A wild river preserve, French Broad Crossing near the quaint town of Marshall allows residents to put environmental awareness into action. Buying here, on one of the oldest rivers in the world, permits entry into a caring community that has placed about a third of its 756 acres in a conservation easement, one that ensures that this beautiful land will be enjoyed by residents for generations to come. 

French Broad Crossing, a member of the Southeast Regional Land Conservancy since its creation in 2004, is blessed by large forests of oak, pine, maples and poplars. Waterfalls cascade across the property, home to turkey, deer and bear. Hiking trails traverse the land, passing through tall stands of tufted ferns and emerald green carpets of sprightly moss.

And within all this beauty are residences naturally at home. Mountain-vernacular homes designed to reflect their woodland surroundings are positioned to complement the land, not compete with it. Home sites varying in size from one to four acres arepriced between$100,000 and $500,000,many bordered or completely surrounded by conservancy land permanently protecting the views .The beauty, spaciousness and quiet that attracted homeowners are theirs forever.

More than 60 families call French Broad Crossing home, thrilled to be part of a community that provides habitat and corridor pathways for wildlife and migratory birds. This private, gated community is rustic but refined, as exemplified by the timber-frame River Lodge, built upon boulders harvested from the site. Constructed with the latest green technology, the lodge has a large gourmet Viking kitchen that hosts weddings, family reunions and other large resident gatherings.

Terraces outside the lodge are perfect for watching rafters negotiating the Class III rapid on the river below. Beside the lodge is a fully equipped fitness center, with free-style pool and hot tub. Elsewhere on the property, skilled craftsmen have created the Tree House Park, a covered platform with outdoor fireplace that’s perfect for grilling steaks with friends.

Down by the River Park is a covered pavilion with rocking chairs, picnic tables, tree swing and a large rock fireplace and grill. It’s the perfect setting for relaxing and watching the river rush by. Residents can try their hand at fly-fishing, kayaking, tubing and whitewater rafting. Speaking of adventure, just down the road is the exciting city of Asheville, a small metro full of daring restaurants, sophisticated cocktail lounges and a crafts brewing industry that has brought the city national attention. Its antique shops and contemporary home furnishings studios yield exceptional finds. The city’s extensive galleries present innumerable options for finding locally made furniture and artwork that reflect French Broad Crossing’s exquisite mountain setting.

Closer to home is the emerging town of Marshall, itself the preferred residence of artists of every nature. It seems as if a new restaurant is opening constantly, finding the county’s creative community much to its tastes. Everyone in town stops by Zuma Coffee sometime during the day.

After a day of exploring trails and delights, it’s so nice to come home to French Broad Crossing. Choose among river view, secluded forest and mountain vista lots, most within earshot of the river. French Broad Crossing’s preferred builders are experienced artisans of green, Healthy Built and Energy Star homes.

What you won’t find at French Broad Crossing are formal grounds manicured within an inch of their lives. This isn’t a golf community that dictates a certain look. At French Broad Crossing, owners are allowed to build the kind of house they want, within certain restrictions. “Many of the homes are literally built into the mountain,” spokeswoman Sarah Tourville said.

“This is one of only a few places that you can literally be next to a river while on top of a mountain,” she said. “A lot of people are water people or mountain people. Here, you can be both.”

To learn more about the living experience at French Broad Crossing, please contact our sales office at sales@preservecommunities.com or call us at 866-947-9629.