11-Acre Whole Private Lake | 374.87 Acres | 3 Bedrooms | 3 Baths | 2,150 Sq. Ft. | SOLD

Located in the Southern Appalachian Mountains of east Tennessee, High Country Reserve is a nature lover’s paradise. This magnificent retreat encompasses nearly 375 acres of mature hardwood forest, farm and meadow land, providing unforgettable scenery throughout. The property is surrounded by the 655,000-acre Cherokee National Forest, the largest tract of public land in Tennessee which adjoins other national forests in Virginia, North Carolina and Georgia.

This is high country in Tennessee with commanding, long range mountain views. The Reserve’s 4000’ elevation means cool summer breezes and beautiful winter snowfalls. Just a short drive away, you’ll also have access to some of Tennessee and North Carolina’s most popular cities. Getting to the property is easy via paved, county maintained, roads. The drive along Ripshin Mountain Road is breathtaking with its rushing water and massive boulders all nestled in a blanket of rhododendron and canopies of hardwood forest that make up the National Park. There are countless building sites within the Reserve with panoramic views, perfect for building your dream home.

Spring-Fed Water

Miller Lake

Spectacular Miller Lake greets you as you arrive at the Reserve. At 3660’ it’s the third highest elevation lake east of the Mississippi. Banked by a beautiful stand of hardwoods and pine, it’s a stunning body of water. 

There is really nothing that can prepare you for the joy of owning your own whole private lake. Paddle boarding, canoeing, kayaking, fishing or a simple swim is all part of a day’s fun here.

Spring fed from the headwaters of Roaring Creek, at nearly 12 acres and with depths to 26 feet, it’s the perfect lake for creating a private world-class fishery all your own. The water here is a perfect habitat for a great variety of fish, including trout, small mouth bass, crappie, channel catfish and bream. Imagine owning a private lake with unrestricted access for you and your guests to enjoy year round.

Historic Log Home

Hilltop Cabin

Also on the property is the warm and inviting “Hilltop” log cabin. Nestled in the woods and overlooking the Northern end of Miller lake it has all the privacy you could hope for yet allows for quick access to town and local attractions. At approximately 2,150 square feet it’s a great size for a family vacation spot or a perfect place to use as a base-camp while building your dream home on one of the many magnificent building sites within the Reserve.

Architecturally designed as a vacation lodge in the mid 1920’s, its unique vertical style log structure harmonizes with the natural environment. It was built using locally grown, beautiful American chestnut timbers. The chestnut forests from which they grew are sadly a thing of the past but the beauty of the wood in this cabin is unmatched. Original wide plank hardwood floors remain throughout with the exception of the kitchen and baths where you will find heated travertine tile or slate floors that are welcoming to the feet.

Hilltop was fully updated in the past few years and now contains all the modern day conveniences including a beautiful gourmet kitchen with a Wolf dual-fuel oven & gas cook-top, Bosch dishwasher and built-in Sub-Zero refrigerator. It’s a cook’s dream. Rich walnut cabinetry and granite countertops complete the look. There is a screened porch off of the kitchen that’s perfect when you’re in the mood for a little alfresco dining and makes for a wonderful entertaining space in the summer as well. An original dutch door separates the spaces and the top can be opened in the summer and fall to allow the fresh mountain air to flow through.

Three bedrooms and three full baths combine with ample living and dining space both indoors and out to make it a comfortable and relaxing home.  Hilltop retains many of it’s original features like two native stone fireplaces, chestnut tongue-and-groove walls, hardwood floors and 2 fantastic hand crafted dutch doors.  One of the bedrooms has the original wooden camp style bunk beds (in addition to a full size bed) and has a lovely native stone fireplace. It’s rich in rustic charm, warmth and character. A master suite was added in the late 70’s and features vaulted ceilings, an en-suite bath, ample walk-in closet and laundry space and a spacious deck with expansive views.

