BLUE RIDGE MOUNTAIN CLUB COMMUNITY MAGAZINE
Welcome to the
WINTER
W
eather not
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OR
breaking
NEW GROUND Giving Thanks for our members
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O U T O F H I B E R N AT I O N
ROOFTOPS w i l l l e a d t h e way
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ISSUE 12 – WINTER 2014
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FREE
te a m member spotlight
Jessica Smith Long before Jessica Smith came to work at Blue Ridge Mountain Club, she knew that she wanted to live in this area forever. She earned a degree in Hospitality & Tourism Management, as well as an MBA at Appalachian State University. Her first position after graduation was as General Manager for the Village Inns of Blowing Rock, where she managed three different lodging properties. When BRMC came calling she was ready for the challenge of helping foster the vision for this gorgeous piece of mountain property.
her day job: I am responsible for managing the office operations, helping Jim with accounting, Reggie with marketing, and I oversee the sales office. The long-term vision of BRMC, combined with the diversity of my workload, really resonates with what I want to do with my life.
the vision for brmc: The Blue Ridge Mountain Club staff and the entire membership at BRMC treat each other like family. I especially appreciate the “Build Community” mission adopted by the organization and I am committed to helping our team accomplish their goal.
how that will happen: I see the healthy way that this company is structured — we are great stewards of the land and our membership. There’s so much potential for that land out there. So much potential to create a lasting legacy and I want to be a part of it.
upcoming
ev ents Festival of Lights
11.28.14 – 01.25.15
Catch a glimpse of glowing ice skaters, the train, Rudolph, and of course, Santa Claus under the magic of over 50,000 twinkling lights at Chetola Resort.
Blowing Rock Christmas Parade
11.29.14
The fun begins at The Blowing Rock where Santa will appear, followed by a festive parade. Afterwards, stop by the Blowing Rock Museum for crafts, caroling, and a silent wreath auction.
WinterFest in Blowing Rock
01.22.15 – 01.25.15
WinterFest, the ultimate winter event here for over 15 years, is how we celebrate the season in style with food, wine, a dog show, ice carving, and the Chilly Chili Cookoff. See page 6 for more details.
Blue Ridge Wine & Food Festival
04.16.15 – 04.19.15
Join us for four full days of the best food and drink in the High Country at the Blue Ridge Wine & Food Festival. Blue Ridge Mountain Club and the Blowing Rock Chamber of Commerce partner together again for a signature wine tasting event.
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Weather or Not a challenge from jim pitts Every year I have one big outdoor adventure with my son Jacob
our experience. Not only did we overcome significant weather
and my daughter Jordan. For the last two years our adventure
and river challenges, but we also had an extraordinary family
has been a multi-night, 40-mile river trip on the Buffalo
experience in spite of the weather.
National River in Arkansas. Being prepared for anything is necessary on an unsupported trip in the wilderness and we got
During the final three days we never saw another human. In fact,
on the river knowing that the weather might turn bad. What we
we shared our experience with only the eagles, hawks, egrets,
didn’t expect was an epic storm and a flash flood.
beavers and deer. At one point we saw a fawn swimming across the swollen river chasing her mother. It was just
We woke up at 5am in a foot of water with
us, the river and all of these gorgeous animals.
the river level rising about a foot every five
While paddling out on the final day the river
minutes. While it initially appeared life threatening, I realize now how resilient a team we really were. Not only did we become stronger as a family, we also learned how we would react in an emergency. Oftentimes it is not the experience, but how we respond to the experience, that defines us. For us, that moment came when I gave the kids a choice
“Gear Up and Get Out so we Can experience the majesty of nature.”
to continue or paddle out and end the trip.
was really calm and Jacob paddled up next to me and said, “This is so amazing.” We all drifted together silently reflecting on our experience and good fortune. We ended the trip with a huge breakfast at the local diner. It’s this kind of outdoor experience which embodies the phrase, “Weather or Not,” coined by members Tim Morse and Yvonne Ziel. This concept expresses an attitude about adventure
They chose to continue, knowing the river
that is perfectly matched with BRMC and its
level would remain high and swift, and that the weather would
members’ taste for outdoor living. “Weather or Not” is an idea
persist. On the final morning the storm subsided, but there
that limits excuses and embraces extremes. Quality equipment
was still a light and steady rain. We were tired of cold, wet
and clothing are available to support our love of the outdoors
weather. Jacob and Jordan were grumbling about the remaining
and our commitment is to “Gear Up and Get Out” so we can
10 miles, which gave me the opportunity to remind them of
experience the majesty of nature.
