Waynesville House for Rent: Beautiful New Mountain Log Home 'Locust Hill' - Property 176519

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Custom touches: Completed in the spring of 2007, Locust Hill is named for a historic log cabin that the owner's grandparents once owned and for the locust tress on the property, some of which became the posts and railings of the 12-foot deep porch that wraps around the house. Locust is known locally as exceptionally hard and durable. All the doors in the house except the basement door are handmade. The doors upstairs are made of pine, and the doors downstairs, including the amazing front door, are made of cherry wood harvested on the property. The beautiful cherry floors downstairs are also made from those same trees. The unusual shape of the window in the front door, the hand-forged iron latch, and the striking iron-and-glass coffee table are connected in their design. The iron work was done by metalsmith Daniel Miller, the owner's brother, who lives and works nearby and infused this design with ideas about their mother and family. The interior stair rails are made of rhodedendron branches.

The Property and View: The view from the house is 180 degrees, facing southwest. Standing on the porch and looking left, you can see the town of Waynesville nestled in the valley, with its lights twinkling at night. Looking straight ahead you can see the Blue Ridge Parkway and Cold Mountain, made famous by local novelist Thomas Frazer whose book Cold Mountain was made into a movie. Looking right you can see more Smoky Mountains. Locust Hill sits on 35 private acres of woods, and the road leading to the house from the gate is two-thirds of a mile long. The house sits at a 4200 feet elevation and seems to have its own climate; even when it might be hot down in the valley on Main Street, it stays cool at Locust Hill! The privacy and quiet are surprising considering how close the house is to town and to the freeway. Behind the house is an old logging road and an undeveloped conservation easement. There is a great variety of trees and wildflowers, and hawks, wild turkeys, and owls make their homes there.

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