Balsam Mountain Preserve

Ask anyone who's golfed in Western North Carolina and you will find Balsam Mountain Preserve to be one of the best mountain golf communities, although the lifestyle at Balsam is more than just about golf. Perhaps an urban cowboy's life best describes the high quality of living at this gated North Carolina mountain community. As a low density neighborhood, only 400 families will call Balsam home at the project's completion. That's an average of 12 acres per family of protected mountain paradise spread across 4,400 acres and 3,000 acres have been preserved as a conservation easement. Balsam Mountain Trust is actively engaged in the community's nature management and provides education and adventures at the Nature Center. 

Elevations at Balsam Mountain Preserve range from 3,000 to over 4,700 feet, capturing long range layered mountain views in all directions and of the Blue Ridge Parkway. Balsam's Arnold Palmer Signature golf course will steal your breath away by stunning mountain views as you play the golf course. In 2010, Business N.C. Magazine named the Balsam golf course #2 Best Course in the Asheville Area. A new Balsam Mountain Preserve golf clubhouse is proposed. Ruby Valley Sports Complex is home to an outdoor heated Jr Olympic-size swimming pool, two Har-Tru tennis courts, a fitness center and is the social club's meeting place for family events.

Cowboy's and outdoor enthusiasts will appreciate the Balsam Mountain Preserve Equestrian Center which has 30 miles of private riding trails inside within this gated North Carolina mountain community. The 14 stall stable provides full boarding services and the use of club horses. The trail system is ideal for hiking, horseback riding and mountain biking. Trails lead up to the top of Doubletop Mountain, at an elevation of 5,400 feet displaying views of one of the best mountain towns in North Carolina and Waynesville real estate. Fresh water streams and creeks parallel the trails, ideal for fly fishing for tasty southern brook trout. Lick Log Falls and Sugar Loaf Falls are two waterfalls on property. Dark Ridge Camp is the community's outdoor camp site location, where property owner's ride their horses for a fun family overnight adventure. Outdoor grills, hot showers, bathrooms and a horse paddock are located at Dark Ridge Camp. The majority of the roads are not paved at Balsam Mountain, keeping the western motif in perfect harmony with the landscape.

Whether it's for a hearty breakfast or a fancy five course dinner at the end of the day, The Boarding House Restaurant is one of Balsam Mountain's finest gems. The seating inside and outside provide beautiful mountain views, perched up in the forest. The lounge area is a cozy place to socialize and warm up next to their wood burning fireplace. The menu changes frequently at The Boarding House, so residents never get bored with the food selections. Social clubs at Balsam include a book club, pot lucks, movie club, nature lectures, guided nature hikes, photography and art classes, bible studies. Balsam Mountain's Private Residence Club cabins are adjacent to the Boarding House Restaurant. Scotts Creek School, Smoky Mountain Elementary, Smoky Mountain High School and Western Carolina University are the best schools catering to Balsam. An entrance to the Blue Ridge Parkway is less than five miles from Balsam's gated entrance.

As a luxury gated North Carolina mountain community, Balsam Mountain Preserve homes for sale start around $1 million. Approximately 73 homes have been built to date of the 400 planned. Panoramic mountain view homesites begin around $200k and there is no time requirement to build. Balsam Mountain Preserve approved builders include Baldwin & Phillips Construction and Morgan-Keefe Builders, both are Energy Star green builders. Balsam Mountain's fractional program includes 8 weeks of cottage usage and is a great way to experience where to retire. Prices start at $99k and more than half of the 40 fractionals at Balsam Mountain have been sold. Property owners are required to become members of the club. Membership at Balsam Mountain includes multi-generational exchange privileges at Balsam and at The Reserve at Lake Keowee in Western South Carolina. 

Our real estate score for Balsam Mountain Preserve in Sylva North Carolina is 75.

When you travel to see Waynesville real estate, let us know if you'd like to know which are the best hotels near the Blue Ridge Parkway. Or maybe you'd prefer to learn about Balsam Mountain's Discovery Package. We're happy to share our secrets with you, to make your search more enjoyable. Call Balsam Mountain Preserve direct at 866.452.3456.