28 & 29 Spruce Chase | Bee Tree | Swannanoa

Bee Tree Creek, a mountain stream with a natural waterfall, flows just steps from your door.

Traditional English gardens with whimsical flair, featuring:

Circular maze garden

Pinwheel flower garden

Daylily maze garden

Numerous raised vegetable and herb beds

Panama Pond (affectionately named by the owners) attracts visiting ducks, geese, and migrating fish from the stream. Local lore ties the pond's construction to Charles Edward Waddell, an engineer famed for his work on the Bee Tree Dam and the Panama Canal.

Lake Illusion, a large pond suitable for swimming. Native fish from Bee Tree Creek stay year round.

Arbor covered in Amethyst Falls Wisteria, providing a shaded, fragrant retreat.

3 bedrooms/3.5 baths in main living area

Downstairs apartment (outside access) has 1 bedroom, 1 bathroom

Built in the 1970s, with a thoughtfully integrated addition completed in 2015, “Bee Haven” offers a warm and inviting blend of rustic charm and modern comfort. The heart of the home is a spacious great room, featuring soaring vaulted ceilings, an abundance of natural light, and a striking floor-to-ceiling stone fireplace with a non-vented gas insert. The open-concept main living area includes living room with fireplace, dining area and beautifully appointed kitchen with granite countertops, a generous island, and pantry. A half bath is conveniently located just off the kitchen. Double doors lead to a welcoming front deck where you can hear the soothing waterfalls and view the numerous gardens.

The primary suite is designed for both luxury and accessibility, offering a marble-tiled curbless entry shower and whirlpool tub, dual vanity, and a spacious walk-in closet. Two additional bedrooms on the main floor are connected by a Jack and Jill bathroom and feature radiant floor heating for year-round comfort. Upstairs, a lofted open space provides the perfect area for a home office, family room, or creative nook, complemented by a full bathroom and a large walk-in closet for storage.

Adding to the property’s versatility is “The Perch,” a private-entry efficiency apartment located on the lower level. It features a full kitchen with breakfast nook, an airy living and sleeping area, a large game room, and a spacious craft or art studio—ideal for hobbies or a home-based business. Both the game and craft rooms offer radiant floor heating.

Covered decks and patios surround the home for all-season enjoyment of the spectacular grounds, and a secluded hot tub patio offers the perfect place to relax to the sounds of the nearby waterfall. The residence also includes a porte-cochère with a covered walkway to the front door. The current owners will convey numerous historical records, photographs, and memorabilia with the sale of the home, including two original, framed vermiculite mining bags.

Large Chestnut Barn

Original horse stalls

Loft storage

Power with solar panels and a solar battery station

Greenhouse

High-quality, non-yellowing solar plastic

Ventilated and functional year-round, without the need for supplemental heat

Restored Spring House, originally used for keeping food, wine, and preserves cool

The Bee Tree area was first settled by European pioneers in 1784. By 1903, a thriving lumber operation was established here, complete with a sawmill, general store, meat market, and post office. David Crockett himself frequented the area, visiting his wife Rebecca Patton’s family. The property’s Brazilian mahogany statue of Crockett will convey with the sale.

Spruce Chase Legacy

Spruce Chase sits on a north-facing slope ranging in elevation from 2,400 to 3,400 feet, creating cool, moist conditions ideal for high-elevation flora. The home at 28 Spruce Chase was built by Sam Coggins around 1907 and later owned by his brother, Henry Allen Coggins, a Wake Forest baseball star, Appalachian gentleman farmer, and honorary mayor of Bee Tree. Coggins farmed the land, rented tracts, and mined mica in the 1930s, when vermiculite was discovered here. He remained active in the community until his passing in 1946. His home remained abandoned for nearly 50 years before its thoughtful restoration by the current owners.

1.6 acres — Small lot suitable for RVs (PIN: 9780-92-4980)

229.5 acres — Expansive acreage with mechanic’s garage, outbuildings, pond, and natural features (PIN: 9790-00-6887)

*If only the lot with the two homes is sold, an additional ±3 acres will be annexed to include the septic drainfield.

Development Opportunities

Multiple home sites: Existing logging roads already provide access to level areas ideal for building, many with views of Bee Tree Lake and the Swannanoa Valley. 

Farm or pasture use: Lower cleared acreage is well-suited for livestock, crops, or other agricultural ventures. 

RV or camping expansion: Flat areas with utilities in place make it easy to add 2–3+ RV or camper sites, with potential for more across the property. 

Trail system: Current trails can be enjoyed for hiking, horseback riding, or ATV use, or upgraded into additional access roads. 

Recreation amenities: Opportunity to develop private fishing ponds, picnic areas, or outdoor activity spaces to complement residential or rental uses. 

Event venue expansion: Scenic spots across the property could host weddings, retreats, or outdoor events. 

3 bedrooms/1.5 bathrooms

A true piece of Appalachian history, “Wood Bee Home” was constructed around 1907 by Sam Coggins for his bride-to-be. Though she passed away before their marriage, the home found new life when it was purchased by his brother, Henry Allen Coggins, who raised nine children within its walls. This beautifully preserved residence retains much of its original character, including wood wainscoting and bead board ceilings. Built prior to the arrival of electricity in the region, the home’s electrical systems have been recently updated to modern standards.

The main floor of the home features a cozy living room with its original bead board ceiling and tray drop ceiling, a formal dining room, and a kitchen with integrated laundry space that opens to a covered side deck. A half bathroom serves the main level, while upstairs, two inviting bedrooms provide a quiet, restful space. One of these bedrooms includes a fireplace with a vented gas insert for warmth and charm. A full bathroom opens to a large dressing room which serves as closet for both bedrooms. The home’s generous wraparound covered front porch and side deck offer ample space for enjoying mountain mornings or cool evening breezes.

Three bays

Fully equipped with 220V power, air compressor, and heavy-duty car lift

2nd level loft

Half bathroom

Large Equipment Shed

Spring-fed water tank for garden and fountain irrigation

Reconstructed Log Cabin showcasing the style of original Appalachian worker’s homes

Spruce Chase Features Sheet - Printable

Property Tour Map - Printable

Charles Edward Waddell Biography 

Spruce Chase Notebook 1

Spruce Chase Notebook 2 

Spruce Chase Notebook 3 

Book: Cabins & Castles | This History & Architecture of Buncombe County, NC - page 150