Barkwells - The Dog Lovers' Vacation Retreat — Hotel in Mills River

Let me start by saying don’t let the price of this place turn you away. If you looking to vacation with your pets this is it. We stayed in the "Snickers cabin" for 4 nights. We used this location as a jumping off point to: Hike the DuPont National Forrest (including 4 waterfalls), experience Chimney Rock, and spend an afternoon in downtown Ashville (only 20 min away). The grounds are immaculate. The cabin had such an attention to detail words cannot describe. When we checked in "DOG TV" was on the tv and I don't think it came off this channel the whole time we were there. The grounds contain a pond which the dogs (a boxer/retriever mix and a golden retriever) loved eventually they would run off the porch and head down and jump in the pond on their own. The pond contained a paddle boat which we did use and was a hoot. The area contains a horseshoe pit and fire pit complete with hammocks and picnic tables. We would recover in this area while the dogs would be in the pond. We would play horseshoes and frisbee while drinking beer purchased form the local brew company Sierra Nevada (conveniently located minutes away). This place is a landmark to check out even if you are not a beer connoisseur. The cabin was extremely well stocked with anything one might need. The kitchen had everything we needed along with dog towels and sheets. The dog door was a neat accoutrement being as we don’t have one in our home. Once the dogs figured it out it was non-stop. We will be back. We will plan future vacations around this resting stop. If you want to relax, party or exercise which we did a little of all, this...

We arrived Sunday July 28, leaving Friday, August 2, 2024.

This was our first visit for us and our Petite Mini Cockapoo, Miss Daisy.

We would never had thought of this place until we saw a clip on the University of North Carolina Our State Public TV station.

It was featured in the segment of “Our State”.

Was it just too good to be true?

The place is completely organized and managed for the comfort and enjoyment of dogs and their dog parents. The Baxter Cottage location that we choose near Asheville, is apparently one of three Barkwells managed properties.

All those vacationers who seemed to be here with us at the Mills River compound could clearly be identified as dog enthusiasts.

We have had the strong desire to only take road trips with our puppy.

In every prior travel occasion we stay exclusively at dog friendly hotels. The Barkwells choice is in class of its own.

Apart from the over the top dog pet friendliness, the place convincingly behaves as if it is in a remote rural location in the North Carolina mountains.

The only evidence that indicates that this is something of an illusion is the occasional distant sound of a plane taking off or landing at the conveniently located Asheville airport.

But it is easy to overlook that sporadic and temporary distraction.

What is also appealing is that if missed, civilization is only a very short drive away.

There is no absolute need to prepare every meal from scratch ourselves in the amply equipped kitchen!

Bottom line, we, and Miss Daisy, just loved the experience while escaping the doldrums of summer. This was a very special place.

Thank...

Barkwells Nugget's Lodge on Cold Mountain is truly a little slice of Heaven! It's a hidden gem with the most amazing views and breathtaking sunsets! We stayed from July 3rd-10th, 2024, and even saw the fireworks in the valley below us! The amenities are top notch, and the personal welcoming touches were truly endearing. This was our first vacation with our three dogs, and everything was supplied to make their stay just as paw-fect! The road up to the lodge was challenging due to our extended, long, SUV when making some tight, hairpin turns, but by day two, we figured out how to navigate the road quite well. The kitchen was any chef's dream to cook in, and the house was well stocked with basics such as soaps, towels, robes, household items and even games for the kids. The deck was a perfect way to start the morning with coffee, and the hot tub was a wonderful way to end the day after exploring the trails. We loved being able to take the dogs with us into local towns! Parks, stores and restaurants were all more than welcoming to us and our pups. We were fortunate enough to also get in a trip to the Asheville Barkwells location and meet the owners, Jeff and Patti. The grounds there were truly beautiful and everyone was more than hospitable! We loved the stay so much, we even tried to extend it, but, additional days weren't available. We can't wait to book...