Folks in Blue Ridge - Ellijay, Georgia area.

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Folks in Blue Ridge - Ellijay, Georgia area.

Annette Holbrook
GA · Member since 2023 · 22 posts · 6 votes

I’m still in the research phase of this venture. I have a cabin in Cherry Log right on the Ellijay river. I am planning on a renovation to upgrade the whole cabin. It will end up 4 beds, 3 with king beds the 4th will be a bunk room that will be 2 lower queens and 2 upper twins. All will have en-suite bathrooms. I’m adding a hot tub and firepit area. But here is my question for those already renting in the area. Do people actually do week long stays, especially those with kids? I mean, I love it here but do they really stay a full week and have things to do? There are many wineries, ok for adults, but not a kid destination. The mountain bike trails are very popular, but also not a kid thing I’m guessing. The blue ridge train is a good kid thing, but that’s just a half day activity. Do people take kids hiking?(sounds like torture to me lol) I have seen a few listings that have a pool, which would be a good way to entertain kids in the summer, but a very costly add on. I have a basement room that I was planning on turning into a movie room, but it’s not huge, so seating would be for 6 or 8. I have a ground level screened porch that is long and narrow, but it can fit a ping pong table or something. 

Do you just count on 2-3 night weekend stays and price high enough to make up for the vacant mid week? 

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Michael BaumPro Member
Olympia, WA · Member since 2016 · 8k+ posts · 7k+ votes
3y

Hey @Annette Holbrook. I can't speak to your area, but as someone who has a similar sized lake house that is rural I can comment on family stuff.

We have it all setup for families. There is the lake of course and the bike trail right in front of our house. There is hiking, hunting for garnets, fishing etc.

Maybe we have more to do, but I am betting that your area has as much if not more.

Our average length of stay is about 5 days. Almost all families. We get 3 days stays (our minimum) pretty often. It just depends.

I will say that mountain biking is HUGE with kids and families.

I would set the minimum length of stay at 3 days. 

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  • Michael BaumPro Member
    Olympia, WA · Member since 2016 · 8k+ posts · 7k+ votes
    3y

    Hey @Annette Holbrook. I can't speak to your area, but as someone who has a similar sized lake house that is rural I can comment on family stuff.

    We have it all setup for families. There is the lake of course and the bike trail right in front of our house. There is hiking, hunting for garnets, fishing etc.

    Maybe we have more to do, but I am betting that your area has as much if not more.

    Our average length of stay is about 5 days. Almost all families. We get 3 days stays (our minimum) pretty often. It just depends.

    I will say that mountain biking is HUGE with kids and families.

    I would set the minimum length of stay at 3 days. 

    1Reply
  • Annette Holbrook
    OP
    GA · Member since 2023 · 22 posts · 6 votes
    3y
    Quote from @Michael Baum:

    Hey @Annette Holbrook. I can't speak to your area, but as someone who has a similar sized lake house that is rural I can comment on family stuff.

    We have it all setup for families. There is the lake of course and the bike trail right in front of our house. There is hiking, hunting for garnets, fishing etc.

    Maybe we have more to do, but I am betting that your area has as much if not more.

    Our average length of stay is about 5 days. Almost all families. We get 3 days stays (our minimum) pretty often. It just depends.

    I will say that mountain biking is HUGE with kids and families.

    I would set the minimum length of stay at 3 days. 


    Michael, thanks so much for your thoughtful reply! I like the idea of a 3 night minimum but was nervous about missing out on the weekend only bookings. But I have always worked in an industry where Fridays or Mondays off is hard to come by. I think I’m just assuming that is the case for everyone. In my hoped for price point, I’m thinking taking a 3 day weekend is not a rarity. 
    I think the biking thing is probably a better draw than I’m giving it credit for. Just because it sounds awful to me lol!

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  • Michael BaumPro Member
    Olympia, WA · Member since 2016 · 8k+ posts · 7k+ votes
    3y

    Hehe @Annette Holbrook! You know that not everyone loves everything. I have had guests who wanted nothing to do with our beach and ended up going to the public beach that is a 10 minute walk into town. They just wanted less rocks and more sand. :)

    People going on vacation will book the mid-week times. Those looking for the long weekend will grab the Fri/Sat/Sun/Mon.

    It is a bit of a crap shoot. You can adjust as things go along.

    1Reply
  • Brian Barch
    Member since 2022 · 272 posts · 253 votes
    3y

    I’m in Clayton, which has a bit more to do for the outdoor enthusiast, but overall similar to your market.


    we do get weeklong stays. Maybe 8 a year if I had to guess. They tend to be people that get really deep into the outdoors (whitewater rafting, Tallulah gorge, black rock state park, wineries, zip lining, etc). Lots of 3-4 day stays as well.

    1Reply
  • Sarah KensingerPro Member
    Real Estate Consultant · OH · Member since 2023 · 2k+ posts · 1k+ votes
    3y

    It might be beneficial if you can find a realtor that sells STR and see what they can tell you about the tourists that come to the area. You may find out some really good insight!

    [email protected]330-557-3021
    1Reply
  • Zach Edelman
    Lender · New York, NY · Member since 2022 · 1k+ posts · 1k+ votes
    3y

    Also, it could be worth it to look at Air DNA occupancy percentages for this area. 

    1Reply
  • Annette Holbrook
    OP
    GA · Member since 2023 · 22 posts · 6 votes
    2y

    Thanks all for the replies. Sorry I was MIA, been laid up with a really bad respiratory thing(tested negative for everything, just a bad cold). I’m never sick, so am generally just behind on everything now.  
    So I did more research on some of the activities and there is actually a really popular biking trail not far from here called the Pinhoti Trail and there is another posted bike ride that actually goes past the gate of our neighborhood. 

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  • Neil Doldo
    Rental Property Investor · Suwanee, GA · Member since 2022 · 48 posts · 38 votes
    2y

    Hi Annette,

    We own 3 large properties in the Blue Ridge area and co-host two others.  With the size and amenities of our houses we definitely get a ton of families booking.  During the summer these can be week long stays, but on average we typically see 3-4 nights.  We give people a ton to do at the property, so we find alot of them stay at the house a large majority of the time.  We have pool tables, hot tubs, theater rooms, board games, and full size arcades at all of our properties, and pools at three of them.  We find our guests may go into town and spend a half day, or do the Blue Ridge railroad, but we make the house the destination.  You can put in a really nice small pool for $60-70, and there is definitely a positive return on that investment.  Your house is large and already on water, so that lends itself very well to families already.  Glad to chat more if you need any further input.

    Best, Neil

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