Situated in Swannanoa, this lovely house for $425 per night is a great option for your next trip. [Booked for your dates or looking for something more modern? Try the Pottery House at www.vrbo.com/1050595 or Tree Tops Lodge at www.vrbo.com/710321.] Okay, now about the house: Be a part of history! This huge 180-year-old, two-story, 4000 sq. ft. home was built in 1844 with locally milled old growth red oak and locally sourced fieldstone. It may just be the most historically valuable home in Western North Carolina. The property includes about three acres of land, and was a working farm until 2002. The grounds include persimmon, walnut and almonds trees, blueberry bushes, a stream and a pond. In the early 1700's the Alexander and Davidson families were the first pioneers to cross the Blue Ridge Mountains and settle in Western North Carolina. The Davidsons settled HERE, on this land where the Bee Tree Creek enters the Swannanoa River. The house was built by the grandson of the first settlers and was owned by the family until 1981. THE FARMHOUSE Entering from the front porch into the foyer, you will be immediately struck by the scale of the rooms and the grand old bones of the house. I have removed several walls to create a giant entrance to the dining room ahead and to the fully exposed fireplace, creating a large and inviting living room to the right. The fireplace has an authentic period mantle and the living room comfortably seats 16. The four sets of double floor-to-ceiling windows looking out on the stream and pond with gazebo bring the outdoors into the room. Tasteful decor from local Asheville artists is mixed with carvings and art from my recent visit to Africa. Authentic vintage braided rugs and brass chandeliers complete the room. The focal point of the dining room is the handmade dining table of wormy chestnut for 16, with vintage chandeliers, a brick fireplace, classic ladder-back dining chairs scrounged from local antique dealers, and a collection of farming and country-themed wall art. Off the dining room is the bar area that seats four and a wide sunny entrance to the back patio and yard. For groups of friends or corporate retreats where everyone wants their own bed, the house fits eight, but for couples or families, the total sleeping count in beds can be up to 18. Houses that sleep up 18 need large kitchens. And this house delivers! The main full kitchen is augmented by a second nearby kitchen that makes reunion dinners, holiday meals and family gatherings easy. With two ovens/stoves, two dishwashers, two sinks and a spare fridge in the nearby utility room. A charming breakfast nook off the main kitchen seats 6. I guarantee you will not find a better equipped kitchen in any other vacation rental. I hear this over and over from guests at all my houses. All manner of baking pans, utensils, and cooking pots and pans are available. From garlic presses to hand mixers, from bunt cake pans to blenders and bagel toasters -- this kitchen is ready for you! There are silverware and plates, cups, bowls and glasses for 32 and tons of serving pieces. BEDROOMS AND BATHROOMS The master on the ground floor includes a large sitting area that was once part of the front porch but has now been enclosed. In addition to the king bed, the room has a twin day bed with twin trundle bed underneath. For the family with infants, this room provides plenty of room for the (provided) pack-n-play or crib. The bath features a giant walk in 36" x 72" shower with stone bench seating area. (In addition to this master bath, the ground floor has an additional full bath that features the exposed wood of the house's original exterior rough cut oak plank wall). Off the central foyer upstairs are four more bedrooms and two more baths. The front of the house includes the red king bedroom across the hall from the largest bedroom, the green room with two queen beds. The nearby silver bath has a large walk-in shower and vessel sink. Down the hall in the back are a third Africa-themed bedroom with king bed and the "bunkhouse" room in the back with two twin-over-full beds that sleep six kids but probably only 4 adults. They share the very large blue and grey bathroom with double sinks and tub/shower combo. All the bedrooms have vintage braided rugs and brass or glass chandeliers. OUTDOOR LIVING SPACES Externally, the house includes a large front porch with four rockers, a screened in porch on the side with wicker furniture, a patio in the back with a BBQ and dining seating for 16, a fire pit area, and a gazebo overlooking the pond -- multiple ways to enjoy the outdoors in comfort. Phew. That's a lot of house. So much house that it has two new HVAC systems -- one for upstairs and one for down, with separate controls for each floor. SETTING AND LOCATION The property is in unincorporated Buncombe County, between the Asheville City line and nearby Swannanoa township to the east. It is 7.4 miles from downtown Asheville, as the crow flies, but about a 15 minute drive to town, through a gorgeous country valley to I-40, one exit outside of Asheville. It is a great mix of convenience to town but country living without the winding mountainous roads that lead to many other country vacation houses. Uber and Lyft rides to town are about $14-$16. The commercial district of Swannanoa offers a large Ingles grocery store and other necessities. You are only a few minutes from charming Black Mountain, historic Montreat and a dozen or so of the gorgeous wedding venues east of Asheville. This is probably the closest large rental to the Warren Wilson College campus. It's a straight shot down I-40 to the entrance of the Biltmore Estate, providing easier access than from homes in the North Asheville that might be geographically closer. Of course the Blue Ridge Parkway is only a couple miles away and there are terrific hikes very nearby along the Swannanoa River or Bee Tree Valley. [The house is accessible, using the master bedroom downstairs. Please ask for details.] I love this house and its location, and could go on and on, but I feel now is good time to stop. If I missed anything, please feel free to ask.