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A haven in the mountains by the Swannanoa river

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February 2025

Photo gallery for A haven in the mountains by the Swannanoa river

Property grounds
Property grounds
Exterior
Fridge, microwave, oven, stovetop
2 bedrooms, desk, iron/ironing board, free WiFi

Reviews

9.6 out of 10

Exceptional

Entire home

2 bedrooms2 bathroomsSleeps 4111 sq m

Popular amenities

  • Parking available
  • Washer
  • Kitchen
  • Air conditioning
  • Fireplace
  • Dryer

Explore the area

Map
Swannanoa, NC
  • Western North Carolina Nature Center
    ‪11 min drive‬
  • Blue Ridge Parkway Visitor Center
    ‪11 min drive‬
  • Blue Ridge National Heritage Area
    ‪14 min drive‬
  • Asheville, NC (AVL-Asheville Regional)
    ‪28 min drive‬

Room options

About the area

Swannanoa

Located in Swannanoa, this vacation home is on a lake, within a 10-minute drive of Pisgah Brewing Company and Southern Highland Craft Guild Folk Art Center. .This vacation home is 12.7 mi (20.5 km) from Biltmore Estate and 2.9 mi (4.7 km) from Pisgah National Forest.
View more Holiday homes in SwannanoaOpens in a new window

What's nearby

  • Western North Carolina Nature Center - 11 min drive
  • Blue Ridge Parkway Asheville Entrance - 11 min drive
  • Harrah's Cherokee Center - Asheville - 16 min drive
  • The Orange Peel - 18 min drive
  • Biltmore Estate - 24 min drive

Getting around

  • Asheville Regional Airport (AVL) - 28 min drive

Restaurants

  • ‪Breakfast Shoppe - ‬3 min drive
  • ‪Sonic Drive-In - ‬10 min drive
  • ‪Burger King - ‬3 min drive
  • ‪Zaxby's - ‬7 min drive
  • ‪Moments Coffee Bar & Eatery - ‬3 min drive

About this property

Entire place

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

A haven in the mountains by the Swannanoa river

Curious about what makes the Asheville city and mountain region so weirdly wonderful? Live like a local and find out for yourself in our fully furnished house that we lovingly call the "Bee tree hive"! This home comfortably blends modern conveniences with historic charm.
The home was built as a farm house that has been fully remodeled and borders acres of farm land, pastures and the river in the back. It is located next to a public park with 2 fishing lakes and miles of hiking trails by the Swannanoa river. The next shopping center is only 2 minutes away. Downtown Asheville is about a 10 minute drive away!

Asheville is called Paris of the South for a reason- it is a metropolitan paradise that celebrates human culture in the form of arts, music, dance, poetry, theater and night life! Asheville is known to have restaurants for any taste as well as over 50 microbreweries and tasting rooms that gave this town the title of "Beer city USA".

The Bee Tree Hive is the perfect home away from home! Perfect for a family vacation or romantic getaway and conveniently located with easy access to Interstate 40 and Black Mountain (7 minutes). The property joins a large river in the backyard and features river access with fishing and several bonfire pits to relax and enjoy the serenity of pure nature!
The Bee Tree Hive has been recently updated with many new features. It is fully furnished with everything you might need. It also features a book and DVD collection for your entertainment as well as streaming internet and Netflix TV.

The house features a newly added deck facing the sunny side to the South. From here you look over green meadows with trees in front of the river. On the meadows live two Highland cows from Scotland. They are busy keeping the grass cut and maintained. They are very friendly, tame and curious!

The property also features one of the largest mineral collections in the area. Hundreds of quartz boulders with inclusions of mica and granite have been hand selected in a local quarry and used for landscaping by the river. At the moment of this writing there are 85 tons. The beautiful Swannanoa river can be reached over a short trail. There are many secluded places to relax and to unwind.
Make yourself comfortable in this air-conditioned vacation home, which features a fireplace and a Smart TV. There's a private patio. A kitchen is outfitted with a refrigerator, an oven, and a stovetop. Complimentary wireless internet access keeps you connected, and a DVD player is provided for your entertainment.
This smoke-free vacation home features wheelchair access, books, and snowboarding nearby. Amenities and recreational activities include games, a video library, and ecotours nearby.
Guests will find features like internet access and onsite parking.

