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Bear and Butterfly Bed & Breakfast – The North Carolina mountain escape for men
Bear and Butterfly Bed & Breakfast – The North Carolina mountain escape for men
By Steven Skelley and Thomas Routzong
North Carolina is well-known for its Blue Ridge Mountains, Smoky Mountains, the Blue Ridge Parkway and Appalachian Trail. North Carolina’s mountain region offers waterfalls, rivers, forests and trails galore. In the midst of all this natural beauty, you will find the Bear and Butterfly Bed & Breakfast – the North Carolina mountain escape for men.
We asked manager Jason Kirsch to tell us more.
How would you describe Bear & Butterfly resort in one sentence?
Wow, the pressure is on right out of the gate! Haha. Better land a bullseye on this one. I’d have to say that Bear and Butterfly is the ideal, serene Mountain Escape for men who are looking to relax, rejuvenate free of judgment and an ideal resort-style estate for meeting new friends and making memories - where you may enter as a stranger but leave as family.
What is special about Bear & Butterfly resort and your guests?
Hmmm…It would be so much easier to just give you a very SHORT list of what doesn’t stand out about this place. But I’ll do my best to edit things down.
Initially, what guests tend to notice and comment upon most often is the property itself…the guests constantly comment on the obvious care and upkeep of Bear and Butterfly’s 23 acres, gardens, and amenities.
Just saying that reminds me of how I was completely blown away by the sheer beauty of it all the very first time that I came up myself; including our several chicken coops housing almost a dozen different breeds of both hens and roosters (providing us with your morning eggs), the alpaca & donkey barn and peacocks which are currently in training to roam about freely.
Some of our friends like to joke that we’ll be more of a petting zoo as opposed to a B&B in no time. Providing a little bit of an oasis up here to help and take our guests minds off the rest of the world and just focus on rejuvenating is a huge goal of ours.
One of the overall themes to Bear and Butterfly that we strive for with each guest staying with us is to “please, make our home yours”. And we absolutely mean every single word of that simple statement. It’s so very important to us that our guests feel as utterly content and comfortable as possible from the moment they arrive.
Bear and Butterfly is unique bed & breakfast that caters to specifically gay men but all men are welcome. We have created amazing friendships with our guests that will last a lifetime by making every guy who stays with us feel special and invited to “let go.”
The B&B is about to celebrate our first year anniversary now but have had guests who’ve stayed with us several times and already booked their third or fourth return reservation!
It’s a privately gated property that allows you to escape and not worry about everyday life…whether relaxing in the hammock, connecting with nature on a hike, or simply laughing while being served breakfast, Bear and Butterfly is Mountain Escape that becomes your home away from home.
The way I see it, we’ve got to be doing something right!
What accommodations and amenities are available at Bear & Butterfly resort?
In the most basic of descriptions, we’re a 6,000 square foot timber peg guest house with four bedrooms (two king suites, two queen suites). Each room stay includes a private bathroom and access to numerous common areas including a main floor living area with spectacular views, a downstairs Wizard of Oz reading room with fireplace, an indoor theater with access to Netflix, Amazon, and YouTube movies (popcorn and candy to your heart’s content), a massage therapy and spa on premises and complete professional gym.
Sam gets credit for the design of the house itself. He had a vision of exactly what he wanted when he found the land and truly hit the nail on the head.
Shane, on the other hand, has the natural talent for décor. With all due respect, most definitely a far cry from your more average tea cup and washboard frill. With his keen eye and eclectic sense, the house has been diligently created an aesthetic that’s unique only to the Bear and Butterfly and one that guests are always praising him for. He’s had people ask him to decorate their homes!
The best way to truly get a clear idea of what we have to offer here though would of course be to visit the website at bearandbutterfly.com and view our picture gallery and room pages.
Not to mention, we’re working with a friend of ours whose new company will provide a self-guided 3D tour of the entire house/property - soon to be online.
Some of the other high-end features of the house include the four leveled back deck where guests can dine, sunbathe or just relax with their morning coffee or an evening cocktail and take in the million dollar view of the sun setting over the Swannanoa Mountain Range just beyond the meadow and creek below.
