Sunday, January 30, 2011

Answers to Most Asked Questions about THE COVE AT CELO MOUNTAIN

Brookhaven on Ayles Creek .96 acres wooded creek lot, hardwood floors, granite,
stainless, 2 fireplaces, upper and lower decks overlooking creek, side screened porch
Cabin at Celo - hardwood floors, granite, stainless, 2 fireplaces, screened porch

Number of Home-Sites Available 25
Acreage of Sites .91 - 2.26
Elevations 3,000 - 3,700
Timeframe to Build None
Real Estate Taxes .50 per $100 assessed value
Architectural Review Board Yes
Minimum Square Footage
1 Story 1000 Sq. Ft.
2 Story 2000 Sq. Ft.
Utilities
Underground Yes
Cable Yes
Electric Yes
High Speed Internet Yes
Phone Yes
Street Lights None
Sewer Septic
Roadways Paved
Water Well
Amenities
Children's Play Area Yes
Family Campsites Yes
Fire Pits Yes
Gated Entrance Yes
Hiking Trails Yes
Lodge Planned
Parks Yes
Pavilion Planned
Trout Ponds Yes
Featured Products
Single Family Home 3BD/2 1/2 BA, 2266 sq ft
Cabin 1BD/1BA, 1,231 sq ft-SOLD
Cabin 1BD/1BA 1,231 sq. ft.
Cabin TBD
Cabin TBD
Climate
Winter Hi - 48 Lo - 23
Spring Hi - 65 Lo - 38
Summer Hi - 80 Lo - 56
Fall Hi - 67 Lo - 40
Precipitation 4 - 5 inches per month (rain or snow)*

Sunday, January 23, 2011

The Black Mountain Range of the Appalachians

The Blacks as seen from Mitchell County
(The Cove at Celo Mountain is located between Yancey and Mitchell Counties, NC)

A PRIMER OF OUR AREA'S MOUNTAINS
Barbara Webster, Author
Executive Director, The Quilt Trails of Western North Carolina
Burnsville Main Street Chairwoman

"Mount Mitchell is one of sixteen peaks over 6,000-feet tall which make up the Black Mountain Range and account for over one-quarter 6,000-footers east of the Mississippi River.

While Mount Mitchell accounts for over 1500 acres of recreational delight, Pisgah National Forest encompasses over 36,000 acres and includes all the high ground of the Black Mountain Range. Pisgah National Forest also offers many miles of hiking trails, with most of the trail heads within 10-minutes of Highway 80S, including some to spectacular waterfalls, such as Roaring Fork Waterfall and Setrock Creek Waterfall.

Beyond camping and hiking, fishing opportunities are numerous, with trout predominant in the cool mountain streams and small-mouth bass further down in the rivers. Fishing, floating, canoeing, swimming and wading are available.

The Black Mountains, with peaks such as Mitchell, Big Tom and Craig, reflect the history of the exploration and ultimate preservation of these lofty mountains. Elisha Mitchell, the professor from the University of North Carolina who documented and established the peak which now bears his name was the highest in the United States as then bounded in 1844. He was led to this peak by local guide and bear hunter Big Tom Wilson and it was through the efforts of North Carolina Governor Locke Craig that these peaks were protected when he secured legislation to create the first state park in 1915, Mount Mitchell State Park (which is in Yancey County).

The Black Mountains are members of the oldest mountains in the world, the Appalachians. Once mighty and lofty peaks, the effects of time, erosion, weather and catastrophe have softened these mountains, yet they still retain their dignity and beauty. The Black Mountains form a fish-hook shape approximately 20-miles in length, with Celo Knob (6,326-feet) at the eye of the hook, Mount Mitchell (6,684-feet) at the bottom of the shank, and Big Butt (5,930-feet) at the point of the hook. The Black Mountains consist of sixteen peaks exceeding 6,000-feet in elevation, the largest single collection of such peaks anywhere in the United States east of the much younger Rocky Mountains.

