Ferme À Mount Airy

Offered for the first time, Rivendell Farm is a 150+ acre private estate set among the rolling foothills of Georgia’s Blue Ridge Mountains. It sits at the end of a quiet road in Mt. Airy and is only minutes from the charming town of Clarkesville and Habersham County Airport. The property blends open hay pastures, mature forest, and fertile bottomland along Glade Creek in an idyllic, four-season setting. At its center is one of the most thoughtfully built homes in northeast Georgia. The original owners drew inspiration for the home from the pre-colonial homes of Deerfield, Massachusetts. Construction took place during the early 1980’s recession, when four master craftsmen who normally ran their own crews joined forces on a single project. The result is a 6,550 sq. ft. under roof residence built to a standard that would be difficult to replicate today. Heart pine reclaimed from Virginia was used for every floor, door, window, cabinet, and piece of trim, and the ceiling beams came from a mid-19th century cotton gin in Dublin, Georgia. Each of the seven fireplaces, along with the first-floor lighting, was modeled on historically accurate period designs. Two bankers’ boxes of original sketches, blueprints, and even payroll ledgers remain with the home. So does surplus heart pine, trim, square-cut nails, French doors, and hardware, all ready for future projects. An additional 1,100 sq. ft. in the walk-up attic offers room to grow. Supporting improvements include a three-bay carport with an impressive octagonal woodworking shop, a three-bay tractor barn with a garden shed, and a stone smokehouse estimated to be more than a century old. The land is as versatile as the home. 30 acres are agricultural and mostly used for hay production, with room for expansion. The remaining acreage is wooded, and trails meander throughout. 3,500 ft of Glade Creek forms much of the northern boundary, and the property has two springs and two wells. The land has not been hunted in 45 years, and the wildlife seems to have noticed. Deer and turkey are abundant, and there are occasional visits from bobcats, foxes, beavers, and black bears. Rivendell has operated as both a horse farm and a chemical-free organic market garden supplying upscale area restaurants. The home sits on a ridge at about 1,450 feet in elevation, and summers run cooler than in surrounding areas. Lake Burton, Lake Rabun, Tallulah Gorge, and the Appalachian Trail are all within easy reach. Atlanta is 90 minutes away and there are nearly a dozen charming mountain towns within a 30-minute drive. Whether as a family compound, a working farm, or a quiet place to come home to, Rivendell Farm is ready for its next chapter. *4 images in the listing have been virtually staged.