Meet Gage Farmer | Investor & Entrepreneur

We had the good fortune of connecting with Gage Farmer and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Gage, what was your thought process behind starting your own business?
I’ve been business oriented from a very young age and I knew that I wanted to own my own business one day. Growing up, my dad owned rental properties and I was always the kid on site helping out. I started really appreciating architecture and real estate in high school, around 2013. After graduating high school, I started college as an architecture major and quickly realized that it wasn’t the best path for me. I then spent the next 5 years researching and learning all that I could about real estate, and saving every extra penny that I had. In my free time, I traveled around, taking photos of unique properties to get inspiration, knowing that one day I would own my own unique properties. Then I got to the point that I felt that the only way that I could learn more, was to purchase my first property and I didn’t want to purchase just any house. At the end of 2020, I came across an a-frame that was in rough shape, made an offer and purchased it. I spent the next 9 months renovating it. That was when I officially started our short term rental business, Folk Stays.

Alright, so for those in our community who might not be familiar with your business, can you tell us more?
What sets me apart from others is my attention to detail and the unique ideas that have not yet been seen in our area. I think outside the box and do things that other people wouldn’t think to do. I am most proud of the memories that people are able to make, because of what we have built. I love to hear the stories from our guest and see them returning with their families year after year. I am most excited about future projects and seeing our business grow. With each project, our properties get more unique and have more amenities that we are able to offer our guests.

I got to where I am today with a lot of trial and error. There were multiple business ideas that came before this, that didn’t take off like I had hoped. Every time one business didn’t work, I took what I learned from that experience and applied it to the next one. I am still learning every day. My business journey wasn’t easy. I came across this quote this other day, “you don’t become successful with your hands in your pockets.” I think that quote is a good representation of the journey that I have been through. I have spent many late nights, painting walls, adjusting floor plans and unfortunately, unclogging toilets. When the challenges come, I try to remind myself that it’s better to be working 60 hours a week for myself, that 40 hours a week for someone else.

I want people to know that I truly care about the guest experience at my properties and want each and every guest to have a memorable, one of a kind experience. I think about every single detail that goes into each build. Something that is unique about our properties is that they are all themed after birds. I pull colors and design inspiration directly from the bird that each property is themed after. You can see the attributes of the theme in every aspect of the house, even down to the reading materials that we provide. I truly care about each guest and enjoy hosting, it’s not just about the money for me.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
The best thing about our area is Fall Creek Falls State Park. It is the largest and most visited state park in Tennessee. While inside the park, you can see the tallest waterfall East of the Mississippi River, Fall Creek Falls. The hike down to the base of the falls will always be a favorite of mine. There are so many other hikes and trails to do in the park. I would also recommend renting a kayak from the boat dock and exploring around the beautiful lake, or driving the scenic loop and stopping at all of the overlooks. I would then spend the afternoon, at the restaurant inside the Lodge at Fall Creek Falls, watching the sun set over the lake while enjoying delicious food.

Another great attraction would be the Fall Creek Mennonite Community. They have the best sandwiches in Tennessee at the Oak Ridge Pantry, located just a few miles from our Spencer, TN properties. And on Saturdays, they have a pretzel bun sandwich special, that is a must. All of their ingredients are locally grown and made. They also have many shops to visit including, a green house, produce shops, general store, furniture store and a fabric store.

We also have two properties in Dunlap, Tn. For a day spent there I would recommend exploring the downtown shops then paragliding at Flying Camp Paragliding. The views of the Sequachie Valley are unbelievable. For dinner, I would recommend, Cookie Jar Cafe. It is a southern home cooking restaurant, on a dairy farm. Their food is great, but their desserts are even better. Outside they have amazing views and even a walk through petting zoo with goats, sheep, pigs and cows.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
My parents and grandparents were all very hard workers and instilled that in me. Growing up, I learned that you give 100% to everything that you do and you finish what you start.

Also my wife. She is my biggest motivator and gives me the optimism to chase after the dreams that I have had since I was a child, no matter how crazy they may sound to other people.

Lastly, my community. The community where we chose to start our short term rental business has embraced us, and supported our business fully.

Website: https://folkstays.com

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