We loved our stay at the Read Retreat! Our group of two families (4 adults and 4 boys aged 6-11) take an annual trip to the mountains to explore nature and seek out salamanders, and this cabin was a perfect base for doing so! There is literally a springhead in the backyard, with a small creek flowing down into Pond Creek (which was great for brook trout, btw). We saw hundreds of salamanders during the long weekend, as well as a black bear (heed the warnings about proper trash disposal!), loads of deer, squirrels, birds, etc. The house was very comfortable, and the beds and linens were all new and very soft. The bathrooms were a little small, but made up for it by being fully renovated with great showerheads, water pressure, and plenty of hot water. The deck and porch were both great for enjoying the yard, as was the hot tub after a long day of hiking. The public access trail along the creek was a big value-added, and if you follow it down you get to a nice public fishing pond. It is also a beautiful area to explore (Beech Mountain, Banner Elk, Grandfather Mountain, even Boone is nearby), and this cabin makes a great base for doing so. Thank you for the great stay!
Our salamander and other biodiversity observations from around the cabin can be seen on iNaturalist (username- josiah)