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Seeing nature up close can bring peace to the soul, including the ducks in a pond at Owl Creek Farm Resort. -
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Hanging Dog – Alessandra and Gianfranco Santagati grew up in Sicily, Italy. The couple has been married for 11 years, living in Cherokee County for the past two.
When asked why they decided to move here over any other area, Alessandra said, “Hanging Dog chose me. I was looking for an area that was magic. I looked at the old Appalachian Mountains online, but this caught my attention. We decided to have a vacation here, and when we touched this land we fell in love.”
Their interests are similar, as she loves to organize big events and expos, while Gianfranco enjoys interior design. Together, they have planned and created a small resort that will open later this year.
The couple’s past business adventures include owning two restaurants and a pizzeria in the United States. They wanted to build a place that would enable folks to step out of today’s fast-paced lifestyles and into the past, where old ways, peace and nature take center stage.
Owl Creek Farm Resort will offer just that.
Once open, it will be able to accommodate about 10 people who are willing to forgo cell phones, computers and video games in order to enjoy nature and all it has to offer. You won’t find televisions, microwaves or electric stoves when you stay at Owl Creek.
Entertainment will include a music room, meditation and art rooms, as well as classes and lessons on yoga, cooking and other peaceful activities. There is also an edible mushroom garden, a children’s play area and a smaller creek on the property to enjoy.
The 10-acre property has a creek that flows about 800 feet through it. The holistic resort will offer a place to get back to nature, garden and interact with different animals.
The Santagatis have pets – including chickens, ducks, peacocks, donkeys, cats and dogs – and they will soon be adding a horse to the mix. Alessandra has even adopted the trout that seem to enjoy swimming up and down the creek.
“Our goal is not to fill the wallet, but to collect good memories. To reconnect ourselves to the real reason we’re here and forget about what we were told,” Gianfranco said.
“We’re trying to reconnect with nature,” Gianfranco said, with Alessandra adding, “People forgot how beautiful the sunset and sunrise are. They don’t enjoy nature anymore.”
While their holistic resort is small, they plan on expanding in the future to accommodate about 30 people.
Once they open this year, Owl Creek will offer two eco-lodge apartments, one large Indian teepee, canvas tents and a pirate-style sailboat on land that can sleep two people, as well as an outdoor kitchen and dining area. The restrooms will even convert human waste to biogas.
When you stay at Owl Creek Farm Resort, you won’t need to pack certain essentials like dish or laundry soap, shampoos or lotions as organic, earth-friendly products will be provided for you.
“We have no other hobbies because we love so much what we do. Our work is our hobby. We are emotionally passionate about constructing, drawing, designing, thinking and building,” Gianfranco said.
“Our soul is happy.”
Details: owlcreekfarmresort.com.