Nestled amid the Blue Ridge Mountains in the valley of Flat Creek sits the compact, secluded town of Montreat. The town (population 700), which is part of Buncombe County, is 18 miles east of downtown Asheville and features natural beauty untouched by commercial development.

Montreat was incorporated as a North Carolina township in 1967. Much of the property in the area is still owned by the Mountain Retreat Association, formed in 1897 by John Collins. Lake Susan, at the center of Montreat, is surrounded by historic stone buildings and offers paddle-boating, canoeing and fishing. Homes in the area allow for plenty of room to spread out: Everything from modern mountain retreats to quaint cabins dot the landscape.

Popular Montreat landmarks

Among the spots Montreat is famed for is Montreat College, a four-year liberal arts institution founded in 1916. The college brings many special events to Montreat, including symphonies, plays, community arts festivals, adult learning programs, community trips abroad and sports programs.Montreat Conference Center, one of three national conference centers affiliated with the Presbyterian Church, draws 35,000 visitors every year, and includes a hotel, guest lodges, and a stone auditorium. The Rev. Billy Graham and his wife called Montreat home, and lent significant support to the town and the college during their lifetime.

Montreat offers plenty of opportunities to enjoy the outdoor beauty for which Western N.C. is famed. In addition to a greenway, Montreat has five tennis courts, a playground, and plenty of hiking. The five-mile Greybeard Trail Hike leads to the top of Greybeard Mountain (elevation 5,480 feet). The trail starts on the edge of Montreat, following Flat Creek for a mile or two over rocky technical terrain before reaching a section of the trail called the Trestle switchbacks. 

From there, the trail climbs more steeply to the summit of Greybeard through many short, technical sections. The summit offers stunning views of Black and Craggy Mountains as well as the foothills below.

Montreat's nearby destinations

Montreat is a quick drive to the charming town of Black Mountain, an arts and crafts, furniture and music mecca. Formerly home to the renowned Black Mountain College, Black Mountain offers an array of restaurants, specialty shops and breweries, as well as enviable access to lakes, waterfalls and hiking trails.

For more information about real estate in Montreat, or anywhere in Asheville or Western N.C., contact us at Info@MyMosaicRealty.com, or call us anytime at 828-707-9556.

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Giving back to the community that has supported its growth has always been Mosaic Community Lifestyle Realty’s mission. Since the realty’s founding a decade ago, the number of [...]

Brevard, N.C., tucked in the heart of Transylvania County, boasts a unique mix of the eclectic and the enchanting: Unique boutiques dot its downtown, while mountain bike trails, waterfall hikes and epic views make it one of the most beautiful natural attractions in the [...]

North of Asheville sits the unique, scenic town of Weaverville, home to entrepreneurs and artisans alike. With a thriving downtown district offering an array of businesses and plenty of parking, Weaverville draws visitors from all around to its quaint, picturesque Main Street and lush public spaces. Living in Weaverville offers the best of all worlds: quiet country living just a stone’s throw from a thriving in-town commercial district, with a 15-minute drive to Downtown Asheville.

The Town of Weaverville, with its range of home styles – everything from stately colonials to rambling ranches – started as a community of farmers. John Weaver, the community’s namesake, was one of the first settlers in the region. Families steadily settled in the area over the next 70 years, leading to the construction of several churches and schools.

Outstanding outdoor activities near Weaverville

Residents and visitors to Weaverville can enjoy two public parks within its jurisdiction: Lake Louise Park and the Main Street Nature Park. Well-maintained areas prized for passive recreation, the parks offer walking paths lined with volunteer-maintained flower beds and educational information celebrating Weaverville’s rich heritage.

For those looking for nearby nature adventures, Weaverville boasts an entrance to the Blue Ridge Parkway, miles of local hiking trails, cycling routes, scenic drives, wildlife, and native plants. In addition, the Town of Weaverville hosts several community events throughout the year celebrating its unique roots in Western North Carolina, including a Memorial Day Observance at Lake Louise, Fire on the Lake: July 4th Celebration at Lake Louise, a 9/11 Observance at Lake Louise, a Veterans’ Day Observance at Lake Louise, and a Town Christmas Parade downtown.

Eclectic, engaging downtown Weaverville

Residents and visitors can stroll the length of Main Street, enjoying the town’s unique shops, cafes and restaurants, as well as a range of art studios, where area artists welcome the public into their studios for events like the juried Art in Autumn and the Weaverville Art Safari. Some of the art galleries, shops, and restaurants that call downtown Weaverville home include: Miya Gallery, Mangum Pottery, Shop Around the Corner, Blue Mountain Pizza & Brew Pub, Well Bred Bakery, Aabani Salon & Spa, Glass Onion, Curtis Wright Outfitters, Allgood Coffee, Twisted Laurel Eatery & Lounge, Zebulon Artisan Ales and Maggie B’s Wine & Specialty Store.

For more information about real estate in Weaverville, or anywhere in the Asheville area, contact us at Info@MyMosaicRealty.com, or call us anytime at 828-707-9556.

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Mosaic Community Lifestyle Realty has always been a proud sponsor of local nonprofit organizations in and around Asheville. In these unprecedented times, such support has taken on even greater importance; it has also inspired some creative thinking. 

Because the coronavirus pandemic has curtailed live events, performing arts organizations have taken a particular hit. Thanks to Mosaic’s sponsorship of the [...]

