Large resort development planned at Bear Lake

By Rose Hooper

According to a Feb. 3 conceptual master plan prepared by landscape architects Scott Melrose & Associates of Arden, Bear Creek Lake Club is proposed to be constructed in several phases and include cottages, cabins, condominiums, townhouses and residential homes.

Centex Corp. of Dallas, Texas, and Orlando, Fla., is negotiating a deal to purchase 2,177 acres of a 3,300-acre tract on the Cashiers side of Bear Lake. The property is currently owned by Gimli Limited and Ken Dingler of Sapphire, who bought it from Duke Power after the collapse of a planned 1996 trade that would have transferred ownership of the former Hennessee Lumber Co. holding to the U.S. Forest Service.

Dingler said last week that his property is presently "under contract to a large developer," but that he is not at liberty to release details at this time.

In meetings with various county officials, Centex has represented itself in the "due diligence" stage, said Jackson County Manager Ken Westmoreland, who confirmed Tuesday he has met with development company officials. During this process, developers gather information and research the area before closing the deal, Westmoreland said.

"They engage in fact-finding and information gathering," Westmoreland said. "They might talk to the health department to see if the land is subject to septic tank permits and talk to soil and water agents to see if the soil types will support planned structures."

Westmoreland, who said he was familiar with Centex's large housing developments, said the development at Bear Lake is proposed to be more like a resort.

Realtor Ray Trine of Cashiers said Centex Destinations, an offshoot of the main corporation, is expected to develop the Bear Creek Lake Club.

"They are the Œcream of the crop' in quality resort development and plan for the majority of the property to be in conservation easements," Trine, who is representing the seller, said of the deal he expects to be inked in the next few weeks.

Lara Kohl, communications coordinator at Centex's Texas headquarters, confirmed the company's involvement with the Bear Creek Lake Club project but referred questions to John Lenihan, southeastern divisional president in Orlando, Fla. Lenihan had not returned the newspaper's calls by presstime.

According to the master plan, development is planned in three to four phases. The first phase is referred to as Golden Farm, partially in reference to the Golden family, who lived on the property for generations. Ralph Golden's family moved from Shook Cove to Tilley Creek in May 1996 when it appeared his lifelong home would be transferred to the Forest Service.

Plans call for Bear Creek Lake Club's entrance off Shook Cove Road to feature a rustic setting with meadows, fishing pond, a farm house, barn and animal pasture. Approximately 24 cabins are planned in this area, along with an amphitheater, general store and post office.

Another section, the Mountain Village, is scheduled to feature 18 condominium units, 25 cabins and 52 town houses.

A portion of the property near Robinson Creek has been designated as the Fishing Village and may include a fishing lodge. An area designated Lake Club and Village is proposed to include a club house and water play area, in addition to cabins and town houses. Each section will incorporate hiking and walking trails.

Some 670 residential homes are anticipated with a minimum lot size of half an acre. Water will be provided by wells, and sewage treatment will be by means of septic tanks, said environmental health supervisor Mack Dendy of the Jackson County Department of Public Health.

"The company seems to be very environmentally conscious," said Dendy, who has met with Centex officials with regard to test wells and health department requirements.

Earlier this month Communique Group of Denver, Colo., a marketing think tank, conducted an "envisioning" process at the Grove Park Inn in Asheville for Centex representatives and others involved in Bear Creek Lake Club.

Centex officials seem to want to make a real effort to build a development that is in tune with its mountain setting, said author Amy Garza of Whittier.

"I like how they want to preserve the heritage of the area," said Garza, who attended the envisioning along with her sister, Doreyl Cain of Tuckasegee. The sisters, whose family is from the Shook Cove area, are co-founders of Catch The Spirit of Appalachia, a non-profit agency organized to preserve the mountain heritage and culture.

Centex, a Fortune 500 company established in 1950 in Dallas, Texas, specializes in home building and construction and includes related services such as financial management and investment real estate, according to the company's website. Centex's holdings are concentrated in Florida, Texas, Colorado, Arizona and California.

The fate of the land that is to house Bear Creek Lake Club was uncertain for most of 1996 while Forest Service officials attempted to finalize a deal to trade the Rosman tracking station for Duke's Bear Lake holdings. Jackson County's commissioners went on record in opposition to the proposed land exchange, which would have removed the 3,300 acres from county tax rolls.

Back to Archive: 02/27/03.