A Gator on the Gate. A Mountain on the Horizon | Montevideo

This Rent In Highlands vacation rental home has a strict NO PET policy. Failure to adhere to this policy will result in a $1000.00 fine.

Only adults (25 years old and older) may reserve this property and an adult must occupy the property at all times.

The first clue is the gate. A big gator, unmistakable, setting the tone before you've even parked the car. The people who built this lodge are passionate Florida Gator fans, and they weren't shy about it — you'll find touches of orange and blue woven throughout the house with the kind of commitment that's either deeply relatable or deeply amusing, depending on your allegiances. Either way, it makes the place impossible to forget.

But here's what else makes it impossible to forget: the stone fireplace. The exposed wooden beams. The picture windows full of mountain. The covered deck with its own wood-burning fireplace and outdoor kitchen. The rope bridge to the kids' lookout tower. The little rock climbing wall just below it. The panoramic views that apparently reminded the original owners of Montevideo, Uruguay — a comparison that sounds dramatic until you're standing on that deck with your morning coffee and the pines stretching out in every direction, and suddenly it makes complete sense.

This is not a generic mountain lodge. This is a place with a personality, a story, and twelve beds to fill.

Inside: The Lodge Makes Its Case Immediately Exposed wooden beams overhead. Large picture windows framing mountain vistas on multiple sides. Plush sofas arranged around a grand stone fireplace that anchors the open-concept living area like it was always meant to be there. The fully equipped kitchen — granite countertops, modern appliances, the kind of setup that makes cooking for twelve feel manageable rather than chaotic — flows naturally into the living space so nobody misses the conversation while dinner is happening. Every bedroom is thoughtfully designed for genuine rest after the kind of full mountain days this property invites.

Sleeps twelve. Comfortably. Without anyone drawing the short straw.

The Deck is the Destination - The expansive covered deck is where Montevideo truly distinguishes itself from every other mountain rental in the area. A wood-burning fireplace. An outdoor cooking area. Panoramic mountain views that work equally well at sunrise and sunset and every hour in between. This is the deck where mornings start slowly, where barbecue dinners stretch well past dark, where someone always ends up with a blanket and a drink long after everyone else has gone to bed. It is, without question, the best seat in the house — and it's outside.

The Kids Already Own the Backyard - Here's the thing about traveling with children: they need somewhere to go. Montevideo solves this beautifully. A rope bridge leads to their very own lookout tower — the kind of feature that guarantees thirty minutes of uninterrupted adult conversation the moment they discover it. Just below, a rock climbing wall gives aspiring adventurers somewhere to direct their energy. The outdoor fireplace rounds out the backyard with evening marshmallow roasting and the kind of storytelling that only happens around an open fire. The kids will talk about this property for years. So will the adults.

Three Miles From Town, Miles From Ordinary - Downtown Highlands is just three miles away — acclaimed restaurants, boutique shopping, waterfalls, and trails all within easy reach. In the warmer months, hiking and swimming holes fill the days effortlessly. Come winter, snow tubing, sledding, skiing, and snowboarding are a short drive away, and the ice-skating rink at Kelsey-Hutchinson Founders Park runs November through March — a genuine surprise for guests who didn't know Highlands did winter this well.

Three miles to everything. Surrounded by nothing but pines and mountain air. A gator on the gate and a lookout tower in the backyard.

Book it before someone else does.

What our guests are saying…

"We spent most of our time on the porch and really enjoyed making a fire while watching the amazing sunsets. It has an amazing view of the mountain range." - Rent In Highlands Vacation Rental Guest, Seaton

Rent In Highlands Vacation Rental Cancellation Policy

Policy (A) for reservations less than 20 days:
A reservation canceled between 0-45 days prior to arrival is not eligible to receive a refund. If more than 45 days notice is given, the renter shall receive a refund of all payments made, less a cancellation fee of 10% of the Total Cost of the Reservation.

Policy (B) for reservations of 20 days or more and reservations made 6 months in advance:
NO refund is given unless the property is re-rented under the same terms (Trip insurance is available and recommended to help protect your trip).

Special Amenities:

Two Wood Burning Fireplaces
Firepit
Outdoor Cooking Area

Please note: The "swimming pool" amenity refers to access to the Highlands Recreation Center pool, a short drive from the property — not a private pool on-site.

This home is professionally managed by Rent in Highlands, a division of Country Club Properties. Your premier source for Vacation Rentals in Highlands NC.