Property manager

Andreas (Andy) Otto

Languages

English, French, German, Spanish

Property amenities

Ski

  • Cross-country skiing and snowboarding nearby

Internet

  • Free WiFi

Parking and transport

  • On-site parking
  • Car required

Kitchen

  • Fridge
  • Stovetop
  • Microwave
  • Oven
  • Dishwasher
  • Paper towels
  • Toaster
  • Coffee/tea maker
  • Cookware/dishes/utensils

Dining

  • Dining table

Bedrooms

  • 2 bedrooms
  • Bed sheets provided
  • Sofa bed

Bathrooms

  • 2 bathrooms
  • Bath or shower
  • Towels provided
  • Toilet paper
  • Shampoo
  • Soap
  • Hairdryer

Living spaces

  • Fireplace
  • Living room

Entertainment

  • Smart TV with cable/satellite service
  • DVD player
  • Books
  • Games
  • Video library

Outdoor areas

  • Patio
  • Outdoor furniture
  • Firepit

Laundry

  • Washing machine and dryer
  • Near a laundromat

Work spaces

  • Desk
  • Desk chair

Comfort

  • Air conditioning
  • Heating

Pets

  • No pets allowed

Suitability/Accessibility

  • If you have any requests for specific accessibility needs, please contact the property using the information on the reservation confirmation received after booking.
  • Wheelchair-accessible
  • Smoke-free property

Services and conveniences

  • Iron/ironing board

Location highlights

  • On the lake
  • On the river
  • Near a health or beauty spa
  • Near a hospital
  • Near outlet shopping
  • Near a zoo

Things to do

  • Water park
  • Fitness facilities nearby
  • Golf privileges
  • Wildlife and game walks nearby
  • Mountain climbing nearby
  • Birdwatching nearby
  • Water tubing nearby
  • Cycling nearby
  • Rock climbing nearby
  • Swimming nearby
  • Kayaking nearby
  • Hiking/biking trails 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 installed (host has indicated that there is a smoke detector on the property)
  • Fire extinguisher
  • First aid kit
  • Deadbolt lock

General

  • Unit size: 1200 sq ft (111 sq m)

Policies

Check-in

Check-in time starts at 4:00 PM
Contactless check-in available
Minimum check-in age: 25

Check-out

Check-out before 11:00 AM
Contactless check-out available

Special check-in instructions

You will receive an email from the host with check-in and check-out instructions

Pets

Pets not allowed

Children and extra beds

Children are welcome

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
Parties and events (including family gatherings) are allowed on site; maximum attendees: 8
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

We should mention

A car is required for transportation to and from this property

Property is also known as

Haven Mountains Swannanoa River House
Haven Mountains Swannanoa River
Haven Mountains River
A Haven in the Mountains by the Swannanoa River Swannanoa

A haven in the mountains by the Swannanoa river Reviews

Reviews

9.6

Exceptional

Rating 10 - Excellent. 22 out of 26 reviews" "
Rating 8 - Good. 2 out of 26 reviews" "
Rating 6 - Okay. 1 out of 26 reviews" "
Rating 4 - Poor. 1 out of 26 reviews" "
Rating 2 - Terrible. 0 out of 26 reviews" "

10/10

Cleanliness

Reviews

10/10 Excellent

Jackie T., Charlotte

Liked: Cleanliness
Sweet little stay
We so enjoyed staying here. Perfect little getaway. Loved exploring the property, the highland cows and the river. Wow. Can't wait to come back in the summer just to relax and enjoy the stay. House is perfectly appointed. Has everything you could want. Was too cool for us to enjoy the deck this time but would have liked to have some time sitting outside. RVs next door at storage business was not objectionable to us and just made the property even more endearing. We are glad we took a chance on this rental. Andreas is a gem and couldn't have been nicer! Until next time, we hope!
Stayed 2 nights in Sep 2022

4/10 Poor

Judith S.

