Is Retreat for Mountain Adventure and Relaxation pet-friendly?

Yes, pets are allowed at this property.

Retreat for Mountain Adventure and Relaxation Reviews, Deals & Photos 2025

Q: Where is Retreat for Mountain Adventure and Relaxation located?

Situated in the mountains, this cottage is 0.2 mi (0.3 km) from Pisgah National Forest and within 3 miles (5 km) of Moses H. Cone Memorial Park and Julian Price Park. Grandfather Mountain State Park is 3 mi (4.8 km) away.

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2/10 Terrible

Manuel C.

4 Jan 2019

Terrible

First ld like to say that I travel 100k miles a year and stay in no less Than 50 hotels:houses. I rarely ever write a review but this experience was so bad that I have to share or. I stayed at Graystone Cottage and since I arrived it was one problem after the other. I called every day to address an issue. Broken microwave,broken vacuum and finally token washing machine that was never fixed. My advice would be to stay as far away as possible from this site.

8/10 Good

Brittany B., Greensboro, NC, USA

9 Nov 2020

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

Lovely stay

While we had some reservations leading up to our trip, based on some recent negative reviews, we were pleasantly surprised. We did not find the precious negative reviews to be accurate, and it likely could be due to the somewhat cooler temperatures. We did not find any snakes, and the insect presence was low (we always assume there will be some on a wooded lot). The home was incredibly spacious and very comfortable. We thoroughly enjoyed having two living areas, so that our family could space out a bit. The views were insane - best we’ve ever had from our years coming to Blowing Rock. We look forward to returning to this vacation rental and would highly recommend to other vacationers! A few minor notes to Carolina Cabin rentals: 1) the half bath toilet leaked at the base; should be easily repaired and we simply avoided using that bathroom 2) the hot tub is a little too small for the size of the home 3) cleaning company could do a better job...still nothing offensive though 4) may not be anything that can be done, but internet was fairly slow

Stayed 9 nights in Oct 2020

10/10 Excellent

Andrea G., Ohio

20 Oct 2022

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

Beautiful Fall Views

You can’t beat the view! Would return again.

Stayed 3 nights in Oct 2022

4/10 Poor

David C.

16 Sept 2021

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, location

Disliked: Communication

Beautiful place with a snake issue and tone deaf property management folks

The property is fantastic - we loved the vibe, the views and more. The owners have done a great job restoring this special place. Unfortunately, the house is old and has open areas (not my analysis - words of the property management employee who came there) around the foundation that allowed a snake to literally come out of the wall in the downstairs bedroom while my sister and brother in law were in bed. We called the property management company who had no comprehension/ compassion of why we weren't comfortable having our family/friends stay in a bedroom with a snake. They simply put down a sticky pad to try and catch the snake which didn't work. When I asked for a discount on the second week of the visit - given that we weren't comfortable with having guests join us - they gave me a cavalier response of "that's common in the mountains" and offered me 1/2 of a one night rental fee off the total 2 week rental. Given that we couldn't invite guests there for a full week - and my wife wasn't super comfortable staying there period after the snake came in the house - they clearly don't have any understanding that most folks consider snakes in the wall a pretty big deal. In short, our vacation was compromised by a snake issue - and we ended up spending a week in a big house alone because no other comparable houses were available. Life is imperfect - I get that - but when paying top dollar you expect to receive first class service versus "suck it up" its the mountains and a concession of less than half of one night's rate. And I certainly hope they addressed the open areas where the snake(s) came in.

Stayed 14 nights in Aug 2021

8/10 Good

Peter A.

7 Jul 2021

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

Disliked: Cleanliness

july 4

Beautiful place, but not well cleaned

Stayed 4 nights in Jul 2021

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8/10 Good

jeanna s.

