Years ago, I heard of Gorilla Haven, but I never found where it was, and really didn’t know anyone who knew about it, or where it was either.  Out of the blue, I received a call inviting me to come and tour their facility now called Dewar Wildlife.  I called Barbara, and she grabbed the boys and we headed out on our Blue Ridge Mountain Gorilla Tours.

Visiting Dewar Wildlife

So off we headed to Dewar Wildlife, I had no idea what to expect.  When we pulled up to the gate, the first think that popped into my mind was Jurassic Park.  There are two massively tall gates, with warning signs.  The first gate opens, you drive in, then it closes and the second gate opens.  What were we getting ourselves into?  This definitely not any type of zoo I’ve ever been to!

Blue Ridge Mountain Gorilla Tours at Dewar Wildlife

We followed our Dewar Wildlife escort past a series of buildings and got out at a building with a large observation deck on top.  Up there, were a large group from Zoo Atlanta, touring the Dewar Wildlife facilities.  We joined them on top of the observation deck and looked down to discover two Silverback Gorillas, in a natural habitat.  Willie B, Jr. and Jasiri, two teenage male gorillas from Zoo Atlanta. They live together in their own natural habitat.

I learned that usually there is one dominate male gorilla who leads the family group, in the wild and in zoo populations as well.  As the younger males mature, they leave the family and start their own family.  This creates a problem in a zoo setting, because the gorillas can’t wander off to start a new family.  Dewar Wildlife Trust is part of the solution of what to do with surplus males in zoo environments.

Dewar Wildlife Trust

Dewar Wildlife Trust is certified by the Association of Zoos & Aquariums and is an advanced holding facility for zoo gorillas that have special needs. In addition, the Dewar Wildlife property can be used for educational camps or programs in conjunction with schools or universities.

After visiting Willie B, Jr. and Jasiri, we headed down and around, to visit Dewar Wildlife’s oldest resident, Joe.  Joe is 49 years old, extremely old for a gorilla.  Before coming to Dewar, Joe lived in a variety of zoos, and was removed from the family groups at other zoos, he hadn’t adapted well to an environment around other male gorillas and had become ill.  Now, he has his own place and seems to be healthy and content with his home.

When we went into the building where Joe can come inside, if he wants to, we had to put on surgical masks.  These were to help keep Joe healthy, would could pass our colds and ailments to Joe.  While observing Joe, we learned a lot about him and gorillas in general.  They do not look you straight in the eye, casting sideways glances to look at you.  Direct eye contact is a sign of aggression to gorillas.

I found this video produced by The Mountain Living Team in Murphy, NC.  I thought this could show you a little more about Dewar Wildlife:

While we were there, they gave Joe a variety of fruit and vegetables to snack on.  He actually “signed” that he wanted more!  He learned limited signing and can communicate some things with his caretakers.

Blue Ridge Mountain Gorilla Tours – Dewar Wildlife

Dewar Wildlife is now opening its doors on a very limited basis for mountain gorilla tours, you may want to go visit Dewar Wildlife while you are vacationing up here in the Blue Ridge area.  Do not expect this to be like a “trip to the zoo”  because this is not a zoo.  It is an opportunity to observe gorillas in a more natural habitat, and learn a tremendous amount about them, their habits and the challenges facing a worldwide decline in the populations of their species.

Mountain Gorilla Tours

Please visit Dewar Wildlife’s website for Blue Ridge Mountain gorilla tours information, this is one of the many things that you will want to experience while on your vacation to North Georgia.  Yes, there are gorillas in the mountains of North Georgia, come see for yourself!  Thank you Dewar Wildlife Trust for sharing with us and educating too!

Looking for more things to do in Blue Ridge, GA!  Follow this link to discover many more things you can do on your vacation to Georgia.

There are 9 ziplines and 3 sky bridges on the course, and the whole adventure will take you about 3 hours.  They have several recommendations: wear closed-toed shoes, longer shorts, and collared shirts also will help prevent chaffing.  Your children will need to be at least 10 years old too!

After you check in at Ocoee River Basin Canopy Tours, you will be equipped for your adventure.  The staff assists you with putting on your safety harness, trolley, tether lines, hard hat and gloves.  Next you will go outside to the training areas where you learn how to do everything you need to know to have fun!

