ONCE UPON A STREAM- Storybook cottage on stream, perfect for family gatherings.

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Welcome to ONCE UPON A STREAM- Chapter 1 in our storybook cottage collection.

Our amazing stream right in the back yard will keep the kids entertained!

Enjoy beautiful Lake Fairfield, a private Sapphire Valley amenity.

Don't forget the marshmallows! The kids will love sitting by the fire at night.

The welcoming entrance to our storybook mountain cottage.

Overview
Amenities
Policies
Location
Host

4 bedrooms3+ bathroomsSleeps 14288 sq m

Popular amenities

Pool

Pet-friendly

Hot tub

Fireplace

Kitchen

Barbecue grill

Check out the area

Sapphire, NC

Hogback Lake12 min walk
Sapphire National Golf Club8 min drive
Whisper Lake9 min drive
Greenville, SC (GSP-Greenville-Spartanburg Intl.)109 min drive

Rooms & beds

4 bedrooms (sleeps 14)

Basement Rec Room

4 Single Beds

Bedroom 2- Upper Level

1 Queen Bed

Bedroom 3- Upper Level

2 Queen Beds

Bedroom 4- Lower Level

1 Queen Bed

Master Bedroom- Main Level

1 King Bed

Upstairs Loft

1 Queen Bed

3 bathrooms, 1 half bathroom

Half Bath- Main Level

Toilet

Lower Level

Bathtub or shower · Toilet

Master Bathroom- Main Level

Toilet · Shower only · Jetted bathtub

Upper Level

Bathtub or shower · Toilet

Spaces

Deck or patio

Porch or lanai

Kitchen

Balcony

Outdoor play area

Garden

Dining Area

About this property

***Now offering ultra high-speed GIGABIT Wifi***
***New VIRTUAL TOUR- Stroll through the cottage at your leisure in 3-D***
We are PET-FRIENDLY! Welcome to "ONCE UPON A STREAM!"

Escape from the ordinary and plan your next "adventurcation" in our storybook English mountain cottage complete with a rushing mountain stream that will keep the kids (and dog) busy for hours! Create memories with family and friends in the waterfall capital of the eastern U.S. that will last a lifetime. Don't settle for another ordinary vacation!

Our goal is to offer a concierge-like vacation hospitality experience- not just a place for you to stay. We pride ourselves on helping you plan the perfect mountain getaway with recommendations on things to do, places to visit, and amazing restaurants and boutiques. That is truly what makes us different and why many guests choose to book with us. The mountains are meant to be a stress-free environment; we're here to make sure that holds true for your group!

Just over an hour from Asheville, NC, ONCE UPON A STREAM is located in the heart of the Blue Ridge Mountains in beautiful Sapphire, North Carolina. The cottage is conveniently located near shopping, dining, and all sorts of recreation. Cashiers, NC is just ten minutes away and the quaint town of Highlands, NC is only 25 minutes away. Lake Toxaway, NC is also nearby- just ten minutes away. There are more than a dozen spectacular waterfalls to hike and explore less than a half hour away.

SAPPHIRE VALLEY RESORT
Our guests also have full access to the Sapphire Valley Resort and all of its amazing amenities including the private Lake Fairfield where you can fish, and sail, paddle, and swim. Visit nearby Narrows Falls and all of the fabulous amenities at the Sapphire Valley Resort. The Sapphire Valley Recreation Center offers gem mining, three swimming pools (one heated indoor and two outdoor), two saunas, two hot tubs, locker rooms, mini-golf, arcade and game room, lounge with WiFi, tennis, playground, running track, par-3 golf course, direct access to the Horsepasture River, and much more. Guests can also purchase discounted tickets to the Biltmore Estate and other area attractions and tours.

SKI SAPPHIRE VALLEY is also inside the Sapphire Valley Resort and offers tons of fun during the winter months. There is a Blue-diamond ski slope complete with quad chair lift and also a Bunny Slope. Frozen Falls is the tubing run and very popular with the kids. Our guests receive 25% off skiing, tubing, and rentals. Ski and Snowboard lessons are available at a very reasonable rate.

We provide first in class concierge service and love to help our guests plan the ultimate mountain vacation. In addition, we provide our guests with access to our unique online guidebook complete with all of our favorite restaurants, things to do, and places to see. Once Upon a Stream is ideally set up for a two or three-family vacation getaway. The cottage is three levels with 4 BR/3.5 BA and sleeps up to 14 persons comfortably.

MAIN LEVEL: offers a large master en-suite with a King-size bed topped with luxurious linens and high-end pillows. Relax after a long day of hiking in the over-sized jetted tub while enjoying the treetop view and taking in all of nature's beauty.

