Perched at a rare 4,000-foot elevation and bordering 39,000 acres of protected Nantahala National Forest, 2223 Scarlet Ridge is a masterfully crafted mountaintop estate where architecture, engineering, and nature exist in perfect harmony. Designed to capture sweeping long-range views while remaining naturally protected from extreme weather, this exceptional home offers a living experience few properties can replicate—cooler summer temperatures, dramatic cloud inversions below, and a sense of privacy and tranquility that only true elevation can provide.

Built with intention and precision, the home’s orientation maximizes sunlight from sunrise to sunset without harsh exposure, creating bright, comfortable interiors year-round. From its commanding position above the valley, weather often passes below the home, offering the breathtaking illusion of rivers of clouds and ocean-like horizons stretching more than 40 miles. Surrounded by forest yet thoughtfully opened to expansive views, this is a setting that feels both powerful and serene.

At the heart of the property is a true handcrafted timber-frame residence—an architectural statement designed not only for beauty, but for longevity. Cathedral ceilings, exposed beams, and seamless transitions between interior spaces and covered outdoor living areas reflect a deep respect for craftsmanship and the surrounding landscape. Every structural element was selected to ensure strength, durability, and timeless appeal, creating a home built to endure for generations.

Beyond its striking aesthetics, 2223 Scarlet Ridge is engineered to perform at elevation. From its reinforced concrete foundation and airtight structural systems to advanced climate control, energy recovery ventilation, and whole-house backup power, the home offers exceptional efficiency, resilience, and peace of mind. Designed to exceed stringent high-elevation building standards, it delivers modern comfort while remaining capable of extended off-grid living.

The land itself is as compelling as the residence. 17.72 private acres unfold into forest trails, open meadow, and direct access to thousands of acres of protected wilderness—ideal for hiking, wildlife viewing, recreation, or simply enjoying the quiet rhythms of nature. Whether gathering on the expansive terrace, exploring the trails with family and pets, or watching wildlife move through the meadow below, the property offers a rare sense of connection to the land.

What follows is a closer look at the features that truly set 2223 Scarlet Ridge apart—its elevation, construction, systems, and setting—each contributing to a home that is as intelligently built as it is breathtakingly beautiful.

A Deeper Dive into this Exquisite Home:

Elevation, Views, Orientation:

The home boasts 43-mile views, framed by a forest setting, with a view of majestic Kuwohi andthe Great Smoky Mountains and all the forests in between. Situated just below the crest of the mountain, it is protected from extreme weather and is oriented to maximize the sun’s light from sunrise to sunset, without being overexposed, making it comfortable to sit on the back deck or terrace and enjoy the splendor of the views. Additionally, the home’s elevation contributes to it averaging 10 degrees cooler than nearby Sylva and Waynesville in summer. The elevation allows the homeowner to often be looking down on fog, rain and weather affecting those at lower elevations, as it passes below the house, often giving the picturesque illusion of a flowing river of clouds or of ocean front property.

Adjacent to 39,000 acres of the Nantahala National Forest:

The house sits on nearly 18 acres of land with beautiful trails for exercising people and pets, adjacent to 39,000 acres of the Nantahala National Forest, perfect for hiking, bird watching and hunting. Due to the elevation, when walking across the property line into the national forest, one is struck by the expanse of pristine wilderness views. 

Handcrafted Timber Frame:

The home is an elegantly handcrafted, true timber frame home with beautiful, open, cathedral ceilings. The timbers extend from the homes interior to ornately integrate the home, porch and deck ceilings with the surrounding forest. To complement the height of the timber frame construction and cathedral ceiling in the main living area, every floor has 10-foot or higher ceilings. Additionally, the front door and all interior doors are solid wood, with each room on the main floor having 8-foot doors.

Superior Construction:

The home boasts a superior level of construction, which includes a pre-cast, impermeable, reinforced concrete Superior Walls® foundation, which is 10 times stronger than cement block; airtight Structural Insulated Panel walls above ground-level, which are significantly stronger and more energy efficient than traditional stick frame homes; and weather, fire, pest and rot resistant exterior fiber cement siding with custom finish by Carolina Color Tones, designed to be maintenance free for decades.

