Chilling in the Mountains

Continued from page 40 activities like tubing, canoeing and kayaking. with melanoma in 1993, so “beach life wasn’t exactly on the top of my list,” he said. said. “But bears generally aren’t a problem if you don’t leave out things to attract them, like garbage or bird seed.”

According to Duane, the couple wanted long-range mountain views. “We got that, plus we’re living on a golf course in a gated community,” he said.

Harry Norman REALTORS® Blue Ridge Office, reported that there has been an influx of buyers in the new development.

“Old Toccoa Farm is the only fly fishing and golf community in our area,” she said. Sapphire, N.C. turned out to be right setting for Willie and Sheryl McCutchen’s mountain getaway. The couple still resides full-time in the rural town of Kingstree, on the eastern side of South Carolina.

Purchasing a mountain home before retirement is a good strategy, especially since the north Georgia mountains are starting to attract buyers from across the country. When Gary and Christy Ray decided to move from a mountain/lake area in northwest Nevada to be closer to family, they wanted to locate in a similar environment in Georgia. They found their mountain cabin in Love Mountain, an upscale rustic neighborhood that features wooded settings and mountain views, in Morganton, Ga.

The Champlins moved to the north Georgia mountains from Gwinnett County. What they’ve found in Old Toccoa Farm is peace and quiet, golf courses, the Toccoa River, wooded trails and “the friendliness of everyone we come across,” said Kim. They noted that they have lost a few conveniences, but said they’ve gained much more. “We have a relaxed and friendly environment,” said Duane, “and a whole lot less congestion!”

Kim L. Knutzen, Managing Broker,

Willie retired from the telecommunications business in 2005 at the early age of 56. “Sheryl and I sometimes talked about getting a second home, but never took it very seriously,” he said. “She’s always loved the beach, and probably would’ve preferred something on the coast initially.” While that would have been convenient, since their Kingstree home is only about an hour’s drive from the beach, Willie didn’t think that it made much sense to have a vacation home so close by. And Willie was diagnosed

Several years ago, the McCutchens became friends with the owner of the High Hampton Inn & Country Club in Cashiers, N.C., Will McKee, as well as his partner in High Hampton Realty, Manuel de Juan.

Located in the heart of the Blue Ridge Mountain, the historic High Hampton Inn has been a place of Southern hospitality since the nineteenth century. The inn’s 1,400-acre playground offers golf, tennis, hiking, fly fishing and a European spa.

“After several stays at the inn, we fell in love with the area and began to talk seriously about the possibility of acquiring something in the area,” Willie said.

They looked at a number of places in the summer of 2015 until de Juan showed them a log cabin in a Holly Forest community in Sapphire. The Homeowners Association offered an amenities package with access to indoor and outdoor pools, skiing, a fitness facility and private lake/beach.

Willie said that he and Sheryl knew right away that it was the place for them, and they closed on the property in January 2016. “I think what sold us was its quaint interior,” he added. “We’ve enjoyed fixing it up.”

At this point, the cabin is just a vacation home, according to Willie, and he suspects it will never be more than that. Since it’s just five hours away from Kingstree, it’s fairly convenient.

“We love to come periodically, especially with our two grandchildren, ages five and eight,” he added. “We also enjoy letting friends and family use the cabin when we’re not here, but we don’t rent it.”

When asked what he and Sheryl enjoy most about the mountains, Willie mentioned the beauty and solitude and, of course, the cooler temperatures during the summer. He said that even though they have neighbors, they still feel fairly secluded, which is very important to them both.

“One of the things I find appealing about owning a vacation home in the mountains, especially as compared to the beach, is the difference costs associated with insurance and taxes,” Willie said. “I was very surprised at the reasonableness of property taxes and casualty insurance.”

He noted that he and Sheryl haven’t encountered any real challenges to living in the mountains, other than periodic bad weather in winter and the occasional bear on the porch. “I’m not kidding!” Willie

“The north Georgia mountains are a perfect fit for us,” said Gary. “With the beautiful mountains, sunsets, lakes, affordable living, proximity to Atlanta and wonderful southern hospitality, we couldn’t have made a better choice.”