UPPER LEVEL: features two additional bedrooms and a loft with pullout couch. The 2nd bedroom has a queen-sized bed topped with fine linens and pillows. Bedroom 3 has two queen log beds with amazingly comfortable memory foam mattresses and fine linens and pillows.

LOWER LEVEL (Basement aka KID CAVE) is now complete and includes a large rec-room with two sets of mountain log bunk beds, a 55" 4KHD TV, Dish Network, BlueRay Player, Air Hockey table, and Foosball! The new basement also includes bedroom #4 with queen bed and full bathroom.

Ideally situated on a 2-acre private lot, the cottage will spoil you to the point where you won't want to leave. Greet the morning with a cup of coffee on the large back deck. Stroll down the backyard hill along the meandering boulder pathway to the stone patio below and enjoy a glass of wine as you listen to the noisy stream. The kids will stay busy exploring and hiking up and downstream- bring your dog too!

Whether you stay for a few nights or a few weeks, we strive to create a one of a kind experience for you at Once Upon a Stream. Please contact us for more information on booking your mountain getaway.

Be sure to check out our other two homes nearby in Sapphire on VRBO:

ONCE Upon a Stream #4258820 * Sleeps 14, 4 BR, 3.5 BA, streamfront, pet-friendly

TWICE Upon a Stream #2634264 * Sleeps 10, 3 BR, 3.5 BA, streamfront, pet-friendly

Property manager

Travis Eckert

Premier Host

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Amenities

Pool

Hot tub

Kitchen

Washer

Dryer

Pet-friendly

Pool

Hot tub

Kitchen

Washer

House Rules

Check in after 4:00 PM

Minimum age to rent: 25

Check out before 10:00 AM

Children

Children allowed: ages 0–17

Families are very warmly welcomed!

Events

No events allowed

Pets

Pets allowed

Most dogs allowed. Non-refundable PET FEE applies.

Smoking

Smoking is not permitted

See Rental Rules in Exhibit A of Rental Agreement.

Damage and incidentals

You will be responsible for any damage to the rental property caused by you or your party during your stay.

Important information

You need to know

This property is managed by a private host (a party not acting within their trade, business or profession). EU consumer law, including the right of withdrawal, will not apply to your booking. The cancellation policy set by the private host will cover your booking.

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

Long-term renters welcome

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, a first aid kit and a deadlock

We should mention

A car is required for transport to and from this property

About the area

Sapphire

Located in Sapphire, this holiday home is in the mountains and on a river. Sapphire National Golf Club and Silver Run Falls Trailhead are worth checking out if an activity is on the agenda, while those wishing to experience the area's natural beauty can explore Pisgah National Forest and Lake Jocassee. Travelling with kids? Consider Cashiers Farmers Market and Pisgah Astronomical Research Institute. Take in the nearby slopes with snowboarding and skiing, or try out other outdoor activities such as ice skating.

Sapphire, NC

What's nearby

Hogback Lake - 12 min walk
Sapphire National Golf Club - 8 min drive
Whisper Lake - 9 min drive
Gorges State Park - 12 min drive
Lake Toxaway - 17 min drive

Getting around

Asheville Regional Airport (AVL) - 63 min drive

Restaurants

Whiteside Brewing Company - 14 min drive
Cornucopia Restaurant - 14 min drive
Starbucks - 13 min drive
Orchard - 15 min drive
Mica's Restaurant - 10 min drive

Frequently asked questions

Does ONCE UPON A STREAM- Storybook cottage on stream, perfect for family gatherings. have a pool?

Yes, this property has an indoor pool and an outdoor pool. Pool types include heated pools.

Is ONCE UPON A STREAM- Storybook cottage on stream, perfect for family gatherings. pet-friendly?

Yes, pets are allowed at this property.

What time is check-in at ONCE UPON A STREAM- Storybook cottage on stream, perfect for family gatherings.?

Check-in begins at 4:00 PM.

What time is check-out at ONCE UPON A STREAM- Storybook cottage on stream, perfect for family gatherings.?

Checkout is at 10:00 AM.

Where is ONCE UPON A STREAM- Storybook cottage on stream, perfect for family gatherings. located?

This family-friendly Sapphire holiday home is located on the riverfront, within a 15-minute walk of Nantahala National Forest and Hogback Lake. Whisper Lake is 2.9 mi (4.6 km) away.

Exceptional

Reviews are presented in chronological order, subject to a moderation process, and verified unless otherwise labelled.

