Secluded Cabin Overlooking Fontana Lake & Smoky Mtns NP
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All properties in Stecoah
Secluded Cabin Overlooking Fontana Lake & Smoky Mtns NP
Stecoah, North Carolina, 28771
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Amenities
Horse riding
Hiking
Wi-Fi in public areas
BBQ
No smoking in public areas
Garden
Kayaking
Mountain biking
All amenities
Property Description
This 3500 square-foot, secluded cabin is ideal for your family getaway or a retreat with that someone special or as a home base for riding or driving the famous roads of Western North Carolina.
Fontana Cabin is located in Graham County, North Carolina, at the very end of a winding gravel road that takes you through a tunnel of trees before revealing a distinctive house perched on top of a bluff above Fontana Lake. The approach into the Cabin is through the main deck, where you will have a hard time resisting the pull of the breathtaking view of crystal-clear Lake Fontana and the layered Smoky Mountains behind it.
On all sides of the Cabin, you are surrounded by either our 4.5-acre property or Public Lands, so all you see looking outside of the Cabin is Southern Appalachian deciduous forest. The view from the deck, where you will want to take your coffee as well as all your meals and your naps, changes hourly, daily, and seasonally, calling you to leave your cares behind as you tune into the rhythm of Nature.
Inside, you will find 5 separate bedrooms and 4 bathrooms that will provide your group the space, comfort, and flexibility it needs to make the place your temporary home. The house was built in 1968 and has been updated over the years to balance the best of its vintage and contemporary features, including most recently with a full-scale update of the Cabin decor, linens, kitchenware, and other amenities in September, 2021, a few months after we bought the place in July 2021, and ongoing updates since then, including upgrading our satellite internet in March 2024, putting on a new roof in July 2024 and a new driveway in 2025.
The kitchen is fully equipped with a farmhouse table that seats six, with a second table for 6 outside on the covered porch if you want to eat outside or if you have a large group. Like the table, almost all of the wood furnishings in the house are unique--handmade from re-purposed and re-finished salvaged wood from old buildings in the region.
Given our remote location, we have satellite Internet instead of wired broadband, but we have enough WiFi capability throughout the house for ordinary computing and streaming--as well as zooms if you need to stay connected to work while you are here. Our cell phone booster in the house makes cell service strong even though it is weak on the road up to the Cabin.
Our LAKE VIEW is awesome, but there is NO DIRECT ACCESS TO THE LAKE from our property. Fontana Lake is a 29 mile-long crystal clear lake that has more than 240 miles of almost totally undeveloped shoreline. More than 90 percent of the land around the lake is owned by the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, Nantahala National Forest, or the Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA), so development has been kept to a minimum (including near our place, where the Forest Service and TVA own the bottom half of the 200-foot steep mountainside between the Cabin and the lake).
The good news is that the lake is surrounded by forest and provides an inspiring backdrop to every part of your stay at the Cabin, but the less good news is that you have to leave the property to get to the lake itself. If you do want to access the lake to fish, boat, kayak, or canoe, there are a number of boat launches and marinas on the south side of the lake where we are located, including the public boat launch at the Cable Cove National Forest Recreation Area 15 minutes from the Cabin, and the full-service marina at the Fontana Village Marina, right at the Fontana Dam, 25 minutes from the Cabin.
Please also know that if you are hauling a trailer or driving an RV, we have plenty of parking at the Cabin and just restructured and resurfaced the driveway in 2025, but the road and driveway into the place are winding and steep in spots. It's fine for cars, but not suitable for long trailers or long vehicles over 20 feet, so if that sounds like you, it's best to inquire with us before booking.
Whether you are seeking hiking, biking, boating, fishing, scenic driving, nature photography, motorcycling, whitewater rafting, or vacationing, you will find a full array of natural destinations, quaint shops and the rich history of North Carolina's most remote county within minutes of the Cabin.
Smoky Mountain National Park - 45 minutes to Park Entrance from Cabin
You can see the Southern edge of the park just across the Lake from the Cabin, and can access it via the water if you are boating, but the driving entrance is just North of Bryson City and Cherokee.
