Property From The Movies
America: You've seen the films, now buy on the set!
Back in 2004 when the Visit America Alliance met with representatives from the global advertising agency M&C Saatchi to brainstorm ideas for the development of a campaign to promote travel to the USA, there was no talk of the American economy heading for downturn, of US property prices dropping, the value of the dollar declining against the pound and certainly no discussion about the USA needing to diversify the economy and embrace tourism.
The sole focus of the collective group was simply to strike a chord particularly with the British public and entice them to come to America and visit locations they’d seen on the big screen but not yet experienced for themselves.
Following on from this 2004 conference and subsequent meetings to hone the idea for a massive advertising push, the ‘Discover America’ campaign was created and launched officially with a series of attractive television and print adverts summed up by the simple campaign line: ‘you’ve seen the films, now visit the set’.
Invoking in British consumers the feeling of wanting to visit America to really experience it, the ‘Discover America’ adverts cleverly and intricately combine beautiful shots of fabulous locations made famous by movies such as ‘Maid in Manhattan’ and ‘Sweet Home Alabama’, intertwined with the names of the movies and rousing music - and so far, against an uncertain economic backdrop in America, the campaign has unofficially been seen as integral to maintaining the USA’s popularity as a leading tourism destination with travellers from the UK and the rest of the world.
Confirming this at the February 2008 ‘Tourism Outlook Seminar’, the president of the World Travel and Tourism Council Jean-Claude Baumgarten forecast that America will in fact remain the largest travel and tourism market in the world. Therefore it is highly likely that the US can manage to maintain around $1.3 trillion of economic activity from travel and tourism, which is that which the Travel Industry Association of America notes the nation achieves on average annually.
So - if you’ve seen the adverts, you’re impressed by the pound’s buying power in America at the moment and you’re inspired and want to know more about attractive locations in the US that you can explore, look no further than this month’s Oscar’s ceremony for inspiration.
The Best Actor award was won by Daniel Day-Lewis for his role in ‘There Will be Blood’, and Day-Lewis is quite possibly most famous for his role in the film ‘The Last of the Mohicans’ this historical epic was visually one of the strongest movies to come out of Hollywood in the 1990’s, and almost the entire film was shot in the Blue Ridge Mountains in North Carolina.
The Blue Ridge Mountains are part of the famous Appalachian Range, and it’s thanks to the trees that cover the peaks that there is a really distinctive blue haze across the entire region from which this physiographic province gains its name. Reasons to visit the region are manifold for example, if you’re an outdoor pursuit enthusiast you can visit the national parks of the region that offer a range of outdoor adventures such as hiking and mountain biking, climbing, canoeing, fishing, swimming, camping and sightseeing.
Alternatively you can choose to get away from it all in the inimitably breathtaking scenic environment and enjoy some pampering, fine wining, dining and shopping. Or, according to John Prior, the Principal of Undiscovered Properties: ‘Those who want to take their American adventure one stage further may like to add to the ‘Discover America’ campaign line ‘you’ve seen the films, now visit the set’ after visiting the Blue Mountains; because the region is also home to some fabulous and well priced real estate, you might like to say – you’ve seen the films, you’ve visited the set and now you’re going to buy a home on the location of ‘Last of the Mohicans’!
Following on from John Prior’s suggestion, if you take a look at the property landscape in the region you will come across magnificent Lake Lure, which was dubbed one of the most beautiful man-made lakes in the world by National Geographic, and here you’ll find the private, exclusive and gated five-star community of Bill’s Mountain.
Where once British buyers might’ve thought they could never afford to buy into such well located and extreme luxury, the pound’s exceptionally strong buying power in America really does mean that you can see the film and go ahead and buy a piece of the set!
The Bill’s Mountain community in The Blue Ridge Mountains offers three and four bedroom lodges for sale from £272,000/$556,600 within a small village of residents who benefit from amazing amenities such as swimming pools, tennis courts, a clubhouse, fitness suite and of course unlimited access to the 720 acres of Lake Lure where you can fish, swim and relax in the great outdoors.
This region of America is quite simply stunning, it is also easily and more affordably accessible from the UK nowadays thanks to the strong pound and an international airport being just 90 minutes away… so if you would like more information about Bill’s Mountain you can contact Undiscovered Properties.
For more information please contact Undiscovered Properties on 0870 734 7968 or visit http://www.undiscoveredproperties.com/
