The Beginning ~ December of 2010

To set the stage:  We owned a home/horse farm for almost 10 years. We put it on the market in June of 2009. Due to the bad economy, our home did not sell until October 2012.  We had looked for a couple of years for a piece of property and just never found the "right" place.  In December of 2010, we were told about 14 acres that sat at the foot of Starr Mountain in Delano, Tennessee, the town we were currently living in.  Starr Mountain is part of the Cherokee National Forest and the property bordered the Forest on one side.  We already had 14 acres and there was no reason to sell for the same amount of acreage.  However, we decided to meet our agent at the property to see it anyway.  It was a very cold and snowy December and that day it was also raining.  Our agent told us to "keep an open mind."  So with that said, we knew it had to be something special.  NOT!  Upon pulling into the drive, my husband and I looked at each other and chuckled.  This was, by no means, the dream place we had been looking for. 

On this property was a 1981 - did you hear me? a 1981 singlewide two bedroom two bath mobile home!!  Also on the property was a two-car very nice garage, an "it has seen better days" potting shed and an old dilapidated building/shed.  As this was to be a home for our 5 horses eventually, there was NO luxurious pasture for our horses to beautifully graze upon.  As we walked around the property and inside the buildings and trailer, we started to see a "diamond in the rough."  The trailer was in much need of a good cleaning and the buildings were in much need of a good old fashioned "bulldozing."

As we walked the property in the rain and cold, we started to envision what it could truly become once we got a hold of it and "made in sparkle."  The horse trails that were already on the property and the fact that it bordered the Forest were a huge selling point.  As we walked the property, I started to cry.  I realized that this was "our dream place" after all!  So we made an offer - it was listed at $150,000.00.  The present owner had passed away 5 years prior to our buying the property.  After being for sale for 5 years, the Personal Representative of the Estate just wanted it sold.  So, we offered $70,000.00 and our offer was accepted.  Now the fun begins!!!!!!