Azalea Retreat - The Cottage, a modern lake house on Lake Norman, offers an upside-down living concept with bedrooms on the lower level and living spaces upstairs. Enjoy magnificent views of the lake from the screened-in porch or private dock. With four en-suite bedrooms, a children's bunk room, and plenty of outdoor space for fun and relaxation.
Reviews
1010 out of 10
Exceptional
Entire home
5 bedrooms6 bathroomsSleeps 12316 sq m
Popular amenities
Pool
Kitchen
Washing machine
Dryer
Pet-friendly
Free Wi-Fi
Add dates for prices
About this property
Azalea Retreat - The Cottage by AvantStay | Pool
Azalea Retreat - The Cottage is a modern, newly constructed lake house built directly on the shores of Lake Norman, showcasing a unique upside-down living concept. Designed with guest comfort in mind, the home places the bedrooms on the lower level while all the living spaces are upstairs. This layout allows for stunning views of the lake from every corner of the home.
The cottage features four beautiful en-suite bedrooms, each with a queen-sized bed. Privacy is provided through barn-style sliding doors that separate the bedrooms from the shared bathrooms. Each room has its own private patio, complete with Adirondack chairs, perfect for enjoying a morning coffee or an evening glass of wine. Additionally, the lower level houses a children's bunk room, furnished with two sets of twin-sized bunk beds, sleeping up to four. A hall bathroom is conveniently located nearby for the kids to enjoy bubble baths and get squeaky clean after a fun day on the water.
The main living area in Azalea Retreat - The Cottage is designed for open, spacious gatherings. The living room has a bright, fresh feel with comfortable blue leather sofas, two chairs, and a bench, providing ample seating for up to 10 people. A 65" TV is also available for entertainment. Just a few steps away is the dining area, with seating for 10 people. The kitchen is a dream for those who enjoy cooking and entertaining, with a large granite island offering bar seating for six. It’s fully stocked with top-of-the-line appliances, including a gas stove, dishwasher, and separate freezer and refrigerator, along with small appliances like a Keurig and drip coffee maker. A spacious walk-in pantry provides plenty of room to store all your food and drinks.
One of the most breathtaking features of the property is the stunning view of Lake Norman and the exquisite pool, visible from the screened-in porch just off the living room. The outdoor spaces around The Cottage are equally impressive, with manicured landscaping that encourages both fun and relaxation. One of the newest additions to the property is a shared pickleball court (shared with The Lodge), where you can enjoy some friendly competition.
A short stroll down the stone walkway leads you to the private dock, where you’ll find all kinds of lake toys, including a kayak, paddleboard, and life jackets. And for those looking to enjoy the water even more, a pontoon rental can be secured for your trip. After a day on the lake, you can gather around the large outdoor stone fire pit, perfect for making s'mores and unwinding in the evening.
The property also boasts an in-ground pool, surrounded by an aesthetic stone landscape. The pool area is shared between The Cottage and The Lodge, but each property has its own access to the pool deck, which features plenty of chaise lounges perfect for soaking up the sun and enjoying the magnificent views of Lake Norman. For evening entertainment, challenge your group to a game of cornhole or Connect Four. Whether it's sipping coffee in the morning or enjoying drinks at night, the decks at The Cottage offer the perfect place to relax and enjoy the surroundings.
AvantStay provides a personalized hospitality experience to elevate your stay. With our Concierge Service, guests have access to our tech-enabled services like fridge stocking, private chefs, massages, transportation, special occasion celebrations, baby gear rentals, ski gear, beach gear, and more. For anything you need, we’re at your fingertips!
