Protect the. Places we love

Transcription

1 Protect the Places we love

2 The Call of the Wild Adventures for all ages! This year, Outbound is partnering with the Coyote Club for a series of eco-excursions and survival adventures that will shed a whole new light on our Unbelievably Great Outdoors. We ll be camping, hiking, and exploring everything from the edible plants in our backyard to shelter-building in the wild. SUMMER OUTBOUND ECO-EXCURSIONS Shelter-building Edible & Medicinal Plant Walks Animal Tracking Fire-building See back page to participate! Still searching for the perfect mountain home, where value is high and community is strong? Then it s time to get to know Blue Ridge Mountain Club. Visit our website for real estate opportunities, browse our blog to see what s happening in the community, or join us on Facebook for regular updates on happenings. The door is always open at our Blowing Rock headquarters at 1155 Main Street drop by! Each year, when the mountains begin to bloom and life returns to the forests and towns, Mother Nature warmly invites us outside, where the rivers, creeks, and forests teem with new life. At Blue Ridge Mountain Club, the warm seasons are a time for re-engaging with friends and the community against the backdrop of our own breathtaking backyard. Dear Reader, Cover photo courtesy of Todd Bush Community photography courtesy of Todd Bush and Brian Gomsak Welcome to the fourth issue of the Blue Ridge Mountain Club community magazine, focused on protecting and preserving our most precious asset: the property we refer to as our Unbelievably Great Outdoors. When we first began cementing the vision for this unique mountain community in words, we established four cornerstone values to serve as guiding development principles. One of them is Attend to the Land, and as you can read on the next page, this represents our commitment toward fostering a culture of stewardship within our community. This issue, BRMC is happy to introduce a new friendship that promises to strengthen both our connection to this land and our contribution to preserving its natural splendor. Our Outbound program will be teaming up with the Coyote Club, an organization geared toward helping children and families get closer to the earth by discovering it up-close, through wilderness survival activities, exploration, and discovery in nature. We re also highlighting local organizations and efforts toward protecting the entire Blue Ridge area. We hope this issue of The Call will inspire and excite you to get outside and appreciate the beauty of your backyard, and ours! Take a hike through Dugger Valley and follow the growth of a stream from a trickle to a crashing waterfall; pause on a rock and see how many different plant (or animal) species you can spot; explore, ponder, investigate, and appreciate the incredible outdoors around you. Sincerely, Jim Pitts General Manager Blue Ridge Mountain Club Cornerstones, values, guiding principles they re all just lip service if real actions to live them are not undertaken by a dedicated team of developers. F e a t u r e d C o r n e r s t o n e Attend to the Land Protecting our Unbelievably Great Backyard For Blue Ridge Mountain Club, attending to the land means putting measures in place to protect significant portions of sensitive land in perpetuity; building in as eco-sensitive a fashion as possible; as well as ensuring that our members are apprised of all environmental efforts, and provided the opportunity to contribute in their own way as stewards of their community. We d like to highlight three key areas in which BRMC is currently applying one of the most important cornerstones for the future of our community. #1 LAND BRMC s natural legacy of recreational backcountry is larger than any other mountain community in Western North Carolina and includes a host of very special and spectacular places that we aim to protect in perpetuity. In 2007, approximately 677 acres of BRMC property were conveyed to a permanent conservation easement held by the Blue Ridge Conservancy, leaving special and sensitive sections of mountaintops and valleys, featuring spectacular views, waterfalls, streams, and creekways, in their natural state for future generations. #2 WATER BRMC s current state classification is Outstanding Resource Watershed (ORW) by the North Carolina Department of Fisheries, with our abundant variety of clean water sources that includes over 64 miles of jurisdictional waterways as identified by the United States Corp of Engineers. This translates into ribbons of protected rivers and creekways, waterfalls, swimming holes, and wetlands, providing our community with a natural source of recreational trails and fishing destinations. BRMC s Dugger Creek is home to a robust population of the ancient and elusive Southern Appalachian Brook Trout, the state freshwater fish of North Carolina, while Elk Creek boasts a delayed harvest trout fishery and spring stocking program of rainbow, brown, and brook trout. Meanwhile, in a recent fish survey, over 12 different species of fish were identified in Laurel Creek. #3 PEOPLE Aligning ourselves with local and international groups to promote conservancy is an effort that brings us closer to the land as well as to the larger High Country community. With the Coyote Club, we see an opportunity to get our children involved early on in activities that will raise their awareness and appreciation for nature, so that as adults, attending to the land will come as second nature. We re very proud of our sustainability partnerships and look forward to building more in the years to come. Read more about organizations working toward protecting the places we love on the following pages! NEW MEMBER UPDATE Since our last issue, BRMC welcomed five new member families, including the Guidice (pronounced Guydiss, shown below) family to the neighborhood. Game for adventure and eager to explore their new backyard, the Guidices got a taste of our unbelievably great outdoors on their very first family hike. Read about their Dugger Valley adventure on our blog! Blue Ridge Mountain Club Community Magazine Issue 4. summer 2012 Page 3

