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Mathews' Mansion, a cabin by a mountain lake

Robbinsville cabin with kitchen

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Photo gallery for Mathews' Mansion, a cabin by a mountain lake

Property grounds
Books
Exterior
2 bedrooms
Exterior detail

Reviews

8.6 out of 10
Excellent

Entire cabin

2 bedrooms1 bathroom70 sq m

Popular amenities

  • Kitchen
  • Air conditioning
  • Laundry
  • Outdoor Space
  • Parking available
  • Barbecue grill

Explore the area

View in a map
Lake Santeetlah, NC
  • Place, Santeetlah Lake
    ‪1 min walk‬
  • Place, Santeetlah Town Hall
    ‪9 min walk‬
  • Place, Cheoah River
    ‪12 min walk‬

Room options

About the area

Santeetlah

On lake.Within a 10-minute walk of the cabin, you'll find Santeetlah Lake and Santeetlah Town Hall. Also, Nantahala National Forest is within half a mile (1 km) and Cheoah River is within 2 miles (3 km).
View more Cabin rentals in SanteetlahOpens in a new window

What's nearby

  • Santeetlah Lake - 1 min walk - 0.1 km
  • Santeetlah Town Hall - 9 min walk - 0.8 km
  • Cheoah River - 12 min walk - 1.1 km
  • Great Smoky Mountains Railroad - 46 min drive - 68.3 km
  • Great Smoky Mountains National Park - 49 min drive - 72.7 km

Getting around

  • McGhee Tyson Airport (TYS) - 101 min drive

Restaurants

  • ‪Kin Cafe - ‬10 min drive
  • ‪Papas Pizza - ‬9 min drive
  • ‪Caffe De Olla - ‬11 min drive
  • ‪Wendy's - ‬10 min drive
  • ‪Pacifico Mexican Restaurant - ‬9 min drive

About this property

Entire place

You'll have the entire cabin to yourself and will only share it with other guests in your party.

Mathews' Mansion, a cabin by a mountain lake

Long overdue for a lazy afternoon in a hammock? How about a rocking chair overlooking one of the most pristine lakes in the world? At Mathews' Mansion, a small cabin on a lake full of fish, you will find a bit of heaven. No clocks, phones, or TV's, only rest and the rustling of maples. Bring your camera for some great nature shots. Chipmunks, hummingbirds, and raccoons are common visitors. Smoking okay on screened-in porch.

Lake is great for bass, boating, swimming. Santeetlah Marina is only a quarter of a mile. Hike the Joyce Kilmer Memorial Forest and other lush trails in the region. Take a drive on the breathtaking Cherula Skyway. Nearby streams & rivers are world-famous for fly-fishing, whitewater rafting, kayaking, canoeing, and tubing. Ride the choo-choo from Bryson City to the Nantahala Gorge. Visit a pow wow at the nearby Cherokee Reservation or see the outdoor drama. Try your hand at ruby mining. Go antiquing for quilts & carvings. Cycle, or just relax!


Tail of the Dragon: Mathews' Mansion is close to the Tail of the Dragon, the famous curvy Highway 129, which attracts sports car enthusiasts and cyclists from all over the country. Along Cherola Highway one will view spectacular breathtaking mountain views. For more details visit our website.

Cherokee Artifacts: Did you know that Cherokee artifacts have been found in Lake Santeetlah? Stop at the Cherokee Museum in Robbinsville to see what local residents have found while walking the shores. While there, visit Chief Junaluska's grave site. Take a drive through the Snowbird reservation and picnic at one of the creekside tables. Always keep your eyes open, for you, too, might find a Native American relic!

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Property amenities

Beach

  • Beach loungers

Parking and transportation

  • Car required
  • Parking on site

Kitchen

  • Coffee/tea maker
  • Cookware, dishware, and utensils
  • Electric kettle
  • Microwave
  • Refrigerator
  • Spices
  • Stovetop
  • Toaster

Bedrooms

  • 2 bedrooms

Bathroom

  • 1 bathroom
  • Bathtub or shower
  • Hair dryer

Living spaces

  • Living room

Entertainment

  • Books
  • Games

Outdoor areas

  • Barbecue grill
  • Patio

Laundry

  • Laundry facilities

Comfort

  • Air conditioning

Pets

  • No pets allowed

Suitability/Accessibility

  • Smoking not allowed

Location highlights

  • In a rural location
  • In a village
  • In the mountains
  • Near the marina
  • On a lake
  • On the waterfront

