Historic, beautifully updated 1920s-era 6BR/3BA mountain cottage. Forested cove of Swannanoa Valley/Montreat by downtown Black Mtn. Fresh air & historic charm hearken to simpler times of railroads, boarding houses, inns & travelers such as scholars, novelists & creatives. Covered front porch/mountain views/grill/firepit/hammocks/nature/hardwood floors/chef’s kitchen/formal dining/pet-friendly/laundry. Near hiking/retreat/conference centers/Blue Ridge Mts./20 mins to Asheville/Biltmore. Historic, 1920s-era Ceilidh Cottage, set amidst mountain laurels and rhododendrons, has long been a center of life in Montreat, close to the quaint downtown of Black Mountain, NC. Known by many names over its one-hundred-plus year history, (First Place, The Burlington, Boardwalk) it has played host to hundreds of gatherings and countless memories. “Ceilidh” (pronounced KAY-lee) is a Scots-Gaelic word for a social gathering or party. In days of old, in the Scottish Highlands, Ireland, and Wales, friends, family, and neighbors would gather in a house to hold a “ceilidh” and entertain each other with poems, songs, folk music, ancient stories, and traditional dancing. On long, dark winter nights, it is still the custom in small villages, for young and old to collect in a house for a ceilidh. The owners of Ceilidh Cottage chose the name “Ceilidh” to honor family heritage, and to celebrate the property for what it truly is; an iconic gathering place. This authentic 1920s-era mountain cottage has been beautifully & lovingly renovated over the fall and winter of 2022 - spring of 2023. The 3-story, slate-blue home features interior and exterior staircases, authentic cedar shake shingle siding, and elegant modern amenities. Yet, the cottage retains its rustic, woodsy, historic Appalachian charm. The pet-friendly cottage is ideal for families/multi-family vacations, large groups, reunions, youth groups, book clubs, hiking clubs, wildlife enthusiasts, and nature lovers. The spacious home can sleep 20 guests. Ceilidh Cottage is 1,720 sq. ft. and comprises three levels, all connected by staircases: The Main (second floor) has the living, kitchen, and dining areas and a bonus sitting room/bedroom with a pull-out sofa and adjoining bathroom. This main/second floor also has a large, covered front porch, as well as a large outdoor deck. The Top (3rd floor) has four bedrooms, each equipped with individual sinks, as well as one bathroom with a toilet and private shower. This top floor also has a screened-in porch with a cafe-style dining table. The Lower (1st floor) has a spacious bedroom with three trundle beds and a full bathroom with a sink, toilet, and walk-in shower, as well as a laundry room with a washer/dryer. Living Spaces (Main Floor/Second Level) Huge windows, treetop views & mountain vistas! Open design, tons of natural light Hardwood floors, earthy color palette Built-in living room bookshelves with SmartTV, games & books Queen sleeper sofa in living room Direct access to covered front porch & back deck Den with pullout queen sleeper sofa & adjoining bath The bright, airy, open-concept, main floor living area has large (floor-to-ceiling) windows, hardwood floors, a floral-motif natural wool rug, and modern lighting fixtures. Natural fibers and organic materials add rustic charm. A (queen sleeper) sofa, loveseat, and oversize armchair are arranged around a coffee table made from a vintage, distressed wood chest. A large, built-in bookshelf features a SmartTV, many family games, and books. Cozy up here with your group to watch your favorite shows and movies, or to read guide books about native plants, local hiking trails, and waterfalls. The living room comfortably seats 7-9 guests and adjoins the dining room to accommodate larger groups. This living space is a soft sage-green color. Bookshelves and wood trim in the living room are all freshly painted and crisp white. Furnishings and decor have a color palate of silver-gray, dark navy, and pastel ocher. This color palette is inspired by surrounding nature; sage and silver of ferns and mosses, the deep blue of mountain rivers and waterfalls, yellow ocher and gold of the sunlight glinting through forest leaves. The main floor living area also has a den (painted the same sage-green color as the living room) providing guests a bonus sitting room/bedroom with a pull-out queen-size sleeper