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Relax & Unwind at the Chestatee River Retreat! Pet Friendly & Near Wineries

Riverside holiday home with kitchen and balcony

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Property grounds
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Property grounds
Exterior
Exterior detail

Reviews

10 out of 10
Exceptional
5 bedrooms3+ bathroomsSleeps 12241.5 sq m

Popular amenities

  • Parking available
  • Dryer
  • Washer
  • Barbecue grill
  • Fireplace

Explore the area

View map
  • Place, Cavender Creek Vineyards & Winery
  • Place, Frogtown Cellars
  • Place, Wolf Mountain Vineyards

Rooms & beds

5 bedrooms (sleeps 12)

Basement Bedroom 1

1 Queen Bed

Basement Bedroom 2

1 Queen Bed

Basement Bedroom 3

3 Single Beds

Honeymoon Suite

2 Single Beds and 1 King Bed

Master Suite

1 King Bed

3 bathrooms, 1 half bathroom

Basement

Bathtub or shower · Toilet

Half on Main

Toilet

Honeymoon Suite

Bathtub or shower · Toilet

Master Suite

Bathtub or shower · Toilet

Spaces

Deck or patio
Porch or lanai
Kitchen
Kitchenette
Balcony
Separate dining area
Outdoor play area
Garden
Dining area

About this property

Relax & Unwind at the Chestatee River Retreat! Pet Friendly & Near Wineries

Dog friendly & convenient to local wineries!

We're located right on the Chestatee River near historic Dahlonega, Georgia.

Whether you're visiting the North Georgia mountains for a wedding, winery tours, one of our many festivals, admiring the fall leaves, a college graduation, a family vacation, or in hopes of striking it rich while panning for gold, we're certain that our home will be a place of rest and relaxation during your stay.

There's gold in them thar hills! Historic Dahlonega, Georgia, gateway to the Appalachian Mountains, is the site of the first major U.S. gold rush. Come pan for gold in the Chestatee river. This large home is located directly on the Chestatee just before the old Coppermines. It was recently renovated, and is ready for eager treasure hunters and vacationers. We have central heating and air with a ductless air conditioning system in the honeymoon suite on the top floor and we continue to make improvements each year to ensure our guests have a great experience!

This warm, inviting home on the river was built in 1997. It has five bedrooms, three and a half baths, two great rooms, and two kitchens. All the rooms have high ceilings including the ground floor. If you like vaulted wood ceilings and the heavenly sound and view of the river just one hundred feet off the covered back deck, this is the place to spend your vacation.

The upstairs living space consists of two suites, each on a different floor with their own private bathrooms, a great room, a dining room, a full kitchen, a half bath, and a covered porch overlooking the river. The master bedroom on the main floor has a king size bed and a full private bathroom. The honeymoon suite upstairs has an Amish king-size bed, a daybed with a trundle, a sitting area, a vaulted wood ceiling, and a full private bathroom. Guests with minor mobility issues can easily access the bedroom on the main floor (only two steps on the front porch). We also have a handicap shower/bathtub bench for the main floor master bathroom. The house is not handicap accessible although one previous guest with a wheelchair commented that she was able to get around the main floor just fine.

The terrace level (ground floor) has three bedrooms, a great room/kitchen combo, one full bathroom, and a patio under the main deck also overlooking the river. Two of the bedrooms have queen size beds. The third bedroom has two twin beds with a built-in loft for children.

In total there are two king beds, two queen beds, two twin beds with a built-in loft, and a daybed with a trundle bed.

The accommodations are perfect for two couples with children, large extended families, a girls, guys or couples retreat, groups attending a wedding (we get a lot), family and company gatherings and wine tour groups. The upstairs living area is also quite cozy if you’re looking for more of a romantic getaway or have a smaller group. The main floor and upstairs suite has an old feel to it even though the house is relatively new and it has an open airy feeling with high ceilings and lots of natural light from the windows. Several rooms have antique dressers and gold accents. For our larger groups, there’s easily enough room to park up to eight vehicles.

One of our favorite activities at the house is relaxing by the river with friends and family and roasting marshmallows around the fire pit.

