HOMEFINDER - VACATION HOME - Cherry Log
To run: April 20
All names and facts c.q.
Homeowners:
Philip and Sarah Cheek
Broker: Lucy Wade, Georgia Mountain & Lake Properties, 706-455-9646 cell, work 706-632-9700, lucywade@tds.net
Reporter: C. W. Cameron, 404-876-0813, 404-291-2199, cwcameron.ajc@gmail.com
Editor: Susan Wells, 404-526-5322
Budget Line: A mountain retreat that offers a change of pace from city life
ONLY WHAT'S BELOW HERE PRINTS:
By C. W. Cameron For the Journal-Constitution
Who: Sarah and Philip Cheek; Sarah, 52, is a forensics supervisor with the Fulton County Police Department and Philip, 53, is a major with the Clayton County Police Department. He's retiring this year.
What: The Cheeks bought a two-bedroom one-bath home on 1.75 acres. There's a full basement studded in for bedroom and bath, and a garage downstairs. "We have a creek out front and the Chattahoochee National Forest adjoins the backyard so nobody can come in and build behind us," says Philip. "One thing we were sure of was that we didn't want to drive 3 or 4 miles down a bumpy dirt road to get to our vacation home. Our Realtor Lucy Wade of Georgia Mountain & Lake Properties, probably showed us 30 to 40 cabins. Once I opened the door and saw this one, I knew it was the one we wanted," adds Sarah. "And Lucy ended up being our neighbor and friend."
When bought: March 2005
How long does it take to get there? It's two hours and 15 minutes to travel the 121 miles from their home in Stockbridge. "We try to get up there two weekends out of the month," says Philip.
A part of the community: "Everywhere we go, people are so friendly. They wave and stop to talk to you. I haven't met anybody yet who wouldn't wave back and talk to you. We've made a lot of new friends," says Philip. "We're part of the community here, including joining St. Luke's Episcopal Church in Blue Ridge. I'm not in a hurry to undersell our house in Stockbridge, but in the next three or four years, we'll probably move up here full time."
A place to renew: "When we were looking for a cabin, it was for an investment, something we could use for rental property. But the more we put our things up here, the more personal it became," says Sarah. "Now we find that coming here renews us for the coming work week. With all we have to put up with in our jobs and see all the time, this is just what we need."
It's secure: Sarah says, "We have great next door neighbors who own a shop in town, and Lucy lives across the street. With full-time neighbors all around, everyone can keep an eye on the place. Even when we're not up here, we know everything's taken care of."
Advice to others: "If you're looking up in the north Georgia mountains and can afford to buy a house here without missing any meals or missing any bills, do it. I have not once regretted the investment we made," says Philip. "We've been very blessed. So I say, ‘Do it now.'"
Sidebar on Cashes Valley
Broker, Lucy Wade, of Georgia Mountain & Lake Properties -
Can discuss: driving into Cashes Valley on a four-wheeler or a horse, 4-wheel drive auto, crossing the fords where the road becomes a part of the river, visiting waterfalls; Cohutta Wilderness area
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