This property worked great for our family coming from VA, NC, PA, OH, and IN. We had 12 adults from 19 to 77 and everybody found a bedroom and bathroom that suited them (quiet/loud, early riser/late sleeper, private/shared) on three different floors. There would have been plenty of beds and bathrooms for more adults and kids without feeling crowded.
The two kitchens came in handy, and the rec room kitchen is close to the big gas grill that we used for one meal. And there were plenty of tables on the main floor, in the basement rec room, and outside for indoor and outdoor meals, games, puzzles, reading, etc.. The pingpong table and foosball table in the rec room were great and well used. We even had room to setup a music area in the rec room (small drum set, PA system with four mics, small guitar amp, 2 electric guitars, about 5 or 6 acoustic guitars, and assorted smaller instruments). This is a BIG house.
The hammock, lawn chairs (plenty of them), canoe, and hot tub were all used and enjoyed throughout our week. The hot tub especially is very large, seating 6 or more comfortably, sheltered from direct sun, and facing the lake so it was a favorite gathering place.
The house is easy to get to off both I40 and Rt 321 which are the major arteries in every direction, although it may be a bit confusing to find the first time. The lakefront location is very close to a marina where we rented a pontoon boat for a day and had a great time cruising on the smooth, quiet lake. Highly recommended--if we come back we'll make sure we rent a boat for the whole week. Even on the weekend we were there, the boat traffic wasn't heavy or fast, so it was easy to steer and dock the boat at the dock right in front of the house.
If our travels bring us back to Hickory, we would definitely rent this house again.
