Discover what makes Lake Nantahala the hidden gem of North Carolina and make memories that last a lifetime with our cabin rentals and luxury yurt rentals. Our cabin rentals and luxury yurt rentals at Lakes End Marina are located on beautiful Lake Nantahala, surrounded by the Great Smoky Mountains.
At an elevation over 3,000 feet, we are located between Franklin and Murphy North Carolina, about two and half hours northwest of Atlanta or about an hour and half from Asheville.Come visit Lake Nantahala's only lake front marina & boat rental as well its only restaurant.
At an elevation over 3,000 feet, we are located between Franklin and Murphy North Carolina, about two and half hours northwest of Atlanta or about an hour and half from Asheville.Come visit Lake Nantahala's only lake front marina & boat rental as well its only restaurant.
Services
We offer the largest fleet of boat rentals on Lake Nantahala. With our wide variety of Lake Nantahala boat rentals, you and your family will have a great day on the water. Whether you want to ski, tube, cruise, canoe, kayak, paddle board, sail, fish, swim or just take in the sights, you will find what you need at Lakes End Marina.
Whether you choose one of the many excursions or are looking for assistance in planning your trip, we hope our guide below is helpful and provides for a convenient way to see and experience all there is to do on Lake Nantahala and The Great Smoky Mountains. Enjoy breathtaking views and dinner on our largest Pontoon Boat.
When you choose to rent a watercraft from Lakes End Marina, know your doing so with our commitment to excellence in providing you and your family a great, memorable experience in a clean, reliable boat. There is a 3 day cancellation policy for hourly or half day rentals. Reservations cancelled less than 3 days prior to a scheduled rental will result in forfeit of rental deposit.
Lakes End Marina prides itself on providing a safe and exciting jet ski or boating adventure to the visitors of Lake Nantahala, which is why we have a comprehensive boat rental policy. Lakes End Marina prides itself on providing a safe and exciting boating adventure to the visitors of Lake Nantahala.
No one plans to have an accident. At Lakes End Marina we offer peace of mind starting at $35 per day with our watercraft rental damage waiver. Here you will find more detailed information about what the policy DOES and DOES NOT cover. The chart below shows what the policy deductible savings compared to the standard damage deposit.
Reviews (28)
Bridgette Duffield
Jan 25, 2022
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Catfish, fries, slaw, and house ranch was phenomenal! For 14.95 you get a lot of fish that’s perfectly seasoned and pan-fried. I took my coffee out to the porch to look at the lake. Gorgeous views. Adorable little spot with a big backyard! Wait til you see the fire pit, hammock, and dock! Also - great wifi!
Jonathan Clues
Dec 25, 2021
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Great find! We were lost with no phone service just driving around and then got some phone signal. Google suggested it.
Despite the high reviews we didn't expect much, maybe just good for where you are. But it was fantastic. It's would be 5 stars anywhere!
Food was delicious and well presented, served quickly. Nice atmosphere too. We'd definitely come back (If we can find it again!)
Just one thing: they don't serve any beer, wine etc.. not a big deal but would make the whole experience even better.
Despite the high reviews we didn't expect much, maybe just good for where you are. But it was fantastic. It's would be 5 stars anywhere!
Food was delicious and well presented, served quickly. Nice atmosphere too. We'd definitely come back (If we can find it again!)
Just one thing: they don't serve any beer, wine etc.. not a big deal but would make the whole experience even better.
Ben Brumfield
Nov 13, 2021
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Excellently prepared comfort food, including lots of hot sandwiches and pizza in a cozy, nicely updated rustic atmosphere with warm and friendly staff. Great view of the lake. Good sides with most dishes, which are nicely presented. And the prices don't sting. BTW, If you love catfish, like I do, this is your place!
Dana Smith
Oct 28, 2021
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It's a great lakeside setting, though very remote.
On a high season October Wednesday lunchtime, they were out of catfish and had one rack of ribs left.
The two menu items we went for. Unbelievable and unacceptable.
Grilled chicken sandwich was good, though quite expensive for the size. Fries were adequate at best
My wife had the chili which was also average.
Being an hour from anything, including my home, it's certainly not worth traveling that distance for an average lunch.
Too bad. I had very high expectations.
On a high season October Wednesday lunchtime, they were out of catfish and had one rack of ribs left.
