You made it!

Welcome, welcome, WELCOME to our home. We love it here and we hope you do, too! If you need anything at all during your stay - from a question about operating things, to a recommendation for dinner or adventure - please do not hesitate to reach out. I'm just a call or text away and I love to help! I am jen, and my cell phone is (813) 418-0178.

A couple important notes as you get settled in:

- Jump in and enjoy the views, the space, and any surprises you find. There may be wine in the cabinet, snacks in the pantry, or meats and breakfasts in the freezer. Please do not disturb any closet that has a rope closure or an owners sign - these are our extra supplies or personal items - but you are welcome to everything else you discover! :)

- For those enjoying the hot tubs, please be sure to use the green and white spa towels provided rather than the gray towels from the bathrooms. The spa towels dry quickly and cannot be damaged by the chlorine in the hot tubs; the bathroom towels are more delicate and should not be used for outdoor purposes.

- Air conditioning and heating systems information is below. Two key details you'll need to operate the remote-controlled units successfully: avoid using the Auto setting completely; and be sure that all connected units are set to either cool or heat (rather than one on cool and one on heat).

- Please note that there are no ride-sharing or delivery services in the area, and hours of operation for local businesses are heavily dependent on seasonality. During slower seasons, it is best to call ahead to confirm hours of operation and availability of items. Check below for helpful info on shopping locations and suggestions for restaurants/adventures. :)

Enjoy your stay - enjoy each other - we're so glad you're here!

Connecting to WiFi

Network: Mountain Retreat WiFi

Password: lifeisgood

The WiFi signal should reach all the way to the game room and even (at a low strength) out to the yurt. The property is serviced by BalsamWest Internet. Should you have any trouble at all you can call me directly, or their Customer Service line is (828) 399-2900. If there are any interruptions to service, I will usually be notified via email and will let you know right away.

For basic troubleshooting, the router is behind the TV in the Main House living room. There are also mesh routers in the laundry room and master bedroom that must remain plugged in. (These are small white cylinders that usually have a green indicator light at the base.) Additionally, there are two signal extenders mounted outside on the top of the house and the top of the cabin. These are small white oval shaped boxes if anyone is trying to find them.

Operating Heat & Air-Conditioning

There are several fans and mini-split units throughout the property, but often times, the best way to cool or warm the spaces quickly is to open or close a door or window! If you decide to enjoy the breeze, please be mindful of bugs as the sun goes down and either keep the area by the windows dark, or close the doors to avoid letting in all the bugs in the Nantahala Gorge! :) Should you accidentally welcome your bug neighbors, a vacuum is usually the fastest way to get your privacy back. :)

If the systems described below are insufficient to keep your party comfortable, please let me know. There are lots of fans, space heaters, fire pits, hot tubs, hot chocolate, and blankets located throughout the property, but we can provide more of these as needed!

Main House Climate Control

The concrete floor of the main house is warmed using radiant floor heating. There are two zones, each controlled by its own control box. The control boxes are in the kitchen (to the left of the white cabinets) and at the entrance to the rear bedroom on the main floor. We recommend using the radiant heating at a setting of 72 if you desire heat, or less than 68 if you do not. A setting above 74 is usually not necessary, because the house is well-insulated and heats up quickly.

The gas fireplace in the living room is also available for heating, and is controlled using the remote mounted on the wall. Simply point the remote at the unit, and press the desired length you'd like to have the fire lit. If for some reason the unit does not come on, it means the pilot light is out. This will require some instruction to relight; please give me a call if you find yourself in that situation.

There are also four mini-split units in the house that provide cooling as well as additional heating. These are controlled by thin white remotes that have a window on them with a number in it. Simply point the remote at the unit mounted near the ceiling, and select the desired temperature. Be sure to use the Heat or Cool setting, and avoid using the Auto setting.

Please note: the mini-split units that share a condenser must be on the same setting to operate properly (both must be on either heat or cool, buut one cannot be set to heat with the other set to cool. This causes them both to fail and will require them to be turned off, and sometimes even serviced by a technician). The unit in the kitchen and the unit in the loft above the living room share a common condenser. The unit in the first bedroom on the main floor and the unit in the master bedroom upstairs share a common condenser.

Cabin Climate Control

There are two mini-split units in the cabin that provide both heating and cooling (one upstairs, one downstairs). These are controlled by white remotes that have a window on them with a number in it. Simply point the remote at the unit mounted near the ceiling, and select the desired temperature. Note that there are two remotes, but each remote can control both units if that is more convenient for you.

