Only Private Gated Community in West Virginia Offering True Ski-In, Ski-Out Access and Best–in-Class Green Building Practices
(SNOWSHOE, WEST VIRGINIA) – East Coast outdoor enthusiasts no longer need to head “West” to get their adventure fix. No matter the season, West Virginia’s Snowshoe Mountain has increasingly attracted enthusiasts of all types, particularly since top ski village operator, Intrawest, purchased the Resort in 1995. After more than ten years of unprecedented success, Snowshoe Mountain Resort welcomes Sawmill, a new cutting-edge private gated community boasting privileged ski-in, ski-out access and the state’s highest green practices.
Sawmill is the exclusive, gated residential community offering authentic, superior craftsmanship, radiating multi-generational appeal and embracing the natural heritage of the Mountain. Boasting the first 100 percent Energy Star® rated homes in West Virginia by incorporating up-to-date green building materials and methods, Sawmill delivers quality living for discerning homeowners seeking a tranquil retreat from everyday society stresses.
“My family and I have been traveling to Snowshoe Mountain for years, so I have great respect for the history of the region,” stated Thomas Tretheway, developer of Sawmill. “Sawmill will enhance a family legacy — and together with Intrawest, we will cultivate our shared vision for the future success of this mountain resort. We plan to put Snowshoe on the map as a true alternative option to the West.”
Sawmill marks the debut of Charleston, SC-based studio a one – an architecture, design, planning and interiors firm – and Summit III, LLC at Snowshoe Mountain Resort. With existing projects in West Virginia, the seasoned team of architects and developers selected Snowshoe for its natural beauty and burgeoning growth. In May 2005, the team acquired 14 acres and an additional eight acres in April 2007 to develop Sawmill, a private, gated residential community with 110 home sites offering ALL residents luxurious mountain living and ski-in, ski-out access. The developers also contributed $1 million to Snowshoe Mountain to establish a partnership to build two additional ski trails for the 2007-2008 season.
Real Estate Offering 
The current landscape of the Sawmill community features 110 home sites to be purchased as homes or lots. Buyers have the opportunity to choose from five floor plans which can be customized, offering fully furnished three to nine bedrooms. The lots size goes up to 9,000 sq ft with homes from 1,800 to 6,000 sq ft. Prices start at $750,000 with the high-end exceeding $3 million. Each home evokes the quality of arts & crafts architecture and is professionally designed and decorated to exceed expectations and desires of the buyers.
The five floor plans available to potential buyers at Sawmill include The Mountain Cottage, The Gatehouse, The Highlands Cottage, The Spruce Peak and The Slopefront. Each plan offers attributes attractive to individual buyers and will be customized to meet the needs and wants of the homeowner with special touches such as wine cellars, wet bars, additional bedrooms, pools, elevators, balconies, separate quarters for the nanny and children, and more.
Each home features privileged ski-in, ski-out access, hot tub, garage parking, stainless steel and granite in kitchen and bathrooms, plasma TV in living area, TVs in every bedroom, Energy Star® standards, hardwood main floors, private decks, gas fireplaces, ski storage with boot rack and ample owner’s storage. Homes purchased as a secondary residence may also be placed in a rental management program to be operated by GoodManagement — a complete turn-key operation.
Energy Star® 
Sawmill set the precedent high for future developments in the state by being the first and only to commit itself to building 100 percent of its homes to the Energy Star® performance guidelines. Energy Star®, a joint program of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the U.S. Department of Energy, encourages the use of energy efficient products and practices to protect the environment. The United States Environmental Protection Agency has acknowledged and recognized Sawmill for its dedication to the cause.
“We have committed ourselves to taking ‘green’ building practices to a new level,” commented Tretheway. “To truly deliver quality living it is important to look at the direction our future is taking. We are dedicated to establishing a precedent for new developments on the mountain by optimizing our energy efficiency and meeting all Energy Star® standards to provide a clean, safe living environment for the life of the community. This is another part of creating a multi-generational legacy.”
For buyers, owning an Energy Star® home means lower utility costs, less energy consumption, a cleaner, safer living environment for their families, and, of course, significant monthly and yearly savings. Proudly bearing the Energy Star® label designates that Sawmill offers superior energy performance and incorporates ‘green’ building materials and methods.
To meet the Energy Star® standards, developer Summit III uses structural insulated panels in the homes to maximize efficiency, as well as install energy efficient windows, water systems and appliances inside the homes. In addition, the development is incorporating storm water retention as a landscape design feature.
