Sweetwater Lodge, this amazing custom-built, lake-front log home, is located in Bear Paw, a gated community on Lake Hiwassee in southwestern North Carolina.
Surrounded by the Nantahala and Cherokee National Forests, Bear Paw is the only development on this 16-mile-long lake, which serves as both a recreational and power generation lake. Lake Hiwassee is located just west of Murphy, North Carolina, and less than 30 minutes from either Georgia or Tennessee and offers both convenience to many area attractions and the privacy to relax and enjoy swimming, boating and other water sports on this hidden jewel of mountain lakes.

This awesome home looks and feels like a mountain lodge with thoughtful attention to detailed comforts in every feature. It is a lovingly built private residence which sleeps fourteen and offers five bedrooms with four a half baths. The master suite is conveniently located on the main level and features a comfy king-sized bed and private bath with walk-in shower. Also on this level is the great room, designed for comfortable relaxation and featuring a soaring rock fireplace as well as an amazing view of the lake and mountains. It is open to an expansive well-appointed gourmet kitchen with counter seating for six. In the great room, there is also a counter height game/dining table that seats eight and a console sofa table that converts to seating for six.

Upstairs are two ensuite bedrooms, each having a Juliette balcony with conversational seating. There is also a cozy loft area with a desk and futon making it a perfect place for reading, relaxing and enjoying the view.
On the terrace level are two bedrooms. On this level you will also find toys, games, puzzles and movies for those times when the kids or maybe even the adults - need some quiet time. There is also a second refrigerator/freezer with ice-maker located on this level.

Sweetwater Lodge has covered porches on three sides of the house but the expansive upstairs back porch off the great room and overlooking the lake and mountains is always the favorite gathering place for family and friends. It has ample comfortable seating featuring a large swinging bed that is the ultimate spot for an afternoon nap. There is a fireplace on this porch which makes enjoying coffee outside on brisk mornings or roasting marshmallows anytime a real treat. For your convenience, this home has a Rinnai tankless hot water heater and, if you need to keep in touch, it offers the fastest internet available in the area (probably not as fast as you are used to) and a Verizon cell booster plus a landline for outgoing calls. Remember that part of what makes Sweetwater Lodge special is that it is a place to relax and unwind and get away from it all. So, internet may be slow, cell service may be spotty and a trip to the grocery store can take 30-40 minutes one way but we don't think that will matter once you get here and slow down and breath our mountain air.

Offering spectacular open lake and unrestricted mountain views (water views from both the front and back of the house), Sweetwater Lodge has a Cadillac dock featuring two levels perfect for sunbathing, sitting in the shade watching the family enjoy swimming in the lake or just relaxing and soaking up the breathtaking views. You can also enjoy the lake from two available kayaks and the dock has dock space for two Jet Skis (not included but you may bring your own). You may also rent or bring your own boat and tie up directly at the dock and we are just minutes from two marinas. For a quick change of scenery, there is a tennis court, basketball court, swimming pool, play-ground and fishing pond just inside the Bear Paw gate near the Pavilion. If you find that you desire more than just relaxing and reconnecting with family and friends at Sweetwater Lodge, you are near numerous opportunities for fun and adventure away from the lake.

The downtown shops and restaurants of Murphy and Hayesville, NC and Blue Ridge, Hiawassee and Blairsville, GA are less than an hour away as is water-water rafting on the Nantahala or the Ocoee Rivers. Harrah's Cherokee Valley River Casino is a fairly new addition to the area and is a short 40 minute drive away. The Casino offers 70 traditional table games, 1,000 slots, five food outlets and cocktails plus a new bowling alley, an arcade and a full-service restaurant. You will find abundant information at Sweetwater about other possible activities and adventures. So, whether you come to Sweetwater Lodge to relax and enjoy the amazing mountain/lake views away from it all with family and friends, to experience boating and water sports on a quiet lake or to venture away from the lake for other adventures, this special place offers something for everyone. We hope you will take time to read our reviews, look at our photo gallery and then make a decision to come to Sweetwater Lodge in the beautiful mountains of western North Carolina to make your own memories.

Please Note: We have a outdoor fireplace, as well as we added a gas firepit on the hillside going down to the lake access. However the wood burning fire-pit between this house and the neighbors does not belong to this property.