Mountain lodge rustic, roomy

Known as “King Daddy Lodge,” the vacation home owned by Doug and Amber Segars and his father, Horace, is roomy enough for their entire family, easily sleeping at least 14 people.

Having that space was a must for their vacation home, which they also purchased as an investment while taking advantage of a down housing market. Segars, a CPA, chatted about the Morganton cabin.

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Photos by Christopher Oquendo / Special

The Segars – Douglas (left), Amber, Horace and Sheila – bought a mountain getaway in Morganton big enough for at least 14 people to enjoy at one time.

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Christopher Oquendo/Special

Horace and Sheila Segars hang out on their deck with an outdoor fireplace with Douglas Segars(left) and Amber Segars in their mountain home in Morganton.

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Decks and porches bring the owners closer to the deer and other animals and the stunning mountain views.

Getting there

Take I-75 north to I-575 north to Blue Ridge. At the McDonald's, take Ga. 515 toward Blairsville. Turn right onto Ga. 60. Go to next stop sign and take a left. Go through Morganton and turn right onto Ga. 60 after passing the post office. Travel 4.4 miles and turn left onto Daves Road. Travel 1.3 miles and take a left onto Picklesimer Road. Turn left onto North Burgess Gap, then right into Enchanting Forest.

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Where they looked: North Georgia towns such as Blue Ridge, Blairsville and Suches. He stumbled upon the listing for the cabin one night while doing a Google search for North Georgia properties. They visited the area one weekend and after looking at several homes, “we just kept coming back to that one.”

Why it stood out: It was a steal, he said. He was told the new home was about to be foreclosed on. They paid in the low $300,000s and finished the basement themselves, adding a game area and media room. “We feel like it will sell for close to $500,000 in a couple of years,” he said.

What they love about it: Features such as the outdoor covered fireplace and wraparound deck, which embrace the 180-degree views. “When it’s clear outside, you can probably see five or six layers of mountains,” he said. “It’s 2,400 feet above sea level, so you’re way up above in the mountains.”

How far from home: Two hours and 15 minutes from Monroe. “The main reason was the close proximity to where we’re at so we’re able to go up as we choose,” he said.

How often they’re there: Whenever it’s not rented. The first two months they owned it, they were there every weekend.

What they’ve learned about having a rental: Everything from purchasing extra sets of linens to finding a property management company to help rent it out and keep it clean.

“It’s still fresh to us, the whole renting process,” he said. “Really it’s just a gamble. You don’t know whether it’s going to be rented or not.”

What they do when visiting: Enjoy being lazy and playing with their daughter, Madeline, and other family members, he said. There’s everything from orchard visits to swimming at Morganton Point Recreation Area on Lake Blue Ridge, about 10 minutes away.

They don’t have to go far, either, to see the animals. “We go out every night and look for deer,” he said. “We counted 60 deer one night. Last time we were up there, we went out and not even 2 miles from the cabin we saw an eight-point buck.”

At a glance

The Segars’ home has five bedrooms, 3½ baths, more than 2,500 square feet of living space and a full finished basement. They purchased it for $320,000 in June.

Enchanting Forest

It’s a small rustic mountain community with about 25 homes, said Scott Nichols with Coldwell Banker High Country Realty. It began in the 1990s, but most of the new construction took place from 2004-2007, with several upscale custom homes, he said. Lots range from $28,000-$64,900.

Resources

North Georgia Cabin Rental Co.

Fannin County Chamber of Commerce

Visit individual agents’ sites (Nichols’ is Coldwell Banker- High Country Realty) for listings.

For sale

$350,000: 302 Wild Turkey Trail, Morganton 30560. Furnished three-bedroom, three-bath home built in 2004 on 2½ acres.

$399,000: L 67 Enchanting Circle, Morganton 30560. New three-bedroom, 3½-bath home on 1.45 acres with a full finished basement.

Recent sales

$384,000: 51 Last Chance Gulch, Morganton 30560. New three-bedroom, three-bath home on 2 acres with three fireplaces, granite countertops, and maple and slate floors.

$385,000: 202 Shepherds Ridge, Morganton 30560. A two-bedroom, two-bath custom log home built in 2004 on 2.1 acres with granite countertops, stainless steel appliances and a screened porch.

Do you have a vacation home? We’d like to learn about it and see some photos. Send us an e-mail at vacation@ajchomefinder.com with the details of your home and include some family snapshots that really show it off.

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