Sunburst Lodge

Experience Sunburst Lodge—crafted from original 1860s Kentucky logs—where authentic 1800s charm meets today’s comforts. Lightly decorated to celebrate America’s 250th birthday, step into a living piece of history without sacrificing convenience: HVAC, indoor hot/cold running water, and three unique bathrooms. Relax in two spacious bedrooms. Just 4 miles from Tryon International Equestrian Center, with wineries and golf nearby. Unwind in nature, then soak in the hot tub outside the back porch. The space Experience early American charm of Sunburst Lodge — an actual 1860’s hand-hewn luxury log cabin nestled on a tranquil two-acre wooded property in the Blue Ridge Mountains in the foothills of western North Carolina. Two spacious and uniquely designed & furnished bedrooms — each with it’s own sitting area, fireplace and private bath — a guest’s favorite queen sized bed in the “Goldilocks” (master) Suite and three very comfortable full sized beds in the upstairs “Three Bears” Suite including an original rope bed modified with a new “slatting” base and a new foam mattress very comportable for one or two adults, plus a unique 100+ year old single or double size daybed in the living room from my late Granny Metcalf’s estate. You’ll also enjoy the relaxing hot tub, outdoor fire pit, and easy, close access to the best of horse and wine country in Polk and Rutherford Counties, and just 30 minutes from the beautiful Lake Lure, recently cleaned out and reopened after Hurricane Helene damage was cleaned up. Book a week for the best rate or book a weekend then inquire about the special weekday extension rate — a hard to beat deal for those who want to linger a bit longer or kick off your experience in this special place a few days earlier. Just follow the very simple but important rules!! No smoking/vaping No illegal drugs Absolutely No pets No speeding. Obey all traffic signs in the neighborhood. There are fines and evictions if you choose not to follow these rules. ⸻ Step Back in Time to the 1860’s, less than a hundred yours after the birth of our nation, Without Sacrificing Comfort. As you pull into the drive, a rustic split rail fence, built by the owner/host and his grandson, and the wide front porch welcome you to relax. Rocking chairs and an old glider sofa invite you to slow down — sip your morning coffee or sweet tea and take in the quiet beauty of the surrounding woods. Enjoy some remarkable sunrises and sunsets from the cabin porches. Or Imagine it’s 1860. But you found this cabin in the foothill forest to spend a week or a weekend with not a care in the world. Inside, the main gathering space feels timeless. A grand, wood-burning stone fireplace anchors the open living and dining area, with a nineteenth century handmade farm table with comfortable seating for six with a carving still visible, probably some young boy’s 1860’s mischievous handiwork. The kitchen door opens to a covered side porch through a 100+ year old door reclaimed from a log cabin in Hendersonville NC — modified into a Dutch door by the owner/host — and step on out and down to the grill area and fire pit and an outdoor dining area for 4. Whether dining under the trees or gathered indoors around the fire or around the 1800’s era table, every meal is like a historical experience, it’s just a lot easier now than it was then. ⸻ The “Three Bears” Bedroom — Cozy, Charming, and Full of History — guests love it — a storybook space featuring three different designs but similar feeling full-size, handmade antique beds, including one built by the owner over 55 years ago. The middle bed is an antique rope bed with a thick foam mattress over a base of wooden slats that can be used by children or adults. Settle into the sitting area beside a charming English-style brick-with -stone accented fireplace, or enjoy a game or good book at the old round oak table, either a modern board game or a old game of Crockinole that was played in the 1800’s. Instructions provided. The adjoining bathroom is a craftsman’s masterpiece, with antique reclaimed beadboard ceiling and a beadboard landscape detailing on the back wall, designed and built by the owner/host, a beautifully tiled shower framed by heavy reclaimed beams with a unique patina from a more than 100-year-old farmhouse near Williamston in Upstate South Carolina. More of these same beautiful beams were also used along the ends of the bathroom ceiling. ⸻ The Master Suite — the “Goldilocks bedroom” where Comfort Meets Craftsmanship. Back on the main level, a bright “antique red” powder room leads back to the spacious master suite. This inviting room features high ceilings, a natural stone fireplace with gas logs, a cedar-lined walk-in closet, a laundry space, and a luxurious master bathroom. Relax in the freestanding tub, rinse off in the stone-floored shower, and enjoy the double vessel sinks and soft “peacock plume blue” walls with recreated red bud tree limb and yellow finches perched along the branch created by the host and his very talented granddaughter. Through a set of 130-year-old French doors, step out onto the side porch for a soak in the hot tub or a quiet moment in the hand-caned rocking chair — lovingly restored by the owner over five decades ago. A new comfortable daybed sits with a warm blanket (that is available from inside the front door), and handmade (checkers) table, built from 100-year-old barn wood by a local Lake Lure veteran, add to the charm with a perfect spot to watch for deer and