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Historical Timeline

Inspired by the natural beauty of the Carolina Blue Ridge Mountains, James B. (Jim) Anthony had a vision for a world-class residential community. He envisioned a community that would preserve the magnificent natural surroundings and offer residents a unique lifestyle of wellness in body, mind and spirit.

1962
At age 19, Jim Anthony decided to buy into a tract of land with his uncle at $100/acre. This decision not only paid off — they quickly sold the same land for $600/acre — it eventually changed his life.

1983
After years of developing his real estate business on the side, at the age of 40, Anthony gave up over 20 years of job security as a telephone line repairman to devote himself to his dream of being a full-time developer.

1989
After seven long years of negotiating, bartering and occasionally begging the 70 families who lived on Glassy Mountain, Anthony at last acquired tracts of land totaling 3,500 acres.

1991
Jim Anthony announced The Cliffs at Glassy and sold the first land parcels. Glassy has since been recognized for its breathtaking beauty by both the Sierra Club and Audubon Society.

1993
The Cliffs at Glassy golf course designed by Tom Jackson — the only bent grass golf course from tees to greens in South Carolina — opens for play.

1994
The Cliffs Valley, the second Cliffs community, is announced. Bordered by thousands of acres of protected forest, Cliffs Valley is surrounded by 360 degrees of mountain splendor.

1995

- Golf Digest magazine names The Cliffs at Glassy golf course 4th most beautiful course in the country behind Pebble Beach, Cypress Point, and Augusta National
- The Cliffs Valley golf course, designed by Ben Wright, opens to national acclaim and is ranked among the nation's best new courses by Golf Digest
- Swim and Tennis Center open at The Cliffs at Glassy

1996

- Anthony purchases a 1400-acre parcel of land overlooking the waters of Lake Keowee in upstate South Carolina.
- The 22,000-square-foot Cliffs at Glassy clubhouse opens
- The Glassy Mountaintop Fire Station opens

1997
Bordered by over one million acres of protected wilderness and called one of the most pristine natural environments in the eastern United States, The Cliffs at Keowee Vineyards is announced. Over $20 million in real estate is sold in its first land offering.

1998
The Cliffs at Keowee Falls North, sister community to The Cliffs at Keowee Vineyards, is announced and development of Pinnacle Point, a Young Life camp for teens, begins.

1999

- The Cliffs at Keowee Vineyards golf course, designed by Tom Fazio, opens for play.
- The Cliffs is featured among the Top 50 in Luzury Golf Homes
- Development of The Marina at Keowee Vineyards begins
- The Lakehouse Restaurant at Keowee Vineyards opens
- The Club Cottage opens at The Cliffs at Keowee Vineyards
- The Chapel at The Cliffs at Glassy opens with an Easter sunrise service.
- Construction begins on Cliffs Valley clubhouse.

2000

- Golf Digest magazine names Keowee Vineyards' Fazio course 7th among the nation's "Best New Private Courses"
- The 28,000-square-foot Cliffs Valley clubhouse opens
- The private community marina at The Cliffs at Keowee Vineyards opens
- Cliffs Natural branded bottled spring water begins distribution, with all profits benefiting Pinnacle Point, a Young Life camp for teens.

2001

- Living Southern Style ranks The Cliffs Communities in the "Top 30 Communities in the South"
- The Cliffs acquires Walnut Cove Farm and announces The Cliffs at Walnut Cove, Asheville's only gated master-planned community
- Cliffs Valley and The Cliffs at Keowee Vineyards co-host the BMW Charity Pro-Am at The Cliffs, a PGA-sanctioned tournament.  The Cliffs continues to host this annual event to help raise money for local charities.
- Annexation of acreage on Panther Mountain Reserve (Cliffs Valley North) expands Cliffs Valley to 2,550 acres
- The Cliffs acquires nearby La Bastide French Country Inn and Restaurant and adjoining Crescent Mountain Vineyards
- The Cliffs begins 9/11 Memorial Service to honor fallen heroes