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With the groundbreaking of The Peaks at Watson Gap comes the opportunity for potential members to receive exclusive pricing during our pre-sell event. The Peaks offers nine floor plans and three levels from which to choose. With price points as low as $l65K , we anticipate the demand will be high. Offering a condominium neighborhood to our members is really groundbreaking for BRMC. Why? Because owning a lock-and-leave residence is infinitely appealing to people who want to get out of the car, throw their stuff in their home, and instantly begin enjoying the unbelievably great outdoors. For these potential members, The Peaks at Watson Gap offers the first chance to experience everything this lush mountain property has to offer, with true lock-and-leave convenience. Plus, The Peaks at Watson Gap condominium neighborhood will sit in the heart of the upcoming walking community, Watson Gap Village. The Village is slated to include the Clubhouse, Health Club and Great Lawn overlooking miles of beautiful vistas. When you combine all of this with 6,212 pristine acres of lush forests, spectacular views and a life that revolves around all manner of activities, it’s the perfect opportunity for new members who want all of the amenities of a member-centric community without any of the hassle.
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GIVING THANKS for our members When thinking about everything we have to be thankful for this year, our members definitely top the list. It is the love and support of our members that make us the intimate, close-knit community that we are. You are the driving force for many of our community activities, potluck suppers, Pavilion gatherings, wine tastings, impromptu drop-ins and many, many other weekly get-togethers. It takes each and every one of you to make this gorgeous mountain community such a unique place to live. And for that, we are thankful. Today and every day. For the last three years,
we’ve celebrated Thanksgiving at BRMC
Tim Morse & Yvonne Ziel
with our sons Brian and
Tim Morris and Yvonne Ziel love to play. So it’s no surprise that they are the ones who coined “Weather or Not.” It’s also no surprise that they are the members who started the Mountain Madness Mini-Martini Event.
and Elizabeth, and our
Carey, their wives, Kelly grandsons Ethan, Zach and Cameron. It’s a
SO TELL ME ABOUT MINI-MARTINI Tim Morse: The Mountain Madness MiniMartini Event has kind of just taken off on its own accord. Once a month we send out GPS coordinates for people to find us. Then we reward them with 2 oz. martinis. The first month we had 14 people, the second month 23, and now we’re over 30.
ON PLAYING Yvonne Ziel: It’s a good way to get out and have some destination fun. We love to play. We also love to ATV, hike (on and off the trails), fish and socialize. We do a lot of socializing. And we always have the dog with us.
Tim Morse: I’m an avid fly-fisherman, and I especially love to fish when there’s a heavy stream of snow flurries. In my opinion, that’s the best time to fish. On any given day we see deer and turkeys, and if we’re really lucky, a bear or mountain lion. I always say we live on the corner of wilderness and borrow a cup of sugar.
IT’S GOOD YOU LIKE YOUR NEIGHBORS Tim Morse: I don’t think anybody had any idea that it would be that much of a community. Everybody blends so well. Some of our favorite events are the spur of the moment potluck dinners. It creates a social life that a clubhouse wouldn’t.
Yvonne Ziel: We’re very thankful for the opportunity to live in this community with these neighbors on a gorgeous piece of property with endless opportunities for play.
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tradition now that I hope becomes a family legacy. We love the crisp winter air and the Thanksgiving smells that fill the air. This year we’ll include any special friends from the area that don’t have a place to go for the holiday. We don’t want anyone to miss out on this special time. We’re so thankful to be together and to be here, at Blue Ridge Mountain Club.