Be sure to use the Heat or Cool setting, and avoid using the Auto setting. Additionally, please note that the two units share a condenser, so they must be on the same setting (either heat or cool, but one cannot be set to heat with the other set to cool. This causes them both to fail and will require them to be turned off, and sometimes even serviced by a technician).

We recommend setting the downstairs unit a few degrees cooler than the upstairs unit to avoid cycling them unnecessarily.

Game Room Climate Control

There is one mini-split unit in the game room that provides both heating and cooling. It is controlled by a white remote that has a window with a number in it. Simply point the remote at the unit mounted near the ceiling, and select the desired temperature. Be sure to use the Heat or Cool setting, and avoid the Auto setting.

Please note: the game room is not fully insulated, and setting the air-conditioning more than 10 degrees below outside air temperature can lead to the unit leaking down the wall and onto the floor. If you choose to set the temperature well below outside air temperature, please make sure the space is occupied, and change the setting when you are not in the space.

Yurt Climate Control

This is a giant tent and you are the climate control! :)

When the yurt is too warm, the best way to cool it off is to open two windows on opposite sides of the space and make sure the ceiling is blowing air down. You may also want to use the floor fans, which feature a humidity setting to help cool the space. To use it, fill the reservoir at the rear base of the fan, and set to high cool and high humidity.

When the yurt is too cold, the best way to warm it up is to seal the windows and door, and set up two space heaters. It will take time to warm up, but this does work. Please turn off all space heaters when the space is unoccupied!

Shopping / Restaurants / Adventures

Please note that there are no ride-sharing or delivery services in the area, and hours of operation for local businesses are heavily dependent on seasonality. During slower seasons, it is best to call ahead to confirm hours of operation and availability of items.

Local Shopping

- Dollar General is the closest store for many basic needs. 15 minutes away, open 8am-10pm. (828) 341-2150.

- Ingles Market is the closest grocery store and sells beer/wine. 25 minutes away, open 7am-10pm. (828) 488-6600.

- Bryson City NC is 25 minutes away and has a small downtown area for strolling and light shopping.

- Franklin NC is 35 minutes away and has a wider variety of stores, antique malls, etc.

- Asheville NC and Knoxville TN are both 2 hours away and offer even more!

Local Restaurants / Takeout (in order of distance):

- Cardinal Coffee (10 minutes - Coffee/Bagels)

- Kallisto Restaurant & Lounge (15 min - Mediterranean/American);

- Big Wesser (20 min - BBQ);

- Rivers End Restaurant (20 min - American);

- Anthony's Grille (25 min - Pizza/Burgers);

- Everett St Diner (25 min - Breakfast/Homestyle);

- J.R. Chophouse (33 min - Steak/Seafood)

Local Adventures

There are tons and tons of guided adventures and open wilderness areas nearby. The property you rented is 5 acres, surrounded by 40 acres that a friend owns, surrounded by NC State game lands. Feel free to explore as far as you can walk - including down to the river - and be aware that we do have one neighbor (to the right of the driveway as you're driving up).

- To get to the river from the house, walk down the driveway until you see what looks like an old road to your left. It has grass on it, but is wide enough that a car could drive on it. Follow that path until you reach a wooden foot bridge - don't cross, turn left! - and then follow that trail down to the water. To come back, just turn around and walk up!

- There is a second smaller trail that connects to this large trail to make a full loop, but we recommend that only experienced hikers use that path. There are several downed trees and the trail changes every week due to wildlife, water runoff, etc. To find it, start at the house and walk down the driveway until you see a black sign on your right that says "TRAIL." The trail is a game trail that connects with and crosses two other old trails - continue making your way down and east, following the valley as you go, and you will eventually connect to the larger trail.

- Check out the Almond Boat Launch just 15 minutes away or Fontana Lake 35 minutes away for fishing, kayak rentals, etc.

- For cliff jumping, take Highway 19 east and cross over the river, then take your immediate left. Follow the road down to the water and park, then walk to the cliffs (low and high cliffs are there, both land in calm water).

- If you're looking for a great place to get the lay of the land beyond the property and a bite to eat, check out the Nantahala Outdoor Center! Ziplining, kayaks, white water rafting, paddle school, survival lessons, and more.

- Lots more adventures to share - reach out for details!

