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ONCE UPON A STREAM- Storybook cottage on stream, perfect for family gatherings.

Family-friendly stay with outdoor pool in Sapphire

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Exterior
Smart TV, fireplace, video games, DVD player
Beach
Property grounds
Fridge, microwave, oven, stovetop

Reviews

10 out of 10
Exceptional

Entire home

4 bedrooms4 bathroomsSleeps 143100 sq ft

Popular amenities

  • Pool
  • Hot tub
  • Kitchen
  • Washer
  • Dryer
  • Pet friendly

Explore the area

View in a map
Sapphire, NC
  • Place, Hogback Lake
    ‪1 min drive‬
  • Place, Sapphire National Golf Club
    ‪5 min drive‬
  • Place, beach near Fairfield Lake
    ‪8 min drive‬

Room options

About the neighborhood

Sapphire

On lake.Stay at this Sapphire vacation home and you'll be within half a mile (1 km) of Nantahala National Forest and 2 miles (3 km) of Hogback Lake. Also, Whisper Lake is within 3 miles (5 km) and Sapphire National Golf Club is within 6 miles (10 km).
View more Vacation Homes in SapphireOpens in a new window

What's nearby

  • Hogback Lake - 1 min drive - 0.3 miles
  • Sapphire National Golf Club - 5 min drive - 2.3 miles
  • beach near Fairfield Lake - 8 min drive - 4.6 miles
  • Gorges State Park - 9 min drive - 6.0 miles
  • Whisper Lake - 9 min drive - 3.8 miles

Getting around

  • Asheville Regional Airport (AVL) - 63 min drive

Restaurants

  • ‪Grand Olde Station at Lake Toxaway - ‬14 min drive
  • ‪The Tavern @ High Hampton - ‬16 min drive
  • ‪Whiteside Brewing Company - ‬14 min drive
  • ‪Buck's Coffee Cafe - ‬13 min drive
  • ‪Osteria del monte Ristorante Italiano - ‬8 min drive

About this property

Entire place

You'll have the entire home to yourself and will only share it with other guests in your party.

ONCE UPON A STREAM- Storybook cottage on stream, perfect for family gatherings.

***Now offering ultra high-speed GIGABIT Wifi***
***New VIRTUAL TOUR- Stroll through the cottage at your leisure in 3-D***
We are PET-FRIENDLY! Welcome to "ONCE UPON A STREAM!"

Escape from the ordinary and plan your next "adventurcation" in our storybook English mountain cottage complete with a rushing mountain stream that will keep the kids (and dog) busy for hours! Create memories with family and friends in the waterfall capital of the eastern U.S. that will last a lifetime. Don't settle for another ordinary vacation!

Our goal is to offer a concierge-like vacation hospitality experience- not just a place for you to stay. We pride ourselves on helping you plan the perfect mountain getaway with recommendations on things to do, places to visit, and amazing restaurants and boutiques. That is truly what makes us different and why many guests choose to book with us. The mountains are meant to be a stress-free environment; we're here to make sure that holds true for your group!

Just over an hour from Asheville, NC, ONCE UPON A STREAM is located in the heart of the Blue Ridge Mountains in beautiful Sapphire, North Carolina. The cottage is conveniently located near shopping, dining, and all sorts of recreation. Cashiers, NC is just ten minutes away and the quaint town of Highlands, NC is only 25 minutes away. Lake Toxaway, NC is also nearby- just ten minutes away. There are more than a dozen spectacular waterfalls to hike and explore less than a half hour away.

SAPPHIRE VALLEY RESORT
Our guests also have full access to the Sapphire Valley Resort and all of its amazing amenities including the private Lake Fairfield where you can fish, and sail, paddle, and swim. Visit nearby Narrows Falls and all of the fabulous amenities at the Sapphire Valley Resort. The Sapphire Valley Recreation Center offers gem mining, three swimming pools (one heated indoor and two outdoor), two saunas, two hot tubs, locker rooms, mini-golf, arcade and game room, lounge with WiFi, tennis, playground, running track, par-3 golf course, direct access to the Horsepasture River, and much more. Guests can also purchase discounted tickets to the Biltmore Estate and other area attractions and tours.

