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A haven in the mountains by the Swannanoa river

Photo gallery for A haven in the mountains by the Swannanoa river

Exterior
Exterior
Living room
Living room
Dining area

Reviews

9.6 out of 10
Exceptional
2 bedrooms2 bathroomsSleeps 4111.5 sq m

Popular amenities

  • Onsite parking available
  • Kitchen
  • Washing machine
  • Air-conditioning
  • Firepit
  • Deck or patio

Explore the area

View map
Swannanoa, NC
  • Place, Holden Visual Arts Center
    ‪3 min drive‬
  • Place, Blue Ridge Parkway Visitor Center
    ‪8 min drive‬
  • Place, Blue Ridge Parkway Asheville Entrance
    ‪8 min drive‬
  • Airport, Asheville, NC (AVL-Asheville Regional)
    ‪23 min drive‬

Rooms & beds

2 bedrooms (sleeps 4)

Bedroom 2

1 Double Futon and 1 Single Bed

Master Bedroom 1

1 Queen Bed

2 bathrooms

Guest/ Home Bathroom 2

Bathtub or shower · Bathtub · Toilet

Master Bathroom 1

Toilet · Shower only

Spaces

Deck or patio
Kitchen
Dining area

About this property

A haven in the mountains by the Swannanoa river

Curious about what makes the Asheville city and mountain region so weirdly wonderful? Live like a local and find out for yourself in our fully furnished house that we lovingly call the "Bee tree hive"! This home comfortably blends modern conveniences with historic charm.
The home was built as a farm house that has been fully remodeled and borders acres of farm land, pastures and the river in the back. It is located next to a public park with 2 fishing lakes and miles of hiking trails by the Swannanoa river. The next shopping center is only 2 minutes away. Downtown Asheville is about a 10 minute drive away!

Asheville is called Paris of the South for a reason- it is a metropolitan paradise that celebrates human culture in the form of arts, music, dance, poetry, theater and night life! Asheville is known to have restaurants for any taste as well as over 50 microbreweries and tasting rooms that gave this town the title of "Beer city USA".

The Bee Tree Hive is the perfect home away from home! Perfect for a family vacation or romantic getaway and conveniently located with easy access to Interstate 40 and Black Mountain (7 minutes). The property joins a large river in the backyard and features river access with fishing and several bonfire pits to relax and enjoy the serenity of pure nature!
The Bee Tree Hive has been recently updated with many new features. It is fully furnished with everything you might need. It also features a book and DVD collection for your entertainment as well as streaming internet and Netflix TV.

The house features a newly added deck facing the sunny side to the South. From here you look over green meadows with trees in front of the river. On the meadows live two Highland cows from Scotland. They are busy keeping the grass cut and maintained. They are very friendly, tame and curious!

The property also features one of the largest mineral collections in the area. Hundreds of quartz boulders with inclusions of mica and granite have been hand selected in a local quarry and used for landscaping by the river. At the moment of this writing there are 85 tons. The beautiful Swannanoa river can be reached over a short trail. There are many secluded places to relax and to unwind.

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House Rules

Check in after 4:00 PM
Minimum age to rent: 25
Check out before 11:00 AM
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Children

Children allowed: ages 3–17
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Events

Events allowed: family gatherings
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Pets

No pets allowed
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Smoking

Smoking is not permitted

Important information

You need to know

Extra-person charges may apply and vary depending on property policy
Government-issued photo identification and a credit card, debit card or cash deposit may be required at check-in for incidental charges
Special requests are subject to availability upon check-in and may incur additional charges; special requests cannot be guaranteed
Parties and events (including family gatherings) are allowed on site. Maximum attendees: 8
Host has not indicated whether there is a carbon monoxide detector on the property; consider bringing a portable detector with you on the trip
Host has indicated that there is a smoke detector on the property
Safety features at this property include a fire extinguisher, a first aid kit and a deadlock