Things to do

  • Boat
  • Kayak
  • Water sports equipment
  • Birdwatching nearby
  • Casino nearby
  • Fishing nearby
  • Hiking/biking trails nearby
  • Horseback riding nearby
  • Hunting nearby
  • Jet skiing nearby
  • Kayaking nearby
  • Motor boating nearby
  • Mountain biking nearby
  • Mountain climbing nearby
  • Rafting nearby
  • Sailing nearby
  • Spelunking nearby
  • Swimming nearby
  • Water skiing nearby
  • Water tubing nearby
  • Wildlife walks nearby

Safety features

  • Carbon monoxide detector not reported (host has not indicated whether there is a carbon monoxide detector on the property; consider bringing a portable detector)
  • Smoke detector (host has indicated there is a smoke detector on the property)
  • First aid kit
  • Fire extinguisher
  • Deadbolt lock

General

  • Unit size: 750 square feet

Policies

Check-in

Check-in time starts at 12:00 PM
Contactless check-in available
Minimum check-in age: 20

Check-out

Check-out before 12:00 PM
Contactless check-out available

Special check-in instructions

You will receive an email from the host with check-in and check-out instructions
Information provided by the property may be translated using automated translation tools

Check-out instructions

The host requires you complete the following before checking out:
Remove personal items, remove leftover food and drinks, and take out the trash
Turn off the lights, lock the doors, and return the keys
Trash must be taken to the dumpster as there is no waste pick up. Dumpster is located just after Ted Jordan Bridge. Turn left and circle around. You will see more dumpsters than you ever wish to!
Please turn air-conditioner off. Make sure the refrigerator door is closed.
Wash any dishes you have used. Thank you! You're GREAT!
Failure to complete these may result in a negative review from the host.

Rules

Do not leave food or garbage outside because raccoons will break open the bag and spread it all around.
The septic system cannot accommodate heavy usage. Limit the number of friends and family members that may wish to visit and use toilet paper only.
Return items to original locations. For example, if you move furniture, please put it back before you depart. Thanks!

Pets

  • No pets allowed

Children and extra beds

  • Children are welcome.

Events

No events allowed

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
Onsite 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 there is a smoke detector on the property
Safety features at this property include a fire extinguisher, a first aid kit, and a deadbolt lock
This property is managed through our partner, Vrbo. You will receive an email from Vrbo with a link to a Vrbo account, where you can change or cancel your reservation
Charges for extra guests may apply and vary according to property policy.
A cash deposit, credit card, or debit card for incidental charges and government-issued photo identification may be required upon check-in.
Special requests are subject to availability at the time of check-in. Special requests can't be guaranteed and may incur additional charges.
    This property is managed by a private host, not a professional engaged in trade or business. Onsite parties or group events are strictly prohibited. For guests' safety, the property includes a fire extinguisher, a smoke detector, a first aid kit, and a deadbolt lock in each accommodation.

Property is also known as

Mathews' Mansion, a Cabin by a Mountain Lake Cabin
Mathews' Mansion, a Cabin by a Mountain Lake Robbinsville
Mathews' Mansion, a Cabin by a Mountain Lake Cabin Robbinsville

Mathews' Mansion, a cabin by a mountain lake Reviews

Reviews

8.6

Excellent

Rating 10 - Excellent. 42 out of 78 reviews
Rating 8 - Good. 22 out of 78 reviews
Rating 6 - Okay. 8 out of 78 reviews
Rating 4 - Poor. 5 out of 78 reviews
Rating 2 - Terrible. 1 out of 78 reviews

8.6/10

Cleanliness

Reviews

10/10 Excellent

Brian S.

Liked: Cleanliness
Clean, great lake view, not far from amenities
Stayed 5 nights in Sep 2025

10/10 Excellent

Celeste K., Rogersville, tn

Liked: Cleanliness
Cozy little cottage right on the lake! Gorgeous view! The cottage was comfortable and had everything we needed. The only air conditioner is in the living room but does get cool in the two bedrooms when leaving the doors open. We normally bring along a box fax when we travel because we like the sound while sleeping, so we placed it outside the bedroom door and it kept the room very cool. We enjoyed kayaking on the lake, sitting in the rocking chairs staring out at the beautiful view, eating our meals on the porch and I loved my morning coffee and devotional time out on the porch. On our last evening we were out on the porch eating our dinner and a neighbor was playing their saxophone outside, it was really nice. A great meal from the bbq joint in town, the beautiful view and the soothing sounds of the saxophone. I recommend this place for some good relaxation. This lake is so beautiful! We love kayaking here every chance we get. There’s no tv and the cell service isn’t very good so bring your favorite board games or books and just enjoy some quality time with your family!
Porch view
Deck
Stayed 3 nights in Aug 2025

4/10 Poor

Tina D.