Now your proceed to the first tower, I think that this was the most nerve wracking for me, because up to now, I had no idea what to expect.  I volunteered to go first, not because I was the bravest, but because I wanted to get it over with.  Actually I wasn’t the first person, one of our Rangers went first so they could be at the other end of the zip line to assist with our arrival.

Off you go on an experience like few others, flying through the trees and over the trees!  It’s not quite flying, not free-falling, more like gliding with style.  You can control your speed and turn around if you want to, though my first experience I didn’t do any more than assume the position, and maintain a tight grip on the trolley.  I hope this time to be more relaxed, try turning around backwards, look around more,  and let go of my death grip on the trolley.

I think that the only time I was uncomfortable with the whole experience was walking across the sky bridge.  I was completely safe, doubly tethered to the safety cables and holding onto the cables, but the bridge bounced and swayed as you walked across.

View the video of our first Zipline Experience!

Special Zipline Canopy Tour Offer For Our Guests!

Not only can we make your reservations for Ocoee River Basin Canopy Tours for you, we can also offer you a discounted rate!  You can include your zipline package in your reservation of just call us and we will make the reservations for you!

• Regular Price $ 86.31 (including tax)
• Sundance Cabin Rentals exclusive price for our guests $73.36!  Sorry, but this discounted price is only available for our guests, we can’t make this available to you other than with a stay in one of our North Georgia Cabins.

Discover and enjoy all of the things to do in and around Blue Ridge, GA including Tennessee and North Carolina while you are staying in our mountain view cabins or riverfront cabins.

Take a stroll back in time to simpler days where the sights and sounds of nature were plentiful and the noise of everyday life was the sound of the river flowing over rounded rocks and deer prancing through nearby woods. Times have changed and the hustle and bustle of everyday life can be exhausting. Taking a break from the busy world can give you a renewed feeling of calmness and peace that is well needed amidst the twenty-first century chaos.

Where can you go to escape the modern day madness? Take a trip to the Blue Ridge Mountains and surround yourself with the sounds of tranquility only nature can provide. A trip down Aska Road will take you to a quaint resort situated on the bank of the Toccoa River. As you drive through the entrance of this cozy river bank resort you’ll notice the rustic cabins to the left. You’ll see the river to your right in all of its glory-running water speaking a language of its own beckoning you to stay and listen to its story.

Mountain River Resort is less then 2 hours from Atlanta and not far from the neighboring states of North Carolina or Tennessee. Even if you’re a local who wants to get away for the weekend, Mountain River Resort can offer you a weekend away from home in the slumber of peaceful surroundings.

Affordable Toccoa River Cabin Rentals

Mountain River Resort offers 5 rustic cabins: Jim’s Hanger, Jim’s Garage, Sawmill, The Barn, and Schoolhouse. Each one of these rustic cabins has a charm of its own, inviting you to revel in nature’s beauty surrounded by the rivers edge in the majestic mountains of Blue Ridge, Georgia.

As you sit on the porch sipping on hot cider the scenery offers more than a visual menagerie of God’s handiwork; it offers the sounds and scents that only Mountain River Resort has to offer. As you breathe the fresh air, you are also experiencing musky scents of crisp leaves and the sweet smell of pine bark from neighboring trees. You’ll have the opportunity to experience seclusion at its best! Roast marshmallows on an open fire or take the family fishing for trout just outside your cabin door. Enjoy all the outdoor pleasures that nature has to offer.

Imagine a place where you can escape-if only for a weekend. Imagine a place so serene that until now this place has only existed in the far corners of your dreams. Now imagine your whisked away to this secret hideaway and it’s all real-you can see, touch, and smell all that the mountains have to offer. You’ve arrived at Mountain River Resort. Welcome to your dream!

Please visit our other Toccoa River Cabin Rentals too!  Toccoa Pearl (4/3), Riverview (3/3), Riverside (3/3), Shallowford View (2/2.5), Above The River (2/2), River’s Edge (2/2).

