Mother Nature creates beautiful Winter Wonderlands here in Madison County, NC. Several snow tubing businesses and the brand new Hatley Pointe Ski Resort are just a mile up the hill from the Cuckoo's Nest. Come play in the snow and explore the surrounding area.
Summertime is for rafting, tubing, zip-lining, fishing, and mountain biking. Don't forget s'mores by the firepit! Come and enjoy all that that Madison County, the "Jewel of the Blue Ridge," has to offer. If you have any questions after you read the property description, please don't hesitate to ask.
LOCATION: The Cuckoo's Nest is a 700 square foot cabin located at 3500 feet of elevation, just 4 miles off I-26 W (Exit 3 - the Wolf Laurel Exit). It is a beautiful 40-minute drive from Asheville up I26 W through Buckner Gap. Our house is located just a mile down the hill from the entrance to Hatley Pointe Ski Resort; it is 4 miles from an entrance of the Appalachian Trail at the NC/TN border.
RATE: As listed and is not negotiable.
*********ATTENTION WINTER RENTALS (NOV 15 - MAY 01)**********
We are in a terrific location for snow tubing and skiing (less than a mile from the house)! We are at 3500 feet. It snows often and we can sometimes get a foot at a time. To rent our house YOU MUST HAVE A LARGE VEHICLE (truck or SUV with some ground clearance) WITH 4WD. Our driveway is steep, gravel, with a switchback. Experience driving in winter weather is highly recommended.
PROS (you’ll love our house if you’re looking for the following):
Seclusion: peace, quiet, serenity, and privacy.
Wifi: Remote workers, rejoice! You have fiber optic 5G here. Bring your laptop and set up in the spacious office space.
Dog Friendly: Bring your fur babies with you! Plenty of sniffing for them to do here. Note: there is not a fenced yard, but we do have a tie-out by the firepit.
Wildlife: It is pretty common to see deer, rabbits, gophers, chipmunks, turkeys, owls, and hawks.
Great outdoor space: Gas grill; Hammocks for relaxing; seating area by the large firepit; amazing stargazing (zero light pollution); birdwatching; dogs welcome!
Nearby activities: Trout fishing (right down the street along the hatchery supported creek); Appalachian Trail (Sam’s Gap access is 4 miles away); snow tubing (1/4 mile from the house); whitewater rafting; skiing (Hatley Pointe Ski Resort); snow tubing; panning for gemstones; Mt. Mitchell; Nolichucky River tubing; Rocky Fork State Park; a plethora of delicious restaurants and breweries in the surrounding areas.
Fresh, ice-cold, spring water straight out of the tap (from the spring on the property.)
Lots of books, board games & card games, & bluetooth speaker waiting for your playlist.
CONS (you should definitely NOT rent our house if the following is important to you):
Video games. There is no gaming system of any kind.
Uber / Lyft: It is difficult to get service to this area.
We do not have get local cable TV channels. We have a 36” Smart TV with built in streaming services/apps.
We do not have a dishwasher.
We do not have a bathtub (only a shower).
NO cats or ferrets allowed.
NO PARTIES allowed (due to small septic system).
A vehicle with ground clearance is recommended for our steep gravel driveway - think SUV / Crossover/ Truck. (Yes, that means you WILL bottom out your Corvette). Also, YOU MUST HAVE A 4WD VEHICLE TO STAY HERE IN THE WINTER.
Well.....if you are still reading, great! Our house is your house!
We are constantly improving the Cuckoo's Nest with your comfort in mind. Here are the latest improvements:
New in 2023: Adjustable work desk (standing/sitting) with LED " light; Fiber Optic high-speed WiFi; 10" cooling comfort gel memory mattress for the daybed.
New in 2022: Stainless steel 5-burner convection oven with air fryer features; stainless steel refrigerator with ice-maker; stainless steel overhead stove vent with light; also, re-graded driveway and added gravel
New in 2021: Dual Mini-split system in the living and bedroom for 100% climate control; new hot water heater; new shower head; interior paint; 8" queen sized Tempur-Pedic mattress.
New in 2020: Roof; microwave & toaster oven; washer & dryer.
The kitchen is fully stocked with all you may need to cook with; all linens are provided.
Here are more details:
There is a dining table and chairs inside for cold winter nights, but in all likelihood, you will enjoy all your meals at the dining table on the large screened-in porch. The porch has festive lights and a hammock during the summer. It is a great spot to listen to the sound of the waters of Puncheon Fork Creek across the road, or for bird watching.
There is a queen-size captain's bed (dresser drawers underneath) in the bedroom with 4 pillows, a comfy mattress, and extra quilts for chilly evenings.
The bathroom has plenty of natural light (skylight), towels, and a hairdryer. Please note that while we do have a shower with a glass door, we DO NOT have a bathtub. If you are a big person (over 6') you are going to find the shower to be a bit small.
In the living room, we have a 36" flat-screen Smart TV (you can choose from a variety of local channels + movie channels or log into your Netflix or Prime accounts, etc.), high-speed Wi-Fi, and landline from which you can make local calls. We also have loads of area maps, flyers, magazines, etc about the area. If you like to play games, we have Trivial Pursuit, checkers, chess, Yahtzee, Uno, dominoes, and Texas Hold Em poker, and more -- have fun!!! If you like to read, there is sure to be a novel on the shelf that strikes your fancy. There are lots of movies (75+ DVDs) to watch, too.
In the living room, there is a day bed (twin mattress) with a pull-out trundle underneath (another twin mattress). The trundle pops up and is on a rolling frame so you can put it wherever you want or make up the two twins together to form a queen.
We have a laundry closet with a washer and dryer that you are welcome to use -- because kids + dogs = muddy : ).
We are dog-friendly, too! There is a tie-out next to the firepit if your pooch tends to wander. Your dog will enjoy sniffing around the backyard area. Please note: We have 3 acres and it is NOT fenced. Our neighbors have a variety of livestock and dogs….keep your dog with you at all times.
We have a large fire pit in the backyard (and a wood stove inside for the winter). You can bring your own firewood to roast marshmallows on your campfire, or you can have firewood delivered for $30/day. ***Please let us know when you make your reservation so we can order the firewood delivery in advance*** The stars and constellations that you can see on a clear night are just breathtaking.
Two final notes that are important....
Our cabin is located in a "dry" section of Madison County. That means if you want to purchase any beer, wine, or liquor for your vacation, you need to do so in Asheville, Weaverville, or Mars Hill. Once you pass Exit 11, there is no alcohol for sale.
Finally, if you are considering a winter getaway to ski or snow tube, the magical winter wonderland that you will find at the cabin will not disappoint you. HOWEVER, you MUST have a 4WD vehicle!!! Our driveway is steep and is a gravel drive. It is not uncommon to get more than a foot of snow and have it last for a week or more. Icy conditions make navigating the drive extremely challenging (but once you get down to the road, it is plowed regularly!). Also, please be aware that there are frequent power outages in the winter. Most only last a few hours and aren't a big deal - as long as you have firewood!
If you have any further questions about our property, please don't hesitate to ask. We're happy to make local recommendations.
