Wood Haven Retreat: Blue Ridge Cabin Rental 5 Minutes from Downtown

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[Updated November 9, 2021] There’s something about exploring the Blue Ridge Mountains that always takes me back to my childhood, growing up in North Georgia.

When I was 5 my grandparents bought a trailer on Lake Hartwell, where I first fell in love with nature. When I was 12, we helped build their wood house near Winder. When I was 15, my parents bought 32 acres of undeveloped land on Big Haynes Creek in Conyers.

So as we drove through breathtaking landscapes en route to our Blue Ridge cabin rental, memories of my early days exploring similar mountains, lakes, and forests came rushing back, filling me with nostalgia.

But as we typed in the security code and entered our rental cabin in Blue Ridge GA, Wood Haven Retreat, I realized I was a world away from the rustic simplicity of my youth. Compared to our tiny trailer, this 3-level wonder felt like a mansion!

So here’s an in-depth review of our 4-day home-away-from-home, which is available for booking via Georgia Mountain Cabin Rentals.

Blue Ridge Cabin Rental- Wood Haven Retreat in Blue Ridge, GA

BLUE RIDGE CABIN RENTAL INFO

FOR WOOD HAVEN RETREAT

RENTAL COMPANY: Georgia Mountain Cabin Rentals
OFFICE ADDRESS: 3608 East First St, Suite 101, Blue Ridge, GA 30513
PHONE: 706-632-5751
OFFICE HOURS: Mon-Fri 9am to 5pm; Sat 10am to 2pm; Closed Sunday

ACCOMMODATIONS: 2 King Bedrooms, 1 Queen Bedroom, 3.5 Bathrooms, Full Kitchen, Washer/Dryer, Indoor Gas Fireplace, Rec Room, Hot Tub, Pets Allowed.

DIRECTIONS TO OFFICE: From Atlanta, head north on I-75 (towards Marietta/Chattanooga), then keep right onto GA-5 N/I-575 N and follow signs for Canton.

Follow I-575 for 30.7 miles, then it turns into GA-5 N/GA-515 E/State Rte 515. Continue for 39.1 miles, then turn right onto E 1st St/Old Hwy 76/Old U.S. 76 in Blue Ridge.

The Georgia Mountain Cabin Rentals office will be on the right. 

READ MORE: The 20 Best Things to Do in Blue Ridge, GA

GENERAL OVERVIEW

Wood Haven Retreat is located in the Windy Valley area, approximately four miles from the heart of downtown Blue Ridge, GA.

It’s worth noting that the road the cabin is on is gravel and very bumpy. Drive slowly and watch for potholes unless you’re in a truck or SUV. Going slow will also give you time to check out the Alpaca farm and scenic vistas along the way.

Wood Haven is fairly new as North Georgia cabin rentals go, with the first reviews appearing in 2015. From the outside the 3-level cabin looks pristine, with front and back porches on the main level and a private balcony on the top level Master Suite.

The interior is best described as upscale mountain style, with overstuffed leather couches, hardwood floors/walls/cathedral ceiling, and hearth stone fireplace. The gas log fire has a timer, and there is central heating and air.

The fully stocked kitchen features stainless steel appliances, coffee maker, toaster, blender, microwave, pots and pans, etc. There’s also a Weber gas grill on the main level porch for your BBQ pleasure.

The decor has loads of personality, from the Black Bear ottoman and a Rooster wall-hanging fashioned from old painted license plates to country-style quilts and humorous signs such as “No Peeing From the Porch.”

Overall the cabin strikes a great balance between classy and comfy that’s perfect for lounging when cold/rainy weather makes outdoor exploration unpleasant.

READ MORE: The Top 10 Treehouse Rentals in the Georgia Mountains

Master Suite at Wood Haven Retreat Cabin Rental in Blue RIdge, GA

WOOD HAVEN RETREAT BEDROOMS

Wood Haven Retreat is very large as Blue Ridge cabins go, with 3 big bedrooms and 3.5 bathrooms spread across three levels.

Though it’s supposed to sleep 6 people, you could comfortably sleep at least 8-9 if there are kids crashing on the ultra-cushy couches.

Each of the cabin’s spacious bedrooms offers charming Appalachian decor (see: lovely quilts, lots of bears, and woodsy accents), flat screen TVs, Wifi access and picturesque mountain views.

The cabin feels fairly remote, but do be aware that you can see the neighbors (and vice versa) in the Winter, when there are no leaves on the trees that surround the place.

Here’s a look at the features each of Wood Haven’s bedrooms has to offer:

MASTER SUITE- UPPER LEVEL

The only room on the Blue Ridge cabin’s top level, the massive master suite includes a King-sized bed, large flat screen TV with cable, walk-in closet, ceiling fan, tile shower, and a jacuzzi tub.

But our favorite feature by far was the glass doors that lead to a private covered porch. This balcony offers stunning views of the mountains through the trees in winter.

We spent every morning out here, cuddled up under blankets on the rocking chairs, sipping our coffee and sharing a bite of breakfast before beginning the day’s activities.

Woodhaven Retreat Cabin Panorama

MASTER SUITE- MAIN LEVEL

Located just off the kitchen area on the cabin’s main level, the second Master Suite is just slightly smaller.

