Special Thank you to Willis Williams and Scott Barfield for contributing this story.

Burnsville, NC – Laurie Andrews, the “Queen of Hospitality”, manages the Buck House Bed and Breakfast and cabins at The Preserve. Also known to us as the Buck House Mom, Laurie paused recently to talk about her B&B, hospitality at The Preserve, her guests, and life on the mountain.

The Buck House at The Preserve at Wolf Laurel

“We were really busy at The Buck House in April. Our guests included prospective property owners, homesite owners planning their new home, the family of a Mars Hill College football player in town for the spring game, and people just wanting to get away to a beautiful mountain haven for Easter weekend.”

When asked about the Buck House experience and her vision, Laurie responded “My goal is for folks to feel at home…I especially love it when a guest brings a favorite breakfast recipe so we can have some fun in the kitchen and get to know each other. Our kitchen is a warm, homey place that seems to attract folks who like to just hang out and visit. I love to chat over a cup of coffee or glass of juice while preparing a Buck House breakfast.”

When asked just exactly what a Buck House breakfast might be, Laurie smiled. “My French toast with strawberries and whip cream is a favorite. I start with my homemade sourdough bread. Well, I call it my bread, but I’ve really got to give credit to Joe Horney, one of the homeowners here on the mountain. Joe taught me to make bread and was nice enough to share his starter and recipe with me.”

French Toast at The Buck House

“Joe’s just one of the friends I’ve met in my time at The Preserve. The people here are really friendly and welcoming. While I’ve only been here for a year, I’ve made some good friends. We like a good time, whether it’s a walk in the woods, a cookout, or one of our “Silly Hat Days”. The Silly Hat Days are how a group of us add a bit of fun to otherwise routine trips to town. Recently we attended the grand opening of the new Ingle’s supermarket in Mars Hill. I wore my Viking hat. People were standing in line to have pictures made with us.

More information about The Buck House is available on line at www.wolflaurelpreserve.com. For reservations call 828-689-5000.