October 13, 2026
AZ Thompson was a family man and a property developer. Those two roles crossed paths when he began purchasing hundreds of acres surrounding Cattail Lake in Clayton, NC, in the 1960s. Since then, the Raleigh suburb has grown rapidly. Fast forward about 60 years, and Cattail is transforming from a family homestead to a waterfront community near Raleigh, one where hundreds of families will enjoy the lifestyle that AZ would have embraced.
AZ was a property developer. He often took his grandson, Rob Bailey, on long drives to scout out land. But the acres surrounding Cattail Lake held a special place in his heart. And Rob’s as well.
Rob carries fond memories of spending time at Cattail, when it was just the woodlands wrapping the shoreline of the manmade lake. He and AZ sat on the shore and dropped a fishing line from their cane poles into the lake, and they spent hours sitting and talking under a big oak tree by the boat ramp.
Thompson family holidays meant gatherings at Cattail. Every Thanksgiving, generations of the Thompson family celebrated by bringing their feast to the property, as many as 50 people, sometimes more. There was an annual fish fry and pig roast, open to anyone who wanted to stop by, an event that attracted hundreds of people.
“My grandfather envisioned the Cattail property as a gathering place for the family and future generations,” Rob recalls. “He didn’t have aspirations beyond that.”
AZ passed away when Rob was in college, but his legacy held strong. Both AZ’s son, Norwood Thompson, and Rob carried on his love for land. Norwood was integral in the development of Portofino, one of the premiere master-planned communities in the region, which includes the acclaimed Portofino Equestrian Center. Working alongside Norwood for ten years, Rob continued learning key lessons about property development. His uncle, he says, didn’t hand out compliments freely though.
“In my life, Uncle Norwood probably gave me five compliments, and four of them were about my work on Cattail.”
Cattail in Clayton began as an idea, one that Rob Bailey decided to nurture. The idea turned into discussions. And the discussions turned into plans.
About 20 years ago, the family began talking about developing the land into something that more people could enjoy as they had for so long. Back then, Clayton was a tiny town; in 1970, the population was 3,103. The number has climbed steadily over the years and is currently hovering close to 34,000 residents, making it the fastest-growing town in North Carolina’s fastest-growing county, Johnston County. To put the growth in perspective, Raleigh had a population of 122,830 in 1970 and is now home to 514,500 people in 2026.
In 2007, Rob and his uncle discussed concepts. Norwood Thompson used his expertise to determine the land for the development, bringing the parcel to 575 acres. Eight years later, in 2015, they worked on the site plan for Cattail. The project was approved by the family in 2018.
While progress was somewhat halted during COVID, it never stopped. In 2023, R & R Development, the company owned by Rob and his business partner, Rich Van Tassel, purchased the acreage from the Thompson family trust. And Cattail moved from an idea to reality.
Before any homes could be built at Cattail, Rob and Rich focused on restoring key elements of the property: the dam and mill house. Both had been constructed almost a century earlier, and the years had clearly taken their toll on the structures.
Finding the right experts to undertake the challenge was a time-consuming endeavor. From seeking out dam restoration specialists to choosing a pond management company to stock the lake, Rob spent countless hours researching, learning, making contacts, and weaving through the options.
“There are a lot of moving parts in a project of this scope. We were extremely patient, learning how to do it right, and taking the time to find the qualified consultants and companies to do the work to our standards. It probably took longer to find the right consultant to help with the dam restoration than to actually restore it.”
The Cattail dam was constructed in the 1930s, a time when such projects were funded by the New Deal, which provided economic relief by creating jobs in the wake of the Great Depression. Rob did his homework and found a company that understood the intricacies of restoring a dam. The project required a flood and a hydrology study to ensure the restored dam could control flooding. They brought in a concrete specialist who took core samples of the existing dam and advised on what would be required. Rob learned about emergency spillways and flood control gates, which led him to a company in Spokane, WA, that had the expertise to build them.
“I want to be able to sleep at night when it’s raining,” says Rob about the importance of the dam’s stability. He adds, “I never thought in my professional career that I would have to figure out things like restoring a dam and learning how to stock a lake with the right fish.”
The dam restoration is now complete. Another critical centerpiece of Cattail is getting a comparable and much-needed makeover.
An old grist mill sits on the edge of Cattail Lake. The rickety structure had been unsafe for years, having been built by men who, according to Norwood, needed a place to distill corn mash, otherwise known as “moonshine”. Abandoned stills were found there, decades later.
“Just look underneath the building and you can tell by the way they stabilized it that they weren’t sober when they built it,” explains Norwood. He said that, way back, the building served as a clubhouse for the Cattail Hunt Club, a group of prominent men in the community.
In the 80s, AZ Thompson did the necessary work to make the mill house safe for his family to use, but didn’t invest in restoring it. As Rob, Rich, and Norwood examined that Cattail development, they knew that the mill house had the potential to be a centerpiece for the waterfront community near Raleigh if it were properly restored.
The mill’s two turbines generated hydropower, able to churn up to 1,000 gallons per minute. To generate even more power at the mill, Cattail Lake was expanded.
