The River Gem

A River-side Tiny Home lovingly handcrafted with functional and artistic use of natural, reclaimed, and re-purposed materials. The space Through the abundance of river-facing windows or while sitting on the oak plank, tin-roof porch, watch our local Great Blue Heron, or if you're lucky, Oscar the Otter, fish for trout just a few feet away. The competition might be tough, but the Cullisaja River is stocked multiple times during the season, so your chances are good to catch fish as well. Cool off during the summer by tubing the river through the riffles, pools, eddies, and bends that flow down river toward the mountain town of Franklin (tubes provided). There is a fire pit (free fire wood provided.. if you use a lot, a tip would help!) outdoor lighting, a small propane barbeque, corn hole game, hook and loop game, and an outdoor shower to enhance your outdoor experience. The River Gem is a mere 12’ by 12’ but packs a lot into its 144sq/ft. A sliding glass door opens to the main floor where there is a small kitchenette, a private (composting) toilet and shower, a built-in bench/sofa that converts to a double bed if needed, and a small settee for dining. There is a partial loft that is accessible via a vertical ladder which holds a super comfy queen size bed. There is AC/heat, instant hot water, a small fridge/freezer, a two-burner hot plate, a Keurig coffee machine, a microwave, and an essential assortment of kitchen tools, supplies, and spices. There is a ROKU-enabled TV and decent WIFI so you can watch basic free programming or use your personal account to stream your subscriptions. Verizon cell service is good on the property. The River Gem is tucked off NC Highway 64 (a beautiful State designated Scenic Waterfall Byway) and just a few minutes down river from the spectacular Cullisaja River Gorge and the Nantahala National Forest. Cullisaja Falls, Bust-Your-Butt Falls, Dry Falls, and Bridalvail Falls are just a couple miles up the gorge. If you venture a little farther the options are endless. The quaint town of Franklin, known as “The Gem Capital of the world”, is just a 6-mile drive down river. There you can find gem shops, museums, two popular brew pubs, restaurants, shops, big box stores, and much more. Up the river gorge about 9 miles is Highlands with its upscale boutiques and more expensive lifestyle. There are multiple hiking trails within short a drive including both the Appalachian and the Bartram Trails which pass nearby. There are abandoned fire towers with spectacular vistas, uncountable waterfalls, and mountain balds with great vistas. A beautiful 12-mile drive up Walnut Creek is Lake Glenville which is the highest lake east of the Mississippi. Check out our guest guide which highlights some of our favorite places nearby. What makes River Gem special: Much of the lumber was culled from Cook Brothers sawmill just down river road when it closed down. The deck is all 1” rough-sawn oak plank and much of the detail work inside is rough-sawn local poplar. The tin for the roof came from a storm blow-off from the neighbor’s barn next door. The countertop is distressed copper. The shower floor is small river stones from out front. The windows are re-glazed vintage and the solid sliding exterior door is from Habitat for Humanity. The porch railing is painstakingly puzzled together from local mountain laurel. The wood for the small settee table is Cape Fear River Cyprus pulled from the river at the historic Hilton site in Wilmington NC decades ago. The old growth logs were part of the old shipyard dock pilings and harvested trees, which have been seasoned by the tannin-rich waters of the cape fear. It is many centuries old. I had saved that old wood for years... just waiting for where it might find its purpose again! Guest access You will have the entire tiny home and and its river front yard area. Your nearest neighbor is our house which is on the same property (a little over 100' down river). Other things to note BEFORE YOU RESERVE - please be aware of how SMALL the space is, and especially be aware that the queen bed is accessed by a VERTICAL LADDER to the loft. Additionally, the commode is a Nature's Head COMPOSTING TOILET which requires a little special attention to use. Please also note, no children, and we limit the number of dogs to two and they should be crated if left alone.