Entire home

Your cozy mountain escape awaits at Lake Junaluska!

Photo gallery for Your cozy mountain escape awaits at Lake Junaluska!

A wooden house with a screened porch, surrounded by lush greenery and a stone staircase leading to the entrance.
A lakeside property with a tennis court, a swimming pool, and a road leading to a residential area.
A porch with a table and chairs, a painting, and a view of the outdoors.
An aerial view of a swimming pool surrounded by a dock, with a lake and mountains in the background.
A stone house with a large tree in the foreground and a lake in the background.

Reviews

10 out of 10
Exceptional

Highlights

  • Family fun awaits
    Top-rated for families.
  • Outdoor pool
    The outdoor pool is a refreshing retreat under the open sky - a rare gem in this area.
  • Centrally-located
    You're never far from where you need to be with this convenient location.
2 bedrooms2 bathroomsSleeps 4

Popular amenities

  • Patio
  • Outdoor pool
  • Toys
  • Barbecue
  • Air-conditioning
  • Refrigerator

Explore the area

View map
Waynesville, NC
  • Place, Lake Junaluska Conference and Retreat Center
    ‪12 min walk‬
  • Place, Lake Junaluska Golf Course
    ‪2 min drive‬
  • Place, Cataloochee Valley
    ‪48 min drive‬
  • Airport, Asheville, NC (AVL-Asheville Regional)
    ‪42 min drive‬

Where you'll sleep

2 bedrooms (sleeps 4)

Master Bedroom

1 Double Bed

Twin Room

2 Single Beds

2 bathrooms

Clawfoot Tub Bathroom

Soap · Towels provided · Bathtub or shower · Toilet · Shampoo · Hair dryer

En-Suite Bathroom

Soap · Towels provided · Toilet · Shower only · Shampoo · Hair dryer

Spaces

Deck or patio
Porch or lanai
Kitchen
Separate dining area
Dining area

About this property

Your cozy mountain escape awaits at Lake Junaluska!

**Back to owner management!!** Property is no longer being managed by Vacasa/Vuestay!!**

Pack your bags and leave the little things to us! At Bearcat Cottage, we’ve thought of the details that make a vacation feel easy, comfortable, and like home. Whether you’re enjoying a family getaway, traveling with another couple, or exploring the mountains for a few days, you’ll find this cozy cottage thoughtfully equipped for every season.

Here is a little info on the space:
KITCHEN:
The fully stocked kitchen has a 5-burner gas cooktop, built-in oven, dishwasher, microwave, and all the cookware and essentials you’ll need—including coffee, tea, spices, hot cocoa, paper products, and more.

BEDROOMS/BATHROOMS:
Both bedrooms are designed with your comfort in mind and include ceiling fans, luggage racks, and sound machines.

The twin bedroom is especially family-friendly, with children’s books, a toy bin, T.V. and a sleeping cot for a little one, allowing the cottage to accommodate up to five guests. (Pack 'n Play is also available.)

Bathrooms are stocked with amenities including shampoo/conditioner, soap, hair dryers, robes, slippers, makeup wipes, cotton balls/Q-tips, and towels. The primary ensuite includes a washer/dryer with supplies provided.

LIVING ROOM:
The cozy living room has a fireplace, blankets, record player with Bluetooth speaker, books, games, Echo Dot, and Roku TV with soundbar for streaming your subscriptions.

OUTSIDE:
Take the fun outside and enjoy your morning coffee or evening conversation on the screened-in front porch, or head outside for dinner around the outdoor dining area.

Fire up the gas grill, gather around the fire pit, and make family memories with a s’mores night! We even provide roasting sticks and colorful flame packets for an extra bit of fun for the kiddos.

The kitchen is stocked with outdoor plates and cups, plus a convenient serving tray to make carrying everything outside easy.

Two kayaks included during summer at no additional charge—just transport them to the lake and enjoy! Additionally, coolers, a wagon, and pool floats are provided.

Bearcat Cottage is ideal for two couples or a small family, with two separate bedrooms and two bathrooms. You’ll be close to the Lake Junaluska Conference Center, lake, pool, tennis courts, Blue Ridge Parkway, Maggie Valley, Cherokee, and Western Carolina University, with Asheville and the Biltmore Estate also within easy reach.

Come relax, explore, and make mountain memories at Bearcat Cottage! IT'S THE PERFECT MOUNTAIN HOME BASE!

Staying more than two weeks? Reach out to inquire about discounted extended-stay rates.

