Rock Creek Becomes a Private Mountain Sanctuary

I looked down from Falcon Ridge in Cashiers, North Carolina. I saw a section of the valley below that had 100 concrete pads with utility hookups and a cement driveway running down the middle.  The construction was for the initial phase of an RV park to be called Sapphire Ridge. The density of 100 units on 8 acres of land was excessive and crowded the natural beauty of the mountain land surrounding it. I felt that such use was inappropriate, especially for land covered in untouched forests, streams, and waterfalls. I decided then that this property needed to be protected.  It became my duty to create a preserve out of this property allowing over 100 different species of animals and plants to live in their habitat’s natural state.

Before Preserve at Rock Creek

After Preserve at Rock Creek

I purchased the property and thus began the private mountain sanctuary now named Preserve at Rock Creek. I immediately set out to reverse the negative stigma associated with the prior use.  The concrete pads and hookups were removed, creating an open meadow. I surrounded the meadow with a wood fence so that horses could roam free inside. Now it was time for permanent action.  To forever preserve the sanctity of this land, I placed the entire 8 acres of the meadow into a private conservation with the North American Land Trust acting as the steward.

Under the direction of NALT and two land planners, I proceeded to expand on the conservation theme for the entire property. Over the next few years, I dedicated 215 of the total 320 acres (two-thirds) for permanent conservation.  This land will be protected forever.  It will never be compromised and will remain in its natural state preventing further encroachment from mankind.

Surrounded by these 320 acres of conserved land, the Preserve at Rock Creek has only 24 estate lots. Careful land planning was implemented to create such a low density land development in Western North Carolina. The plan called for large estate lots of up to 5 acres with some of the best long range views in the area.

Located on the southern face of Toxaway Mountain, the Preserve at Rock Creek is simply about space, privacy, and sensitivity to the natural habitat. This unique concept is unmatched in the Sapphire Valley area and offers owners their own private mountain sanctuary, one that will provide families with permanent natural security for generations to come.