Christy added that everyone in Blue Ridge has welcomed them with open arms. “Within two months, we’ve made a lot of new friends and already feel like a part of the community,” she said.

The area offers a variety of activities, music venues and craft fairs, along with outstanding restaurants. “This is what we love about the community,” Christy said. “We attended a fabulous wine pairing dinner at a local restaurant in Blue Ridge and met some lovely people who we plan to see again.”

The Rays love the peace, slower pace and mild traffic. “There’s no comparison to major cities—great food, Southern hospitality and the natural beauty of the North Georgia mountains,” said Gary. “This has been a great choice for our retirement.”

When asked about the best part of living in north Georgia, Christy answered, “The inner peace that we have when we sit on our balcony and look out at the beautiful north Georgia mountains. You can’t put a price on that.”

She noted that there have been a few small issues, most notably, learning about log cabin ownership and adjusting to a more humid climate than northwest Nevada, where the annual average humidity is 10 percent. “But really, they’re no longer issues after living here for two months,” she said.

Faron W. King, Broker/Owner, Coldwell Banker High Country Realty, said that while many mountain homes are bought by retirees, that’s not the whole story. “We’re seeing younger buyers wanting to escape the hustle and bustle of Atlanta for a weekend getaway, and it turns into a part-time home if their career allows them to telecommute,” said King.

He suggested that people not wait for retirement to begin looking for their dream retirement home. Good advice, it seems, with the current rush to the hills.

Atlanta homebuilder Foyer

Urban is planning a 27-unit townhome development at 626 Parkway Drive in the Old Fourth Ward. Views at O4W will feature modern architecture coupled with private backyards and community spaces. The townhomes will feature open floor plans, flexible space, rooftop decks with views of Midtown and Downtown, nearly floor to ceiling windows and garages. The units will all face inward toward a centralized mew constructed out of environmentally friendly permeable pavers. Just three blocks from Ponce City Market and the Atlanta BeltLine, the townhomes will be priced starting in the low $600’s. They will range in size from 1,790 to 1,862 square feet and will have two to three bedrooms (or two bedrooms and flex space), with three-and-one-half baths. A groundbreaking is slated for this month. For more information, visit ViewsAtO4W.com.

Epic Devolopment and Gamble + Gamble will build Stacks on 6th at the corner of Juniper and 6th Street in Midtown. The three modern brownstones will feature three bedrooms, three-anda-half baths and twocar garages. Gourmet kitchens, double balconies and rooftop terraces are also part of the design package.

New details about the transit-oriented mixed-used development at the King Memorial MARTA Station have emerged from developers Place Properties and Russell New Urban. The $64.5-million project will include 385 residential units and retail space. Work could begin by year’s end.

Fulton Supply Lofts, a recently completed loft conversion project in Downtown, has been awarded the 2017 Design Excellence Award from the City of Atlanta Urban Design Commission for its historic authenticity and sustainable design. The property has also been given the first EarthCraft certification by the Southface Energy Institute for energy conservation and sustainability in a multifamily restoration. Located at 342 Nelson Street in Castleberry Hill, the development features 74 traditional one-, two- and three-bedroom rental units.

ABOVE: Georgia DOT work crews removed Georgia Dome signs and installed new signage for MercedesBenz Stadium, including the one above along I-75 south. The stadium will be ready for the Atlanta Falcons’ first exhibition game on Aug. 26, but the retractable roof will remain in the closed position while work crews finish the mechanization of the intricate panels.

TOP RIGHT: Permanent rainbow crosswalks were installed at the intersection of Piedmont Avenue and 10th Street to honor the neighborhood’s LGBTQ+ legacy. (Photo by Asep Mawardi)

BOTTOM RIGHT: A new mural at Irwin and Hilliard Streets in the Old Fourth Ward honors the neighbor hood and uses a famous line from Civil Rights leader Rev. Williams Holmes Borders, Sr.’s “I Am Somebody” sermon. Resident Cara Turano Snow came up with the idea, while Will Mitchell was the muralist.