For The Love: History, Mountain Magic and Attention to Detail

In 2007, Michele Azan and Elisabeth Perez made their first visit to Hendersonville for a four-day weekend with friends. The New York City residents were so charmed by Hendersonville’s warm and friendly people, they called a real estate agent on a whim and wound up putting an offer on a house during their vacation.

Not able to replicate their NYC careers here, they opted for a new take on something they dabbled in years earlier in Florida – vacation rentals. They knew how to renovate and decorate properties. Now the digital age made it easier to reach customers. With keen eyes and a love of history, they came across a group of cottages and cabins surrounding an old stone guesthouse in an area known as Brightwaters.

And Brightwaters Vacation Rentals were born.

When they bought the property, Michele and Elizabeth immersed themselves in its interesting history. Both are history buffs and were intrigued to learn about the property.

In the early 1920s, a former shoe salesman from Pennsylvania named Samuel Childs purchased 400 acres west of Hendersonville from which he carved a 100-acre resort. He named it Brightwaters after an area near Tampa and promoted the resort to Floridians seeking to vacation in the Blue Ridge Mountains. The resort consisted of 25 cabins, an eight-bedroom hotel, plus lodge and dining hall.

Today, the two-story, 1938 former hotel is the centerpiece of the property.

Michele and Elisabeth found it important to connect with the descendants of Mr. Childs, so they had their new neighbors connect them with Martha Pryor, Samuel Childs’ granddaughter, and were thrilled to hear Martha’s stories and pore over old photos and brochures of Brightwaters Resort.

“We’re forever grateful for her generosity in sharing so much info,” said Michele. “It’s important to us to be good stewards of the legacy created by Samuel Childs and maintain the stories of this key part of Hendersonville history.”

Michele and Elisabeth are often complimented on the interior design of their properties. “Our philosophy is that each home has its own personality, designed to be warm, comfortable and inviting,” said Michele. “Our style has several components: thoughtful attention to detail; uncluttered spaces; texture and layering that delight the senses; decorative accents and large-scale artwork to add flair and drama; and mixing high/low, modern and vintage furniture to create interest and make the spaces feel like home.”

People also love that some of the Brightwaters properties are dog-friendly, a big part of what makes Hendersonville a unique place to visit. 

Over the years, Michele and Elisabeth have welcomed guests from across the globe. Some of their notable mentions include: Alaska, Canada, Venezuela, Germany, Sweden, Ecuador, Argentina, Australia and China.

“We love meeting new people and offering help where we can,” says Elisabeth. “Over the years, many guests have become Hendersonville residents and we’ve helped them get settled. We support and share advice with local business owners, and partner with them to provide memorable visitor experiences.”

Our guests frequently tell us they come here for the plethora of outdoor activities our area offers – from pristine lakes, rivers and waterfalls to forests that welcome hikers, bikers and nature lovers. In particular, they also choose Hendersonville for U-pick apple orchards, and charming, family-friendly downtown Hendersonville, which is full of art galleries, unique boutiques, restaurants, coffee shops and breweries.

If there was one “secret” we could let potential visitors “in on,” it would be that September is one of the best times to visit. In September, it still feels like summer, but with a hint of fall. Plus, it’s easier to get reservations at popular destinations in our area.

One thing that really makes Brightwaters stand out is that it offers 9 properties that neighbor one another and can accommodate up to 46 people. The property also offers a shared public, outdoor space, making this a great option for family reunions, bridal parties or small, destination weddings, as well as for other smaller sized groups and clubs visiting the region.

Each home comes with the amenities you would expect, like TVs and Wi-Fi, but also offers some extras, such as fully equipped kitchens, locked storage for outdoor gear, gas grills, and top-notch personalized, concierge-like services from Michele and Elisabeth — as much or as little as you would like.