2025 Visit Highlands NC Experience Guide

BRIDAL VEIL FALLS

Now: 2024, Tiho Trichkov

Then: 1929, George Masa

2025 HIGHLANDS EXPERIENCE GUIDE

A publication of the Highlands Chamber of Commerce/Visit Highlands, NC

PUBLISHER

Kaye McHan

Executive Director

EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

Johanna Fein

Marketing & Communications Director

ART DIRECTOR

Ansley Tolleson

GRAPHIC DESIGNER

Jillian Nickell

CONTRIBUTING WRITERS

Johanna Fein

Tracy Foor

Winter Gary

Lindsay Garner Hostetler

Marlene Osteen

Randolph P. Shaffner

CONTENT CURATORS

Jane Ford Clark

Anna Dayton

Johanna Fein

CONTENT CURATORS CONT'D

Kaye McHan

Amy Ramey

Tina Rogers

CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHERS

Brock Fenton

Sherri Fenton

Molly Harris

Chip Henderson

Colleen Kerrigan

Dylan Lytle

Greg Newington

Brian O’Shea

Cookie Patterson

Susan Renfro

Cynthia Strain

Tiho Trichkov

ADVERTISING

Jane Ford Clark

CIRCULATION

Amy Ramey

Special thanks to the Highlands Historical Society for their contribution of historical information and images.

Copyright © 2025. All rights reserved.No portion of this magazine may be reprinted without prior consent of the publisher.

Highlands Experience Guide has made every effort to ensure information is accurate and assumes no liability for errors or omissions. The views and opinions that appear in this publication are not necessarily those of the staff or organizations.

Highlands Experience Guide is owned and published once each year by Highlands Chamber of Commerce/Visit Highlands, NC, 108 Main Street/ P.O. Box 62, Highlands, NC 28741. 828-526-5841. Periodical postage paid at Asheville, NC and additional mailing offices. Please send address changes to Highlands Experience Guide, P.O. Box 62, Highlands, NC 28741.

To request additional issues: welcome@highlandschamber.org or 828-526-2112

To advertise in future issues: businessservices@highlandschamber.org or 828-526-5841 @VisitHighlandsNC @visithighlandsnc @VisitHighlandsNC highlandschamber.org

KEEP NORTH CAROLINA CLEAN AND GREEN. Please recycle this magazine.

A MESSAGE FROM THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

Highlands has long been a haven for those seeking beauty, peace, and renewal. Since its founding in 1875 by Samuel Kelsey and Clinton Hutchinson, our mountain town has provided a tranquil retreat for those wanting to escape the hustle and bustle of everyday life. The Highlands of today remains a place where both residents and visitors can find refuge from a fast-paced world, and that sense of peacefulness is rooted in our unique local culture and rich history.

The landscape around us is as much a part of our cultural identity as the traditions and values we hold dear. The Highlands Plateau, with its stunning waterfalls, ancient forests, and cool mountain air, offers a reminder of the simple joys in life—nature, stillness, and connection. This natural beauty is the backdrop to our community’s way of life and has been a source of inspiration and respite for generations. It is why many people come to Highlands, and why they keep returning. Preserving this landscape is not just about environmental conservation; it is about protecting the heart and soul of Highlands.

Our history tells the story of settlers and visionaries who shaped the community we know today. Whether it’s the cultural contributions of our earliest residents, the legacy of craftsmanship passed down through generations, or the timeless architecture that dots our landscape, Highlands has always been a place of creativity, resilience, and heritage. Our history gives us a sense of continuity and belonging, even as the world changes around us.

Today, we are deeply committed to ensuring that our town remains true to its roots. Highlands was envisioned as a retreat—a place where individuals could recharge in nature, surrounded by quiet beauty and strong community. While we embrace progress and growth, it is critical that these align with the original vision of Highlands.

However, this preservation does not happen by chance. It requires a deliberate effort from our local officials, businesses, and residents. We work closely with all involved to ensure that economic growth supports and enhances the preservation of our unique local culture. We strive to balance welcoming new visitors and residents while ensuring they understand the importance of maintaining the integrity of Highlands' heritage and the natural environment.

The Highlands Chamber of Commerce continues to champion sustainable tourism initiatives, support local businesses that reflect the spirit of our community, and foster educational programs that celebrate our history. By doing so, we are actively working to preserve the cultural landscape that makes Highlands so special.

In the end, the preservation of Highlands is not only about safeguarding the past—it’s about ensuring a future where Highlands remains a peaceful, revitalizing escape for all. We invite everyone to experience the timeless charm of our town and to join us in protecting and celebrating the unique culture and history that have made Highlands such an extraordinary place for the last 150 years.

Kaye McHan Executive Director

Highlands Chamber of Commerce/Visit Highlands, NC

Experience Expertise Authenticity

Things to Do

TIMELINE HIGHLANDS HISTORY

Joseph Dobson bought the land on which Highlands would exist for 10 cents an acre.

The “deep snow” provides ice cream for the summer.

The Kelsey Trail is completed to Whiteside Mountain and today’s Harris Lake is created.

On March 6 Kelsey and Hutchinson bought 830 acres on the Sugartown Highlands from William Dobson for $2 an acre.

A curfew is enforced on “any cattle, horses, mules or other animals, with or without bells” that run at large on the streets during the night.

The Highlands Improvement Society buys the top of Satulah Mountain to become the first Land Trust in North Carolina.

The Moccasin War is fought on Main Street and H.M. Bascom is elected mayor by one vote. Stewart’s Pond (Mirror Lake) is created.

Mary Lapham founds the Highlands Tuberculosis Sanatorium (Bug Hill) to help alleviate the global epidemic.

Rock is dedicated to the town.

Sunset

The circus (Mighty Haag Show) comes to town.

The road to Franklin is completed.

The Highlands Biological Station opens.

Highlands Community Hospital opens.

The Highlands Playhouse, North Carolina’s oldest continuously operating professional theatre company, changes its name to Mountain Theatre Company.

The Bascom Fine Arts Center debuts in its new expanded location.

The Highlands Performing Arts Center and Historical Society were formed.

The Chamber of Commerce is formed to support growing businesses.

The Greenways Committee (Highlands Plateau Greenway) is created.

The inaugural Christmas Parade makes it debut.

Kelsey Hutchinson Founders Park opens as a town center for recreation.

THE FOUNDING FATHERS OF HIGHLANDS

It is often said that the Town of Highlands was founded by two men - Samuel Truman Kelsey and Clinton Carter “C.C.” Hutchinson - in 1875. History would argue that four men bear primary responsibility for the founding as Kelsey and Hutchinson would never have had the knowledge or opportunity without the efforts of two others - William Dobson and Silas McDowell.

William Dobson had inherited over one thousand acres of land on the Highlands Plateau from his father who had acquired the land through state land grants. The land included 839 acres that make up most of the town limits of Highlands today. Dobson used the heavily forested land to run sheep and cattle and had cleared small tracts to plant apple orchards. The only residents within the current town limits were Hugh and Mary Ann Gibson, caretakers for Dobson, who lived in a rough-hewn log cabin near Main and First Street today.

Silas McDowell was a self-taught geologist, zoologist and botanist who lived down the mountain in Sugartown, an old Cherokee village near the current Cullasaja Community just east of Franklin. For years, McDowell had been writing of the “Sugartown Highlands” near the headwaters

of the Surgartown River, which is today’s Cullasaja River. In various horticultural publications and the Smithsonian Reports of 1856, McDowell was the first to describe “a vast green ribbon” running through what he termed the “thermal belt” in which early frosts failed to affect the mountainsides between certain elevations throughout western North Carolina.

For over thirty years, McDowell sought to promote Sugartown Highlands as both an agricultural wonder and a health resort due to its unique climate. McDowell’s writings attracted the interest of famous botanists like Dr. Moses Ashley Curtis and Asa Gray, who in turn, further added to the promotion of Highlands as an area rich and diverse in botanical offerings.

ABOVE - HUTCHINSON

Hutchinson and Kelsey had both been born in the east, lived in Illinois for a time, and ended up in Kansas by the mid-1860’s. Hutchinson was a cartographer, businessman and politician. Kelsey was an agriculturalist who specialized in the cultivation of fruit trees. The two met at Ottawa University in Kansas, which had been established by Hutchinson, when Kelsey was hired to plant over 15,000 trees on the campus property.

Hutchinson was the first to be attracted to the environment described by McDowell due to health problems which he ascribed to poor climate and he traveled to the area to witness the conditions firsthand. Making the decision to move his family to the mountains of North Carolina, Hutchinson enlisted Kelsey to join him. On March 6, 1875, the two were joined by a local guide, Charlie Jenks, atop the summit of Satulah Mountain where they laid out a crude survey of the town that would become Highlands. The compass that they used that day remains in the archives of the Historical Society.

Kelsey and Hutchinson began negotiating with William Dobson and, on March 26th, they purchased the 839 acres of land for the price of $2 an acre. For the first year, the two men lived in the cabin previously occupied by the Gibsons as they fenced acreage for pasture and planted some of the few acres that were cleared. They did not begin laying out the streets until 1876 when Main Street, Laurel Avenue and sites for churches and a town hall were located.

The task of developing and promoting the town fell to Kelsey. Hutchinson left town for good in 1878, having spent less than a year total in the area. On the other hand, Kelsey worked diligently to promote the town, declaring in pamphlets that “there is no better place in the world for health, comfort and enjoyment” and, in a later pamphlet published in 1887, that Highlands is “the Greatest HEALTH and PLEASURE RESORT in the United States.”

Kelsey lived in Highlands until 1890 when, discouraged by the lack of growth, he left for the new town of Linville at the base of Grandfather Mountain. Less than ten years later, Highlands had more than doubled in population with an influx of summer residents and the trend of enjoying Highlands as an escape from the heat of summer began.

Today, the Town of Highlands looks far different than it did at the time of its founding. Businesses and residences have been built and torn down. However - thanks to the vision and efforts of these four “Founding Fathers” - Highlands remains a place of cool beauty and tranquility for generations of people who have enjoyed a respite from the busyness of life down the mountain.

KELSEY

Museum Hours of Operation

The Museum opens for the season on Thursday, May 22nd and will remain open thru October for these weekly hours:

Thursday: 10:00 - 4:00

Friday: 10:00 - 4:00

Saturday: 10:00 - 4:00

Sunday: 1:00 - 4:00

Visit highlandshistory.com or contact hhs@highlandshistory.com for information.

524 N. 4th Street, Highlands 828-787-1050 “Where History Lives in Highlands”

X MARKS THE SPOT

An often told legend of the founding of Highlands states that Samuel Kelsey and C.C. Hutchinson took a map of the United States and drew two lines connecting great trade centers. The first line connected Chicago and Savannah. The second connected New York and New Orleans. Where these two trade routes crossed, they argued, would one day be a population center worthy of their investment.

Though the veracity of the legend is doubtful, the Highlands Plateau is, in fact, very near where the imagined lines cross.

As savvy businessmen, it is hard to envision that the two would use such a whimsical approach to make a life altering decision.

It is much more likely that the two entrepreneurs were looking for a climate that would suit their agricultural and health needs and in the writings of Silas McDowell, they were alerted to the fact that Highlands was just the place.

As McDowell later wrote, “For thirty years I have been trying to call attention to these Highlands. I have described these bold surroundings as having no peer in the Southern States . . . I have piped and piped, but could get no one to dance, until now! But now, and for all time after this, the Sugartown Highlands will be as a ‘city on a hill,’ and no longer hidden from the world.”

[Source: Randolph P. Shaffner, Heart of the Blue Ridge: Highlands, North Carolina, 2001]

Heritage Trail

The town of Highlands, in the heart of the Blue Ridge Mountains, is unique among the communities of Western North Carolina. It’s chief claim to fame, bolstered by commercial, sociological, and historical advantages, is aesthetic. It is still a small village nestled in an ocean of mountain peaks blanketed with forests as far as the eye can see.

Highlands was founded in 1875 as a health and leisure resort, due to its natural beauty and healthful climate. Over the years Highlands has attracted strong, caring citizens from every state. As a result, it is too cosmopolitan to be provincial, too broadly based to be singular in attitude and perspective, too enamoured of its natural surroundings to be indifferent to them, and just isolated enough and small enough to be anxious about the benefits and setbacks of growth and development. We treasure our history and culture. Get a glimpse of historical sites and buildings on a walking tour within the business district. To obtain a full guide and map stop by the Welcome Center at 108 Main Street or go to visithighlandsnc.com.

Partridge-Rice Home (1883)

Boynton-Norton Home (1881)

Hick’s Building (1927)

Rice and Thompson Building (1928)

Potts Livery Stable and Grocery (1902, 1926)

Cleveland’s Grocery Site (1885, 1920)

Bascom-Marett Store Site (1883)

First School Site (1918)

Second School Site (1918)

Old Hudson Library Building (1915)

House-Trapier-Wright (Prince) House (1877)

Bug Hill (1908-1918)

Anderson-Sullivan Home Site (1906)

Zoellner’s Garage (1878)

Bascom’s original store (1883)

Dr. O’Farrell’s Drug Store (1882)

Highlands House-Highlands Inn (1880)

Grey Cottage (1883)

Episcopal Church of the Incarnation (1896)

Hutchinson-Frost-Hall-Farnsworth Home (1878)

Reinke Home (1934)

Kelsey-Harbison-Harris Home Site (1875)

Kelsey Memorial (1929)

First Presbyterian Church (1885)

Central House (1878)

Rock Store (1889)

Post Office-Telephone Exchange (ca. 1923)

Davis House-Lee’s Inn Site (1889)

Islington House-King’s Inn Site (1883)

Pierson Inn Site (1899)

Satulah Mountain District

Kibbee-Hines Cottage (1878)

Selleck-Hill-McCall Home (1879)

Anderson Dime and Drug Stores (1924)

Highlands Bank-Gem Shop (1923)

Bill’s Soda Shop (1883)

Dimick’s Cheap Cash Store Site (1878)

William B. Cleaveland Home (1888)

Arthur Home Site and Park (1979)

T. Baxter White House (1875)

Highlands Methodist Church (1909)

Masonic Hall (1893)

Marett General Store (1920)

Root’s Gift Shop and Tea Room Site (ca. 1926)

Helen’s Barn (1935)

Salt Rock

Old Log law House Site

Dobson-Stewart-Memminger-Raoul Home (1879)

Marchant-Parker-Davis-Patterson House (1879, 1926)

Methodist-Baptist Church (1885, 1940)

Hunt-Esty Cottage Site (1883)

Playhouse Theater Company

Highlands has long been a haven for the performing arts, with theatre a celebrated aspect of the town’s culture. Mountain Theatre Company, Highlands professional regional theatre, is one of North Carolina’s oldest theatre companies. It is the legacy of early Highlands visionaries who sought to bring the art of theatre to a small mountain town during the height of The Great Depression.

The origins of Mountain Theatre Company began at The Highlands Playhouse, which was initially built as the auditorium for the Highlands School in 1931. The building still stands on Oak Street, and while performances no longer take place on the historic stage, the hallowed building has tales to tell of the town’s early artistic dreamers.

In the mid-1930s, Jack and Virginia “Ted” Wilcox helped to create the first organized troupe of actors in Highlands. They began using the Highlands School auditorium for summer theatre performances while school was out of session. Their first production was the hit Broadway comedy Dulcy, Pulitzer Prize-winning playwright George S.

Kaufman’s first successful play and his first with frequent collaborator Marc Connelly. Reserved seats for Dulcy cost 50 cents, bleacher seats were 35 cents, and it was a sold-out house. The excitement of live theatre had arrived in Highlands and would grow through the remainder of the century and into the town’s present history.

This troupe of players, led by Jack and Ted Wilcox, formally organized as the Highlands Little Theatre in 1938. By 1949 they had become a staple of summer entertainment in town, and they renamed themselves the Highlands Community Theatre. Tickets were sold at the Wit’s End shop on Main Street, and auditions were held at Helen’s Barn. Plays featured

a combination of professional and armature actors. They gained audiences not only in Highlands but in other nearby towns such as Brevard where they would travel to perform. When the Highlands School moved to its present location in 1952, the Town of Highlands acquired the school’s original auditorium building, and the Highlands Community Theatre gained a permanent home, with schedules no longer dictated by school calendars. Over the decades, this dedicated troupe of players put on important works by nationally significant playwrights.

In 1972, the theatre company became a nonprofit organization, further establishing their permanence as a leading arts institution in Highlands. As

the organization grew over the next several decades, so did the number of shows produced, along with the number of talented actors, designers, and technicians needed for each season. In the early 1980s, Highlands Community Theatre, Inc. started hiring professional actors, directors, and technicians to share their talents. No longer a community theatre, the identity of the theatre company became that of the building it had occupied for nearly 50 years, The Highlands Playhouse. They specialized in presenting summer stock musicals.

Actors who tread the boards on the Playhouse stage went on to serve full and distinguished careers in the performing arts in theaters across the country and on Broadway. Collin Wilcox, the daughter of Jack and Ted Wilcox, studied at The Actors Studio in New York City. Over the course of her career, she worked with Tallulah Bankhead, Geraldine Paige, and Tennessee Williams. Her most notable role came in 1961, as Mayella in the Academy Award-winning film adaptation of To Kill a Mockingbird.

Highlands has come a long way from the Wilcox family’s dream of bringing quality theatre to the small town of Highlands nearly a century ago. There were challenges and tribulations along the way. World War II stopped all productions from 1942 - 1946. A downturn in the mid-1960s threatened to close the theater’s doors, with no performances at all

produced in 1966. In 2019, a fire almost destroyed the historic playhouse building. And when the theater was shuttered in 2020 during the pandemic shutdown, there was real possibility that the company would not return. With a concerted effort to rise like a phoenix from the ashes, The Highlands Playhouse entered a new chapter. They officially rebranded in 2022, changing their name to Mountain Theatre Company. No longer a summer stock theatre, they are now a professional regional theatre, offering a full season of Broadwayquality musicals throughout the year.

In 2023, Mountain Theatre Company became the resident professional theatre company at the Highlands Performing Arts Center, where they perform on a new state-of-the-art stage. The history and legacy earned for over 85 years on the Highlands Playhouse stage has traveled with Mountain Theatre Company to their new home, and the future of performing arts in Highlands seems brighter now than ever before. The original players of the Highlands Little Theatre, envisioning a big dream for a small town, would be proud indeed.

Helen's Barn

For a half-century, Helen’s Barn was the place where the best of Highlands’ life transpired. Paradoxically, the origins of this iconic gathering place are intertwined with what historian Ran Shaffner describes as the “most famous near tragedy in Highlands’ history.”

The story begins in 1911 when Charlie Wright historically rescued a “slightly tipsy” Guy Baty from a fall off Whiteside Mountain. After his death in 1927 this act of heroism earned Charlie posthumous recognition with the award of the Carnegie Medal. Left to navigate an uncertain future

with five young children, Helen Wright, Charlie’s widow, found an opportunity in the $2,000 granted by the Carnegie Institute to purchase a four-acre plot in the heart of Highlands at 1st and Main Streets. It was there she built the square dance hall that would become the center of social life in Highlands for

the next two generations.

When the doors of Helen’s Barn first opened on May 14, 1932, the town was invited to dance, laugh, and forget their troubles. Wright’s granddaughter, Helen Hedden recalls that “She started it as a place for people to come together and

ing local preachers. In 1934, the barn was suspiciously burned to the ground and the community was shook by the loss. Arson was suspected. Harry Wright said a kerosene can was found, but no one was ever arrested. Exhibiting the same unbreakable resolve, Helen rebuilt the barn that same year.

For the next 50 years, Helen’s Barn was more than a building. Known as “The Great Equalizer”, it didn’t matter if you were wealthy or working-class – inside Helen’s Barn, everyone was equal. This dance hall was a place where everyone - from summer visitors to local families met up. It was a place where local girls danced with rich men, and where rich girls found themselves twirling in the arms of local boys. Indeed, the barn’s wooden floors bore witness to countless love stories as couples met and fell in love while dancing to the infectious tunes of bluegrass and mountain music.

The barn was also a stage where young musicians learned by watching the masters, where local exhibition teams performed and where the community congregated for everything from roller skating to auctions, plays and craft shows.

After Helen died in 1959, her children continued to manage the barn. In 1960 the barn was expanded to include seating for close to 200 spectators, and added in the front were a horseshoe pitching court, a nine-hole

Hi-Ho Chip-‘n-Putt par-3 golf course. In 1982, Helen’s Barn then managed by Maxie Wright Duke, celebrated its 50th birthday. Kate Gilson marked the occasion with a poignant ballad, of which one stanza read,

“Fifty years of Saturday night digging shins with joy

As many a man danced away there from being a boy

Helen’s young ‘uns were schooled, fed and kept warm

With money she earned at her old red barn”

It must have been a sad day when Helen’s son, Harry Wright sold the barn along with its memories in May 1984. The barn itself is now a restaurant though the legacy of its past is etched into the scars and dents of its floorboards. Over the course of its 50-year history, Helen’s Barn had become a beloved town tradition that is missed and remembered to this day.

The Arts

VISUAL ARTS

The Bascom: A Center for the Visual Arts creates experiences that inspire and empower individuals and communities through seeing, thinking, and doing. Located on the pastoral lands of a former horse farm, The Bascom offers a wide variety of classes, workshops, lectures, and seminars for seasoned and budding artists.

The Bascom: A Center for the Visual Arts

323 Franklin Road, Highlands thebascom.org 828-526-4949

CREATIVE MAKERS & GALLERIES

Art Highlands Gallery

521 N. Fourth Street, Highlands arthighlands.com 828-482-4945

Art League of Highlands-Cashiers P.O. Box 2133, Highlands artleaguehighlands-cashiers.com 828-421-1466

We invite you to visit our quaint downtown to see for yourself why Highlands draws makers to the mountains for inspiration.

Bijou "little jewel" of Highlands 125 S. Fourth Street, Highlands Bijoujeweler.com 828-787-8032

Corey James Gallery

228 S. Third Street, Highlands 828-526-4818

Highlands Fine Art and Estate Jewelry

388 Main Street, Highlands highlandsfineart.com 828-526-0656

HOP Gallery

353 Main Street, Highlands houseofpicsnc.com 828-200-0618

Jannie Bean Fine Custom Jewelry

152 S. Second Street, Highlands janniebeandesigns.com 828-526-5858

Jeanie Edwards Fine Art 223 S. Fourth Street, Highlands jedwardsfineart.com 828-526-2933

Silver Eagle Gallery

349 Main Street, Highlands silvereaglegallery.com 828-526-5190

T.A. Anderson Goldsmith 187 Main Street, Highlands taagold.com 828-526-4177

The Highlands Gem Shop 201 S. Fourth Street, Highlands highlandsgemshop.com 828-526-2767

ARTS & CRAFTS

For nearly two decades the Mountain Top Rotary Club has sponsored the Highlands Mountaintop Art and Craft Show (highlandsartshow.com) to highlight the work of regional artisans. The proceeds from the two days of art, folk art, crafts, rustic furniture, demonstrations, live music, food, and fun go to charitable causes within the community.

PERFORMING ARTS

We are fortunate to have two venues for performing arts in our area.

The Highlands Performing Arts Center (HPAC) offers an array of programs throughout the year on two stages. The HPAC’s concert series features nationally recognized singers and bands of all varieties. The HPAC is also home to resident performing arts companies including Mountain Theatre Company, the Highlands-Cashiers Chamber Music Festival and The Highlands-Cashiers Community Players.

Screenings of live performances of the Metropolitan Opera and Britain’s National Theatre are shown at the HPAC on the Martin-Lipscomb Stage.

The Highlands Plateau nurtures a long-standing love of

the creative spirit. Artists of every genre have homes in the Highlands and the surrounding mountains. The result is a profusion of creativity in the lifestyle that can be found in local shops, galleries, theaters, festivals, and outdoor concerts.

The Highlands Performing Arts Center (HPAC)

507 Chestnut Street, Highlands highlandsperformingarts.com 828-526-9047

The nearby Smoky Mountain Center for Performing Arts in Franklin offers year-round entertainment including plays and musical productions, dance and choral festivals, lectures, recitals, special events, movies, and award-winning touring concerts.