Above The River – your riverfront getaway in Blue Ridge

Getting away from it all

Above The River has been a long time favorite cabin rental for many seeking adventure in the North Ga mountains or wanting to “get away from it all”. Above The River now has new owners and is available for you to rediscover or make your new memories. This 2 bedroom, 2 bath riverfront rental cabin is located on the Upper Toccoa River approximately a 15-20 minute drive from Blue Ridge, Blairsville and Ellijay.

If you are familiar with the area, Above The River is located off of Fish Hatchery Road, near the Chattahoochee Fish Hatchery, the Toccoa Swinging Bridge, the Appalachian Trail, Benton MacKaye Trail and so much more. You are right in the middle of all the outdoor adventure that you would ever want! Just yesterday, I discovered a back road to the Toccoa Swinging Bridge, less that 2 miles from this cabin! I wouldn’t suggest you try this back road without a 4WD, I had to cross a stream 8″ deep and travel down a rough road to get there, but it is close!

But maybe you aren’t really looking for adventure as much as you need to escape your busy life and the city, well Above The River is just the place for you! With your comfort in mind, you will find a fully equipped kitchen, gas fireplace, wireless internet (in case you really want to re-connect for a little while), satellite TV, a game room with a full sized ping pong and foosball table, and of course a hot tub out on the deck where you can see and hear the river below.

Should you decide that you do want to venture out, I would suggest that you look at my Top 10 Things to do in Blue Ridge. Almost all of these activities are within a short drive from your cabin (with the exception of whitewater rafting which would be about a 30-40 minute drive).

As I was driving around the area yesterday, I stopped and took a few pictures of the locals to share with you too!

The deer were aware I was there, but they didn’t seem too concerned about me. . .

the turkeys wouldn’t me get any closer to them, every time I moved, they moved further away.

I was the only person at the Toccoa Swinging Bridge today, it was very peaceful and quiet.

If you are looking for a place to stay for your next adventure in the Blue Ridge Mountains, or trout fishing trip, or just a place to get away and relax, check out Above The River, and give us a call (706) 258-3286 at Sundance Cabin Rentals. We’ll turn the light on for you!

]]> http://cabinsbysundance.com/cabin-information/above-the-river-new-riverfront-cabin.html/feed 1 http://cabinsbysundance.com/cabin-information/grand-view-it-lives-up-to-its-name.html http://cabinsbysundance.com/cabin-information/grand-view-it-lives-up-to-its-name.html#comments Wed, 12 Oct 2011 17:34:13 +0000 Tom Stone http://cabinsbysundance.com/?p=2647 Continue reading →]]>

I am excited to introduce to you a new cabin rental in Blue Ridge, GA, Grand View.  This 4 bedroom, 3 bath luxury cabin has everything you would want in a mountain view cabin, it is large and open with all glass on one side, luxurious cabin furnishings, an expansive wrap-around deck and of course, a view.

Naming your cabin can be a challenging task.  You usually name it after a landmark, an animal, or a natural characteristic of the cabin or property.  When the owner’s of this cabin rental named their cabin “Grand View“  they set high expectations.  The problem with mountain views from your cabin rental, is that there are too many trees!  Almost everyone has a mountain view in the winter when the leaves are gone, but all year?  The first time I drove out to this cabin, I didn’t know what to expect.  I turned off of the paved road along the river, and started driving up.  As I was heading up the road, I was in the woods all the way to the cabin, so I really did not expect much of a ‘grand view’.  I really don’t think I saw the mountain view, until I stepped out of my truck.  This is probably one of the best mountain views that I have seen from a cabin rental here in Blue Ridge.

As you enter the front door, you will notice two things:  The large open great room with the living and dining room, and the floor-to-ceiling windows looking over three ridgelines of mountains.  The living area is comfortably arranged around the gas fireplace and has a sitting area.  At the opposite end of the large picture windows, is the massive dining table make of large slabs of oak.  Just off of the dining area is the kitchen and laundry room, with everything that you may need for your stay.  The master bedroom and bath are tucked in on this level, so if you want to, you will not have to go upstairs or downstairs for your entire stay!

