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⭐Explore the mountains from this creekside cottage! Super clean! Self check-in!

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Exterior
Property grounds
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Property grounds
Property grounds

Reviews

10 out of 10

Exceptional

2 bedrooms2+ bathroomsSleeps 5

Popular amenities

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

Explore the area

Map
Waynesville, NC
  • Barber Orchard Fruitstand
    5 min drive
  • Blue Ridge Parkway Balsam Entrance
    6 min drive
  • Smoky Mountain Jumphouse
    6 min drive
  • Asheville, NC (AVL-Asheville Regional)
    51 min drive

Rooms & beds

2 bedrooms (sleeps 5)

Bedroom 1

1 Queen Bed

Bedroom 2

1 King Bed

2 bathrooms, 1 half bathroom

Bathroom 1

Toilet · Shower only

Bathroom 2

Bathtub or shower · Toilet

Bathroom 3

Toilet

Spaces

Deck or patio
Porch or lanai
Kitchen
Outdoor play area
Garden
Dining Area

About this property

⭐Explore the mountains from this creekside cottage! Super clean! Self check-in!

View a 5700' mtn. peak from the front porch rockers, enjoy lunch on the back deck, cool your toes in the creek, make s'mores on the fire pit on cool mountain evenings.

Wren Cottage at Balsam Gap is a newly remodeled home in a quiet, private, rural neighborhood with a pristine rushing creek. Only 7 minutes to the Blue Ridge Parkway entrance at Balsam Gap, 40 minutes to Great Smoky Mtns. National Park, 20 minutes to river rafting, 45 minutes to Asheville and 12 minutes to Waynesville.

You will be very comfortable in this light and airy home with memory foam beds , cable TV, free Netflix and high-speed WIFI. Both master bedrooms have an adjoining bath. There is a fully stocked kitchen with everything you need to make enjoyable meals, and plenty of restaurant suggestions if cooking isn't on the menu! We provide you with a Keurig machine and coffee pods for your mornings. Many opportunities for quiet wooded walks right from the cottage.

Property manager

Susan O'Day

Languages

English

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: 21
Check out before 11:00 AM

Children

Children allowed: ages 0–17

Events

No events allowed

Pets

No pets allowed

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 and a first aid kit

About the area

Waynesville

Located in Waynesville, this holiday home is in the mountains. LoneBackpacker Gallery of World Photography and Wheels Through Time Museum are cultural highlights, and some of the area's activities can be experienced at Cataloochee Ski Area and Balsam Spa. Looking to enjoy an event or a game while in town? See what's happening at Smoky Mountain Jumphouse or Liston B. Ramsey Regional Activity Center.
Map
Waynesville, NC

What's nearby

  • Blue Ridge Parkway Balsam Entrance - 6 min drive
  • Wheels Through Time Museum - 22 min drive
  • Tube World - 25 min drive
  • Maggie Valley Festival Grounds - 25 min drive
  • Cataloochee Ski Area - 32 min drive

Getting around

  • Asheville Regional Airport (AVL) - 51 min drive

Restaurants

  • ‪Taco Bell - ‬10 min drive
  • ‪Papas & Beer - ‬11 min drive
  • ‪Maggie's Galley - ‬12 min drive
  • ‪Beach Mountain Diner - ‬12 min drive
  • ‪Haywood Smokehouse - ‬12 min drive

Frequently asked questions

Is ⭐Explore the mountains from this creekside cottage! Super clean! Self check-in! pet-friendly?

No, pets are not allowed at this property.

What time is check-in at ⭐Explore the mountains from this creekside cottage! Super clean! Self check-in! ?

Check-in begins at 4:00 PM.

What time is check-out at ⭐Explore the mountains from this creekside cottage! Super clean! Self check-in! ?

Checkout is at 11:00 AM.

Where is ⭐Explore the mountains from this creekside cottage! Super clean! Self check-in! located?

Situated in the mountains, this holiday home is within 3 miles (5 km) of Smoky Mountain Jumphouse, Barber Orchard Fruitstand and Blue Ridge Parkway Balsam Entrance. Nantahala National Forest is 2.6 mi (4.2 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. 65 out of 66 reviews" "
Rating 8 - Good. 1 out of 66 reviews" "
Rating 6 - Okay. 0 out of 66 reviews" "
Rating 4 - Poor. 0 out of 66 reviews" "
Rating 2 - Terrible. 0 out of 66 reviews" "

10/10

Cleanliness

10/10

Staff & service

10/10

Amenities

10/10

Property conditions & facilities

10/10

Check-in

10/10

Communication

10/10

Location

10/10

Listing accuracy

Reviews

10/10 Excellent

Joseph J.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Perfect stay at Wren Cottage
Wren Cottage is a perfect place to see the fall colors. We were very happy with the property. Everything that we could need was provided. The homes instructions were perfectly explained and felt at home as soon as we arrived. We felt close enough to everything and still secluded and private. We will be returning in the future.
Stayed 11 nights in Oct 2024