3 P e o p l e & P l a c e s P e o p l e & P l a c e s Planning for the Future Raising awareness, educating, and promoting conservancy is a community effort that starts in childhood and lasts a lifetime. We d like to introduce you to a handful of organizations that have been doing their part to ensure that the Blue Ridge area remains as spectacular as it is today, forever. Blue Ridge Parkway Foundation This private foundation is charged with raising funds for programs and projects that enhance the visitor experience and have lasting value for America s favorite drive, and most visited national park, which connects some of the most biologically diverse places on earth. Living adjacent to arguably the finest 20 miles of the Parkway means that Blue Ridge Mountain Club is in close proximity to attractions like Moses Cone Park, with over 25 miles of hiking and equestrian trails; Bass Lake, with its bucolic carriage trail and robust population of fish; Boone Fork trail, one of the BRP s signature hikes; Grandfather Mountain, a protected, International Biosphere Reserve and high-elevation ecosystem; Linn Cove Viaduct and Linville Falls; as well as Julian Price Lake and campground the perfect spot for a sunrise or sunset canoe trip with a comfortable, family-oriented camping experience with modern conveniences. Visit to learn more. Blue Ridge Forever Launched in 2006 with the ambition of protecting 50,000 acres of Blue Ridge Mountains, this coalition of local land trusts has managed to meet and surpass its goal in 2010, and continues to provide area communities with one of the surest ways to protect the places they love. Learn more about Blue Ridge Forever, cooperative land trusts, and how you can get involved at Friends of the Mountains-to-Sea Trail The Mountains-to-Sea Trail is North Carolina s premier hiking trail, stretching over 1,000 miles, from the Great Smokey Mountains to the Outer Banks, passing by some of the State s most beautiful spots along the way. The FMST is a growing group of citizens and volunteers who protect and support the trail in various ways, and help people experience its many, many wonders. Accessible from several parking areas along the Blue Ridge Parkway, learn more about experiencing and supporting the Mountains-to-Sea Trail at North Carolina Division of Parks & Recreation The North Carolina State Parks System exists for the enjoyment, education, health, and inspiration of all our citizens and visitors. The mission of the state parks system is to conserve and protect representative examples of the natural beauty, ecological features and recreational resources of statewide significance; to provide outdoor recreational opportunities in a safe and healthy environment; and to provide environmental education opportunities that promote stewardship of the state s natural heritage. Learn more about this important organization at Blue Ridge Parkway Grandfather Mountain Linville Falls Brian Baldwin Blue Ridge Mountain Club The Coyote Club Into the arms of Mother Nature To be able to walk into the arms of Mother Nature for a week, a month, or longer; with less than the clothes on your back, trusting that she will provide all that you need to survive; then re-emerge healthier than when you left is to reach a place of physical, mental, and spiritual freedom few people today will ever know. That this is one of the life goals of Kevin Tincher, co-founder and leader of the Coyote Club speaks volumes about this unique and exciting club. In response to friends concerns that their kids were not receiving adequate environmental and wilderness education in school, Kevin and wife Elizabeth Burgess- Tincher (who holds a Master s degree in Environmental Education), began devising three- to four-hour long weekend programs to teach children about the natural world and basic skills for outdoor survival. These weekends led to the Coyote Club, which now counts over 30 members, and attendance at anywhere between 20 and 25 (numbers which often include parents!). Activities range from identifying edible plants and journaling, to utensil-, fire-, and shelter-building. The kids love it, says Kevin, they thrive on the information, and learn hundreds of lessons. The best part is, no one feels like they re in school. It s learning through play, the traditional Native way. Much of the information and programs Kevin and Elizabeth teach come from the Tracker School in New Jersey, founded and run by Tom Brown; America s most renowned Tracker and Wilderness Survival expert. Tom received all his wilderness teachings at the knee of Stalking Wolf, an 83-year old Apache elder born free, who spent his life traveling the length of the Americas learning from other Native people living close to the earth. From ages 7 to 18, Tom apprenticed under his adoptive Grandfather and founded the Tracker School in 1978 to continue his teachings. Former Tracker School instructor Richard Cleveland, along with other local wilderness experts, also provides regular reinforcements to Coyote Club activities. We live in an age when so many children grow up learning to navigate their way around video games, ipads, cell phones, and other technology before learning to navigate their own backyard. Our relationship to the earth is something the Tinchers see as part of our lineage and a crucial part to safeguard. The things we learn in childhood stay with us a lifetime; so for future generations to be able to enjoy the same natural luxuries we do, as many children as possible need to be given the chance to walk safely into the arms of Mother Nature. Coyote Club Headquarters Lost Cove Naturalist Center: 160 Grassy Knoll Way Blowing Rock, NC Office: (828) lostcovenaturalist@gmail.com kltincher@bellsouth.net Page 4 Blue Ridge Mountain Club Community Magazine Issue 4. summer 2012 Blue Ridge Mountain Club Community Magazine Issue 4. summer 2012 Page 5

