I made a reservation at this resort, and I asked Silver about the refund policy before finalizing my booking. I was told that if I canceled outside of 30 days, I wouldn't have to pay a $100 admin fee. That ended up being the wrong information. So I canceled my booking and got stuck with the fee I was told I had avoided. Edit: Shortly after leaving this review, I was contacted by the owner, Jeff, who offered to give me a full refund on the condition that I delete my review. To anyone contemplating staying with Barkwells, consider how many reviews were removed through these tactics. read more

Snoopy had to use his VA loans when he designed this place. Bring your dog's food and toys. Everything is provided, including towels for your pups and the hooman's paying the bill. Accommodations are stunning and practical. Every kitchen item required for the indoor and outdoor chef is provided, save the food, spices, and condiments. Grocery and other shopping near by. The hot tub is an added treat. Really, everything was thought of---including emergency contacts for hoomans and pups. The FAQ page on the website answers every question. First timer's are met personally. Office staff is there for you. Pick up the coffee and a hat! This location books fast, now even faster with this review. Batkwells spoils the 2 and 4-legged clientele. read more

See all

I first heard of Barkwells at a different dog centric property and I always wanted to go but knew that it was more expensive than what I usually do for accommodations. However, for my Mom's 75th birthday I decided to splurge and book a trip to Barkwells for us, my husband, and our 2 dogs. Overall, Barkwells is worth the higher price tag. The property is amazing and organized with dogs in mind. Every morning our dogs loved getting to run free and meet other dogs. The cabins are very spacious and comfortable and our dogs loved relaxing in every nook of the cabin. The Barkwells staff is equally amazing with tiny details such as welcome signs and flags. The location feels very secluded but actually you are very close to town which has many dog friendly dining/drinking options (Mills River Brewing, Bold Rock, Burning Blush, etc). I only have one negative and I realize that it was a fluke that won't happen to 99% of other visitors. The batteries on the smoke detectors all must have been changed at the same time and they all went out at the same time. Both times it was in the middle of the night and we were awoken to a chirping noise (which really bothered one of the dogs) and we had to wander around the very spacious cabin trying to figure out which smoke detector to take the battery out of. I realize that this is not Barkwells fault but not getting a good night's sleep makes it hard to leave a 5 star review. I would definitely return and give them another try to make the trip totally perfect! read more

5 stars isn't enough! We absolutely love this place and so do the pups! The second we checked in we were welcomed by Bobbi, who helped us throughout our stay and was so sweet and helpful the entire trip. Barkwells had treats, homemade pumpkin bread, wine, and even a doggie birthday cupcake for our birthday pup, Skye just waiting for us upon arrival (they even had a special welcome note on the white board). We stayed in the Fisher cabin and literally never wanted to leave because it was so beautiful and well appointed. The pups loved swimming in the doggie lake and running around the large fenced in area. The owners of Barkwells even came by to say hi which made it extra special as well. We loved it so much, we even added an extra day which they were very accommodating with as well! Overall our best trip! read more

See all

I really should not be writing this review as this little gem is hard to book and I don't want MORE people to know about it, BUT the owners and staff do such a fantastic job it is hard not to give kudos and let others know who love their dogs that this place is awesome. First, they vet your pet to make sure they are not aggressive and have all their shots and bordetella. Each cottage has their own fenced in yard, and then the entire of leash property is all fenced in with so much room to wander and a big lake to play in. The cottages are all well appointed and are dog centric with doggy doors, dog bowls, plenty of towels, hooks for leashes, etc. I could go on and on about this place. Anyone who has dogs and want s a great getaway, this is the place read more

Barkwells - View of Lake from Cabin at Sunrise - Vacation Rentals Near Me - Mills River, North Carolina