Afterwards, they’re welcome to relax by any of the three indoor fireplaces, one outdoor fireplace on the main house deck or even take in a night camp style fire by the fire pit where we can accommodate your gourmet s’mores with all the fixings.
The hot tub is a huge gathering spot, day or night, as are the nearby outdoor shower and clawfoot tub (a great place to start or end the day soaking in the sky and garden that surrounds it). Nothing like taking a hot lavender bubble bath under the stars at night! Now where else are you going to get that?
I’d be doing us an injustice if I didn’t mention our beds and just how terribly comfortable they are. People always comment on just how well they manage to sleep here as opposed to when they often travel and suffer from beds that don’t suffice.
And after your night’s rest, it’s time for our incredibly detailed Farm-To-Table Breakfast! Don’t expect your average run of the mill grub here. It is, after all, the most important meal of the day and we don’t take that lightly. Whether it’s our signature mixed berry stuffed French toast or sausage and grits to the local goat cheese and ham herbed strata to homemade biscuits and vanilla pancakes, our guests never leave the table hungry. Our many positive reviews online can attest to that and we’re proud to have set the bar high.
Sometimes our guests ask about a great place for a light hike and picnic. We’ve got a favorite for that too not far from here called Bearwallow. We’ll also gladly pack you a tasty lunch.
And that’s not all. We also offer romantic or group family style dinners from three, four to five courses. If fact, we’ve had two sunset engagements here so far! And always happy to help plan those birthdays and anniversaries…we are constantly setting the stage to every room according to what the guest’s stay intention…from fun and relaxing to romantic and sexy. It’s those things that really make each stay special.
We also offer guided hikes and tours to area attractions. Sometimes, I think that there’s just so much to see and do around here that people get a little bit overwhelmed and frustrated by trying to fit too much into a single stay. That’s where we come in by helping them create a tour plan so that it flows a bit more easily. Whether these interests lead them to restaurants or breweries, shopping areas, art galleries, hikes to take, rivers to kayak, waterfalls and swimming holes to visit, camping spots or just some of the many sights and activities that are unique to Asheville and some of the surrounding towns nearby…we’ve got it covered.
And we always encourage our guests to do a little bit of research into their interests and even inquire prior to their visit about such things since reservations are often sometimes needed in advance.
But we like to think our number one amenity here at Bear and Butterfly is our creation to a sense of male camaraderie. It’s what we strive for during your stay - to feel accepted, important, and feel like a King.
Again, we will say it…you may come in as a stranger but you will leave as family and friend.
What activities and special events are available at Bear & Butterfly resort?
Events here at the B&B? Hmmm…we’re a more “lay back and relax” kind of place. Anybody and everybody who’s been to one of our parties or get-togethers will tell you that the rumors are true and that we’re proud to live up to every claim…they are always fun, inviting, and lively.
Each month, we host at least one gathering here on the property - whether we’re celebrating a holiday, having a themed tea dance or perhaps even a fundraiser. These monthly cocktail parties are always well attended with 75-125 guys showing up to mingle and celebrate life here on the mountain.
There always something in the works here and we love to create special events that are fun and memorable. For instance, during the upcoming 2018 Spring, Summer and Fall season we have the following planned:
In May we will be celebrating our first year anniversary with a pig roast—live music, food and lawn games.
In June we have (and we’re really excited to have him) Adrian De Berardinis or a.k.a. “The Bear-Naked Chef” staying with us. He’ll be here for an entire weekend and giving a cooking demo and YouTube blast for a large group in June. Sorry boys, the rooms are all booked for that one.
Our big Fourth of July celebration is set with a cocktail picnic, music, and fireworks.
We have several adventure weekends planned where the stay includes ventures like whitewater rafting, kayaking, hiking, and even a naked yoga/tantric weekend exploration.
The list continues on until January 2019 when we close down right after our New Year’s Party.
Not everything is a huge party though. We do have one fundraiser weekend a year that allows up to help support a local charity. This year we will be hosting our first “Battle of the Asheville Allstars” event where teams will be raising money for WNCAP (Western North Carolina AIDS Project).