Have you ever panned for gold? This house comes with several gold pans so your family and friends can come search for gold without ever leaving the property. Several guests have found gold right on the property.

There are many fun things to do in and around Dahlonega including outdoor sports like kayaking, fishing, hiking, mountain biking and golf. There are also a lot of great vineyards (Cavender Creek, Wolf Mountain, Three Sisters, & Frogtown to name a few nearby), restaurants (Bourbon Street Grille is our favorite for dinner or brunch), antique shops, arts and crafts stores, wildlife preserves, and festivals to explore. The Smith House is a historic family style buffet worth visiting. Lake Lanier is also only 30 minutes south of Dahlonega in Cumming and Gainesville.

Don’t forget to have your picture taken with our life-size wooden hillbilly, Jed! He’ll be out on the back deck with his moonshine awaiting your arrival.

Book this exciting vacation getaway… make your reservations now!

Lumpkin County Georgia Business License #3912 / Short-Term Rental License #005

There are smart doorbells installed by the front & rear entrances with audio and video recording capabilities for security purposes.

Add dates for prices

Amenities

Kitchen
Washing machine
Dryer
Pet-friendly
Free WiFi
Air conditioning

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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 0–17
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Events

No events allowed
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Pets

Pets allowed: dogs (limit 2 total)
Dogs only, rules & fee apply. 2 max per $100 fee.
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Smoking

Smoking is not permitted
Smoking is allowed on the deck and patio
Guest acknowledge the property is located on the river and swim at own risk.
Do not allow children on back deck or in river without adult supervision.

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
On-site parties or group events are strictly prohibited
Host has indicated that there is a carbon monoxide detector on the property
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

We should mention

This property does not have any lifts
A car is required for transport to and from this property

About the area

Dahlonega

Located in Dahlonega, this holiday home is in the mountains and on the waterfront. Lake Lanier and Chestatee Wildlife Preserve & Zoo reflect the area's natural beauty and area attractions include North Georgia Zoo and Mt. Yonah Book Exchange. Looking to enjoy an event or a game while in town? See what's going on at Yahoola Creek Tennis Center, or consider a night out at Tumlin House & Vineyard. Discover the area's water adventures with kayaking and water tubing nearby, or enjoy the great outdoors with hiking and horse riding.
Map
Dahlonega, GA

What's nearby

  • Cavender Creek Vineyards & Winery - 4 min drive - 4.1 km
  • Chestatee Wildlife Preserve & Zoo - 7 min drive - 8.1 km
  • Frogtown Cellars - 10 min drive - 13.2 km
  • Consolidated Gold Mine - 12 min drive - 15.2 km
  • Wolf Mountain Vineyards - 14 min drive - 15.9 km

Getting around

  • Gainesville Station - 32 min drive
  • Atlanta, GA (PDK-DeKalb-Peachtree) - 70 min drive

Restaurants

  • ‪Dunkin' - ‬14 min drive
  • ‪Chick-fil-A - ‬13 min drive
  • ‪McDonald's - ‬15 min drive
  • ‪Blue 42 Market - ‬15 min drive
  • ‪Whataburger - ‬14 min drive

Frequently asked questions

Is Relax & Unwind at the Chestatee River Retreat! Pet Friendly & Near Wineries pet-friendly?

Yes, this property allows dogs (limit 2 total).

What time is check-in at Relax & Unwind at the Chestatee River Retreat! Pet Friendly & Near Wineries?

Check-in begins at 4:00 PM.

What time is check-out at Relax & Unwind at the Chestatee River Retreat! Pet Friendly & Near Wineries?

Checkout is at 11:00 AM.

Where is Relax & Unwind at the Chestatee River Retreat! Pet Friendly & Near Wineries located?

This family-friendly Dahlonega holiday home is located on the waterfront, 2.6 mi (4.1 km) from Cavender Creek Vineyards & Winery, and within 6 mi (10 km) of Chestatee Wildlife Preserve & Zoo and Chattahoochee National Forest. North Georgia Zoo and The Historic Holly Theater are also within 9 miles (15 km).

