Legendary Blowing Rock in the Blue Ridge Mountains

BEST SMALL TOWNS IN AMERICA

One of the most enchanting areas of the country, the Blue Ridge Mountain ranges of North Carolina are like a magnet attracting outdoor enthusiasts for exploration and relocation. Leaf foliage tours, photographic expeditions, bird watching and winter/summer outdoor activity of all sorts via the Blue Ridge Parkway. And the "Crown of the Blue Ridge” to those drawn to the best small mountain town in North Carolina is historic Blowing Rock, a century-old village with approximately 1,500 permanent residents but swells to 8,000 during the summer season and during winter ski season. Stunning vistas, excellent restaurants, and fabulous shopping are just a few of the accolades.

A few of the most popular attractions in the Blowing Rock NC area are Blowing Rock Art and History Museum, Mystery Hill science and natural phenomena exhibits, and The Blowing Rock itself. This magnificent cliff overhangs the Johns River Gorge, some 4,000 feet above sea level. The tragic legend of a Chickasaw maiden's lost Cherokee love and his return by way of answered prayers to the Great Spirit is a charming explanation for mysterious winds that cause snow to fall upside down.

There are many opportunities for outdoor recreation in the Blue Ridge Mountains. Hiking, bike, and horseback trails abound, ranging from leisurely to strenuous. Whitewater rafting, canoeing, and zip tours beckon the adventuresome, while winter sports include skiing, snowboarding, and ice skating at several nearby ski resorts and facilities.

For those who revel in the arts, Blowing Rock offers a Jazz Society, the Ensemble Stage professional theatre, dozens of galleries and fascinating museums. And, there are comfortable accommodations for every taste. From quaint inns and cozy bed & breakfasts to resorts, cabins and vacation rentals, you'll find the perfect place to stay in this best small town in North Carolina.

Here’s a few of the popular gated communities Baby Boomers are drawn to in the Blue Ridge Mountains of North Carolina:

CHETOLA RESORT IN BLOWING  ROCK

Situated within walking distance of downtown Blowing Rock, Chetola Resort is an 87-acre North Carolina mountain vacation resort boasting year-round lifestyle amenities. This unique property was originally the Manor House Estate, dating back to the mid 1800s. The Manor House Estate was subsequently converted to the Bob Timberlake Inn at Chetola Resort and Chetola Lodge. The Timberlake Restaurant (formerly named the Manor House) is connected to a guest lodge and five welcoming Bob Timberlake suites. Appalachian Ski Mountain is only three miles away, offering winter sports include tubing, snow skiing and ice skating. Summer sports such as hiking, biking and sightseeing along the Blue Ridge Parkway are less than one mile away. There are four ski slopes, eight golf courses, miles of fly fishing streams, horseback trails and cascading waterfalls waiting to be discovered In the High Country of North Carolina - and Chetola Resort is the perfect location to call home base. In 2004, Chetola Resort became the only Orvis Endorsed Fly Fishing Lodge in the state of North Carolina.

Chetola Resort amenities include a 24-hour manned gated entry, The Manor House - Timberlake Restaurant and Guest Lodge, an indoor heated swimming pool, Jacuzzi, sauna, full-service Spa, Fitness Center, three tennis courts, children's playground, a private lake, and walking trails. Chetola Lake is a perfect place for a quiet day of fishing, playful paddleboat rides or picnic lunches under the gazebo overlooking the swans on the lake in the Blue Ridge Mountains.

Chetola Resort condos for sale in Blowing Rock NC range from one- to four-bedroom units and start at just under $300K. Units can be included in seasonal vacation rental programs. And while use of Chetola Club amenities requires an annual membership, buying a condo or timeshare does not automatically require a club membership. Prospective buyers should be advised that Chetola Resort is not pet-friendly. The Chetola Resort and Conference Center offers indoor and outdoor settings for special events of up to 150 people, and is a popular wedding venue because of Chetola Lake's natural beauty.

Moses Cone National Park borders Chetola Resort and has 25 miles of more strenuous hiking trails and horseback riding. The Blue Ridge Parkway entrance is very close by. For a vacation or second home, Chetola Resort provides maintenance-free living in Blowing Rock, a best small town in the North Carolina.

SWEETGRASS IN BLOWING ROCK

Perhaps the only community in Western North Carolina with lakefront homes and stunning views of Grandfather Mountain, the intimate 278-acre neighborhood of SweetGrass is located just six miles from downtown Blowing Rock. At an elevation of 3,600 feet, SweetGrass enjoys cooler summers. Because of its gentle topography, Blowing Rock real estate development also offers easy walking instead of steep inclines - a rare find in Western North Carolina. The mountain meadows beyond SweetGrass' gated entrance wrap around a private lake, providing sweeping views of the lake itself and Grandfather Mountain. Fully one third of the SweetGrass property has been preserved as green space. Dog lovers will find SweetGrass to be a pooch's paradise with wide open fields to run through and streams leading to SweetGrass Lake to splash in.

