A private retreat at the headwaters. Built in 2020 by a meticulous local builder, 158 Bucks Crossing sits on a large lot beside community green space and the headwaters of the East Fork of the French Broad, creating a sense of total privacy and close enough to hear the river from the house. Wood, stone and glass give the home a natural warmth and presence. The soaring great room gathers around a massive wood-burning fireplace, while walls of windows bring the forest into nearly every room. Generous common spaces make it easy to share with family and friends, and the 3-bedroom, 4-bath layout includes a bonus room for additional guests, giving everyone privacy when they want it. An expansive deck spans the back of the home, featuring a large hot tub for evenings under the trees and a large fire pit area close to the river provides the perfect place for evening stories and s’mores.

Direct access to the East Fork is a sought-after amenity, with wild brook trout in the stream right behind the house and some of the region’s best fly fishing close by. Beyond it, the 6,730-acre Headwaters State Forest puts one of North Carolina’s great outdoor playgrounds right in your backyard. Big Hill is a quiet, conservation-minded community where larger homesites, abundant green space, maintained roads and underground utilities leave the forest largely undisturbed.