Today marks the centennial of a little-known federal law, the Weeks Act, which established the preservation of Eastern forests under the designation National Forest. The Act led to the creation of two of America's most beloved national forests, the Green Mountain National Forest in Vermont and New Hampshire's White Mountain National Forest, wilderness areas that are still enjoyed to this day. Prior to the Weeks Act, rampant deforestation by the logging industry and ensuing large-scale forest fires threatened the region's verdant countryside, but today, the areas protected by the 100-year-old legislation are popular tourist destinations in all seasons. So, in honor of this spirit of preservation, we've found some Eastern mountain getaways. Go on, enjoy the fruits of federal intervention.
This 111-year-old shingle-style getaway (above) sits on a high ridge in Jackson, N.H. and enjoys sweeping views of Mt. Washington and the National Forest. Listed for $725K, the home is a blend of rustic materials and modern luxury, where worn floorboards meet a tastefully renovated kitchen.
? Across state lines in Stowe, Vt., this mountainside mansion offers 18,000 square feet of luxury and amenities, including an indoor swimming pool, three car garage, marble baths, and 15 acres of land. The crowning glory is most certainly the view, which spans both the Green and White Mountains, but the price might leave you cross-eyed at a hefty $16M.
? Further south, this $2.95M gentleman's farm beckons with 230 acres of unspoiled forests and meadows, plus a casually upscale farmhouse that dates from the 1790s. Springfield, Vt. is rather far from the Green Mountain National Forest, but with this much acreage and a spectacular terraced landscape by Ellen Biddle Shipman, you'd never know it.
? Back to the Granite State and the town of Sunapee, N.H., where this lakefront four-bedroom enjoys the crisp, clean waters of Lake Sunapee, fed by the White Mountain watershed. Broad windows and a broad design allow for maximum water views, while classic wood and stone detailing evokes the lakeside retreats of yore, all for $2.195M.
· 233 Tin Mine Road, Jackson [Badger Realty]
· Above The Clouds, Stowe [Christie's]
· North Mowing, Springfield [LandVest]
· 344 Bay Point Road, Sunapee [Sotheby's]