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Luxurious Toxaway Lakefront. Private Golf Club, Tennis, Boating, Hiking, Dining

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Expansive lakefront gradual sloping lawn
Flowers, chocolates and chilled Champaign upon arrival
Exclusive Lake Toxaway Country Club April 9 to November (guest membership extra)
Lakefront terrace, alfresco dining and screened porch with fireplace

Reviews

10 out of 10
Exceptional
5 bedrooms5+ bathroomsSleeps 12511.0 sq m

Popular amenities

  • Hot tub
  • Dryer
  • Pool
  • Fireplace
  • Washer
  • Kitchen

Explore the area

Map
Lake Toxaway, NC
  • Lake Toxaway
    ‪12 min walk‬
  • Gorges State Park
    ‪11 min drive‬
  • Whisper Lake
    ‪23 min drive‬
  • Pickens, SC (LQK-Pickens County)
    ‪70 min drive‬

Rooms & beds

5 bedrooms (sleeps 12)

Bedroom 1

1 King Bed

Bedroom 2

1 King Bed

Bedroom 3

1 King Bed

Bedroom 4

1 King Bed

Bedroom 5

1 King Bed

Bedroom 6

1 Double Futon

5 bathrooms, 1 half bathroom

Bathroom 1

Bathtub · Toilet · Shower only · Jetted bathtub

Bathroom 2

Bathtub or shower · Bathtub · Toilet

Bathroom 3

Bathtub or shower · Toilet

Bathroom 4

Bathtub or shower · Toilet

Bathroom 5

Toilet · Shower only

Bathroom 6

Toilet

Spaces

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

About this property

Luxurious Toxaway Lakefront. Private Golf Club, Tennis, Boating, Hiking, Dining


Welcome to Cardinal Zen. Access to the exclusive Lake Toxaway Golf & Tennis Club Easter to Thanksgiving.*** Since 1903, the Rockefellers, Vanderbilts, Firestones, Henry Ford, R. J. Reynolds, President James Buchanan, Thomas Edison and now America’s Fortune 500 CEO’s refer to this glorious private lake escape as "Little Switzerland."

Extraordinary 5-bedroom 5 and 1/2 bath, 6,000 square foot lake front home with 300-feet of lake frontage. Breathtaking water views from almost every room. Professionally furnished and decorated.

FEATURES
*Private rooms for peaceful escapes
* Motouk linens and pillow top mattresses
*Gourmet fully equipped kitchen (herbs, spices, Keurig pods, professional knives and cookware)
*Lakefront 6-person saline hot tub
*Two great rooms
*5-on suite king bedrooms
*Game room
*Fitness room
*Four wood burning fireplaces
*Screened porch with stunning lake and wooded views and wood burning fireplace
*Vast, gently sloping lawn with surrounding forest and creek. Perfect for children and adults.
***Club access requires guest membership for additional fees

ACTIVITIES
Golf, tennis(clay courts), pickle ball, croquet, fitness center
Swimming
Paddle boarding, kayaking, canoeing
Water skiing & tubing
Hiking (vast waterfall trails)
Fishing
Mountain biking
Horseback riding
Casual and fine dining

PRIVACY
Security cameras are only located outside the primary entrance to the front and rear of Cardinal Zen. They are not monitored and are only reviewed in the event of a security incident.

Property manager

Theresa Cannon
Premier Host

Languages

English

Add dates for prices

Amenities

Pool
Hot tub
Kitchen
Washer
Dryer
Pet-friendly

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House Rules

Check in after 4:00 PM
Minimum age to rent: 30
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

Pets allowed: dogs (limit 2 total)
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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

Lake Toxaway

Located in Lake Toxaway, this holiday home is in a rural area and on the waterfront. Sapphire National Golf Club and Sapphire Valley Ski Resort are worth checking out if an activity is on the agenda, while those looking for area attractions can visit Pisgah Astronomical Research Institute and Cashiers Farmers Market. Make sure you get close to the area's animals with activities such as game walks and birdwatching.
Map
Lake Toxaway, NC

What's nearby

  • Lake Toxaway - 12 min walk - 1.0 km
  • Gorges State Park - 11 min drive - 7.5 km
  • Whisper Lake - 23 min drive - 15.8 km
  • Sapphire National Golf Club - 25 min drive - 19.8 km
  • Lake Jocassee - 53 min drive - 22.1 km

Getting around

  • Asheville Regional Airport (AVL) - 60 min drive

Restaurants

  • ‪Mica's Restaurant - ‬25 min drive
  • ‪Osteria Del Monte - ‬16 min drive
  • ‪SlopeSide Tavern - ‬25 min drive
  • ‪Villa Amato - ‬11 min drive
  • ‪The Library Kitchen & Bar - ‬25 min drive

Frequently asked questions

Does Luxurious Toxaway Lakefront. Private Golf Club, Tennis, Boating, Hiking, Dining have a pool?

