Growing Up

Angelo Accetturo was born in Livingston, NJ, December 23 1969, and was raised in Hollywood, FL. He dropped out of school in 9th grade, and built his first house when he was 18. It didn't take long to go from developing houses to high rises, to Golf Courses.

Astro Investment Group

Angelo Accetturo is Astro's founder and creative driving force. He has excelled in the construction and development industry for over 20 years, and has etched his unique style and mark onto virtually every type of building and community design.

A big reason for his success and status in the industry is his "hands-on" tradition. Angelo worked his way up; from construction worker and manager, through development acquisitions and financing, to corporate leader. He has learned every aspect of the industry from direct experience. Consequently, he has a better grasp of what it takes to get the big job done than most of his contemporaries.

Equally important is his almost intuitive understanding of what a market really wants and needs. That's why Astro is typically ahead of the curve in commercial and residential design-always anticipating and providing those extra features, amenities and services its customers are looking for, but often can't find elsewhere.

For example, within Banner Elk, NC alone, Angelo's company has created an infrastructure of complimentary community businesses to provide for almost every lifestyle need imaginable… including restaurants, a winery with villa, retail shopping, single family rentals, business offices, upscale condo living, and a luxury golf resort. Recent motel, restaurant, multi-family residential and professional office property developments in neighboring Newland bring an even greater positive impact for these High Country communities. Together, these provide a comprehensive profile of area-wide amenities and support structures for the economic, cultural and tourism benefit of Banner Elk and Avery County.

“In our developments and communities, we design everything as if I and my family were going to live and work there. From that vantage point, my inspiration is to deliver outstanding products with extraordinary features that deliver an exceptional return on investment. That same philosophy guides our core business mission and all of our property investments. But it doesn't stop there. We've developed a proprietary hospitality package called ORCHID ™ that offers Astro customers and property investors exclusive participation in a luxury amenities program unlike anything available. This is our way of building even greater value back into your relationship with our company.”

As President and CEO of Astro Investment Group, Angelo has taken his business from an aggressive construction operation in southeastern Florida to a cutting-edge, premium property acquisitions and development power throughout the Southeast and beyond. While building a strong management team of industry specialists, Angelo continues to bring an energetic, personal involvement to every project and every business venture under the Astro umbrella.

Projects and Developments

Wilderness Trail

Angelo's current development hidden away within North Carolina's Blue Ridge Mountains, outside the resort village of Banner Elk, is Wilderness Trail. Here you'll discover an exclusive 1,000 acre Fazio-Robbins golf community that rises to over 4,500 feet, offers breathtaking vistas across three states, and reminds you of your favorite National Park. Wilderness Trail masterfully blends the timeless splendor of the North Carolina Mountains with all the luxury amenities of modern living. Carefully crafted to work in harmony with Nature, Wilderness Trail is a member of the Audubon Silver Signature Program...the first and only community of its kind in Western North Carolina. Wilderness Trail is expected to be entirely completed ~2011.

Sorrentos Italian Bistro

Family owned and operated restaurant and have been for the past 21 years, Sorrentos is one of Angelo's holding. Well known for its authentic Italian food and wonderful service, Sorrentos is one of banner elks most popular restaurants.

Banner Elk Winery

Angelo also built and developed the Banner Elk Winery, Located in Banner Elk, NC. He is the Co-Owner with Dick Wolfe. In fall 2001, ASU created the Program for Applied Science and Research and located a small grant from the NC Department of Agriculture to set up a test vineyard in the High Country. Grapes from that test vineyard have now found a home at Banner Elk winery.

In fall 2002, Wolfe moved his attention from ASU to Lees-McRae. While working in the mountains of Banner Elk, he met a man who would show him his future—Angelo Accetturo. Accetturo owned a blueberry farm on the edge of town—on Gualtney Road off Highway 194—and was interested in making the plot a winery with the help of Wolfe. It was a rare find. Legend has it that the blueberry farm in question was the site of the last elk killed in the High Country. Originally, the Banner Family owned the property, thus the incident gained the name “Banner’s Elk,” reportedly where the origin of the town’s name.

Accetturo and Wolfe became equal partners. Three years and $3 million later, the High Country has its own winery. Wolfe and his wife De De Walton manage the property that includes a vineyard, winery and eight-bedroom villa.

External links

Astro Investment Group Homepage

Wilderness Trail Golf Community

Banner Elk Winer High County Press Article