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Relax in the Beauty of the Mountains and the Serenity of Waterfalls

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Photo gallery for Relax in the Beauty of the Mountains and the Serenity of Waterfalls

Exterior
Laughing Waters Lodge Buddy Morrison Photography
Property grounds
Handicapped Accessible Buddy Morrison Photography
Hickory Nut Creek in the Back Yard Buddy Morrison Photography

Reviews

9.8 out of 10
Exceptional

Popular amenities

  • Massages in spa
  • Balcony
  • Kitchen
  • Internet access
  • Air-conditioning
  • Refrigerator

Explore the area

View map
Gerton, NC
  • Place, CMLC Florence Nature Preserve
    ‪1 min walk‬
  • Place, Blue Ridge Parkway Asheville Entrance
    ‪19 min drive‬
  • Place, Biltmore Estate
    ‪27 min drive‬
  • Airport, Asheville, NC (AVL-Asheville Regional)
    ‪25 min drive‬

Rooms & beds

4 bedrooms (sleeps 8)

Bedroom 1

1 King Bed

Bedroom 2

2 Single Beds

Bedroom 3

1 Queen Bed

Bedroom 4

1 King Bed

4 bathrooms, 1 half bathroom

Bathroom 1

Bathtub · Toilet · Shower only

Bathroom 2

Bathtub · Toilet · Shower only

Bathroom 3

Bathtub · Toilet · Shower only

Bathroom 4

Toilet · Shower only

Bathroom 5

Toilet

Spaces

Deck or patio
Kitchen
Balcony
Garden
Dining area
Price is avg per night

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About this property

Relax in the Beauty of the Mountains and the Serenity of Waterfalls


We also give at least 3-5 days in between our guests to ensure safety for housekeeping and for upcoming guests.
This is a beautiful hand crafted lodge with its own private deck overlooking a beautiful waterfall on the cascading Hickory Nut Creek. The lodge is nestled at the base of Little Bearwallow Mountain next to 200 acres of natural forest with five miles of hiking trails. It is located only 25 minutes from downtown Asheville, NC in the heart of the incredible Hickory Nut Gorge. The lodge contains a great room/living room, kitchen, loft, four bedrooms, 4.5 baths, and a large downstairs room for yoga and movement. Laughing Waters is located in the Hickory Nut Forest Eco-Community. It is a very special place for a peaceful, quiet retreat in these beautiful sacred mountains! This area is still recovering from Hurricane Helene. Unfortunately, you won't be able to access Lake Lure right now.

WIFI We will do our absolute best to provide WIFI however this a wilderness wedding venue and sometimes coverage is poor.

Our Creekside Cottage located upstream from the lodge overlooks two waterfalls that sleeps two people and can be rented separately. (see listing #3565363)

House Rules

Check in after 4:00 PM
Check out before 10:00 AM
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Children

Children allowed: ages 0–17
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Events

No events allowed
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Pets

No pets allowed
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Smoking

Smoking is not permitted
You will be provided a key to control the thermostats in the lodge, please keep all thermostats within 2 degrees of each other on each floor
You will be provided with a blue key for the downstairs half bath, please follow rules closely posted on the wall above toilet
Follow wood stove rules posted by the woodstove

Important information

You need to know

Property # 3565781
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
This property uses some solar energy
Safety features at this property include a carbon monoxide detector, a fire extinguisher, a smoke detector, a first aid kit and a deadbolt lock

Frequently asked questions

Is Relax in the Beauty of the Mountains and the Serenity of Waterfalls pet-friendly?

No, pets are not allowed at this property.

How much is parking at Relax in the Beauty of the Mountains and the Serenity of Waterfalls?

On-site parking is available at the property.

What time is check-in at Relax in the Beauty of the Mountains and the Serenity of Waterfalls?

Check-in begins at 4:00 PM.

What time is check-out at Relax in the Beauty of the Mountains and the Serenity of Waterfalls?

Checkout is at 10:00 AM.

Where is Relax in the Beauty of the Mountains and the Serenity of Waterfalls located?

Situated on the waterfront, this lodge is steps from CMLC Florence Nature Preserve and within 6 mi (10 km) of Chimney Rock State Park and Hickory Nut Gap Farm. Chimney Rock Gemstone Mine and Chimney Rock Adventure Golf are also within 9 miles (15 km).

Relax in the Beauty of the Mountains and the Serenity of Waterfalls Reviews

Reviews

9.8

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. 31 out of 35 reviews
Rating 8 - Good. 4 out of 35 reviews
Rating 6 - Okay. 0 out of 35 reviews
Rating 4 - Poor. 0 out of 35 reviews
Rating 2 - Terrible. 0 out of 35 reviews

10/10

Cleanliness

10/10

Check-in

10/10

Communication

10/10

Location

10/10

Listing accuracy

Reviews

Verified

10/10 Excellent

Kristen E.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Magnificent river, nice place
Stayed 2 nights in Jun 2025
Verified

8/10 Good

Jodi L.

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

Moms 80th birthday

The property is beautiful - the creek, the porches are all amazing. We stayed for my moms 80th birthday celebration
Stayed 3 nights in Aug 2023
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Neal S.

