One of the features of the original magazine, which asserts that it helps families live an “American dream,” is the annual designation of a home that becomes a model house. Showcasing country living at its finest, this year’s Progressive Farmer Idea House and Farmstead is located in McLendon Hills, a 600-acre lake and equestrian community located in Seven Lakes, just off N.C. 211.
The Idea House and Farmstead opens on Thursday, June 30, for tours, and will remain open to the public through Sept. 25. The Sandhills Children’s Center in Southern Pines has been selected as the charity that will benefit from a portion of a nominal admission fee.
The choice of McLendon Hills as the location for The Progressive Farmer’s Idea House, which will be featured in the August issue of the magazine, is linked to the 2005 U.S. Open, since representatives from the magazine scouted the Pinehurst area while considering a connection of the Idea House with the golf championship. With its rolling hills and spectacular vistas, the 80-acre well-stocked and spring-fed Lake Troy Douglas and a modern equestrian center, McLendon Hills offers spacious home sites and mini-farms in a rural setting, yet close to leading golf courses, shopping, dining and health care.
Purchased in 1995 and developed in 1998, McLendon Hills is the creation of a partnership of Thomas Carr, who was a highway construction firm owner, and Craig McNeill of Rockingham, a surveyor and real estate broker.
“We first learned about the availability of the 600-plus acres that a timber company wanted to sell,” Carr says. “The property had been owned by a doctor, and after purchasing it, the timber company had come in and clear-cut the land.”
In the beginning, the partners had just intended to break up the land into 50-acre parcels and resell it. But then they walked the property. Since it had been clear-cut, they were able to get an overall view of the unusual aspects of the terrain — all the hills and ridges.
“It was hard to believe that the acreage was in Moore County, which is primarily flat and sandy,” Carr says. “Craig first came up with the idea of building a dam and forming a lake in order to make the property into an attractive development.”
From that point on, the concept kept growing. Starting with lakeside lots, the discussion focused on what to do with the land around the perimeter. When it was decided to locate mini-farms with room for horses on the outlying acreage, the next step became the establishment of an equestrian center, where horses could be boarded, trained and lessons given. To complement the center a six-and-a-half-mile bridle trail was added on the edges of the property lines.
The result is a planned community with 200 home sites, averaging two acres, and approximately 75 mini-farms. Still in progress is the completion of all the roads, with a two-and-a- half mile walking trail around the lake, plus an amenities area with such features as a clubhouse and tennis courts in the planning stages.
Presently, 35 homes have been built, and land sales have been brisk. When the decision was made to have an on-site real estate office, Tom Carr’s daughter, Cristy Hunt, became a Realtor and joined the McLendon Hills team. She has been responsible for many of the sales of lots that she says have been bought as future home sites. Tom Carr formed McLendon Hill Construction Company to build residences in the community.
“We are not the only builder,” Carr says. “If someone wants to bring in their own builder, there is no limitation, as long as the plans are approved by the architectural review committee. We have put in place a number of restrictive covenants in order to maintain the premium quality of construction and the lifestyles of the property owners. Right now, we have several committees overseeing the differing facets of living in McLendon Hills that will become a homeowner’s association in another year.”
The project team for The Progressive Farmer 2005 Idea House and Farmstead includes award-winning architects Donald A. Gardner and Kevin F. Culhan of Greenville, S.C., and builder McLendon Hills Construction Company, under the supervision of construction manager Gary Henry. Also involved in the enterprise were Carol Parker, of Parker Furniture in Laurinburg, who led a team consisting of decorators Sally Moore and Joy Blalock and designer Robert McLaurin; and landscape architects, LandDesign of Southern Pines, with Brent Martin, project manager.
The five-acre hilltop estate of the Idea House and Farmstead highlights innovative ways for today’s family to live the country life with all the latest modern conveniences. Included on the property are a four stall barn, established pasture and fencing. Extensive landscaping demonstrates clever ways to make the most of the outdoors with a rainwater irrigation system, herb garden and pond. There is even a working windmill that generates power to aerate the pond.
The 3,500-square foot home is filled with creative ideas, including an open kitchen-dining room-family room combination, opening onto a spacious deck overlooking the lake and the equestrian center. The well-equipped kitchen is complemented by a unique feature around a corner — a sizable pantry.
Full of private spaces, the residence contains a pine-paneled study, a lovely master suite on the main level, a porch (with a fireplace) off the master bedroom, and a home business office. An entertainment room, with its own kitchen, on the lower level is surrounded by windows and French doors, opening to a large patio that overlooks the barn and pond. Also on the lower level are two delightful bedrooms, each with its own full bath.
Other design elements providing highly livable touches on the lower level are a screened-in outdoor kitchen with grilling facilities for entertaining and a mudroom with a pet shower. On the main level just off the breezeway connecting the house with a three-car garage and an overhead bonus room is a large laundry room with unusual lighting fixtures, made of upended washtubs.
The plans for the Idea House and Farmstead, known as Pine Ridge Farms, will be available at the conclusion of the tour, or can be acquired by going to the Web site for The Progressive Farmer at www.progressivefarmer.com, referencing House Plan No. SL-1133, or by calling 1-800-755-1122.
Another example of craftsmanship in country living that can be viewed while taking the tour of the Idea House and Farmstead is a home called Woodside Manor. Built from the Southern Living Bob Timberlake Collection by McLendon Hills Construction Company, the house is located on Rachel’s Point just down the road from the Idea House and Farmstead.
Guides for the tour of the Idea House and Farmstead are being supplied by The Sandhills Children’s Center, the charity chosen to benefit from a portion of the $5 tour admission fee.
“The center had the privilege to work with Southern Living on one of its Idea Houses in 1999, and because of that positive relationship, we were asked to provide the necessary volunteer support again this year,” says Melanie Gayle, executive director of the center. “The exposure we receive will create awareness of our Outreach Program, which serves children in a five- county area in south central North Carolina. The funds we obtain will help us continue early intervention services for children in the most natural setting — their home.”
According to Cristy Hunt, the Sandhills Children’s Center has an organized team that will represent McLendon Hills and The Progressive Farmer in a professional and outstanding manner.
“We hope that the many visitors will be pleased to know that their ticket purchases are going toward a worthwhile project,” she says.
The Progressive Farmer 2005 Idea House and Farmstead, at McLendon Hills in Seven Lakes, is open to the public from June 30 through Sept. 25, Thursday through Saturday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., and on Sunday from 1 to 5 p.m. The home is closed Monday through Wednesday. The $5 tickets are available at the Convention and Visitors Bureau on U.S. 15-501 in Southern Pines, or at the house itself.
Mary Elle Hunter is a Pinehurst freelance writer.