The Dragon - 35 minutes from Cabin to Deal's Gap
Starting at Deal's Gap at the Tennessee/North Carolina state line and featuring 318 curves in just 11 miles, the Dragon is considered by many to be one of the world's best motorcycling and sports car roads. Anyone looking for an exciting highway adventure--whether you are a rider or a driver--will enjoy this famous stretch of US 129. Even better, the road to there from our place is another great drive, called Moonshiner 28. Combine it with Foothills Parkway in TN and the Smoky NP Park road, and locals call that loop Hillbilly Heaven.
Blue Ridge Parkway - 45 minutes to the Southern Terminus from Cabin
Experience this world famous Parkway, including the Parkway's highest point, which is 1.5 hours away from the Cabin, just south of Waynesville.
Cherohala Skyway - 45 minutes to Eastern Terminus from Cabin
This is a less traveled mountaintop scenic highway with views and curves that rival the North Carolina portion of the Blue Ridge Parkway.
Whitewater Adventures - 30 minutes from Cabin
The western North Carolina mountains offer some of the best whitewater rafting/paddling rivers on the East Coast. Nantahala River's Class I, II, and III rapids and renowned providers such as the Nantahala Outdoor Center provide the perfect place for the entire family to have a taste of this exciting sport. If you are hardcore, the Cheoah River has Class IV and V rapids during scheduled release dates. If tube-floating is more your style, there are multiple outfitters in nearby Bryson City.
Appalachian Trail - access 25 minutes from the Cabin
The renowned Trail that bisects the entire East Coast goes through our area, actually crossing over Fontana Dam itself before heading into the Smoky Mountains National Park to the north and into Nantahala National Forest to the south.About pets:Pets allowed: dogs (limit 2 total).About checkOut:Check out before 10:00 AM.About children:Children allowed: ages 0-17.About customRules:Please reach out to me within 48 hours of booking to learn more about the property..No RVs or trailers over 15 feet long. The gravel road and driveway leading into the property is steep in places and has some sharp switchbacks.,Notice: there is no direct access to the lake from our property. There are several full-serve marinas in the area where you can launch or rent boats..About checkIn:Check in after 4:00 PM.About smoking:Smoking is not permitted.About minBookingAge:Minimum age to rent: 25.About events:No events allowed.
Show more
9.8/10
Cleanliness9.8
Amenities9.8
Location9.8
Service9.8
All 61 reviews
Surroundings
Landmarks: Backcountry Campsite #78
(2.0 km)
Landmarks: Backcountry Campsite #81
(3.9 km)
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Overview
Rooms
Guest Reviews
Services & Amenities
Policies
Host
15
5 Bedrooms Private Vacation Home
5 bedrooms: 4 queen beds and 2 king beds
Non-smoking
Check Availability
Guest Reviews
9.8/10
Outstanding
61 reviews
Verified Reviews- Cleanliness9.8
- Amenities9.8
- Location9.8
- Service9.8
Average for similar properties in Stecoah
Naomi B.
November 20, 2025
This being our second time at Fontana Lake, our visit was still amazing! We stayed a month later than last time and the views were awesome. I would not change a thing about this location. A pool table would be great since we stayed in a majority of this trip, as the weather was cold at times. If you think you need it, it's there. We actually met the owner of the fire wood place at the end of the road this time. He seems fun. If you are in need of a relaxing spot check thismone out. You will not be disappointed.
Teresa H.
October 28, 2025
The kitchen had any and everything you needed! We cooked 2 meals a day and had everything. Very sufficient dishes, utensils. Very clean house lots of linens. We had 5 couples and accompanied everyone! Best friends vacation ever !!!!Thank you Robert for sharing your home! Fontana Cabins was
ANN T.
October 20, 2025
Everything was wonderful. A beautiful home..spectacular views. The decor was very nice. So many unique rooms to enjoy. The grounds were very pretty too. We had a good time around the firepit. Loved it.
Scott S.
October 14, 2025
Everything that you see in the pictures for this listing is completely accurate. Beautiful scenery, beautiful house, everything it says it is. This was my second time renting and I’m definitely going to be renting next year also.
Mohammad R.
October 7, 2025
We absolutely loved it! The property was amazing, with breathtaking views overlooking Fontana Lake. The room and bathroom were spotless, and the kitchen had every utensil we could possibly need. The check-in process was smooth and easy, and the whole place felt so peaceful and secluded — perfect for relaxing and unwinding. We truly had a great experience and would love to come back again!
Sharon J.