3 Jan 2021

4 Stars

If you are looking for a breathtaking view and location, this is the cabin for you! Upstairs is cozy and we enjoyed living room and wood burning fireplace. As a family of 6, we spent most of our time in this area. The sunrise and sunsets are everything. Pictures do not do the view justice...its absolutely gorgeous. I know this has been stated on other reviews, but the downstairs has a musty smell even with the humidifiers on. Also on other reviews the cleaning was brought up and I 100% agree. It needs a deep clean (appliances included) and possibly having a new service if the current one isn't doing a good job. I didn't enjoy coming from a long drive arriving to a place I needed to clean in certain areas to use and on top of it having to unload two overly filled dishwashers from the previous guests. Overall, we did enjoy our time at Graystone Cottage and the fact that we got a winter storm which resulted in so much snow made our trip just that much better.

10/10 Excellent

Valerie N., Loganville, GA.(Atlanta)

23 Dec 2020

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

Holiday Getaway

We had an amazing stay at Graystone Cottage! The place was very well stocked, spacious, and comfortable for our families gathering. Kitchen was large and fully equipped with anything needed! Breathing taking views, especially at sunset. Plenty of games, fire pit was nice for making S'mores, and the hot tub was nice also. Oh almost forgot the master bathroom, Amazing shower/ steam room, and can't forget the heated floors a great addition! No complaints from us, would absolutely rent the Graystone Cottage again in the future!

Stayed 4 nights in Dec 2020

6/10 Okay

Rachel S.

12 Nov 2020

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

Disliked: Cleanliness

Perfect Location

We were traveling with our family of five (three small children). The house is in a fantastic location with the best views! I called early to check about the possibility of checking in early so we could cook diner with the kids. We were not able to due to it still being cleaned. Upon checking in at 4pm. we arrived to the house not being cleaned at all. There were dirty towels and linens at the previous party left the place. We had virtually no cell phone signal at the property (take into consideration if you have Sprint). Once I was able to speak the property manager, they were very apologetic and said they would have someone there right away. They were excellent about communicating with us. We had to leave and came back around 8pm and the cleaning crew was still there. We were able to at least unpack, but the cleaners were there until around 9:30pm (it was pretty dirty). The property management ended up refunding us one nights stay due to the issue. They did their best to make the situation better, but in general the property does need a little attention. Just general maintenance (sink faucet is really loose). Overall it needs a really deep cleaning. We really enjoyed our stay after it was cleaned. The master steam shower was awesome, and the kitchen is very well stocked and fun to cook in. The views are just spectacular, and the location gives you access to all you need but you get to enjoy space and quiet! Fix the cleanliness issues and this property is 5 stars.

Stayed 4 nights in Oct 2020

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6/10 Okay

Richard R.

25 Oct 2020

Graystone Cottage Oct 2020 stay

To be clear up front, my family and I always look forward to this trip and we always love it. There were several things this trip that just bothered me and detracted from this trip. I'll outline them here so please feel free to reach out to me if you have any questions. 1.We arrived roughly 25 minutes early and one of the cleaning staff came out and told us that they need at least another hour and for us to come back. 2.It was clear after we settled in that the rug in the sitting room was never vacuumed because our socks were covered in dog hair after walking around the first evening. 3.The light fixture over the island in the kitchen visibly had cobwebs on it. 4.The restroom toilet in the kitchen area appeared to have been leaking for some time. 5.Someone prior to our arrival had broken one of the Tommy Bahama chairs on the lower deck level and did not report it. 6.Someone prior to our arrival was a smoker because there were cigarette butts on the lower deck. 7.Apparently the prior guest used ALL of the firewood and no one bothered to restock any for our visit. 8.Last but definitely NOT least, two gentlemen showed up by 0800 the morning of our departure and were running gas powered blowers. That was just not appropriate at all as we make this trip to relax and hearing those two blowers is anything but relaxing. Also, I had debris all over my car from it but even worse, my family felt like we needed to go ahead and rush out because they actually came onto the lower deck and were blowing off the leaves WHILE WE WERE STILL THERE! We pretty much felt like we were being run off. We'll have to do a lot of soul searching before booking our trip next year.

