VALLEY HEAD - Bear sightings are common at Brazen Head Inn, a traditional Irish inn named for Dublin's oldest pub and located six miles from Snowshoe Resort.
Two cubs shimmy up the new outdoor dance pavilion. Another stands in the parking lot and gazes at the changing leaves. One waves the Irish flag, while another drinks a pint of Guinness.
"Don't worry," explains owner and innkeeper, Will Fanning, as he gestures to the bear with pint. "That one is not the driver."
The bears are carved by Will, his sons Stuart and Bryan, and his son-in-law, who taught the Fannings how to carve.
Guests are first greeted by the family of bears, and then they are greeted by Will and Jill Fanning, whose hospitality and family spirit can be felt throughout the inn.
Construction began in 1998 as a tribute to Will's father, Michael Fanning. When Michael was over from Ireland visiting Will in December 1997, Will's house caught fire and his father was killed. Soon after losing his father, Will had a dream in which the idea for the inn was conceived.
"I dreamt it one night, woke up, and called my sons. I've always had more energy than good sense. But I called my sons, and they said, 'Let's do it, Dad,' " he recalled.
The site of the burned home was to be the site for the inn, so the family cleaned up the ruins and salvaged everything possible.
A picture of fox cubs in a charred frame and a china hutch from 1891 survived the fire and are in the dining room of the inn. The bar and shelves in "Mike's Pub" were all made from the salvaged boards. Photo albums at the inn chronicle the construction process. The interior is a testament to Fanning's craftsmanship. Jill said she still finds nuances in the woodwork.
"I see something different, and I think, 'Will did that on purpose. That's part of his creativity.'"
VALLEY HEAD - Bear sightings are common at Brazen Head Inn, a traditional Irish inn named for Dublin's oldest pub and located six miles from Snowshoe Resort.
Two cubs shimmy up the new outdoor dance pavilion. Another stands in the parking lot and gazes at the changing leaves. One waves the Irish flag, while another drinks a pint of Guinness.
"Don't worry," explains owner and innkeeper, Will Fanning, as he gestures to the bear with pint. "That one is not the driver."
The bears are carved by Will, his sons Stuart and Bryan, and his son-in-law, who taught the Fannings how to carve.
Guests are first greeted by the family of bears, and then they are greeted by Will and Jill Fanning, whose hospitality and family spirit can be felt throughout the inn.
Construction began in 1998 as a tribute to Will's father, Michael Fanning. When Michael was over from Ireland visiting Will in December 1997, Will's house caught fire and his father was killed. Soon after losing his father, Will had a dream in which the idea for the inn was conceived.
"I dreamt it one night, woke up, and called my sons. I've always had more energy than good sense. But I called my sons, and they said, 'Let's do it, Dad,' " he recalled.
The site of the burned home was to be the site for the inn, so the family cleaned up the ruins and salvaged everything possible.
A picture of fox cubs in a charred frame and a china hutch from 1891 survived the fire and are in the dining room of the inn. The bar and shelves in "Mike's Pub" were all made from the salvaged boards. Photo albums at the inn chronicle the construction process. The interior is a testament to Fanning's craftsmanship. Jill said she still finds nuances in the woodwork.
"I see something different, and I think, 'Will did that on purpose. That's part of his creativity.'"
A dedicated staff assists the Fannings, but the couple is involved in every detail. They make breakfast for guests and have handpicked the blackberries that are used in the pancakes. Their garden provides vegetables for the restaurant. Will chops the firewood that heats the inn and provides hot water. Even the couple's three cats welcome guests by encouraging them to come sit on the porch.
In this relaxing place, there are no cell phone signals or televisions. However, there is plenty to do. Guests are within a short drive of skiing, fishing, hiking, rock climbing and caving. Cass Scenic Railroad and Civil War battlefields are not far away.
On Saturday evenings, the Fannings and other musicians display their talent. On a recent Saturday night as rain poured down on the tin roof, the quaint pub and restaurant came alive. Will played the guitar while Jill played the fiddle.
Visiting musicians often join in, and if the spirit is right, the music goes on until the wee hours of the morning. In an attempt to encourage future musicians, the couple hosts Mountain Road Fiddle Camp each August and a flat-picking guitar workshop and competition in the spring.
"The bottom line is having fun. That's what we do here," Will said. "The whole world comes through our door. We've had people from Australia, Yugoslavia, England, Germany, and Ireland. Every weekend is different, and all these people lend themselves to you. Musicians have come through here and played my guitar so well that I never wanted to pick it up again."
Once guests have experienced Brazen Head's hospitality, they are eager to return. Jill said they've even had guests tell them that if business is slow "just give us a call, and we'll come in and stay a few days."
"One time we had a couple check in for three days, but they ended up staying six weeks," Will added.
A special visitor showed up at Jill's birthday party last year. A picture taken during the party later revealed a smoky haze, even though no smoking is allowed in the inn. The haze forms the face of a man and beside him is the perfectly formed face of a cat. Will's cat also died in the fire that claimed the life of his father. The two figures hover over Jill in the photo.
Will was not surprised that Mike made his presence known. He believes his father has overseen this venture from the beginning. "It's a comfort to us," he said.
More information can be found at www.brazenheadinn.com. To make reservations call 866-339-6917.
