Burt Reynolds was a man of excess. He had the cars, the mustache, the fame, and at one point, fourteen different houses scattered across the globe. But if you asked him which one actually mattered?
He didn't hesitate. It was the one in the mountains.
Specifically, the Burt Reynolds Blue Ridge home tucked away in Highlands, North Carolina. This wasn't some Hollywood McMansion plopped onto a hillside. It was—and still is—a jagged, organic piece of architecture that looks like a cross between a Bond villain's lair and a luxury treehouse.
Most people think of Burt and they think of Florida. They think of the ranch in Jupiter or the smash-hit days of Smokey and the Bandit. But the Blue Ridge property was different. It was born out of the grueling, career-defining shoot of Deliverance in 1972. While the rest of the world saw a terrifying thriller about survival, Burt saw a landscape he never wanted to leave.
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The Architecture of a Protégé
You can't talk about this house without talking about Jim Fox.
Fox was a protégé of Frank Lloyd Wright, and it shows in every sharp angle and cantilevered deck. Located at 1210 King Gap Road, the house was built the same year Deliverance hit theaters. It doesn't sit on the land so much as it grows out of it.
We’re talking about "organic architecture." This means the house uses native stone, cedar, and massive glass panes to blur the line between the living room and the Nantahala National Forest. It's not a cabin. It's a statement.
Inside, the home is a labyrinth of textures. There are wooden walls that literally incorporate tree trunks. The ceilings are wood-clad and curved, mimicking the hull of a yacht. It’s got that 1970s "cool" that most modern builds try—and fail—to replicate.
Why Burt Called It His Favorite
In a letter dated December 23, 1983, Burt wrote something that real estate agents still quote today. He admitted to owning fourteen houses but said, "without a moment's hesitation I always say my house in the mountains" is his favorite.
Why? Privacy.
Highlands wasn't the tourist magnet then that it is now. Back then, it was a place where a guy who was the number one box office draw in the world could actually breathe. He hosted Sally Field here. He hung out with James Garner here. It was a sanctuary for a man who was constantly under the microscope.
The Famous Loni Anderson "Man Cave"
When Burt was married to Loni Anderson, the house saw some interesting upgrades. Most celebrity renovations are boring—new marble, bigger closets, the usual. Loni did something different.
She had a custom "stone bathroom" built specifically for Burt in the lower level. It’s essentially a rocky grotto inside the house.
There’s also a "man cave" down there with a pool table and a wine cellar. If you look closely at the walls, there is still an inscription written by Loni herself, signed in 1991. It’s a weirdly human touch in a house that otherwise feels like a museum of mid-century modernism.
The $3.7 Million Reality
The Burt Reynolds Blue Ridge home has been in the news lately because it keeps hitting the market. Most recently, in late 2025, it was listed for nearly $3.7 million.
It’s interesting to see how the house has evolved. The original footprint was about 3,168 square feet, but subsequent owners have added the "bells and whistles" that 2026 buyers expect.
- The Terrace: A massive outdoor expansion with a stone fireplace.
- The Plunge Pool: A heated, lagoon-style pool with a waterfall.
- The Bar: A full outdoor serving station for entertaining.
The lot itself is just under an acre, but because it sits on the edge of a subdivision bordering the National Forest, the views are protected. You aren't looking at your neighbor's roof; you're looking at the blue-tinted ridges that give the mountains their name.
A Modernist Masterpiece, Not a Log Cabin
One of the biggest misconceptions about the Burt Reynolds Blue Ridge home is that it’s a "rustic cabin."
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Honestly, it’s the opposite.
The rooflines are flared and aggressive. The windows are often slanted or oversized, designed to capture the "long-distance" views of the mountains. If you walked in expecting plaid curtains and taxidermy, you’d be disappointed. Instead, you get a sunken living room with a double-height stone monolith that serves as a fireplace.
It’s a "yacht in the woods."
The "Deliverance" Connection
The irony of Burt loving this house is that the movie that brought him here, Deliverance, was a PR nightmare for the region for decades. It painted Appalachia in a light that most locals hated.
But Burt saw past the script. He spent weeks filming in nearby Rabun County and Sylva. He saw the waterfalls. He felt the temperature drop ten degrees when he climbed into the Highlands.
He didn't just buy a house; he bought into a lifestyle. He even fought with the architect, Jim Fox, about adding a carport. Fox thought a carport would ruin the "purity" of the design. Burt, being Burt, wanted a place to park his cars. Burt eventually won that round, but Fox’s architectural DNA still dominates the property.
Life in Highlands Today
Highlands has changed since the 70s. It’s been named one of the "Best Small Mountain Towns" by Travel + Leisure. It’s a playground for the wealthy from Atlanta, Charlotte, and Nashville.
But the King Mountain Club, where the house is located, still feels secluded. The HOA fees are steep—over $5,000 a year—but that covers the gated security and the clubhouse.
What This House Tells Us About Burt
Celebrity homes are usually just assets. They are flipped, staged, and sold.
But the Burt Reynolds Blue Ridge home was a piece of his identity. It represents the peak of his career—the transition from a TV actor to a cinematic powerhouse. It’s a house for a man who wanted to be taken seriously as an artist (hence the protégé of Frank Lloyd Wright) but also wanted a place to drink Scotch and play pool with his buddies.
It’s not a perfect house. It’s three levels of stairs and weird angles. It’s probably a nightmare to dust. But it has a soul.
Next Steps for the Interested
If you're looking to dive deeper into the architectural legacy of the Blue Ridge region or Burt's specific history in North Carolina, here is how you can actually engage with it:
- Visit Highlands: If you're in the area, the town of Highlands is open to the public, though the King Mountain Club is a gated community. You can still see the landscape that inspired the home by hiking the nearby Whiteside Mountain trail.
- Research Jim Fox: Look into the "Organic Architecture" movement in the Southeast. Fox’s work is rare, and many of his homes are considered local landmarks.
- Check the Listing: While the house often trades hands privately or through high-end agencies like Sotheby’s, the public records for 1210 King Gap Road provide a fascinating look at the "bones" of the property through historical permit filings.
The house remains a monument to a specific era of Hollywood—a time when stars were larger than life, and their homes were built to match.