a site rich in history
In the early 1920’s, John Hanes of Hanes Hosiery bought a one room cabin on over one thousand acres of land surrounding a small stream called Grassy Creek. Thurmond Chatham of Chatham Manufacturing Company married John Hanes’ sister, Lucy, and these two influential families began converting the single cabin and surrounded acres into a stylish retreat for vacationing and hunting -- the Klondike Cabins.
Inspired by the land and a friendship with avid dairyman, Mr. J.C. Penny, they started a working dairy farm at this site still remembered today for “the best chocolate milk in the world”! Prize herds of “Golden Guernsey” cattle were raised, polo ponies were bred, and bird dogs were trained.
The Chatham family later bought Klondike Farm from the Hanes family and the property became the official guest house for Chatham Manufacturing Company. As time passed, the cabins collected memories and memorabilia. Authentic Chatham blankets, taxidermy all acquired on property, each with a captivating story, and early 1900’s guns line the walls. A unique, welcoming time capsule of storied history all wrapped in wooden beams and original horsehair lining.
After having lived in the cabins for a brief time when first moving to Elkin in 1992, Derrill and Lori Rice couldn’t bear for the history to be lost, and so acquired the property in 2000 to preserve its rich past and turned it into a small rental property so that all could experience the beauty of the property.
Today, a turn down Chatham Lodge Lane is a step back in time and away from civilization. At any moment you can see a herd of deer running through the fields, a flock of geese landing on the lake, and turkeys, dove, quail, or rabbits all waiting to surprise you.
We hope you enjoy the rich history of this land and these cabins as much as we have,