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Hippopatumus Haven

Photo gallery for Hippopatumus Haven

The views, and the snuggling, are even better in the winter.*
Exterior
Exterior
Thomas Kinkade took this picture. (not really)
A local artist carved our door

Reviews

9.6 out of 10
Exceptional
2 bedrooms2+ bathroomsSleeps 8

Popular amenities

  • Parking available
  • Dryer
  • Washer

Explore the area

Map
Blue Ridge, GA
  • The Lilly Pad Village
    ‪2 min drive‬
  • Blue Ridge Scenic Railway
    ‪14 min drive‬
  • Blue Ridge Lake Marina
    ‪16 min drive‬

Rooms & beds

2 bedrooms (sleeps 8)

Bunk Room

1 Single Bunk Bed and 1 Double Bed

Master Suite

1 King Bed

2 bathrooms, 1 half bathroom

Downstairs Bath

Toilet · Shower only

Main Level

Bathtub · Toilet

Master Bath

Toilet · Shower only

Spaces

Deck or patio
Kitchen
Balcony
Outdoor play area
Dining area

About this property

Hippopatumus Haven

This cabin was built with luxury, entertainment, and romance in mind, but since it's right on the best stretch of river in Fannin County, the Hippopotamuses have taken over. Still, you can cozy up with someone special in front of the hand-cut stone fireplace in our spacious great room. Enjoy a king-size master bedroom suite with a quaint personal balcony overlooking the Toccoa River.

Entertaining is easy in our fully equipped kitchen, including a gas range, microwave, coffee grinder, custom countertops, walk-in pantry, separate wet bar and bar-fridge, and complete sets of cookware and cutlery. Gather around the Kitchen Island while preparing dinner, or around the tv and fireplace in the connected great room, or around the full-size shuffleboard in the loft. Dine inside or out using either of our 8-person dinner tables.

The large private hot tub is perched on the hillside, overlooking the river. The kids will enjoy counting the hippopotami hiding throughout the cabin, or perhaps the shuffleboard and dartboard. Overstuffed chairs throughout the cabin allow for relaxation and reading.

Cook s’mores in our large dug-out fire pit steps away from the Toccoa River, or ribs on our charcoal grill. Enjoy great fishing and the best stretch of inner tubing around ends at our private sandy beach. (The hippos keep all the crocodiles away!)

On top of all that, we have wireless Internet and all the other amenities from home: satellite television, fresh linens, gas-assisted wood fireplace, washer and dryer, shag carpet on the bottom level, etc.

If you need more room, ask me about my Father’s cabin next door!


Keywords: Custom, hippopotamuses, Luxurious, Retreat, Resort, Dwelling, Aska, Aska Adventure Area

Property manager

Karen Pizel
Premier Host

Add dates for prices

Amenities

Hot tub
Kitchen
Washer
Dryer
Pet-friendly
Free WiFi

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House Rules

Check in after 4:00 PM
Minimum age to rent: 21
Check out before 11:00 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
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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 not indicated whether there is a carbon monoxide detector on the property; consider bringing a portable detector with you on the trip
Host has indicated that there is a smoke detector on the property
Safety features at this property include a fire extinguisher 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

We should mention

A car is recommended for transport to and from this property

About the area

Blue Ridge

Located in Blue Ridge, this cabin is in the city centre and on the waterfront. Blue Ridge Scenic Railway and Toccoa River Swinging Bridge are local landmarks, and some of the area's activities can be experienced at Blue Ridge Lake Marina and Mercier Orchards. Travelling with kids? Consider The Lilly Pad Village and Upper River Adventures. Discover the area's water adventures with kayaking and water tubing nearby, or enjoy the great outdoors with hiking and mountain biking.
Map
Blue Ridge, GA

What's nearby

  • The Lilly Pad Village - 2 min drive - 2.1 km
  • Blue Ridge Lake - 4 min drive - 2.1 km
  • Blue Ridge Scenic Railway - 14 min drive - 15.3 km
  • Blue Ridge Lake Marina - 16 min drive - 15.6 km
  • Cherry Log Creek - 19 min drive - 15.8 km

Getting around

  • Chattanooga, TN (CHA-Chattanooga Metropolitan) - 107 min drive

Restaurants

  • ‪Taco Bell - ‬11 min drive
  • ‪Mountain Mama's Coffee Lounge - ‬12 min drive
  • ‪Southern Charm - ‬12 min drive
  • ‪Pizza Hut - ‬9 min drive
  • ‪Chester Brunnenmeyer's Bar and Grill - ‬12 min drive

Frequently asked questions

Is Hippopatumus Haven pet-friendly?

