The Towes Garden--July 09

Elk Mountain Highlands

Elk Mountain Highlands: Only 5 miles from Asheville's City Limits, and and just below the Blue Ridge Parkway--mountaintop living just above the Beaverdam Valley of North Asheville. Carefully planned low impact development, that preserves nature by disturbing it as little as possible defines this community. Long range views and privacy in a unique mountain community that is so close to shopping and downtown activities. Coming soon...stay tuned.

Pisgah Highlands Communities

Pisgah Highlands Communities: Another environmentally inspired, low impact, low density residential habitat nestled against Pisgah National Forest just below the Blue Ridge Parkway---and only 8 1/2 miles from the Asheville City Limit. Hiking trails, creek frontage, and incredible ridgetop homesites with panoramic views of Pisgah National Forest. You can build your dream home, and have natures playground at your doorstep with over 180,000 acres of National Forest and designated Wilderness Areas next door. Properties range in price from $99,900 to $275,000. If you're looking for privacy and a recreational dream...look no further.
See more at www.stevetowe.com.

Elk Mountain Highlands

Well, I love creating beautiful environments. That will ultimately be my chosen legacy. Some people like golf, or tennis, or puzzles....I love creating environmentally sound, off the charts beautiful environments. Growing up as a third generation landscape professional...my only profession until age 38, it is evidently in my genes and firmly implanted in my vision of how to create unique and beautiful residential communities. At last count, I have been intimately involved in the design, marketing and sales of over a dozen Asheville communities---utilizing low impact, low density designs that preserve nature by disturbing it as little as possible.

Some misguided but well meaning folks don't understand that in mountain development it is destructive to have "One size fits all" development regulations. No two properties are identical in these mountains. One size fits all regulations are inherently destructive to the environment, because they refuse to recognize the uniqueness of individual terrains, and because they are too often crafted and legislated by people who don't understand anything about development and the dramatic impact terrain has on the ultimate outcome of land disturbing activity. Politicians make decisions far too often to please a vocal minority, and do not listen to the experts who understand how to do it right.

This must change, and one way to change it is to have a separate "Conservation Development Ordinance" that uses incentives and rewards to create positive, low impact, attractive communities. Mountain Council for Accountable Development-- a joint effort of The Asheville Homebuilders Association and The Asheville Board of REALTORS, is leading the way in this effort (see www.mountaindevelopment.org).

Fall is a glorious time in the mountains of North Carolina. Ever wonder why so many people are seemingly unhappy with their lives? When our days have no sense of wonder, no sense of excitement and awe toward the natural beauty of the tremendous wilderness areas we are so blessed with...it's easy to be unhappy. Get out, take a hike, smell the flowers, the moss, touch the leaves and jump in a crystal clear pool....let the weariness of the world go, and replace it with your child wonder. You'll find the answers you seek-- not in worry or stress or obsesssion, but in allowing yourself to feel, to appreciate the absolute beauty of this earth and all it's gifts. In a Simon and Garfunkel song from long ago...."I'd rather be a forest than a street, yes I would, if I could, I surely would". Guess what....you can.

Mountain biking on Elk Mtn. Scenic Hwy.

Above the city of Asheville North Carolina, Elk Mountain Scenic Highway departs into the hinterlands, and connects with the Blue Ridge Parkway and the Mountains to the Sea Trail. Avid bikers love to leave downtown Asheville and in no time be up on top of the Blue Ridge, feeling the peace of this space between heaven and earth.

Wright Creek Falls on Lake Jocassee

Lake Jocassee is the jewel of mountain lakes. Fed by the clear cold waters of the Whitewater, Thompson, Horsepasture, and Toxaway Rivers---in addition to dozens of other mountain streams with names like Bear Camp Creek, Mill Creek and Laurel Fork--this place thrills everyone with it's beauty and recreational splendor. Seventy six miles of shoreline is mostly all protected from development and is either S.C. wildlife management area, Jocassee Gorges State Park, or Nantahala National Forest. The water is clear...it is easy to snorkel along the shore and see over 30 feet under the water. Kayakers, canoes, swimmers, water-skiers, divers, and nature lovers love this place. With Canadian loons, seagulls, bear, coyote, deer, wild boar, bald eagles, beavers, and a wild assortment of reptiles....you experience wilderness like no other lake offers. Fisherman catch Brown Trout, Rainbow Trout, Spotted and Largemouth Bass, as well as Catfish. Located in upper S.C., just 40 miles as the crow flies from Asheville.