2/10 Terrible

Ameeta S.

7 Oct 2020

Liked: Check-in, location

Disliked: Cleanliness, listing accuracy

Beautiful views with too many issues

After being home for most of this year, we were excited to get away. This home was a huge disappointment. We wholeheartedly agree with Mitch P's review 8/23/20. We even found the dead snake! The house is in dire need of attention and we did end up spending our trip compiling the list of issues in daily calls with management. There are several health and safety concerns. The master bedroom has loose bulbs in the lamps - one lamp shade even has a burn hole. The main level wooden deck needs attention. One 8 yr old child in our group got a splinter - it was so deep we were unable to immediately take it out (luckily we managed to get it out after getting home). The home was dirty. When we arrived, the master toilet wasn't flushing (that was our first clue). Then we went downstairs and it was quite dirty - dust, bugs, cobwebs. Did I mention the leaking kitchen sink yet? Let's not forget the hot tub - which worked once during our trip. During covid you anyway are trying to stay away and here we had to have maintenance come a few times. It was less than ideal. The lower level screened in porch is very poorly maintained (like the deck above) with too many bugs. Unfortunately we required all bedrooms so a few toughed it out sleeping downstairs. Aside from daily insects (hope you don't have to go to the bathroom middle of the night - must love bugs!), there was a problem with the shower water temperature. It would change suddenly and mostly stay cold. In one bathroom and the sitting area, there needs to be better sealing of cracks (could be as simple as spray foam & clear caulk), as the stone features and drywall is probably where a lot of insects are coming in. The exterior is not well kept. The driveway and surrounding stone patio and stairs all have slippery moss. The driveway has a hole of missing asphalt and cracks. The trash cans are kept on the side of the house and are not animal proof (just some bungie cords). There is a trash & recycling center across the street which we opted to use so as not to attract animals. The above list is not all inclusive. There were other things, such as loose sink in the master bath, no locks on the bathrooms - not even the hallway powder room, several loose toilet seats, dim lighting, worn out furniture/cushions. While we do appreciate Carolina Cabin working with us to amicably resolve, we would have preferred to enjoy the experience we were expecting. Ultimately we ended our trip a day early.

Stayed 6 nights in Aug 2020

10/10 Excellent

Andrea G., Ohio

30 Sept 2020

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

Amazing view

We recently stayed at this property for a long weekend and had a great stay. The property has a beautiful view of the mountains and is located in a great location. Nice amenities and comfortable surroundings. We traveled with our two young children and dog. We would definitely return!

Stayed 3 nights in Sep 2020

6/10 Okay

Mike E., Cincinnati, OH

16 Sept 2020

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

Greystone

The house is very nice particularly the upper floor. It was very well stocked with kitchenware etc and there were lots of nice touches like games and books. The views from the deck were spectacular. We did however have a lot of issues with the lower level. It was not clean and there were a lot of spiders. The property managers were very responsive but even after the cleaning crew had been, there were still cobwebs in multiple places. That combined with the fact that there was only intermittent hot water downstairs resulted in us not using that level. We were fortunate as there were only three in our party. The local countryside was every bit as spectacular as we expected, the big surprise was Blowing Rock. It’s a great little town with some really good restaurants and interesting shops.

Stayed 7 nights in Sep 2020

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4/10 Poor

Mitch P.

