The hosts were gracious and very accommodating. They went well out of their way to help us with directions to other areas of interest. They also turned out to be repositories of information on local history. The pictures of the place on their website must have been taken years ago; porches crumbling a bit and the grounds have gone to seed since then. I was rather disappointed that the hot tub on the roof was not in service, though there is one on the porch. There is a good view from a platform on top of the roof (though the exterior wooden stairs to get to it are old and narrow and should not be attempted by the elderly, the heavy, or little kids). There were many interesting items in the house. An unusual mélange of genuine antiques and junk. If you like old books they have a large collection in the basement library. Inside the manor it is darker, a bit more gloomy with less light than in the photos, but I would not call it creepy. The mannequins were odd. We enjoyed sitting on the porch in the evening and listening to the frogs and crickets. The beds were clean and neat but I have to admit that the mattresses were not comfortable. I think they are just old and some are too thin and springy or have developed spots you sink into. The towels had a strong stale smell. There was a huge deep tub in the attic bathroom, which was excellent for soaking, but unfortunately the hot water ran out before it was finished filling. The couple downstairs said their tub did not run out of hot water, so if you stay in the ground floor Cimarron or Butterfly rooms you should probably be fine on hot water. This place was excellent for birding. Many species of birds. Came across wild turkeys on a meadow walk. Extensive acres for exploring. Several different pairs of red cardinals were constantly near the house. The pecan pancakes and scrambled eggs for breakfast were good. Waffles and biscuits just okay. The place settings and chandeliers were lovely. Hosts gave us a ride in their roadster. It’s a good location for exploring the Glass Mountains.
In sum, this is an interesting place and less expensive than most B&Bs, but eccentric and not as comfortable. It’s the sort of place older folks will enjoy more than the twenty-something set. In the end, though, a B&B should have a bed that makes you reluctant to get up. If you are a serious birder, however, don't pass over this B&B.
