John “Thunder” Thornton stands atop one of the many bluff lots at Jasper Highlands in Marion County, Tenn.Project at a glanceName: Jasper HighlandsLocation: Jasper Mountain in Marion CountySize: 8,893 acres bought or optioned, including 21.3 miles of bluff frontageTypical lot size: 1 to 12 acresDeveloper: Thunder Enterprises, owned by Chattanooga developer John “Thunder” ThorntonStatus: 98 lots sold in the 250-acre phase one; 110 more now being developed in the second phase, which includes 310 acresPrice range for homesites: $29,900 to $450,000Development schedule for entire project: 10 to 12 yearsAmenities: Gated community, miles of trails along mountains, waterfalls and wooded areas, community garden, tennis, basketball, soccer and boccie courts, open air pavilion for residents.Online: Read more about developer Thunder Thornton in the January issue of Edge magazine at www.meetsforbusiness.com.
KIMBALL, Tenn. – As a long-time federal employee specializing in national security, David Jarrell prides himself on thoroughly assessing the costs and risks of each move. So when Jarrell and his wife Trish began to plan for their future retirement home, Jarrell weighed his options carefully before deciding that East Tennessee offered the best combination of climate, cost, culture, safety and location of any place in America. After six weeks of trips to the region last spring, the Jarrells decided to build their dream home on a new development taking shape here atop Jasper Mountain where Jarrell estimates the cost of living will be at least 30 percent below that at his home in Virginia.
The parcel the Jarrells bought last year faces west off the top of Jasper Mountain, overlooking the ridges of the Cumberland Plateau, and “has one of the most beautiful sunset views anywhere.” The site in the developing Jasper Highlands is located just a half hour drive from the amenities of Chattanooga and only a two hour drive to Nashville, Atlanta, Birmingham or Knoxville.
“Virginia was a great place to raise our three children, but my wife and I were looking for something different in our retirement years and I looked at every variable that I could in deciding where to move when we retire,” Jarrell said.
The Jarrells are among the first 100 or so buyers into what ultimately is planned to be one of the biggest residential developments in the region. Jasper Highlands could ultimately be home to thousands of relocating retirees and Chattanooga area workers and families as it develops over the next decade or two.