Barkwells is so good, I almost don't want to write a review about it! We put off coming here for years because of that all-too-common experience where photos oversell a property. Well, that was our loss! Like sunsets, photos can't capture the beauty of Barkwells. Arriving on the grounds feels like stepping into heaven. We even feel closer here to our dogs who have passed on and never visited; it's so easy to imagine them here with us. The goodness at Barkwells is something you can't put into to words or do justice to in a photo or a review; yet, it's also something you can easily witness shining through in all the thoughtful details, from the orthopedic dog beds that seem impossibly brand new each stay, to the luxurious cotton robes, the sharpened knives, or the free and clear laundry soap. I've stayed here five times and keep noticing new special things each trip. My theory about why the goodness at Barkwells is so pervasive is that the whole staff is grounded together in love for this place, love for dogs, and love for what they do. It's rare to see a team of people so happy to work with each other, and the benefits are huge for the very lucky guests. First off, the housekeeping crew! The check-in time is later in the day for a very good reason. The people who clean arrive promptly after check out and work up until the next arrivals. They are next-level perfectionists who do an absolutely AMAZING job--no hyperbole there! I've had the pleasure of meeting Jessi when she was unloading supplies from her car; even that was spotless, lol! (Major plus: the cabins never smell like cleaning chemicals or bleach.) The landscaping work of Leo, with her little dog Tulie who is such a good playmate even for big dogs, is impeccable. Teri and Reese maintain the grounds as well as their infectious cheer toward human and canine guests alike (even when dogs bark after their golf cart). The owners, Patti and Jeff, are kind, genuine, and easy to talk to, as are all of the people who staff the office. We've had especially great experiences with Madalyn and Kimberly, who have both gone above and beyond helping us with questions and administrative/ booking tasks. One of our favorite reasons for loving Barkwells is Bobbi, who has been called a "human dog biscuit" for good reason. Her warmth, wisdom, and intuition extend to her skillful interaction with dogs; ours definitely know when she's in the office, making a beeline for her at the beginning of each trip out to the big yard. Even when they've recently gone for a dip in the pond, she welcomes them with a bright smile and the best laugh ever. But she's also a real people person, too! On times when l've come up here solo, she's generously shared time with me, inviting me to sit as we share stories and our love of dogs. The dogs seem to know this haven is here just for them-- and it really is. As an anxious person who has been known to travel with our cordless Dyson : [] that constant, looming pressure I feel at other "dog-friendly" but not "dog-centric" places we've stayed is absent. Barkwells even provides dog-specific towels in a basket next to the back door and dog sheets for the furniture, which is one less bag we have to pack. At the bottom line, the love and care poured into this place by the whole team is a dynamic, contagious force that touches the larger Barkwells family of human and canine guests who return again and again. I've noticed a prominent pattern: the people who stay here are extremely conscientious, empathic, and treat one another with a great deal of respect. But the best treat of all at Barkwells are the memories we collect of our dogs romping along the shore of the pond, smiling ear to ear as they gallop full speed down the grassy knoll, sunning on the deck with their little noses resting on the bottom porch rail. This is the joy, the magic which will keep us returning again and again. Thank you, Barkwells! read more

My husband and I were looking for a pet-friendly place to spend the our anniversary weekend in Asheville and we happened to come across Barkwells. We were lucky to be able to reserve one of their cottages at their Brevard location during the busy holiday season. The place is absolutely breathtaking surrounded by natural beauty! The cottage opens up to a large beautiful meadow with a pond. The meadow is a common area that is fully fenced so we could let our pup run leash free . The cottage itself was clean, beautiful and equipped with all amenities . This place is completely dog-centric : we didn't have to carry our pup's bed, bowls or towels , they provided it all. The cottage had its private fenced backyard as well so we could let pup free. Barkwells also has 3 adorable rescue donkeys, we had a chance to interact with them. The grounds were beautiful, there were string lights and tasteful Christmas decorations everywhere. Apart from the place , the check in experience and stay was excellent . We were checked in by Michael and also met Ellen and their daughter, all were very warm and welcoming ! They really wanted us to have a wonderful time celebrating our 10th anniversary there and we did! They also left us a cake, Champagne and notes - we really appreciated the personal touch ! Overall a wonderful, memorable stay and we're already planning our next one :)) read more

See all

It was love at first sight as soon as we drove into the property and checked into our cabin (Peppermint Patty)!! The words, "superb", "fantastic", and "amazing" can't even begin to capture how warm, inviting, and beautiful this place is! What we appreciated the most was the attention to every detail--it's like they anticipated every need we may have had! From the well-organized and plentiful amount of utensils in the kitchen drawers, to the blender and toaster in the cabinet, and to the wine glasses and champagne flutes in the cupboards...not to mention the doggie towels and sheets, to how very clean it all was, attention to every single detail meant so much!! Also, they're dog friendly and really mean it!! There's no weight or size limit to the pet(s) you can bring which also means so much b/c we have 2 large dogs. Who, by the way, had the best time! They loved exploring the property and running around in the backyard! Actually, all of us had the best time and left wishing we could've stayed longer. We're already planning our next trip, so I'm sure we will! You're heaven sent, Barkwells!! Thank you!! read more

Barkwells - Our beloved Bernese Mountain Dog enjoying the view! Peppermint Patty cabin in the background. - Vacation Rentals Near Me - Mills River, North Carolina