Discover the allure of Lake Norman, a haven nestled in the heart of North Carolina. With its idyllic atmosphere, this destination offers the perfect blend of tranquility and excitement. Whether you're here for a laid-back escape or outdoor adventures, you'll have dozens of options to keep you relaxed and entertained. Spend lazy days by the shimmering waters, or venture into the charming lakeside towns, where quaint boutiques and local eateries are waiting with unique finds and new experiences. For the outdoor enthusiast, there's an array of water activities, from paddleboarding under the vast sky to exhilarating boat rides against the backdrop of scenic hills. Whether you seek relaxation or adventure, Lake Norman promises an unforgettable retreat, making your stay here truly exceptional.
Local Attractions: Lake Norman State Park, Jetton Park, Birkdale Village, Queens Landing, Lazy 5 Ranch, NASCAR Racing Experience, Historic Latta Plantation, Davidson College, Water Sports, Golf Courses
**Home Truths:* - If you choose to bring your own boat, there is no lift and the house is located on a busy channel. - This home allows up to 2 pets for a fee; undisclosed pets brought without AvantStay’s approval may result in a $500 fine per pet. - Spices/Oils, Etc: These items are not guaranteed. Sometimes they are left behind and available, but they are cleaned out regularly. - The pool is shared with our other property, Azalea Retreat - The Lodge - The pool is available year-round, however, although it is not heated. - No events, group gatherings, or parties are allowed at any AvantStay property under any circumstances. - Due to natural fluctuations, we’re unable to provide specific water depth information at any given time. The majority of docks in this area are generally suitable for most average-sized pontoons and ski boats. However, since boat drafts can vary, guests are encouraged to refer to Lake Norman nautical charts, GPS systems, and depth maps—and rely on their own knowledge of their vessel’s specifications—to ensure safe navigation.
Parking Details: Maximum of 6 cars allowed onsite. No parking on grass or street.
All bookings over 30 days require a security deposit to be charged after booking.
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The room configuration is as follows: Primary Bedroom / Queen bed, ensuite bath Lower Level Queen 1 / Queen bed, ensuite bath Lower Level Queen 2 / Queen bed, ensuite bath Lower Level Queen 3/ Queen bed, attached full bath Lower Level Bunk Room / Two twin bunk beds
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This is a smoke-free property. Violation of the no-smoking policy will result in forfeiture of the security deposit, a $300 smoking fee, and liability for any fire or property damage costs.
As a reminder, we do work with 3rd party vendors to maintain the property, and although we adhere to the strictest CDC guidelines and advise all contractors to wear PPE equipment, we cannot always enforce. We strongly advise guests to please deny access if any vendors fail to meet and adhere to these standards.
IDs will be requested for verification after booking. All bookings over 28 days require a security deposit.
We report and prosecute all Credit Card Fraud.
Property amenities
Pool/Spa
Communal pool
Private pool
Internet
Available in the house: Free WiFi
Parking and transport
Parking on site
Kitchen
Coffee/tea maker
Cookware, dishware, and utensils
Dishwasher
Hob
Microwave
Oven
Refrigerator
Spices
Toaster
Bedrooms
5 bedrooms
Bedsheets provided
Bathroom
5.5 bathrooms
Hair dryer
Shower
Towels provided
Entertainment
Games
Smart TV
Stereo
Outdoor areas
Balcony
Barbecue grill
Firepit
Garden
Laundry
Laundry facilities
Washing machine
Comfort
Air conditioning
Heating
Pets
Pet friendly
Suitability/Accessibility
Smoke-free property
Services and conveniences
Concierge services
Iron/ironing board
Location highlights
On a lake
On the waterfront
Things to do
Kayak
Water sports equipment
Kayaking nearby
Safety features
Carbon monoxide detector (host has indicated there is a carbon monoxide detector on the property)
Smoke detector (host has indicated there is a smoke detector on the property)
You will receive an email from the host with check-in and check-out instructions
Information provided by the property may be translated using automated translation tools
Pets
Pets are allowed
Service animals are welcome, and are exempt from fees
Children and extra beds
Children are welcome
Events
No events allowed
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
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
This property is managed through our partner, Vrbo. You will receive an email from Vrbo with a link to a Vrbo account, where you can change or cancel your reservation
About the area
Located in Lake Norman of Catawba, this holiday home is on the waterfront. Memory Lane Museum and North Carolina Auto Racing Hall of Fame are cultural highlights, and some of the area's activities can be experienced at Long Island Marina and George Pappas' Victory Lanes. Looking to enjoy an event or a game while in town? See what's happening at Lake Norman Tennis Center or Caldwell Park Tennis Center. Take the opportunity to explore the area for water adventures such as kayaking. Visit our Sherrills Ford travel guide
Does Azalea Retreat - The Cottage by AvantStay | Pool have a pool?
