Persimmon Valley Farm

Persimmon Valley Farm is located on the Eastern Continental Divide at the gateway to Black Rock Mountain State Park, the highest state park in Georgia, which is home to the Blue Ridge Mountain range, which is part of the larger Appalachian Mountains. 

Contributing to this landscape in the immediate area is the Chattahoochee National Forest, which is a staggering 750,000 acres covering most of northeast Georgia. This national forest provides some of the best outdoor recreation that Georgia has to offer, with thousands of miles of clear-running streams, recreational trails, and plenty of places to explore the great outdoors.

Downtown Clayton, only 15 minutes from Persimmon Valley Farm, is considered the “Farm-to-Table Capital” of Georgia, with several award-winning chefs scattered about town. There is truly something for the whole family here, from shopping at the upscale boutiques to enjoying a trip to one of the local vineyards or rafting down the infamous Chattanooga River.

Lake Burton, a 2,775-acre recreational lake, is located less than ten minutes southwest of the property. There are several marinas located on the lake, and facilities are suitable for boating, camping, picnicking, swimming, and fishing. Lake Burton is a popular vacation destination for folks out of Atlanta and surrounding areas. 

Nestled in the mountains overlooking Lake Burton and only ten minutes from Persimmon Valley Farm is the spectacular Waterfall County Club. Waterfall County Club offers an elite inclusive membership that allows year-round access to a spa, indoor pool and tennis courts, workout facility, a lodge with delicious dining options, and a staggering golf experience featuring bentgrass greens and fairways – one of only two golf courses in Georgia with that distinction. 

Another popular vacation destination, Highlands, North Carolina, is only 24 miles from Persimmon Valley Farm. At an elevation of 4,118 feet, Highlands is the perfect blend of natural landscape, chic hotels and spas, exclusive shopping and dining, and annual festivals. Highlands also offers several five-star golfing choices, including the High Hampton Resort, Highlands County Club, and Highlands Falls Country Club. 

Also located in Rabun County is Rabun Gap-Nacoochee Private School, Heaven's Landing Airpark, and a hospital. 

Persimmon Valley Farm is a short 40-minute drive to renowned Highlands, North Carolina, only an hour and forty-five minutes to either Atlanta or Asheville. 

The weather in Georgia’s Blue Ridge Mountains is almost as great as the scenery, and boasts four distinct seasons. This area of the Chattahoochee National Forest has summers with warm to mild days and often comfortably cool nights. On average, July is the warmest month of the year, with the average high temperature being only 85 degrees and a low of 63 degrees. The summer months tend to receive more precipitation than other times of the year, and the area has an average annual rainfall of 67 inches. Spring and fall are incredibly pleasant, with mild days and cooler nights. During the winter, snow occurs sporadically with an average annual accumulation of approximately four inches.

Main House (6,200± square feet): Built in 2008, the main house is just over 6,200 square feet and a mix of English and French influences, creating a hospitable Old-World style luxury home with five bedrooms and six bathrooms. Family and friends may enter through the front door into the grand room that boasts a 12-foot-tall, coffered ceiling and beautiful hardwood floors to accent. A grand wood burning fireplace keeps the space warm and inviting in the winter months. Four sets of gorgeously tall French doors line the back wall showcasing a pristine mountain view, making the most of outdoor and indoor spaces. Outside the French doors is a perfectly positioned and covered back porch with an oversized stone fireplace. From the grand room, guests may easily spill into the kitchen, dining room, and extra sitting area with vaulted ceilings and wooden trusses. The French country-style kitchen is a perfect blend of homey and elegant with custom cabinetry, a concealed refrigerator, varying stone countertops, gas stove with built-in hood, double electric wall ovens, in-cabinet microwave, and a spacious farmhouse style sink. Additionally, there is a guest bathroom and oversized laundry room on the main floor conveniently located at the breezeway to the carriage house.

The master on main also hosts vaulted ceilings with French doors to the back porch and windows revealing the neighboring mountain range. The oversized master bathroom offers a “His Retreat” and “Her Retreat”, both with custom cabinets, large French-style vanities, tile floors, hefty walk-in closets, and private toilets. A walk-in shower is shared and “Her Retreat” also contains a sitting area adjacent to the French-inspired super tub. Downstairs there are two guest rooms, a shared bathroom, wine cellar that holds 800+ bottles, utility room, and a storage room that can easily be converted into a kitchen or kitchenette. Upstairs is currently used as a large playroom/bedroom with bathroom for the grandchildren but is suitable for an office or additional guest room. Above the two-car garage is another bedroom/office/nanny suite with bathroom. 

