Nature’s Playground

Chinquapin gives you access to a wild and wonderful world. New discoveries and treasures await at every turn: along a ridgeline, by a hidden waterfall, along a rambling stream, through miles of forested trails. Nature is in full regal display here. Her gifts are broad and enticing. As is the opportunity to enjoy an authentic mountain lifestyle within a carefully preserved landscape. Homeowners are immersed in an amenity-rich, family-centered living experience that allows one to pursue ones outdoor interests, regardless of age. Each day here gives you the possibility of new wonders—both inside our gates and out, amidst the natural splendor of the coveted Cashiers’ region.

A World of Wonder Inside The Gates

Welcome to an enchanting world of natural delights. Chinquapin rises steadily upward, to 4,500 feet in the Blue Ridge Mountains, encompassing some 2,000 acres in all, 700 of which have been placed in permanent conservation with the North American Land Trust. That means families can pick and choose from a carefully preserved outdoor setting that beckons with recreation and activity.

UTV/ATV Trails

Enjoy miles of UTV trails onsite at Chinquapin—one of the few communities to offer this amenity in WNC

Hiking Trails

Embark on miles of picturesque trails featuring stunning views, old-growth forests, scenic waterfalls, and tucked-away streams

Waterfalls

Chinquapin is home to a number of scenic waterfalls thanks to a vast network of rivers, streams, and creeks that flow meander the property

Mountain Biking

Ride hard or easy along undulating mountain trails through a vast, forested natural wonderland

Camp Chinquapin

Go back in time to this classic family playground, offering fishing, hiking, canoeing, biking, wiffle ball, archery, campfire tales, and S’mores

Camping

“Rough it” with the family for a night of soft camping on preserved land by freshwater streams and lush valleys

Fishing

Cast a line in one of our natural creeks and mountain streams that abound with native brook and rainbow trout

Cabins

Enjoy rustic comfort in one of our fishing cabins located along Robinson Creek in our conservation area

TeePee Village

Grab the kids and spend the night in a fully furnished TeePee, with a king-size bed, refrigerator/freezer, Keurig coffee makers, fans, and cozy beds

Adventure Abounds Outside The Gates

This is the “land of waterfalls.” And for many Chinquapin residents, this has become a haven for outdoor recreation. The area sits squarely on the Eastern Continental Divide, at an elevation that attracts visitors as consistently as it repels bugs and summer heat. There’s no end to the adventure and sense of wonder this stunning mountain landscape provides. It’s a place that grows more spectacular and endearing with every visit.

Panthertown Valley

Set out on these 6,700 acres of breathtaking discover the scenic beauty that awaits. As part of the Nantahala National Forest, this pristine wilderness beckons with an inviting network of hiking trails, streams, and waterfalls—all in your own backyard.

Lake Glenville

Spend a day on beautiful Lake Glenville, which offers the highest elevation of any lake east of the Mississippi. Pure, fresh water and 26 miles of inviting shoreline offer fishing, skiing, tubing, paddle-boarding, swimming, and hiking.

Hiking

Hit the trail on some of the most scenic, high-elevation, densely forested hiking trails in all of Western North Carolina. The iconic Whiteside Mountain is a must, offering a spectacular overlook. There are also countless great day hikes in the Nantahala National Forest and Gorges State Park.

Waterfalls

This is called “The Land of Waterfalls” for a reason. From towering cascades that plunge to the forest floor, to hidden gems off the beaten path, falls abound. Of special note are the following: Whitewater Falls, Silver Run Falls, High Falls, and Rainbow Falls.

A place to play. A place to live.

There is so much more to the dynamic living experience at Chinquapin than we can possibly convey. Suffice it to say there is an outdoor world of infinite possibilities just waiting to be enjoyed and explored. And springtime is one of the best times to see it. Our friendly Property Specialists can provide you with specific property information, answer any questions you might have, and tell you more about the nature-based living experience  that awaits you at this preserved mountaintop property.

