Virtual Tour of Waynesville NC

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Virtual Tour of Maggie Valley NC

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Maggie Valley NC celebrates Bicentennial

Maggie Valley, NC celebrates Bicentennial with Storytelling


Maggie Valley neighbors and visitors enjoyed a special day with regional and local storytellers and crafts people on July 12, 2008. As Maggie Valley celebrates its bicentennial, the storytellers told of country store politics, mountain preachers, hound dogs, and even the dumb blonde.

As one local storyteller stated,” I learned to laugh at myself early on; cuz I realized I would miss out on half the fun in life if I didn’t”.

The Stomping ground hall was a twitter with the snickers of the crowd, punching each other in the sides and nodding, and with toe tapping during the mountain music intervals. All this entertainment – and it was for free.

The Maggie Valley festival grounds were busy with the Arts and Crafts Festival. There were many crafts booths and tasty foods.

A motorcycle rally passed through the valley on a scenic tour. And it was scenic that day.

The weather was perfect for July; blue skies and a high of about 78 degrees. Does it get any better than that?

The Great Smoky Mountains National Park & Cataloochie Valley

The nation’s most popular National Park is on the very doorstep of Maggie Valley. The Great Smoky Mountains 520,000 acres of pristine mountainous terrain are protected under a national park status.

Haywood County has its own gateway into the National Park via the Cataloochee Valley on the far eastern side of the park. Camping, hiking, trout fishing, tubing, horseback riding and mountain biking are some of the outdoor recreation opportunities the national park has to offer.

The popular and remote Cataloochee Valley (an historical section of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park) dips into the northeastern corner of Haywood County near Maggie Valley. The classification of Maggie Valley as the ‘Elk Capital of North Carolina’ is well deserved since the Cataloochee Valley is home to approximately 120 head of elk. This provides a favorite destination for many visitors especially at sunset and early morning.

The Cataloochee Valley gravel forestry road is well maintained and used by many visitors who enjoy getting away. This access road into the Great Smoky Mountains is not paved like the Newfound Gap Road (US Hwy 441) from Cherokee to Gatlinburg,TN.

Cattaloochee Valley makes a great day trip, but remember to take food and supplies into the valley. This area is not to be confused with the Cataloochee Ski resort on the other side of Maggie. To find the Valley, travel Hwy 276 North following signs to I-40. Just before you reach the I-40 entrance take a left on White Oak Road and follow signs to the Cataloochee Valley. The road is gravel for a long way so do not give up too soon.

Take only pictures – Leave only Footprints

Great Smoky Mountains, Maggie Valley NC

The High Country of the Great Smoky Mountains
‘The High Country of the Great Smoky Mountains’ is an apt description of Haywood County because within its boundary are 19 mountain peaks, all reaching well over 6,000 feet above sea level. Haywood County’s 19 mountain peaks are the largest number of mountain peaks over 6,000 feet in any single county east of the Rocky Mountains.

Maggie Valley is well known as a steep mountain valley surrounded by these towering peaks. In the heat of summer, the air rises over these high mountains causing it to cool before it flows down into the valley providing a cool breeze. They also provide snow fall for the Cataloochee Ski area in the winter months. The long distance and dramatic mountain views are a trademark. All these factors contribute to make Maggie Valley a popular vacation destination.

“Its’ ever expanding communities of vacation homes and year round residents has made Haywood County one of the most prestigious regions in all Western North Carolina”, quoted from, Blue Ridge Highlander.com

Pat Bennett, Maggie Valley, NC real estate

Pat Bennett

Pat Bennett was born in Miami, Florida, where his family arrived by covered wagon as one of the original settlers in 1892. It was a wonderful place to grow up with salt water fishing, pleasant climate, and his family living nearby. Pat graduated from Coral Park High School and went on to Miami Dade Junior College and on to graduate from University of Georgia with a BS-ED in Education with a history minor.

He returned to Miami to begin teaching. As he sat in bumper to bumper traffic, traveling to work one day, he decided times had changed and he wanted to raise his children in a different environment. So after spending many summers in western North Carolina outside Cashiers, he knew just where he wanted to be.

In 1975, an opportunity arose to become the Personnel Director for western North Carolina Department of Transportation. He learned a lot about politics and the mountains in that position. He lived in Maggie Valley and eventually purchased the IGA grocery store in town and operated it for several years with his Mother, before selling it to his brother. It seems that much of the family had gotten the same idea and had relocated to the mountains as well. Pat settled down and started raising a family with two daughters Rachael and Sarah.

Once Pat went into real estate in 1977, there was no looking back. He sold the grocery and ended up buying the real estate office he worked with, REALTY WORLD – Heritage Realty. This is probably the oldest operating real estate office in Haywood County.