Smoky Mountain Center for the Performing Arts

1028 Georgia Road, Franklin smokymountainarts.com 828-524-1598

THEATRE

With a rich history of storytelling as a favorite way to pass time on the mountain, Highlands offers two groups to entertain and provide you with an intimate experience that brings a story to life right before your eyes.

Mountain Theatre Company, Western North Carolina’s premier professional theatre company, can be found right here in Highlands. They produce Broadway-style musical productions in their Mainstage Season which runs from June through December.

Mountain Theatre Company

507 Chestnut Street, Highlands mountaintheatre.com 828-526-2695

Highlands-Cashiers Community Players is powered by the local dramatic community with an all volunteer troupe who perform dramas, raucous comedies, and musical revues.

Highlands-Cashiers Community Players

507 Chestnut Street, Highlands highlandsperformingarts.com 828-526-8084

MUSIC

The same magic that has drawn artists to Highlands since its inception has worked upon musicians as well. Various businesses around town are known for their musical guests, and their work resonates in hearts and minds long after the venue is closed for the night.

Of course, if hearing live music makes you want to dance make a point to attend the Highlands Chamber of Commerce’s Outdoor Summer Concert Series – Friday Night Live and Saturdays on Pine. Or if you prefer to sit back and delight in extraordinary, internationally known musicians performing opera or chamber music, you will enjoy the annual Bel Canto Recitals and the HighlandsCashiers Chamber Music Festival.

Highlands-Cashiers Chamber Music Festival

507 Chestnut Street, Highlands h-cmusicfestival.org

828-526-9060

IN THE NORTH CAROLINA MOUNTAINS.

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CEDAR CLIFF FLOOR PLAN

The Masa Legacy

Hiking through these mountains and gazing out at the vast vistas around Highlands, NC, many people are unaware how much we owe to a Japanese immigrant and exceptional photographer of the early 20th Century. George Masa dedicated his life to the preservation and conservation of the Southern Appalachian Mountains. Documentaries by Paul Bonesteel and Ken Burns have covered his contributions to the region. A new biography, George Masa: A Life Reimagined, written by Janet McCue and Paul Bonesteel is reviving interest in this remarkable artist and committed conservationist.

George Masa arrived in the United States in the early 1900s, likely in San Francisco. By 1915, he made his way to Asheville where he began working at the Grove Park Inn. In 1918, he left the inn to begin his career as a photographer, opening Plateau Studio in Asheville.

His customers included the Vanderbilt, Grove, and Seely families. But his photographs of the western North Carolina mountains became his passion and an expression of his life’s mission.

Masa used his artistry in photography to raise awareness of the need to preserve the natural beauty of the mountains in this region. He advocated for the establishment of the Great Smoky Mountains as a national park. Hiking miles of ridgelines and

high peaks with heavy photographic equipment, he captured stunning photos that would help convince politicians, conservationists, and philanthropists that the region needed to be preserved.

Masa died in 1933, at about 45 years of age, just one year after his life’s work came to realization and the Great Smoky Mountains National Park was officially established. In 1961, Masa Knob, a peak of 5,685 feet in the park, was named in his honor. Yet for all his dedication to these mountains, Masa has

largely been forgotten as a champion of conserving Southern Appalachians.

An exhibit of original photographs Masa took in and around Highlands, in 1929, is now on display at the Highlands Historical Society. Stop by the exhibit, study his images, and next time you are hiking around Highlands, contemplate the breathtaking beauty George Masa dedicated so much of his life to preserving for future generations.

Pathways From the Past

For 150 years, the town of Highlands, NC, has been a gateway to scenic and historic paths in the Blue Ridge Mountains. Long before settlers arrived, local trails were used by the Cherokee as hunting paths and trade routes. From ancient footpaths to wagon roads to hiking trails, today, the pathways of Highlands invite you to walk in the footsteps of those who shaped this mountain community.

PHOTO CREDIT: GEORGE MASA

THE HISTORIC KELSEY TRAIL: A FIRST OF ITS KIND

One of the most famous and historic trails in Highlands is the Kelsey Trail. Originally built in 1883, this trail was envisioned by Highlands co-founder Samuel T. Kelsey as a bridal path to Whiteside Mountain. Today, the trail, which extends one-mile round trip from the end of N. 5th Street, follows an old oxcart route, winding through primeval forests of hemlocks and rhododendrons. The trail, owned and maintained by HighlandsCashiers Land Trust, passes through Bear Pen Gap and offers hikers a moderate challenge as it connects with Rhododendron Park.

Though parts of the trail have changed, its historical significance remains intact. It once led 4.5 miles all the way to within a quarter mile of the top of the Whiteside Mountain, with a side trail leading to Highlands Falls, now part of Highlands Falls Country Club, and the main trail ending at a Cherokee Indian campground. It was a popular route for both hikers and wagons. While only a portion of the original trail is accessible today, walking the Kelsey Trail is like stepping back in time to the days when the town's founders were carving paths through the wilderness.

WHITESIDE MOUNTAIN: A MONUMENT TO THE PAST

Whiteside Mountain, with its sheer cliffs rising to an elevation of 4,930 feet and featuring breathtaking views, has long been a landmark for travelers. The two-mile round-trip hike to the summit follows a trail steeped in history, once used by the Cherokee and later by early European settlers.

Climbing several hundred feet in elevation, hikers are rewarded at the top with sweeping views that extend across North Carolina and Georgia.

This ancient mountain, estimated to be 390 to 460 million years old, has stood as a silent witness to the passage of time, its cliffs weathered by centuries of wind and rain. As you walk the path to the summit, you’re following in the footsteps of generations who came before, drawn by the same spectacular views and natural grandeur. You may even catch a glimpse of peregrine falcons which nest along the cliffs!

SATULAH MOUNTAIN: A LEGACY OF CONSERVATION

T he summit of Satulah Mountain, protected over a century ago by what would become the HighlandsCashiers Land Trust (HCLT), marks a pivotal chapter in local conservation efforts. In 1909, a group of concerned citizens raised $500 to conserve the summit, ensuring it would remain a

natural sanctuary for public enjoyment. This early act of preservation laid the foundation for HCLT, which now oversees more than 3,400 acres in the Highlands and Cashiers area, including 100 acres at Satulah Mountain Preserve.

Standing at 4,543 feet, Satulah Mountain is one of the tallest peaks along the Blue Ridge Escarpment. The hike to its summit is a strenuous 3+ -mile round trip from town, featuring steep inclines and uneven terrain, leading hikers to a spectacular 270-degree vista that stretches over North Carolina, South Carolina, and Georgia.

Historically, the trail was accessible by horse or oxcart, and later by jeeps and trucks servicing a fire tower. Today, the trail includes features such as the remains of a stone shelter house previously used by those wishing to spend the night on the mountain and the site of the former fire tower where Samuel Kelsey, the co-founder of Highlands, was inspired to establish the town. Standing at the summit, you’ll feel a sense of connection to those who came before, gazing out over a landscape that has remained largely unchanged for centuries.

As Highlands celebrates its 150th anniversary, these "Pathways of the Past" remind us of the town’s rich history and its enduring connection to the natural world. Whether you’re hiking an ancient trail or following a historic road, these paths invite you to explore both the beauty and the history of this special corner of the Blue Ridge Mountains.

in the Carolinas

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Centrally located in Highlands, NC, we can help you find that small mountain cabin, luxury home with a grand view, golf course or gated community, or a lot to build your dream home.

TO SEE

Highlands Awarded Outdoor NC Trail Town Stewardship Designation

Highlands is one of 15 communities in North Carolina recognized for its diverse trail experiences and dedication to promoting accessible outdoor activities, responsible visitation, and sustainable tourism. We are honored to be a part of the Outdoor NC Trail Town Stewardship Designation Program.

Outdoor NC is committed to promoting stewardship throughout North Carolina, inspiring everyone to not only experience the outdoors, but embrace and protect it as well. It provides a wide variety of resources which educate outdoor adventurers on how they can recreate responsibly, respectfully, and safely.

As proud partners of the Outdoor NC Alliance, we urge everyone to Join the Movement to help us safeguard our beloved outdoor spaces. Joining the movement is simpler than one might think. Whether adhering to the Leave No Trace® Seven Principles or actively participating in our initiatives, such as Plateau Pickup, to preserve Highlands as a stunning destination, every action counts. Whatever level of involvement, we welcome everyone to share in our commitment to being considerate, inclusive, respectful, and safe in our natural playground. Go to www.outdoornc. com or scan the QR code provided to learn more.

We recognize that our journey towards destination stewardship requires a collective effort, and we value the pivotal role that our residents and businesses play. Together, we can make a meaningful impact on our community and the natural environment.

NIGHT SKY TRAIL

What better place to see the stars than from Highlands, NC. Our high elevation, remote location and minimal light, make our town an ideal location for amazing nighttime star gazing.

The first moment you find yourself beneath a truly dark night sky, the sheer brilliance of the stars is nothing short of awe-inspiring. The world's darkest skies are becoming increasingly rare, tucked away in remote areas that can be hard to reach. But you don't have to travel to the most secluded corners of the world to witness an incredible night sky.

The experience of gazing upward into a sky adorned with countless stars evokes a profound sense of wonder within us. In Highlands, unobstructed vistas offer unparalleled views of our magnificent galaxy after dusk.

Strategic Moon Observation

Plan your stargazing outings during the days of the new moon and the days just before and after it. Take note of the moon's position in the night sky, as its brightness can be ten times greater than that of the stars. While a full moon atop the mountain is a breathtaking sight, it can also contribute to light pollution, making a new moon the ideal time for unparalleled star gazing.

Escape City Lights

To fully immerse yourself in the wonders of the night sky, it's best to avoid city lights. Light pollution stemming from urban areas can significantly diminish the clarity and brilliance of celestial views. Opt for locations far removed from artificial light sources to ensure an unparalleled stargazing experience.

Weather Watch

Before embarking on your stargazing adventure, it's important to stay updated with the latest weather forecast. Unanticipated storms or dense fog can unexpectedly derail even the most carefully crafted plans. Prioritize clear skies to optimize your night sky observations and make the most of your celestial journey.

Milky Way Marvels

If your goal is to witness the majestic Milky Way, focus your outings between March and September, the prime months for observing its densest region.

March to May: Face south during the pre-dawn hours for optimal viewing.

June to early August: The best time is near midnight, although the Milky Way remains visible throughout the night.

Mid-August through September: Head out soon after sunset when the sky darkens for an excellent view of the Milky Way.

By incorporating these tips, you can truly enjoy your Highland stargazing experience and fully appreciate the wonders of the night sky.

OUR FAVORITE STARGAZING SPOTS:

Blue Valley Overlook

Blue Valley earns its name from the soft, natural haze that envelops both the valley floor and the embracing mountains. The rolling hills stretch out endlessly.

Directions: Take NC 106 3.5 miles from Highlands. The parking lot will be on your left.

Osage Overlook

To experience a breathtaking view reminiscent of the region's landscape a century ago, venture to the Osage Overlook, where you'll be treated to the stars over panoramic vistas of the majestic Scaly and Osage Mountains.

Directions: From Highlands, travel 5.7 miles on NC 106 to the Osage Overlook. The parking lot will be on your left.

Sunset Rock

Sunset Rock is a short 1/2-hour walk, approximately 0.7 mile one way, leads to a natural cliff side amphitheater where slabs of granite provide front row seats. Beautiful sunsets and clear night skies can be seen over Highlands and Brushy Face Mountain to the west. The vista of Horse Cove to the east (Sunrise Rock) is also provides sweeping views.

Directions: Take Main Street (which becomes Horse Cove Road) east from the intersection of Highways 28 and 64 in Highlands, 0.5 mile to the Highlands Nature Center. Park on the right side of the road and follow the sign indicating a gravel road to Sunset Rock and Ravenel Park. Although the trail is marked “Hiking Trail Only” it is a private drive so do not park as to block it. The road ends at a monument for Ravenel Park. Sunset Rock is to the right.

Whiteside Mountain

Perhaps one of the best trails in the area for a panoramic view is the Whiteside Mountain Trail. Beautiful views of the surrounding area can be seen from vantage points all along the trail. The summit of the mountain reaches an elevation of almost 4900 ft., about 2000 ft. above Whiteside Cove to the south. The trail is a 2-mile loop that goes around the back or north side of the mountain and then along the ridge. The total climb is approximately 500 ft. The trail can be walked in an hour, but you will want to allow plenty of time to take in the night sky vistas.

Directions: From Highlands, take Highway 64 East for 5.5 miles. Turn right onto Whiteside Mountain Road (SR# 1690), Go 1 mile to the well-marked parking area on the left. This is a fee area, there is a flat charge per vehicle.

** For your safety, please wear appropriate shoes when on any trail and when heading out at night bring headlamps and/or flashlights. **

Highlands, NC is a supporter of the dark-sky movement, a campaign to reduce light pollution. The advantages of reducing light pollution include an increased number of stars visible at night, reducing the effects of electric lighting on the environment, improving the well-being, health and safety of people and wildlife, and cutting down on energy usage.

STARGAZING AID

SkyView Lite App

SkyView uses an augmented-reality interface to show you what's up above, and you can track your favorite constellations as they move across the sky.

Embark on an enchanting stargazing adventure in Highlands, NC, where the limitless expanse of the universe eagerly awaits your exploration.

Apple

Android

WHERE EVERY TRAIL Tells a Story

Highlands is an ideal destination for those who wish to lose—or perhaps find—themselves amidst serene forests, open meadows, and rolling hills. For generations, naturalists, artists, and dreamers alike have found paradise along the winding trails of our wild, untouched landscape. So, before you head out, check the weather, gather your gear and camera, and set off safely. Get ready to create lasting memories in these magical surroundings where every step leads to discovery.

For more information on these and other favorite hikes, stop by The Highlands Welcome Center at 108 Main Street, call 828-526-2112 or visit highlandschamber.org.

BARTRAM TRAIL – OSAGE OVERLOOK

Named after the distinguished naturalist, Bartram Trail runs more than 100 miles from Oconee State Park in South Carolina through Georgia and North Carolina to the Great Smoky Mountains. This longdistance trail is marked with yellow blazes. The two-

mile segment from the Osage Mountain trail head is a difficult hike, due to an elevation gain of 1,100 feet. The reward is views of Blue Valley and Tessentee Valley from the top of Scaly Mountain.

To get there: From downtown Highlands take N.C. 106/Dillard Road. Travel 5.5 miles to a paved overlook area and trail head to the left. Park on the same side as the overlook but access the northbound Bartram Trail to Scaly Mountain on the opposite side of the road via the stairs. Look for the sign reading “Bartram Trail to Hickory.”

CHATTOOGA LOOP TRAIL & CHATTOOGA RIVER TRAIL TO WHITESIDE COVE

Chattooga Loop Trail is almost two miles and begins to the left of the notable Iron Bridge. Moderate in difficulty, it is a great hike for the entire family. Chattooga River Trail – a 6.25-mile, one-way hike – begins at the same place but ends at Whiteside Church on Whiteside Cove Road, so two vehicles are required.

To get there: From Highlands, travel east on Main Street for 4.5 miles. Main Street will become Horse Cove Road. Look for its intersection with Bull Pen and Whiteside Cove roads. Turn right onto Bull Pen Road (#1178/#1180). Proceed for 5.4 miles to the Iron Bridge. The trailhead is on the left, just before bridge.

CHINQUAPIN MOUNTAIN

The trail head for this 3.2-mile round trip is at the Glen Falls parking area near downtown Highlands. It is a moderate walk, and the trail crosses streams several times. A mile-long series of switch backs leads to the top.

To get there: Head west on U.S. 64 and turn left on N.C. 106. Drive 1.7 miles and look for the sign to Glen Falls Scenic Area on the left. Turn left, then immediately bear right onto Glen Falls Road. Travel on this gravel road for one mile to the parking area.

CLIFFSIDE LAKE RECREATIONAL AREA

This is a delightful plunge into nature’s glorious bounty! You can enjoy several hiking trails – some of which lead to waterfalls – as well as picnic tables with grills and a lake for swimming and fishing (with a N.C. fishing license). A day-use fee is required, and picnic shelters must be reserved. Its Cliffside Loop Trail is an easy 0.75-mile walk around the lake.

northwest on Main Street, which will become Horse Cove Road. Turn onto Bull Pen Road and pass the Iron Bridge. Ellicott’s Rock trail starts at six miles; the Bad Creek trail starts at 10 miles. Both drop steeply down from opposite sides of the river near Ellicott’s Rock (on the left bank looking down stream) and continue down river.

HICKORY KNUT GAP

You’ll feel like you’re far away from civilization! This moderate, 3.5-mile, out-and-back trail is great for birding.

To get there: From Highlands, take N.C. 106 four miles to Turtle Pond Road and turn right. Turn left onto Hickory Knut Gap Road and drive 0.9 mile to the trail, which is a Forest Service Road on the left. Park on the right. From the trail head, walk for approximately 0.3 mile to where the trail splits to the right. Follow the blue blazes through the rhododendron canopy to the junction with Bartram Trail at approximately one mile. Turn right onto the yellowblazed Bartram and continue to the Scaly Mountain summit. Side trails to the left and right also offer amazing views. Be cautious of the bare rock sections, which can be slick when wet or icy.

HIGHLANDS BOTANICAL GARDEN & HIGHLANDS BIOLOGICAL STATION

To get there: Follow U.S. 64 West for 4.5 miles, turn right at the Cliffside Lake sign and continue for 1.5 miles.

ELLICOTT’S ROCK & BAD CREEK TRAILS

This area boasts Ellicott’s Rock, an enormous boulder embedded in the Chattooga riverbank, bearing the letters "NC" as carved by surveyor Andrew Ellicott who thought this was the intersection of North Carolina, Georgia and South Carolina. (Spoiler Alert: It wasn’t. That’s Commissioner’s Rock, bearing the symbol NC/ SC 1813.) Choose from two trails: Bad Creek Trail to Ellicott’s Rock is a moderate trail that stretches three miles, one way. Ellicott’s Rock Trail is 3.5 miles and more difficult. Prepare for a good workout!

To get there: From downtown Highlands, head

Just a half mile from downtown Highlands awaits this is lovely, little jewel with several gardens to explore. The gardens are free and open to the public yearround, from sunrise to sunset.

To get there: From Main Street, head northwest as it becomes Horse Cove Road. Look for Highlands Nature Center and park in the gravel area across from it. The garden paths begin to the left of the Nature Center, with maps posted along the trails.

HIGHLANDS PLATEAU GREENWAY

“Connecting the heart of Highlands” is this system of walking and hiking trails that protect and connect the natural settings and historic sites of the area. More than 10 miles of natural trails and sidewalks are open daily, from sunrise to sunset.

To get there: The trail head is on Oak Street between the intersection of S. 3rd St. and S. 2nd St. It is the nexus to any trail on the Greenway.

JONES KNOB

This portion of the Bartram Trail features spectacular views, with Jones Knob and Whiterock Mountain being the highlights.

To get there: Take U.S. 64 West to Turtle Pond Road. Turn left and travel 1.1 miles to SR1678. Turn right on the road (which may be marked Dendy Orchard Road) for 1.4 miles to the top of a hill. Turn left on Jones Gap Road (FR4522) and continue two miles to the parking area. The trail leaves the parking area on the right. An old roadbed leads right to a wildlife management field. At the far end of the field, yellow blazes mark Bartram to the right and blue blazes mark the Jones Knob spur trail to left. Follow the blue-blazed trail for .03 mile to a delightful mountaintop view.

THE NARROWS

This is four-miles round trip, yet not well marked. Its trail head leads off Whiteside Cove Road. It features spectacular views of the Chattooga River forced into a narrow channel, exploding over boulders, and revealing an unexpected swimming hole.

To get there: From downtown Highlands, take N. 4th St./Horse Cove Road and turn left onto Whiteside Cove Road. Travel 0.9 mile. The trail is on a logging road on the right and descends two miles to The Narrows. You’ll pass a trail to the right, which continues to Bull Pen Bridge on Horse Cove Road. Be sure to return the way you came.

SATULAH MOUNTAIN

This payoff of this hike that begins in downtown Highlands is a peak of 4,543 feet with a 270-degree view to the south, east and west.

To get there: Park downtown, then head south up the hill on 4th St. At the curve, walk straight onto Satulah Road. Continue to the end of the road; then, follow the old roadbed an additional 0.5-mile to the clearing at the top of the mountain.

SLICK ROCK TRAIL

This is a simple, 0.2-mile round trip. The hike may be short, but the summit offers an impressive view of the mountains.

To get there: From downtown Highlands, take E. Main/ Horse Cove Rd. to the end of the pavement. Take the right fork onto Bull Pen Road and continue one mile.

On a sharp left curve, look for a pull-off and a steep, unmarked path on the right.

SUNSET ROCK

This astonishing site is just a few hundred yards from downtown Highlands. Sunset Rock is an ideal choice for a late afternoon stroll. It’s a short, 0.5-mile walk to the top. Beautiful sunsets and views of Brushy Face Mountain unfold over the town, while you sit on a natural amphitheater on slabs of granite.

To get there: Take Main Street for 0.5-mile east to the Highlands Nature Center on the left. Park and follow the sign to a gravel road to Sunset Rock and Ravenel Park. Note: The trail is a private drive, so do not block it when you park.

WHITESIDE

This jaw-dropping spectacle is only six miles from town on U.S. 64 East. The moderate trail, crowned by a panoramic vista, is a two-mile loop that climbs above sheer cliffs.

To get there: Take U.S. 64 East from downtown Highlands and turn right at the sign onto Whiteside Mountain Road. Travel one mile to a well-marked parking area on the left. This is a fee area, and a restroom is located at the end of the parking lot.

WHITEWATER FALLS TRAIL

This easy, 0.6 mile-round trip trail will reward you with a spectacular view of the highest waterfall in the Eastern United States.

To get there: Take U.S. 64 East to Cashiers and turn right onto N.C. 107 South. Turn left onto Wigington Rd., then left at the stop sign onto S.C. 130, which turns slightly left and becomes N.C. 281. Look for the Whitewater Falls sign and turn right. The trail descends steeply into the river. An overlook is located along the trail. To the left, the trail continues and fords the river. There are numerous spots for picnicking and shallow pools for wading and quick dips.

YELLOW / SHORTOFF MOUNTAIN

This strenuous hike with amazing views is 4.8 miles one way, so allow for a full day of adventure. The reward is a spectacular, panoramic vista from the top of Yellow Mountain.

To get there: Take U.S. 64 East from Highlands three miles and turn left onto Buck Creek Road. Follow Buck Creek Road for 2.3 miles. The trail will be on the right.

HIGHLANDS IS A

BEARWISE COMMUNITY

If you spend any time in town – in the woods, at a home on the edge of the woods, at one of the country clubs, even on Main Street – you may encounter one. They’re uninterested in you but they are looking for any source of food such as an overstuffed garbage can, or a generously seeded bird feeder. The last thing they’re looking for is a confrontation with you (and your dog) but respect for bears is of highest importance.

There are some simple steps that you can take to ensure that any Bear Encounter is a simple learning experience for both parties.

SAFETY TIPS FOR HIKING IN BEAR COUNTRY

• Talk or make noise to avoid surprising a bear, especially near rushing water where it may not hear you.

• Stay alert. Don’t hike with earbuds in.

• Keep an eye on the trail ahead.

• If you’re riding a mountain bike, pay attention. You sure don’t want to startle a bear.

• Keep children nearby.

• Dogs may help detect bears, but they can also quickly escalate the situation that neither side wants, so keep them on a leash.

• If you encounter a bear, avoid eye contact, and remain still and calm, or slowly begin walking backward.

• Raise your arms (to appear larger) and talk gently while backing away to safety.

• Don’t throw your pack at the bear – that provides a “reward” that trains the bear to approach people for food.

• Never try to pet or feed a bear or get close for a picture – that is how most injuries occur.

• Hike in groups during daylight and on established trails.

• Learn proper camping techniques to avoid problems.

• Avoid standing between a female bear and her cubs. If you find yourself in this situation, slowly and calmly walk backwards.

• Never ever feed a bear.

From its earliest days, Highlands has been a haven for those seeking a breath of fresh air and a break from the hustle of daily life. In the late 1800s, Dr. Mary Lapham championed the restorative power of our mountain town with one simple motto:

Get up and get busy!

That advice still echoes in the spirit of Highlands today.

