We’re praying for all our friends and family in multiple areas ravaged by “Helene,” but we’re putting the word out our home at the Sky Valley area is fine, unscathed and lights are on! If you need refuge or just to retreat a few days, “Skylands" is the perfect place on the Georgia/North Carolina line high up on the Highlands Plateau at 3300' elevation to gather your flock of family or friends! Room for 12 max occupancy per county rules, but cozy for just two of you, too. Our high-speed wifi will cover all your needs! We offer 8% off for 7 or more nights and 16% off for 28 or more!
There's plenty of space with 5 bedrooms (including 2 masters) and 4 baths over two levels, with covered porches main and lower levels. Pool table and ping pong tables in 2 separate game rooms! Extra den lower level as well. Laundry on main level! Easy access from road to driveway to front door!
Skylands is totally non-smoking, and the neighborhood environment is quiet and peaceful. We do not allow pets, and we expect all guests to respect our neighbors insofar as noise/music any time, and rear floodlights after 9 pm.
This is truly a paradise where you will hear birds singing and occasional chapel bells chiming! People make multi-generational memories coming year after year due to its location, amenities, and 3300-foot elevation on the "Highlands Plateau" near multiple national and state parks and countless things to do!
Skylands' upscale rustic charm exudes as you approach the front door with extension of the house's 20+ foot gable over the front porch, with tongue-in-groove pine ceiling. Once inside the door, you're treated to the grand sight of the huge vaulted great room with massive stone wood-burning fireplace, our well-appointed kitchen with granite-topped custom island and cabinetry created from circle-milled pine, a convenient pantry, stainless steel appliances, heart-of-pine flooring main level, updated bathroom vanities with granite and vessel sinks, local-craftsman-made Appalachian mountain log beds of cedar, pine, hickory and laurel, PEX plumbing, new HVAC, and so much more!
The focal point of the lower level game room is an 8-foot oak pool table surrounded by a sassafras and sourwood pub table and hickory stools as well as two large comfy chairs with bear/trout motif and carved bear/trout arms! Nearby is the "ping pong room" with new professional-grade table! The adjoining lower den offers more rustic comfy seating with a drop-leaf table for cards, a board game, or puzzle. There are Roku-smart TV's both levels to connect all your streaming services...next to the fireplace main level and lower level on top of an antique wagon wheel table with old barn wood top.
Skylands is within walking distance to the beautiful Sky Valley Resort, including its excellent and beautiful golf course (or an easy 5-minute drive). Our guests enjoy free access to its amenities: exterior heated pool and hot tub, tennis/pickleball courts, and a fitness center open 8 am to 9 pm with sauna and an interior hot tub and locker rooms! There is also a playground for your little ones!
Going northeast, Skylands is literally blocks from the trail head to Georgia's 2nd highest peak, Rabun Bald. Jump the GA/NC line, and multiple adventures within 10 minutes of our house await with Highlands Aerial Park (zipline) and Highlands Outpost (winter snowtubing / summer tubes and a mountain roller coaster). Highlands is still just a 35-40 minute drive via Franklin or Clayton (with temporary Hwy 106 road rework at Blue Valley Overlook - mid October-December 2024). Visit Main Street in Highlands for all its charm, incredible restaurants, shops, and more! Head southwest 10 minutes for Dillard, 20 to Clayton's shops and restaurants and Lakes Burton and Rabun! Skylands is central to so many choices for a long weekend or week or more - any time of year!
As for the house itself, both the main and lower levels open to covered porches with the vaulted main level porch offering a gas grill and outdoor dining area. The porches have a south/southwestern view, overlooking a beautiful small lake and the surrounding mountains. No matter the season, the porches are perfect for perching, breathing the fresh air, enjoying the year-round views, and listening to the sounds of birds and distant church chimes!
All five Skylands' bedrooms feature rustic log or solid-wood beds, all with heart pine or luxury vinyl plank flooring - no yucky carpet! "Cedar," Skylands' master bedroom (king-sized cedar log bed) is on the main level with a view of the massive great room fireplace from bed! Its windows overlook the lake and mountains. It has an adjoining large private bath with garden tub and shower, double vanity, separate toilet room and walk-in closet. Two other main level bedrooms are on other side of great room with a hall bath. "Pinecones" has a queen-sized forged-iron and wood bed with pinecones & pine branches motif. Its windows overlook the lake and mountains. The main level 3rd bedroom now boasts a hickory log queen bed! "Pinecones" and "Hickory" share a full hall bath. Also nearby is the laundry room with a washer and dryer for your use if you need them.
The central great room on the main level includes an ample formal dining area with tiger-mahogany table and 8 chairs, the updated kitchen and new circle-milled pine island with stools, and generous seating options. The fireplace and porch view provide great ambiance whether inside or out. A black walnut game table with live-edge benches provides more dining or game table options. Best of all, relax and visit..."perch"!
Interior pine stairs lead down to the lower level with its central game room as described above, with an 8-foot oak pool table, and a den between 2 bedrooms and 2 baths. The lower level porch has an exterior egress to the ground level. Essentially, the lower level has a 2nd king-size master we call "Laurel" (pine logs with laurel accents) with adjoining bath and on the opposite side of the lower level is the "Pine Bunks" bedroom, with now 2 sets of whimsical pine log bunk beds! One is twin over full and other is twin over twin! "Pine Bunks" shares Skylands' 4th full bath with the den and game room.
Skylands is situated on 4 wooded lots - very private! Listen for the multitude of birds and other sounds of nature. It's why we have used the word "perch" as a verb...it's a restful, peaceful setting yet so close to so much! All roads are paved and maintained year-round. In fact, most of our neighbors are year-round residents who have discovered this uniquely-well-situated mecca for golf, hiking several national forests within minutes, heading up for an afternoon drive on the Blue Ridge Parkway or even venturing to Cherokee for casino/nightlife!
When you arrive, the beds will be made and everything ready for an incredible break from the "real world," but yet the real world's cellphones work great here, and the WiFi is perfect for connecting as you wish. Upon your departure, leave the cleaning and washing to our professional housekeepers, and leave with wonderful memories and a sense of calm from a break well-deserved!