A shipping-container retreat in Epworth, Georgia, is on the market for $1.2 million, but reaching the front door is an adventure.
Visitors must cross a river before climbing 82 steel-grated stairs to reach the living space, perched high above the surrounding forest.
Here's what to know
The property spans 14.31 acres beside the Chattahoochee National Forest and includes roughly 3,000 feet of riverfront, according to Realtor.com.
Two shipping containers sit atop a 60-foot steel watchtower, forming an unusual getaway for those willing to make the climb.
"The structure itself is very unique. It's a steel watchtower built to commercial grade but for residential purposes, purely for leisurely enjoyment, for getaways, for the adventurer at heart," said Logan Fitts, the listing agent with Mountain Sotheby's International Realty.
A landing separates the bathroom container from the one used as an efficiency bedroom. The bathroom has a shower, toilet, and vanity with two sinks; the bedroom container holds a bed, seating, a stove, and a kitchenette.
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Lounge seating and a fire pit occupy the roof deck, which is reached by a spiral staircase.
More background
Beyond the tower, the retreat provides access to hemlock trees, river frontage, and waterfalls, according to Fitts.
From the tower, you can hear the river, and a waterfall is also visible. Sweeping views extend across the mountains and valley.
Fitts's first impressions came from the land, which he recalled admiring before reaching the tower.
"But then when we went to the top of the property where the watchtower was, I was in total awe," he said.
What can be done?
A four-wheel-drive vehicle is necessary to reach the property, as the approach follows gravel roads and passes through the Jacks River.
Visitors must climb the steel-grated stairs themselves; the tower's lift carries suitcases and packages.
"I was actually nervous going up the tower for the first time because it's high and it is an experience. But once I did it, I said, 'This is what real mountain experiences are like. This is something that people remember for the rest of their lives,'" Fitts acknowledged.
"It's like a glass birdhouse at the top of this mountain, and you feel like you're definitely elevated and away from everything, but still connected to nature," he said.
Where can I learn more?
Like similar properties, the Georgia tower highlights both the appeal of a remote retreat and the effort it takes to reach and run one.
• In Georgia, a solar-powered off-grid cabin runs laundry appliances and a workshop larger than itself.
• An $80,000 home folds into a container for transport, then unfolds within hours.
• A tiny-home owner faces bugs and generator limits, plus long drives into town.
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