The Headwaters Featured in Leading Mountain Magazine

While developer John Haynes didn’t coin the illusion/seclusion phrase, it’s perfect for the 880-acre North Carolina property he’s transforming into a luxury gated community. So, though residents of The Headwaters at Banner Elk may feel far from the modern world, they can be at one of the town’s fine downtown restaurants in just 15 minutes, treating them to the best of both worlds: pristine views and extraordinary small-town delights.

The Illusion of Seclusion: The Headwaters of Banner Elk

by Marla Hardee Milling

photos by Steven McBride

Reprinted from Mountain Homes Southern Style

Cathy and Allyn Stanton had every intention of turning their condo at The Headwaters at Banner Elk into a second home. That is until they moved into the luxury unit in October 2008 and found themselves resisting return trips to their Chicago home.

“It has my heart,” says Allyn of The Headwaters. “That’s why it’s hard to leave.”

The Stantons originally discovered Western North Carolina after reading an article about Asheville. But their first visit didn’t convince them; they had Colorado on their minds. After much searching, they decided to return to Asheville in March 2008 for another look. “It knocked our socks off,” says Allyn. “We thought, ‘This is it. Now we just have to find a place.’” They put a contract on property north of Asheville, but one day, they took a drive to Banner Elk and discovered The Headwaters. They fell in love and never looked back, smitten by three critical components: property, place and people.

“That combo,” Allyn says, “won on its own.”

Along with Tash, their beloved English Springer Spaniel, the Stantons spend an average seven of every eight weeks in Banner Elk. Owners of a successful Chicago medical-device marketing company with a staff of 10, they’ve found it efficient to work from their condo, where they have flat-screen computers situated back-to-back in the living room.

This luxury is possible because The Headwatersis the only certified fiber-optic community in Avery County. Residents receive up to 250 channels of digital cable, unlimited long distance, high-speed Internet faster than DSL or cable, and remote home monitoring services via a state-of-the-art fiber-optic system. Having this access has been pivotal to granting the Stantons the option of using their condo as a primary residence while telecommuting to their Illinois offices.

“Without fiber optics, we couldn’t have done it,” says Allyn. “We run our company from here and only go back for staff meetings.”

When the lure of the mountains draws their attention away from work, the Stantons explore the development and the neighboring Pisgah and the Cherokee National forests. A favorite area is beside one of the property’s lakes, where they enjoy grilling dinner and letting Tash swim.

“We feel like we’re the pioneers here,” says Allyn. “Every day is a new day – finding a new section of trail or seeing new landscaping.”

Promises Delivered

Fresh energy pulses through the community with the newly opened clubhouse sitting on land that provides the development’s most impressive views. With tennis courts and swimming pool on track to follow shortly, the structure features more than 2,000 square feet of decking to enjoy the scenery, while the interior includes meeting space, a gourmet kitchen, fitness center, game room and state-of-the-art theatre.

“My vision of the perfect moment is sitting back on the deck of the clubhouse with a great bottle of wine,” says Allyn. “Just to relax and enjoy that breathtaking mountain range is overwhelming.”

“When you come to the mountains, get into the mountains,” developer John Haynes advises. “I hammer that home a lot. On the first drive out, many people will say, ‘Gosh, it’s a long way out here.’ But we’re only 12 minutes from the stoplight in Banner Elk. We have the illusion of seclusion, but we are convenient to day-to-day services.”

A non-golf community, The Headwaters instead caters to those who enjoy nature and want a more national-forest type experience. As Haynes points out, the topography and lay of the land are different here.

“We go across the face of the mountain as opposed to up or down,” he explains. “Folks can walk our roads, ride bikes and hike to waterfalls and streams. We want to encourage people to get outside and engage with the land.”

“I wander every day,” says Cathy Stanton. “I walk from our villa to Sunset Park [a portion of the community]. It’s an amazing walk. I’ve also walked a few times to the clubhouse and back.”

Sunset Park is indicative of the special places created throughout the property. In this intimate area, a wildflower-framed nook hosts a swing and chair, situated to view mountain sunsets. Other surprises appear around every turn, with parks at the two trout-stocked lakes, and a carefully maintained and expanding trail system. A special place called Deer Creek Park sparks the hearts of any child, no matter the age.

“This is my favorite spot,” says Haynes, as he follows a path into the tree-canopied cover of a playground fit for Peter Pan. “I almost expect to see elves pop out.” Intricate electricity-equipped tree houses, with holes in the roof to allow access, mingle amid camping sites, a 60-foot swinging bridge and a magical feeling in the air.

