How close are you to the Nantahala Outdoor Center (NOC), Tsali and other attractions?

Independence Lodge is accessed off Hwy 28 North within 6 miles of the intersection of Hwy 74, just down the road from where the Nantahala River runs into Fontana Lake. On many maps, you will see this as the town of Almond. From the cabin, it is just a short drive down the mountain to Hwy 28, then just 10 minutes to the NOC. We are also ideally located to Tsali (3 miles from the entrance) and Bryson City (15 minutes).

Is the cabin secluded?

We consider seclusion and privacy as a major feature of our cabin (you won't even see other homes around). Other homes are within the neighborhood but are insulated by trees, mountain ridges, or other natural barriers. Independence Lodge is within a 300 acre area controlled by an automatic gate. Only residents and guests have the code to open the gate.

What times are check in and out?

Check-in time is 4 p.m. the day of your arrival. Check-out is by 11 a.m. We strictly enforce these, especially during peak seasons, as we have a very tight housekeeping schedule during peak seasons. If you desire an early arrival or late check-out, let us know and we will try to accommodate this. Without prior approval, however, we must insist on strict adherence to our check in and out times.

What supplies are included in the cabins?

Our cabin comes with a gas grill, firewood, phone, washer/dryer, and air conditioning. (It has much more than this...these are the things we get asked about most frequently.) Our cabin is considered 'fully stocked'. This means all linens, towels, kitchen supplies and other basic items are included. Additionally, we include some convenience items such as board games, playing cards, and such. Some non-perishable kitchen items will usually be in the cabin leftover from other guests. This includes condiments, coffee & filters, spices, paper towels, foil, etc., but we recommend you bring any perishables that you want, as we don't guarantee that these will be in the cabin. We do provide the following perishables: toilet tissue, facial tissue, hand soap, shower soap and shampoo, laundry and dish soap) Our driving directions include on-the-way grocery stores if you plan to shop before your arrival, but an Ingle's store is less than 15 minutes away in Bryson City.

What about housekeeping?

Your rental charges include the housekeeping after check-out. There is no need for you to strip beds, mop floors, or take out garbage as all this is included. We do charge an extra cleaning fee when the size of your party exceeds a certain base occupancy, but this is clearly disclosed on our rate page.

What are your policies on pets and smoking?

We do not allow smoking in the cabin. Ashtrays are provided on the outside decks. Pets are allowed in, but only with advance notice, additional security deposit, and an additional cleaning fee. This is to preserve the enjoyment of future guests who may suffer from allergies or asthma. We strictly enforce these policies, and non-compliance could result in eviction (with forfeiture of remaining paid stay). Offenders will also be held responsible for damages that may include, but are not limited to, lost rents (if a subsequent guest needs to be refunded because of smoke or animal evidence) and additional cleaning charges.

Is there year-round access?

As with any vacation travel, your cabin stay is subject to weather conditions and other acts of God. We rent our cabin year-round, but occasional extreme winter weather rarely causes difficulty getting to the area. You do not have to climb mountain roads to get to our cabin as you do with many others in the area. Obviously, if you cannot access our cabin because of conditions on our roads, you will be allowed to reschedule or cancel. If you are concerned about this, you must contact us in advance of your arrival. We cannot guarantee weather, and therefore do not provide refunds in cases of merely poor weather, rather, we only offer refunds in rare cases where cabin access is not possible. Fallen trees, power outages, and other temporary inconveniences are rare, but do not negate our cancellation policy. We make every reasonable effort to correct these problems, but unless overnight access is impossible, our cancellation policy is enforced. 

How far in advance should I book?

As far as possible. We have some weekends in October that are booked every year in advance. Holiday weekends tend to book months in advance, as do weekends in October. Summer dates fill up, so to get your preferred dates, pick them as soon as you can. Since we don't require any specific days for a weekly stay (some places require a Saturday through Saturday, for instance), getting a full week of your choice usually requires advanced planning. Last minute availability is possible, so call us to see anyway, but we tend to fill up in advance.

What can I expect the weather to be like?

Generally speaking, the weather is not extreme. Summers may get hot, but the nights usually cool down. Winters may be cold, but the days are usually pleasant. The rainy season is winter and spring, but the weather is usually dictated by national front patterns. Thus, absent a large storm system moving through the area, precipitation is not likely even in the rainy season