September 9, 2025
This is our fifth year celebrating a birthday with a week at Fontana Cabin. That probably says it all. If you enjoy nature and solitude, this is the perfect place for you. Robert responds immediately to any questions you may have, though we rarely have them after staying here so often. One thing to note is that the cabin is considered remote by many folks who did not grow up in the country, so don't plan on running out for something you might have forgotten. It isn't 10 minutes but more like 25 minutes each way to the grocery store. We love that, but realize that it would be a shock for some.We can't say enough good things about the property or the hosts. Excellent all around!
Adam S.
September 9, 2025
What a great home in a secluded and beautiful area! The hosts were amazing too! We had some unforeseeable circumstances arise and they were incredibly understanding and responsive.
Kim T.
August 18, 2025
We enjoyed this cabin SO much. We needed Nothing during the stay. The view from the deck and downstairs living space were worth the trip alone! BUT there is so much more! EXCELLENT communication before the trip, the day of and after the stay. Host shares information on the cabin, how to get there, things near to it and extended area. The cabin is stocked with things you don’t typically find in a rental. Beds were comfortable, bathrooms had good water pressure and hot water for all, easy entryways… We found ourselves complimenting it throughout our stay. We had so much fun on the water (not accessible from cabin) and made many memories gathering at the cabin, we are already planning next year!
J A.
August 13, 2025
Amazing views
Great cabin, moderately easy to get to even with our sports cars (about 5 min on gravel roads). View was amazing, overall in good condition and clean all the way around. Lots of room with a game room and separate living room. Please be aware the "5th" bedroom is more of an open loft with no privacy so its really a 4 room cabin.
Services & Amenities
Most popular business facilities
Horse riding
Off-site
Hiking
Off-site
Wi-Fi in public areas
More Amenities
Internet
Wi-Fi in public areas
Public areas
BBQ
No smoking in public areas
Garden
Health & wellness
Kayaking
Off-site
Hiking
Off-site
Horse riding
Off-site
Mountain biking
Off-site
Motorized water sports equipment
Activities
Gaming area
Fishing
Off-site
Eco tours
Off-site
Cleaning services
Clothes dryer
Facilities for children
Kids' board games/puzzles
Accessibility
Handrails on stairs
Property Policies
Check-in and Check-out Times
Check-in: after 16:00
Check-out: Before 10:00
Child policies
Children of all ages are welcome at this property.
Additional fees may be charged for children using existing beds. Add the number of children to get a more accurate price.
Cribs and Extra Beds
Please contact the hotel for details about crib and extra bed policies.
Age Requirements
The main guest checking in must be at least 25 years old
Property host
Robert Bednar
Speaks English, Spanish
About this property
This 3500 square-foot, secluded cabin is ideal for your family getaway or a retreat with that someone special or as a home base for riding or driving the famous roads of Western North Carolina.
Fontana Cabin is located in Graham County, North Carolina, at the very end of a winding gravel road that takes you through a tunnel of trees before revealing a distinctive house perched on top of a bluff above Fontana Lake. The approach into the Cabin is through the main deck, where you will have a hard time resisting the pull of the breathtaking view of crystal-clear Lake Fontana and the layered Smoky Mountains behind it.
On all sides of the Cabin, you are surrounded by either our 4.5-acre property or Public Lands, so all you see looking outside of the Cabin is Southern Appalachian deciduous forest. The view from the deck, where you will want to take your coffee as well as all your meals and your naps, changes hourly, daily, and seasonally, calling you to leave your cares behind as you tune into the rhythm of Nature.
Inside, you will find 5 separate bedrooms and 4 bathrooms that will provide your group the space, comfort, and flexibility it needs to make the place your temporary home. The house was built in 1968 and has been updated over the years to balance the best of its vintage and contemporary features, including most recently with a full-scale update of the Cabin decor, linens, kitchenware, and other amenities in September, 2021, a few months after we bought the place in July 2021, and ongoing updates since then, including upgrading our satellite internet in March 2024, putting on a new roof in July 2024 and a new driveway in 2025.
The kitchen is fully equipped with a farmhouse table that seats six, with a second table for 6 outside on the covered porch if you want to eat outside or if you have a large group. Like the table, almost all of the wood furnishings in the house are unique--handmade from re-purposed and re-finished salvaged wood from old buildings in the region.