Upstairs, you will discover two bedrooms and a full bath.  Each of the bedrooms has a small porch and also a window looking out towards the mountains so you can wake up each morning of your stay looking at the gorgeous view, even before you get out of bed!

Downstairs, you will discover the gameroom with a foosball table, a family room and card table, and a fourth bedroom and a full bath.  This bedroom has two sets of bunk beds, so that 406 children can stay and play.

There are porches on every level of Grand View, from the large wrap-around porch on the main level to the intimate covered porch on the lower level.  The spa is situated on the side of the cabin in a private nook, but you still have a great view of the mountains while you soak.  You will find a gas grill and a smoker on the porch for your evening meals in the fresh mountain air.  The lower porch has chairs and a glider for your relaxation.

There is a firepit too,  all ready for you to gather around the fire and tell stories of your adventures.  You will also see the owner’s vineyard below the cabin.  The owner of Grand View toiled to get this vineyard established, this year he harvested his first crop of grapes and produced his first wine.  If you are here during the time that the grapes are ripening, please do not disturb the vineyard, these grapes are not your grocery store type.

This cabin has many luxurious amenities and features not found in many cabins that you will see up here.  As you wander through the cabin you will discover for yourself all of the little extras which were built into this cabin and supplied by the owner for your stay.  It won’t take you very long to see why this cabin has its name.

This 4 bedroom, 2 bath cabin rental has a covered wrap-around porch, and the back porch is screened too!  Sit out in the morning and watch the mountains awaken around you while you enjoy that hot coffee on a cool day.

The living are is open and spacious.  You can enjoy the wood-burning fireplace while you share the stories of your day’s adventures.

Calling this a master bedroom, doesn’t do it justice.  This is truly a Master Suite, with a very large bathroom complemented with dual sinks, a jacuzzi tub and a walk-in shower.

No expense was spared in the kitchen either!  with granite counter tops, stainless steel appliances and everything you may need to feed a band of starving explorers.

Neighbors? What neighbors?  This cabin is located on its own paved street.  All of the surrounding mountain is part of this property.

The spa is located on its own deck, up a few stairs from the back porch.  Come outside in the evening and relax in your own paradise.

This cabin is truly a Little Piece of Heaven.  You can rent it now for your stay in Blue Ridge, GA for only $ 155/night.  Book it soon, we won’t keep the price here that long!

Give us a call at Sundance Cabin Rentals at (888) 881-3286 to learn more about Little Piece of Heaven or make your reservation today!

I first visited Turkey Feather in the summer of 2009.  I was impressed with how well it was furnished and cared for.  I am excited to now  to be able to share Turkey Feather with you.  This 3 bedroom cabin has a bedroom, full bathroom and porch on all 3 levels.  Turkey Feather may be the cabin that you have been searching for.

As you drive up to the cabin. . .

Turkey Feather is located in Mineral Bluff, GA just north of Blue Ridge.  You probably could not be any further north in Georgia,  the state line shared with North Carolina is less than a mile away!  You are also very close to the whitewater rafting area along the Ocoee River in Tennessee, just minutes away.  As you drive up to the cabin, the first thing you will notice is the wrap-around porch on the main level.  This open porch is covered on the back of the cabin so you can relax and enjoy the view and mountain air in all weather.

As you enter the cabin. . .

Inside the cabin, you will enter the large open area with the living room, kitchen and dining area.  No matter what is going on, you can be a part of the activities!  You can be sitting near the gas fireplace, watching TV, raiding the refrigerator or competing in a treacherous card game and not miss any of the action.  The bedroom on this floor has two large beds which can sleep 4 and a full bath convenient to the whole floor.

Maybe you will just want to sit out on the covered porch and enjoy the view.  Mornings will be special sitting out on the deck and enjoying your coffee, the view and watching the mountains awaken for the day.  In the evening, do it all again while you barbecue for the evening feast.

Upstairs, is the Master Suite. . .

The entire upstairs is the Master Suite.  You can retreat to your large bedroom, with its own TV, an private bathroom, and also a private screened porch.  Leave the porch doors wide open and sleep soundly in the fresh and cool mountain air.  If you are sharing the cabin with other couples, you may have to start your vacation stay at Turkey Feather down in the Game Room, to decide who gets the Master Suite!  But don’t worry, there are plenty of other comfortable places for you to sleep.