29 Aug 2020

Pleasant home with problems

Carolina Cabins, I wanted to give you some feedback on our recent stay at Graystone Cottage. The view is very nice. The bedding comfortable and the kitchen has a nice design. There were, however, several negative issues. Flying insects, bugs, and crickets. The interior of the home, especially the lower level, is home to many undesirable pests. Centipedes are plentiful. Crickets are some of the largest I've ever seen. Ring snakes in the walls and plumbing. The lower level bathroom has a dead snake sticking out from the vanity light on the wall above the sink on the left. In that same sink, we had a live ring snake crawl into the sink bowl from the plumbing. I liberated it to the outdoors. No functional coffee makers. The kitchen features two unusable coffee makers. One we took the liberty of placing in the trash because rather than make coffee it leaked all over the counter. The other we left in place but two attempts to use it failed. It will make a cup or two, then clogs and overflows. HVAC noise in ceiling. When the HVAC engages there is a rapid thumping sound from the ceiling in the master suite (right above the bed) and also from the ceiling in the lower level. Imagine a muffled sound of a woodpecker, that's what it's like, only more persistent. I believe it is related to the fan when it engages. Master bath problems. The master suite bathroom has a very loose toilet seat. Hand tightening is not sufficient to resolve the problem. The leftmost sink in the master bath drips from the cold water tap. We turned off the supply on that side. Exterior dirt and hazards. The exterior of the home, especially the decks, need cleaning. The buildup of leaves, wood scraps, and dirt likely contribute to the problem of pests inside the home. The front porch area is especially dirty and home to many centipedes. The decks, especially around the front of the home and the steps leading down to the trash cans are dangerously slippery when wet. They really need a pressure wash to remove mold and mildew and then to be sealed. It appears the owner is an attorney, I believe they would recognize the potential liability of the hazard. I hope you can resolve at least some of these issues and avoid any negative reviews from future customers. Thank you, Mitch Powers 615-512-2952

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8/10 Good

David A.

3 Dec 2019

GrayStone cottage

We loved this cottage, the view was great, we really loved the secluded area. The cottage is well appointed and you really don't need to bring anything for food preparation or cooking. Great appliances. The beds are good, the only thing is that they are aging out, what I mean is that they have hills and valleys. My only complaint is that you advertise the wood burning fireplaces and wood heater, then when we get there and start reading through the welcome binder you are asking for donations when you use the wood. I feel like for how much we are paying for this cottage the wood should be included. I don't know how much you pay for a cord of wood but I pay 170.00 for a cord delivered and stacked. This is one reason that I rated it at a 4, plus there is always room for improvement (beds) .

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8/10 Good

Pamela k.

3 Nov 2019

4 Stars

Very spacious and well appointed. Outstanding views from many ares of the house. Very comfortable furniture. The only area of concern was the downstairs seemed to be on a separate water heater and apparently it is quite small as the hot water ran out quickly daily. We would definitely stay at this house again!!

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10/10 Excellent

Richard R.

17 Oct 2019

Oct 2019 vacation

Greystone Cottage was awesome just as it was last year. We love staying there and will probably do so again next year. I do have two suggestions for you. 1. You should provide more than one wash cloth per person. 2. Maybe just a little more attention to cleaning the deck. But in the grand scheme of things, those are small things and we are very happy and love Graystone Cottage!

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8/10 Good

John L.

23 Sept 2019

Spectacular views

The cabin was spacious and well stocked. The kitchen was amazing. The wi-fi was also extremely slow. Our stay was wonderful. The weather for the most part was great too. We love NC and especially the Boone, Blowing Rock area. We have been very happy with Carolina Cabin Rentals and will rent from them next time we book.

This review comes from a trusted partner site and has not been verified.

6/10 Okay

William C.

10 Sept 2019

3 weeks at Graystone Cottage

Inside house very nice. Hard to imagine why owners don't care for the grounds and entrance and surrounding acreage (which was one reason we opted to rent there). i personally cleared a way into the drive and parking area with tools borrowed from BR natives. Don't know whether I'll get a bill for interfering or a refund for performing long overdue maintenance. Considerable A/C noise/rumbling/knocking right over bed in master BR. Several light bulb out.

This review comes from a trusted partner site and has not been verified.

6/10 Okay

Wanza M.

