Meet the Owner / Developers of the Nantahala River Club

I suppose it all began when my family moved from Atlanta to the mountains of North Carolina when I was 15. We were only there for a year, before moving back to Atlanta, but that’s all it took. I was hooked. I went on to college, entered the workforce, met my wife Francisca & started a family, still living in Atlanta. But we were never short on reasons to get away to the mountains, which we did every chance we got. 

Hiking, backpacking, boating, whatever, the area around Fontana Lake & the Nantahala River was simply irresistible. And we went all the time. We bought our first mountain lot when we were expecting our first child. We were excited, to say the least, to have our own piece of paradise. My business took me to Tampa for a few years, but destiny soon took hold. My old friend Dan, who had bought a lot around the same time we did back in 1996, approached me with an opportunity I had prepared for all my life, even if I had not realized it. To develop a mountain community where the Nantahala River flows into Fontana Lake. To create a living experience we have come to love & share it with other outdoor enthusiasts. 

I sold my business, & Francisca, Caroline, Katherine & I moved to the mountains. Simply put, there is no other place in the world quite like Nantahala River Club. I am blessed to be a part of it, & to be associated with such fine partners that share my vision for a community set in the midst of ancient mountains along a pristine lake & beautiful river.

I grew up with 4 brothers in Nashville. We had a small cabin on Center Hill Lake in east Tennessee. Some of my best childhood memories are of the long summer days we spent there as a family. I married and left Nashville in 1990. After a couple of moves we landed in Atlanta with 3 daughters. We have always enjoyed family time at various lakes in the area as well as hiking. But the quality of the lakes in Georgia left something to be desired; most are overcrowded with monstrous homes crowding the shoreline. 

When I first began to explore the Fontana Lake area I was struck by not only the quality of the lake but the amazing combination of natural attractions all within a few miles -  The Great Smoky Mountain National Park, Tsali, 3 major rivers and the Appalachian Trail to name a few. My whole family quickly fell in love with the area. The timing was finally right for us to think about a mountain retreat of our own.

I have always loved real estate and have a dozen or so years of experience in real estate development so my approach to searching for our getaway was pretty methodical. I toured most of the developments in the area and began to get a feel for the market. When I first stumbled upon the Nantahala River Club it was brand new. Once I got the picture – community dock on the lake, mountain views, private access to Nantahala Outdoor Center and the Appalachian Trail I realized that this development was unique. So we bought a lot right away.

As I got to know the development team I felt even more comfortable that we had made a good decision. Eventually I ended up buying another lot and then investing directly in the development partnership. I am pleased to be working with friends that share my values. We have a common vision for the future of NRC borne of our love for our Creator, the great outdoors and family.        

Growing up in Minnesota on the Mississippi River and later on the Gulf of Mexico in Clearwater Florida, you could say I lived in one extreme or the other. It wasn’t until adulthood while working in the corporate world and traveling much of the country that I learned of the Smoky Mountains of Western NC, one of the most beautiful places on earth.  

My eyes were opened so when the opportunity availed itself, I moved to Charlotte NC, to be closer to the Smokies. My wife Linda and I, with or without our 5 kids, took every opportunity to vacation in Bryson City, a fun and vibrant town where we could enjoy all the surrounding outdoor activities. My love for the land deepened as I hiked or ran trails through the Great Smoky Mountain National Park appreciating the beautiful wildlife and enjoying the hundreds of miles of mountain streams. When I wanted more action, I threw my mountain bike in the boat and motored over to Tsali Recreation Area for some single track action. What a way to travel - the boat ride on Fontana Lake covers some of the most pristine lake wilderness areas in the southeast.  If I was lucky enough to have a driver with me I water skied on the way back.     

Linda and I have always loved and dabbled in real estate. We bought our 1st Fontana Lake property in 1996 and a while later we moved to the area full time and opened Fontana Realty. Now we were able to help others share our dream by selling hard to find lake access properties in the area.

My excitement and love for the area grew deeper over time. When I first saw the land that is now Nantahala River Club I gained a vision of how this land, with it’s gorgeous views, proximity to the NOC, the AT and direct lake access offered the best of all worlds – this is where it all comes together! With an appreciation of how precious a resource this land was and having learned a great deal through working with the other developers in the area I realized this was a chance to put my values to work. Being the best steward of God’s precious gifts is my number one priority.  I partnered with others who shared the same ideals and NRC came to be. 

Typically, when one finds something very good, in order to truly enjoy it, it must be shared – and that is where I find myself today! 

The corn and bean fields along the Ohio River in Southern Indiana, is the backdrop of our daily lives, but we daydream of the next time we’re hiking and taking in the breathtaking views of the rugged mountains of Western N.C. When I’m not at our family Floral Business promoting some of nature’s most beautiful gifts, then I’m at the pool watching the kids swim lap after lap or my daughter yelling her cheers. I’m not quite the fish they are, but I sure enjoy the challenge of catching one on a fly. I love fitness of any type and especially enjoy my time coaching youth in the gym and seeing them develop a stronger, healthier lifestyle.

Our family time is what we live for and are fortunate to enjoy so many activities together. Whether it be boating and skiing or riding through the woods on ATV’s, they can’t wait to get all the chores done and help with “Dad’s home projects”, so we can play. It’s become a saying that we have to “leave home” to get me to relax, so we’ve been blessed to travel and explore. We especially love those unique, special places that make you say WOW.

That’s why we love the Fontana Lake area and NRC. It gives us everything we desire and leaves us wanting for more. My 10 year old daughter, who's been from the Smokies to the Rockies, says her favorite site was when we were boating along the Nantahala River at dusk, surrounded in the gorge by the lush forest and mountainous backdrop with the light fading just so, that she thought the water was glass. She says she’d love to have a house right there in that peaceful place. Thankfully the NRC was on that bend and our hopes are to do just that. So maybe one day, she can show her family the site that made her say WOW.