Unique Stays and Unusual Accommodations

Barrel cabins, treehouses, safari tents and a castle near Helen

By The Explore Helen Editorial Team Updated October 8, 2026 Details checked with each property's own site

The short answer

The most unusual places to stay near Helen are the barrel cabins at Unicoi State Park, the safari tents at Unicoi and Timberline Glamping, Cedar Creek's treehouse cabins, the TreeHouse at Bear Creek Lodge, yurts at Jenny's Creek and guest chambers at Uhuburg, a Renaissance-style castle about a mile from town. They're small operations, so book early for fall and check each site for current rates.

Sometimes a regular hotel room doesn't match the trip you have in mind. The Helen area has a handful of stays that are part of the fun: a hillside barrel, a treehouse above a creek, a safari tent with a fire pit, or a castle bedroom. Each is small, so availability is the first thing to check.

The options at a glance

Unusual places to stay near Helen with what each is and what it offers
Stay	What it is	Good to know
Unicoi Barrel Cabins	Distinctive hillside cabins at Unicoi State Park in one- and two-bed layouts	Part of the park's 29 cabins; call 706-878-2201
Unicoi safari-tent glamping	Four furnished tents with beds, heat and AC, a mini-fridge, fire ring and hammocks	Timberline Glamping lists tents for up to 8 guests plus 2 dogs; 706-709-0222
Cedar Creek treehouses	Sky's the Limit, Top of the Line, Gold Peak and Pinnacle Suite treehouses; the Pinnacle Suite stands about 100 feet up with a jacuzzi, sauna and hot tub	Top of the Line sleeps two; 404-480-2324
TreeHouse at Bear Creek Lodge	Two-bedroom, two-bath treehouse cabin of about 1,200 sq ft with a hot tub below	Sleeps five; walkable to downtown; 114 Ridge Road; 706-773-1040
Jenny's Creek yurts	Yurts that sleep six at a family campground in Cleveland	Playground, game room and laundry on site; 706-865-6955
Uhuburg, Eagle Owl Castle	Guest chambers in a Renaissance-style castle, breakfast included	Guests 18 and older; two-night minimum; 571 Ridge Rd; about 1 mile from Helen
Bleu Canoe, Clarkesville	Three 1930s fish camp cabins and eight tiny homes with a Cajun restaurant	About 30 minutes from Helen; dog-friendly; 706-947-1833

Details are from each property's own site. Uhuburg lists Wednesday through Saturday nights through December, closes in January and resumes February 12.

Barrel cabins at Unicoi

The barrel cabins are the stay most people picture when they think of unusual lodging in Helen. They're set on the hillside at Unicoi State Park, a few minutes from Unicoi Lake, which is 53 acres with a beach and boat rentals. They're compact by design, so plan to spend your days on the trails and at the lake.

Treehouses

Cedar Creek Cabin Rentals calls itself the home of the original treehouse cabin, and its listed treehouses include spa tubs, fireplaces, saunas and decks, with the company saying they're built to withstand Category 2 hurricane conditions. Treehouses mean stairs, so ask about access if anyone in your group has trouble with them. See the Cedar Creek treehouse page for current photos and availability.

Glamping, yurts and campsites

Safari tents at Unicoi come with real beds and heat, so a cold October night isn't a problem. Jenny's Creek sleeps six in a yurt, and Hearthstone Cabins and Camping on Helen's ridge has three cabins plus RV and tent sites, with a spring-fed pond and trails on the property. Our camping guide and RV camping page have more.