Our Beech Mountain Story: How We Found the High Country, Why We Bought, and Why We’re Still Exploring

If you’re new here, welcome back. I’m Jeremy with The Guillette Group in the North Carolina High Country. Today’s post is a little more personal.

I want to share how we first discovered the High Country, specifically Beech Mountain, what made us fall in love with it, what led us to buy there, and why we’ve since shifted into “explore mode” across other parts of the High Country.

If you’re considering a second home, a future retirement spot, or a mountain getaway that fits your lifestyle, my hope is that our experience helps you think through your own decision with a little more clarity.

How We Found Beech Mountain (It Started With Fireworks)

We live primarily in Southwest Florida, where we run a boutique real estate business with a small team. Like the High Country, SWFL is very lifestyle-driven, just a different version of it.

Back in summer 2017, we were splitting a family vacation between Washington, DC and Asheville. We rented a cabin outside Asheville but quickly realized we were farther out than expected, in a town called Burnsville, about 40 minutes northeast of Asheville.

That trip happened to land on Fourth of July week. We started asking ourselves, “There has to be fireworks somewhere.” We found Beech Mountain, saw they hosted fireworks, and made a last-minute decision to drive up that Saturday afternoon.

We arrived just before dusk, and it felt like we had stumbled into something special.

Beech’s Fourth of July event was happening up at the sledding hill area. At the time, it was pre-COVID and full of that classic small-town festival energy. We opened the hatch of our rental SUV, spread out a blanket, and the boys immediately found other kids to run around with. We set up a couple of chairs, started talking to people around us, and realized how many Beech visitors were from Florida for the same reason we were: cooler temps, lower humidity, and an easy summer escape.

Then the fireworks started.

The ski resort launches them from below the hill, so they explode almost directly overhead. The show felt huge for such a small mountain town. It was one of those “we’ll remember this forever” moments.

The drive back to Burnsville in the dark, with limited cell service, was a little adventurous. Still worth every second.

For the next few days, we couldn’t stop talking about Beech Mountain.

Why We Kept Coming Back (And Came Back More, Each Year)

That first trip pulled us in. In 2018, we came back twice. We made it a priority to return for the Fourth of July again, but this time we stayed on the mountain instead of driving back afterward.

We experienced it differently, slower and more connected. We hung out after the fireworks, grabbed food, and just soaked in the atmosphere. That sense of community was becoming part of the draw, not just the weather.

The “What If We Owned a Place?” Phase

By 2020, we started asking the question many Florida families ask: What if we had a place in the mountains?

Beech Mountain is roughly 13 hours from Southwest Florida by car. Flying is an option, but once you factor in rentals and logistics for a family of five, driving usually makes more sense for us.

So Angie and I took a trip to explore alternatives. We started where many people start: North Georgia. We visited Blue Ridge and Ellijay> We then crossed into NC and looked around Murphy, Franklin, and the general Asheville corridor.

And then, like a magnet, we found ourselves pulled back to the High Country.

That’s the thing about mountain towns: there’s usually one that just “speaks to you.” For us, it kept being the High Country.

Hurricane Ian and the Moment That Changed Everything

Fast forward to fall 2022, when Hurricane Ian hit Southwest Florida. We were at the epicenter, and while our home inland held up well, the coastal areas and communities near the water were devastated.

We spent days helping customers and friends with clean-outs and recovery. After about a week, I told Angie, “Nothing is happening in real estate right now. I’m taking the boys to Beech Mountain.”

She had commitments for a couple more days, then flew into Asheville, and we picked her up.

One week turned into two. Two turned into three.

That stretch in the mountains after the storm gave us something we didn’t realize we needed: space to breathe, reset, and spend time together.

We started thinking, “Maybe it’s time to buy.”

We missed four seasons. Florida summers felt longer, hotter, and more humid. We were both raised up north and the idea of a true seasonal rhythm felt appealing again.

Buying on Beech Mountain:

While we were up there, we made a few offers. One of the big lessons we learned in real time was how timing and local events can shape negotiations.

We made a full-price offer on a cabin that was listed at $550,000, right before the Woolly Worm Festival season. The seller chose not to accept, likely hoping for more activity and competition. We ultimately withdrew our offer. About six weeks later, that cabin closed at $525,000.

We pivoted.

We bought a unit at Klonteska, near the top of Beech Mountain. It was walkable to restaurants and close to the ski lifts. It also had an unfinished lower level we could potentially connect to add a second living area and additional bedroom and bathroom.