About the area

Swannanoa

Located in Swannanoa, this holiday home is near a water park and on a river. Travellers eager for a bit of culture can stop by Harrah's Cherokee Center - Asheville, while those wishing to experience the area's natural beauty can explore Blue Ridge Parkway Asheville Entrance and Biltmore Estate. Ready for a night out? Consider The Orange Peel and Grey Eagle. Make sure you get close to the area's animals with activities such as game walks and birdwatching.
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Map
Swannanoa, NC

What's nearby

  • Holden Visual Arts Center - 3 min drive - 2.4 km
  • Pisgah Brewing Company - 7 min drive - 6.9 km
  • Blue Ridge Parkway Visitor Center - 8 min drive - 11.4 km
  • Blue Ridge Parkway Asheville Entrance - 8 min drive - 12.4 km
  • Western North Carolina Nature Center - 9 min drive - 11.8 km

Getting around

  • Asheville Regional Airport (AVL) - 28 min drive

Restaurants

  • ‪Dunkin' - ‬3 min drive
  • ‪Burger King - ‬3 min drive
  • ‪La Bamba Burrito Express - ‬3 min drive
  • ‪Sonic Drive-In - ‬10 min drive
  • ‪Thirteen Pennies Cafe - ‬7 min drive

Frequently asked questions

Is A haven in the mountains by the Swannanoa river pet-friendly?

No, pets are not allowed at this property.

How much does it cost to stay at A haven in the mountains by the Swannanoa river?

As of 12 Apr 2026, prices found for a 1-night stay for 2 adults at A haven in the mountains by the Swannanoa river on 20 Apr 2026 start from AU$255, including taxes and fees. This price is based on the lowest nightly price found in the last 24 hours for stays in the next 30 days. Prices are subject to change. Choose your dates for more accurate prices.

How much is parking at A haven in the mountains by the Swannanoa river?

On-site parking is available at the property.

What time is check-in at A haven in the mountains by the Swannanoa river?

Check-in begins at 4:00 PM.

What time is check-out at A haven in the mountains by the Swannanoa river?

Checkout is at 11:00 AM.

Where is A haven in the mountains by the Swannanoa river located?

Situated on a river, this holiday home is 2.9 mi (4.7 km) from Pisgah National Forest and within 6 miles (10 km) of Pisgah Brewing Company and Chatlos Memorial Chapel. Swannanoa Valley Museum and Black Mountain Center for the Arts are also within 6 miles (10 km).

Reviews

9.6

Exceptional

Reviews are presented in chronological order, subject to a moderation process, and verified unless otherwise labelled.
Learn moreOpens in a new window
Rating 10 - Excellent. 22 out of 26 reviews
Rating 8 - Good. 2 out of 26 reviews
Rating 6 - Okay. 1 out of 26 reviews
Rating 4 - Poor. 1 out of 26 reviews
Rating 2 - Terrible. 0 out of 26 reviews

10/10

Cleanliness

9.6/10

Check-in

9.6/10

Communication

9.6/10

Location

9.4/10

Listing accuracy

Reviews

Verified

10/10 Excellent

Jackie T.

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

Sweet little stay

We so enjoyed staying here. Perfect little getaway. Loved exploring the property, the highland cows and the river. Wow. Can't wait to come back in the summer just to relax and enjoy the stay. House is perfectly appointed. Has everything you could want. Was too cool for us to enjoy the deck this time but would have liked to have some time sitting outside. RVs next door at storage business was not objectionable to us and just made the property even more endearing. We are glad we took a chance on this rental. Andreas is a gem and couldn't have been nicer! Until next time, we hope!
Stayed 2 nights in Sep 2022
Verified

4/10 Poor

Judith S.

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

Girls get away

First to see the mountains you had to look over all the RVs stored next door, the large river in the back of the property was a small creek. The couch in the living room was very old and uncomfortable. There was no cable TV only a DVD player. But the location of the property was a short distance to shopping and hiking.
Stayed 3 nights in Jul 2021
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Amy C.

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

Our Home Away From Home

This property suits our needs perfectly as it is clean, close to everything we need, fully stocked with almost anything you could want and Andy is so pleasant to talk with. This is our 2nd stay and we plan to be back in the spring. For us, this truly is our home away from home.
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Karen M.

