News & Events

Imagine watching the moon cover the sun in a total solar eclipse from high up on a mountaintop, surrounded by family, friends, and the beautiful outdoors. On August 21, visitors and residents alike will have the chance to experience a rare solar eclipse – the first in 26 years – near Asheville, NC. The once-in-a-lifetime nature of this event will stargazers and nature lovers from all over the world to the mountain towns in North Carolina. Given the many locations to view the eclipse, there is simply no excuse not to attend.

It’s no secret that the stars look better from the Western Carolina mountains than any other place in the world. Living in the Western NC mountains provides unparalleled stargazing opportunities, including that of the mysterious Brown Mountain Lights. The Brown Mountain Lights are a series of red, circular ghost lights that can be seen from the Blue Ridge Parkway and from the Brown Mountain Overlook between Morganton and Linville, NC.

If you’re looking for a view of both the stars and nighttime skylines of surrounding towns, The Thunder Hill Overlook, located between mileposts 290 and 291 on the Blue Ridge Parkway, is the perfect place. Just beside the parkway, the Green Mountain Overlook provides the perfect view of the Milky Way, Ursa Majora, and other breathtaking constellations. Additionally, the Blue Ridge Parkway and the Brown Mountain Overlook are two places where one can view the upcoming solar eclipse.

Another perfect location to view the eclipse is at our Pisgah Mountain Lodge. Built an elevation of 1,700 feet, the clubhouse offers a 360-degree view of the night sky. Residents can spend time in the infinity-view swimming pool, relax in the hot tub, and enjoy the view from the living room that faces Grandfather Mountain. The top level of the lodge has floor-to-ceiling glass with a large kitchen, great room, and lending library.

On the lower level, residents can make use of the fitness center – which has its own locker room, showers, and fitness class area and game room equipped with ping-pong and pool tables. Table Rock, Adams Knob, and Brown Mountain can be clearly seen from the lodge as well. The sunset over the mountains is nothing short of breathtaking, and millions of stars are visible at night.

The Pisgah Mountain Lodge is one of the many amenities that The Coves Mountain River Club, one of the best gated communities near Asheville NC, has to offer. After a long day of riverside hiking along the Johns River or splashing in Coleton’s Swimming Hole, residents can sip wine or stroll through Evelyn’s Vineyard, and harvest their own fruits and veggies in Isabel’s Garden.

Equestrians can also board their horses at Round Mountain Ranch, where services include veterinary services and riding lessons, and ride them along scenic trails. Our equestrian director, Mona Houston, is one of the finest you’ll ever meet.

The Coves is more than just a neighborhood – it’s a vibrant community set in a mountain paradise.

Start marking your calendars for the August 2017 Solar Eclipse! Don’t miss the chance to witness the awe-inspiring beauty that our galaxy has to offer.