Yes, pets are allowed at this property.

What time is check-in at Hippopatumus Haven?

Check-in begins at 4:00 PM.

What time is check-out at Hippopatumus Haven?

Checkout is at 11:00 AM.

Where is Hippopatumus Haven located?

This family-friendly Blue Ridge cabin is located on the waterfront, just steps away from Chattahoochee National Forest and Ocoee River. The Lilly Pad Village and Blue Ridge Lake are also within 2 miles (3 km).

Reviews

9.6

Exceptional

Reviews are presented in chronological order, subject to a moderation process, and verified unless otherwise labelled.
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Rating 10 - Excellent. 128 out of 159 reviews
Rating 8 - Good. 20 out of 159 reviews
Rating 6 - Okay. 8 out of 159 reviews
Rating 4 - Poor. 3 out of 159 reviews
Rating 2 - Terrible. 0 out of 159 reviews

9.2/10

Cleanliness

10/10

Staff & service

10/10

Amenities

10/10

Property conditions & facilities

10/10

Check-in

10/10

Communication

9.8/10

Location

9.4/10

Listing accuracy

Reviews

10/10 Excellent

Bobbi B.

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

Great find

This property was great! The house was clean and comfortable! Plenty of room for our family of 5 and our fur babies! We loved the firm mattress in the master bedroom. Our girls said their beds were comfortable as well. We loved the stone countertops and showers. The hot tub was a bonus. The owners were great and we were able to get checked in a little early and we were able to enjoy extra time at the property! We had an issue with the key (my fault) and the owner was very helpful and understanding. We will be staying at this property again! Thanks for a great stay!!
Stayed 3 nights in May 2025

10/10 Excellent

Chris C.

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

Fun with the Hippos

great place would stay here again
Stayed 2 nights in Dec 2024

8/10 Good

Christine Q.

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

Family Spring Break with Dog

Very nice property, we had a great time on the areas around the home hiking, fishing, and exploring. Be sure to visit the welcome center in town. We appreciate the hosts responsiveness on issues. It was great to be able to have our dog with us.
Stayed 5 nights in Mar 2025

10/10 Excellent

gabbie

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

Beautiful Home & Great Location

This was an amazing stay and the host was very responsive to all of our questions, we would definitely book here again when it is warmer to have a chance to swim. The house and river were absolutely breathtaking!
Stayed 3 nights in Feb 2025

10/10 Excellent

Stephen S.

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

Great place

Great place and very relaxing stay. We all enjoyed it tremendously. Awesome hosts!
Stayed 2 nights in Nov 2024

6/10 Okay

Helen F.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location

Spring Break Escape

Location great. Close enough to town and all of the fishing/hiking that we wanted to do. Very clean and the amount of space was perfect for us. Very limited supplies in the kitchen. If you plan on cooking bring all the extras that you may need (foil, anything for storage, spices etc.) Hot tube did not work, which was a satisfaction deal breaker for my husband. Very uncomfortable beds. Bring your own camping chairs if you want to sit by the river which is right across the street.
Stayed 4 nights in Apr 2025

10/10 Excellent

Kim K.

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

Great Get Away

Nice, quiet location on the river
Stayed 3 nights in Oct 2024

10/10 Excellent

Nathan Z.

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

Amazing stay!

The view every morning to the river was awesome and you could hear it if you open the windows it was so close. Just a short walk down to the river for some s’mores and good times! The rooms were spacious and it is about a 15 minute drive to downtown!
Stayed 6 nights in Oct 2024

8/10 Good

Justin H.