Yes, this property has an outdoor pool. Pool types include heated pools.

Is Luxurious Toxaway Lakefront. Private Golf Club, Tennis, Boating, Hiking, Dining pet-friendly?

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

What time is check-in at Luxurious Toxaway Lakefront. Private Golf Club, Tennis, Boating, Hiking, Dining?

Check-in begins at 4:00 PM.

What time is check-out at Luxurious Toxaway Lakefront. Private Golf Club, Tennis, Boating, Hiking, Dining?

Checkout is at 10:00 AM.

Where is Luxurious Toxaway Lakefront. Private Golf Club, Tennis, Boating, Hiking, Dining located?

This family-friendly Lake Toxaway holiday home is located on the waterfront, within a 15-minute walk of Nantahala National Forest and Lake Toxaway. Gorges State Park and Pisgah National Forest are also within 6 miles (10 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 104 reviews
Rating 8 - Good. 5 out of 104 reviews
Rating 6 - Okay. 1 out of 104 reviews
Rating 4 - Poor. 0 out of 104 reviews
Rating 2 - Terrible. 0 out of 104 reviews

9.8/10

Cleanliness

10/10

Amenities

8.0/10

Property conditions & facilities

10/10

Check-in

10/10

Communication

10/10

Location

10/10

Listing accuracy

Reviews

10/10 Excellent

Perry L.

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

Perfect Stay at the perfect home

We have stayed at this wonderful home before. This trip was excellent also !
Stayed 4 nights in Sep 2024

10/10 Excellent

Susan B.

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

Perfect for Family Time

Second time staying at Cardinal Zen. We love it. Plenty of space for adults / couples with five king bedrooms each with own bath. Family room and outdoor porch are big enough for all to sit comfortably (and have great fireplaces). Dock is perfect for sunny afternoons (and canoe/kayaks great too). Lake Toxaway is beautiful. Our family enjoys the upper lake for its quiet and stillness. We highly recommend.
Stayed 7 nights in Nov 2024

8/10 Good

Charles R.

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

Great property

Very nice vacation spot right on a private lake
Stayed 4 nights in Mar 2024

10/10 Excellent

Betsey W.

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

Family vacation

Beautiful house with a beautiful view of the lake.
Stayed 7 nights in Jun 2024

10/10 Excellent

C Michael E.

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

Great family house

Plenty of room and well appointed for our kids and grandkids. What a beautiful setting!
Stayed 7 nights in May 2024

10/10 Excellent

Pat J.

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

Family Gathering

Manager was very responsive with all of our concerns after a severe storm impacted the area prior to our arrival. Found the home to be a welcome retreat for our extended family allowing each of us to escape to our own lovely nooks! The 5, 7 & the young at heart year olds stayed outside all day playing in the lake. The nearby hike to a waterfall provided great family pictures for this year’s Christmas cards:)
Stayed 3 nights in Oct 2024

10/10 Excellent

Hugh H.

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

Cardinal Zen

Amazing house… This vacation was fantastic primarily due to this wonderful home on Lake Cardinal. House is beautiful and had everything you could possibly need. Host was very attentive and responded quickly to any questions I had prior to and during the stay. Will look forward to our next visit here.
Stayed 7 nights in Jun 2024

10/10 Excellent

Robyn H.

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

Break from Helene and Engagement weekend

Upon arriving to a beautiful home on the lake, music and champagne greeted us. We needed the calm, the beauty, the amazing comfort and ease of Cardinal Zen. Words cannot express what this house did for us after 15 days of turmoil in Asheville after Helene. Our youngest daughter was proposed to on Saturday and what a beautiful setting to be in Toxaway. Theresa is amazing too! Very responsive and kind.
Stayed 4 nights in Oct 2024

10/10 Excellent

john m.

