We have had five visits to the Highlands, Cashiers, and Sapphire area over the past 6 years, to all different houses. This was the first time we have been disappointed with the accommodations.
It was stated in previous evaluations that the parking was extremely limited. Only two cars can be parked without hanging out into the road. It is then 21 steps down from the parking area to the main level of the house. This was no fun with suitcases or tenants with orthopedic problems. The lighting at the top of the stairs did not function. That was a bit unsafe.
Our biggest objection had to do with the ventless fireplaces. I tried one the first day and the house was filled with propane fumes. Propane vapors are definitely toxic. It was a great disappointment to spend a week in the mountains without being able to use a fireplace.
Written instructions for the television would be helpful. Eddy, the property manager, had to go over this with us over the phone.
The upper deck was nice for sitting, but there were only two high Adirondack chairs. There was a wrought iron table and chairs. There is not much of a view of the lake, due to the trees. You are able to see the orange and yellow kayaks standing up at the community area across the lake. There were no comfortable chairs on the lower deck, only two of the wrought iron chairs. The advertisement photos showed Adirondack chairs down there. There was no view at all from the lower deck.
The housekeeping left a lot to be desired. There was mildew in the downstairs shower. I found a bunch of hair on the wall of it, when I took my first shower. When we plugged in cell phone chargers near the head of the bed, there was at least five years of dust and dirt. The middle level tub was wiped with a disposable Lysol wipe when we arrived. It came out black. The silverware drawer was dirty, containing dust, food, and hair. It had to be washed.
A Jacuzzi tub is downstairs. We couldn’t figure out how to work it. There were no instructions for it. This is probably just as well, as who knows what would come out of the jets. The lights over that tub and in the bathroom closet weren’t functioning.
The middle bathroom downstairs has a shallow tub, but no shower.
It has been mentioned about the difficulty in getting down to the lake. It is quite steep and involves going down under a tunnel of rhododendrons. The dock is smaller than a twin bed. There was only one aluminum paddle. The dock is close to a spillway over a dam.