See all

The place is nice, but their customer service is terrible. We were trying to arrive just 30 minutes early, and the manager told us we couldn't even sit on the patio of our cabin prior to the 4:30 check in time. We literally sat in a nearby parking lot for 30 minutes waiting to arrive. Then, when we got there, the manager didn't want to talk to me, because she was busy with other guests. My frustration grew, and when I finally got to speak with the manager, she told me it was their policy and she was too busy earlier to text me. The owner came to talk to me the next day, and said if I wasn't happy I had the option to leave and be refunded. I took him up on the offer. A few days later I received an email saying that I was no longer welcome at Barkswell. If a company can't handle a negative complaint and try to make the customer happy, they shouldn't be in business. The resort is nice, but if you ever have trouble or a complaint, they don't care at all about their customers. It is a like it or leave it kind of place. Be forewarned, the people here seem nice at first, but if you have a problem, they honestly don't care. They feel like their customers are disposable, and someone else will come along to take your spot. Not very welcoming at all!!! read more

Absolutely amazing place! Beautiful cabins and comfortable accommodations. Barkwells dogcentric nature doesn't compare to any other vacation experience for dog owners. Anything you could want to be comfortable is there dog door, dog towels, dog bath station, food bowls, fenced yard! Highly recommend! read more

This is such a hard review to write because I have completely mixed emotions about Barkwells. My father and I and our three dogs stayed there for a week over Christmas and absolutely loved the experience. The cabin, property, attention to detail - it was wonderful. Before we left we had already booked another visit in June. However, upon return home, my father got a call from a Barkwells staff member who accused us of leaving our cabin in terrible condition with HUMAN FECAL MATTER on sheets and the shower curtain. They informed us that they were keeping our security deposit and our june reservation would be cancelled because we were "not a good fit" for Barkwells. My dad is 79 years old and was understandably upset, so I called them back and had a lengthy discussion with a staff member who eventually conceded that the susbstance was simply mud. I apologized profusely for the cabin being left in a manner they felt beneath their standards, told them we understood them keeping our security deposit, but asked them to please reconsider allowing us to return in the future since we had enjoyed it there so much. I volunteered that at the end of a future visit we could walk through the cabin with a staff member to ensure everything was left appropriately. The manager seemed understanding and said she would disuss this with the owners and call me back. My father then recieved an email from Barkwells repeating that they had cancelled our future reservation, now also stating that the lawn may need to be resodded due to excessive digging - something that was never mentioned a week ago. I know that one dog dug a hole in the yard that I refilled before we left, but that there was also no grass in the yard to begin with, and new guests have since stayed in the property. I was pretty surprised that such a not even dog-friendly but dog-centric place would behave so harshly. I think the part that bothers me the most is what an amazing week we had, but now that memory feels marred knowing how unpleasant the resort has been since our departure. So, there is my conflicted and mixed review. If you can ensure that you and your contain companions adhere to Barkwells' standards and maintain a pristine environment, it would probably be an amazing place to stay. However, if you are unable to attain that level of excellence that they seem to require, I would recommend booking elsewhere. read more

Woof, howl, bark and pant! If you're a dog or a dog's person, this is as good as it gets. Seven 2-bedroom cabins located inside an 8 acre compound with a pond in the center. Lot's of room to run, fetch, swim and chase the birds! The cabins are gorgeous. They are log cabin style with an open floor plan with all the amenities: fully stocked kitchen, gas fireplace, hot tub on the porch, washer and dryer, doggy door with fenced in yard, dog towels and sheets. The cabins are beautiful and spotlessly clean and located 20 minutes from downtown Asheville. The owners are gracious and helpful. They even put a birthday flag up outside our cabin to celebrate our birthday! As the say at Barkwells, Come, Sit, Stay! read more

I don't think I could have asked for more. 8 acres for the dogs to run around and play, along with a pond makes it a wonderful vacation spot for the dog loving family. The cabins are gorgeous. An open floor plan with all the amenities! Very clean! Just a short drive from Asheville, there is plenty for the humans to do too. The staff was very helpful as well! Definitely will be returning! read more

This is an amazing place to stay especially if you have dogs. The cabin was equipped with a fully equipped kitchen, fenced large yard and doggy door. The owner even came to check on the dogs for us while we went zip lining. We took the dogs hiking and they LOVED the lake on the fenced in property. It's hard to say which of us had a better time. We will definitely go back! read more

See all

Ok, you need to know I'm in the hospitality industry, so I can be pretty picky! I'm also a crazy dog person and involved with animal rescue. So, the double-gated entrance was most appropriate, to make sure there are no escapees. Both gates were decorated with Christmas garland, so pretty - great first impression. Our cabin had a beautifully decorated Christmas tree inside it. There were doggie treats, a bottle of wine for the humans, a welcome board with all 6 doggie and 5 humans names listed -in the kitchen, two doggie beds, doggie treats. The view of the lake was awesome and in the morning, sunrise was so pretty! The dogs had a great time running off leash. All guests were respectful of each other. What can I say? It was perfect. I can't think of anything to complain about. Everyone had a great time. Thinking of going back next Christmas. Patti C. read more

