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Kirk and Genee Harvey have become a rising force in the vacation rental industry, successfully merging five-star modern luxury with the beauty and serenity of the outdoors. As the owners of Honey Hills Retreat, a stunning mirrored treehouse nestled in the deep forests of North Georgia, the husband-wife tandem has designed the perfect getaway for couples to relax, rejuvenate and reconnect.

With guests checking in from across the country, and even abroad, Honey Hills is a breath of fresh air in Banks County, with top notch amenities, trails, waterfalls and nearby wineries. However, for the married builder and interior decorator, their vision did not materialize without a heavy dose of adversity. 

“Let’s just say we had to deal with what we learned in school, but never had to deal with in real life, until it was right in front of us in 4k,” Kirk said. “There were some people who were not necessarily comfortable with us being there.” 

After purchasing the land, Kirk and Genee encountered numerous obstacles that threatened to stall the project, in addition to doubt from those who could not fathom how their endeavor was even remotely possible in their small rural town. However, refusing to give in, the couple fought tooth and nail during a 14 month process to sort out every detail and ensure its completion. 

“Towards the end, when we attempted to hire property managers in the area, they came and were amazed by the size and scale of our vision,” he said. “After sharing our ideas with some of them, we never heard back. Another group was willing to work with us, but they didn’t have experience with luxury properties. They didn’t understand our price points and that our glass treehouse was not meant for residential standards. It was a commercial project that required several layers of engineering. We decided that we had to take care of it ourselves and tell our own story.”  

Genee agrees that the vision is bigger than both of them. As parents to a young son, their goal is to show him that no matter what challenges he faces, with self-belief and unwavering determination, anything is possible. 

Now, looking forward, the work is far from over. Genee, who has a strong background in hospitality and decorating as the owner of her own interior design company, plans to further enhance customer experience. Her interpersonal skills and attention to detail are the perfect complement to Kirk’s vision.

“He knew he wanted to make a glass treehouse, but that was it,” she laughs. “I had to walk in there and visualize how it was going to look and what people would need when they stay. Not just the icing on the cake, but the ingredients.”

After thorough research, she scouts locations, the topography of the land, and makes sure they understand the guidelines, minimums and buffers. Then together, she and her husband set action steps from start to finish. That diligence will be key to their expansion.

“What’s in store for us is that we will add to the portfolio and each property will be something different. We will create more properties at Honey Hills and then we want to expand internationally. If you are an international traveler, we will have something for you to visit in another country.”

She continued – “This is a passion of ours, to create memorable experiences for couples. It’s stressful, but equally exciting and we wouldn’t trade it for anything. We were meant to do this.”

For more information on Honey Hills Retreat, visit the website at www.honeyhills.com or follow on Instagram here: https://www.instagram.com/honeyhillsretreat/.

 

 

Photo Credit: Courtesy of Honey Hills