A veteran metro Atlanta homebuilder is betting that locations north of traditional OTP suburbs—way north, in fact—are the next frontier in regional housing growth. 

Traton Homes, founded in 1971 and based in Marietta, has brought to market 53 home sites and model homes for a new project called Blue Mountain Creek in Morganton. 

Traton officials believe the rustic-modern options and mountain setting (in addition to lower prices, relatively speaking) will appeal to metro Atlantans seeking a quieter, full-time lifestyle with less traffic far beyond the metro’s traditional suburban growth corridors. 

The location—about 10 minutes east of downtown Blue Ridge and 3.7 miles from the city’s eponymous lake—is more associated with weekend getaways, mountain cabins, and vacation homes. It echoes, in some ways, what north metro suburban counties offered several generations ago. 

“As growth continues to reshape Cobb, Cherokee [counties], and other northern Atlanta suburbs,” a project rep wrote to Urbanize Atlanta via email, “Traton’s land team sees the Blue Ridge area as a natural ‘next step out’ for buyers looking for more space, less congestion, and a slower pace of life.” 

Rustic-leaning interior designs at Blue Mountain Creek. Courtesy of Traton Homes; photography by LaRuche Photo

The project's location east of downtown Blue Ridge at 63 Blue Creek Road in Fannin County. Google Maps

Blue Mountain Creek options start today at $439,900, with 40 builds currently underway. Homes in the pipeline will all be priced in the $400,000 and $500,000s.   

All houses with have three bedrooms and either two or three bathrooms, ranging between 1,653 and 2,502 square feet, according to project officials.  

Located at the intersection of Highway 515 and Blue Creek Road, Blue Mountain Creek plans call for both ranch and two-story home designs, with layouts described as open and architecture inspired by the mountains. 

Home sites range from a half-acre up to 4 aces, with some properties “offering seasonal mountain views that create a serene escape from city life,” per marketing materials.

Example of a new model home at Blue Mountain Creek, where prices start in the $400,000s for three-bedroom options. Courtesy of Traton Homes; photography by LaRuche Photo

Example of a back porch setup at the Morganton community. Courtesy of Traton Homes; photography by LaRuche Photo

The goal is to lure a range of buyers from investors seeking vacation rentals to retirees and weekend big-city escapees, capitalizing on other perks of the area including local wineries, apple orchards, hiking, and watersports lake options. The tradeoff, obviously, is the vibrancy and options offered by the sixth largest U.S. metro. 

Sound like a solid tactic, metro ATL? 

Find more context and photos for a new Blue Mountain Creek model home in the gallery above. 

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