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

Stay in Swannanoa

We had a great weekend experience. The house was delightful and had everything we needed. It was close to town and an easy drive to Black Mountain or Asheville. We also enjoyed being outside near the river and the park close by.
Stayed 2 nights in Oct 2019
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Mary M.

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

Our visit to Swannanoa

Quite homey and comfortable. Well stocked. very clean. Visitor's notebook was very educational and interesting. Lovely visits with owner, Andy.
Stayed 7 nights in Oct 2019
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Verified traveller

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

Picture Perfect Relaxation

This was a last minute decision to rent a vacation home and we couldn't have found anything more perfect if I tried! The land behind the house was so serene with several walking paths cut between the gardens to get to the river. The river was babbling away and sparkling with minerals, the edge is decorated with a stone wall and there are so many treasures to find! The house was perfectly appointed, we seemed to know right where to look to find everything we needed and rested well in its comfort. Andy is an amazing caretaker of the property, we are so happy to find this gem and look forward to returning again!
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Paul P.

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

Wonderful relaxing stay.

My wife and I, had a wonderful visit to the area. We needed some quiet down time, and we found it here. The host Andy, was a pleasure to meet. He gave us our privacy, but was just a text, or phone call away, when we had a question. He educated us on the 2 Scottish Highlander cows in the back pasture. You don't even know they are there, unless you take the short walk to the back of the property. To relax under the shade trees along the river, that borders the property. The kitchen was fully stocked, with just about any pots, pans, utensils, dishes, and glassware that you might need. The house was clean, the beds were comfortable. We will be inquiring about the availability, of this house, next time we are back in the area.
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Charles J.

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

The Bee Hive

the Bee Hive property is the bees knees! It is the best equipped property we have stayed at, It is homey but with modern facilities, lighting, bath beds, appliances, you name it. I am already wanting to book again for next year.
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Jessica F.

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

Great spot!!

We enjoyed our stay and would definitely stay again!
Stayed 2 nights in Jun 2019
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Voiteh Y.

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

Great vacation home and property

Hands down, one of the best vacation rentals we have stayed at. And we travel a lot! Below are some of the things that impressed us. Outside: 360 degree privacy, a nice wooden wrap around deck with a little bit of mountain views; big property with a lovely shady sitting area (equipped with two gongs, other percussion instruments and a swing) next to a beautiful creek; sweet mini cows. Inside: very spacious nicely decorated/renovated rooms, two full bathrooms, super comfortable beds, extremely well designed, nice and functional lights (like tons of lights!) in all rooms (one can read small print in every little corner of the house), well equipped kitchen, mountain drinking water. Owner: very friendly, a text message away from you, but does not violate your privacy in any way. Thank you, Andy!
Stayed 7 nights in May 2019
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Karen S.

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

Hidden gem along Swannanoa river

Andy was a wonderful host! The house was clean and cozy, perfect for watching a movie or snuggling up to a good book. The property was beautiful with riverfront access and two adorable highlander cows, Anka and Gunta! The location was idyllic with easy access to either bustling Asheville or quaint Black Mountain. The food in the area was fabulous with lots of fresh, local ingredients! Overall, it was a great vacation spot!
Stayed 6 nights in Jun 2019
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Amy C.

Lovely, homey place to stay!

We had such an enjoyable stay. It truly was a home away from home for us and completely met our needs. Andy is such a pleasure to visit with!! And the area is stunning!
Stayed 9 nights in Apr 2019
Verified

8/10 Good

john p.

Peaceful retreat

We enjoyed our time in the hive at Swannanoa. The cows and our host Andy were a plus. We explored and enjoyed the people in the area also. It was a peaceful retreat for us. D&j
Stayed 13 nights in Mar 2019
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Nancy S.

