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Centrally located at Lake James. Close to Lake James State Park (Paddy's

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Exterior
Miscellaneous
Exterior
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Exterior

Reviews

10 out of 10

Exceptional

3 bedrooms2 bathroomsSleeps 6167.2 sq m

Popular amenities

  • Parking available
    Parking available
  • Washer
    Washer
  • Barbecue grill
    Barbecue grill
  • Kitchen
    Kitchen
  • Air conditioning
    Air conditioning
  • Dryer
    Dryer

Explore the area

Map
Nebo, NC
  • Lake James
    6 min walk
  • Lake James State Park
    8 min walk
  • Boat Beach
    7 min drive
  • Hickory, NC (HKY-Hickory Regional)
    46 min drive

Rooms & beds

3 bedrooms (sleeps 6)

Bedroom 1

1 Queen Bed

Bedroom 2

1 Double Bed

Bedroom 3

2 Single Beds

2 bathrooms

Bathroom 1

Bathtub or shower · Toilet

Bathroom 2

Toilet · Shower only

Spaces

Deck or patio
Porch or lanai
Kitchen
Dining Area

About this property

Centrally located at Lake James. Close to Lake James State Park (Paddy's

Three bedroom, two bath (sleeps 6)

This property is located only 1/3 mile from the entrance of Lake James State Park (Paddy’s Creek section), 1/3 mile from Lake James Marina, 1/2 mile from Canal Bridge public boat launch and 3 miles from the Marion Lake Club (18 hole golf course open to the public), 1 mile from Fonta Flora Brewery (Whippoorwill Farm location). This property is not waterfront nor water view however it is ideally located in the center of the Lake James area footprint.

Lake James State Park's Paddy's Creek facilities include a 700 foot swim beach, 25 miles of hiking and 15+ miles of mountain biking trails, fishing piers and snack bar. Canoe, kayak and paddleboard rentals are available at the park typically May through September. Pontoon, jet ski, paddleboard and kayak rentals are also available from other vendors around the lake.

This 1,800 sf recently updated home has 3 bedrooms (Queen, Full and 2 Twin beds), 2 full baths, full kitchen with two microwaves, dishwasher, coffee maker. Other conveniences include central heat and air, full size washer and dryer, iron and ironing board and hair dryer in each bath, DirecTV & Wi-Fi. Eat in Kitchen has seating for 4, formal dining area has seating for 6-8. Private deck and patio are located at rear of home with gas grill and patio furnishings as well as a 14' x 16' free standing screened porch.

This property is situated directly on an 18 mile scenic lake loop and conveniently located for access to local attractions including Pisgah Loop Scenic byway (2.6 Mi.), Pisgah National Forest (4.8 Mi.), Fonta Flora State Trail (Main Trailhead 7.5 Mi.) Linville Gorge Wilderness area (9.8 Mi.), Blue Ridge Parkway (28.4 Mi.), Linville Caverns (30.1 Mi.), Linville Falls (33.1 Mi.), Mount Mitchell State Park (41.5 Mi.), Grandfather Mountain (42.9 Mi.) & Biltmore House (48.6 Mi.).

Several restaurants, breweries & wineries are located within a 15 mile radius or a short commute to Black Mountain or Asheville.

*A signed rental agreement is required prior to arrival.
**No pets or parties allowed.

Property manager

Debby & Garry Crooks

Add dates for prices

Amenities

Kitchen
Washer
Dryer
Free WiFi
Air conditioning
Outdoor space

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House Rules

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

Children

Children allowed: ages 0–17

Events

No events allowed

Pets

No pets allowed
No Pets

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
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

A car is required for transport to and from this property

About the area

Nebo

Located in Nebo, this holiday home is in a rural area and on a lake. Belle Nicho Winery and Silver Fork Winery are worth checking out if an activity is on the agenda, while those wishing to experience the area's natural beauty can explore Pisgah National Forest and South Mountains Game Land. Travelling with kids? Consider The Outpost and Morganton Railroad Depot & Museum. Discover the area's water adventures with jet skiing and kayaking nearby, or enjoy the great outdoors with hiking/biking trails and hunting.
Map
Nebo, NC

What's nearby

  • Lake James - 6 min walk
  • Lake James State Park - 8 min walk
  • Boat Beach - 7 min drive
  • Silver Fork Winery - 14 min drive
  • Linville Caverns - 42 min drive

Restaurants

  • ‪Roma Restaurant Pizza Pasta - ‬9 min drive
  • ‪Bear Creek Marina - ‬11 min drive
  • ‪Fonta Flora Brewery - ‬2 min drive
  • ‪Drew's Diner - ‬14 min drive
  • ‪Doogie's Pizza - ‬14 min drive

Frequently asked questions

Is Centrally located at Lake James. Close to Lake James State Park (Paddy's pet-friendly?

