Going for a day hike in the Blue Ridge mountains is the perfect summer activity. But what do you need to pack for a day trip? Although day hikes don’t require as much gear as an overnight trip, there’s still a few things you won’t want to forget:

Hiking Shoes

At The Divide, we share amenities within the neighboring mountain community of Bald Rock. When you visit or buy real estate from The Divide, you want to make the most out of our many amazing amenities offered. 

The professional managed equestrian center at Bald Rock is available for ...

At The Divide, we share amenities within the neighboring mountain community of Bald Rock. When you visit or buy real estate from The Divide, you want to make the most out of our many amazing amenities offered. 

The professional managed equestrian center at Bald Rock is available for stabling your horses while you enjoy your time at The Divide. Not a horse owner but enjoy watching them roam about?  Stop by and watch as the horses graze the lush pastureland.

Did you come to the area for the natural surroundings?  Our community is home to miles of hiking land as well as biking and horseback riding trails past multiple waterfalls and a rare highland bog. See amazing views of nature while getting some exercise in! 

Hosting an upcoming event soon? Divide and Bald Rock homeowners can reserve the open-air pavilion to host their event! Our community features a covered pavilion perfect for celebrations and events. The pavilion is flanked by two fireplaces and includes a full-service kitchen. What more could you ask for? How convenient! 

Those who own a mountain property at The Divide are entitled to all the year-round amenities of Sapphire Valley Resort for a nominal fee. Some, but not all, of the amenities offered through Sapphire Valley Resort are: indoor/outdoor swimming pools, 18-hole championship mountain golf course, tennis center, exercise facilities, miniature golf, boat rentals, and winter skiing/snowboarding/tubing. 

Take a dip in the pool, soak in some sunshine, take part in an afternoon golf outing, or challenge a friend or family member to a tennis match. Get into a healthy workout routine with our astounding exercise facilities. Looking for something fun? Try mini golf. In the summers, enjoy a day on the boat on 55-acre Lake Fairfield where you can fish, swim, and relax. In the winters, get outside with skiing, snowboarding, or tubing.

Adjacent to The Divide lies the magnificent Panthertown Valley. This 6,700-acre preserve is home to meandering streams and intricate waterfall systems to make it a haven for horseback riders, hikers, riders, and nature lovers, with easy access directly from the property.

There is a plethora of amenities for all of The Divide guests to keep busy and immerse themselves in nature! 

There’s no doubt that winter left the outside of your house a mess with mud, leaves, and other debris that have collected over time. It’s time to take on some early spring maintenance to prepare your outdoor space for the blooming season ahead.

Spring Cleaning Checkli...

There’s no doubt that winter left the outside of your house a mess with mud, leaves, and other debris that have collected over time. It’s time to take on some early spring maintenance to prepare your outdoor space for the blooming season ahead.

Spring Cleaning Checklist:

1. Windows - Something often overlooked when it comes to preparing your outdoor space is windows. Grab a sprayer hose attachment, ladder, squeegee, rag, cleaning solution, and go to town. Check with the manufacturer of your windows to see how to best clean them. Newer windows often make cleaning from the inside easy to avoid ladders. 
2. Rain Gutters - Winter storms, fall leaves, and more can cause lots of debris to clog up your gutters. Grab a ladder and some gloves and scrape out as much as you can. Then follow up with a hose to wash away the rest that is left. Now, your rain gutters are cleared up to handle the runoff from all the spring rain that may come our way. 
3. Exterior Siding, Wood, or Brick - Don’t forget about the primary exterior surfaces of your home. All it takes is a good power washer to quickly remove all that mud and dirt on the outside of your house. 
4. Garage - Now is the perfect time to go through all that built-up junk that sits unused in the garage. Once you have tidied up, sweep the floors, wipe down any shelving, dust away cobwebs, and wash the floors.
5. Trim Away any Dead or Damaged Branches - Look to see where tree or shrub branches have been damaged and cut them back to the live stems. Use hand shears to snip off the branches. Trim summer-flowering shrubs before the buds emerge but wait to prune spring-flowering shrubs until they bloom. Trim overgrown evergreens back to the shape you desire. When in doubt, contact a local tree service or nursery when you have questions about what to trim and what to leave be. 
6. Clean Up Around Plants - Rake up any fallen leaves and dead foliage that you removed, pull up old annuals, and clear away existing mulch to prepare for a new layer. Give your new spring plants space to breathe and grow! 

