Well, it literally is staying at Grandpop's cabin in the woods. We found "Pop's Place" to be very special retreat for a week of family fun in the WNC mountains. Pisgah Forest & Downtown Brevard are about 10 minutes away, Biltmore House & downtown Asheville are about 20 in the other direction. There is a lot to do in the area when you aren't hanging out on the deck. Casting to trout right outside the dining room door is a good start.
The property definitely has it's quirks, but they are easily outweighed by it's history & charm. The place is pretty much hand built and was obviously a labor of love for several decades. There are numerous family photos, momentos, and notes on the walls that reinforce the fact that this is a home, not just a house.
A few caveats to keep in mind...
- If you would rather stay in a shiny, new condo or hotel.... do that. This is different. If you like to camp, you'll love this place.
- If you have a toddler or two you should probably wait until they are older before you stay here. The dock is as protected as much as it can be, but it's still open to deep water in a couple places.
- Elementary & Middle school age kids will have a blast once they put their devices down. Sliding Rock, Moore's Cove & Looking Glass Falls are a short drive away.
- There is a neighbor that apparently lives full-time on the other side of the pond. Do respect their privacy. I assume that they've stocked at least some of the fish in the pond, so practice "catch & release" as much as possible.
- The "crooked little house" description refers to the floors. You aren't drunk, the building has settled and the floors do drop off in multiple directions. It's a bit disorienting, but you do get used to it.
- If you actually are drunk, you probably haven't made it up the driveway. It's is almost a half mile long, mostly un-paved and not for the impaired or the meek of heart. I enjoyed it, my wife, not so much. You don't need 4WD but I don't think I'd try to do it in a Miata.
- Assuming two people share the king size bed in the master bedroom, the place easily sleeps five, six if two share the full size bed in the 2nd bedroom. It's one tub/shower in the downstairs bathroom that limits the capacity.
- The upstairs is pretty much "kid sized" the stairs are narrow & the ceilings are low. Our teenaged daughter enjoyed hanging out, reading in the upstairs sitting area.