Here, adventure flows as naturally as the mountain streams. Whether you're chasing panoramic views, exploring rugged trails, or simply immersing yourself in the beauty of the great outdoors, Highlands offers endless opportunities to reconnect with nature and yourself.

BLUE STAR RANCH

2555 Norton Road, Cashiers bluestarranch.com

828-743-3281

equine coaching

BROOKINGS ANGLERS

273 Spring Street, Highlands brookingsonline.com

828-482-9444

fly fishing guides

CLIFFSIDE LAKE RECREATION

AREA & VANHOOK GLADE

14014 Highlands Road, Highlands gofindoutdoors.org

828-526-5912

camping, fishing, hiking, picnic area, swimming

HARRIS LAKE PARK

1241 Leonard Road, Highlands highlandsnc.org

828-526-3556

fishing, picnic area

HIGHLAND EXCURSION

highlandexcursion.com

864-373-4022

hiking, sightseeing tours

HIGHLAND HIKER

561 Main Street, Highlands highlandhiker.com

828-526-8673

fly fishing and travel guides

HIGHLANDS AERIAL PARK

9625 Dillard Road, Scaly Mountain highlandsaerialpark.com

828-526-8773

adventure ropes course, dual tree climb, giant mountain swing, nature trails, UTV tours, ziplines

HIGHLANDS OUTPOST

7420 Dillard Road

Scaly Mountain highlandsoutpost.com

828-526-3737

fishing, gem mining, roller coaster, summer/winter tubing, winter ice skating

HIGHLANDS RECREATION PARK AND CIVIC CENTER

600 N. Fourth Street, Highlands highlandsnc.org

828-526-3556

dog park, exercise classes, fitness center, covered swimming pool, tennis and pickleball court s

JACKSON HOLE TRADING POST AND GEM MINE

9770 Highlands Road, Highlands jacksonholegemmine.com

828-524-5850

gem mining

KELSEY-HUTCHINSON FOUNDERS PARK

Pine Street, Highlands farmer’s market (Saturday mornings April – Oct), live music (Saturday nights May – mid-Oct), picnic area, winter ice skating

LAKE GLENVILLE SCENIC

WATERFALL CRUISES

2799 Pine Creek Road, Cullowhee worldclasswaterfalls.com

828-526-6300

sightseeing tour

SAPPHIRE VALLEY RESORT

100 Cherokee Trail, Sapphire

sapphirevalley.com

828-619-0097

activity field, boat rentals, dog park, fishing, foot golf, golf, hiking, lake, tennis, winter skiing and snowboarding, zipline

SKY VALLEY COUNTRY CLUB

568 Sky Valley Way #1 Sky Valley, GA

skyvalleycountryclub.com 706-746-5302

golf

THE NATURE CENTER AND BOTANICAL GARDEN

930 Horse Cove Road, Highlands

highlandsbiological.org 828-526-2623

educational sessions, walking trails

THE HIGHLANDS PLATEAU

AUDUBON SOCIETY

highlandsaudubonsociety.org special events

WHITEWATER EQUESTRIAN CENTER

6420 Whitewater Road

Sapphire

funhorsebackriding.com 828-966-9646

gem mining, guided trail rides

WILDWATER

1251 Academy Road Long Creek, SC

wildwaterrafting.com 800-451-9972

Jeep adventures, kayak tours, team building, white water rafting, zipline

BOBBY JONES

AND THE INFLUENCE OF GOLF ON THE HIGHLANDS PLATEAU

In 1927, the Franklin Press announced, “Highlands’ future now assured by construction of golf course.” This pivotal moment not only boosted the town’s development but also established Highlands’ reputation as a mountain sanctuary for those seeking a revitalizing escape.

From the early days, local workers cleared dense forests using only hand tools, horses, and oxen to carve out the course that would become Highlands Country Club. In 1928, history was made when the legendary Bobby Jones played his first round here, forever linking golf to the community’s identity. The course's founders, including Colonel Robert P. Jones (Bobby's father), enlisted renowned Scottish architect Donald Ross to design a course that embraced the natural Appalachian terrain and demanded precise skill. Ross’s design became the ideal practice ground for young Bobby Jones, contributing to his growth as one of golf’s most celebrated figures.

In 1930, Jones achieved a remarkable feat: as an amateur, he won the Grand Slam, claiming four major

championships in a single year—a record that remains unmatched. At that time, Highlands had a modest permanent population of 447, with summer influx swelling it to over 3,000, supporting around two dozen businesses. Even during the Great Depression, Highlands saw record numbers of summer tourists drawn by the cool mountain air, golf, and swimming, especially among Atlanta society.

In 1948, a major fundraising campaign brought Jones and Charlie Yates together for an exhibition match, drawing the largest crowds Highlands had ever seen and raising significant funds for the Highlands Community Hospital, which opened in 1958. The Jones family has only allowed three tournaments to formally bear Bobby Jones's name, including the Bob Jones Invitational in Highlands. This tournament remains a valuable tradition and an important fundraiser, continuing to benefit the community and honor Jones’s enduring influence on the Plateau.

ANGLER'S Paradise

Nestled in the heart of Western North Carolina, the charming town of Highlands is a true gem for anglers, boasting an incredible 2,200 miles of abundant waterways, all within an hour’s drive. From meandering rivers to tranquil lakes and streams, this region offers an unparalleled fishing experience that keeps fishing enthusiasts coming back year-round.

Whether you are an avid trout angler or prefer chasing bass, catfish, or crappie, the waters surrounding Highlands offer a diverse range of fish species to target. But fishing in Highlands is about much more than just catching fish. It is a chance to immerse yourself in nature’s embrace and find a serene place where there’s only water, mountains, and the vast sky above. As you cast, you will feel the stress of daily life melt away, replaced by a sense of peace and connection with the natural world.

A highlight of the local fishing calendar is the annual 3 River Fly Fishing Festival which attracts anglers from all corners of the U.S. for a competitive trout fishing tournament. Beyond the competitive spirit, the festival fosters camaraderie among fellow enthusiasts and provides a chance to celebrate the art of fly fishing against the breathtaking backdrop of the surrounding natural beauty.

The North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission (ncwildlife.org) diligently manages fishing seasons and enforces regulations regarding bait, size, and creel limits. Before embarking on your fishing adventure, remember to secure a North Carolina fishing license, which can easily be obtained online at gooutdoorsnorthcarolina.com.

CHATTOOGA RIVER

The upper Chattooga River above the Iron Bridge on Bull Pen Road is an easily accessible native trout stream that can be accessed by a trail beginning at the Iron Bridge and continuing along the river for approximately two miles upstream. Caution should always be used in wading this stream due to numerous deep holes and an abundance of boulders and shelf rocks. The Chattooga holds a good population of both Brown and Rainbow trout. As a native trout stream, regulations require single hook artificial lures only and four fish, seven-inch minimum limit.

To get there: Take Main Street, which becomes Horse Cove Road, and drive approximately four miles. The road is very windy, so care must be taken while driving. Here, the pavement ends and two gravel roads split. Take the right fork to get on Bull Pen Road. From here, it is approximately three miles to the parking area at the Iron Bridge.

CULLASAJA RIVER

The Cullasaja runs between Highlands and Franklin on Highway 64 West. It is a beautiful and scenic river full of waterfalls, deep pools, and slow glassy runs. The river is stocked with brook, brown, and rainbow trout, but browns and rainbows seem to be much of the stream born population. The area between Turtle Pond Bridge (approximately five miles from Highlands) and Gold Mine Bridge (approximately eight miles from Highlands) offers numerous pull-offs with easy access to the river. The Cullasaja should be waded with extreme caution around waterfalls and during high water times.

To get there: From Highlands take Highway 64 west toward Franklin.

DAVIDSON RIVER

The Davidson River is in the Pisgah National Forest, north of Brevard. It offers some of the best wild segments in the region. The

area beneath Avery Creek is great for large brown trout.

To get there: From Cashiers, drive east on Highway 64 approximately 29 miles to Brevard. Continue through Brevard on Highway 64 to Highway 276 north, approximately 3.4 miles. Turn left onto Highway 276 and enter the Pisgah National Forest. The Davidson River parallels the left side of the road for approximately three miles.

LAKE GLENVILLE

Lake Glenville is a stunning 1,470-acre reservoir that came into existence in 1941 when the west fork of the Tuckaseegee River was dammed. Its depths mirror the surrounding mountains, with steep plunges just off the shoreline, reaching an impressive 80 feet or more. The lake comes alive in spring, offering a prime opportunity to reel in prized catches like walleye and bass, especially below the falls and around the rocky areas. As summer sets in, the best fishing experiences are to be had early in the day or during the late hours when the sun’s intensity softens. Come fall, as the water cools, trout and walleye gracefully move shallower, inviting anglers to test their skills. Lake Glenville features two ADA fishing areas—Pine Creek and the Powerhouse Site—making it inclusive and enjoyable for all visitors, regardless of their abilities.

To get there: From Highlands head towards Cashiers on Highway 64 east. Once you reach the four-way light in Cashiers, turn left; the headwaters at Hurricane Creek are less than two miles on the left.

NANTAHALA RIVER

The Nantahala River, one of the “Top 100 Trout Streams in the U.S.,” is a freestone river that is 52 miles from Highlands. It is stocked with brook, brown, and rainbow with brown and rainbows holding onto the stream born population. This is classic trout water full of runs, pools, and pocket water, which is great for the beginning fly angler to learn to read water. Nantahala also has wonderful hatches of both mayfly and caddis offering anglers great dry fly fishing in the spring and fall.

To get there: From Highlands take Highway 64 west to Franklin and turn left on Highway 441 south/64 west. Take Highway 64 west for six miles until you get to Old Murphy Road (across from Baptist Church) and turn right. Go down Old Murphy Road for 100 yards until you get to a small gas station then turn left on Wayah Road. Follow Wayah Road over the mountain and down the other side past Nantahala Lake until the road meets the river. There is a delayed harvest section of the river from October 1 through June 1, but it is on hatchery regulations the rest of the year.

PANTHERTOWN CREEK

The headwaters of the East Fork of the Tuckaseegee River and twenty miles of native brook trout streams, including Panthertown, Greenland, and Flat Creeks, wind through Panthertown Valley, which is known as the “Yosemite of the East” because of its bowl shape and rocky bluffs. The streams are stained brown with tannic acid from leaves that fall into the water.

To get there: From Highlands take

Highway 64 east for 12 miles. Turn left on Cedar Creek Road. Go 2.3 miles and turn right onto Breedlove Road.

TANASEE CREEK

Off Tanasee Creek Road, east of Tuckasegee, is a stretch of North Carolina water that shelters plenty of wild brown trout. Tanasee Creek, named one of the “Ten Best Places to Go Fly Fishing in the U.S.” by Travel + Leasure, is found within the scenic Nantahala National Forest. The creek is one of 15 fly fishing spots accessed by the Western North Carolina Fly Fishing Trail (flyfishingtrail.com), the only designated fly-fishing trail in the U.S.

To get there: From Highlands take Highway 64 east to the traffic signal in Cashiers. Turn left on Highway 107. In approximately 14 miles turn right onto Highway 281, travel 21 miles to Tanasee Creek Road. Parking and access are available at the bridge on Tanasee Creek Road.

TUCKASEEGEE RIVER

The Tuckaseegee or “Tuck” is the largest river in the HighlandsCashiers area. This is a dam controlled river with power generation dams located on the east and west forks of the river upstream of the “delayed harvest” section. From October 1 through June 1, the six-mile section from Western Carolina University to Highway 441 in Dillsboro is stocked with large hatchery fish. During this period, the regulations are catch and release only. During early spring, 30 to 40 fish days are not unusual. From June 1 to October 1 normal general trout water regulations prevail allowing anglers to keep seven fish any size and quantities of fish decline quickly. Use caution as water levels may change at any time. For flow schedules, call Nantahala Power CompanyTuckaseegee Flow at 866-332-5253.

To get there: From Highlands, take Highway 64 west toward Franklin 18 miles. Turn right on 441 north to bridge over Tuckaseegee at Dillsboro. Take the first right past the bridge on River Road.

WHITEWATER RIVER

The Whitewater River above the Highway 281 bridge is accessible by several angler paths. The paths start out well defined but disappear quickly.

To get there: From Cashiers take Highway 107 south, go past the South Carolina State border. Approximately nine and a quarter miles south of Cashiers, one mile past the state line, you will come to Wigington Road (SC 413). There are several signs at the intersection. They read “Whitewater Falls 3 Mi.”, To Salem”, To SC 103”. Turn left onto Wigington Road and drive two and a quarter miles to the stop sign at SC 130. Turn left and drive two miles to the bridge over the Whitewater River, approximately 0.8 miles past the entrance to Whitewater Falls. Park your vehicle at the bridge, there are pulloffs on both sides of the bridge. From the bridge, follow the angler trails down to the river.

To book a guided tour with an experienced angler, contact one of our local outfitters.

Brookings Anglers

273 Spring Street, Highlands brookingsonline.com

828-482-9444

Highland Hiker

601 Main Street, Highlands highlandhiker.com

828-526-5298

Family friendly fishing spots:

Cliffside Lake Recreation Area & VanHook Glade

14014 Highlands Road, Highlands gofindoutdoors.org

828-526-5912

Stocked trout can be taken by bait, spinner, or fly for a small usage fee.

Harris Lake Park

1241 Leonard Road, Highlands highlandsnc.org

828-526-3556

The lake contains a healthy population of bass, catfish, crappie, sunfish, white bass, and northern pike.

Highlands Outpost

7420 Dillard Road, Scaly Mountain highlandsoutpost.com 828-526-3737

Stocked trout fishing. Gear provided.

Sapphire Valley Resort

100 Cherokee Trail, Sapphire sapphirevalley.com 828-619-0097

Fairfield Lake is home to several fish species, including bass, catfish, bluegill, and crappie. Fishing gear is available to rent.

Surrender TO THE SPELL OF CASCADING WATERS

Perched on a mountain plateau and cradled by a rare temperate rainforest, Highlands is home to waterfalls that captivate visitors from around the globe. Some cascade gently, offering a peaceful trickle, while others roar with immense power as they plunge over granite cliffs. Each one, however, holds its own unique charm.

No visit to Highlands is complete without a journey along U.S. 64 West—the Mountain Waters Scenic Byway. This breathtaking drive reveals four iconic waterfalls just beyond town: Bridal Veil, Dry Falls, Bust Your Butt, and Cullasaja, each a stunning natural wonder in its own right.

As much as their beauty beckons, all water falls should be approached with great caution.

KEEP IN MIND

- The best way to enjoy a waterfall is from a safe distance.

- Heed posted warning signs and stay on established trails. Avoid "shortcuts."

- Never climb on or around waterfalls. Stay behind guard rails and fences.

- Never wade or play in water feeding a waterfall. Rocks can be slippery and currents swift; it is easy to lose your balance.

- Keep children and pets close.

For more information on these and other favorite waterfalls, stop by the Welcome Center at 108 Main Street, Highlands, NC, call 828-526-2112 or visit highlandschamber.org.

BRIDAL VEIL FALLS

This small, picturesque fall – one of three main waterfalls in the Cullasaja Gorge – is one of the most unusual and popular in the South. Its 120-foot cascade is seen from U.S. 64 West and visitors may walk behind its gentle "veil." According to Cherokee lore, a woman who walks behind the falls in the spring will be married by the first snow. Look for its rainbow in the afternoon sun.

To get there: From downtown Highlands, travel less than three miles on U.S. 64 and look for it on the right.

Waterfall Map

BUST YOUR BUTT FALLS

A series of stair-step falls on the Cullasaja River, this is a highly popular spot. Park, stretch your legs, soak in the view, and dangle your toes in the water. (But be aware of swift currents and slippery or hidden rocks!)

To get there: From downtown Highlands, drive about six miles on U.S. 64 West and pull over on the right or left.

CULLASAJA FALLS

This is a powerful series of rushing waterfalls along the Cullasaja River – 250 feet high and framed with a dramatic cliff face. While the gorge is breathtaking in the spring and fall, winter is when its rock formations can be seen. The falls are easily viewed from the road; it is not safe to try and hike down to the base.

To get there: From Highlands, drive less than nine miles on U.S. 64 West and notice the pull over on the left side of the road. Drive further, turn around at a safe place and retrace your route to park in the pull over. Be sure to park your vehicle completely off the road, as passing trucks need two lanes to navigate the curve. Be safe!

DRY FALLS

Thundering over a cliff, this 75-foot fall allows visitors to walk underneath while staying relatively dry. From the parking area, a pleasant walk down stone steps leads to a path that goes behind the waterfall fed by the Cullasaja River.

Bridal Veil Falls

But Your Butt Falls

Cullasaja Falls

Experience Peace Sranquility

To get there: From Highlands, drive just more than three miles on US 64 West to the parking area on the left. A nominal parking fee is required.

GLEN FALLS

Comprised of three, 80-foot falls dropping 640 feet, the entire Glen Falls’ trail descends some 700 feet in one mile. So, the hike down is easy, but back up is steep.

To get there: From Highlands, take N.C. 106 towards Dillard, Ga. In about two miles, look for the sign to the falls. Turn left, then immediately right onto a dirt road. Drive just more than one mile to the parking area.

KALAKALESKIES FALLS (LAKE SEQUOYAH DAM FALLS)

Though less popular than other falls along the Cullasaja Gorge, Kalakaleskies offers a series of smaller falls below the Lake Sequoyah Dam. Great caution should be taken when hiking the trail, as the riverbanks are steep. Taking young children and pets below the dam is not recommended.

To get there: Take U.S. 64 West from Highlands. About two miles after this highway intersects with N.C. 28, pull off into the parking area on the left.

SECRET FALLS

Once a long-held secret, this fall is now accessible via a trail constructed across public lands. Enjoy the seclusion and undeniable sense of mystery that shrouds this charmer.

To get there: Travel south (towards Walhalla) on N.C. 28 from Highlands’ Main Street. Follow this road just more than four miles and turn left onto Rich Gap Road. After 0.6 mile, make a right on Forest Service Road FR45670, a gravel road that may be marked as Big Creek Road. Drive approximately 1.75 miles on this unpaved road to the Upper Trail Head parking area on the right. The old road turns into a footpath which leads to the falls.

SLIDING ROCK FALLS

Created by the Chattooga River, this natural waterslide glides over a 10-foot-high rock face with a few large potholes. The water is cool, making it a popular spot during the summer. Visitors can slide down the rock, or just wade in the pool below the rock. This quiet spot has delighted guests for generations. Stop along the way to see the World’s Smallest Post Office.

To get there: From Highlands, take Horse Cove Road to the end the of pavement. Turn left onto Whiteside Cove Road and travel approximately five miles. Look for a small parking area off the road.

WHITEWATER FALLS

This is the highest waterfall east of the Rocky Mountains, with the upper portion falling 411 feet. Fed by the Whitewater River, it cascades over massive rock pillars.

To get there: Take U.S. 64 East from Highlands to Cashiers and turn right onto N.C. 107 South. Travel about nine miles, crossing into South Carolina, and turn left onto S.C. 130 South. Follow the signs to Whitewater Falls.

Dry Falls

Glen Falls

Kalakaleskies Falls

Secret Falls

Whitewater Falls

Kids IN

HIGHLANDS

The mountains are paradise for the young (and young at heart). We asked the experts -local parents -- to help create this ultimate guide for kids in Highlands.

HAPPY HIKING

Stop by Highland Hiker to pick up a book of good day hikes. You’ll find several trails that are child-friendly!

The Highlands Biological Station/Nature Center is a great place for young ones. With easy walking trails that offer views of the lake and creeks, it is also a wonderful place to learn about and see native plants, vegetation and wildlife. Kids love their Kids Hike Highlands Challenge which awards the collection of all four stamps along the trails with a prize!

After your visit to the Nature Center, carefully walk across the street and up a short trail to experience Ravenel Park and Sunset Rock . Though it’s a favorite spot for sunsets, it’s spectacular any time of day.

The Highlands Plateau Greenway offers easy, in-town access to a system of walking and hiking trails that connect historic sites and natural settings. Looking to experience a family-friendly waterfall? Dry Falls and Glen Falls fit the bill. One of the area’s most popular destinations, Dry Falls offers the unique experience of walking behind its rushing, 75-foot cascade. An out-and-back hike, Glen Falls offers multiple viewing points along its 700-foot, one-mile descension. But be sure to conserve energy for the hike back!

KID-FRIENDLY EXCURSIONS

Located between Highlands and Scaly Mountain, Highlands Aerial Park is a thrilling way to spend the day. Kid-friendly activities abound, including ziplines, nature trails, a challenge course and a giant swing.

Highland Excursion offers eco-tours in the Highlands area, and all are kid friendly. A great one to check out is their Private Gem Mine Tour, which showcases sites along the Cullasaja Gorge and Jackson Hole Gem Mine.

CAMPS & CLASSES

A Highlands summer camp experience will create memories your child will likely have forever.

The Highlands Biological Station offers highly-popular Nature Center Day Camps where kids ages four to 13 learn about plants and animals while having fun. Be sure to call or check the website for dates, as these camps fill up quickly!

The Bascom offers visual arts programming for youth and their families throughout the year, including workshops, classes, private lessons, field trips and demonstrations.

The Boys and Girls Club of the Plateau offers a summer day camp from early June through late July for ages six and older. Some local churches offer Vacation Bible School in the summer; be sure to contact them directly for schedules. The Performing Arts Center has programs to get kids involved in the performing arts, so be sure to check those out if you have a young thespian.   For a sleep-away wilderness camp experience close to Highlands, Camp Merrie-Woode in Sapphire offers summer sessions for girls and young women.

WINTER SPORTS & ACTIVITIES

On sunny, winter days, Highlands has plenty of activities to keep kids entertained.

Be a part of a picture-perfect winter scene while ice skating in Kelsey-Hutchinson Founders Park . The $8 fee includes rental skates, and you can warm up with a cup of coffee or hot chocolate.

Just a short drive from downtown is the Highlands Outpost which offers snow tubing and the Scaly Mountain Screamer coaster (the longest in N.C.!). (In the summer, enjoy the roller coaster, trout fishing and the tubing -without the snow, of course.)

Ski Sapphire Valley also offers snow tubing, skiing for beginning and intermediate levels, and snowboarding.   Swim year-round at the Highlands Pool Complex! Enjoy a covered pool with dedicated times for adult, lap, and all-ages swimming as well as water aerobics. It’s great for rainy weather, too!

FOR RAINY DAYS

Highlands is in a temperate rainforest and receives more than 80 inches of wet stuff each year, but don’t worry! Highlands offers plenty of experiences for rainy days.

Head to The Bascom to enjoy art exhibits, classes and an indoor play area. They even have “Take & Make” art lessons on their website that kids can do from home.

Hudson Library is a wonderful place for little ones to play or learn. The library offers a children’s playroom, educational computers and tablets. On certain days, the library offers Family Storytime and other engaging events.

Spend a rainy day exploring Highlands Historic Village (open May-October) and the town’s oldest home, the Elizabeth Wright Prince House. Enjoy learning about Highlands’ history through its exhibits and archives!

A hardware store may seem an unlikely destination for kids, but Reeves can keep kids entertained. Set them

on a mission to find “Ace,” its feline resident, as you do some shopping.

Mountain Theatre Company offers a year-round season, including “Theatre for Young Audiences” and show guides to assist students, parents and teachers with the production experience.

Visit the Jackson Hole Trading Post & Gem Mine, a unique experience where kids can find treasures to brighten any rainy day.

PLAYGROUNDS & GREEN SPACES

Enjoying a beautiful day in Highlands is easy!

Highlands Recreation Park is home to a playground and an outdoor skate park, so bring your wheels.

Kelsey-Hutchinson Founders Park is a beautiful place to enjoy a to-go meal from a nearby restaurant. Picnic tables dot the green space, and public restrooms are available. During the warmer months, spend your Saturday checking out the Highlands Market in the morning and return in the evening to take in an Outdoor Concert Series show. Located in the heart of town, there’s usually something happening in this park.

Close to town, Harris Lake Park is a lovely spot for a picnic, fishing and to watch its resident ducks play.

Highlands School’s playground is close to town and accessible to the public when school is not in session.

