Tripadvisor gives a Travelers’ Choice award to accommodations, attractions and restaurants that consistently earn great reviews from travelers and are ranked within the top 10% of properties on Tripadvisor.
Tripadvisor gives a Travelers’ Choice award to accommodations, attractions and restaurants that consistently earn great reviews from travelers and are ranked within the top 10% of properties on Tripadvisor.
Run. Swim. Play. You and your four-legged friends can roam over eight rolling fenced acres or splash into the pond. Fully equipped and furnished vacation homes with hot tub, fireplace, luxurious beds, private fenced yard, dog door, gated porch. Every comfort and convenience of home, but far away from every day.20 minutes from downtown Asheville, Hendersonville, Brevard and Biltmore Estate in the heart of the beautiful Blue Ridge Mountains. Come. Sit. Stay.
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Barkwells, The Dog Lovers' Vacation Retreat, has garnered acclaim for its exceptional service and pet-centric amenities, ensuring both human and canine guests feel pampered. Set in a serene location near Asheville, guests appreciate the picturesque and tranquil setting.
The cabins at Barkwells are consistently celebrated for their cleanliness and coziness. Amenities, especially the hot tubs, are a hit among travelers looking for relaxation, and the pet-friendly atmosphere is a standout feature that guests repeatedly praise.
Location
Picturesque
Atmosphere
Tranquil
Cleanliness
Immaculate
Service
Attentive
Amenities
Well-appointed
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We recently returned from Barkwells with our dog Bentley and what a blast she had!
From the moment we arrived through the front gates we were completely in love with the surroundings of where we would be staying for the next 5 nights. There are multiple Cabins yet at times you feel like you have the place to yourself - blissfully peaceful.
We stayed in Lacey’s Cabin which was clean, comfortable, cosy and had all the amenities you could possibly need for your stay. Both myself and my husband agreed it was as if we were in our own home.
Barkwells provide dog bowls, dog bed, poop bags and towels and sheets to cover the furniture should your dog want to sit up on the sofa with you - they really do think of it all. If your visiting NC with your dog this really is the number one place you should be staying.
Barkwells was within a short drive to perfect dog friendly walks. We went to North Carolina Arboretum, Pisgah National Forest and Du-Pont National Forest all of which have endless trails and apart from the Arboretum which charges $16 entry the others are free.
We are looking forward to visiting again soon!
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Date of stay: May 2021Trip type: Traveled as a couple
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
This was my first time to Barkwells and will NOT be my last!!! This is by far the most dog friendly place I’ve ever been too with even designated dog sheets so they can be on the couch next to you and keep things tidy. The house was spotless and I was shocked how big Bo’s Hideaway yard was!! My two English Bulldogs loved exploring their yard and the huge common area. A lovely wine and treat was left for the humans and yummy dog treats for my kids! ❤️🐾❤️🐾 already planning my next trip to Barkwells!!!
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Date of stay: January 2020Trip type: Traveled with family
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Response from Barkwells, General Manager at Barkwells, The Dog Lovers' Vacation Retreat
Responded Jan 23, 2020
Thank you for taking the time to review your recent visit. We love hearing from our guests (both two and four legged) that they had a wonderful visit. Bo's Hideaway has a great yard and we are so happy that your fur babies enjoyed it. We wish you a warm winter and look forward to seeing you again at Barkwells.
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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
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Date of stay: August 2021
Value
Service
Sleep Quality
Room Tip:Check the website to find which cabin fits you the best.
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Response from Barkwells Office, General Manager at Barkwells, The Dog Lovers' Vacation Retreat
Responded Oct 3, 2021
Thank you for your wonderful review (and for noting the small details that we hope make the difference in each guest's stay). We're so glad you had a wonderful time and hope you come back soon! - The Barkwells Pack
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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!
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Date of stay: June 2023Trip type: Traveled with family
Room Tip:I would get a cabin right on the lake so you can just open the gate and watch the dogs run from...
