Saddle Tree

Your modern yet cozy shoreside hideaway right on the Etowah River

At a Glance

* A just-finished modern take on the “shotgun cabin”
* Bedroom with king, loft with 2 twins. Sleeps 4 (on really nice linens)
* In Dahlonega, “Napa Valley of the South,” a magical artsy town just a skip and hop north of Atlanta
* Dogs welcome and loved, not just “allowed” (see The Small Print for details)
* Direct river access right in front of the house — pups and people welcome to swim and play in the calm waters.
* Sleek, open-concept modern design: stylish yet warm and inviting .
* Beautifully decorated: classy, bright, clean, and uncluttered.
* Thoughtful lighting: ambiance, dimmers, lit stairs
* Central climate control system: crisp and cool in summer, toasty in winter.
* Top of the line, fully equipped kitchen
* Complete coffee bar with fresh grinder, frother, and every brewing method imaginable, from pour-over to pods; insulated cups
* State of the art LG washer/dryer
* Charming bench swing right at the river's edge
* Covered side deck facing the water
* Picnic table and firepit overlooking the river
* Campsite-style pedestal grill


**Please note that this property is a ways (around a mile) down a gravel/dirt road. It is not necessary, but you may feel more comfortable with an AWD or 4WD to access the property.**


The Saddle Tree story...

There are countless reasons to fall in love with Dahlonega. The picturesque town square lined with historic buildings, boutique shops, cozy cafés, and local art galleries. The brick sidewalks and preserved 1800s architecture. The warm and welcoming community. The rich history and golden legacy. Award-winning vineyards. And, of course, the breathtaking mountain landscape.

Denise had been through Dahlonega a couple of times as a kid and loved it, so when she and her husband started looking for property, the hidden gem of a town made perfect sense.

“We love what [Dahlonega] has to offer,” Denise says. “There is something for everyone: art, music, great restaurants, little mom n’ pop stores. We have Bear on the Square…” — an annual festival celebrating Appalachian culture, music, and art. “Plenty of outdoor adventures. You can go rent 4-wheelers at Iron Mountain” — a massive off-road adventure park — “or go to the vineyards, or take in a concert. There’s just so much.”

And it’s the perfect blend of mountains and river, “...without being alone on a mountaintop,” she laughs.

Having picked the perfect little town, Denise and Jess, her husband, built the perfect little cabin: a functional yet stylish, simple yet classy, not-a-detail-overlooked shotgun house. I complimented her on the minimalist architecture and decor, the sense of spaciousness, and the bright colors and textures she chose for Saddle Tree.

“We are into the aesthetics of clean lines and uncluttered space — and don’t like having a bunch of stuff or walls covered,” she says. They have a great eye for design. The light surfaces and walls combine beautifully with the blonde and dark wood furniture and structural accents, the sleek lines, and not a square inch of wasted space. They didn’t waste any wood, either: all the wood used in the house, the gorgeous poplar and dark walnut shelves, chunky cross beams, railings, were salvaged from the trees that had to be felled in order to build the cabin.

“I love trees,” she says, “and I don’t like cutting them down — but we had to. Using that wood in the cabin was super important to us.”

The lighting, too, is important. “There needs to be a certain ambiance in our home, so all the bulbs are warm and dimmable. The stairs are subtly lit… At night it’s pure magic in here.”

The longer we spoke, the clearer it became to me that Denise and Jess had well-defined ideas of the caliber of experience they wanted to provide their guests.

As someone who loves to cook, she outfitted the kitchen with quality everything, and probably too much of it. “Honestly,” she confides, “Based on what most people will do in this kitchen… it’s way overstocked. But the way I see it, when people stay here, they can’t have things that are worse than what they have at home — it should even be a treat or an upgrade.”

Speaking of “treats,” wait until you check out the coffee bar. Fit for a coffee snob from New York City or Seattle or Paris, it has a fresh grinder, a frother, pour-over, carafe, pod, you name it. Also: regular mugs, insulated mugs, large, small…

“Sometimes I feel like we built the whole house around that coffee bar,” Denise chuckles. “But it was worth it. Sitting on that deck with my morning cup, or, better yet, on the swing over the river, listening to the water lapping at the shore… pure bliss.”

Denise confesses that in addition to coffee, there are a few other things that she will pay top dollar for: “Good sunglasses, shoes, and linens.” Also, a brand new climate control system.

“At Saddle Creek we want it toasty in the winter, and cool in the summer… and when you’re here, we want you to never want to get out of bed!”

Between the coffee, coziness, and high thread count luxury linen, why would you want to?

I ask Denise if the cabin is dog friendly.

“Of course!” she says. “The warmth of an animal is what makes it a home.” She and Jess have two fur babies of their own, a German Shepherd and a cockapoo, and having their best buddies with them makes all the difference.

For a moment I picture myself at sunset, gently rocking in the swing by the river, a glass of local merlot in one hand, the other on top of my dog’s shaggy head resting on my leg.

Behind the hypnotizing sound of the Etowah River are the sounds of a bluegrass band, the notes carried up from town on the cool evening breeze.


Driving to the house: The road to the house is long and gravel. AT times, depending on the weather, the road can become very muddy and have ruts. It is not steep and most can get there no matter what they are driving. Please know this in advance and only book if you are comfortable with driving muddy rutted roads.



