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Terms of Service

Last updated: April 10, 2026

Agreement to Terms

By accessing www.hickoryhideoutwnc.com (“the Site”) and making a reservation, you agree to these Terms of Service and our Privacy Policy. If you do not agree, please do not use the Site.

License to Occupy

THIS IS A LICENSE TO OCCUPY, NOT A LEASE. YOUR RESERVATION CREATES A REVOCABLE LICENSE FOR TRANSIENT OCCUPANCY AND DOES NOT CREATE A LANDLORD-TENANT RELATIONSHIP UNDER NORTH CAROLINA LAW.

You are a transient guest and not a tenant of the property. You have no right of renewal, holdover, or continued occupancy beyond the dates specified in your reservation. You agree that you will not receive mail, establish residency, or claim any possessory interest in the property. Upon expiration of your reservation, your license to occupy terminates automatically. Any occupancy beyond the specified checkout date and time constitutes trespass under North Carolina General Statute 14-159.13, and the Owner reserves the right to contact law enforcement for immediate removal without further notice or court process.

Booking & Payment

  • A 50% deposit is required at the time of booking to confirm your reservation.
  • A second payment of 25% is charged automatically 60 days before check-in.
  • The remaining balance is charged 14 days before check-in.
  • A $250 refundable damage deposit is charged at booking and refunded within 7 days of checkout if no damage is found, subject to the inspection and deduction provisions below.
  • If your booking is made within 60 days of check-in, the deposit and second payment are combined. If within 14 days, the full amount is charged at booking.
  • All payments are processed securely through Stripe.
  • By providing your payment method, you authorize Hickory Hideout to charge your card on file for any fees, damages, or penalties described in these Terms, including but not limited to holdover fees, damage repairs, missing items, and excess cleaning charges.

Check-In, Check-Out & Holdover

Check-in is no earlier than 4:00 PM. Check-out is no later than 10:00 AM. A personalized smart key code is programmed to activate at 4:00 PM on your check-in date and expire at 10:00 AM on your check-out date. The code will not function outside of these hours.

LATE CHECKOUT / HOLDOVER FEE: If you fail to vacate the property by 10:00 AM on your check-out date, you will be charged a holdover fee of 1.5 times the nightly rate for each hour or partial hour of continued occupancy. This fee reflects the actual disruption to housekeeping scheduling and subsequent guest check-ins and is not a penalty. Holdover beyond 4:00 PM on your check-out date constitutes trespass and will be treated as unauthorized occupancy.

Rental Agreement

All guests must sign a digital Rental Agreement before completing their booking. This agreement covers occupancy limits, pet policy, check-in/check-out times, house rules, and cancellation terms. The full agreement is presented during the booking process.

Cancellation Policy

  • The initial deposit is non-refundable.
  • Cancellations more than 60 days before check-in: refund of any payments beyond the initial deposit.
  • Cancellations within 60 days of check-in: non-refundable.
  • We strongly recommend travel insurance.

Promotional Codes

Promotional codes are subject to availability and may be withdrawn at any time. Only one code may be applied per booking. Codes cannot be applied retroactively to existing reservations. Discounts apply to the nightly rate only and do not affect cleaning fees, taxes, or damage deposits.

Occupancy & Guest Conduct

Maximum occupancy is 5 guests with a maximum of 4 adults. Valid combinations: 4 adults + 1 child, 3 adults + 2 children, or 2 adults + 3 children. Occupancy includes all persons on the property at any time, including visitors. No parties, events, or gatherings that exceed the occupancy limit are permitted. Unauthorized additional guests or parties will result in immediate reservation termination without refund.

Pet Policy & Pet Liability

Dogs only. All pets must be disclosed before booking with breed, weight, and number. A one-time pet fee of $150 applies. Undisclosed pets discovered at the property will result in immediate reservation termination without refund.

PET INDEMNIFICATION: You are solely responsible for your pet(s) at all times. You agree to indemnify, defend, and hold harmless Hickory Hideout and its owners from any and all claims, damages, costs, and expenses (including attorney fees) arising from your pet's behavior, including but not limited to: property damage (furniture, flooring, landscaping, decor), bites or injuries to any person, allergen remediation required for subsequent guests, noise disturbances, and any violation of local animal control ordinances. Pet damage charges will be assessed against your damage deposit and card on file, supported by photographic documentation.

