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Frequently Asked Questions:
When is check in (check out)?Check-IN is anytime after 3:00 (EST) on your scheduled day of arrival. You will be given a key code along with directions to the cabin at least one week before your arrival. Check-OUT is by 11 AM (EST) on your scheduled departure date. What do we need to bring?Food and clothing. That's about it. Bring some coffee if you want. We'll provide the coffee maker and filters. Also, if you want salt, pepper, ketchup, mustard, miracle whip, stuff like that, you'll have to bring that, too. You might want to bring some aluminum foil and/or plastic wrap. We have a gas grill, so you don't need to worry about charcoal or fluid. If you want to watch movies, you might want to bring some DVD's or VCR tapes. We have a few here, but not too many. There are also a few places within 10 miles that you could rent movies from if you want. We also have a Playstation 2 and 2 controllers, but we only have 3 games right now, so you might want to bring some of your favorites. We'll provide the sheets, pillow cases, towels, soap, dish soap, laundry soap, fabric softener, paper towels and toilet paper, but you might want to bring your own hair care products. There are two blow-dryers in the cabin. Bring a cell phone or phone card if you want to make long-distance calls. There are telephones in the cabin for local calls, and also a local phone book for your convenience. May I book online with a credit card?Yes, you may! But first, you will have to fill out the form at the bottom of this page (opens in new window). I will then use that information to create and send you an e-mail invoice. The e-mail will include a link to Innovative Merchant Services, a secure website where you can pay your security deposit online. You can also create a user ID and password to monitor your account and make periodic payments on the balance if you wish. How do I get the cabin key? You don't need one. The cabin has an electronic keypad. We will e-mail you the key code at least one week before your scheduled arrival date. Is the driveway steep? Not really. Here's what it looks like from the bottom of the driveway. If there were no hill to drive up, you wouldn't have the great mountain view to look at. (You can't see the mountains from the base of the driveway.) Where's the nearest boat launch? There's 2 boat launches within 5 miles of Serenity
Hill Cabin. Indian Creek Boat Dock is the closest by water. You can
launch the boat and be at the cabin within a couple of minutes. They also rent
boats and sell gas, oil, bait, fishing supplies, sodas, beer, candy, snacks,
caps, sunglasses, souvenirs, ice and ice chests. You can dock your boat at the cabin dock and park your trailer in the parking lot, or in the cul-de-sac if the trailer is too big to maneuver around the parking area. (There's plenty of room for 3 or 4 vehicles at the cabin - just not much room at the top to turn a boat/trailer around.) Is the lake easy to get to? Yes, it's very easy...it's all downhill ;-) Now, getting back up to the cabin is another story!...but very doable for able-bodied individuals. Belinda's mom is 70, and she carries a fishing pole and small tackle box down at least once a day when she is there. On the way back up, she usually stops a couple of times to catch her breath and rest her legs. You'll probably want to, also. (It's about 70 yards to the water and there's a bench to sit on at about the 1/2 way point.) Is the cabin secluded? See this? We're not in that mess! Relative to this, Serenity Hill Cabin is VERY secluded. Other than the cabin at the bottom of the hill (picture taken 3/10/08 - that's my truck, btw), you'll see the top of this home from the front door of the cabin. (It's actually farther away than it looks in this picture.) Here's what the cabin looks like from the Indian Creek Bridge. Here's another view showing the distance between the two homes. From the hot tub, you'll see nothing but lake. Is it secure? Yes, it's very secure. The cabin is monitored by Advanced Security Alarm Protection (A.S.A.P) to alert you in the unlikely event of intruders and/or fire. (You will be given an alarm code one week before your arrival.) Any time the system is triggered, a 110 decibel alarm will sound inside and outside the cabin. At the same time, A.S.A.P. is notified. They will call the police and also call you on the cabin phone within a few minutes. They will ask for your name and a password (which you will not know) and then call me. If I verify you are booked at the cabin, they call off the police. If not, or the phone is not answered, the police will arrive. The smoke detector is hard-wired and also has a battery back-up. If the smoke detector goes off, the fire department is immediately notified. There is also a surveillance camera mounted on the roof of the cabin. Luxury cabins with HDTV's, home theater systems, games, etc., have become prime targets for thieves. It's also become more prevalent for drug makers to target unoccupied cabins to mix up batches of methamphetamines. Since the camera enclosure is large, white and obvious (and can be seen without driving up the driveway), we feel this is the best deterrent to prevent any illegal activity. But, as with anything that's supposedly for your own good (well-being and
safety), it comes at a price - and that price is some of your privacy. As
long as you are in the cabin or on the deck, you are out of range of the camera. Here is what the camera "sees": The point is, if you plan on doing anything illicit, illegal, or immoral and don't want it recorded - please wait to do it until you get up on the deck! May I smoke inside the cabin? We're sorry, but inside the cabin is off-limits. But you can smoke anywhere outside. There are ash trays on the decks and screened-in porch for your convenience. Can we bring our pets? Sorry, but we don't allow pets anywhere on the property. We know they are part of the family, but for the sake of our guests that are allergic to pet dander (and also for the safety and comfort of the native wildlife), we have decided on a "No Pets" policy. Stonegate Companion Animal Hospital (865-397-4060) is less than 10 miles away if you would like to board your pet during your stay. (I'll provide you with directions if you choose this option.) How old do I have to be to reserve Serenity Hill Cabin? You have to be at least 21-years-old to rent the cabin - and you will be held legally responsible for any damage caused by anyone in your party. How far is the nearest gas station and/or shopping center? There is a small convenience store 3 miles from the cabin. It's called Taylor's and they sell milk, bread, deli sandwiches, snacks, ice, beer...and other necessities. Super Wal-Mart, Lowe's, Goodies, Food City, Ryan's Buffet, Cracker Barrel, etc., are 10 miles away, and if you want to do some heavy-duty shopping, Tanger Outlet Mall and the Governor's Palace (and everything else Sevierville and Pigeon Forge have to offer) are within 30 miles. Why do they drain Douglas Lake down 54' in the winter? WHAT??? THEY DRAIN THE LAKE DOWN 54 FEET??! (Just kidding. I knew that. But, believe it or not, people have bought homes on Douglas Lake during the summer, not realizing they were going to have a mud hole for a yard for 7 or 8 months out of the year!:-o) Douglas Lake is a flood control reservoir managed by the Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA). Here's a picture of a shallow bay taken February 1st, 2006. Because Serenity Hill Cabin is on the main channel, this is what it looked like on February 1st, 2006. And you'll still get beautiful sunsets like this, also taken on February 1st. The TVA takes Douglas Lake down in the winter to create a buffer for winter
and spring runoff from the mountains. Otherwise, cities downstream could be flooded. By
catching the runoff in an "empty basin", they can hold the water until it is
safe to release it downstream. Many floating docks are on the ground during this time,
but the main channel of Douglas always holds water. (Tip: This would be a good time
for hardcore fishermen to scout out the lake and find where fish attractors are
that aren't visible at summer pool.) Can I rent a fishing or pontoon boat, or some jet skis? Sure. Swann's Marina has all of that. They're about 5 miles away. Is this all there is? I have more questions! Uh, yeah, that's all I have right now. But call (219)363-9280 or write the questions in the comment box on the "Rates and Availability" page, and I will try to answer them within 24 hours :) |
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Copyright © 2005-2008. Serenity Hill Cabin. All rights reserved.
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