All the charms of nature and man's designs in the North Carolina mountains come together in a picturesque view of the Elk River Country Club.

For those who love to tempt nature, a guided white-water rafting excursion on the Watauga River provides a thrill-a-minute experience.

Although the brothers left the town, the name remained.

The railroad brought tourists and summer residents to this tiny village, and in 1900, the Elizabeth McRae Institute – a boarding school for mountain girls – was established, later becoming what is now Lees-McRae Junior College. With an elevation of 3,990 feet, Banner Elk lies between Sugar and Beech mountains as the center of North Carolina’s ski country.

This once bountiful Indian hunting valley, where elk roamed freely, is still a quaint mountain town with little shops, schools, strip centers, charming cottages, new houses and condominiums. Small enough to be personable, yet large and diverse enough to be stimulating, it’s the area where most of the county’s high-scale development is happening. Banner Elk is a delightfully protected town, surrounded by four mountains – including Grandfather – that dutifully guard the valley, shielding it in summer from hot winds and checking the onslaughts of northern blizzards in winter. For more information, see card on page 67.

Linville

Named for the river that runs through the valley and cascades into Linville Gorge, Linville lies at an elevation of 3,800 feet in a gently sloping valley tucked under the shoulders of Grandfather Mountain. It’s a community of mountain homes that were isolated for most of their existence as a summer retreat where families could escape the heat and mosquitoes of the South.

After a visit to Scotland, developer Hugh McRae was convinced that golf would catch on here. In 1895, he oversaw in Linville what may have been the first golf course in North Carolina. Holes were marked by simple metal stakes. Mules and horses pulled drag pans to smooth the fairways and clear them of rocks and boulders. The only fertilizer was supplied by cows from local farms grazing on the course.

Today that original course has disappeared and been replaced by the Linville Golf Club’s private 18-hole championship course designed by Donald Ross and rated as one of the top 10 courses in the state. Members of the club and guests at Eseeola are the only ones permitted entry. For more information, see card on page 67.


Eseeola Lodge at Linville Country Club

When visiting Linville, don’t miss the Eseeola Lodge. Built in 1891, it reigned as a grand hotel and the focal point for dining, parties, special events and dances with full orchestras. Its opening season drew the highest status of guests from the northern and southern states, while locals rode the stagecoach from Blowing Rock and Cranberry.

The inn was unsurpassed in elegance and comfort. Only the finest china and starched linens were presented at table. Telephone service, daily mail delivery and a professional staff were available to guests, who spent their days enjoying horseback and buggy rides, croquet, tennis, archery, billiards and trout fishing. The original inn, built entirely from native wood, burned in 1935 when a fire broke out in the kitchen. In 30 minutes the grand structure was gone.

The Depression made it too costly to rebuild, so the facility was relocated to the Chestnut Lodge across the street. A dining room and guest rooms were added, and today, in a completely renovated fashion, there stands the present Eseeola Lodge. www.eseeola.com. For more information, see card on page 67.


Avery’s Neighbors: Boone and Blowing Rock

Nearby Boone, population 13,472, was named one of “America’s Best Small Towns” by Norm Crampton, author of the new book, “Making Your Move To One Of America’s Best Small Towns” and was Blue Ridge Country magazine’s 1998, 2000 and 2002 readers choice as “Best Mountain Town.”

Incorporated in 1872, and named after the legendary Daniel Boone who explored the region in the 1760s, it’s the jumping off spot to nearby Blowing Rock, Banner Elk and Linville. Within a few short miles, there are seven public golf courses and four of the best ski resorts in the Southeast. The quintessential college town, Boone is the home of Appalachian State University, the town’s largest employer. New structures, art galleries supported by more than 400 local artists, eclectic restaurants and historic sites stand next to tattoo parlors and students walking hand-in-hand into sweatshirt shops and vintage clothing stores. For more information, see card on page 67.

Blowing Rock

Quaint shops and charming dining spots dot the streets of Blowing Rock. PHOTO BY JOHNNY MEEKS

The village of Blowing Rock sits atop the Eastern Continental Divide at an elevation of 4,000 feet. It is an exquisite combination of climate, activity, scenery and history. It began humbly as a place of relief from the summer heat of lower elevations.

For many years, the windy heights, steep slopes up the rugged mountain terrain discouraged the early settlement of Blowing Rock. A few made their way by surrey, stagecoach and carriage. By the late 1800s, however, with the growth of the railroads, Blowing Rock blossomed from grazing land for summer cattle to a seasonal resort enjoyed by thousands.

