The History Behind the Summit at Lost Ridge
From Family Farm to Mountain Community
The land presently known as The Summit at Lost Ridge was farmed from the early 1900s until the early 1970s. The Hodges family lived on and worked much of the property, maintaining a large home about a quarter mile above what is now Lot 80 on the property known as the Summit Reserve.
Although the family home burned in the late 1920s, its chimney still stands today as a reminder of the area's rich history.
The Hodges Family Legacy
In 1938, one of the Hodges children built a cabin on what is now Lot 81 before his marriage. He and his family lived there for several years before he entered the Army during World War II. Following the war, the family relocated to the Southwestern United States.
In 2004, Summit at Lost Ridge developer Michael "Mickey" Ruben encountered an elderly Hodges couple near the bowl area at Lot 60. The couple, both over 80 years old, had returned to visit their former homeplace and the cabin on Lot 81. Since this was before Tucker Trail was built and access required a four-wheel-drive vehicle, Mickey drove them to both locations.
During the visit, Mr. Hodge shared that the entire area from Lot 60 to the family home had once been open farmland. The family was completely self-sufficient, making the journey to Boone only once a month—a trip that required half a day to complete.
The Chestnut Forest Era
In the early 1930s, the Chestnut Blight devastated much of the area's tree population. While the disease killed the trees, the wood itself remained remarkably durable.
The cabin on Lot 81 was built entirely from wormy chestnut and still stands today in reasonably good condition. Wormy chestnut has become a highly sought-after and valuable wood, making the cabin an important piece of local history.
A Working Cattle Farm
In the early 1970s, Jim Truelock purchased much of the land that now comprises the subdivision and built the stone house on Lot 77. The stone used in its construction was gathered from a nearby boulder field adjoining the home.
From the mid-1970s through the mid-1990s, the property operated as a working cattle farm. In 1986, Bud Lawrence acquired the property and continued the cattle operation.
The Vision for Summit at Lost Ridge
In 1996, Baptist minister Eddie West purchased approximately 240 acres with the vision of developing a Christian retreat. Over the next three years, several lots in the first phase of development were sold. However, for a variety of reasons, the retreat concept ultimately proved unattainable.
In 1999, Ken Newsome and a group of investors purchased the property from Eddie West. Four years later, in 2003, Michael Ruben and Ken Newsome formed The Summit at Lost Ridge Land Company, LLC and developed the remaining portions of the property, excluding the 73 acres sold to Summit Reserve and a separate 55-acre tract adjoining Laurel Branch Road.
Summit at Lost Ridge Today
Today, the community consists of nearly 100 developed lots covering approximately 134 acres, along with an additional 15 acres donated to the Summit at Lost Ridge Property Owners Association.
The Association maintains a variety of common areas and amenities, including two ponds (one stocked), the bowl area, and several scenic overlooks that showcase the natural beauty of the High Country.