Carolina Mountain Vacation Homes
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    • Fox Ridge Hollow
    • Greenview Condominium
    • Historic Shelton Carriage House
    • Ivy's Cabin
    • Longhorn Lodge
    • Majestic Overlook
    • Moose Haven
    • Mountain Dayz
    • Sawtooth Cottage
    • Seven Ridges Chalet
    • The Lazy Moose
    • The Waynesville Gem
    • Treehouse at Cataloochee
    • Valley View
    • Wren's Nest
    • Thank You for Visiting!
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​The Story of Carolina Mountain Vacation Homes


Over 30 Years of Local Hospitality and Family Roots in the Smokies
Before the days of websites, booking apps, or even email… there was Shelda.
In the early 1990s, Shelda Muirhead planted the seeds of what would become one of Maggie Valley’s first vacation rental companies. At the time, she had to drive to the Maggie Valley Chamber of Commerce each month to pick up a printed list of tourists who had visited and wanted more information about the area. With black-and-white brochures in hand, her daughter Katie by her side, they’d spend evenings folding trifold mailers, licking stamps, and sending them off to hopeful future guests.
And sometimes--just sometimes—the phone would ring.
One inquiry led to another, and Shelda’s cozy rental--Sawtooth Cottage, which her husband Scott had built right next door to the family home—started filling up with visitors. As demand grew, Shelda decided to take things a step further. She studied tirelessly for her real estate license—armed with her trusty TI-81 calculator—so she could begin managing vacation homes for other property owners who weren’t always in town.
Today, Sawtooth Cottage is still a part of our rental family, and if you stay there, you’ll find a special piece of history: the original guest book, dating all the way back to 1993, filled with handwritten memories from travelers who have been part of our story since the beginning.
As the business steadily grew, so did the Muirhead family's involvement. Scott went on to build another rental--Autumn Falls—just up the way. And the sweet cabin where Katie and her brother Jake grew up? That’s now known as Fox Loop Cabin, a guest favorite with a covered deck, a hot tub, and a sweeping year-round mountain view. The original family height chart still lives on the laundry room door. (It’s precious to us—please don’t add to it!)
What began as one family sharing their home with visitors has grown into a boutique rental company that still manages just 15–25 homes by choice. We believe in staying small, personal, and hands-on, so every guest and homeowner receives the care and attention they deserve.
Now, more than 30 years later, Katie—who started by folding brochures and helping her mom clean rentals—is proudly carrying the torch. She’s joined by Paul Wait, our amazing reservation manager who provides 24/7 guest support. Meanwhile, Shelda is living her well-earned retirement life, traveling with Scott in their little camper van and spending quality time with their two grandchildren.
At Carolina Mountain Vacation Homes, we’re not just a business.
We’re a family, a legacy, and a proud part of Maggie Valley history.
And we’re so glad you’re part of the story. 🏔️
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  • Welcome
  • Rentals
    • Amazing Views
    • Autumn Falls
    • Awesome View
    • Campbell Mountain Hideaway
    • Chipmunk Holler
    • Cooper's Cabin
    • Elk's Meadow
    • Elk Point
    • Fox Loop
    • Fox Ridge Hollow
    • Greenview Condominium
    • Historic Shelton Carriage House
    • Ivy's Cabin
    • Longhorn Lodge
    • Majestic Overlook
    • Moose Haven
    • Mountain Dayz
    • Sawtooth Cottage
    • Seven Ridges Chalet
    • The Lazy Moose
    • The Waynesville Gem
    • Treehouse at Cataloochee
    • Valley View
    • Wren's Nest
    • Thank You for Visiting!
  • Attractions
  • Restaurants
  • Breweries
  • Directions
  • Policies
  • Contact Us
  • OUR STORY