other wildlife while sipping your morning coffee. ——- Find warm cozy afghan throws hanging on the old chair frame near the front door to use while absorbing the sunrises and sunsets outside and nature at its best on the front and back porches or inside by the fireplace. ⸻ Rustic Beauty Meets Modern Comfort Sunburst Lodge blends 19th-century and modern craftsmanship with today’s modern luxuries — a peaceful mountain retreat where every detail has a story. Come stay, unwind, and experience the timeless beauty of this one-of-a-kind log home in the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains in Western North Carolina. Professionally cleaned between every stay with a focus on comfort, hygiene, and detail. Guest access Spring is here. A Beautiful time to experience Sunburst Lodge, originally built in the 1860’s in central Kentucky. Sit and relax by one of the three beautiful unique fireplaces inside in warm spring comfort in one of the perfectly cozy stuffed chairs, a recliner or a sofa to take a nice nap or enjoy a good book or cup of coffee, tea or chocolate included at no cost in the old wood cookstove converted into your very own Coffee Service station. Or enjoy the natural surroundings with a walk along a variety of grades on some steep and some level roadways over 5 miles or 8 kilometers of roadways inside the neighborhood. Sunburst Lodge is located in a beautiful gated community in the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains in Polk County, Western North Carolina. For access to the community on initial arrival at the front gate, guests will use a QR Code link as a virtual key provided in the Airbnb message app before your arrival and for up to a week, and a new QR Code will be provided at the start of each future week of your stay — along with instructions. An alternate entry method is to utilize the touchscreen keypad and press to access the “DIRECTORY” option on the entry unit. Touch the “Directory” option on the Entry Unit touch screen, scroll down to your host’s name, Warren, Alan. The system will call the Host, [Alan Warren], to validate identity and then to open the gate for guests. Use the DIRECTORY Method in emergencies, if ever needed. Other things to note I grew up in the 1950s and 60s with a grandfather who had a passion for rebuilding log cabins on his 40 acre mountain along the Pigeon River at his home property. These cabins were simple—just log walls and concrete floors, with no bathrooms or kitchens. Yet, even in their simplicity, they sparked a dream in me: to one day rebuild my own log house, but I dreamt of mine with modern comforts where they could become full time homes. For years, I envisioned taking down one of the many original log homes still standing today and rebuilding it as my own, but—I wanted indoor plumbing and modern amenities. So I designed my cabin to include two full and one half bathrooms uniquely modern, and a fully functional kitchen, blending rustic charm of the hand hewn logs with contemporary convenience of having indoor water. In early 2020 after I retired as a business manager with a large engineering and construction company, I discovered a company online that specializes in finding old log structures, often hidden beneath layers of clapboard siding, and carefully preparing the old logs for rebuilding. This company found a historic log structure near Campbellsville, KY, which became the foundation of my journey to create the log cabin I had always dreamed of. Working together, we developed a preliminary design, which I then took to a local Tryon architect to create the detailed construction drawings needed for a building permit. Once the floor plans were finalized, my log supplier cut and erected the cabin’s logs onto my subfloor, precisely matching the architect’s sketches. With this floor plan’s construction drawings and my fairly extensive design details and scope of work, the builder was selected and construction began in July 2021. Of course, there was a lot of intricate “construction detailing” that wasn’t captured in the drawings. I personally oversaw these details, collaborating with a local General Contractor and a talented team of tradespeople—plumbers, stonemasons, roofers, carpenters, electricians, chinkers, and HVAC specialists—who brought my vision to life. I even got hands-on with some of the carpentry work and landscaping myself. To add authenticity and history to the cabin, I sourced materials from a reclaimed lumber warehouse, finding old barn wood for the interior walls and we refinished the antique tongue-and-groove flooring with a rich history. Through social media, I connected with a special family from Tennessee who generously donated hundreds of board feet of red barn lumber, which you’ll see in the upstairs gable ends and some interior door jambs. Another friend, a local cabin builder, supplied a 150+ year-old barn beam, which he sawed into thick boards to create my unique staircase. Every inch of this cabin reflects my personal design, with every detail thoughtfully considered. I’ve kept a meticulous inventory of every item I purchased, many of which are as old or even older than the cabin’s logs. To enhance the experience for guests, the cabin is furnished with period antiques, carefully selected to evoke the character of the era. Some items are marked with a red dot, indicating they are for display only, as they hold a special place in my cabin’s story, many that I collected for decades until my cabin became a reality.