The two menu items we went for. Unbelievable and unacceptable.
Grilled chicken sandwich was good, though quite expensive for the size. Fries were adequate at best
My wife had the chili which was also average.
Being an hour from anything, including my home, it's certainly not worth traveling that distance for an average lunch.
Too bad. I had very high expectations.
Ian Hoyt
Oct 26, 2021
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We’re so excited about finding this place. We live about 30 minutes away and are constantly looking for great lunch spots that are also open on Sunday in the area. This place ticked all the boxes for us, absolutely delicious lunch options — the chicken tenders were the best I’ve had in the surrounding WNC area and the service was the best in the area as well. The icing on top of all this was the view outside.
All in all, this will now be our go to weekend spot especially when friends are in town and we want to do a hike and lunch over the weekend.
Go here, you’ll be glad you did!
All in all, this will now be our go to weekend spot especially when friends are in town and we want to do a hike and lunch over the weekend.
Go here, you’ll be glad you did!
Roger Cohen
Oct 24, 2021
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Love this restaurant. The food was great! The service was great and the price was very reasonable. We will definitely be back often. Recommend this place to all our friends and family. Owner greeted us and wanted to make sure everything was perfect when we got our food (which it was). This meal was my wife’s birthday lunch and she loved it. The owner served us a special chocolate chip cookie w/ ice cream for her bday dessert. We loved that too.
Michael Moore
Sep 26, 2021
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Mason Phillips
Sep 22, 2021
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This place was amazing. Great food and a great environment. Had a nice view of the lake. Had to save the food for leftovers that night. Everyone loved their food. 10/10 would recommend. They also had really good service. We ordered a 4 cheeseburgers which were all amazing. A 14 inch pizza which tasted very very good. And some chicken tenders which were really good.
Katie McMahon
Aug 16, 2021
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I stopped here with my dog after a hike. They don’t allow dogs inside or out but there are a couple picnic tables out the side with a view of the lake, and they graciously let us sit there. The food was wonderful. No alcohol for sale but you can bring your own. The staff were great! Cute area out back to swim and rent water craft and they have a small store. I loved the place!
Larisa Sito
Jul 23, 2021
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Nice boats, beautiful lake to spend the day with family. The customer service is amazing. Pontoon boat is perfect for all ages, from elderly, to young, for a fun day on the water. The only downside is everything in the Marina is expensive for necessity, so plan ahead to bring supplies like sunscreen ($19), Restaurant food is good, fries tasted homemade. Skip the burger, requested medium came extra well. Service was excellent!
John B.
Jul 18, 2021
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Paul D.
Jul 15, 2021
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Lisa B.
Apr 25, 2021
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Mike W.
Sep 16, 2020
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Chris G.
Sep 13, 2020
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For the first time, I can say, I was a little bummed out with the Friday Fish Fry......
First I will give credit that the catfish they serve is best I have ever eaten! That being said, I have been telling all my friends that Lakes End is worth the hour drive! Ya All gotta go there!
So finally, Eight of us went up, rented a pontoon boat for a few hours (it rained like all Hell....But that's what makes for memories!) Had a great time on the water!
The restaurant experience, not as great. Waited over an hour for our table out on the back deck (I asked for them to hold us that table at 5)
Now
First I will give credit that the catfish they serve is best I have ever eaten! That being said, I have been telling all my friends that Lakes End is worth the hour drive! Ya All gotta go there!
So finally, Eight of us went up, rented a pontoon boat for a few hours (it rained like all Hell....But that's what makes for memories!) Had a great time on the water!
The restaurant experience, not as great. Waited over an hour for our table out on the back deck (I asked for them to hold us that table at 5)
Now
Kathryn G.
Jul 27, 2020
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We used to have a place on Nantahala but sold it in 2012. Lake's End grill was much more quaint then, so we had no expectations for our recent visit. Maybe it was the quarantine drudgery that made this place seem so good; no one in our party of 4 had a single complaint and in fact we all loved it. The place looks very nice and casually upscale now. We had burgers, salmon and shrimp and they were all delicious and well plated. We will definitely be visiting here a lot this summer as we settle back in to the Nantahala lifestyle.
Jennifer M.
