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Cottage in the Cove - Privacy / View / Screened Porch / Outdoor Cooking / Dock

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Welcome to the Cottage in the Cove!!
Circular driveway and no steps into house
Lake Side Aerial View
Welcome to the lake!
Welcoming entryway

Reviews

10 out of 10
Exceptional
3 bedrooms2 bathroomsSleeps 9136.6 sq m

Popular amenities

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

Explore the area

Map
Crane Hill, AL
  • Lewis Smith Lake
    ‪1 min walk‬
  • Smith Lake Park
    ‪42 min drive‬
  • Houston Historic Jail
    ‪45 min drive‬

Rooms & beds

3 bedrooms (sleeps 9)

Bedroom 1, main level

1 Queen Bed

Bedroom 2, upper level

1 Queen Bed

Bedroom 3, upper level

1 Single Bunk Bed, 1 Double Futon and 2 Single Beds

Living Room Sleeper Sofa

1 Double Futon

2 bathrooms

Bathroom 1, main level

Bathtub or shower · Toilet

Bathroom 2, upper level

Bathtub or shower · Toilet

Spaces

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

About this property

Cottage in the Cove - Privacy / View / Screened Porch / Outdoor Cooking / Dock

3BR/2BA cottage with lots of privacy and a big view from two deck levels, a lakeside bedroom balcony, a big screened porch and a dock tucked into a cove. The house is 1470 square feet, plus a 500 square feet screened porch, a 250 square feet covered deck and two 250 square feet open decks. The covered lower deck allows for rain or shine outdoor cooking, with a prep sink and a charcoal/Propane combo grill. Both fuels are provided. The home has a flat circle drive entrance with parking just a few feet away from the front door. A lighted 34-step staircase and a lighted path lead to the lakeside deck and covered dock in year-round water, with swim/sun deck, water mat for kids, boat slip, jet ski port, dog-friendly ladder and mini fridge. The home has a fully equipped kitchen, crockpot, blender, Keurig coffee maker, regular small coffee pot, washer/dryer, a wood-burning fireplace inside and a chiminea outside, with firewood and starter logs provided. Guided striper fishing is great (see pictures), with dock pickup and drop-off. Fly fishing for trout below Smith Lake Dam is also popular.
The home sits on a uniquely shaped 1.3 acre wooded lot with 550 feet of shoreline, starting in the cove and ending at a point of land that shelters the dock from wind, waves and boat traffic. This provides for safe swimming and paddling, minimum wave action on the dock, and just 50 yards to big water. This house is located minutes from the town of Crane Hill and just 1.5 miles from Rock Creek Marina (by water and by road), and 9 miles by water from Lewis Smith Lake Dam. There are a canoe, a peddle boat, a standup paddleboard, floating lily pad and 2 kayaks for renter’s use, with life jackets, floats and paddles provided. Parking space is available for up to 4 boat trailers and the dock in the cove provides safe overnight boat tie-up. There is a roped off hiking trail to a sheltered ledge with a spring in Cap'n Jack's hollow, fun exploring for kids of all ages. All staircases and decks are kid-friendly, with railings and wire panels or wooden pickets. Smoking is allowed outside on the dock, the decks and the porch only. Pets are allowed. We just ask that they use the XL kennel crate provided when inside the house.
There are TVs in the living room (55") and on the porch (40") with DVD players and a 20" TV in bedroom 2, all with Dish Network America's Top 120+, DVR and SEC Network. You can DVR the game, play in the lake, and watch the game later.
Unlimited Viasat WiFi Satellite Internet is provided and the fee is itemized in the quote.
Cell service is good for Verizon and fair for AT&T. The WiFi Internet provides email connectivity even if your cell coverage is bad.
We provide bath towels, wash cloths, beach towels, bed linens, bath soap, shampoo, conditioner, toilet tissue, paper towels, dishwashing liquid, scrubby pads, dishwasher pods, laundry soap, dryer sheets, trash bags, Propane gas, charcoal, firewood, lighters and starter material. There is an ice maker in the laundry room with filtered water. A pack and play is provided in the downstairs bedroom closet for the littlest guests as well as a booster seat for the kitchen table. A backpack is also provided for taking snacks, drinks and ice down to the lake.

