See all properties

Relax in the Beauty of the Mountains and the Serenity of Waterfalls

Choose dates to view prices

Photo gallery for Relax in the Beauty of the Mountains and the Serenity of Waterfalls

Exterior
Laughing Waters Lodge Buddy Morrison Photography
Property grounds
Handicapped Accessible Buddy Morrison Photography
Hickory Nut Creek in the Back Yard Buddy Morrison Photography

Reviews

9.8 out of 10
Exceptional

Popular amenities

  • Parking available
  • Laundry
  • Kitchen
  • Air conditioning
NZ$659
avg per night

Explore the area

Map
Gerton, NC
  • CMLC Florence Nature Preserve
    ‪1 min walk‬
  • Chimney Rock State Park
  • Biltmore Estate
    ‪32 min drive‬
  • Asheville, NC (AVL-Asheville Regional)
    ‪30 min drive‬

Rooms & beds

4 bedrooms (sleeps 8)

Bedroom 1

1 King Bed

Bedroom 2

2 Single Beds

Bedroom 3

1 Queen Bed

Bedroom 4

1 King Bed

4 bathrooms, 1 half bathroom

Bathroom 1

Bathtub · Toilet · Shower only

Bathroom 2

Bathtub · Toilet · Shower only

Bathroom 3

Bathtub · Toilet · Shower only

Bathroom 4

Toilet · Shower only

Bathroom 5

Toilet

Spaces

Deck or patio
Kitchen
Balcony
Garden
Dining area

Room

  • 297 sq m
  • Mountain view
  • Sleeps 8
  • 2 King Beds, 2 Single Beds and 1 Queen Bed
Price is NZ$659 avg per night,

Have a question?

AI iconBeta

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

Similar properties

Outdoor dining

15% Off Regular Price! TWO Amazing Cabins One Low Price! Wifi, Hot Tub, Fire Pit

  • Hot tub
  • Kitchen
  • Washer
  • Dryer
9.8 out of 10, 55 reviews
The price is NZ$488
avg per night
2 Oct - 9 Oct
15% Off Regular Price! TWO Amazing Cabins One Low Price! Wifi, Hot Tub, Fire Pit

About the area

Gerton

Located in Gerton, this lodge is in a rural area and on the waterfront. Biltmore Estate and CMLC Florence Nature Preserve reflect the area's natural beauty and area attractions include Chimney Rock Gemstone Mine and Chimney Rock Adventure Golf. Lake Lure Beach and Water Park and Justus Orchard are also worth visiting. Fishing offers a great chance to get out on the surrounding water, or you can seek out an adventure with ecotours, hiking/biking trails and cycling nearby.

What's nearby

  • CMLC Florence Nature Preserve - 1 min walk - 0.2 km
  • Blue Ridge Parkway Asheville Entrance - 23 min drive - 23.5 km
  • Biltmore Estate - 32 min drive - 31.3 km
  • Lake Lure Beach and Water Park - 58 min drive - 44.2 km
  • Lake Lure - 59 min drive - 45.2 km

Getting around

  • Asheville Regional Airport (AVL) - 31 min drive

Restaurants

  • ‪Turgua Brewing - ‬16 min drive
  • ‪The Local Joint - ‬14 min drive
  • ‪Point Lookout Vineyards - ‬22 min drive
  • ‪Whistle Hop Brewing Company - ‬14 min drive
  • ‪Village Scoop - ‬13 min drive

About this property

Relax in the Beauty of the Mountains and the Serenity of Waterfalls


We also give at least 3-5 days in between our guests to ensure safety for housekeeping and for upcoming guests.
This is a beautiful hand crafted lodge with its own private deck overlooking a beautiful waterfall on the cascading Hickory Nut Creek. The lodge is nestled at the base of Little Bearwallow Mountain next to 200 acres of natural forest with five miles of hiking trails. It is located only 25 minutes from downtown Asheville, NC in the heart of the incredible Hickory Nut Gorge. The lodge contains a great room/living room, kitchen, loft, four bedrooms, 4.5 baths, and a large downstairs room for yoga and movement. Laughing Waters is located in the Hickory Nut Forest Eco-Community. It is a very special place for a peaceful, quiet retreat in these beautiful sacred mountains! This area is still recovering from Hurricane Helene. Unfortunately, you won't be able to access Lake Lure right now.

WIFI We will do our absolute best to provide WIFI however this a wilderness wedding venue and sometimes coverage is poor.

