Lodge in Watauga, NC
Reasons to book
About this lodge
ABOUT THIS SPACE
The Elk Lodge sits atop a private, two-acre mountain lot outside Banner Elk, North Carolina, with long-range Blue Ridge views and a stone walkway winding from the fire pit up to the wraparound porch. Between the main house and the private two-bedroom guest house above the garage, you're working with six bedrooms and five and a half bathrooms — room for three generations to spread out.
The great room centers on a stacked-stone fireplace beneath a vaulted, wood-beamed ceiling, with leather sofas and a cowhide rug pulled close to the fire. The chef's kitchen carries a Wolf gas range, custom refrigerator, dishwasher, and a full coffee bar. The dining table seats ten, and the adjoining sunroom catches morning light through wraparound windows framing the mountains.
Sleeping arrangements: the main-level bedroom has a king bed, while the upstairs primary suite pairs a king bed with an en suite featuring a soaking tub and slate walk-in shower. Two more bedrooms — twin-over-twin bunks, and a twin-over-full bunk — plus a loft handle the kids. The finished basement adds a second TV lounge, two more bedrooms, a full bath, and laundry.
Above the garage, the private guest house has its own full kitchen, laundry, a queen bedroom with en suite, a twin room with en suite, and a queen pull-out sofa — ideal for a second family who wants their own door.
What used to be a three-car garage is now a fully heated and cooled game room with a 70-inch Smart TV, leather couches, a newly felted pool table, shuffleboard, a poker table, ping pong, and classic Pac-Man and Galaga arcade cabinets, plus a half bath.
Outside, the six-person hot tub sits on the back stone patio with mountain views, and the ten-seat fire pit at the base of the walkway — ringed in Adirondack chairs — is where most nights end. A gas grill and covered outdoor dining table round out the deck, and the full two acres give everyone room to roam.
WHO THIS HOME IS BEST FOR
Multi-generational families who want everyone under one roof but still want their own space — grandparents in the guest house, teens in the basement, parents upstairs. Ski trip crews chasing two mountains within 20 minutes of the front door. Groups of friends who measure a good weekend by how many games of pool, shuffleboard, and poker got played in the game room. Anglers who want to be minutes from the Elk River at first light. And anyone dreaming of waking up to fog rolling over a private mountain ridge with a cup of coffee in hand.
PARKING
Free parking is available on-site for multiple vehicles along the driveway and around the two-acre property, so ski racks, trucks, and trailers are never an issue. In winter, the driveway sits at elevation, so four-wheel drive or tire chains are required whenever snow or ice is forecast — flatlander sedans should plan accordingly.
HOUSE RULES
Please treat The Elk Lodge like your own home. No smoking inside or on the decks/patios — violations carry a $750 ozone-treatment fee. No pets. Check-in is after 4:00 PM, checkout before 10:00 AM; late checkouts are billed at $100 per 25-minute increment. The hot tub is 18+ only — shower beforehand, skip the glassware, avoid sunscreen or lotions before entering, and cover it when done ($250 fee if it must be drained and cleaned due to misuse). No lifeguard is on duty. Exterior cameras cover the grounds, and wildlife, including elk, may wander through — please use caution outdoors.
