Mountain that has long adorned post cards saved from development, NC officials say
A “beloved” mountain that is visible from the Blue Ridge Parkway and the Biltmore Estate has been rescued from the threat of being developed, according to preservationists in western North Carolina.
If all goes as planned, the 342-acre Deaverview Mountain property will instead become Buncombe County’s largest park, county officials said in a news release.
This includes a 3,118-foot peak, 16 headwater streams and stunning views of the French Broad River Valley, the Southern Appalachian Highlands Conservancy reports.
“You can look directly out to and over downtown Asheville, and see landmarks like the Grove Park Inn, Biltmore Estate, Mt. Mitchell in the Black Mountains, the French Broad River, Bearwallow Mountain, and more,” SAHC Communications Director Angela Shepherd told The Charlotte Observer.
“It truly is a breathtaking spot, and you feel as if you’re perched above the city, seeing into corners of the county.”
The omnipresence of Deaverview Mountain long made it a “treasured part” of the community, and the centerpiece of post cards dating back a century, officials said.
However, it remained in private hands, which meant little could be done when the mountain was listed for sale three years ago under the subdivision name “The View of Asheville.” The price tag: $9,995,000.
“The online property listing touted ‘Outstanding views from the property extend[ing] to the horizon line over layers of mountain ridges in all directions’,” the conservancy reports. “The seller of the property had an approved 21-estate-lot development plan on file.”
A mountain rescue
It didn’t take long for the community to realize a “significant natural asset” was about to be lost forever, and plans emerged to rescue the mountain.
In March 2023, a “conservation-minded buyer” purchased Deaverview Mountain, and gave the conservancy a three-year option to “find a permanent conservation solution.”
“Over the next three years, SAHC diligently identified and secured funding sources in partnership with Buncombe County to enable the property to be purchased and permanently protected,” the conservancy says.
“SAHC sought to assist Buncombe County in creating a park featuring hiking, passive recreation, and opportunities for outdoor education.”
Buncombe County Government closed on the purchase March 19, with the help of two grants: an Outdoor Recreation Legacy Partnership Program grant awarded to Buncombe County, and a North Carolina Land and Water Fund grant awarded to the conservancy.
The county’s Parks & Recreation Department reports work on a park design will start this summer. An opening date has not been revealed, and the mountain remains closed to the public for the time being, officials said.
“We have been talking about protecting Deaverview Mountain for years,” SAHC Executive Director Carl Silverstein said in the release.
“The ridges surrounding Asheville are dotted with residential subdivisions, but this mountain begs for a different fate. It is part of our collective imagination and history. ... It’s the backdrop for Asheville in ‘Land of the Sky’ postcards going back to the 1930s, and needs to remain for people in Buncombe County and the region to enjoy forever.”
This story was originally published April 1, 2026 at 1:58 PM.