Our Creekside Cottage located upstream from the lodge overlooks two waterfalls that sleeps two people and can be rented separately. (see listing #3565363)

Property manager

Julia Considine
Premier Host

Amenities

Air conditioning
Parking available
Laundry

House Rules

Check in after 4:00 PM
Check out before 10:00 AM
default

Children

Children allowed: ages 0–17
default

Events

No events allowed
default

Pets

No pets allowed
default

Smoking

Smoking is not permitted
You will be provided a key to control the thermostats in the lodge, please keep all thermostats within 2 degrees of each other on each floor
You will be provided with a blue key for the downstairs half bath, please follow rules closely posted on the wall above toilet
Follow wood stove rules posted by the woodstove

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
This property uses solar energy
Safety features at this property include a carbon monoxide detector, a fire extinguisher, a smoke detector, a first aid kit and a deadbolt lock

We should mention

A car is required for transport to and from this property

Frequently asked questions

Is Relax in the Beauty of the Mountains and the Serenity of Waterfalls pet-friendly?

No, pets are not allowed at this property.

What time is check-in at Relax in the Beauty of the Mountains and the Serenity of Waterfalls?

Check-in begins at 4:00 PM.

What time is check-out at Relax in the Beauty of the Mountains and the Serenity of Waterfalls?

Checkout is at 10:00 AM.

Where is Relax in the Beauty of the Mountains and the Serenity of Waterfalls located?

Situated on the waterfront, this lodge is steps from CMLC Florence Nature Preserve and within 6 mi (10 km) of Chimney Rock State Park and Hickory Nut Gap Farm. Chimney Rock Village Riverwalk and Chimney Rock Gemstone Mine are also within 9 miles (15 km).

Relax in the Beauty of the Mountains and the Serenity of Waterfalls Reviews

Reviews

9.8

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. 30 out of 34 reviews
Rating 8 - Good. 4 out of 34 reviews
Rating 6 - Okay. 0 out of 34 reviews
Rating 4 - Poor. 0 out of 34 reviews
Rating 2 - Terrible. 0 out of 34 reviews

10/10

Cleanliness

10/10

Check-in

10/10

Communication

10/10

Location

10/10

Listing accuracy

Reviews

10/10 Excellent

Kristen E.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Magnificent river, nice place
Stayed 2 nights in Jun 2025

10/10 Excellent

Neal S.

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

Perfect

This was our second stay. All great. The place was clean and well stocked. The grounds are beautiful and well kept. The hiking right outside your doorstep is amazing. Perfect for our family of 5 plus granddad.
Stayed 4 nights in Apr 2024

8/10 Good

Jodi L.

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

Moms 80th birthday

The property is beautiful - the creek, the porches are all amazing. We stayed for my moms 80th birthday celebration
Stayed 3 nights in Aug 2023

10/10 Excellent

Frederic S., St Petersburg

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

Great Gateway

Very nice home located on a nice wooded property with a nice stream. Located in a secluded area, walk to nice hiking trails and enjoy the peaceful environment. Our family gateway was very enjoyable! It would be a place to consider for a future family reunion or small wedding.
Stayed 7 nights in Nov 2023
This review was submitted before 2018 and has not been verified.

10/10 Excellent

Leigh H.

Amazing property! Wonderful stay!

This is such a beautiful location and home. It was such a pleasure to watch and hear the creek rush over the rocks from the wrap-around deck. The property also had so many other beautiful areas to explore. We used it for a family vacation but can see why it would be an excellent event location. It was clean, comfortable, and everyone we spoke with were friendly and accommodating. The drive into Asheville was beautiful as well. Highly recommend!!!!
Stayed 3 nights in Jul 2017

10/10 Excellent

Robert C.

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

Great time away

My wife and two young kids had an amazing vacation over Memorial Day. My 4 year old did two different hikes from the property. My 19 month old and wife loved walking around the orchard area. Having a fire by the creek with s’mores was a highlight for all. We would definitely return.
Stayed 3 nights in May 2020

10/10 Excellent

Trisha M., Charlotte, NC

Relaxing mountain escape

The mountain home at laughing waters was beautiful, spacious and uncluttered, we had such a relaxing stay! The waterfall is right in the backyard, so nice for a cool dip. We took a short afternoon walk in the property and found several other waterfalls and streams along the lovely nature trail. The owner was prompt and gracious to answer all my questions, even during our stay. Wish we could have stayed longer... would love to go back!
Stayed 2 nights in Jul 2018
This review was submitted before 2018 and has not been verified.