Property manager

Julie
Premier Host

Languages

English

Add dates for prices

Amenities

Kitchen
Washer
Dryer
Pet-friendly
Air conditioning
Outdoor space

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House Rules

Check in after 4:00 PM
Minimum age to rent: 25
Check out before 12:00 PM
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Children

Children allowed: ages 0–17
Railings & wire panels/pickets on all staircases
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Events

No events allowed
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Pets

Pets allowed
In XL kennel crate when inside the house.
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Smoking

Smoking is not permitted
Outside and on the screened porch only.
Please keeps pets off furniture.

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

Crane Hill

Located in Crane Hill, this holiday home is in a rural area and on the waterfront. Speegle's Marina and Cullman Golf Course are worth checking out if an activity is on the agenda, while those wishing to experience the area's natural beauty can explore Lewis Smith Lake and Dowling Memorial Park. Consider Stone Bridge Farms for a night out or WildWater Cullman if you're travelling with kids. Discover the area's water adventures with jet skiing and kayaking nearby, or enjoy the great outdoors with hiking and mountain biking.
Map
Crane Hill, AL

What's nearby

  • Lewis Smith Lake - 1 min walk - 0.0 km
  • Smith Lake Park - 42 min drive - 28.9 km
  • WildWater Cullman - 44 min drive - 40.7 km
  • Houston Historic Jail - 45 min drive - 29.5 km
  • Cullman Downtown Commercial Historic District - 46 min drive - 45.2 km

Restaurants

  • ‪Cold Springs Grill - ‬32 min drive
  • ‪Hotdog Hut The Hamburger Ice - ‬20 min drive
  • ‪Butterbeans - ‬56 min drive
  • ‪Kat Daddy's BBQ & Grill Co. - ‬20 min drive
  • ‪Simply Southern Catering - ‬32 min drive

Frequently asked questions

Is Cottage in the Cove - Privacy / View / Screened Porch / Outdoor Cooking / Dock pet-friendly?

Yes, pets are allowed at this property.

What time is check-in at Cottage in the Cove - Privacy / View / Screened Porch / Outdoor Cooking / Dock?

Check-in begins at 4:00 PM.

What time is check-out at Cottage in the Cove - Privacy / View / Screened Porch / Outdoor Cooking / Dock?

Checkout is at 12:00 PM.

Where is Cottage in the Cove - Privacy / View / Screened Porch / Outdoor Cooking / Dock located?

Located on the waterfront, this family-friendly holiday home is steps from Lewis Smith Lake and 7.3 mi (11.8 km) from Dowling Memorial Park. Tiger Field and Stoney Lonesome OHV Park are also within 16 miles (25 km).

Reviews

10

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. 98 out of 103 reviews
Rating 8 - Good. 5 out of 103 reviews
Rating 6 - Okay. 0 out of 103 reviews
Rating 4 - Poor. 0 out of 103 reviews
Rating 2 - Terrible. 0 out of 103 reviews

9.8/10

Cleanliness

10/10

Check-in

10/10

Communication

9.8/10

Location

10/10

Listing accuracy

Reviews

10/10 Excellent

Loretta S.

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

Great location on the water

Great weekend
Stayed 2 nights in Mar 2025

10/10 Excellent

Kris K.

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

Fantastic

The home and view are fabulous. The house is set up great with everything you need for your stay. We’d definitely stay here again.
Stayed 3 nights in Feb 2025

10/10 Excellent

Kady K.

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

Smith Lake Weekend

We had a great time in the fun cottage in the cove! Julie was highly accessible and super helpful! It was nice having so many basic essentials provided! We also found some great local dining, including karaoke for the teens!
Stayed 2 nights in Apr 2025

10/10 Excellent

Jordan O.