Amenities Package
Sawmill provides its owners with much more than a mountain home. Sawmill is the ultimate retreat from society, surrounded by a million plus acres of national forest, offering a rich community to enhance the family legacy. An on-site concierge team will be accessible offering full shopping services, ski passes, dinner reservations, equipment rentals for everything from skiing and snowboarding to kayaking, fishing and mountain biking, childcare, housekeeping, tee times with golf privileges at local courses, airport shuttle accommodations and more.
Sawmill features a stellar amenities package for residence and guests. These include:
The Slopes – What better way to access the slopes then from your yard. Snowshoe is unusual in that it offers true ski-in, ski-out access being that the Village and Sawmill community are located at the peak of the mountain rather than the base. Sawmill partnered with Intrawest to add more trails to the 59 slopes and trails that currently exist. Snowshoe’s micro-climate and average natural snowfall provide for the ultimate winter paradise.
Discovery Center – Sawmill is a private gated community offering restricted access. Owners and guests must enter through the four-story Discovery Center, scheduled to open Fall 2007. The Discovery Center security will limit entrance access to only owners and their guests and will be home to the property management, sales and development team. The Good Management team will manage the rental program logistics.
Clubhouse – The 10,000 sq ft Clubhouse (scheduled to open in Fall 2009) will serve as an anchor to the community, offering a gathering place for owners and their guests and children to congregate and share in activity. The Clubhouse will include a pool, spa and fitness facility, outdoor adventure program and business center.
Homeowner’s at Sawmill will also gain admission to the Snowshoe Mountain Property Owners Association.
Snowshoe Mountain Resort
Outdoor enthusiasts have been skiing atop Snowshoe Mountain since December 1974 at which time it was converted from a logging plot to a mountain destination offering a vast array of activities year round for the adventure seeker and leisure traveler. Snowshoe, in the Alleghany Mountains of West Virginia reaches an elevation of 4,848 ft, the second highest point in the state, offering a micro-climate, featuring weather that doesn’t emulate that of the South. The mild and temperate climate remains constant throughout the majority of the year, yet experiences an average of 180 inches of natural snowfall throughout the winter months.
The presence of Snowshoe Mountain Resort atop Cheat Mountain has reinvented the region, which is now known purely as Snowshoe. Intrawest, a Canada-based ski operator, purchased Snowshoe Ski Resort in 1995. The ski-able terrain makes up 234 acres with 59 slopes and trails, surrounded by another 11,000 acres of the mountain resort and village. This sought-after destination for everyone from the most adventurous to those seeking a tranquil escape from society, was recently ranked #19 in SKI Magazine’s annual “Top 50 Resort Guide”.
Snowshoe Mountain delivers the best of year-round activities from ski races and backcountry hut skiing to summer symphony festivals and split rock pools for cooling off on warmer days. The region also boasts popular mountain bike trails, rafting, fishing, hunting and the best golf in the state. The Raven Golf Club’s Gary Player designed course has been ranked the #1 Best Public Access Course in West Virginia by Golf Week Magazine for the last five years, #17 in the Top 40 Resort Courses in America by Golf Week Magazine in 2006 and rated in the top 25 by Travel + Leisure Golf as one of the Best 100 Courses to Play under $100.
West Virginia
West Virginia’s extensive appeal can be credited to its abundance of year-round recreational activities and vast natural beauty. The only state located entirely within the Appalachian Mountain range, West Virginia attracts tourists from all over the world with its many mountain resorts including Snowshoe Mountain Resort, Canaan Valley, Timberline Resort and Winterplace Ski Resort. Aside from West Virginia’s first-rate ski destinations, other activities available in the winter include snowshoeing, sledding, and tubing, cross country skiing and snowmobiling. The Appalachian Mountains also provide a wealth of summer activities such as first-class golfing, hiking, rock-climbing, fly-fishing, boating, and much more.
About Sawmill
Sawmill is the exclusive, gated residential community located within the nationally-recognized Snowshoe Mountain Resort offering authentic, superior craftsmanship, radiating multi-generational appeal and embracing the natural heritage of the Mountain. Boasting the first 100 percent Energy Star® rated homes in the state by incorporating up-to-date “green” building materials and methods, Sawmill delivers quality living and privileged ski-in, ski-out access for discerning homeowners seeking a tranquil retreat from everyday society stresses. For further information, please visit: SawmillWV.com or call (877) 372-9645.