10/10 Excellent

Shannon B.

Absolutely fabulous!!

Laughing Waters is AMAZING!! Totally exceeded my expectations! The lodge is so beautiful in every aspect, and the waterfalls literally are your backyard! Just remote enough to make you feel like you are secluded, but still close enough to town that you feel free to come and go. Heidi, the property manager, was a joy to work with! Wonderful experience!
Stayed 4 nights in May 2017
This review was submitted before 2018 and has not been verified.

10/10 Excellent

Jessica P.

Can't wait to return

The entire property exceeded our expectations. The house was roomy and we never found ourselves lacking anything we might need. We spent time hiking and exploring the grounds and could not have enjoyed it more. My only suggestion to the property manager would be to give future renters a heads up if one of the smaller cabins on the property is rented at the same time - we were quite *surprised* when a mystery car pulled up late at night since we thought we were alone up on the mountain behind a locked gate!
Stayed 4 nights in Nov 2015
This review was submitted before 2018 and has not been verified.

10/10 Excellent

Brant E.

Fun Family Place

Had a great time at Laughing Waters .. House was great , very clean. Great family time. Lots of hiking trails nearby. Kitchen was well equipped and house very nice. Owners easy to work with -- good communication. Couple of notes... There is one small cabin on the same property that was rented and we were somewhat surprised to find someone else on the property -- They were great but would have been nice to know that someone else was on the property. Take your own grill if needed because there is not one there. Also no TV which I thought was fine but just so you know .... Wireless internet worked great . Would rent again !!! Thanks..
This review was submitted before 2018 and has not been verified.

10/10 Excellent

Katie M.

Gorgeous home and even more beautiful surroundings!

My family stayed at Laughing Waters for a fall vacation in the mountains. This home was even more beautiful than the pictures show: a breathtaking great room, meticulously clean bathrooms, and very comfortable beds. The views from the home's two decks are immense - the hills of Hickory Nut Gorge around you and the laughing creek waters beneath. We especially loved the huge fire pit beside the creek area. If you're up for some hiking, there are some challenging but well-worth-effort trails on the property. One leads to a fantastic swimming hole. It made me want to come back in summer when we could actually swim! While staying here for the weekend, my family and I climbed Chimney Rock, took a boat out on Lake Lure, and picked apples. All these activities are only a few miles from the lodge. The owners John and Jane are more than hospitable and accomodating. There was already a fire in the woodstove when we got there, and the kitchen is incredibly well-stocked. At the end of our stay, we accidentally left our laptop at the lodge. They overnighted it the next day, trusting that we'd send payment. Book now... you won't regret it!

10/10 Excellent

Brian C.

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

PERFECT Mountain House

This house and property are absolutely amazing, beautiful and stunning. I knew it was going to be a special place for our family trip over Memorial Day weekend. However, it was way better than I expected. The house is really spacious and nice. The beds are the most comfortable you will sleep on. And, the location is private but only 10 minutes from the really cool village of Chimney Rock, 25 minutes from Lake Lure and 25-30 minutes from Asheville. However, the best part was the incredible mountain creek and wilderness right in the backyard! The Hickory Nut creek is literally right off the deck and it is spectacular. We did a family cold plunge in it and it awesome. The sound of the rushing water is beautiful music that you can always hear from the house. The Wildcat Rock trail is off the back of the house as well and is a heck of a hike. It leads to a spectacular rock climbing wall and waterfall and then goes on to another point with a view (we did not go past the first stop as it was a pretty strenuous hike but talked to people who did). Book this house and you can literally not leave the property if you choose and still have a super memorable mountain experience.
Stayed 4 nights in May 2023

10/10 Excellent

Cindy M.

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

Laughing Waters

Breathtaking. The property is absolutely gorgeous! Wonderful accommodations! We hope to return for another visit. The only suggestion from our group was to either improve internet service or add a landline for emergencies.
Stayed 3 nights in Aug 2022

10/10 Excellent

Michelle M.