It’s a total throwback to the 70’s and 80’s. I mean, hey, it may not be Heather Locklear trying to pummel Scott Baio off a giant inflatable duck while Lorenzo Lamas cheers her on from the sidelines but I’ve no doubt it’s still going be a good time! And it’s for a great cause.
Why is gay nudism / naturism an important and healthy choice?
Good question and I’m glad that you asked that because we think that sometimes when men see that we’re “clothing optional” they can get the wrong impression of what that means. The ideal concept that Bear and Butterfly is hoping to establish for every man that stays with us (whether gay/straight/bi) is to find a comfortable environment to connect with the surroundings with a sense of complete serenity—to feel safe to ‘let go’ and relax.
How much or how little clothing they choose to wear to accomplish that is completely up to them. To be honest, most of our guests aren’t nudists at all; they just enjoy the chance to sunbathe or jump in the hot tub and outdoor shower without fear of having to cover themselves or be judged.
Not to mention, the sense of empowerment one can gain by not only shedding your clothes but also any inhibitions you may have in the process about being naked. Not to mention, the vast number of us who were raised to believe that two men naked together, other than in a gym shower, was somehow something to be ashamed of.
Aged and ignorant notions like that stop when you enter the Bear and Butterfly. This is a place free of judgment where being your true self is a key factor in leaving any misconceptions that society has labeled us with in the past exactly where they need to be…in the past.
Sometimes we can find that letting go of inhibitions to something as simple as being naked is liberating…even if it’s just for a short moment during a weekend getaway.
We think it’s important to personal growth whether that be spiritually, mentally or sexually. That’s something that we wholeheartedly believe in and obviously encourage. Everyone is beautiful, sexy head to toe here at the Bear and Butterfly, whether sporting your favorite swim trunk or your birthday suit. The ONLY thing that we expect to see you wearing is a big smile on your face.
Conclusion:
The Bear and Butterfly Bed & Breakfast is located at 649 Morgan Hill Road, Fairview, NC 28730.
Visit their website at https://www.bearandbutterfly.com/
By Steven Skelley and Thomas Routzong
North Carolina is well-known for its Blue Ridge Mountains, Smoky Mountains, the Blue Ridge Parkway and Appalachian Trail. North Carolina’s mountain region offers waterfalls, rivers, forests and trails galore. In the midst of all this natural beauty, you will find the Bear and Butterfly Bed & Breakfast – the North Carolina mountain escape for men.
We asked manager Jason Kirsch to tell us more.
How would you describe Bear & Butterfly resort in one sentence?
Wow, the pressure is on right out of the gate! Haha. Better land a bullseye on this one. I’d have to say that Bear and Butterfly is the ideal, serene Mountain Escape for men who are looking to relax, rejuvenate free of judgment and an ideal resort-style estate for meeting new friends and making memories - where you may enter as a stranger but leave as family.
What is special about Bear & Butterfly resort and your guests?
Hmmm…It would be so much easier to just give you a very SHORT list of what doesn’t stand out about this place. But I’ll do my best to edit things down.
Initially, what guests tend to notice and comment upon most often is the property itself…the guests constantly comment on the obvious care and upkeep of Bear and Butterfly’s 23 acres, gardens, and amenities.
Just saying that reminds me of how I was completely blown away by the sheer beauty of it all the very first time that I came up myself; including our several chicken coops housing almost a dozen different breeds of both hens and roosters (providing us with your morning eggs), the alpaca & donkey barn and peacocks which are currently in training to roam about freely.
Some of our friends like to joke that we’ll be more of a petting zoo as opposed to a B&B in no time. Providing a little bit of an oasis up here to help and take our guests minds off the rest of the world and just focus on rejuvenating is a huge goal of ours.
One of the overall themes to Bear and Butterfly that we strive for with each guest staying with us is to “please, make our home yours”. And we absolutely mean every single word of that simple statement. It’s so very important to us that our guests feel as utterly content and comfortable as possible from the moment they arrive.
Bear and Butterfly is unique bed & breakfast that caters to specifically gay men but all men are welcome. We have created amazing friendships with our guests that will last a lifetime by making every guy who stays with us feel special and invited to “let go.”
The B&B is about to celebrate our first year anniversary now but have had guests who’ve stayed with us several times and already booked their third or fourth return reservation!
