scheduled release dates.

Tail of the Dragon - 40 minutes from Cabin
Starting at Deals Gap at the Tennessee/North Carolina state line and featuring 318 curves in just 11 miles, the Dragon is considered by many to be one of the world's best motorcycling and sports car roads. Anyone looking for an exciting highway adventure--whether you are a rider or a driver--will enjoy this famous stretch of US 129. Even better, the road to there from our place is another great drive, called Moonshiner 28 or Hellbender 28 depending on who you ask. Combine it with Foothills Parkway in TN and the Smoky NP Park road, and people call that loop Hillbilly Heaven.

Blue Ridge Parkway - 25 minutes to the Southern Terminus from Cabin
Experience this world famous Parkway, including the Parkway's highest point, which is 1.5 hours away from the Cabin, just south of Waynesville.

Cherohala Skyway - 25 minutes to Eastern Terminus from Cabin
This is a shorter but less traveled mountaintop scenic highway with views and curves that rival the North Carolina portion of the Blue Ridge Parkway.

Appalachian Trail - access 25 minutes from the Cabin
The renowned Trail that bisects the entire East Coast goes through our area, actually crossing over Fontana Dam itself before heading into the Smoky Mountains National Park to the north and into Nantahala National Forest to the south.

Amenities

Air conditioner
Pets allowed
Kitchen or Kitchenette
Internet / Wifi
Fireplace
Parking
Laundry
Balcony or Patio
Dishwasher
TV
Garden
Family friendly

Map of Stecoah, NC

Reviews

4.9
Outstanding(189 Reviews)
4.9
Aug 2024
Great stay!! The location is remote, but that’s what makes it the perfect place to unwind. The view from the porch is AMAZING! The home is so well stocked, it exceeded our expectations. The kitchen had every tool and gadget that we could ever need. Thank you for helping us make great memories!
4.9
Jul 2024
The road leading to the house is winding and twisting and gives you an exciting expectation of what lies at the end. We finally reached the house and unloaded. This house has very well appointed rooms and the kitchen is well equipped with everything. We stayed in the very roomy master bedroom which had a new memory foam mattress on it that gave me the best sleep I’d had in a long time. My sister and her husband slept in the queen room. They were accustomed to a king bed but my sister was having back and leg issues and could not sleep downstairs. Her son, his wife and grand daughter slept up stairs. We appreciated being able to have our small dogs stay with us and they loved the porch overlooking the lake but we watched them carefully because we were concerned they might squeeze through the slats of the railing. Screening at least in the lower part would have been perfect to insure their safety. The weather did not cooperate with us, as it rained most of the time. We did enjoy watching the storms roll in over the mountains and the cloud cover. One day a rainbow appeared like we had never seen before. It was huge and so close. Listening to the sound of rain on the roof was wonderful and the frogs serenading us at night was great. We tried renting a pontoon boat at the very nice Fontana Marina but had to return after an hour because of the weather. The lake is so clear, clean and beautiful. Ingles grocery store had everything we needed and we did a lot of eating!
4.9
Jul 2024
Second time at the secluded cabin and ready to book for a third time! Robert's communication was again outstanding. Upon arrival, the cabin was spotless and well-organized. The kitchen is well stocked with pots/pans, dishes/bowls, utensils, etc.,and the showers/tubs are great. No words for the amazing view from the deck. It truly calms your mind and reminds you to slow down, relax, and breathe in the mountain air. For us, the best things about the cabin are the location/view and that it is pet-friendly. Thank you for another comfortable, peaceful and relaxing visit.
4.9
Jul 2024
We loved our stay at Fontana Cabin! It is a lovely home and very well appointed. The view is spectacular! Robert was great with communication and the whole experience went very smoothly. They aren’t kidding about the driveway being a twisty turny bumpy ride. We navigated it fine but did scrape bottom on our cars a time or two. We definitely recommend it and will likely return in the future.
4.9
Jun 2024
This property has a gorgeous view. The place was very well kept and organized. I'd recommend it to everyone!
4.9
Jun 2024
This home is beautiful. Plenty of room for all. Rented a pontoon and enjoyed several hours exploring Fontana Lake. Some of us chose hiking while others went shopping in Gatlinburg/Pigeon Forge area. Overall we had a great time.
4.9
Apr 2024
My husband and some friends of ours stayed for a long weekend and greatly enjoyed this home! It was very dog friendly but still very clean unlike some places we have gone to with our dog before. The host Robert was great with communication prior to our stay and posted very helpful check out instructions in his home that made everything very clear. The view was amazing and despite being more remote we had great internet access via WiFi.
4.9
Apr 2024
This place was by far the best vacation home we have stayed. The view was phenomenal. I would recommend this place to anyone. Will definitely be coming back. The owner was fantastic with communication. Three families and each of us had our own area. Perfect!!

FAQs

How much does this house cost compared to others in Stecoah?

The average price for a rental in Stecoah is $263 per night. This rental is $494 above the average.

Is parking included with this house?

Yes, parking is listed as an amenity at Secluded Cabin Overlooking Fontana Lake & Smoky Mtns NP. For more information, we encourage you to contact the property about where to park.

Is there a pool at this house?

We didn’t find pool listed as an amenity for this house. It may be worth double checking if a pool is important for your stay.

Is Secluded Cabin Overlooking Fontana Lake & Smoky Mtns NP 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 Secluded Cabin Overlooking Fontana Lake & Smoky Mtns NP?

We found 12 amenities for this rental. This includes air conditioner, pets allowed, kitchen or kitchenette, internet / wifi, and fireplace.

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