FAMILY-FRIENDLY DINING

Check out some of these delicious kid-friendly spots to eat in Highlands!

Four 65 has wood-fired pizzas and a kid friendly menu.   Highlands Burrito is quick and offers fantastic options for little ones.

The Secret Garden Market and Fressers Courtyard Café & Catering have kid-friendly options and are located adjacent to Kelsey-Hutchinson Founders Park, making it easy to enjoy your meal outside.

Mountain Fresh Grocery has indoor and outdoor seating for its breakfast, grill and Neapolitan pizza options. You can also order a dinner to go or pick up a take-andbake pizza.

Highlands Pizza Place is just what it says it is and more; they also offer sandwiches and salads.

Offering “elevated pub food,” The Ugly Dog Public House is fun for the whole family. The kids will

surely like the pictures of pups on its walls – or the real deal on its patio. On Wednesday nights stop in to enjoy live bluegrass!

Looking for a healthy snack? Whole Life Market and Nectar Juice Bar offers delicious smoothies, juices, and other healthy options.

Good luck trying to walk past Kilwin’s Chocolates and Ice Cream without going inside. The intoxicating wafts are too tempting to resist.

SHOPPING

Shopping along and near Main Street in Highlands is a must-do. Check out these stores when shopping with or for the family:

Highlands Kids -offers baby and children’s clothing and toys. For outdoor attire, check out The Highland Hiker.

Business Development

Main Street Memories: 150 Years of Commerce & Community THROUGH THE YEARS

Main Street in Highlands, NC has been the bustling heart of the community for 150 years.

As you stroll along today, you can almost hear the echoes of its early days when a handful of houses, stores, inns, and churches dotted the then-dirt roads. Over time, this modest beginning has grown into a vibrant shopping district, home to both historic businesses and new favorites.

In the early days, a few key businesses served as the foundation for Highlands’ growth. Baxter White’s general store, near today’s Town Square, was one of the earliest landmarks, doubling as the post office and the town's only shop during its first three years, providing essentials to the fledgling community. By the 1880s, Main Street had grown to include several more stores, including H.M. Bascom’s hardware shop (this was located at corner of W. Main Street & N. 4th Street) and James Rideout’s Granite Store, which later served as the foundation for the Edwards Hotel (part of current-day’s Old Edwards Inn & Spa).

One of the oldest and most beloved shops on Main Street is Wit’s End. Opened in 1940 by Margaret Southard Young, Wit’s End has remained a familyrun business for 85 years. Originally offering porcelain and home accessories, the store has evolved to specialize in classic women’s apparel. Generations of families have made shopping at Wit’s End a tradition, maintaining its cherished place in the community.

As the town grew, so did the number of businesses. Reeves Hardware opened its doors in 1944, providing tools, hardware, and home supplies, and remains a cornerstone of downtown. The store

moved to its current location at 3rd and W. Main Street in 1970 to meet growing demand.

While some historic businesses have transformed over the years, their presence is still felt. The former Galax Theater, located on W. Main Street just east of today’s Town Square, was once the town’s premier movie house from 1948 until its closing several decades later. While the theater no longer shows films, its historic sign remains, proudly displayed above the storefronts of Annawear, The Christmas Tree, and Natural Selection. These shops offer an eclectic mix of women’s clothing, year-round holiday finds, and naturecentered gifts and trinkets, respectively, blending Highlands' past with presentday commerce.

On E. Main Street, The Dry Sink has been a Highlands staple for just over 50 years. After outgrowing its original space on S. 4th Street, the store moved to its current location in 1980, a building that once housed Highlands Hardware (1940-57) and even a bowling alley. The store has since expanded, offering a wide range of goods, from kitchenware and candles to gifts and seasonal decor. Known for its exceptional customer service, The Dry Sink is a must-visit for locals and visitors.

Another Main Street icon, Highland Hiker, has been outfitting outdoor enthusiasts for decades. Originally called

the Happy Hiker, the store was located on Church Street and purchased in 1982 by David and Carol Wilkes, who moved the store to Main Street and transformed it into what is now a thriving family business. With multiple locations, including their flagship log cabin store and a dedicated shoe shop, Highland Hiker offers everything from outdoor gear to curated apparel. The log cabin store holds much history. Built in the 1930s, it was originally the summer home of Dr. E.E. Reinke, a Vanderbilt University professor and the first director of the Highlands Biological Station. The Wilkes’ commitment to customer service and love for the outdoors has made Highland Hiker a staple in both Highlands and Cashiers and remains a go-to destination.

Development has shaped the look of

Main Street as well. From the early dirt roads to today’s brick sidewalks, the charm of Highlands has been carefully maintained through thoughtful growth. The addition of shopping centers like Wright Square, which expanded businesses along W. Main Street in 1984, and The Falls on Main, which expanded businesses along E. Main Street in 2000, has helped expand the retail footprint, making room for newer businesses while ensuring that Highlands' unique character is preserved. Located across from Hudson Library, The Falls on Main occupies the former site of Highlands’ co-founder Samuel T. Kelsey’s home, which was built in 1875 and burned down in 1976.

At its core, Main Street is more than just a place to shop—it’s a living history of Highlands. Each business, whether rooted in the past or newly established, tells a story of 150 years of growth, resilience, and a shared love for this mountain town. Whether you’re visiting a local gallery, dining at a fine restaurant, or browsing shops, Main Street offers a blend of past and present that makes every visit feel timeless.

SPA RETREATS for the Mind, Body, and Spirit

Our spas offer a tranquil escape where nature and luxury meet. Begin your experience with a warm cup of tea or coffee, then unwind with rejuvenating treatments crafted from locally sourced and globally acclaimed herbs and botanicals. Whether you choose a restorative massage or a soothing skincare ritual, every detail is designed to refresh your body and uplift your spirit. In Highlands, your well-being takes center stage, with spa experiences that invite deep relaxation and renewal.ur

ELEVATION SPA 2256 Dillard Road, Highlands 828-482-2834

GIFTED HANDS MASSAGE AND SKIN CARE 233 Spring Street, Highlands 828-526-5069

OLD EDWARDS INN AND SPA 445 Main Street, Highlands 828-526-9887

TAYLOR SPA

330 Dillard Road, Highlands 828-526-4192

UNFURL WELLNESS SPA AT HIGHLANDS CREEK 454 Dillard Road, Highlands 828-487-4099

THE VINEYARD WELLNESS SPA 37 High Holly Road, Scaly Mountain 828-482-5573

ZEN SPA 4144 Cashiers Road, Highlands 919-413-7411

Food & Drink

Southern Foods

TRADITION OF IN HIGHLANDS

When the Highlands Supper Club at the Trailborn Highlands hotel launched in the spring of 2025, it was the penultimate expression of the history of Highlands and its culinary future. Not only does this new restaurant celebrate the city’s extensive tradition of Southern foods, but it breathes new life into one of its most valued and iconic structures, a Joe Webb cabin.

Mountain food and how it’s cooked has long been a part of this sense of place – its culinary culture forever intertwined with the local environment. For generations, Highlanders have savored dishes that connected them to the land and its history –whether through local ingredients or heirloom recipes passed down through families.

Arguably the most prominent architect to have left his mark on Highlands is Joe Webb, whose legacy is felt in the log cabins he built from the early 1920s to about 1940. Still standing today, they are among the city’s most coveted real estate – each one unique, notable for its element of quirkiness and obsessively designed down to the smallest detail. Built using local materials like chestnut and pine, each cabin is designed to blend seamlessly with the surrounding landscape.

The cabin that now houses the Highlands Supper Club was originally built in 1930 for the Stringer family. After years of vacancy, the Trailborn owners saw an opportunity to revitalize this historic structure, preserving its original charm while adapting it for modern use. The cabin’s three fireplaces, wide plank floors, and exposed beams have been restored, while curated decor, custom wallpaper, and local memorabilia create a warm, inviting atmosphere.

It’s no coincidence that the Highlands Supper Club—a restaurant deeply rooted in Southern foodways—has found its home in such an iconic structure. Southern food is not just about ingredients; it’s about tradition, storytelling, and a sense of place. The Trailborn team was committed to creating a space that pays homage to the Southern culinary traditions that have been a cornerstone of Highlands for decades.

To bring their vision to life, Trailborn recruited Mississippi native Aaron Kulzer, a chef whose passion for refined comfort fare has guided him through kitchens across the South. Kulzer earned a reputation for his elevated menu at the White House Hotel in Biloxi, where he was known for Southern-inspired dishes like panseared salmon with root vegetables and almond piccata with bone marrow and bacon jam. While in Florida at Longboat Key’s Mar Vista his Southern roots shone through once again with dishes like grouper collars and cheeks—showcasing his dedication to using sustainable, whole ingredients.

In May 2024, Kulzer took on his current role at the Highlands Supper Club, excited to develop a menu that would honor his Southern and Appalachian traditions. His focus on local, fresh, and environmentally conscious ingredients aligns perfectly with Trailborn’s philosophy. Highlands Supper Club’s menu is a reflection of these principles, with dishes like sous-vide elk tenderloin paired with Ashe County cheddar grits and red wine demi-glace, and a vegan BBQ featuring braised lion’s mane mushrooms with fingerling potatoes. Kulzer is equally excited to introduce a brunch recipe of French toast bathed in Anglaise, seared with sorghum butter, topped with a

seasonal fruit compote. “My goal is to create an experience through food— bringing memory back to where you are and connecting a dish with a place,” he explains.

The Supper Club serves dinner nightly and brunch on weekends.

"MY GOAL IS TO CREATE AN EXPERIENCE THROUGH FOOD— BRINGING MEMORY BACK TO WHERE YOU ARE AND CONNECTING A DISH WITH A PLACE"

Discover the Culinary Treasures of Highlands

Your culinary adventure begins in Highlands, where the flavors and sights of the southern Appalachians tantalize the senses. Stroll through downtown and beyond, where a vibrant array of exceptional eateries awaits, many featuring inviting patios and breathtaking views that embody the spirit of Highlands. Our dynamic food and beverage scene boasts several Wine Spectator award-winning restaurants. Whether you crave an elegant white-tablecloth dining experience, fresh farm-to-table dishes, or a relaxed atmosphere, you'll find it all right here.

4118 KITCHEN + BAR

64 Highlands Plaza, Highlands 828-526-5002

Lunch & Dinner

ASIA HOUSE

151 Helen’s Barn Avenue, Highlands 828-787-1680

Lunch & Dinner

THE BAKED BUNNY

177 Main Street, Highlands (Opening Soon)

Baked Goods

BLACK BEAR CAFÉ

137 Main Street - Wright Square, Highlands

828-482-7020

Breakfast & Lunch

THE BLUE BIKE

423 N. 4th Street, Highlands 828-526-9922

Breakfast & Lunch

BRYSON'S FOOD STORE & DELI 103 Highlands Plaza, Highlands 828-526-3775

Breakfast, Lunch & Prepared Food

CAKE BAR/

CHOCOLATE HEAVEN CO. 2254 Dillard Road, Highlands 828-421-2042

Grab & Go Dessert

CALDERS COFFEE CAFE'

384 Main Street, Highlands 828-200-9308

Breakfast & Lunch

CLOUD 7 RESTAURANT AT FIRE MOUNTAIN

700 Happy Hill Road, Scaly Mountain 828-775-4446

Breakfast & Dinner

Spa Retreats

for the Mind, Body,

Relaxed Elegance at Old Edwards Inn

445 Main Street, Highlands

DON LEON'S

462 Dillard Road, Highlands 828-482-1513

Breakfast & Lunch

DUSTY RHODES SUPERETTE

493 Dillard Road, Highlands 828-526-2762

Prepared Food, Grab & Go

EDELWEISS

892 N. 4th Street, Highlands 828-200-2700

Pastries

EL GUACAMOLE LOCO

7420 Dillard Road, Scaly Mountain 828-526-1663

Breakfast & Lunch

FIESTA ICE CREAM

173 Main Street, Highlands

Dessert

FOUR65 WOODFIRE BISTRO + BAR

465 Main Street , Highlands 828-787-2990

Lunch & Dinner

FRESSERS COURTYARD CAFE' & CATERING

470 Oak Street , Highlands 828-526-8847

Lunch, Dinner & Catering

HIGH COUNTRY WINE & PROVISIONS

621 Franklin Road, Highlands 828-482-4502

Wine & Charcuterie

THE HIDEAWAY AT THE HIGH DIVE

476 Carolina Way, Highlands 828-526-2200

Lunch, Dinner & Late Night

HIGHLANDS BURRITO

226 S. 4th Street, Highlands 828-526-9313

Lunch & Dinner

HIGHLANDS PIZZA PLACE

365 Main Street, Highlands 828-305-7700

Lunch & Dinner

HIGHLANDS SMOKEHOUSE

595 Franklin Road, Highlands 828-526-3554

Lunch & Dinner

HIGHLANDS SUPPER CLUB

96 Log Cabin Lane, Highlands 828-526-5899

Brunch and Dinner

HIGHLANDS TAVERN

205 S. 4th Street, Highlands 828-526-9002

Dinner & Late Night

HIGHLANDS WINE SHOPPE

269 Oak Street, Highlands 828-526-4080

Wine & Charcuterie

HUMMINGBIRD LOUNGE AT OLD EDWARDS INN

445 Main Street, Highlands 828-787-2525

Light Fare, Dinner & Beverages

KILWINS CHOCOLATE & ICE CREAM

341 Main Street, Highlands 828-526-3788

Dessert

THE KITCHEN CARRY AWAY & CATERING

348 S. 5th Street, Highlands 828-526-2110

Take-Out & Catering

LAKESIDE RESTAURANT

531 Smallwood Avenue, Highlands 828-526-9419

Dinner

LOS VAQUEROS MEXICAN RESTAURANT

30 Dillard Road, Highlands 828-482-7040

Lunch & Dinner

MADISON'S RESTAURANT AT OLD EDWARDS INN

445 Main Street, Highlands 828-787-2525

Lunch & Dinner

MAGLIOCCA’S RISTORANTE

20 Old Mud Creek Road, Scaly Mountain

828-526-0803

Brunch, Lunch & Dinner

MOUNTAIN FRESH GROCERY

521 E. Main Street, Highlands 828-526-2400

Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner & Prepared Food

OAK STEAKHOUSE AT SKYLINE LODGE

470 Skyline Lodge Road, Highlands 828-526-4008

Saturday & Sunday Brunch, Dinner

ONE WICKER CHEESE CO.

539 Main Street, Highlands 828-482-4526

Lunch & Charcuterie

ON THE VERANDAH

1536 Franklin Road, Highlands 828-526-2338

Dinner

PRIME HIGHLANDS STEAKHOUSE

310 Main Street, Highlands 828-526-3555

Lunch & Dinner

ROOTS & VINE

490 Carolina Way, Highlands 828-526-3555

Dinner

RISTORANTE PAOLETTI

440 Main Street, Highlands 828-526-4906

Dinner

ROSEWOOD MARKET

117 Franklin Road, Highlands 828-526-0383

Take-Out & Catering

THE RUFFED GROUSE TAVERN AT HIGHLANDER

MOUNTAIN HOUSE

270 Main Street, Highlands 828-526-2590

Sunday Brunch, Lunch & Dinner

THE SECRET GARDEN

208 N. 5th Street, Highlands 828-305-7509

Lunch, Beverages & Catering

SPINX GAS STATION

545 N. 4th Street, Highlands 828-526-4191

Grab & Go, Breakfast & Lunch

THE STUBBORN BUDDHA

322 Main Street, Highlands

Opening Soon

THE STUBBORN BULL

445 N. 4th Street, Highlands 828-200-0813

Lunch & Dinner

SUBWAY OF HIGHLANDS

73 Highlands Plaza, Highlands 828-526-1706

Lunch & Dinner

THE UGLY DOG PUBLIC HOUSE

294 S. 4th Street, Highlands 828-526-8364

Lunch, Dinner & Occasional Late Night

THE VINEYARD AT HIGH HOLLY

37 High Holly Road, Scaly Mountain 828-482-5573

Beverages & Charcuterie

WHOLE LIFE MARKET & NECTAR JUICE BAR

680 N. 4th Street, Highlands 828-526-5999

Smoothies & Juices

WINE GARDEN AT OLD EDWARDS INN

445 Main Street, Highlands 828-787-2525

Lunch & Dinner

WILD THYME GOURMET

343-D Main Street, Highlands 828-526-4035

Lunch & Dinner

WOLFGANG'S RESTAURANT & WINE BISTRO

474 Main Street, Highlands 828-526-3807

Dinner

FAVORITE

Southern Foods

Highlands may be small, but its dining scene is anything but— here top-tier chefs serve up bold flavors and culinary surprises around every corner. And as every food lover, whether visiting or resident knows, the chefs of Highlands work magic with Southern ingredients, elevating classic Southern recipes with their own flair. It’s their creative spirit that has turned this small town into a culinary mecca. And it’s why we thought it would be fun to ask these chefs to share their favorite Southern foods.

Boiled peanuts are one of the most Southern things you can eat - salty tender boiled peanuts are a classic

OF HIGHLANDS CHEFS

snack throughout the South. “Served Cajun-flavored, of course,” says Adam Bresnahan, morning chef at the Ruffed Grouse Tavern, who likes his peanuts best when boosted with the bold flavors of New Orleans.

What’s more Southern than boiled peanuts? Maybe collard greens? They’re what thrills Root & Vine chef, Kalen Fortuna. “Nothing in Southern food speaks to me as loudly as collard greens,” Kalen says. Like his grandfather, he grows them at home, enjoying them around a table with loved ones. “The pot liquor alone can cure just about any ailment.”

Chef Aaron Kulzer at the newly opened Highlands Supper Club, loves biscuits and gravy so much it’s what he eats on his way to work every day. For the country breakfast on the brunch menu, his buttery biscuit with its gentle crust serves as a vehicle for even more deliciousness – think venison gravy.

Nothing says summer like tomato pie. At Dusty Rhodes Superette, coowner Kitty Schultz loves tomato pie almost as much as her customers who line up for the store’s house made vibrant rendition - made with vine ripened tomatoes and topped with extra sharp cheddar cheese.

Highlands Smokehouse features owner Bryan Lewis’s, favorite, Brunswick Stew – a combination of chicken, pork, tomatoes, lima beans, in a deep and rich potful of Carolina comfort.

Crisp and tangy, fried green tomatoes are a revered Southern comfort food. It’s Ryan Adoulette’s, owner of 4118 Kitchen and Bar, most beloved of all Southern foods, and the main component of the restaurant’s epic BLT - a towering stacker leveled up with, bacon, lettuce, and garlic aioli on sourdough bread.

Southern ingredients shine through on Chef Kevin Turner’s menu at Lakeside Restaurant, He’s particularly enamored with pork belly. In one of his all-time much-loved creations seared slow smoked pork belly, scallops, and heirloom tomato chutney come together in one divine dish.

At Oak Steakhouse at the Skyline Lodge, chef Matt Weinstein is quick to sing the praises of his most desired Southern meal – “fried chicken with gooey mac’ cheese is my love language,” he says. He offers up a variation of the iconic dish on the restaurant’s brunch menu – chicken fried steak, “a close second to my first love.”

At his namesake restaurant Don Leon gives one of the South’s most iconic dishes, and his all time favorite, Shrimp Gumbo his own spin. Giving the gumbo its rich flavor and maximum depth, means preparing it with a bacon roux, and plenty of chicken and topping it off with fresh shrimp sautéed to order.

Every summer Chef Massimiliano Prioietti of Paolettis Restaurant looks forward to the boxes of just picked, juicy fragrant peaches that arrive

INGREDIENTS

1/4 cup beef tallow

2 large vidalia onion

1.5lbs smoked ham hocks

3lbs washed and cleaned collards

( preferably late season, when the frost starts to set in)

Chicken Stock to cover (quality, bone broth, dark)

2 tablespoons chicken boullion

1/2 cup brown sugar

1/2 cup apple cider vinegar

salt and pepper to taste

at his kitchen door. When they do, he marinates them with mint and a balsamic glaze and combines them with ahi tuna and arugula for a summertime dish that is “very simple and refreshing.”

The pleasures of a Lowcountry boil are not lost on Rachel Lewicki, owner of The Secret Garden. It’s a one-pot mix, a “boil” of the Lowcountry’s peak summer offerings – a marriage in comfort food heaven of fresh shrimp, spicy andouille sausage, tender corn and tiny potatoes.

DIRECTIONS

You will need two pots for this recipe. Start by covering your ham hocks with the chicken stock and bring to a boil. Skim off anything that floats to the top. Lower the heat and simmer for at least an hour, or until the meat falls off the bone.

Remove the hocks, separate the skin and bones from the meat. Save the meat and cooking liquid.

In another pot, heat the beef tallow over medium heat and add the diced onions. Cook until they are slightly caramelized. Add the vinegar and sugar, stirring until the sugar melts. Start adding the greens in batches.

Once all the greens are in, add the ham hock cooking liquid and chicken bouillon. Simmer on medium low - low for two hours or until the greens are tender

Add in the shredded ham hock meat and season to taste.

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LINDENWOOD LAKE

Events

Community Events

Highlands offers an array of exceptional events throughout the year, catering to a variety of interests and tastes. Visitors can enjoy vibrant parades that bring the community together, elegant benefit galas that support local causes, and cultural celebrations that highlight the town’s unique heritage. For car enthusiasts, the world-class motoring festival is a must-see, showcasing rare and luxury vehicles in a scenic mountain setting. These events, along with art shows, culinary festivals, and outdoor adventures, make Highlands a year-round destination for memorable experiences.

MAY – OCTOBER

POP UP PIPERS

Listen for the call of the Highlands Bagpipers as they perform from a different location the first Saturday of each month, May through October. For more information 828-5262112 or go to visithighlandsnc.com.

MAY 2 – 4

3 RIVERS FLY-FISHING FESTIVAL

A three-day tournament / festival that brings together fly-fishing enthusiasts to raise money for the Town of Highlands Scholarship Fund. Organized by the Highland Hiker. For more information, email threeriverfest@gmail.com or call 828526-0441.

MAY 10

HIGHLANDS DOG SHOW

A fun event celebrating the dogs of Highlands where awards are given out to the best in each category. Hosted by Landmark Realty and Park on Main Hotel. For more information, contact Betsy Harrell at 828-526-4663 or betsy@landmarkrg.com.

MAY 17

HIGH STYLE

A CELEBRATION OF ART, CUISINE, FASHION & MUSIC

Featuring interactive art demonstrations and classes, culinary experiences, a fashion show, musical performances and so much more. Organized by the Highlands Cham-

Highlands

PLATEAU PLaYGROUND

Play at a higher levEL

The Atlanta side of Highlands offers a plethora of fun! Featuring the only public golf course on the Plateau, adventures at Highlands Aerial Park, the highest rated zipline adventure park, and Highlands Outpost, with year round mountain coaster, tubing, gem mining, and cafe. Waterfalls (Estatoah, Mud Creek, Middle Creek), Hiking Trails, (Bartram, Sky Valley, High Holly) and Scenic Overlooks offer a great mountain experience for all ages.

ber of Commerce/Visit Highlands, NC. For more information 828-5262112 or go to visithighlandsnc.com.

MAY 24

SEASON OPENING CELEBRATION

Join the Highlands Historical Society as they kick off their season with a vibrant opening celebration. Enjoy delicious food, lively music, and an immersive living history tour where attendees have the chance to meet and interact with notable figures from Highlands’ past. Visit highlandshistory.com for more information.

MAY 24

MOUNTAIN GARDEN CLUB

ANNUAL PLANT SALE

An annual event where mountain hardy plants are potted and sold by members of the Mountain Garden Club to raise money for scholarships, conservation and more. Organized by the Mountain Garden Club. For more information, email highlandsmountaingardenclub@ gmail.com.

JUNE 1

THREE TENORS & A SOPRANO

Glory Crampton, who originated Christine in the acclaimed musical Phantom by Maury Yeston and Arthur Kopit, brings her renowned voice to Three Tenors & a Soprano. Crampton has performed with opera legend José Carreras (of The Three Tenors) at Radio City Music Hall with the esteemed Orchestra of St. Luke's. Joining her are tenors Marc Devigne, Daniel Montenegro, and Nicholas Rodriguez, creating a captivating blend of pop, opera, and Broadway talent. For more information visit highlandsperformingarts. com or call 828-526-9047.

