477 Acres On Phoenix Mountain Property To Be Auctioned Could A Ski Resort Possibly Come To Ashe? By Fawn Roark The Phoenix Mountain Property is now being auctioned by Sheldon Good & Company International, LLC and Property Owner Eric Hunter is very excited about the possibilities that may be on the way to Ashe County as a result. There are 477 acres of mountaintop land on the Phoenix Mountain Property that has potential for a variety of residential and resort uses. The property is being advertised as a possible site for a premier ski resort and as the last property of its kind in the Blue Ridge Mountains. There are 477 acres of mountaintop land that has potential for a variety of residential and resort uses. Hunter explained that a full business plan and a viability study have been developed that affirms the potential to become a very successful ski resort, possibly one of the most popular facilities of its kind in the southeast United States. Hunter is working with partners JP Morgan and Sheldon Good to find a buyer that will continue the development of the property. “Their plan is to bring to us a developer for us to select from who will buy the property and develop it into what we hope will be a winter sports oriented property. That is our game plan and we are real excited about it,” Hunter explained. “We have had good financial modeling done and have worked with the best snow making company in the world. We received good input from those folks and it looks like a financially viable model. It really is such a unique property close to West Jefferson.” Hunter said the property is in a great location that will do well as a ski resort or related venture. “There are grocery stores within three miles of the property. There are galleries, shops and restaurants in West Jefferson – all the things people like to do on vacation or if they have a permanent home here too. Unlike a lot of ski resorts, we don’t have to build a village to support the resort. West Jefferson is currently self-supporting and growing,” he noted. This project could have a positive impact on the county and the possibilities are endless. “I thought this project would be interesting and just good for the county. We are evaluating swimming and strength training as well,” Hunter continued. “There may be proposals involving different forms of sports and one could include swimming as a summer activity. I am a former swimmer and my kids are swimmers. This was an idea brought to us by the United States Olympic Committee in a visit the Committee made looking for regional high altitude training locations.” The entrance has been approved by the Department of Transportation and there has been preliminary studies done for a lake. “All the work done now is Phase 1 so that ski developers and other developers can look at the property and see what they think. This will be a sealed bid process that closes on October 17th,” Hunter pointed out. The deadline for bids is on October 17th at the offices of Sheldon Good & Company in Chicago. Hunter said he is looking for a buyer that will bring a positive impact to Ashe County and he believes it is an excellent property with many assets. “I’m excited about it. This is a big piece of property that is close to a town. The property has elevations up to 4,600 feet and the north side has an excellent topography for a ski resort. The people in Ashe County have been very supportive. County Manager Dan McMillan has been extremely supportive - I think he is probably one of the biggest reasons we have seen such growth in Ashe County and it’s the right kind of growth,” Hunter said. On-site inspections of the property will be held on Oct. 3, 8 and 14th. Interested persons should call Sheldon Good & Company at least 48 hours in advance of a scheduled on-site inspection. A detailed Bidder’s Information Packet will be available at the cost of $100 or can be obtained via Fed-Ex for an additional $30 fee. For more information, visit www.sheldongood.com or call the Project Manager at 312-373-4300.