SKI SAPPHIRE VALLEY is also inside the Sapphire Valley Resort and offers tons of fun during the winter months. There is a Blue-diamond ski slope complete with quad chair lift and also a Bunny Slope. Frozen Falls is the tubing run and very popular with the kids. Our guests receive 25% off skiing, tubing, and rentals. Ski and Snowboard lessons are available at a very reasonable rate.

We provide first in class concierge service and love to help our guests plan the ultimate mountain vacation. In addition, we provide our guests with access to our unique online guidebook complete with all of our favorite restaurants, things to do, and places to see. Once Upon a Stream is ideally set up for a two or three-family vacation getaway. The cottage is three levels with 4 BR/3.5 BA and sleeps up to 14 persons comfortably.

MAIN LEVEL: offers a large master en-suite with a King-size bed topped with luxurious linens and high-end pillows. Relax after a long day of hiking in the over-sized jetted tub while enjoying the treetop view and taking in all of nature's beauty.

UPPER LEVEL: features two additional bedrooms and a loft with pullout couch. The 2nd bedroom has a queen-sized bed topped with fine linens and pillows. Bedroom 3 has two queen log beds with amazingly comfortable memory foam mattresses and fine linens and pillows.

LOWER LEVEL (Basement aka KID CAVE) is now complete and includes a large rec-room with two sets of mountain log bunk beds, a 55" 4KHD TV, Dish Network, BlueRay Player, Air Hockey table, and Foosball! The new basement also includes bedroom #4 with queen bed and full bathroom.

Ideally situated on a 2-acre private lot, the cottage will spoil you to the point where you won't want to leave. Greet the morning with a cup of coffee on the large back deck. Stroll down the backyard hill along the meandering boulder pathway to the stone patio below and enjoy a glass of wine as you listen to the noisy stream. The kids will stay busy exploring and hiking up and downstream- bring your dog too!

Whether you stay for a few nights or a few weeks, we strive to create a one of a kind experience for you at Once Upon a Stream. Please contact us for more information on booking your mountain getaway.

Be sure to check out our other two homes nearby in Sapphire on VRBO:

ONCE Upon a Stream #4258820 * Sleeps 14, 4 BR, 3.5 BA, streamfront, pet-friendly

TWICE Upon a Stream #2634264 * Sleeps 10, 3 BR, 3.5 BA, streamfront, pet-friendly

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Property amenities

Ski

  • Close to skiing
  • Ski lift privileges
  • Snowboarding nearby

Pool/Spa

  • Communal pool
  • Heated pool
  • Hot tub
  • Indoor pool
  • Outdoor pool
  • Sauna

Internet

  • Available in the house: Free WiFi

Parking and transportation

  • Car required
  • Parking on site

Kitchen

  • Blender
  • Coffee/tea maker
  • Cookware, dishware, and utensils
  • Dishwasher
  • Electric kettle
  • Ice maker
  • Kitchen island
  • Microwave
  • Oven
  • Paper towels
  • Refrigerator
  • Spices
  • Stovetop
  • Toaster

Dining

  • Dining table

Bedrooms

  • 4 bedrooms
  • Bedsheets provided
  • Memory foam mattress
  • Sofa bed

Bathroom

  • 3.5 bathrooms
  • Bathtub or shower
  • Hair dryer
  • Jetted bathtub
  • Shampoo
  • Shower
  • Soap
  • Toilet paper
  • Towels provided

Living spaces

  • Dining table
  • Fireplace
  • Living room

Entertainment

  • Books
  • DVD player
  • Games
  • Smart TV with cable/satellite channels
  • Stereo
  • Video games
  • Video library

Outdoor areas

  • Balcony
  • Barbecue grill
  • Firepit
  • Garden
  • Outdoor furniture

Laundry

  • Laundry facilities
  • Washing machine

Work spaces

  • Desk

Comfort

  • Air conditioning
  • Heating

Pets

  • Pet friendly

Suitability/Accessibility

  • Smoking not allowed

Services and conveniences

  • Concierge services
  • Iron/ironing board
  • Limited housekeeping
  • Phone

Location highlights

  • In a village
  • In the mountains
  • Near a health/beauty spa
  • Near a hospital
  • Near the marina
  • On a lake
  • On a river

