Basic Instructions for Visiting Big Ridge

Getting there: Navigate your way to 1150 Big Ridge Road, Glenville, NC 28736. The property is on the right, exactly one mile up Big Ridge Road from Highway 107.

Game cameras: As an FYI, there are several game cameras on the property pointing to the driveway and the main entrance of the house; I know when anyone arrives, departs, etc.

Getting in: The housekeepers will leave the back porch door to the main level and the garden level door unlocked in anticipation of your arrival. If you’d like to lock the doors when you aren’t there, you’ll find door keys on the windowsill in the main kitchen and on the kitchen shelf of the garden level.

Septic System: As we are on a septic system, do not flush anything other than toilet paper.

Wifi & Sonos: The Starlink network is named Min-Rimmon (the third beacon of Gondor) and the password is “speakfriend”. You can connect to Sonos via Min-Rimmon.

Kitchen & Food: The kitchen has the basics (olive oil, condiments, etc). Help yourself to anything that is there, including wine, beer, and liquor. You should bring (or buy at the Ingles in Cashiers) everything you want to cook. The gas station near the bottom of Big Ridge Road has all sorts of essentials.

Garbage: There are extra garbage cans outside in the little shed to the side of the house (for diapers or if you fill the kitchen wastebasket). The housekeepers will take all the garbage away when they come to clean after your stay.

Coffee: I am pretty sure we have all the coffee bases covered, but you will want to bring your own ground coffee. There is a Chemex, a Nespresso machine, Nespresso pods, a frother, a small hand grinder, and a really cool camp cappuccino maker. If you prefer your coffee professionally prepared or you’d like to buy a bag of beans, Buck’s Coffee at the Cashiers crossroads will set you up. I do not know how much milk or cream will be there, so just in case we are low, bring what you want to brew.

The Fireplace: When you use the Spring House fireplace, first check the flue to ensure it is open. There are firestarter, matches, and kindling in the basket next to the fireplace, firewood on the porch, and plenty of extra wood on the Garden Level terrace. There is no gas starter, so if you aren’t familiar with starting a fire from scratch, you may find this video helpful.

Firepit: This is the spot for s’mores. There are starter cubes and matches on the shelf in the Writer’s Hut. Please use gathered wood and logs from the wood pile on the Garden Level terrace, and save the tiny logs on the Writer’s Hut porch for those using its wood stove.

Hiking: I highly recommend High Falls Trail (10 minutes away). It is close, demanding, beautiful, and you can be there and back in well under two hours. You can also access the falls via a more leisurely, longer approach from Highway 107 downstream of the falls (this trail is not “official”), but the last hundred yards requires some scrambling that some will find difficult or intimidating.

The best longer hikes are available in Panthertown Valley (25 min away). If you hike in Panthertown, definitely download the AllTrails app and use it for navigation.

If you arrive (or leave) by way of Highlands, I recommend carving out two hours for the Whiteside Mountain hike (30 min from Big Ridge), especially during non-peak hours/season. More details about trails here — and please don’t hesitate to text me for recommendations specifically tailored to your group.

Restaurants & Reservations: Happ’s Place at the bottom of Big Ridge Rd is open from March 1 to January 1 (closed Mondays and Tuesdays). Great venue with excellent pizza and big entrées. Next door is The Local, a newly opened Cuban-ish TexMex-ish spot with burgers. Both often have live music on Friday and Saturday nights.

(Interim) Big Ridge Barbell Club: If you are into lifting, please use the rack in the storage room. You might be able to add a record to the leaderboard! The permanent gym will be in the barn.