A rare find - fun for all ages with on-site arcade and game room.
Centrally-located
You're never far from where you need to be with this convenient location.
3 bedrooms3 bathroomsSleeps 10
Popular amenities
Onsite parking available
Kitchen
Washing machine
Barbecue
Balcony
Internet access
Explore the area
Seven Devils, NC
Hawksnest Tubing Park
Place, Hawksnest Tubing Park
‪3 min drive‬
Watauga River
Place, Watauga River
‪7 min drive‬
Grandfather Mountain State Park
Place, Grandfather Mountain State Park
‪7 min drive‬
Rooms & beds
3 bedrooms (sleeps 10)
Bedroom 2
1 Single Bunk Bed and 1 Queen Bed
Bedroom 3
1 Single Bed and 1 Double Bed
Master bedroom
1 Single Bed and 1 King Bed
3 bathrooms
Bathroom 1
Bathtub or shower · Toilet
Bathroom 2
Bathtub or shower · Toilet
Bathroom 3
Bathtub or shower · Toilet
Spaces
Deck or patio
Porch or lanai
Kitchen
Balcony
About this property
Base Camp at Hawks nest. Near many mountain activities!
Dear potential guest,
We are not a 5 star hotel. But if you're looking for wood paneling and good knobs back from when gold was popular the first time around, look no further. Boasting popcorn ceilings and mysterious electric work, our home is an adventure in itself to visit. This house is the love child of the "Brady Bunch" and "Money Pit".
Do we work our tails off trying to maintain it after a plethora of renters each year? YES. We have literally carried thousands of pounds of building materials, appliances, and furniture up those God forsaken front steps. For some reason this house hates garbage disposals. Replaced that three times in the last year. It is like the house begs for people to shove spoons down in there.
But do we love staying here...100% YES. Our kids LOVE the rustic feel and enjoy 'going back in time'. It is like a cozy hug from grandma. Filled with our blood, sweat, and tears of trying to renovate and maintain it...but yet just what you need to escape your busy and hectic life for a few days in the beautiful mountains.
We invite those to stay with us who appreciate having a rock bottom price, and enjoy staying in a great location, but don 't need a sparkly brand new cabin. This is a rustic cabin in the woods, and feels that way! There is plenty of room for two families, also. Our cleaner is wonderful and works hard to keep things in great shape for your visit. We do not, however, provide full amounts of toilet paper, paper towels, or consumables m
Note: mountain homes are on mountain roads, and they are narrow, winding, and give you a good shot of adrenaline as you drive up them. Our driveway has a steep slope on one side, but can be accessed from the other side (think rainbow shape) and fits 3 cars comfortably.
Double Note: yes - we have a full size crib in the closet behind the master bathroom. We don't hate our children, but they need a buffer from the noise we all make in the living room. Feel free to place your children, or husbands, here when they misbehave. Please bring your own crib sheet if you would like to use the crib.
Triple Note: The trash company full out quit doing pick up in this area. There is a free public dump just at the bottom of the mountain near Grandfather winery, but guests do have to remove their own trash.
Hawks nest zip lining and snow tubing .8 miles Otter falls trail head 1.3 miles Grandfather vineyard 4 miles Grandfather mountain state park 6 miles Calloway peak trail head (Banner elk) 6 miles Alpine coaster 7 miles High mountain river rafting 8 miles Sugar ski hill/bike/hike 8 miles Jonas ridge snow tubing 12 miles Boone 13 miles Blowing rock 14 miles Beech public sledding hill 14 miles Beech ski hill/bike/hike 16 miles Rocky knob mountain bike park 16 miles App ski hill 17 miles Tweeties railroad 17 miles Linville falls 22 miles Also in our area: River tubing, fishing, kayaking, golfing
For winter visits, we recommend 4 wheel drive and/or putting chains on tires. For summer visits - be aware no air conditioning. It is generally very cool out at night and highs in low 70s during the day. There are stairs to center the home.
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Guests must watch a video about how to operate fire place during cooler months.
