Animal Sanctuary Tiny House in North Carolina Foothills

Tiny House with private decks and fenced yard, in the middle of an 18-acre farmed animal sanctuary! Nestled in the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains with lush pastures and mountain views.

- Enjoy our peaceful acreage private fenced yard;
- Visit with friendly rescued farm animals;
- Stroll to the horse barn with a glass of wine to watch the sunset;
- Return to have s'mores at your fire pit;
- Explore local attractions, quaint nearby towns, or head into Charlotte, Greenville, or Asheville for big city experiences.

We're a rescued farm animal sanctuary. Rental revenue from Sanctuary Tiny House, along with donations, is the main source of income - 100% of rental income goes directly to the care of the animals.So when you book your Sanctuary Stay, you're helping the sweet residents you'll grow to love!

WE'RE COMPLETELY RENOVATING SANCTUARY TINY HOUSE... STAY TUNED FOR HOUSE PHOTOS ONCE IT'S FINISHED. BOOKING RESERVATIONS FOR SEPTEMBER 1ST.

House rules

Our Sanctuary Tiny House, along with donations, is our main source of income to run the farm animal sanctuary. Thank you for supporting our rescued animals!

House Rules
Hello, and welcome to our sanctuary! We’re so happy you’ve chosen us for your vacation. Our Sanctuary Tiny House (along with donations) is our main source of income to run the farm animal sanctuary. Thank you for supporting our rescued animals!

Before you settle in and get comfortable, we would like to make you aware of the House Rules. Understanding and complying with our House Rules will make for a safe, comfortable, and fun stay for everyone. Please read each of them carefully to avoid any danger or deductions from your security deposit upon check-out. These rules are in place to support the sanctuary and to protect you and our animal residents. Complying with them is a requirement of the vacation Rental Agreement.

Have fun! This is your vacation time, and we hope you make the most of our sanctuary, its amenities, and your opportunity to relax and enjoy it all!

1. MAX OCCUPANCY & CHILDREN

Sanctuary Tiny House is available for up to 2 guests, ages 18+ (a 3rd guest may be added for $50/night). Unfortunately, at this time, we can't allow children to stay due to liability - because of all our animal residents. All Guests will be given a free Sanctuary Orientation Tour to introduce the animals, and to ensure you and our animal residents will remain safe.

2. DOGS

One small dog (under 40 pounds) is welcome with advance approval for a $50 fee per stay. Your dog must be socialized, and never aggressive with people, animals, or property, and must not be an excessive barker around other animals. Dogs must be current on their shots and have proof of rabies protection and be on active flea and tick prevention. Please do regular tick checks on your dog(s) while onsite, especially in the spring and early summer. If your dog creates an excessive disturbance or engage in unsafe behavior, you may be asked to leave. In such a case, no refund of any fees paid will be made.

Your dog must be always on-leash except in the Sanctuary Tiny House private fenced yard. He/she is welcome to explore the rest of our 18-acre paradise with you as long as they’re on-leash and respectful to the animals.

While in the Sanctuary Tiny House, please use provided dog sheets and dog towels to protect our furniture and linens.

3. ENTRY GATE

When you first arrive, text or call us and we'll open the gate, secure it behind you, and show you how to do so for the future. When entering and exiting the property, please ensure all gates are securely latched so animals don't get out.

4. GENERAL SAFETY & PRIVACY

To keep our residents (and yourselves) safe please ensure the following:

Never open any pasture gates
Never enter any fenced pastures
Never, ever feed the animals (unless we are with you.) The animals are on restricted, specialized diets, and introducing different foods can be dangerous or deadly.
Never carry glass outside of the Tiny House property. Broken glass can be dangerous/deadly to our animal residents. (We have plastic glassware available for you to use on the larger sanctuary property.)
Never leave any trash or recycling outside where animals can get to it. Use the appropriate bins.
Guests and their dogs must not do anything that would cause distress or nuisance to the animal residents.
Don't worry, we'll show you the ropes. All Guests will receive a free (mandatory) Sanctuary Orientation Tour. We'll show you around, introduce you to all the residents, and go over all the safety precautions. Afterwards, you're welcome to explore the grounds at your leisure (without glass, of course.)

Heads up: we are an active, working farm sanctuary, so we and/or caretakers may be moving about the sanctuary property anytime during daylight hours taking care of the animals and the property. Don't worry though, the Sanctuary Tiny House and yard are private, all for your enjoyment!

5. VISITORS & EVENT SPACE

We encourage Visitors!

Guests are allowed to have up to 2 daytime visitors, with prior approval, but overnight visitors are not allowed. Visitors are welcome to enjoy the Sanctuary Tiny House and attached yard, of course, but for Visitors to have access to the rest of the Sanctuary property, meet the animals, etc., they will need to attend a Sanctuary Orientation Tour. This is to ensure the safety of Visitors and our animal residents. Please contact us ahead of time to arrange a Sanctuary Orientation Tour for your Visitors. After that, you and your Visitors may enjoy the grounds at your leisure!