Reviews

10

Exceptional

Reviews are presented in chronological order, subject to a moderation process, and verified unless otherwise labelled.
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Rating 10 - Excellent. 172 out of 180 reviews
Rating 8 - Good. 5 out of 180 reviews
Rating 6 - Okay. 3 out of 180 reviews
Rating 4 - Poor. 0 out of 180 reviews
Rating 2 - Terrible. 0 out of 180 reviews

9.6/10

Cleanliness

10/10

Check-in

10/10

Communication

10/10

Location

10/10

Listing accuracy

Reviews

10/10 Excellent

Lisa M.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Beautiful home with lots of room and everything you could possibly need for vacation. Also loved the outdoor areas.
Stayed 4 nights in Aug 2025

10/10 Excellent

Amanda

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
This house was perfect for our stay! We were in town for a family wedding, and my brothers family and my family needed a place where we could rest and spread out our mostly teenage kids. The house was just as described, and may be the best equipped VRBO I’ve ever stayed in. The owner was communicative, and we had a great stay. We were perfectly situated between Dahlonega and the cute little farm where the wedding took place. The kids enjoyed playing in the creek and I loved having my morning cup of coffee while enjoying the calming sounds of nature. If we are ever back this way we would not hesitate to stay here again!
Stayed 2 nights in Sep 2025

10/10 Excellent

Betty B.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
The house was located on Chestatee River where we enjoyed fishing (brought our rods) and panning for gold (supplies provided). The fire pit and chairs were enjoyed while sitting by the river and eating the provided s'mores fixings. Thanks! The screened in deck and porch provided a relaxing place to also enjoy the river - loved the swing. The spacious home provided the living space with bedroom sizes and the number of bathrooms which were perfect for our family. The shower chair was appreciated and helped with my mobility issues. We appreciated that it was pet friendly. We had issues with the dishwasher on the weekend and the host said that he would address this issue as soon as he could schedule a repairman which happened after our departure. All he could do at the time. He was prompt to respond to our texts which we appreciated and even texted a few times to bring us up to date about the dishwasher after we had left.We had a wonderful visit and made many memories with our family while at this beautiful location in the North Georgia mountains. Thank you!
Stayed 5 nights in Oct 2025

10/10 Excellent

JAMIE C.

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

Great weekend

Everything was perfect
Stayed 2 nights in Dec 2024

10/10 Excellent

Makisha G.

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

Serene and Calm

Truly enjoyed just gazing and listening to the river. Definitely would like to go back.
Stayed 1 night in Nov 2023

10/10 Excellent

Erin H.

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

Family Reunion- Girls Trip

Mitch was an excellent host and very prompt to answer any concerns. The property was enough room for all of us to visit and have our own space too! The location on the riverside was the best part, Mitch had firewood and smores waiting for our arrival. Parking was tricky as the driveway is very steep but if you drive around to the back of the house it is nice and flat for parking and entering from the rear entrance. Great location!!
Stayed 5 nights in Oct 2024

10/10 Excellent

Tami R.

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

Perfect location!

We stayed here on a girls trip. The accommodations were exactly as described. House was clean and well organized. Everything worked. Our favorite places were the back porch (the swing is amazing!) and the fire pit. Check in and check out were super easy. The host was readily available, but we had no issues. We hope to stay here again, and stay for longer.
Stayed 2 nights in Oct 2024

10/10 Excellent

Anthony N.

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

Nice property

As described. Nice place in river
Stayed 3 nights in Nov 2019

10/10 Excellent

Syd P.

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

Wonderful family get together

Great experience, wonderful large home and such a relaxing river area to sit with family and enjoy. We all had privacy as well, as the house was so spacious. The entire family was very happy. Thank you, we hope to return.
Stayed 3 nights in Nov 2022

10/10 Excellent

Allison L.