No, pets are not allowed at this property.

What time is check-in at Centrally located at Lake James. Close to Lake James State Park (Paddy's?

Check-in begins at 4:00 PM.

What time is check-out at Centrally located at Lake James. Close to Lake James State Park (Paddy's?

Checkout is at 11:00 AM.

Where is Centrally located at Lake James. Close to Lake James State Park (Paddy's located?

This family-friendly Nebo holiday home is located on a lake, within a 10-minute walk of Catawba River, Lake James and Lake James State Park. Boat Beach is 1.9 mi (3.1 km) away.

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. 99 out of 99 reviews" "
Rating 8 - Good. 0 out of 99 reviews" "
Rating 6 - Okay. 0 out of 99 reviews" "
Rating 4 - Poor. 0 out of 99 reviews" "
Rating 2 - Terrible. 0 out of 99 reviews" "

10/10

Cleanliness

10/10

Check-in

10/10

Communication

10/10

Location

10/10

Listing accuracy

Reviews

10/10 Excellent

Billy B.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Great House
Great house very close to Lake James
Stayed 2 nights in Jun 2024

10/10 Excellent

Jennifer M.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Beautiful Lake James
I and my husband decided to have a Holiday in Lake James. The owners of this property, Have a perfect property for our family, Perfect location for families who enjoy boating.🛥 The house is in a wonderful location to shopping, 🛍restaurants.🍽 We did decide to relax at this home and cook, Have a campfire🔥, rest in the screen house.🏞 The house was so clean, The owners have went above and beyond with accommodations. Thank you for the wonderful memories ❤️
Stayed 3 nights in May 2024

10/10 Excellent

Dena T.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Excellent value and Great Hosts
Really don't have enough time to say how great our stay was. Debby and Garry go beyond to make sure you have everything you might need. My biggest compliment is the cleanliness of the house. Wonderfully themed and fun to read and look at all the furnishings. Don't bother looking any further if this house meets your needs, because you won't do better.
Stayed 5 nights in Oct 2023

10/10 Excellent

Debra S., sandia Park

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Wonderful stay
The house was amazing and the hosts were wonderful. They thought of everything and more. We will definitely come back.
Stayed 5 nights in Aug 2023

10/10 Excellent

Hollie H.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Great stay! Great location!
This property was perfect for our needs and the owners were exceptionally understanding when we had to change our booking last minute due to a family emergency! The little extras were so great! We will definitely come back again for a longer stay next time!!
Stayed 4 nights in Aug 2023

10/10 Excellent

Kelli C., Black Mountain, NC

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Best VRBO at Lake James
We love staying here!! This was our third year of staying at Debby and Garry’s Care Taker’s Cottage. The house is so comfortable and has everything you need! Debby and Garry are outstanding hosts, responsive, and appreciative! The location is perfect! Close to Canal Bridge Boat Launch and we can leave our boat in the driveway during our stay. We truly appreciate this great house and awesome hosts!
Stayed 3 nights in Jul 2023

10/10 Excellent

Billy B.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Great Place
Great place to stay near lake James.
Stayed 2 nights in Jun 2023

10/10 Excellent

Brent C.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Nebo trip
House was very comfortable and conveniently located to the areas we needed.
Stayed 3 nights in Mar 2023

10/10 Excellent

Leslie W.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Great place close to lake
Very clean and comfortable. Close to lake and reasonably priced. Second time staying here and will return.
Stayed 4 nights in Mar 2023

10/10 Excellent

Verified traveller

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Moving to Nebo
We needed a place to stay while signing paperwork for our families new home. This was such a relaxing and welcoming home to rest in after our drive from FL.
Stayed 2 nights in Feb 2023

10/10 Excellent

Jane S.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Great Home
Home and property is wonderful warm and welcoming. Perfect location for mountain biking, hiking and so close to the lake for activities.
Stayed 2 nights in Nov 2022

10/10 Excellent

Ian A., Cary, NC

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Outstanding! MTB Mecca
Second time I have stayed at this home. Wouldn't change a thing. Perfect! I am a Vrbo Premier Host myself, and I can't say enough about this place. Super clean, nicely appointed, very comfortable and lots of nice little extras (e.g. fire pit, 3-hole disc golf course, gazebo). If you ride Mountain Bikes, this is the spot. The Lake James trails are less than a mile from the front door and you can ride to them from the front door. The Fonta Flora trails are less than a 10 min drive away. Great house, great hosts. 10/10 would recommend.
Stayed 3 nights in Oct 2022