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

Fun mountain getaway

Location right next to the river is great. Just walk down and you can swim or fish! Great for the family. Excellent communication with the owner.
Stayed 3 nights in Jun 2024

10/10 Excellent

Eric H.

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

Beautiful home in even more beautiful setting!

Absolutely beautiful home in an even more beautiful setting! You will not be disappointed! If you are on the fence about it, do not be!!
Stayed 3 nights in Sep 2024

10/10 Excellent

Nick R.

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

Spring break getaway

This cabin did not disappoint. Very large with plenty of space for the whole family. The river is right in front of you and the large windows and balconies provide an excellcent view. I would stay again.
Stayed 4 nights in Mar 2024

10/10 Excellent

Laura Y.

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

Adventure in Hippopotamus Haven

The property was absolutely beautiful with a gorgeous view of the Taccoa River. The bathrooms were spacious and the beds were comfortable. The stone fireplace made everything cozy! There were quite a bit of steps to climb which was worth the work out! Our van didn’t quite make it up the driveway due to how steep it was but there was parking available at the bottom on the side which worked out fine. We were only about 5-10 minutes to Walmart and grocery stores. The cabin was beautiful and our family and pup loved it! We will definitely be back.
Stayed 4 nights in Jan 2025

10/10 Excellent

Leslie K.

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

Awesome!!

Such an awesome house! Exactly as shown in pictures and right next to the river. We enjoyed being close to town, yet in a quiet, relaxing area next to some great hiking and outdoor activities. The hot tub and shuffleboard were fun! Super easy check in/out process and very easy communication with owners. We would absolutely stay here again!
Stayed 4 nights in Jul 2024

10/10 Excellent

Christine R.

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

WE WILL DEFINITELY BE BACK!

I can not say enough how beautiful this home and location was. It was so much more beautiful than the pictures. The home had everything you need for a long stay from the kitchen to towels and more. My kids had a blast fishing, playing the many board games by the fire place, s’mores and scary stories by the fire pit. We were all so sad to leave. Only thing to be aware of is the very steep driveway but that seems to be the norm in that area.. mountains and all lol we can’t wait to go back!
Stayed 3 nights in Nov 2024

10/10 Excellent

Sandra R.

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

Family Reunion

A great time was had by all. The property is located overlooking the beautiful Toccoa River. The cabin was clean and basic supplies were provided. The kitchen had everything you need to cook. Loved the beautiful decor.
Stayed 4 nights in Jul 2024

10/10 Excellent

Michael M.

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

Clean property with great access to river

We found the property to be very clean and pest free. The deck overlooking the river was wonderful, cooking dinner on the grill and enjoying the river sounds. The access to the river is great, even getting in and out of the water was a breeze. Location was great, area was quiet. We will definitely visit this property again!
Stayed 4 nights in May 2024

10/10 Excellent

Deb H.

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

Located right on the side of a mountain

Beautiful cabin and the owner allowed us to bring our pets. You could open the doors and hear the river flowing.
Stayed 4 nights in Dec 2023

10/10 Excellent

Christopher H.

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

Wonderful house on the river

We really enjoyed our stay here. The house was right on the upper Toccoa river in a nice, quiet spot. The house was clean and smelled nice. It was a great size for a couple and their children. We plan to return again.
Stayed 4 nights in Oct 2023

10/10 Excellent

John L.

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

Awesome Visit and Home

We had an amazing visit at the Hippopotamus Haven! The hosts were lovely and prompt to answer all of our questions, making us feel very comfortable from the start. The cabin is absolutely perfect! It is located just off the beaten path with complete privacy. It has all of the amenities necessary for a week with the family. Access to the Toccoa River was perfect. We enjoyed quick trips into town for supplies and to enjoy the local shops, restaurants and the local brewery. It was an enjoyable visit and we will definitely return to this hidden gem! Thank you for having us!
Stayed 6 nights in Jul 2024

10/10 Excellent

Louis R.

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

Relaxation Overload

Wonderful property! Beautiful scenery. Huge windows looking out at the river. It’s quiet and peaceful. If you bring your pet(s), just be mindful that ticks are very prominent in the area. No issues inside the house, just when walking in the high grass or against bushes. I would definitely stay again if I am vacationing in the area.
Stayed 7 nights in May 2024

10/10 Excellent

Irina K.