Roads were built with picks, shovels and gunpowder, opening the way for settlers; and the once worthless mountain land was ready for development. Boarding houses, hotels and summer cottages appeared to accommodate tourists, and magnificent private homes began to blanket the landscape.

In 1908, along came the automobile. A turnpike was built, and cars streamed to the mountains. Many wanted to stay the entire season and were known as “cottagers,” who built two- and three-story Victorian homes large enough for both family and servants.

Today, this once tiny village mushrooms from a permanent population of 1,500 to more than 6,000 in summer and is truly an elegant town for all seasons. Also named by Norm Crampton as one of “America’s Best Small Towns,” it’s cool with the sweet scent of summer air, dazzling in the fall, a skier’s paradise in winter and a brilliant array of flowering dogwood, rhododendron and wildflowers in the spring.

Main Street is still the heart of town, with summer concerts in the park and art shows with wares displayed up and down streets lined with flower boxes spilling over with begonias and geraniums.

For more than a century, stories have been told about Blowing Rock, from those first pioneers struggling up the mountain in wagons and carts to today’s growing numbers of second home and retirement residents. And everyone who visits comes back another day. For more information, see card on page 67.



Choose Your Opportunity

If you love the mountain life and would like to own a little piece of it, you’ll find a diversity of real estate options available. There are urban areas with downtown walking districts. Picturesque natural settings. Properties with waterfalls, natural rock formations, river and lake frontage. Rolling farmland. Peaks with 50-mile views. Gated communities with refined amenities for second homes or town homes, and condominium developments for retirement. If you can imagine it, it’s here in North Carolina’s High Country.

Trends
Developments are increasingly geared toward upscale properties with attention to detail, higher quality construction, less density, low maintenance and above all, the preservation of natural assets, otherwise known as “green building.”
Those who come to the private clubs in the High Country could live anywhere, but this is where they choose because it’s where nature is at its finest and there is the quality of life they seek.

Linville Resorts, Inc.
The development of Linville began in the 1880s, when Hugh McRae, working as a mining engineer, was told that a tract of land rich in timber and minerals was available for development. He purchased 16,000 acres at 25 cents an acre. A part of this acreage became Linville and a part became Grandfather Mountain.

In his original vision for Linville, he said, “I think our way to success lies in making Linville a place of beauty and a popular resort for health and pleasure for the best class of cultivated people possessed of the means to aid in adorning and beautifying the valley.”

The historic Eseeola Lodge at Linville Golf Club, in operation since 1892, rates as a Mobil Four-Star Resort, as well as a Golf Magazine silver medalist. PHOTO BY HUGH MORTON

He was opposed by planners who saw Linville as a fully functioning town with hundreds of small buildings, factories, shops and a thriving commercial center. Dissension fell on the side of McRae, and Linville became a planned community and first-class summer retreat. Three hundred twenty five lots were laid out. In eight years they were sold to 300 residents who had migrated to the Carolina mountains from 18 different states.

Brush and stumps were removed to make way for streets, and the oldest cottages, which were built before World War II, wear the signature exterior siding of chestnut bark. They are still referred to as “bark houses.”

Today, the community is one of permanent and summer residents, tightly knit over the years, who hike the mountains and fish the streams of their ancestors. To buy a home, it’s said, one must almost have to be born there. Homes are kept in families and passed on from generation to generation, and only about four are sold a year by word of mouth through Linville Resorts, Inc. (828) 733-9241.


Grandfather Golf and Country Club

Lying quietly at the foot of Grandfather Mountain in Linville is Grandfather Golf and Country Club. This private, member-owned-and-controlled resort is one of the oldest and most established communities of its kind in the area, dating back to 1968.

The big story in this family-oriented, gated club is golf. Here you will find not one, but two 18-hole courses. A par-72 championship course and a par-57 executive course, were both designed by Ellis Maples. Golf Digest consistently rates the championship course in the top 100 courses in the country, and the executive course is ranked Number Three in North Carolina.

Recreational amenities at Grandfather Club center on the family, with indoor/outdoor tennis, an exercise facility and hiking, as well as trout fishing, swimming and boating on the club’s 40-acre lake, complete with a sandy beach. Sailboats, paddle boats, johnboats and rowboats are available for member use. The club is so self-contained that members even hold their own Sunday morning non-denominational worship services in a majestic outdoor chapel near the clubhouse. For more information, see card on page 67.


The Reserve on Sugar Mountain

Framed against the mountains at Banner Elk, Tynecastle has a Scottish-inspired look that could have come straight from a story book.