Things to do

  • Arcade/game room
  • Billiards/pool table
  • Boat
  • Foosball table
  • Golf
  • Gym
  • Heated pool
  • Kayak
  • Optional golf privileges
  • Ski lift privileges
  • Snow sports gear
  • Table tennis
  • Tennis
  • Basketball nearby
  • Birdwatching nearby
  • Ecotours nearby
  • Fishing nearby
  • Golfing nearby
  • Hiking/biking trails nearby
  • Horseback riding nearby
  • Ice skating nearby
  • Jet skiing nearby
  • Kayaking nearby
  • Motor boating nearby
  • Mountain biking nearby
  • Mountain climbing nearby
  • Rafting nearby
  • Spelunking nearby
  • Swimming nearby
  • Water skiing nearby
  • Water tubing 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)
  • First aid kit
  • Fire extinguisher
  • Deadbolt lock

General

  • Garden
  • Property located in a resort
  • Unit size: 3,100 square feet

Policies

Check-in

Check-in time starts at 4:00 PM
Contactless check-in available
Minimum check-in age: 25

Check-out

Check-out before 10:00 AM
Contactless check-out available

Special check-in instructions

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

Rules

See Rental Rules in Exhibit A of Rental Agreement.

Pets

  • Pets are welcome
  • Service animals are exempt from fees
  • Note from host: Most dogs allowed. Non-refundable PET FEE applies.

Children and extra beds

  • Children are welcome.
  • Note from host: Families are very warmly welcomed!

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
Onsite parties or group events are strictly prohibited
Long-term renters welcome
Host has indicated there is a carbon monoxide detector on the property
Host has indicated there is a smoke detector on the property
Safety features at this property include a fire extinguisher, a first aid kit, and a deadbolt lock
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
Charges for extra guests may apply and vary according to property policy.
A cash deposit, credit card, or debit card for incidental charges and government-issued photo identification may be required upon check-in.
Special requests are subject to availability at the time of check-in. Special requests can't be guaranteed and may incur additional charges.
    This property is managed by a private host, not a professional engaged in trade or business. Onsite parties or group events are strictly prohibited. Long-term renters welcome. For guests' safety, the property includes a carbon monoxide detector, a fire extinguisher, a smoke detector, a first aid kit, and a deadbolt lock in each accommodation.

Property is also known as

Once Upon Stream Rushing Mountain Stream Pet-friendly House
Once Upon Stream Rushing Mountain Stream Pet-friendly Sapphire
Once Upon Stream Rushing Mountain Stream Pet-friendly House
Once Upon Stream Rushing Mountain Stream Pet-friendly Sapphire
Once Upon Stream Rushing Mountain Stream Pet-friendly
Once Upon A Stream Rushing Mountain Stream Pet friendly!
Once Upon A Stream Rushing Mountain Stream Pet friendly!

Frequently asked questions

How close is ONCE UPON A STREAM- Storybook cottage on stream, perfect for family gatherings. to the airport?

This vacation home is 42.7 mi (63-min drive) away from the Asheville Regional Airport (AVL) airport, the closest popular airport to the property.

Does ONCE UPON A STREAM- Storybook cottage on stream, perfect for family gatherings. have an airport shuttle?

Airport shuttle services are not available at this vacation home.

Does ONCE UPON A STREAM- Storybook cottage on stream, perfect for family gatherings. offer free breakfast?

This vacation home does not offer free breakfast.

Is there a casino at ONCE UPON A STREAM- Storybook cottage on stream, perfect for family gatherings.?

No, there is no casino at this vacation home.

What time is check-in at ONCE UPON A STREAM- Storybook cottage on stream, perfect for family gatherings.?

Check-in begins at 4:00 PM.

Is there free parking at ONCE UPON A STREAM- Storybook cottage on stream, perfect for family gatherings.?

Free parking is not available at this vacation home.

Does ONCE UPON A STREAM- Storybook cottage on stream, perfect for family gatherings. have a pool?

This vacation home features an indoor pool and an outdoor pool.

Does ONCE UPON A STREAM- Storybook cottage on stream, perfect for family gatherings. have a spa?

There are no spa services available at this vacation home.

How close is ONCE UPON A STREAM- Storybook cottage on stream, perfect for family gatherings. to downtown Sapphire?

