Cabin

Log Cabin on Watauga River

Photo gallery for Log Cabin on Watauga River

Stacked Stone Fireplace central to Great Room and Dining Room
Welcome to Casa Rio!
Hot Tub on Lower Patio
Back Deck with Dining Table
Stacked Stone Fireplace central to Great Room and Dining Room

Reviews

8.6 out of 10
Excellent
3 bedrooms3 bathroomsSleeps 8264.8 sq m

Popular amenities

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

Explore the area

Map
Banner Elk, NC
  • Hound Ears Golf Club
    ‪6 min drive‬
  • Appalachian State University
    ‪14 min drive‬
  • Kidd Brewer Stadium
    ‪17 min drive‬

Rooms & beds

3 bedrooms (sleeps 8)

King Bedroom #2

1 King Bed

King Master Suite

1 King Bed

Twin Bedroom (2 Twin Beds, 2 Twin Trundles)

2 Single Beds

3 bathrooms

Main Level Full Bathroom

Bathtub or shower · Toilet

Master Bathroom

Toilet · Shower only · Jetted bathtub

Upstairs Full Bathroom

Bathtub or shower · Toilet

Spaces

Deck or patio
Kitchen
Balcony
Separate dining area
Dining area

About this property

Log Cabin on Watauga River

Must be at least 25 years of age to book.

Welcome to Casa Rio!

Casa Rio is a beautiful log cabin on the Watauga River in Valle Crucis with 3 bedrooms and 3 full bathrooms. You will find custom log beams, columns, and handrails throughout, with hand-crafted branch balustrades. All of the beds have hand-hewn log frames. If "mountain elegance" is what you are seeking, and on the river as well, Casa Rio delivers!

Located only a mile from the historic Mast General Store and Valle Crucis Riverfront Park, Casa Rio is also convenient and central to all the High Country offers. Boone is only 5 miles away, Banner Elk is about 9 miles away, and Blowing Rock is only 11 miles away. Snow skiing, snowboarding, snow tubing, and ice skating are nearby, with Sugar Mountain Ski Resort and Appalachian Ski Mountain about 12 miles and Beech Mountain Ski Resort only 14 miles away. Hawksnest Snow Tubing and Zip Lines is only about 11 miles from the cabin. Grandfather Mountain is less than 15 miles away, and Tweetsie Railroad is only 10 miles from Casa Rio.

The main level of Casa Rio features an open floorplan with a foyer entry boasting high vaulted ceilings and hardwood floors. Immediately on your right are a laundry room and full bathroom. Further inside, you find a central, wood-burning fireplace with dramatic floor-to-ceiling stonework, open on both sides so guests can enjoy it from the dining area and the great room. A banquet-style dining table seats up to 8 guests. Entertaining is easy with the additional counter-height 4-seat table and three bar stools at the center kitchen island. The kitchen has gorgeous granite counters, high-end stainless appliances and is centered around a gas cooktop with custom stone accents above. The adjacent great room has two leather sofas, positioned conversationally, offering a view of the fireplace and the big screen HD Smart TV.

The king master suite with an HDTV, and a sliding glass door leading to a rear patio, is on the main level. You can hear and see the Watauga River. There is a generous ensuite master bathroom with slate tile floors, his and hers vanity, a large walk-in closet, an open stone shower, and a circular jetted soaking tub in the center of the bathroom.

Upstairs offers flanking bedrooms, one with a king bed and an HDTV, the other with two twin beds and two twin trundles (sleeps four), and an HDTV. A full central bathroom with a tub and shower services both upstairs bedrooms. The open loft has a new slate pool table, an HDTV, and comfy leather furniture.

Off of the kitchen and great room is an open-air deck with a view of the big backyard and the Watauga River. It features a gas grill, an outdoor dining table, and chairs. Below the main level deck, at ground level, is a covered patio with a hot tub and lounge-style seating, just a step up from the backyard, which slopes gently down to the Watauga River and features a wood-burning fire pit.