Liked: Cleanliness
Girls get away
First to see the mountains you had to look over all the RVs stored next door, the large river in the back of the property was a small creek. The couch in the living room was very old and uncomfortable. There was no cable TV only a DVD player. But the location of the property was a short distance to shopping and hiking.
Stayed 3 nights in Jul 2021

10/10 Excellent

Amy C.

Liked: Cleanliness
Our Home Away From Home
This property suits our needs perfectly as it is clean, close to everything we need, fully stocked with almost anything you could want and Andy is so pleasant to talk with. This is our 2nd stay and we plan to be back in the spring. For us, this truly is our home away from home.

10/10 Excellent

Karen M., Midlothian, VA

Liked: Cleanliness
Stay in Swannanoa
We had a great weekend experience. The house was delightful and had everything we needed. It was close to town and an easy drive to Black Mountain or Asheville. We also enjoyed being outside near the river and the park close by.
Stayed 2 nights in Oct 2019

10/10 Excellent

Mary M.

Liked: Cleanliness
Our visit to Swannanoa
Quite homey and comfortable. Well stocked. very clean. Visitor's notebook was very educational and interesting. Lovely visits with owner, Andy.
Stayed 7 nights in Oct 2019

10/10 Excellent

Verified traveller

Liked: Cleanliness
Picture Perfect Relaxation
This was a last minute decision to rent a vacation home and we couldn't have found anything more perfect if I tried! The land behind the house was so serene with several walking paths cut between the gardens to get to the river. The river was babbling away and sparkling with minerals, the edge is decorated with a stone wall and there are so many treasures to find! The house was perfectly appointed, we seemed to know right where to look to find everything we needed and rested well in its comfort. Andy is an amazing caretaker of the property, we are so happy to find this gem and look forward to returning again!

10/10 Excellent

Paul P.

Liked: Cleanliness
Wonderful relaxing stay.
My wife and I, had a wonderful visit to the area. We needed some quiet down time, and we found it here. The host Andy, was a pleasure to meet. He gave us our privacy, but was just a text, or phone call away, when we had a question. He educated us on the 2 Scottish Highlander cows in the back pasture. You don't even know they are there, unless you take the short walk to the back of the property. To relax under the shade trees along the river, that borders the property. The kitchen was fully stocked, with just about any pots, pans, utensils, dishes, and glassware that you might need. The house was clean, the beds were comfortable. We will be inquiring about the availability, of this house, next time we are back in the area.

10/10 Excellent

Charles J.

Liked: Cleanliness
The Bee Hive
the Bee Hive property is the bees knees! It is the best equipped property we have stayed at, It is homey but with modern facilities, lighting, bath beds, appliances, you name it. I am already wanting to book again for next year.

10/10 Excellent

Jessica F.

Liked: Cleanliness
Great spot!!
We enjoyed our stay and would definitely stay again!
Stayed 2 nights in Jun 2019

10/10 Excellent

Voiteh Y., Austin

Liked: Cleanliness
Great vacation home and property
Hands down, one of the best vacation rentals we have stayed at. And we travel a lot! Below are some of the things that impressed us. Outside: 360 degree privacy, a nice wooden wrap around deck with a little bit of mountain views; big property with a lovely shady sitting area (equipped with two gongs, other percussion instruments and a swing) next to a beautiful creek; sweet mini cows. Inside: very spacious nicely decorated/renovated rooms, two full bathrooms, super comfortable beds, extremely well designed, nice and functional lights (like tons of lights!) in all rooms (one can read small print in every little corner of the house), well equipped kitchen, mountain drinking water. Owner: very friendly, a text message away from you, but does not violate your privacy in any way. Thank you, Andy!
Stayed 7 nights in May 2019

10/10 Excellent

Karen S.

Liked: Cleanliness
Hidden gem along Swannanoa river
Andy was a wonderful host! The house was clean and cozy, perfect for watching a movie or snuggling up to a good book. The property was beautiful with riverfront access and two adorable highlander cows, Anka and Gunta! The location was idyllic with easy access to either bustling Asheville or quaint Black Mountain. The food in the area was fabulous with lots of fresh, local ingredients! Overall, it was a great vacation spot!
Stayed 6 nights in Jun 2019

10/10 Excellent

Amy C.