It’s a privately gated property that allows you to escape and not worry about everyday life…whether relaxing in the hammock, connecting with nature on a hike, or simply laughing while being served breakfast, Bear and Butterfly is Mountain Escape that becomes your home away from home.
The way I see it, we’ve got to be doing something right!
What accommodations and amenities are available at Bear & Butterfly resort?
In the most basic of descriptions, we’re a 6,000 square foot timber peg guest house with four bedrooms (two king suites, two queen suites). Each room stay includes a private bathroom and access to numerous common areas including a main floor living area with spectacular views, a downstairs Wizard of Oz reading room with fireplace, an indoor theater with access to Netflix, Amazon, and YouTube movies (popcorn and candy to your heart’s content), a massage therapy and spa on premises and complete professional gym.
Sam gets credit for the design of the house itself. He had a vision of exactly what he wanted when he found the land and truly hit the nail on the head.
Shane, on the other hand, has the natural talent for décor. With all due respect, most definitely a far cry from your more average tea cup and washboard frill. With his keen eye and eclectic sense, the house has been diligently created an aesthetic that’s unique only to the Bear and Butterfly and one that guests are always praising him for. He’s had people ask him to decorate their homes!
The best way to truly get a clear idea of what we have to offer here though would of course be to visit the website at bearandbutterfly.com and view our picture gallery and room pages.
Not to mention, we’re working with a friend of ours whose new company will provide a self-guided 3D tour of the entire house/property - soon to be online.
Some of the other high-end features of the house include the four leveled back deck where guests can dine, sunbathe or just relax with their morning coffee or an evening cocktail and take in the million dollar view of the sun setting over the Swannanoa Mountain Range just beyond the meadow and creek below.
Afterwards, they’re welcome to relax by any of the three indoor fireplaces, one outdoor fireplace on the main house deck or even take in a night camp style fire by the fire pit where we can accommodate your gourmet s’mores with all the fixings.
The hot tub is a huge gathering spot, day or night, as are the nearby outdoor shower and clawfoot tub (a great place to start or end the day soaking in the sky and garden that surrounds it). Nothing like taking a hot lavender bubble bath under the stars at night! Now where else are you going to get that?
I’d be doing us an injustice if I didn’t mention our beds and just how terribly comfortable they are. People always comment on just how well they manage to sleep here as opposed to when they often travel and suffer from beds that don’t suffice.
And after your night’s rest, it’s time for our incredibly detailed Farm-To-Table Breakfast! Don’t expect your average run of the mill grub here. It is, after all, the most important meal of the day and we don’t take that lightly. Whether it’s our signature mixed berry stuffed French toast or sausage and grits to the local goat cheese and ham herbed strata to homemade biscuits and vanilla pancakes, our guests never leave the table hungry. Our many positive reviews online can attest to that and we’re proud to have set the bar high.
Sometimes our guests ask about a great place for a light hike and picnic. We’ve got a favorite for that too not far from here called Bearwallow. We’ll also gladly pack you a tasty lunch.
And that’s not all. We also offer romantic or group family style dinners from three, four to five courses. If fact, we’ve had two sunset engagements here so far! And always happy to help plan those birthdays and anniversaries…we are constantly setting the stage to every room according to what the guest’s stay intention…from fun and relaxing to romantic and sexy. It’s those things that really make each stay special.
We also offer guided hikes and tours to area attractions. Sometimes, I think that there’s just so much to see and do around here that people get a little bit overwhelmed and frustrated by trying to fit too much into a single stay. That’s where we come in by helping them create a tour plan so that it flows a bit more easily. Whether these interests lead them to restaurants or breweries, shopping areas, art galleries, hikes to take, rivers to kayak, waterfalls and swimming holes to visit, camping spots or just some of the many sights and activities that are unique to Asheville and some of the surrounding towns nearby…we’ve got it covered.
And we always encourage our guests to do a little bit of research into their interests and even inquire prior to their visit about such things since reservations are often sometimes needed in advance.
But we like to think our number one amenity here at Bear and Butterfly is our creation to a sense of male camaraderie. It’s what we strive for during your stay - to feel accepted, important, and feel like a King.