The natural splendor of the Black Mountains and the rivers which drain its slopes is simply spectacular. Preserving the natural beauty of the area has been a joint effort of the US Forest Service, with over 36,000 acres of forest lands in Yancey County, and North Carolina with the 1,500 acre Mount Mitchell State Park. Lofty peaks, varied forests of conifer and deciduous, creeks and rivers, all offer a unique natural experience found nowhere else.


Atop the Black Mountains, vegetation found only further to the north in Canada can be found, while the fauna more typical of the south can be found in the lower valley. This diverse range of vegetation is starkly rendered while looking on the slopes of the Black Mountains, dark on top from the year-round conifers (thus the name Black), while green further down in the spring through fall and leafless in the winter."

The Cove at Celo Mountain is nestled within this beauty of the Black Mountain Range outside of Asheville, NC and just off the Blue Ridge Parkway. Hidden Water Lodge is planned next to the 30' cascading waterfall along with a Pavilion and Lookout deck. Three miles of manicured hiking trails follow along Ayles Creek with resting places at Adirondack-style Lean-To's for photography, reading, or enjoying quiet time alone. There are also 4 Outdoor Living/Camp areas along the trails with locally handcrafted outdoor seating, fire pits and cooking areas. The Treehouse Hideaway and Children's Play Area, trout ponds, frog pond, and campsite area for homeowners will delight the child within you.

Come enjoy your own private getaway in this sanctuary setting of The Cove at Celo Mountain, located within one of America's favorite playgrounds.

For more information.


Sunday, January 16, 2011

Your Custom Home and Mountain Property in The Cove at Celo Mountain



Questions we are often asked are: "What kind of homes do you have there? Your mountain property with 40% off for the next 2 buyers and with all infrastructure in and underground sounds wonderful, but what is the cost per square foot to build a home there? Do you have a list of builders and architects that we would have to use, or could we use our own?"

Above are photos of one of the estate homes on The Cove at Celo Mountain, built of all natural materials from the area - stone and wood - shown both in a rare winter snow and in spring. The owners chose an architect out of Asheville who now only works with commercial clients. Of special note is the view from the back porch - shown with view of the garden and with long-range mountain view shown more clearly on the postcard below - of 7 ridgelines reaching to the Blue Ridge Parkway. This is the incredible beauty of the sanctuary setting in The Cove at Celo Mountain.

You may use your own architect and builder as long as it meets covenant restrictions (which, of course, exist to protect your investment.) However, we do have a preferred architect and builder.

The builder, Crowder, Banks and Associates, already has a spec home on Estate lot 18 that has the finishing touches being applied now. Brookhaven on Ayles Creek sits on almost 1 acre with the mesmerizing sound of this gorgeous creek enjoyed from both the lower and upper level decks as well as the side screened porch. View other particulars of this offering at celoliving.com or contact our Sales Manager at 828-682-1524 for more detailed information and available incentives.

Our preferred architect is working with several of our prospective buyers now. You can view his portfolio at Armin Wessel Architect Inc. His beautiful designs range from a small mountain-top chapel with panoramic views to multi-million dollar homes on some of the most exclusive properties of our area. Armin has graciously offered to meet any prospective client who tours The Cove at Celo Mountain on-site for a preliminary complimentary consultation.

Please feel free to contact our preferred architect or builder by email or phone for a "ball-park" square-foot estimate on your custom home within The Cove at Celo Mountain. While you realize that many factors can change this estimate, they will do their best to help give you an idea of the price range you might expect to build your dream home within this gated Blue Ridge Mountain property.

Visit us on our Special Discovery Package to take advantage of these incredible savings on this gorgeous property with streams, creeks, trout ponds, waterfalls, long and short-range mountain views, and more. If a cabin is more to your liking, we have this as well - beautifully appointed (hardwood floors, granite countertops, outdoor living area, and indoor and outdoor fireplaces) with maintenance-free sites.

