Sharp Mountain Preserve, Georgia facts for kids
The Preserve at Sharp Mountain is a special community near Jasper, Georgia, in Pickens County. It's a place designed to protect nature, making it perfect for people who love the outdoors. Unlike many neighborhoods with pools or golf courses, the Preserve focuses on its natural beauty. It has many green spaces, hiking trails, waterfalls, a bird sanctuary, and even a butterfly garden!
This community is one of three mountain communities in Pickens County, but it's the only one built specifically to keep its natural areas safe. It has about 12 miles (19 km) of paved roads, but not many houses. There are around 300 building lots spread over 1,600 acres (6.5 km²), with each lot being at least 3 acres (1.2 ha) big. This means lots of space for nature! Pinnacle Living magazine even called it the "Best Community for Outdoor Lovers." The Preserve is a gated community, which means only people who live there can use its private roads. It was first developed by a company called Four Seasons, which later became Naterra Land. Naterra Land's goal is to "better connect people with nature." Now, the community is managed by its Property Owners' Association (POA). In 2008, the Preserve also became part of the national Firewise communities program, which helps protect homes from wildfires. It is one of only 13 such communities in Georgia.
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Exploring the Location and Environment
The Preserve at Sharp Mountain is located in the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains. From here, you can see amazing views stretching for about 70 miles (113 km)! On a clear day, you might even spot the city of Atlanta far away on the horizon from Sharp Mountain (which is 2,333 feet or 711 meters high) and Talley Mountain (1,903 feet or 580 meters high).
The weather here is like a typical forest in the southeastern United States. You'll find many different kinds of trees, such as red and white oaks, tulip poplars, maples, dogwoods, and sourwood trees in the higher areas. The Preserve is also home to many animals. You might see wild turkeys, deer, golden eagles, and sometimes even a black bear roaming around!
Nearby Attractions and Services
Living at the Preserve means you're close to many useful places. It's only about a ten-minute drive to the main business area of Jasper. The Piedmont Mountainside Hospital is even closer, just seven minutes away.
North Georgia is also known as "wine country," and it has many large wineries. One of these, Sharp Mountain Vineyards, is right next to the Preserve! This vineyard makes about 11 tons of grapes each year and can produce 800 cases of wine. It has won several awards for its wines and is a popular stop on the yearly Georgia wine tour. For those who travel by air, the Pickens County airport is only three miles (5 km) to the East. It has a long runway, making it easy for small planes to land and take off.
Community Features and Fun
The Preserve at Sharp Mountain offers many great features for its residents:
- Lots of Land: The community covers 1,600 acres (640 hectares), including parts of Sharp Mountain, Talley Mountain, and Henderson Mountain.
- Spacious Homes: The rules say that each building lot must be at least 3 acres (1.2 hectares) big, giving everyone plenty of space.
- Outdoor Activities: There are many hiking and biking trails to explore. You can also visit a bird sanctuary, a wildlife feeding area, and 8 different nature parks.
- Nature Parks: Each of the 8 parks has fun things like gazebos, barbecue areas, playgrounds, and gardens with native plants. They also have cool tables made from rocks and wood, and one park even has an open-air lodge and a formal lawn.
- Modern Comforts: It's a private, gated community with 12 miles (19 km) of wide, paved roads. All the utilities, like electricity and high-speed internet, are hidden underground.
- Community Rules: The Preserve has special rules and guidelines for building homes, which help keep the community looking beautiful and natural.
- Security: The main entrance is gated and has security cameras to keep everyone safe.
Images for kids
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Picture of gated entrance to estate with acreage adjoining The Preserve at Sharp Mountain, Georgia USA