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

Great home away from home

Great owner with thoughtful amenities
Stayed 3 nights in Aug 2024

10/10 Excellent

Dan M.

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

Thanksgiving away from home

We stayed here during Thanksgiving. I was concerned about cooking a full Thanksgiving dinner at a rental. This property has the best stocked kitchen I've stayed in yet! We have stayed in places all over Europe and the US. You can tell when the owner spends time there compared to an investment property. Wonderful!
Stayed 4 nights in Nov 2024

10/10 Excellent

Pam J.

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

Great getaway

Great cozy cottage on the lake it was wonderful place to stay. The stairs to the water was a work out but worth it. The house was clean and it had every thing we needed.
Stayed 3 nights in Jul 2024

10/10 Excellent

Cynthia R.

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

Our Stay !

We are in love with this location ! The owner was the best at all times and we have truly enjoyed our time at the lake .
Stayed 2 nights in Jun 2023

10/10 Excellent

Katie H.

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

Great property

Can’t wait to go back!
Stayed 2 nights in Apr 2023

10/10 Excellent

Cynthia R.

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

Lake vacay

This place is the best to stay at !! Especially if you don’t actually own a boat but want the lake experience! She offers so much things to get on the water in ! This is our second year and we have not been disappointed yet !
Stayed 4 nights in Jul 2024

8/10 Good

Candice M.

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

Had a wonderful Thanksgiving. The house had everything we needed and the paddle boat was the best.

Very easy check in
Stayed 4 nights in Nov 2020

10/10 Excellent

Jordan O.

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

Great family house

Just as advertised. Stocked like you were prepping for yourself. Great owner!!
Stayed 3 nights in May 2024

10/10 Excellent

Jane A.

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

Rest

The property was great
Stayed 2 nights in Aug 2022

10/10 Excellent

Bethany J.

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

Great dock for a relaxing trip

This house has it all. We esp enjoyed the private dock with paddle board kayaks and lily pad. We tried out the air fryer too - the kitchen is esp well stocked. Great trip
Stayed 3 nights in Jun 2021

10/10 Excellent

Kenny H.

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

Loved our stay here!!

I would stay here again and again. The lake was beautiful. And the house was in a perfect location. Our kids (11 and 2) loved being able to jump off the dock, kayak, peddle boat, all of it. They were in heaven. If you’re in the area I highly recommend!
Stayed 2 nights in Aug 2020

10/10 Excellent

Ted N.

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

Wonderful host and great location

At first, had some mixed impressions about how remote the property was while driving there, but the location in a cove was perfect for allowing younger children to play in the water while keeping an eye on them. The private cave located on the property was an unexpected bonus! The host was very attentive and accommodating. Definitely, a return trip is in the cards.
Stayed 4 nights in Oct 2023

10/10 Excellent

Eric E.

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

Neat house, well furnished

We enjoyed our weekend at Cottage in the Cove. Great view of lake and in quiet cove. Very clean property. This house has everything you would need in case you forget something! Well furnished, with many extras. Hope to come back again soon.
Stayed 2 nights in Jun 2022

10/10 Excellent

Jeff C.

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

First Timers

This was our first visit to Smith Lake and we thoroughly enjoyed it! Extremely relaxing and the property was exactly as advertised. Julie was very responsive with any questions we had and helped provide a worry free stay. Highly recommend for anyone considering an alternative to a beach vacation.
Stayed 7 nights in Jun 2020

10/10 Excellent

Stephen R., Mobile

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

Not Long Enough

Our family, including our two pups, had a wonderful stay at The Cottage in the Cove!! It was comfortable for the two adults and two teens, as well as for the dogs. We spent much of our time on the floating dock or in the water… it was beautiful. Only wished we could’ve stayed for a whole week!
Stayed 4 nights in Jun 2023

10/10 Excellent

Hannah S.

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

Great way to end the summer!

