Hickory Nut Telegraph

The Hickory Nut Telegraph January 2009

Once again I have given up the tractor and the never ending "to do" list that constantly beckons my call here on the farm for some quiet moments writing this newsletter.

Incidentally, if one has ever had thoughts of starting a business like this and coasting along in a free and easy manner, better think again. No complaints from me as it's allot of work but most rewarding as we strive to provide you the best vacation experience and value.

Miss Zee and I are beginning to wind down the holidays and will be casting off via cruise ship for a week of warmer climes and someone waiting on us for a change! The farm will still be open for business under the watchful eye of our son Cailein and Mr. Jerry Lee! We will however, be back on deck after our trip to start another great year hosting our many repeat guests and new ones as well.

News...

This up-coming spring we will be kicking off our involvement with the North Carolina Birding Trail's Mountain Region http://www.ncbirdingtrail.org/ . After a careful site inspection by The Audubon Society, we have been selected as an official site on the Mountain Region Trail! Once opened, we will have a trail along the other side of the creek away from the cottages open to the public.

As many of our repeat guests know, our walking trail to the top of our mountain (guests only) dead ends at the top. We will be opening the trail to continue along as a loop with the trail ending over near the upper pond. You might even get Mr. Jerry Lee to show you the trail and bring you home. This trail will be strenuous (better eat your Wheaties!) while our other trails are easy and just as beautiful.

This past few months has seen some amazing changes and has created some great challenges for us all. We all here at the farm remain optimistic that the future will once again bring good things for us all.

No worries as we are not going anywhere. We will still be here for you. So, if you feel like just stepping off for a weekend away from the race, just give us a call. We can even have Miss Carey, Kara or Sherry come up and give you a great Swedish, Kaya or hot stone massage. Afterwards, don't forget about the hot tub and blazing fireplace to complete the relaxation process.

Check out "Winter Special's" located on our home page for some incredible deals!

Yours in Peace, (and quiet)

Arthur Zee Cailein and Mr. Jerry Lee!

The newsletter of Spring House Farm
August 2008

I have been asked by many of our many returning guests to write a small column about happenings here on the farm. The fact of the matter is that I did just that when we opened Spring House Farm over eight years ago! Time and web sites changed and old news letters slipped through the cracks.

Back then I named it The Hickory Nut Telegraph for a couple of reasons. First, the farm is situated at the base of Hickory Nut Mountain which is the crown of The Hickory Nut Gorge that extends down into the Lake Lure/ Chimney Rock area. The other reason is that an old friend who I knew in my flying boat days by the name of Jimmy Buffett used a similar title in one of his songs called The Coconut Telegraph. While those days are long gone and with me being blown way ashore and still having a bit of the tropics in my blood, I named it The Hickory Nut Telegraph. No more clear skies and green waters of the Caribbean for me, but the beautiful mountains of The Blue Ridge!

Other hints of past life.. Check out the names of our cabins. "The Bimini Twist", "The Compleat Angler", "The Flying Bridge", "The Outrigger"... You get the idea. Oh, less I forget our most isolated cabin which sits atop a small mountain on the property. Called "The Reach" which I named after a phrase the Bahamian people use in describing when arriving somewhere as in "You done reach?". This cottage is perfect for relaxing in the hot tub and gazing up at the stars!

So, as the names of the cabins suggest, we aren't your typical mountain retreat with a few cabins scattered close by. We are very special in that we just have six completely PRIVATE and SECLUDED cabins situated on ninety- two acres of pristine mountain property. I will spare you with the usual pitch about our trout ponds and walking trails but must tell you that our cabins sleep just two persons and all have real wood burning fire places and front porch hot tubs! Get it now? Oh, and we even have one that has two bed rooms perfect for two couples! That one features gas logs and hot tub as well. If the walls could talk with that cabin!

Anyway, while we are wrapping up the summer now and enjoying the rains blown ashore from tropical systems down south, the weather will take on a change and bring cooler days and nights. With those cooler days of fall approaching we will begin to see the leaves changing to their beautiful autumn colors and smell the sweet smoke of a hickory log fire burning in one of our cabin fireplaces. The cooler waters in the upper pond will have the rainbow trout begin to come alive with promise of a hearty tug line if lucky enough to hook up!

Until then, the blossoms will still be blooming in our Lillie pad pond which surrounds Hammock Island and the promise of cooler nights, hot fireplace fires and warm hot tubs await!

See you soon!

Arthur