Yes, this property has a pool.
Is Azalea Retreat - The Cottage by AvantStay | Pool pet-friendly?
Yes, pets are allowed at this property.
How much is parking at Azalea Retreat - The Cottage by AvantStay | Pool?
On-site parking is available at the property.
What time is check-in at Azalea Retreat - The Cottage by AvantStay | Pool?
Check-in begins at 4:00 PM.
What time is check-out at Azalea Retreat - The Cottage by AvantStay | Pool?
Checkout is at 10:00 AM.
Where is Azalea Retreat - The Cottage by AvantStay | Pool located?
Situated on the waterfront, this holiday home is steps away from Catawba River and Lake Norman. Sherrills Ford Optimist Park is 1.8 mi (2.8 km) away.
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Azalea Retreat - The Cottage by AvantStay | Pool Reviews
Reviews
Exceptional
All reviews shown are from real guest experiences. Only travellers who have booked a stay with us can submit a review. We verify reviews according to our guidelines and publish all reviews, positive or negative.
House was beautiful and had enough space for a large group. The property manager was incredibly responsive and helpful. The pool was fantastic, but could have been cleaner at the start of our stay. The pickleball court was a great addition, we enjoyed a fun family tournament. We also appreciated the lake toys (kayaks/paddle board). We loved the residential area, it was so quiet and calm. All in all we had a wonderful vacation.
This home is awesome. The views, especially at sunset and sunrise, are great!! We had a fire in the fire pit, swam in the pool (in October!) and used the kayaks on the dock for hours. The home is clean, well-appointed and build for groups while providing plenty of privacy. Will plan to rent here again.
Took a small vacation after my son got married. Great space. Loved the pickleball court and other amenities. I wasn't aware we would need to share the pool until a few days before check in. That was a bit of a bummer but turns out the Lodge rental only overlapped ours by a few days.
Four retired couples that celebrate the New Year together every year in a different location. We've been doing this for years and this was the nicest house that we have ever rented. Everything, no EVERYTHING was outstanding. I highly recommend this facility to anyone looking for a 5 star vacation.
Absolutely loved everything about the house, grounds, pool and property! House was the perfect set up for our family. The pool was beautiful. We rented a pontoon boot which was delivered right to our dock. We boated to nearby restaurants for lunch and dinner. Everything was wonderful. Only suggestion we have is that lawn and pool maintenance be done on Saturday after checkout.
The Azalea Cottage is a beautiful home! Our family had the opportunity to spend Christmas together. We were a group of 11 that ranged in age from 1.5 years old to adults and there was plenty of room for everyone to spread out. Some family members traveled from California. The home was beautifully decorated, there was even a Christmas tree for us to place all of our Christmas presents under. The set up is a little different in this house. The bedrooms were downstairs and the main living area (including the kitchen) were upstairs, where we spent most of our time. There were two refrigerators in the kitchen, which really was a big help when dealing with a large group. We had really cold temperatures during our stay, so we could not use the pool on the property, however we enjoyed spending time indoors and the kids enjoyed roasting s'mores at the fire pit. We had an issue with the heat on the lower level and with water upon arriving to the property. I reached out to Morgan and she was able to get someone out to the property right away. We received a call from the owner and even a visit from the owner and the maintenance manager during our stay to make sure that the water issue had been resolved. Everyone that we spoke with was extremely nice. We would definitely recommend the property and would return again to visit. There are not a lot of businesses/restaurants around the lake home, so we really tried to prepare before our visit. Overall, we really enjoyed our stay. Thank you for allowing our family to visit your beautiful home!
