Hide Away

by Beth Williams

Have you ever wondered what a deer hunter thinks about while sitting in his stand? Rodney Rogers found it to be the perfect place for some creative thinking and planning. When Rodney acquired a 100-acre tract of family land in Marion County, it seemed logical to take up deer hunting. But from his vantage point in the stand, he found himself thinking more about a cabin standing in a clearing of pine trees than a buck. “At first, I thought about something simple for family cookouts,” says Rodney. “But then it occurred to me that there are probably a lot of people who would love to have access to a parcel of land like this.” More time in the deer stand brought a clearer vision of a rustic cabin with comfortable features and surprising amenities.

Comfortably Rusti
Built on stilts above the banks of a pond, Hideaway Haven is a handsome story-and-a-half cabin. The majority of the materials used for the lap siding exterior came from the pine trees that were cut from the land. A side stairway takes you to the back of the cabin, where a spacious deck is outfitted with a dining table, a couple of Adirondack chairs and a six-person hot tub. A favorite spot for relaxing by day or night, this space is enhanced by the peaceful sound of running water. A lighted rock waterfall begins under the deck, parallels the steps and empties into the pond. If this is beginning to sound like a mountain cabin, it isn’t by accident. Rodney and his wife, Christie, set out to create a mountain-type setting – minus the long drive.

Before jumping into the cabin rental business with both feet, Rodney first talked with cabin owners in North Carolina. He received nothing but positive feedback from those who know what vacationers are looking for: rustic charm, isolation, a wood-burning fireplace and a hot tub. “The hot tub was the only thing I wasn’t sure about investing in right away,” says Rodney. But he did, and it has proven to be an amenity that secures reservations.

The cabin’s small interior promotes that wonderful sense of coziness without feeling cramped. The sitting area’s floor-to-ceiling stone fireplace and antiques throughout add touches of rustic charm. A fully equipped kitchen features stainless steel appliances, a commercial gas stove and a bit of the unusual: a sink made from a #2 foot tub and deer antlers for cabinet door handles. Pine is the material of choice here, too—paneling, ceiling beams, cabinets and counter tops. Accessed from the sitting area and perched high above the pond is a screened porch. This spot rivals the deck when it comes to choosing a scenic spot for lunch or a card game.

Without question, the most stunning architectural feature of the main level is a spiral staircase. Bethea Lumber in Hamer cut small pine trees in half for the stair treads, and the decorative railing and spindles were made of willow by Dan Shelley, a local artisan. He was assisted by his former apprentice, Miguel Jasso, who also made a number of pieces of the cabin’s willow furniture. The two bedrooms upstairs are modestly furnished: twin beds in one and a queen bed, handmade of River Birch by Rodney and Jasso, in the other and willow butterfly night stands. With the downstairs sleeper sofa, the cabin sleeps six.

Perfect Seclusion
Hideaway Haven has been available for rent for less than year. Renters have come from as far away as Georgia and as close as Dillon. The Internet provided information early on, but now the best form of advertising is word of mouth from very satisfied guests. “My husband and I were in need of a break,” says Lynda Thomas of Myrtle Beach. “We wanted something close by and different. I stumbled on Hideaway Haven’s website, and it turned out to be exactly what we needed. I would go there every weekend if I could.” The Thomases aren’t the only ones who opted to give Hideaway Haven a try instead of a long drive elsewhere. “We were planning a trip to the mountains when we learned about Hideaway Haven on the Internet,” says David Norris of Pawleys Island. “My wife and I own a retail business, so we weren’t interested in doing a lot. The seclusion was perfect.”

Rodney and Christie have prepared an information book with directions to nearby businesses, restaurants and attractions. Guests can choose to arrive with what they need for their stay, shop locally or dine out. Antique hounds can shop till they drop in Marion, Mullins, Dillon and Latta. If guests don’t want to leave the property, there are endless blood-pressure-reducing activities to enjoy: catch-and-release fishing, trail hiking, bird watching, hammock swaying...get the picture?

Since this project is a family affair with 7-year-old son, Justin, and Rodney’s mother, Bobbie Jean, also involved, guests are well cared for from the cabin’s cleanliness to the welcome gift of a still-warm loaf of bread. Rodney even meets each guest to show them around and point out a few details.

Rodney says he’d like to add some amenities and maybe another cabin one day. That would mean back to the drawing board for some. But for Rodney, it’s back to the deer stand.

Getting there: Hideaway Haven is located near Highway 501 between Marion and Latta. For more information, visit www.hideawayhaven.net or call 843-423-7486 (M-F) or 843-618-8523 (weekends).

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