Property manager

Carolina Cabin Rentals
Premier Host

Languages

English

Add dates for prices

Amenities

Hot tub
Kitchen
Washer
Dryer
Free WiFi
Air conditioning

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House Rules

Check in after 4:00 PM
Minimum age to rent: 25
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

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

About the area

Vilas

Located in Vilas, this cabin is in a rural area and on the waterfront. Tweetsie Railroad is a popular area attraction and if an activity is on the agenda, Beech Mountain Resort and Sugar Mountain Resort are worth checking out. Magic Mountain Mini Golf and Arcade and Land of Oz are also worth visiting. Make sure you get close to the area's animals with activities such as game walks and birdwatching.
Map
Banner Elk, NC

What's nearby

  • Hound Ears Golf Club - 6 min drive - 7.8 km
  • Foggy Mountain Gem Mine - 10 min drive - 5.5 km
  • Julian Price Park - 13 min drive - 12.6 km
  • Appalachian State University - 14 min drive - 12.2 km
  • Kidd Brewer Stadium - 17 min drive - 11.2 km

Getting around

  • Tri-Cities, TN (TRI-Tri-Cities Regional) - 90 min drive

Restaurants

  • ‪River Street Ale House - ‬12 min drive
  • ‪The Pedalin' Pig-Boone - ‬8 min drive
  • ‪Lost Province Brewing Co. - ‬13 min drive
  • ‪Taqueria El Paso - ‬9 min drive
  • ‪The Cardinal - ‬11 min drive

Frequently asked questions

Is Log Cabin on Watauga River pet-friendly?

No, pets are not allowed at this property.

What time is check-in at Log Cabin on Watauga River?

Check-in begins at 4:00 PM.

What time is check-out at Log Cabin on Watauga River?

Checkout is at 10:00 AM.

Where is Log Cabin on Watauga River located?

Situated on the waterfront, this cabin is within 1 mile (2 km) of Watauga River and Alta Vista Gallery and B & B. Foggy Mountain Gem Mine and Hound Ears Golf Club are also within 6 miles (10 km).

Reviews

8.6

Excellent

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. 35 out of 65 reviews
Rating 8 - Good. 18 out of 65 reviews
Rating 6 - Okay. 9 out of 65 reviews
Rating 4 - Poor. 2 out of 65 reviews
Rating 2 - Terrible. 1 out of 65 reviews

9.0/10

Cleanliness

9.4/10

Check-in

9.2/10

Communication

9.2/10

Location

9.0/10

Listing accuracy

Reviews

10/10 Excellent

Don O.

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

Family trip

Great location with easy access to Boone and Eastern Tennessee. Bit hilly - parking more than one car is a challenge but definitely not a deal breaker.
Stayed 5 nights in Apr 2025

10/10 Excellent

Mary Beth H.

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

Beautiful home in the NC mountains

The home was absolutely gorgeous and everything we could have wanted in a vacation spot. It was perfect for our family and convenient. It was only 10 minutes from downtown Boone and about 15 from Hawksnest, which is where we had planned to go snow tubing. We loved the hot tub at the home and the kitchen was fully stocked for cooking a lovely dinner. We would like to thank the owners of this beautiful home for allowing us to stay and would love to return one day.
Stayed 3 nights in Jan 2025

8/10 Good

Brian J.

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

Beautiful home. Lots of room.

Beautiful home. Lots of room.
Stayed 3 nights in Oct 2024

10/10 Excellent

jori h.

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

Great location

Really enjoyed our stay at Casa Rio, convenient to several cities and all things to do.
Stayed 6 nights in Nov 2023

10/10 Excellent

Daniela D.

