31 Bear Creek Lane, Clayton

Heart Pine Lodge was built in 1908 and held by the same family for over 100 years. A Florida citrus family, they returned every summer to the foot of Black Rock Mountain, trading the lowland heat for cool mountain air, and their original guestbook, first signed in 1961, still sits inside. The house crowns the very top of its hill, with a dramatic drive winding up to the front door. Now the next chapter belongs to you. This is a place where mornings begin with coffee on the screened porch and evenings end at the fire pit under mountain stars. Everything in between is minutes away: a morning hike at Black Rock, a farm stand run to Osage Farms, tastings at three nearby wineries, an afternoon rafting the Chattooga or on the fairways at Sky Valley, dinner at Hush or Fortify with a nightcap at OldKnow, or a day trip to Highlands and the lakes. The restoration honors what a century built. Original heart-pine floors, walls, and ceilings glow throughout, warmed by a wood-burning fireplace. All three bathrooms are fully renovated: the primary with a tiled walk-in shower and quartz vanity, a main-level bath with a farmhouse trough sink and shower, and an upstairs bath with a tub for the kids. New metal roof (2023), central HVAC (2024), and updated plumbing and electrical. The main house offers 3 bedrooms and 3 baths across 2,100 sq ft, set on 2.28 acres with an additional building site. The 1BR/1BA guest cottage, with power and plumbing in place, is your blank canvas: a studio, a guest house, a long-term rental (est. $1,000/mo), or a restored second unit. In its first year as a short-term rental, the house earned a 5-star rating and grossed more than $26,000 in bookings. Continue that story, or keep every summer to yourself. Drive times: 5 min: Downtown Clayton (Hush, Fortify, Universal Joint, OldKnow Bev Co, Ingles Market) 10 min: Black Rock Mountain State Park, the highest state park in Georgia 10 min: Osage Farms, Rabun Gap's beloved produce market 15 min: Dillard and the Dillard House, in the midst of a $52M resort renovation 15-20 min: Stonewall Creek, Tiger Mountain, and 12 Spies wineries 20 min: Sky Valley Country Club, the highest golf course in Georgia 20 min: Tallulah Gorge State Park 25 min: Lake Rabun / 35 min: Lake Burton 25 min: Chattooga River rafting on the South Carolina line 35 min: Highlands, NC 1:45-2 hrs: Atlanta A century of summers behind it, and yours ahead.