Welcome to Adorable Living Spaces and our Deal of the Day series, where we explore interesting and affordable properties for buyers searching for something beyond the typical suburban home. Today, we’re heading into the mountains of East Tennessee to look at a secluded cabin surrounded by the natural beauty of the Cherokee National Forest.
Located at 2 Dog Hollow Rd, Reliance, Tennessee, this one-bedroom cabin offers a completely different lifestyle. Instead of neighborhood streets and nearby houses, the property is designed around privacy, woods, and an off-grid setup just steps from the Hiwassee River.
Listed for $170,000, the property includes an 884-square-foot cabin on 1.75 acres. Built in 1982, the home features solar power with a backup generator, well water, propane, a septic system, a metal roof, wood siding, and an additional equipment or storage building.
This property could appeal especially to buyers searching for an off-grid retreat, recreational cabin, weekend escape, or secluded full-time residence. The combination of an established cabin, independent utilities, wooded acreage, and proximity to outdoor recreation makes it an unusual offering for this price range.
| Property Details | Information |
|---|---|
| Price | $170,000 |
| Address | 2 Dog Hollow Rd, Reliance, TN 37369 |
| Bedrooms | 1 |
| Bathrooms | 1 full bathroom |
| Living Area | 884 sqft |
| Lot Size | 1.75 acres |
| Year Built | 1982 |
| Property Type | Single Family Residence / Cabin |
| Heating | Floor furnace, propane |
| Cooling | Window unit(s) |
| Water | Well |
| Sewer | Septic tank |
| Roof | Metal |
| Foundation | Block |
| Exterior | Wood siding |
| Additional Building | Equipment/storage building |
| Power | Solar power with backup generator |
| HOA | None |
A Secluded Cabin in the Cherokee National Forest
The location is arguably one of the most distinctive parts of this property. According to the listing, the cabin provides a secluded retreat in the middle of the Cherokee National Forest and sits just steps from the Hiwassee River. For buyers specifically searching for a property surrounded by nature, that setting deserves attention.
The 1.75-acre parcel is described as private, secluded, wooded, rural, and level, with many trees throughout the property. While 1.75 acres is considerably smaller than a traditional farm or large homestead, the surrounding natural environment may make the property feel much more isolated than the acreage number initially suggests.
That setting could be particularly attractive for someone who wants to escape urban or suburban living without purchasing and maintaining dozens of acres. The property provides enough private land for outdoor enjoyment while placing the cabin within a much larger natural landscape.
Its proximity to the Hiwassee River also adds recreational appeal. Buyers interested in this property should investigate exactly what river access is available from the cabin, along with nearby public access points and the recreational opportunities permitted in the surrounding national forest.
884 Square Feet of Simple Cabin Living
The cabin contains 884 square feet of finished living space arranged entirely on one level. There is one bedroom and one full bathroom, making this a relatively compact property designed more around simplicity than large-scale family living.
The interior includes a large living area and an open-concept kitchen area. An open layout can be particularly useful in a cabin of this size because it reduces unnecessary separation between the primary living spaces and helps make the interior feel less confined.
Wood flooring adds to the rustic character of the home, while the kitchen includes a free-standing gas oven and free-standing gas range. The bathroom has a tub-and-shower combination, and there is currently no dedicated laundry setup listed for the property.
With only one bedroom, this cabin is best suited to an individual, couple, or buyer who prioritizes the land and location over bedroom count. Anyone considering the property for guests or short-term stays should evaluate the existing floor plan and local regulations before assuming additional sleeping arrangements or rental use would be possible.
A True Off-Grid Utility Setup
One of the biggest selling points is that this property is presented as a completely off-grid experience. Conventional electricity is listed as unavailable, with the home instead relying on solar power backed up by a generator.
That setup can be attractive for buyers deliberately searching for greater independence from conventional utilities. However, anyone considering the property should determine the size, age, capacity, and condition of the existing solar system, battery storage, inverter, and backup generator.
Water comes from a private well, while wastewater is handled through a septic tank. These systems can work very well for rural properties, but buyers should verify water quality, well production, septic condition, tank size, drain-field condition, and maintenance history before purchasing.
Propane provides another important part of the property’s infrastructure. The listing specifically mentions a large propane tank, while natural gas is unavailable. Buyers should verify whether the propane tank is owned or leased and understand expected fuel consumption for heating and cooking.