Lovely, homey place to stay!
We had such an enjoyable stay. It truly was a home away from home for us and completely met our needs. Andy is such a pleasure to visit with!! And the area is stunning!
Stayed 9 nights in Apr 2019

8/10 Good

john p.

Peaceful retreat
We enjoyed our time in the hive at Swannanoa. The cows and our host Andy were a plus. We explored and enjoyed the people in the area also. It was a peaceful retreat for us. D&j
Stayed 13 nights in Mar 2019

10/10 Excellent

Nancy S.

A reunion
Not quite the mountain cabin I expected, but the Bee Hive was wonderful. Despite the proximity to the road, we heard very little road noise.The kitchen is very well equipped, and we made good use of it:) Unfortunately we were there a stormy weekend, so did not get to enjoy the river or lakes..except on our way out. The cows are delightful, and we all enjoyed interacting with them. I did not meet Andy, but others did and said he is very friendly & eager to help.The eclectic decor was fascinating- always finding more objects. The Christmas tree lit added a festive atmosphere.. Thank you:)
Stayed 3 nights in Apr 2019

10/10 Excellent

Julie W., Charlotte

Fun place to stay!
Andy’s house in Swannanoa was the perfect place for a fun weekend! It was the cleanest vrbo we have every stayed in and having the river in the backyard was wonderful! The two highland cows were adorable and just sitting on the deck in the late evening sun was so relaxing. It was close enough to Asheville for our Saturday meetings but far enough from the city that my husband could fish in the morning before our meetings! Andy’s knickknacks and welcome book made for interesting exploring and reading! I would definitely recommend others try this bit of paradise in Swannanoa !
Stayed 2 nights in Apr 2019

10/10 Excellent

Treva D.

Quiet and peaceful
We really enjoyed staying in Andy’s place. Everything was clean and in good repair. It is a beautiful area just out of the hustle and bustle of Asheville and close to the Blue Ridge. We enjoyed talking to Andy as well as walking around the property. Feeding the cows was a special treat. We would stay here again.
Stayed 2 nights in Oct 2018

6/10 Okay

Jan G.

Great location, quiet ...just needs a few things.
This property is SO close to being a solid 4 for me, but I just couldn’t give it a 4 unless a few changes were made. As you can tell by the pictures, it’s a bit of a throwback, casual mountain style place. It is as clean as a whistle, as quiet as can be and conveniently located for easy access to hiking trails or the city vibe of Asheville. We had a great time & appreciated Andy’s friendly demeanor and quick response to questions. Here’s where it could use a little help: the beds are both platform beds and one is very much like sleeping on a box, HARD. The other is very firm but slightly better and is doable. In my opinion both beds could really benefit from a 2 or 3 inch NovaForm mattress topper. Next is the master bathroom - no workable electrical outlet & not one hook or towel bar. There is a shelf unit to hold folded towels but nothing for a wet towel. I know there is a pocket door & that takes away some options for putting up towel bars, but there are several places where hooks could easily be installed. The electrical issue: you absolutely need a working outlet in a bathroom. There was only one outlet in the other bathroom, located in a very strange spot making drying your hair somewhat of a circus act! Since the pictures were taken lots of trinkets & rocks have been added making the place a bit cluttered or as some might say, giving it a lot of “charm”. I guess I also missed the fact that there isn’t any regular television available at the house, only Netflix. I truly appreciated the fresh eggs left in the refrigerator and the mountain spring water in the cooler.
Stayed 5 nights in Oct 2018

10/10 Excellent

Brian S.

Great place
I have stayed here a few times. Andreas always is a wonderful and engaging host. I would highly recommend this spot to others it has a peaceful feeling to it.
Stayed 2 nights in Sep 2018

10/10 Excellent

Ben B.

