Balsam Mountain Preserve

Balsam Mountain Preserve occupies about 4,400 acres of the Great Balsam range in Jackson County, just off US 23/74 near Balsam Gap and roughly ten minutes from either Sylva or Waynesville. The gate is staffed around the clock. Roughly three quarters of the land is held out of development and managed by the nonprofit Balsam Mountain Trust, which keeps staff naturalists on the property. Homesites sit between about 3,000 and 4,700 feet, trails climb to Doubletop Mountain near 5,400 feet, and the plan works out to about one residence per twelve acres.

The Arnold Palmer signature course, par 70 and 6,824 yards, opened in 2007; Golf Digest placed it in its top 20 for North Carolina in 2021. Members also have an equestrian center, more than 40 miles of trails, trout water, a pool and fitness center, tennis, and the Boarding House, ten shared-ownership cabins along a ridge near the Gathering House. Homes are custom builds on one- to three-acre lots, with a cottage collection planned at Doubletop Village beside the clubhouse. Asheville and its airport are about 40 minutes east, and a Parkway entrance is less than five miles from the gate.