866-370-0867  |  Schedule a Discovery Tour

Read More

The first thing twin brothers Will and Mark Adkins will tell you about a career in real estate is that it’s how you treat people that’s most important, even more so than developing land. “If you treat people with respect and do the right thing,” says Will, “then that will sustain you through the ups and downs of the market. That’s something we founded the company on 25 years ago, and I’m glad we did, or else we may not be here.”

Based out of Cornelius, N.C., The Waterfront Group has come a long way in the last quarter of a century—from a fledgling developer in the early ‘90s buying up small parcels of land, to a large, multi-community sales and marketing company that has created some of the most successful, self-sustaining communities in the country. Through it all, they have remained true to their values—and loyal to the people who helped them get there.

A different kind of developer

“Waterfront Group is comprised of friends and family,” says Will. “That’s how we started, that’s how we’re always going to be. We’re a tight-knit group and we are loyal. From day one we’ve tried to do everything in-house so we can control quality and deliver on expectations.” And deliver they have. Their Eagles Nest community, located in the High Country in Banner Elk, North Carolina, has been the fastest-selling mountain community in the southeast over the past five years: from 2014-2019. The reasons for that are numerous: great land, high elevation, quality homes, first-class amenities, you name it. But most of all, the success at Eagles Nest is the result of Will and Mark being committed to developing communities responsibly, in a way that preserves the land and gives homeowners a living experience that is not only dynamic and amenity-rich, but in accord with nature.

“When the economy crashed back in 2008-2009, real estate was hit first, and hit the hardest,” says Mark. “The entire market was turned upside down, especially the second-home market. A lot of developers left people hanging trying to protect themselves. But we made a commitment to stick by people, to stick by our communities, and finish what we started and make things right. It wasn’t easy. But it was the right thing to do. And we survived. That is probably what I’m most proud about over our 25-year history—that we stayed true to our values and stood by our word.”

Building toward the future

So much of what Will and Mark do is about creating multi-generational, legacy communities that can be enjoyed by families generation after generation. And though it’s the past 25 years that they are celebrating this year, it is the road ahead that truly is their focus, and guiding light. “Certainly Mark and I are proud of what we have been able to create with so many great people at the Waterfront Group,” says Will. “But what really interests us is what we are working on now. We aren’t the type to rest on our laurels. ‘Our history,’ to us, is something to learn from rather than something to celebrate. We are of course thankful for the successes we have had, but beyond that, we feel grateful to have worked with so many great people, friends and family, and for being able to create communities that families enjoy, day after day. And being able to continue doing that for the next decade or so, with all these great friends at Waterfront Group, is what really inspires us.”

To learn more about the Waterfront Group and their collection of resort communities, contact us today.

866-370-1817 • waterfrontgrp.com

“We’ve seen a definite shift in buyer behavior the past few years in Western North Carolina. Families are looking for nature-based communities that offer adventure and family-centered amenities inside the gates, with access to outdoor recreation, dining, shopping, and entertainment nearby. It’s all about making family memories together with today’s buyers.”
Mark Adkins, owner at Chinquapin in Cashiers, NC

7 Buying Trends for WNC Mountain Communities

1) Trails are big
Home buyers today value experiences over things. The lavish spa and expensive golf course are secondary to hiking and walking in the picturesque Blue Ridge Mountains. Communities that have a network of meandering trails for hiking and biking are increasingly popular.

2) UTV trails are too
This has been one of the fastest emerging trends over the past year or so. Utility Terrain Vehicles (UTV) and All Terrain Vehicles (ATV) have become one of the more popular factors for buyers looking for a community—surpassing golf, actually.

3) Privacy is at a premium
People want to get away. They want a respite from day-to-day stress—a sanctuary from urban rush. Even within mountain communities, buyers want room to breathe on private lots surrounded by forest, streams, and ridgelines.

4) Staying connected is key
Wi-Fi is no longer an option. In fact, not having high-speed internet can be a deal breaker for many buyers. Even though families come to the mountains to get away, they still want access to be able to work, check email, and visit their favorite social channels.

5) Conservation is at a premium
As the world grows more hectic daily, people crave the peace and serenity that only nature can provide. The WNC mountains are more than a billion years old. And they impart an ancient wisdom and beauty that is unrivaled. To live in a community that preserves their beauty is a powerful draw.