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
At the time of writing this there are 268 reviews with an average star rating of 5. I ask what can I say that hasn’t been said? This was my family’s first stay at Barkwells and certainly will not be the last.
Great Location, we visited Asheville and Hendersonville with equal ease. Colors of fall were beginning to settle in and the weather was a welcome reprieve from the Florida heat.
But enough about us, this place is Dog Heaven.
The staff were very welcoming and kind. Although I did not personally meet the owner, my wife did and spoke very highly of her. Honestly, we we felt like family. We met other guests whom we came to understand made annual or semi annual treks to enjoy Barkwells. Many guests are recurring visitors, and for good reason.
If I had anything less than stellar to say it would be (1) the dog beds provided by Barkwells were unavailable to purchase due to supplier issues, this did not please my Beagle Boo as she fell in love with the plush comfort and was expecting me to keep my word and buy her one. (2) the WiFi was a bit more like SloFi, although I took this as a positive allowing me to enjoy the surrounding beauty and playtime with the pups. Hopefully this will be upgraded before my return next fall allowing me to extend my stay and work remotely a portion of the time.
If you are considering this destination I recommend booking early. This place fills up fast and for good reason.
Barkwells is the easiest 5 star review I’ve written to date. Come, Sit, Stay.
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Date of stay: October 2020Trip type: Traveled with family
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Response from Barkwells Office, General Manager at Barkwells, The Dog Lovers' Vacation Retreat
Responded Jan 17, 2021
Thank you for your review of your visit. We are so happy that you had a great time at Barkwells. Since your visit we have addressed the Wi-Fi issue and we have upgraded a piece of equipment which resolved the issue and we are all set for your arrival this fall! We wish you and your family the best and look forward to seeing you again!
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Forget Disneyland…this is the best place on Earth for dogs and their people! Our cabin was quiet, pristine, and beautiful; the grounds were revitalizing & rejuvenating for both canines & humans. The cabins are fashioned with your four-legged family members in mind- bowls, dog sheets/towels, doggie door, and their own yard. The team at Barkwells does impeccable work on a daily basis. We were going to cancel due to the rapid declining health of our elderly dog, but as soon as he stepped out of the car with the rest of the pack, he had a new lease on life and began engaging with the landscape, “dogging”, and eating his meals! His comeback was nothing short of miraculous. We could not deny the magic of Barkwells; all of our dogs knew immediately that this place was for them, and they felt comfortable in this oasis where over 30,000 dogs had visited before them. It truly is a special place like no other. If you love your dogs and want time to explore the grounds, pond, beach, or just laze on the deck with them, Barkwells is paradise.
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Date of stay: June 2022Trip type: Traveled with family
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
My husband and I brought our good boy, Milo, to Barkwells for the first time earlier this month and had a fantastic time! The cottage was well-appointed and cute (Snickers). When we arrived, there was a bottle of wine, a home-baked blueberry and lemon loaf, and a bag of gourmet dog treats waiting for us! There was also a cake in the fridge, because I was celebrating my birthday there. The photos can't capture how truly beautiful and well-maintained the property is. Our dog is a foxhound, and generally cannot be trusted off leash. He but was able to spend long periods each day running across the hills and meadows and jumping in and out of the large pond. He found a couple of puppy friends, who brought out the puppy in him (which we hadn't seen for a couple of years)! He was exhausted at the end of each day and slept very soundly. We will definitely be back! This place is magical!
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Date of stay: June 2023
Value
Location
Service
Trip type: Traveled with family
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Response from Jeff Krider, Owner at Barkwells, The Dog Lovers' Vacation Retreat
Responded Jun 21, 2023
Thank you for your wonderful review. We look forward to having you back soon. The Barkwells Pack!
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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. Not very welcoming at all!!!