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

AMAZING

If you are considering a trip to this area look no further. The description and pictures don't even come close to doing this property justice. The rich history of the house and the location can't be beat. It was such a nice break from city life. Amazing hiking starts right from the door of this property. No reason to ever get in the car. A huge bonus for us was the empty room downstairs where our kids 7 and 10 had the best time playing and being kids. The outdoor firepit (bring your own firewood) next to the raging creek was amazing. The creek is so loud you can hear it inside the house and the sound is so relaxing to fall asleep too. The house is spotless, beds are comfortable, layout is perfect. The kitchen is fully stocked to be able to cook great meals. Don't hesitate - RUN to enjoy this slice of heaven.
Stayed 3 nights in Dec 2020

10/10 Excellent

Neal S.

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

Great place

Amazing place for a family to enjoy being outside without having to travel constantly. We hiked, saw waterfalls, streams, and picked berries all without leaving the property.
Stayed 5 nights in Sep 2020

10/10 Excellent

Kevin S.

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

Great place

Awesome place for family

10/10 Excellent

Verified traveller

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

Beautiful

We had a wonderful stay! The location was beyond amazing and the sound of the water was the most relaxing thing in the world. We ended up here because we had to cancel a trip to Canada and I can say this rental more than made up for it! There was a storm at night and the WiFi was down. It really wasn’t a big deal at all for us, but the property manager, Julia, and the owner did more than I ever would have expected. They went above and beyond. I highly recommend this rental!
Stayed 3 nights in Aug 2020

10/10 Excellent

Heather M.

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

Unbelievable!

Great communication with property manager. The pictures and words online cannot possibly tell the whole story of how beautiful this property is. If looking for a place to checkout of the day to day clutter, this is the place!

10/10 Excellent

Kelsey P.

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

Nature Paradise

The property is perfectly placed in nature. It is like being in a tree house! A lot of space. Beautiful construction with exposed beams and stained glass. Highly recommended. Very relaxing and clean. No need to look elsewhere.
Stayed 2 nights in Aug 2020

10/10 Excellent

Erin S.

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

Paradise Found!

This property is amazing. Photos do not do it justice!
Stayed 23 nights in Jun 2020

10/10 Excellent

Jack M., Newport, North Carolina

Peaceful

This place is truly peaceful and relaxing. The cabin is very well laid out and nicely appointed with everything you would need for your trip. Our family gathering was awesome! We really enjoyed our stay and plan to return soon.
Stayed 2 nights in Nov 2018

10/10 Excellent

Stacy W.

Fun Thanksgiving!

We stayed over Thanksgiving week and had a great time. Cozy and comfortable. One of the best things about it is being able to walk out the front door and hike many nearby trails.

10/10 Excellent

Chris W., Beaufort, South Carolina

Sublime

Need way more characters to even come close to truly describing this place, it is as advertised and more, opening the window to listen to the backyard waterfall at night for sleeping was incredible! Can’t wait to return another stay very soon!!
Stayed 2 nights in Oct 2018

10/10 Excellent

Dhanesh J.

Great Location, Fantastic House

The location for this property is great. Nice stream, falls and trails bahind the house. Nice pond, old mill, and beautiful landscaping. The House is fantastic. Lot of glass windows and lot of deck space to enjoy outdoors. Very big main room and dinning table. We all had great time. Additional small sofa in main room would be nice.
Stayed 2 nights in Jul 2018

10/10 Excellent

Amy S.

College buddies & bridesmaids 1991

We had not see eachother for over 15 years! This house was perfect for those groups.....not certain of there still being a connection. We all had our own bedrooms and our own bathrooms in the bedrooms! The house is clean, beautiful and spacious. The grounds are gorgeous with wild flowers everywhere. In the back, on a small sandy "beach" we had a little fire one night- the waterfall is just the right size; you can hear it all night from your open bedroom windows - great sleeping! Had my kiddos been with me, they would have played outside all day in the river/large stream and wooded area- which is maintained enough to make for safe playing and photo opportunites too. The kitchen had everything needed for quick or fancy dinners. However, Asheville proper is not as far as I thought - we were able to scoot into the downtown area in less than 20. One warning is: do not rely on Uber to pick you up from this house - it's too far out - I live in Ashville and Uber is not reliable outside of the downtown anyway. So if brewery hopping is on your mind for one night - just hire a driving service ahead of time. The hike from the back yard is medium strenous - pretty uphill and then you are at an overlook - bring a blanket and a lunch - it's quite pretty. If you climb - half way up the hike (or less) there is an enourmous granite wall... a few climbers were scrambling up. It's a perfect large group house for those wanting to be in nature one minute and eating, shopping and drinking in Asheville the next!
Stayed 2 nights in Jul 2018