I stayed at ‘The Hunting Wives’ house in Lake Norman. Here’s what it’s actually like.
AI-generated summary reviewed by our newsroom.
- Azalea Retreat’s Lodge played Margo Banks’ home in Netflix’s ‘The Hunting Wives’.
- The filming site includes a 6,500-square-foot cabin, two docks and shared pool space.
- Several show elements like door placements and furniture differ from the actual layout.
When Netflix turned the shores of Lake Norman into a backdrop for intrigue, drama and upscale Southern glamour in “The Hunting Wives,” I was hooked on the sweeping views of Margo Banks’ gorgeous lake home.
And when I found out you could rent it, I jumped at the chance to step into Margo’s world — minus the guns and with more athleisure than designer dresses.
This past weekend, four of my girlfriends and I stayed at the lavish Sherrills Ford property, locally known as Azalea Retreat — The Lodge. And because we’re not exactly a scandalous crew, some of us even brought our kids.
For two days, we lived our own version of lakeside luxury, complete with spectacular morning sunrises, afternoons by the pool, evening cocktails and plenty of fun and laughter.
From the moment we arrived, it was clear this was more than just a TV show set. The property itself feels cinematic. It’s a true retreat — rustic, yet elegant, with massive exposed log beams, soaring ceilings, antler chandeliers and cozy details that make you want to stay forever. And while the house is stunning on its own, part of the fun was spotting some of the differences between real life and Hollywood magic.
Here are five of my favorite discoveries (without any major spoilers for those who haven’t seen the show):
1. It’s even bigger than it looks
The show captures a lot, but it doesn’t depict how sprawling the property is. The 6,500-square-foot log cabin has three floors: three bedrooms downstairs, the main-level primary suite (Margo’s room) and two more bedrooms upstairs.
There are two living rooms, with the main floor and its two-story vaulted ceilings featured in the show. But the downstairs living room is where all the fun is — with a ping-pong table, arcade games, shuffleboard, ski ball and more. (None of that even made it on the screen.)
In the scene where a creepy man with one eye breaks into the home, the show alludes that Margo’s room is upstairs at the top of the gorgeous wooden steps. In reality, the primary bedroom is right off the main living area (but I guess that wouldn’t have been dramatic enough). I can also confirm it was that bathroom where said intruder left a little surprise for Margo to find. (IYKYK)
2. That ’front door’ isn’t the front door
Remember the driveway scenes with cars pulling up to Margo’s grand entrance? In real life, you can’t even park there. Or when Margo slammed the door in Sophie’s face? That door doesn’t exist. The “front” in the show is actually the back deck overlooking Lake Norman.
For filming, crews swapped out one of the glass French doors for a solid green one to make it look more like a front entrance. The prop doorbell is still in place, but it’s silent. And through the magic of Hollywood, they also added an extra set of steps that don’t exist.
3. The private pool? Not so private.
On TV, the pool looks like Margo’s own slice of paradise. But it’s not exactly an exclusive oasis, as it’s shared with a smaller home next door that’s also part of Azalea Retreat. It’s positioned more in front of that cottage than the log cabin.
Each unit has its own section of the pool, but with the Lodge accommodating up to 22 guests and the cottage’s potential to hold 12, it would be overcrowded if everyone showed up at once — especially since there were only eight chairs on each side.
4. Two docks, twice the action
There are two docks on property, and both were featured in the show. The dock outside the main lodge dock can be seen when the wives returned from skeet shooting. It’s also where Sophie woke up, setting off a new chain of events.
The second dock, which is in front of the cottage next door, is where Margo zipped up on her jet ski with Sophie in tow.
5. The kitchen got a TV makeover
In the online rental listing, which likely hasn’t been updated since before the show was filmed, the kitchen boasts of all-natural wood throughout, including built-in shelves.
We were pleasantly surprised to find the white cabinetry and chic blue kitchen island, as seen in the show, along with other minor cosmetic changes. The blinds must have walked away with the other show props; now, anyone can see inside that kitchen window.
Most of the furniture in the show isn’t in the house, including the beautiful, tufted leather couches, cream-colored chairs and Margo’s bed. My friends and I still had fun pointing out the few items that we did recognize from the show — the coffee table, a console and the light fixture over the kitchen island, among other little finds.
I was lucky enough to stay in the primary suite, and I couldn’t stop staring at the vaulted ceilings and stone fireplace. Waking up to a lake view through floor-to-ceiling windows with soft morning light spilling across the room and the water perfectly still felt like a fairytale. And, yes, I totally geeked out over the fact that Malin Akerman and Brittany Snow had been in that very room!
Our stay at ‘The Hunting Wives’ lake cabin
Our weekend was equal parts relaxing and surreal. We laughed through attempts to recreate a mimosa-drinking scene in the kitchen in our yoga pants and flip-flops instead of the short skirts and cowboy boots worn by “The Hunting Wives” characters.
We enjoyed reading and drinking coffee on the sprawling deck overlooking the water. We hung out on the docks, watching the kids kayak and try their hand at paddleboarding. A couple of us even caught a fish.
Would I go back? Absolutely! (Once my bank account recovers.) Even if you’ve never seen the show, the property is a dream for families and groups looking for a unique getaway. It delivers a rare mix of luxury and comfort.
And if you do visit, keep an eye out for passing pontoon boats. They slow down, cameras at the ready, because even on an ordinary weekend, Margo’s house is still a star.
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