Ceilidh Cottage: Mountain Air!

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.

Access:

Parking
Please park on the street side in front of the house which fits 2-3 cars. Additional parking is available in the lot at Anderson auditorium (3-5 minute walk). Be mindful of our neighbor, Mari’s, and do not block the driveway across the street at the yellow house. It is possible to park 2-3 small to midsize along the stone wall, beginning at the green metal bear bin (trash & recycling) with ”215 Alabama” on the side. Park vehicles as close to the stone wall as possible, so Mari can get in and out of her driveway, and so emergency vehicles can still pass. Do not park in front of the neighbors’ homes or their stairs.

If your group has a large suvs , a passenger van and or a church bus, these vehicles may have difficulty fitting in front of 215 Alabama Terrace, if additional if midsize to large vehicles are also parked along the stone wall.

We strongly encourage our guests to plan ahead and park large vehicles at Anderson Auditorium during the length of a stay.

Three-story home with several staircases, and steps up to the house. There is no elevator. Guests have access to the entire property. Keyless entry.

Like many Montreat homes, there are 20+ steps to enter the home from the parking area below the house. Showers are located on the top floor and basement area, requiring stair climbs to both. If you, or someone in your party has difficulty with walking or climbing stairs, you may want to take this into consideration.

OTHER DETAILS:
One bedroom is furnished with bunk beds, allowing us to accommodate youth groups and families, alike. Please take a moment to view all of the photos, as the bedding arrangements may not work for some (elderly, couples, etc).



DINING -

Dining table has chairs for up to 8 and 2 more at kitchen bar. Plenty more dining areas are available on adjoining large back deck and also large covered front porch (both outdoors). Living room comfortably seats 7-9 in front of large tv and open dining room adjoins for more seating for larger groups.

Space:

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.

Neighborhood:

About Montreat:
Montreat is surrounded by approximately 2,500 acres of pristine wilderness that are permanently protected and will never be developed. The landmass of the Montreat community, as a whole, is approximately 4,000 acres and is an important corridor for access to the wilderness beyond its borders. Conserving the Montreat wilderness is significant to the ecology of the entire region, including neighboring mountain preserves - the North Fork Watershed Natural Area, the Pisgah National Forest - and several thousand acres of private land surrounding Montreat's wilderness border.
Adjoining these large tracts of contiguous land are the Blue Ridge National Scenic Byway, Mt. Mitchell State Park, Middle Creek Research Natural Area, and the Black Mountain Natural Area. The Montreat Wilderness area makes a significant contribution to this larger " macro-preserve."

To help protect this land and the entire Montreat valley, Montreat has teamed up with other organizations to create the Montreat Landcare Committee. Together we can keep this place special not only for our visitors, but also for our residents, our wildlife, and all of our future generations. Please visit the Montreat Landcare website for updates on our partners, our projects, and opportunities to volunteer.

What to do in and around Montreat: For all of the Summer Schedules and Fun things to do, please refer to This Week in Montreat. TWIM is an online resource that features a calendar of upcoming conferences, programs, events, as well as an overview of hikes, trailhead locations, accommodations, dining, recreation, etc. There are a variety of blogs, trail maps and photo galleries on this website.
Paper schedules and club schedules are located at the Assembly Inn lobby, Anderson Auditorium lobby, and the Montreat Store.


About Black Mountain:
Black Mountain, originally called “Grey Eagle,” was a tiny agrarian village in the Blue Ridge Mountains until the coming of the railroad in 1879, an event that changed the face of the community forever. Trains brought visitors from hotter climes to the cool mountain air of the Blue Ridge, and Black Mountain quickly became a popular tourist destination. Inns and boarding houses sprang up to serve the new visitors and residents.
Among those investors were people who developed the many religious retreats and conference centers, such as Montreat, YMCA Blue Ridge Assembly, and Ridgecrest. Today the Swannanoa Valley is home to seven such major conference centers.

Transit:

Guests would need to arrive by car. The closest airports to Montreat are:
27 miles: Asheville, NC (AVL / KAVL) Asheville Regional Airport
75 miles: Greenville, SC (GSP / KGSP) Greenville-Spartanburg International Airport
115 miles: Charlotte, NC (CLT / KCLT) Charlotte Douglas International Airport
223 miles: Raleigh, NC (RDU / KRDU) Raleigh-Durham International Airport
227 miles: Atlanta, GA (ATL / KATL) Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport
272 miles: Charleston, SC (CHS / KCHS) Charleston International Airport
306 miles: Nashville, TN (BNA / KBNA) Nashville International Airport
316 miles: Myrtle Beach, SC (MYR / KMYR) Myrtle Beach International Airport

Interaction:

FAST, LOCAL SERVICE

Customer service is the cornerstone of our business. We know it begins with your very first email and doesn’t stop until you’ve checked out, with a smile on your face.

So, here’s our promise: You’re our priority. We want you to have a fantastic time in Asheville and at the house. That’s why we’re 100% local – just minutes away, should the need arise! – and almost always available. We respond to any request within 3 hours (and usually, much sooner). We promise, we won’t leave you hanging.

And that means, no vacation rental nightmares. If you’re locked out, we’re there! If the washing machine breaks down mid-wash, we’re there! Or, if you’re just desperate for a restaurant recommendation, we’re also there. Just a call away, whenever you need us.

Bottom line: We know that the details – the big AND small details – are what count. They can make or break your vacation. So, we’re committed. Committed to you and your experience. (Reviews don’t lie!)

We look forward to welcoming you to Montreat and the Black Mountain area!

Notes:

The home has exterior cameras, smoke detectors, carbon monoxide monitors, fire extinguishers, and an alarm system.
No smoking. No parties.
Stairs- not suitable for wheelchairs
Low ceiling to basement
This property is ensconced in nature; anticipate bugs, bears, and other wildlife. Please don’t leave food out that will attract animals.
Tight parking for more than two large vehicles. Additional off-site parking is available within walking distance.
Pet-friendly, not suitable for those with allergies.

Montreat is surrounded by an immense amount of diverse plants and animals, which include deer, foxes, coyotes, raccoons, opossum, insects, and of course BEARS. Do not leave food and drinks outside on the porches and back deck.

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.

Quiet hours are from 10pm to 7am.

Beds
Sheets and towels are provided. In the den with the adjoining full bathroom, next to the bottom of the stairs, the pullout queen bed has bedding stored underneath the end of the sofa. Lift the cushion up to locate the storage. On the front side of the sofa, look for two straps, and pull both towards yourself, to lift the pull-out section, making the sofa a queen bed.

In the tv living room, the navy blue sofa is the second pullout sofa. Remove the seat cushions and pull the orange strap to lift the sofa bed out. Additional bedding for the tv living room queen pullout is located in the cedar chest.

Each bed has a mattress pad and mattress protector already on the bed. Sets of sheets will be either folded on each bed or in a drawer below the bed.

The twin trundle beds have two mattresses, one on top of the either. To pull out the trundle bed, start in the center of the bed frame, and pull the trundle out. It may take one or two people to pull from the center of the trundle (above the drawers), while someone else keeps the rest of the bed stationary by holding the corners of the bed frame. Try not to wiggle the trundle out, because this will cause the slats to misalign and push against one another, making it difficult to push the trundle in or possibly damaging it.

Once the trundle is entirely out , pull the top mattress off, the other mattress, and the two fit side by side, making two twins or one king.

Please do not allow a dog on the beds. No one under the age of six on the bunk bed ladders.