You'll notice something right away that sets Bear Creek at Linville, right in step with nature. All of the streets have been named for the animals that reside in the North Carolina mountains. Beautifully designed sand-blasted street signs have been created by Linville area artist Keith Hartzell, and in the landscape and boulders above the signs, you will see life size bronzes of that animal, created by Colorado artist Stephen C. LeBlanc. He was recently asked:

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What inspires your work? The Bible. I am a very religious person. I also like the silence in nature. Being out in the field inspires me. I understand that many artists don’t have the funds to go to Africa every year. But when a lion is lying around in a zoo, I’m sorry, that’s not what lions look like in the wild. People that really know animals always say to me, “You’ve been there, haven’t you.”

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We hope you enjoy his work at Bear Creek!