JUNE 7

DIA DEL NINO (KID'S CELEBRATION DAY)

FREE FAMILY EVENT! Founded and developed by Big Brothers Big Sisters of Cashiers/Highlands along with partners Albert CarltonCashiers Community Library, Boys and Girls Club of the Plateau, and the International Friendship Center. For more information, call 828-3999133, email cashiers@bbbswnc.org or visit bbbswnc.org.

JUNE 12

VOLUNTEER FAIR

Stop by to hear about opportunities to give time and talent to Highlandsarea nonprofit organizations. This free event is organized and hosted by the Highlands Chamber of Commerce/Visit Highlands, NC. For more information call 828-526-2112 or go to visithighlandsnc.com.

JUNE 12 - 15

HIGHLANDS MOTORING FESTIVAL

A four-day automotive festival that brings together car enthusiasts from all over the south to raise money for local human needs charities. Organized by Highlands Motoring Festival, Highlands Rotary Club and Mountaintop Rotary Club of Highlands. For more information, email info@ highlandsmotoringfestival.com or visit highlandsmotoringfestival.com.

JUNE 16

COMING

HOME GALA

If every dog has its day, well, it turns out that every local dog (and cat) has its own glorious party. There will be plenty of wags, and whiskers at the Country Club of Sapphire Valley,

for this event to benefit the shelter pets at the Cashiers-Highlands Humane Society. Organized by Cashiers-Highlands Humane Society. For more information chhumanesociety. org or call 828-743-5752.

JUNE 21

LOW COUNTRY BOIL

The Low Country Shrimp Boil benefits Kelsey-Hutchinson Founders Park. The park is just one block from Main Street and serves as a venue for concerts, ice skating, arts and crafts, farmers market, nonprofit fundraisers, and festivals. Organized by Friends of Founders Park. For more information contact foundersparkhighlands.org.

MID-JUNE – MID-AUGUST ZAHNER LECTURE SERIES

Join the Highlands Biological Foundation for their annual Zahner Conservation Lecture series. These talks serve to educate and inspire the public through a series of talks from well-known regional scientists, conservationists, artists, and writers. These free, public programs will be held at the Highlands Nature Center (930 Horse Cove Rd). For more information highlandsbiological.org or call 828-526-2623.

JUNE 21

HISTORICAL HOMES TOUR

To celebrate Highlands’ 150th Anniversary, Highlands Historical Society is hosting a tour of four of Highlands’ grandest and most important historical homes. This fundraiser will shuttle guests from home to home where they will be welcomed by “ghosts” from the past who will introduce them to the history of their former home. Visit highlandshistory. com for more information.

JUNE

24

BASCOM GALA

The Bascom Gala is the signature annual fundraiser for The Bascom: A Center for the Visual Arts. The festive evening promises to be fun and experiential, featuring a cocktail reception and a unique silent auction. A plated dinner follows with live music, a delicious dessert buffet, and dancing. Organized by The Bascom. For more information go to thebascom.org or call 828-526-4949.

JUNE

28-29

MOUNTAINTOP ARTS & CRAFTS FESTIVAL

A two day, two weekend event that brings over 80 artisans from the region to Highlands for demonstrations, fine art, crafts, entertainment. Organized by Mountaintop Rotary Club of Highlands. For more information, email highlandsartshow@ gmail.com or visit highlandsartshow. com.

JULY 4

TAKE ME OUT TO THE BALLFIELD Boy Scouts water rocket launch, traditional field games, fire trucks, free hotdogs at Rotary Cookout and more. All activities are free and take place at the ballfield next to the community building. Games organized by Highlands Recreation Department. Hot dog lunches organized by Highlands Rotary Club. For more information, please call the Highlands Parks & Recreation Department. at 828-526-3556.

JULY 4

DUCK DERBY

The Highlands Rotary Club's annual rubber duck race brings excitement and raises money for Rotary Club charities on the Fourth of July. Organized by the Highlands Rotary Club. For more information visit highlandsduckrace.com.

JULY 4

OUTDOOR CONCERT & FIREWORKS

Highlands’ Independence Day activities culminate with live music in Kelsey-Hutchinson Founders Park, followed by a thrilling fireworks display. This free event is organized and hosted by the Highlands Chamber of Commerce/Visit Highlands, NC. For more information call 828-526-5841 or go to visithighlandsnc.com.

JULY 5–AUGUST 10

HIGHLANDS-CASHIERS CHAMBER MUSIC FESTIVAL

An annual music festival that spans over six weeks and brings world class musicians to the Highlands Plateau, celebrating its 44th season. For more information email hccmfnc@ gmail.com or visit h-cmusicfestival. org.

JULY 5-6

THE OLD AND THE NEW North Carolina Premiere of Paul Coletti’s Viola Quintet featuring

The Viano Quartet and Paul Coletti, viola/composer. For more information email hccmfnc@gmail.com or visit h-cmusicfestival.org.

JULY 5

COMMUNITY DAY AT THE BASCOM

Hey kids and families! Save the date!!! An event made for you and your family! Community Day at The Bascom. Join us for a day filled with free art activities for the whole family. Organized by The Bascom Center for Visual Art. For more information, theBascom.org or call 828-526-4949.

JULY 18-19

THE BASCOM’S SUMMER POTTERY STUDIO SHOW

The summer installment of our 14th annual pottery show will be held on Friday, July 18 and Saturday, July 19 from 10am-4pm. Enjoy beautiful handmade pottery while supporting local artists in our community! Organized by The Bascom. For more information, contact Frank Vickery at fvickery@thebascom.org or call 828-526-4949.

JULY 18

JAZZ WITH RODNEY MARSALIS & THE PHILADELPHIA BIG BRASS

Renowned trumpeter Rodney Marsalis, known for his evocative sound and impeccable virtuosity, brings his talent to audiences worldwide. Praised by critics across Fanfare Magazine, American Record Guide, and more, Marsalis has captivated listeners from the U.S. to Europe and Asia. A New Orleans na-

Celebrating Highlands’ Heritage Featuring traditional music, dancing, BBQ & MOONSHINE

PERFORMANCES BY J Creek Cloggers, Highlands Bagpipers, & Sledhouse Trio

Kelsey-Hutchinson Founders Park Saturday, September 27 Join us!

tive and "trumpet prodigy," Marsalis debuted as a soloist at fifteen with the New Orleans Symphony and later with the Boston Pops. Trained by his cousin Wynton Marsalis, Rodney has performed with orchestras such as the San Diego Symphony, Tenerife Symphony, and Orquestra Sinfónica de Barcelona. For more information visit highlandsperformingarts.com or call 828-526-9047.

JULY 20

MODERN GENTLEMEN

Brothers Brian and Brandon Brigham, along with Landon Beard and Todd Fournier, gained fame as members of Frankie Valli & The Four Seasons, earning the title “Modern Day Keepers of the Classics.” Known for their exceptional vocal harmonies, they blend timeless hits with their unique flair, bridging generations. The Modern Gentlemen deliver electrifying performances spanning Motown, The Beach Boys, The Beatles, Queen, and more, including a special tribute to Valli & The Four Seasons. For more information visit highlandsperformingarts.com or call 828-526-9047.

JULY 19-20

SUMMER COLORS FINE ART SHOW

For more than 40 years, the ART League of Highlands-Cashiers has focused on promoting an appreciation of the visual arts in Highlands and beyond. For more information, go to artleaguehighlands-cashiers. com.

AUGUST 1

THE BASCOM’S BARN DANCE

Gather 'round, folks! It's time to kick up your heels and dance to the toetapping rhythm of our Community

Barn Dance. Join us for an authentic country dance experience led by an Old Time Country Dance Caller. Everyone can participate, regardless of experience. Organized by The Bascom. For more information go to thebascom.org or call 828-526-4949.

AUGUST 10

CELLOBRATION

The Highlands-Cashiers Chamber Music Festival’s final concert and dinner is a not to miss event. The performance: CelloBration of eight cellists led by Grammy winner Zuill Bailey with soprano Bethany Mamola will be held at the Performing Arts Center in the Martin Lipscomb Theatre followed by dinner at Wildcat Cliffs Country Club. Organized by Highlands-Cashiers Chamber Music Festival. For more information go to h-cmusicfestival.org or call 828-526-9060.

AUGUST 16

HIGHLANDS TWILIGHT 5K RUN, WALK OR STROLL

An annual race held by the Rotary Club of Highlands raises money for a worthy cause while bringing the community together for a run or walk. Organized by The Highlands Rotary Club. For more information, visit highlandstwilightrun.com.

AUGUST 23-24

MOUNTAINTOP ART & CRAFT SHOW

A two day, two weekend event that brings over 80 artisans from the region to Highlands for demonstrations, fine art, crafts, entertainment. Organized by Mountaintop Rotary Club of Highlands. For more information, email highlandsartshow@ gmail.com or visit highlandsartshow. com.

AUGUST 26

DAHLIA PATRONS’ PARTY

To kick-off the upcoming Dazzling Dahlia Festival this fundraiser features lots of great music, food, and libations. Visit highlandshistory.com for more information.

AUGUST 30

YACHT ROCK GOLD

Yacht Rock Gold Experience brings the smooth, feel-good hits of the late ‘70s and early ‘80s to life, celebrating favorites like the Doobie Brothers, Fleetwood Mac, Steely Dan, Kenny Loggins, and more. With spot-on harmonies and stellar musicianship, this show immerses audiences in nostalgia with notefor-note performances and iconic visuals, delivering hit after hit for a soul-soothing evening of classic tunes. For more information visit highlandsperformingarts.com or call 828-526-9047.

SEPTEMBER 4-6

DAHLIA FESTIVAL

This annual festival celebrates the dazzling dahlias of the Plateau and features the Single Bloom Competition at the Bascom, stunning vignettes throughout town and special entertainment and food on the Highlands HistoricalSociety campus. The festival will hit its peak with a concert in KelseyHutchinson Park on Saturday night. Visit highlandshistory.com for more information.

SEPTEMBER 13

TERRY BARBER PRESENTS

MERCURY: STORIES & SONGS OF QUEEN'S LEGENDARY SINGER

With his extraordinary vocal range, countertenor Terry Barber celebrates Queen’s Freddie Mercury, blending hit songs with stories from Mercury’s life. More than a concert, this tribute offers an intimate look at a rock legend who defined a generation. Barber’s concept recording of this material is up for eight Grammy nominations. For more information visit highlandsperformingarts.com or call 828-526-9047.

SEPTEMBER 21

PORCHFEST

Porchfest is Highland's freeto-attend music festival. Over 40 musicians from every genre performing at 14 hosting venues. Walk, bike, or drive from venue to venue to enjoy an entire afternoon filled with live music from talented local and regional musicians. Organized by Highlands-Cashiers Center for Life Enrichment. For more information visit highlandsporchfest. com or call 828-526-8811.

SEPTEMBER 27

DESCENDANTS’ RECEPTION

Join the Highlands Historical Society at a reception to honor multi-generational descendants of early Highlands settlers. Hear the stories from families that date their ancestry to the beginning of Highlands and share in the family histories that make Highlands so unique. Visit highlandshistory.com for more information.

SEPTEMBER 27

HIGHLANDS HERITAGE JAMBOREE

Celebrate Highlands’ history and traditions during this event in KelseyHutchinson Founders Park. This event is organized and hosted by the Highlands Chamber of Commerce/ Visit Highlands, NC. For more information, call 828-526-2112 or go to visithighlandsnc.com.

SEPTEMBER 27

BRUBECK BROTHER’S QUARTET

Brothers Chris and Dan Brubeck, sons of jazz legend Dave Brubeck, have been making music together since 1966. As the core of the Brubeck Brothers Quartet, joined by guitarist Mike DeMicco and pianist Chuck Lamb, they bring their dynamic jazz sound to concert series, colleges, and major festivals across North America and Europe, including Newport, Detroit, and Monterey Jazz Festivals. For more information visit highlandsperformingarts.com or call 828-526-9047.

SEPTEMBER 26-27

BASCOM CLAY SYMPOSIUM

Celebrating the 15th anniversary, The Bascom will welcome three noted ceramic artists and a keynote speaker to the Plateau. Each artist will share their stories, inspirations,

and techniques learned through the years on The Bascom campus. Free to the public. Organized by The Bascom. For more information, visit thebascom.org or call 828-526-4949.

OCTOBER 5

HIGHLANDS ON THE HALF SHELL

Join the Highlands Biological Foundation on Sunday, October 6th at Highlands Biological Station's Valentine Meadow (888 Horse Cove Road) for their annual oyster roast celebration as they raise funds to support their mission of stimulating, promoting, and funding biological research and education in the southern Appalachian Mountains. For more information go to highlandsbiological.org or call 828-526-2221.

OCTOBER 10–11

THE

BASCOM’S FALL POTTERY STUDIO SHOW

The fall installment of our 14th annual pottery show will be held on Friday, October 10 and Saturday, October 11th from 10am-4pm. Enjoy beautiful handmade pottery while supporting local artists in our community! Organized by The Bascom. For more information, thebascom.org, Frank Vickery at fvickery@thebascom.org. or call 828-526-4949.

OCTOBER 12

EMPTY BOWLS

Hosted by International Friendship Center to raise funds for their Food Pantry program here in Highlands, Empty Bowls is an international grassroots effort to fight hunger and food insecurity. This event pairs potters and other craftspeople with

.

concerned citizens supporting the elimination of food insecurity. For more information go to internationalfriendshipcenter.org or call 828526-0890.

OCTOBER 16

CASINO NIGHT AT HIGHLANDS COUNTRY CLUB FOR OUR FURRY FRIENDS AT CHHS

Roll the dice for our furry friends at the Highlands Country Club and make a difference for these animals in need. Organized by CashiersHighlands Humane Society. For more information go to chhumanesociety.org or call 828-7435752.

OCTOBER 18-19

FALL COLORS FINE ART SHOW

For more than 40 years, the ART League of Highlands-Cashiers has focused on promoting an appreciation of the visual arts in Highlands and beyond. Organized by ART League of HighlandsCashiers. For more information go to artleaguehighlands-cashiers.com.

OCTOBER 28

ENCHANTED FOREST

Go trick-or-treating through the forest trails of the Highlands Botanical Garden from 5:30–7pm. A bonfire, refreshments, and more will be waiting at the end. Costumes encouraged! For more information highlandsbiological.org or call 828526-2221.

OCTOBER 31

HALLOWEEN ON MAIN

Main Street is visited by ghosts and goblins of all ages during this popular event. Enjoy tricks and treats, along with live music. This event is organized and hosted by the Highlands Chamber of Commerce/Visit Highlands, NC. For more information call 828-526-2112 or go to visithighlandsnc.com.

NOVEMBER – MARCH

ICE SKATING

November through March, you can embark on an ice adventure. As stars glisten in the sky and children’s laughter sings, the ice-skating rink at Kelsey-Hutchinson Founders Park comes alive. If barreling across the rink isn’t your scene, grab a cup of hot chocolate or coffee, and stay toasty as you watch the activity on the ice. It’s like something from a Currier & Ives print, and its heaps of fun whether you’re on the ice or just watching. The price is only $8, with or without skates. Coffee and hot chocolate are available for purchase. For more information, please call the Highlands Parks & Recreation Department at 828-526-3556.

NOVEMBER 3-DECEMBER 27

HOLIDAY MARKET

The Bascom’s Holiday Market provides a unique shopping experience on the plateau, showcasing a selection of high-quality handmade works by local and regional artists. Organized by The Bascom. For more information go to thebascom.org or call 828-526-4949.

NOVEMBER 13–16

HIGHLANDS FOOD AND WINE

An annual event full of food, fun, music, drinks and more. This event is organized by Highlands Festivals, Inc. For more information, visit highlandsfoodandwine.com or email info@highlandsfestivalsinc.org.

NOVEMBER 28

GINGERBREAD WORKSHOP

Fun for all ages! Gingerbread designers will find a buffet of all the sweets and confections needed to decorate imaginative gingerbread houses. Participants may enter their creations in a contest to be judged by popular vote. The winner will receive a Bascom art by appointment gift certificate! Organized by The Bascom. For more information go to thebascom.org or call 828-526-4949.

NOVEMBER 28

NASHVILLE NOEL

Experience the magic of Nashville and Christmas in Nashville Noel, a festive country music extravaganza blending classic country hits with beloved holiday carols. This heartwarming show captures the spirit of the season with toe-tapping songs and joyful performances, creating an enchanting holiday experience

Celebrate the joy and beauty of the season

Ice Skating in the Park

November - March

Kelsey-Hutchinson Founders Park

Light up the Park & Main

Saturday, November 29

Kelsey-Hutchinson Founders Park

Highlands Christmas Parade

Saturday, December 6

Main Street

Santa in the Park

December 6, 13 & 20

Kelsey-Hutchinson Founders Park

Lighting of the Menorah

Thursday, December 14

Kelsey-Hutchinson Founders Park

for all ages. For more information visit highlandsperformingarts.com or call 828-526-9047.

NOVEMBER 29

LIGHT UP THE PARK & MAIN

Santa leads this celebration as the sparkling holiday lights turn on for the first time in Kelsey-Hutchinson Founders Park and along Main St. This event is organized and hosted by the Highlands Chamber of Commerce/Visit Highlands, NC. For more information call 828-526-2112 or go to visithighlandsnc.com.

DECEMBER 6

HIGHLANDS OLDE MOUNTAIN

CHRISTMAS PARADE

What better way to kick off the holiday season than with an oldfashioned, small-town parade? This free event is organized and hosted by the Highlands Chamber of Commerce/Visit Highlands, NC. For more information call 828-526-2112 or go to visithighlandsnc.com.

DECEMBER 6

CHRISTMAS BBQ LUNCH

Come for the parade and stay for a delicious Pork BBQ lunch at Church of the Incarnation. The BBQ lunch supports the Highlands Emergency Council and Highlands Childcare Development Center. Organized by Church of the Incarnation. For more information go to incarnationwnc. org or call 828-526-2968.

SATURDAYS IN DECEMBER

SANTA IN THE PARK

Santa will take his place at KelseyHutchinson Founders Park each Saturday during December. Come share your wish list! This free event is organized and hosted by the Highlands Chamber of Commerce/ Visit Highlands, NC. For more information call 828-526-2112 or go to visithighlandsnc.com.

DECEMBER

CHRISTMAS BIRD COUNT

Organized by the Highlands Audubon Society, this annual event is part of a national effort to document bird life nationwide. Participants will divide into teams for the day, record the number of species and the number of birds seen. For more information go to highlandsaudubonsociety.org.

DECEMBER 14

LIGHTING OF THE MENORAH

One candle of the giant menorah will be lit on the first night of Hanukkah and an additional candle each successive night. This will be done until the eighth night when the Menorah is fully illuminated. KelseyHutchinson Founders Park. This free event is organized and hosted by the Highlands Chamber of Commerce/Visit Highlands, NC. For more information call 828-526-2112 or go to visithighlandsnc.com.

**Events subject to change**

FRIDAY NIGHT LIVE CONCERT SERIES

Highlands offers free, live, outdoor music each Friday and Saturday night from May through September. Bring your favorite lawn chair and picnic basket and join us!

Showcasing traditional mountain music and local talent Town Square | 343 Main Street | 6-8:30pm

DOUG RAMSEY

Doug Ramsay is the "blue-eyed soul man" from Detroit. Influenced by Motown legends and 70s rock, Doug brings decades of experience covering everything from jazz standards to

Showcase Artist and 2023 SPBGMA

Gospel Group of the Year nominee, they’ve had numerous chart-topping hits with their traditional yet original music. Their unique, recognizable style and energetic performances make them a standout in bluegrass, delivering a show that’s always entertaining.

JUNE 6 - THE FOXFIRE BOYS (SEE MAY 23)

JUNE 13SOUTHERN HIGHLAND BAND

JUNE 27SPARE PARTS BLUEGRASS BAND Hailing from Upstate SC, Spare Parts Bluegrass Band delivers delicate harmonies as well as tried and true barn burners within the bluegrass genre. With over 50 years of musical experience amongst them, Spare Parts Bluegrass is comprised of a tight-knit group of multiinstrumentalists and talented vocalists that you do not want to miss.

Independence Day Concert!

Formed in the early 1980s, The Foxfire Boys grew out of its members’ participation in The Foxfire Fund’s Appalachian culture and music program in northeast Georgia. Performing bluegrass blends, the band has since graced the stage at

NICK CHANDLER AND DELIVERED

Nick Chandler and Delivered bring a distinctive, polished bluegrass sound, reminiscent of the genre's 1980s heyday. Known for Nick Chandler's exceptional songwriting and arranging, the band has become a must-see at bluegrass festivals worldwide. A 2024 International Bluegrass Music Association Official

Lifelong friends Tom Nixon and Dean English are also the owners of Blue Ridge Music in Clayton, GA. Their music has an emphasis on their bluegrass roots.

JUNE 20 - CURTIS BLACKWELL & DIXIE BLUEGRASS BOYS

Curtis has had a band since 1965 and was recognized in 2011 as a pioneer of bluegrass music at the International Bluegrass Museum in Owensboro, KY. He is a former member of the Bluegrass Boys, having played with Bill Monroe in the sixties, and is also part of the Atlanta Music Hall of Fame.

FRIDAY, JULY 4 - DIVERSE GROOVE at KelseyHutchison Founders park

Known nationwide for their high-energy performances and top-tier showmanship, Diverse Groove delivers a nonstop show from the moment they take the stage. True to their name, they perform a wide range of genres, including Top 40 hits, Beach Music, Motown, R&B, Rock, Dance, and Reggae.

*Concerts subject to change

JULY 11 – NITROGRASS

Nitrograss, both sonically unique and visually appealing in their performances, provides a carefree and exciting atmosphere of pure acoustic ear-fodder.

JULY

18

- JOHNNY WEBB BAND

Offering laid-back, yet seasoned, country music, the Johnny Webb Band performs selections spanning more than 50 years with a down-home flavor.

JULY

25

- ABC COMBO

Local favorites, The ABC Combo, return with their signature “Jazz-Blues-FunkSmooth” style and three new members. Bassist Fisher Wilson, a Charleston College of Music grad, brings over a decade of experience across genres from Appalachian to Latin and Jazz. Keyboardist Matt Molesworth, with 30+ years of experience, is well-known locally for his live performances and piano instruction. Drummer Jay Calloway reunites with guitarist David Crisp, both veterans of the local scene and former members of the popular band 4118. Trumpeter Brian Aulisio and saxophonist Tom Herbort round out the group, adding 50+ years of combined experience in jazz, reggae, and more. Expect a vibrant mix of jazz, funk, blues, and world fusion.

AUGUST

1

–EZRA & KATIE

Husband and wife duo, Ezra and Katie have been playing acoustic music together for over 10 years. These Highlands natives recently spent seven years in Los Angeles pursuing their creative endeavors before returning to the area.

AUGUST

8

- MCCLAIN FAMILY BAND

Hailing from Eastern Kentucky’s Appalachian Mountains, the McLain Family Band have become internationally known as one of the most spontaneous, creative and spirited groups performing original and traditional bluegrass music. Television appearances include NBC’s Today Show, the CBS Morning News and ABC’s Good Morning America. They have also performed at Carnegie Hall, The Kennedy Center, The Lincoln Center, and the Grand Ole Opry.

AUGUST 15 - SHAWN LANE TRIO, FEATURING LANE BROTHERS

Shawn Lane is a three-time GRAMMY nominee and a 28-time IBMA Award winner. As a beloved vocalist, instrumentalist, and songwriter, he has collaborated with numerous artists, including Ronnie Bowman, Ricky Skaggs, Willie Nelson, Dan Tyminski, Sierra Hull, Jerry Douglas, Alison Krauss, and Blue Highway, the band he co-founded.

The Shawn Lane Trio features his sons, Grayson and Garrett, who are rapidly gaining recognition in Nashville as talented performers and songwriters. They have earned acclaim from notable

figures such as Daniel Tashian, Sam Bergeson, Scotty Emerick, and Megan Trainor.