— Marilyn Lapidus
Tim & Lisa Hofferth Tim and Lisa Hofferth love to be around family. It’s the main reason they bought at BRMC; to bring their family from North Carolina and South Carolina all together in one central location. For them, there’s no better time for that than Thanksgiving and no better place than Blue Ridge Mountain Club.
Tim Hofferth: We started searching for another home about six years ago. And then we found this little jewel. And we knew that BRMC was it. With all 6,000 of its spectacularly beautiful acres.
A FOREVER HOME Lisa Hofferth: We love being outdoors. And Blue Ridge Mountain Club offers everything we could ever want outside. We can sled, fish, ATV, look for bears, turkeys, stars, hike and horseback ride. Soon we’ll be able to shoot.
GATHERING TOGETHER Lisa Hofferth: For the Thanksgiving holiday, we’ll have my children, our nieces, nephews, plus my sister for the entire holiday. That’s Wednesday to Sunday. Since we purchased our home, we’ve made it part of our routine to have Thanksgiving here.
Tim Hofferth: The kids can’t wait to get up here at every holiday. (Laughing) Mind you, our 23, 21, 19 and 6 year old children. Only one is really technically a child. But they all love to play outside building snowmen and ATVing, hiking – just taking advantage of everything BRMC has to offer.
ON BEING THANKFUL Tim & Lisa Hofferth: We have the best family and the best neighbors in the world and we are both just so thankful to gather here. That’s what it’s all about for us. Family and friends and of course, Blue Ridge Mountain Club.
Robert Beck & Tanya Jackson Robert Beck and Tanya Jackson looked for years to find Blue Ridge Mountain Club, they knew they were home when they drove through the gates. ON LIVING IN THE HIGH COUNTRY Tanya Jackson: There’s magic in this place. I can’t really explain it. I’m a little afraid of heights, so when we came around one spot with spectacular views, but really on the edge –Robert thought he would lose me then, that it was so high, it would do me in, but I was already in love, and now, we’ve bought another lot.
ON BUILDING RELATIONSHIPS Robert Beck: We were worried about making friends in retirement but that was no trouble at all with BRMC. We’re all in a similar position and we all love the property.
ON GIVING THANKS Tanya Jackson: The people and the friends we’ve made are amazing. We’re so thankful. We did not expect in this place in life that we would make friends like this. We laugh with our neighbors and consider them to be our very best amenity - an amenity you can’t find anywhere else.
ON THE HOLIDAYS Tanya Jackson: We’re blessed our kids love to come here, particularly on holidays. They pray for snow. The year we were building the house, we rented a house close by and the kids were out building snowmen, acting like crazy people. They all came in giggling and soaking wet. And stealing our carrots.
Robert Beck: It’s just a really special place with really wonderful people. We’ve looked all of our lives for this life and we’ve found it at Blue Ridge Mountain Club.
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The “Weather or Not” philosophy extends beyond our gates to Blowing Rock, as evidenced by the annual celebration of all things winter: WinterFest. Since its debut in 1998, WinterFest has grown from a small, local festival to a four-day event that draws visitors from across the Southeast. The schedule includes everything from a traditional “Polar Plunge” to the “Chilly Chili Challenge” and “WinterPaws,” a dog show featuring the pet residents of and visitors to Blowing Rock. If you are a foodie, look no further than the High Country Small Plate Crawl, WinterFeast, and a signature Wine Tasting. “Shop Til You Drop” Thursday-Sunday along charming Main Street or venture over to the Tanger Outlets. And for the kids, and kids at heart, enjoy hayrides, crafts, and the Little Miss WinterFest pageant. Or for the more adventurous, enjoy Family Night on Friday to learn to ski or snowboard, presented by Appalachian Ski Mountain. Just as the festival has grown, so has the impact on our local community. Proceeds from the event benefit Mountain Alliance, the Blowing Rock Elementary School PTO, and the Watauga Human Society, among others. WinterFest is committed to upholding and embodying the original motto: Don’t Hibernate! Celebrate! And that same motto applies to life at BRMC for our members. Call Blue Ridge Mountain Club at 828.295.8667 for details. For more information and a complete events schedule, visit www.BlowingRockWinterFest.com.
