If you’re a couple or small family with a decent budget planning to explore the Southern Appalachian Mountains, you’ll find an endless array of Blue Ridge Mountain Cabins, Hotels & Resorts to choose from.
But the larger the group is that’s traveling together, and the more important “must-haves” on your list of desired amenities, the slimmer those lists of accommodation options get.
As an example, we recently did a web search in an attempt to find a place for two people in Banner Elk during the peak of Fall colors in North Carolina (Oct 20-22). We found a whopping 207 properties!
But if you’re traveling with a large family (or 10-12 friends), that number drops to 76 properties for a 2-night stay. Adding a “pet-friendly” filter took it down to 21, while adding “wonderful” (average guest rating of 9+) and “hot tub” left us with just 5 options.
Scarcity of competition is just one of many things that makes the 4BR/4BA Eagles Landing vacation rental in the posh Eagles Nest development so special.
But it also offers sensational architecture and design elements, breathtaking views of the NC High Country, and an extensive array of amenities (both on the property itself and in the Eagles Nest community) that make it one of the most unique rental properties we’ve ever seen in the Blue Ridge Mountains.
Read on for all the details about this luxury designer vacation home, which is located just minutes away from Downtown Banner Elk and some of our favorite area attractions!
READ MORE: The 15 Best Things to Do in Banner Elk NC
Eagles Landing at Eagles Nest Info
ADDRESS: The Lodges at Eagles Nest, 121 Eagles Nest Dr, Banner Elk NC, 28604
EMAIL: [email protected]
ACCOMODATIONS: This spacious, pet-friendly mountain home accommodates up to 13 people, with 3 bedrooms with King-sized beds, 1 bedroom with a Twin + 2 Bunk Beds, and 4 bathrooms. It also features a 2-level balcony with hot tub and stellar mountain views, fireplaces, a hot tub, and a game room.
DIRECTIONS FROM DOWNTOWN BANNER ELK
From the heart of Banner Elk, head west on Main Street for 0.4 miles, then make a slight left onto NC-194 S. Follow that for 2.7 miles, then turn right onto Eagles Nest Ln.
Details on directions to the home within the gated Lodges at Eagles Nest community are only available upon booking the rental property.
READ MORE: 20 Must-Visit Blue Ridge Mountain Resorts for 2025
Eagles Landing/Eagles Nest Background
Originally envisioned as a sort of upscale Summer camp for grownups by developer John Turchin of The Turchin Companies, The Lodges at Eagles Nest is a 1,350-acre luxury mountain community in Banner Elk NC.
Located in the heart of the NC High Country about 9 minutes from Downtown Banner Elk, construction for the community began in the 2000s, starting with the massive timber framed gatehouse and 5 miles of roads.
They also built amenities such as a BBQ Pavilion, Heart Rock Amphitheater, Cliff Side Library, Tee Pee Village & Spa, multi-purpose ball fields, a ropes course, archery range, playgrounds, equestrian center, and 18 miles of hiking & ATV trails.
Sadly, the project went into receivership during the Great Recession of 2008, which led to an economic crisis triggered by the collapse of the U.S. housing market.
But eventually a new ownership group took over the development, with 60+ founding families spending up to $5 million each to create their dream homes in the North Carolina mountains.
Kevin and Tambria Dery fell in love with the area back in 2007, when they began visiting a friend who bought a cabin on nearby Sugar Mountain. They bought a lot in Eagles Nest in 2013, and opened the doors of Eagles Landing to visitors in 2016.
When asked what they loved about Eagles Nest, Kevin responded, “It’s a unique community. There are no golf courses, no country club. All of that land is instead used for family-friendly activities, such as UTV trails, playgrounds, mini golf, and an amphitheater for concerts. It truly is one of the most unique environments in the eastern USA.”
Accommodations
Once you get past Eagles Landing’s lodge-like exterior, with gorgeous landscaping and tons of trees, the first thing you notice upon entering the luxury vacation home is the open floor plan, including a soaring 30-ft stone fireplace flanked by a wall of windows offering breathtaking Blue Ridge Mountain views.
The spacious kitchen, living room, and dining room are all popping with eye-catching interior design elements, from wood floors/ceilings and natural branch bannisters on the stairs to animal skin dining chairs, cute black bear lamps, and striking photos from the Blue Ridge Parkway.
Families and big groups will appreciate the huge Chef’s Kitchen, which has sleek modern appliances, pots and pans, and dishes, plus a massive island for prep, bar-top seating for 4, and a copper farmhouse sink and hammered copper hood.
This main level of the home also includes a King Suite (with luxurious full bath, custom tiled shower, and hammered copper soaking tub), as well as a partially covered porch with dining table and seating for 12+ people.
Heading upstairs, you’ll find two more gorgeously-appointed King Suites (one of which has beautiful Native American-themed decor), each with its own spacious luxe bathroom.
