Classic cabin predates Crystal Mountain

Want a cabin that’s truly in the woods? Pick a house with a street address that includes USFS—United States Forest Service. Out towards Crystal Mountain Ski Resort, up and back from the highway, is a classic cabin for sale at $349,000. Get ready for neighbors that are (mountain) lions and bears. Oh my.

The 1,088-square-foot cabin sits between rustic and refined. Heavy logs and broad shingles fit the aesthetic of life among the trees. A slightly raised foundation and a wide, covered porch are ready for snow. Drop the grubbies and messy snow gear outside, stomp the snow off the boots, and then head inside.

It may be a log cabin, but it’s been refined by dressing the wood so well that it shines. So much for splinters. A broad great room is centered on a well-used brick fireplace. The sitting area at the one end is a natural destination after a day of skiing. So is the dining area at the other end, where the calorie loading can begin.

It may be a cabin in the woods, but evidently all of the comforts of standard utilities are available in the kitchen. A stainless steel fridge is definitely modern, but is balanced by an old-fashioned wood cook stove. Power’s out? Not a problem. Throw some wood into the fireplace and stove. No playing with the thermostat necessary (or possible).

Of the three bedrooms, one is downstairs, and two are upstairs, or more appropriately up-ladder. There’s also a reading nook up there for a quiet place that’s out of the traffic flow below. A bathroom rounds it out.

While it sounds like a skier’s cabin, it was built in 1952, before Crystal Mountain was developed. Lucky positioning. The remote nature explains the enormous wood shed that doubles as a wax room for skis now. It also explains the real shutters installed for security from weather, creatures, and people who might be a bit too curious about what’s inside such a classic.

• 132 Silver Creek USFS, Greenwater [Keller Williams]
• 132 Silver Creek USFS, Greenwater [Estately]