Designed by artists and just minutes from Penland School of Crafts, Conley House is the perfect creative space! A modern cabin located on 6 acres with almost no neighbors in sight, we are also just 12 minutes to shopping/groceries. Our fast fiber optic internet also makes WFH a breeze! Filled with all the comforts of home, guests love our stunning views, tableware made by local artists, chef’s kitchen and large bedroom suites. Bonus, the detached office/3rd bedroom is a perfect home office. FALL FOLIAGE: Typically fall foliage begins October 1 and, barring an early frost, ends the first week of November. It typically peaks in late October. PHONE SERVICE: Verizon is the primary mobile carrier for the area. Other mobile users are encouraged to check their carrier's coverage in the region. DRIVEWAY: The gravel drive can be steep for some vehicles that are especially low to the ground, such as sports cars and Mini-Coopers, etc. The owners have a truck and a typical sedan and have no trouble getting up the driveway. Four-wheel drive and AWD is not required, but if you are renting a vehicle, this option might be a good choice for the mountains in winter. Chains for tires are another good option if you are visiting in the snowy season and you are concerned about getting around. PENLAND & THE HOME'S HISTORICAL SIGNIFICANCE The home was built by artist/sculptor Bill Brown, the first director of Penland School of Crafts after the founder, Lucy Morgan, retired. Penland School is important to the region of Appalachia because in the 1920s Miss Lucy, as she was often called, provided education and resources to local women teaching them how to weave and sell their handmade goods. This developed into a cottage industry that helped to improve the circumstances of these women and also gave birth to Penland. The school now provides instruction in all areas of craft from weaving, pottery, glass and ceramics to metalwork, printmaking, letterpress, photography and much more. The campus occupies 420 acres on the mountain at the other end of the same road as Conley House. Visually inspiring all by itself, the campus is open for tours by appointment and has a catalog of courses that are open to the public and are designed for a range of skill levels. Also open to the public is Penland Gallery, which offers fine craft in all media made by skilled craftspeople from all over the world. The school also has a coffee shop and gift shop! They love to have visitors, so stop on by! Because of the school and the natural beauty of the mountains, the area is filled with artists and craftspeople, making it a truly unique area of the country that you'll want to explore. We live off-site and are very responsive by phone, text, and email. If you need recommendations on what to do in the area, directions, or have a question about the property, we are always more than happy to help. While we do not live close-by, we do have many local resources to help out should onsite assistance be needed. We will do everything we can to make sure you enjoy every minute of your getaway. Off state maintained roads just 15 minutes from shopping & exploring in Spruce Pine and Burnsville, and just 48 miles from Asheville, Conley House is a modern mountain gem with plenty to do! You can get away from it all, play games, explore the well-known crafts trail, take a class, hike to waterfalls, or indulge in the local shops and restaurants of the area. Guests at Conley House are given a picture filled booklet of favorite spots to help them plan a truly memorable local experience! The entire house and grounds are available to guests. The optional third bedroom/ office is available upon request for a nominal charge. The entire property is rented as a whole to ensure our guest's privacy. The office is never rented separately. At this time, the actual studio is not available for rent. Directions and access instructions will be emailed to you prior to arrival. A vehicle is necessary for getting around the area. PROXIMITY - Ingles Market, a full-service grocery store with traditional, natural and organic selections and a full-service pharmacy, is 8 miles from the house. - Walmart is 12 miles. - National Mineral Museum is 15 miles. - Closest eat-in/take-out option at 4.8 miles. - Downtown Spruce Pine & Riverside Park is 9 miles. - Hospital & ER is 8.6 miles. DRIVEWAY The gravel drive can be steep for some vehicles that are especially low to the ground, such as sports cars and Mini-Coopers, etc. The owners have a truck and a typical sedan and have no trouble getting up the driveway. Guests may park on the lower part of the driveway if they would prefer. Four-wheel drive is not required, but if you are renting a vehicle, this option might be a good choice for the mountains - especially in winter. Chains for tires are another good option if you are visiting in the winter and you are concerned about getting around. The driveway is plowed when there is snow or ice. If you have any questions, please be sure and let us know. Note: Four-wheel drive is not required, but is helpful when there is snow or ice. In cases of winter weather, if you do not have four wheel drive, we recommend parking at the bottom of the driveway. TIPS FOR DRIVING IN THE MOUNTAINS The key to driving in the mountains, especially steep gravel passes, is to drive with confidence and keep your momentum. If you are driving on a road that is steep or problematic go low and slow - about 6-12 miles an hour - and do not stop. Also, GPS is fairly accurate for businesses, but for residences and small mountain roads it can be inaccurate. We suggest using our directions to get to the cabin initially. If you have questions about how to get somewhere, please let us know. We are happy to help!