Sunburst Lodge opened in 2023, was built from an 1860’s log house from Kentucky, comfortable seating, many authentic 1800s handmade furnishings along with modern comforts: HVAC, running hot & cold water, 3 modern indoor bathrooms (no usable outhouses) 2 large bedrooms + daybed in the living room, and more. 4 miles to the Tryon International Equestrian Center, a dozen wineries, a Golf and Sports Clubs. Unwind surrounded by nature. Outdoor Hot Tub, just steps away from the back porch.
The space
Experience the Charm of Sunburst Lodge — a luxury log cabin
nestled on a tranquil two-acre wooded hilltop property in the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains. The Lodge features two spacious and uniquely designed bedrooms — each with a private bath — with one bed in master suite plus three comfortable beds in the upstairs Goldilocks Suite plus a cozy daybed in the living room. You’ll also enjoy a relaxing hot tub, outdoor fire pit, and easy access to the best of horse and wine country in Polk and Rutherford Counties, and just 30 minutes from beautiful Lake Lure area.
Book a week for best discount or book a weekend then inquire about the special weekday extension rate — a hard to beat beat deal for those who want to linger a little longer or come early.
From November 2025 through February 2026, the cabin transforms into a holiday experience — thoughtfully decorated for the Christmas season.
Sunburst Lodge Property is PET FREE, SMOKING AND VAPING FREE, AND ILLEGAL DRUG FREE. IF FOUND BREAKING THESE RULES, YOUR STAY WILL BE TERMINATED, YOU WILL BE CHARGED A FINE OF $250, AND GATE AND CABIN ACCESS WILL BE CANCELLED. YOU WILL BE ESCORTED BACK IN TO COLLECT YOUR BELONGINGS IN ORDER TO LEAVE THE COMMUNITY. All this is easy to avoid. Just follow the rules.
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Step Back in Time, Without Sacrificing Comfort
As you pull into the drive, a rustic split rail fence and wide front porch welcome you to relax. Rocking chairs and an old glider sofa invite you to slow down — sip your morning coffee or sweet tea and take in the quiet of the woods.
Or Imagine it’s 1860. The Civil War hasn’t yet begun. You’ve escaped to the mountains for peace and solitude — a perfect retreat from the toil of modern 1800’s life.
Inside, the main gathering space feels timeless. A grand, wood-burning stone fireplace anchors the open living and dining area, with a nineteenth century handmade farm table for six with some young boy’s 160 year old carving still visible. The cozy kitchenette opens to a small porch through a 100+ year old Dutch door rebuilt by the owner, then to the grill area and fire pit. Whether dining under the trees or gathered indoors around the fire, every meal feels special here.
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The “Goldilocks” Bedroom — Cozy, Charming, and Full of History
Upstairs, guests love the so-called Goldilocks Bedroom — a storybook space featuring three very different full-size, handmade antique beds, including one built by the owner over 55 years ago. Settle into the sitting area beside a charming English-style brick-and-stone fireplace, or enjoy a game or good book at the round oak table. The adjoining bath is a craftsman’s masterpiece, with beadboard detailing, a beautifully tiled shower, and reclaimed beams from a more than 100-year-old farmhouse.
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The Master Suite — Comfort Meets Craftsmanship
Back on the main level, a bright “antique red” powder room leads back to the spacious master suite. This inviting room features high ceilings, a second stone fireplace with gas logs, a cedar-lined walk-in closet, laundry space, and a luxurious master bathroom. Relax in the freestanding tub, rinse off in the stone-floored shower, and enjoy the double vessel sinks and soft “peacock plume” blue painted walls with recreated red bud limb and yellow finches perched along the branch.
Through a set of 130-year-old French doors, step onto the side porch for a soak in the hot tub or a quiet moment in the hand-caned rocking chair — lovingly restored by the owner over five decades ago. A new twin daybed and handmade checker table, built from 100-year-old barn wood by a Lake Lure veteran, add to the charm with a perfect spot to watch for deer while sipping on your morning coffee.
