Nestled in Westfield, NC and adjacent to Hanging Rock State Park, Singletree Gun & Plough Inn encompasses 1000 acres of flora and wildlife and includes 5 miles of riverfront on the gorgeous Dan River. Owner Johannah Stern describes the property, "We are committed to enjoying and sharing this ecologically significant property with minimal human disturbance, and we're dedicated to sustainable and organic methods of maintenance for the overall health of our game and land."
Hanging Rock State Park tout's the accolades of 2012 State Park of the Year and in 2014 was named in USA Today as one of the top twenty State Parks (out of 7,500) in the USA. Both Hanging Rock and Singletree Inn are a marriage of property lines and tundra. If the wind carried parables here, Singletree Inn would whisper to Hanging Rock, "You complete me."
Not only are you privileged to enjoy the 1000 acre property of Singletree Inn's Lodge, cabins, wildlife and riverfront, you also have Hanging Rock State Park with it's amenities as well.
Don and I stole away for a weekend to Singletree Inn recently. Five hour's into the drive from the coast— My phone signal disappeared along with the daylight. A tad bit of city slicker panic kicked in when I realized that I was almost off the grid. We climbed one last hill and there was Singletree Lodge, looking every bit like a Thomas Kincaid painting, glowing windows and smoke from chimney.
Owner Johannah Stern and property manager Bill Sparks greeted us. "I figured it was going to be late when you arrived and you might not want to go down the mountain for dinner, so we’re cooking for you." Johannah said, while drying her hands on a cotton dishtowel. No argument given. Bill opened my wine and refrigerated Don's Holy City Beer while we unpacked and settled in. After a fabulous dinner we moseyed over to the den and tamped down both the evening and blazing fire with wine and conversation.
We slept fabulously in the Dean's Room, one of 7 lodge rooms on organic cotton sheets. "Washed in Charlie’s soap and clothes line dried! Johannah tells me. It sure was quiet too! Johannah told me later that they never fill more than two rooms at one time, unless, of course, a family or group so requests more room. There were guest in the cabin across from the lodge from us but we didn't lay eyes on them all weekend.
The next morning, the smell of bacon wafted up to the guest room and got me stirring. I crept down the steps but I'm sure a creaky board gave me away. Bill passed me a cup of coffee (organic/free trade) and I went back upstairs to discover. I snuck past my room to peer out of the windows, smiling as my feet found a squeaky plank on the antique lodge's floor. The sun wasn't promising an appearance, but the fog was a magical morning gift. After pulling a book from the shelves in the library loft, I found an Indian footstool and swallowing easy chair by the expansive windows. Minutes after settling in I gave up and put the book down, the foggy morning breakdown would not be denied my attention.
A little while later Don and I headed down for breakfast. If you stay at the lodge, absolutely opt in for the meals. I have seriously not had a better breakfast in my life. And every thing we ate was locally sourced, natural and organic.
Don and I pulled out of Singletree shortly after breakfast, mapped out itinerary in hand for a full day in Stokes County. We found all of the things we'd been ~hankering for~ and more! Local honey, ham, beans, Amish butter, goat cheese, homemade soap and a delicious eastern BBQ sandwich.
The lodge was quiet when we returned, Bill was still stoking the fire. I was thinking nap. Later in the evening we donned our coats and scarves and drove a country mile down the road to the Green Heron on the Dan River where we enjoyed an amazing delta blues live band, partook-eth of adult beverages and watched our new friends cut the rug (shag) on the wood floors next to the sleeping resident Labrador Cubbie.
When we left the next morning we left our new friends with hugs and promises to return. Johannah Stern and Bill Sparks have a vision for this beautiful mountain lodge and property. That vision is to be at one with the land and —thankfully share it as well. I am so grateful that they are including the public on this journey to provide a preservation vacation.
Check out Singletree's website and contact Johannah or Bill to discover the many amenities offered for a fabulous getaway. And whatever you do, don't count out the winter here. It is serenely beautiful and just as accommodating! Johannah said “Some of our guest have secretly wished to be snowed in during their visit.”
To sum up my experience at Singletree Gun & Plough Inn. I felt like I had wandered into a time warp of archaic beauty coupled with elegant, albeit rustic, creature comforts offered by it's proprietors. If you don't come away from here feeling like Zen & Huck Fin, I'll shut my mouth.
Their website is comprehensive and beautiful. Johannah is a phenomenal photographer as well. Whether it is relaxing, rafting, fly fishing, hunting, tubing, hiking, wining or dining you are looking for, Johannah or Bill will be happy to guide you to that exact experience.
http://www.singletreegunandplough.com
A little tidbit. I took a friend to this area a few months back. We didn’t drive 16 miles total for the 2 days we were here. Here are a few of our experiences. A morning jog with mountain views and deer crossing’s, a fabulous waterfall hike within minutes of the cabin, a jaunt to the beautiful lake at Hanging Rock State Park (mountain vista’s from the lake are phenomenal!), a stroll along the Dan River, a visit to a centuries old general country store, a mouthwatering simple yet delicious eastern BBQ sandwich at a tiny restaurant that still has Conway Twitty and George Jones on a juke box, enjoying the company of a local goat farmer and stocking our cooler to bring home with butter, goat cheese and venison and finally, a morning tour of an unbelievable wine/art gallery.
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