encased by the river and a warm community.

Mountain Living

Yes, French Broad Crossing is something special.

Thank you for taking the time to explore what French Broad Crossing might offer you and your family.

We understand how these illustrated property presentations can all run together in buyers’ minds. Everyone’s setting is “unspoiled.” Every lot offers “breathtaking views.” The mood is always “serene.” While all this is certainly true here, we run the risk of appearing like every other mountain community, which French Broad Crossing decidedly is not.

I’ve developed properties before, so please believe me when I tell you that French Broad Crossing is unique in a number of ways, which this book will describe.

By the same token, French Broad Crossing is not for everyone. It’s not a golf community. It’s not a “million miles from nowhere.” It’s not about enormous trophy homes. Not that there’s anything wrong with any of those attributes, it’s just that French Broad Crossing was conceived along different lines, for owners seeking another kind of experience, one that we feel is richer and more sustainable.

We at French Broad Crossing appreciate how seldom this sort of new-community opportunity arises, and we are humbled and determined not to waste it. This commitment drives everything we do here. It’s incredibly exciting for us when buyers share that vision.

So enjoy the photography and let yourself daydream a bit about investing in your future here. But don’t stop there. If the presentation resonates with your deeper values and life goals, make plans to visit us soon. There’s no substitute for inhaling the air, absorbing the vistas, listening to the river, and talking with owners at French Broad Crossing.

Jack Fisher, Founder

The river ties us to a primordial world

More than anything else, what defines and distinguishes French Broad Crossing is the river for which it’s named. Perhaps surprisingly, North Carolina's French Broad River is the third oldest on the planet, older even than the Nile and the Amazon. When the river formed about 300 million years ago, North America was still attached to the Pangaea supercontinent and the earliest dinosaurs had yet to appear. As the continent buckled on its eastern edge to thrust up the new Appalachian Range, the river channeled and twisted through them.

From its headwaters west of Rosman in Transylvania County to the border of Tennessee, the French Broad River is the largest watercourse in Western North Carolina. The river flows northward through Brevard, Asheville, and Hot Springs into Tennessee, where it becomes the Tennessee River. The community’s River Lodge, as well as many property lots, overlook this primeval and still vital watercourse.

To the Cherokees who hunted and fished here for centuries, the river was Tah-kee-os-tee, or “Racing Waters.”

Today, the French Broad River is a popular destination for outdoor sports of all kinds. Outfitters offer guided trips along the 200-mile-long waterway ranging from thrilling whitewater rafting to gentle canoe trips. The river supports a wide variety of fish, including largemouth bass, brown and rainbow trout, and catfish, and fly fishing is particularly popular.

For us, the river is more than a geographical marker or landscape feature; it’s central to French Broad Crossing’s unique character.

French Broad Crossing lies within the Blue Ridge National Heritage Area, home to Mount Mitchell, the tallest mountain east of the Mississippi and about 50 miles southeast in the Pigsah National Forest. The legendary Appalachian Trail, a 2,174-mile footpath along ridges and valleys from Mt. Katahdin in Maine to Springer Mountain in Georgia, passes directly through nearby Hot Springs.

These ancient mountains’ rounded peaks form a wave of blue crests reaching into the misty distance. North Carolina mountains also include the massive Great Smokies and transverse ranges such as the Black Mountains, Great Craggies, Great Balsams, and Nantahalas.

This patchwork of mountain ranges sustains a extraordinary diversity of ecosystems, plants, and wildlife, including the bald eagle, black bear, bobcat, cougar, elk, red and grey fox, white-tailed deer, and wild turkey. These North Carolina mountains draw outdoor enthusiasts from around the world to hike, climb, rappel, botanize, bird-watch, ski, or simply revel in the view from the top.

Built with native materials on sites that respect the land’s natural contours, French Broad Crossing homes blend comfortably into a panorama of forests, peaks, and spectacular seasons. Because hundreds of acres surrounding us are sheltered by protective covenants (managed by the Southeast Regional Land Conservancy), this magnificent tapestry is preserved for generations to come.

From the start, thoughtful stewardship of French Broad Crossing’s terrain, flora, and fauna has been our guidestar.

We are stewards of the mountains

Does your home fit your dreams?

Imagine for a moment that the decision’s been made.You’re moving forward with a custom home at French Broad Crossing. Whether you’ve built a home previously or not, you’re in good hands.

But the process starts not with architects and builders; it begins with questions. What are your goals? What sort of lifestyle do you envision? Do you need to plan for small children and pets? How much seclusion is wanted? And not least of all, what sort of budget are you comfortable with?

Addressing these questions first will clarify your choices and help select the perfect building lot from the site plan: graded or level, river or mountain view, close to amenities and other homes or not. To some degree, these factors interact: Because of construction challenges, for example, a steeply graded lot overlooking the river is likely to be more expensive to build on.

