Huge Lodge, 1.5 Mi to town, Mtn Views, pets OK. Hot tub!

Summer Special: Book a week and only pay for six nights, June 1 thru September 6! Hot tub arriving July 1--drained, cleaned and filled, fresh before every visit.

This is one of the three closes 6-BR houses to downtown Asheville - but away from it all with woods and views!

Now, about the house:

Looking for the perfect combination of modern convenience, lodge-like settings, secluded woods, mountain views, and art-filled decor -- but still close to everything? TreeTops Lodge is for you. At 4,400 square feet, this contemporary cathedral-ceilinged house has all the upgrades of modern living -- luxurious baths, granite countertops with state-of-the-art appliances -- but with the feel of an old lodge, nestled in the woods, 1000 feet above Asheville with ever-changing woods and long-range views.

With an enclosed sun porch, a private deck on the ground level and expansive patio/deck off the living room (complete with patio furniture for 12 and a BBQ grill), the outdoor space rivals the indoor! From the main deck, you have northeastern and southern views of the nearby ridges, and lush greenery (or fiery fall foliage!) within reach.

The house features a cathedral ceiling living room with fireplace focal point, deep plush armchairs and sofas with two distinct seating areas. The nearby dining room features a massive dining table that can seat 14, hand-made by a local artisan using local sustainably harvested hemlock. Both the high-ceilinged living room and dining room contain art pieces I have acquired over the years, much of which is by local River Arts District weavers, potters, sculptors and oil painters.

Whether you cook every meal at home, or just grab a bite in the morning and sample the great local restaurant at night, you'll appreciate the massive kitchen off the living room, with its own six-person breakfast nook, ample granite countertops, two refrigerators, two ovens, two sinks, and state-of-the-art gas appliances.

Beyond the kitchen in the south wing is the master bedroom with king bed (and a trundle daybed that sleeps two more), with the largest of the private bathrooms with jacuzzi tub, walk-in shower, double vanity and giant walk-in closet. The Mission-style king bed and daybed in this room were both hand-crafted by a local artisan using locally source Appalachian pine.

The other two large king-bed bedrooms on the main floor are in the north wing. They share one and half baths, including a large marble-lined shower. The plantation-style king in one room is also handmade by the same artisan who build the Mission bed in the Master. The other king headboard is made from two queen headboards that Asheville's historic Grove Park Inn used in the 1920s which were sold to the public in 1976 when the Inn was remodeled. Both rooms also feature local art. There is a additional half-bath off the entryway near the Great Room.

Downstairs features a very large family room with regulation-sized pool table, a second small kitchen and bar, an additional two full baths bath -- and the remaining three bedrooms - a queen room that sleeps two, a room with two twin-over-full bunk that sleeps four (or even 6) and the kids' "bunkhouse" bedroom with two bunk beds for four more.

That adds up to a total sleeping count of 20.

The house, however, is not designed to support 20 adults. The bunks are better used for kids, and I generally prefer to rent to no more than 12 adults. Most of my booking are large extended families coming to Asheville for family events like a wedding or a reunion. I try to be thoughtful of the neighbors, and renting to families keeps the number of cars and noise level in the neighborhood to a minimum. I ask guest to please park in the large driveway and parking pad, not on the main road, as a courtesy to my neighbors.

The house is situated on a steep hill, surrounded by 3.5 acres of forest, out of sight from neighbors. The road to the house and the driveway are NOT steep. But with the hillside falling off quickly below the house, so there is not a lot of yard. The huge deck seems to float among the tree tops, offering shade when you want it, but magical views of far-off mountains. It will be easy to forget that you are less than a mile from Starbucks, fine dining, groceries, breweries and other conveniences.

The house itself is on level ground, with only one step up onto the porch to enter. Once in the house (up that one step), the entire main floor and deck are handicap accessible and wheel-chair friendly. Past guests with elderly or frail parents or grandparents have found the house well-suited to those with limited mobility. There is a portable wheelchair ramp in the hall closet near the front door that can be used for that one front step.

I have lived in or visited Asheville on and off for more than 20 years. There is so much to do and see here. If you are planning a trip, book tickets to the Biltmore early. My house has lots of brochures about other local activities, and I can always provide a restaurant idea or two.

I hope you will choose to stay at TreeTops Lodge. Regardless of where you choose to stay, and whether you are coming for the art or the beer, please enjoy your time in America's most magical and relaxed mountain town.

If you are more than 12 people, I may have to raise the cleaning fee by $100. It can take two people most of a day to clean up after larger groups. If your stay creates a "turn" where staff only have five hour to prepare the house for the next guests, I will also need to charge an additional $100. I value my cleaning staff and there families, and I compensate my cleaning team ( and landscaping and maintenance people) and at a living wage, well above the minimum. Please join me in supporting our service workers in Asheville's tourist economy!