Fern Hill Overlook, Fantastic Views, Private setting

So happy your enjoyed your stay! I look forward to your return visit.

In our message exchange, you said you had a "great trip" so I was surprised to read your comments. My upgrades so far this year included a mini-split HVAC system, Keurig coffemaker, dehumidifier and a ROKU device on the TV. Adding air conditioning was a major improvement! The bedskirt in the master bedroom was put on brand new in August. Yes, the furniture has been in place for awhile. Personally, I like most of what is provided for a rustic cabin. In the recent past, I've added ceiling fans, improved lighting, a SMART TV, a new refrigerator, new GE oven/cooktop and replaced both toilets. So, my focus has been function and comfort. I do expect to buy a new master bedroom mattress and replace the vinyl floor at some point. But for anyone looking for new, fully updated interior and furniture, this cabin is not the best choice. It sits on 2 wooded acres and there is significant property maintenance cost to me. The property was greatly affected by Hurricane Helene and it has been an huge effort to recover from that disaster in Western NC. I've tried to keep the rental cost reasonable for my guests so I have not, and do not plan to replace most of the furniture in order to offer something newer.

I'm glad you enjoyed your stay and that your 4-wheel drive vehicle could make it up the driveway even with a light covering of snow.

Glad to know you enjoyed your time in the beautiful NC mountains! Thanks for sharing.

Thanks for sharing your experience. Glad to know that you enjoyed your stay and the driveway was not an issue for your front wheel drive vehicle. Please keep my cabin in mind for a future vacation getaway! I would be happy for you to return.

Glad to know you had a great time! Thanks for sharing comments about your stay. We would be delighted to have you as a guest again!

I'm sorry you were disappointed with your stay. I will address your cleaning concerns with my housekeeper. I did not know the fridge light was not working, you are the first tenant to report that issue. You are also the first tenant of whom I'm aware who had an electric vehicle. I don't know the requirements for charging an electric vehicle so I can't explain why the outside outlets did not work for you to charge your vehicle.

Thank you for your feedback. Sorry that your GPS stopped you past the driveway itself. I have posted a photo of the bear motif mailbox beside the driveway and will make sure to bring that to the attention of future tenants. As you know, the cabin is not easily visible from the road. The driveway is fairly steep so a slow and steady pace is best until you get used to it. I am so sorry about the mouse... it is a cabin in the woods and sometimes a mouse will seek entry when the weather gets cold. I blocked out a week afterwards for my pest control company to address the problem and I'm sorry they couldn't get there during your stay.

I am sorry that you were disappointed. I will address your comment about dust with my housekeeper. The yard service has weed-whacked the front yard in July. The stove, dishwasher and refrigerator have all been replaced in the last 5 years. A new ceiling fan was added to the second bedroom. The toilet in the Master Bathroom was replaced this month. Over the last 10 years, a number of 2 wheel drive vehicles have accessed the property, but some drivers are more comfortable with 4 wheel drive. As mentioned in the comments, the driveway has significant slope. It is scraped periodically by the lawn service company to smooth out the gravel. The furniture is older, but the linens are washed between tenants and the sofa vacuumed. At a future date, I plan to replace the TV with a flat screen smart TV. Right now, I am looking for a replacement hot tub. The property is still being maintained. I will take your comments into consideration and update photos as appropriate on my next trip to the cabin.

I am glad that you enjoyed the views. The cabin is a great retreat for people who want a natural setting in which to experience the beauty of the mountains. There are actually 3 means of heating the living/dining area. The primary source of heat is an energy efficient rectangular ceramic heater located near the sofa. It is controlled by the thermostat just inside the entry to the main part of the cabin. (There is a second ceramic heater and related thermostat in the master bedroom.) In addition, there is a baseboard heater along the dining room wall. As you discovered, the third means of heating in the living/dining area of the cabin is the woodstove which generates a significant amount of heat although I think most of my tenants light it for the ambience. Firewood is provided. As far as plates, the cabinets contain place settings for 6 in solid green and 4 dinner plates in a bear motif. Occupancy is listed as 4-5 so I felt that would be sufficient. Since I purchased the cabin, I have modified it to include a dishwasher, stone steps, rustic railing and patio, covered outside entry with bench, and wrap-around deck. The refrigerator and dryer are new. New sheets and bedspread were purchased and replaced in March. A ceiling fan was added to the second bedroom. In general, I have opted to add function rather than replace what is in working order. The leak in the hot tub does not cause a significant drop in water level or otherwise affect the usage of the tub. Once the weather is warmer, I plan to schedule a repair. Just 2 weeks before you arrived a dump truck load of gravel was spread on the driveway which was scraped and re-surfaced. I believe it is important to maintain a steady forward motion up the entire length of the sloped driveway. Experienced drivers will not stop on the incline and then attempt to resume their progress. Taking it too fast can scatter gravel and deteriorate the driveway over time. The TV has a basic channel service. Board games and puzzles are in the bookcase for entertainment. Normal check-in time is 2 PM and check-out is 11 AM. Three hours is the minimum period for my cleaning crew to arrive, do laundry, change linens, clean bathrooms, vacuum, dust, check chemicals in the hot tub, pack up and leave. Thank you for your cooperation with my standard check-out time so the cabin was prepared to be inviting to the next incoming vacationers that day.

Thanks for taking the time to share your experience. I am glad you enjoyed your time overall! I have had requests to bring pets but I have not made any exceptions for guests to bring pets for the very reason you state, some people have pet allergies. If there was dog hair on the sofa, then someone must have violated the rules without my knowledge. I did bring your comment to the attention of my housekeeper and asked her to spend extra time to vacuum and remove fur from any upholstery. The baseboards are a secondary source of heat. As mentioned in the description, the cabin has 3 sources of heat. The primary heat comes from 2 ceramic wall heaters, one in the family room and one in the master bedroom. There is a setting on each heater to regulate how much heat it generates and a thermostat on the wall to cause the fans to distribute the heat based on the temperature of the cabin. They can keep the cabin cozy and warm. In very cold weather, the baseboard heaters provide supplemental heat. Then, there is a woodstove which creates its own ambiance, but also produces a lot of heat as well. I am sorry you were apparently unfamiliar with the ceramic heaters and the cabin was too chilly. I will think about how to highlight them better in my listing and I am available by phone if my guests experience an issue. I prioritize function and safety when looking at cabin expenditures. The hot tub does have leaks at high water levels and the outside has deteriorated over time. I had a new enclosure built but was not happy with the quality of the work. My hot tub repair man is helping me to evaluate my replacement options. I have added ceiling fans to help air circulation and replaced the stove, refrigerator and dryer as well as adding a drawer dishwasher. The TV is old, but functional. I do agree that a flat screen smart TV would be a nice update, but it probably won't happen until the hot tub is replaced. I appreciate your choice of Fern Hill Overlook and your comments on your stay.