The perfect hideaway: Welcome to the Bed and Bike Inn

Sunday, September 07, 2008 3:00 AM  |  Printer friendly version | E-mail to a friend | By Katie Scarvey

kscarvey@salisburypost.com

Tim Beebe says that he's tried to teach his children not to "chase after a dollar," the way he did.

Tim is finished with all that and is now pursuing what he loves with his partner Ellen Whiteside.

Together, the two have been operating the Bed and Bike Inn in Gold Hill since 2006.

Located near the border of Stanly and Cabarrus counties, not far from Misenheimer, the site used to be home to the Sacred Grove Retreat and Wellness Center. Tim and Ellen bought the property from former owner Marilyn Wienand four years ago.

Appropriately enough, antique bicycles are artfully scattered on the property. You might also spot Wooza-Wooza, the inn's resident pooch.

Although the business is called the Bed and Bike Inn, there are really three separate lodgings available for rent on the property's 11 wooded acres, which include bike trails.

As you pull into the inn's driveway off Matton Grove Church Road, you'll see a hand-built log home with a big lazy porch. This two-story cabin, 20 years old, offers three bedrooms, two bathrooms, living room, kitchen and dining room.

Walk down the path and you'll come upon a small cabin with a cozy loft that is a perfect hideaway for couples. Tim — who learned to be a jack-of-all-trades growing up on an Iowa poultry and cattle farm — recently added a bathroom to the small cabin. It now boasts a Jacuzzi and a self-composting toilet — making it "50 percent green and 50 percent not," he says, laughing.

On down the path is the Grove House, a contemporary home with three bedrooms and two bathrooms, which for a short time was the naturopath clinic of Dr. Mark Dworkin.

The grounds are full of interesting, cool things, including a fire pit and a labyrinth — but perhaps the most intriguing structure on the property is a yurt, a large, domed tentlike structure available for groups to rent.

Whiteside and Beebe have begun holding house concerts in the yurt, which has been wired for electricity. Most recently, they hosted Marjorie Thompson, a Brown University professor who has appeared on the Oprah show.

The yurt is available by the half day or the full day, and Tim and Ellen hope that guests will find it amenable for retreats, business meetings, buffet gatherings, group activities and family reunions.

The yurt is also a great place to get a massage — from either Tim or Ellen. Ellen honed her skills for 22 years working as a massage therapist in Portland, Ore.

The couple envisioned the Bed and Bike Inn as a mecca for bikers — a jumping off point for the wonderful road biking in the area.

"Cue sheets" are provided to guests, with suggested routes of varying difficulty. The routes cover some 140 miles.

The truly intrepid will want to try the "Stanly County Death Loop."

The property is not far from the Uwharrie National Forest, home to the oldest mountains in North America and possibly the world.

For mountain biking, Tim and Ellen recommendthe Woodrun Trails in the Uwharrie National Forest. The Uwharrie range used to be as high as the Himalayas, Tim says, before geologic processes whittled them down.Tim and Ellen are happy to plan outings for the inn's guests, as well as other groups, through their business, Uwharrie Tours. They're familiar with all the area has to offer, in terms of adventure, sightseeing and shopping.

With their own passenger van, they are able to customize excursion packages for groups of eight or more, including kayaking trips, tours of wineries in the region, outings to historic Gold Hill, Reed Gold Mine or the North Carolina Transportation Museum.

Tim and Ellen have enjoyed their guests, almost without exception.

"All we have come here are cool people, from every walk of life," Tim says. "The place just attracts the right kind of people."As gas prices rise, Tim and Ellen hope that even folks who live in the region will realize that the Bed and Bike Inn can offer a convenient, cost-conscious weekend getaway.

The Bed and Bike Inn is located at 15750 Matton Grove Church Road. For more information, call Tim and Ellen at 704-463-0768 or go to their Web site at www.bedandbikeinn. com.