The fire crackles and a group of thirty-somethings swap stories from the recline of Adirondack chairs. The temperature drops with dusk and the warm spring day lingers just until sundown. Beyond the communal fire pit, kids run down a path chasing each other with flashlights. A retired couple wanders over from their afternoon tour and tasting at the state’s premiere craft beer incubator, a big draw for travelers exploring this unique, upcoming area of Eastern North Carolina. Nestled in the back of the Rocky Mount Mills property just a short walk from the Tar River, these folks are the guests of River & Twine, one of the largest tiny house hotels in the United States and the largest in North Carolina.
At the end of the evening, they all retire to one of 20 tiny houses, each named after a river or creek in North Carolina: Eno, Pasquotank, Pee Dee, Tar, and so on. At 20 feet long and 188 square feet inside, these compact, cleverly designed homes can host four guests each with surprisingly full-sized accommodations that include a sleeping loft, seating area, and full bathrooms. In the morning, guests rise and make coffee in their kitchenettes, or simply stumble over to Books and Beans coffee shop for a fresh brew and pastry.
Some call it glamping, some call it living small, but most of the folks who come here for a night or a weekend just call it unique.
"We get a true mix of people wanting to try out the tiny homes: families, local couples on stay-cation, travelers coming up and down I-95. There’s not a certain type," said Julie Bagget, River & Twine manager since its 2019 opening. "But they all want the tiny house experience."
That experience includes discovering the pocket door to the full bathroom, finding that what you thought was a sofa has a fold out platform for an additional bed. Climbing stairs to your loft bedroom and noticing the built-in shelves on each stair where you can stash your belongings for your stay. Grilling out and stashing perishables in mini-fridges. Gathering around communal fire pits for s’mores and storytelling, when in the mood to mingle.
The hotel gets its fair share of folks flirting with the idea of joining the tiny-home movement. This trend in shucking off extraneous possessions in favor of a compact space has gained some popularity in the last decade. Though still accounting for only about 1% of home sales in the United States, builders report a 200% increase in sales in recent years. The idea of living off the grid, reducing carbon footprint, and owning a tiny home is gaining in popularity among Millennials and retirees. The average size of a tiny house is between 100 and 400 square feet and can be built for between $12,000 and $35,000, making it a financially attractive path to home ownership.
While all that sounds good, trying it on for the weekend might be a good strategy for those who aren’t so sure they’re ready to downsize. River & Twine provides the perfect opportunity to experiment with the novelty of a stay small experience, while its location encourages you to live big while you’re there.
The banks of the Tar River are so close to River & Twine that you can almost hear the water babbling. To explore the Tar River Trail by foot, pick up the three-mile path by the Tar River Falls at Battle Park. It connects five city parks, featuring scenic wooded paths and a view of the river. A short mile or so walk will lead you to one of the longest wooden pedestrian bridges in the United States. The view is worth the stroll.
Water sports more your style? Book a day trip and Tar River Life. The outfitter has a special trip that picks up at River & Twine, shuttles groups up the river, fit them with a life jacket, kayak or stand-up paddle board and sends them on a self-guided paddle back to Rocky Mount Mills, where the trip takes out. Along the two-hour trip, paddlers can bank up on the shore for picnics, swim, and see all that the Tar River has to offer from bald eagles and bright red cardinals, to turtles, otters, and more.
Back on Rocky Mount Mills campus, embark on a brewery hop at the largest craft beer incubator in the state. Rocky Mount Mills has helped new brewers get their footing and expand. Try what’s new on tap at Koi Pond Brewing Company, Tap 1918, HopFly, Mythic Brewing, or Spaceway Brewery. Hungry? Stop in at TBC West Tacos and Taproom, grab a wood-fired pizza at Tipsy Tomato, or savory, spicy barbecue at Prime Smokehouse–they’re all right there on campus, too.
On weekends, you have a good chance of catching some live music at one of the restaurants and picking up a game of Giant Connect Four, corn hole, or a frisbee game. And those who are coming more for the peace and quiet can return to their tiny home and kick back and relax.
"It’s definitely something different," says Baggett. "You’re nestled here in the tiny homes and getting that experience, but you’re steps away from craft breweries, live entertainment, restaurants all where you’re staying. You can be as social or as remote as you want to be."
No matter how you fill your time outside in Rocky Mount, the tiny house stay is a unique experience. Compact and cozy-definitely. Your ideal way to stay for the night-maybe. Perhaps your downsizing story starts here at River & Twine, or perhaps you mark it off your bucket list.