This room offers a King-sized bed, 27-inch flat screen TV with cable, small closet, ceiling fan, and en suite bathroom with a full-size shower.

It also has double doors leading to the covered back porch. This one has more rocking chairs, runs the full length of the house and offers great scenic views.

LOWER LEVEL BEDROOM

The cabin’s basement level is all about fun.

This is where you’ll find the game room (which we’ll talk about in the next section) and a den area with a leather sofa and recliner, 50-inch flat screen TV, and BluRay player.

The bedroom on this level is a bit smaller than the others, with a full bathroom (including tub/shower) just outside.

But it’s perfect for families with multiple children. You can easily fit two kids in the Queen-sized bed, plus another one on the large, comfy couch in the den.

CABIN AMENITIES

Blue Ridge, Georgia is at the heart of the Chattahoochee National Forest, which encompasses some 750,145 acres and covers 18 counties in North Georgia. There are over 106,000 acres of forest in Fannin County, of which Blue Ridge is a part.

Because of the high elevation and the expansive forests (which give the mountains their distinctive hue), the area tends to create unpredictable weather patterns.

So when perusing Blue Ridge Mountain cabins to rent, it’s a good idea to consider amenities that might make staying indoors during inclement weather more enjoyable.

Wood Haven Retreat offers plenty of options: The most important one for us was the covered hot tub on the basement level. It was heated up when we arrived, soothed our muscles after going horseback riding, and was hidden from view of any neighbors.

The basement rec room was also a lot of fun. There’s a pool table, including cues, chalk, and a rule book for various games. There’s an electronic dart board, with plastic tips so you don’t have to worry about putting holes in the walls when you miss.

There are quite a few board games for family fun, as well as a BluRay player connected to the 50-inch flat screen TV in the downstairs den.

And though the weather was too wet during our visit to make use of it, the cabin also offered an outdoor fire pit with chairs that would be perfect for roasting marshmallows and campfire sing-alongs.

READ MORE: The 13 Best Restaurants in Blue Ridge GA

Panorama photo of Downtown Blue Ridge, GA

BLUE RIDGE ACTIVITIES & ATTRACTIONS NEARBY

For a town of less than 1,500 full-time residents and a land area of just 2.4 square miles, Blue Ridge boasts an impressive array of things to do.

If shopping is your thing, Downtown Blue Ridge offers dozens of cool shops ranging from swanky boutiques and art/antique stores to outdoor recreation outfiiters and oddities such as the Expedition: Bigfoot Adventure Outpost.

Foodies will find every sort of cuisine under the sun. The best restaurants we visited includes Harvest on Main and Black Sheep (Southern), Masseria (Italian), Hansen’s Grill (Danish/American), Las 2 Huastecas (Mexican), and Mona Lisa’s (Dessert/Wine).

There are also several breweries and wineries in the area, and the Mercier Orchards Tasting Room offers numerous excellent varieties hard apple cider.

If history is your thing, take a self-guided historic Blue Ridge Walking Tour, which hits highlights such as the Baugh House and Historic Fannin County Courthouse. The latter is home to an impressive Arts Center, which– along with the Blue Ridge Community Theatre– is the heart of the town’s cultural pulse.

And of course the area is bursting with natural beauty to be explored. From Lake Blue Ridge and the Toccoa Swinging Bridge to the Appalachian Trail and countless streams and waterfalls, a visit to this area means never being bored. –by Bret Love; photos by Bret Love & Mary Gabbett

Our visit to Blue Ridge GA was facilitated with assistance from the Fannin County Chamber of Commerce & CVB.

Leave No Trace logo

We encourage anyone who loves the Blue Ridge region to learn about the Leave No Trace principles of responsible environmental stewardship. 

Stay on marked trails, take only pictures, pack out your trash, and be considerate of others who share the trails and parks you explore. 

Remember that waterfalls and rocky summits can be dangerous. Never try to climb waterfalls or get close to a ledge to get a selfie.

When you're exploring the wilderness, it's better to be safe than to be a statistic!

The BRMTG was created by Bret Love & Mary Gabbett, the award-winning team behind the world-renowned responsible travel website Green Global Travel. Born and raised in North Georgia, Editor-In-Chief Bret Love grew up hiking and camping in the Blue Ridge Mountains with his family. A professional writer/editor since 1995, he's covered travel and culture for 100+ publications, including American Way, Destination Marriott, Georgia Travel Guide, National Geographic, and Southbound. In 2010 he co-founded the award-winning website, Green Global Travel, which is ranked among the world's top travel blogs. Since launching BRMTG in 2020, he and Mary Gabbett have visited 50+ Blue Ridge Mountain towns together. Though she lived in NYC for 14 years, photographer/Business Manager Mary Gabbett's family has Georgia roots dating back 200+ years. Her great-grandfather was President of the Western Railroad of Alabama. Before moving to Atlanta in 1989, she fell in love with the North GA mountains, where her aunt owned a cabin. In 2010 she co-founded Green Global Travel, and has since traveled to more than 40 countries on six continents. Her photos have appeared in numerous travel publications (including National Geographic and Southbound) and various textbooks.

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