Important information
You need to know
Property # 2139491vb
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 not indicated whether there is a carbon monoxide detector on the property; consider bringing a portable detector with you on the trip
Host has not indicated whether there is a smoke detector on the property
About the area
Banner Elk
Located in Banner Elk, this holiday home is in a rural area and in the mountains. Sugar Mountain Resort and Beech Mountain Resort are worth checking out if an activity is on the agenda, while those wishing to experience the area's natural beauty can explore Grandfather Mountain and The Blowing Rock. Travelling with kids? Consider Tweetsie Railroad, or check out an event or a game at Kidd Brewer Stadium.
Grandfather Mountain State Park - 7 min drive - 7.1 km
Grandfather Vineyard & Winery - 9 min drive - 7.8 km
Getting around
Tri-Cities, TN (TRI-Tri-Cities Regional) - 96 min drive
Restaurants
‪McDonald's - ‬11 min drive
‪Banner Elk Cafe - ‬20 min drive
‪Blink Elk Tap Room - ‬19 min drive
‪Town Tavern of Banner Elk - ‬20 min drive
‪Kettell Beerworks - ‬21 min drive
Frequently asked questions
Is Base Camp at Hawks nest. Near many mountain activities! pet-friendly?
No, only service animals are welcome at the property.
How much does it cost to stay at Base Camp at Hawks nest. Near many mountain activities!?
As of 21 June 2026, prices found for a 1-night stay for 2 adults at Base Camp at Hawks nest. Near many mountain activities! on 7 September 2026 start from NZ$359, including taxes and fees. This price is based on the lowest nightly price found in the last 24 hours for stays in the next 30 days. Prices are subject to change. Choose your dates for more accurate prices.
How much is parking at Base Camp at Hawks nest. Near many mountain activities!?
On-site parking is available at the property.
What time is check-in at Base Camp at Hawks nest. Near many mountain activities!?
Check-in begins at 4:00 PM.
What time is check-out at Base Camp at Hawks nest. Near many mountain activities!?
Checkout is at 11:00 AM.
Where is Base Camp at Hawks nest. Near many mountain activities! located?
This family-friendly Banner Elk holiday home is located in the mountains, within 3 mi (5 km) of Hawksnest Tubing Park and Grandfather Vineyard & Winery. Grandfather Trout Farm and Watauga River are also within 6 miles (10 km).
Reviews
8.8
Excellent
Reviews are presented in chronological order, subject to a moderation process, and verified unless otherwise labelled.
We enjoyed our stay and host answered any questions I had. Beautiful views and plenty of room for our family of 9. Wonderful trip for all of us! Thank you!
We had a wonderful 2-day stay at this cozy cabin in Elk Mountain with three families. The air was fresh, the nature was stunning, and the mountain views were absolutely breathtaking. The house was clean, well-equipped, and the price was very reasonable for what it offered. The host was also very responsive and helpful, which made our stay even more enjoyable. Overall, it was a peaceful and relaxing getaway in the heart of the mountains. Highly recommended!
Host checked in on us and made us aware of any issues that came up before our stay. House was very spacious and accommodated all of our guest. Overall I would stay here again
The location was great and the living space worked very well for our two families with children. The property could use some updates and it would be nice to have a few more basic items provided, but overall, it met all of our needs and we enjoyed our visit.
Home was warm, cozy and felt like home. Children and grand children had plenty of room to play and run around. There was 9 of us. Everyone had thier own bed. (Well there was 3 adult couples) 3 grands. Beds were comfy. We all slept well each night to rise in the morning to look at the breath taking view of GF mountain. Lots of kitchen space for us all to gather and have our family meals together ❤️. Nice grill that cooked up some mighty fine steaks yall. Ms. Laura was a gem 💎. Our GPS took us somewhere way up the mountain but we were able to get her on tge phone with no problem and she got us where we needed to be. We were in the center of all local attractions. 20 minutes in any direction. Lovey place. Great time. Blessed and Grateful. The Smiths
Great time but ruined by accusations once we left.
