Mystic Lands is a restorative treasure for generations to come
The strength of trees can be cathartic. Reaching for the sunlight. Absorbing the gift of rain. Stretching unseen roots so deep and wide. They envelope us on our darkest days to remind us how we have survived, weathered every storm, and will stand to see new mornings.
After the anguish of 9/11, Ami Shinitzky found the antidote to the madness of the world while traveling by motorcycle through Western North Carolina, along Lake Nantahala, through the National Forest and the Great Smoky Mountain National Park.
He discovered the beauty of God’s earth to be, quite simply, mystical, the simple joy of life. When he returned here to find a home, the concept for Mystic Lands was born — “a restorative green oasis at the epicenter of the jewel of Western North Carolina.” What began as dream for Ami is now 250 acres and three neighborhoods – each individual in its terrain, but together they create a land of plenty. Mystic Forest, Mystic Ridge and Mystic River offer a complete recreational paradise. “Like a family of communities,” says Ami, “they each have a distinct personality but share the parents’ values.”
Private Mountain Communities welcomes Mystic Lands to our buyer’s resource and recommends that you explore this low-density neighborhood triad while excellent opportunities still are available.
Enveloped by the wonders of nature.
Here in Swain County, is an area so rich in natural beauty, you can’t help but be in awe of it all. “I was truly taken aback when I first experienced the area,” says Shinitzky, “I thought I had to go out West to find this kind of grandeur.”
In fact, the area surrounding Mystic Lands includes a half-million acres of national parks and forests with spectacular lakes including Nantahala, Fontana and Santeetlah, more than 200 waterfalls, an entrance to the Appalachian Trail, along with the Blue Ridge Parkway. You can hike, bike, kayak, fish, ride and ski to your heart’s content.
The lure of the area extends beyond outdoor adventure. Nearby towns, including Waynesville, Cashiers and Highlands offer antiquing, boutique shopping and a wide range of fine dining. For the ultimate in entertainment, the nearby Cherokee Nation casinos feature headline performers.
This area is perfect for a weekend retreat, a summer oasis or a place to spend every day of the year. Located just two and a half hours from Atlanta and little more than an hour from Asheville, with its international airport, your escape route to serenity is always ready and waiting.
Three neighborhoods coexisting in perfect harmony.
The triad of settings at Mystic Lands provides an ideal balance of privacy and engaged activity. Imagine, having a canoe club, an equestrian center, a river lodge suspended over the Nantahala, a river park and two private islands to enjoy at your leisure.
Each gated neighborhood offers fewer than 50 home sites. The families who call these neighborhoods home share a kindred spirit of appreciation for the treasure they’ve found. Extending from the shore of the Nantahala River, up the mountain along Queens Lake, to atop the mountain ridge, the common response heard from each new visitor is, “Wow!”
Mystic River – The pine laden scent and river mist stirs the soul. More than two miles of riverfront extend before you. As you relax on the deck of the River Lodge that extends over this sparking, churning river of dreams, you gaze across two private islands and the forever-preserved Nantahala National Forest. You won’t find another whitewater living opportunity like this east of the Mississippi.
Mystic Forest — A land of spring-fed streams and waterfalls, Mystic Forest offers new adventures every day. The Mystic Equestrian Club features a stable, paddock and a flat riding arena, along with trails that connect to the U.S. Forest trails. Board your own horse, or participate in the horse-sharing program.
Mystic Ridge — The 50-acre Queens Lake at 3,000 feet is created from a convergence of a dozen streams. No power motors here, you can grab a canoe off the rack at the Lake Pavilion, paddle in sweet silence and enjoy a view of mountain ridges and trees. Fish or swim at daybreak or by moonlight. The stars provide a never-ending draw. In fact, this is the home of a state-of-the-art, rotating dome astronomical observatory and park. With or without the technology of the observatory, nights are so clear you feel as if you could reach out and touch the star you wish upon.
Mountain and river homes reflect your love of nature.
This is your personal retreat. The low density of home sites means plenty of peace and quiet and plenty of peace of mind. Your chosen outlook will remain just as it is for generations to come. Part of the beauty of life at Mystic Lands is that you get to select the setting you prefer yet enjoy the amenities of all three neighborhoods. Home sites with long range outlooks across layers of Blue Ridge beauty, shaded forest seclusion, or dazzling riverfront settings are still available.
Homes are designed to complement the natural setting, whether built in the roughhewn Adirondack style or a wide-windowed modern style. Mystic Lands is a land of opportunity and choice. We highly recommend you explore now, before the chance to make it yours vanishes.
Meet Scott and Ginny Lyden from Florida. An exploratory whitewater kayaking trip became a way of life for their family.
Scott Lyden has always appreciated the power of the oar or paddle. A rower while in college at Rollins in Winter Park, Florida, and a fan of all kinds of water adventure, he came to the area, specifically to try whitewater kayaking through the Nantahala Outdoor Center. He got hooked and returned again and again to hone his skills. On one visit, a billboard claiming “Lots on the river,” caught his eye. The introduction to Mystic Lands soon followed and he ultimately purchased two home sites. One to build on and one to keep. “When I saw this property, right on the edge of the Nantahala River, I fell in love, says Scott, “I knew this is where I wanted to build a home. Ginny and I have three kids—aged 25, 23, and 21—and we all love the water. There’s something about the whitewater here that draws you in and makes you want come back again and again.”
The Lydens originally purchased their first home site in 2005, and have never had a chance to be bored. “Of course, we all love kayaking and rafting on the river. But there’s great hiking on the mountain and throughout the area. We also spend time at Queens Lake practicing kayak rolls and fishing. Our girls spent a lot of time riding horses when they were younger, so Mystic Lands has been the ideal outdoor community for our family.”
Says Scott, “There’s nothing better than spending a day kayaking here on the whitewater and then relaxing on the porch in the evening watching the river roll by.” Private Mountain Communities couldn’t agree more.