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

Perfect

This was our second stay. All great. The place was clean and well stocked. The grounds are beautiful and well kept. The hiking right outside your doorstep is amazing. Perfect for our family of 5 plus granddad.
Stayed 4 nights in Apr 2024
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Frederic S.

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

Great Gateway

Very nice home located on a nice wooded property with a nice stream. Located in a secluded area, walk to nice hiking trails and enjoy the peaceful environment. Our family gateway was very enjoyable! It would be a place to consider for a future family reunion or small wedding.
Stayed 7 nights in Nov 2023
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Cindy M.

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

Laughing Waters

Breathtaking. The property is absolutely gorgeous! Wonderful accommodations! We hope to return for another visit. The only suggestion from our group was to either improve internet service or add a landline for emergencies.
Stayed 3 nights in Aug 2022
Archival

10/10 Excellent

Leigh H.

Amazing property! Wonderful stay!

This is such a beautiful location and home. It was such a pleasure to watch and hear the creek rush over the rocks from the wrap-around deck. The property also had so many other beautiful areas to explore. We used it for a family vacation but can see why it would be an excellent event location. It was clean, comfortable, and everyone we spoke with were friendly and accommodating. The drive into Asheville was beautiful as well. Highly recommend!!!!
Stayed 3 nights in Jul 2017
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Robert C.

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

Great time away

My wife and two young kids had an amazing vacation over Memorial Day. My 4 year old did two different hikes from the property. My 19 month old and wife loved walking around the orchard area. Having a fire by the creek with s’mores was a highlight for all. We would definitely return.
Stayed 3 nights in May 2020
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Trisha M.

Relaxing mountain escape

The mountain home at laughing waters was beautiful, spacious and uncluttered, we had such a relaxing stay! The waterfall is right in the backyard, so nice for a cool dip. We took a short afternoon walk in the property and found several other waterfalls and streams along the lovely nature trail. The owner was prompt and gracious to answer all my questions, even during our stay. Wish we could have stayed longer... would love to go back!
Stayed 2 nights in Jul 2018
Archival

10/10 Excellent

Shannon B.

Absolutely fabulous!!

Laughing Waters is AMAZING!! Totally exceeded my expectations! The lodge is so beautiful in every aspect, and the waterfalls literally are your backyard! Just remote enough to make you feel like you are secluded, but still close enough to town that you feel free to come and go. Heidi, the property manager, was a joy to work with! Wonderful experience!
Stayed 4 nights in May 2017
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Kelsey B.

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

Wonderful! Wheelchair Friendly!

We had a wonderful stay! The bedrooms were perfect and lots of bathrooms! My kids loved the house and the rocks and water in the back and walking around the property. It was an easy drive to all the Asheville attractions. For those with a wheelchair, we found the house to be perfect. There is a ramp into the house and none of the doorways have thresholds. My sister, in a power wheelchair, could easily get in the house and out to the back porch. Her bedroom was large to accommodate her chair and the bathroom worked out great. There is a threshold into the shower but it is large shower with a hand held shower head option. Overall we absolutely loved our stay. Beautiful views, cozy house and perfect location!
Stayed 4 nights in Jul 2025
Archival

10/10 Excellent

Jessica P.

Can't wait to return

The entire property exceeded our expectations. The house was roomy and we never found ourselves lacking anything we might need. We spent time hiking and exploring the grounds and could not have enjoyed it more. My only suggestion to the property manager would be to give future renters a heads up if one of the smaller cabins on the property is rented at the same time - we were quite *surprised* when a mystery car pulled up late at night since we thought we were alone up on the mountain behind a locked gate!
Stayed 4 nights in Nov 2015
Archival

10/10 Excellent

Melissa S.

Serene location perfect for families

From the moment we pulled up the driveway we were so impressed. The grounds are spectacular literally nestled on the hiking trail. There are waterfalls, bridges and a beautiful tree lined mountain. The house itself was fantastic! We had 6 adults and 4 children and there was plenty of room. The kids loved the playroom downstairs. We cooked big meals from the fully stocked kitchen, lit fires in the stone fire pit outside and enjoyed the scenery. In fact, the house was so great that we changed our plans from heading to town to take full advantage of our family time on the property. Thank you for a great vacation!
Archival

10/10 Excellent

Excellent Accomodations for a Peaceful Retreat

Our group of 8 adults and 1 toddler stayed at this cabin for 3 nights for the 2013 New Year's Eve holiday. Before our arrival the owners had already set up a nice warm fire for us in the wood-burning stove inside of the great room! The cabin itself was very spacious with 4 bedrooms and 4.5 bathrooms, each of which were updated and very clean. The entire cabin was beautifully crafted and kept in great condition. During the time we were there, we explored the property and trails around the cabin, which are extremely beautiful as the cabin is set right in front of a creek that winds through several small waterfalls. We also visited Asheville (~20 minutes away) and a nearby ski resort (Cataloochee, ~ 60 minutes away), which were both great and only a close distance away. We would definitely return to this location again!
Archival

10/10 Excellent

Brant E.