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

Great family stay at Casa Rio

We really enjoyed our stay at Casa Rio. The house was very well equipped and had everything we needed to enjoy a few days relaxing with our family. Everything was just as described. The location was excellent - quiet, secluded, yet close to town for great dining and shopping options. Great hiking and fly fishing options for nature lovers too!
Stayed 5 nights in Jul 2024

6/10 Okay

Aaron A.

Liked: Check-in, location
Disliked: Cleanliness, communication

Casa Rio

Beautiful house. Convenient to Boone. The shower in the bathroom by the laund
Stayed 2 nights in Apr 2024

10/10 Excellent

Jonathan K.

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

Beautiful property in a great location

We and the family enjoyed our extended weekend stay. Great property and very well maintained.
Stayed 4 nights in Dec 2022

10/10 Excellent

Connie M., Winston-Salem, USA

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

Great property and location

We loved it! Sitting on the deck listening to the river and birds singing first thing with my coffee, doesn't get any better than that.
Stayed 5 nights in Jul 2023
This review comes from a trusted partner site and has not been verified.

10/10 Excellent

Tim K.

5 Stars

Amazing cabin and we will be back for sure. Thank you

10/10 Excellent

Lauren P.

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

Impressive property and great location

We were very impressed with this house (much larger than in photos) and all of the unique characteristics! My 7 year old son loved fishing in the stream and playing pool. Hot tub and other amenities were very nice and in good condition. This was a perfect house for our family's annual trip! Thank you!
Stayed 3 nights in Nov 2022

10/10 Excellent

Ashley B.

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

Great property, good location, clean

Overall a great stay!! This was a moms trip and the property was perfect for the 5 of us. Clean, well stocked with necessary items, comfortable beds, and good location close to Boone! Only a few minor things to add: -we arrived after dark and there were no outside lights on -the towels for hot tub were hard to find-they were located in a bin behind the couch in living room -light in master bath toilet room was burnt out -we could not find the outside trash cans at time of departure, they were located to the left of the front porch inside a closet area. Overall, great property! Highly recommend!!
Stayed 2 nights in Dec 2023

10/10 Excellent

Glenda C., null

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

Beautiful Mountain Home

We loved the view and the house was perfect for our needs! We enjoyed the fireplace and the kitchen was nice to prepare a meal in. Beds were comfortable. The upstairs twin room required creativity to find a way to use both trundles but we figured it out. My only minor complaint was that a hot tub fee was included in our fees but a 2 page list of rules and possible charges made us 2 scared to use it! Lol We would stay here again for sure :)
Stayed 4 nights in Oct 2023

6/10 Okay

Karen L.

Liked: Check-in, location

Overall it was a nice getaway

Weekend getaway was generally nice. House is definitely showing it’s age and the wear of years of rental stays. Home needs some TLC and a good cleaning. The front door has no insulation and was unpleasant during our winter weekend stay. Hot tub water was cloudy. We made the best of the trip and were discounted for some inconveniences.
Stayed 2 nights in Mar 2022

10/10 Excellent

Jessica W., Surf City, NC

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

Beautiful home in a great location

We are from the coast, so we really loved that this home was really close to the main highways without all the curves (that we’re not used to!) that can come along with mountain rentals. The home is so beautiful, roomy, and eclectic- and we loved the wood burning fireplace in the center of the room. The only thing I wish I knew before going is this home isn’t “right” on the river. It’s a pretty steep hill to get to and from the river from the house, and we took along our young kids as well as my almost 70 year old dad and all his fishing gear. It was a hike, but they did catch fish and had a great time once they got down! All in all a great time, and just a few short minutes to the Original Mast General Store, Boone, and Blowing Rock.
Stayed 4 nights in Oct 2023
This review comes from a trusted partner site and has not been verified.

8/10 Good

Garry S.

review Casa Rio

Prolems: Heat would not go over 64 degrees one night Front door has severe draft need caulking and reset Stove light not working Oven will not set only 350 and 500 degrees Limited counter space because no storage space Wood was not delivered as promised had to call many times Trash bin was hard to find found on last day Sliding door tracks are very dirty and hard to open doors Fire place door extremely dirty to the point cant see fire Very hard to heat house yet master bedroom way too hot Need more flatware No toaster, no cork screw House was laid out well and enjoyed living room but too cold.