Forward Movement

Sales remain steady at The Headwaters despite a national downward real estate trend.

“There are communities here that haven’t closed anything in 12 months,” Haynes points out. “Even in a down market, we continue to do very well. Our walk-in traffic has doubled over last year; we’re the top-selling community in Avery County, and probably the second top-selling in the region. We have real parks and trails, not just on a site plan, and I’ve put amenities in up front, instead of waiting.”

This proactive stance convinces prospective buyers that the community will progress as promised. Currently, it includes home sites, turn key single family homes, condominium units and cottages. The plan ultimately calls for 200 homes, 140 condos and 60 cottages. Since April 2006, homebuyers have purchased 80 properties, and the development today has 26 homes and condos. The final phase is expected to be sold out within five to six years.

“People who are looking for an acre or two in the woods can find it here,” says Haynes, as he details land prices in the development between $157,000 and $439,000 for one to four acres. He notes that an average lot – consisting of one and three quarter acres with a good view – is selling in the $220,000s.

Cottages range from 1,000 to 1,700 square feet and are designed for people desiring a “cabin in the woods” instead of a pricier luxury home. The cost runs from the low $300,000s to mid $500,000s, with the average lot size set at 1 1/2 acres.

For many visitors, the ample space of the condos is a surprise. For example, the Springhouse Villas,where the Stantons live, consist of three buildings on 10 1/2 acres. Each building has only four units, making each an end unit with an impressive view unmarred by a neighbor’s roofline. Selling price for these range from the upper $300,000s to low $500,000s. As a courtesy, Haynes keeps two units available exclusively for land owners and real estate guests who want to stay on the property.

“If you buy a home site here and don’t build right away, you shouldn’t have to stay at the Best Western when you come up,” he says, pointing out that another site is planned for more condo units, each ranging from 1,300 to 1,700 square feet. “I haven’t priced these yet,” he adds, “but I have a price in mind that will surprise the market.”

And while many communities in the region draw their largest group of buyers from Atlanta and Florida, The Headwaters is seeing a different demographic ratio:

“Fifty-five percent of our market comes from North Carolina – Charlotte, Raleigh, Greensboro,” says Haynes. “Twenty-five percent comes from Florida, and the rest is scattered.”

Motivated by Faith

The son of a minister, Haynes and his wife Josephine, the daughter of missionaries, put their faith to the test when they were faced with the opportunity to buy the Banner Elk property. They had land under contract in Waynesville, N.C., yet they had concerns about whether it was right or not for their project.

When he learned of the Banner Elk site, John toured it on a rainy Wednesday in August 2005. The next Wednesday, after careful discussion and much prayer, he put down a $35,000 deposit.

“It sat abandoned for four years,” he says as he steers his SUV through the community. “Part of the property had been plaited out. It was overgrown – a mess. Access was bad. But I saw the opportunity. I just felt in my heart it was right.” The moment he made a decision to buy, he used his 21 years of real estate experience to leap into action.

He changed the name to The Headwaters and immediately began a marketing campaign. The day the property closed, Haynes had 18 contracts in hand and converted each to a successful closing.

“I believe God laid this in my hands,” he says. “He has ordained it and blessed it. That doesn’t mean it’s been easy, but it’s uncanny how things have fallen into place at the eleventh hour.”

A sign in the welcome center explains why he calls the development Headwaters. It reads: “I am a Christian and the Bible speaks of Jesus Christ as being the ‘source of living waters,’ and if ‘any man should drink of this living water, he’ll never go thirsty again.’ Here at Headwaters, there are many springs coming out of the mountains and they remind me of Christ’s love and power that continually renews my strength and spirit each day.”

One of Haynes’ goals is to build cabins for use by missionaries, pastors and ministers. He recalls that growing up in a minister’s family, well-to-do members of the congregation offered them time at their beach homes. Now he’s in the position to do something similar.

“I want to do that at Headwaters,” he says. “To me, it’s a bigger picture of being successful. I see this as an opportunity to fund other things.”

Blending into the area

As Haynes works to build The Headwaters, he has understood the value of becoming part of the community. With his easygoing personality and native North Carolina accent, he’s more like a lifetime local resident than someone who just moved in two years ago, although he did grow up visiting and exploring the mountains around his parents’ birthplace in nearby Elizabethton, Tenn.

Cindy and Paul Goedhart, who own the historic 1902 Turnpike House B&B, say Haynes has set himself apart as someone who works hard to contribute to the town’s well-being.

“He really went out of his way to meet people from all over the community, and develop relationships based on trust and respect,” says Cindy. “A lot of people here would do anything for John. He’s a good guy.”