AUGUST 22 - SPARE PARTS BLUEGRASS BAND (SEE JUNE 27)

AUGUST 29 - THE FOXFIRE BOYS (SEE MAY 23)

SEPTEMBER 5 - SILLY RIDGE (SEE JULY 5)

SEPTEMBER 12 - JOHNNY WEBB BAND (SEE JULY 18)

SEPTEMBER 19 - CURTIS BLACKWELL & DIXIE BLUEGRASS BOYS (SEE JUNE 20)

SEPTEMBER 26 – NITROGRASS (SEE JULY 11)

SATURDAYS ON PINE CONCERT SERIES

Featuring a variety of popular regional bands and musicians

Kelsey-Hutchinson Founders Park | 411-499 Pine Street | 6-8:30pm

Bring your favorite lawnchair and picnic basket and join the fun!

MAY 17 - GOTCHA GROOVE

Gotcha Groove is a dynamic, sevenmember party band based in the Carolinas, known for delivering high-energy performances. Their vast and versatile repertoire spans nine decades, covering everything from R&B, soul, and funk to rock, oldies, beach music, and dance hits.

MAY 24 - MO MONEY

Mo Money, the Carolina Panther’s house band, offers infectious energy. With top studio musicians, songwriters, and producers—each with national credits—they deliver authentic covers of your favorite songs. From Top 40 hits to timeless dance classics, their setlist keeps the party going.

MAY 31 – THE HOLIDAY BAND

The ever-popular Holiday Band was established in 1991 in Burlington NC and performs the very best beach music to get crowds on their feet and dancing.

They were inductees into Carolina Beach Music Awards Hall of Fame in 2015.

JUNE 7 - PEGGY RATUZ

A staple of the Asheville music scene, Peggy Ratusz is known for her sultry, multi-layered blend of Blues, Jazz, Soul, and R&B. Drawing influence from legends like Ray Charles, Ella Fitzgerald, and Bonnie Raitt, Peggy's unique voice and soulful style are unmistakably her own.

JUNE 14 – BOOGITHERAPY

Some of Asheville’s funkiest musicians came together to form BoogiTherapi. Headed by Asheville Funk Soldier Ryan Barber, BoogiTherapi brings high energy dance music that is therapeutic to your mind, body, and soul.

JUNE 21 - SPALDING MCINTOSH & THE LIONHEARTS

Founded in 2019 by front man Spalding McIntosh, the LionHearts are a versatile ensemble of established pros, all devoted to presenting its founder’s complex compositions on home, love and the challenges of manhood, all in a tight, rolling groove.

JUNE 28 - NO CONCERT – MOUNTAINTOP ART & CRAFT SHOW

JULY 5 - SILLY RIDGE

Special holiday Saturday concert in Town Square

Popular Highlands-based band Silly Ridge brings classic bluegrass & popular music, mixed with fun and high energy, to the Highlands-Cashiers plateau! July 12 - Shane Meade & The Sound Shane Meade is the talented singersongwriter behind the Tampa-based, soul-infused folk rock band Shane Meade & the Sound. Originally from Elkins, West Virginia, Shane taught himself guitar in 2000 before moving to Florida. His heartfelt songwriting captivates audiences with its simplicity, inspiring lyrics, and universal themes.

JULY 12 - SHANE

MEADE AND THE SOUND

Shane Meade is the talented singer songwriter behind the Tampa based, soul infused folk rock band Shane Meade & the Sound. Originally from Elkins, West Virginia, Shane taught himself guitar in 2000 before moving to Florida. His heartfelt songwriting captivates audiences with its simplicity, inspiring lyrics, and universal themes.

JULY 19 - THE BREAKFAST CLUB

The Breakfast Club® is the longest running, most recognized ’80’s tribute band in the United States. Formed in 1993, the group was the first of its kind. The mission was simple: create an entertainment group that embodied the enigmatic, creative, and buoyant spirit of music and live performances of the original MTV generation of the 1980’s. That mission remains today.

JULY 26 - THE BOOMERS

The Boomers are back by popular demand! Having shared the stage with Hootie and the Blowfish, Melissa Etheridge, Alison Krauss, Huey Lewis and the News and more. The Boomers are no strangers to the stage and know exactly what it takes to entertain a crowd.

AUGUST 2 - HIGH 5

High 5’s sound incorporates rock, blues, Americana, bluegrass, country, jazz as well as other musical styles to provide a set list that is familiar and eclectic at the same time.

AUGUST 9 - HC OAKES BAND

The HC Oakes Band covers songs by Tom Petty, Neil Young, The Rolling Stones,

Eagles, Allman Brothers, Chris Stapleton, Jason Isbell and many more. Plus, original songs!

AUGUST 16 - NO CONCERT – HIGHLANDS TWILIGHT 5K

AUGUST 23 - NO CONCERT – MOUNTAINTOP ART & CRAFT SHOW

AUGUST 30 – SOUTHSIDE STATION

Southside Station is a talented fivepiece band that brings legendary hits from pop, rock, dance, and country to life, showcasing a unique blend of instrumentation. Having shared the stage with icons like Charlie Daniels, ZZ Top, Styx, Foreigner, and Sheryl Crow, these seasoned musicians know how to captivate an audience.

SEPTEMBER 6 - STEEL TOE STILETTO

Steel Toe Stiletto is a premium events band based in Greenville, SC. You can find them playing your favorite music all over the southeast at celebratory events.

SEPTEMBER 13 - CONTINENTAL DIVIDE

For more than three decades, Continental Divide has performed across the Southeast. From the silky-smooth voice of Gene Pharr (A 2016 Carolina Beach Music Hall of Fame Inductee), to the tightness of the rhythm section, to the

flowing lines of the horn section, they put on a performance everyone will remember.

SEPTEMBER 20 –BRANDON CROCKER TRIO

Brandon Crocker’s diverse repertoire spans artists like James Taylor, John Mayer, Stevie Wonder, Garth Brooks, Eric Clapton, and Otis Redding, covering genres from Blues and Motown to Pop, Country, and folk hits from the '60s through the '90s. With a constantly expanding setlist, Brandon brings something for every audience.

SEPTEMBER 27 - SHEDHOUSE TRIO

Bluegrass music with Shedhouse Trio featuring Darren Nicholson, Grammy Award Nominated mandolinist and former member of Balsam Range.

*Concerts subject to change

PlaCES TO STAY

A STAY IN HIGHLANDS’ HISTORIC HOTELS:

WHERE PAST MEETS PRESENT

Nestled on Main Street in the heart of Highlands, NC, two of the town’s oldest and most iconic hotels—Highlands Inn and Old Edwards Inn & Spa—offer visitors a chance to experience the charm and elegance of a bygone era. Each property carries with it a deep connection to the town’s history, alongside modern comforts that make them perfect destinations for today’s traveler.

HIGHLANDS INN

Dating back to 1880, the Highlands Inn stands as a testament to the town’s early days. Originally known as Highlands House and built by Joseph Halleck, the Inn has changed hands many times over the years, but it officially became known as Highlands Inn in 1925 after being purchased by Frank Cook.

Listed on the National Register of Historic Places since 1991, this beloved landmark has been a centerpiece in the historical and cultural fabric of Highlands. It has witnessed significant events, including the notorious Moccasin War of 1885, a tumultuous episode in local history. During this conflict, the Inn served as a makeshift jail for two bootleggers arrested by a U.S. revenuer. The arrest incited the

Moccasin Township from Georgia to march on Highlands, leading to a dramatic standoff right on Main Street, with the Highlands Inn caught in the middle. The stalemate ended when a Highlander fatally shot a Moccasin youth, which led to the withdrawal of the Georgian contingent.

Highlands Inn also played a significant role in the regional conservation efforts through the work of George Masa, a Japanese-born photographer who stayed at the Inn for two weeks in 1929. Invited by the then-owner Frank Cook, Masa captured nearly 100 black-andwhite photographs of the surrounding landscapes, significantly contributing to the area's historical documentation. Masa's work not only showcased the

stunning vistas but also supported conservation causes, including the establishment of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park.

Today, owners Bill and Sabrina Hawkins, descendants of some of Highlands' earliest settlers, continue to preserve the Inn’s historic charm. Renovations over the years, such as the 1970s addition of the Rock Garden and the 1989 restoration of the Inn’s country manor aesthetic, have maintained its allure. The Sequoya Room, revamped in 2006, mirrors Victorian elegance of the late 1880s and serves as a beloved venue for various events.

Highlands Inn has seen its fair share of unique moments, including a famous photograph from October 1923, where guests watched in awe as a circus parade—complete with elephants—made its way down Main Street. The blend of deep-rooted history and cultural significance continues to draw visitors, making it a unique destination in Highlands. Today, the Inn continues to welcome guests from April through November, offering a peaceful retreat in one of North Carolina’s most scenic towns.

OLD EDWARDS INN & SPA

Just steps from the Highlands Inn stands Old Edwards Inn & Spa, a property that traces its roots back to 1878 when it was first known as Central House. As Highlands first boarding house, this charming spot quickly became a beloved community hub, cherished for the warm hospitality of David “Uncle Dave” and Martha “Aunt Mat” Norton, who managed it from 1880 to 1897. Over time, Central House evolved from its modest origins into the Old Edwards Inn & Spa we know today and one of the Southeast’s premier luxury destinations

The transformation began in 1934 when Grover “Diamond Joe” Edwards and his wife Minnie purchased Central House and eventually expanded it to include the three-story Hotel Edwards, which combined the original boarding house with a stone storehouse foundation from 1893. This development cemented Old Edwards’ place in Highlands' history, and it continues to hold that status, having earned its place on the National Register of Historic Places.

Over the decades, Old Edwards Inn has undergone several enhancements, most notably in the early 2000s

when Art and Angela Williams invested $150 million into transforming the property into a world-class resort. Their vision brought to life luxurious amenities like a renowned spa, the picturesque Farm venue, an executive conference center, and the prestigious Old Edwards Club golf course.

Today, under the new ownership of James and Jessica Whitley who purchased the property in 2024, Old Edwards continues to build on its legacy. The Whitleys have embraced the Inn’s history while working to expand the Old Edwards Hospitality Group, incorporating their previously owned properties—like The Reserve at Lake Keowee—under the Old Edwards umbrella. Their plans include the introduction of a premium membership that will offer guests exclusive access to not only Old Edwards Club and GlenCove Adventure-Wellness Community but also The Reserve at Lake Keowee, creating a new experience across multiple locations.

In addition to its storied past, Old Edwards is celebrated for its worldclass spa, which has earned national

recognition for its lavish treatments and wellness experiences. Visitors can indulge in some of the best dining in Highlands, with the farm-to-table elegance of Madison’s Restaurant, the cozy yet sophisticated experience of Four65 Woodfire Bistro + Bar, and the casual charm of Highlands Burrito.

With its historic roots and modernday accolades—including a recent win from the 2024 Oprah Daily Hotel OWards for "Resorts and Destinations to Jump-Start Your Healing Journey"— Old Edwards Inn & Spa continues to enchant visitors from around the world. It remains a cornerstone of both Highlands’ history and its thriving tourism economy.

Whether you're drawn by the quaint, historic allure of Highlands Inn or the luxury and rejuvenation offered by Old Edwards, these two inns remain the heart of Highlands' hospitality, inviting visitors to enjoy the timeless elegance of the town.

Places to Stay

in Highlands, north carolina

Highlands is an idyllic destination for those seeking a respite from the hustle and bustle of everyday life, providing a perfect backdrop for relaxation and rejuvenation. The accommodations here range from charming boutique hotels to elegant inns, each offering a distinct experience tailored to your needs. Immerse yourself in the warm hospitality of Highlands, where dedicated staff, unique settings, and inviting atmospheres combine to create an unforgettable stay. Discover the perfect haven to unwind and recharge amidst the breathtaking beauty of the mountains.

HOTELS AND INNS

200 MAIN

200 Main by Old Edwards offers tranquil rooms and suites with close access to Highlands’ downtown shops and restaurants at a casual lodging rate. Guests can enjoy outdoor amenities such as the outdoor fire pit, heated mineral pool and access to Old Edwards Club for golf.

200 Main Street, Highlands oldedwardshospitality.com/200-main 828-526-2790

FIRE MOUNTAIN RESORT

Fire Mountain Resort offers a diverse range of accommodations, each with its own unique character and ambiance. Choose from the Highlands Lodge, the Manor House Bungalows, or the Gypsy Creek Cabins. All spaces have been recently updated with new furnishings, linens, and decks, ensuring a comfortable and inviting stay. Enjoy stunning vistas while dining at the acclaimed Cloud 7 Restaurant.

700 Happy Hill Road, Scaly Mountain firemountain-resort.com 800-775-4446

Explore from this newly redesigned and renovated hotel, surrounded by woods and steps away from picturesque downtown Highlands.

Curated activities & guided excursions

Market on-site with local goodies

Complimentary bikes to explore

Outdoor gathering area with fire pit

HALF-M ILE FARM

Half-Mile Farm by Old Edwards offers a peaceful escape for visitors 18 and older with guestrooms and cabins surrounded by lush forest and a lake. Amenities include a heated pool, a courtyard, patios, a forest trail, and access to Old Edwards Club for golf. The serene property is in the outskirts of Highlands.

214 Half-Mile Drive, Highlands oldedwardshospitality.com/half-mile-farm 828-526-8170

HAMPTON INN AND SUITES

CASHIERS

SAPPHIRE VALLEY

If you’re looking for a recognizable name, Hampton Inn by Hilton – about 13 miles away in Cashiers -offers the traditional hotel experience with free breakfast, friendly service, clean rooms, and amenities.

3245 Highway 64 E., Sapphire hilton.com/en/hampton/ 828-743-4545

HIGHLANDER MOUNTAIN HOUSE

Located on Highlands’ Main Street, The Highlander Mountain House offers cozy rooms and warm, relaxing common areas. Guests can stay in the Mountain House or the Bunk House, which is pet friendly, and has access to the main house amenities. Onsite you’ll find The Ruffed Grouse Tavern, offering a seasonal menu with ingredients sourced from farmers in the Blue Ridge Mountains.

270 Main Street, Highlands highlandermountainhouse.com 828-526-2590

HIGHLANDS INN

Highlands Inn is full of history, with it being the oldest accommodation in town. The inn has 31 charming rooms and is in downtown Highlands, making it

THE INN AT MILL CREEK

perfect for guests wanting to explore Main Street.

420 Main Street, Highlands highlandsinn-nc. com 828-526-9380

Guests of the Inn at Mill Creek enjoy large patios and decks to gaze out at the clear mountain creek below. This Inn offers a serene and peaceful stay but still has access to downtown Highlands' excitement, located only three blocks away.

420 Carolina Way, Highlands millcreekhighlandsnc.com/rooms/ 828-526-9999

OLD EDWARDS INN AND SPA

Though conveniently located on a bustling corner in downtown Highlands, you’ll feel worlds away at Old Edwards Inn, a renowned luxury European style resort with premium amenities, a world class spa, a fitness center and tennis courts, onsite shopping, mountain golf and farm-fed restaurants.

445 Main Street, Highlands oldedwardshospitality.com/ old-edwards-inn-spa 828-526-8008

THE OUTPOST INN

Outpost Inn offers boutique mountain lodging just a short walk from downtown Highlands. Their newly remodeled 14 guest rooms feature world class bedding and modern amenities to ensure a relaxing and enjoyable retreat.

790 N. 4th Street, Highlands outpostinnhighlands.com 828-482-7736

Photo credit: Old Edwards Hospitality

THE PARK ON MAIN HOTEL

This charming hotel on Main Street provides an experience for pets and their owners to relax and indulge. Complimentary breakfast, a dog park and room amenities such as heated floors and Italian linen make The Park on Main the ultimate stay for visitors and their pet.

205 Main Street, Highlands theparkonmain.com

828-526-4502

800-221-5078

SKYLINE LODGE

Located on a mountain top in Highlands, Skyline Lodge offers a five-star lodging experience with views of the Blue Ridge Mountains. Skyline offers the perfect place to relax and enjoy amazing meals at its Oak Steakhouse. The on-site restaurant offers innovative dining with locally inspired dishes.

470 Skyline Lodge Road, Highlands skyline-lodge.com

828-526-4008

TRAILBORN HIGHLANDS

Trailborn Highlands is comprised of 63 guest rooms, The Highlands Supper Club – a destination restaurant and bar serving Southern fare in a historic log cabin – a spacious lobby lounge with a central fireplace and breakfast nook offering complimentary coffee and afternoon tea, as well as a curated onsite retail market featuring an assortment of local sundries and brand-name goods.

96 Log Cabin Lane, Highlands trailborn.com/highlands 828-526-5899

VACATION RENTALS

BERKSHIRE HATHAWAY HOMESERVICES

MEADOWS MOUNTAIN REALTY

meadowsmountainrealty.com 828-526-1717

CHAMBERS REALTY & VACATION RENTALS

highlandsiscalling.com 828-526-3717

ELEVATE LUXURY CABIN RENTALS

elevatehighlands.com 404-281-8886

FAIRVIEW HOUSE

highlandsfairviewhouse.com 828-528-1064

THE FIFTH

Thefifthhighlands.com 828-200-1251

FLAT MOUNTAIN FARM

flatmountainfarm.com

Photo credit: Kort Havens

Check In and Bliss Out

Surround yourself in European-style luxury with premium leisure amenities in the heart of downtown Highlands with heated pools, world-class spa, farm-fed restaurants and live music venues.

GALAX RENTALS galaxrentals.com 828-526-6346

HIGH CAMP highcampnc.com 828-634-1010

HIGHLANDS SOTHEBY’S INTERNATIONAL REALTY sothebysrealty.com/ highlandssir 828-526-4104

HIGHLANDS VACATION RENTALS highlandsmountainrentals.com 828-526-9999

RENT IN HIGHLANDS/ COUNTRY CLUB PROPERTIES rentinhighlands.com 828-787-2002

ROCKWOOD LODGE rockwoodlodge.com 828-526-8919

VALENTINE MANOR valentinemanor.com 561-613-1496

THE VINEYARD AT HIGH HOLLY thevineyardathighholly. com 828-482-5573 a Division of Country Club Properties www.rentinhighlands.com | 828-787-2002

LANDMARK REAL ESTATE SALES & VACATION RENTALS landmarkrg.com 828-415-5656

THE LOFTS ON MAIN theloftsonmain.com 828-634-1572 LOTTS OF SKY 404-395-4000

Simple Pleasures and Gracious Hospitality with Private Lake and Heated Pool

Guests 18 and Over

GENERATIONS IN HIGHLANDS:

A TAPESTRY OF FAMILIES

To one the story began on a farm where sheep roamed, to another it was a tale about a forest ranger in a one-room lookout tower, yet for another it is the legacy of a child growing up in a summer resort with dozens of “grandparents.” There are stories about harsh winters, and journeys on horseback and one-room schooling and ice skating and clogging. These are the stories that are told by those who know its history and so much more. These and more are the memories of the descendants of Highlands oldest families.

Kay Thomas shares her memories of Kings Inn. In 1925, her grandfather purchased the Inn, then known as the Islington House. When her grandfather passed, the property was left to his wife and their four children. Kay’s mother, Betty Trowbridge, was the only one who stayed behind to manage the Inn. As a child, Kay lived in a cabin behind the hotel, where now The Falls at Old Edwards stands.

For Kay, the Kings Inn wasn’t just a business; it was her entire world. In those years before the advent of assisted living facilities, older guests would arrive for the season in

chauffeur-driven autos to summer in their favorite rooms, dine at the same tables, and spend evenings in the parlor playing bridge. In the fall, the chauffeurs would fetch them for the drive to the family’s hotel in Central Florida where they would resume their routines. “It was like I had a group of grandparents,” she said Kay worked in the kitchen from the time she was 11 and she can still recall the fragrant aromas of prime rib and fried chicken, and the excitement in the air as people came from all over for the inn’s famous macaroni mousse.

Sunday nights were even more special, when Mom sent the children into the woods to gather natural materials for elaborate tablescapes. She still recalls the evening when she and her siblings brought back the most beautiful mushrooms—only to find out they were poisonous.

Helen Hedden’s reflections about life in Highlands run long – her family goes back to the early 1800s in this place. On her mother’s side, the Crunkleton family has been a part of Highlands’ history for generations. Helen’s great uncle, Henry Wright, was

R. R. “Bob” King is pictured outside his home. King purchased the Islington House in 1925 and ran it until his death in 1964 as King’s Inn. Photo from the King’s Inn Cookbook.

closely involved with the Highlands Biological Station. He had several flower gardens on his property on Shortoff Road, and Helen fondly recalls idyllic days spent there with her brother among the wildflowers - lady’s slippers, showy orchids, and Dutchman’s breeches—flowers that are rare now.” And at the end of the day there were chocolate-covered cherries, Uncle Henry’s special gift to the children.

Most cherished among Helen’s legacy is Helen’s Barn, a community hub built and run by her grandmother Helen Wright, following the death of her husband, Charlie. Left to raise five children on her own, the Barn was a way to support her family. But it became so much more. For 50 years, it was the effective town center - a gathering place for square dancing, clogging, and community fun. “It was only open on Fridays and Saturdays,” Helen recalls, “but it brought people together.” Helen herself was part of the first Helen’s Barn clogging team, coached by her mother. “We even won third place in a Franklin competition.”

THE RUGGED LIFE ON THE HIGHLANDS PLATEAU

Life in Highlands and its surrounding areas wasn’t always easy, but there were many good times. Gerry Crow, a descendant of the Pickelsheimer and Rogers families, recounts visiting her Pickelsheimer grandparents’ farm in Clear Creek, where they raised sheep. “Grandma Cora would take us to the barn and let us climb up into the loft, so we could jump down onto the soft, woolly backs of the sheep.” Her grandfather, Ed Pickelsheimer, was a farmer and a peddler, who traveled to Walhalla by horse and wagon to sell produce from their land – a trip took

that took two days. He spoke often of his trusty horse, Prince, bragging that Prince could make the trip to Franklin and back in one day – a long journey in the days before the construction of the Gorge Road.

Gerry’s aunt, Almetta, “Mett” Brooks, was another unforgettable character. She and her husband ran the Gulf store on Walhalla Road, which included a small bowling alley and dance floor. Mett was a talented artist, who painted scenes of Highlands and even sculpted busts of famous figures like President Dwight Eisenhower.

Katrina Laverty’s ancestors – the Potts, Reese and Baty families – have lived here for generations. “My great grandfather Robert Walter Reese came up to Highlands in 1885 from Franklin to paint the Presbyterian church. He loved highlands so much he brought his family to live here – in a house where the new fire station is now. Great granddad had 15 children

– 7 or 8 by his first wife and the rest with his second – the midwife of his first wife.”

Katrina also has a personal history with Helen’s Barn. Like Helen Hedden, she danced on the Barn’s clogging team. Moreover, it was her grandfather, Gus Baty, whom Charlie Wright had famously rescued from a nearly fatal fall off Whiteside Mountain. That heroic act earned Wright a Carnegie Medal and a $2,000 prize, which subsequently helped fund the building of Helen’s Barn. The story of the rescue is one of Highlands' most famous and often recounted tales, passed down through generations. Though Gus rarely spoke about it.

Katrina’s grandfather, Samuel Eugene Potts, often recounted the incident. Katrina speaks fondly of her father, Richard Potts, a contractor in Highlands, and his brother, Leon “Dead Eye” Potts, known for his sharpshooting skills. The Potts brothers built

Jerry Baty, Lina Potts, and Miss Zachary pose in front of Highlands Playhouse following a school graduation. Photo ca. 1940.

homes all over the region, and though their work was hard, they made time for play. Katrina recalls her father constantly asking Dead Eye to play cowboys and Indians with her. Dead Eye, true to his humorous nature, would always say, “I’m going to take a nap, and if anything happens, you wake me up.”

THE HARSH WINTERS AND THE FROZEN LAKES

Winters in Highlands were far more brutal in earlier decades, and few know that better than Wilma Gordon, Gerry Crow’s sister. Her father, a forest warden stationed at Rabun Bald, spent weeks on end in the lookout towers during the dry fall and winter months, keeping watch for forest fires. Wilma and her brother would often join him, spending time in the one-room tower where rainwater collected in a cistern for washing, and maps were spread across the table to track potential fires. She recalls one particularly exciting story: her father had just returned to the tower after hunting a rabbit for dinner when he realized a panther had followed him home.

But the cold months weren’t all about hardship. Ice skating was a favorite winter activity for many families in Highlands. She reflects on nights skating on Mirror Lake in the early 1950s, with her husband and stringing lights along the frozen surface to create a magical atmosphere.