My family and I were excited to be getting a vacation together since we missed our summer one due to my husbands illness. When we booked the property I asked about mine and my kids four dogs, I was asked to send pictures and describe their demeanor, which I did. Laura let me know that she would allow all four dogs, told me the pet fee to cover the extra time the cleaner would have to stay and then told me I could venmo her the fee to skip any extra fees by vrbo. She told me to register without the pets and that she would send me the request by venmo. All was fine and agreed upon. We get to the house, everything seemed nice until we went to cook dinner. There was mouse droppings all over the dishes in the bottom cabinet, there were mousetraps in the family room which I guess I get seeing as they knew they had a mouse problem, the traps didn't seem to work seeing as you could hear the mice in the walls of the upstairs bedroom. We went to grill another night and the grill was beyond disgusting with a piece of foil with food still on it.
Other than that, we had a nice time with our kids and granddaughter and our dogs. The house is dated but that didn't bother us, I like the vintage look.
Check out is at 11, we got out of the house at 11:27. The cleaner was waiting for us and I believe that she was disgruntled that she had to wait. Mind you, Laura never informed the cleaner that she had approved four dogs so the cleaner was not prepared for the extra time needed. The cleaner also told Laura that there was so much laundry that she would not be able to get it done that day. The laundry was the towels and rags that we used and the bedding. ( sheets, pillowcases, blankets, comforters) I was later informed by Laura that they don't wash the blankets and comforters after each family leaves which disturbed me greatly especially during a pandemic. We were accused by the cleaner of having vomit all over the upstairs toilet and spit all over the mirror and walls of the bathroom and that we left the house the worst the cleaner had ever seen, all of which is not true. It was ridiculous the going back and forth. I do believe the cleaner was upset because of the late checkout and not knowing about the dogs. My advice is to keep all of your correspondences between you and the owner and to take pictures as soon as you get there and take detailed pictures of the home before you leave.
Jennifer K.
Stayed 4 nights in Dec 2021
Response from VrboOwner on 3 January 2022
Jennifer, thank you again for your visit, and as I said, we hate that it ended the way it did. I do, however, want to respond to the review you left as it is not inclusive of several pieces of information.
You did request to book the home with pets and we did have a conversation about that. However, you mentioned 2 small dogs and sent their pictures voluntarily. They appeared to be a small beagle mix. We did allow these dogs to be there and said we would charge extra to pay the cleaner and plan for the cleaner to spend extra time that day - as we would have for anyone else (prior to us changing our pet policy as a result of your visit). The dogs you brought are NOT the dogs that were in the pictures. Our cleaners witnessed you leaving with several dogs - one of which was a large fluffy white breed with long hair. We did not approve for these dogs to stay.
You checked in and sent us a text saying that the house was great and that you did find mouse droppings in a back corner of a cabinet but that it was still clean and comfortable. I informed you that I was very sorry and that we would certainly let our pest control company to come and do a treatment. Mountain homes can easily get a pest in the house in the cold. And we have a metal roof so any noises outside the house can sound a little different. The pest control company does put mouse treatment boxes in the house, that was why you saw them in the living room. To clarify - they are not snap traps and are safe for pets and children according to the distributor. We have spent many nights in the house and have never seen a mouse.
In regards to the cleaner's dismay after check out.... this happened because you booked the house separate from your inquiry. So there was no longer any record of your request to bring pets on the booking information. That is why I had not notified the cleaner in advance about the dogs. But even if I had, you never paid a pet fee because you booked it separate and then never mentioned the pets again nor paid for them. There was NO pet fee paid for these pets and they were not the pets you said you were bringing.
The cleaners wash the comforters to the beds when they are used, yes. The entire house was covered in a thick layer of dog hair - even on beds not used. It was hard to even see the carpet. It was on the curtains, in the decorative pine cone centerpiece of the table, and caked on thick to every single blanket in the house. Certainly not what you would find from 2 small beagle breeds.
