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South Holston Retreat

Vacation home in Bristol with kitchen and patio

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Property grounds
4 bedrooms, WiFi, bed sheets
Marina
Exterior
Dining

Reviews

8.6 out of 10
Excellent

Entire home

4 bedrooms4 bathroomsSleeps 8

Popular amenities

  • Kitchen
  • Washer
  • Dryer
  • Pet friendly
  • Air conditioning
  • Outdoor Space

Explore the area

View in a map
Bristol, TN
  • Place, South Holston Lake
    ‪3 min walk‬
  • Place, Bristol Motor Speedway
    ‪23 min drive‬
  • Place, The Pinnacle
    ‪25 min drive‬
  • Airport, Abingdon, VA (VJI-Virginia Highlands)
    ‪24 min drive‬

Room options

About the neighborhood

Bristol

Located within a leisurely stroll of South Holston Lake, this vacation home is within a 15-minute drive of Bristol Caverns. The vacation home includes a kitchen, a fireplace, and a patio.
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What's nearby

  • South Holston Lake - 3 min walk - 0.2 miles
  • Bristol Motor Speedway - 23 min drive - 20.2 miles
  • The Pinnacle - 25 min drive - 22.9 miles
  • Bristol Regional Medical Center - 26 min drive - 22.5 miles
  • Appalachian State University - 60 min drive - 49.4 miles

Getting around

  • Abingdon, VA (VJI-Virginia Highlands) - 27 min drive

Restaurants

  • ‪Rowdy Rooster - ‬11 min drive
  • ‪Shady Valley Country Store - ‬12 min drive
  • ‪Sportsmans - ‬19 min drive
  • Just A Swingin'
  • ‪Raceway Restaurant - ‬12 min drive

About this property

Entire place

You'll have the entire home to yourself and will only share it with other guests in your party.

South Holston Retreat

A family lakehouse for the past 25 years, recently open to the public! Approximately 5 acres situated on the secluded South Holston Lake in East Tennessee. This property includes approximately 300 ft of lake frontage. One of three of the best, local man made TVA lakes. South Holston is by far the prettiest and cleanest lake in East Tennessee. South Holston Mountain is one of the highest vantage points within the East Tennessee Mountains. The American Bald Eagle and Osprey birds are here almost all year. Activities include hiking, biking, swimming, kayaking, and canoeing. Also, one of the most premier trout fishing is below the dam in South Holston Tailwaters. People from all over come to see the size of these Rainbow and Brown Trout. This lakehouse is located nearby Friendship Resort and Marina. Lake access is year round! The lake drains down in the winter and has a full pond in the summer. Access the lake from the Lake House stairs or from Friendship Marina that's right down the road!
The vacation home is air-conditioned and features a kitchen, 4 bathrooms, and a patio. There's space to spread out with 4 bedrooms and a dining area. Other standard amenities include a washing machine, a fireplace, and a coffee maker.

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Property amenities

Internet

  • Available in the house: WiFi

Parking and transportation

  • Onsite parking options include a garage

Kitchen

  • Coffee/tea maker
  • Cookware, dishware, and utensils
  • Dishwasher
  • Microwave
  • Oven
  • Refrigerator
  • Stovetop

Dining

  • Dining table

Bedrooms

  • 4 bedrooms
  • Bedsheets provided

Bathroom

  • 4 bathrooms
  • Bathtub or shower
  • Hair dryer
  • Shampoo
  • Shower
  • Soap
  • Toilet paper
  • Towels provided

Living spaces

  • Dining table
  • Fireplace
  • Living room
  • Separate dining area

Entertainment

  • Smart TV with cable/satellite channels

Outdoor areas

  • Barbecue grill
  • Firepit
  • Outdoor furniture
  • Patio

Laundry

  • Laundry facilities
  • Washing machine

Comfort

  • Air conditioning
  • Heating

Pets

  • Pet friendly
  • Welcoming cats and dogs only
  • 2 pets total (up to 50 lbs per pet)

Suitability/Accessibility

  • Designated smoking areas

Things to do

  • Kayak
  • Water sports equipment

Safety features

  • Carbon monoxide detector not reported (host has not indicated whether there is a carbon monoxide detector on the property; consider bringing a portable detector)
  • Smoke detector not reported (host has not indicated whether there is a smoke detector on the property)