10/10 Excellent

Shelly R.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Home Away from Home
We stayed at Wren Cottage for the first time this past June. After looking at so many homes to stay in, we found this gem. It was everything we could ask for and more. The location is perfectly set close to the Blue Ridge and the sweet city of Waynesville. The creek running along side the property was the perfect touch to the Mountain View from the front porch. The house was well stocked and oh so clean. We are already planning our next stay. You can’t go wrong with this beautifully loved home.
Stayed 7 nights in Jun 2024

10/10 Excellent

Robert H.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Wren Cottage is wonderful!
We had a wonderful weekend at Wren Cottage. It is private but not isolated. In a lovely areas of nice homes. The neighbors were all friendly. Seven minutes to some of the best parts of the parkway. Plenty of parking too. While it is not expressly described accessible, it is but one story with a stand up shower. There are only three steps into the house. The property is very clean and neat. It evev come with detailed instructions as how to operate the house! Basic supplies are thoughtfully provided to meet basic needs. Great place to stay!!
Stayed 7 nights in Jun 2024

10/10 Excellent

Matt H.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Lovely cottage in the mountains
The home was just right for us, nicely laid out and comfy. Great for a long, relaxing weekend in the mountains!
Stayed 4 nights in Mar 2024

10/10 Excellent

Sondra E.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Home away from home
If you’re looking to get away and stay in a cozy cottage that is tucked away in the mountains but close enough to places like Cataloochee Ski Area and downtown Waynesville, then look no further. From the lulling sound of the creek beside the house (that is easily accessible and has a bench beside it), to a well-stocked kitchen, to all the little extras that are placed throughout the house, we felt welcome and right at home. Thank you Susan for your hospitality and opening your home to others. If I could give you more stars I would.
Stayed 3 nights in Feb 2024

10/10 Excellent

Elizabeth M.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Cute cottage in a beautiful neighborhood
This adorable cottage is one of our favorite places to stay. It’s clean and comfortable and the neighborhood is beautiful!
Stayed 4 nights in Dec 2023

8/10 Good

Kathleen L., Atlanta, GA

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Great place for a trip to Waynesville
Clean, well stocked house that was perfect for the two of us. The kitchen had more than enough pots, pans, etc. to cook any kind of meal. We enjoyed the coffee pods and snacks. Nice touch! So quiet even though there are a few other houses around. Nice area to take a long walk with very few cars on the small roads around the house. And we had a beautiful afternoon enjoying the rocking chairs as well as several rounds of corn hole. Convenient to Waynesville (about 12 minutes), the Blue Ridge Parkway, and great Smoky Mountain hiking trails. Stop by Winchester Creek Farms for some fresh eggs and visit Chef's Table for a wonderful meal. You won't be disappointed. We are so happy that we spent Thanksgiving week here.
Stayed 7 nights in Nov 2023

10/10 Excellent

Gregory S.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Quiet, Cozy Mountain Getaway
First and foremost, this was the cleanest VRBO we have ever stayed in! It was beautifully decorated for Fall, with thoughtful touches throughout: A fully equipped kitchen for cooking just about anything; wide selection of books and games; cable TV and a smart TV for streaming from your favorite services; a multi-device charger for all your smart devices; a fire pit; corn hole boards; and simple check in and check out instructions. Communication with the host was quick and clear. She was very personable. We plan on staying here again! Thank you.
Stayed 2 nights in Nov 2023

10/10 Excellent

Patti T.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Beautiful and Great Location
We loved our recent stay at The Wren Cottage… such a clean and well furnished rental! Beautiful linens, well stocked kitchen, cute front porch and total privacy made this an amazing rental!! Susan was very attentive to any questions we had…we would definitely rent here again!
Stayed 7 nights in Aug 2023

10/10 Excellent

Kim R.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Amazing, clean cottage in a great location
In several years of coming to the Smokies / Blue Ridge Mountain area, this has to be the cleanest place we have stayed in. The cottage is in a good location that was easy to get to with almost any type of vehicle. The property itself is quiet and relatively private, with only a few neighbors to the right and one to the left that are visible during the winter; however, they’re not that close and will probably not be visible once the leaves come in. The cottage also has a great mountain view in the front, as well as a creek along the west side of the property. Among the many small details that were also very welcome were updated appliances and good water pressure. The owner is also very thoughtful and extremely easy to work with, providing many small touches (complimentary water, ice packs, logs, snacks, etc.) and a low maintenance checkout procedure.
Stayed 2 nights in Dec 2022

10/10 Excellent

Elizabeth M.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Absolutely perfect!
We can’t say enough about how wonderful this cottage is. It’s clean, comfortable and in a beautiful location. This is our second time renting it and we hope to be back soon!
Stayed 6 nights in Dec 2022

10/10 Excellent

Melanie L.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Beautiful Mountain Home
Property was beautiful, loved the babbling creek, 6ft wide at points. House was very homey and clean. Great host thought of many extras; oatmeals, hot coco, coffees with all the fixings in jars next to the pot, waters in fridge, firewood on porch and extra for $5 in the garage. Great stay.
Stayed 2 nights in Oct 2022