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

Idyllic!

Truly a idyllic setting with all the amenities close by that you could experience in a week’s time.
Stayed 7 nights in Jul 2023

10/10 Excellent

Susan M.

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

Family Vacation at Lake Cardinal

Also, notice this house is NOT on Lake Toxaway. It's on Cardinel Lake. A small, beautiful, quiet lake above it with no motors allowed. <3
Stayed 8 nights in May 2024

10/10 Excellent

Hendrick S.

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

Spacious, bright, peaceful

The most enjoyed feature was the large gently sloping lawn and the dock for sitting with drinks and watching the kids on watercraft. Overall, a nice time for the family.
Stayed 7 nights in Sep 2023

6/10 Okay

Patricia T., Brevard, NC

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location

Great Yard and Fun Lake

Nice big yard for kids and games. Paddles boards and canoe on the lake was fun for all ages.
Stayed 7 nights in Jul 2021

10/10 Excellent

Sam C.

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

Terrrific Toxaway

What a fantastic week we had here! This house with all of the fantastic amenities along with use of the country club is a very rare find. The screen porch and the gentle sloping yard were huge favorites amongst our group. Theresa was also very responsive to any needs or questions we had. We typically don't go to the same place twice, but we have already booked this house again for next summer- Can't wait!
Stayed 7 nights in Jun 2024

10/10 Excellent

Tricia W.

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

Lake Paradise

Beautiful home right on private lake with easy access to the dock. Pet friendly and our dogs had a blast splashing and exploring the forest paths. Private, quiet, spacious, fully stocked home with gorgeous views for working remotely while we tried to enjoy some down time. Great experience and hope to come back soon!
Stayed 4 nights in Mar 2023

10/10 Excellent

Kim C.

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

Peaceful Getaway

The property was as described in the description. Plenty of room to spread out and the kitchen was wonderful to cook in. All we needed was provided. The furnishings were more than comfortable with so much style. The beds were extremely comfortable!!! I would recommend this property.
Stayed 3 nights in Jun 2023

8/10 Good

Carole K.

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

Cardinal Lake Getaway

Loved the size of the house and location was perfect. The recessed rooms could be an issue for older individuals. Especially the step down into the master bedroom.
Stayed 14 nights in Jun 2021

10/10 Excellent

Helen S.

Beautiful views and plenty of space

This is a fabulous property. The house is beautiful, big and well appointed (even have coffee and spices). We really enjoyed the dock and water toys. Easy drive to Greystone - about 5 or so minutes. Highly recommend!.
Stayed 3 nights in Sep 2018

10/10 Excellent

Kelley V.

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

Family Stay

Our family, including multiple members of all ages, had an incredible stay for the month of July at Cardinal Zen. The setting was idyllic, with the beautiful lake just steps away from our doorstep. One of the highlights was definitely the advantage of having a membership to the club, with the golf course nearby, which we took full advantage of. The kitchen was beautifully stocked for the many meals we cooked, and we enjoyed visiting the nearby Greystone Inn for appetizers in the bar and lakefront dinners. Theresa, the property manager, was very quick to respond to any issues that arose, which made our stay even more comfortable. The ease of boat rentals at the marina added to our experience, and the location was perfect for outdoor enthusiasts like us, with amazing waterfall hikes just a short drive away. The combination of serene lake views, convenient golf access, excellent dining options, responsive management, and stunning natural beauty made our vacation truly unforgettable.
Stayed 28 nights in Jun 2024

10/10 Excellent

Susan C W., Orlando Fl/New Orleans La

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

Beautiful Home on the Lake.

We enjoyed our stay in this large house on the lake. wit had a great Dock for fishing and kayaking. Caught quite a bit of Bass! Hot tub on the back porch was a big hit with the kids. House is plenty big enough for everyone to get away to their own space. All rooms very large. Very unusual pieces of woodwork and art in the house. I enjoyed walking around and admiring it all. We didn't actually cook dinner while there but the kitchen had very high end nice appliances. Quiet area. Grounds all kept very neat. The screened in porch with real fireplace was awesome. Even got to light it a few times when the weather got chilly at night. Communication before arriving was great. No problems at all. Perfect house for a large group. Oh and the Basketball goal in front of house was a hit for the boys! Great stay and would return.
Stayed 7 nights in Jun 2023

10/10 Excellent

suzanne b.

