The following narrative is drawn partly from the comprehensive Beaverdam Valley–A Brief Historical Perspective written by David E. Carey and included on this website. But most of it is drawn from, and in fact, mostly reproduces a brief document prepared some years ago by resident Kempton Roll.
Most of the present property of Beaverdam Run once hosted three farms. The largest, a dairy farm owned by the Collins family for two generations, comprised some 100 acres. The farmyard, silos, and milking barn were in the vicinity of the present Gazebo. The Collins lived in the Log Cabin. Two smaller farms were in the vicinity of the present 1 and 3 Ridgeview Drive and the present Pond Lane units, respectively.
A man named Mitchel Wolfson, a Floridian who made his fortune in movie theaters and later television, bought the three properties in 1967 to make a horse stud farm, and tore down two slave cabins that were still on the property. A small building housing stable employees stood on the site of the present Community Garden.
The Wolfsons created the Japanese Garden in 1967-68, added the stone wall, and installed most of the lanterns. The pond was built there because of the presence of two artesian wells–still there. Wolfson also built the Hillside Pond, again because of the presence of springs. He added a waterfall on the west side (the rocks are still there); it was fed by artesian well water pumped up from a well opposite the Gazebo.
When Wolfson died in 1984, the estate sold the property, covering 115 acres, but when the buyer failed to make payments the property reverted to the Wolfson estate. It was then sold to a small group of investors headed by Ed Newmark. a New York music publisher. According to a statement made to David Carey, who wrote the longer history on this website, “Ed felt that at that time Asheville had no really upscale condo developments and he wanted to make this one.”
Starting about 1985, Newmark formed NWS, Ltd., hired architects, and began marketing “Beaverdam Run. After his plans passed muster with the Beaverdam Valley Home Owners Assn., Newmark built and sold 50 units. The first models were three units at 1,3,5 Ridge Terrace. The first single-level dual units were 2-4 Clubside Drive. The first two-level units were along Ridgeview Drive.
In 1988, Newmark ran out of money. He had built too many units on speculation and had paid dearly for roadwork up higher on the mountain, requiring costly but necessary infrastructure (water lines, water tanks, etc.). Finding himself overextended with the local bank, he defaulted and declared bankruptcy in 1989. The bank acquired the property for $4,540,000. Two years later the bank and the residents’ entity, Beavedam Run, Inc., agreed on a new developer, Gerald Candler, to finish the project.
In 1995, the City of Asheville annexed the property, against the wishes of most residents. The residents, now the Beaverdam Run Condominium Assn., negotiated a year’s delay before the new taxes took effect. In return for the new taxes, BRCA, which had enjoyed city water and county sewage services, now got greater fire and police protection, as well as waste removal.
Shortly thereafter, the developer’s sales office, which was at the site of the present 1 Ridgeview Drive and had been a guest house built by the Wolfsons, was torn down to make way for two new buildings (four units). This was a trade made with the developer to replace two buildings that had been planned for the very top of the property. The trade was made primarily to avoid the prohibitive cost of maintenance (road, water, sanitary, landscape) at such a high level. Thus ended the building of Beaverdam Run.
Amenities. The Clubhouse, with its fitness center, social meeting room, kitchen, and heated pool, was built by Newmark as a sales attraction. It was expanded in 1993 to its present form at Candler’s expense. The upper tennis court was built by Wolfson. The lower one was built by Newmark, also as a sales attraction.
Candler also built Sunset Pond. With no spring source in that area, water is supplied by gravity from the creek and is returned to the creek. The two entry ponds, likewise, are supplied from the creek. Walking trails and benches were added several years ago.
Some amenities have come and gone. Newmark had built a putting green in front of the Log Cabin. Golfers who moved into the community found it inadequate, and the Association considered it too costly to maintain. In its stead, Candler was persuaded to provide a croquet court near the Cabin, in return for no longer being responsible for the putting green. The croquet court was notable for its lack of community enthusiasm. It rose like a lead balloon and descended as quickly.
Management. As a volunteer-driven condominium association, Beaverdam Run is unique and the envy of many others in this region run by salaried, contractual managers.
BRCA started that way because in bankruptcy there were no options. We quickly learned that there were enough bright, experienced people in residence who were perfectly capable of managing the community. We didn’t need and didn’t want a paid manager. And still don’t.