Gorgeous house! Perfect for entertaining and enjoying time with family on the lake!
Such an easy decision to make to rent this beautiful house. So much to do for the family. We rented a pontoon and went out on the lake - it was gorgeous! Great trip
Love the property, it was a beautiful view of the lake from every point of the home plenty of space for family very homey! I did not like that there was a noise monitor in the home although we weren’t extremely loud to caused disturbances to our neighbors it did prohibit us from being able to fully enjoy the stay especially with there being children present! Over all I loved the property probably wouldn’t stay again though because of the noise monitoring!
Perfect lake house with 2 kids bunk rooms. Part of our group was only there 21/2 days so plenty of room! I do wish I had known ahead of time that the pool was not attached to the cottage but was shared with the larger lodge from next door. Also I highly recommend booking their pontoon boat as it is moored at the dock belonging to the lodge. Since we booked it for the cottage, we were able to use the closer more conveniemt dock. Property manager Morgan very responsive👍
We had a wonderful family vacation on the lake. Having a boat to enjoy all there is to offer on the lake is crucial. The house was very accommodating, fully stocked, and in a gorgeous setting. Management was very responsive to our requests. We would love to be able to stay here again. Thank you to Lakecations, Inc.
Very pretty spot, good yard for kids to play, pool great, just need a pontoon boat and you're all set.
It would be helpful to include in info that the cottage dock is around the side of the Azalea Lodge. We didn't realize that until Monday.
We rented the cottage for a long weekend away from the city. The house was beautiful and well stocked. I LOVED that there were two refrigerators! The pool was clean and the guest from the home that we shared the pool with very very friendly and respectful of our small children. The view from the home was beautiful and we loved the location on the lake. We would stay here again!
This house was perfect for our girls weekend (40th bday). The house is very well equipped with 2 fridges, a large open space and each bedroom has its own bathroom, blackout shades and TVs!
The enclosed porch is a great place to hang and see the beautiful pool and lake. There is plenty of parking as well. You definitely feel like you are on a high end property.
The pool was too cold to use and it is also a shared pool with another house on the property. Also they can’t light the fire lanterns you see in the pics. Other than that it was great!
This is a wonderful property in a beautiful location. It had everything we needed, and we throughly enjoyed our stay. The only reason I can’t give it 5 stars is because the Wi-Fi/internet was extremely slow and inconsistent, making it virtually unusable. The satellite tv was excellent, so we weren’t cut off from the outside world. Overall, this was an amazing house and we’d love to return!
Great property for all ages. Property was clean and updated, looked just like the pictures (let me add we are a picky family). My favorite part was that each of the adult bedrooms had their own bathroom inside them. This property was beautiful, right on the lake, great view! Owner was great at communicating with us for our entire stay.
The house was amazing! We had a really great time. The location is out in the woods so be prepared to stay in. There is plenty to do on property though.
My family and I have rented numerous vacation homes over the years but this one stands apart in its excellence. Excellent communication, extraordinarily clean, comfortable With a beautiful view
I can’t begin to express how much we enjoyed our time at the cottage. The house was so well stocked, above and beyond what is expected at a rental. It was clean and beautifully decorated. We loved our time with the lake toys and the pool was beautiful and perfect for everyone. The toddlers loved sitting and splashing. The grounds and property are just beautiful. The property managers were helpful and responsive from the moment we booked the property through our stay and checking out. We will be back!
We all had a wonderful time staying at the cottage.
* clean and comfortable home with stylish decor
* stocked with everything we needed
* beds were comfortable and linens were soft and smooth
* beautiful views
* fantastic pool