Every home has a story
For more than 200 years, families have gathered in this quiet mountain holler, building homes, raising children, and weaving stories into the land. From the early Wilson homestead to the red barn house built by Hugh Wilson, to the white cottage Jim Wilson built for his bride Maudie, this place has always been alive with laughter, hard work, and kinship. The historic 1920s farmhouse still carries the echoes of summer nights, fireflies flickering in the fields, and the feeling of safety that only wide-open mountains can give.
A spirit that endures
Over the years, the property has changed, yet
its spirit has remained the same: a place where families come together.
In many ways,
Phantasia still carries the essence of a 1989 summer—barefoot children running through grass, games played until dark, and the freedom of knowing the land is safe, welcoming, and full of wonder. When the Gallagher and Phillips families came together to restore it, we knew it was too special to keep hidden. Today, we carry that legacy forward,
inviting guests to not just stay here, but to step into the story and add their own memories to the land’s long history.
Phantasia’s story begins with Lemuel Wilson, who first came into these mountains and homesteaded the land in the late 1700s.
His daughter, Sarah Wilson, carried the family line forward, giving birth to Hugh Wilson. Hugh grew strong here among the ridges and hollows, and in time, he built what became known as the Red House - a solid mountain home that sheltered generations.
Hugh’s son, James “Jim” Wilson, built the White House, a place of gathering that soon became central to family reunions, Sunday fellowship after services at Tom’s Chapel, and the rhythms of mountain life. Jim and his bride, Maudie Eggers Wilson, filled the home with warmth and tradition, hosting kin and neighbors alike.
As the years passed, the land and homes found new caretakers. The McKinney family stepped in, lovingly restoring the grounds while adding their own contributions - raising the Pharmhouse and Brigadoon, which brought a new era of creativity and fellowship to the mountain.
In 2021, stewardship of Phantasia passed into our hands along with our parents, the Gallagher family. With reverence for its history, we began restoring Jim and Maudie’s White House, ensuring its stories and spirit remain alive.
What began with Lemuel’s homestead has become a living heritage of family, faith, and fellowship - woven into the land itself.
Today, Phantasia continues as a place where the past meets the present: where mountain homesteads, hand-built homes, and new dreams coexist. It is a place to gather, to breathe deep, and to feel the enduring magic of a land that has always welcomed family.
Be part of the story
Phantasia isn’t just a place to stay—it’s a living legacy of family, connection, and mountain wonder. Now, it’s your turn to write the next chapter.