A reunion

Not quite the mountain cabin I expected, but the Bee Hive was wonderful. Despite the proximity to the road, we heard very little road noise.The kitchen is very well equipped, and we made good use of it:) Unfortunately we were there a stormy weekend, so did not get to enjoy the river or lakes..except on our way out. The cows are delightful, and we all enjoyed interacting with them. I did not meet Andy, but others did and said he is very friendly & eager to help.The eclectic decor was fascinating- always finding more objects. The Christmas tree lit added a festive atmosphere.. Thank you:)
Stayed 3 nights in Apr 2019
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Julie W.

Fun place to stay!

Andy’s house in Swannanoa was the perfect place for a fun weekend! It was the cleanest vrbo we have every stayed in and having the river in the backyard was wonderful! The two highland cows were adorable and just sitting on the deck in the late evening sun was so relaxing. It was close enough to Asheville for our Saturday meetings but far enough from the city that my husband could fish in the morning before our meetings! Andy’s knickknacks and welcome book made for interesting exploring and reading! I would definitely recommend others try this bit of paradise in Swannanoa !
Stayed 2 nights in Apr 2019
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Treva D.

Quiet and peaceful

We really enjoyed staying in Andy’s place. Everything was clean and in good repair. It is a beautiful area just out of the hustle and bustle of Asheville and close to the Blue Ridge. We enjoyed talking to Andy as well as walking around the property. Feeding the cows was a special treat. We would stay here again.
Stayed 2 nights in Oct 2018
Verified

6/10 Okay

Jan G.

Great location, quiet ...just needs a few things.

This property is SO close to being a solid 4 for me, but I just couldn’t give it a 4 unless a few changes were made. As you can tell by the pictures, it’s a bit of a throwback, casual mountain style place. It is as clean as a whistle, as quiet as can be and conveniently located for easy access to hiking trails or the city vibe of Asheville. We had a great time & appreciated Andy’s friendly demeanor and quick response to questions. Here’s where it could use a little help: the beds are both platform beds and one is very much like sleeping on a box, HARD. The other is very firm but slightly better and is doable. In my opinion both beds could really benefit from a 2 or 3 inch NovaForm mattress topper. Next is the master bathroom - no workable electrical outlet & not one hook or towel bar. There is a shelf unit to hold folded towels but nothing for a wet towel. I know there is a pocket door & that takes away some options for putting up towel bars, but there are several places where hooks could easily be installed. The electrical issue: you absolutely need a working outlet in a bathroom. There was only one outlet in the other bathroom, located in a very strange spot making drying your hair somewhat of a circus act! Since the pictures were taken lots of trinkets & rocks have been added making the place a bit cluttered or as some might say, giving it a lot of “charm”. I guess I also missed the fact that there isn’t any regular television available at the house, only Netflix. I truly appreciated the fresh eggs left in the refrigerator and the mountain spring water in the cooler.
Stayed 5 nights in Oct 2018
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Brian S.

Great place

I have stayed here a few times. Andreas always is a wonderful and engaging host. I would highly recommend this spot to others it has a peaceful feeling to it.
Stayed 2 nights in Sep 2018
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Ben B.

Wonderful Experience

My family's experience at Andy's place was wonderful. It is obvious that his property and the home are a labor of love and a commitment to quality. He has done a great job of updating the home while continuing to maintain the elements of its long history. The Swannanoa River on the property is a great amenity, as well as the two Scottish Highland cows. Although the weather prevented us from using the fire pit, it's there, too. The 2 BR (with three beds) 2 Bath setup is great for families. Modern appliances and a well stocked kitchen, bathrooms, three types of coffee makers (including a Keurig), and Black Mountain Spring Water really make the place well-rounded. Plus, there's a newly added deck with a new grill, tons of DVDs, and access to a Netflix account. The location is excellent, too. It's only about 10-12 miles outside of downtown Asheville and about 95% of those miles are along the highway, which means it's a very short and easy drive to everything happening in the city. It's also very close to the Blue Ridge Parkway. Overall, the location enables you to feel like a part of the community. If there's any room for improvement, perhaps TVs in each bedroom would be nice for some. That's subjective, of course. Overall, I highly recommend this property!
Stayed 4 nights in Sep 2018
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Anna H.