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Rustic Beauty Meets Modern Comfort
Sunburst Lodge blends 19th-century craftsmanship with today’s modern luxuries — a peaceful mountain retreat where every detail tells a story.
Come stay, unwind, and experience the timeless beauty of this one-of-a-kind log home in the heart of Western North Carolina.
Guest access
Autum is here, the trees have dropped all of their bright red, yellow and orange leaves. Sit by one of the three beautiful unique fireplaces inside in warm comfort in one of the perfectly cozy stuffed chairs to take a nice nap or enjoy a good book or cup of coffee or chocolate. Or just enjoy the natural surroundings with a walk outside in the neighborhood.
Sunburst Lodge is located in a beautiful gated community in the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains in Polk County in Western North Carolina.
For access to the community on initial arrival at the front gate, guests will use a QR Code link as a virtual key provided in the Airbnb message app plenty of time before your arrival. Press the option on the Entry Unit to use the QR Code. Present the QR Code received using your smartphone.
An alternate entry method is to utilize the touchscreen keypad and press to access the “DIRECTORY” option on the entry unit. Touch the “Directory” option on the Entry Unit touch screen, scroll down to your host’s name, Warren, Alan. The system will call the Host, [Alan Warren], to validate identity and then open the gate for guests.
For front gate access during the remainder of your stay, you will use a daily QR Code provided each morning.
Other things to note
I grew up in the 1950s and 60s with a grandfather who had a passion for rebuilding log cabins on his 40 acre mountain along a river at his home property. These cabins were simple—just log walls and concrete floors, with no bathrooms or kitchens. Yet, even in their simplicity, they sparked a dream in me: to one day rebuild my own log house, but I dreamt of mine with modern comforts where they could become full time homes.
For years, I envisioned taking down one of the many original log homes still standing today and rebuilding it as my own, but—I wanted indoor plumbing and modern amenities. So I designed my cabin to include two full and one half bathrooms uniquely modern, and a fully functional kitchen, blending rustic charm of the hand hewn logs with contemporary convenience of having indoor water.
In early 2020 after I retired as a business manager with a large engineering and construction company, I discovered a company online that specializes in finding old log structures, often hidden beneath layers of clapboard siding, and carefully preparing the old logs for rebuilding. This company found a historic log structure near Campbellsville, KY, which became the foundation of my journey to create the log cabin I had always dreamed of.
Working together, we developed a preliminary design, which I then took to a local architect to create the detailed construction drawings needed for a building permit.
Once the floor plans were finalized, my log supplier cut and erected the cabin’s logs onto my subfloor, precisely matching the architect’s sketches.
With this floor plan’s construction drawings and my fairly extensive design details and scope of work, the builder was selected and construction began in July 2021.
Of course, there was a lot of intricate “construction detailing” that wasn’t captured in the drawings. I personally oversaw these details, collaborating with a local General Contractor and a talented team of tradespeople—plumbers, stonemasons, roofers, carpenters, electricians, chinkers, and HVAC specialists—who brought my vision to life. I even got hands-on with some of the carpentry work and landscaping myself.
To add authenticity and history to the cabin, I sourced materials from a reclaimed lumber warehouse, finding old barn wood for the interior walls and we refinished the antique tongue-and-groove flooring with a rich history. Through social media, I connected with a special family from Tennessee who generously donated hundreds of board feet of red barn lumber, which you’ll see in the upstairs gable ends and some interior door jambs. Another friend, a local cabin builder, supplied a 150+ year-old barn beam, which he sawed into thick boards to create my unique staircase.
Every inch of this cabin reflects my personal design, with every detail thoughtfully considered. I’ve kept a meticulous inventory of every item I purchased, many of which are as old or even older than the cabin’s logs. To enhance the experience for guests, the cabin is furnished with period antiques, carefully selected to evoke the character of the era. Some items are marked with a red dot, indicating they are for display only, as they hold a special place in my cabin’s story, many that I collected for decades until my cabin became a reality.