Set at an elevation of 5,200 feet, you will find The Reserve at the peak of Sugar Mountain in Banner Elk. Committed to the preservation of the mountain’s natural beauty, its 140 acres are developed into small, clustered villas and single-family home sites. At the top are 52 acres of breathtaking, long-range views of Flat Top Mountain and the Linville Valley. Here, these lovely homes reflect what is referred to as “Upscale Mountain Design” carried out in cedar shake sidings and stacked stone, and range from $270,000 to $400,000. The population is primarily second home, seasonal residents. Phase III is in the works. www.thereserveatsugarmountain.com. (800) 394-3912. For more information, see card on page 67.


Linville Ridge

The Lutgert Company, well known for the development of exclusive resort properties, is responsible for the awe-inspiring Linville Ridge gated golf course community. Homesites range in size from one to more than 10 acres with prices running from $50,000 to well over $175,000. Estate homes from 7,000 square feet begin at $2 million and “cottages” of only 3,000 square feet nestle among small brooks and stone bridges and have price tags of $650,000 to $900,000+. A new townhome addition features panoramic views and is designed for mountain living with open floor plans and lots of glass. Pricing is from $785,000 for an average 3,000-square-foot home. Of course, the magnificent residences are only part of the lure of Linville Ridge. George Cobb created here, the highest golf course east of the Rockies, soaring on the fourth hole to an elevation of 4,950 feet. Challenging slopes follow the topography laid down by nature more than a

Joan and Max Sporn of their home at Linville Ridge: "Living there has become one of the brightest spots in our lives." PHOTO BY FREDERICA GEORGIA

million years ago, and the views of the valley and Grandfather Mountain are so ineffable, sometimes it’s hard to keep your eye on the ball. Among the other pleasures: eight Har-Tru tennis courts, hiking trails, a fitness center, a European-style spa, an international croquet court, pro shops, a heated swimming pool and a 30,000-square-foot clubhouse with culinary options ranging from formal to bistro. Phone (800) 898-5150 or visit www.linvilleridge.com. For more information, see card on page 67.




Happy Homeowners

Max and Joan Sporn have lived in Coconut Grove, Fla. since 1958. When the time was right to purchase a second home, they investigated a number of North Carolina locations. The Linville area was attractive to them because of the compatibility for their children, teenagers at the time. Having previously lived in Blowing Rock for several years, they were familiar with the area and in 1983 were one of the first buyers at Linville Ridge.

“Some people are wary of a new development,” says Max, “but the reputation of Ray Lutgert, the developer, and his vision for Linville Ridge were all we needed to know. Living there has become one of the brightest spots in our lives.”

Elegant Adirondack-style homes like this impressive adaptation give Echota, a environmentally preserved community on 118 acres, its distinctive mountain flavor.

Hound Ears

In 1962 Harry, Grover and Spencer Robbins purchased a 325-acre farm outside Boone, envisioning a future golf course. Two years later, the Hound Ears Golf Club became a reality, opening with the club, three rental chalets and an 18-hole championship George Cobb golf course. The interesting name was derived from a unique rock formation resembling huge ears that dominates the high mountain ridge above the club.

At 3,500 feet, Hound Ears is one of the county’s finest gated communities of secluded luxury homes and condominiums, sitting proudly on 750 lush acres. An adjacent residential area offers homes either on the golf course or mountaintop. Its golf course winds across the property’s streams, lakes and waterfalls and is ranked one of the top 10 courses in the state. A 28-room inn offers fine and casual dining, and an

Natural beauty is the big attraction for homeowners like Tom and Mary Ann Poole, here sharing the outdoors with younger members of the family. PHOTO BY FREDERICA GEORGIA

elegant clubhouse, a fitness center with the most modern equipment and private trainers, and an outdoor pool set in a rock grotto with cascading waterfalls round out the amenities in this incredible community. A few custom home sites are still available to accommodate the increasing interest in Hound Ears’ unique properties. Of the 325 existing homes, 330 are owned by equity members with about 50 year-round residents, and an average age of new buyers between 45 and 55. Home prices range from $200,000 to $2 million, with an average home between $400,000 and $500,000. Buyer acceptance is subject to approval by the board of directors. www.HoundEars.com. For more information, see card on page 67.