Wonderful Experience
My family's experience at Andy's place was wonderful. It is obvious that his property and the home are a labor of love and a commitment to quality. He has done a great job of updating the home while continuing to maintain the elements of its long history. The Swannanoa River on the property is a great amenity, as well as the two Scottish Highland cows. Although the weather prevented us from using the fire pit, it's there, too. The 2 BR (with three beds) 2 Bath setup is great for families. Modern appliances and a well stocked kitchen, bathrooms, three types of coffee makers (including a Keurig), and Black Mountain Spring Water really make the place well-rounded. Plus, there's a newly added deck with a new grill, tons of DVDs, and access to a Netflix account. The location is excellent, too. It's only about 10-12 miles outside of downtown Asheville and about 95% of those miles are along the highway, which means it's a very short and easy drive to everything happening in the city. It's also very close to the Blue Ridge Parkway. Overall, the location enables you to feel like a part of the community. If there's any room for improvement, perhaps TVs in each bedroom would be nice for some. That's subjective, of course. Overall, I highly recommend this property!
Stayed 4 nights in Sep 2018

10/10 Excellent

Anna H., North Carolina

Loved It!!
We had a fantastic time on our trip! The house had everything that you needed. The kitchen was well equipped, large selection of DVD's and LOTS of books to read! Little extras that were provided made it even better! Andy provided us with a jug of spring water from Black Mountain, condiments in the refig., paper products, etc. Andy was super nice and so accommodating! My mom and I really enjoyed our conversations with him being we have mutual interests. The Highland Cows were also a big hit with my daughters! We will return on our next trip to the Asheville area! Thank you Andy!
Stayed 7 nights in Aug 2018

10/10 Excellent

cheryl c., Raleigh

House with everything you need and huge property
We stayed at the Bee Hive end of July 2018. The house was as described by Andy, the owner, but it had much more inside than we expected. It was great to have the two bathrooms, and the new mattresses were in fact very comfortable for two people who have very fixed ideas of what is comfortable! There were plenty of pillows, bedding, and towels ,shampoo, and paper products and the kitchen with new appliances had a huge amount of things in it, we only needed to buy basic groceries. The lighting inside was varied with things like colorful mini lights and lots of table lamps, so you can get just the right amount of light or ambience. Everything seemed clean and in great condition, there is a new deck that is uncovered but has plenty of furniture and a brand new gas grill. The yard is very large, with a mowed way down to the river and sitting places at the river. A very short ride down the road you can go to lakes and a path that is part of the Warren Wilson property and hike in the woods there. On the property of the house, are two resident Scotland cattle, that I fed biscuits to though the fence. Plenty of parking is available, both in front of the house if you want only a few steps to the door , and in the side and back. The property is not far from Black Mountain restaurants and also a short ride to Asheville and the Biltmore House. I don't like properties that sit on high steep roads and hills, or driveways, but this house is easy to get to with low elevations and is not in an isolated area. Andy, the owner is very friendly and answers all questions promptly. There are many books and a huge numbers of DVD's that you can watch on the "smart" TV in the living room. The WiFi worked well here for our devices. I do recommend this house which has everything you need and more!
Stayed 7 nights in Jul 2018

10/10 Excellent

Diedre A., Terre Haute, IN USA

Great place to stay
Much larger than I though. Great location and very well stocked. It was easy to cook meals without buying condiments, etc. Andy was a great host. Very easily reached. Clean and comfortable. The bed was particularly comfortable. We will stay here again.
Stayed 7 nights in Jul 2018

10/10 Excellent

Lisa A.

This house was perfect for our long weekend
The house was well stocked and very clean. We loved the deck! Very close to Black Mountain and Asheville
Stayed 3 nights in Jul 2018

10/10 Excellent

Brian S.

Great place
Had a great time, took some time to feed the cows and sit by the river. A lovely serene place.
Stayed 7 nights in Mar 2018

10/10 Excellent

Ann S.

Though very brief, my daughters and I enjoyed a very cozy evening!
Your mountain home was just as cozy and warm as we expected. We were surprised that the kitchen was so well stocked, the beds were comfy cozy, and the mountain atmosphere just as expected. The cows, though not quite as friendly as we expected, were quite a treat to watch although their attempt at being friendly made my daughter quite uncomfortable and she was the one that backed off. We hope to plan a longer stay in the future and would gladly recommend this nice haven in the mountains.