Learn more

9.6/10

Cleanliness

10/10

Check-in

10/10

Communication

10/10

Location

9.8/10

Listing accuracy

10/10 Excellent

Dana M.

1 Apr 2024

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

Family fun

We had a great time! The house was well appointed and plenty of space for my husband and I and our 3 (tween-teens) kids. They loved the kids cave and the foosball table. The upstairs had 2 nice sized bedrooms, but we didn’t even need those. Communication with Travis was great. Enjoyed several hikes in the area and the local restaurants.

Stayed 4 nights in Mar 2024

10/10 Excellent

Betty F.

10 Jul 2023

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

Family Celebration

We had 14 family members in our group. We thoroughly enjoyed our stay. We really enjoyed the stream below the house. We had small grandkids come over from Whisper Lake and put rubber duck in the stream to float down. I think the stream was the family favorite. Would definitely do this again. Travis responded quickly to any questions we had,

Stayed 7 nights in Jun 2023

10/10 Excellent

Donna S., Jacksonville

23 Jan 2023

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

Learning to Ski

Fun property. Easy to get to. Close to small ski resort, great for teaching young ladies to ski.

Stayed 11 nights in Jan 2023

10/10 Excellent

Trely W.

3 Jan 2023

Liked: Check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Our Mountain Christmas

Travis is very quick to respond and answer all questions. “Once Upon A Stream” was ideal and suited all our family’s needs. Even though we lost power for over 8 hours on Saturday, we were able to take advantage of the community center. A beautiful home, a wonderful place and more importantly a Christmas for our family and group of 14 to remember for a lifetime! Thank you, Travis!

Stayed 5 nights in Dec 2022

10/10 Excellent

Kim M.

9 Dec 2022

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

Wedding weekend

Comfortable stay. Very clean. Owner easy to work with.

Stayed 3 nights in Dec 2022

About the host

Hosted by Travis Eckert

We're the Eckert family of Ponte Vedra Beach, FL. And as a family, we've quickly fallen in love with the stunning beauty and tranquility of the Blue Ridge Mountains in western North Carolina. Quite honestly, there's no place we'd rather be! We decided to invest in our family by purchasing property in the mountains where we could vacation year after year and build priceless memories together- and we'd like to help you and your family do the same.

In March 2016, we wrote the first "chapter" in our story by purchasing our first mountain property in Sapphire, NC. We affectionately named it Once Upon a Stream because of its "storybook" English architecture and location on a rushing mountain stream. Many guests comment that it reminds them of Hansel and Gretel's house and we certainly agree. This is the largest of our properties and sleeps 14 guests.

After spending 18 months learning the ropes of vacation hospitality, we added the second chapter in our mountain cottage collection and bought, TOP OF THE ROCK. This cottage will spoil you with its authentic craftsman post and beam mountain architecture and stunning long-range mountain views. TOP of the Rock sits at 4,100 feet of elevation and sleeps 10 guests.

In early 2021, we introduced Chapter 3 and titled it TWICE Upon a Stream- a play on the original because of its location on another beautiful mountain stream. This property screams relaxation- grab a glass of wine and enjoy the sights and sounds of the stream below from the screened upper and lower decks.

At The Mountain Cottage, our mission is to help the world fall in love with the mountains, one storybook adventure at a time. Our goal is to create an exceptional, concierge-like, mountain vacation experience for your family and friends- not just provide you with a place to stay. We believe that is truly what makes us different. Please allow us to share a bit more about our mountain cottages and what makes them so special.

Why they chose this property

Private and serene at 3400ft of elevation, yet convenient to shopping and dining. The stream in the backyard is so beautiful and is a great way to entertain the kids while you relax. People tell us all the time that our home looks like it is straight out of a fairy tale. Hence the name, "Once Upon a Stream." Our cottage is easily accessible by paved roads and 4WD is not necessary to reach the property, even in the winter.

What makes this property unique

Guests of Once Upon a Stream have full access to the Sapphire Valley Resort and all of its amazing amenities including the private Lake Fairfield, private Narrows Falls, gem mining, three swimming pools (one heated indoor and two outdoor), two saunas, hot tub, locker rooms, mini-golf, arcade and game room, lounge with WiFi, tennis, playground, running track, par-3 golf course, direct access to the Horsepasture River, and much more. Guests can also purchase discounted tickets to the Biltmore Estate and other area attractions and tours.

Guests of ONCE UPON A STREAM receive 25% off at SKI Sapphire Valley (open seasonally) and the Vordach Zip Line- both conveniently located at the Sapphire Valley Resort

The cottage is also very close to many lakes, waterfalls, and swimming holes so you don't have to travel far to be entertained in nature's playground.