Can you ever feel too welcome?

That's the question Caddy Harper asked herself when her daughter suggested she had too many "Welcome" signs hanging throughout her house.

"I don't think you can," she answered with a laugh.

Tucked beneath tall trees and surrounded by two sparkling creeks on each side, Caddy and John Harper's fieldstone house in Ligonier is more than a home away from home -- It's a refuge.

The Oakland couple were seeking an escape from the busyness of city life when they purchased the two-story house in the town of Waterford five years ago. Guests relax the moment they step inside, said Ms. Harper.

"People come and they walk in and they go, 'Oh. ...' They just sigh because it's not pretentious ... and there's no airs about it."

The house will be one of four homes open from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. today as part of Inside Ligonier Valley -- A Home Tour.

The Harpers use the house year-round to relax, visiting sometimes during the week and on weekends. Their children and grandchildren also use it as a vacation getaway.

Estimated to be about 70 years old, the stone-and-wood home was likely built as a second home after the last Ligonier gristmills, buildings used to ground grain into flour, were torn down in 1922. A stone wall that stands between the road and the house was once part of an old gristmill, according to the Ligonier Valley Chamber of Commerce.

Since they bought the house, the Harpers have restored its interior, installing a new furnace, generator, air conditioning and all new windows and doors. Ms. Harper designed the inside with comfort in mind, she said, using leather furniture, wooden tables and chairs and soft, earthy colors.

"I think why this place is so comforting is that it's just to relax in. You wouldn't really dress up to come out here," she said.

The first floor has an intimate living room and kitchen and a small office den. The kitchen cupboards and laundry machines are built-in to give the room a more open feel. Stairs lead up to the master bedroom and a veranda, where guests are treated to a beautiful view of the 2.1-acre property, including the woods and neighboring creeks.

"You can hear the sound of the creek all night and day," said Ms. Harper.

A wooden bridge crosses the creek and links to a path into the yard, where the two creeks merge into a larger one. Ms. Harper refers to this area as the "peninsula," their own version of the point where Pittsburgh's three rivers meet. The yard also includes a spacious shed and a small play area for children. Even the birdhouses hanging in the trees bear "Welcome" signs.

Ms. Harper said she and her husband wanted a house in Ligonier because of its peacefulness, charm and history.

"It is one of the most beautiful small towns in America," she said. "We were looking for a cabin and it's a unique piece of property with the two creeks. There was just something about its tranquility and it's very cozy."

Visitors can tour the entire house today and, if weather permits, the yard, too.

Tickets are $25 for the self-guided house tour, which also includes a garden and barn. Tickets can be purchased from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Citizen's Bank parking lot at the Ligonier Diamond, two blocks up from Fort Ligonier. The event benefits the Lincoln Highway Heritage Corridor, the Ligonier Valley Chamber of Commerce and the Ligonier Valley Historical Society. Information: www.ligonierhometour.org.