The lower level of the 3-story property is perfect for families with kids. This is where you’ll find the game room (more on that later), plus a custom-designed bedroom with two sets of Twin bunk beds and two Twin trundle beds.
READ MORE: The 15 Best Places for Glamping in the Blue Ridge Mountains
Eagles Landing Amenities
As we mentioned, the Lodges at Eagles Nest community has an extensive array of fun things for residents and guests to do on the property. But Eagles Landing ensures you don’t even have to leave the house to have a great time!
The aforementioned game room is designed to be a hub of activity, with a pool table, foosball table, card/gaming table, arcade games, a cushy sofa and rocking chair, and a Smart TV above the small stone fireplace.
This room opens out onto the covered lower level balcony, where you’ll find a large hot tub. As with the main level balcony, you can sit out here at night and hear Summer concerts at the nearby amphitheater.
From there you can walk down into the sizable fenced-in yard, which includes wooden chairs around a large fire pit, a covered dog bed with water bowl, and a “doggie run” where playful pups can get some exercise.
There’s a lovely wooden pergola with a small mattress, lots of pillows for lounging, a hammock chair and bean bag chair, and curtains you can close for privacy.
But of course the biggest perk is Club Privileges, which allows you guest access to all the awesome amenities Eagles Nest has to offer. Volleyball, mini-golf, the amphitheater, and hiking trails are all within walking distance of the house!
READ MORE: 10 Ways to Celebrate A Small Town Christmas in Banner Elk NC
Fun Things to Do Nearby
Drive the Blue Ridge Parkway
Banner Elk is around 10 miles north of the Blue Ridge Parkway, so the town makes a great place to base yourself while exploring the NC High Country.
Head south on the BRP and the Linville Gorge Wilderness is less than 20 miles away, with attractions like Brown Mountain, the Orchard at Altapass, and the town of Little Switzerland a little further.
Head north and you’re less than 20 miles from excellent hiking trails at Julian Price Memorial Park and Moses H Cone Memorial Park, with attractions like the Blowing Rock and Tweetsie Railroad located nearby.
In short, while there are a lot of great things to do in Banner Elk proper, there are also an array of other options for outdoor recreation in the area!
READ MORE: The 20 Best Blue Ridge Parkway Overlooks in North Carolina
Explore Downtown Banner Elk Restaurants
Banner Elk doesn’t have the sort of centralized historic downtown area you’ll find in nearby towns like Burnsville and Boone.
But you will find shopping centers such as The Village of Banner Elk, which is home to some of the best restaurants in town.
Sorrento’s Italian Bistro is the largest, serving foodie-friendly fare in artfully decorated indoor and outdoor dining areas. The Chef’s Table is more upscale, showcasing chef Nicole Palazzo’s eclectic farm-to-table flavors, while the Bayou Smokehouse offers laid-back Texas BBQ and Cajun cuisine.
Other noteworthy restaurants in Banner Elk include the swanky Stonewalls steakhouse, and the expansive menus of the Banner Elk Cafe and Lodge Espresso Bar & Eatery (a great lunch place).
READ MORE: The 10 Best Restaurants in Banner Elk NC for Foodies
Snow Skiing at Beech Mountain & Sugar Mountain
There are four fantastic North Carolina ski resorts less than 45 minutes from Banner Elk.
Located at 5,506 feet, Beech Mountain– “the highest town in the Eastern US”– gets around 85 inches of snow annually. There are 17 ski trails at this mountain resort, including “The Park” for practicing on different terrains.
Sugar Mountain, which averages around 70 inches of snow annually, is the largest ski resort in NC. It boasts the longest vertical drop of all ski slopes in the state. with eight ski lifts servicing 21 slopes and 125 acres of skiing terrain.
There are also excellent snow skiing opportunities at Appalachian Ski Mountain in Blowing Rock. And the Hawksnest Snow Tubing & Zipline Resort in Seven Devils has more than 30 tubing lanes available, ranging from 400 to 1,000 feet long!
READ MORE: The 10 Best Places for Snow-Skiing in North Carolina
Visit Grandfather Mountain
Easily ranking among the most popular NC State Parks, the 2,500-acre Grandfather Mountain State Park is located about 12 miles from the heart Banner Elk.
There are 12 miles of hiking trails there. Most are rated as strenuous, and some require climbing ladders and scrambling over rocks. But the views they provide at 6,000+ feet of elevation are breathtaking!
There’s also a privately-owned Grandfather Mountain attraction that requires an entry fee. It varies seasonally and ranges according to age, with proceeds helping to support their ongoing conservation initiatives.
In return, you can access additional hiking trails, visit the Nature Museum and Wildlife Habitats, and soak in stunning scenic views via the 228-foot Mile High Swinging Bridge. –by Bret Love; lead image courtesy Kevin & Tambria Dery