Loved It!!

We had a fantastic time on our trip! The house had everything that you needed. The kitchen was well equipped, large selection of DVD's and LOTS of books to read! Little extras that were provided made it even better! Andy provided us with a jug of spring water from Black Mountain, condiments in the refig., paper products, etc. Andy was super nice and so accommodating! My mom and I really enjoyed our conversations with him being we have mutual interests. The Highland Cows were also a big hit with my daughters! We will return on our next trip to the Asheville area! Thank you Andy!
Stayed 7 nights in Aug 2018
Verified

10/10 Excellent

cheryl c.

House with everything you need and huge property

We stayed at the Bee Hive end of July 2018. The house was as described by Andy, the owner, but it had much more inside than we expected. It was great to have the two bathrooms, and the new mattresses were in fact very comfortable for two people who have very fixed ideas of what is comfortable! There were plenty of pillows, bedding, and towels ,shampoo, and paper products and the kitchen with new appliances had a huge amount of things in it, we only needed to buy basic groceries. The lighting inside was varied with things like colorful mini lights and lots of table lamps, so you can get just the right amount of light or ambience. Everything seemed clean and in great condition, there is a new deck that is uncovered but has plenty of furniture and a brand new gas grill. The yard is very large, with a mowed way down to the river and sitting places at the river. A very short ride down the road you can go to lakes and a path that is part of the Warren Wilson property and hike in the woods there. On the property of the house, are two resident Scotland cattle, that I fed biscuits to though the fence. Plenty of parking is available, both in front of the house if you want only a few steps to the door , and in the side and back. The property is not far from Black Mountain restaurants and also a short ride to Asheville and the Biltmore House. I don't like properties that sit on high steep roads and hills, or driveways, but this house is easy to get to with low elevations and is not in an isolated area. Andy, the owner is very friendly and answers all questions promptly. There are many books and a huge numbers of DVD's that you can watch on the "smart" TV in the living room. The WiFi worked well here for our devices. I do recommend this house which has everything you need and more!
Stayed 7 nights in Jul 2018
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Diedre A.

Great place to stay

Much larger than I though. Great location and very well stocked. It was easy to cook meals without buying condiments, etc. Andy was a great host. Very easily reached. Clean and comfortable. The bed was particularly comfortable. We will stay here again.
Stayed 7 nights in Jul 2018
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Lisa A.

This house was perfect for our long weekend

The house was well stocked and very clean. We loved the deck! Very close to Black Mountain and Asheville
Stayed 3 nights in Jul 2018
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Brian S.

Great place

Had a great time, took some time to feed the cows and sit by the river. A lovely serene place.
Stayed 7 nights in Mar 2018
Archival

10/10 Excellent

Ann S.

Though very brief, my daughters and I enjoyed a very cozy evening!

Your mountain home was just as cozy and warm as we expected. We were surprised that the kitchen was so well stocked, the beds were comfy cozy, and the mountain atmosphere just as expected. The cows, though not quite as friendly as we expected, were quite a treat to watch although their attempt at being friendly made my daughter quite uncomfortable and she was the one that backed off. We hope to plan a longer stay in the future and would gladly recommend this nice haven in the mountains.

About the host

Hosted by Andreas (Andy) Otto

Host profile image
I grew up in the USA and spent 18+ years in Germany and France. I have traveled and lived in Mexico, Africa and throughout most of Europe. I studied communication design, photography and languages.
I live in East Asheville and work in the media field producing tutorial videos and designing web sites.

Why they chose this property

This property offers unique opportunities for recreation, relaxation and experiencing nature in its purest form. It is surrounded by many miles of hiking trails, lakes, creeks and rivers. All nestled within the oldest mountains in the world!

What makes this property unique

Close to Warren Wilson College, shopping options in the nearby towns of Black Mountain and Asheville, Blue ridge Parkway, Carp and Catfish Fishing lakes, hiking trails.

Languages:

English, French, German, Spanish
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