Welcome to the Briar Patch! We’re so glad you’re heading our way soon!
We are Jerome and Kellie Daley, your concierges for this special placemanaging this property on behalf of the owners, Tom Kuell and Dan Hatley in Chapel Hill, NC. This is no cookie-cutter house; this is a one-of-a-kind piece of genuine Appalachia…and we’re so glad to share it with you. Whether you come for mountain adventures, some well-deserved R & R, or some family fun (or a little bit of each), you are most welcome.
This online Home Book should lay out all you need to know to fully operate and enjoy this home as well as guide you to some of the many great things to do here in the High Country. If you have any needs while you are here, we are only a message away. We live close by, and we want your stay to exceed your expectations in every way. Enjoy!
GPS
The house address for the Briar Patch is 2133 Watauga River Road, Sugar Grove, NC 28679.
If you have any trouble with GPS, drive to The Mast General Store in Valle Crucis, located on Broadstone Road (HWY 194). From Mast, drive north on Broadstone/194 for half a mile and turn left onto Watauga River Road. 1.8 miles down this beautiful drive, the pavement will turn to gravel/dirt. Our home is another quarter mile on the left with a wooden sign that says "2133."
Essentials
House Key
There is a keypad on the front door (the door under the front porch), and you will receive the code to the door the day of arrival. Inside in the kitchen you will find a key to the cottage. Just leave the key on the counter at departure and lock all doors behind you.
wifi
Network: Briar Patch Password: HighHoRetreats
Cell Phone service
The mountains are notoriously bad for cellular service. If you have Verizon, you can probably make and receive calls—and it’s better outside. Other providers will probably not work… although you may be able to use wifi-assist on your phone to help.
hot tub
Please follow the rules in the section below. Although you have used hot tubs before, it’s vital to understand the way our tub works!
Temperature
The thermostat for the main heating & cooling system is in the bookcase in the greatroom. The master bedroom and the cottage each have their own mini-system and are controlled by the white remotes. We find best results by using either “Heat” or “Cool” rather than “Auto.” Point the remote at the wall unit and wait for the confirming beep when adjusting.
TV
The big TV in the loft has a single remote that controls both the TV and streaming. The TV in the cottage has two remotes—one for TV and one for Roku. There is no cable or broadcast TV, but you can access several live TV channels as well as a free selection of movies and TV shows through Roku. There is also a Netflix account for watching a much larger selection of movies and TV.
makeup
Please use the provided make-up wipes instead of white washcloths or towels!
Cooking
The kitchen should be pretty self-explanatory, but one thing of note: please just touch the buttons on the dishwasher rather than press them; they are sensitive and can be damaged with pressure. We also have a toaster oven, a blender, and hopefully all the tools you will need to enjoy pulling together meals simple or elaborate!
The grill has an extra gas tank located under the deck on the main house. If you swap tanks, please let us know so we can refill before the next guest!
fireplace & firepit
In the winter, enjoy the fireplace using provided paper and kindling, then add your own logs—layer crosswise for air flow. Firewood can be brought from home or purchased locally.
In the summertime, try the outdoor firepit instead. You are welcome to use branches fallen on the ground, but do not cut live branches. Please do NOT move the firepit stones! Enjoy.
Safety & First Aid
Please do not allow children to climb or play on the retaining walls. As fun as it looks, it’s a recipe for injury. There are lots of steep drop-offs around, so please exercise due caution.
In addition, there is a wide variety of wildlife in the area—from deer to turkey to foxes and coyotes to black bear. Never try to feed or touch wild animals. Just enjoy from a distance. Also, do not leave any trash or food items outside at night—this will invite visitors and a mess.
There is a first aid kit on the top shelf of the kitchen pantry to handle small cuts and scrapes.
Hopefully all will be safe and sound, but in the event that you need medical help, the closest urgent care is Fast-Med located 11 miles away at 178 NC-105 Extension #101, Boone, NC 28607 (828-265-7146).
The closest hospital is Watauga Medical Center located 12 miles away at 336 Deerfield Rd, Boone, NC 28607 (828-262-4100).
Loft Beds
If you need additional sleeping space, feel free to fold one or both loft couches down into beds. Scoot the couch forward off the wall, bend the backrest forward, then back down to the floor. Sleeping bag, sheets, and pillows are stored inside the wicker chest.
groceries
The closest grocery store is Ingles, located at 2575 NC-105, Boone, NC 28607…about a 15 minute drive. Further into Boone are other choices including Earth Fare, Harris Teeter, and Publix.
garbage
ALL garbage must be bagged because it will be hand-carried away. Extra bags are located underneath the kitchen sink.
If you wind up with more than three bags of trash, please take them to the Watauga Waste Convenience Center located at 5400 NC-194, Banner Elk, NC 28604 (8am – 7pm Mon, Wed, Fri, Sat) or at 336 Landfill Rd, Boone, NC 28607 (open every day except Sunday).
river access
For getting down to the river, walk down our driveway, turn left on the road, and walk about 50 feet. When you see the birdhouse on the tree by the road, take the small path that angles down to the river. Please exercise caution as the trail and bank are both rough, and in the warm months has the usual creekside hazards including ticks, snakes, poison ivy, etc.
Hot Tub Rules
We are delighted to offer you access to our hot tub. As you might expect, this is an expensive piece of equipment, and we ask your help in keeping it in excellent condition so that it can serve many guests for many years! Please review the following rules with everyone in your party so that everyone knows what to expect.
Before Using
Please shower before entering the tub. Use the beach towels from the laundry room, not bath towels for the tub. Please wipe your feet so that no grass or dirt enters the tub or the house.
Press the button on the side of the wind strap buckle to unlock the tub. Then fold the cover over towards the back, then lift the folded cover until it slides up at the very back.
Press the “Jets” button (propeller icon) to activate the water nozzles. If you like, press the “Lights” icon to turn those on.
We keep the temperature set to 103, but you can turn it cooler by using the (+) and (–) buttons.
Please do not enter the tub if you are sick, pregnant, or have sores, cuts, infections, or other questionable health conditions.
No animals in the tub. No children under the age of 5 in the tub. All children must be supervised continuously. Do not sit or lay objects on top of the cover.
While Using
No more than six people in the tub at any time.
No glass objects in or around the tub. Please use plastic cups for non-alcoholic beverages.
No food, alcohol, tobacco, narcotics, or prescription drugs that induce drowsiness or that raise / lower your blood pressure.
No jumping or diving in the tub. This is a place for relaxing, not horseplay.
Maximum tub time of 15 minutes for your health and safety.
This should go without saying, but please do not pee in the tub!
Do not place any electrical appliance (phones, radios, TVs, etc) within 5 feet of the tub.
Do not operate the tub during severe weather, including thunderstorms, tornado watches, etc.
After Using
Press the “Jets” button to turn water flow completely off. If you used the lights, turn those off as well (requires multiple presses).
Close the cover and re-lock the wind strap. This is essential for safety. Thank you and enjoy!
*If Hot Tub Rules are not followed, you will be charged for the cost of professional servicing.
Activities
Click here to see our recommendations for things to see and do in the area, including adventure activities, local festivals and events, fave restaurants, day-trip options, and local wineries!