Luxury Lifestyles in Sandhills NC

The Sandhills area is a special place to live. We are blessed to have so many choices for the lifestyle we want to live. While the area is known for golf, there is more to the Sandhills than tee boxes and fairways. From horses to water skiing and historical architecture, there is a lifestyle here for everyone.

By LAURIE WESTON DAVIS and SCOTT LINCICOME

The Equestrian Lifestyle
Life doesn't get any better, for the equine enthusiast, when you own a horse farm in the Southern Pines / Vass area. You not only have access to the Walthour-Moss Foundation, you are living in a community of like-minded individuals who share your enthusiasm for horses. The Foundation is a beautiful nature sanctuary located approximately one mile east of Southern Pines. It consists of over 4,000 acres, virtually unspoiled by development and has lovely, year-round weather. You'll find few days in the Sandhills when you cannot ride and our vibrant equestrian community boasts numerous horse shows and social events that enhance the equine lifestyle.

In addition to the extensive preserve provided by the Walthour-Moss Foundation, our area offers a number of benefits to equestrians. For example, you'll find some of the best trainers in the world. They cover every type of discipline, including dressage, hunter/jumper, event training and carriage driving. The trainers either live in the area or come to train from all over the world. Several trainers in the Sandhills have Olympic experience. With several tack and feed stores in town, you'll never be without farm necessities!

Southern Pines offers some of the most advanced veterinary technology available. The Foundation is close to the following facilities: the Equine Research Center, which is a branch of the NCSU Veterinarian College―the College itself is only an hour away, and boasts world class facilities for horse care; the Equine Health Center at Southern Pines (EHC-SP), a satellite facility of NC State University's College of Veterinary Medicine; and the Hassinger Equine Sports Medicine, Imaging and Rehabilitation Clinic.

Southern Pines is the epitome of a southern town full of history and charm.  Locals love to shop the upscale boutiques and, at the end of the day, dine at one of the many fine restaurants in this downtown treasure. If you are looking for that "hidden gem", Southern Pines is the place for you.

Golf Community Lifestyle
There is a unique passion for the game of golf in Pinehurst. We live it, we breathe it, it's a part of our way of life. Our love for the game was founded in the traditions forged by Donald Ross—the man responsible for igniting America's passion for this sport —and has grown with the championships played on the courses here: the 1999, 2005, and 2014 U.S. Opens, The U.S. Amateur, The North & South Amateur, and Pinehurst #2's latest addition, the U.S. Kids World Championships. The famed #2 golf course has hosted many great tournaments, including The US Men's and Women's Opens. The Pinehurst Country Club is home to 9 golf courses and has many other amenities available, including The Cradle short course, the Spa, tennis courts, swimming pools, lawn bowling and croquet courts.

When you live in the Sandhills NC area, you have a variety of golf lifestyle communities to choose from to meet your desires. The gated community options include the private clubs of Forest Creek Golf Club and The Country Club of North Carolina; semi-private clubs such as Pinewild Country Club and MidSouth Golf Club; and Pinehurst Country Club’s two gated communities National (Pinehurst #9) and Fairwoods on 7 (Pinehurst #7). Social events are often part of the club lifestyle and each gated community offers a number of amenities such as swimming pools, walking trails, lakes, tennis courts, and pickleball courts to name just a few. Every golfer dreams of living the golf lifestyle of the Sandhills, with over 40 courses to play and a number of communities to live in. It just doesn’t get much better than this.

Historic Lifestyle
Our luxury historic lifestyles include The Village of Pinehurst and downtown Southern Pines, each with their own quaint and unique character.

The Village of Pinehurst has a rich history that began back in the late 1800’s, when James Walker Tufts purchased the land and planned to develop a resort. The layout for the Village was designed by Frederick Olmstead, a landscape architect, who had also designed New York’s Central Park. It wasn’t long after that, Donald Ross laid out the first golf course and Leonard Tufts established the historic Pinehurst Race Track.  Boston architects designed many of the original structures which gives The Village of Pinehurst the look, charm and style of a New England village with a little southern hospitality added on top. Today the Village preserves its heritage with many of the original cottages, inns and historic buildings still in place.  Golf carts are a common means of transportation and you will see Segway tours and bikes make their way around town. The Village Business district is vibrant with restaurants, local shops and pubs. The Village hosts local events that are part of this small-town lifestyle, including the Christmas tree lighting, concert series, Pinehurst Live after 5 and Parades on the 4th of July and St Patrick’s Day. 

Just a little less than 6 miles away and once accessed by the historic trolley across what is now Midland Road, sits Southern Pines with its own historic district which includes notable examples of Queen Anne, Colonial Revival, and Bungalow / American Craftsman style architecture.  Built as a resort town for New Englanders to escape harsh winters and take advantage of health benefits from the natural springs in the area, Southern Pines became a thriving, southern destination. The train station has been the centerpiece of the downtown area since the early days and continues to be an integral part of the Southern Pines lifestyle for residents. You can still catch an Amtrak to destinations up and down the eastern seaboard. The equestrian lifestyle has also had a strong influence on the town with many businesses that serve the horse community.

The two towns of Pinehurst and Southern Pines maintain very different identities, but are both welcoming and active communities, with a lifestyle that is hard to beat.

Waterfront Lifestyle
Waterfront living in the Carolina Sandhills encompasses 3 areas―Seven Lakes, Whispering Pines and Pinehurst. Each lake community offers its own unique lifestyle, from quiet cove settings to long and expansive water views. Lake Pinehurst, which is 200 acres and is managed by the Pinehurst Resort, includes the Pinehurst Beach Club. Pontoon boats, kayaking, canoeing, paddle boarding, fishing and swimming are all part of the lake Lifestyle.

The Village of Whispering Pines owns and maintains eight lakes, which includes Thagards Lake, Spring Lake, Pine Lake, Fly Rod Lake, Whisper Lake, Shadow Lake, Cardinal Lake and Blue Lake, which may be used by residents, property owners and their guests. The two largest, Thagards Lake (207 acres) and Spring Lake (89 acres), offer residents the ability to use pontoon boats, kayaks, and paddle boards. 

Located about 12 miles from the Village of Pinehurst, Seven Lakes is a group of man-made, spring-fed lakes. Seven Lakes West includes a large, 1,000-acre (1.6 square miles) spring-fed lake named Lake Auman, after T. Clyde Auman, a West End farmer, peach grower, pine straw entrepreneur and former state legislator. He owned much of the land that was acquired and eventually became known as the Seven Lakes West community that surrounds the lake. Lake Auman is the largest lake in the Sandhills area by far and is home to many water activities, a marina, as well as a park area with a sandy beach and grills. Lake Sequoia and Lake Echo are the larger lakes located on the North side and allow motor boat usage while the other smaller lakes are limited to paddling or electric motors. Sequoia is the choice on the North side for water skiers and also offers a sandy beach area near the community pool. If the lake lifestyle is calling you, we have the answer in the Sandhills.

With all the lifestyle options in our area along with the climate, healthcare facilities and home town feel, it’s no wonder the area continues to grow. These lifestyles offer some of the areas high-end luxury real estate, but also include many affordable luxury choices that make it easy to find the Sandhills lifestyle to call home. It’s always a beautiful day in the Sandhills!