Story By Stefan Nolet
As The Cliffs at Walnut Cove turns twenty, longtime members and new arrivals reflect on the people, places, and memories that make this community feel like home.
Spring had settled over the mountains of Western North Carolina, and the grass on The Cliffs at Walnut Cove’s Event Lawn had returned to a lush, vibrant green. Music drifted through the air, a soundtrack of familiar favorites echoing off the ridgelines as members gathered on the lawn and flowed into The Tavern to celebrate. Along the cobblestone drive, the culinary team served up a feast: crisp salads, fresh poke, gourmet sandwiches, and a spread of sweet treats that paired perfectly with the golden light and easy laughter drifting across the terrace.
The date was April 26, 2025—twenty years to the day since the first round of golf was played on Walnut Cove’s Jack Nicklaus Signature golf course. That inaugural tournament saw Nicklaus himself tee off alongside Hollywood icon Kevin Costner for the BMW Charity Pro-Am, setting the stage for what would become a storied community. And this past spring, more than two hundred members gathered not just to celebrate the anniversary but also to revisit the journey.
The main dining room was transformed into a Hall of Memories, with walls lined with photographs tracing the course from its earliest construction to the present day. Artifacts from that first tournament and decades of club events were on display, along with a memory board where members could share stories, reflections, and moments that have made Walnut Cove feel like home.
The celebration unfolded across the Event Lawn, The Tavern terrace, and the main dining room—spaces that, fittingly, have been added or transformed over the course of Walnut Cove’s twenty-year evolution. Each gathering place stands as a testament to the community’s growth, shaped and refined alongside the lives lived within it.
GROWING UP
Lauren Redfearn was just eleven years old when her family moved to Walnut Cove, relocating from The Cliffs Valley. She now works as a Sales Support Specialist for Cliffs Realty’s Asheville Region, but her roots in the community run deep, formed during childhood and shaped by years of connection to the place she still calls home.
She recalls learning to drive on the quiet streets of a neighborhood that, at the time, had far fewer houses than it does today. Some of her favorite childhood memories are of evening walks on the golf course with her dad, pulling golf balls from the water as the sun dipped behind the mountains. With the community still in its early stages, Lauren was one of the few children in the neighborhood. So she found connection and camaraderie in another essential part of Walnut Cove: the staff.
“When I was younger, there weren’t a lot of kids here, so all my friends were the people who worked at the club, and I would be behind the desk with them while my parents had dinner,” Lauren said. “They probably thought that was annoying, but I loved it!”
FOUNDERS’ SPIRIT
For the inaugural members who made Walnut Cove their home from the outset, the sprawling expanse of the anniversary celebration was a far cry from the early days of the club. One thing, however, has never changed: neighbors finding a way to come together and make every gathering feel special. “All we had in the beginning was the cobblestone down by The Turnhouse,” remembers Susan Ableidinger.
“We had music, and we would dance all night.” Susan and her husband, Robert, were among the first members to build at Walnut Cove. While living in Chicago, the Ableidingers received marketing pieces in the mail, prompting a detour into South Carolina during a trip to Florida. While initially planning to move into The Cliffs Valley, they jumped at the opportunity to buy into the newly announced community just south of Asheville. They made the drive to the site of Walnut Cove and began looking at properties. “There were no roads, so we drove around in a four-wheel drive and fell in love with the whole place,” says Susan.
Seeing Walnut Cove evolve from its earliest days into the vibrant, multifaceted community it is today, Susan is most impressed by the club associates. “It’s the best place in the world to live, and what makes it that way is the staff,” she says. “Bob and I have traveled and belonged to clubs all over the world, and we’ve never had better than this.”
When The Cliffs at Walnut Cove opened its Jack Nicklaus Signature Course in 2005, it did so with a memorable pairing on the first tee: Jack Nicklaus and actor Kevin Costner. The two played the ceremonial opening round together, marking the official debut of the highly anticipated course.
Costner, an avid golfer and longtime friend of The Cliffs, joined Nicklaus for what was described as an “unprecedented” moment—one that blended the worlds of championship design and Hollywood storytelling. The round was lighthearted and celebratory, with Nicklaus reportedly joking to Costner, “Hey Kevin, this is the first time my caddie ever caddied before.”
That day helped establish Walnut Cove as a premier golf destination and reinforced The Cliffs’ reputation for creating community around the game—where design, natural beauty, and shared experience come together from the very first swing.
FIRST IMPRESSIONS
Brad and Michelle Kostelich have been members at Walnut Cove for nearly eight years, but they felt the community’s welcoming spirit from the very first visit. At the time, they were enjoying a break from their busy lives in Pennsylvania with a getaway to Lake Toxaway, but Walnut Cove was on their radar as a potential landing spot for retirement.
They toured the property over Independence Day weekend in 2017 and, as Brad describes it, it was “love at first sight.” That fall, they returned for a discovery weekend, and during a dinner event, they began forming friendships that would soon become foundational. “We showed up at 7 o’clock, and I didn’t see Michelle again for two and a half hours,” Brad recalls with a laugh. “We wanted something that felt communal, even with lots of different people. It was just so attractive to us.”
They made the decision to join The Cliffs in 2017, began building in 2019, and moved in a couple of years later. Throughout that process, they made it a point to return often, to join in events and meet neighbors. And though they’ve been part of Walnut Cove for just under half its lifespan, they’ve witnessed a remarkable amount of growth and transformation.
NEW HORIZONS
Even for members new to the community—like Michael and Marty Gervasi—the sense of welcome was immediate. The couple joined the club in early 2024 and attended their first New Member Mingle shortly thereafter. By the end of the evening, they’d been invited to dinner by members they had only just met.
“It’s been very welcoming, and we’ve quickly integrated with people,” Michael said. “They’ve had their arms open, and they’re pulling us in to join.” Originally living on Longboat Key in Florida, the Gervasis had been considering a move to the Asheville area. It was fellow Longboat Key residents Willie and Rosa Stanfield—who also call Walnut Cove home—who first introduced them to the community.
Michael finds his footing on the nearby mountain bike trails, while both he and Marty enjoy exploring the culture and charm of Asheville. “We end up in Asheville proper two or three times a week because we love the city so much,” Michael said.
CELEBRATING 20 YEARS
At the anniversary celebration, longtime members and new arrivals stood shoulder to shoulder, admiring photo boards, trading stories, and adding their voices to a growing legacy. The community has grown—its streets busier, its clubhouse livelier, its friendships more layered, but the heart remains the same: neighbors gathering, memories made, and the enduring joy of building something beautiful together.
This story was featured in Cliffs Living magazine. To see more stories like this one and learn more about The Cliffs, subscribe here.
