Mountaintop Hideaway

Tennessee B&B offers luxury and views for miles.

Story by Grant Hilliard Photos by Joseph Hilliard For Jim and Mary Haider, owning a log home bed and breakfast in Tennessee allows them to share their gorgeous setting and their hospitality with people literally from around the world. The Haiders set out to find the perfect setting for a lodge style retreat to share with guests. They had spent several weeks looking at property when one of their real estate agents suggested they look in the foothills of the Smoky Mountains where they could offer guests a mountaintop experience and spectacular views of the mountains and the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. After finding a site in Maryville, Tennessee, Jim and Mary began designing a warm, welcoming home that would offer a casual and outdoors-oriented lifestyle for themselves and their guests. The Lure of Logs “A log home is something each of us wanted,” Mary says. She became interested in log homes back in the 1970s while in western Canada, and Jim has always had a desire to live in one. They looked forward to a home that wrapped them in the warmth of wood while providing a dramatic open-beam ceiling. “Many of our guests choose to stay with us because they want to experience living in a log home,” Mary says. After visiting many log home shows, Jim and Mary chose Custom Timber Log Homes, a log home company in Maryville, to help them build their mountain retreat. With 35 years of experience designing and building custom log homes, and a true “can do” attitude, the company, headed by Bo Sparks, could help the Haiders achieve their goals. First and foremost, the retreat is the Haiders’ home, but it also had to make guests feel welcome with spacious common areas as well as tucked away private spaces. Creating a licensed bed and breakfast added a layer of complexity to the home’s design. “We had to incorporate a variety of health department requirements in the kitchen and baths,” Mary says. They also wanted an easy flow from one living space to another and the wow factor of a great room with soaring timbers and a breathtaking view of the mountains. Sitting at an elevation of 2,200 feet on the Chilhowee Mountain, the Haiders’ finished retreat includes three private guest rooms with luxury baths—two in the main house and one in a carriage house. The house also offers over 1,000 square feet of porch and deck space where the Haiders and their guests can enjoy panoramic mountain views in every direction and season. To address the amount of water needed for multiple guest rooms and an industrial dishwasher, part of the basement is used to house a specially designed water tank. Because of the number of sprinkler heads required in the heavy timber roof, the construction foreman devised a plan to bring the sprinkler heads down flush with the bottom of the rafters. Cross bracing with matching material expertly disguises the system. Modern amenities at Chilhowee include king size beds, two-person air-jet tubs, steam showers, large screen televisions and wireless internet access. These luxuries in a rustic setting make the retreat attractive to visitors of all ages and lifestyles who seek a secluded escape, whether it’s for a honeymoon, business meeting or weekend getaway. Slow and Fast Visitors to the Chilhowee Mountain Retreat find personable innkeepers eager to learn more about them. “As a small B&B we have the wonderful opportunity to get to know our guests, their families, careers and future plans,” Mary says. The couple often shares a cup of coffee and conversation with guests after breakfast. “We have learned so much about life in Japan, China, Brazil, France, England and Australia,” Mary says. The couple has hosted guests from every continent except Antarctica. For the most part, guests are drawn to the area by the local music scene and the natural beauty of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, but others are looking for bigger thrills. “A big draw to our area for many international guests is the Tail of the Dragon,” Jim says. He’s referring to a stretch of devilish road nearby that beckons to adventurous motorists and motorcyclists with 318 curves in 11 miles. Additional attractions in the area include Maryville College, the University of Tennessee, the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, as well as Gatlinburg and Pigeon Forge. With so much to do in the region, visitors to the retreat certainly will not be lacking for something to do, although the beauty of the home and its natural site make it just as fulfilling to simply enjoy the surroundings and do nothing at all.