There was more excitement this month when Spring House
Farm announced the opening of their fifth and final cottage. Spring House Farm was formerly known as the Albertus Ledbetter House (c.1826), which is listed in the
U.S. National Register of Historic Places, with the following details: The Farm cottages are situated on a 92 acre tract of hills and valleys, deep woods and pastures, trout ponds and streams.
* For more details please visit the Spring House Farm website Copyright © 1999-2002 ECOCLUB
S.A. All Rights Reserved. |
A rare
"pink lady's slipper" orchid, seen on the left, whose scientific name is
Cypripedium acaule, aka the moccasin flower, was spotted by guests while walking
in the woods of 
Cypripedium
is listed in Appendix II of CITES, making it illegal to export any part of the
plant without a permit.
Spring
House Farm is located about 50 km from the highest peak of the southern Appalachian Mountains,
(Mt. Mitchell 2037m, and a National Park since 1915) and this area, due to
its mild climate is home
to more than 50 species of wild orchids, normally associated with tropical climates.
The Appalachian mountains are considered as one of the oldest mountain
chains on earth, with round summits and gradual slopes, one billion years
old, thus no peak is high enough to be covered with snow throughout the
year. The mountains are heavily forested with pine, spruce, birch, cedar,
ash and maple trees. Like the flora, the fauna of Mt. Mitchell is
abundant and diverse. Bird watchers have recorded 91 species in the park.
Birds more characteristic of New England and Canada—including winter
wrens, slate-colored juncos, red crossbills and golden-crowned kinglets—nest
in the high altitudes. 
Spring
and summer bring the drumming of ruffed grouse. From the observation tower,
visitors can often see peregrine falcons circling below. Lucky visitors may
catch a glimpse of a northern flying squirrel or hear the call of the
saw-whet owl. White-tailed deer, black bear and striped skunk are at home in
the lofty elevations, and at night an occasional bobcat or gray fox can be
spotted. Long before explorers left Europe in search of the New World,
various Native American tribes inhabited the area surrounding the Black
Mountains. In the mid-1700s, the tribes were joined by settlers primarily of
Scotch-Irish and English origin. The remoteness of the southern regions lead
to the development of a unique Appalachian culture known for its distinctive
crafts and music...
Situated deep
in a hardwood forest of hickory, oak and sourwood trees, rhododendron and mountain
laurels the cottage stands completely secluded and in a totally natural setting. Called
"The Outrigger", this cottage is of log construction and features a
king size bed, two person shower, bidet and for our lady guests, a rare four
foot antique claw foot bath tub. As with the other four cottages, a front porch four
person hot tub is standard. Spring House farm is situated on 92 acres of natural
hardwood forest and with the completion of "The Outrigger" will bring
a total of only five cottages. Each cottage sleeps only two persons, which with
all the cottages taken, will be a total of just ten guests on the property at
once, thus minimizing the human impact on the flora and fauna as well as each
other.
The 92 acres have walking trails that vary from easy to strenuous. Similar to a tropical rainforest, the abundant hardwoods create their own "canopy" which keeps the forest floor below moist and cool during the spring and hot summer with an explosion of colors when the leaves change in the cool of the fall.
The cottages have been constructed with great care so as not to remove any trees apart from the ones used in the construction of the cottages. The cottages are located on the property in secluded settings carefully planned for individual guest's privacy and solitude.
Spring House Farm aim to provide a comfortable and secluded destination for
guests interested in peace and quiet in a natural and unmolested setting.
They insist upon no loud parties or behaviour so as not to upset the delicate balance of nature and the wildlife and out of respect for other guests on the property.
They constructed only 5 cottages on the 92 acres and have no plans for further development. Only one well was dug which furnishes the necessary water required. No chemicals are used in the property.
Spring House Farm are proud to be the first and only eco-retreat and private wildlife sanctuary in the mountains of Western North Carolina. 
The lodge is
close to Asheville (1 hr), with a reputation as a southern bohemia, to Charlotte (1.5 hrs.), Greenville-Spartanburg (1.25 hrs.), Columbia (2 hrs.),
and Atlanta (3.5 hrs.), just 10 minutes off S.R.221, the route popular with the skiers heading to Beech and Sugar Mountains (1.25 hrs.). Within twenty minutes are the popular resorts of Chimney Rock, Lake Lure, and Fairfield
Mountain. Chimney rock Park is a towering monolith that offers a spectacular view of
the Hickory Nut Gorge and Lake Lure. 
Blasted out of the solid granite cliff, a 198-foot tunnel
leads into the mountain to an elevator, with a vertical shaft of 258 feet, which
takes you to the top in approximately 32 seconds. A massive piece of construction, it took eight tons of dynamite and 18 months to
complete and opened in 1949. The Lake Lure area provides many recreational opportunities, from world class
golf, hiking and biking, rafting and canoeing and pleasure cruises on the lake to area restaurants and parks. Nearby
is the Biltmore Estate, at 8,000 acres and with a 250 room 19th c. chateau, the largest mansion in America.