Assumption of Risk

PLEASE READ THIS SECTION CAREFULLY. BY COMPLETING YOUR RESERVATION, YOU ACKNOWLEDGE AND VOLUNTARILY ASSUME THE FOLLOWING INHERENT RISKS ASSOCIATED WITH THE PROPERTY AND ITS MOUNTAIN ENVIRONMENT:

  • Wildlife: The property is in the natural habitat of black bears, venomous snakes (copperheads, timber rattlesnakes), ticks, stinging insects, and other wildlife. Encounters may occur on or near the property.
  • Terrain: The property features steep driveways, uneven ground, multiple stairways (three flights), open lofts, elevated decks, and mountain terrain. Falls, slips, and trips are possible.
  • No cell service: There is no cellular service at the property. In the event of an emergency, you must use the property WiFi or landline (828-479-3999) to contact emergency services.
  • Weather: Mountain weather is unpredictable and may include ice, snow, high winds, lightning, falling trees, fog, and rapidly changing conditions. Road access may become hazardous or impassable.
  • Water supply: The property is on a shared well. Water availability is not guaranteed and may be interrupted during periods of high usage or drought.
  • Fire risk: The property is in a forested mountain area. Wildfire risk exists, particularly during dry conditions.
  • Limited emergency response: Graham County is rural. Emergency medical services and hospital access (approximately 20 minutes) may be delayed by distance, weather, or road conditions.

You acknowledge that these risks are inherent to the mountain environment and cannot be eliminated. You voluntarily assume full responsibility for any injury, illness, damage, or loss arising from these risks during your stay. This assumption of risk does not apply to injuries caused by the Owner's gross negligence or willful misconduct.

Release of Liability

TO THE FULLEST EXTENT PERMITTED BY NORTH CAROLINA LAW, YOU RELEASE, WAIVE, AND DISCHARGE HICKORY HIDEOUT, ITS OWNERS, AGENTS, AND AFFILIATES FROM ANY AND ALL LIABILITY, CLAIMS, DEMANDS, AND CAUSES OF ACTION ARISING FROM OR RELATED TO YOUR USE OF THE PROPERTY, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO PERSONAL INJURY, ILLNESS, DEATH, OR PROPERTY DAMAGE, EXCEPT WHERE CAUSED BY THE OWNER'S GROSS NEGLIGENCE OR WILLFUL MISCONDUCT.

This release applies to you, all members of your party, and any person you invite onto the property. You represent that you have the authority to bind all members of your party to this release.

Indemnification

YOU AGREE TO INDEMNIFY, DEFEND, AND HOLD HARMLESS HICKORY HIDEOUT AND ITS OWNERS FROM AND AGAINST ANY AND ALL CLAIMS, DEMANDS, ACTIONS, DAMAGES, LOSSES, COSTS, AND EXPENSES (INCLUDING REASONABLE ATTORNEY FEES) ARISING FROM OR RELATED TO:

  • Your use of the property or any breach of these Terms;
  • Any injury or damage caused by you, your guests, your invitees, or your pets;
  • Any third-party claims arising from the acts or omissions of you or any member of your party;
  • Damage to the property, its contents, fixtures, appliances, electronics, furnishings, linens, or decor;
  • Any violation of applicable law, ordinance, or regulation during your stay;
  • Any unauthorized use of or damage to the septic system, water system, or any utility;
  • Any fire, property damage, or environmental harm caused by your use of the fire pit, grill, or any open flame.

This indemnification obligation survives the termination of your reservation and your departure from the property.

Property Damage, Inspection & Unreported Damages

All property contents are thoroughly inventoried and photographed before and after each stay. Housekeeping conducts a detailed inspection at every checkout.

You must report any damages upon check-in or that occur during your stay. Please send photos of any damaged items and leave them in visible sight for the housekeeper.

UNREPORTED DAMAGES: Damages discovered during the post-checkout inspection within 72 hours of your departure that were not reported by you will be documented with photographs and assessed against your damage deposit and card on file at full replacement value. An itemized accounting of all deductions will be provided in accordance with North Carolina General Statute 42A-17. Missing items without prior notification will be treated as damage and charged at full replacement value.

You are responsible for damage to all property contents including but not limited to: indoor and outdoor furniture, electronics, appliances, linens, towels, bedding, kitchen equipment, carpets, rugs, flooring, walls, fixtures, and all interior and exterior decor. Replacement costs are based on current retail value of identical or comparable items.

Theft of Property

All items within the home are documented with photographs and inventoried before and after each stay. Removal of any property item without authorization constitutes theft under North Carolina General Statute 14-72 and will be reported to law enforcement. You will be charged full replacement value for any missing items, deducted from your damage deposit and charged to your card on file.

Cleaning & Excess Cleaning Fees

One standard cleaning is included with your reservation. If the condition of the property requires cleaning beyond the standard level (as determined and documented by the housekeeper with photographs), you will be charged an additional cleaning fee. This fee will be determined by the housekeeper based on the actual additional time and effort required and will be deducted from your damage deposit or charged to your card on file.

