The Smoky Mountains

In the southernmost part of the Appalachians lie the Great Smoky Mountains, so named for the frequent mists and fog that give the mountains their smoky appearance.  The Smoky Mountains straddle the Tennessee/North Carolina border, with the Great Smoky Mountains National Park having entrances in each state. The National Park is home to many natural and historic attractions, including Clingman’s Dome (the Park’s highest point, at 6,643 feet), the pioneer settlement at Cades Cove, and innumerable waterfalls, wildflowers, and wildlife. Outside the park, guests can explore Gatlinburg, Cherokee, Dollywood, and many other charming mountain getaways that make a perfect home base for exploring these ancient hills.

Currently, we offer homes only in picturesque Murphy, North Carolina. Located less than two hours from Atlanta, Georgia and Chattanooga, Tennessee—and less than four hours from Birmingham, Alabama and Spartanburg, South Carolina—Murphy and Marble are ideal and easily accessible jumping-off points to explore the eastern side of the Smokies. The eastern Park entrance in Cherokee, North Carolina is approximately an hour’s drive from our cabins.

Murphy was established in the 1830s and is the westernmost county seat in the state of North Carolina. This quaint mountain town is perfectly situated at the confluence of the Hiwassee and Valley rivers, and is an excellent home base for exploring all that the area has to offer. Nearby Marble, North Carolina is located on the outskirts of Murphy and was so named for the numerous blue and gray marble quarries that once were the bedrock of the community economy—yielding marble of such high quality that it was accepted for use at Arlington National Cemetery. Murphy is also roughly a 30-minute drive from the numerous dining, shopping, and outdoor recreation opportunities in Blue Ridge, Georgia. It’s easy to spend a day exploring Blue Ridge's boutiques, wineries, and shops before heading back to the peace and quiet of our Cherokee County mountains. Murphy and the Five Forks community showcase small town mountain life at its very best.

How did Beats Working Vacation Rentals begin hosting guests in the Smokies? Although we are based on the Emerald Coast, we love to travel too! In September of 2022, we (Barrett and Roger) had the pleasure of vacationing at Misty Mountain, a stunning cabin located in Five Forks. We came to the area to celebrate a good friend's wedding in Brasstown, North Carolina, located just down the road from Murphy. For Roger, this trip was a special homecoming, as he spent his summers as a young man working in this area. We absolutely fell in love with the town of Murphy, the locals, and this stunning mountain cabin! We made a leap of faith and reached out to the owners to inquire about caring for their lovely home. Luckily for everyone, they said, “Yes!”. Our Smoky Mountain expansion has proven to be a good move, as we partnered with the owners of The Great Escape in the winter of 2023, and have other projects in the works.

If you currently own a property in the area and are interested in having Beats Working Vacation Rentals manage your mountain cabin, please reach out to us directly.