The Preserve

aaaHarmony Hilltop is a thirty-one acre nature preserve located directly adjacent to the 3000+ acre Rendezvous Mountain State Educational Forest, five miles south of the Blu Ridge Parkway in NW Wilkes county, near Parsonsville, North Carolina. The state forest borders Harmony Hilltop to the north and east, providing direct access to a classic Appalachian Cove Forest habitat. The Preserve is further enhanced and protected by over 400 acres of privately owned land to its south and west, owned by conservation-minded friends and neighbors, forming a large conservation cooperative.

aaaAn intact ecosystem of this size provides for a plethora of wildlife to survive and to thrive. It is home to wild turkey, deer, bear, bobcat, lynx, and even the occasional mountain lion, all of which have been observed on Harmony Hilltop or in the surrounding forest! Frequent avian visitors include pileated woodpeckers, red-tailed hawks, Cooper's hawks, red-shouldered hawks, vultures, barred owls, whippoorwills, ruby-throated hummingbirds and ruffed grouse. Obviously it is a "Birder's Paradise!"

aaaHarmony Hilltop is also blessed with dark skies for the amateur astronomer. Elevation and good viewing conditions, along with low "light pollution," caused Appalachian State University to site their Deep Sky Observatory atop a nearby ridgetop. Harmony Hilltop's own observatory boasts a 10" Newtonian reflector telescope on a Dobsonian mount, ideal for deep-sky observations.

aaaGuided nature hikes into the forest, bird-watching trips, deep-sky astronomy, star parties, etc are all exciting possibilities!!!

The Memorial Orchard

aaaThe orchard at Harmony Hilltop was begun with a donation of three apple trees by my father, Milton L. Hallman, Jr. in 2004. Upon his untimely passing in March, 2006, friends and family donated pear trees in his memory, one of which blooms mid-March. It became "Milt's Pear" to all who visit........

aaa  The orchard has slowly evolved from there, adding cherry trees, Asian pear trees, Oriental persimmon trees, heartnut trees, and hazelnuts. Trees have since been planted to honor the memories of a beloved martial-arts master, several lifelong friends, and other dearly departed. Friends and family wishing to sponsor a tree commemorating the life of their loved one may contact us for further information. Harmony Hilltop is honored to be chosen the repository for so much LOVE.......