Amenities include The Lake House, a 3,700 square foot clubhouse overlooking SweetGrass Lake that includes an entertaining kitchen, great room, and Fitness Center. French doors open up overlooking the sandy beach, a social fire pit, and Little Canoe Park where you can launch a canoe or kayak. There are three miles of walking trails around SweetGrass Lake. Crystal clear Boone Fork Creek is an excellent trout-fishing stream flowing into the lake. It may be a smaller gated community, but SweetGrass delivers a big bang for the buck when it comes to both manmade and natural amenities. Whether you enjoy warm summers on the lake or winter skiing at one of four nearby ski resorts in the Blue Ridge Mountains, this Blowing Rock real estate development offers plenty of year-round outdoor activities. The Blue Ridge Parkway entrance is less than two minutes from the entrance to SweetGrass. Golfers have eight nearby golf courses to choose from and shoppers will love the boutiques, galleries and antique shops in downtown Blowing Rock.

Buyer's searching for Blowing Rock real estate in this best small town in North Carolina will find lake cottages, cabins, mountain homes and lots at SweetGrass. Homes start in the $400k’s, with mountain homes starting a bit higher.

BLUE RIDGE MOUNTAIN CLUB IN BLOWING ROCK

Only a handful of master planned communities quickly connect to the Blue Ridge Parkway and this is one of them. Located between Blowing Rock and Boone on 6,212 acres, the Blue Ridge Mountain Club delivers big mountain views less than six miles from downtown Blowing Rock. Buyers searching for a newer Blowing Rock real estate development will find this gated community makes for a sweet High Country lifestyle - mountain top living combined with nearby city conveniences. Blue Ridge Mountain Club amenities include a 24-hour, manned gated entrance, four community parks with pavilion and BBQ area, the Great Lawn, 10 miles of hiking trails and over 10 miles of ATV trails. Three of the four parks have outstanding brook trout fishing creeks: Laurel Creek Park, Elk Creek Park and Dugger Valley Park. This low-density gated community has been the talk of the town for years because 85% of the home sites have spectacular layered mountain views. Over 1,000 acres have been preserved as conservation easements. Future amenities planned include a Hunting and Sporting Club, Lawn Racquet Club, clubhouse, swimming pool, general store, Rockhouse Lodge and the One Smoke Bar & Grill.

Property owners at Blue Ridge Mountain Club enjoy some of the best hiking, biking, swimming holes and natural campgrounds without ever leaving their community. Reynolds Communities are known for their adventurous Outbound Clubs, which coordinate group nature hikes and social activities. Appalachian State University football parties, skiing, snow tubing, zip lines, whitewater rafting and golf excursions are typical events on their calendar.

Blue Ridge Mountain Club homes for sale reflect Mountain Rustic Architecture with timber frame accents. Buyer's seeking Blowing Rock real estate will find Watson Gap Cottages priced from $399K (lease back programs may be available) and a solid collection of long-range mountain view lots still available in the North Carolina mountain community. Lots prices start in the low $70k’s.

ECHOTA IN BOONE

Winter, spring, summer or fall, the lock-and-leave lifestyle of Echota appeals to homebuyers seeking a second residence or a year-round mountain retreat. Boone, North Carolina, has always been an outdoor lover's mountain paradise, with ski resorts, zip lines and white water rafting for adventurous types, and some of the finest trout fishing in the region on the Watauga River. The gated community of Echota in Boone is convenient to Sugar Mountain, Beech Mountain and Appalachian Ski Mountain ski resorts, as well as the Blue Ridge Parkway. The amenity-rich, community includes two fitness centers, indoor and outdoor heated pools and hot tubs, a 25-acre River Park and foot bridge on the Watauga River, a stocked fishing pond, a one-mile dedicated hiking trail, and two club houses - with 6,500 square feet at the base of the mountain and 6,000 square feet at the top of the mountain.

Home styles include large townhomes and condominiums, some with stunning views of Grandfather Mountain with elevations up to 3,700 feet. Echota on the Ridge and Chalakee (the newest Echota neighborhood) offer one-, two-, three- or four-bedroom homes. New luxury three-bedroom, three-bath condominiums start in the low $400k’s. In Chalakee, luxury one-bedroom, one-bath condo units start in the $200k’s. New homes in this gated community in the Blue Ridge Mountains feature nine-foot ceilings, hardwood floors, granite kitchen countertops, stainless appliances and a built-in gas grill with hood on the outdoor deck. Part-time residents can include their condos in vacation rental programs.

Whether it’s in the winter or fall, Blowing Rock is a great place to begin search your home search. Ask us for free Blowing Rock relocation information to learn more about this best small town in North Carolina.