See all properties
Cabin

Yellow Branch Farm House near Fontana Lake, Fontana Dam, the Appalachian Trail

Photo gallery for Yellow Branch Farm House near Fontana Lake, Fontana Dam, the Appalachian Trail

Exterior
Terrace/patio
Exterior
foyer
galley kitchen

Reviews

10 out of 10
Exceptional
2 bedrooms1+ bathroomSleeps 492.9 sq m

Popular amenities

  • Parking available
  • Dryer
  • Washer
  • Air conditioning
  • Barbecue grill
  • Outdoor space

Explore the area

Map
Robbinsville, NC
  • Fontana Lake
    ‪16 min walk‬
  • Fontana Village Resort Marina
    ‪14 min drive‬
  • Santeetlah Lake
    ‪29 min drive‬
  • Knoxville, TN (TYS-McGhee Tyson)
    ‪99 min drive‬

Rooms & beds

2 bedrooms (sleeps 4)

Downstairs

1 Double Bed

Loft

1 Queen Bed

1 bathroom, 1 half bathroom

Bathroom 1

Towels provided · Bathtub or shower · Toilet · Hair dryer

Bathroom 2

Towels provided · Toilet

Spaces

Deck or patio
Porch or lanai
Kitchen
Garden
Dining area

About this property

Yellow Branch Farm House near Fontana Lake, Fontana Dam, the Appalachian Trail

Our comfortable, recently renovated 1000 sq. ft., 2 story traditional mountain cabin provides a restful and unique setting to enjoy your mountain vacation and renew your spirit. The house is located on the perimeter of Yellow Branch Farm, a former dairy farm and creamery. Guests are welcome to walk around the farm and garden. The location is very quiet with an occasional car, farm vehicle, or pedestrian passing by the house on Yellow Branch Road. Also nearby is Silverbell Studio, a pottery studio that established by the gals who purchased Yellow Branch Pottery in 2022.

The spacious downstairs of this cabin includes a great room with vaulted ceiling, an open, well-stocked, compact galley kitchen and dining area.

Also downstairs is a bedroom with double bed, a sitting room with DVD player and hundreds of movies. The full bathroom with tub/shower is also located on the main level.

The upper floor is an open loft with queen bed and NEWLY ADDED, 1/2 bath. No more going downstairs in the middle of the night!

Cell service is not available on the property and there is a land line available for local and long distance calls at no charge. WiFi is available.

The pastoral and quiet setting includes a spacious deck, covered porch, firepit, and a Weber charcoal grill. A starter amount of charcoal and firewood is provided.

Fontana Lake is just down Yellow Branch Road. Please check with us about access to lake for swimming and kayaking. There are plenty of safe places to walk in the neighborhood. Also, close by are Cable Cove boat ramp, Fontana Village and Marina, Stecoah Valley Cultural Arts Center, the Appalachian Trail, Tsali Recreation Area, Nantahala Gorge for white water rafting, Joyce Kilmer Forest, Cherokee, and the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, to name a few attractions. Robbinsville is 15 miles away and Bryson City, 25 miles.

We didn't rent in 2023 after Bruce fell from a ladder while helping a neighbor in January. The injuries were serious and he is still on the mend. He is now able to work in the garden, lawn maintenance and general repairs. We are grateful for the support and out reach from our community. We are happy to be back in business and look forward to meeting you!

Property manager

Karen Mickler and Bruce DeGroot

Add dates for prices

Amenities

Kitchen
Washer
Dryer
Free WiFi
Air conditioning
Outdoor space

Have a question?

AI iconBeta

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

Similar properties

Mathews' Mansion is a lovely retreat for unwinding. Sorry, no dogs.

Mathews' Mansion, a cabin by a mountain lake

  • Kitchen
  • Air conditioning
  • Laundry
  • Outdoor space
8.6 out of 10, (72 reviews)
Mathews' Mansion, a cabin by a mountain lake

House Rules

Check in after 3:00 PM
Check out before 11:00 AM
default

Children

Children allowed: ages 0–17
default

Events

No events allowed
default

Pets

No pets allowed
default

Smoking

Smoking is not permitted

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 eco-friendly cleaning products
Host has indicated that there is a carbon monoxide detector on the property
Host has indicated that there is a smoke detector on the property
Safety features at this property include a fire extinguisher and a first aid kit

We should mention

This property does not have any lifts

About the area

Robbinsville

Located in Robbinsville, this cabin is in a rural area and on a lake. Stecoah Valley Cultural Arts Center and Graham County Historical Association are cultural highlights, and some of the area's activities can be experienced at Fontana Village Resort Marina and Junaluska Medicine Trail.
Map
Robbinsville, NC

