Located atop the Blue Ridge Escarpment and bordered by the Green River Gorge, Saluda, North Carolina provides gorgeous outdoor recreation opportunities and all the charm of quaint, small town living. In keeping with the spirit of the area, the client requested that the Rampton Lodge be designed and built with as little visual and ecological impact on its natural surroundings as possible.

Respect for the preservation of mountain ridgeline views prompted the decision to locate this home down slope of the parcel’s hillcrest. To minimize the removal of mature hardwood trees, an existing forest clearing was chosen for the home site. The area’s topography also played a part in the home’s design, providing on-grade access to both the upper and lower floors. To mimic the natural surroundings, the roof pitch matches the site’s average slope and a blended grey color palette camouflages the home in its environment. Avid mountain bikers, the lodge’s owners incorporated a two-story, wood and steel bike chain sculpture in the home as well as a bicycle garage and mechanic’s area. For those who want to really bask in the mountain air — a large, screened, treehouse-inspired retreat provides overnight accommodations after a day of cycling.