2/10 Terrible

Jennifer D.

Liked: Location
Disliked: Listing accuracy

Unsafe

No key code in email no service to call management took 30 mins to reach someone. Beautiful rain showers as not hot water. Can not use spa tub hot water heater isn’t big enough. Day 1 I fell through the rotted deck and had to go to the ER. Cabin company claimed the had no prior knowledge of the deck issue but they did. Going back to 2019 several reviews stating all 3 issues.
Stayed 3 nights in Mar 2021

6/10 Okay

ASHLEY B.

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

This house is beautiful, and it is the one that we booked…Not where we stayed, due to several issues

When I rented this property I was looking for water access, pool table and a hot tub. We received a call in the morning that we were leaving, that this house was not available due to numerous issues. They did send me five additional properties to look at, and we did select the one that was most comparable. (Nothing as nice as what we actually paid for) But we had zero water access and no hot tub. disappointing that these issues we’re not discovered prior to the day we were supposed to check in. The house that we did end up staying in was very quaint and nice, but not what I paid for. Also the gentleman that I spoke to, (he was very kind) to choose this cabin sent me the wrong information for the door lock code, so that was also a hassle. Where is my refund for the inconvenience? no water? No hot tub? My family and I didn’t stay in this beautiful cabin that I paid for?
Stayed 3 nights in Aug 2021

10/10 Excellent

Ginger P.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Stayed 3 nights in Mar 2025

10/10 Excellent

Renee E.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Stayed 3 nights in May 2024

10/10 Excellent

Melinda W.

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

Perfect!

Such a beautiful cabin!
Stayed 3 nights in Nov 2022

8/10 Good

todd m.

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

Nice property but not very clean.

The home is nice and in a quiet neighborhood but wasn’t clean and wasn’t ready for an on time check in. The decks were covered in leaves. The house was dusty and candy wrappers left around the home.
Stayed 3 nights in Oct 2022

8/10 Good

Karra B.

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

Casa Rio

House was large, plenty of places to relax & enjoy the view. Saw deer in the yard at some point each day of our stay. The pool table & hot tub are a nice addition. Really enjoyed the quiet & beauty of the place.
Stayed 7 nights in Jun 2022

10/10 Excellent

Kelly Cassell C.

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

Spring Break

This cabin was phenomenal! We had 8 people and it comfortably fit all of us, the cots upstairs were great! Plenty of space and the hot tub was great in the evenings! This cabin came equipped with everything we needed to cook every night and was very clean and well kept. It definitely exceeded expectations! About 15-20 minutes outside of Boone depending on how fast you take the mountain roads so all in all great location! 10/10 would recommend!
Stayed 5 nights in Mar 2022

8/10 Good

Heather B.

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

Beautiful but….

This cabin is very nice plenty of space and great location. But the house was not cleaned very well, lots of dust and hair on floors, windows and shelves. No dish soap, laundry detergent, paper towels or garbage bags. I know these products are not required but for the price a small amount is normal in all my other VBRO visits.
Stayed 4 nights in Feb 2022

10/10 Excellent

Sam R.

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

Perfect getaway

My husband and I snowboard but also wanted to be off the ski mountain. We chose this cabin last minute and it was perfect. The drive is beautiful. The cabin had everything we needed and more. The hot tub and pool table were perfect. The kitchen was well stocked with the supplies we needed to stay in. We will book again.
Stayed 2 nights in Jan 2022

About the host

Hosted by Carolina Cabin Rentals

Host profile image
We are a professional, full service vacation rental management company in Boone, NC with homes in the North Carolina Mountains.

Languages:

English

Premier Host

They consistently provide great experiences for their guests