sofa and adjoining full bath. Kitchen & Dining: Quality appliances Abundant original wood cabinets Microwave Dishwasher Large fridge Oven and electric stove Large farmhouse-style sink Dishwasher Drip coffee maker, kettle, toaster, spice rack, chef’s knife block Dish-ware, glassware, bakeware, silverware, pots & pans Large pantry area with open shelving Pass-through window between kitchen/dining makes entertaining a breeze! Breakfast bar with seating for two Grand formal farmhouse dining table with seating for ten French doors from the dining room open out to the deck and mountain vistas The fully equipped chef’s kitchen has a rustic/retro design, modernized with upscale appliances and amenities. In keeping with its rustic roots, this 1920s-era kitchen maintains its original hardwood cabinets, and stone countertops and features a harlequin (checkered) black and white tile floor. The kitchen has a large pantry with open shelving, perfect for storing all your provisions. The kitchen cabinets and wood trim are all painted crisp white. The kitchen is a burnt sienna color. This rich, warm, welcoming hue evokes autumn foliage in the mountains. Are there fishing enthusiasts in your group? Prepare a feast of fresh mountain trout. Or keep things simple after a visit to the local farmers market; fix sandwiches and a salad of heirloom tomatoes. Bake cornbread and beans, or country ham with wild ramps. Try some local morel mushrooms gathered from the surrounding hills and hollers. Sample locally-made goat cheese, apple butter, sorghum, sourwood honey, or collard green kimchi. The humble Appalachian cuisine offers spoonfuls of heart, soul, and flavor! The retro kitchen opens out to a spacious and bright formal dining room with an original hardwood floor, and a large, natural wood, farmhouse-style dining table with seating for ten, below a modern rustic chandelier. French doors from the dining room open out to the deck and lush treetop views. Gather your crew for a home-cooked family-style meal enhanced by mountain vistas. There’s a pass-through window between the kitchen and dining room, which makes entertaining a breeze! This passthrough window doubles as a breakfast bar and offers stool seating for two. A serene spot to sip your morning coffee or tea. Bedrooms & Baths: Bathrooms on every floor; all baths have walk-in showers Bedrooms on every floor; new mattresses & bedding Sinks in each of the four upper-floor bedrooms (3rd floor sleeps 10) Huge basement (1st floor) bedroom with rustic. knotty pine paneling Open concept basement bedroom has 3 trundle beds (sleeps 6) The basement laundry room is stocked with laundry detergent Living room queen-size sleeper sofa (sleeps 2) bedding provided Main floor den with queen-size sleeper sofa (sleeps 2) bedding provided Upper-floor bedrooms have enchanting views of Blue Ridge forests The basement bedroom has a wall-mounted 55" SmartTV Ceilidh Cottage sleeps 20 guests in total Upper (3rd Floor) Bedrooms & Baths Climb the stairs to the third-floor space with four bedrooms. These upper-level bedrooms all have gorgeous, original hardwood floors, rustic mountain decor, natural wool area rugs, elegant antique furnishings and lamps, Appalachian-themed fine art, and large windows with views of forest treetops and sweeping mountain vistas. Historic details such as original, solid-brass ornate door knobs have been preserved. Bedrooms on this upper floor have a muted, earthy color palette of sage green, forest green, silver-gray, soft yellow ocher, and sienna, contrasted with crisp white wood trim. Each bedroom has new mattresses and sumptuous bedding. Each of these four bedrooms is equipped with individual, original sinks and mirrors. It’s easy to roll out of bed, wash your face, brush your hair and teeth in the morning! These four bedrooms share access to a large bathroom with a toilet, sink and private shower. The spacious, freshly-remodeled bathroom has a walk-in, white tile shower with a rain shower head. The bathroom has granite countertops, a large farmhouse-style sink, and retro-style duo chromatic decorative floor tile. This 3rd-floor bathroom (and all bathrooms in this cottage) have hair dryers, plush towels, toiletries, and plenty of cabinet storage space. BR#1 - Trundle bed, can be two twins or one queen KING bed (sleeps 2) BR#2 - Trundle bed, can be two twins or one queen