Wadmalaw’s controversial Airbnb treehouses are for sale. Asking price: $ 1.75 million. | New

WADMALAW – A controversial property that includes four Instagram-ready treehouses on this rural sea island is for sale, four years after the current owners bought it and worked to turn it into an Airbnb destination.

The Bolt Farm Treehouse, a 35-acre plot with four treehouses on stilts, is owned by Needtobreathe bassist Seth Bolt and his wife Tori. The couple initially said they planned to use the site as a retreat for the group and for the family, but eventually applied for the right to rent the cabins for short stays.

This has sparked fierce opposition in Wadmalaw, where many residents prefer seclusion and zoning is one of Charleston County’s most restrictive. Amid a wave of public opposition, the Bolts withdrew their year-round rental application in October 2019.

Tori Bolt did not respond to an email seeking comment.

Property records show the Bolts bought the then undeveloped land for $ 580,000 in 2017. Now, interested buyers can inquire on the property website, which has a purchase price of $ 1.75 million.

Since the Bolts abandoned their year-round rental application in 2019, social media detectives have found evidence that they may be renting the spaces for longer than the 72 nights per year they were allowed in the zoning. typical. This led to Charleston County revoking all of their short-term rental rights, a move answered in a lawsuit from the Bolts.

The lawsuit has since been dismissed with the consent of the county and the couple. A settlement document provided by Charleston County says the Bolts paid back more than $ 180,000 in security deposits during 2019 and 2020, but still let those guests stay on the property for free. Either way, the terms of the settlement require that they pay a fine of $ 10,000 to the county, either in installments or in full if the property is sold.

Interested buyers would have the option of subdividing the plot into new plots, using it as a retreat center, or converting it back to farmland, according to the property’s website. The package was originally listed for $ 2 million in November, but the price was dropped in March, according to his Zillow list.

Hailed as one of the best places in the South to visit for a restful retreat to get away from it all, this haven of rest and reconnection is THE PERFECT PLACE to keep your family safe during COVID-19 and political unrest, “said a press release on the Bolts website.

Now, the four treehouses in Wadmalaw are only available for monthly rental, with prices ranging from $ 2,995 to $ 4,495, according to online listings. Meanwhile, Bolt Farm Treehouse’s website and Instagram page is touting a brand new location: Tennessee Bolt Farm, which includes two geodesic domes and two treehouses in the mountains near Chattanooga.

Contact Chloé Johnson at 843-735-9985. Follow her on Twitter @_ChloeAJ.