Please note: Fees seen as nightly cost include VRBO fees, nightly rate, and cleaning fee. Guest are also charged standard sales taxes for lodging. **Window AC units and Kayaks are added seasonally May-September. Portable fans and space heaters are provided seasonally.**

Add dates for prices

Have a question?

AI iconBeta

Get instant answers with AI powered search of property information and reviews.

Similar properties

Fireside Gathering Area | An Inviting Space for Cocktails and Conversation
Steps Away Cottage • Hot Tub, Fire Pit, Downtown
Downtown Waynesville
  • Spa pool
  • Kitchen
  • Washing machine
  • Dryer
10.0 out of 10, Exceptional, (81 reviews)
Steps Away Cottage • Hot Tub, Fire Pit, Downtown

House Rules

Check in after 4:00 PM
Minimum age to rent: 25
Check out before 10:00 AM
default

Children

Children allowed: ages 0–17
Young children must be supervised at all times!
default

Events

No events allowed
default

Pets

No pets allowed
default

Smoking

Smoking is not permitted

Important information

You need to know

Property # 3250196vb
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
Long-term renters welcome
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
This property has outdoor spaces, such as balconies, patios and terraces, which may not be suitable for children; if you have any concerns, we recommend contacting the property prior to your arrival to confirm that they can accommodate you in a suitable room

About the area

Waynesville

Located in Waynesville, this cottage is near theme parks and on a lake. LoneBackpacker Gallery of World Photography and Museum of North Carolina Handicrafts are cultural highlights, and some of the area's activities can be experienced at Cataloochee Ski Area and Lake Junaluska Golf Course. Waynesville Recreation Center and Maggie Valley Festival Grounds are also worth visiting. Take in the nearby slopes with snowboarding and skiing, or try out other outdoor activities such as sledging.
View more Cottages in WaynesvilleOpens in a new window
Map
Waynesville, NC

What's nearby

  • Lake Junaluska Conference and Retreat Center - 12 min walk - 1.0 km
  • Lake Junaluska Golf Course - 2 min drive - 1.7 km
  • Great Smoky Mountains National Park - 30 min drive - 24.1 km
  • Harrahs Cherokee Casino - 40 min drive - 43.9 km
  • Cataloochee Valley - 48 min drive - 29.4 km

Getting around

  • Asheville Regional Airport (AVL) - 37 min drive

Restaurants

  • ‪Chick-fil-A - ‬4 min drive
  • ‪McDonald's - ‬4 min drive
  • ‪Burger King - ‬4 min drive
  • ‪Sonic Drive In - ‬4 min drive
  • ‪Dunkin' - ‬16 min walk

Frequently asked questions

Does Your cozy mountain escape awaits at Lake Junaluska! have a pool?

Yes, this property has an outdoor pool.

Is Your cozy mountain escape awaits at Lake Junaluska! pet-friendly?

No, pets are not allowed at this property.

How much is parking at Your cozy mountain escape awaits at Lake Junaluska!?

On-site parking is available at the property.

What time is check-in at Your cozy mountain escape awaits at Lake Junaluska!?

Check-in begins at 4:00 PM.

What time is check-out at Your cozy mountain escape awaits at Lake Junaluska!?

Checkout is at 10:00 AM.

Where is Your cozy mountain escape awaits at Lake Junaluska! located?

Situated on a lake, this cottage is within 1 mile (2 km) of Lake Junaluska Conference and Retreat Center and Lake Junaluska Golf Course. Blue Ridge Health - Haywood and Pigeon River are also within 3 miles (5 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. 17 out of 17 reviews
Rating 8 - Good. 0 out of 17 reviews
Rating 6 - Okay. 0 out of 17 reviews
Rating 4 - Poor. 0 out of 17 reviews
Rating 2 - Terrible. 0 out of 17 reviews

