Picture this: It’s a cool mountain morning. You wake at dawn in your modern townhome, the scent of fresh lumber still hanging in the air. The early light of day draws you from bed toward the window, where you pull back the shade: the sky is an inconceivable pink, band over band, as if God took a brushstroke to canvas. Ripples of the Blue Ridge become more pronounced as clouds change from deep magenta to fuchsia to orange.
This is an experience in my journal of memories from a recent weekend at the Blue Ridge Mountain Club, a private community between Boone and Blowing Rock, in the heart of North Carolina’s High Country. I had the good fortune of time there, a veritable dreamscape with 360-degree ridge-line views. I simultaneously felt on top of the world and also enveloped by majestic woodlands while hiking and trail cruising in my UTV (utility terrain vehicle).
While Blue Ridge Mountain Club has homes for rent, perfect for a weekend respite, it is an ideal location for a second home, a haven of rest from day-to-day demands. The community blends pristine nature, activities, and a culinary program that offers something for everyone.
For the Adventurer
On my first morning at BRMC, I hopped into a UTV, which I seized for the weekend to explore curated trails blazed throughout the private community’s sprawling 6,000-plus miles of acreage, an immersive and adrenaline-fueled ride on gravel and dirt paths.
For the Family
A private campsite near a crystal stream. Live music, a food truck, and fire pits. Boutique fitness, including a state-of-the-art gym, sauna, yoga, and cycling classes and a massage therapist. Arts and crafts programs and other activities for kids. Blue Ridge Mountain Club has a keen focus on community and family-oriented activities—including pickle ball and basketball courts—at Watson Gap Village, Ascent Wellness & Fitness Center, and Jasper House.
For the Foodie
Gustatory bliss awaits at Lookout Grill, where the executive culinary team and certified sommelier pair farm-to-table cuisine and the perfect bottle or cocktail with a jaw-dropping view. Throughout the year, Blue Ridge Mountain Club hosts tasting events and wine dinners to sate curious appetites.
For the Naturalist
With more than 6,000 acres of woodland beauty, Blue Ridge Mountain Club takes the Eastern practice of forest bathing to a new level. Nestled near Boone and Blowing Rock, the club is like one’s own private slice of the Blue Ridge Parkway. With a programs and recreation manager to lead residents and guests on hikes throughout 50 miles of trails, fishing excursions in creeks and streams, as well as rafting trips and zip-lining tours nearby, the club’s location, elevation, and outdoor recreation opportunities are prime aspects of its appeal.
For the Sporting Enthusiast
Residents and guests at Blue Ridge Mountain Club have exclusive access to Chetola Sporting Reserve, a marksman’s paradise on 67 acres. Hone your shooting skills on its gun, rifle, and pistol ranges and sporting clay course, or try your hand at archery on its range. For the fly fishing guru or wannabe, the reserve offers Orvis-endorsed fly fishing guides to steer you toward brimming currents.
For Anyone Addicted to Sunset in the Mountains—er, On Top of a Mountain
Kicking my UTV into 4×4 gear, I hit the gas up a steep gravel incline to the top of Dugger Mountain, complete with a picnic and bottle of wine to take in the sublime sunset and 360-degree views of the Blue Ridge. It was the perfect way to end an ultimate getaway in the heart of the High Country—a dream home, to be sure.
For more information, go to blueridgemountainclub.com.