Septic System

The property is on a private septic system. DO NOT FLUSH anything other than toilet paper. No wipes of any kind, feminine products, paper towels, or any other material may be flushed at any time.

If the septic system is clogged or damaged due to improper flushing of prohibited materials during your stay, you are responsible for 100% of all repair costs, including emergency pump-out service, plumbing, and any required system repairs or replacement. These costs will be charged to your card on file.

Water System

The property is on a shared well. Water supply is not guaranteed and may be interrupted during periods of high usage or drought. The mineral content in the water is high. Please ensure all faucets are turned off when not in use and be mindful of water consumption.

Winter guests (December through early March): Temperatures may drop below freezing, which can freeze water pipes. You must not set the thermostat below 62°F during your stay. If you notice overnight temperatures dropping below 32°F, leave the kitchen faucet on a slow drip to prevent pipe freezing.

If water pipes freeze or burst due to your negligence (including lowering the thermostat below the minimum setting or leaving doors/windows open in freezing conditions), you are responsible for all resulting repair costs, water damage remediation, and lost rental income during repairs.

Fire Pit & Outdoor Fire

The fire pit is available for your use. You must never leave any fire unattended and must ensure the fire is completely extinguished before leaving the area. Keep fires to a reasonable size. You are responsible for checking whether a burn ban is in effect in Graham County; use of the fire pit during an active burn ban is your sole responsibility and may constitute a criminal violation.

You agree to indemnify and hold harmless Hickory Hideout and its owners for any fire damage, property damage, personal injury, environmental damage, or emergency response costs resulting from your use of the fire pit, grill, or any open flame on the property, including the spread of fire to neighboring properties or forest land.

Child Safety & Supervision

THE PROPERTY HAS NOT BEEN CHILDPROOFED. The property features three flights of stairs, open loft areas, elevated decks, a hot tub, a fire pit, and access to mountainous terrain. Baby gates are not provided.

Parents and guardians are solely responsible for the supervision and safety of all children and infants on the property at all times. By booking with children, you acknowledge these features, accept the associated risks, and agree that the Owner has no duty to childproof the property. Contact us if you need assistance locating child safety equipment.

Security Cameras

The property has exterior security cameras at the following locations: driveway (facing the approach), garage area, and the lower-level entryway. There are no cameras inside any guest-accessible living space. The lower patio camera monitors a restricted area containing the Owner's personal belongings.

By booking, you acknowledge the presence of these exterior cameras and consent to being recorded in the exterior areas described above. Cameras are active when the red indicator light is illuminated. The cameras are used solely for property security and monitoring when the property is unoccupied.

Vehicle & Personal Property

YOUR PERSONAL PROPERTY, INCLUDING VEHICLES, IS NOT INSURED BY HICKORY HIDEOUT, ITS OWNERS, OR THE CAROLINA VISTAS HOMEOWNERS ASSOCIATION AGAINST LOSS OR DAMAGE DUE TO FIRE, THEFT, VANDALISM, WEATHER, FALLING TREES, CRIMINAL OR NEGLIGENT ACTS OF OTHERS, OR ANY NATURAL OR NON-NATURAL CAUSE.

The property features a steep, mountain driveway. You park and store personal property at your own risk. We are not responsible for damage to vehicles from road conditions, weather, wildlife, or terrain.

Force Majeure

Hickory Hideout shall not be liable for any failure to perform or delay caused by events beyond our reasonable control, including but not limited to: natural disasters, severe weather, ice storms, landslides, power outages, road closures, wildfires, flooding, pandemics, government orders, or utility failures.

In the event the property becomes uninhabitable due to a force majeure event during your stay, we will work with you in good faith to provide a prorated refund or credit for unused nights. No refund is owed for events that do not render the property uninhabitable (e.g., temporary power outage, reduced water pressure, road delays).

Intellectual Property

All content on this website, including text, images, design, and branding, is the property of Hickory Hideout unless otherwise noted. Scenic photography is used with permission from Killboy Photography (killboy.com). You may not reproduce or distribute our content without written permission.

Governing Law & Dispute Resolution

These terms are governed by the laws of the State of North Carolina. Any disputes shall be resolved in the courts of Graham County, North Carolina. In the event of any legal action to enforce these Terms, the prevailing party shall be entitled to recover reasonable attorney fees and court costs from the non-prevailing party.

Severability

If any provision of these Terms is found to be unenforceable or invalid by a court of competent jurisdiction, that provision shall be modified to the minimum extent necessary to make it enforceable, and all remaining provisions shall continue in full force and effect.

Contact

Questions about these terms? Email hello@hickoryhideoutwnc.com.