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

Family Time

We had a wonderful time at the cabin! We fished in the river and sat by the fire pit. We had plenty of room with all the bedrooms. So glad we picked this cabin to stay in! We would definitely pick this cabin for another trip:)
Stayed 3 nights in Aug 2020

10/10 Excellent

Bill F., Tallahassee, Florida

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

A perfect house and location for a family reunion

This place certainly exceeded our expectations! It had everything we needed and was very clean. We’ve stayed at many rentals but this one wins the best stocked kitchen award! Everyone really enjoyed the screened porch with rocking chairs as we listened to the River. I’d certainly recommend Chestatee River Retreat to anyone.
Stayed 7 nights in Jul 2022

10/10 Excellent

Nancy A., Orlando, FL

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

Relaxing time on the river

We had a great time relaxing on the river and floating in our tubes. I think the dogs had as much fun as we did. The town of Dahlonega is adorable and had some great restaurants. Also enjoyed coffee on the back porch and listening to the river!
Stayed 4 nights in Jul 2022

10/10 Excellent

Buz M., ALPHARETTA

Great getaway right on the Chestatee river

Nice quiet secluded location with everything you need. Lots of room and very comfortable. We enjoyed the fire pit next to the river. Centrally located for getting to Dahlonega, Cleveland, Helen, and all the many spots in the north Georgia mountains. We will come back.
Stayed 3 nights in Jan 2019

8/10 Good

Tammy C.

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

Wonderful spaces for family

While there, we didn't have time to use any of the outdoor spaces for fun and relaxation and even the indoor space wasn't used much as we were all in town for a wedding. We would like to come back and take advantage of the relaxation I see this property offers!
Stayed 3 nights in Aug 2022

10/10 Excellent

Gail E.

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

Great vrbo for family gathering

We had a family Christmas weekend. The house is fabulous large, right on the river, and close to downtown. Enjoyed the parade and local festivities. Will book again in the summer to do hiking and rafting. A 10 for rating thanks mitch
Stayed 3 nights in Dec 2019

10/10 Excellent

Verified traveller

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

Happy Bride!!

I booked this cabin to give my wedding party a place to stay and to have space for the girls to get ready for the big day. We couldn’t have been more pleased! Lots of space, lovely river view, and big living space made it an easy place to relax and get ready. Highly recommended- we hope to come back!
Stayed 2 nights in Oct 2023

10/10 Excellent

Timothy R.

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

Georgia Adventure

We wanted a fun adventure for our family. So, we decided to go gold panning and Bigfoot hunting. We found both! Thank you, Mitch, for sharing your families get away with mine. We had a great vacation enjoying the river and fire pit. It was just what we needed.
Stayed 4 nights in Aug 2022

10/10 Excellent

Judy S.

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

Girls weekend

We had a great weekend staying in this lovely cabin on our annual girls trip! Looks just like the pictures. Had everything we needed, very comfortable and plenty of space plus more for 7 of us. We loved the location, quiet and secluded but not too far from the heart of Dahlonega. The serenity on the porches and listening to the creek below was heavenly. The owner was great! Very responsive to answer if we had a question or needed help. We’d definitely stay here again!
Stayed 3 nights in Nov 2021

10/10 Excellent

Amiee K.

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

Best experience we've ever had

We pick a different cabin every Christmas to visit for a couple days in between the holiday and the New Year in this was by far the best experience we've had. The owner was beyond helpful in communications, the cabin was clean and ready when we arrived, everything was exactly as promised, the towels were fluffy and soft, and there were added touches like a smores kit when we got there as well as soaps and shampoos in the bathrooms, like staying at a Hotel or resort. We have never visited a cabin twice but are considering re renting this one because we enjoyed it so much.
Stayed 3 nights in Dec 2020

10/10 Excellent

N C.

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

Great

My parents, sisters family and my family all met here. It was a great stay! The seperation of floors made everyone happy to have a little of their own space. We were comfortable and happy. We sat at the fire one night and we all played in the river! It was so beautiful. My grandmother, who is 94, joined us for monring coffee and loved the porch and bird watching. There was something for everyone! The owners have thought of a lot of things to make the stay nice. We wished we could have stayed longer, but we were only in town for a wedding.
Stayed 2 nights in Jun 2024

10/10 Excellent

Melissa R.

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

Great Family Time!