Stayed 2 nights in Jun 2025

10/10 Excellent

Mike A.

Liked: Cleanliness
Great rustic cabin. Awesome porch for watching the fireflies at dusk
Stayed 3 nights in Jul 2025

8/10 Good

Laurie M.

Stayed 2 nights in May 2025

10/10 Excellent

Anthony B.

Liked: Cleanliness

Great little cabin!

This was a great, simple little cabin. You can tell it was built as a little summer getaway, once upon a time. Very basic, and somewhat dated, but it has what you need, including a coffee pot. We loved it, except there are a lot of close neighbors. Its peaceful, but not always quiet. I did want to mention, the smaller bed is a full size, I was a little confused about what size it would be.
Stayed 3 nights in Oct 2024

10/10 Excellent

Marc M.

Liked: Cleanliness

Wonderful setting

We had wonderful times at this house in a cove of Lake Santeetlah. One of the best features is the nicely screened-in front porch. The natural sounds of crickets and frogs, the occasional splash of a big fish, the morning clouds ringing the mountains, and quiet neighbors all made this modest get-away place one we’ll return to!
Stayed 2 nights in Sep 2024

4/10 Poor

Stephan S.

Disliked: Cleanliness
Stayed 4 nights in Jun 2024

10/10 Excellent

Brittany D.

Liked: Cleanliness

Cute place on the lake!

The location is fantastic! The view of the lake and the screened patio are wonderful. Do be prepared to be a bit warm though in the summer as the A/C unit is mounted in the living room and doesn't reach the bedrooms well. Interior is a bit dated but it was clean enough and the real treat is enjoying the patio and views!
Stayed 2 nights in Aug 2024

8/10 Good

Ann W., Largo, Florida

Liked: Cleanliness

Older Cottage with Good View

This is an older structure and not a house. We may have been the first renters of the year and the initial observation was that it is musty smelling. The property otherwise was as described, small but functional with a great screened deck that overlooks the lake. We did have a "technical issue" with the water heater and the tub draining but the owner who does not live locally got someone there right away to address and fix the issue. One of the 2 beds was not comfortable but there was a roll of eggcrate foam that fixed the problem. Overall we had a great time hiking in the area and loved the location and view of the Lake.
Stayed 4 nights in Jun 2024

10/10 Excellent

William W.

Liked: Cleanliness

Relaxing fall weekend

My son and I on a guys trip. House was as advertised and had everything we needed for a comfortable stay. Great location on the lake with easy access to grocery store, restaurants, and attractions. Would definitely stay again.
Stayed 2 nights in Oct 2023

10/10 Excellent

Kelli B.

Liked: Cleanliness

A perfect mountain retreat

The cabin definitely reminded me of my granny's place in the Ozarks. Small and cozy, juat what you need. There are stairs that lead to the lake and the neighbors are nice. Please note, bring your own sheets. Size queen work best and towels for the shower and lake. The views are amazing and the deck is probably the best part.
Stayed 3 nights in Oct 2023

6/10 Okay

Lori D.

Liked: Cleanliness

relaxing place to stay

cozy cabin. decent view of lake. just like it was advertised. Not good boat and swimming access to water. smelled musty. I tried to communicate with owner but no response. Could stand a few improvements. Comfortable bed.
Stayed 2 nights in Aug 2023

10/10 Excellent

Jeannine C.

Liked: Cleanliness

Lake Santeetlah

Great location. Beautiful lake views.
Stayed 6 nights in Aug 2023

10/10 Excellent

Dylan S.

Liked: Cleanliness

Stay was good!

Only issue we had was turning around the trailer when we pulled in a warning would have been nice but it was a beautiful spot!!
Stayed 4 nights in Jul 2023

8/10 Good

Desiree H.

