Come to Our Great Natural Sanctuary
Brightwood’s greatest amenity is our natural environment. In our Covenants, it states that “Brightwood is an animal and bird sanctuary.” You will see deer, racoons, possums and even an occasional bear. You will also see cardinals, goldfinches, indigo buntings, hummingbirds, hawks and many others. Brightwood is also a sanctuary for plants, flowers and trees. We have 40 wonderful acres of Common Area for you to enjoy. So, if you love nature, you will love Brightwood.
Enjoy the Pond and Picnic Area
In the center of Brightwood, there is a beautiful 7-acre common area with a stream, a frog and fish pond and an adjacent picnic area. There is plenty of room for recreation, walks and family fun. The shady grove is the perfect place for a picnic and the pond is the perfect place for a relaxing walk.
Visit the Organic Garden and Savor the Wholesome Food
Next to the pond area, we created an organic garden for healthy food. The garden is now producing wholesome and delicious tomatoes, potatoes, squash, parsley, sage, rosemary, thyme and many other foods for all of Brightwood. The garden not only produces nutritious food, but it also brings the community together for a common purpose. As a Brightwood resident, you not only have a place to get healthy food for your family, but you can also learn from our master gardeners how to grow it yourself.
Relax and Swim at the Laurel Creek Picnic Area
You can take a pleasant, quarter-mile stroll down Creek Trail to our picnic area right next to Laurel Creek. This creek is one of the cleanest, most pristine in North Carolina. This is another excellent place for a get-together with friends and family. The creek is also a delightfully cool place to be on hot days. You can go rock-hopping, wading or swimming in any one of several swimming holes near the picnic area.
Cool Off at Holly Falls
If you need to cool off, you can take a short walk down a trail and enjoy beautiful Holly Falls. You can even walk up into the intriguing cave just behind the falls and breathe in the water-purified air. Nothing like some refreshing negative ions.
Hike and Be Healthy
We have already mentioned the easy walks down Creek Trail and to Holly Falls. However, there are much longer and more vigorous hikes for those who really want to get their exercise and see some unique landscapes. For example, you can hike for hours along the wild parts of Laurel Creek.
See the Wetlands: A Natural Playground
For kids and adults who really enjoy watching the wildlife, there is a wetland area. This area features a very different kind of animal habitat. Here you see blue herons, ducks, geese and lots of beavers among many others.