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rooftops will lead the way in 2015 Trends in the High Country indicate that home sales account for 79% of total in-market real estate transactions through October 2014. Additionally, it has become apparent that buyers are leaning towards a simpler, less stressful home buying process and as such, are “buying homes off the shelf.” Most buyers are purchasing mid-construction and personalizing their home before completion. This allows buyers a quicker move-in date and to buy a home in one season and enjoy it in the next.
Moving into 2015 BRMC will be committing to the construction of multiple new home products in anticipation of a growing market including the completion of the Watson Gap Ridge cottage neighborhood, the construction of our first condominiums—The Peaks at Watson Gap. In addition, the launch of our next cottage neighborhood, Yadkin Point, the Cliff Dweller line of homes, as well as estate homes being built will offer buyers an excellent selection.
On behalf of BRMC I would like to thank Barnette Builders, MBI Builders, Kidder Construction Inc, Raymond Timber Framed Homes, Bradshaw and Company, and Wishon and Carter for helping us launch the community spec building program. It has proved successful in creating a larger and more diverse collection of available homes for sale.
Contact either myself or one of our sales executives to discuss the future of new homes in 2015. Sincerely, Reggie Bray | Director of Marketing & Sales
MOVE IN FOR THE HOLIDAYS! This custom, 3 br/3.5 ba, 2,550 sf cottage is located in the heart of Blue Ridge Mountain Club’s Watson Gap Park, within walking distance to the pavilion, hiking trails, and future mountain village.
177 stone crop lane — $650,000
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11 Sweet autumn Lane — $815,000 This 5 br/5 ba, 3,292 sf cottage allows for year-round enjoyment with a porch complete with an outdoor stone fireplace and a second fireplace indoors.
the Peaks Condominiums — From $165,000 BRMC announces their first condominium neighborhood, The Peaks, in Watson Gap Village. A true lock-and-leave mountain home, The Peaks at Watson Gap will offer a variety of customizable floorplans tailored to your specifications. For more information, visit www.BRMCpeek.com.
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2033 Reynolds Parkway — $1,275,000 This exquisite, 5 br/5 ba, 6,200 sf custom timber frame home is truly a showpiece! Located in the heart of Blue Ridge Mountain Club, this home is nestled on a private setting bordering a conservation area and offers unobstructed mountain views.
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This cottage is the perfect mountain retreat at 2,260 sf with 3 br/2.5 ba, garage with a covered deck and stone fireplaces for both outside and inside as well as a hot tub connection. Short Term Rental Approved.
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Homesite 310A — $ 499,000 This beautiful 3 br/3 ba 1,780 sf, home is now under construction. There is easy access to this flat, cul-de-sac homesite with great views. The home features vaulted ceilings finished with tongue and groove, stainless appliances, and a walk-in tiled master shower with granite countertops.
Obtain the Property Report required by Federal Law before signing anything. All information is believed to be accurate but is not warranted. This information shall not constitute a valid offer in any state where prior registration is required. This information and features and information described and depicted herein is based on proposed development plans, which are subject to change without notice. Actual development may or may not be as currently proposed. No guarantee is made that the features, amenities, or facilities depicted by an artist’s rendering or otherwise described herein will be built, or, if built will be the same type, size, or nature as depicted or described. © 2014 Blowing Rock Resort Venture, LLC.
14 Sweet autumn Lane — $640,000
125 Jumpseed Way — $1,749,000 “Woodridge” is a magnificent rustic French Country home designed with the highest standards of living. This 5 br/5.5 ba, 6,655 sf home, crafted by MBI Builders, features expansive outdoor living areas, custom fireplaces, and state-of-the-art kitchen.
Still looking for the ideal mountain home where community is strong and value is high? Answer the Call of Blue Ridge Mountain Club today! Call (828) 295-8667 or visit www.BlueRidgeMountainClub.com