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Come Fly With Us! We Descend on 3 Luxurious Fly-In Communities

On Friday afternoons for the past 12 summers, Greg Havemeier leaves his office in Naples, FL, for his weekend home. But unlike many vacationers who jump into an SUV for a two-day getaway, Havemeier boards his Beechcraft Bonanza G36 six-seater and makes the 3.5-hour flight to Mountain Air, perched high in the mountains of Burnsville, NC.

“From a convenience standpoint, as a private pilot, you cannot get any better than to take off from your own home, land there, turn off the engine, and simply walk across the tarmac and go have a beer. Or take a golf cart right to your property,” Havemeier says.

There’s a small but growing number of (very privileged) vacationers who appreciate owning a getaway accessible by private plane. According to the organization Living With Your Plane Association, the number of fly-in communities in the U.S. was about 450 in 2001. The association now lists 608 communities. We’re ready to go wheels up on three of these exclusive locales.

Mountain Air in North Carolina

Havemeier and his family bought property in the mountainside community in 2005 to take advantage of the locale’s cooler clime in the warmer months.The area averages 72 degrees in July, which is perfect for hitting the links, lounging poolside, hiking, or enjoying the diversions of nearby Asheville. However, it was the gated community’s private runway that clinched the deal for Havemeier.

Havemeier learned of the place from an ad in an aviation magazine. Nowadays, those with pilot licenses and a desire to find fly-in communities have an easier way of discovering these off-radar gems.

Given that “90% of real estate searches are online, you can easily search [for] a flying community in the mountains,” listing agent Gary Carter says. Presently, there are about 70 properties, both single-family homes and condos, for sale in the Mountain Air community.

Because Mountain Air isn’t a place where a prospective buyer can casually walk into a weekend open house, interested buyers are encouraged to do a “three-day experience package” to get a sense of the community perched on 550 acres atop a mountain. The properties, including this cabin currently for sale, are all “beautifully sited along the ridge lines,” Carter adds.

Potential buyers can stay at the clubhouse lodge and try out the golf course, tennis court, fitness center, pool, and dining room.

“This is one of those places we believe you have to see it to truly appreciate it,” Carter says.

Mountain Air stands out for another reason. According to Carter, the landing strip, located at about 4,500 feet above sea level, is “the highest private runway east of the Rockies.”

Red Reflet Ranch in Wyoming

Fold up your tray table. We’re headed to the rugged beauty of the red rocks in Ten Sleep, WY. Red Reflet Ranch is a dude ranch on over 27,000 acres in the Big Horn Mountains. Owners Laurence and Bob Kaplan are beginning a foray into real estate and are offering homesteads with a share of the airstrip.

Each parcel may contain one home, a guesthouse, a barn, and a hangar pad adjacent to the private, restricted-use airport. Depending on the parcel, some hangar pads can be located on the parcel itself. This means you park your plane right next to your home, the way you would park your car.

There’s a guest ranch so interested buyers can experience the place before plunking down cash. The getaway was described by Men’s Journal as “luxurious and gorgeous.”

Guests (not just of the equine variety) receive a lot of attention.

“As more families move onto the homesteads we will add to our ramada of 55 horses, increase the number of wranglers, and support staff,” notes Bob Kaplan.

Homestead owners also enjoy access to club facilities, which include a pool, gym, tennis court, climbing walls, a zip line, and horseback riding.

“Homestead owners also have the meeting and dining facilities of the five-star Red Reflet guest ranch at their doorstep, [and] can join ranch guests for meals prepared by our executive chef and pastry chef by reservation,” Kaplan adds.

Stock Farm Club in Montana

We’re headed for a final descent into Big Sky Country, at the Stock Farm Club in Hamilton, MT.

The scenic locale is based in the foothills of the Sapphire Mountains, overlooking the Bitterroot Valley and the peaks of the Bitterroot Mountains, and bills itself as a private “golf, equestrian, and sporting club.”

Residents can take advantage of the nearby airfield—making it just a few minutes from your plane to your front door. The community features 125 home sites on more than 660 acres. Prices range from $675,000 to $5 million for finished homes, and $400,000 to $660,000 for home sites. Currently, 13 homes and nine home sites are available, including this million-dollar listing on the market.

The 2,600-acre community boasts some 30 miles of hiking, biking, and horseback riding trails, and 1,280 acres of preserved elk habitat.

For home buyers who possess a pilot’s license, the allure of a private airport next to your home might be worth fueling up and flying away for a true getaway.

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