Gallery
Take a tour through Sapphire Heaven: the images speak for themselves, but we've also put some helpful commentary beneath most photos.
Spring time view from the back deck.
With an eastern long range view, from north to south, some guests never leave the back deck.
Autumn color contrasts.
Sapphire Heaven is usually booked almost a year in advance for leaf season, which is in October.
Dinner with a view.
There are very few meals not eaten on the back covered porch.
Granite sink on ancient timber.
The granite bathroom sink sits on an antique wood, hand crafted cabinet.
Outdoor sink, vanity, and shower.
A bathroom door opens to a second granite sink, vanity area, and shower, all outdoors on the private covered patio.
150+ year old beams
Massive 150+ year old, hand hewn beams support the cabin ambiance.
Kitchen Island view.
With 15′ ceilings, the cabin’s massive beams and woodwork command attention from the the rustic soapstone countertops.
Timbers, boulder, and antlers make the living area.
The elk antler-shed chandelier presides over a mammoth 7’x3’x15″ solid granite slab, fireplace hearth.
Sapphire Heaven.
Welcome!
Turtleback Falls
Turtleback Falls is a short walk upstream from Rainbow Falls, on the Horse Pasture River, minutes from the cabin.
Newly landscaped
In the spring of 2007 we planted over 200 native species on the property, which have now all matured.
The patio hot tub and cast iron fireplace.
Also, on the private covered patio is a two person hot tub and a cast iron, wood burning fireplace…oh, and the view!
A more recent photo of the outdoor sink, vanity and shower.
This is a more recent view of the private outdoor sink, vanity area, and shower.
Massive beams from the kitchen to the living area.
Massive, hand hewn beams are overhead from the kitchen to the living room area.
The cozy second bedroom.
Wood craftsman artestry is on full display in the second bedroom.
Grill with a view.
The Weber, top of the line, Summit Platinum grill has six burners, a wood chip box for smoking, and a rotissery…plus a view.
Cabin exterior at dusk.
An early exterior photo before the rhododendruns.
Full cabin exterior at dusk
This dusk photo was taken over a decade ago before the landscaping matured.
Bedroom purple.
The Blue Ridge, purple dusk is visible through the bedroom windows.
Bathroom stone work.
Granite floors and shower walls in the bathroom give old time character.
An autumn view from the back deck.
The view from the back deck in autumn is spectacular.
Whitetail driving to the cabin.
From the Preserve entrance on 64 it’s 1.25 miles of wildlife viewing through the Preserve, up Whitetail Drive to the cabin property gates.
The Preserve at Rock Creek Gate on 64
The Preserve at Rock Creek entrance gate is on highway 64, the main east-west artery.
Under construction in 2006
The 125′ Indian Falls can be seen below the construction of Sapphire Heaven in the summer of 2006.
Sunset rainbow lighting.
Color spectrum sightings are common from the easterly facing back deck, especially on summer afternoons.
Snow on Toxaway
Toxaway Mountain, as seen from the back deck, shows off it’s winter coat after a snowfall.
Sapphire Heaven Falls
Sapphire Heaven Falls is accessible from the cabin property.
Indian Falls
Indian Falls is directly below Sapphire Heaven Falls, but not easily accesible from the cabin.
Indian Falls
Indian Falls.
Woodshed
The woodshed stores the firewood for guests.
Woodshed interior
Woodshed interior.
Woodshed
Too many woodshed photos?
Wood box
Firewood box at the front door.
Hummingbird territory.
Sitting out under the covered dining area of the back deck, watching hummingbirds feed, is a soul enriching experience.
XL wood burning fireplace.
Nothing like a roaring fire to take the chill out of the mountain air.
Cozy second bedroom.
The second bedroom is rustically cozy under antique timbers and a tin roof.
Pink autumn sunrise snow
An early dusting of snow plus the autumn colors casts a pink hew at sunrise.
Misty morning fall.
A photo from the arbor, which is just a short walk from the cabin.
Rainbow Falls
Leaving from the back parking lot in Gorges State Park, Rainbow Falls is about a 1.5 mile hike. Gorges is about three miles from the cabin.
Stairway to the second bedroom.
The stairs to the second bedroom beckon new guests to explore.
Toxaway Mountain summit in fall.
The summit of Toxaway Mountain as seen from ground level behind the cabin.
View in bloom
This photo was taken from the back deck in spring.
Wedding arbor with a new perspective.
In April, 2016 my daughter’s wedding took place in the beautiful meadow of the Preserve at Rock Creek. Afterwards, I relocated the wedding arbor, which I built, from the meadow to the top of a cliff, just below the cabin.
Arbor vista.
A photo taken from the arbor.
Early morning shine.
Sunrise. Meditation? Coffee?
Rocky cabin exterior 2006.
Prior to landscaping in 2007 the cabin was still photogenic.
Pink sunrise with autumn snow.
The pink hew cast by sunrise over snow dusted autumn colors.
Jake’s cabin.
Our youngest Aussie, Jake, posing in front of the cabin.
Full rainbow from back deck.
A common summer sight, but always awe inspiring.
Arbor mountain colors.
The arbor view with autumn nearing.
Arbor approach.
The arbor floor measures 6’x6′, with the front support legs 18″ long and the back legs 8′ long = steep installation.
Arbor beauty.
Arbor views make a great photographer of everyone.
Arbor peace and quiet.
Walking to an incredible, quiet, meditation spot on the property…the arbor.
Misty May morning
A misty morning southeast view from the back porch.