6) Nature-based amenities are hot
Extravagant, exorbitant amenities—spas, golf courses, and the like—have lost their appeal for many buyers. They offer extra costs with diminishing returns. Nature-based amenities—trails, parks, pavilions, open-air amphitheaters, fishing, and hiking—are in high demand.

7) Quality homes are a must
Quality and craftsmanship go without saying. But quality with today’s buyers applies to the communities at large, not just individual homes. Everything in a community should blend harmoniously with the natural landscape, offering modern conveniences and the finest natural materials: wood, stone, and granite.

Chinquapin gives you everything you want in a premier mountain community

This is where nature’s playground intersects with the ultimate mountain town. Chinquapin offers itself as your family’s own personal playground, set amidst the majesty and splendor of the Blue Ridge Mountains. Yet three miles away lies the charming downtown of Cashiers, North Carolina, called “the heart of the Blue Ridge Mountains.” This is truly the best of both worlds. Backing up to Panthertown Valley in the Nantahala Forest—and just eight miles from beautiful Lake Glenville—Chinquapin encompasses 2,000 acres of pristine land for hiking, fishing, ATV-ing, and biking. Just outside the gates, a world of dining, shopping, and family-centered entertainment. This is mountain living on your terms. To learn more about the living experience at Chinquapin, contact us today.

866-370-0867  |  Schedule a Discovery Tour

When the summer heat gets to be too much, city dwellers in Atlanta, Greenville, and Charlotte have long been drawn to Western North Carolina’s coveted Highlands-Cashiers Plateau. But what some have yet to discover is that wintertime is just as glorious and inviting. There’s a stark beauty and idyllic peace to this picturesque region during the winter months. It reveals itself in subtle ways: a perfect mantle of snow draping a hillside…ethereal chimney smoke wafting from a well-lit cottage…the hushed tranquility of an old-growth forest…or a fleeting congregation of deer at the edge of a pasture. These are images that burrow into one’s soul. They encourage us to explore and observe this mountain sanctuary during “the offseason,” when the bustle of fall has subsided, replaced by a quiet splendor that is at once gratifying, yet ungraspable.

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“For many of our homeowners, wintertime is the most rewarding season at Chinquapin. The views go on forever. And the snow has a way of making everything look new and alive. There’s a deep sense of tranquility during the winter. There’s also a lot to do: snow skiing, hiking, dining, shopping, or just reading a book by the fire. And the fact that we offer premier real estate near Sapphire Valley Ski Resort is an added bonus.”
— Katie Nicholson, Land Consultant

Six Great Winter Activities in Cashiers Highlands

Snow Skiing

With an elevation near 4,000 feet, Cashiers is the perfect altitude to beat the heat in summer and enjoy the slopes in winter. Just a few minutes from downtown lies the Ski Sapphire Valley Resort—a favorite for families, regardless of age or experience on the powder. In addition to skiing, Sapphire offers snowboarding, tubing, and winter zip lines. Ski Sapphire Valley has a complete rental shop with boots, skis, boards, helmets, and ski poles.

Hiking

For many people winter is the best time to go hiking. There are fewer people on the trails and the quiet stillness of the landscape portrays a stark beauty that is absent the rest of the year. The entire region is imbued with cascading waterfalls, scenic ridge lines, rhododendron-filled forest paths, and sweeping views that seem endless during winter.

Shopping

The Highlands-Cashiers plateau boasts some of the finest shopping in Western North Carolina. A number of charming boutiques and curio shops sprinkle both towns and invite shoppers all the year round. Winter is often the time of year to find the best deals and the lack of crowds makes it easy to linger and stroll at will at the shops of your liking.

Bascom

Located on a former horse farm, The Bascom Center for the Visual Arts in Highlands is a favorite attraction for children and adults, offering high-quality (and rotating) visual art experiences that inspire and teach. The park-like setting features a six-building complex—with thousands of square feet of exhibit space—on six acres of land, complete with a meandering stream.

Ice-Skating

Perhaps there is no more gloriously romantic winter activity than ice-skating: under the boundless Western North Carolina sky, with the crisp chill of the holidays lingering in the air, and the sound of laughter blending with the music of skates on ice. The Highlands ice-Skating Rink is a wonderful family escape—for beginners and seasoned skaters, for the young and the young at heart.

