Entire house boat

The Gigi - A Mermaid Houseboat on Lake James

Photo gallery for The Gigi - A Mermaid Houseboat on Lake James

Property grounds
Interior
Living area
Coffee/tea maker, toaster, cookware/dishes/utensils, dining tables
Property grounds

Reviews

10 out of 10

Exceptional

Entire house boat

1 bathroomSleeps 3

Popular amenities

  • Barbecue grill
    Barbecue grill
  • Kitchen
    Kitchen
  • Air conditioning
    Air conditioning
The price is ¥46,974
¥68,541 total
includes taxes & fees
Dec 3 - Dec 4

About this property

Entire place

You'll have the entire house boat to yourself and will only share it with other guests in your party.

The Gigi - A Mermaid Houseboat on Lake James

Escape to North Carolina's most beautiful lake with a unique stay that immerses you in nature and fun, the Mermaid Boat. A fully operating houseboat, the Gigi Mermaid boat was built and launched in 2021. See our great reviews on the Narai & Gigi. Enjoy the lake, glamping with modern conveniences.
- Kitchenette with coffee maker and dishware
- Propane grill
- Air conditioning & heat
- Generator
- Marine toilet
- Sofa converts into a double bed
- Table converts into a single bed
- Bed linens

The Gigi Mermaid boat is decked out in Mermaid decor to create a memorable stay on Lake James. The sofa converts into a double bed and the kitchen table converts into a single bed. Linens and pillows are provided. There is a small marine toilet on board and a stocked kitchenette, which includes a Keurig coffee maker, toaster, dishware, and some cookware. This is not like staying at a hotel or in a house but is more of a glamping experience, so please set expectations accordingly.

- Linens (sheets, pillows, blankets, towels)
- Kitchen items (utensils, dishes, cookware, Keurig with k-cups, some spices, grill, paper goods, cleaning supplies)
- Trash bags, toilet paper, and paper towels are available on board
- Some goodies like cards, flashlights, books, and games are available as well

The boat has air conditioning and heat powered by a generator and electricity (and outlets). There is a propane grill on the front and a roof deck accessible ONLY when the boat is not in motion.

The boat is not docked, but there are several options for your overnight stay:

1. Reserve a boat-in campsite at Lake James State Park. You will have access to restroom facilities, a private campsite, and be able to have a fire or set up a tent. We recommend this for any longer stays

2. Stay on a public beach - these are usually the best beaches on the lake with premiere views of the Blue Ridge Mountains. There is no cost to use these beaches, but they can get crowded and noisy on holidays and weekends during prime summer months. If they are full upon arrival, you can expect space to begin to open up at sundown as boaters go home. There is no camping or fires allowed on these beaches.

3. Tie up to the old state park dock (meager traffic) or anchor in a cove overnight.

There is a generator that runs the air conditioner/heat and electricity. The kitchen consists of countertops, a coffee maker, and a pump sink. There is NO shower on the boat.

Guests will drive around Lake James, there are public beach areas they can pull the boat up on or anchor in a cove and swim. Lake James State Park has many boat-in camping sites that offer great amenities if you are staying overnight. You will have access to restroom facilities as well as beaches to play on if you book these sites (usually about $10/night).

I pick guests up at Canal Bridge public access, give them a tutorial on how to drive and use the boat, and then they drop me off and head out. I am available 24/7 and provide my personal cell to all my guests should they run into any issue or have any questions.

Park at Canal Bridge on James Ave - this public boat site is 24/7 and overnight parking is permitted. Canal Bridge is managed by Lake James State Park.

The houseboat feels more like a camping experience than a full-service hotel. There will be access to a grill, but no stove, oven, microwave, or refrigerator. Guests should plan to bring a cooler and plan food accordingly. There are no showers on the boat and only a pump sink with freshwater and marine toilet. We advise guests to use the toilet sparingly, as it has limited flushes, and use public restrooms as much as possible. We recommend guests reserve a boat-in campsite for stays longer than 2 days. It is required by NC law that all guests under 13 wear a life vest while the boat is in motion.

Must be 21 or older, show a valid driver's license, and have a valid boating license if you were born in 1988 or later. Search for NC Boating License online course, complete it online, and print and bring the license with you (Approximately $30).

