J.P. King Auction Company to Auction Historic Tapoco Lodge

TAPOCO, NC--(Marketwired - October 20, 2014) - Yes, an entire town in North Carolina is up for auction. High-end getaway Historic Tapoco Lodge, originally the town of Tapoco, nestled on the renowned Tail of the Dragon mountain pass in North Carolina is being offered for auction by J.P. King Auction Company on Friday, November 7, at 2:00 p.m. EST.

Located on more than 124 acres of lush landscape on the banks of the cascading Cheoah River in the Nantahala National Forest and a short drive from major centers such as Atlanta, Knoxville, Chattanooga and Nashville, the property includes the main lodge, eight cabins, a tap room, two restaurants, a theater, two tennis courts, and associated furnishings and equipment. A landscaped riverside walking path leads to an outdoor common area that includes fire pits. Two and half miles of maintained hiking trails lead to a gorgeous natural waterfall.

"This place has always been special. What started out in June 2010 as a real estate investment turned into a major renovation project to save a piece of western North Carolina history. Historic Tapoco Lodge emerged as a world class destination with a Five Star restaurant and top reviews on TripAdvisor.com. Hopefully the new owners will carry the concept into the future," said owner Ronnie Hedrick.

In 1913, the property was founded as the town of Tapoco. The main lodge was built in 1930 by the Aluminum Company of America and was primarily used for company functions. In 2004, the Tapoco Lodge Historic District was listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The main lodge now provides 11 elegantly furnished suites with upscale appointments. Nearby are the eight private cabins with an additional 20 guest rooms. The Tapoco Tin Movie House has been restored to its glory days when it was also used as a community center, dance hall and hosted going away parties for soldiers during World War II.

Two on-site restaurants are featured at the lodge. SlickRock Riverside Grille includes a state of the art kitchen with commercial appliances and equipment and an authentic wood burning pizza oven. For a romantic, five-course dinner, Jasper's Restaurant is currently the lodge's reservation-only restaurant and has received top reviews on www.TripAdvisor.com.

Historic Tapoco Lodge sits at The Tail of the Dragon in the Great Smoky Mountains, an 11-mile mountain pass famous for its awe-inspiring 318 curves. This has made the lodge a top choice for motorcyclists, sports car drivers from Ferraris to Mini Coopers and cyclist clubs who regularly visit from all over the world. Within the Nantahala National Forest, there is hiking, canoeing, rafting, kayaking, fishing, and more at the lodge's doorstep.

Currently, the development uses less than ten percent of its available infrastructure, allowing for endless possibilities for expansion. Alternative uses of the site may include use as a corporate retreat, culinary school or rehabilitation facility.

"Between the time we closed the lodge for the season last year and the time we close for 2014, our children will have blessed us with two grandsons and a granddaughter on the way. We have found once the season opens, there isn't much time to be with these special gifts which has brought us to the difficult decision to not reopen the lodge for the 2015 season and offer this unique property for sale at auction. Our memories from Historic Tapoco Lodge are wonderful," said Ronnie Hedrick.

Being separately auctioned the same day by J.P. King Auction Company, are two lakeside homes just seven miles away. Perfect for a weekend retreat or winter getaway, these properties are ideally situated for nearby access, yet with privacy and seclusion.

Two Lake Home Auctions on Santeetlah Point same day, November 7, at 11:00 a.m.
Two of only 10 homes located on Santeetlah Point, Lake Santeetlah, these homes rarely come up for sale. Located seven miles from Historic Tapoco Lodge, Lake Santeetlah is a 2,700-acre lake. Enjoy fishing for smallmouth bass, largemouth bass, walleye, crappie, bream and lake trout. You may hike onto the Appalachian Trail directly from the lake.

To the Point is an absolute auction of the recently renovated three-bedroom, three and a half bath spacious home situated on the shores of Lake Santeetlah. The property includes a large media room, two stone fireplaces, a patio, dock and spectacular views.

Beside the Point is a recently renovated, beautiful lakeside home with a huge master suite, two bathrooms and a large loft with privacy wall. Situated on Lake Santeetlah, large picture windows show stunning, panoramic views of the lake and Nantahala National Forest.

J.P. King Auction Company is conducting the auction. Property tours are available by appointment beginning October 24, 2014, by contacting the Auction Information Center at 800-558-5464. Also, for additional information on Historic Tapoco Lodge or the Santeetlah Lake Homes, visit the J.P. King website at www.jpking.com.

J.P. King Auction Company specializes in premier, luxury properties including high-end homes, estates and ranches. Founded in 1915, J.P. King Auction Company is the oldest real estate auction company in the United States and is a nationwide marketing company on the leading edge of the auction industry having developed many of the methods and techniques that are now commonplace within the industry. Today, J.P. King Auction Company maintains its position as the industry leader by combining its unparalleled experience with a high level of integrity and professionalism. www.jpking.com