Burt Reynolds’ Mountain Getaway Sells $2.9 Million

Hollywood’s highest-paid actor from 1978 to 1982, Burt Reynolds was a true cultural icon. One part high school football hero and one part theater nerd, a young Burt Reynolds won both a Florida State Drama Award and a football scholarship to Florida State University. When a series of injuries took him off the football field, he turned to acting full-time, moving to New York to pursue his career. He was told that he would never make it in Hollywood because he looked too much like Marlon Brando, but he proved his critics wrong. His breakout role came in 1962 when he was cast on Gunsmoke. But Deliverance was his star turn. His 1972 nude centerfold in Cosmopolitan is still an endearing symbol of masculinity. The prolific star would go on to win two Golden Globes and a Primetime Emmy. Active until he died in 2018, Burt’s final film was The Last Movie Star. 

While he was filming Deliverance in North Carolina, Burt fell in love with the tranquil beauty of the Blue Ridge Mountains. With his then-wife, actress Loni Anderson, Reynolds purchased a home in Highlands, North Carolina. Built by Frank Lloyd Wright protege Jim Fox, Burt’s former home just sold for $2.9 million.  

Not the typical log cabin home that is common to the mountains, Burt’s modern-style home is as interesting and unique as Burt’s life was. Blending seamlessly into the surrounding mountainscape and fully embodying the principles of organic architecture, the centerpiece of the home is a wraparound porch with huge mountain views and intricate woodwork. Inside, the home continues the natural materials theme, with one-of-a-kind wooden walls incorporating tree trunks and unique angles. The sunken living room with a natural stone fireplace exudes a rustic charm that once hosted Hollywood stars such as Sally Field and James Garner. Downstairs, a gorgeous stone bathroom was built personally by Loni for Burt. Once asked about the home, Reynolds had this to say: "I own about fourteen houses. Whenever I am asked which one is my favorite, without a moment's hesitation I always say my house in the mountains."

The home was built in 1972 - the same year Deliverance was made. The home’s current owners had the property for 23 years, enhancing the home in line with its original vision. A recent remodel expanded the terrace, adding a large stone fireplace, an in-ground heated plunge pool/hot tub and waterfall, a serving bar, and both sitting and dining areas. Other features of the home include a wine cellar and a pool table room. 

Recently named Travel and Leisure Magazine’s Best Small Mountain Town, Highlands has only about 1,000 residents. It is located within the Nantahala National Forest, renowned for its waterfalls and stunning fall foliage. Driving distance from Nashville, Charleston, and Charlotte, it serves as a summer getaway destination and is home to some of the top-rated resorts in the southern US. And Burt wasn’t the only Hollywood star to fall in love with the area: Steve Martin, Stephen King, and Nicole Kidman are just a few A-listers with nearby homes.

The listing was held by Jody Lovell at Sotheby’s International Realty. 

Photo credit: Ashley Lee/Highlands Sotheby's International Realty

Source: jodylovell.com