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If you live in western North Carolina, you already know we live in one of the best places in our country. The fact you are looking at this page suggests you have an interest, so why not take the plunge? Check your calendar, plan a trip and see for yourself! You'll discover more than we can possibly describe with words and pictures. Here, life is fun again. Here, life isn't so complicated. You don't have to put up with traffic, sirens, long lines, noise. Here in Rutherford County, you'll stop and enjoy something as simple as a night sky full of stars, or deer running through the woods. We also enjoy being near so many activities!
Golf
Local golf courses include:
The picture (left) is of the 2009 Quail Hollow Championship, a PGA tournament held each year in Charlotte, NC (now known as the Wells Fargo Championship). Just a little over an hour's drive away, the four-day event brings golfers from around the world (and spectators from around the world, too). If you've never been to a golf tournament, treat yourself. It is amazing to see so many people speaking in hushed tones throughout the day. The beautiful courses are a treat, too.
State Parks
The following parks are within an hour's drive (+/-) of our beautiful property offerings in Rutherford County.
Chimney Rock Park was recently purchased by the State of North Carolina for inclusion into the state park system. It includes hiking trails, views of a 404' waterfall, and views of Lake Lure and the Hickory Nut Gorge.
Lake James features two separate areas on the 6500 acre lake with swimming, canoe & kayak rentals, picnic areas, overnight camping facilities, beautiful mountain views and hiking trails.
Grandfather Mountain, while mostly privately owned, has 2,700 acres of state-owned lands. Access to the park through the trail heads at the base of the mountain is free of charge. A small fee applies for cars driving into the famous location, known for the mile-high swinging bridge. The mountain offers challenging hiking trails, a small zoo, a museum and a gift shop as well.
DuPont Forest is over 10,000 acres of trails, forest, and waterfalls. Lots of waterfalls. Bridal Veil Falls, Triple Falls, Hooker Falls, High Falls, Grassy Creek Falls, and more. You'll spend the whole day here, so bring your camera and a picnic!
Linville Falls, right off the Blue Ridge Parkway, is the primary feature of the Linville Gorge. Moderate trails lead to one of western North Carolina’s most photographed waterfall.
Water
Lake Lure offers swimming, wake boarding, skiing, kayaking, boating, and fishing. Lake James is just north, and covers over 6,500 acres, with the same kind of activities available. If you're looking for white water fun, try a French Broad River rafting trip, just north of Asheville. The Green River, the Broad River, the Rocky Broad River all offer fishing, and you'll probably find a few swimming holes, too. Sliding Rock near Hendersonville is certainly worth a visit. There is nothing quite like hearing children scream as they slide into the icy water. Nice shade of blue, too!
Sports
The spring and summer months provide plenty of sparkle, with fireworks frequently displayed after a fun evening watching the Forest City Owls play their minor league opponents. Many Rutherford County residents drive to Charlotte to watch the Carolina Panthers. When winter shows up, we put on our boots and ski apparel, and head for the slopes. Sugar Mtn, Beech Mtn and several other ski resort mountains are just over an hour’s drive. Maybe you're a golfer? In addition to our own, plenty of beautiful western North Carolina courses await you, for nearly year ‘round play.
Other Attractions & Events
A great site to check out for the local events is www.RutherfordEvents.com. Probably the most well-known attraction in all of western North Carolina is the Biltmore Estate, under an hours' drive, in Asheville. Children love KidSenses museum and toy store in downtown Rutherfordton, and you won’t believe the selections from around the world at the Broad River Gem company. What a treat for the eyes!
If you want a little more action, try Carowinds theme park in Charlotte, and for one weekend in the month July, Asheville hosts the Bele Chere festival downtown.
The Blue Ridge Parkway is always a nice escape, too. Two lanes, no trucks, beautiful surroundings, tunnels and an abundance of scenic overlooks. If you are going north on Hwy 221 to get to the Parkway, you'll pass Linville Caverns. This underground museum is well maintained, an unusual treat for the eyes, and worth the stop!
Climate is one of the things people look for when they want a change. You'll like this weather update!