10/10 Excellent

Becky J.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Fantastic house with history! Lots of local memorabilia and newspaper articles about the property.
Debby and Gary were great at communicating and offered early check in and late check out. The house is super cool with history and lots to look at. The gazebo was excellent and the disc golf in the back yard was so fun. Lots of towels, toiletries and snacks! Hope to return again!
Stayed 2 nights in Oct 2022

10/10 Excellent

A.W. C.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Absolutely the best
This was by far the best experience I have had with a rental. VRBO or hotel even. The owners are very attentive to any and all communications. The most gracious hosts as well. The house was SPOTLESS! I don't know how anyone can have a home this clean. Everything worked and we wanted for nothing. If I am ever in need of a place to stay in the area again, I will be staying here.
Stayed 2 nights in Sep 2022

10/10 Excellent

George N.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Hidden treasure
My wife and I were looking for a place to relax with some friends of ours and what we found exceeded our expectations. This house not only was close to the boat landing and many other great features surrounding Lake James but The house itself was a gem. The history lesson within the house was a unexpected bonus. The house itself was very clean and filled with any amenity you could imagine. The host are so wonderful and excelled at communicating, checking on any needs, and the complimentary goodies that came in handy. We will definitely be back to enjoy some more time relaxing in the screen room out back as well as the peaceful feel of what home should be in this house. Greg and Kristi.
Stayed 2 nights in Aug 2022

10/10 Excellent

Lori G.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Anniversary Get-Away
We loved our stay at Debby and Garry's home! They were so kind and accommodating with a bottle of wine, fresh cut flowers, goodie basket, and bathroom essentials baskets. The home was in a great location that was easy to find, and so close to Lake James State Park and the marina it was roomy, so clean and very comfortable. There are so many interesting antiques and family heirlooms displayed that were fascinating to look at and read about. Loved sitting out in the screened porch, and playing corn hole and disc golf in the large back yard. We would love to come back when we could stay longer, and would highly recommend it to couples and families wanting to stay near Lake James.
Stayed 2 nights in Aug 2022

10/10 Excellent

Bonnie F., Bradenton, FL

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Caretakers Stay
We thoroughly enjoyed our stay at Caretakers rental. Home was clean and every item from home you could think of. Snacks and beverages we a nice treat at the end of our drive from Florida. We had lived on Lake James and returned to visit our friends and that beautiful lake in the foothills. Thank you for making our visit so comfortable.
Stayed 10 nights in Jul 2022

10/10 Excellent

Thomas N.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Comfortable and Unique Property
The Caretaker's Keep is a clean, comfortable and fascinating place to stay! It has a treasure trove of local history and artifacts which are displayed throughout the house. The house itself is authentic to the mid-century period, with updates to bathrooms and furnishings. It is well supplied with equipment and linens, and even complimentary snacks and drinks. We especially enjoyed our mornings sipping coffee on the screen porch! The hosts were very accommodating of a change to our schedule and communication was excellent. The only slight deficit was the wifi connection, but we didn't care because we were trying to unplug and enjoy the beautiful surroundings. While the house is not located directly on the water, it is very proximate to the public access beach, trails, marina, and attractions of Lake James.
Stayed 3 nights in Jul 2022

10/10 Excellent

Kelli C., Black Mountain, NC

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Great House and Location
This was our third stay! Great house and so well stocked- above and beyond any VRBO we’ve ever stayed in! Lots of snacks, chips, water, juices and firewood. The location is minutes from Canal Bridge Access and we are able to park our boat in the driveway! You can also bike to Paddy’s Creek. Debby and Garry are awesome hosts and we highly recommend!
Stayed 4 nights in Jul 2022

10/10 Excellent

Kelli C.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
We Love this Place
We love staying at this property! It's close to the Canal Bridge Access and you can leave your boat in the driveway. The house is well stocked and very clean. We've stayed at the property before and loved it so much we booked again. Debby and Garry are awesome hosts- you can tell the property is loved!
Stayed 3 nights in Jun 2022