The Cove at Celo Mountain is located in the top-ranked (cost-of-living to quality-of-living, Retirement, Recreational) Asheville, NC area, just off the Blue Ridge Parkway (America's Favorite Drive) and in the Pisgah National Forest. The mountains are calling.

Sunday, January 9, 2011

Favorite Photos, 2010 - Up on Celo










The backyard of an estate home on The Cove at Celo Mountain in the spring, Fall foliage on the road to The Cove at Celo Mountain, Greeter's Park, sunrise and sunset on The Cove at Celo Mountain, Dogwood blossoms around one of the trout ponds, Ayles Creek, a young relative of owners playing in the custom tree house in the summer, trout playing in one of the ponds - (family and professional collection of on-site photos.)

While I was trying to meditate yesterday, these turkeys had fun trying to distract me with all sorts of noise and commotion right outside my door. They succeeded, which ended up being not so bad! There were 34 of them all total. estate owner at The Cove At Celo Mountain.

The beauty of the land and water, the tranquility of the setting, the comfort of handcrafted homes and cabins, the charm of natural wildlife...all in the sanctuary setting of The Cove at Celo Mountain...just off the Blue Ridge Parkway, outside of Asheville, NC, in the Pisgah National Forest. The mountains are beckoning.

Sunday, January 2, 2011

WHO Women (Women Helping Other Women) featured in New York Times Dining and Wine Section Article

For a small American mountain town, Burnsville, NC, has made significant waves in the non-profit world. In a previous blog, we highlighted Empty Bowls, whose school teacher/artist originators call Burnsville home and began that nonprofit that has spread worldwide and raised millions of dollars for the relief of hunger. They have now segued that spirit of communal cooperation into a local effort to grow and provide fresh produce to needy residents with their Dig In garden program.

While there are many other mission groups of lay people, doctors, students, and others from our community who reach out both locally and globally to help others in organized efforts, the one we wanted to highlight today is WHO Women, a nonprofit that was started here in Yancey County to help women who are victims of domestic abuse or who need a boost to turn their lives around.

It was the old "what goes around comes around" philosophy that came into play when WHO Women received their own boost from a recent New York Times article in the Wine and Dining Section.

The custom-made, award-winning fruitcakes and other delicacies (handcrafted by local women benefitting from the work of this nonprofit) were featured in the Times article, "Holiday Gifts That Give Back." Over 3,000 orders came in for the small bakery located on Cane River School Road just west of Burnsville on December 7th (for Christmas shipping) after the brief mention of the fabulous fruitcakes and other offerings. According to our local Yancey Common Times Journal, the orders continued coming in so rapidly that the traffic stalled the website. Founder Mat James said Marketing Director, Ali Randolph, was taking calls constantly on her cell phone and telling customers to send their orders to her email address instead.

The Founder/Director does not take a salary, all profits go toward growing the business so it can create more jobs, fund more scholarships for women, and provide more education and assistance for women who need help getting their lives back on track. They receive advice and support from the NC Department of Commerce and have received some equipment grants.

The all-natural, preservative-free fruitcakes have even made the "Best Fruitcakes in the World"list. According to the website,"our Berry & Nut Cakes are much more than a combination of the finest ingredients that can be purchased. "Love can build a bridge" and love can also bake award winning products. Our Berries Cherries N' Nuts won third place in the 2007 Best of Atlanta Gourmet Show." They also offer dry mixes for dip, soup, chili, breads, nuts and jellies. All recipes are original and developed in the bakery kitchen by Mat and her staff. Since 2005 these products have been shipped all over the country and world."

The Cove at Celo Mountain is surrounded by historic American small towns steeped in this tradition of giving back to the community. We are located near Asheville, just off the Blue Ridge Parkway in the Pisgah National Forest. Mountains, rivers, streams, creeks, trout ponds, incredible hiking trails, winter and summer mountain sports, and servant-heart people are in ample supply. Visit with us on our special discovery package.