>> Click here to read "The Robbins Legacy"

Elk River

An Avid pilot, Dr.Joe Shul and wife Sandy can spend generous portions of time at their Elk River home because of the convenient jetport. PHOTO BY FREDERICA GEORGIA

The indescribable majesty of the mountains is reflected at Elk River. If you want the sky for a roof, you’ll want a home here. Located in Banner Elk and the manifestation, in 1982, of Spencer Robbins’ vision of developing and preserving the mountains, Elk River represents the ultimate in elegant living. The average home cost here runs about $1.3 million. A 50,000-square-foot clubhouse is central to the development and includes fine and casual dining and a pro shop. The privacy and exclusivity of Elk River covers 12,000 acres dotted with almost 300 magnificent custom homes, spacious villas and smaller cottages. Lots ranging from one to 10 acres are available for custom building at a cost of $100,000 to $1 million. Each site is situated to take full advantage of the views of the surrounding mountains and valleys. A 24-hour gated security entrance provides owners with peace of mind as most are only seasonal visitors to their grand summer homes. Here, too, Jack Nicklaus created one of golf’s most beautiful and challenging courses, which is consistently ranked among North Carolina’s top 10.

Nicklaus himself has remarked, “I personally believe Elk River is an exceptional golf course. But the best work was accomplished by nature long before I got there.”

The Elk River Saddle Club is a comprehensive riding and equestrian center that includes a 22-stall stable, 35 acres of fenced pasture and paddock, miles of tree-lined riding trails and more than 100 acres of equestrian preserve. Owners who own their steeds board in summer and others can rent from a string maintained by the development for owners’ pleasure. After riding, residents can also play tennis on Har-Tru courts at the tennis center, and if they own their own plane or have access to one, they can take advantage of Elk River’s most unique feature: a private jetport with a 4,600-foot runway capable of accommodating both private and corporate aircraft. Hangar storage is also available. The fitness and swimming center offers a complete pool, sauna, Nautilus equipment and personal trainers.

Every detail of Spencer Robbins’ creation is directed to preserving the natural environment, which is, of course, why so many people want to own a mountain home even though they could live anywhere. Two of those owners share the feelings of many.

Contented Couples

Patsy and Tom Taylor, long-time residents of Tampa, Fla., were not familiar with the North Carolina mountains, but when looking for a second home, followed the advice of friends and made an exploratory trip there. They were searching for a golf community in an area with cool temperatures and a high altitude. They found it at Elk River.

In 1991 they bought a condominium and after settling into the mountain style of hiking, golf, tennis and horseback riding, sold their original property and bought a larger home, also at Elk River. The couple realized a substantial return on their original investment in a very short period of time.

“Originally, we only intended to spend summers at Elk River,” Patsy says, “but we loved it so much that it’s turned into a six-month-a-year proposition for us.” (828) 898-9777. www.elkriverclub.com or For more information, see card on page 67.

Joe and Sandy Shul were childhood sweethearts who grew up in Burlington, N.C. and attended Appalachian State University in Boone as undergraduates in the early ’60s. They married, followed the money to Baton Rouge with the health-care industry and when they felt the need to “scratch an itch” and return to the mountains, they began looking for a little “cabin with a view” for a second home. Instead, they found Elk River.

Joe, a licensed pilot, owns a twin-engine Cessna 414.
“When I saw the jetport,” he says, “I realized that this unique feature at Elk River would allow Sandy and me to spend more than just summers in our new home.”

The top-ranked golf course, a commonality with other owners who worked hard for their money and could afford the best, and the security of a gated community cinched the deal.

Joe notes, “People are always drawn to places that are a significant part of their lives. That’s what the North Carolina mountains are to us. A fond memory.

“As far as Elk River goes, it’s about both the quality of the product and the emotional intimacy we feel with the friends we have made there. If we found ourselves here for the first time, even though there are more choices now, we would still choose Elk River.”


The Cottages

For more than 150 years, the Banner Elk Hotel stood in the heart of town and was the center of community activities.

In 1973 it was closed.

Today, The Cottages, a distinctive cluster of upscale homes that sell for $300,000 up, sit on the historic site, and are built from the original wormy chestnut and other materials carefully harvested from the old hotel. The result is a “village” atmosphere of residences with sidewalks, street lighting, cottage sites and landscaping, all carefully fashioned to blend into the historic downtown area. Owners enjoy the short walk to the quaint shops, restaurants, galleries and amusements that give Banner Elk its charm. (828) 898-4581. www.apsrealestate.com. For more information, see card on page 67.


Chetola

One of the area’s most spectacular resorts, Chetola is within walking distance to the village of Blowing Rock, surrounded by the 3,600-acre Moses H. Cone Memorial Park and of course, the Blue Ridge Mountains. Preserving its spacious 87 acres has been an ongoing commitment since its beginnings in 1848. Part of the appeal of Chetola is its self-containment. The recreation center offers tennis, mountain biking, a fitness center, indoor pool, horseback riding, sauna, boating, massage therapy and trout fishing in Chetola’s seven-acre lake. Year-round, onsite events never end; it’s pretty much the social hub of the area. Winterfest, wine auctions, jazz concerts and symphony performances are just a sampling of what’s going on for the active set. There are no building sites remaining at Chetola, but luxury condominiums are available for resale, priced from $200,000 up. (888) 480-9962. www.chetola.com. For more information, see card on page 67.


