Thank you for booking

We’re here to ensure you have an awesome time

Getting There

Here is the PDF for turn by turn (save it so it works offline)

 

DO NOT USE GOOGLE MAPS - USE APPLE MAPS or BING MAPS

Text me a screenshot of the last few turns of your directions. They should not include

  • Pigeon Roost Rd

  • Left Fork Run

  • Melton Branch

Apple Maps will work!

But here is a verbal description too. Just to save you the sweat

Beans Creek Road will take you past two churches on the left. The pavement will end at a house that says “Organic Farm do not spray.” There will be a handful of mailboxes and the road will continue as gravel along the creek. Stay below 20mph back here as there are blind corners and limited places to let other drivers pass. Shortly thereafter you will see a sign that says “no tress-passing, gated road,” ignore this and keep going. You will follow the gravel road through the valley for about a mile until you reach a clearing, with a few ponds, a house with some terracing, and a sign that says “elk wallow mountain.” The road will now become paved and begin an ascent up the mountain. It’ll be 15 degree slopes, but smart cars and teslas alike have made it up. It will be paved the entire ascent except frot a small portion of the road towards the top where a landslide knocked out the road. The asphalt will level out at the top of the mountain and end shortly past the first house on the left (with a range rover.) At the end of the pavement turn to the left onto Brandy Gap. This gravel road will take you past two houses at which point the road will hook back down to the right into the forest where there is no overhead powerlines. You will see sporadic rough log fencing but this road will continue for a mile until you get to the property.

 
 

Winter Driving.

A handful of days a year, the road to Brandy Gap becomes impassable. It’s a fact of life in the Southern Appalachians. I monitor Ray’s Weather religiously from November through March. In the event of really bad weather, accommodations can be made. Avoiding the road is the best option, but tire chains on a 4x4 vehicle are perhaps the most reliable.

Subarus, high clearance SUVs and Trucks with 4x4 is best. All Wheel Drive sedans and minivans do not have the ground clearance if there is more than a dusting. Outside of that your booking can be reschedules or a ride on an ATV / 4-wheeler / side-by-side can be arranged.

The steep segment of the road is used by all neighbors on the mountain so it is normally treated without question. The road on top of the mountain is only used by Brandy Gap, so plowing can/will be arranged if needed.

Do not underestimate the snow. Especially if you have very little experience with it. I’m looking at you, Floridians <3

 

Check Out

  1. Remove all used linens from the beds, place the used sheets and towels on the futon on the first floor.

  2. Clean Kitchen, make sure dishes at least get put into the dishwasher.

  3. Make sure lights are off and Sonos System is not streaming

  4. Close the Windows and door

  5. If you have the ability to truck out your trash, please do so. If not, just let us know and we can handle it

  6. Close the gate behind you and have a safe trip!

FAQs

 

Are there any farm products to buy?

Our neighbors at Scovie Landing Farms are happy to deliver you a mix of chicken and duck eggs for $6/dozen. Cash is King in these parts, but apple pay works.

How does the Wi-fi work?

Wifi password: 00000000 (eight zeros in a row)
Rural internet sucks. Badly. But we have line-of-sight to 5g towers, so the house runs on 5g internet. Normally I can get 20mbps down which is more than sufficient for most uses.

Where is the Thermostat?

The Thermostat is hidden behind a mirror on the Stairwell. The central heat system is there to keep the house from freezing. However it does make a horrible whining sound so it is far more pleasant to use the fireplace or the stove. Both the Heating Stove and the Fireplace of the house turn on and off automatically to keep the temperature stable, and you will notice them turning on when a door opens.

What is the best way to keep the house cool?

If it is too hot, you should open up two doors or windows downstairs to create a cross breeze, while opening a window upstairs to vent the hot air out. Keeping the fans running in the main room (light switch over the heating stove,) helps keep things consistent. Also I have found the upstairs bedroom is Toasty while the downstairs is cool, so pick your bedroom wisely ;)

There is food in the panty/freezer/fridge?

It’s not impossible to get stuck up there and starve. The neighbors won’t let that happen and neither will I. The pantry items are there for your convenience, just please replace anything you use if you can!

