Vacation Home: Blue Ridge: Cool cabin exactly right for pair

Pat Shepherd wanted a vacation home that was cool.

“My wife and I were looking for a place in a cooler climate,” said Shepherd, 60, president of the Bank of Georgia. “For two years we spent weekends looking around southern North Carolina and North Georgia. Finally we centered in on Blue Ridge.”

Working with Lucy Wade, broker with Georgia Mountain & Lake Properties, the Shepherds spent another eight months looking for just the right home.

“We knew exactly what we wanted —- something with a view,” he said. “And we found it in this house.”

Off their porch they can see Big Frog Mountain in Tennessee and even North Carolina.

“And at the Fourth of July you can see the fireworks on Lake Blue Ridge and in McCaysville here in Georgia,” Shepherd said.

What they bought: The house was under construction when Wade suggested they take a look. “It was exactly right, and we put it under contract that same day. We made a few changes, and now we have a full-blown log home with two bedrooms, two baths and an unfinished basement. The builder had limbed up some of the trees and topped others, and when the sun begins to set, this is the place to be.”

How often they get there: “We go up about 45 weekends a year and have for the last 10 years. It takes about 2 hours and 10 minutes to go the 126 miles from our home in Newnan to Blue Ridge. The house is at almost 3,000-foot elevation, and we get snow up here when there might not be snow in town. We always try to be here for the snow.”

What they do while they’re there: “In trout season, I’m fishing. We are members of the Blue Ridge Community Theater and see four plays there a year. We ride around on day trips through the mountains. And shop at the local stores. In Newnan, Connie takes care of the cooking, but here I’m in charge of grilling out for ourselves and our guests.”

A wildlife theme: The Shepherds have had bears on their porches going after the seed in the bird feeders, seen deer, raccoons, foxes, possums, groundhogs and turkeys on their almost 3 acres. Shepherd is a hunter, and the cabin is decorated in a wildlife theme with deer heads, a wild hog head, squirrels and ducks. Many pieces of handmade furniture came from Jerry’s Mountain Furniture in Blue Ridge.

Blue Ridge

Pat Shepherd says one of the pleasures is being on a first-name basis with the merchants in downtown Blue Ridge. He and wife Connie enjoy the natural beauty of the area, riding along the back roads and enjoying the peace and quiet. The home is near Dial, a small town in a remote valley in the mountains at the southern end of Fannin County. Lucy Wade, a broker with Georgia Mountain & Lake Properties, says Cherokee settlements were once common along the Toccoa River. The Cherokee would build rock walls in a V shape across the river, and stand at the point of the V catching fish forced there by the current of the river. The original settlers to the area also built these types of walls. “The Toccoa River is still a great place to fish,” she says. “It truly is majestic to pull your car over and view the river even if you don’t fish.” She adds that Fannin County sales have been on an upswing recently. “We have been seeing a lot of activity in the last few weeks,” she says. “Folks are still out there trying for that ‘good deal,’ and the deals are out there.”

Current listings

Lot 13, Woodpecker River Resort, near Dial: 1.17 acres, 100-foot frontage on Toccoa River; $179,900. There are several lots available in this riverfront community; sizes and prices vary.

315 Stiles Road, Epworth: three-bedroom, 3 1/2 bath country-style home, full finished basement, in-ground pool, pastoral views, on 1 acre; $274,900.

836 Cherry Lake Drive, Cherry Log: three-bedroom, two-bath log cabin with mountain views, large sunroom, large decks; in community with several large ponds and hiking trails; $246,900 (reduced)

Getting there

From downtown Atlanta: Take I-75 north to I-575. This will turn into Ga. 515 and Ga. 5, which will lead into Blue Ridge.