Meet the Family
Family owned and operated, Lake Escape was created in 2022 by brother-sister team, Adam and Jessica Barish. Adam and Jessica have been working together their entire lives. We’ve been in the long-term rental business for over 25 years. We’re originally from New Jersey and have been in the Lake Norman area since 2019. In 2022 we decided to start offering lakefront vacation rentals. It gives us the opportunity to share this beautiful lake with families looking for an affordable and memorable vacation.
Adam Barish: Co-founder and General Factotum
Adam handles all of the renovation of our lakefront homes. He focuses on creating homes that provide relaxation, adventure, entertainment and memories. His specialty is creating spaces that allow friends and family to spend meaningful time together whether they are competing at ping pong or roasting marshmallows over the firepit. In addition to being our main renovation guy, Adam also handles the maintenance as needed. If anything doesn’t work as it should during a guest’s stay, he is usually the one to make the repair.
Jessica Barish: Co-founder and Operations Director
Jessica is the day to day operator of Lake Escape. She handles inquiries, bookings and most guest communications. She coordinates check-ins and checkouts, housekeeping, inspections and maintenance. When a guest has a question about an upcoming stay or needs something during a visit, Jessica is the one that normally handles the request. She prides herself on quick and timely responses as well as creating a vacation experience that brings our guests back for repeat visits.
Kim and Alexa Barish: Interior and Exterior Design Team
Adam’s wife and daughter are the duo responsible for the amazing design and decor you find in each of these unique homes. They’ve focused on picking soothing paint colors, chic tile designs and stylish flooring. They’ve spent countless hours procuring trendy yet comfortable furniture and contemporary wall decor and fixtures. Each home has been designed with “Memorable Lake Vacation” as the inspiration. We are proud that Kim and Alexa’s taste and influence are seen throughout the interior and exterior of each one of our homes.
Diane Oliveira: Chief Cheerleader
Adam and Jessica’s mother is the driving force behind all of Lake Escape. She provides the motivation and push to keep everyone on task. When things get hectic and overwhelming, she reminds us that the joy and memories that our guests experience are the purpose of the work we put in. She is the first one to text the family group when we receive a stellar review. She beams with pride!
Jake and Justin Barish: Inspectors
Jessica’s sons are the team that are responsible for the final inspections prior to our guests’ arrival. They check each home for cleanliness, neatness and organization. They double check that all of the amenities are restocked properly and that all of the smart TV’s are working as they should. In addition, they visit each home weekly to take out and return the trash and recycling cans. All of these tasks contribute immensely to the smooth system that we try to achieve.
Manny Oliveira: Landscape Maintenance Coordinator
Adam and Jessica’s father handles the weekly landscape and groundskeeping. His crew visits each property as needed to mow, weed, seed, plant, mulch and everything else needed to keep the grounds in the best condition possible. We know that our outdoor areas are critical to the enjoyment of our guests. We do our best to keep them as pristine as possible while limiting the inconvenience during the stay.
Jasmine and Joan: Housekeeping
Jasmine and Joan are a mother-daughter duo that are responsible for all of the cleaning of the homes. They truly treat them as if they were their own. We feel like we hit the jackpot when we found them since the cleaning crew is really the backbone of the operation. They have a short timeframe to clean, disinfect, organize, restock and make the home feel fresh and brand new for the next guest. They make sure that every sheet, towel, duvet, sham and blanket is changed between guests. Nothing is left untouched.