What's nearby

  • Fontana Lake - 16 min walk - 1.4 km
  • Fontana Village Resort Marina - 14 min drive - 11.8 km
  • Santeetlah Lake - 29 min drive - 30.8 km
  • Great Smoky Mountains National Park - 39 min drive - 45.2 km
  • Joyce Kilmer Memorial Forest - 48 min drive - 42.5 km

Getting around

  • Alcoa - Knoxville Airport (TYS) - 99 min drive

Restaurants

  • ‪Stecoah Diner - ‬11 min drive
  • ‪Stecoah Diner - ‬17 min drive
  • ‪Fontana Pitstop - ‬15 min drive
  • ‪The Mountview Restaurant - ‬16 min drive
  • ‪Mountainview Bistro - ‬16 min drive

Frequently asked questions

Is Yellow Branch Farm House near Fontana Lake, Fontana Dam, the Appalachian Trail pet-friendly?

No, pets are not allowed at this property.

What time is check-in at Yellow Branch Farm House near Fontana Lake, Fontana Dam, the Appalachian Trail?

Check-in begins at 3:00 PM.

What time is check-out at Yellow Branch Farm House near Fontana Lake, Fontana Dam, the Appalachian Trail?

Checkout is at 11:00 AM.

Where is Yellow Branch Farm House near Fontana Lake, Fontana Dam, the Appalachian Trail located?

This family-friendly Robbinsville cabin is located on a lake, within 1 mi (2 km) of Nantahala National Forest and Fontana Lake. Stecoah Valley Cultural Arts Center and Fontana Village Resort Marina are also within 9 miles (15 km).

Reviews

10

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. 58 out of 60 reviews
Rating 8 - Good. 2 out of 60 reviews
Rating 6 - Okay. 0 out of 60 reviews
Rating 4 - Poor. 0 out of 60 reviews
Rating 2 - Terrible. 0 out of 60 reviews

10/10

Cleanliness

10/10

Check-in

10/10

Communication

9.8/10

Location

10/10

Listing accuracy

Reviews

10/10 Excellent

Amanda E.

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

Peaceful and warm!

My fiancé and I came up for a car meet on the tail of the dragon, we had an amazing and peaceful stay. All the amenities were set up and ready for us, they provided hospitality above and beyond. Very generous and communicative hosts. It was cold outside but nice and cozy inside the house! No complaints, would 100% stay again!
Stayed 2 nights in Apr 2025

10/10 Excellent

Luke S.

Stayed 2 nights in Oct 2024

10/10 Excellent

Margaret G.

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

Drive Tail of the Dragon + Mom relaxation time

We had a great time and Bruce and Karen are phenomenal! The house is in a spectacular location and has been maintained beautifully. The kitchen is well stocked and the house is just perfect.
Stayed 2 nights in Oct 2024

10/10 Excellent

kevin p.

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

Weekend getaway

Excellent property and host! Highly recommend this lovely home and beautiful property in the NC mountains. Quiet and secluded. Loved it!
Stayed 2 nights in Sep 2024

8/10 Good

Stephen and Karen S.

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

Farmhouse

Very nice interesting hosts. Good location. Lovely kitchen and pottery. Amazing video and vhs collection. Comfortable porch and deck areas.
Stayed 7 nights in Aug 2024

10/10 Excellent

Sharon B.

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

Back to Nature

Farmhouse was near the main road but it was secluded from everything. Great porches to sit on and enjoy hummingbirds that would come to visit. House was cute and had all amenities you’d need. No phone service but WiFi kept us in touch with what we needed. The only downfall was there was only 1 TV and no channels and was in the smallest room of house with no air. It would have been nice to have one in the main room. Window air conditioners were fine for living room and loft bedroom. There was also a bedroom downstairs but air didn’t seem to make it to that room. Overall it was a great place to stay for just my husband and I. We would stay again.
Stayed 3 nights in Aug 2024

10/10 Excellent

Ben C.

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

Great get away

The farm house was very rustic and had a unique charm to it. It was quiet and secluded. My friends and I had a nice peaceful weekend fishing on Lake Fontana and the surrounding area.
Stayed 2 nights in Jul 2024

10/10 Excellent

linda s.

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

Lovely and so relaxing!

I, along with my daughter and grandson stayed at Yellow Branch Farm for two nights in June. The house was beautiful and more than we expected. Karen was so kind and helpful, giving us ideas of what to do in the area.
Stayed 2 nights in Jun 2024

10/10 Excellent

Melanie L.

