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 Sugartop
actually does today. At that time, the plan was for he 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.
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 5-story building was still being considered, it
was realized that the building as originally planned, would not have
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 Sugartop, and are still known as the Country
Club Condos.
From the inception of the building of Sugartop 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 Sugartop 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 L aw made Sugartop 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, Sugartop is exempt from the law?s
provisions. The exclusivity that the Ridge Law gave Sugartop had proven
to be a boon for the developers.
Sugartop 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 one 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 do
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 the next 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 $69,900.00
when problems occurred, some changers were made, and the prices had
to go up. However, the company honored their contracts, and built
the condos at a coast of $98,000.00 each, of course losing money.
Some condos sold for as high as $180,000.00, and the lowest priced
went for $39,000.00, about ten years ago. The unique status of Sugartop
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 furnishings 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 cared of the unforeseen complaints, such as a window or two
that cracked, and wind that blew into the bathroom of one unit making
an eerie sound. As in buying a brand new car, all the little bugs
were removed leaving Sugartop, 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. Sugartop 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.