Heating, Cooling, and Everyday Comfort
Heating is provided through a propane floor furnace, and the listing also highlights a propane heater in the main living area. This is consistent with the cabin’s broader off-grid design and avoids dependence on a conventional electric heating system.
Cooling is considerably simpler, with window unit air conditioning listed rather than central air. For an 884-square-foot home, this may provide adequate cooling depending on the unit’s capacity, insulation, sun exposure, and how the interior space is arranged.
The kitchen’s gas range and oven are another practical fit for an off-grid property. Gas cooking reduces the electrical load placed on the solar system and can provide reliable cooking capability even when solar production is limited.
Prospective buyers should still consider how the cabin performs throughout all four seasons. Insulation, window efficiency, propane consumption, solar production during shorter winter days, generator fuel requirements, and freeze protection for the well and plumbing are all worth investigating.
Porch, Wooded Lot, and Outdoor Space
The property includes a front porch as well as screened and covered porch areas, providing useful outdoor living space around the cabin. For a property whose main appeal is its natural setting, these areas could become some of the most frequently used spaces.
The lot contains many trees and is described as both wooded and level. Level ground can be valuable for parking, outdoor seating, gardening, storage, or other improvements, although buyers should verify what portions of the parcel are actually usable.
Parking is currently described simply as unpaved, which fits the property’s rustic character. Buyers planning to use the cabin throughout the year should inspect driveway conditions and determine whether access becomes difficult during prolonged rain, snow, or other adverse weather.
An additional equipment building also conveys with the property. That gives the owner separate storage for tools, outdoor equipment, generator supplies, recreational gear, or other items that would otherwise occupy valuable space inside the relatively small cabin.
Off-Grid Retreat and Recreational Potential
For the right buyer, this property could work especially well as a weekend or recreational retreat. The combination of privacy, national forest surroundings, wooded acreage, and proximity to the Hiwassee River creates a very different experience from a conventional residential property.
The listing emphasizes the absence of artificial nighttime light and the quiet surroundings. Those characteristics could appeal to buyers interested in hiking, fishing, wildlife observation, photography, outdoor recreation, or simply having a private place to disconnect.
It may also appeal to buyers exploring a more self-reliant lifestyle. Solar power, well water, septic, propane, and a backup generator mean many of the property’s basic systems already operate independently from traditional public infrastructure.
That independence also creates additional responsibility. Maintaining batteries, solar components, generators, propane equipment, a well, and a septic system requires more owner involvement than a conventional home connected to municipal utilities. Buyers should factor those maintenance requirements into their decision.
What Buyers Should Inspect Before Purchasing
Although the cabin was built in 1982 rather than the late nineteenth or early twentieth century, it is still more than four decades old. A professional home inspection would be sensible, with particular attention paid to the block foundation, wood siding, structural framing, moisture intrusion, drainage, and the condition of the metal roof.
The electrical setup deserves especially careful review because this is an off-grid property. Buyers should determine how the solar system connects to the home’s wiring, whether permits were required for previous installations, what electrical capacity is available, and how safely the generator backup system operates.
The well and septic system should also receive dedicated inspections where possible. A water-quality test and well-flow assessment can provide useful information, while the septic tank, drain field, and maintenance records should be evaluated before closing.
Finally, buyers should confirm property boundaries, road access, easements, insurance availability, zoning, building restrictions, national forest boundaries, internet and phone availability, and any permits associated with the existing structures or utility systems. Rural properties can have very different practical considerations from homes inside established residential developments.
Final Thoughts
At $170,000, 2 Dog Hollow Rd is not simply selling square footage. The real attraction is the combination of an existing cabin, 1.75 private acres, off-grid infrastructure, and a secluded East Tennessee setting.
The cabin itself is modest, offering one bedroom, one bathroom, and 884 square feet. However, buyers specifically searching for a smaller home may appreciate having less interior space to maintain while still gaining outdoor space and access to a much larger natural environment.
The solar power system, backup generator, well, septic system, propane setup, metal roof, covered porch areas, and additional storage building give the property many of the components needed for rural living. The Hiwassee River and Cherokee National Forest setting further distinguish it from an ordinary small home.
For someone dreaming about a Tennessee cabin in the woods, off-grid property, recreational retreat, or secluded mountain getaway, this listing may be worth investigating further—provided the independent utility systems, access, boundaries, and overall condition check out during due diligence.
If you need more info, contact the listing agent from the Zillow link below the photos.
Listed on Zillow