Uploaded August 2026 | Updated September 2026, 2 weeks ago
A locked and abandoned gate, long forgotten in McDowell County, is the subject of this week's Ask 13.
Here's what a viewer wrote: "What is behind the gate that is located along 221 North, not too far from Linville Caverns?"
News 13 found out the answer. It's located in Marion, and it was once the gate to Emerald Mountain Estates. A local realtor in that area, Tamara Fore with Key Realty, said it was to be developed as a high end community, but during the financial crisis of 2007, it went under.
She said some lots were sold, but one of the main investors on the project defaulted. So, the housing development never got off the ground.
Fore said that now the majority of the land is owned by the Barco family. She said they own most of the lots and bought the property as an investment.
She also said there's a possibility that the land could be developed in the future.
News 13 will work to provide updates on the property as information is available.
Have a question for Ask 13? Send an email to ask13@wlos.com.
#abandoned #housing #question
MORE: wlos.com/news/ask-13/ask-13-whats-behind-the-gate-along-us-221-north-near-linville-caverns-emerald-mountain-estates-property-abandoned-financial-crisis-2007-lots-sold-land-developed-future?teaserSource=trending
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Email us: news@wlos.com
Call the Newsroom: 828.684.1340
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WLOS ABC 13 News serves the Asheville, NC area and the rest of western North Carolina and Upstate South Carolina. We keep our audience informed through local news, weather forecasts, traffic updates, notices of community events, sports and entertainment programming since 1954.
This video and all Sinclair Broadcast Group content archives of local news and sports coverage are available for your use. For more information contact us at contentsales@sbgtv.com
A locked and abandoned gate, long forgotten in McDowell County, is the subject of this week's Ask 13.
Here's what a viewer wrote: "What is behind the gate that is located along 221 North, not too far from Linville Caverns?"
News 13 found out the answer. It's located in Marion, and it was once the gate to Emerald Mountain Estates. A local realtor in that area, Tamara Fore with Key Realty, said it was to be developed as a high end community, but during the financial crisis of 2007, it went under.
She said some lots were sold, but one of the main investors on the project defaulted. So, the housing development never got off the ground.
Fore said that now the majority of the land is owned by the Barco family. She said they own most of the lots and bought the property as an investment.
She also said there's a possibility that the land could be developed in the future.
News 13 will work to provide updates on the property as information is available.
Have a question for Ask 13? Send an email to ask13@wlos.com.
#abandoned #housing #question
MORE: wlos.com/news/ask-13/ask-13-whats-behind-the-gate-along-us-221-north-near-linville-caverns-emerald-mountain-estates-property-abandoned-financial-crisis-2007-lots-sold-land-developed-future?teaserSource=trending
_______________
Follow WLOS on social media:
WLOS ABC 13 News on Facebook: facebook.com/News13
WLOS ABC 13 News on X: https://x.com/WLOS_13
WLOS ABC 13 News on Instagram: instagram.com/wlos_13
Subscribe to WLOS on YouTube: youtube.com/user/ABC13Channel/?sub_confirmation=1
For all of the day’s top local and national news, visit wlos.com
Stream our newscasts LIVE: wlos.com/watch
Have a news tip? Send it directly to us:
Email us: news@wlos.com
Call the Newsroom: 828.684.1340
--
WLOS ABC 13 News serves the Asheville, NC area and the rest of western North Carolina and Upstate South Carolina. We keep our audience informed through local news, weather forecasts, traffic updates, notices of community events, sports and entertainment programming since 1954.
This video and all Sinclair Broadcast Group content archives of local news and sports coverage are available for your use. For more information contact us at contentsales@sbgtv.com