Policies

Check-in

Check-in time starts at 4:00 PM
Minimum check-in age: 25

Check-out

Check-out before 11:00 AM

Special check-in instructions

You will receive an email from the host with check-in and check-out instructions
Information provided by the property may be translated using automated translation tools

Check-out instructions

The host requires you complete the following before checking out:
Load and start the dishwasher
Strip any used beds and gather used towels
Remove personal items, remove leftover food and drinks, and take out the trash
Turn off the lights, lock the doors, and return the keys
Turn the AC/heat off.
Please report any damage or maintenance issues prior to leaving to the host.
Put keys back in lockbox after locking up property. Be sure to scramble the lockbox combo.
Failure to complete these may result in a negative review from the host.

Rules

Please do not move any furniture.
If pets are staying, please keep them on leashes when taking them on walks or using the bathroom on the property.

Pets

  • This property welcomes pets
  • Dogs and cats only
  • 2 total (50 lbs is the maximum weight per pet)
  • Service animals exempt from fees

Children and extra beds

Children allowed: ages 0-17

Events

No events allowed

Smoking

Smoking allowed: in designated areas

Important information

You need to know

Extra-person charges may apply and vary depending on property policy
Government-issued photo identification and a credit card, debit card, or cash deposit may be required at check-in for incidental charges
Special requests are subject to availability upon check-in and may incur additional charges; special requests cannot be guaranteed
Onsite parties or group events are strictly prohibited
Host has not indicated whether there is a carbon monoxide detector on the property; consider bringing a portable detector with you on the trip
Host has not indicated whether there is a smoke detector on the property
This property is managed through our partner, Vrbo. You will receive an email from Vrbo with a link to a Vrbo account, where you can change or cancel your reservation
  • Check-in: 4:00 PM
  • Check-out: 11:00 AM
  • Minimum check-in age: 25

We should mention

Details about charges, deposits, or other important information:

  • This property is managed by a private host, not a professional engaged in trade or business.
  • Charges for extra guests may apply and vary depending on the property's policy.
  • A cash deposit, credit card, or debit card for incidental charges, as well as a government-issued photo ID, may be required at check-in.
  • Special requests are subject to availability at the time of check-in and can't be guaranteed. Certain requests may come with additional charges.
  • Onsite parties or group events are strictly prohibited.

Frequently asked questions

What is there to do within easy reach of this vacation home?

This vacation home is located in Bristol within a short 4-minute walk of South Holston Lake. You'll also find Bristol Caverns and Cross Mountain Trailhead nearby.

Is there parking available at this vacation home?

Yes, there is a garage.

Is this vacation home associated with a casino?

No, this vacation home is not connected to a casino.

Is there an indoor pool at this vacation home?

No, there is no indoor pool at this vacation home.

Is South Holston Retreat a good place to stay for couples?

Amenities that appeal to couples at this vacation home include a fireplace, a kitchen, and a smart TV.

Are there hot tubs at South Holston Retreat ?

No, this vacation home doesn't have a spa tub.

Does this vacation home offer breakfast?

No, this vacation home doesn't offer breakfast.

Does this vacation home allow pets to stay free of charge?

Although cats and dogs can't stay for free, they are welcome at this vacation home.

Does this vacation home have connecting rooms?

No, this vacation home doesn't feature connecting guestrooms.

Where is the closest airport to this vacation home?

The closest major airport to this vacation home is Abingdon, VA (VJI-Virginia Highlands), which is 15.8 mi away (27 minutes by car). Another top airport is Tri-Cities, TN (TRI-Tri-Cities Regional), which is located 28.8 mi away (41-minute drive).

Are there rooms with balconies that I can book at South Holston Retreat ?

Yes, every accommodation at South Holston Retreat comes with a deck.

South Holston Retreat Reviews

Reviews

8.6

Excellent

Rating 10 - Excellent. 6 out of 12 reviews
Rating 8 - Good. 4 out of 12 reviews
Rating 6 - Okay. 1 out of 12 reviews
Rating 4 - Poor. 1 out of 12 reviews
Rating 2 - Terrible. 0 out of 12 reviews

8.2/10

Cleanliness

10/10

Amenities

10/10

Property conditions & facilities

Reviews

8/10 Good

Charlie m.

