“We spent years researching communities, but when we toured The Headwaters, we were blown away. John has thought of everything, with lakes, parks, treehouses, clubhouse, fitness center, theater, etc. Not only that, but he put everything in up front, so that gave us a comfort level we didn’t find elsewhere. One thing that impresses me is how well maintained everything is, all year long. We were concerned with access in the winter, but the roads here are better maintained than anywhere else we’ve ever lived. We started out thinking this would be a seasonal home, but now we’ve put our coastal house up for sale and moving here full time. It has been a wonderful experience!”

- Rich and Nora Williams (home owners) from Emerald Isle, NC

Tags: Headwaters at Banner Elk, mountain communities, Mountain Properties

Susie Blackmon, founder of Bucking The Real Estate Trend, was raised in Hawaii by parents who were born and raised in the Hawaiian Islands. She spent quite a few years in Sarasota, Florida, before returning to Hawaii from 1989 through 2006. In 2006 she moved from the Big Island of Hawaii (Hilo) to Maggie Valley, NC in the beautiful mountains of Western North Carolina and ventured into an education in real estate to obtain my North Carolina Real Estate Broker’s license. For more on Susie, click HERE.

Susie’s review of Headwaters at Banner Elk is located below…

John Haynes, the Developer of The Headwaters at Banner Elk, took time out of his busy schedule to take Margie Casey and I on an afternoon tour of his exceptional development Saturday. His beautiful property is very active (seriously), not only with new owners’ homes under construction, but with active, buying customers. Why (in one word) is The Headwaters at Banner Elk actually busy, even in this market? I came away knowing – VALUE. No kidding. Your expectations will actually be exceeded. Some of the present features are:

• Lakes (2) and Parks
• Views
• Paved Roads
• Staffed Gatehouse
• Maintained Trails
• Waterfalls
• Lots 1 to 4 acres
• Elevation 3100′ to 3900′
• Clubhouse
• Fiber Optics Based Internet and TV
• 12 minutes to Dining, Shopping, etc.

To read more and to view a wonderful slideshow of Susie’s photos of Headwaters at Banner Elk, CLICK HERE!

Tags: bucking the real estate trend, Headwaters at Banner Elk, mountain communities, mountain properties in nc

The 54th Annual Grandfather Mountain Highland Games will be held July 9th - 12th at MacRae Meadows on Grandfather Mountain! For a complete schedule, vist: http://www.gmhg.org/events.htm

Be sure and come by The Headwaters at Banner Elk for a tour while you’re up in The High Country for The Highland Games!!! Call us at 866-200-3290 and book your tour today!

From Wikipedia:

In 1956, Mrs. Agnes MacRae Morton of Linville, NC and Mr. Donald F. MacDonald of Charlotte, NC co-founded the Grandfather Mountain Highland Games. Donald MacDonald’s vision for the games was based on the Royal Braemar Gathering, which he’d attended a few years before in Scotland in 1954. The Braemar Games had been held there for several hundred years and the Grandfather Mountain Games was often later called “America’s Braemar”. It was special in many ways, by boasting an oval track in which traditional foot races could be held, along with the heavy events in the inner field. The site became a favorite among games attendees very fast for its striking resemblance to the highlands of Scotland. The MacRae family owned the land where the games were held at the foot of Grandfather Mountain in Linville, NC. The McRae family actually founded the town of Linville in 1892 and had always wanted to have a highland gathering there, even if just a small event. In 1955, Mrs. Morton contacted Donald MacDonald, who at the time was working for The Charlotte News and had also founded the Clan Donald Society not long before that as well as helping establish a Robert Burns Society of Charlotte. Knowing his dedication to Scottish culture, Mrs. Morton set out to convince him to help her start highland games in North Carolina. Mr. MacDonald agreed and the first games were held on August 19th, 1956, on the anniversary of the landing of Bonnie Prince Charlie in Scotland and the beginning of the 1745 uprising.

The two set out to model the games after what Mr. MacDonald remembered from the Braemar games and using the program he had brought back with him. The very first games were only one day in length with two bands and a small group of competitions. The games were small at first with only 1500 attendees, but became popular quickly and highland games began spreading throughout the country modeled after the Grandfather Mountain Games.

Tags: grandfather mountain highland games, Headwaters at Banner Elk, mountain communities