Property manager

John Hamel

Languages

English, French

Property amenities

Kitchen

  • Coffee/tea maker
  • Cookware, dishware, and utensils
  • Toaster

Dining

  • Dining table

Bedrooms

  • Bedsheets provided
  • Sofa bed

Bathroom

  • 1 bathroom

Living spaces

  • Dining table

Outdoor areas

  • Balcony
  • Barbecue grill

Comfort

  • Air conditioning
  • Heating

Pets

  • No pets allowed

Suitability/Accessibility

  • Smoke-free property

Location highlights

  • On a lake
  • On the waterfront

Safety features

  • Carbon monoxide detector (host has indicated there is a carbon monoxide detector on the property)
  • Smoke detector (host has indicated there is a smoke detector on the property)
  • First aid kit
  • Fire extinguisher

Similar properties

Policies

Check-in

Check-in time starts at 12:00 PM
Minimum check-in age: 18

Check-out

Check-out before 10:00 AM

Special check-in instructions

You will receive an email from the host with check-in and check-out instructions

Pets

Pets not allowed

Children and extra beds

Children are welcome

Important information

You need to know

Extra-person charges may apply and vary depending on property policy
Government-issued photo identification and a credit card, debit card, or cash deposit may be required at check-in for incidental charges
Special requests are subject to availability upon check-in and may incur additional charges; special requests cannot be guaranteed
Onsite parties or group events are strictly prohibited
Host has indicated there is a carbon monoxide detector on the property
Host has indicated there is a smoke detector on the property
Safety features at this property include a fire extinguisher and a first aid kit
This property is managed through our partner, Vrbo. You will receive an email from Vrbo with a link to a Vrbo account, where you can change or cancel your reservation

Property is also known as

130338

About the neighborhood

Map
NC, Nebo

What's nearby

  • Lake James - 5 min walk
  • Lake James State Park - 18 min walk
  • McDowell County Courthouse - 11 min drive
  • Boat Beach - 12 min drive
  • Linville Caverns - 39 min drive

Restaurants

  • ‪Waffle House - ‬12 min drive
  • ‪Titan Pizza Plus - ‬10 min drive
  • ‪Roma Restaurant Pizza Pasta - ‬3 min drive
  • ‪Countryside BBQ - C-Side - ‬13 min drive
  • ‪Mica Town Brewing - ‬11 min drive

Frequently asked questions

Is The Gigi - A Mermaid Houseboat on Lake James pet-friendly?

No, pets are not allowed at this property.

How much does it cost to stay at The Gigi - A Mermaid Houseboat on Lake James?

As of Nov 4, 2024, prices found for a 1-night stay for 2 adults at The Gigi - A Mermaid Houseboat on Lake James on Dec 3, 2024 start from ¥46,974, excluding taxes and fees. This price is based on the lowest nightly price found in the last 24 hours for stays in the next 30 days. Prices are subject to change. Choose your dates for more accurate prices.

What time is check-in at The Gigi - A Mermaid Houseboat on Lake James?

Check-in begins at 12:00 PM.

What time is check-out at The Gigi - A Mermaid Houseboat on Lake James?

Check-out is at 10:00 AM.

Where is The Gigi - A Mermaid Houseboat on Lake James located?

Situated on the waterfront, this houseboat is within 1 mi (2 km) of Lake James and Lake James State Park. Catawba River and Pisgah National Forest are also within 6 mi (10 km).

The Gigi - A Mermaid Houseboat on Lake James Reviews

Reviews

10

Exceptional

Rating 10 - Excellent. 4 out of 4 reviews" "
Rating 8 - Good. 0 out of 4 reviews" "
Rating 6 - Okay. 0 out of 4 reviews" "
Rating 4 - Poor. 0 out of 4 reviews" "
Rating 2 - Terrible. 0 out of 4 reviews" "

10/10

Cleanliness

Reviews

10/10 Excellent

Andrew H.

Liked: Cleanliness
Had a great time on the lake!
My wife and I are local to the area and wanted to get out and enjoy the lake on a kid free weekend. We enjoyed our time on the houseboat and hope to do it again. John and his team were great hosts and made the outing extremely easy for us. Thank you for a great experience!
Stayed 1 night in Jul 2023

10/10 Excellent

Gail K., MONROE, NC

Liked: Cleanliness
Magical Time
We rented Gigi late mid-March. This was our first experience on a house boat and we absolutely loved it! The lake is just beautiful, and the boat was very responsive and comfortable with no issues whatsoever. It’s well stocked with every little thing you might need. Once moored, we grilled some salmon on the small grill and also heated up other food we brought with us (also brought sheets of foil), and made coffee in the morning. John was always a phone call away, and we don’t have a single negative thing to say! Absolutely a magical trip!!!
Stayed 1 night in Dec 2022

10/10 Excellent

Howard C.

Liked: Cleanliness
Outstanding customer service
The house boat is well cared for. The advise for lake locations or any assistance we’d is only a phone call away. I’ve stayed at many vrbo rentals but this one was definitely first class for customer service. I highly recommend the boathouse lake James experience.
Stayed 2 nights in Aug 2022

10/10 Excellent

Charles P.

Liked: Cleanliness
Review
An Awesome Adventure on a unique boat! Everything controllable by the host worked flawlessly. I’m looking forward to renting it again.
Stayed 2 nights in Jul 2022