Connecting with Nature at The Coves
“Can’t you see the sunshine? Can’t you just feel the moonshine?” Thanks to The Coves Mountain River Club on the Johns River, you don’t have to just go to Carolina in your mind… you can live there year-round!
The Coves is a thriving retirement community nestled in the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains, adjacent to the cities of Lenoir and Blowing Rock, North Carolina. So just what makes The Coves so special? Maybe it’s the sweeping views of the Blue Ridge Mountains, the fresh, crystalline rivers fed by mountain streams, or the vibrant, gated community bursting with personality and activity. Let’s have a look around!
The Nature
Even among the stunning beauty of North Carolina, The Coves is truly unique. Spanning 3,600 acres of varied and vibrant topography, The Coves offers access to five unspoiled miles of frontage on the Johns River, and the connected Wilson Creek, a federally designated Scenic and Wild River, and miles upon miles of rolling mountain views.
Thanks to its mountainous elevations, The Coves benefits from mild year-round temperatures. You’ll get one or two light snowfalls a year at The Coves, and you can enjoy all manner of outdoor activities year-round. The summers are warm but not stifling, the spring and autumn are mild, and the Blue Ridge Mountains’ dramatic fall foliage is simply breathtaking.
The Johns River is a lazy, winding river and a true gem of Mother Nature. Sparkling, clear, and slow-moving, it winds around deep swimming holes and follows channels past rocky shoals. The Johns River has something for everyone. Fly fishing enthusiasts consider the Johns River and Wilson Creek as top fishing destinations in the U.S. Trout, bass, catfish, and more are plenty.
For a laid back 1.5 to 2-hour float, put in your tube, kayak, or canoe at The Johns River Park Pavilion and float down to the low-water bridge turnout. Keep going, for hours or all day, and reach The Catawba River. For the more adventurous, Wilson Creek has class I, II and III whitewater rafting and kayaking. Or visit one of the shallow shady coves and splash around in in the heat of summer. Nearby, trails crisscross past waterfalls and amazing rock formations carved out over the millennia. The Coves is home to four sparkling waterfalls and miles and miles of wide, scenic hiking trails - 13 of which are horse-friendly.
To top it all off, the Coves is a short distance from at least three national protected forests via the Blue Mountain Parkway. Pisgah National Forest, Nantahala Forest, and Chattahoochee National Forest collectively boast over one million acres of soaring mountain peaks, cascading waterfalls, and verdant forested slopes.
The Amenities
Ascend into the mountain’s heights to enjoy the warmth and luxury of the Pisgah Mountain Lodge. From its elevation of 1,700 feet, the Lodge offers an unparalleled vantage point. Take in the 360-degree view and observe some of North Carolina’s most majestic mountain ranges, including Grandfather Mountain, Table Rock Mountain, and the South Mountain range. The Lodge also features luxuriously modern amenities, including an infinity-view saline swimming pool, hot tub, and well-stocked fitness center. And be sure to check out the lodge’s wraparound outdoor veranda and cozy fire pit, where you can enjoy the exquisite mountain views and a sky full of brilliant stars.
Spend the day in Evelyn’s Vineyard, a lush, craftsman-style vineyard bursting with muscadine and European-style vinifera grapes. A new addition to the amenities at The Coves, the vineyard’s riverside location and open, welcoming layout make it a fast favorite among wine enthusiasts.
Isabel’s Garden is a sunny, English-style community garden. Here, residents can claim a garden plot and grow their own farm to table produce, fragrant herbs, and crops of beautiful flowers. Get your hands dirty and do it yourself - or get a little help from the garden committee!
The Coves is the proud home of Round Mountain Ranch, an eight-stall, full-service equestrian center with eight acres of pasture located along the banks of the Johns River. A second horse barn in the southeastern section is in planning now. Walk, trot, and canter along The Coves’ 13 miles of equestrian-friendly Highland River and Magnolia Trails and enjoy the incomparable views.
The community also features four well cared for community parks. One such park, Coves River Park, sits in the center of it all. With nearby riverside hiking trails, an outdoor kitchen and fire pit, access to Penelope Sliding Rock Falls, two community gardens, and Coleton’s Swimming Hole, there’s no better way to spend a day than at Coves River Park.
The Real Estate
Real estate in The Coves is available in a range of prices, sizes, and styles. Houses for sale in The Coves Mountain River Club can cost anywhere from $300,000 for a low-maintenance cottage to $900,000 for a luxurious mountaintop home with close to 5,000 square feet.
The Coves’ affinity for all things equestrian doesn’t end with the ranch: many of the community’s properties, called “High Country Farms“, are laid out for horse owners to build a home and barn and they feature additional parcels of acreage with improved pasture space. You can purchase these parcels for around $5,000 per acre.
To top it all off, The Coves’ Homeowners’ Association fee for properties of less than 10 acres comes to $1,480 per year, $1,780 per year for 10+ acres, and grants unlimited access to the community amenities.
Property in The Coves isn’t just land or a house - it’s a home, a community. You have a chance to become part of something magnificent. Are you headed to Carolina in your mind?