Liked: Cleanliness
Heat and air were great. Water pressure was low.
Stayed 4 nights in Dec 2025

10/10 Excellent

Richard K.

Liked: Cleanliness
Stayed 3 nights in Oct 2025

10/10 Excellent

Heather Q.

Liked: Cleanliness
Just the remote peaceful place we were looking to find for a weekend. Easy parking, great views, late summer memories.
Stayed 2 nights in Sep 2025

6/10 Okay

Martha M.

Stayed 4 nights in Jul 2025

8/10 Good

Micheal C., Johnson city

Liked: Cleanliness
It was a a nice time no issues
Stayed 2 nights in Aug 2025

10/10 Excellent

Wayne

Traveled with group
Liked: Cleanliness, amenities, property conditions & facilities
The house was a great choice. The lake is nice and it is quiet and peaceful.
Stayed 2 nights in Aug 2025

8/10 Good

stephen c.

Liked: Cleanliness

Lake house getaway

Awesome private getaway with lake access in a nice home.
Stayed 5 nights in Jul 2025

8/10 Good

Robert G., Middletown, USA

Liked: Cleanliness
The property location was very important to us as we were within walking distance from a family gathering. We greatly appreciated the ability to sleep 8, however the twin beds are actually a trundle bed which can be a bit awkward. The communications with the owner were very good before and during our rental. The owner allowed us to enter early which was very nice. The location of the garage door opener to access the rental was a bit hard to find initially. The property is on a deep well which supplies a limited amount of water. When we arrived the flow rate was low and the owner quickly came out to replace a sedimentary filter which helped things out. Note that while the house has 4 full bathrooms, it is really only feasible to use one at a time due to the available water flow.The house is very quite with a nice view of the woods from the master bedroom. The HVAC system worked very well even on the very hot summer days. While the interior is a bit rustic, we enjoyed our visit and plan to stay again next year.
Stayed 8 nights in Jun 2025

10/10 Excellent

brad m.

Liked: Cleanliness

Great lake house

Awesome slice of paradise on South Holston lake that I would highly recommend to anyone who wants to totally recharge and enjoy a perfect lake experience!
Stayed 4 nights in May 2025

4/10 Poor

Michael M.

Disliked: Cleanliness

Beautiful views but has issues

Host was very responsive to emails. Host also provided kayaks and canoes along with life vests option which was really nice. He was also kind enough to give us the option to use the atv to get down the super steep grade to the lake we didn’t use it but it was a nice option House was very large with nice bedrooms, twin decks. The issues: 1. You need to have a lock box or something to get access to the building. Not “the garage door opener is beside the door on a piece of wood”. Luckily. I got there before my wife and kids. 2. 4 bathrooms but if your a man taller than 5’7 you cannot use the toilet. Who puts toilets under a dormer ? 3. Water pressure was horrible! Literally if you turned the water on anywhere and you were taking a shower it would completely stop- literally! It took almost 3 minutes just to fill a gallon jug of water. Bathroom with tub upstairs would not give any water ever. 4. Upstairs bedroom you couldn’t close door and if you pushed hard they would be stuck in the room. My youngest daughter got stuck in the room multiple times and called me to come let her out. 5. Really needs to be cleaned professionally. Lots of grease on counters. Floors looked like somebody just ran a swiffer across it and called it a day. We found items left in multiile beds(hair clips, brushes). I’ve stayed in hunters cabins and been found but this was a little much. 6. Neighborhood is run dow- condemned buildi This house has amazing potential and gorgeous views
Stayed 3 nights in Oct 2024

10/10 Excellent

Kevin B.

Liked: Cleanliness

Great location, clean everything works fine. Just like being at home.Quite a hike down to the lake,.

Great property, you should be in good health before walking to the beautiful lake. Steep walk back up the hill
Stayed 4 nights in Sep 2024

10/10 Excellent

Kayla H.

Liked: Cleanliness

Family stay

We absolutely loved our stay at the Lakehouse, the open concept to the family room allowed us to spend time together inside and on the porch. The entire family had a blast fishing and swimming. Eric was responsive and so welcoming. Plenty of towels for everyone, plenty of fridge space between the kitchen and garage,washer and dryer available to wash as you go.Thank you so much for the great visit.
Stayed 5 nights in Jul 2024