May 16 Rattlesnake Lodge

 

In 1903 Dr  Chase Ambler from Asheville, began construction of his family retreat near Bull Gap. The photo above is the remains of the retreat's barn. 

During summer, the Doctor's wife and family of 5 children would spent summers at the compound. Dr Ambler would join them on the weekends, commuting from Asheville which is about 10 miles away. The family would take a carriage to Bull Gap where they had a carriage house. Then they would go by foot or horseback on a narrow trail to the lodge. This was done purposely to limit traffic to the family compound. 

 The name was given during construction. A number of snakes were spotted during construction and Dr Ambler offered a $5 per snake bounty. During that summer, 41 were killed. Their skins decorated the ceiling of the living room. 

In 1918, Dr Ambler's wife, Harriet died and he never returned to the lodge, selling it in 1920. A lightening strike in 1926 burned the building down. 

My hike was about a mile and a half walk in from Bull Gap, probably the same path the family took.  There was a very old locust split rail fencing along some of the path. About a mile in, there was a nice view looking southeast. The rest of the hike was in mature hardwood forest.

I passed a number of flowering plants and bushes. A number of Mock Orange bushes are along the trail. Purple Phacelias were in full bloom along with Wild Geranium, Spiderwort, Multi-flora Rose, Virginia Waterleaf, Flame Azalea, Stonecrop and Viburnum. 

Locust fencing along pathway

Above is the lodge's reservoir. It is located .2 mile up the mountain from the lodge. Water would collect here and be piped below. The reservoir would have been covered to keep wildlife out. 

Remains of the swimming pool, above. It would have been only a few feet deep. There were tennis courts too but I could not locate them. 

Another photo of the reservoir, looking at the inside.

The spring house was located close to the lodge remains. 

I think this may be the remains of the main lodge. 

      The lodge was two stories and had a balcony and footbridge which went over the roadway. 

During my hike, I met a group of 4 from Hendersonville. I ran into them several times. The finale time, I came up on them just after one of the gals had taken a spill and was scraped up on both elbows and one knee. She was shaky and lightheaded for a few minutes but after getting bandaged up, she was able to get on her feet. I walked out with them and gave the group a ride so they would not have to walk another 3 miles to another trailhead.