Welcome to the Hillbilly Hideaway!

vacation living in Roan Mountain, Tennessee

At the Hillbilly Hideaway, you are the personal guests of Mike and Becky Hill. Becky and I are normal people who actually have day jobs...the "Hideaway" actually is our home, and we're just a working couple who wish to share the unspoiled beauty of Carter County Tennessee with our friends. I bought this 14 acre parcel in 1999, when I decided to move away from the overcrowded and overdeveloped town of Boone, North Carolina where I had resided since 1984. Originally, this was to be my occasional weekend retreat, but after a few short weeks, it became fairly apparent that I desired to spend as much time as possible here, so I packed up my things and moved in permanently. By day, I am a custom picture framer and fine art publisher...which I guess explains the decor of the "Hideaway"-it is chock-full of fine art reproductions by my favorite high country artists from my fine art publishing company in Banner Elk. I also own a busy little fine art supply shop in Boone North Carolina, and although I still commute to work there daily, it sure is nioce to come home to the peaceful green hillside I now call home. Needless to say, there are many locations on and near the property that are excellent for plein aire painting, if you're into that sort of thing...bring your easel, or borrow one of mine! So anyway, back to the story of the "Hideaway"...after being accustomed to the congestion, over-development, trafdfic snarls and high gas prices for so many years, I felt that I had made the discovery of my lifetime here in the hills of Tennessee, with down-to-earth neighbors, and affordable goods and services. I set about turning this parcel into someplace to truly get away from it all. I built decks and porches so I could watch the deer as they cross my pasture nightly-I even set up an old hot springs jacuzzi on the porch for unwinding. I have spent the past 7 years gradually remodelling and improving the place-there's now a pond stocked with bluegill and croppy right on the property, several hiking trails and a kick-ass view of Ription Mountain from the top of the hill. I admit that the "Hideaway" isn't the ritz-carlton, but most of our guests are looking for that comfortable rustic mountain escape, and that is exactly what we provide. A few years later, I met Becky Serine. She's now my best friend and lifetime partner. She manages my fine art publishing company I mentioned earlier, and she does a phenominal job for me there. Becky is also a very accomplished gourmet cook, which probably explains the expansion of my waistline over the past few years. She always enjoyed having friends over for dinner when we called the "Hideaway" our full-time residence. These days when she can work it into her schedule, she offers catering services for our guests with just a little bit of advance notice (ask for the coconut-crusted tilapia-she won the Rotary Cooking School contest with that dish!). Becky and I currently reside just up the road from the original "Hideaway" in a Stonemill Log Home I built on the property, so we're close by and available to make sure you're well taken care of during your stay here, yet far enough away for you to have all the privacy you need! We provide all linens, sheets and towels (although you might want to pack a beach towel or two if you plan to use the hot tub). There's a fully equipped farmhouse kitchen, which we will be happy to stock with groceries for you (for a small fee) so that you literally need only to pack a toothbrush and hit the road when you come to visit. Our collection of local artists' reproductions make excellent mementos of your trip to the high country-all are available for purchase, and 100% of the proceeds go directly to the artist! We can give you directions and recommendations to all kinds of shopping, dining and other activities...or feel free to go out and explore on your own. Although we love pets, we have a strict "no pet" policy, and don't allow them in our rental units, however, we can recommend a reputable local boarding kennel service if your "best friend" needs to come along on your trip. Office hours are generally 10-5 Monday-Friday for reservations...or fine art sales (you're calling the publishing office). Feel free to call or email us for availability of the rental unit...and check back soon for the "Hideaway #2"coming in 2008! -Mike "Hill-Billy" Hill

call us at (828) 898-3423 for current rental information.

Elizabethton Covered Bridge Festival, Roan Mountain State Park, Rhododendron Festival, Watauga Lake, Lakeshore, Appalachian Trail, Banner Elk, Beech Mountain Sugar Mountain, Ski Hawksnest, Seven Devils, Boone, Blowing Rock, Bristol, Kingsport, Johnson City, Blue Plum Festival, Merlefest, Elk Park, Sharpie 500, Food City 500, Bristol Race, Rhythm & Roots Reunion, Carter's Fold, Elizabethton, Hampton, Wooly Worm Festival, Skiing, Hiking, Biking, Fishing, Hunting, Doe River Gorge, Watauga Dam, Cherokee National Forest, Blue Ridge Parkway, Grandfather Mountain, Tweetsie Railroad, Bristol Drag Race, fly fishing, mountain biking, boating, fine art giclee prints, catering