More fun downstairs. . .

Downstairs, you will discover the game room, with a pool table, darts, and a wet bar.  If you don’t want to watch the game, kick the guys downstairs and let them watch the game on TV while they participate in their own competitive sports.

Turkey Feather, a 3 bedroom, 3 bathroom cabin is available for your vacation stay for $115/night.  This is an introductory price, so make your reservation now at 888-881-3286 and pack your bags!

]]> http://cabinsbysundance.com/cabin-information/new-cabin-turkey-feather-in-mineral-bluff.html/feed 0 http://cabinsbysundance.com/faq/protecting-your-personal-information.html http://cabinsbysundance.com/faq/protecting-your-personal-information.html#comments Sat, 03 Sep 2011 15:42:33 +0000 Tom Stone http://cabinsbysundance.com/?p=2388 Continue reading →]]> Is There Anybody Out There?

Do you ever wake up at night worrying about something?  I usually don’t, my wife will attest that I sleep like a rock.  But over the past several months, I began to notice in the web logs that people were coming to my website from unusual places such as Russia, China and Eastern Europe.  I really doubt that they are looking to rent a cabin in Blue Ridge. So why are they visiting my website?

So why were they visiting me if not to rent a cabin?  The only thing that I could have that would be of value to them would be your personal information!  This really woke me up to our security and vulnerability to hackers.  In the process of taking a reservation, we take down you name, address, phone number and more, along with your credit card information.  If someone accessed that information, could they use it to steal your information and make charges to your credit card?  We have not been hacked, but I decided not to wait and find out too late.  We started on our journey to make your personal information and Sundance Cabin Rentals more secure. I did not want to have to call all of our guests and be the bearer of bad news.

Don’t look for trouble. . .

So here is what we have had done to protect your information:

• Changed our credit card company so we don’t store your credit card information anywhere, ever, for any reason.
• Upgraded our online reservation software to securely link directly to the credit card company for taking your credit card information.
• Removed all credit card information stored from present and past guests.
• Heavily invested in hardware to prevent unauthorized access to our servers, computers and data.
• Tested our security by having outside sources attempt to access our system.  They actually attempted to hack our system over a period of several weeks, to detect its vulnerabilities.
• Became PCI Compliant.  This is probably something that you have not heard about, but it is the standard that a company should be using in handling your credit card transactions.

What is the result of all these efforts?

What all of this means to you. . .

You can be assured that we are committed to protecting all of the information that you share with us, when you reserve your cabins in Blue Ridge or a vacation stay with us.  We have undertaken tremendous efforts to protect your personal information, and we will continue to look for additional ways to improve our security and the trust you place in us when renting a cabin.

So, relax! Book your cabin and come stay with us!  I want your biggest worry to be , what to do when you are staying in Blue Ridge, not us!

Please follow this link to learn more about our Privacy Policy

I have never been to a rodeo.  All I knew about them was what I have seen on TV.  A guest talked me into going and seeing for myself what it was all about.  I am glad I went!  The rodeo is definitely a family friendly event!

The rodeo started at 8:00 pm, and I was glad for that, it had been a hot day on Saturday.  It was still very warm at 8:00 but as the sun went down, it turned into a very pleasant evening.

The evening’s events started out with “wranglin” (I apologize if I used the wrong term here).  Talk about insanity!  Take off on a horse at full speed, jump off the horse and grab a steer by the horns, and “wrangle” it to the ground.

This was followed by bronc bustin, climbing on the back of a horse which was not broken and holding on for as long as you can.  The horses did not like the rope around their girth or the rider on their backs, so it was a battle of wills, the rider wanting to stay on while the horse wanted him off.  The horse usually won.  One horse was already aggravated enough before he even got out of the chute, and quickly proceeded to knock of his rider by smashing him into the arena fence.  Again, the horse won.

The barrel racing was action packed!  Ladies and their horses riding wide open around three barrels in a timed competition.  I think I liked this one best, because many of the other events were so fast, ending in mere seconds.

