Our Staffed Gate House

Several years ago, developers sold on the promise of things to come.  When times were good, the promises often came true.  However, since early 2008, many developments have failed to offer even the minimum level of amenities and infrastructure.  It is easy for a developer to promote a variety of amenities “to be built”, but it is more challenging to turn them into reality.

Here at The Headwaters at Banner Elk, the amenities I orginally promised to build in the first marketing materials have been built with the only exception being the indoor pool.  It has always been the plan to start that amenity in August 2009.  Given the soft market, it may be moved back into 2010.  One reason is that this is a very maintenance intensive amenity and one that should only be built when sufficient property owners are in residence.  However, all other amenities (1) paved roads, (2) fiber optics to the home, (3) staffed gate house, (4) Welcome Center, (5) Six community parks, and (6) the mountaintop clubhouse have all been built and are ready for your enjoyment.

By putting these amenities in up front in the life of the community, it shows a commitment to get them done and deliver on the promises.  But we’ve even gone beyond the original plans.  Example, the Deer Creek Park was never in the plans until I walked the property that would eventually become this exceptional recreation area.  Another item I have added to the plans is our mountaintop spa.  This building (already permitted and designed) will feature a massage therapy room with two tables, steam showers and a hydrotherapy room with soaking tubs and a movable glass wall from which one can take in the 20 mile view.  This will be built next to the clubhouse.

Even the most basic of items such as paved roads is critical.  If you should visit a competing development that has been in operation for more than two years, and still doesn’t have paved roads, you might consider looking elsewhere.  When you arrive at The Headwaters, you’ll find well maintained and landscaped roads throughout the development.  Lenders in particular like to see communities with paved roads.

So don’t believe the photos you see in ads and on web sites until you’ve asked the question, “Do these amenities exist?”.  Often times, they don’t.  But here at The Headwaters, they already exist, so I encourage you to call or visit our web site at www.headwatersnc.com and plan your visit to see this most amazing community.  You’ll be glad you did.

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Tags: Headwaters at Banner Elk, landscape, mountaintop clubhouse, truth in advertising

Many people ask me “Why did you name your development, ‘The Headwaters’?”  There are several reasons (1) it simply sounds good; (2) it’s different than all the  other developments with names like “Bear this”, “Deer that”, or “Mountain such and such”, and (3) we have many springs and streams that form the headwaters of the Elk River.  But the reason that I like to cite most is one that is dearest to my heart, and actually dawned on me after I’d arrived at the name.

I’m a Christian and in the Bible, Jesus is referred to as the source of ”living water” and any who thirst that drink from that fountain will never thirst again.  The name “The Headwaters” is a daily reminder to myself that Jesus is the source of my strength and very life.  Therefore, the name “The Headwaters” carries a much deeper meaning for me than just a marketing name.  In fact, our tag line is “Refresh your spirit at the source.”, of course in my mind, that source is Jesus Christ.

Therefore, as Christians around the globe celebrate the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus Christ, I wish you a joyful Easter and hope that if you don’t already know the One who is the source of life itself, you’ll ask me and I can have the privilege of sharing the story with you.

“On the last day, that great day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried out, saying, “If anyone thirsts, let him come to Me and drink.  He who believes in Me, as the Scripture has said, out of his heart will flow rivers of living water.”  John 7:37-38 NKJV

Visit our Website at HeadwatersNC.com!

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Tags: Christian, happy easter from headwaters, Mountain Properties

Now this is how a park should be done!

If one only looks at development web sites, community videos and marketing materials, you would conclude that every development offers “serene”, “secluded”, “private”, or “unspoiled” settings. Unfortunately, this isn’t always the case, especially with those developments that offer condominiums and multi-family lifestyle. This is true, even when the developer uses such superlatives to describe the develpoment.

Example, when a developer claims to have set aside 46% of the total acreage for green space or conservation area, that sounds lovely. However, when the remaining 54% is stripped of all tree cover and heavily graded to create flat building pads, then what benefit is it to the buyers? Furthermore, in most cases, the buildings are tightly spaced, so much so that when you look out from your deck, you can’t help but see other buildings and acres of asphalt. Why would you come to the mountains to live in a community with as much density as any suburban or urban setting back home?

Additionally, you ought to ask the question, “Just how much benefit is there from the undistrubed part of the development?” In many cases, these “green spaces” are simply unusable acreage that is largely inaccessible to property owners, or otherwise imrpoved only slightly with any sort of recreational amenity.  Here at The Headwaters at Banner Elk, when I say we have parks and trails, I mean we have lots of professionally built parks and trails for you to enjoy right now.

When I build a condominium neighborhood within The Headwaters, each building is spaced so far apart that you don’t see a neighbor. When you look out your windows, you don’t see another building, parking lot or street. What you see instead is a beautiful view or wooded setting. In fact, many visitors to The Headwaters mistake our condominiums for stately single family homes on large acreage.

Once you leave your condo or town home, you can enjoy six beautiful community parks. Two of these are built on our two lakes. Another features two, two-story tree houses, campsites, picnic areas, a small trout pond, and amphitheater. Another features a natural 30′ waterfall with a 40′ cascade and incredible rock formations. Our trail system around the lakes is professionally built and maintained with numerous footbridges crossing streams, steps cut into hillsides to make walking easier and hand rails along the way. It truly is a wonderful experience to walk our trail system.

So remember, just because a developer shows beautiful footage of their condos in a video or talks about being “low density”, take a closer look, then compare that with The Headwaters at Banner Elk. There’s not another place like it in the High Country.

Come see for yourself. Visit our Website at HeadwatersNC.com and take a look for yourself!

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Tags: mountain communities, mountain parks, truth in advertising