Feb 22, 2020
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Lake's End Diner is the only place to eat at Nantahala Lake and serves American food quickly. The food is good and reasonably priced. They have given us ice when our icemaker wasn't working which was a godsend. The one issue I did have is that they forgot to put in an order for my party of eight and closed the kitchen (we were sitting outside). We have rented boats and life jackets at the Marina and it has been great. They even lent us a gas can when a jet ski ran out of gas.
Silvana D.
Jul 23, 2019
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We found a little gem near our cabin. The Lake end restaurant was excellent. We appreciated the food as well as the presentation. Also the staff were accommodating to my request to wait to sit outside as well as there service. In addition, the next day we rented a pontoon and bumped into the owner of the restaurant in the lake who was so kind to guide us to the "beautiful waterfall" Can wait to come back next year.
Jennifer D.
May 02, 2019
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Went to this restaurant on a run at MINIS on the Dragon. The service was exceptional, despite our large group of people, the food was well presented and yummy! I got the NC cobb salad that came with a side of melon balls and the fiancé got the Griff burger with fries. We sat on the back deck with beautiful scenery. Would definitely recommend!!
Jordan P.
Jul 23, 2018
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Ryan C.
Jul 05, 2018
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Family boat ride to dinner did not disappoint! The food was all very well prepared and presentation was on par with fine dining. The lack of a service bar was disappointing; however we planned ahead. Prime rib, and BBQ ribs were excellent! Very family friendly. This is a great alternative to eating in the lake house when you don't want to cook for yourself.
Julie H.
Jun 14, 2018
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This is a reliable, seasonal restaurant near Lake Nantahala. The service is friendly and usually fast. We try and sit outside, which is much more interesting than inside. The burgers are the most highly recommended item from my group. The pizza was passable, but there is nothing Cajun about the Cajun fish tacos. Those were the special of the day and pretty disappointing. The fried corn nuggets and fried Mac and cheese were tasty, but you can only eat a few given their high level of oil saturation. I'm sure we'll go back since we enjoy the service and burgers so much.
Marianne R.
Jun 05, 2016
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This review is for the marina...I've never eaten at the diner. Every visit we rent paddle boards and kayaks (a canoe once) and the men working in the marina part are always so friendly. We love that we have been able to pay for our time when we come back instead of tell them "we will be back in 2 hours". I know when it's very busy people may be waiting on equipment so this may not always be possible, but so far we've had good luck. Thank you for being so kind and helpful. The lake is gorgeous and this is a great start to exploring it. Some day we will rent a pontoon boat
Adrienne H.
Jun 04, 2016
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Look, you're at the lake and this is basically the only game in town, so options are limited. But the place changed owners not too long ago and it's not as good as it used to be. My biggest issue is the service--the last few times I've been, a young guy has waited on us who has no business serving. He's friendly enough, but slower than molasses, and we've always had to ask for anything we need at least two or three times. Kind of a pain when the kitchen can already be best described as glacial. He's not going to remember offering to refill your drink. Forget special
Dustin S.
May 28, 2016
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Couldn't ask for a better backdrop. Food is good, and the staff is very friendly. Friday nights they offer all you can eat fish fry. Mostly catfish. Those nights tend to be busier and services sometimes has trouble Keeping up. That said, management always comes through and does their best to make sure everyone's happy. I can't say this about everywhere but they really do care. Just don't be in a hurry not that you would be with the stellar views.
B. C.
Oct 20, 2015
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Andrea C.
Aug 24, 2015
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Great view, great food, great service. Hope to come back! We had a big crew, like 12 eating. Service was quick and the food was great, better than one might expect for being so far away from civilization. Lol. It was a charming stop, I wished we could have spent more time there. The view from the restaurant was literally picturesque. Definitely worth stopping even if just for a drink and appetizer (we had onion rings and they were yummo). Highly recommend!
P.s. Another reviewer said no cell service; however they do have free wifi. Just ask for the password! You might not be able to make phone
P.s. Another reviewer said no cell service; however they do have free wifi. Just ask for the password! You might not be able to make phone
Tom S.
Jul 08, 2013
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Decent service. The burger was pretty decent. Onion rings were cooked nicely but the batter was a little sweet imho. My wife ordered chicken fingers which were pretty typical. Not bad, not mindblowing. She said the slaw had a funny taste and we're pretty sure it was what caused her to be sick later in the evening. I'd eat here again since its the ONLY place in the area that serves dinner and pretty much every other place around here has been a disappointment.