This vacation home is 1.6 mi away from Sapphire.

ONCE UPON A STREAM- Storybook cottage on stream, perfect for family gatherings. Reviews

Reviews

10

Exceptional

Rating 10 - Excellent. 64 out of 70 reviews
Rating 8 - Good. 6 out of 70 reviews
Rating 6 - Okay. 0 out of 70 reviews
Rating 4 - Poor. 0 out of 70 reviews
Rating 2 - Terrible. 0 out of 70 reviews

9.6/10

Cleanliness

Reviews

Verified

10/10 Excellent

Kenneth M.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
We enjoyed our stay. The house is great. Very well taken care of and very clean and neat.would recommend this house to anyone and would stay here again.
Stayed 4 nights in Nov 2025
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Betty E.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Great accommodations. Love the fire pit

Loved the house.
Stayed 3 nights in Mar 2021
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Verified traveler

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Great Mountain Escape for the Whole Family

Really enjoyed our time at Once Upon a Stream. Everyone from my 70 year old parents to my 7 and 8 year old found something to enjoy. Will book again!
Stayed 5 nights in Jul 2020
Verified

8/10 Good

Kathleen D.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Lovely mountain home

This property was exactly as advertised .. property owner available and very responsive with questions … we would def recommend
Stayed 21 nights in Jun 2021
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Jennifer A O.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Beautiful and relaxing

The property was beautiful and relaxing. The space was perfect for our 3 families. We thoroughly enjoyed the outside and inside, and the location was great. The owner was easy to contact and accommodating.
Stayed 7 nights in Jun 2022
Archival

10/10 Excellent

Amy H.

Great House!

Great house...very clean, comfortable and close to all amenities. The property is beautiful and peaceful with the sounds of the stream. The owners are very quick to respond and provided us with a lot of fun ideas/activities to do in the surrounding areas. Definitely would stay again!
Stayed 4 nights in Dec 2017
Verified

10/10 Excellent

carol w.

Beautiful and clean

The house was beautiful and very clean. It was well equipped, easy to get to with great resort amenities. The hosts were very gracious.
Stayed 3 nights in Apr 2018
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Kim M.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Wedding weekend

Comfortable stay. Very clean. Owner easy to work with.
Stayed 3 nights in Dec 2022
Verified

10/10 Excellent

BROOKS R.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Fantastic and fun time

Everything we needed was available and property was great. Best of all, the owner responded and assisted with any questions or issues.
Stayed 13 nights in Aug 2022
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Katie H.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Peaceful place on the creek

Our family had a wonderful time this past weekend at Once Upon A Stream. Our young boys loved the lower level setup with the bunk beds and the foosball table, and most importantly they spent both days down exploring and playing in the creek. There was ample space to spread out when necessary so our little one could nap or so grandparents could relax. It really was a perfect setup for our family. Plus, it was close to multiple easy waterfall trails which we enjoyed as well.
Stayed 3 nights in Apr 2025
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Elizabeth W.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Perfect Getaway

The house was beautiful, clean, and well equipped. We traveled with a baby and dogs and the house supplied dog bowls and a crate. It also had a port a crib, booster seat, and a hiking backpack for the baby. The fire pit area was really nice and the dogs loved walking the trail down to the stream. We truly enjoyed our stay and would definitely stay again.
Stayed 4 nights in Jan 2025
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Donna S.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Learning to Ski

Fun property. Easy to get to. Close to small ski resort, great for teaching young ladies to ski.
Stayed 11 nights in Jan 2023
Verified

10/10 Excellent

barbara h.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Roomy

The property was as advertised and we had plenty of room to spread out. Travis responded quickly to our calls. Overall, it was centrally located to what we wanted to do as a family of 6 adults and 5 children.
Stayed 7 nights in Jun 2024
Archival

10/10 Excellent

Ken S.

Terrific Stay

We loved this house. It had plenty of room for our 2 families (10 people) and we could have packed 1-2 more families in. The house is very secluded, with a lot of hiking trails around. And the price was right. We'll be back for sure.
Archival

10/10 Excellent

Stephen G.