Nestled at the base of the Hickory Nut Gorge amid breathtaking shoreline, mountain peaks, and rare plant and animal species, the town of Lake Lure in Western North Carolina is a nature lover’s dream. The town, which encompasses the famed lake of the same name, sits at an elevation of 1,000 feet and is surrounded by peaks topping out over [...]

For Ashevillians seeking to bolster independent businesses this holiday season, these movements and resources can be a good starting point.

Restaurant takeout and safe dine-in

One simple way to help local business in Asheville is to patronize area restaurants, particularly hard-hit during the coronavirus pandemic. Many restaurants offer [...]

The Cherokee Indians of North Carolina were among the earliest inhabitants of Western North Carolina and the Blue Ridge Mountains, and their legacy has created a rich cultural imprint on our region. The tribe’s influence is evident in the artifacts, art and agricultural methods that remain today. 

The Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians is a federally recognized Indian tribe descended from a small group of 800 Cherokee who were either able to stay or escaped and remained here after the Indian Removal Act of 1830 forced 16,000 Cherokees to walk to Oklahoma on the Trail of Tears in 1838. Others later returned from Oklahoma to their native land.

Cherokee art that still thrives in the region includes basketry, pottery, stone- and wood-carving, finger-weaving and traditional masks. Ancient American Indian agricultural methods of burning and deadening the trees and underbrush to provide needed grazing and cropland are evident today in the many fields still visible at the base of the mountains. Mountain and river names along the Blue Ridge Parkway also reflect the American Indian influence. 

Vibrant Cherokee History on Display

The heart of the Cherokees’ rich tribal history is, of course, Cherokee, N.C., located 50 miles from Asheville in Jackson County at the main N.C. entrance to the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. Most of the 15,300 members of the tribe live on the Cherokee reservation (properly called the Qualla Boundary), slightly more than 56,000 acres held in trust by the federal government.Visitors to Cherokee can experience the tribe’s past and its present, brought to vibrant life, at a museum, visitor center and arts cooperative, as well as at festivals and other events throughout the year.

The state-of-the-art Museum of the Cherokee Indians here features exhibits that tell the Cherokee story, from ancient times until today. Inspired by the beauty and ingenuity of the Cherokee people, the cultural and historical tour blends interactive video and intriguing displays into a full sensory experience. https://www.cherokeemuseum.org

A Village Brought to Life: Cherokee of the Blue Ridge

The seasonal Oconaluftee Indian Village shows what Cherokee life was like in the 1750s Southern Appalachians. Self-guided tours allow visitors to interact with craft demonstrators and other villagers in the traditional attire of the era. Winding paths, flanked with traditional Cherokee dwellings, work areas, and sacred ritual sites are the backdrop for viewing villagers as they hull canoes, sculpt pottery and masks, weave baskets, fashion beadwork, and perform cultural dances. https://visitcherokeenc.com/play/attractions/oconaluftee-indian-village/

The Qualla Arts and Crafts Mutual, Inc., in Cherokee, founded in 1946 with the purpose of preserving and advancing Cherokee arts and crafts, is the oldest Native American Arts cooperative in the U.S. Part shopping experience, part gallery dedicated to the preservation of Cherokee’s craftsmanship and skill, the Qualla Arts and Crafts Mutual promotes the work of more than 350 Cherokee artisan members. https://www.quallaartsandcrafts.com

For a completely immersive experience, visitors to Cherokee can enjoy the seasonal “Unto These Hills” outdoor drama. One of the longest-running outdoor dramas in the country, “Unto These Hills” portrays the unique story of the Cherokee from a historical perspective, from 1780 to the 21stcentury. https://visitcherokeenc.com/play/attractions/unto-these-hills-outdoor-drama/

For information about real estate in Asheville, email us at Info@MyMosaicRealty.com, or call anytime at 828-707-9556.

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If you’re gearing up for a move, keeping the environment in mind is easier than you might think. The Asheville area offers plenty of resources for a green move, making the impactful life change less impactful on the environment.

Moving containers

Little things like opting for eco-friendly moving containers and supplies can cut back on [...]

Mosaic Community Lifestyle Realty’s new responsive website was just ranked among the top 10 best mobile realty sites in the nation, according to REAL Trends’ annual review. With catered landing pages, one-click quick searches, and simple account creation to make the search process easy, especially on a mobile device, www.mymosaicrealty.com is the one-stop destination for clients looking to buy or sell property in Asheville and surrounding Western N.C.

REAL Trends – a trusted source of news, analysis and information on the residential brokerage industry since 1987 – examined sites from across the country to determine its annual rankings. The idea of responsive Web design is to make websites that easily adjust to fit multiple screen sizes, from desktop computers to mobile devices. Fluid layouts, flexible images and individually catered landing pages are the three technical factors for responsive Web design.

Seeking to streamline the real estate experience, Mosaic created its new responsive website using the same strategies it implements to help its clients: listening to customer needs and taking action on their feedback. People most often start their home searches online. As a shift to mobile phone use grows, the importance of responsive Web design is greater than ever. 

Accessing www.mymosaicrealty.com on a mobile device reveals a user-friendly experience, with large tabs, streamlined menus, and simple forms for creating personalized searches. Mosaic’s mobile site also offers homebuyers easy-to-use quick searches by listings, neighborhoods, lifestyles and price. Users can dig deeper, with quick links to advanced search options like green builds, newly listed or featured properties, and affordable homes. And with a click of a button, potential clients can go beyond real estate listings to learn all about life in Asheville and the surrounding areas.

For more information about real estate in the Asheville area and Western N.C., contact us at Info@MyMosaicRealty.com, or call us anytime at 828-707-9556.

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