KING bed (sleeps 2) BR#3 - Two sets of bunk beds (4 twins) (sleeps 4) BR#4 - Queen bed (sleeps 2) Like many Montreat homes, there are 20+ steps to enter the home from the parking area below the house; these exterior steps are shaded by heritage rhododendrons and mountain laurels. Showers are on the upper and lower levels, requiring stair climbs to both. If you or someone in your party has difficulty walking or climbing stairs, please reconsider booking this cottage, as it’s not a handicap-accessible home. There are many stairs and no elevators. Main (2nd Floor) Bedrooms & Baths: The main (2nd floor) of Ceilidh Cottage has a queen-size sleeper sofa in the living room, as well as a den/sitting room/bedroom with a pull-out, queen-size sleeper couch, with a full bathroom attached. If your plans involve hiking, take a peek at the mural on the second-floor stairwell. This mural shows the many trailheads in and around the community. BR#5 - Queen sleeper sofa bed (sleeps 2) Lower (1st Floor) Bedrooms & Baths: The lower (first floor) level of Ceilidh Cottage is often referred to as the “basement” level, but it is not underground. This home is simply built into the mountainside, so this floor is at the main/ground level. This first/ground floor level has a huge, open-concept bedroom with three trundle beds (sleeps 6) as well as a full bathroom with a sink, toilet, walk-in shower, and a laundry area with a state-of-the-art washer and dryer. BR#6 - 3 Trundle beds (sleeps 6) This knotty pine paneling on the ground floor level adds woodsy warmth and character! Original brick columns in this space have also been preserved and showcased. This spacious bedroom features a wall-mounted SmartTV, open-design shelving/storage, recessed lighting, and two large windows that bring in natural light. Both the laundry room and bathroom have retro-style, duo-chromatic tile floors. The bathroom has a huge, sleek, walk-in, white tile shower, and a large, porcelain farmhouse-style sink. Outdoor Amenities: Main (Second Floor) covered deck with treetop views & mountain vistas Main Floor Covered Deck with alfresco dining Porch swing & Adirondack style rocking chairs for relaxing Upper (Third Floor) screened-in porch with a cafe dining table Large back deck with gas grill, propane firepit & Adirondack chairs Ensconced in Nature! Rhododendrons, Mountain Laurels, Dogwoods Driveway parking, plus additional parking at a local auditorium Close (mins) to downtown Black Mountain 20 minutes from downtown Asheville Close to world-class hiking Outdoor amenities are the highlight of historic Ceilidh Cottage! Relax in Adirondack-style rocking chairs on the main (2nd floor) covered deck. Sip a cocktail, and enjoy the sights and sounds of the Blue Ridge forest. You might see indigo buntings or hear whippoorwills at night. Owls and deer are typical. The covered porch is rich with southern Appalachian charm. Enjoy alfresco dining at a distressed wood table. Rock on the porch swing with a glass of mint-iced tea or lemonade. At dusk, decorative string lights provide a romantic ambiance, and lantern-style sconce lighting hearkens to yesteryear. The upper (3rd floor) screened-in porch offers a tranquil respite. This porch has a cafe-style dining table. The back deck has a new, stainless steel, gas grill (When using the propane grill, remember to pull the grill away from the house 3 feet, and when finished, clean it and turn off the tank. The grilling utensils are hanging in the kitchen cabinet.) The back deck also has a propane fire pit, encircled by Adirondack-style chairs. Relax in a hammock in the yard after a long hike. Children will enjoy exploring the yard and forest. Pick wildflowers, search for crawdads in the mountain creeks, and teach the kids to identify native plants, trees, and mushrooms. This cottage is close to world-class hiking and so many outdoor activities and adventures! Ceilidh Cottage has interior and exterior staircases, no elevator, and is not wheelchair accessible. The charming slate-blue cottage has authentic cedar shake shingles on the lower level. The driveway offers parking space for 2 to 3 cars on the front, street side of the house. Additional parking is available in the lot at Anderson Auditorium (3-5 minute walk). Yes, you can park Church vans, trucks, or RVs in this off-site lot, so long as you provide us with advance notice.