Rate –
Size –
2 Bedrooms • 2 Bathrooms (1 full, 1 half) 2 Baths (1 full, 1 half) • Sleeps 8-10The Cabin sits in the middle of a ten acre property adjacent to the Talladega National Forest, with easy access to the Pinhoti Trail. It is located eight miles traveling North outside of the small town of Heflin Alabama which is about an hour and a half outside of the metro areas of Birmingham Alabama and Atlanta Georgia. The property is surrounded by hundreds of square miles of forest.
The cabin is solar-powered and rain water is collected in a cistern for gray water uses. If you are looking for an off-grid cabin experience in a forest, and a quiet place to get away, this is the place for you.
About the Owner
We are Jim and Lisa. It took us over ten years to build the cabin. We did most of the work ourselves buying materials and equipment as the budget allowed. The idea was always simple living, independence from the grid, and affordability. The defining ethic was always: "this is camping!" We often get asked: when are you going to get AC or city water? Our answer is "never." So our guests are those who want peace and quiet, and who want to experience the reality of limited resource usage: solar-powered electricity, rainwater, wood heat. Yes we do use propane gas from a tank to run the refrigerator, but it uses only a tiny amount. The propane kitchen stove is built for off-grid use and uses a 9-volt battery for ignition. The commode flushes with rainwater. After some time at the cabin, when you get back to civilization, you really have a feeling for the vast resources we use on the grid. So if you are up for it, we'd love to have you out for a stay. Everyone says they wish they could stay for a week. Come out and vanish for a while.Amenities
| Property Type | Cabin |
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| Check-In | Lockbox |
| House Rules |
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| Setting & View |
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| General |
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| Kitchen |
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| Bathrooms |
2 Bathrooms (1 full, 1 half)
2 Baths (1 full, 1 half)
Rainwater from the cistern is also used for the tub. To use that water for bathing it will need to be sterilized. Instructions and chlorine are provided. Note that there is no hot water available in the cabin. |
| Sleeping Arrangements |
2 Bedrooms,
sleeps 8-10
The "Floor Mattresses" are actually cots with a nice camping pad. Please note: Guests are required to bring their own linens. |
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The ten acres is mostly forested and all of the surrounding properties are forested. The back side of the property is bordered by a year round creek. There are two open meadows, one of which is a Pawpaw orchard. There are trails and a covered pavilion down by the creek. In season there are blueberries, blackberries, and muscadines. Because the property is so remote and also because the surrounding properties adhere to the International Dark Sky Standards you can see the stars on clear nights.
The cabin has two private sleeping areas that can accommodate four comfortably. It is cozy and comfortable for one but there's enough sleeping/camping space for a party of ten. There is a fully functional kitchen/dining area and a comfortable main space. In front of the cabin there is a covered porch and out back is a deck reaching out into the forest. (Click the images below to see floor plans.)
The cabin is completely off grid. Electricity is provided by solar power. There is only enough power for lights in the evening and to keep devices charged up. Rainwater is collected in a cistern which is mostly used for flushing the toilet. Instructions are provided for sanitizing cistern water for other uses. We will provide drinking water but also recommend that you bring a supply of potable water. In the kitchen the stove utilizes a 9-volt battery for ignition. There is a refrigerator/freezer, a grill on the front porch, and a vented space heater in the cabin. All use propane from an off-grid tank. In the colder months heat is provided by a wood burning stove and the space heater. Note that there is no Air Conditioning, however the cabin is well shaded and naturally cooler from the nearby forest. Battery powered fans are available to keep the air circulating. Also there is a campfire area close to the cabin. The Piggly Wiggly grocery store is just 8.5 miles away in downtown Heflin if you find the need for additional provisions.
Cel service is good. So using your phone for Internet connectivity works well. There is more or less unlimited parking space. And there is an RV parking pad that can handle any size rig, however there are no RV utilities set up at this time.
The property makes a great base camp for exploring the Pinhoti Trail. There are several access points in the vicinity including Coleman Lake, Pine Glen campground, and downtown Heflin.