4 Home to Natural Luxuries An outdoor-centric community wouldn t be complete without a vast territory of varied and pristine wilderness ripe for adventure. At Blue Ridge Mountain Club, our signature national park-grade backyard is a 6,212-acre trove of truly moving, inspirational, spiritually uplifting scenes. They are never-ending, all-season, and the primary reward for venturing along just about any trail in the expansive BRMC network. Original Favorites The three most visited and talked about natural amenities on-property underscore the luxury of having daily access to crisp, clean, free-flowing (and in some cases, trout-filled ) water. The Cove Cabin A sensible footprint that lives large. With all this in your backyard, home truly is in the heart of a safeguarded natural sanctuary. At one with its surroundings, yet conceived for modern life, the Cove Cabin model cottage by Wishon & Carter brings an exciting new opportunity for modern mountain living to the BRMC listings page. Cove Cabin architecture was clearly inspired by the big outdoors. With a full en-suite master bedroom on the main-floor; open-plan kitchen, dining, and living room; room upstairs for up to two additional bedrooms; loft space, and gracious outdoor kitchen within a covered porch; this is one cabin that lives large. D e v e l o p m e n t Modern kitchens, quality finishes, and a fiber-optic network that keeps you as connected as in the city makes heading for the hills all the more viable and enticing. Especially when there is also room for guests. Private, convenient, easier on the environment, and nestled within your own private national park, the Cove Cabin is a sensibly perfect option for some of the time, or all of the time. 2-BED COVE CABIN FROM $329K 3-BED COVE CABIN FROM $339K Watson Gap Cottages From $399K Only Two Left! Featuring stone foundations, timber beams, cedar siding and shingles; as well as spacious outdoor living areas, room enough for an eight-person dining table and plenty of guest beds; our everpopular, designer-decorated model cottage is a home for generations. Model open daily! The Blue Hole, Laurel Creek Twelve feet at its depths, the Blue Hole is a natural swimming hole in Laurel Creek, a 1.2- mile hike from Watson Gap Park or an easy ½-mile trek from the Laurel Creek parking area. A favorite place to cool off in summer, this amenity is maintained by Mother Nature and supported by ongoing efforts to keep our streams clean. Elk Creek Stocked by the NC Department of Fisheries with three types of trout, Elk Creek is the perfect location for the budding angler. With easy access and wide-open lanes for casting, Elk Creek is an excellent way to hone your skills and land a lunker. Our collaboration with North Carolina Wildlife makes this a safe and exceptional fishing destination. The popular delayed harvest program assures that catches are virtually guaranteed for both novice anglers and enthusiasts alike. Up to seven fish per day (only at certain times each year) are permitted for consumption. Dugger Cascade & Creek One of the greatest payoffs of a hike into Dugger Valley, its namesake cascade was discovered last fall and has since been a star attraction at BRMC. Over 120 vertical feet in four separate cascades, this location is the ultimate picnic spot and the perfect place for taking a meditative moment. Answer The Call of Real Cottage Living Call (828) today! Drop by the BRMC Discovery Center at 1155 Main Street, Blowing Rock, NC Page 6 Blue Ridge Mountain Club Community Magazine Issue 4. summer 2012 Blue Ridge Mountain Club Community Magazine Issue 4. summer 2012 Page 7

5 The Blue Ridge Mountain Club Interactive Storybook See the views. Hear the peace. Learn about our values. Explore our parks and settlements. Meet some of our Blowing Rock neighbors. Get a taste for the endless adventures and possibilities a home at BRMC holds. Then book your personalized Discovery Tour and experience it all first-hand! Flip through our digital storybook online at or download it from the itunes App store today. The Embers Answer the call today (828) Main St, Blowing Rock N.C. Community Events July 27, 2012 The Blowing Rock Symphony A summertime favorite, the Blowing Rock Symphony gets the whole community out under the stars for an exquisite evening of wonderful music, fine dining, beautiful scenery, and fantastic fireworks on the grounds of the historic Chetola resort. This year the Symphony celebrates 25 years an event not to be missed! September 14, 2012 The North Carolina Beach Music Festival at BRMC Blue Ridge Mountain Club is partnering with the Blowing Rock Chamber of Commerce to host the first ever North Carolina Beach Music Festival on-property! The open-air concert features longtime favorites Chairmen of the Board and The Embers. Tickets are $28 and go on sale August 1 at the Blowing Rock Chamber of Commerce. For more information on these or any other BRMC-sponsored events, visit or call Harrison Herbst at (828) ext Blue Ridge Mountain Club Community Magazine Issue 4. summer 2012 Page 8 BLUE RIDGE MOUNTAIN CLUB est 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 Blowing Rock Resort Venture, LLC