2002

- The Cliffs at Keowee Falls South is introduced
- The Cliffs purchases five international properties Cliffs International: three in Patagonia, Chile and two in British Columbia, Canada
- The Cliffs invests $1.25 million to renovate Glassy clubhouse and practice range
- The Ship Store, Boat Storage, Pool and Marina Pavilion open at The Cliffs at Keowee Vineyards
- The Cliffs' funding of Pinnacle Point, a Young Life camp for teens, reaches $5 million
- The Cliffs launches "Operation Santa" annual holiday gift drive for needy children

2003

- $5 million, 15,000-square-foot Valley Wellness Center opens
- The Barn, the Equestrian Center at The Cliffs at Keowee Vineyards, opens
- Groundbreaking on Townehomes at Walnut Cove
- La Bastide French Country Inn and Restaurant is voted "Best Bed & Breakfast in the Southeast" by Turner South Network's Blue Ribbon television show and is one of only three inns in South Carolina added to Conde Nast's Johansens Recommended Hotels, Inns, and Resorts
- The BMW Charity Pro-Am at The Cliffs, a PGA-sponsored event, raises funds in excess of $1.5 million to date for local charities
- The United Way of Greenville County recognizes The Cliffs with five awards for excellence in giving

2004

- The Cliffs announces 2003 sales, setting a record for the fourteenth consecutive year in Company's history
- Golfweek rates The Cliffs among America's Best Residential Golf Courses
- The Cliffs endows the development of ZestQuest a groundbreaking children's health initiative that earns endorsements from federal, state, and local leaders
- The Cliffs at Keowee Springs is announced in ground-floor property release, breaking all previous lake release sales records. 
- Groundbreaking for Community Concepts' Falls Creek custom homes within The Cliffs at Keowee Falls South
- Completion of remodeling and expansion of The Cliffs at Glassy Wellness Center
- The Cliffs partners with PinnacleCare to offer property owners unparalleled access to medical care advocacy and the nation's top physicians.

2005

- The Jack Nicklaus Signature Course at Walnut Cove opens to rave reviews following an inaugural round played by Jack Nicklaus and Kevin Costner.
- The Cliffs at Walnut Cove is the only course in the PGA TOUR’s history to open as part of a nationally-televised PGA event.
- The Cliffs at Walnut Cove plays host to The Cliffs Challenge, a made-for-television celebrity golf event aired on CBS.
- The Cliffs opens a 10,000-square-foot Wellness Center at The Cliffs at Keowee Vineyards.
- The Cliffs opens The Cliffs Organic Farm, providing fresh, organically grown produce for residents and for The Cliffs restaurants
- The Cliffs Valley Nature Center opens as the hub for Outdoor Wellness activities.

2006

- Development of The Cliffs at Mountain Park is announced.
- Amid much celebration, Gary Player announces he will move his home and his Gary Player Group headquarters to The Cliffs at Mountain Park.  Gary will also design a Signature golf course for Mountain Park, the seventh available to Cliffs’ members.  Mountain Park will encompass 5,000 lush acres that includes a Village Center, Village Inn, a Nature Center, Supertrail System, Botanical Gardens, Organic Farm, Wellness Center and 1,000 acres of private parks.
- A 20,000-square-foot Clubhouse at The Cliffs at Keowee Vineyards opens
- The Cliffs at Walnut Cove's Golf House awarded Best New Private Clubhouse by Golf, Inc.
- The Cliffs breaks ground for the Tom Fazio-designed golf course at The Cliffs at Keowee Springs
- Renovation complete on The Cliffs at Walnut Cove Nature Center, (temporarily housing The Wellness Center at Walnut Cove)

2007

- A 12,000-square-foot Tavern and Restaurant under construction at The Cliffs at Walnut Cove as a part of its vibrant Club Village
- The Jack Nicklaus Signature Golf Course at The Cliffs at Keowee Falls opens in May
- The Cliffs at Keowee Falls Clubhouse is under construction and will be perched atop the most dramatic point in the community, offering sweeping views of Falls Creek and no fewer than 10 golf holes
- The Cliffs announces that Tiger Woods will design his first golf course in the United States at The Cliffs at High Carolina, the eighth course available to Cliffs’ members