We stayed in the Rushing Waters Treehouse at River Falls at the Gorge and had a fun visit overall…read more The cabin is cute, rustic, and feels fairly new. One of the unique features is that the back deck has large tree trunks coming through the floor and roof. They add to the treehouse atmosphere, although they aren't actual live trees and do sway, so don't plan on hanging a camping hammock from them.
One thing to know before booking is that there's a short hike down to the cabin from the parking area, about 1-2 minutes on a downward slope trail with rocks. We packed light, so it wasn't an issue, but it could be an unpleasant surprise for elderly guests or anyone bringing heavy luggage. The treehouse cabin next door, River Pines, has a shorter walk, and the other regular cabins have parking at the cabin.
The back deck overlooks the river as well as a few long-term RV sites. There is a path behind the cabin leading toward the river, but the waterfront areas directly behind the cabin are occupied by the leased RV sites. To access the river, walk to the right toward the tubing entrance, or continue past the playground and bathhouse to the main riverfront common area, which is also a convenient tubing exit point. There's parking near the common area, making it easy to bring coolers, chairs, floats, fishing supplies and other gear for an afternoon by the water. The tubing was the main event and very relaxing.
The website listing is somewhat vague, but the cabin does include linens (sheets and bath towels), kitchen basics (dishes, utensils, cookware, dish wash basics), a refrigerator, small oven/stove, microwave, toaster, broom and charcoal grill. Bring your own pool towels and shower essentials.
A few downsides: there is no fire pit, only 1 parking spot, and the main bedroom mattress has poor support and dips in the middle. Some arcade machines were broken or took quarters without working. The biggest drawback was the value. Our stay came out to more than $600 for two nights after the cleaning fee. The $95 cleaning fee felt steep considering guests are asked to wash and put away dishes, leave the cabin tidy, and take out trash. This price would be worth it if it had designated river access directly behind the unit. The campground is largely RV residential.
Overall, it's a unique and enjoyable place to stay, especially if you're visiting nearby Tallulah Gorge State Park. We enjoyed our stay as a one time experience. The front office staff were very friendly and accommodating.
Our friends stayed in the honey bear cabin, which was about a 10 min walk from Rushing Waters. Although not as charming or spacious as Rushing Waters, we liked their screened porch, extra bedroom and easy access as you can park right in front of it. Plus, it has a firepit.