I found the rodeo clowns to be very interesting.  They act like they are just being foolish and amateurish out there in the arena, but I suspect that they may be the best conditioned athletes in the arena.  While cutting up and having fun, they are also out there to protect the riders.  I don’t know who is crazier, the riders on the broncs and bulls, or the clowns whose job is to get the angry beast away from the rider while staying safe themselves.

The stadium was at capacity Saturday evening, and everyone stayed to the last event, Bull Riding.  One of the clowns said, “If you want to be a bull rider, the first thing you need to do is fill your mouth full of marbles.  Every time you ride a bull, spit out one of the marbles.  After you have lost all of your marbles, you are ready to be a bull rider.”  I think he was right, who in their right mind would want to climb on top of an angry bull and then go for a ride?

Make plans to come to the rodeo next year for the 16th Annual Kiwanis Rodeo in Blue Ridge, GA.  I suggest that you arrive early, the best parking is close to the arena.  There are shuttle buses running to take you to parking further away too.  Also, if you arrive just before 8:00, like I did, you may not find a place to sit!  I want to offer a special thank you to the Blue Ridge Kiwanis for bringing the rodeo to town.

Quick Availability Search

On the right side of each page on our website, you will find the quick availability search.  Just enter in :

1. Your Arrival Date
2. Departure Date
3. Sleeps – enter how many
4. Click “Start Search” (CLICK #1)

You will only be shown the cabins which are available for the dates you requested, and have enough beds to sleep the amount of people you selected.  Your results will also display the total price of your stay at the cabin!  You can review the cabins, find one that interests you and click on the cabin (CLICK #2) to find out more about it and its amenities.

Cabin Information

Each cabin has a detailed page which will show you:

• Pictures and a video of the cabin
• Amenities and features of the rental cabin
• Guest reviews “posted on another website (FlipKey and TripAdvisor)
• Nightly Rates
• Availability Calendars (always live – if it says it is available, it is!)
• Minimum Night Requirements
• Specials or discounts available for this cabin.

After you review all of the information about your cabin, you can go straight to the Reservation Page by clicking on the “Book Now” button at the top of the page (CLICK #3)

Complete Your Online Reservation

Fill out the reservation form, check the appropriate boxes and click “Complete Reservation” (CLick #4) and you will be connected to our credit card company.  Enter your credit card information and submit (Click #5) and verify it against your account and this completes your reservation.

Okay, so now what happens with my reservation?

At this point, your reservation is complete, your days are blocked off so no one else can reserve them, and your cabin rental reservation is ready for us to review.  Now we will:

1. Review your reservation
2. Charge your credit card 50% of the total price for your stay
3. Email you your confirmation, credit card receipt, rental agreement and optional damage waiver and trip insurance documents

NOTE:  If your reservation is made less than 14 days before your arrival date, we will charge to your credit card the entire amount due.

14 Days Before Your Arrival, we will:

1. Charge your credit card for the balance due, and email you an updated confirmation and a copy of your credit card receipts.
2. We will also email you driving directions to your cabin.  You will not need to check-in with us at our office, you are welcome to stop in and see us, but it is really not necessary.  Your driving directions will have turn-by-turn instructions to safely get you to your cabin and also instructions on how to get in the cabin.

What else can I tell you about how to rent a cabin?

If you are one of those people who like to stay up all night looking for a cabin, more power to you.  I won’t answer your questions if you call at 2:00 AM, but you can email me at info@cabinsbysundance.com any questions you may have.  For everyone else, please call us toll free at 888-881-3286 and we can answer your questions, help you find the right cabin for your stay, or make a reservation for you!

One more thing!

I think this is important for you to know:
When we receive money from you for your vacation stay with us, we deposit the money into an “Escrow or Trust Account.”  Your deposit is held in trust until you check-in to your vacation rental.

Why is this important?
Because until you check in, this is still your money.  We may have distributed some of it to pay for your Damage Waiver and Trip Insurance, but if something happened and you had to cancel your vacation stay with us, we haven’t spent your money!  If you need to cancel your reservation with reasonable notice, or the cabin were not available or accessible to you, we can and will refund part or all of your advance payment (subject to our cancellation policy).  I mention this because life happens, and we have to change our plans!