Secluded Log Cabin on Wildlife Preserve | Mt. Mitchell Views, Game Loft & 3 Decks

Tucked into a wildlife preserve atop Gateway Mountain, Christmas Tree Cabin earns its name—surrounded by evergreens, long-range views of Mount Mitchell, and the kind of stillness that makes you forget your phone exists. A quintessential log cabin with three levels of living space, three outdoor decks, a wood-burning stove, and a dedicated game room, it's equally suited for a family Thanksgiving, a friends' retreat, or a couple looking to disappear into the mountains for a week.

The Space
The main level centers on a great room with vaulted ceilings, a wood-burning stove, and a Smart TV with Roku and YouTube TV. A full kitchen opens to a dining area, and a main-level bedroom with a full bed and shared bath rounds out the floor. Step through the screened porch (complete with a swing) and onto the back deck, where bistro and lounge seating face an unobstructed view of the Blue Ridge Mountains. Watch the sun rise over the mountains in the morning and linger in the evening for excellent stargazing.
Upstairs, the primary king bedroom feels like a treetop retreat, with its own Smart TV and a private en-suite featuring a soaking tub and walk-in shower. The loft sitting area, just outside the bedroom, is a quiet perch for afternoon reading or lively conversations over cocktails.
The lower level offers a second king bedroom, a den with a Smart TV, a full bath with a walk-in shower, and a laundry room. It functions well as a private suite for a second couple or older kids.
Above the detached garage, the game loft is a highlight for groups: air hockey, foosball, ping pong, and a Smart TV make it the kind of space that fills itself.

Outdoors
Three decks — including two covered — give everyone a place to land. The screened porch is a favorite for rainy days and morning coffee alike. Wildlife is also abundant: past guests have spotted wild turkeys, deer, black bears, and hummingbirds right from the deck!
The Gateway Mountain Community offers a community waterfall (Standing Rock Falls, a 60-foot cascade adjacent to the community park) and hiking trails, all of which are walkable from the cabin.
A Note on Lake George: As of May 2026, Lake George within the community is closed until further notice and off limits to boating, swimming, fishing, and pet use.

The Location
Christmas Tree Cabin sits about 25 minutes from downtown Old Fort, 40 minutes from Black Mountain, and roughly an hour from Asheville. Catawba Falls, Andrews Geyser, and Lake Lure are all within a 35-minute drive.

Winter travel note: December through March, AWD or 4WD is strongly recommended due to steep roads and possible ice. GPS can be unreliable, but our team at Greybeard will provide driving directions from our Old Fort office, where gate card pickup is required.

Community guidelines: No trailers, RVs, or boats permitted in the Gateway Mountain Community, and no parking is allowed on roads or near gate entrances.

Pet policy: Dogs welcome (max 2, $100/pet fee). A kennel is provided and required when pets are unattended.