10/10

Cleanliness

10/10

Check-in

10/10

Communication

9.8/10

Location

10/10

Listing accuracy

Reviews

Verified review

10/10 Excellent

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

Great Stay

Wonderful setting.
Stayed 4 nights in Jul 2024
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Our time in this cabin was truly wonderful. If you're looking for a hassle-free getaway where you can relax and unwind without a care in the world, this is the place. The area is beautiful, and the mountains are breathtaking. The cabin itself is equipped with everything you could possibly need, and the decor is perfect, with everything in its proper place. It's a place I would definitely return to.
Stayed 8 nights in Dec 2025
Response from VrboOwner on 9 January 2026
Thank you so much for your 5-star review! I am so grateful you loved the home and enjoyed your stay with your family. It was wonderful to host you too and I hope you come back in the near future!
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Very cute house but not too small. Very useful amenities (space heaters, WiFi, pots and pans, linens, etc.). Very comfortable.
Stayed 3 nights in Oct 2025
Response from VrboOwner on 1 November 2025
Thank you for your review! I am so glad you enjoyed the amenities provided at the house. I always want my guest to feel like they truly are on vacation! Hope to have you back soon!
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Ashley is a great host. The house is excellently appointed, even had terrycloth towels. She was very responsive to any questions I had.
fireplace with Christmas tree in LR
Stayed 11 nights in Nov 2025
Response from VrboOwner on 2 January 2026
Thank you so much for visiting the cottage! I am so glad you enjoyed your stay and I am even more grateful to have had such thoughtful guest who went the extra mile fixing my kitchen chair that broke on your vacation! Hope you come back and visit soon!
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

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

Such a wonderful trip..

This was the cutest place, perfect for my girls trip, but would be great for a couple or small family as well. The cottage had everything we needed for a comfortable stay and MUCH more. It truly felt like a spa with all of the accommodations provided. I will definitely book this cottage again as I plan to go back to Lake Junaluska in the future.
Stayed 3 nights in Jun 2025
Response from VrboOwner on 1 November 2025
Thank you for your review! I am so glad you enjoyed all of the amenities and hope to have you back for another girls getaway!
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

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

Great location for a week in the North Carolina mountains

Lake Junaluska is a great area to stay during a visit to the mountains of western North Carolina. This house is located in the nice, quiet Lake Junaluska neighborhood and it's an easy 5 to 10 minute drive to grocery stores, department stores and restaurants in Waynesville NC. Great location. We really enjoyed our stay.
Stayed 7 nights in Nov 2023
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

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

Great cottage

My stay at Bearcat was nice and cozy. She is an older gal with a lot of personality. Owner was very nice and communication was easy.
Stayed 14 nights in Oct 2024
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

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

Cute Cottage at Lake Junaluska

Very nice and cozy Cottage near Lake Junaluska. It is just a few minutes from Maggie Valley and Waynesville. Host was very nice and thoughtful. Would recommend to anyone.
Stayed 3 nights in Jul 2024
Response from VrboOwner on 3 September 2024
Thank you for your review Barry! I’m so glad you and your family enjoyed your stay and were able to make memories together again at Lake Junaluska! It truly is such a special place to visit and I hope to have you back again in the future!
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

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

Perfect getaway~

Cute and cozy cottage. It was stocked with toiletries if you needed any.
Stayed 7 nights in May 2023
Response from VrboOwner on 16 September 2023
Thank you for your review. We are glad you enjoyed your stay and hope to see you back at the Bearcat Cottage soon!
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Wasn't much the host had not thought about. Very clean.
Stayed 3 nights in Oct 2025
Response from VrboOwner on 1 November 2025
Thank you for your review and taking note of the cleanliness of the home! I appreciate your stay and hope to have you back in the future.
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

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

Lovely and peaceful

We had a wonderful time at the cottage. It was perfect for my wife and our little girls. Communication with the property manager was great. The property itself was really nice. We will book again. Highly recommended this VRBO.
Stayed 5 nights in Jun 2024
Response from VrboOwner on 22 July 2024
Manny, Thank you for your review! I am so glad you enjoyed your stay and hope to have you and your family back in the near future!
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

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

Short getaway

We really enjoyed our stay at this five-star, quaint and cozy cottage. Bearcat was absolutely spotless and was very well stocked with everything that we could possibly need from linens to the pots-pans-utensils in the kitchen. It was comfortable, beautifully decorated, and the front porch was a nice place to sit back and relax. We would definitely come back and also recommend to our friends and family.
Stayed 3 nights in Mar 2023
Response from VrboOwner on 16 September 2023
Thank you for your review and stay at the Bearcat Cottage! We are so glad you thought it was well stocked and comfortable to stay and we look forward to hosting you again soon!
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

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

Couldn't ask for a more cozy place to stay

This house is perfect for a cozy place to stay while traveling around the Smoky Mountain area. It is centrally located to hit all the big areas, Ashville and Gatlinburg, without all the tourists. Lake Junaluska is just down the hill. BEAUTIFUL. The owners have made available all the amenities of home. Just perfect!
Stayed 3 nights in Oct 2023
Response from VrboOwner on 6 November 2023
Thank you so much for the kind words. It was a pleasure to host you and hope to have you back in the near future!
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