Again, we will say it…you may come in as a stranger but you will leave as family and friend.
What activities and special events are available at Bear & Butterfly resort?
Events here at the B&B? Hmmm…we’re a more “lay back and relax” kind of place. Anybody and everybody who’s been to one of our parties or get-togethers will tell you that the rumors are true and that we’re proud to live up to every claim…they are always fun, inviting, and lively.
Each month, we host at least one gathering here on the property - whether we’re celebrating a holiday, having a themed tea dance or perhaps even a fundraiser. These monthly cocktail parties are always well attended with 75-125 guys showing up to mingle and celebrate life here on the mountain.
There always something in the works here and we love to create special events that are fun and memorable. For instance, during the upcoming 2018 Spring, Summer and Fall season we have the following planned:
In May we will be celebrating our first year anniversary with a pig roast—live music, food and lawn games.
In June we have (and we’re really excited to have him) Adrian De Berardinis or a.k.a. “The Bear-Naked Chef” staying with us. He’ll be here for an entire weekend and giving a cooking demo and YouTube blast for a large group in June. Sorry boys, the rooms are all booked for that one.
Our big Fourth of July celebration is set with a cocktail picnic, music, and fireworks.
We have several adventure weekends planned where the stay includes ventures like whitewater rafting, kayaking, hiking, and even a naked yoga/tantric weekend exploration.
The list continues on until January 2019 when we close down right after our New Year’s Party.
Not everything is a huge party though. We do have one fundraiser weekend a year that allows up to help support a local charity. This year we will be hosting our first “Battle of the Asheville Allstars” event where teams will be raising money for WNCAP (Western North Carolina AIDS Project).
It’s a total throwback to the 70’s and 80’s. I mean, hey, it may not be Heather Locklear trying to pummel Scott Baio off a giant inflatable duck while Lorenzo Lamas cheers her on from the sidelines but I’ve no doubt it’s still going be a good time! And it’s for a great cause.
Why is gay nudism / naturism an important and healthy choice?
Good question and I’m glad that you asked that because we think that sometimes when men see that we’re “clothing optional” they can get the wrong impression of what that means. The ideal concept that Bear and Butterfly is hoping to establish for every man that stays with us (whether gay/straight/bi) is to find a comfortable environment to connect with the surroundings with a sense of complete serenity—to feel safe to ‘let go’ and relax.
How much or how little clothing they choose to wear to accomplish that is completely up to them. To be honest, most of our guests aren’t nudists at all; they just enjoy the chance to sunbathe or jump in the hot tub and outdoor shower without fear of having to cover themselves or be judged.
Not to mention, the sense of empowerment one can gain by not only shedding your clothes but also any inhibitions you may have in the process about being naked. Not to mention, the vast number of us who were raised to believe that two men naked together, other than in a gym shower, was somehow something to be ashamed of.
Aged and ignorant notions like that stop when you enter the Bear and Butterfly. This is a place free of judgment where being your true self is a key factor in leaving any misconceptions that society has labeled us with in the past exactly where they need to be…in the past.
Sometimes we can find that letting go of inhibitions to something as simple as being naked is liberating…even if it’s just for a short moment during a weekend getaway.
We think it’s important to personal growth whether that be spiritually, mentally or sexually. That’s something that we wholeheartedly believe in and obviously encourage. Everyone is beautiful, sexy head to toe here at the Bear and Butterfly, whether sporting your favorite swim trunk or your birthday suit. The ONLY thing that we expect to see you wearing is a big smile on your face.
Conclusion:
The Bear and Butterfly Bed & Breakfast is located at 649 Morgan Hill Road, Fairview, NC 28730.
Visit their website at https://www.bearandbutterfly.com/
Article by Steven Skelley and Thomas Routzong
Copyright 2018 Sunny Harbor Publishing Sunny Harbor Publishing, PO Box 560318, Rockledge, FL 32956 Phone: 321-446-7552 Email: SunnyHarborPublishing@yahoo.com Website: www.SunnyHarborPublishing.org |
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Gay Travelers Magazine
the best cruise & travel news, tips & reviews for the sensible gay traveler
the best cruise & travel news, tips & reviews for the sensible gay traveler