Missy Mandell Bleckley loves to entertain. She especially likes it when company comes to stay for a few days. That includes friends, as well as family. “We once had 26 people staying here at one time—that’s the record,” she says. Missy and her husband, JB, who have been living in the Austin Texas area, bought their mountain dream home at Chinquapin six years ago. And although they were somewhat familiar with the area—JB’s father was raised near Betty’s Creek, Georgia—their quest for a second home spanned the entire country, including beach property, as well. “We looked at Holden Beach,” says Missy, “and Santa Fe, but we felt drawn to the Western North Carolina Mountains. We were at a wedding in Asheville a while back and explored that area, and eventually made our way to Highlands and Cashiers.”
Love at first sight
The Bleckleys took to the celebrated Highlands-Cashiers Plateau right away, drawn in by the combination of small-town mountain charm and natural, scenic beauty that abounded on all sides. “The entire is area is just beautiful,” says Missy. “There’s great elevation. Lots of water—streams, lakes, creeks, rivers. There’s abundant hiking and outdoor recreation. And then you have these great little mountain towns. We love Cashiers.” As taken has Missy and JB were with the area, they were even more impressed with Chinquapin. “We loved it the moment we saw it,” Missy says. “It was breathtaking, like a private mountain paradise in the middle of a larger mountain paradise. JB and I really like the fact that a third of the property is in conservation. That shows the commitment of the developers to preserve Chinquapin for the future—keeping it pure and pristine.”
A place to treasure—and share
Missy and JB love to entertain. Not simply an occasional dinner party here and there, but entertaining friends and family for days on end. “We have a large house up here with lots of rooms,” Missy says, “because we wanted this to be a place where we could gather for holidays and weekends, and over the summer. It’s not unusual that we have three generations of family up here at one time—in fact it happens quite often. There’s plenty of space for everyone. The babies are in the cribs and the teenagers like to ‘camp out’ on the deck.” And when it comes to entertaining their guests and keeping everyone happy, that’s no trouble at all, thanks to the variety of amenities and activities at Chinquapin. “This is the type of mountain house—and Chinquapin is the type of community—that everyone wants to come visit,” she says. “There’s so much to do on the property, from hiking and fishing, to camping and exploring. And if the teenagers want to get away for a while, you have Cashiers just three miles down the road. There always something here that appeals to everyone, young or old, no matter what time of year. This is like four-season permanent vacation for anyone and everyone who wants to visit.”
Come Discover Chinquapin
Within this preserved community is an amenity-rich, family-centered living experience 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.