Although retired, Norwood has spearheaded the mill restoration, while Rob and Rich work on the residential development. The 4,000-square-foot building has been meticulously restructured. The deck was removed, replaced with more functional space that extends over the water, with windows to take full advantage of the view. Norwood hired a house moving company to jack up the mill houses so they could remove all the old, rotted timbers. The floor was rebuilt to commercial code requirements.
The old turbines have been preserved, although not functioning. The wood-burning stove has been replaced with a large fireplace. Authentic materials were sourced from mill houses in West Virginia, Louisiana, and Pennsylvania. Lumber was reclaimed from tobacco barns.
The reconstruction of the mill is expected to be completed next year, possibly sooner. While Norwood oversees this part of the Cattail development, Rob Bailey and Rich Van Tassel focus on the residential work that will transform Cattail from a family homestead to a waterfront community near Raleigh. Like everything else associated with their vision, this is no small undertaking.
Right from the start, Rob knew that he would strive for quality over quantity. With 575 acres, he could develop far more than the 296 homes planned for Cattail. He and the Thompson family worked together to identify priorities before the project moved forward. He soon discovered that their collective interests were aligned.
“The consistent message was to preserve the mill house and the lake, and to develop a waterfront community with low density.”
He says the plan has been a leap of faith, for both Rob and his family. And they’re all in.
“I think I would have regretted it if I hadn’t moved forward with Cattail.”
While working with the family dynamic can be a challenge, Rob had the full support of his uncle, who is well respected among the extended Thompson clan.
“I give a lot of credit to Uncle Norwood, His siblings trust him, so when he said, ‘Rob’s got this’, everyone was satisfied.”
AZ Thompson loved watching the sunset over Cattail Lake. Rob never took much notice until recent years, when he spent more time there. The breathtaking view brightens the sky every night. The brilliant spectacle can be experienced to its fullest from one end of the lake. And that’s where Rob made a key decision.
He saved prime real estate that afforded the view. Instead of selling it as a homesite, Rob chose to build the Cattail pavilion and pool, creating a centerpiece for all of Cattail’s residents and visitors. Whether your home sits on the waterfront or a short walk from the shore, sunsets can be one of the most enriching advantages of the Cattail lifestyle.
The open-air pavilion will serve at Cattail’s clubhouse. The attention to detail for this community amenity received the same attention and care as the restoration projects. Rob researched construction for the pavilion he had in mind and the right timber for the job. He wanted something that reflected the quality of the community, so Rob looked at old-school timber construction, with wood pegs, not bolts or brackets. Sitting on the best piece of Cattail real estate with a 180-degree view of the lake, the pavilion required distinctive planning and execution.
“We agreed that the neighborhood deserved more high-end construction throughout. The design and construction of the pavilion speaks to the integrity of the entire community.”
They settled on Carolina Timberworks to build the pavilion. The company is based in West Jefferson, NC, and specializes in building structures that “stir the soul and inspire joy.” He chose Douglas fir, sourcing the lumber in Oregon. Although more expensive, Rob is confident the investment is as solid as the wood itself.
Cattail’s first phase of 51 new homes for sale in Clayton, NC, is almost sold out. The first two enclaves, The Peninsula at Cattail and The Peninsula at Cattail, attracted buyers as soon as the project was announced. Lakefront property near Raleigh is extremely rare, and availability of large homesites boosts the appeal. Cattail’s homebuyers can choose from lots from half an acre to more than two acres, and then work with one of the four exclusive builders, Crosswind Custom Homes, Homes By Dickerson, New Home Inc., and Royalty Homes—to design and construct their new home at Cattail in Clayton, NC. Rich and Rob chose builders with Johnston County and Raleigh roots, businesses that are already invested in the region.
Clayton’s consistent growth contributes to the appeal of living at Cattail. As a hub for large corporations like Novo Nordisk and Grifols, the job market is thriving. The 540 extension under construction will make the commute from Clayton to Raleigh and the Research Triangle even easier. And UNC Health Johnston is significantly expanding its Clayton facility, creating more access to quality healthcare.
“Clayton is changing by the day,” Rob observes. “Yet, with all it offers, the town remains affordable.”
The second phase of Cattail has begun, with almost a dozen homes under construction. The pace is at least six months ahead of the schedule Rob and Rich anticipated. Next year, The Bluffs will begin on the opposite side of Cattail Lake, followed by The Overlook a year later.
Waterfront living in Clayton, NC, at Cattail is designed to blend modern comforts with tranquility. From experiencing the sunset over the lake to getting together with friends and family at the mill house, every aspect has been carefully planned. Rob Bailey, Rich Van Tassel, and Norwood Thompson have worked hard to make the living easy.
Is Cattail right for you? Plan to visit and see the transformation of a family homestead into a waterfront community near Raleigh. Take in the views, walk the homesites, tour the available homes for sale, and look at the plans for the homes, the enclaves, and the amenities. These new homes for sale near Raleigh won’t last. Start your journey by contacting a Cattail New Home Specialist.