Collettsville is a rural community just outside Lenoir
Collettsville is an unincorporated community within the rural Johns River Township, one of the several townships that make up Caldwell County. Homes in this primarily residential area sit on spacious lots spread out across a landscape of rolling green hills and dense forests. Less than 10 miles away is downtown Lenoir, home to a range of urban activities and commercial amenities. “Collettsville is more of a natural area, but that’s why people like it – because it’s secluded,” says Donna Daughenbaugh-Phillips, a local Real Estate Broker with Mountainside Realty who has more than 25 years of experience selling homes. “I would call this area a hidden gem. People are coming in from all over to buy second homes here.”
Despite Collettsville’s inland location, Daughenbaugh-Phillips says that parts of this area were impacted by Hurricane Helene in 2024. Some roads were damaged, and plenty of trees fell, but she notes that the community is well on its way to a full recovery. “There’s a beautiful wedding venue on Wilson Creek called Brown Mountain Beach Resort that was impacted by the storm, but it’ll be back open soon. Maybe not before the end of 2025, but not long after that,” she predicts. Collettsville has an overall CAP Index Crime Score of 1 out of 10, significantly lower than the national average of 4 and the lowest score possible on the index.
Cabins, new construction and gated communities on spacious lots
Collettsville’s housing stock is mainly comprised of single-family homes on large, rural lots. Oftentimes these homes sit far back in the woods along unpaved roads, out of sight from main roads. Most properties are custom-built and range from 20th-century builds to new construction. Wood cabins and farmhouses are standard, and mostly range from about $150,000 to $550,000, though some newer properties can cost as much as $900,000. “There’s also the Coves Mountain and River Club, a gated community that’s attracted buyers from all over for its amenities,” Daughenbaugh-Phillips says. The private complex of single-family homes sits just outside the town center of Collettsville along the Johns River and offers a clubhouse, outdoor pool and patio deck with unobstructed views of the Appalachian Mountains. “It’s a piece of serenity, and it’s what really brings people out to the countryside,” Daughenbaugh-Phillips says of the natural beauty of the region. Aside from single-family homes, many of the listings on Colletsville’s market are undeveloped plots of land with prices ranging anywhere from $10,000 to $140,000, depending on acreage and location.
Students served by Caldwell County Schools
Students living in Collettsville are zoned for Caldwell County Schools, which receive an overall B rating from Niche. The B-rated Collettsville School serves prekindergarten through eighth-grade students and has a student-teacher ratio of 15 to 1. Secondary students can then head to either West Caldwell High School in Lenoir or South Caldwell High School in Hudson; the schools receive B-minus and B ratings, respectively. Both high schools offer students the option to join more than a dozen different sports teams, including baseball, football and swimming.
Rural recreation and river activities
With its location in the countryside, Collettsville offers residents plenty of opportunities for outdoor recreation. The Pisgah National Forest is home to places like the Brown Mountain OHV area, an off-roading vehicle area with more than 30 miles of wooded trails for mountain bikes and ATVs. Picnic tables and bathrooms are located at the entrance to the trail system. Also running through the Collettsville is the Johns River, a popular spot for fishermen and hiking enthusiasts. “There are lots of hiking trails throughout the area, and the river is a great place to go in the summertime, especially when it gets hot out,” Daughenbaugh-Phillips says.
Going to Lenoir for shopping and dining
The Colletsville area has minimal commercial amenities, so residents need to travel for virtually all their retail needs. “There’s really no shopping or dining in Collettsville; people go to Lenoir for all that,” Daughenbaugh-Phillips says. In downtown Lenoir, people can find a collection of boutique shops and local restaurants, including popular spots like Piccolo’s Italian Restaurant and 1841 Café. Chain eateries and national retailers are centered around the Cross Roads Shopping Center in the suburbs of Lenoir, right near the highway interchange of Routes 64 and 321. Farther up Highway 321 are national retailers like Tractor Supply Co. and Dollar General, located at the Eastwood Village Shopping Center. Grocery shoppers can can head to an Aldi supermarket approximately 11 miles from Collettsville, a trip that is usually about a 20-minute drive.
Car-dependent commuters with access to Highway 90
Collettsville is an entirely car-dependent community, and most thoroughfares are single-lane backcountry roads. The arterial road running through this area is North Caroline Route 90, also known as Highway 90, the only numbered thoroughfare in Collettsville. The route winds across several mountains, passes through the town center near Johns River and then continues on into Lenoir. “There are several other roads you can take to get to Lenoir – including several backcountry roads – but all in all, downtown Lenoir is about a 10-minute drive away from the town center,” Daughenbaugh-Phillips says. The nearest major commercial airport is the Charlotte Douglas International Airport, located just under 80 miles from Collettsville. The closest 24-hour emergency room is located at Caldwell Memorial Hospital in Lenoir.
