Two North Carolina treehouses rank among nation’s most desired Airbnbs. Take a look
Two treehouses nestled in the North Carolina woods are among the nation’s most desired places to stay, a new report finds.
The treetop getaways in Banner Elk and China Grove rank in the top 10 on a list of destinations that prospective travelers can’t wait to check out, according to vacation rental website Airbnb.
The treehouses were among the “most wishlisted” in the United States — which means Airbnb users saved the listings to share with friends or have for future reference, results published May 19 show.
Of the two North Carolina destinations that topped wish lists, the Banner Elk destination snagged the No. 1 spot and rents for about $433 per night. The property — called the “Glass Treehouse” — is near the mountain tourist town of Boone and roughly 100 miles west of Winston-Salem.
The structure, a mix between a treehouse and cabin, was built in 1969.
“Throughout this home, the line between indoors and outdoors is blurred,” the Airbnb listing said. “A waterfall greets you as you cross the bridge to the front door.”
From the inside, there’s also a view of a creek, which was once a stop for trains. These days, visitors can bask in the creekside experience from a hot tub and a fire pit, according to the host.
Also making Airbnb’s list is the China Grove location, which landed in the No. 7 spot and rents for about $184 per night. Airbnb on its website said the treehouse — called “Big Nick” — offers hammocks, an outdoor shower and views of nature roughly 35 miles northeast of Charlotte.
About 25 feet above the ground, there are two indoor sleeping areas, the listing shows. The treehouse lies on the Cherry Treesort, a compound that includes a Hobbit-themed space and other accommodations.
“I just wanted something different on the farm,” owner Trent Cherry told McClatchy News in 2020. “There are not many in the country that are legitimate hobbit houses that are done right that you can rent out.”
Airbnb shared the list of favorites as people in the state are increasingly taking getaways outside of cities.
“In 2021, domestic nights booked by US guests on Airbnb for stays in rural areas in North Carolina grew nearly 130 percent compared to 2019 reaching nearly 1.5 million, showcasing that more and more people are taking advantage of workplace flexibility and living outside of urban areas,” spokesperson Haven Thorn told McClatchy News in an email.
The Banner Elk destination landed at the top on the latest list after data was collected between May 1 and May 10. Rounding out the top five were offbeat or remote stays in Missouri and Texas.