High Tech HVAC:

The state of art, dual fuel, three-zone Trane heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC)system ensures a customizable, comfortable environment for each level of the home. The system includes a whole house dehumidifier and an Energy Recovery Ventilator, efficiently exchanging indoor air with fresh air, improving comfort while boosting indoor air quality year-round. This HVACs ystem automatically operates on whichever fuel source is more efficient for the conditions, electricity or propane, has remote temperature thermostats, and can be controlled via the smart thermostats on each floor or remotely via an app.

Modern, Energy Efficient Windows:

The home is fitted with maintenance free, double-paned, high-performance Marvin Wood-Ultrex®Integrity windows, which feature a stained, real wood interior for a classic look, paired with anincredibly strong, low-maintenance Ultrex® fiberglass exterior, 8 times stronger than vinyl and 3 times stronger than wood/vinyl composites, offering superior durability, energy efficiency, resistance to warping, fading, and chipping

Durable, Maintenance Free Luxury Flooring:

The natural, hardwood-looking finish of the durable, waterproof, easy to clean, scratch, and stain resistant Luxury Vinyl Plank flooring, makes it the perfect, maintenance free complement to the home’s natural wood trim and timber frame construction

Powerful Automatic Whole House Generator:

The home has a propane-powered 22kW Generac generator which provides whole-house backup power during outages, featuring Mobile Link Wi-Fi smart controls with an app for remote monitoring, automatic quiet self-tests, and will run essential appliances like HVAC, refrigerators, and more. The generator transfers power automatically when an outage occurs and switches back whenpower returns, so your home’s HVAC, refrigerators, freezers, internet, Wi-fi, indoor/outdoor lighting and security system will continue to operate seamlessly without worries during power failures.

Pristine Fresh Mountain Water Supply:

The home’s water supply comes from its own private well with an 85-gallon pressure tank and a 1-micron whole home water filtration system.

Double Instant Hot Water Supply:

The home features two instant hot water heaters, which save energy by instantly heating water on demand, rather than continuously keeping large amounts of water pre-heated. This allows for simultaneous use of hot water throughout the house.

Top of the Line Cast Iron Wood Burning Stove:

The Lopi Cape Cod wood-burning stove is one of the cleanest burning and most efficient large cast iron wood stoves in the world. Revolutionary catalytic converter technology allows this stove to minimize emissions while heating the home, saving you money and trips to the woodshed. The durable, elegantly designed cast iron Cape Cod stove features elevated craftsmanship and a massive 3 cubic foot firebox capable of efficiently keeping the house warm with minimal assistance from the furnace.

Reinforced Concrete, Multi-Use Woodshed:

Set back in the woods in its own idyllic setting, makes fetching wood for the wood stove or the firepit a beautiful trip on a scenic path through the forest. The woodshed has six, 10x9-foot bays constructed of pre-cast, reinforced concrete walls with a tin roof, making for an excellent storage space for firewood, ATV’s, trailers, equipment, etc. The woodshed construction is sturdy enough to be a foundation for a guest or workers’ cottage with its own magnificent views, workshops and storage.

The Meadow, Open Land:

Another unique aspect of this mountain home is the expansive, open meadow which gently slopes down from the southern side of the house, connecting to trails leading into the Nantahala National Forest or around the property. The meadow is open enough to be used for kids to play, pets to roam, gardening, beekeeping, sports, target practice, or any multitude of activities. It is such abeautiful open space in the middle of the high mountain forest, the wildlife in the area can often be seen congregating, grazing or passing through. 

Spacious Terrace with Inspiring Views:

An open, spacious terrace overlooking the meadow, forest and mountains serves as a beautiful site for barbecuing or enjoying drinks by the fire pit with friends. The terrace is spacious enough to serve as a venue for good-sized, outdoor entertaining events, yet so intimate with its natural surroundings to be an inspiring experience for individuals or couples. Surrounded by its varied, natural, and beautiful setting, the terrace is spacious enough to easily be transformed into the outdoor entertaining venue of your dreams.