Hemlock Cottage Mountain Retreat & Sanctuary 15 minutes from Asheville, NC

Hemlock Cottage is nestled on an acre of land, on a mountainside in Swannanoa halfway between Asheville and Black Mountain, NC near the Shope Creek Trailhead and Bee Tree Reservoir. Relax and enjoy the waterfall views and sound from the front porch. All of the attractions Asheville has to offer are just a ten-minute drive while hiking and outdoor fun are right out the front door. The Blue Ridge Parkway is an easy drive as well as nearby Montreat for hiking and year-round fun. Warren Wilson College is just a short drive down the road. You do not need a 4WD vehicle to access Hemlock but you do need to pay attention as the road curves and bends as you ascend the mountain.

Hemlock Cottage is a two-bedroom one-bathroom 750 sq. ft. stick-built home that was renovated from the ground up in 2015 by our family. Hemlock is not new to the vacation rental scene though we are now advertising across multiple platforms. Hemlock Cottage got its name from the beautiful Hemlock wood that is exposed in the home as rafters and trim. The structure of the home is poured concrete block with metal siding on the exterior. The home is well insulated and is heated and cooled by a mini-split system. The king bedroom has a wall-mounted electric fireplace for supplemental heat and ambiance. The flooring is all beautiful hardwood with slate tile in the bathroom.

With two bedrooms, a comfortable couch that converts to a full size bed and one full bathroom, Hemlock Cottage can sleep up to 5 guests. One bedroom has a double pillow top king bed, while the other has a cozy Queen bed. Both bedrooms have a door that allows you to step right outside-either on to the front porch or to the back area with a fire pit. We have thought of everything so that you can truly relax while you stay at Hemlock Cottage. The beds are dressed in fine linens and there are tons of cotton towels in the bathroom. Unlike some vacation rentals, you won't need to bring any linens. We even have the linens for turning the couch into a bed, stored right under the couch for easy access.

One of our favorite things about Hemlock Cottage is the Clawfoot tub in the bathroom that sits just below a huge window with a view to the forest above you. It is pure bliss. The tub is original to the home and has been refinished for your soaking pleasure. With a tankless/endless hot water heater, you can soak all day long if you choose. The bathroom also has plenty of storage area. There is a single vanity and sink along with a modern low-flush toilet. Enjoy the cotton towels we provide as well as hand soap and a few rolls of septic-safe TP.

Don't let the size of the kitchen fool you! The space has been well thought out to include everything you will need, from making a cup of coffee to cooking up a gourmet meal. The gas-range is stainless and even has a professional hood above. The full-size refrigerator and freezer allow for plenty of room for your food stores. The countertops are butcher block and the antique farmhouse sink makes hand-washing dishes easy. We opted to leave out a dishwasher so there would be more cabinet space. Within the cabinets you will find everything you need: high-end cookware, baking dishes, measuring cups, silverware, kitchen utensils, placemats, cloth napkins, coffee pods from a local roasting company, a Keurig Duo for both drip and K-cup coffee, a stove-top espresso maker, a milk frother, basic herbs & spices, herbal tea, creamer and more. We provide your initial roll of paper towels, trash and recycling bags (with weekly trash pick-up), plenty of dish soap and earth-friendly cleaning supplies (just in case). You won't be disappointed.
While Hemlock is indeed an escape from the fast-paced modern world, we do have the luxuries necessary to do business if needed. We have high-speed internet with wifi access, a large smart TV in the living room where you can stream anything your heart desires from music to movies. Or, if you need to work from a laptop, the wifi provides just what you need (speed and consistency). If you need to do any laundry, there is a stackable washer and dryer tucked away in a corner of the living room (behind the curtain). During the day, the house is filled with light through the windows and double glass entry doors. The overhead lighting is LED and is in abundance. There are ceiling fans in the bedrooms and living room. The kitchen table has drop leaf sides and can expand to comfortably fit five.

No matter what your travel plans include. there is always time to sit on the porch of Hemlock Cottage and watch the sunset over the Blue Ridge Mountains. We have a grill for cooking, a chimera wood-burning fireplace out back to enjoy and many places to Forest Bathe to reset your nervous system and rejuvenate your body and soul.
Hemlock can sleep up to 4 adults and one child in our two beds and convertable couch.

With one bathroom on a septic system, we do not rent to parties over 4 adults (plus one child) as it is more important for us to maintain our home properly than rent it 24/7. We also ask that the primary renter be over 25 and be there the entire time the home is rented. At this time we are not pet friendly. We ask that you observe the wildlife but not engage with it as this is truly their home. We have video survelience of the outside of the home only, but the cameras are turned OFF entirely once you confirm you have arrived. We deeply respect your privacy. The home is "smart" in several ways with a Google Nest Hub tablet mounted in the kitchen in case you need to look up a recipe or directions to the nearest hike. It also allows you to control the Google speaker in the living room for "surround sound". Connect with your phone and you can stream music from there as well.