Home & Real Estate Chilling in the Mountains Pre-retirees starting search early for dream mountain homes

By Kathy Dean

Cool weather, beautiful landscapes and a relaxed lifestyle all help to make the mountains a perfect place to settle, and many metro Atlantans plan to retire there. Not everyone waits to claim their little spot of heaven, though. More and more people are making the move to find or build their mountain retreat now and enjoy before and after retirement.

Keith and Robin Sievers label themselves “outdoor people.” They’ve settled into their new home, a two-story mountainside home with main and terrace levels, in Big Canoe, a gated private residential community set in the rolling mountains of Jasper, Ga.

The climate and natural landscapes of north Georgia are perfect, the Sievers said, and so are the amenities they enjoy in Big Canoe, where they’ve found the lifestyle they were looking for. The community boasts a unique Jeep Trail, award-winning 22+ mile trail system for hiking and biking, three outdoor dog parks, three waterfalls, three lakes and scenic mountain landscapes.

“It’s amazing to live in a beautiful mountain community that’s 30 minutes from the north Atlanta suburbs, and just 30 minutes from the start of the Appalachian Trail,” said Robin. “More importantly, though, are the wonderful people who live here and the many cherished friendships we’ve made.”

They admit that mountain driving was a challenge at first, but added that they quickly adapted. “While some driving is required to get to everything we need, the essentials are close at hand,” said Keith, “and we’ve learned to group our errands into enjoyable ‘urban safaris’.”

Katie Wercholuk, Marketing Director, Big Canoe Company, LLC, reported that she has seen an increase in pre-retirees attracted to the lifestyle and options in Big Canoe. “Many metro Atlanta residents are becoming empty-nesters, but they’re still working while planning for the future before it’s time to retire,” Wercholuk said.

Old Edwards Club, between Highlands and Cashiers, was the spot where Lynda and Bill McNeeley found their mountain home. “We both grew up in the mountains,” Lynda said, “but had always gravitated to the beach. We first went to Highlands in the late 1980s. The cool weather and great mountains, smells and activities drew us in. We bought a small cabin in town and went there about once a month for 12 years.”

The McNeeleys joined Old Edwards Club in 2007 and bought their permanent retirement home in 2009. The house is a 2,500-square-foot cottage with a lovely screened-in porch and mountain view.

“Every morning we wake to the same beautiful view,” Lynda said. “Our friends love to visit and come every year, and our grandchildren love it as much as anyone. Bill’s sister-in-law and some friends from Atlanta bought here after just one visit to Highlands.”

Old Edwards Club offers a relaxed, family environment, and Old Edwards Inn & Spa, located in Highlands, spoils visitors with delicious food and wine, a nationally ranked spa and a world-class golf course designed by Tom Jackson. “We have something for everyone,” said Bill Gilmore, Provisional Broker, Highlands Cove Realty at Old Edwards Inn, and Realtor with PalmerHouse Properties.

Lynda said that she and Bill adore Old Edwards, and everyone they’ve met is friendly. The McNeeleys added that there’s plenty to do, too. They walk to the golf course, pool and the best restaurant in town. There are wonderful pools and fitness, hiking, shopping galore, amazing waterfalls and the nicest merchants you could ever meet, Lynda said.

“Add craft shows and great markets that offer every kind of food you can imagine,” she said. “It’s easy to find what you need to cook gourmet meals at home, so we rarely eat out.”

While Bill is retired, Lynda still works full-time remotely as a Residential Mortgage Loan Officer with Fidelity Bank Mortgage, so many of their Atlanta trips are scheduled to coincide with closings or office activities that she wants to attend. It’s a wonderful setting for working and taking good care of her clients, she said.

According to Gilmore, the area’s internet and cell phone service is first rate, making it a place where executives can take care of business when they need to, and then unplug and relax.

Lynda has had no issues with mountain life. “It’s a quick two-and-a-half-hour drive to the city if I have a business commitment. And our community has a house watch during the off season, so we never have to worry about anything,” she said. “Just one phone call and they’ll check on anything for you. And they’ll even dig you out of the snow if you come during the off season—I love that!”

Duane and Kim Champlin are currently overseeing the construction of their Old Toccoa Farm mountain retreat. “We had a weekend cabin near Blue Ridge before we retired, and we fell in love with the area,” Kim said.

Old Toccoa Farm, just 85 miles north of Atlanta, is near historic Blue Ridge, Ga., and about 15 miles from the Aska Adventure Area, which features camping, hiking and water

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