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

Loved it

We had a wonderful time at Bearcat. Lake Junaluska has so much to offer and Bearcat was close and central to everything. The cottage was well stocked with everything and anything you could possibly want. Ashley was very communicative and helpful with anything we wanted or needed. You should put this one on your list.
Stayed 7 nights in Sep 2023
Response from VrboOwner on 5 October 2023
Thank you so much for your kind review! It truly brings me so much joy to hear you enjoyed the cottage and would recommend a visit! I would be delighted to have you back again too, so don't hesitate to reach out when planning your next trip to Lake Junaluska!
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

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

Great Location for a Cozy Getaway

My wife and I enjoyed our stay immensely. The place has a really cozy feeling, with a perfect mix of antique furniture and modern conveniences. The host was wonderful and it was well stocked with just about everything you could need. Just bring a suitcase and some food and you are all set. We stayed in October and the weather was cool, but not really cold. Not sure how well the heat works in very cold temperatures. Also, as with a lot of rentals, the mattresses leave something to be desired. Overall, we had a very good experience and the location is absolutely perfect for getting away without being too out of the way.
Stayed 4 nights in Oct 2023
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

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

Charming Retreat

We had a wonderful stay and definitely recommend this property. The owner clearly thought through all of the details to make our stay relaxing and enjoyable. We traveled with our four year old son and appreciated the night lights, sound machines and small step stool in the bathroom. We also enjoyed playing Uno together and love that games were provided. We were new to the area and utilized the detailed binder with restaurant menus and travel brochures that were provided. We were able to cook meals with ease, since the kitchen was well stocked and everything was in excellent condition. The house was spotless, cute and provided plenty of space for us to relax. We would love to return to this lovely retreat!
Stayed 2 nights in Mar 2023
Response from VrboOwner on 16 September 2023
Thank you for your review and recommendation to stay here. We have added a few more amenities including some toys for the little ones since you stayed to make it even better! We hope to see you back at the Bearcat Cottage soon!
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

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

The most adorable cottage

The Cottage was the perfect home away from home for our girls weekend trip. Nestled in the heart of Waynesville, N.C., and a stones throw from Lake Junaluska, the home was adorable and conveniently located, but also tucked away for a quiet refuge of peace and restoration the mountains provide! The cottage is spacious, adorable and thoughtfully decorated throughout with everything you need to make your stay perfect! Well-stocked kitchen, with a few surprises like a record player for winding down, games for families, an adorable porch, fire pit for an evening by the fire, linens, robes, and so much more! The cottage was super clean and the check-in and check-out procedures were super simple, and quick, to also support and enjoyable experience. The host is very communicative and a five-star host in our book!! If you’re in town, checkout the Buttered Biscuit - so good we are there twice! Thank you for a wonderful stay and sharing your adorable cottage with us.
Stayed 2 nights in Apr 2024
Response from VrboOwner on 21 May 2024
Thank you for your review and visiting the Bearcat Cottage! I am so glad you enjoyed your stay, y'all were wonderful guest and I hope to host another girls retreat for you in the near future.

About the host

Hosted by Ashley Hubbell

Host profile image
I am an avid traveler who loves to cook and entertain! I was literally supposed to be Julie on the love boat with a splash of Martha Stewart after receiving my degree in Hospitality Management many years ago from Western Carolina University but after a couple of years serving in Americorps NCCC, and living my whole life in Atlanta, I found myself living out West. WNC has always pulled at my heart strings though and after lot of hard work was fortunate to purchase my home here at Lake J! I'm very excited to be surrounded my such beauty here and look forward to hosting you!

Why they chose this property

Lake Junaluska is a beautiful place and conveniently located to so many attractions here in Western Carolina. Whether you want to venture to the Great Smoky Mountain National Park, Cataloochee for skiing, Asheville, or any of the small towns surrounding the area, you are within a short drive to explore!

What makes this property unique

The Bearcat Cottage comes with many amenities you may not get at every short term rental. During the summer season, kayaks are available at no additional charge, pool floats, towels, coolers, wagon, and an outdoor area to visit with your family or have camp fire (wood provided). The house is also well stocked with soap, shampoos, lotions, laundry supplies, bubble bath, slippers and robes so that you feel right at home. Or if you head to the kitchen, you will find coffee, tea, hot cocoa, plenty of soap, dishwasher detergent, and supplies for the kitchen so you can truly arrive and only buy your groceries.

Languages:

English

Premier Host

They consistently provide great experiences for their guests
Tell us how we can improve our siteShare feedback