Rolling hills and wooded streets define Pine Crest’s landscape
Pine Crest, a census-designated place sandwiched between Johnson City and Milligan University, offers a taste of countryside living around the corner from parks, major highways and commercial corridors. The community’s residential streets ebb and flow with rolling hills, swooping past dense clusters of trees and wide fields for farming. Residents are a short drive from supermarkets, shops and downtown Johnson City, which is known for its restaurant scene. People can get active at Buffalo Mountain Park or celebrate the seasons at spots like Laurels Pumpkin Barn. Although public schools are farther away from the community, Milligan University borders Pine Crest.
Residential streets offer a countryside feel and multiacre lots
The community’s residential areas are lush, with expansive grassy lawns and mature trees. Narrow roads twist, turn and stretch into the distance, creating an air of countryside living. Some homes face out toward large fields with round hay bales, while other homes are shrouded by trees. Ranch-style houses, bungalows and cottages are common, but there are also some two-story homes and condos. Some properties have asymmetrical or split-level architecture to account for the community’s rolling hills. Prices typically fall between $170,000 and $380,000. Newer construction and properties with acres of land can sometimes sell for more, in the $540,000 to $770,000 range.
Locals can hike Buffalo Mountain, visit limestone caves or play golf
Recreation options are outside the community but not far away. Residents are within 5 miles of the public Pine Oaks Golf Course and Buffalo Mountain Park. The expansive park follows varying inclines, adding levels of difficulty to its hiking and cycling trails. People can enjoy views of Johnson City from scenic overlooks like White Rock. Near the park, the Tipton-Haynes State Historic Site transports visitors back to the 18th century as they tour preserved cabins, limestone caves and a museum featuring historic artifacts. The site also holds many events, from the Maple Syrup Festival in February to the Visions of Christmas tours. Jacob’s Nature Park offers forest trails that bloom with fragrant flowers in the spring, while the Tweetsie Trail is a popular rails-to-trails path for cycling groups. When baseball season rolls around, locals drive about 3 miles to TVA Credit Union Ballpark to watch the Johnson City Doughboys play.
Several creeks pass by or through Pine Crest, putting the low-lying parts of the community at major risk from flooding, according to First Street.
Johnson City is close, but students attend Carter County schools
Even though the community is next door to Johnson City, Pine Crest is not within the city’s school district zoning. Tennessee is an open-enrollment state, which gives families some flexibility, but most local kids attend Carter County Schools. Students are likely to go to Happy Valley Elementary, Middle and High schools because these are closest to the community. The schools have B, B-minus and C-plus Niche ratings, respectively. Pine Crest is also directly adjacent to Milligan University, a private, Christian institution with a B-minus rating.
Downtown dining, nearby supermarkets and Laurels Pumpkin Barn
The community is primarily residential, but a few businesses line Milligan Highway. Venice Italian Restaurant serves fresh pizza, pasta and hoagies, while Dollar General offers everyday essentials. About 2 miles away, South Road Street has several thrift stores, fast-food restaurants and supermarkets, like Food City and Price Less IGA. Pine Crest is also roughly 3 miles from downtown Johnson City, which has a booming shopping and dining scene. Crowds bustle between lively pubs, cozy coffee shops and specialty boutique shops before seeing a show at Wallace Theatre or checking out seasonal city events. During the fall, many locals head down Laurels Road to the Laurels Pumpkin Barn. This family-owned farmers market sells a wide range of autumn goods, from fall leaf wreaths to hundreds of gourds ripe for cooking, baking or carving.
Milligan Highway takes drivers to a major interstate intersection
Most residents drive, but there are a few Johnson City Transit bus stops nearby on Plymouth and Swadley roads. Milligan Highway, also known as Highway 67 East, cuts through the center of the community, acting as a primary route between Johnson City and Milligan University. Drivers are also roughly 2 miles from the intersection of Interstate 26 and Highway 321. Noise from the interstate can occasionally affect people living in the southern neighborhoods, particularly during heavy traffic. Pine Crest is less than 20 miles from Tri-Cities Airport and about 5 miles from the Johnson City Medical Center and Sycamore Shoals Hospital.