Guests are responsible for ensuring maximum Visitor numbers are not exceeded; and that Visitors comply with these House Rules.

6. NOISE

We ask that Guests keep noise to a minimum as not to disturb our animal residents – especially during nighttime hours (e.g., 10pm – 8am), and upon arrival and departure.

7. FOOD

We are vegan, but we don't require you to eat only plant-based foods in the Sanctuary Tiny House. We're hoping that if non-vegans visit, their hearts will be forever changed. (See note below about food in the pavilion and public spaces.) However, if you'd like to have a vegan sanctuary vacation and want some assistance, we'd be thrilled to help! Check this guide for plant-based alternatives to common foods you can buy in the grocery store: https://www.all-creatures.org/strategies/img/WTE-jul2023.pdf. Or check out this recipe site for easy vegan adaptations for your favorite foods: https://itdoesnttastelikechicken.com. And feel free to ask us for suggestions when you're here!

Note: we do require that only vegan food be prepared and consumed in the pavilion and public grilling areas.

8. GARBAGE & RECYCLING

Please dispose of garbage and recycling in the allocated trash cans. Excess trash/recycling must not be left in public or common areas, for the safety of the animals.

9. SECURITY & ENERGY

Any time Guests leave the Sanctuary Tiny House, please ensure all windows and doors are closed/locked to maintain security and prevent rain and water damage, and to prevent animals from getting in. Please switch off lights, fans, electronics such as televisions when not in use to promote energy saving. When leaving and returning to the property, please ensure gates are secured (as we'll show you when you arrive.)

10. SMOKING

Smoking is not permitted anywhere on the Changing Hearts Farm Sanctuary property.

11. DAMAGES & BREAKAGES

While we know our guests won’t intentionally break anything at our vacation rental, we understand accidents can happen sometimes. Here is what you need to know about accidental damages or breakages during your stay.

Always report any accidental damages or breakages in a timely manner, especially before check-out.
Please do not move any furniture from one room to another without our permission first.
Please use provided dog towels and sheets for your dogs.
If any damage to the property or its appliances is not covered by our insurance, Guest will pay for the repair/replacement costs from the security deposit.
12. CHECK-OUT ARRANGEMENTS

Please remove all garbage and food products from the Sanctuary Tiny House when you check out. Text Rick at 704-600-5665 when checking out and leave the key in the lock.

13. EMERGENCY CONTACT DETAILS

In the event of an emergency contact Rick at 704-600-5665 via phone or text.

14. COMPLIANCE

We’ve set out these house rules so that every guest visiting our property has a safe, secure and, most importantly, fun stay at our place. Compliance with these rules is essential for every member of the traveling party and their Visitors. We hope you have a great time and find everything you need at our home.

Please note:
- Breach of any of these house rules is a breach of the terms and conditions of occupancy, as per the Rental Agreement you have signed when booking.
- We reserve the right to evict any Guests or Visitors from the property who refuse to follow these House Rules, or

In any case, please use common sense while staying in our Sanctuary Tiny House. If you’re unsure about any House Rules and require further clarification, please call us.

The space

OVERVIEW:

The Sanctuary Tiny House is 442 sq ft with front and side decks and a large, private fenced yard with pasture and mountain views.

WHAT TO EXPECT:

Being on a farm animal sanctuary has countless benefits! When you arrive you’re most likely to meet our big boys, Zeek and Zephyr, first.- male cows rescued from the dairy industry. And believe it when we say—they are impossible to miss! However, if they happen to be roaming elsewhere (which they’re free to do), you will still get a chance to mix and mingle with them while you are here. You'll also meet other charming cows including a mother-son pair, Rosebud and Cassidy, and a sweet little blind male named Joey.

And don’t be surprised if a 400-lb. pig meanders across your path on her way to… who knows where? That would be Willow. If you don’t see her right off, you might try looking in one of her favorite places—which is just about anywhere belly rubs are being given out.

Next, you’re likely to encounter our resident goat duo, Buckey and Baker, and their pasture-mate, sweet Daffodil the sheep. Buckey and Baker are always eager to have a close encounter with new arrivals and are quite adept at converting them into new best friends. Daffy is a touch bashful, so don’t be surprised if she opts to hang back a bit.

You'll also meet several other friendly pigs (Jimmy, Willow, Sunshine, and Jazzy) who love belly rubs, our horses, Song and Lily, and sweet Berta the turkey. They will all charm you!

We're happy to guide you around the property to meet all the rescued residents, each of whom has their own unique character and special qualities. After your Sanctuary Orientation Tour you can freely interact with the residents. There's nothing like animal therapy! And it's always fun to join us for Treat Time in the evenings when everyone's so excited to receive their bedtime snacks.

GREAT LOCATION:

You can enjoy our beautiful, peaceful acreage, pecan grove, and vistas. You might want to take the short drive into the quaint town of Shelby to explore the storybook Main Street, or head into Charlotte, Greenville, or Asheville for big city experiences. Or enjoy the river and trails at the Broad River Greenway, just a few minutes away.

