Callaway Gardens cottage one choice in Southern Living home giveaway

Crossing a bridge reminiscent of the one Baby took to get from the resort to the staff quarters in “Dirty Dancing,” you’ll enter Camp Callaway. Right now, only three of the cottages, all model homes, are completed.

One of them, the Carolina Jessamine Cottage, is entered in the Southern Living contest “Choose Your Home Giveaway.” The other three homes in the contest are in Beaufort, S.C.; Asheville, N.C. and College Station, Texas. Those wanting to win one of the homes can log onto Southern Living’s Web site and vote for their favorite home. One winner will be chosen to win the home of their choice.

Jessamine Cottage can barely be seen from the bridge because of vegetation. The bridge spans a narrow slough that flows into Martin Lake, which is the small lake adjacent to the much larger Robin Lake.

The 1,722-square-foot cottage features three bedrooms and 3 1/2 baths with a loft that sleeps two more.

The front porch is just wide enough for a small table and a comfy chair. To the left of the foyer is a half-bath. To the right is the first bedroom with a 3/4 bath. The bathroom features a large, beautifully tiled shower.

Moving into the small but well-appointed kitchen with stainless steel appliances, opens to the living room. To the right of the living area is the master bedroom with a full bath. The best feature of the bathroom is the updated clawfoot tub. There’s a free-standing shower as well.

The back porch is completely enclosed, which will help keep the bugs out in the summer. It overlooks the slough.

Upstairs, there’s another 3/4 bathroom, a loft area and a bedroom with two beds featuring a built-in bookcase at the head of each bed.

This “subdivision” of the Callaway Gardens property will eventually have 47 homes, said Rachel Crumbley, Callaway’s media and public relations director.

All of the homes at Callaway Gardens, which include Camp Callaway, Longleaf (138 homes), Mountain View Cottages (30 cottages), Sky View Meadows (150 homes) and Highland Park (41 custom-built homes), are “green homes,” Crumbley said.

Volunteer Louise Smith, who with her husband, Judge Bill Smith, was one of the first residents in Longleaf, loves living at Callaway Gardens.

“Our utilities are half of what we used to pay in Columbus,” she said. “These are real neighborhoods.”

This story was originally published June 14, 2009 at 12:00 AM with the headline "Callaway Gardens cottage one choice in Southern Living home giveaway."