Spring cleaning is not only for the inside clutter but the outside too. Don’t neglect your outdoor space!

As new, incredible homes are completed in Creekside Treetop Village, it’s fun to imagine new homeowners making these incredible properties their own. As maintenance-free sanctuaries in the mountain valley, these modern mountain homes offer something completely new for The Divide at Bald Rock....

As new, incredible homes are completed in Creekside Treetop Village, it’s fun to imagine new homeowners making these incredible properties their own. As maintenance-free sanctuaries in the mountain valley, these modern mountain homes offer something completely new for The Divide at Bald Rock.

Each of these unique properties boasts maintained common ground and private amenities of hiking trails, pavilions, and outdoor fire pits for community gatherings. These homes provide homeowners a true mountain escape without leaving behind the comforts of luxury city living. 

These new homes’ amenities check off all the boxes. With cutting-edge design, they offer efficient, sleek mountain style but with elements of a traditional and welcoming mountain chalet. 

As new homeowners take ownership, here are some tips on how to outfit the space to complement the unique exterior and tranquil surroundings. 

Combine Industrial Elements with Warm Wooden Touches

When selecting furniture, gravitate towards pieces that combine both industrial metal accents and warm wood finishes. 

Bring the Outside In

While Creekside Treetop Village homes offer an abundance of natural light and large windows allowing the natural surroundings in, amplify the natural beauty! Bring in your favorite houseplants, whether real or fake, to add more greenery to your indoor living. 

Get Creative with Art 

The modern, cutting-edge design of these homes offers up the chance to incorporate more daring pieces of art than you may normally gravitate towards. Both modern and traditional pieces could find their home throughout the halls and high ceilings. Pull from the mix of metal, wood, and stone on the exterior and incorporate mixed media art from one of our fantastic local artisans. 

No matter how homeowners choose to make one of these homes’ interior’s unique, the natural surroundings offer an intimate experience with the natural surroundings and beautiful Hogback Creek. 

Efficiency is not just for refrigerators and washing machines. Looking at a home’s cumulative efficiency is something our te...

Efficiency is not just for refrigerators and washing machines. Looking at a home’s cumulative efficiency is something our team takes into consideration during a build. In the midst of the coldest part of the year, ensure your home is operating at maximum efficiency with these tips for heat conservation.

Monitoring and maximizing your home’s efficiency has several benefits. In addition to saving on utility bills, it also lessens your home’s carbon footprint, making things better for the environment. It improves the longevity and sustainability of your home by way of windows, doors, pipes, and your heating system. And, it brings you peace of mind knowing that you have a safe, efficiently run home tucked away in the mountains.

Secure Your Seals

Sub-zero temperatures make it all too easy to find the areas in your home where seals are weak. Check all windows, doors, and cracks for cool air and address these as soon as possible; you are letting cool air in and your heat out.

Adjust to the Draft

If you have a particularly drafty window or room in your home, consider covering the window or door. A window insulator kit is a great temporary solution to get you through the winter. You may also consider keeping curtains closed or shutting the door to that room to further insulate the rest of your home.

Follow the Sun

Utilize the sun’s heat to your advantage. Open all the blinds or curtains on all East-facing windows in the morning and all West-facing in the evening, capturing the sun’s natural warmth. Strategically opening and closing your window coverings can help circulate additional heat in your home.

Schedule Routine Maintenance

Professionals know best and we have some high-quality companies that tend to the homes at The Divide. Having your heating system, including your furnaces, boilers, and heat pumps, checked on a regular basis helps ensure that things are running efficiently. Remember to replace filters monthly or as often as needed and when in doubt, bring in the professionals.

Fireplace Efficiency

Many of the homes at The Divide offer authentic, wood-burning fireplaces and our residents love to fire them up in the winter. When doing so, make sure that the flue vent is cleared out and cleaned on a regular basis to ensure proper safety and ventilation. When not using your fireplace, keep the damper securely closed, and if you know you will not use the fireplace for an extended period of time, plug and seal the chimney.