Locking Up

Almost every door at EagleWatch is a European-style double-security door, which means they have a strange locking mechanism that can take some getting used to.

Main House Locks

To lock any of the brass locks, you'll need to first lift up on the handle to latch the security latches. (You can try this with the door open to see the latches raise as you lift the handle.) Once the latches are locked, you can then turn the locking knob to lock the door fully. Once the door is locked, you do not need to turn the locking knob to open the door. You simply press down firmly on the handle, and that will unlock the knob and unlock the latches at the same time.

Cabin Locks

The cabin front door and door lock are both on back-order, so we are currently using the slider as the locking door. There is a standard key to lock it, which can be found either on the table my the stove, or in the lockbox near the front door. (Please see your welcome message for the lockbox code.)

To lock the cabin front door, use the same process described above for the Main House Locks.

Game Room Locks

The game room is designed to be accessible at all times, so there are currently no locks installed. If you would like to purchase a padlock or two for use during your stay in order to lock it, you are welcome to do that!

To lock yourself inside the game room, you will need one padlock. First, place a padlock on the right hand door (where the latch is mounted on the outside). Then enter the game room through the left hand door, and secure the latch that is mounted on the inside. This is a safety feature which prevents anyone from being locked inside the game room on accident. We do not recommend using a padlock on the interior lock while you are inside the game room!

To lock your belongings inside the game room, you will need two padlocks. First, place a padlock on the left hand door (where the latch is mounted on the inside). Then exit the game room through the right hand door, and place a second padlock on the latch that is mounted on the outside.

Yurt Locks

The yurt has a good ol' standard American lock. There is a standard key to lock it, which can be found either on the side table, hanging on a screw to the right of the inside door, or in the lockbox near the door. (Please see your welcome message for the lockbox code.)

Appliances & Other Details

There are lots of little details here - please note the portions in italics. For the rest, feel free to read or just give me a call when you hit a snag! :)

Hot Tubs

Please enjoy the hot tubs, and be sure to use the green and white spa towels provided rather than the gray towels from the bathrooms. The spa towels are made of a turkish cotton that dries quickly and cannot be damaged by the chlorine in the hot tubs. The bathroom towels are much more delicate and should not be used for outdoor purposes.

The hot tub controls are heat, light, and jets. For the round hot tub on the main deck, the temperature will go up or down when you press the button. If it is going the opposite direction from what you want, keep pressing the button and then direction will reverse.

If the water level in either hot tub gets too low, the pumps will begin to make lots of noise and spray water across the tub. To refill, use the hose that is mounted outside the main laundry room.

To turn either hot tub completely off, you must turn off the breaker. Please let me know if you need to find it and I will help!

Dishwasher

This is a stealthy machine and can be tricky to operate. To start the dishwasher, open the door and select the desired cycle on the control panel, then press start. Close the door and wait (longer than you think) for the unit to start. It is very quiet, and you may have to lean close to it to confirm that the cycle has begun.

It is best to communicate to the group somehow that the unit is running. Often times, someone in the party will open the dishwasher and interrupt the cycle, but it will not restart automatically once the door is closed. This can lead to dishes that are not clean or dry, even though the unit is operating properly.

Laundry Room / Shared Bathroom

The washer and dryer are fully operable and available for guest use. You are welcome to use the detergent and dryer sheets provided, or if you brought your own, please ensure the detergent is designed for high-efficiency washing machines.

There is a three-compartment laundry basket provided for your convenience - feel free to move it outside if your party plans to use the shower in that bathroom. Cleaning products, garbage bags, and mess-ready towels are stored under the laundry room sink and kitchen sink. Broom, mop, and vacuum are stored in the tall cabinet in the laundry room.

Television / Audio

There are three TVs on the property - one in the main house living room, one in the cabin living room, and one in the game room. All TVs have access to internet and any applications you use; none have access to cable. The game room TV is connected to an XBox One console for your enjoyment.

For all TVs and the Xbox, please remember to login to your accounts to make purchases, and be sure to logout prior to leaving to avoid others using your accounts on accident.

There are two portable Bose speakers on the property - one in the main house, and one in the cabin. Feel free to move these as you see fit, just please keep them away from weather/water, and try to return them to their original places before you go.

To connect to the speakers, open the bluetooth settings on your device and search for Bose Mountain. You may need to try to connect twice to be successful.

EagleWatch Quirks & Questions