Beautiful house in the woods

We really enjoyed our stay at Once Upon a Stream! It was close to hiking, waterfalls and Cashiers. The owners, Travis and Kristen Eckert, were always helpful and answered questions quickly. The house was clean, roomy and comfortable. The kids enjoyed walking down to the stream and exploring around the land. Thanks for the great stay!
Stayed 3 nights in Jul 2016
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Christine J.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Family Vacation Success

Three generations on vacation and it could not have been more comfortable. This house was perfect for having our own space while also providing an environment where we could gather. There really wasn't anything we needed that wasn't provided. Communication was great!!! Fantastic location for getting to restaurants, shopping and outdoor adventure.
Stayed 7 nights in May 2024
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Homer C.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Loved it!

We love this area and Once Upon A Stream proved to be a wonderful house! It's just as portrayed in the listing. The owner, Travis Eckert, is a fount of information and very accommodating and concerned about his guests' comfort.
Stayed 4 nights in Jul 2019
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Joseph B.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Great mountain escape

This is a lovely property in a secluded neighborhood. Great escape from city living. The leaves had changed and were beautiful here! We used the outside fire pit to roast marshmallows. It was a nice, clean house as advertised. Everything worked well and made for a great friends and family getaway.
Stayed 3 nights in Oct 2022
Archival

10/10 Excellent

Julius R.

A Slice of Heaven

Our stay at Once Upon a Stream could not have been any better. The gorgeous house, the beautiful idyllic setting and the Sapphire location exceeded our high expectations. Our host, Travis. made sure that we were comfortably settled in and was readily available and willing to meet any need we might have. I highly recommend the house for a family vacation. For my family, Once Upon a Stream was a slice of heaven.
Stayed 5 nights in Aug 2017
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Dana M.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Family fun

We had a great time! The house was well appointed and plenty of space for my husband and I and our 3 (tween-teens) kids. They loved the kids cave and the foosball table. The upstairs had 2 nice sized bedrooms, but we didn’t even need those. Communication with Travis was great. Enjoyed several hikes in the area and the local restaurants.
Stayed 4 nights in Mar 2024
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Margaret S.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Wonderful accommodations!

It was the perfect getaway. The house was nestled in the woods. We had enough space for everyone to have their privacy and gather. We enjoyed the balconies, fire pit, and the stream. The owner was always responded to us by phone and text, and problems we had were taken care of immediately. The Sapphire resort amenities were a big plus. Thank you!
Stayed 7 nights in Jun 2021
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Ron E.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Amazing stay!!!

From the moment we pulled up it was just perfect! Beautiful house inside and out. Kids loved the creek and we all enjoyed the outside fires and the cozy easy to use fireplace. Everything we needed was there and there was plenty of room! I’d recommend completely to any extended family or just a small family. Travis was always in touch with us,warning us of winter weather (which my Florida born children loved!) and was constantly in touch with us to see if we needed anything. Great owners, Great place, Great Lifetime Memories for our family! Would stay again for sure!!!!
Stayed 7 nights in Jan 2021
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Betty F.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Family Celebration

We had 14 family members in our group. We thoroughly enjoyed our stay. We really enjoyed the stream below the house. We had small grandkids come over from Whisper Lake and put rubber duck in the stream to float down. I think the stream was the family favorite. Would definitely do this again. Travis responded quickly to any questions we had,
Stayed 7 nights in Jun 2023
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Bill P.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Great House & Owner

My family stayed a long weekend in mid-November, 2022. The layout of the house was great. The kids space downstairs was fantastic. The fireplace warmed the house amazingly. The lot was large and on a nice creek. Our dogs were at home there. The very responsive owner was receptive to taking care of the few very minor issues that we ran across. I highly recommend this property, but please don't book it at the same time I plan my next stay!
Stayed 4 nights in Nov 2022
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Cecile S.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Wonderful mountain vacation and family reunion

We all thoroughly enjoyed our stay at Once Upon a Stream. The accommodations were roomy and permitted 13 people to spread out in the house and on the decks. The activities at the nearby resort were numerous- something for everyone. The stream at the house was a magnet for the children who went “mining” for beautiful rocks. The owner, Travis, was most helpful and accommodating. It was easy to reach him when necessary. We would definitely want to return here- both to the house and the area.
Stayed 7 nights in Jul 2022

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