We love Smith Lake and always end with a week at the lake before school. Julie was very helpful and responsive to my questions. The best part of this cottage is how well-equipped it was. I loved all the extra towels, kitchen appliances, little extra toiletries etc. Especially since Walmart is 30 minutes away. We had a wonderful week her and I appreciate being able to bring our dog. Many thanks!
Stayed 7 nights in Aug 2024

8/10 Good

Verified traveller

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

Enjoyed it

The property was awesome other than the odor of cat urine. It didnt bother me as much as it did my guests. The property was very well stocked. I would stay again.
Stayed 3 nights in Sep 2023

10/10 Excellent

Lesli W., Meridian, MS

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

Best property EVER!!

There are no words to accurately express how much we enjoyed our time at Cottage in the Cove. All of the details and convinces in this little cottage are so well thought out. There is no other place that will compare and will be the only place we look to stay on our return trips to the lake. Owners are so great to work with and readily available for any questions or needs you might have! We can’t wait to visit again!!
Stayed 4 nights in Oct 2020

10/10 Excellent

Scott M.

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

Relaxing setting

I found the house and it's lake dock to be very cozy and relaxing. We spent most of our time on the dock watching the kids and dogs swim. It was a great way to spend a few days away from the busy world. Everything was as advertised and there were plenty of supplies. And the fact that our two dogs could join us made all the difference.
Stayed 2 nights in Jul 2022

10/10 Excellent

Michael L.

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

Oasis on Smith Lake

Our family had a great time at this lake house! The house has lots of amenities, clean, and comfortable! We loved playing and swimming at the dock. It’s in a private cove. Only advice is make sure you’ve gone to the grocery store before you arrive. We look forward to coming back again next year!
Stayed 4 nights in Jul 2021

10/10 Excellent

Tyler W.

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

Worth It!

This host thought of EVERYTHING. Grab yourself a few groceries and you're set. Amazing views from several vantages tucked away with just the right amount of privacy. The property is well maintained and even contains a few hidden charms. Without spoiling anything, just be sure to take a walk on the walking path portion of the property :-)
Stayed 2 nights in Oct 2022

10/10 Excellent

Dancy W., Meridian, MS

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

Perfect family getaway

We loved everything about this property. The views are fabulous and the cottage is so cute! A huge plus was the boat/swim pier with all of extras. We canoed, paddled boarded and used the paddle boat every single day. We spent every night all gathered on one of the patios. The kitchen was also well stocked with plenty of counter space. We are familiar with Crane Hill so it wasn’t too hard to find and we knew how to get to DG and Walmart. I highly recommend Cottage in the Cove and look forward to returning!
Stayed 4 nights in Apr 2020

About the host

Hosted by Julie

Host profile image
The Kuetemeyer family lives in Huntsville after moving all around the country with the Army. Julie is a Realtor with Keller Williams Realty. We are excited to have a property on the lake to share with others!

Why they chose this property

Privacy and a great view, located on the cleanest, clearest lake in the state. The nearest boat ramp with ethanol-free gas is only 1.5 miles away, by water and by road. The nearest bait and tackle store is only 6 miles away. A striper fishing guide offers dock pick-up and drop-off. Trout fishing is available year-round, below the dam (25 miles away by road).

What makes this property unique

Flat circle drive entrance, with parking a few feet away from the front door. Space for up to 4 boat trailers parking. The 500 square feet screened porch has 2 hammocks, a foosball table, dining table for 6, a TV, DVD player, couch, chairs and an LP overhead heater. A staircase leads just 32 steps down to a path to the waterfront deck at the ramp to the covered dock with mini-fridge. A point of land blocks wind and waves from rocking the dock, yet you are only 50 yards to big water. Renter's use of canoe, kayaks, paddleboat and standup paddleboard are included. A yellow rope marks the hiking trail to Cap'n Jack's hollow, and he can be lit up at night. Rock Creek Marina is only 1.5 miles away, by water and by road.
The covered lower deck allows for rain or shine outdoor cooking, with a prep sink and a charcoal/propane gas combo grill. Propane gas and charcoal are provided..

Languages:

English

Premier Host

They consistently provide great experiences for their guests