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Date of stay: May 2021
Service
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Response from Barkwells Office, General Manager at Barkwells, The Dog Lovers' Vacation Retreat
Responded May 4, 2021
Barkwells takes extensive measures preparing cabins for our arriving guests, even more than usual now due to sanitizing and cleaning protocols in the COVID era. Our stated check in time on the website, paperwork, and check-in communications is 4:30. In the past, we have made exceptions to this policy when possible. We are unable to provide early check ins at this time and that was communicated to this guest who texted it was OK. The cabin was ready at 4:30 Saturday as promised. The guest made it clear they were very frustrated by having to wait until their check-in time. The following day, we met with them to discuss their concerns. Their level of frustration had not subsided and they stated the only reason they had not left was that their stay was paid in full. We asked if they would prefer to leave in which case we would reimburse them for their full stay. They chose to leave. We did our best to address their concerns and regret the resolution they chose has not been satisfactory. We do our very best to accommodate all of our guests and stand by our standards of cleanliness, customer service, and requirement of respectful treatment of our staff by guests.
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We were a family group of twelve people and four dogs, with different people staying different numbers of days. We had two cabins.
While we were impressed with how well equipped the cabins were, we were most impressed with staff friendliness. You really feel like part of the larger Barkwells family.
We arrived about 45 minutes before check in time, and notified the staff. They said our cabin was ready, and they let us check in early.
Cabins were what I would call “luxury rustic.” Lots of wood in construction and decor, with thoughtful appointments, such as lots of electrical outlets and well-labelled electric switches, and absolutely pristine. The kitchen was well-equipped, with nearly everything one could imagine available. The hot tub was an added bonus. Every cabin, with one exception, abutted a common meadow and pond area. Each cabin has its own fenced-in area for that cabin’s dogs, so there are different levels of containment for canine family members.
The compound is quite secure. One must get through two gates to enter or exit, which keeps the dogs safe.
Bottom line: I’d go back, even though I don’t have a dog!
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Date of stay: October 2022
Rooms
Cleanliness
Service
Room Tip:Each cabin has its own style and layout. Fisher is furthest from the common area for dogs.
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Response from Jeff Krider, Owner at Barkwells, The Dog Lovers' Vacation Retreat
Responded Nov 6, 2022
Thank you so much for your kind review. We look forward to having you back with us again in the future. Regards, The Barkwells Pack!
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We have stayed at Barkwells several times and it is always an amazing experience for us and our pups. The grounds are absolutely gorgeous! Cabins are spotless and well stocked with everything you could possibly need to be cozy throughout your stay. There is so much to do in the area both Mills River and Brevard. The dogs love swimming in the lake, making new friends and running free while there. The staff is so friendly and helpful and we always hate to leave. Thank you Barkwells for another amazing vacation. This trip we stayed at Mills River. We'd like to visit the Brevard location next. Jim and Laura Edwards and pups Memphis and Maddie June. May of 2024. Also Doug and Susan Edwards with Bailey Buckeye Joe and Zoey.
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Date of stay: May 2024
Value
Rooms
Location
Cleanliness
Service
Sleep Quality
Trip type: Traveled with family
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Response from Jeff Krider, Owner at Barkwells, The Dog Lovers' Vacation Retreat
Responded May 20, 2024
Jim and Laura, we are so glad you enjoyed your stay with us and appreciate the review very much! We look forward to seeing you back again soon!!
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Sorry we missed seeing your question. The Brevard property is also very private and with only two cottages there you almost feel like you have the property to yourself. Each of the cottages have their own fenced in yard just like the Asheville property. Please email us if you have any more questions. Thanks again and we hope to see you back soon!!
Closest is Ingles, very nice supermarket. Barkwells supplies starter filters, so don't worry about bringing any with you. They also have salt & pepper, little half & half containers, cooking spray, cleaning supplies, laundry pods -- it is an awesome place!
There are more places to choose from in the Mills River area.
PRICE RANGE
$402 - $568 (Based on Average Rates for a Standard Room)
ALSO KNOWN AS
barkwells, the dog lovers` vacation retreat hotel mills river
LOCATION
United StatesNorth CarolinaNorth Carolina MountainsMills River
NUMBER OF ROOMS
11
Prices are the average nightly price provided by our partners and may not include all taxes and fees. Taxes and fees that are shown are estimates only. Please see our partners for more details.
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