10/10 Excellent

Joe G.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Quaint country house with plenty of room
We really enjoyed our stay! The house is beautifully decorated with antiques, and it was a lot of fun to explore the all the little details. The hosts are wonderful, and incredibly thoughtful with all the snacks and personal items they make available. The surrounding area is peaceful and beautiful. Great “home base” for adventures at Lake James and all the Blue Ridge mountains have to offer. My only knock on the house would be that the beds were not super comfy or big but otherwise the place was perfect!
Stayed 4 nights in Jun 2022

10/10 Excellent

Robert G., Lincolnton/Cherryville NC

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Awesome - Fantastic - Wonderful
I travel extensively throughout the country with my fishing friends. I just wish every home that we stay in was as nice. The owners are amazing, the property is PERFECT in everyway for a vacation getaway. I will always use Debby and Garry's Wonderful Home whenever I am in the area. Not a better home to be found and not a better couple to work with. Great communication, great hospitality. A perfect 100 A+. Thank You for the care that you provided and the love that shows in the home. Awesome experience.
Stayed 2 nights in Apr 2022

10/10 Excellent

Ian A., Cary, NC

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Beyond Excellent
Stayed here with some friends for a weekend. In town to ride and race the Lake James & Fonta Flora Mountain Bike trails. Both trailheads are really close to the house. Couldn't say enough great things about the house. Super clean, organized and really comfortable. EVERYTHING you could need is there. Nice little selection of historical items sprinkled around the house with written stories included. Very cool. Check-in was super smooth as well. Wouldn't change a thing. Highly recommended.
Stayed 2 nights in Oct 2021

10/10 Excellent

Jacob R.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Mountain Escape
Had a fantastic time at Lake James, took two day trips up to Asheville and the Blue Ridge Parkway. The house was amazing and the hosts were great!
Stayed 3 nights in Oct 2021

10/10 Excellent

Nancy M.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Peaceful, immaculate vacation stay.
By far the best VRBO stay we’ve had. Plenty of room. Hosts thought of everything to make us feel at home and comfortable. It was immaculate with many added amenities. We arrived to find everything sparkling, fresh flowers, music playing, and a wide variety of snacks and drinks.
Stayed 9 nights in May 2021

About the host

Hosted by Debby & Garry Crooks

Host profile image
This home was built in 1957 by Muriel and Earl Crooks, Earl was the caretaker for the old Camp Firestone for several years, the old camp was located on the lake just across the street from this home.

The Crooks' family has lived at Lake James for five generations - since the Lake was built until current day. Our grandfather ran a store and boat landing for many years catering to fisherman and the lake trade. Our grandfather’s old store stood less than a half mile down the road, it was located at the end of the old steel truss Canal Bridge that crossed the lake canal near where the current concrete Canal Bridge is located today.

As children growing up in this home we spent many endless summers swimming, fishing and playing at the old Firestone Camp and on the lake. We also enjoyed meeting different campers as they arrived each week. The summer camp in the movie "Dirty Dancing" reminds us somewhat of the old Firestone Camp as it had cabins, bunk houses, boats, horseshoe pits, meeting hall & etc.

We still enjoy getting on the lake as much as possible and taking advantage of the Lake James State Park just next door for walking, hiking and mountain biking. We also enjoy the close proximity of Pisgah National Forest & the Fonta Flora State Trail for mountain biking and hiking.

Why they chose this property

Although this home was built as a residence it also served as camp headquarters for Camp Firestone where many of the supplies and records were kept and was the check-in station for visiting campers.

As we began clearing out the attic, basements and garage we found lots of memorabilia from the old Camp Firestone, our grandfather’s store and the lake in general. Everything from old maps to old fishing equipment and boat motors. We decided we would display these hidden "treasures" in the house for all to see as they visit.

An article about old Camp Firestone was published in the July 2017 issue of Our State magazine detailing lake life at the camp in that bygone era.

The old camp is now gone and the property has been sold to private owners.

What makes this property unique

Lake James is still rather rural and not very commercialized which adds to it's uniqueness and charm. It is also a very clean and clear lake holding cold water fish populations of Smallmouth Bass and Walleye.

This property is situated next door to Lake James State Park (Paddy's Creek Section) which has large swim beach, hiking and mountain biking trails and fishing piers, it is also very close to the Canal Bridge public boat launch within a half mile.

This location allows quick access to Pisgah National Forest for many outdoor activities. Linville Gorge, Linville Falls, Table Rock Mountain, Short off Mountain, Fonta Flora State Trail, Mountain to Sea Trail, Over the Mountain Victory Trail are some of the many great hiking destinations nearby.

Day trips to Black Mountain and the Asheville area are an easy commute via I-40.
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