How do I play music?

You can use the stereo receiver with the records (phono) an aux cord (aux) or the iPhone cable (CD) to play music on the porch. To play music inside, Direct TV offers a lot of music channels.

Which oven do I use?

The one on the porch is your buddy. The internal dimensions are 16’ wide x 20” tall x 12’ deep. There is no 240v to the oven in the kitchen thus it is completely new and never used.

How do I operate The hot tub ? Do I need to bring Firewood?

Keep on Scrolling! Bringing Seasoned firewood (available at most country stores, hardware stores, grocery stores etc) will make your job a lot easier. The Locust Firewood at the house is very large and makes great coals for the stove, but do not light very quickly, so bringing 2-5 bundles from the store can make your job a lot easier.

Is there anything nearby?

Lots! checkout our guidebook. The short of it is a bear den and some ATV trails, but if you booked this property thinking it’s in walking distance to breweries, I have some bad news for you. Brandy Gap is Uniquely Remote.

Where is the Dump?

There are a few options. Mostly, on the way to town. If you’re headed towards Bakersville or Spruce Pine, check out Mitchell County’s Dump. The hours are weird, plus none of Mitchell County’s are open on Wednesday or Sunday, so Check it out beforehand. If you’re headed toward Tennessee, and the Mitchell County dump in Buleadean is Closed, there is one on the Right hand side before you get into the first town, Unicoi TN. If you are headed towards Burnsville or Asheville, and the Red Hill dump is closed, check out Yancey County’s Dump.

 

The Japanese Soaking Tub

Before operating!

  • ensure the water level is no less than 4 inches from the rim of the rub.

  • to refill the tub, use the hose (AT FULL PRESSURE - yes it will leak from the carport) and top it off

  • once the tub is filled, remove the end of the hose from the water, if left inside the elevation of the tub will start a syphon and the tub will drain LOL

Start the fire!

  • start but removing the lower lid and the upper lid from the stove, build a fire with a firestarter and kindling

  • once there is ample heat (coals are hot), the fire should be self perpetuating. stuff it with logs, and put both the lower and the upper lid on.

  • You want the upper lid to be partially slid off, so the downdraft can feed the fire (closing this will extinguish the fire)

  • Once the fire is going, the water temperature will rise at 10-15 degrees per hour

  • Use the large paddle to stir the water, the water can overheat in some areas and be cold in others.

  • It is unsafe (personal health) to operate the hot tub at over 102 degrees. over 110 can be fatal.

 
 

A Whole Lotta Firewood

Here is how to monitor power useage

This little meter will allow you to monitor the system. Currently is it displaying Amps. If this number is positive, the batteries are charging (when sun is out or when the generator is on). If the heat lamps in the bathroom is on, or if the microwave is on, this can be -80A, but it cannot be -80A for very long otherwise the house will run out of power.

IMG_20201102_093058.jpeg

In the event there is snow covering the panels, there is a lot of overcast, or other weird reasons the battery is drained, the generator should turn on automatically (at 40-60%). If the battery drains to the 20-30% range, the house power will be cut off and the system will have to be manually over rode. Call me and I will help, but if you need immediate assistance here is the instructions.

  1. Go into the concrete dug out with the solar panel and use the “set points” settings to move to the “off” position

2. Leave the dug out, and walk to the generator. approach the platform from the right hand side, where the large green/orange/red light can be seen from the strawberry patch. Lift open the top of the generator to see the control panel. There should be a code saying “Error Code 1062 VCSFF Loss.” Clear this code by pressing and holding (off&cancel)/(off&enter)/(enter&off). Once the error code is cleared, power the machine back on into the “Auto” position

3. Return to the dug out and move the “set points” back to “Auto.” The Generator should turn on within 15-20 seconds.

In Case of Emergency

Emergency Services: 911

Me: 919 960 1101

Helicopter Coordinates

(Only 10 minutes to Asheville Hospital)

36°06'44.4"N 82°15'05.8"W

Neighbors (with ATVs)
Kacey Yelton: 828 385 6929

Mike Ferguson: 315 576 1458

NSF Warden (Police of the Woods)
Officer Boone: 704 418 0925