Wilma’s uncle had a unique connection to the frozen lakes, too—he made a living cutting blocks of ice from the lakes, storing them in sawdust, and selling them throughout the summer months. It was an essential business in the days before modern refrigeration.

TEACHING AND COMMUNITY

Education was a calling for many of the families of Highlands, and that tradition runs deep. Wilma Gordon’s parents were both teachers. Her mother rode on horseback to teach at a one-room school in Goldmine, while her father taught in a one-room schoolhouse below Clear Creek before becoming a forest warden. Wilma Gordon followed in her family’s footsteps, becoming a teacher herself. After getting married in 1951, she and her husband moved to Alaska, where they both taught for over a decade. They later moved to Washington State and Washington D.C. before returning to Highlands in 1981. In 1983, Wilma Gordon established Highlands Preschool at the Methodist Church.

Kay Thomas has her own memories of schooling in Highlands, where education was intertwined with the rhythms

of her family’s life at the Kings Inn. Kay started her school year in Highlands and then moved to Florida, following the seasons along with the hotel guests who split their time between the two locations. "When I went to Florida, I was so far ahead of the other kids," Kay recalls, “but when I came back to Highlands, I would be so far behind.” Kay remembers that many of her teachers in Highlands were retired professors who had made their home in the town – accounting for the exceptional quality of the instruction.

For Gerry Crow, the teaching tradition extended to her mother and grandmother, both of whom taught in oneroom schoolhouses in Highlands. Her grandmother, Cora Pickelsheimer, was also a teacher before taking on a role at Highlands' Town Hall, serving the community in various ways.

Ice skating on Mirror Lake, ca. 1955

The Highlands, NC Responsible Travel Code

The town of Highlands is nestled in the heart of a temperate rainforest amidst the mountains of Western North Carolina. We treasure our environment, local culture, and diverse visitors. We believe that respect is the key to safeguarding the precious and delicate natural beauty of our town, both today and for future generations. As you explore and discover Highlands, we kindly ask you to adhere to the Highlands, NC Responsible Travel Code:

Roam Responsibly: While you wander through Highlands, approach your journey thoughtfully and responsibly, demonstrating utmost respect for all living beings and the environment around you.

Educate Yourself: Before arriving in Highlands, take the time to research and familiarize yourself with local regulations and community concerns. Recognize that these guidelines may evolve over time, so staying informed is essential.

Safety First: Maintain mindfulness of your surroundings, showing consideration for drivers, pedestrians, and wildlife. Please respect private property and refrain from using closed trails.

Preserve Highlands: Protect and nurture the pristine outdoor spaces of Highlands by leaving only a light footprint during your visit. Be attentive to the delicate ecosystem and take care not to disturb or harm the flora and fauna.

Embrace Community: As you appreciate the beauty of Highlands, support and contribute to the success of local businesses. Your actions play a crucial role in ensuring their longterm prosperity and the vitality of the community.

Celebrate Culture: Immerse yourself in the richness of Highlands’ local cultures. Embrace the traditions and practices you encounter, appreciating the uniqueness they bring to our town.

Teach Others: Lead by example and share these responsible travel practices with your fellow travelers. Together, we all share the responsibility to protect and preserve the natural wonders of Highlands.

By adhering to the Highlands, NC Responsible Travel Code, you become an integral part of our collective effort to safeguard the charm of this destination. Your thoughtful actions today will leave a positive and lasting impact on the environment, culture, and people of Highlands.

Thank you for being a responsible and caring traveler.

The Great Outdoors

Accessible Immersive Adventures

We invite you to experience the epitome of Western North Carolina mountain beauty here in the charming town of Highlands. Nestled amidst breathtaking landscapes and majestic mountains, Highlands, NC offers an idyllic haven where both residents and visitors can immerse themselves in the tranquil allure of nature.

To ensure that Highlands is accessible to all, we offer the following guide to immersive adventures that cater to all abilities:

HIGHLANDS BIOLOGICAL STATION’S NORTH CAMPUS POLLINATOR GARDEN

111 Lower Lake Road, Highlands highlandsbiological.org

828-526-2623

The pollinator garden boasts over 10,000 plants attracting native pollinators and other wildlife throughout the seasons.

The Station has dedicated handicap parking off Lower Lake Road leading to a ramp and the John “Sto” Stowers Teaching Pavilion which rests on Lindenwood Lake. When it is not being used as an outdoor classroom, it is a nice spot to relax and enjoy the view.

HIGHLANDS NATURE CENTER

930 Horse Cove Road, Highlands highlandsbiological.org

828-526-2623

Plan your visit to the Highlands Nature Center to meet live animals, explore our natural history exhibits, and stroll through the adjacent Highlands Botanical Garden.

The Nature Center features zerostep entry, an ADA Compliant door opener, as well as a ramp leading to the museum’s main exhibit hall.

KELSEY-HUTCHINSON FOUNDERS PARK

411-499 Pine Street, Highlands

Farmer’s Market (Saturday mornings April – Oct), Live Music (Saturday nights May – mid-Oct), Picnic Area

CLIFFSIDE LAKE RECREATION AREA

14014 Highlands Road, Highlands gofindoutdoors.org

828-526-5912

Picnic area and fishing.

Parking ADA

WATERFALLS

Highway 64 between Highlands and Franklin is part of the U.S. Forest Service-designated Mountain Waters Scenic Byway and features several waterfalls as the road parallels the Cullasaja River.

Bridal Veil Falls

This is one of the most unusual and most popular falls in the South by virtue of its easy access along scenic mountain US 64 West, 2.45 miles from town. The falls drop for 120 feet During cold spells, the spray creates a large mound of ice at its base. If it stays cold long enough, the falls will form one giant column of ice. It is easily viewable from the car.

Dry Falls

Dry Falls flows over an overhanging bluff which allows visitors to walk under the falls and remain relatively dry when the waterflow is low, hence its name. A pleasant walk down stone steps leads to a path that goes behind the waterfall. There is a viewing platform off the parking lot that allows those that are not able to walk down the paved path to view the waterfall.

Directions: From Highlands drive 3.25 miles on US 64 West to the parking area on left, which charges a $3 per car fee.

FISHING

Our dedicated local fishing guides and outfitters can provide support to individuals with mobility challenges, ensuring an exceptional experience for everyone in our meandering rivers and tranquil lakes and streams.

BROOKINGS ANGLERS

273 Spring Street, Highlands brookingsonline.com 828-482-9444

HIGHLAND HIKER

601 Main Street, Highlands highlandhiker.com 28-526-5298

SCENIC OVERLOOKS

Big Bear Pen Mountain

The Highlands-Cashiers Land Trust preserves several properties on the summit of Big Bear Pen Mountain and maintains each to provide views of the surrounding mountains. Four views – Whiteside, Satulah, Kalanta, and West – are easily accessed by driving the small loop around the top of Big Bear Pen Mountain. Park on the side of the road for views or, if able, walk a few feet to well-placed benches at each of the four views.

Directions: From Highlands, take Chestnut Street and turn left onto Big Bear Pen Road. Stay right when you see the “wildflower preserve” sign.

BLUE VALLEY

Head out to the Blue Valley Overlook, just 3.5 miles from downtown Highlands on Dillard Road/NC 106. Blue Valley gets its name from the natural haze that shades the valley and its surrounding carpet of mountains. Views can be seen from the parking lot.

AROUND TOWN

The Bascom: A Center for Visual Arts

323 Franklin Road, Highlands thebascom.org 828-526-4949

The building features an elevator for viewing second story exhibits and attending classes on the lower level. A wheelchair is also available if needed.

Center for Life Enrichment

348 South 5th Street, Highlands clehighlands.com

828-526-8811

There are two handicap accessible parking spaces, ramped entry and handicap accessible restroom facilities.

Highlands Historical Museum

524 N 4th Street, Highlands highlandshistory.com

828-787-1050

Zero-step entry.

The Highlands Performing Arts Center

507 Chestnut Street, Highlands highlandsperformingarts.com 828-526-9047

The Highlands PAC is home to the Highlands-Cashiers Chamber Music Festival, Highlands Cashiers Players, Mountain Theatre Company and the PAC Educational Theatre.

Wheelchair accessible seating is available for performances by contacting the box office at 828526-9047. Assistive Listening Devices (receivers) are available upon request.

The Highlands Recreation Center 600 N 4th Street, Highlands highlandsnc.org 828-526-3556

Indoor pool with an accessible zero-edge entry. Building entry is available via ramps from the parking lot. Call ahead for information on fees.

Hudson Library

554 Main Street, Highlands fontanalib.org/highlands 828-526-3031

The library has zero-step access and handicap-accessible doors on both front and rear entrances. They also offer the following assistive technologies: -low-vision desktop magnifier -public computers include options such as touchscreen monitor, largeprint keyboards, trackball mouse and bone conduction headphones -talking and braille books, courtesy of the North Carolina Library for the Blind and Physically Handicapped.

Smoky Mountain Performing Arts Center

1028 Georgia Road, Franklin smokymountainarts.com

828-524-1598

Eight designated handicap areas are available for parking mobility devices. For more information or assistance, please contact the box office.

PUBLIC RESTROOMS

ADA public restrooms can be found at the following locations:

Highlands Chamber of Commerce/ Visit Highlands, NC Welcome Center

108 Main Street, Highlands

Kelsey Hutchinson Founders Park 411-499 Pine Street, Highlands

Town Square

343 Main Street, Highlands

Driving Directions

GETTING HERE

Our most popular airports are Asheville (AVL), Atlanta (ATL), GreenvilleSpartanburg (GSP) and Knoxville (TYS). From there, the drive to Highlands is easy and scenic. We can’t wait to greet you at The Height of Happiness!

FROM ATLANTA

Driving time is approximately 2.5 hours.

Take I-85 North (toward Greenville, SC) to I-985 toward Gainesville, GA where it becomes GA 365, continue on GA 365 as it changes to 441 North. Go through Tallulah Falls, Clayton and Mountain City to Dillard, GA. At the traffic light in Dillard take right onto GA 246 that becomes NC 106 (At this point you are about a beautiful 20 minute drive to Highlands). Proceed up GA 246/ NC 106 until you enter Highlands. At Main Street you will see the first traffic light by the Exxon Stationtake a right and proceed to next traffic light.

FROM GREENVILLE

Driving time is approximately 2 hours.

Take 276 North to Scenic Highway 11. About four miles from bridge over Lake Keowee turn right onto Rt. 130 towards Cashiers & Whitewater Falls. Follow 130 to Route 107 N. Turn right on Route 107 N. and proceed to traffic light at the intersection of 107 & 64 in Cashiers. Turn left onto 64 West and travel about 12 miles on 64 into Highlands. If you are comfortable with reading maps and back roads, a shorter way from

downtown Greenville. Take roads to Pickens on Route 183. From 183 turn right on Hwy 133 past Pickens and proceed to Scenic Hwy 11. Take left hand turn, cross Lake Keowee bridge and proceed to Route 130 about four miles ahead on your right. Follow 130 toward Cashiers to NC 107. Take right on 107 to intersection at crossroads in Cashiers. Take left onto 64 West to Highlands.

FROM ASHEVILLE

Driving time is approximately 1.5-2 hours, depending on traffic.

From Asheville Scenic Route via Brevard and Cashiers on Highway 64. Take I-26 toward Greenville, get off at Airport Exit. At Exit take right turn onto 280 South, pass airport on right, continue on 280 South to Brevard , continue to 64 West through Brevard. Follow 64 West through Cashiers to Highlands.

FASTER ROUTE

FROM ASHEVILLE

Driving time is approximately 1.5 hours.

Take I- 40 West to Route 23/74 W towards Waynesville. Take 23/74W to 23/441 towards Dillsboro, Sylva and Franklin. At Franklin stay on the by-pass, look for Highlands exit 64E towards

Highlands. Turn left and follow 64 East through the Cullasaja Gorge, a curvy but beautiful road through the mountains.

SCENIC ROUTE

FROM KNOXVILLE

Driving time is approximately 3.5 hours via route 411.

Arriving from Knoxville through Smoky Mtn. National Park and Gatlinburg” I-40 East to 66 South, 66 South will turn into 321/441. In Gatlinburg, take 441 S (toward and through Cherokee) to 74 E, from 74 E take 23/441 towards Dillsboro and into Franklin- stay on bypass. Just past Holly Springs Shopping Center on left look for exit ramp to 64 E to Highlands.

QUICKEST ROUTE

FROM KNOXVILLE

Driving time is approximately 2.5 hours.

Take I-40 East into North Carolina towards Waynesville. Take 23/441 towards Dillsboro, Sylva and Franklin. Stay on by-pass in Franklin. Just past Holly Springs Shopping Center on left, look for right hand side exit ramp to 64 E to Highlands. Take a left on 64 E.

EDWARDS

HAPPOLDT

GLEN FALLS

LOCAL BUSINESS DIRECTORY

Listings in bold denote Highlands Chamber of Commerce Members

ACCOMMODATIONS/HOTEL

200 Main Highlands, NC 28741 200main.com

844-207-6818

A Sapphire Inn Franklin, NC 28734 SapphireInnfranklin.com

828-526-4406

Fire Mountain Resort Scaly Mountain, NC 28775 firemt.com 800-775-4446

Half-Mile Farm at Old Edwards Highlands, NC 28741 halfmilefarm.com 828-526-8170

Hampton Inn and Suites Sapphire, NC 28774 hamptoninn3.hilton.com 828-743-4545

Highlander Mountain House

Highlands, NC 28741

highlandermountainhouse.com

828-526-2590

Highlands Inn Highlands, NC 28741

highlandsinn-nc.com 828-526-9380

Inn at Mill Creek Highlands, NC 28741 InnatMillCreekHighlands.com 828-526-9999

Old Edwards Inn & Spa Highlands, NC 28741 oldedwardsinn.com

828-526-8008

Skyline Lodge Highlands, NC 28741 skyline-lodge.com 828-526-2121

The Outpost Inn Highlands, NC 28741 outpostinnhighlands.com 828-482-7736

The Park on Main Hotel Highlands, NC 28741 theparkonmain.com 828-427-0356

Trailborn Highlands Highlands, NC28741 staytrailborn.com/ highlands 828-482-1576

ACCOMMODATIONS/ VACATION RENTALS

Bowery Road Chateau, LLC Highlands, NC 28741 highlandsncchateau.com 561-613-1496

Chambers Agency & Vacation Rentals Highlands, NC 28741 HighlandsisCalling.com 828-526-3717

Elevate Luxury Cabin Rentals

Highlands, NC 28741 elevatehighlands.com 404-281-8886

Fairview House Highlands, NC 28741

HighlandsFairviewHouse.com 828-528-1064

Flat Mountain Farm Highlands, NC 28741 flatmountainfarm.com

Galax Rentals

Highlands, NC 28741 galaxrentals.com 828-526-6346

High Camp Highlands, NC 28741 highcampnc.com 828-634-1010

Highlands Vacation Rentals

Highlands, NC 28741 highlandsmountainrentals. com 828-526-9999

Landmark Vacation Rentals

Highlands, NC 28741 828-743-9234 landmarkvacations.com

Lotts of Sky Highlands, NC 28741 404-395-4000

Rent in Highlands/CCP Highlands, NC 28741 rentinhighlands.com 828-787-2002

Rockwood Lodge Highlands, NC 28741 rockwoodlodgenc.com 828-526-8919

The Fifth Highlands, NC 28741 TheFifthHighlands.com 828-200-1251

The Lofts on Main Highlands, NC 28741 theloftsonmain.com 828-634-1572

Valentine Manor Highlands, NC 28741 magnoliatree1964@gmail.com 561-613-1496

Vineyard at High Holly Scaly Mountain, NC 28775 thevineyardathighholly.com 828-482-5573

Whiteside Cove Cabins Highlands, NC 28741 logcabinrentalsinhighlands. com 828-526-2222

AUTOMATIVE, TRANSPORATION & MOVING SERVICES

Car Spa of Highlands Highlands, NC 28741 thecarspaofhighlands.com 828-526-2267

Highlands Automotive Highlands, NC 28741 highlandsautomotive.com 828-787-2360

Highlands Transportation Company Highlands, NC 28741 specialoccasionslimo.com 828-526-4113

Long Transfer, Inc Highlands, NC 28741 longtransferbusiness.site 828-526-9552

Rhodes Auto Repair Highlands, NC 28741 828-526-0283

Smoky Mountain Transportation Highlands, NC 28741 561-545-7368

The Car Butler Highlands. NC 28741 TheCarButlerNC.com 828-743-1800

CAMPGROUNDS

Cliffside Lake Recreation Area / VanHook Glade Highlands, NC 28741 cfaia.org 828-526-5912

Highlands Hidden Creek RV Resort

Highlands, NC 28741 highlandshiddencreek.com 828-372-5211

River Vista RV Resort Dillard, GA 30537 rvmountainvillage.com 706-746-2722

CHURCHES

Church in the Wildwood Highlands, NC 28741

Community Bible Church Highlands, NC 28741 cbchighlands.com 828-526-4685

Episcopal Church of the Incarnation Highlands, NC 28741 incarnationwnc.org 828-526-2968

First Baptist Church of Highlands Highlands, NC 28741 fbchighlands.org 828-526-4153

First Presbyterian Church Highlands, NC 28741 fpchighlands.com 828-526-3175

Highlands United Methodist Church Highlands, NC 28741 highlandsmethodist.org 828-526-3376

Lutheran Church of the Holy Family

Highlands, NC 28741 lutheranchurchoftheholyfamily.yolasite.com 828-526-9741

Our Lady of the Mountains Catholic Church Highlands, NC 28741 olmhighlands.com 828-526-2418

COMMUNITIES

& COUNTRY CLUBS

Chestnut Hill of Highlands Highlands, NC 28741 chestnuthillofhighlands.com 828-526-5251

Cullasaja Club Highlands, NC 28741 cullasajaclub.org 828-526-3531

Glen Cove Highlands, NC 28741 glencovelifestyle.com 828-526-1783

Highlands Country Club Highlands, NC 28741 highlandscountryclub.com 828-526-2181

Highlands Falls Country Club

Highlands, NC 28741 clubhfcc.com 828-526-4118

Mountain Laurel Tennis Club

Highlands, NC 28741 mountainlaureltennisclub.com 828-526-4770

Old Edwards Club Highlands, NC 28741 oldedwardsclub.com/golf 828-526-1783

Sapphire Valley Resort Sapphire, NC 28774 Sapphirevalley.com 828-619-0097

Sky Valley Country Club Sky Valley,GA 30537 skyvalleycountryclub.com 706-746-5302

Wildcat Cliffs Country Club Highlands, NC 28741 wildcatcliffscountryclub.com 828-526-2165

CULTURAL ARTS

Art League of Highlands Highlands, NC 28741 artleagueofhighlands.com

706-746-5540

Center for Life Enrichment Highlands, NC 28741 clehighlands.com 828-526-8811

Highlands Cashiers Chamber Music Festival Highlands, NC 28741 h-cmusicfestival.org 828-526-9060

Highlands Cashiers Players Highlands, NC 28741 highlandscashiersplayers. org

828-526-8084

Highlands Performing Arts Center

Highlands,NC 28741 highlandspac.org 828-526-9047

HOP Gallery Highlands, NC 28741 828-200-0618

Jeanie Edwards Fine Art Highlands, NC 28741 jedwardsfineart.com 828-526-2933

Mountain Theatre Company Highlands, NC 28741 mountaintheatrecom

828-526-2695

Smoky Mountain Center for the Performing Arts Franklin, NC 28734 greatmountainmusic.com

828-524-1598 The Bascom: A Center for the Visual Arts Highlands, NC 28741 thebascom.org 828-526-4949

DESIGN & CONSTRUCTION

Bertone Tile Design and Flooring Highlands, NC 28741 828-526-4943

Bespoke Design & Consulting Highlands, NC 28741 bespokei3.com 561-512-6376

Black Rock Design | Build Highlands, NC 28741 blackrockdb.com 828-482-4424

Brown Haven Homes Sylva, NC brownhavenhomes.com

828-944-8048

David Bock Builders Highlands, NC 28741 bockbuilders.com 828-526-2240

Edgens Herzog Architects Highlands, NC 28741 edgensherzog.com 828-526-2413

Futral Enterprises Highlands, NC 28741 futralconstruction.com 828-634-1010

Green Mountain Builders Highlands, NC 28741 greenmountainbuilders.com 828-787-2297

Henkelman Construction, Inc Highlands, NC 28741 hcinc.net 863-666-3575

Highlands Decorating Center Highlands, NC 28741 highlandsdecorating.com 828-526-3571

Lupoli Construction & Real Estate Highlands, NC 28741 lupoliconstruction.com 828-526-4532

MHK Architecture Highlands, NC 28741 thecarolinasarchitect.com 828-482-5280

Mountain Construction Engineering Lake Toxaway, NC 28747 mountain-ce.com 917-299-2019

Palillos Stone Masonry Highlands, NC 28741 palillosstonemasonry.net 828-526-3944

Riverstone Development Sylva, NC 28779 riverstonedevelopmentgroup.com 828-586-1321

Romans Roofing Highlands, NC 28741 romansroofingnc.com 828-743-5291

Ross Landscape Architecture, PLLC Highlands, NC 28741 rosslandarch.com 828-526-5074

Sadlon & Associate Franklin, NC 28734 sadlonandassociates.com 828-349-0400

Sanctuary Developers, LLC Highlands, NC 28741 sanctuarydevelopers.com 936-525-0556

Spruce Interiors Highlands, NC 28741 spruceinteriors.com 770-532-4800

Summit Architecture Highlands, NC 28741 summitarchitecturepa.com 828-526-0328

Warth Construction Highlands, NC 28741 828-526-4929

FOOD, BEVERAGES & CATERING

4118 Kitchen & Bar, LLC Highlands, NC 28741 4118kitchen-bar.com 828-526-5002

Asia House Highlands, NC 28741 asiahousehighlands.com 828-787-1680

Appalachian Harvest Highlands, NC28741 JamsnJelly.com 828-743-7300

August Produce Highlands, NC 28741 augustproduce.com 828-526-4617

Black Bear Breakfast and Lunch

Highlands, NC 28741

BlackBearBreakfastandLunchNC.com

828-482-7020

Blue Bike Café Highlands, NC 28741 bluebikecafe.net

828-526-9922

Bryson’s Food Store Highlands, NC 28741 brysonsfoodstore.com 828-526-3775

Cake Bar & Chocolate Heaven Highlands, NC 28741 lovechocolateheaven.com 828-421-2042

Calders Coffee Café Highlands, NC 28741 calderscoffeecafe.com 828-200-9308

DonLeon's Highlands, NC 28741 donleons.com 828-482-1513

Dusty Rhodes Superette Highlands, NC 28741 828-526-2762

Edelweiss Pastry Boutique Highlands, NC 28741 828-200-2700

El Guacamole Loco Mexican Restaurant

Scaly Mountain, NC 28775 828-526-1663

Fiesta Ice Cream Highlands, NC 28741

Four 65 Woodfire Bistro + Bar Highlands, NC 28741 four65.com

828-787-2990

Fresser’s Courtyard Café & Catering Highlands, NC 28741 wecaterHighlands.com

828-526-8847

High Country Wine & Provisions

Highlands, NC 28741 highcountrywineandprovisions.com 828-482-4502

Highlands ABC Store Highlands, NC 28741

abc.nc.gov/ Districts/ Board/101 828-526-5470

Highlands Supper Club Highlands, NC 28741

thehighlandssupperclub.com 828-271-9620

Highlands Burrito Highlands, NC 28741

highlandsburrito.com 828-526-9313

Highlands Pizza Place Highlands, NC 28741

highlandspizzaplace.com 828-526-5660

Highlands Smokehouse Highlands, NC 28741

highlandssmokehouse.com 828-526-3554

Highlands Tavern Highlands, NC 28741

highlandstavern.com

828-526-9002

Highlands Wine Shoppe Highlands, NC 28741

highlandswineshoppe.com 828-526-4080

Hummingbird Lounge Highlands, NC 28741 oldedwardshospitality.com/ old-edwards-inn-spa/dine/ hummingbird-lounge