Liked: Cleanliness

Lovely

This was a lovely getaway! The only reason I’m giving it 4 stars is due to the limited access to the lake. Seems to be one of the only properties without a dock or active stairs down to the lake. We had a great time though!
Stayed 3 nights in Jul 2023

10/10 Excellent

Julie H.

Liked: Cleanliness

Peaceful

Just the view was breathtaking and quiet and peaceful and relaxing
Stayed 3 nights in Aug 2022

8/10 Good

Alex M.

Liked: Cleanliness

Check in mishap, but great rental!!!

We had a fantastic time! Enjoyed the house and the cleanliness! Definitely would recommend to others! Only thing to critique is that the check in process was a bit difficult for us as we could not find the right house for about 15 minutes. The address on the home page of the rental listing states 209 although it was recently changed to a different number, the number was correct on the ‘check in sheet’ sent to us, but this miscommunication was not figured out until we had went down another street and back looking for the ‘209’ number. Other than that we had a good time and would definitely come again!
Stayed 5 nights in Aug 2022

10/10 Excellent

Stefan N.

Liked: Cleanliness

.Cozy Place

This was a nice place to relax and get away from the noise of the city. We enjoyed the kayak and swimming in the lake and lots of fun.
Stayed 7 nights in Jul 2022

10/10 Excellent

michael ann b.

Liked: Cleanliness

Perfect Little Lakeside Cabin

We loved our short stay in this home. The rental was just as described in the listing. If you love swimming , floating, and kayaking in the crystal clear , cool water of Lake Santeetlah, this is the place for you. The cabin had just what we needed, easy lake access, a place to sleep and shower, and a small functional kitchen. We absolutely loved the screen room and the deck. If you need Wi-Fi, cell service, TV, or swanky new accommodations, this isn’t the place for you. It was perfect for my husband and I, and we can’t wait to return.
Stayed 3 nights in Jul 2022

6/10 Okay

Jim R.

Santeelah Haven.

Quaint, small but adequate cabin with a great screened porch. Lots of trees between us and the lake but we could see it and enjoyed sitting in the rockers. The lake access stairs ended abruptly at the water and getting in and out was a challenge. Would have loved better access, a dock would be especially good. The hot water heater was very hot. Temp could be reduced to avoid burns. In the kitchen, a drain board for under the dish drain is needed. A few more dishes. We usually cook and eat in. Paid for cleaning service but brought our on linens, hauled our own trash, and vacuumed the floors as directed. Had to empty and wash the silverware holder before use as it was not clean. Nice flowers in vases and exciting viewing of a screech owl family close to house in the evening.
Stayed 3 nights in Jun 2022

10/10 Excellent

Daniel H.

Liked: Cleanliness

Awesome Vacay

Beautiful area. The house is cozy. It’s so quite and peaceful there. Spent most of the time kayaking on the lake with my wife and hanging out on the big deck playing guitar. Not far from Appalachian trail, Joyce Kilmer forest, and the tail of the dragon. Lots of wildlife showed itself to us. Grocery store in town is pretty solid, had everything we would have bought if we didn’t bring it ourselves. At night time you can really see the stars, unlike where I live, and it’s a beautiful site. There’s an awesome mead brew place down the road, really good stuff. Overall just a great trip to get away from the city and relax. Hope to do it again soon. 10 out of 10
Stayed 7 nights in Jun 2022

8/10 Good

Daniel R., Calimesa

Beautiful Views and Very Relaxing

The property is small and not very elderly accessible! However if you came to relax and enjoy all the lake has to offer, this IS the place! Wish I could upload a photograph or 2! Owner is awesome! Very kind and very accomodating!!!
Stayed 4 nights in Jun 2022

4/10 Poor

Kristi M.

Great Location

The location and proximity to Lake Santeelah is exactly what we were looking for, right on the lake! The house was tiny and cute and quirky although it was very damp. My children had a severe reaction to the dampness and/or mold growing because of the wetness. The owner was very responsive and helpful and kind. There is a little stairway access down to the water to put in kayaks or canoes. It's at the end of a cul-de-sac so there is no traffic.
Stayed 3 nights in May 2022

8/10 Good

STEPHANIE W.

Liked: Cleanliness

Great short time rental

This is the place if you are looking for an affordable and quiet couples get away. Little to no cell service, no television or radio made for a peaceful long weekend, with nature, food and games. There are plenty of outdoor activities in the area to keep you occupied.
Stayed 4 nights in Oct 2021