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 For those people who live here, stay here,
or visit here, Sugar Top is like a good friend,
and like a friend, we like knowing when they
were born, how they were raised, and their life
experiences along the way, and so it is with
Sugar Top.
She was conceived in the minds of some fine
architects, engineers, planners and
administrators from the Resort Investment Corp.
and the US Capitol Corp. developing company of
Columbia, SC.
Their dream was of a 5-story wood and steel
building, which would have covered pretty much
the exact same square foot base as Sugar Top
actually does today. At that time, the plan was
for the 1100 square foot individual condo units
to be built somewhere else and for the completed
units to slip into the readied slots, like stack
trailers, much the same as many motels are
built. There was to be a five-story atrium in
the center.
They hired S & W Construction Co. as the
original contractor, to start early in 1982.
That company folded and the Fireman’s Fund
Bonding Company stepped in to pay off any
outstanding debt. Next, the LT Coxe Construction
Co. of Sanford came in, and was the company that
completed the job.
 Early on, when the five story building was still
being considered, it was realized that the
building as originally planned, would have not
been able to withstand the already clocked winds
of hurricane force, over 160 miles per hour up
on the ridge of the mountain. It was at that
time that the original plans were substituted
for the 10 story tower that stands today. The
original plans with many deviations were then
built down below Sugar Top, and are still known
as the country club condos.
From the inception of the building of Sugar Top
right up to completion and beyond there was
unrest from the local inhabitants of Banner Elk
and all of Avery County, and eventually all of
North Carolina and beyond. The people were upset
because the huge skyscraper dominated the view
of the lovely rolling mountain landscape, taking
away the natural beauty that Mother Nature
alone, had blessed the area with.
The building of Sugar Top became the most
controversial living quarters in the history of
North Carolina, and because of this, the Avery
County Board of Commissioners passed a
moratorium in March of 1983 on all High Rise
construction in the county, in anticipation of a
State Ridge Law. That Ridge Law made Sugar Top
the last of it’s kind to be built on the ridge
of a mountain, and that law was made even before
the building was occupied. However, all 320
units were planned and designed well before the
battle for the statewide ridge top development
regulation began in the legislature. Therefore,
Sugar Top is exempt from the law’s provisions.
The exclusivity that the Ridge Law gave Sugar Top
had proven to be a boon for the developers.
 Sugar Top as we know her, was about to grow into
the proud strong fortress that she is today. She
started her life with three huge concrete and
steel structures, already 10 stories high, one
at each end of the building and the third on in
the middle. These structures held the
staircases, and were the end markings for all
320 condos to be attached together to form the
10 story High Rise. The entire building is a
magnificent structure of steel and concrete, and
completely fire proof. The huge round columns
that are quite prominent everywhere, are steel
and concrete. There are several hundred such
columns, and they go down deep into the mountain
sixty, one hundred, and more feet to insure how
sturdy she is.
There was a concrete plant where you now see
parking lot B, and huge cranes carried the
finished products to the growing High Rise. In
early 1983, and before the resort was completed,
there were 240 condos already sold, and 80 units
to be added, were still on the drawing board,
and already one fourth of those had also been
sold. Sixty percent of those who first bought
condos, were from out of state, and half of them
were from Florida, and seventeen percent were
from South Carolina. Those purchases had all
been made by mail, and most were to be
investment properties.
The first 40 units had been sold from 1981 to
1983, for $69,900 when problems occurred, some
changes were made, and the prices had to go up.
However, the company honored their contracts,
and built the condos at a cost of $98,000.00
each, of course losing money, big time. Another
interesting statistic is that some condos sold
for as high as $180,000.00, and the lowest
priced went for $39,000, about ten years ago.
The unique status of Sugar Top actually boosted
prices in the beginning. All units were sold
completely furnished, making it a delight for
owners to easily move right in, and there were
three different choices, according to furnishing
and amenities. There was the Standard, the
Deluxe, and the Luxury to choose from. Some had
washers and dryers. Of course for those who did
not, there are spacious laundry rooms on every
other floor, available to everyone.
 As people first moved in, problems here and
there showed up, and were taken care of
immediately, by a 50 man crew on hand, 24 hours
a day to take care of the unforeseen complaints,
such as a window or two that cracked, and wind
that blew in to the bathroom of one unit making
an eerie sound. As in buying a brand new car,
all the little bugs were removed, leaving
Sugar Top, strong proud and secure.
Plans had been made for a restaurant, of coat
and tie formality, along with a Grillroom for
the casual eating, plus a deli for all hour
snacks. Some of these ideas were started, but
were not successful ventures. Even a small store
for necessities and souvenirs were part of the
plans.
October 19th, 1983 was the first day for new
owners, and in four days, 160 people took
possession of their condos. Sugar Top was being
referred to as North Carolina’s Premiere Resort
Locale. She was indeed an impressive High Rise
sitting on the ridge of the mountain, to be seen
from all directions below.
What more could we want? That says it all. We,
who live stay or visit Sugar Top, have a warm
feeling with her, and appreciate the history of
her growth. Just stand and look out your window,
no matter which unit you are in. You will never
see a more beautiful landscape to appreciate. It
can take your breath away. You have to see her
to understand and experience life here to
appreciate Sugar Top.
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| If you have any
questions or would like more information, please contact us
828-898-5226, 828-898-6211,
email
us, or use our online request form. |
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