Kelsey Place Restaurant Highlands, NC 28741 highlandsinn-nc.com/ kelsey-place 828-526-9380

Killer Bees Honey Lake Toxaway, NC 28747 killerbeeshoney.com 312-909-5878

Kilwins of Highlands Highlands, NC 28741 kilwins.com/stores/ kilwins-highlands 828-526-3788

Lakeside Restaurant Highlands, NC 28741 lakesiderestaurant.info 828-526-9419

Los Vaqueros Restaurant Highlands, NC 28741 828-482-7040

Madison’s Restaurant & Wine Garden Highlands, NC 28741 oldedwardsinn.com/dining/ madisons 828-787-2525

Mountain Fresh Grocery Highlands, NC 28741 mfgro.com 828-526-2400

Nectar Juice Bar Highlands, NC 28741 wholelifemarketnc.com 828-526-5999

Oak Steakhouse Highlands, NC 28741 oaksteakhouserestaurant. com 828-482-4720

On the Verandah Highlands, NC 28741 ontheverandah.com 828-526-2338

One Wicker Cheese Co. Highlands, NC 28741 OneWickerCheeseCompany. com 828-482-4526

Primary Restaurant & Bar Highlands, NC 28741 primaryhnc.com 828-526-3555

Ristorante Paoletti Highlands, NC 28741 paolettis.com 828-526-4906

Roots & Vine Highlands, NC 28741 Roots-Vine.com 828-526-3555

Rosewood Market Highlands, NC 28741 rosewoodmarket.com 828-526-0383

Ruffed Grouse Highlands, NC 28741 highlandermountainhouse. com

828-526-2590

Spice & Tea Exchange of Highlands Highlands, NC 28741 spiceandtea.com 828-482-1609

Spinx Highlands, NC 28741 828-526-4191

Subway Highlands, NC 28741 order.subway.com 828-526-1706

The High Dive Highlands, NC 28741 828-526-2200

The Kitchen of Highlands Highlands, NC 28741 thekitchenofhighlands.com 828-526-2110

The Secret Garden Market Highlands, NC 28741 thesecretgardenmarket.com 828-305-7509

The Stubborn Bull Highlands, NC 28741 the-stubborn-bull.com 828-200-0813

The Ugly Dog Public House Highlands, NC 28741 theuglydogpub.com 828-526-8364

Vineyard at High Holly Scaly Mountain, NC 28775 thevineyardathighholly.com 828-482-5573

The Wine Garden Highlands, NC 28741 OldEdwardsHospitality.com/ old-edwards-inn-spa/dine/ the-wine-garden 828-526-4035

Whole Life Market Highlands, NC 28741 wholelifehighlands.com 828-526-5999

Wild Thyme Gourmet Highlands, NC 28741 wildthymegourmet.com 828-526-4035

Wolfgang’s Restaurant & Wine Bistro Highlands, NC 28741 wolfgangs.net 828-526-9807

INSURANCE

McAllister Family Insurance Highlands. NC 28741 mcallisterfamilyinsurance.com 828-369-3699

Stanberry Insurance Highlands, NC 28741 stanberry-ins.com 828-526-8939

Wayah Insurance Highlands, NC 28741 wayah.com 828-526-3713

NON-PROFIT & COMMUNITY SERVICES

Blue Ridge Bartram Trail Conservancy Franklin, NC 28734 blueridgebartram.org 828-371-0347

Big Brothers Big Sisters of Macon & Jackson Counties Cashiers, NC 28717 cashiers@bbbswnc.com 828-399-9133

Carpe Diem Farms Highlands, NC 28741 carpediemfarms.org 828-526-2854

Highlands Community Child Development Ctr. Highlands, NC 28741 highlandscommunitychildcare. org 828-526-8905

Highlands Festivals Inc. Highlands, NC 28741 highlandsfestivalsinc.org

Highlands Plateau Greenway Highlands,NC 28741 highlandsgreenway.com 828-526-2385

Highlands Cashiers Health Foundation Highlands, NC 28741 highlandscashiershealthfoundation.org 828-482-6510

Highlands Cashiers Land Trust Highlands, NC 28741 hcltnc.org 828-526-1111

Highlands Cashiers Hospital Highlands, NC 28741 https://www.missionhealth.org/locations/ highlands-cashiers-hospital 828-526-1200

Highlands Chamber of Commerce Highlands, NC 28741 highlandschamber.org 828-526-5841

Highlands Historical Society Highlands, NC 28741 highlandshistory.com 828-787-1050

Highlands Motoring Festival Highlands, NC 28741 highlandsmotoringfestival. com

Highlands Plateau Audubon Society Highlands, NC 28741 highlandsaudubonsociety.org 678-463-9827

Highlands Welcome Center Highlands, NC 28741 highlandschamber.org 828-526-2112

Hudson Library Highlands, NC 28741 fontanalib.org/highlands 828-526-3031

International Friendship Center/ Food Pantry Highlands, NC 28741 internationalfriendshipcenter. org 828-526-0890

Literacy and Learning Center Highlands, NC 28741 highlandsliteracy.com 828-526-0863

Mountain Retreat & Learning Center Highlands, NC 28741 themountainrlc.org 828-526-5838

Mountaintop Rotary of Highlands Highlands, NC 28734 mountaintoprotaryclubhighlands.org 404-444-5477

Peggy Crosby Community Service Center, Inc. Highlands, NC 28741 peggycrosbycenter.org 828-526-9938

REACH of Macon County Franklin, NC 28734 rechofmaconcounty.org, 828-369-5544

Rotary Club of Highlands Highlands, NC 28741 highlandsrotary.org 828-200-9226

Southern Blue RidgeHikers Highlands, NC 28741 337-344-8004

PET CARE

Animal Wellness Hospital Highlands, NC 28741 awhhighlands.com 828-526-8700

Cashiers-Highlands Humane Society Sapphire, NC 28774 chhumanesociety.org 828-743-5752

K9 Medows Boarding & Grooming Glenville, NC 28736 828-743-2095

Macon County Humane Society

Franklin, NC 28734 828-524-4588

Posh Paws Highlands, NC 28741 828-526-9581

PRINTING & MEDIA

Dauntless Printing Highlands, NC 28741 dauntlessprinting.com

828-787-1324

Highlander Newspaper Highlands, NC 28741 highlandsnews.com 828-526-4114

Highlands Newspaper Highlands, NC 28741 highlandsinfo.com 828-200-1371

Laurel Magazine of Highlands Highlands, NC 28741 thelaurelmagazine.com 828-526-0173

Macon Printing Franklin, NC 28734 maconprinting.com 828-524-7045

The Business Spot Highlands, NC 28741 businessspotnc.com 828-482-0286

828.482.0286 www.businessspotnc.com

WHLC FM 104.5 Highlands, NC 28741 whlc.com 828-526-1045

REAL ESTATE

Allen Tate/Pat Allen Realty Group Highlands, NC 28741 highlandsncrealestatepatallen.com 828-526-8784

BHHS Meadows Mountain Realty Highlands, NC 28741 meadowsmtnrealty.com 828-526-1717

Betty Holt, Realtor Highlands, NC 28741 berkshirehathawayhs.com/ betty-holt-real-estate-agent 828-526-1717

Brown Haven Homes Sylva, NC 28779 brownhavenhomes.com 828-944-8048

Business Acquisitions, Sales & Consulting Highlands, NC 28741 402-630-7461

Chambers Realty & Vacation Rentals Highlands, NC 28741 highlandsiscalling.com 828-526-3717

Christie's International Real Estate, Highlands-Cashiers Highlands, NC 2874 highlandscashierscire.com 828-482-5022

Cleaveland Realty Highlands, NC 28741 jcrealty.info 828-526-4983

Country Club Properties Highlands, NC 28741 ccphighlands.com 828-526-2520

Highlands Cove Realty at Old Edwards Club Highlands, NC 28741 highlandscoverealty.com 828-482-1274

Highlands Sotheby’s International Realty Highlands, NC 28741 highlandssir.com 828-526-4104

Landmark Realty Group Highlands, NC 28741 landmarkrg.com

828-526-4663

Mountain Life Properties Highlands, NC 28741 mountainlifere.com 828-239-8814

Weichart REALTORS

Highlands Properties Highlands, NC 28741 highlandsproperties.com 828-526-5522

RECREATION

Brookings Anglers Highlands, NC 28741 brookingsonline.com 828-482-9444

Fun Factory in the Smokies Franklin, NC 28734 franklinfun.com 828-349-8888

Highland Excursion Highlands, NC 28741 highlandexcursion.com 828-373-4022

Highlands Aerial Park Scaly Mountain, NC 28775 highlandsaerialpark.com 828-526-8733

Highlands Outpost Scaly Mountain, NC 28775 highlandsoutpost.com 828-526-3737

Highlands Recreation Park & Civic Center Highlands, NC 28741 highlandsnc.org/recreation 828-526-3556

Jackson Hole Gem Mine Highlands, NC 28741 jacksonholegemmine.com 828-524-5850

Sapphire Valley Resort Sapphire, NC 28774 sapphirevalley.com 828-743-7663

Signal Ridge Marina Glenville, NC 28736 signalridgemarina.com 828-743-2143

Whitewater Equestrian Center

ReMax Town & Country Clayton, GA 30525 buyrabun.com 706-960-2304

Silver Creek Real Estate Group Highlands, NC 28741 ncliving.com 828-526-2999

The Real Estate Buyers Guide Franklin, NC 28734 therebg.com 828-349-5845

Highlands Biological Station & Garden Highlands, NC 28741 highlandsbiological.org 828-526-2602

Highland Hiker Highlands,NC 28741 highlandhiker.com 828-526-5298

Sapphire, NC 28774 funhorsebackriding.com 828-966-9646

SERVICES

#1 Nails

Highlands, NC 28741 nailsalonbeauty.com 828-526-0222

AAA+ Home Services Franklin, NC 28734 aaaplushomeservicesllc.com 828-342-7470

Allan Dearth & Sons Generators

Scaly Mountain, NC 28775 828-526-9325

American Pest Control Franklin, NC 28734 ampest.com 828-634-7678

Appalachian Animal Rescue Center Franklin, NC 28734 appalachiananimalrescue.com 828-524-4588

Arellano Quality Painting Franklin, NC 28734 386-315-4445

B.H. Graning Landscapes Sylva, NC 28779 bhlandscapes.com 828-631-5457

Balsam West FiberNET Sylva, NC 28779 balsamwest.net 828-339-2900

Bartlett Tree Expert Highlands, NC 28741 bartlett.com 828-877-6601

Beautifully Tidy Highlands, NC 28741 beautifullytidy.com 828-254-0242

Benjamin F. Edwards & Company Highlands, NC 28741 benjaminfedwardsco.com 855-526-3535

Blue Ridge Irrigation & Lawn Lake Toxaway, NC 28747 828-862-4200

Blue Ridge Legacy Law Highlands, NC 28741 brlegacylaw.com 828-482-1241

Bryson’s Enterprises, Inc Highlands, NC 28741 brysonsgrading.com 828-526-3775

828-482-0286

C.A. Wilson Electric & Gas Highlands, NC 28741 wilsongas.com 828-526-2568

Computer Biz Highlands, NC 28741 828-526-3735

Computer Man Electronics Highlands, NC 28741 thecomputerman.org 828-526-1796

Coward, Hicks & Siler, P.A. Cashiers, NC cowardhicksandsilar.com 828-556-9545

Creation Music & Arts Highlands, NC 28741 creationcbc.com 828-200-2326

Creative Concepts Salon Highlands, NC 28741 828-526-3939

Curtis Matthews, CPA Highlands, NC 28741 curtis-mathews.com 828-526-2111

Denise Stubbs CPA Franklin, NC 28734 denisestubbscpa.com 828-634-1094

Dentman Dittman Ducktown, TN 37326 828-541-9066

Duke Energy Franklin, NC 28734 duke-energy.com 800-777-9898

Edward Jones Investments Highlands, NC 28741 edwardjones.com/ todd-holder 828-787-2090

Edwards Electrical Service Highlands, NC 28741 edwardselectricalservice.com 828-526-5147

Elevation Resources Highlands, NC 28741 elevationr.com 828-526-8840

First Bank Highlands, NC 28741 localfirstbank.com 828-526-3000

First Citizens Bank Highlands, NC 28741 firstcitizens.com 828-526-9692

Freeman Gas Highlands, NC 28741 freemangas.com 828-526-0040

Gordon Center for Children Highlands, NC 28741 highlandsmethodist.org 828-526-5084

Hagan Binder Landscape Architects Highlands, NC 28741 haganbinderdesign.com 828-482-5511

Happy Family Cleaners Highlands, NC 28741 828-526-8808

Heritage Productions WNC Highlands, NC 28741 heritageproductionswnc. com 404-542-2773

Hot Springs Pools & Spas Franklin, NC 28734 hotspringspools.net 828-369-2871

Highlands Fire Dept. Highlands, NC 28741 highlandsfire.com 828-526-2118

Highlands Police Dept. Highlands, NC 28741 highlandsnc.org 828-526-9431

Highlands Hair Studio Highlands, NC 28741 828-526-1899

HotWire Communications Highlands, NC 28741 833-986-1570

Linda Rae Design, LLC Highlands, NC 28741 lindaraedesign.com 828-743-8798

Literacy & Learning Center Highlands, NC 28741 highlandsliteracy.com 828-526-0863

Luxury Home Services Highlands, NC 28741 highlandslhs.com 239-631-9586

Men on the Move Franklin, NC 28741 menonthemove@windstream.net 828-349-9995

Mountain Crawl Space Encapsulation Highlands, NC 28741 mountaincrawlspace.net 828-200-3314

Neumann Law Office Highlands, NC 28741 neumannlawoffice.com 828-526-0200

Peak Home Management Highlands, NC 28741 peakhomemgmt.com 828-222-3460

Pisgah Legal Services Highlands, NC 28741 pisgahlegal.org 828-210-3424

Planters, Inc. Scaly Mountain, NC 28775 plantersgarden.com 828-526-2140

Pro Nails Highlands, NC 28741 828-526-8777

Regions Bank Highlands,NC 28741 regions.com 828-533-9900

Renovation Options Highlands, NC 28741 404-925-2500

Robert Trescott, Attorney Highlands, NC 28741 305-581-0081

Salt Organic Beauty Studio Highlands, NC 28741 saltorganicbeauty.com 770-778-5040

Shear Elevations Highlands, NC 28741 828-526-9477

Spraggins Home Inspections

Scaly Mountain, NC 28775 spragginshi.com 828-482-7239

Stephen Lucas CPA Highlands, NC 28741 lucascpa.com 828-482-0849

Suncoast Equity Management Highlands, NC 28741 suncoastequity.com 828-487-8009

Swift Accounting Highlands, NC 28741 swiftaccounting.io 803-646-8994

Tate Landscaping Services Highlands, NC 28741 tatelandscapingservices.com 828-526-8953

The Counseling Center Highlands. NC 28741 counseling-center.org 864-481-0598

The Superior Finish Waynesville, NC 28786 superiorfinishinteriors.com

828-456-8668

Town of Highlands Highlands, NC 28741 highlandsnc.org

828-526-4131

United States Post Office Highlands, NC 28741 usps.com 828-526-2667

Wilcox Travel Henderson, NC 28791 wilcoxtravel.com

828-254-0746

Zing! Branding and Advertising Highlands, NC 28741 think-zing.com 305-302-7878

SHOPPING & RETAIL

Acorn’s Designer Fashions & Home Interiors

Highlands, NC 28741 acornshighlandsnc.com 828-787-1877

ACP Home Interiors Highlands, NC 28741 acphomeinteriors.com 828-526-4500

All About Bagzzz Highlands, NC 28741 potpourrihighlands.com 828-634-6046

Allison Diane Clothing Highlands,NC 28741 allisondianeclothing.com 828-526-5404

Annawear Highlands, NC 28741 annawearnc.com 828-526-4660

Appalachian Harvest Highlands,NC 28741 jamsnjelly.com

828-743-7300

Bardo Highlands, NC 28741 bardo49nc.mycloveronline. com

828-526-4030

Bear Mountain Outfitters Highlands, NC 28741 828-526-5784

Bijou "Little Jewel" of Highlands Highlands,NC 28741 bijoujeweler.com 828-787-8032

Blue Elephant Consignment Highlands, NC 28741 828-526-9448

Bobby Grace Putters Highlands, NC 28741 bobbygraceputters.com 727-458-0787

Bookworm Highlands, NC 28741 828-526-3031

C. Orrico Highlands, NC 28741 corrico.com 828-526-9112

Celebrity Collections Highlands,NC 28741 celebritycollectionsjewelry. com 828-526-4994

Citizen Wilder Highlands, NC 28741 stickcandles.com 315-369-0011

ckSWAN Highlands, NC 28741 ckswan.com 828-526-2083

Cosmos Flowers Highlands, NC 28741 828-526-0044

Dry Sink Highlands, NC 28741 thedrysink.com 828-526-5226

Dutchmans Designs Highlands, NC 28741 dutchmansdesigns.com 828-526-8664

Elena’s Women Golf & Activewear Highlands, NC 28741 elenagolf.com 828-533-9954

Elevation: High Fashion for Women Highlands, NC 28741 828-526-0100

Estate Jewelers of Highlands Highlands,NC 28741 828-526-1960

Fibber Magee’s Closet Thrift Shop Highlands, NC 28741 828-526-2591

Full House Gallery Highlands, NC 28741 fullhousegallery.com 828-526-6004

Gold-n-Clipper Highlands, NC 28741 828-526-4989

Haley’s Fine Lingerie Highlands, NC 28741 828-371-7890

Highland Hiker Highlands, NC 28741 highlandhiker.com 828-526-5298

Highland Hiker Cabin Highlands, NC 28741 highlandhiker.com 828-526-5298

Highland Hiker Shoes Highlands, NC 28741 highlandhiker.com 828-526-2511

Highlands Fine Art & Estate Jewelry & Wine Shop Highlands, NC 28741 highlandsfineart.com 828-526-0656

Highlands Gem Shop Highlands, NC 28741 highlandsgemshop.com 828-526-2767

Highlands Hatter Highlands, NC 28741 828-482-1920

Highlands Kids Highlands, NC 28741 828-526-5799

Highlands Mercantile Highlands, NC 28741 828-482-0818

Highlands Mountain Paws Highlands, NC 28741 828-526-7297

J. McLaughlin Highlands, NC 28741 jmclaughlin.com 828-526-0844

Jannie Bean Fine Custom Jewelry Highlands, NC 28741 JannieBeandesigns.com 828-526-5858

LuLu Blue

Highlands, NC 28741 828-482-4375

Main Street Gifts Highlands, NC 28741 366mainstreet.com 828-482-1414

Main Street Nursery Highlands, NC 28741 mainstreetnursery.com 828-526-3956

Martha Anne’s on the Hill Highlands, NC 28741 marthaannes.com 828-526-4473

McCulley’s Cashmere Highlands, NC 28741 mcculleys.com 828-526-4407

Milli 446 Highlands, NC 28741 828-526-8600

Mirror Lake Antiques Highlands, NC 28741 mirrorlakeantiques.com 828-526-2080

Monkee’s of Highlands Highlands, NC 28741 monkeesofhighlands.com 828-482-5140

Mountain Findings

Thrift Shop Highlands, NC 28741 mountain-findings.edan.io 828-526-9929

Mountain Heritage Highlands, NC 28741 828-526-5519

Nancy’s Fancys and the Exchange Highlands, NC 28741 828-526-5029

Natural Selection

Highlands, NC 28741 828-421-3546 Peak Experience Highlands, NC 28741 828-526-0229

Oakleaf Flower & Garden Highlands, NC 28741 oakleafstyle.com 828-526-8000

Potpourri (Town Square) Highlands, NC 28741 potpourrigroup.com 828-526-9888

Potpourri Eyewear Highlands, NC 28741 potpourrigroup.com 828-526-8886

Reclamations Highlands, NC 28741 828-787-2299

Reeves Hardware Highlands, NC 28741 reevesacehardware.com 828-526-2157

Rosenthals Boutique Highlands, NC 28741 rosenthalsboutique.com 828-526-2100

Shiraz Oriental Rug Gallery Highlands, NC 28741 shirazrugs.com 800-989-0557

Silver Eagle Highlands, NC 28741 silvereaglegallery.com 828-526-5190

Spartina 449 Highlands, NC 28741 spartina449.com/highlands 828-787-1178

Spoiled Rotten Highlands, NC 28741 spoiledrottenhighlands.com 828-526-3608

T.A. Anderson Goldsmith Highlands, NC 28741 taagold.com 828-526-4177

The Briar Patch Highlands NC 28741 828-200-9003

The Christmas Tree Highlands, NC 28741 828-526-3687

The Molly Grace Highlands, NC 28741 themollygracecorp.com 828-526-8390

The Southern Way Highlands,NC 28741 828-526-4777

The Summer House Highlands, NC 28741 summerhousehighlands.com 828-526-5577

TJ Bailey For Men Highlands, NC 28741 tjbmens.com 828-526-2262

Uashmama Highlands, NC 28741 uashmamausa.com 828-482-0228

Unique Elegance II Highlands,NC 28741 uniqueelegance.net 404-791-8609

Vivace Highlands, NC 28741 828-526-1880

Wish & Shoes Highlands, NC 28741 wishandshoes.com 828-944-9474

Wit's End Highlands, NC 28741 828-526-3160

SPAS

Elevation Spa Highlands, NC 28741 elevationspahighlands.com 828-482-2834

Gifted Hands Highlands, NC 28741 gifted-hands.com 828-526-5069

Taylor Spa Highlands, NC 28741 taylorspa.com 828-526-4192

Tranquility Cove Massage Highlands, NC 28741 tranquilitycovemassage.com 828-200-0018

Unfurl Massage & Bodyworks Highlands,NC 28741 828-482-2219

Zen Spa Highlands, NC 28741 zenspabyangeljoy.com 828-200-9934

WEDDING & EVENTS

Altaterra Events, Planning and Design Highlands, NC 28741 altaterraevents.com 828-200-1211

DJ Bill Travers Highlands, NC 28741 kursesandkarma.com 828-482-5634

Hott Acts Highlands, NC 28741 hottacts.com 828-526-9572

Rockwood Lodge Highlands, NC 28741 Rockwoodlodgenc.com 828-526-8919

The Farm at Old Edwards Inn Highlands, NC 28741 oldedwardsinn.com/ weddings 828-787-2610

Vineyard at High Holly Scaly Mountain, NC 28775 thevineyardathighholly.com 828-482-5573

WELLNESS

Acupuncture & Healing Arts Highlands, NC 28741 acupunturehighlands.com

828-526-0743

Blue Ridge Medical Highlands, NC 28741 brchs.com/directory/ blue-ridge-health-highlandscashiers/ 828-482-6160

Community Care Clinic Highlands, NC 28741 highlandscashiersclinic.org 828-526-1991

Dogwood Health Trust Asheville, NC 28813 dogwoodhealthtrust.org 828-378-0409

Four Seasons Palliative Care Hendersonville, NC 28792 828-748-8144

Health Rescue Services Highlands, NC 28741 828-526-1022

Hearing is Us Highlands, NC 28741 hearingisus.com 828-585-5852

Highlands Cashiers Hospital Highlands, NC 28741 828-526-1200

Highlands Chiropractic & Wellness Highlands, NC 28741 highlandschronic.com 828-526-1022

Highlands Dental Care Highlands, NC 28741 828-526-3513

Highlands Dermatology Highlands, NC 28741 highlandsdermatology.com 828-565-8828

Highlands Pharmacy Highlands, NC 28741 highlandspharmacy.com 828-526-2366

Innovation & Creativity Institute

Highlands,NC 28741 innovationandcreativityinstitute.com 828-371-2079

John Scott Baker, MD Highlands, NC 28741 828-526-1700

My Choice Home Care Highlands, NC 28741 mychoicehome.care 888-505-2965

Smoky Mountain Pregnancy Care Center Franklin, NC 28734 SMPCC.org 828-349-3200

JON BARNWELL TEAM

The Counseling Center Highlands, NC 28741 counseling-center.org 864-481-0598

Yoga Highlands & Pilates Highlands, NC 28741 yogahighlands.com 828-526-8880

Real Estate Advisors

TOWN & COUNTRY

E xperience the height of living.