Rarity Bay

Rarity Bay is an award-winning gated lakefront community set on a 960-acre peninsula jutting into Tellico Lake, with ten miles of shoreline, panoramic Smoky Mountain views, and a French Country architectural theme that runs through every home, villa, and condo. Development began in 1994 with a master plan for roughly 1,600 homesites; approximately 900 homes are built today, with new custom construction still underway on lakefront, golf-front, and wooded lots. The community welcomes homebuyers of all ages but has become a magnet for active-adult buyers and retirees drawn to East Tennessee's mild four-season climate, no state income tax, and low cost of living. The centerpiece is the Rarity Bay Golf & Country Club, built around a par-72, 18-hole championship course designed by D.J. DeVictor and Peter Langham. The course spans 150 acres of rolling terrain with lake and mountain views, and includes a driving range, extensive putting green, practice bunkers, and a pro shop. Adjoining the course is an 11,000-square-foot stacked stone clubhouse with the Bay Bistro restaurant, a full-service bar, casual and fine dining, private meeting rooms, and an outdoor patio. The Country Club is optional — residents pay only the base community HOA unless they choose to add a Social or Golf membership, which unlocks the clubhouse, fitness center, pool, tennis, and pickleball courts. Outside of golf, Rarity Bay has one of the most complete amenity packages of any lake community in the region. The equestrian center offers boarding, a training facility, and roughly 10 miles of riding trails that connect to 125 acres of hiking trails, including the Turnstone and Bluffs trailheads and a short detour to a Civil War-era cemetery. Waterfront life revolves around community boat docks, deeded boat slips on many lots, paddleboard and kayak launches, and the Bay Armada / Rarity Bay Yacht Club, which runs cruises and social events throughout the year. Tellico Lake itself is a 15,650-acre TVA reservoir known for clean, deep water and strong bass fishing, with sailing, water skiing, and pontoon cruising all popular. Housing falls into four main categories. Condos along the 18th fairway run roughly 1,200–1,600 square feet with one to three bedrooms and an included garage space; HOA dues on these are higher because they bundle water, sewer, trash, and exterior maintenance. Bay View villas range from 2,400–3,000 square feet with three bedrooms, private dock rights, and screened porches. Bay Pointe sits on a private reserve near the tip of the peninsula with estate and grand villa floor plans from 1,800–2,650 square feet. Custom estate homes line the lakefront and golf course, with a design review committee ensuring new builds fit the French Country aesthetic. AR Homes – The Ernst Group is one of the active builders in the community, and buyers can also bring their own builders onto lots with no build-by deadline. Social life is run out of the Activity Center, which is open to all residents regardless of club membership, and is supported by a full-time activities director and more than 50 clubs and organizations — bocce, bowling, bridge, bunco, art, book, bible study, cycling, hiking, poker, choir, and service groups including American Legion, Lions Club, Knights of Columbus, and Rotary International. The community dog park, Rusty's Place, and the resident community garden round out the day-to-day amenities. Vonore itself is a small, quiet town in Monroe County; residents drive about 30 minutes to Turkey Creek in west Knoxville for major shopping, 45 minutes to downtown Knoxville, McGhee Tyson Airport, and the University of Tennessee, and roughly an hour south to Chattanooga or east into the Great Smoky Mountains.