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

Cozy farm house

Yellow Branch farm was a great little place to stay. Had everything we needed. Hosts were very thorough in providing instructions on how everything worked in the place. They were easy to communicate with. Unfortunately we didn;t have time to meet the cows or the owners or check out the cheese and pottery shop. But would definitely recommend the house for a small group.
Stayed 2 nights in Nov 2022

10/10 Excellent

Lucia C., Atlanta, GA

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

Artisan Farm House

We chose this cottage for it's location. My best friend was a through hiker on the AT and needed a break from backpacking. We were able to be very comfortable and cook delicious meals while hiking from Fontana, Stecoah Gap, Wesser, and Wayah. The bonus was the lovely cottage with beautiful pottery and art, lots of movies, and a well stocked kitchen. I look forward to returning in the Spring to this enchanted spot.
Stayed 3 nights in Nov 2022

10/10 Excellent

Myra B.

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

Perfect fall getaway

Our stay at the farmhouse was wonderful. The house is very comfortable and the hosts have thoughtfully taken care of every detail. There location is ideal as it is quietly secluded yet within short driving distance of hiking trails and other local attractions. We will absolutely be returning!
Stayed 3 nights in Oct 2022

10/10 Excellent

Avigail S.

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

wonderful

Wonderful hosts, location and property. I felt pampered with all the attention to small details. Thank you!
Stayed 3 nights in Oct 2022

10/10 Excellent

Colleen D.

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

Lovely off the grid farmhouse

We loved staying at the farmhouse of Karen and Bruce. At the end of each day of motorcycle riding, it was wonderful to lay back at the farm. Really enjoyed meeting the two lovely cows who help produce their delicious cheese. Our only recommendation of change would be to have a tv in the main space with a fire stick. Peace
Stayed 4 nights in Sep 2022

10/10 Excellent

Joni B.

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

Privacy and charm

This was my first time using VRBO, my husband and I were completely thrilled to stay in this area since it's so close to everything. The cabin that Karen & Bruce provide exceeded our expectations. When I thought we would need to use something I brought with us for the trip I found it and more in the cabin. The porch was perfect for sipping our morning coffee/tea, the cabin was so clean, hardly no traffic at all passing by on the road below, the pictures do not do this place enough justice. In the kitchen, it's more than fully stocked, the laundry room covered, the bathroom, just everything you could want and more. I will recommend this place to all my friends and family, Karen and Bruce, you guys really out did yourselves, thank you again for letting us stay in your beautiful cabin.
Stayed 7 nights in Aug 2022

10/10 Excellent

Emilia G.

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

very nice place

Great place for vacation! Photos don't do this house justice. This house has interesting and comfortable furniture, custom ceramics, and a well-equipped kitchen. I don't think I missed anything, and we cooked and grilled. Lake is just a short walk away. Plenty of opportunities for kayaking, boating, and hiking. Highly recommended if looking to spend quiet time with family.
Stayed 3 nights in Jul 2022

10/10 Excellent

Criseida B.

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

First time MATG

Thank you Karen and Bruce for letting us stay at the farmhouse! It was perfect. Clean, well equipped with lots of charm. We enjoyed grilling and playing scrabble. One of the best stays we’ve in a while.
Stayed 2 nights in Aug 2022

10/10 Excellent

Katie M.

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

Perfect farmhouse in the mountains

We thoroughly enjoyed the farmhouse. It is rustic, lovely, and full of charm and special touches. The location offers the perfect amount of peaceful tranquility and is still close to the outdoor activities we did at the NOC. The kids loved the cows and loft, and the cheese was delicious! Hoping to return soon! Thanks for sharing your mountain gem with us, Karen and Bruce!
Stayed 2 nights in Jul 2022

10/10 Excellent

Wendy S., Harrisburg, Pennsylvania

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

A+ on every detail!

Wonderful! *Very clean! *The refrigerator was empty when we arrived -- I'm not a fan of opening a refrigerator at a VRBO and finding someone else's food in there. *ICE!!! Enough ice for our cooler! With many ice cube trays and a ice bin for storage, we were able to keep our drinks/food cold on some very long days in our cooler. *Washer and dryer -- we explored and hiked throughout our stay and it was great to have a washer and dryer on site *The information book was very helpful.... *PORCHES! We spent so much time on the porches. We started and ended each day on the covered porch. I even had the pleasure of enjoying a significant storm on the covered porch... the air smelled so sweet!!! * We were gone most of the daylight hours but even so -- we might have heard a half dozen vehicles go past the cabin during the times we were there... mostly just birds and a rooster from somewhere down the road... *We used the cottage as a starting point each day and visited Clingman's Dome, Mount Mitchell, Fontana Dam, Wheels Through Time Museum , Joyce Kilmer Memorial Forest, Junaluska Medicine Trail, Tail of the Dragon... and more ... the location is perfect. We are keeping this site on the top of our list for future visits to the south. Thank you to Karen and Bruce for creating such a delightful destination.
Stayed 7 nights in Jun 2022

10/10 Excellent

Ian R.

