$75,000 for 5.7 Acres at the Base of a Mountain Across From Piney River — Appalachian Living at an Entry-Level Price
Five acres at the foot of a mountain, directly across the road from the Piney River, less than a mile from the Cumberland Trail, with a four-bedroom home that’s livable today and ready for whatever you want to make of it — all for $75,000 cash in Rhea County, Tennessee. With 393 Zillow saves in its first three weeks, the market is paying close attention.
The Location — The Whole Point
This property sits at the base of a mountain on Hard Rector Lane in Spring City, Tennessee, directly across the road from the Piney River. That’s not a figure of speech — the river is literally across the street. The Piney River feeds into Watts Bar Lake and is a well-known fishing and float corridor in the Tennessee Valley. Less than a mile from the front door, the Cumberland Trail — one of the longest scenic hiking trails in the eastern United States — provides direct access to ridge hiking, waterfall walks, and the kind of backcountry terrain that people drive hours to reach. Here, it’s a short walk away.
The Piney River picnic area is within easy walking distance, and the property sits at the base of terrain that defines what Appalachian living actually looks and feels like. For $75,000, this location is the story.
The Land
Five and seven-tenths acres on a rolling, wooded, steeply sloped lot that mirrors the mountain terrain behind it. The dimensions run approximately 100 feet wide and nearly 2,700 feet deep — a long, narrow parcel that follows the natural contour of the land and provides more privacy and depth than a typical square lot would at this acreage. No HOA, no zoning restrictions. A shed is on the property for storage.

The Home
Livable, Honest, and Priced to Reflect Reality
The 1976 doublewide sits at 1,440 square feet on a block foundation with a metal roof — the one structural detail that matters most on a rural home in Tennessee, and it’s already in place. Four bedrooms and one full bathroom are arranged on a single level, with a dining room, kitchen, laundry room, and a nice sunroom that adds flexible living space and connects the interior to the outdoor setting. All appliances are included — electric range, refrigerator, washer, dryer, and water heater.
The electrical power pole is only two years old and the breaker box has been updated — two practical improvements that are already done. The home is livable in its current state and is being sold as a fixer with potential for either a remodel or a total rebuild on an exceptional piece of land. Mineral rights do not convey. Shared driveway and shared well with the neighbor. Cash only.

The Area
Spring City sits in Rhea County in the eastern Tennessee Valley, a small riverside community at the edge of Watts Bar Lake and the surrounding ridge country. The town is walkable from the property — close enough for daily errands without sacrificing the mountain setting. Dayton is about 15 minutes away for a fuller range of services. Chattanooga is roughly an hour to the south for anything larger, and the broader Watts Bar Lake corridor offers boating, fishing, and recreation throughout the region.
The Bottom Line
Five acres at the base of a mountain across from the Piney River, less than a mile from the Cumberland Trail, with a four-bedroom home, metal roof, updated electrical, all appliances, and a sunroom — at $75,000 cash in Tennessee. Whether you use it as-is, remodel it, or rebuild entirely, the land and the location are the real asset here. Properties at this intersection of price and Appalachian setting don’t last.
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