Given our remote location, we have satellite Internet instead of wired broadband, but we have enough WiFi capability throughout the house for ordinary computing and streaming--as well as zooms if you need to stay connected to work while you are here. Our cell phone booster in the house makes cell service strong even though it is weak on the road up to the Cabin.
Our LAKE VIEW is awesome, but there is NO DIRECT ACCESS TO THE LAKE from our property. Fontana Lake is a 29 mile-long crystal clear lake that has more than 240 miles of almost totally undeveloped shoreline. More than 90 percent of the land around the lake is owned by the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, Nantahala National Forest, or the Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA), so development has been kept to a minimum (including near our place, where the Forest Service and TVA own the bottom half of the 200-foot steep mountainside between the Cabin and the lake).
The good news is that the lake is surrounded by forest and provides an inspiring backdrop to every part of your stay at the Cabin, but the less good news is that you have to leave the property to get to the lake itself. If you do want to access the lake to fish, boat, kayak, or canoe, there are a number of boat launches and marinas on the south side of the lake where we are located, including the public boat launch at the Cable Cove National Forest Recreation Area 15 minutes from the Cabin, and the full-service marina at the Fontana Village Marina, right at the Fontana Dam, 25 minutes from the Cabin.
Please also know that if you are hauling a trailer or driving an RV, we have plenty of parking at the Cabin and just restructured and resurfaced the driveway in 2025, but the road and driveway into the place are winding and steep in spots. It's fine for cars, but not suitable for long trailers or long vehicles over 20 feet, so if that sounds like you, it's best to inquire with us before booking.
Whether you are seeking hiking, biking, boating, fishing, scenic driving, nature photography, motorcycling, whitewater rafting, or vacationing, you will find a full array of natural destinations, quaint shops and the rich history of North Carolina's most remote county within minutes of the Cabin.
Smoky Mountain National Park - 45 minutes to Park Entrance from Cabin
You can see the Southern edge of the park just across the Lake from the Cabin, and can access it via the water if you are boating, but the driving entrance is just North of Bryson City and Cherokee.
The Dragon - 35 minutes from Cabin to Deal's Gap
Starting at Deal's Gap at the Tennessee/North Carolina state line and featuring 318 curves in just 11 miles, the Dragon is considered by many to be one of the world's best motorcycling and sports car roads. Anyone looking for an exciting highway adventure--whether you are a rider or a driver--will enjoy this famous stretch of US 129. Even better, the road to there from our place is another great drive, called Moonshiner 28. Combine it with Foothills Parkway in TN and the Smoky NP Park road, and locals call that loop Hillbilly Heaven.
Blue Ridge Parkway - 45 minutes to the Southern Terminus from Cabin
Experience this world famous Parkway, including the Parkway's highest point, which is 1.5 hours away from the Cabin, just south of Waynesville.
Cherohala Skyway - 45 minutes to Eastern Terminus from Cabin
This is a less traveled mountaintop scenic highway with views and curves that rival the North Carolina portion of the Blue Ridge Parkway.
Whitewater Adventures - 30 minutes from Cabin
The western North Carolina mountains offer some of the best whitewater rafting/paddling rivers on the East Coast. Nantahala River's Class I, II, and III rapids and renowned providers such as the Nantahala Outdoor Center provide the perfect place for the entire family to have a taste of this exciting sport. If you are hardcore, the Cheoah River has Class IV and V rapids during scheduled release dates. If tube-floating is more your style, there are multiple outfitters in nearby Bryson City.
Appalachian Trail - access 25 minutes from the Cabin
The renowned Trail that bisects the entire East Coast goes through our area, actually crossing over Fontana Dam itself before heading into the Smoky Mountains National Park to the north and into Nantahala National Forest to the south.About pets:Pets allowed: dogs (limit 2 total).About checkOut:Check out before 10:00 AM.About children:Children allowed: ages 0-17.About customRules:Please reach out to me within 48 hours of booking to learn more about the property..No RVs or trailers over 15 feet long. The gravel road and driveway leading into the property is steep in places and has some sharp switchbacks.,Notice: there is no direct access to the lake from our property. There are several full-serve marinas in the area where you can launch or rent boats..About checkIn:Check in after 4:00 PM.About smoking:Smoking is not permitted.About minBookingAge:Minimum age to rent: 25.About events:No events allowed.
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About This Property
| Hotel Star Rating | 4 |
|---|



