Avery Post, June 28, 2006
Eagle’s Nest Celebration
– Benefit for Banner Elk VFD –
By Bertie Burleson
On July 1 the gates to Eagles Nest will open to the public for the First Annual
Red, White and Blue Celebration. The event will benefit the Banner Elk Volunteer
Fire Department that is raising over $500,000 for a new fire truck. “We are also
honoring the three fallen Banner Elk firefighters,” said John Turchin, owner and
developer of Eagle's Nest. The entrance to Eagles Nest is distinguished by the endless
rock fence that snakes up the mountain, built by Steve Shields. Nearby is the guard
house that is constructed of native timber and stone near NC Highway 194 (between
Elk Park and Banner Elk) across from Heaton Baptist Church.
Saturday's event will feature the area's biggest fireworks show and live entertainment.
Alto Reed's Rock & Roll All-Stars starring Bob Seger's “Silver Bullet Saxman”
Alto Reed and Eric Clapton Drummer Jamie Oldaker. The band will present numbers
from Bob Seger's hit list. Local bands performing will be the WhipDaddies, Fleetwoods,
Blues Set with Pachi, and the Rusty Bucket Bluegrass Band with Boss Hawg. There
will also be a special appearance by Supermodel, Singer and Songwriter “Sabrina.”
Food, drinks, a Charity Firefighter Auction, fun and games will be included in the
First Annual Red, White and Blue Celebration.
Located on the southeastern slope of Beech Mountain Eagle's Nest is undoubtedly
the most unique development, not only in Avery County, but also in the country.
With miles of dry stacked native stone fences, Totem Poles, wrought iron artistry,
and buildings constructed of massive timbers, the development is a dream come true
for Turchin. Everything is built on site, including the Totem Poles and wrought
iron.
Approximately 100 houses will be built in the development that has 1,300 acres and
adheres to National Park Standards. The homes at the top of the mountain are called
lodges and will be situated on ten acres each. Homes near the bottom of the development
are called cottages. and will be built on two acres for each house. The homes range
from $2.5 million, not including the property. The remainder of the land will be
used for activities that include horseback riding; bicycle, motorcycle and four-wheelers;
skeet shooting; fly fishing; skiing and snowmobiles; and bow and arrows. There is
a baseball and soccer field. “No golf courses. There are enough golf courses in
the area,” Turchin said. “Did you see our playhouse?” John asked with a big smile,
referring to the rustic structure that houses all types of bikes, bows and arrows
and other sporting equipment. Beside the playhouse is a structure for climbing similar
to the Alpine Tower at Avery High. It is appropriately called “The Eagle's Nest.”
Turchin's passion for creating and unbridled enthusiasm is contagious and he is
keen on detail. “The least amount of development is the best, he said.
There will also be a hotel constructed in the development.
“No house over 5,000 square feet can be built here,” John said. “If someone wants
to build a larger home they can go to Linville Ridge.”
Eagle's Nest offers rustic elegance with all the modern amenities including a spa,
clubhouse and library.
“I call it barefoot luxury living,” Turchin said.
“I want people who live here to relive their childhood camp experiences,” John Turchin
said. “I love children. (John and his wife, Susan, have two) They are our future.
This is a place where children are welcome, where families can do all kinds of things
together.”
John Turchin is a visionary who can dream and make the dream come true. A third-generation
South Floridian, John built estate homes in the Miami area in keeping with the beauty
of the sea and its shoreline. Lush rooftop gardens are on some of the Miami homes,
with sails stretched over them and moats around them. The bathrooms are shaped like
seashells. John Turchin not only builds breathtaking developments, he creates lifestyles.
He has designed homes for many celebrities including performers Ja Rule and Ashanti.
Wherever he builds, John uses building materials native to the area. At Eagle's
Nest all of the stone comes from the property, plus the massive timbers and much
of the lumber from trees that need to be taken out. Otherwise, the trees remain.
A good example is the library that is placed on the edge of a cliff below the picnic
shed. He wouldn't let workers bring a crane to the site, as it would have torn up
the mountain. Instead, they hand carried all materials. John would not let them
remove two trees, but had them build the deck around the trees. “My goal is to preserve
the area as much as possible,” he said. Rhododendron limbs are woven into the deck
railings on the homes and other buildings.
The picnic shed typifies the rustic elegance throughout the development. Anchored
by a massive open fireplace with andirons that hold huge logs; the shed has picnic
tables of rough cut lumber; state-of-the art serving capacity and a plasma television.
Here, each Saturday afternoon John and Susan Turchin hold a barbecue for their employees
and friends. They are as enthused about entertaining the locals as they are when
entertaining Paris Hilton in Miami. Giving back to the community is a family tradition
to the Turchins. John's parents are Robert and Lillian Turchin, who founded the
Turchin Center for Visual Arts at ASU.
John is also co-developer of the Great Train Robbery in Banner Elk which houses
the John Turchin Art Gallery.