When you are searching for a place to get away, or looking to relocate, the weather is probably going to play a roll in your decision making. At a minimum, people generally want to know what to expect. If you made it this far on our web site, we're pretty sure you're not looking for a Florida or Michigan type of climate. Here you will find early spring flowers, and a long growing season tempered with a lengthy autumn giving you time to adjust to a chilly (but not too cold) winter. We find the process delightful, and we're confidant you will, too.
One of the things that creates considerable buzz about western North Carolina is our favorable climate. In our efforts to promote this beautiful area, we speak to people from all over the country, mostly from the eastern seaboard. They say Florida summers are too hot and too long. The folks in the northeast say the winters seem to last half the year. We enjoy four comfortable seasons in Rutherford County, each about three months long
Summers are warm, with temps in the upper 80’s, with each morning usually starting out in the 60’s. Winters are cool, in the upper 40’s mostly. A little snow falls our way, usually twice during winter, and a couple inches each, as an average. Enough to look pretty, but not cause any problems (although our northern friends laugh, because we close the schools when there is even a dusting of snow on the ground). The winter of 2009-2010 was dramatic enough with five snowfalls for a total of 23 inches.
Fall is absolutely beautiful here in the upper foothills and mountains. Being surrounded by thousands of hardwood trees, turning brilliant colors of orange, yellow and red is like living in a postcard. And springtime is gorgeous. Here it lasts three months (our southern friends usually get about two weeks of truly beautiful spring weather). Our average humidity for winter is 50%, and it climbs to about 75% during the summer months. Here is the data:
average rain fall....................50.34" average snow fall...................2.74" average temp...........................59° average summer humidity........75% average winter humidity...........50% average high - august...............85° average low - august................68° average high january................47° average low january.................32°
What makes our climate so desirable? Being surrounded by the mountains creates a kind of cushion called the Isothermal Belt. Temperatures stay mild. You may be just considering a vacation home in this area, but if you are thinking permanent relocation or retirement, you are in for a pleasant change of weather!
In case you were wondering, the colorful map (above) is a "plant hardiness" map, showing the average annual minimum temperature. When you are gardening here, choose plants that can tolerate cold from 5° to 10° (F).
Award winning healthcare within minutes of your new western North Carolina property.
While you can buy property in the far reaches of North Carolina (and elsewhere), miles from civilization, groceries, healthcare, emergency services....why would you want to? You can have the same peace and quiet of being a hundred miles away, and actually only be ten minutes from the emergency room at the Rutherford Hospital (we hope you will never need it). With Rutherfordton as the county seat, everything you need is just down the road, literally. Since it's a town of 4,100 people, it's small, quaint, quiet, and convenient.
Rutherfordton is the county seat and the location of a 143 bed hospital including several medical specialties. Making the list of top 100 hospitals of the nation by Reuters Thompson (www.100tophospitals.com) in 2008, Rutherford Hospital is currently owned by Dduke LifePoint Healthcare. the hospital features emergency care, a cardiac and pulmonary center, physical, speech and occupational therapies, psychiatric, radiology, surgery and outpatient centers.
Founded in 1906 by Drs. Henry Norris and Montgomery Biggs, Rutherford Hospital is a not-for-profit hospital governed by a local Board of Trustees and licensed for 143 private acute care beds. Providing patients with a full range of services to meet their healthcare needs, the hospital has over 90 qualified physicians and over 20 medical specialties.
For those who have served our country, a VA Clinic recently opened in Rutherfordton, and the regional Veterans Administration Hospital is just a 40 minute drive to the east side of Asheville (exit 55 off Interstate 40).
While reviewing your real estate options, you may want to stay a night or two at one of these establishments.
Come for a vacation, a visit, or better yet, stay a while and check out some of our beautiful properties for sale. The lodging options below are all good places to stay, and come recommended by those who have been here before you. Need a place that will welcome your pets? The Baymont Inn is pet friendly, as is Four Paws campground. Your more indulgent option is the Lodge on Lake Lure, where you'll feel like royalty. Of course, you'll feel pretty satisfied when you decide to purchase a piece of western North Carolina real estate, too.