Barkwells provides the perfect setting for a dog friendly dream vacation. Here you have your own spacious, comfortable, and luxurious cabin - 2 bed 2 bath, fireplace, hot tub on your deck, kitchen w/ cookware, dish washer, laundry, views from living room and master bath, private fenced yard with doggy door all on a completely fenced in 8 acre property with plenty of room for running around and swimming in the lake. I'm not sure who enjoyed this more - the humans or the dogs. From the welcome basket with yummy goodies for both canine and human to the tempurpedic pillows and plush doggy beds (dogs allowed on furniture too, of course), this place is fantastic. You are about 20 minutes from downtown Asheville and there are 3,000+ miles of hiking trails in the region, as close at a 15 minute drive away. Grocery shop and stay on the property, or go out to cool restaurants and cultural events at night... either way you can't go wrong. Bonus: There are chickens on site (start your breakfast with fresh, organic free range eggs!), everyone is friendly, and service is top notch. The owners and staff are all great people - as are the other guests! Schedule a massage or a couples massage (the therapists come to you, and they're great!). Our only mistake was not booking for longer. We tried to extend our stay but all the cabins were taken. Next time we come, it'll be for a full week - minimum. So, so, SOOOOO worth the 11 hour drive it took us to get here from Manhattan. read more

This week was our third visit to Barkwells. We love it! Our three pups love it more! The team at Barkwells does an outstanding job - the place is beautiful, our cabin was clean and well appointed and their service is top-notch. We will be back! read more

We had reservations over Christmas to stay at Barkwells. Our dog had been sick for the past two weeks and we had taken her to our vet, the emergency vet and opthomologist for a total of 11 visits over that two week period. I called Barkwells and I explained to them that my dog was still very sick and that we could not come. I also sent them a copy of all of the vet and hospital bills. We were so upset that our dog, which is like a child to us, was still very sick and also that we had to cancel her vacation, since this is a dog vacation. We had already paid for the vacation in full at Barkwells request, and they told us that they could not reimburse us...at all.. nothing.. not even for one night's stay. They would not even put any money towards a future vacation which we said we would rebook over Thanksgiving. What Barkwells did say is that they would try to find someone to take our reservation. I was thankful for that. Upon learning that, I told the "Doodle Family" a group that I belong to on Facebook, about the reservation opening and to go on Barkwell's website. One person was interested and I told them please just wait until I hear back from Barkwells tonight as they told me they may be able to fill my reservation and I would really like to be reimbursed something. What we found out is that when you tried to view open reservations on Barkwell's website you were only able to see the dates from December 25 and forward nothing containing our reservation dates of December 23, 24, etc. So, you could not see that anything was available. I called Barkwells and notified them. They said they would get back to me. They said the person they thought was going to take my reservation had to ask her husband and they were waiting to hear back from her. They said they would call me later. Barkwells never called me back so I contacted them the next morning. Meanwhile, the person that was interested on my end, could not wait any longer to make plans. I told Barkwells if they couldn't find someone to take my reservation that I wanted to "gift" our vacation to someone in the Doodle Family right away since I already lost one night to nobody! Barkwells told me that my "gift person" had to arrive today (the day I was calling) between 3:00 p.m.- 5:00 p.m. and that I had to let Barkwells know ASAP!!! I said I have to find someone first! Barkwells also said that the person I "gift" the vacation to has to come today because there will be nobody here to check them in on Christmas. This place is totally unbelievable. We went from being so excited to come to feeling so disgusted with this place. They have horrible customer service and they could care less about you or your dog. All in all we gave our vacation as a gift to a wonderful family from Tennessee who was very thankful. Also, our dog, Opal, is feeling so much better. So really that is all that counts, but I will never visit Barkwells nor will I ever recommend it as a place to go to. read more

This place is awesome! We very welcomed by Micheal and Ellen for our 8th anniversary! The little touches really impressed us! The cottage was super clear and luxurious. The dogs had so much fun swimming, running, swimming and running. Very close to trails, which we hiked two trails, and great places to eat the area too. We are definitely returning. Truly a dog's retreat but great for the parents too, as it was like staying at luxury hotel! read more

Outstanding. The best vacation we've ever had with the dogs! If you are looking for a mountain get away where you can take the pups, look no further than Barkwells. Owners Michael and Ellen Winner are two of the nicest people you'll ever meet too. They went above and beyond to make our stay as enjoyable as it was. The grounds are magnificent, as well. I just can't say enough about Barkwells! read more