Dining

Like shopping, dining is a year-round pursuit in the Cashiers-Highlands region. From small boutique cafes offering eclectic fare…to four-star fine-dining cuisine, the variety of culinary options is staggering. For their size, Highlands and Cashiers offer up a delectable offering of restaurants that rival much larger urban settings. Best of all, many are open all year long, presenting a greater chance of securing your favorite table during winter.

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A year-round retreat for homeowners

Each season atop the Highlands-Cashiers plateau is adorned with its own unique beauty—the lush greenery of summer…the resplendent spectacle of fall leaves…the hushed serenity of winter…and the ever-resurgent glory of spring. Each successive month is bathed in a tranquility that astounds the eye and enriches the soul. Located square along the Eastern Continental Divide, this region has been attracting visitors for years, lured by the four-season climate, higher elevations (3,000 – 4,000+ feet), forested mountains, and an endless array of waterfalls, creeks, rivers, and lakes. If ever there were a natural mountain paradise, this is it. To top it off, the area features two of the most charming and sought-after mountain towns in the southeast: Highlands & Cashiers.

Highlands-Cashiers Plateau – Climate Facts
Average snow per year: 9 inches
Average days of sunshine: 212
Summer temps: July is 78°
Winter low is 25°

Drive Times from Southeastern Cities:
Greenville, SC – 1.5 hours
Atlanta, GA – 2 hours
Charlotte, NC – 3 hours
Columbia, SC – 3 hours
Nashville, TN – 5.5 hours

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Chinquapin: a conservation community at the center of it all

You can enjoy your own private home near Sapphire Valley Resort. Located in the heart of the Highlands-Cashiers Plateau, Chinquapin is an amenity-rich, family-centered conservation community that allows you to live graciously and abundantly. It’s all here: timeless fun in an ancient, yet ageless setting. Each day grants you the possibility of new wonders, both inside our gates and in the extended Cashiers’ community. Come experience it for yourself. Schedule a personal Discovery Tour or call us today.

Schedule A Discovery Tour

866-370-0867

“The rental program at Chinquapin is fantastic,” says J.T. Griffin, of Florida. “My family lives in Florida but we’ve always loved the Highlands-Cashiers area. We have been vacationing here each fall for the past 20 years. My wife and I had talked about buying up here but questioned the practicality of living in Orlando and owning a mountain home in Cashiers. The rental program has made that a non-issue. Someone from our family comes up here 8 to 10 times a year. The rest of the time our home is in the rental program which keeps it booked consistently which dramatically reduces the cost of having a home here.”

The rental program is a unique feature to all Waterfront Group properties, a benefit often not found in other communities in the area. It’s also a carefully managed program, making it convenient and worry-free for homeowners. “We have been quite impressed by the rental program,” J.T. says. “Our house stays booked pretty regularly and whenever we come to stay the house looks neat, clean, and well-taken care of. They send us a check each month for the rentals and that more than covers our expenses. It’s been a win-win for us and just another reason to make us feel good about living in such a wonderful mountain community.”

Come Discover Chinquapin

Chinquapin impresses as a coveted mountain retreat—a sanctuary within a sanctuary. This is the ultimate Western North Carolina escape, in the heart of the Highlands-Cashiers Plateau, offering 4,000 feet of elevation and ideal temperatures throughout the year. Isn’t it time you experienced it for yourself? Schedule a personal Discovery Tour or call us today at 866-370-0867.

Schedule a Discovery Tour

Charlotte, NC – 5/12/16 – Waterfront Group Communities, the Southeast’s leading second home & land development company, announces the ground-breaking of a 2000-acre, private, gated development called Chinquapin, an upscale lifestyle community located in the mountains of Cashiers, NC.

Charlotte, NC – 5/12/16 – Waterfront Group Communities, the Southeast’s leading second home & land development company, announces the ground-breaking of a 2000-acre, private, gated development called Chinquapin, an upscale lifestyle community located in the mountains of Cashiers, NC.