A major renovation was completed in 2017.  New electric service with commercial grade steel conduit and a replacement of all plumbing and fixtures was performed.  A new roof was added with spray foam insulation throughout making this cabin a modern, yet cozy and eco-friendly four-season home.

Lighting at Hilltop is automated, allowing the home owner or visitor to select lighting scenes appropriate to activities, whether it’s sitting by a fire in the fireplace, watching a movie from the vast video library, or entertaining guests.  The advanced security system lights the exterior of the home and grounds when a vehicle arrives and also acts as a friendly and convenient welcome.  For the music lover, a central A/V system provides music that can be played throughout the cabin and outdoors on the back porch, front deck, and at the pool.

outdoors

Hilltop Grounds

Outdoors at Hilltop you’ll find lots to do. The outdoor living spaces blend seamlessly with the interior and enhance the fun and entertainment opportunities. They can also simply provide a quiet place to begin a day or unwind at the end and take in the sounds of nature and its amazing views.

A heated, 20’ x 30’, in-ground pool provides the opportunity for year round swimming, should you choose. Its dedicated pool house has an efficient variable speed circulation pump, automatic chlorine feeder, sand bed filter system and a 400,000 BTU heater plus storage for all your pool supplies.

There is a tennis court with an observation deck next to the pool should you want to swing a racket, or just watch friends and family while you sip a cool beverage.

The views here are unforgettable. You’ll enjoy mornings on the deck, drinking coffee and watching the mist rise from the lake and crisp evenings watching the sunset fade into the valleys as you sit by an outdoor fire. Stargazing from Hilltop is unmatched since there are no other lights around and you’ll marvel at how quiet it is with no street noise or air traffic to interrupt the chorus of the songbirds.

Power & Water

Utilities

Utilities include electric power and very quiet and efficient Mitsubishi mini-splits for heating and cooling, though at 4000’ in elevation, days where the AC is needed are limited. Most days you’ll just want to open the doors and windows to feel and smell the fresh mountain air.

A spring fed, 5000 gallon, newly lined cistern provides abundant pure mountain water. At only 7 parts per million dissolved solids (used as an indicator test to determine the general quality of the water) it’s almost distilled even before entering Hilltop’s filtration system. It is some of the purest water you will drink.

You’ll never be without power due to a commercial, whole-house 38kW generator with automatic switchover. It provides seamless backup electricity in the event of a power loss. It is fueled by a 1000 gallon, in-ground, propane gas tank that also provides heat for the pool. Each fireplace also has a built-in propane starter to make igniting wood a snap. Gas log inserts are easily added if you prefer a gas fire rather than wood burning. 

business & Caretaker

Additional Structures

Old Hunter’s Cabin

Though hunting is not currently allowed within the Reserve, there is an old hunter’s cabin on the property. The wood from this structure would recycle beautifully.

Backcountry

Trail System

Enjoy the Reserve’s complete backcountry trail system for hiking & exploration, ATV riding, mountain biking and more. There are breathtaking long-range views and you’ll find streams, fresh water springs and lush vegetation along the way. Because High Country is backed by the Cherokee Nation forest, you’ll also have access to their over 600 miles of non-motorized trails including nearly 150 miles of the Appalachian National Scenic Trail (A.T.) Take a day hike or pack for several days in this vast national forest trail system.

Spring: The spring and summer months bring a dazzling display of wildflowers. The remarkable plant system is adapted to the rhythm of the overstory trees. Ephemerals appear before deciduous trees leaf out, when full sunlight is streaming to the forest floor. From February through April the flowers of red maples paint the mountains with a wash of brilliant red. Showy trees such as serviceberry, silverbell, flowering dogwood, redbud, and tuliptree soon follow. The peak of spring wildflower blooming usually occurs in late April to early May.

