Visiting Fayetteville or need a staycation? Check out some of the cool Airbnbs in the area

Editor's note: This story has been updated to reflect that The Botanical BNB sleeps six and is $155 to $207 per night before taxes.

Tourism is a bigger business in the Fayetteville area than one might expect, and it seems to be growing.

Visitors spent more than $666 million in Cumberland County in 2022, a nearly 10% increase from 2021, according to figures from the state tourism bureau, Visit North Carolina.

People come to the city mainly to visit friends and family, followed by vacation and business trips, according to a market study by research firm H2R for Fayetteville’s tourism bureau. With visitors staying an average of 2.5 nights, per the same study, the area has seen an uptick in the construction of hotels and a boom in the number of short-term rentals on platforms like Airbnb in the last few years.

Among those short-term rentals are standout spots with backyard oases, tranquil gardens and historic charm.

Paddy Gibney, 54, owner of longtime Fayetteville nightlife fixture Paddy’s Irish Pub, recently renovated five houses just steps from the bar in the Highland Village neighborhood to offer as short-term rentals.

While the houses don’t have the edgy and sometimes-controversial decor found at Gibney’s nightclub, he and his business partner Jessica Corona, 41, aim to provide a stay unlike any other.

“I just want to be of service to people,” Corona said. “Create an experience for them.”

Their 1950s-era McGill Drive cottage has a backyard with a putting green, swing, fire pit and hot tub, all surrounded by shrubs and flowers. The front yard features boulders that were brought in by crane, Gibney said, and the walls inside are adorned with hand-picked art.

“We wanted to artistically express ourselves,” he said.

Related: How much can you make renting out a room on Airbnb in Fayetteville?

Fayetteville-area hosts offer themed stays

Gibney and Corona are new to the game, but Amanda Garcia has owned and designed short-term rental homes for about six years, she said.

Garcia, 40, is the creative mind behind a botanical-themed home in Fayetteville’s Tokay neighborhood off Ramsey Street. She said the focal point of the three-bedroom home that sleeps six is a living room with dark green floral wallpaper, velvet emerald couches, gold accents, a record player and a coffee bar.

“It sets the tone for the rest of the space,” she said.

Those aren’t the only standout stays in the Fayetteville area, however. Here’s a list of some of the most unique places to spend a night in Cumberland County. Prices are before taxes and include fees.

Glamping in a private forest

Property type: Farm stay

Guests: Sleeps three

Neighborhood: Gray’s Creek

Minimum stay: One night

Price: $119

The Botanical BNB

Property type: Entire home

Guests: Sleeps six

Neighborhood: Tokay

Minimum stay: Two nights

Price: $155 to $207 per night

The MacPherson House

Property type: Private room in a bed and breakfast

Guests: Sleeps two to four

Neighborhood: Haymount

Minimum stay: One night

Price: $189 to $249 per night

Celebrity sighting in Fayetteville: This A-lister recently stayed at The MacPherson House

Tiny Home Farm

Property type: Tiny home

Guests: Sleeps two

Neighborhood: Wade-Stedman

Minimum stay: One night

Price: $96 per night

The Green Door Cottage

Property type: Entire home

Guests: Sleeps five

Neighborhood: Highland Village

Minimum stay: One night

Price: $222 to $245 per night

Moving to Fort Liberty? What to know about Fayetteville shopping, restaurants, things to do

Riverfront Cottage with Private Bridge

Property type: Entire home

Guests: Sleeps four

Neighborhood: Myrtle Hill

Minimum stay: One night during the week, two nights on weekends

Price: $289 to $308 per night

Zen Garden House

Property type: Entire home

Guests: Sleeps 10

Neighborhood: Pine Forest

Minimum stay: One night

Price: $305 to $345 per night

Taylor Shook writes about food, dining and culture for The Fayetteville Observer. She can be reached at [email protected] or on Facebook.  

This article originally appeared on The Fayetteville Observer: Check out these cool Airbnbs in Fayetteville, NC area