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The Value of Solitude in Nature

March 18, 2019

The most attractive thing about the “The Beech” or our other Cabins is not the house. Shhhh, it’s a secret! 

Early on, as our shipping container and log cabin rentals showed great promise on Airbnb to provide extra income in our retirement years, it was apparent that the sustainable draw was our magnificent waterfall and it’s quiet natural setting. Money is seductive, but this is the story of how I opted for minimalism. 

I began to think how much better we could do financially with a whole village of tiny house vacation rentals that would line the bluff on both sides of the falls, stretching all the way to Miller’s lookout point.

I began construction on The Beech Treehouse with a vision of four small cabins on the West side of the falls along the bluff. Our friends Christophe and Heather agreed to place their lovely Tiny House, Hamlin, next to The Beech and share the revenue from it. Thankfully, Hamlin is on wheels. It’s completely flexible and its location is temporary. 

As I shared my plans with guests, we learned something very important from them. There are many spectacular waterfalls nearby on the Cumberland Plateau. Some are taller. Some have more volume. Some have nicely paved parking lots with easy access and nice public facilities. None offer solitude to commune with nature. None are truly private like ours. The chance to enjoy the grandeur of such an incredible waterfall by yourself, to listen to the subtle sounds of nature with the roar of the waterfall - soothing white background noise minus the chatter of tourists, is priceless and rare. It’s the personal, private, yet accessible experience with nature that makes our place magical. 

That wonder is not just for our guests. It is for us too. No amount of money could compensate for a loss to commercialism of this private, precious place. 

As each new guest arrives, I offer to give a short tour of the falls. There is something immensely fulfilling in the moment guests come to the top of the falls. The walk along the creek through the woods is lovely. But the look of surprise and pure pleasure on their faces as they peer over the cliff for the first time is priceless to me. Every day that I get to share this priceless experience is a good day for me.

As my grown children return home with our grandchildren in tow, I am reminded of precious times. My youngest spent every morning for weeks documenting the budding trees, insects, birds, creek crawdads and other wildlife at the top of the falls. I want my grandchildren to experience that - alone with nature.

September 4, 2024
How a tiny girl taught me to believe in Fairies
September 3, 2024
Parable of The Fairy Tree … of such is the kingdom of God Luke 18:16
By The Cox Family October 3, 2023
A great place to hide from the everyday hustle and slow down to remember the magic of life! Christy Cox October 1-3, 2023
August 30, 2023
“The Falls at Sewanee Creek has been crowned the #1 best Hipcamp to visit in Tennessee in 2023! Based on your 2022 bookings, reviews, and ratings, you've done an incredible job providing Hipcampers with a great experience.”
August 30, 2023
Everybody loves to create. Only a blessed few know how to create with steel. I love to connect people’s creative drive with some easy-to-learn welding skills. First, we go to my metal scrap pile, a collection of car parts, tanks, stainless utensils, pipes, sheet metal, washers, bearings, saw blades, chains and more. Then you mix, match, compare and visualize something uniquely, creatively you. Next we cut, bend and shape, followed by removing rust, paint and dirt for a clean, strong weld. Finally, it’s time to weld it all together. I give pointers on welding technique and safety. We don welding masks and gloves and it’s your turn. The whole process is satisfyingly explosive. Since I began offering Maker Sessions in Steel to our vacationing guests, I’ve been astounded at the scope of people who want to learn to weld. It’s not just men . Surprisingly, women and children make up the majority . Perhaps it’s the appeal of artistic creation that’s the bridge. Maybe it’s the confidence that comes from learning something that seemed outside of what children and women normally do. I don’t know. 
August 30, 2023
We enjoy all of our guests. Some leave us deeply moved, our hearts filled with joy and a sense of purpose. They create heartwarming, shared memories and friendships that will last forever. The Miller family (not related) are guests and friends like that, Click on THIS LINK to Jennifer Miller’s blog post.
August 30, 2023
Our guests, Queen and L.A. made this short documentary of their stay with us in our Eco-Container Cabin. They liked it. We like their video. Hope you will too. Help them build their youtube channel by subscribing, liking and sharing.
August 30, 2023
It’s been months since I posted to this blog. While most businesses have suffered since the outset of Covid, the Falls at Sewanee Creek is booming . Guests are finding it’s a perfect place to breath fresh air, safely distanced and inspired by nature. But, for me, No time left for blogging. Meanwhile, Several big changes
March 15, 2020
Observing exponential growth of panic over the past few weeks. Some silly (stockpiling toilet paper) some not so silly - just reasonable, measured caution. The travel industry is devastated. Cruising is dead in the water. Dining out is out of style. Concerts at the nearby Caverns venue are flat. Cancelled sans-refund. Anywhere groups of people gather is off limits. Fear and loathing. Yet, for now at least, our little slice of heaven with cabins, treehouses, Tents and campsites is buzzing with quiet activity. I wondered, why? Maybe a lot of people still think this is over-hyped. If so, that will end soon. I think there Is another reason. Especially in times like these, people need to get away for short periods and find a place of peace. While most travel and recreation oriented destinations involve crowds, ours is one of the few options that has none of that. Our cabins and campsites are sprinkled lightly throughout the woods. There is plenty of space for quiet, private contemplation - trails, waterfalls, look-out points, acres and acres to explore alone with nature - away from crowds. Beyond the natural advantages of a low population-density rural area in the woods, We are taking extra precautions to assure our guest’s safety. 1. We greet each guest upon arrival to brief them on the things to do and places to eat both on and off the property. While doing so, we take special care to keep a prudent, safe distance that exceeds six feet of personal space and, for now, no handshakes. After the initial greeting, we give plenty of space - as much as you desire. 2. At the end of the stay, we ask our guests to place all linens in a large cloth bag (virus survival outside a host is shorter on cloth than hard surfaces like plastic), spray with an aerosol sanitizer and return it to the main house where it will be laundered with a special laundry sanitizer. We sanitize sheets, blankets, pillow-cases and towels with sanitizing solutions, hot water, and a hot dryer setting. Linens that are hard to wash (bedspreads and quilts) are dispensed with. We think your health is more important than a momentary pretty first impression of the bed. We can supply pillows, but encourage guests to bring their own. 3. We thoroughly sanitize all hard surfaces between guests. 4. For our own protection (and therefore yours too) we wait a couple of hours after guests depart to enter the space. Upon entry, we use an aerosol spray to cleanse the air. Again at departure. 5. After everything we can do, we encourage our guests to add an extra layer of vigilance. We supply an array of sanitizers (soaps, detergents, sanitizing aerosols, etc.) in each house. We encourage our guests to sanitize everything again with the supplied solutions and bring more of those you trust most. That’s both for their own peace of mind and just in case we missed something. None of these measures is inexpensive to pull off, either in labor or materials. Just essential. We care. So, we won’t be reducing our prices. On the contrary. You WILL get what you pay for and more. Then, RELAX and enjoy the beauty and serenity of nature in its most pristine state. Most of this happens quietly, behind the scenes, without a lot of fanfare. We think there is more than enough stress in this world without fanning the flames. So, when your world calls for self-imposed quarantine, there’s an away place that’s safe, secure and serene. Refuge can be very sweet.  Welcome to The Falls at Sewanee Creek.
March 2, 2020
Located at the top of fifty foot Miller’s Falls and with a view from the back deck of the Falls and magnificent cascades below, This ”epic” glamping experience is now available at the Falls at Sewanee Creek. Our first guests stayed over the weekend. Come join us to experience the serenity of nature at its best.
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