An Eco-treat: Cottages at Spring House Farm

The intention of The Cottages at Spring House Farm is to "preserve the integrity of the environment, protect local wildlife and ensure a quiet sanctuary for all." That's a purpose that distinguishes the cottages from most U.S. vacation retreats.

Spring House Farm was founded when owners Arthur Campbell, a retired airline pilot, and his wife Zee Anne, purchased a 177-year-old house along with 92 acres of farmland in McDowell County, N.C. After the home went through massive restoration and was honored with a spot on the National Register of Historic Places in 2001, the Campbells began building five secluded cottages on their land. "It's a place for guests to come and escape the fast lane," says Campbell, "and to provide metropolitan visitors the opportunity to experience nature firsthand." But the Campbells weren't content to give their guests a mere sampling of nature. They say their goal was to offer North Carolina and even the nation "a precedent-setting eco-retreat."

Developing ecotourism

Spring House Farm is a member of The International Eco Tourism Society, the world's oldest and largest nonprofit ecotourism organization. In February 2001, they farm complex became the first U.S. member of the International Ecotourism Club, a sustainable tourism organization based in Athens, Greece.

Antonis Petropoulos, director of EcoClub, said his organization defines an ecolodge as one that meets at least four of these five criteria: it minimizes its own environmental impact; supports environmental conservation and local projects; increases environmental and cultural knowledge; involves the local people as equal partners and is available and affordable to less affluent residents and guests.

The Campbells have tried to uphold these standards by constructing their cottages out of local timber, zigzagging paths around native poplar and hickory trees, using one well to supply water to all cabins and the main house and installing underground power lines. Their ban on hunting and logging on the property has created a wildlife sanctuary and home for deer, fox, bobcat, wild turkey, birds, fish and even the occasional bear. The farm's free flowing ponds, streams and hills are examples of a "viable economic alternative" to destructive practices, a lesson the Campbells try to pass on to visitors and the community.

Ecotourism involves more than finding a different place to vacation, Petropoulos says. "It is more than finding a unique place to stay. It is more of a set of ideas or a philosophy that is applied by those who travel and those who receive them," he said. "Ecotourism can take place everywhere, not only in pristine wilderness, but indeed in villages, or even in city centers. Ecotourism is also about people, not just about the birds and trees."

Though ecotourism has caught the public's attention in other nations across South America, Africa and East Asia, the U.S., as a whole, has yet to discover its benefits. Spring House Farm is one of only a few bona fide ecolodges in the U.S. Petropoulos feels the reason ecotourism is more widespread in developing nations is because the governments and aid agencies see it as a way to assist the poor and rural population. "Tourists on the other hand," says Petropoulos, "are becoming savvier and fed up by tourist traps in these countries, and are looking for authenticity."


The Main House
Built in 1826 and later expanded in 1836, the two-story, post and beam constructed Albertus Ledbetter House is a transitional Federal/Greek Revival style home. Jonathan Ledbetter, a prominent McDowell County farmer, built the structure as a residence, but his son Albertus lived in the home longer than anyone.

The well-preserved interior contains hand painted and carved detail on the walls, banister rungs and doors bearing the original locks and hinges. Because the settlers were very weary of fire, the kitchen was built onto the back of the house later in 1922. Wide swinging French doors in the foyer kept open in warm weather gives the house an airy feel and helps circulate the smell of fire wood.

Alongside the home are several 19th and 20th Century outbuildings. Possibly the favorite structure of the Campbells and their guests is the spring house, built in 1826. Kept at a cool temperature of 52 degrees by a natural underground spring, the cozy building was originally used by the Ledbetters to store meat, butter and milk; now it functions as a cool, quiet retreat. The hosts encourage guests to bring a book and glass of wine to the spring house where they can curl up under a blanket on the soft leather sofa. Among other outbuildings are a curing house, once used by the settlers to salt cure meats, and two outhouses, one of which was donated to the Campbells by a nearby church.

The Cottages

When building their five cottages, the Campbells remained true to their eco-friendly mission by only using local craftsmen, recycled softwoods and dead hardwoods. Each cottage is uniquely designed with floors, ceiling, walls and beds crafted from warm woods, including cherry, walnut, pine, birch, hemlock and others.

The cabins are tucked away in the forest and offer guests complete privacy. There are no televisions or phones; cell phones will not get a signal in the mountains. When checking in, guests are provided a two-way radio so they have complete control over their solitude. Campbell points out that Spring House Farm is also very service oriented and one on one. Want a bottle of wine from the Main House? Campbell will be at your service. "I may even join them for a glass," he jokes, "if they don't mind."

Each cabin has its own private drive, which traverses creeks and twists and turns as it climbs higher. The most remote cabin is The Reach, which Campbell who made several trips to the Caribbean as a pilot, named after a Bimini Island saying, "You done reach?" a phrase asking if you've met or accomplished your goals. Campbell said this cottage is best when you wish to feel "completely untouchable." There is a 360-degree view from the covered deck, which allows an awe-inspiring panorama of Hickory Nut Mountain and Pinnacle Mountain.

The Complete Angler cabin overlooks a pond, where all guests can take canoe trips and participate in the nightly trout feeding. One original feature is its large sliding barn door separating the bedroom from the living room and its stone fireplace. And the oversized bathroom houses a bidet, two-person shower and an antique Queen Claw Foot bathtub.

Another cabin, The Outrigger, was built using 200-year old hand hewn timbers. Like The Complete Angler, it features a sliding barn door separating the bedroom and living area. The bathroom offers a unique amenity: a very rare antique "mini" queen claw-foot bathtub, just the right size for female guests.

The Flying Bridge, named for the seemingly airborne deck extending over the trout pond, is arguably one of the most unique cottages on the property. It features intricacies such as an antique, rope-bed/hammock in the living room and unique windows in the sunroom; the Campbells designed it to swing up and out like those on a pirate ship.

All cabins are furnished with a hot tub, gas grill and fireplace. The fully stocked kitchen provides fresh breakfast foods from nearby farms, including free-range brown eggs and handmade bread, preserves and honey. If guests are unable to shop before arriving or to honor special requests, the Campbells provide specialty items such as fillet mignon, lobster, salmon steak and pork loin. Because they go to great measures to make their lodge a "living farm," the Campbells take great pride in offering four-star service with a down-home, natural feel.

Robert and Denise Parrish of Waynesboro, Ga., are frequent guests of Spring House Farm. They first learned about the farm while searching for a honeymoon destination near the Biltmore Estate in Asheville. After a quick trip to "survey the place," Parrish says he was hooked. The couple stayed at Spring House Farm on their honeymoon, first and second anniversary and during a winter vacation. "Our favorite thing is the nothingness," says Parrish. "No phone, TV, pager, neighbors, cars or noise. Just you and nature." The Parrishes are planning to return for their third anniversary in April.

After a career as a pilot during which Campbell saw many parts of the world and experienced how other nations and cultures live, he and his wife chose the Blue Ridge Foothills as their home and place to set up a business. In the past three years, they have managed to restore an historic home and property, conserve their pristine environment and educate their community about the benefits of eco-friendly tourism, all while making sure their guests leave refreshed and enlightened. The Campbells are proud that they have been able to create an eco-tourism destination and tie it together with a little splash of history.

For more information about The Cottages at Spring House Farm, call 1-877-738-9798 or visit the web site at www.springhousefarm.com. To find out more about the International EcoClub and The International Ecotourism Society, visit them at www.ecoclub.com and www.ecotourism.org.

by Beth J. Hardy