On average, a French Broad Crossing home is surrounded by six acres of land, but lots range from 1 to 4 acres in size. Most homes are not visible to their neighbors —although you might sniff the woodsmoke from a nearby chimney during winter months.

Once your lot is secured, you can sit down with an architect and builder, either your own or one with whom we’ve worked previously and can recommend. Existing home styles range from classic to contemporary, and current French Broad Crossing owners—almost 70 now—are almost always eager to share their experience visualizing designs, choosing materials, and working with builders.

Before construction begins, all home plans must be approved by our Architectural Review Board, and builders must periodically obtain re-approval during construction. This ensures that French Broad Crossing homes continue to minimize their impact on the land, both visually and environmentally.

Not ready to build? Just want to set that lot aside for the future? Relax. There’s no mandatory timeline for starting construction at French Broad Crossing.

The perquisites of ownership

In a welcome (and characteristic) departure from business as usual, French Broad Crossing’s developer didn’t just promise community amenities; he built them before the first residents arrived.

And what amenities! A lavishly crafted River Lodge for relaxing get-togethers, gym workouts, and spa services. A Tree House high in the mountains for spectacular prospects. A River Park and Pavilion for direct access to the river.

The River Lodge’s striking timber-frame design is the open-layout archetype for many French Broad Crossing homes. With enormous native boulders at its base, the Lodge meets the latest LEED (Leadership in Energy & Environmental Design) standards. Local artisans, masons, carpenters, and blacksmiths all contributeddistinctive details—which we’ll proudly show when you visit.

Inside, the gourmet Viking kitchen, open gathering area, and game room spark celebrations and parties with friends, family, and neighbors. Outside, a generous patio provides a dramatic river overlook. Adjacentto the Lodge is a freestyle lap pool and hot tub, as well as a fully equipped fitness center.

The River Park and Pavilion enable easy access to all that the French Broad River’s rushing waters have to offer. Try, your hand at fly fishing, kayaking, white water rafting, or tubing. Enjoy a game of horseshoes or volleyball, then fire up the grill by the covered picnic pavilion and dineriverside.

After navigating the exhilarating Class 3 rapids a bit upstream, local rafters often stop for a picnic lunch at the River Park, readying themselves for what lies ahead.

For those who value mountain tranquility and spectacular Blue Ridge views, follow the trail to the Tree House, tucked into The Bluffs, oneof the highest points at French Broad Crossing. With an outdoor fireplace and both covered and open spaces, the Tree House has become a favorite spot for cookouts with friends and family.

Secluded, but not isolated

French Broad Crossing is in North Carolina’s Madison County, which offers exceptional healthcare, continuous learning, volunteer, and community opportunities for its residents.

Marshall, the nearest town and the county seat, is nestled between rocky cliffs and the French Broad River approximately 20 miles northwest of Asheville. Marshall’s Main Street, lined with original buildings including the century-old courthouse, is home to artists’ studios, craft galleries, appealing shops, and music and dance venues. A quick walk over the river leads to Blannahassett Island, where you’ll find picnic areas, fishing, and the recently restored Marshall High Studios. Marshall is only 10 miles from the college community of Mars Hill and I-26, making it convenient to many travelers.

Ten minutes farther up the river is the quaint town of Hot Springs, a resort destination for almost 200 years. Long renowned for its healing hot mineral springs and abundance of outdoor activities, the hamlet has a welcoming small-town feeling. It’s also the only town in the state where the famous Appalachian Trail runs down Main Street.

French Broad Crossing is only a half-hour drive from eclectic and cosmopolitan Asheville, consistently named one of the nation’s leading small cities for its arts community, outdoor opportunities, “foodie” culture, and much more. It’s top-rated nationally as a retirement and second-home location.

Chefs from all over the world have created a culinary scene in Asheville to rival Atlanta’s and Charleston’s. Music fans find performances to match any taste at numerous music halls and nightclubs, with some of the nation’s top acts passing through the city on a regular basis. The city is also celebrated for its shopping, including numerous antique malls, funky thrift stores, and high-end boutiques.

And to place French Broad Crossing in a wider geographic context: Asheville is approximately equidistant to Chicago, New York, Tampa, and New Orleans, putting a majority of the country’s population within a ten-hour drive.

A half-day’s drive takes you to much of the East Coast, including Charlotte (2.5 hours), Atlanta (3.5 hours), Raleigh (4.5 hours), Charleston (4.5 hours), and Savannah (5 hours).

Asheville Regional Airport, 45 minutes away, offers direct flights to Charlotte, Atlanta, Orlando, Detroit, Cincinnati, Philadelphia, Newark, Houston and Minneapolis.

French Broad Crossing is located just 20 minutes from Interstate 26, and 35 minutes from Interstate 40.

Wherever you happen to be, we’re not that far away and would welcome your visit. Call us today.

French Broad Crossing7265 Highway 25-70Marshall, NC 28753

828.284.2400

info@frenchbroadcrossing.com

www.frenchbroadcrossing.com