Mirror Lake Retreat - Walk to Town!

Welcome to Maison Rouge! This is a proper mid-century lake house with a smart layout, real privacy, and a tranquil vibe. It’s tucked into the trees on the shores of Mirror Lake with a wraparound deck, fire pit, and plenty of room for everyone to breathe. When you want to venture into town, we're only a three-minute drive to downtown Highlands. Or if you prefer to walk, a trail through the woods passes the Bascom art museum and leads to downtown Highlands - only about a one mile walk.

The Space:
Reminiscent of a quaint Swiss chalet, “Maison Rouge” has been in the same family since the residence was built in 1965. Situated on a private lakefront wooded acre of lush rhododendrons, dogwoods, azaleas, and pine trees, this waterfront home has enviable unobstructed views of Mirror Lake.

The Home:
The cottage features 4 bedrooms and 3 full baths. There are a total of 7 beds: 1 King and 1 Queen on the 1st floor, and 4 Twin beds on the 2nd floor—plus a single sleeper sofa on the lower level. Both second floor bedrooms have charming balconies, one of which overlooks Mirror Lake. Each bedroom has its own look and feel, but all of them are quiet, comfortable, and well-lit.

Bed/Bath Configuration:
There are two bedrooms on the main level. The "Egyptian" master bedroom has a king-sized pillow-top mattress and the "Oriental" guest bedroom has a queen-sized medium-firm mattress bed. There is one full bath shared by the two bedrooms.

The upper level has two bedrooms, "The Lakeview" and "The Hydrangea". with one full bath in between the two bedrooms. Each upper level bedroom has two twin beds and access to a small balcony-one overlooking Cullasaja Drive, and the other overlooking the lake. There is one full bath shared by the two bedrooms.

The Main Floor Galley Kitchen:
The main galley kitchen is fully equipped with under-cabinet lighting,
oven/range, dishwasher, microwave, coffee maker, toaster oven, glassware, mixer blender, a complete set of fine china, cutlery, as well as bake-ware, pots, pans, a stock pot, and a few pieces of great-grandmother's 100 year-old seasoned cast iron cookware--including a cornbread pan.

The Living Room:
The living room has a gas-fired stacked-stone fireplace and opens to a wrap-around deck--perfect for morning coffee, lounging, or sunbathing on a clear day. There's speedy Internet, and the house is wired for cable throughout. The living room also features a flat-screen TV, DVD/VHS player, and a CD player with AM/FM radio.

The Lower Level:
The lower level has an open family room with fully-applianced entertainment kitchen, gas fireplace, flat-screen TV, and laundry facilities. The powder room has an adjoining walk-in shower with resting bench and hand-held rainforest shower head. A terrace with Weber "sear" gas grill, and dining table (seats 6) is also on the lower level. Two rocking chairs and alto wind chimes enhance the experience of peaceful lake breezes.

Yard:
There’s a nice grassy lakeside area that's great for play or lawn games, and there is also a flat bottomed boat, gas grill, fire pit, and plenty of Adirondack style chairs. Chairs are stacked under the deck, so use them as you need them.

The Boat:
There is a flat-bottom boat (life jackets and paddles are located in the storage
room). Fishing is catch and release. Fishing licenses can be purchased at Reeve's Ace Hardware on Main Street.

Parking:
The gravel driveway has a gentle slope and has room for four cars. Parking is single-file, back-to-back.

Walk to Town:
The "Highlands Plateau Greenway" maintains a network of beautiful and continuous walking paths that connect the natural settings and historic sites of Highlands. The trail starts right at Mirror Lake and connects through downtown Highlands without needing to walk on busy roads.

The forests offer refreshing alternatives to the town streets for foot travel between points of interest, What sets the Highlands Greenway apart from other trails is the unique environmental features. The trail system is superimposed, with opportunities for recreation, education on natural history, art, and conservation. The Greenway connects established trail systems within the Town, allowing users to visit sites of special interest without the use of motorized vehicles. [Donated land tracts are owned by the Greenway Partners: The Town of Highlands, Highlands Biological Station, Highlands-Cashiers Land Trust, and the Bascom Center for the Visual Arts.]

You're going to love the magic here. A truly private and a special find!