Whiteside Mountain. A Firepit Out Back. Someone Finally Got This Right | Pine Cone Cottage

This Rent In Highlands vacation rental home is pet friendly for one small dog, under 20 pounds. Pets must be pre-approved. An additional non-refundable pet fee is required and is not included in the rental fee. Please call our office for approval and to pay the pet fee. Failure to adhere to this policy will result in a $1000.00 fine.

Only adults (25 years old and older) may reserve this property and an adult must occupy the property at all times.

There's a version of "recently renovated" that means fresh paint and new cabinet hardware. And then there's this — a thoughtfully reimagined single-level home where the brand-new kitchen, updated primary bathroom, and refinished bedrooms sit alongside original slate floors that have been here long enough to earn their place, and floor-to-ceiling windows that frame Whiteside Mountain like the owners knew exactly what they were doing when they positioned them.

They did. And it shows in every room.

A Home That Actually Lives Like One The open, single-level layout means the living room, dining area, and kitchen flow into each other the way they should — no awkward transitions, no wasted space, no stairs between you and anything you need. Floor-to-ceiling windows in the living and dining areas keep Whiteside Mountain in view from the moment you sit down to the moment you get up, flooding the spaces with natural light and the kind of visual calm that makes the whole house feel larger and quieter than it is.

The oversized primary bedroom takes the concept of a sitting area seriously — a separate space for reading, unwinding, or simply enjoying the distant mountain views without leaving the room. Every bedroom, along with the living room, comes dressed in plush linens, pillows, and blankets chosen by owners who actually wanted guests to feel comfortable rather than just adequately housed. The difference is noticeable within the first hour.

Outside: Three Spaces, One Seamless Experience Step through the back door and the outdoor sequence unfolds naturally. A stone patio with a firepit and gas grill handles the evenings — casual cookouts, post-dinner fires, the kind of night that stretches longer than planned because nobody wants to go inside. The patio connects directly to a screened-in porch furnished with comfortable seating for the whole group and anchored by a wood-burning fireplace that makes the space genuinely usable from early spring through late fall. Sheltered, warm, surrounded by the sounds of the mountain — this is the room that ends up in every guest review.

The fenced yard means the dog came on the right trip. Let them loose. Everyone relaxes more when the dog is happy.

A Note From the Owners The people who own this home come here every chance they get. They renovated it to feel like a home away from home — not a rental, not a product, but a place where someone actually thought about what it feels like to walk through the door after a long drive and just exhale. That intention is woven into every updated detail and every original slate floor tile they chose to keep.

They fell in love with Highlands. They're hoping you will too.

Downtown Highlands is minutes away — restaurants worth the trip, shops worth browsing, waterfalls worth the hike, and a town that has a way of slowing people down in the best possible sense. Come for a few days. Leave already thinking about when you can come back.

What our guests are saying…

"Beautiful Home, great location. Home was truly lovely and in the perfect location. Could walk to town. Lake view from the front porch was serene. Would recommend this property to everyone."- Rent In Highlands Vacation Rental Guest, Jennifer S.

Cancellation Policy

Policy (A) for reservations less than 20 days:
A reservation canceled between 0-45 days prior to arrival is not eligible to receive a refund. If more than 45 days notice is given, the renter shall receive a refund of all payments made, less a cancellation fee of 10% of the Total Cost of the Reservation.

Policy (B) for reservations of 20 days or more and reservations made 6 months in advance:
NO refund is given unless the property is re-rented under the same terms (Trip insurance is available and recommended to help protect your trip).

Special Amenities:

Wood Burning Fireplace
Outdoor Firepit

Please note: The "swimming pool" amenity refers to access to the Highlands Recreation Center pool, a short drive from the property — not a private pool on-site.

This home is professionally managed by Rent in Highlands, a division of Country Club Properties. Your premier source for Vacation Rentals in Highlands NC.