10/10 Excellent

Shirley W.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Quiet, peaceful
This was a great place to stay! Quiet neighborhood and very clean. Close to town
Stayed 2 nights in Oct 2022

10/10 Excellent

Eileen H.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Wonderful week in the mountains
We stayed for 10 days and loved it. The house was perfect for us. It is nicely decorated, very clean and well equipped. Lots of care went into the details. We loved looking out the kitchen window and seeing mountains, sitting on the front porch enjoying the view and eating meals on the back patio. The location is excellent for exploring the Blue Ridge Parkway and surrounding areas. The owner was accessible and easy to communicate with. We had a great vacation. Thank you.
Stayed 8 nights in Jul 2022

10/10 Excellent

Danny C.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Great place
Great
Stayed 2 nights in Jul 2022

10/10 Excellent

Don P., Raleigh, North Carolina

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Quiet and relaxing with beautiful mountain view
This house was clean and updated. We loved the quiet and peaceful location and enjoyed sitting on the front porch enjoying the mountain view and the beautiful woods surrounding the property. Communication with the owner was great and she provided many thoughtful touches throughout.
Stayed 2 nights in Jul 2022

10/10 Excellent

celeste b.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Cottage Sweet Cottage💓
Spotless! Beautifully decorated! These past few days spent at Wren Cottage have been so magical and relaxing. The cottage is so well maintained and SPOTLESS! After spending 5 nights in a not so clean chalet in Gatlinburg, Wren Cottage has been a godsend. The fireflies are magical. We spent a lot of time watching them while rocking on the front porch. The “extras” that the owner has included are the icing on the cake(books, cable tv, bottled water, coffee pods, a fully equipped kitchen, plush towels, the informative binder, the snacks, etc). The decor is tasteful. The beds and furniture are comfortable. We ventured out to see Looking Glass Falls in Pisgah National Forest - breathtaking! We visited Oskar Blues Brewery in Brevard. We saw elk at the Ocofaluntee Visitors Center. We drove to Cataloochee Valley and saw the Bigfoot Statue on the way there. We loved Waynesville. We drove through Maggie Valley and saw Soco Falls and Ghost Town Village- The abandoned theme park. We drove to Fontana Dam, had breakfast at Everett’s in Bryson City, spent the afternoon in Cherokee playing in the river and had dinner at Native Brewing. This was an amazing 3 days! Thank you for allowing us to stay in Wren Cottage.
Stayed 3 nights in Jun 2022

10/10 Excellent

David M.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Wonderful, as always.
Excellent.
Stayed 8 nights in Jun 2022

10/10 Excellent

candice k.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Great get away
Great property. Very peaceful and quiet.
Stayed 3 nights in Apr 2022

10/10 Excellent

Denyse S.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Charming cottage in Waynesville
Wren Cottage is outstanding as a vacation rental. Our host had provided so many thoughtful amenities and decorative touches to enhance our experience. The location was beautiful and quiet. I wish we had had more time there to settle in and I would happily return to this VRBO home. SOON I HOPE!
Stayed 2 nights in Mar 2022

10/10 Excellent

Pamela S., Charlotte

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Cousins Annual Waynesville getaway
Awesome experience!!!! Love the house, host was very accommodating and informative. We will definitely return to this beautiful home!
Stayed 2 nights in Nov 2021

10/10 Excellent

Julia S.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Wonderful home in a beautiful setting
We stayed at this lovely home for a 4-day weekend. The house was meticulously clean and had everything we needed to be completely comfortable. The property is beautiful with it’s view of the mountains from the front porch, the stream in the side yard, and is the perfect location for exploring the nearby towns. Susan, our host, thought of every detail to make our vacation so relaxing! The bonus was that the leaves peaked while we were there! We will definitely return to Wren’s Cottage during our next visit to this area.
Stayed 4 nights in Oct 2021

10/10 Excellent

Heather G.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Fall Break
We really enjoyed the Wren Cottage! It was convenient for us to ride the Great Smoky Mountain Railway and to see the Biltmore Mansion. Our boys loved the creek as well! We highly recommend the Wren Cottage!
Stayed 3 nights in Oct 2021

10/10 Excellent

Clay Kathy M.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Beautiful scenery & well equipped cottage
The cottage is well equipped, clean & peaceful. The view of Balsam Mountain from the kitchen window and front porch is gorgeous. The very thick bath towels were so nice. Bottled water was supplied by the hostess but their well water is excellent. Be sure to eat at Frankie's Italian Restaurant in Maggie Valley. Was our favorite when we lived there and still is. Thank you Susan for making our week so comfortable.
Stayed 5 nights in Oct 2021

10/10 Excellent

Lacey M.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Fabulous cottage
This was one of the best work/vacation trips we’ve ever taken. The cottage was everything we could have asked for. We would think of something we would like to have and it was there. We even enjoyed the rainy afternoons sitting in the rockers on the front porch. The host were great and very responsive. We will definitely visit again.
Stayed 5 nights in Sep 2021

About the host

Hosted by Susan O'Day

Host profile image

Languages:

English
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