18 Aug 2019

3 Sta

The downstairs level smelled of dampness and was dark as was most of the house. After the first two weeks we only had two people in the house. the porches, balcony, and patio had to be swept for debris. The patio had poison ivy growing up the railing and the furniture was dirty. The sunroom and the den were my favorite rooms. I also enjoyed the sauna and have decided to install one at home. The 5+ mile drive to Blowing Rock was the joy killer for me. We saw many deer and the morning we had two jump in front of the car made our decision to leave early. This was my fifth visit to Blowing Rock and I always rented a house in town as I love the town. I did not think the drive would be a problem as my friends call me a road warrior as no drive is too far if I want to go somewhere, but I hated US 221. We have a small dog which we walk 2 times a day, everyday, and the drive to Moses Cone Park became a chore. I woke several mornings with bites on my arms and lucky for me my little dog is always on the lookout for something that does not belong, He has a bark that says to me"you better look at this" and at home it can be a leaf in the pool, on one occasion a baby gator in front of the door, and at Graystone a slug or centipede. The view is spectacular but I need town. Regards, Gay Miler

This review comes from a trusted partner site and has not been verified.

6/10 Okay

Wanda M., Durham, NC

8 Jul 2019

A perfectly adequate rental

We've rented for years in B.R. and this is the most expensive rental we've had. While it was perfectly comfortable and big enough, I don't think it is worth what they charge. Also, we had some comments to make about the tidiness of the property. When we arrived EVERY SINGLE outdoor light had been left on and several in the cabin. Both dishwashers were full of dishes and we had to put them away. The outdoor area with the fire pit was untidy and someone had left beer bottles and lime wedges scattered around the area and they had tried to burn cans in the pit itself. We had to clean this area up as well as sweep the front porch which was full of debris. The cover was not replaced on the grill. There were dog hair on the carpets and dust bunnies around the bottom of the bookshelves. The door bell does not work, several lights are out on the main floor and powder room and master bedroom door don't close correctly. Finally, a window was open in the master bedroom bath area and two outdoor doors had not been locked. I think you need a new cleaning service. I expected more for the price we paid.

10/10 Excellent

Dwayne G.

20 Jun 2019

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

Heaven in the Mountains

Two years in a row and will be back again. Perfect Home and Perfect Setting.

Stayed 7 nights in May 2019

This review comes from a trusted partner site and has not been verified.

8/10 Good

Jennifer S.

16 Jun 2019

Wonderful Cottage, convenient to town and the Blue Ridge Parkway

Graystone Cottage is very well-appointed, and had most everything we needed for a lovely stay. The only exception is the mattress in the master bedroom. It is in dire need of replacement, and I would not consider staying at this cottage again unless I knew for sure the mattress had been updated. (I tried all the beds, actually, and all the mattresses could use to be replaced.) If you have back or neck problems, beware! Other than the mattresses, the cottage was comfortable, and the master bathroom was downright luxurious with the steam shower and heated floors. The location is great -- close to great hiking trails, and a short drive to Blowing Rock. We really enjoyed our stay!

This review comes from a trusted partner site and has not been verified.

8/10 Good

Michael J.

6 May 2019

very nice on the inside,

very nice on the inside, well kept & cozy, great view.

This review comes from a trusted partner site and has not been verified.

10/10 Excellent

Sallie B.

13 Nov 2018

Gray stone cottage

The views were fabulous, the house was well appointed and had everything we needed, it was a lovely vacation!

This review comes from a trusted partner site and has not been verified.

10/10 Excellent

Tina P.

2 Nov 2018

We thoroughly enjoyed our

We thoroughly enjoyed our stay at Graystone Cottage! The view is simply amazing!! We fell in love with this property immediately. The house is very well equipped, very comfortable and the decor is beautiful! I want this kitchen! I really don't have anything negative to say about this rental. Thank you so much for sharing your piece of Heaven with us! Looking forward to staying here again!

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