Michael Carter’s Log Cabin & Wilderness Lodging

We just returned from a girls weekend where we stayed at the Wilderness Cabin and it was exactly what we were looking for. I read an earlier review complaining about a cobweb or two… hello…it’s a cabin in the mountains. The cabin was cozy and quiet and quite comfy. There are other cabins close by but given the way they are situated you never hear anyone. We were able to navigate the roads just fine with my all wheel drive (and it rained/​snowed while we were there so it was quite wet). Michael came by and checked to see if we needed anything and left his info in case we did. All in all it was a super relaxing weekend:) Might be planning a late fall visit now with the husband and kiddos.

I have stayed in Michael Carters Log Cabins a dozen times during 2011 and 2013. Everything is spectacular. A quiet mountain experience with all the amenities of home. 5 of the cabins overlook the East and each day the most amazing sunrises are imminent. We had fox and deer almost every time right in the yard. Michael would pile the snow in the driveway when he knew the kids were coming so they could. play even if there was no snow fall. One Christmas my adult son and the rest of us stayed for 10 days over Christmas. …Michael accepted our packages and ornaments for a tree in advance of our arrival and then took the kids out to pick out a tree. He chopped it down from his own property and put a stand on it. We LOVE Michael Carters log cabins. The house further up the out an don’t have the sunrise view but are wonderfully nestled in the woods. Deer graze just outside the window. We always cleaned our place before we left but we could. have left it for. Michael to do for a hundred bucks… really not a bad deal. Michael and friends offer a spectacular option for vacation stay and I highly recommend it for your family. Don’t forget to stop at the grocery store before heading up to the 9000 feet cabins… the kitchens are well equipped and you’ll find some things left by other visitors like spices and sugar… you never know. Relax and unwind in this gorgeous hideaway in Evergreen. You’ll be picking up a real estate list before you leave town.

Beware of renting from Michael!!!
I reserved a cabin on March 8 for use on March 15 for one night. On March 11^th I surprisingly found out that I had a medical emergency that required IMMEDIATE surgery that week. So, I told him of the emergency 3 days after reserving the cabin (and he has no other prospects looking to rent it).
I wrote Michael and told him about this emergency on March 11, and due to this I would not be able to leave my home and come to the cabin. I asked if he could refund the money for the night at the cabin due to the horrible circumstances. Much to my shock and horror, Michel would not refund anything!!! He kept the full amount of $ 175 and only gave me back my cleaning deposit and pet fee. I am beside myself that someone could be that awful, especially when I am going through a trying, emergent time. It is up to him to decide what to refund, but he told me the contract states that NO MATTER WHAT HAPPENS, you cannot get back your money. He will only offer you a 75% discount during Jan 6-​Feb 28 of 2015. Really!!! What kind of deal is that?! Horrible. Awful. Heartless. DO NOT RENT FROM HIM!!!

WARNING RENTERS BEWARE. I’m giving this place one star only because the cabin we stayed in was cute and well appointed for the most part. I have rented many cottages, cabins, homeaway/​vrbo type rentals while traveling and unfortunately, this is my first negative experience. So negative in fact, it motivated me to open up a Unilocal account.
1. You are expected to wash the bed linens prior to check-​out. We did but, not to the owners liking. He charged us $ 40 claiming we ruined the mattress cover.
2. Yard surrounding the unit was littered with dog feces. I travel with my 5 year old son & my two dogs and don’t want them encountering dog feces.
3. The owner kept our $ 100 cleaning deposit claiming we didn’t leave the rental as we found it when I know 100% that we left the unit (and yard), the dishes, the carpets, etc cleaner & tidier than we found it. When asked to provide a list of how the rental was not properly cleaned, he would not provide one.
4. Waaaay out in the middle of nowhere. Takes a long time (& gas) to get there. The price is great but consider what you’ll pay in gasoline to get there. I suggest finding closer to downtown. The drive isn’t worth it.
I suspect, based on our experience, that this is the scheme the owner uses to keep cleaning deposits. In truth, he should have paid us to stay at this unit because we cleaned the cabin with more attention to detail than any cleaning service could have. We spent the entire morning cleaning up not because of the deposit but because we wanted to respectfully follow the rules. Unfortunately, Mr. Carter doesn’t have the same ethics.