Tynecastle

There’s a little bit of Scotland in Banner Elk. It’s called Tynecastle and its original Scottish-designed architecture is reflected in its sturdy stone dwellings. In fact, one of its most magnificent structures is an actual private castle, built from long depleted Grandfather green granite and market valued at more than $4 million. There are no traditional amenities at Tynecastle. No clubhouse, no pool, no tennis courts or golf course. Just 484 residential acres in the middle of wildlife preserve. Owners here love their neighbors, the owls, the bears, cougars, deer, grouse and wild turkey. The closest thing to the amenities buyers usually expect in a development are a five-acre lake, which is the headwaters for the Watauga, Linville and Elk rivers, and more than 15 miles of hiking trails that wind their way to Dunvegan Peak at 5,000 feet. For buyers interested in preservation, cool temperatures, low humidity and natural beauty, there are 40 lots available for future development. The average lot is more than five acres and prices range from $150,000 to $400,000. There are 42 owners in Tynecastle, 18 are year-round residents. Home costs range from $850,000 to $4 million.

In the last five years, the most active area for real estate development for all of the surrounding counties lies within a five-mile radius of Tynecastle. Property values here are escalating at 30-plus percent per year. Castle Rock Realty. (828) 898-4444. For more information, see card on page 67.


Echota

The gated development of Echota covers 118 scenic acres and basks in the shadow of Grandfather Mountain, just minutes from Boone, Banner Elk and Blowing Rock. Special attention has been paid to assure that the mature timber and unique rock formations are environmentally preserved. This setting is the backdrop for affordable yet elegantly crafted Adirondack-style homes, townhomes and condominiums. All sites are wooded and many have spectacular long-range views of Grandfather Mountain. An elegant clubhouse, an indoor pool facility, fitness center and hiking trails that meander through Echota’s neighborhoods are the main attractions for many of its homeowners.

Bill and B.J. Larmore, natives of Lewisville, N.C. were attracted to the rustic Adirondack-style architecture, the convenient location outside of Boone and the peaceful haven Echota provides. As dog owners, the pet-friendly aspect was also important to them and difficult to find in a development. They bought three houses at Echota, sold the first two and realized an excellent return on their investment.

Now living in house number three, they wake each morning to magnificent views and the serenity of their surroundings.

“We feel lucky to have found Echota,” B.J. says, in wistful reference to their second home. “This is the one place in the world where I can actually sit down and relax.”

After years of living on 40 acres in Banner Elk, Joan Perdue found maintenance-free Echota her "perfect new home." PHOTO BY FREDERICA GEORGIA

Their neighbor Joan Perdue agrees.

A quiet and inquisitive soul and native Carolinian, she had lived on 40 acres in Banner Elk for many years when her husband died suddenly. Caring for the expansive property quickly became too much for her to handle alone, so she began looking for a new lifestyle and a smaller home. She chose Echota, and in 2003 built a home there.

“The maintenance-free upkeep of Echota was very appealing to me, and the care and attentiveness of the staff impressed me,” she says. “They made me feel at home. The natural landscaping, wooded setting and dramatic rock formations were so peaceful to my eye, I knew immediately, Echota was my perfect new home.” (800) 333-7601. www. apeacefulhaven.com. For more information, see card on page 67.


The Farm at Banner Elk

For those looking for a relaxed pace, room to breathe, acres of old-growth hemlock forests and trout-stocked ponds, there’s the private, gated community at The Farm. Fifty-six homesites, ranging from pastureland with an elevation of 3,700 feet, to ridge-top lots at 4,200 feet, are available for “rustic mountain style” custom building. Sites run from half an acre to more than three acres and prices begin at $140,000. The custom homes built to date are primarily second homes valued at $450,000 to $700,000.

Although The Farm is discreetly located, it’s just down the road from the heart of the village of Banner Elk with its unique shopping and fine dining, and is just around the corner from Sugar Mountain Ski Resort. The Farm’s open-air pavilion with stone cooking grills and sheltered fireplaces is a popular place for owners to entertain family and guests. A first-class equestrian center is planned for the spring of 2005 in the lower pasture with riding trails along Hanging Rock Creek. (828) 898-4416. www.thefarmatbannerelk.com. For more information, see card on page 67.