Go Big AND Go Home
First time visitors often wonder if they found the right place as they turn into the rock and dirt, quarter-mile driveway. Surrounded by dense woods, it’s both winding and hilly, which is fun to drive in my little Toyota– but would be pure joy in an ATV. As she comes out to greet me, Erin Wessinger’s diminutive stature is notable next to the large house, but within seconds, the authority she commands over Mayor Tank, her Boston Terrier informs me that she’s no pushover.
The house was built in just four months by Erin’s husband, Robby Bettis, who finished the build in January of 2021. Erin greets me in the driveway and escorts me past oversized glass garage doors and a large round table at the corner of the porch. Protected by the elements by what I estimate to be 20 foot-eaves, the round table—which I later learn was built with scraps from the house– overlooks the expansive property. We enter into the living area, and my eyes are immediately drawn up; way up. I later learn the house’s gable height is 28 feet. Beyond a long sofa that could comfortably sit six, a massive butcher block kitchen island is flanked by 6 cowhide barstools. If I had to describe the dwelling in just 3 words, it would be rustic, oversized and party-ready.
Erin and Robby had been searching for the right property for them to build their forever home since 2019. When deciding between a smaller property on the lake, or more land in the woods, their choice was obvious. Both have family members on the lake, so they already had lake access. They knew they didn’t want to be in a subdivision or be subject to an HOA. (Erin’s previous house was in a neighborhood with an HOA, and Robby was given many a ticket “for basically, living life,” he explains.) The couple also wanted privacy, space, and the freedom to do whatever they wanted on their own property, which is why Robby was so excited when they discovered the lot that would become their home. That was the day that, in spite of Erin’s fear of snakes, the couple walked the property together. Robby stopped at the peak of a hill, looked at Erin and proclaimed, “I’m going to build a house right here.”
As a commercial contractor, Robby was able to complete the barn style home in a short period of time, but that doesn’t mean the home is a “standard” party barn. Everything in it reflects both Robby and Erin’s styles. Along with four bedrooms and four baths, there is room and plumbing in the attic for another bedroom and bathroom. The kitchen features custom cabinetry, a 13-foot by 8-foot butcher block island, and a double-wide refrigerator; all of which showcase the couple’s love of friends, family and entertaining. Slab concrete floors and radiant heating span the entire dwelling. “We’re both rednecks at heart,” Erin jokes, as she professes her love for all the stylings of the house that make it theirs: the raw wood, the barn doors, the wood work… Not many homes have a full-size bar room, which is one of the reasons it’s Robby’s favorite room in the house. Large enough to comfortably house a party of more than 50 people, “Robby’s Garage Bar – proudly serving whatever you brought” was officially established in 2021 according to the sign posted above the bar’s faux roof. Clemson flags; vintage metal signs, more than 10 bar stools, and a faux roof overhang inspire a feeling of cozy merriment within the 28-foot ceiling space. This is a gathering place where the couple can host parties, barbeques, fish frys and more. And with the option to open two, massive garage doors, the bar can easily grow large enough to accommodate a crowd of any size.
If you think this home is missing a lake view, think again. Just 2 miles outside of Chapin, the family’s property is the highest point in Newberry County other than Little Mountain. Visitors can see Lexington, Gilbert, Saluda, and almost the entire lake. One day, Erin and Robby counted 58 visible cell phone towers in the distance from the top of their hill. They call the land “2D Hill” because, if anyone ever asks if they are going out that night, their swift response is always, “Yeah, we’re going 2D hill.” With such an expanse of property, it wasn’t long after Robby and Erin moved into their new home that they started their brood of animals. Today, in addition to 6 goats and Mayor Tank, the couple also have 2 Great Pyrenees, Toby and Niko, who deter goat-stealing coyotes and other predators. These oversized-yet-mellow companions weigh over 100 pounds each, and are vigilant guardians of the home and family. They are gentle giants who oversee it all. And when it was time to officially register the goat ranch, Erin chose “2-D Hill Ranch LLC” as an homage to the family’s newfound roots and property.
One of the many things Erin and Robby had in common when they met was that establishing roots was the most important thing to them both. Erin recalls her youth, her grandparents on her mom’s side, and their friends from D Crump Dance School. “They were all friends who decided to buy property in the same cove,” she explains. Erin grew up in this group. All of their grandchildren were Erin’s friends, and those relationships are still very meaningful to her. Both they and the Wessinger side of her family planted roots in this area and taught Erin the importance of close friends and family; of having community, of roots. As she and I chat, she holds her arms out as if to encompass not only the living room, but the entire house and property too. “These are our roots. This is our forever home,” she says earnestly.
As the owner of her on-demand CFO business, To the Moon and Back, Erin works from home often, and though she loves the house and her animals, Erin’s favorite place on the property is actually the round table. “I like it because I can sit there and see my entire property,” Erin explains. There’s a sense of satisfaction to overseeing such an expanse of land and knowing it’s hers to enjoy as she wishes. The round table is also the place where life events are celebrated; where the family spends a lot of time hanging out, and where friends come to work out some of life’s problems. “At some point, everyone needs to spend a little time at the round table,” Robby explains.
For this couple, the only thing better than having a home and property big enough for welcoming friends and family is being able to enjoy the great (big) outdoors with each other from the comfort of their forever home.