ENVISION YOUR STAY:

Do you love to cook? Our fully-equipped kitchen will allow you to make delicious meals. The deck includes a BBQ for grilling on those warm evenings.

After dinner you can walk down to the horse barn with a glass of wine to enjoy the sunset, then gather around the fire pit for s'mores.

Snuggle into the queen-sized bed and enjoy a wonderful night's sleep. You might awaken to see animals grazing outside your window, as one of their pastures is nearby!

In the morning, enjoy coffee or tea on your front porch overlooking pastures and mountains. You might even find some animals at your gate, wanting to say hello.

DOG-FRIENDLY:

We've always loved vacationing with our dogs, but finding dog-friendly places to stay wasn't always easy. That's why we're welcoming both human and dog guests to our beautiful sanctuary with no additional fees. It's a dog-lover's vacation dream!

Your dog will feel right at home with a fenced in yard at the Sanctuary Tiny House. And everyone loves the 18 acres of land to explore - your dog can explore with you as long as they're on-leash (and well-behaved) outside of the fenced yard.

While we're a vegan family, and we rescue farmed animals, we don't require guests to eat vegan food onsite. Our main goal is to enable you to have the perfect sanctuary stay, and hopefully change hearts through the experience. Of course, if you'd like to enjoy a plant-based vacation we're happy to help! We can provide some favorite recipes for you, as well as some of our favorite foods you can buy at local grocery stores and restaurants.

While our beautiful rural location doesn't yet have internet connectivity, we will soon. In the meantime, we have strong 5G cellular service so hotspot connectivity is excellent. (We work from here all the time using our hotspot and it works great!)

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LOCAL HOSTS & COMPLEMENTARY SANCTUARY TOUR

We, Rick and Carolyn, will greet you on arrival and are able to assist with anything you need.

We're thrilled to give you a complimentary sanctuary tour and introduce you to all our animal residents! And we can share our secrets on the best places to dine, shop and visit, as well.

And don't worry... we respect our guests' privacy and will leave you in peace to enjoy your stay. While we are a working farm sanctuary and will be taking care of the animals around the farm property during daylight hours, the Sanctuary Tiny House and fenced yard is your private sanctuary during your stay.

But of course, we will are available by phone or text to answer any questions you may have. And you can join us for Treat Time with the animals every evening, or help out with them any time if you'd like.

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THE BEST DOG-FRIENDLY VACATION RENTAL!

You love to vacation with your beloved dog. We get it. We encourage you to bring them along.

Your dog will love the private, fenced yard around the Sanctuary Tiny House. We have food and water bowls for you to use as well.

They may also explore all 18-acres of the sanctuary with you, as long as they're on-leash.

THE FINE PRINT:

To ensure the safety of your dog, and all our animal residents, we ask that you adhere to the following rules:

- To protect our dogs and animal residents, we allow one small dog (40 pounds or less) who's friendly with other dogs and people. They also must not be constant barkers, because this can be quite upsetting to some of our animal residents.
- Dogs must be socialized and well-behaved enough to never be aggressive with people, property, and the other animal residents. If your dog is constantly barking or aggressive, they may upset the rescued animals.
- Contact us to confirm the number and size and demeanor of the dog you would like to bring.
- Dogs must be up-to-date on shots (rabies, parvo and their preventative flea & tick treatments.)
- Dogs may be off-leash in the Sanctuary Tiny House fenced yard.
- Dogs must be on-leash everywhere else, enjoying our 18-acres of paradise with you, again as long as they're well-behaved.
- While in the Sanctuary Tiny House, please use provided dog sheets and dog towels to keep the furniture and linens clean.

SAFETY:

Our #1 priority it to keep you and our residents safe. That's why you'll hear us often remind you to never open any gates, enter any pastures, and never, ever feed any animals without our consent. The animals are on specialized, restricted diets, and the wrong food can have dire consequences.

Neighborhood

COME TO RELAX... OR EXPLORE THE SURROUNDING AREA

Some people never want to leave, but if you want to explore, there's plenty to see and do
We're just down the road from Gardner-Webb University, 5 minutes from historic Boiling Springs, and 6 minutes from the Broad River Greenway, a 1500 acre nature park with 15 miles of natural surface trails.

Historic Uptown Shelby is 17 minutes away where you can enjoy live music outdoors on summer evenings, or visit the Earl Scruggs Museum. Shelby's storybook Main Street evokes old-world charm and Carolina culture and you can explore the galleries and restaurants, studios, shops, and theaters in this charming town.

Some other popular nearby attractions include the BMW Zentrum Museum, Cowpens National Battlefield, or shopping at the Gaffney Premium Outlets.

Charlotte, NC and Greenville, SC are just over an hour away, and Asheville, NC is under an hour and a half away. These cities offer plenty of "big city" things to do.