Pro Tips & Local Wisdom

Warm up at Corner Kitchen in Dahlonega with a mug of their outstanding joe in your hands.

Antiquing (now no longer just for old people!) Dahlonega — which is super hip, by the way — has no fewer than three antiques stores. I’ll bet you need a lamp or a frame for your painting of dogs playing poker.

North Georgia is home to some noteworthy vineyards — and Saddle Tree is minutes away from several of them, such as Wolf Mountain, Cavender Creek, and Kaya Vineyard and Winery. Enjoy a glass or bottle and spectacular mountain panoramas.

Lace up your boots and bring some snacks. Dahlonega serves as a gateway to the Appalachian Trail, providing numerous hiking opportunities with varying difficulty levels.

Enjoy home-cooked southern comfort food at The Smith House.

Life is but a dream… when you’re enjoying a leisurely float down the Chestatee River (tube or kayak)

Take in Dahlonega’s thriving arts scene: galleries and cultural events, including the Dahlonega Arts and Wine Festival, and local artisans and musicians.


The Small Print
BEFORE YOU BOOK:
-Area wide power outages are common in the mountains and no refunds will be given if an area wide power outage happens during your stay. No refunds will be given for weather related cancellations.

-Please be aware that you will be receiving a link to our booking contract via text within 24 hours of making your reservation. If you do not see it come through, please let us know as it must be signed. We are happy to answer any questions about its contents.

-This property has all private amenities and is self-check-in. We will text you information pertinent to your stay including a link to our booking agreement (shortly after reserving), a link to the property guidebook that includes the address and important directions (3days before check in), and the code to the smart lock on the door (around 2:30 pm the day of check in)

-Our cancellation policy is firm but if there are other dates you would like to move a reservation to. The fee for this will vary from $150 - $300 depending on the cabin, how close to the check in date your reservation currently is and availability.

-Pet Fee is $75 per dog. We only allow dogs. No cats. Pets shall always be secured within the boundaries of the property. If the property is not fenced, pets must be kept on a leash and always accompanied by the pet owner while outside. If you plan to go out and leave your dog at the cabin, please know that we require they be crated in your absence.

-If smoking takes place on the property during your stay, we will charge you $250 to deodorize and clean the property.

-No amplified sound equipment can be used outdoors between the hours of 10pm and 8am Sunday - Thursday and not between the hours of 11pm and 8 am Friday and Saturday.

- We cannot absolutely honor early check in requests, but we will do our best to accommodate them. Reservations requesting an early check in will not be refunded if we cannot honor the time requested. This is done to benefit the guest so that the property is completely clean and ready at their arrival at 4pm.

STARTER SUPPLIES & ESSENTIALS:
-Suches Vacation Rentals provides a starter supply of basic items to help you settle in comfortably upon arrival. Starter Kit Includes:

Kitchen Trash Bags – 5 (located under the kitchen sink)
Paper Towels – 1 roll per kitchen
Toilet Paper – 3 rolls per bathroom
Body Soap – Small sample bar soaps (included in the welcome kit in the kitchen)

-Please note that this is a starter kit only. If you anticipate needing additional supplies during your stay, we recommend bringing them with you or purchasing them locally.

-As coffee and laundry detergent are often personal preferences, these are not provided—we encourage you to bring your own.

-We do provide an ample supply of:
Dish soap and dish detergent
Shampoo and conditioner
Hand soap

LINEN & TOWELS:
-Suches Vacation Rentals is located in a beautiful yet remote area of the North Georgia Mountains. Because professional linen services are not available locally, all laundry is handled in-house with care. We provide one bath towel and wash cloth per guest according to the maximum occupancy of a cabin.

-If you need extra towels during your stay, just let us know and we’ll do our best to arrange them based on availability.

**We truly appreciate your understanding and support as we work to conserve resources while maintaining a comfortable stay for every guest.**


SPICES:
-We typically provide basic spices such as salt and pepper. If you have specific preferences, we recommend bringing your own.

24/7 GUEST SERVICES:
-Suches Vacation Rentals are available by text or phone 24/7. The number to reach us will be provided in check-in information. You will hear a menu listing who is reachable at the time of your call. Our reservations person is available 9-5 for general assistance, guest services, for requests that require in person attention, from 5-10 pm, and from 10pm to 9am someone will be available for rental emergencies. If you are experiencing a medical emergency or immediate danger please call 911.

LOCAL GUIDE & GUEST SUPPORT:
-Each of our cabins includes an “Experience the Mountains” manual filled with handpicked recommendations for hikes, sightseeing, and local dining.

-When you book with Suches Vacation Rentals, you’re not just reserving a cabin—you’re getting a local experience. Our goal is to help you connect with the beauty of Suches and discover activities you’ll truly enjoy while exploring the Chattahoochee National Forest.

-Need recommendations? We’re happy to help!

Calls: Available from 9 AM – 5 PM
Text: Available 24/7 for your convenience

You’ll always be connected with a real team member—no AI, just genuine local support. If you are experiencing a medical emergency or immediate danger please call 911.

CLEANLINESS YOU CAN TRUST!
-With over 5,000 stays and nearly 10,000 reviews, our commitment to cleanliness and guest comfort speaks for itself. We take great pride in maintaining high standards so you can relax and enjoy your stay with confidence.


❤️Joni, Founder & Director, SVR

Permit #5072