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

Beautiful and peaceful place

The cabin is very clean, well maintained and beautifully decorated. The owner is a very responsive and kind person. Our kids found it fun to find and count all the hippos in the house. We enjoyed our time together in this cozy house. The view of the river and the star-studded sky gave all of us much needed relaxation and mental rejuvenation.
Stayed 3 nights in Dec 2022

10/10 Excellent

Michael G.

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

Wonderful Relaxing Cabin

This was a great cabin and we would definitely book it again! The house had everything we needed and Sean was a great host! We brought our two dogs and it was very pet friendly. Our dogs loved our daily hikes around the river and nearby trails. Location was great being only about 10-15 minutes from Blue Ridge and 25-30 minutes from Ellijay. It was very relaxing, especially soaking in the hot tub at the end of the day, looking up at the beautiful night sky and hearing the sounds of the river below. Thank you!
Stayed 3 nights in Dec 2021

10/10 Excellent

joshua s.

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

Cabin on the river

We had an amazing experience even got to see a black bear which was neat! The river was beautiful and right across the street from the cabin, the master bedroom was very comfy and we loved playing shuffle board as well hanging out in the cabin and then going to float the river! If I could recommend anything to the homeowners it would be neat to have some sort of lighting down by the river where the picnic table is and the fire pit! Other then that we had a great time and would definitely stay here again in the near future!
Stayed 2 nights in Aug 2022

6/10 Okay

Shawn L.

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

Dirty and smelly

Pros: The cabin is cute and cozy with a beautiful scenic river view and accessibility. It has plenty of space for a small family, and finding somewhere that takes dogs is helpful when traveling with your pets. It is located on a quiet street and conveniently located to everything. Cons: It is dirty, inside and out. The carpets and bedding were stained and smelly. There were dead bugs, lady bugs and flies through the whole house, the vents have about 2” of dust on them along with everything else, the windows were stained and the furniture had dog hair on it when we got there . There were large nest of something on the vents on the outside patios and it just felt unsanitary. Also, there were no brooms, mops or cleaning supplies to cleanup with. If I were the owner I would deep clean the property, remove the carpets (especially when hosting pets) and get a NEW cleaning company.
Stayed 3 nights in Dec 2024

6/10 Okay

Leonel L.

Liked: Check-in, location

Good expectation turned to bit disappointment

Cabin is beautiful, nice decoration, shuffleboard game, kitchen and living room, cabin location is also good, however will be a place we would not return. Every year we go to the mountains with kids and this was the only cabin we would not return, so we were bit disappointed with these points: sofa bed mattress is terrible and wasn't clean, several kitchen drawers were dirty, we didn't like the bed clothing smell and organization, we found a lighter in the hot bathtub, the master bedroom mattress and in general all other ones should be replaced in our opinion and experience, coffee mugs were found dirty, all TV remote control do not work on the TV, etc. There were lots of things that adding together made our experience not good as we were expecting by seen the reviews and photos.
Stayed 3 nights in Nov 2024

About the host

Hosted by Karen Pizel

Host profile image
I live in Atlanta with my wife and we love to spend as many weekends as possible relaxing at this cabin, though I can't get her to help me clean the fish.

Why they chose this property

Me and my Father built this cabin in 2009. We live in Atlanta, but stay here or at his cabin next door whenever we can. But we can't bear to see them unused, so we rent it out when we aren't there. We know you will love it.

Also we are in the heart of the Aska adventure area.

What makes this property unique

We put a lot of effort into making this the perfect place to entertain friends and family. We love to cook so we outfitted the kitchen with everything we would ever need. We love games, so we put in a Dart Board, a shuffle Board, and even a ring on a string (it's a local thing). The hot tub seats 6, the river fits even more. Some local friends carved us a beatuful door, and you will be amazed by the local stone countertops. I have a hard time calling this place a cabin, since it's nicer than my home and you will hardly be roughing it, but when you are sitting in front the fireplace with someone special to you, you'll absolutely love it.

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