Last, there were items broken in the home. A frame was broken as well as a door pull. There was gummy candy smooshed into the carpet, there was thick/sticky gooey red stuff all over the toilet, baseboards, cabinet doors, and there were sticky handprints all over everything - every window, glass part of the house knob pull, etc. This was not something that could be wiped clean easily. It was a thick gooey substance which the cleaner did originally think was vomit.
In addition to all of these items, yes you did depart late. When a house is left in the state it was, the cleaner needs every minute to prepare for the next person.
Please, please, Jennifer do not use VRBO again as you are staying in someone's home and personal property. We have used our cleaner for a long time and she had never ever seen anything like the state of the home after you left in any of her properties.
For anyone who took the time to read all of this, please feel free to reach out to me directly with any questions or concerns.
Did not know that the house had no ac until I got the check in info. This really needs to be known beforehand. Laura was very friendly and was really quick to help with our needs.
The host was very responsive and very attentive to our questions and gave local recommendations. It was a wonderful base camp for our two families, plenty of space, comfortable beds, plenty of blankets. Loved the view from the deck. No bugs or bears in sight. We brought firewood and used the fire pit. The drive from the main road to the cabin takes about 8 minutes and includes real mountain driving! We went snow tubing, hiked otter falls and did alpine coaster. We would definitely stay again.
House was easy to find. We managed the stairs fine (both of us are mid to upper 50's) but may be difficult for older person or bad knees. Home is dated but clean and bed was very comfortable. Beautiful view every morning and evening! Enjoyed the chipmunks and lots of deer, especially at dusk!
The home was clean and tidy. It had an open floor plan that made it easy to play games and eat meals together! Perfect weekend to decompress, hike, play games and laugh with family. The beds were comfy too!
Excellent location to see grandfather mountain from the porch deck and just a few miles to restaurant choices.
A bit tricky of a driveway for touring motorcycles, but we mustered thru it.
Definitely worth the dtayt
Enjoyed the house, view, location and weather. However, for Senior Adults traveling alone, the 33 steps. (20 outside + 13 inside) up to the main living area (kitchen, living room, master bedroom) of the house was an unexpected obstacle. It took hours each time to move our luggage and groceries in and back out again. This property and old/bad knees don't mix.
Jim W.
Stayed 4 nights in Jul 2021
Verified
2/10 Terrible
Gil W.
28 June 2021
Liked: Check-in, communication, location
Disliked: Cleanliness, listing accuracy
Not using Vrbo Again
Vrbo provides no way of refunding when things go wrong. The owner was very accommodating but I cannot say the same about Vrbo
The property was perfectly located. The tv could have antenna or something. And next time we will not come up there when everybody else does. Way too crowded could not get in to tube until last day!
Very clean and comfortable. Plenty of space for the family. Owner is very helpful and provided many tips and advice. Great area!
Lisa H.
Stayed 5 nights in Feb 2021
Verified
6/10 Okay
Senthilkumar C.
4 January 2021
Liked: Check-in, communication, location
Disliked: Cleanliness, listing accuracy
Property needs a cleaning service
This property is located in a fantastic location but it was poorly maintained and mouse droppings everywhere inside the kitchen cabinets.The towels and sheets are bad smelled.In the middle of the trip we have to run to the nearby city to pickup new towels.When we arrived the driveway and the steps were completely icy and it was a safety hazard for the kids and adults.
Senthilkumar C.
Stayed 4 nights in Dec 2020
Response from VrboOwner on 5 January 2021
Hi Senthil, we are glad you stayed with us and thank you for your review. As we discussed, you saw the cleaning crew come in and clean the sheets and so I am very sorry you felt they didn’t smell right and we did refund you half of the cleaning fee when you reported that issue. I also double and triple checked with the crew and they also reassured me they were fresh linens. I am not sure what could have happened. There were about 15-18 towels here. I actually just brought 12 more in this weekend but did not know until reading this review that you did not have enough. In regards to the ice, we do suggest a 4 wheel drive vehicle in the winter in this town and have that stayed on the description of the property. We have a city maintained road as well as a snow shovel on hand for situations like this, when a small snow comes in prior to an arrival. Yes we do have steps on our property. I will keep in mind for future guests to remind them of that.