Cherokee Cabin:  The smaller of the cabins, referred to as “The Cherokee Cabin,” is a former schoolhouse that was originally built sometime around 1750 and is rich with history. “The Cherokee Cabin” offers a quaint Southern front porch and one-bedroom loft-style interior living space. Outside on the porch, guests may enjoy the view overlooking the lower pond and “Yankee Barn” to the left, the vineyard/apple orchard to the right, and large meadows across Blue Ridge Gap Road.

The Hemlock Cabin:  The larger cabin, referred to as “The Hemlock Cabin,” was built in 2004 by a highly acclaimed local builder, Anthony McCracken. “The Hemlock Cabin” offers a spacious wrap-around porch, two working wood burning fireplaces, several living spaces for entertaining, a kitchen with an iconic antique stove, bathroom on the main floor, and an upstairs loft-style bedroom. Sustainable-minded folks will be enthusiastic to learn that “The Hemlock Cabin” has the capacity to run off solar power, which was installed in 2021, and utilizes its own well pump. Outside, guests may enjoy the beautiful view of the upper pond and large Hemlock tree, hence the cabin’s nickname, while sitting next to an outdoor wood burning fireplace on the wrap-around porch, all while listening to the adjacent babbling stream. Your guests may never want to leave their respective cabin.

Yankee Barn:  The largest barn on the property, nicknamed the “Yankee Barn,” is currently used as a workshop but is also perfect for storing equipment or hosting large gatherings. The “Yankee Barn” was originally constructed in 1891, then deconstructed and moved piece by piece from New York to Persimmon Valley Farm around 2002. The barn was repainted in the last couple of years and the original gable remains fully intact. The quintessential red “Yankee Barn” is impossible to miss while driving down rural Blue Ridge Gap Road. In this barn is a working full bathroom and loft. 

Tractor Barn and Sheds:  This area supports the operations and maintenance of the farm. The tractor barn serves as another workshop and secure place to store large farm equipment out of the elements. The sheds are used to house additional equipment, trailers, and/or hay. Additionally, there are two above-ground fuel tanks - one tank holds 500 gallons of diesel and the second holds 1,000 gallons of gasoline. 

Equestrian Barn & Round Pen:  The equestrian barn houses three indoor/outdoor stalls along with a tack room, equipment room, and hay storage loft. Outside the equestrian barn is a modest round pen adjacent to one of the fenced pastures.

Potting Shed:  A small barn/shed is perfectly placed on the backend of the property next to a former gardening field. This quaint southern potting barn is the only remaining structure of the farm’s original homesite and was fully restored by the current owners for use as a potting shed. Today it is perfect for housing gardening supplies and has a well pump outside for watering the plants.

Run-In Shelter:  Across from the potting shed in the adjacent fenced pasture sits a timber-framed white stucco/stone barn that was built in 2016. Historically, this barn served as a run-in shelter for horses and is also perfect for storing hay or other farm supplies.

Lookout Tower:  Nestled at the top of the mountain is a lookout tower that the current owners built in 2018. The trail up to the lookout tower is an old road and wide enough to ATV, horseback ride, or simply hike up. The lookout tower boasts gorgeous views of Glassy Mountain to the southeast and North Carolina Mountains to the north. The lookout tower is the perfect place for a private picnic or camping adventure on the farm. 

The recreational opportunities are abundant both on and off the farm. The land itself is beautiful and rolling in elevation, with a little more than half of the property forested. On the farm, folks may choose between a variety of activities, including equestrian, ATV trails, hiking, gardening, or simply enjoying the view from the lookout tower at the uppermost part of the property. Fishing ponds are stocked with bass and trout. Off the farm, Rabun County offers fun for the whole family on the reputable Lake Burton, dining and shopping downtown in the heart of charming Clayton, or hiking, camping, fishing, swimming, rafting, and kayaking within the surrounding Chattahoochee National Forest.