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

A week on the lake

We stayed at cardinal zen for a week late June 2024 We were 12,ranging from 2-68 The house is spectacular and beautifully appointed The beds super comfy with great sheets and pillows and fluffy towels The bedrooms very roomy and very tastefully appointed. The master looks just like the photos With such a crowd, it was nice to have a large den off the kitchen, the living area, and a great screened in porch,allowing everyone to spread out The game room was fun with games,ping pong, keyboard, and nintendo. The workout area was great One of the bedrooms is a bit off to itself, which was great for little one with early bedtimes The kitchen was great. The appliances are top of the line, and there are every kind and size of pots and pans! The china and glassware is not what you would expect in a rental.. beautiful, and the cabinets filled with spices The front lawn is big and great for the kids. The dock is spacious with comfy furniture and large umbrellas to shade the sun. Everyone loved the paddle boards, kayaks and canoe. Blowup rings and fishing poles are a must. (Worms can be found at Toxaway Outfitters) Kids did bring water shoes All and all a great rental. Thanks for sharing! Suzanne and Jimmy New orleans
Stayed 7 nights in Jun 2024

10/10 Excellent

Susan B., Cincinnati, United States

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

The Perfect Thanksgiving Family Week

We had a wonderful time at Cardinal Zen. The house was perfect for our group. The five bedrooms with their own bath is great for couples/families. Lots of room to spread out in the common areas! Outdoor screened in porch with fireplace was lovely for conversation. The great room with fireplace and open to kitchen was perfect for entire family to be together for game playing while meals were being prepped. The dining room with fireplace was lovely for all our meals, especially our Thanksgiving dinner (table nicely fits 11 or 12). The kitchen table was great for game playing and quick meals. The formal living room was nice for quiet morning coffee. The primary bedroom and bath was an escape and delight! We enjoyed sitting on the dock during the day for some sunshine. And several enjoyed the hot tub both during the day and evening hours. The house sound system was excellent. All equipment met and exceeded our expectations. As you can tell, we had a fantastic time. And Theresa made everything easy! Any question or need, she answered immediately. That made for a carefree planning process and week. A few even went out in the kayaks and canoe. This house would be wonderful any time of year!
Stayed 7 nights in Nov 2023

10/10 Excellent

Stephen F.

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

Great Location

Very spacious home and great spot on the water to relax
Stayed 4 nights in Nov 2022

10/10 Excellent

dawn s.

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

Mountain Getaway!

This house is amazing. The views of the lake from every room of this spacious house were spectacular. The interior of this home was absolutely beautiful especially the works of art that adorned the walls. This home gives one a sense of peace and relaxation. There is a gentle slope from the back of the house to a wonderful dock with comfortable furniture to sit out on and take in the surroundings. We really enjoyed fishing from this spot and for those who want more adventure, kayaks and paddle boards were also provided. We arrived late our first night and Theresa had the lights on for us and relaxing music playing over the Sonos System as well as logs ready for an evening fire in one of the 3 fireplaces. This is definitely a home we hope to revisit!
Stayed 3 nights in Oct 2022

10/10 Excellent

Claudia M.

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

Lake Retreat

Home is lovely. Extremely accommodating for a large group. Hostess was very helpful in addressing questions and issues that arose.
Stayed 6 nights in Oct 2022

8/10 Good

Olga K.

Liked: Check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Beautiful location

beautiful home with 4 regular bedrooms and one bonus room, fantastic location, very peaceful and picturesque, great communication with manager
Stayed 7 nights in Aug 2022

About the host

Hosted by Theresa Cannon

Host profile image

What makes this property unique

All beds have Stearns & Foster Thornham Plush Pillow Top Mattress with lavish linens.
All bedrooms have private bathrooms (en-suite)
Gourmet fully equipped kitchen.
Luxurious 6-person saline hot tub with breathtaking view overlooking the lake.
Sonos music system, expanded cable TV and WiFi.
Viking stainless steel range - gourmet fully equipped kitchen
Large outdoor grille and dining porch.

Languages:

English

Premier Host

They consistently provide great experiences for their guests