It was a 2 bed, 2 bath, with the potential to become a 3 bed, 3 bath and create more functional space for our family.

We also chose to rent it at the time, which is a strategy we can walk through if you’re considering a similar approach.

The Unexpected Gift: Less Space, More Connection

Here’s what surprised us.

The rentals we stayed in, and even our own unit, were smaller than what we were used to in Southwest Florida. I expected that to feel limiting.

Instead, it created something I didn’t see coming.

We ate more meals together. We played cards and games like Phase 10 and Uno almost every night. The boys were more present. We were more present.

Those were the types of moments that become memories, and that shift the way you think about “place.”

Two Things That Caught Us Off Guard About Mountain Living

Even though we were coming in summer, there were two surprises early on:

  1. Stairs can be a major factor. One of the first chalets we rented had around 40 steps just to reach the main living area, plus another flight to the bedrooms. Photos don’t always tell that story.

  2. We ran the heat in July and August. Seriously. At elevation, you can get cooler nights that make fireplaces feel pretty appealing. Many mountain homes at higher elevations don’t have air conditioning, and most years, you may not need it except for a handful of days.

Those little realities matter when you’re choosing a home that fits your actual lifestyle, not just the photos.

Four Seasons Living Changed Our Perspective

Once we owned on Beech Mountain, we started coming more often and staying longer. Not long weekends, more like one to two weeks at a time, sometimes more.

That’s when we really experienced what the High Country offers:

  • Spring projects and refreshes

  • Extended summer escapes

  • Hiking everywhere, from Beech trails to iconic High Country hikes

  • Discovering Blowing Rock, Boone, Roan Mountain, Valle Crucis, Johnson City and beyond

  • Leaf season, which still feels unreal even when you’ve seen it before

  • Events like the Highland Games, alpine coaster outings, and local traditions

We started building our own rhythm.

Why We Sold (And Why We’re Renting Across Communities Now)

Over time, we started to notice something important: elevation is a double-edged sword.

Beech has cooler temps, which we love, but it also brings more cloud cover at times. Some days it would feel gray on the mountain and then we’d drive down toward Banner Elk and find blue skies.

We also entered a new family chapter. One child in college, another heading there soon, and a third not far behind. We started asking practical questions about value and usage. Were we using the place enough to justify owning it?

We decided to sell the unit at Klonteska.

Now here’s the part I think is helpful for buyers:

Instead of rushing to buy again, we shifted into a strategy of renting in different communities to refine what we want long-term.

Last year we rented at Eagles Nest and Blue Ridge Mountain Club. On my next trip (filming in early January 2026), I’m staying outside Boone.

It’s giving us a unique, real-world perspective across locations, elevations, and lifestyles. And it’s one of the best ways to get confident about where you truly want to be.

The Wish List That Makes the Decision Clear

When you start looking at homes, it’s easy to focus only on beds, baths, and price. Those matter, but the “right fit” usually comes down to a fuller picture.

Here are the categories we use in our wish list process:

Home and layout

  • Bedrooms and bathrooms

  • One living space or multiple

  • Outdoor space, grill area, decks

  • Views and privacy

Proximity

  • Trails you can walk to

  • Golf or club access

  • Healthcare access

  • Shopping and convenience

Lifestyle

  • Hiking, golf, disc golf

  • Pickleball, tennis, pools

  • Social calendar and events

  • Gated vs non-gated living

Budget and value

  • Purchase price

  • Rental potential (if relevant)

  • Ongoing costs and usage reality

Elevation and travel time

  • Cooler temps often come with trade-offs

  • An extra hour matters differently depending on where you’re driving from

Town personality

  • Boone vs Blowing Rock vs Banner Elk vs Beech

  • Each has its own vibe and benefits

What’s right for me might not be right for you, which is exactly why this wish list approach works. It pulls the decision out of the “just pretty photos” zone and into a lifestyle match.

Why We Do What We Do: Living Joy

Our brand is built around Living Joy because we’ve learned something through years of moving, traveling, and building businesses in different places.

Place matters. Lifestyle matters. Connection matters.

We expanded from Southwest Florida into the High Country because these are two places we find tremendous joy, and we believe people can build meaningful lives and memories here.

If you’re considering buying in the High Country, whether it’s a second home, a future plan, or a lifestyle shift, I’m happy to talk through it with you. If you want help narrowing down the right area or community in the High Country, reach out anytime. I’ll walk you through our wish list process and help you get clear on what actually fits your lifestyle.