We went to celebrate my mom's 70th bday with all her kids and grandkids. Perfect place to stay on the river. We had plenty of room for us all, relaxed on the porch with cups of coffee then wine at night by the fire. We made smores that were complimentary from Mitch the owner, who was wonderful at checking in with us and making sure all was ok. We went tubing on the Chestatee River, did a day trip to Helen the next day. We really enjoyed our stay here, would come back again for sure!! Thank you Mitch!
Stayed 3 nights in Jun 2019

10/10 Excellent

Jan P., Clayton, Georgia

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

Family Reunion/Mother’s Day

Our family loved our time at Chestatee River Retreat. The layout of the home was perfect! Adults enjoyed spending time indoors on large screen porch overlooking river and grandchildren loved roasting s’mores at fire pit right on the river. Bedrooms were comfortable and spacious for all my family. Mitch, the owner went above and beyond to make certain all our needs were met! If we could rate a higher score for this rental we would do so without hesitation. Definitely plan on making a return visit!!!
Stayed 3 nights in May 2020

10/10 Excellent

Scott W., McDonough

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

Son’s wedding

Excellent location along the Chestatee River. House was very spacious. Family down from NY, 10 total with plenty of room to spare. Love the house and area. If I had one gripe it would be the dirt road leading to the house. I make this statement because I had a 15 passenger van( it made for a sporty drive) for the wedding. There was plenty of parking space down behind the property. Overall a wonderful place for family to gather.
Stayed 3 nights in Nov 2023

10/10 Excellent

Libba C.

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

The Perfect Retreat

Thank you for sharing your beautiful home with us! Everything was picture perfect! The house was so roomy, comfortable, clean, and overall just fantastic! The setting was idyllic! The view was spectacular! We so enjoyed sitting by the river and fire pit and just enjoying the quietness and the sounds of the river! The lawn area was perfect for setting up our Corn Hole game! The location of your home was so easy accessible to town and other venues! Thank you again for a most remarkable weekend trip! We will definitely be returning! Libba Clark
Stayed 3 nights in Jun 2023

10/10 Excellent

Carrie B., Charlotte, NC

Yearly getaway

Wonderful place to stay. We have nothing negative to say about this place. The house had plenty of rooms for the 8 of us plus our boxer. The fishing was great a couple of fish were caught and released, the fire pit was great to hang out by and relax. The a/c went out in the upstairs bedroom and Mitch was very quick to respond to my text and went above and beyond to make sure we were comfortable and to fix the problem without any inconvenience to us. He even provided some recommendations for places to eat. We all talked about making this house our yearly vacation spot. We loved it!
Stayed 3 nights in Sep 2018

About the host

Hosted by Mitch Lathem

Host profile image
I'm a happily married father, local real estate broker, nature and wildlife photographer, volunteer soccer coach, world traveler, outdoor enthusiast, adventure junkie, working for an international Christian missions organization.

I'm a native North Georgian. Born, raised, and currently living in Gainesville, just 20 minutes south of Dahlonega. My wife, Monya, and I met at Young Harris College in the beautiful Appalachian Mountains and then hung around Athens for a few years to earn our degrees from the University of Georgia. It was love at first sight. It just took her a few years to realize it. We got married in the fall of 2007 at Big Canoe, yep you guessed it... in the mountains. She went on to get her master's from Brenau University and is an elementary school teacher. She thinks she's smarter than me, she's probably right. She's certainly better looking.

Our team consists of our daughter, Adri (9), and our son, Adler (6). I always tell everyone, "we've done our part and created our replacements". She's compliant and contemplative, like her mother, and he's our little strong-willed explorer, just like his old man. We have the most gentle and loving Great Dane Lab mix named Sophie, a temperamental self absorbed cat named Coal, and a spastic rescue squirrel named Lucky.

My hair is quickly turning gray. It started at 17. I like to think of it as my pre-mature crown of glory. It's probably just hereditary. And yes, I was born with a beard.

Why they chose this property

There's just something about relaxing by the river, listening to the sounds of crickets chirping and water rushing around the rocks on a cool, crisp mountain night that really restores my soul. Whenever our family is looking for a moment of respite, we go to the mountains. It has always been a dream of ours to own our own place to retreat and we're happy to share that with you!

Languages:

English

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