Summer: In summer the display continues with brilliant red cardinal flowers, Turk’s cap lily, small purple-fringed orchids, bee-balm, butterfly-weed, black-eyed susans, and many others. By late summer and through the fall, goldenrod, tall ironweed, monk’s hood, coneflowers, and numerous varieties of asters begin to bloom. Purple bursts of sweet Joe-Pye-weed stretch towards the sky and can reach heights of ten feet.

Trees and shrubs bloom throughout the year too. Later in summer sourwood, a tree prized for the honey that bees produce from its small bell-shaped, white flowers, begins to bloom.

High Country has beautiful displays of mountain laurel, rhododendron and flame azaleas. The lovely pink and white flowers of mountain laurel bloom in early May through June followed by the flame azaleas and rhododendron, which live primarily at elevations above 3,500’.

Fall: The fall months are truly a colorful delight. The trees are in full color from late October when the entire mountain range looks like a beautiful oil painting. In late fall a carpet of leaves rustle underfoot and provide that rich, loamy smell that mixes with the scent of wood-smoke in the wind.  It’s a remarkable time to be outdoors at High Country, full of the promise of campfires and warm apple cider.

Winter: Wintertime creates its own magic within the Reserve, especially when there’s snow on the ground. The smell of pine is more intense now, the air is sharp and the quiet is deafening. Snow dramatically changes the trails and adds novelty to places you’ve been before. Regardless of snow, with the leaves now completely underfoot, the views become legendary. Distant mountains take on blue and purple hues that almost seem surreal.

Wildlife here is abundant. Whitetail deer, rabbits, black bear, blue herons, grouse, wild turkey, coyote, fox, owls, and songbirds are all to be found. Birdwatchers can commonly view species of juncos, mourning doves, chimney swifts, eastern phoebes, barn swallows, blue jays, indigo buntings, cardinals, towhees, sparrows, chickadees, and warblers. Raptors include turkey vultures, hawks, eagles, and peregrine falcons.

Day Hike

High Rock

Of special interest is a beautiful 45+/- minute hike to High Rock, in the Cherokee National Forest, that can be accessed from a trail just behind Hilltop cabin. The views there are absolutely stunning. From 4400’ it offers year-round panoramic views of nearly all of east Tennessee including Roan, Unaka, Stone, Buffalo, and Holston Mountains. The enormous rock for which it is named is a wonderful place to sit an take in all the beauty below you.

Farming & stewardship

Agricultural Opportunities

Investment opportunities are endless here. If you are interested in farming there are many possibilities. The property qualifies for conservation easements and agricultural tax credits. Another incentive is that there is no State income tax in Tennessee and low property taxes, making it a desirable place for home and business ownership alike.

Vineyard: The Reserve is located in Carter County, an area that was designated as an American Viticultural Area or AVA in November of 2017. It’s known as The Appalachian High Country AVA.

An AVA is a federally designated grape-growing region with distinguishing features, a name and a set boundary. These designations allow winemakers and consumers to attribute a given quality, reputation or other characteristics to wines made from grapes grown in a specific geographic area.

The AVA, which encompasses some segments of the famed Appalachian Trail, includes portions of northeastern Tennessee, northwestern North Carolina, and southwestern Virginia; encompassing eight counties across the corners of the three states.

The distinguishing features of the Appalachian High Country AVA are its topography, climate, and soils. Over 24 different grape varieties are currently grown in the area which include vinifera varieties (led by Cabernet Franc, Merlot, and Viognier); and hybrids (led by Marquette, Marechal Foch, and Seyval Blanc).

Create your own private label wine, or lease out to a well established vineyard. You could also include raspberries, blueberries or blackberries in your orchards as they also grow well in this region.

Christmas trees: A Christmas tree farm was operated within the Reserve for many years and could easily be started again. A few acres of trees are available now and there is plenty of acreage to add more. Fraser fir, Blue and Norway spruce and pine all grow well here.

Information

Nearby Amenities

Fun & play

Nearby Attractions

FOR THE SKIER…

FOR THE SIGHTSEER…

FOR THE RACE FAN…

FOR THE STORYTELLER…