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

A lovely little cabin in the woods

This property is off the beaten path and very nice. It has access to Fontana Lake very close to it and we essentially had the lake to ourselves. Very few boats and incredible views. We were on kayaks (with motors-so a little more mobile than others might be) but it would still the excellent on a typical kayak. The only downside of the location had nothing to do with the property itself, we just did not expect to have to travel along the Dragon's Tail to get there. It was a challenge pulling kayaks behind a truck along that route and we recommend not doing so unless you are in a more mobile vehicle situation. Property had internet so texting and making calls while there is no issue despite not having service so don't let that scare you. Karen and Bruce were very kind and responsive.
Stayed 5 nights in May 2022

8/10 Good

Rahul A.

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

Peaceful and refreshing experience

Very quite and peaceful property. Karen and Bruce were great hosts.
Stayed 4 nights in Apr 2022

10/10 Excellent

George G.

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

Awesome Trip!

The property exceeding our expectations. First VRBO we have stayed at that had plenty of ice. A big deal for us! The house was clean and had everything we needed. Whether we were relaxing by the fire pit at night or relaxing on one of the porches reading a book and listening to the stream this was a perfect weekend. Karen was very friendly and the pottery shop and cheese were wonderful. Would love to go again.
Stayed 4 nights in Nov 2021

10/10 Excellent

Melinda R.

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

Best Honeymoon!

Quiet, peaceful and relaxing! Karen and Bruce had EVERYTHING we could ever need available! The running water from the stream around the property made porch sitting so much more enjoyable!
Stayed 3 nights in Nov 2021

10/10 Excellent

Jessica M.

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

Outstanding!!!!

Absolutely wonderful! Very clean, great location and the hosts were so great. They recommend we hike at Deep Creek while we visited Bryson City and it was beautiful. They also suggested eating at Ilda in Sylva which was the best food we have ever eaten! Plenty of dishes and cooking supplies house was very warm and beds were very comfortable. They have a perfectly cozy farmhouse and we enjoyed our stay very much!!!
Stayed 2 nights in Oct 2021

10/10 Excellent

Verified traveller

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

Beautiful Farmhouse

We loved this farmhouse. The pictures don’t really do the place justice. It was clean, comfortable in every way, and had everything we could have needed in the kitchen and baths. Beautiful deck to just sit and chill. We will definitely be back.
Stayed 3 nights in Oct 2021

10/10 Excellent

Melody F.

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

This property was so charming. It is definitely off the beaten path and very unique.

My sisters and I enjoyed our stay.
Stayed 4 nights in Oct 2021

About the host

Hosted by Karen Mickler and Bruce DeGroot

Host profile image
We purchased the farm in 1979 with our family and moved from Iowa shortly thereafter.
Being native Floridians, the mountains appealed to us as a great location to live and be closer to our families. Our passions are growing our own food and living our lives as artisans, so we bought a milk cow and built a pottery shop for Karen and woodworking shop for Bruce. The cheese business evolved slowly over the years and Bruce concentrated solely on farming and cheese making around 2000. Karen retired in 2021 and no longer operates Yellow Branch Pottery. She enjoys more time for gardening and hiking.
Bruce retired from cheesemaking in 2023 after an unfortunate fall from a ladder. He is making an excellent recovery, with the help of a lot of physical therapy and exercise. At the time he fell, he was putting in a half bathroom upstairs in the loft. Work has begun again on the project and we hope it will be ready soon.

We celebrate a life time of creativity and good food! We look forward to meeting you.

Why they chose this property

We were looking for an existing farm to purchase in Western North Carolina. Being Iowa residents, we were attracted to the kinder winters and beauty of the mountains. Yellow Branch Farm had been abandoned for many years and had all of the qualities we were looking for. The proximity to Fontana Lake and the quiet surroundings in the rural setting attracted us also.

What makes this property unique

Yellow Branch Farmhouse is a comfortable rustic cabin with all the amenities needed for a quiet vacation away from the hustle and bustle of city life. If you are looking for an out of the way place, yet one that is within 30 minutes of several recreation spots. While we were closed in all of 2023 because of Bruce's accident, we have consistent #5 ratings.