Symphony in the Blue Ridge Mountains at Big Canoe Georgia
Close your eyes for a moment and imagine the sounds of violins and wind instruments echoing across the lake while seated on the lawn at Big Canoe, a northern Georgia mountain community. The occasion, Big Canoe’s annual Concert on the Green in the Blue Ridge Mountains. On a crisp cool day this past October, residents of Big Canoe gathered together to enjoy Reinhardt University’s Symphony Orchestra and Choir perform on their outdoor lawn. While music was like candy to their ears, the breathtaking views competed visually for their attention. As if on cue from the musical conductor, wild geese flew off in Vee-formation during the concert. The annual Concert on the Green is one of many cultural experiences coordinated by residents hosted inside the gates of this huge master planned community.
We visited Big Canoe to see for ourselves why Floridian’s are drawn like magnets to Big Canoe claiming their retirement stake in the Blue Ridge Mountains. To give you a perception of the size of this impressive northern Georgia mountain community, at an elevation of 3,200 feet, Big Canoe is spread across seven mountains. Big Canoe began development in 1987 and to date has about 2,750 homes built of the 4,750 planned. For over 20 years, the debt free real estate developer - Big Canoe Company owned by Byrne Corporation of Georgia and Greenwood Communities and Resorts, has carefully preserved this large land tract in its most natural state while conservatively managing its comprehensive community amenities owned by the Property Owners Association. The community at large has Certified Wildlife Habitats by the National Wildlife Federation and is adjacent to 28,000 acre Dawson Forest Wildlife Management Area. Big Canoe prides itself providing residents a ‘national park’ like setting to live.
Lake Petit is the largest lake at Big Canoe and was the lake where music reflected during the Concert on the Greens. Lake Petit is one of three beautiful lakes at Big Canoe replenished with Rainbow Trout. Boating is possible on Lake Petit using non-combustable power engines. Hugging the shoreline of Lake Petit leading up into the mountains, Big Canoe’s golf course designed by Joe Lee has been named one of the Top Golf Courses in Georgia providing golfers challenging elevation fluctuations on the links. Big Canoe’s golf clubhouse is brand new and overlooks Lake Petit.
The list of this northen Georgia mountain community amenities are lengthy so we can’t imagine residents ever being bored. What we're impressed with is the closeness and friendships amongst the residents, the ‘Big Canoe Family’ they have created. More than 50 social clubs meet sharing hobbies, interests and significant events like the Concert on the Green. The demographics in the early stages of the development may have slated Big Canoe as a second home community. With 10,000 Baby Boomers retiring each day now, retirees who seek a safe master planned community in the Blue Ridge Mountains have Big Canoe as a year round option.
When you compare the cost of living with other mountain communities in the Southeast, you will find Big Canoe delivers a big bang for the buck in the mountains of northern Georgia. Big Canoe’s 24 hour gated entrance provides the ultimate sense of privacy and seclusion. With over 100 miles of roads inside the gates of Big Canoe, you can easily get lost as we did on our first visit. Our camera and I didn’t mind a bit as we pulled off the road frequently to capture the views.
If you are searching for a where to retire in the Blue Ridge Mountains and would like to be our VIP guest at Big Canoe, write us at info@communityfinder.com or call us toll free at 866.384.1799. Maybe you'd like the opportunity to play one of the top golf courses in Georgia. You can do this too at Big Canoe, a superb northern Georgia mountain community.