Since those early days, Pat has seen a lot of real estate trends come and go:
•the high interest rates of the 1980’s followed by the Savings and Loans crash induced opportunities for creative financing,
•the origination of the MLS and then the internet have changed real estate forever,
•the addition of Rental Management (Carolina Vacations) and its growth to the largest rental management company west of Asheville,
•the building of REALTY WORLD – Heritage into one of the top producing companies in the county, and
•the knowledge gained in building eleven (11) residential developments from the ground up, in an ever changing regulatory environment.
Times have changed, and he has learned from each experience.

Pat is focusing on the development of Katua Falls at this time. New construction of homes in Katua Falls is next on the agenda. He has sold his interest in Carolina Vacations and REALTY WORLD – Heritage to business associates.

His extensive experience is a benefit to any project or investor with whom he is involved.

Hire a Professional - MAggie Valley NC real estate

‘If you think hiring a professional is expensive; wait until you hire an amateur’
-anonymous

Please choose: Lynda Bennett
Real estate broker - Maggie Valley and Waynesville, NC

Maggie Valley NC real estate: Bank Owned Properties

There is considerable interest in Bank Owned properties at this time. Six new log cabins have just entered the market, plus one track of land. These are located in Wolf Creek Resort, Maggie Valley, NC. the Bank owned prices start at $273,000 and top out at $353,000. This accounts for up to a $192,000 reduction in price. This is a summary of the price changes.

• 191 Driftwood Loop (Casa Lizzie)New MLS# 417636 - $273,000 -Old MLS #393762 $296,750



• 193 Driftwood Loop (Lazy Willow)New MLS# 417774 - $347,000-Old MLS #393858 $539,000



• 209 Driftwood Loop (Andre’s)New MLS# 417806 - $309,900-Old MLS #393860 $429,000



• 266 Driftwood Loop (Allen’s T.P) New MLS# 417828 - $273,000-Old MLS #393904 $429,000



• 282 Driftwood (Linen House) New MLS# 417878 -$353,900 - Old MLS #393905 $539,000



• 7 Acorn Way (Casa Abby) New MLS# 417903 - $275,000 - Old MLS #393903 $299,750
  3.29 acres Acorn Way (Vacant Land) *New MLS#417919 - $170,000 *(All remaining vacant land in Wolf Creek Resort is now included in this listing)

Contact: Lynda Bennett for more information.
828421-7279

Maggie Valley NC real estate

WHAT MAKES THE WESTERN NORTH CAROLINA MOUNTAINS SO SPECIAL?
by: Lynda Bennett

The answers are easy to find. Since the days when the locomotives first chugged up the
Saluda grade to destinations such as Flat Rock, Lake Lure, Waynesville, Black Mountain, Dillsboro and Asheville, “summer people” have been visiting the mountains. They may have come for different reasons such as the lack of air conditioning or the fear of mosquitoes laden with disease in the sultry southern lowlands, or a family connection brought them home. The original reasons varied from person to person.

The reasons they found to return year after year - and to love these mountains - can still be found here today.

All age groups will find a reason to come to the mountains … and to return year after year. Each visit brings new discoveries and a return to many places that have become favorites over a lifetime.

One reason the connection is so special is that people begin to develop “Roots” in the mountains that last through the generations. The connection brings people back and they in turn bring family and friends with them to share this special place. In time, many folks come to call these mountains “home” (or second home).

So what have all these summer people been doing with themselves?
What makes these mountains so special?

The Scenic Beauty:
Shining Rock Wilderness area
Water Rock Knob – a short climb
Blue Ridge Parkway – drive the top ridge of the mountains
The Great Smoky Mountains National Park
Maggie Valley – view from Hwy. 19 past Ghost Town

The Cultural Attractions:
Cherokee Indians – museum, basket making tradition, Unto These Hills
Handicrafts – local potters, quilt makers, wood working, and more
Mountain Music and Dancing
Local HART Theatre
Local Craft Shows

The Historical Aspects:
Cataloochie Valley – Elk preserve and old Mountain Heritage community
Historic Downtown Waynesville – for food, shopping and fun
Shelton House Museum
Canton Paper Museum and Opera House

The Great Outdoors:
Scenic Drives
White Water rafting, kayaking, and floating
The Southernmost Ski Slope on the East Coast
Waterfalls and Sliding Rock
Hiking
Mountain Biking – see Tsali Trails
Horseback Riding
Trout fishing in Jonathan creek, Maggie Valley

The Quiet Culture:
We call ourselves the ‘Quiet Side of the Mountains”
Read a good book about the region
Sip on a mug of tea
Play games
Chase butterflies
Identify song birds and raptors, wild flowers and trees
Build a fire and sit around it
Play in a creek

It will not take long before you will be planning to move here or at least to come back for your next visit.

Check out http://www.mountainheritage.com/ for specific information on these activities.