Historic Mountain Brook's Rental Cabins and Cottages in Asheville NC

MOUNTAIN BROOK, formerly known as Clark's Cottages, was the vision of native mountain man, Hardy Clark, who recognized that the beautiful mountainside cove surrounding the resort would make a perfect setting for a small cottage community. Cabin rental vacations were Mr. Clark's dream.

 The varying styles of cottages located on the grounds were built during the early 1930's. Mr. Clark utilized logs from the property to construct the two log cottages, and made trips to nearby stone quarries to construct the native stone cottages. The other cottages are constructed of brick or board and batten.

Cabin Rental Vacations.  Back before motels, when tourist courts and cabin rental vacations were common and before the times of electricity and four lane roads, the enterprising Mr. Clark constructed an overshot water wheel subsequently written up in "Ripley's Believe It or Not" as the largest wheel in the Eastern United States. Power generated from the wheel was stored in automobile batteries and then used as the source of electricity in the cottages. The quaint, romantic main road that clung to the edges of the mountains passed right by his cafe and gas station, and people from far and near came to admire his waterwheel and stay in his cottages. It is the dream the present owners to someday reconstruct the waterwheel and thereby restore the feeling that is portrayed in old timey pictures displayed in the office. As time passed, the road was rerouted and is presently a four lane highway located 2/10 of a mile away. The old concrete highway now provides access to the resort itself.

While at one time "outdoor plumbing" was typical in cabin rental vacations, all but two of the 12 cottages had been remodeled when the present owners purchased the cabin rental vacations property in 1979. Constant upgrading was done until the American Automobile Association approved and designated the property as a two diamond establishment.

 Although desiring to maintain the tranquil country atmosphere for which this area is noted, and shying away from more commercial appearances, continual refurbishing is done in order to meet special requirements of the guests.

 Mountain Brook is currently listed on the work study list for the National Register of Historic Places and the McMahon's hope to pursue that designation.