Treehouse-Like Home in the Blue Ridge Mountains Burt Reynolds Owned at His Peak Hits the Market

When actor Burt Reynolds was filming what would become the 1972 hit “Deliverance,” he fell in love with the Georgia wilderness in which it was filmed.

The film would mark his breakthrough onto the big screen, after his tenure as a television star in Western shows like “Gunsmoke” and “Hawk,” and he became one of the most famous actors throughout the 1970s and ’80s

About a decade after “Deliverance,” at the peak of his career, he purchased a home in the Blue Ridge Mountains just across the border in Highlands, North Carolina, according to previous reporting.

The 1970s home was designed by modernist architect Jim Fox, whose signature blend of simplicity and flair can be seen in the home’s flared roofs, glossy wooden interiors and suspended wraparound deck.

The home, which has traded hands several times since Reynolds sold it in the 1990s, is now back on the market asking $3.699 million with Jody Lovell of Highlands Sotheby’s International Realty.

Located on a 0.9-acre lot on King Gap Road, the three-bedroom home stands within the Nantahala National Forest at the far edge of a subdivision, giving it unobstructed views of the surrounding forests and the blue mountain skyline.

The house is designed to integrate into the surrounding nature. Photo courtesy of Highlands Sotheby’s International Realty

The home looks like a cross between a tree house and a yacht, with curved wood-clad ceilings, wood-panelled walls and floors, and wooden built-in furniture. The prevalent wood is balanced by large glass windows and stone walls, including a double-height stone monolith that centres the home.

The uniquely shaped home features a main level, an upper level and a lower level. The main level includes the common spaces, including a sunken living room with a half-circular couch facing the stone fireplace and a large, wood-framed window wall that slants over the garage.

The lower level includes a games room, office, wine cellar and an extra stone bathroom that Reynolds’ then-wife Lori Anderson built for the actor, according to Lovell. There is still an inscription on a painted wall in the “man cave” that Anderson wrote for him, signed in 1991.

The house was designed by modernist architect Jim Fox. Photo courtesy of Highlands Sotheby’s International Realty

In the early 2000s, the owners at the time hired the Highlands-based Fox to add an expansion, including a terrace with a stone fireplace, a plunge pool and waterfall. That’s in addition to a wraparound deck that extends from the main level as if suspended over the mountains, surrounded by minimalist green railings.

The sellers, who couldn’t be reached for comment, purchased the property in July 2024 for $2.975 million, above the asking price, and after only a few days on the market. Due to unforeseen health issues, they are looking to unload it sooner than expected, Lovell said.

Highlands, located in the southwest corner of North Carolina, is a popular vacation spot in the South because of its surrounding natural beauty and milder mountain climate. Since the pandemic, it has received a surge of interest from further afield.

“Deliverance” was filmed in Rabun County, Georgia, the pointed northeastern of the state, which juts into North Carolina and borders South Carolina.

At the northern tip of Point Piper, hidden from the street and positioned directly on Sydney Harbour, “Radford” combines cinematic views, rare waterfront access and a fascinating connection to one of Australia’s most storied estates.

The five-bedroom residence occupies land once belonging to Paradis Sur Mer, the celebrated three-block waterfront estate that made Australian property history in 1982. The original mansion became the country’s first home reported to have sold for more than $5 million—and may also have inspired one of its fastest and most profitable resales.

Property developer and yachtsman Bernard Lewis purchased the estate at auction for $5.25 million, only to sell it within hours to English betting magnate and thoroughbred breeder Robert Sangster. Lewis reportedly made a $500,000 profit in the process.

Sangster renamed the property Toison D’Or—French for “Golden Fleece” and the name of one of his racehorses—and established it as a Sydney base with his then-wife, Susan. The estate subsequently changed hands and identities again, becoming Paradis Sur Mer, or “Paradise on the Sea”, during Susan’s marriage to financier Sir Frank Renouf.

After another headline-making sale near the peak of Sydney’s late-1980s property boom, the original mansion was eventually demolished and the waterfront holding subdivided. “Radford” now stands on one of those prized parcels, carrying a thread of that extraordinary history into the present day.

Harbour views take centre stage

Designed by award-winning architect Victor Berk and constructed in the early 1990s, the three-level modernist residence has been planned around its exceptional position.

Panoramic views stretch from the Sydney Harbour Bridge across Shark Island and Rose Bay to Manly. A prized northerly aspect fills the home with natural light, while bedrooms and living spaces open to decks, balconies and terraces overlooking the water.

The main living areas flow to a broad alfresco entertaining terrace, sunny swimming pool and level harbourfront lawn. Beyond the garden, a private jetty completes the quintessential Sydney waterfront lifestyle.

Inside, generous proportions make the home equally suited to private family life and large-scale entertaining. The formal dining area can accommodate up to 14 guests, while a Gaggenau-appointed kitchen incorporates an island, walk-in pantry and casual breakfast area opening to the poolside deck.

A fireplace anchors the principal living space, complemented by high ceilings, travertine floors and expansive glazing that keeps the harbour present throughout the home.

A private sanctuary on every level

The main bedroom is accompanied by two walk-in wardrobes, a sitting area and an ensuite featuring a spa bath, separate shower and twin basins. Three further bedrooms each have an ensuite, while a gym with its own kitchenette, built-in storage and bathroom can serve as a fifth bedroom or private guest retreat.

Additional spaces include a fitted home office, an upper-level family area, sauna, two powder rooms and a substantial laundry. A lift connects all three levels, and the central staircase sits beneath an atrium-style glass roof fitted with an electric retractable blind.

Ducted and zoned air-conditioning, extensive storage and a security alarm add everyday practicality. Internal access leads to an oversized secure double garage, with additional driveway parking.

Set in an elite cul-de-sac on one of Australia’s most prestigious waterfront streets, “Radford” is close to Lady Martins Beach, Prince Edward Yacht Club, the Royal Motor Yacht Club, Rose Bay’s marinas and leading schools. Double Bay’s restaurants, boutiques and village amenities are only minutes away.

It is an exceptional harbourfront residence in its own right—but its connection to the record-breaking Paradis Sur Mer estate gives it a place within the wider story of Sydney real estate.

Property details

Address: Wolseley Road, Point Piper, NSW
Bedrooms: Five, including a flexible gym or guest suite
Bathrooms: Five, plus two powder rooms
Parking: Oversized double garage and additional driveway space
Key features: Northerly aspect, panoramic harbour views, private jetty, swimming pool, level waterfront lawn, lift, sauna, home office and Gaggenau kitchen
Architect: Victor Berk
Agents: Michael Pallier, Sydney Sotheby’s & Brad Pillinger, Pillinger

Treehouse-Like Home in the Blue Ridge Mountains Burt Reynolds Owned at His Peak Hits the Market

The 1970s modernist residence in Highlands, North Carolina, is asking $3.699 million.

Harbour views take centre stage

A private sanctuary on every level

Property details