Fun Family Place

Had a great time at Laughing Waters .. House was great , very clean. Great family time. Lots of hiking trails nearby. Kitchen was well equipped and house very nice. Owners easy to work with -- good communication. Couple of notes... There is one small cabin on the same property that was rented and we were somewhat surprised to find someone else on the property -- They were great but would have been nice to know that someone else was on the property. Take your own grill if needed because there is not one there. Also no TV which I thought was fine but just so you know .... Wireless internet worked great . Would rent again !!! Thanks..
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Brian C.

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

PERFECT Mountain House

This house and property are absolutely amazing, beautiful and stunning. I knew it was going to be a special place for our family trip over Memorial Day weekend. However, it was way better than I expected. The house is really spacious and nice. The beds are the most comfortable you will sleep on. And, the location is private but only 10 minutes from the really cool village of Chimney Rock, 25 minutes from Lake Lure and 25-30 minutes from Asheville. However, the best part was the incredible mountain creek and wilderness right in the backyard! The Hickory Nut creek is literally right off the deck and it is spectacular. We did a family cold plunge in it and it awesome. The sound of the rushing water is beautiful music that you can always hear from the house. The Wildcat Rock trail is off the back of the house as well and is a heck of a hike. It leads to a spectacular rock climbing wall and waterfall and then goes on to another point with a view (we did not go past the first stop as it was a pretty strenuous hike but talked to people who did). Book this house and you can literally not leave the property if you choose and still have a super memorable mountain experience.
Stayed 4 nights in May 2023
Archival

10/10 Excellent

Katie M.

Gorgeous home and even more beautiful surroundings!

My family stayed at Laughing Waters for a fall vacation in the mountains. This home was even more beautiful than the pictures show: a breathtaking great room, meticulously clean bathrooms, and very comfortable beds. The views from the home's two decks are immense - the hills of Hickory Nut Gorge around you and the laughing creek waters beneath. We especially loved the huge fire pit beside the creek area. If you're up for some hiking, there are some challenging but well-worth-effort trails on the property. One leads to a fantastic swimming hole. It made me want to come back in summer when we could actually swim! While staying here for the weekend, my family and I climbed Chimney Rock, took a boat out on Lake Lure, and picked apples. All these activities are only a few miles from the lodge. The owners John and Jane are more than hospitable and accomodating. There was already a fire in the woodstove when we got there, and the kitchen is incredibly well-stocked. At the end of our stay, we accidentally left our laptop at the lodge. They overnighted it the next day, trusting that we'd send payment. Book now... you won't regret it!
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Michelle M.

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

AMAZING

If you are considering a trip to this area look no further. The description and pictures don't even come close to doing this property justice. The rich history of the house and the location can't be beat. It was such a nice break from city life. Amazing hiking starts right from the door of this property. No reason to ever get in the car. A huge bonus for us was the empty room downstairs where our kids 7 and 10 had the best time playing and being kids. The outdoor firepit (bring your own firewood) next to the raging creek was amazing. The creek is so loud you can hear it inside the house and the sound is so relaxing to fall asleep too. The house is spotless, beds are comfortable, layout is perfect. The kitchen is fully stocked to be able to cook great meals. Don't hesitate - RUN to enjoy this slice of heaven.
Stayed 3 nights in Dec 2020
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Neal S.

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

Great place

Amazing place for a family to enjoy being outside without having to travel constantly. We hiked, saw waterfalls, streams, and picked berries all without leaving the property.
Stayed 5 nights in Sep 2020
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Kevin S.

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

Great place

Awesome place for family
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Verified traveller

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

Beautiful

We had a wonderful stay! The location was beyond amazing and the sound of the water was the most relaxing thing in the world. We ended up here because we had to cancel a trip to Canada and I can say this rental more than made up for it! There was a storm at night and the WiFi was down. It really wasn’t a big deal at all for us, but the property manager, Julia, and the owner did more than I ever would have expected. They went above and beyond. I highly recommend this rental!
Stayed 3 nights in Aug 2020
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Heather M.

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

Unbelievable!

Great communication with property manager. The pictures and words online cannot possibly tell the whole story of how beautiful this property is. If looking for a place to checkout of the day to day clutter, this is the place!
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Kelsey P.

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

Nature Paradise

The property is perfectly placed in nature. It is like being in a tree house! A lot of space. Beautiful construction with exposed beams and stained glass. Highly recommended. Very relaxing and clean. No need to look elsewhere.
Stayed 2 nights in Aug 2020
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Erin S.

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

Paradise Found!

This property is amazing. Photos do not do it justice!
Stayed 23 nights in Jun 2020
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Jack M.

Peaceful

This place is truly peaceful and relaxing. The cabin is very well laid out and nicely appointed with everything you would need for your trip. Our family gathering was awesome! We really enjoyed our stay and plan to return soon.
Stayed 2 nights in Nov 2018
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Stacy W.

Fun Thanksgiving!

We stayed over Thanksgiving week and had a great time. Cozy and comfortable. One of the best things about it is being able to walk out the front door and hike many nearby trails.

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