Foxfire: Southern Applachian Heritage

Opposite page: Farmers have a discussion with Rabun Gap School in view in 1937.

The path from Atlanta to our mountain oasis on the Highlands-Cashiers Plateau has never been more tread upon than now with city dwellers eager to escape the fray and seek green space and fresh, clean air. Those familiar with the route generally know the landmarks along the way and tick them off one by one like items on a shopping list. As tiny town after town flashes by and the bumpier the North Georgia skyline gets, the gas pedal hits the floor to bring the Blue Ridge Mountains of North Carolina ever so closer. As you enter Rabun County, Georgia, you might stop to pick up provisions at the Ingles in Clayton, and then a few miles further in Dillard, you begin climbing the mountain toward Highlands. Most likely you are so focused on getting from A to B, you blinked and missed the blip of a town, contrary to its name, called Mountain City. To jog your memory, you might recall the brown tourist sign pointing west to Foxfire Museum and Heritage Center. You may have even wondered about it. There is a story there, and it is rich and fascinating one about how a classroom of wayward teenagers brought fame and fortune to this rural hamlet of just over a thousand residents. The tale begins with the area surrounding Rabun GapNacoochee School, a college preparatory day and boarding school which sits on the edge of Mountain City, which was once dominated by a conventional Southern Appalachian community. Far from civilization, the people had to be resourceful and inventive and live off the land to survive.

Centuries-old traditions, farming techniques, recipes, and medicinal remedies were passed down from generation to generation. However, as time passed, the early 1900s brought urban development closer, and with it, advancements in technology, causing the Appalachian traditions to slowly disappear. Then in 1966, something remarkable happened. A young educator, fresh out of Cornell University, landed a teaching job at Rabun Gap-Nacoochee School. He found his new students bored, insolent, and struggling to find their way during a tumultuous time in our country’s history. To steer them toward a brighter future, he smartly engaged his students with an experimental writing exercise—create a free-thinking historical magazine drawing attention to the Southern Appalachian people and their all but lost culture. A buzz formed as students canvassed local elders for their recollections about the pioneer era, occurring just about the time the awardwinning movie Deliverance swept through movie theaters across the country and typified these same people as

Above: Foxfire's Applachian Village is made up of over 20 historic log structures. Right: Foxfire began as a school magazine which students named after a native glowin-the-dark fungus.

rough banjo-playing hillbillies. The magazine ignited a strange and unexpected widespread curiosity about this society, so much so that the magazine spun off into a nationally acclaimed, best-selling book series known as Foxfire.

The twelve-volume collection covered Appalachian topics such as gristmill making, hog dressing, basket weaving, snake lore, faith healing, moonshine, butter churning, food foraging, ghost stories, rites and customs, and banjo and dulcimer playing. “This spark of an idea turned into a phenomenon of education and living history, exploring how the past contributes to who we are and what we can become—how the past illuminates our present and inspires imagination,” recount Foxfire supporters. “One that broke barriers and told the real story of the people and their vanishing way of life.” Proceeds from Foxfire book sales enabled future students, trustees of the charge, to buy 106 acres to build a museum and heritage center in 1974. Foxfire has maintained its mission to preserve the traditions and folklore of the Southern Appalachians for over 50 years now. Walk through history at the outdoor museum where twenty authentic log homes present life as it was in the Pioneer era from the 1820s to the 1940s. Take a look at the wagons, tools, gristmills, and even a log cabin chapel replica. The gift shop offers the Foxfire books for sale, as well as regionally made pottery, textiles, soaps, and more. The museum's proceeds support the Foxfire mission and local youth enrichment programs. Open seven days a week from noon to 4:30, this is an outdoor education for the whole family. To learn more, go to Foxfire.org.

Above: The Foxfire museum offers interactive exhibits.

Right: The Foxfire books can be purchased at foxfire.org/shop.

Magnificent Mountaintop Estate REDESIGNED BY DARREN WHATLEY

above The gourmet kitchen is outfitted with Viking appliances, custom cabinetry, and all the extras such as a wine cooler and a warming drawer.

left The home office on the upper level creates an inviting work-from-home experience.

below This custombuilt home boasts a charming exterior.

Originally built by Koenig Home Builders and now curated and remodeled by Darren Whatley, this post-and-beam home is a stunning combination of warm mountain charm and contemporary luxury.

Watch the splendid sunrise over the mountain ranges while cuddling by either of two outdoor fireplaces. The great room ceilings soar, framing the carefully crafted floor-to-ceiling fireplace. The gourmet kitchen is outfitted with Viking appliances, custom cabinetry, and all the extras such as a wine cooler and a warming drawer. Two primary bedroom suites are on the main level along with two guest bedrooms, while two more bedroom suites and a den are on the lower level. Upstairs, a home office and another bedroom suite round out the living space. This home is turnkey and is being offered with its fine furnishings so you can begin living the mountain lifestyle immediately.

Situated between the historic mountain villages of Cashiers and Highlands, Old Edwards at Highlands Cove houses 440 acres of some of Western North Carolina's most stunning terrain. Central to Old Edwards' amenities is the superbly manicured par 71 championship golf course. PGA professional instructors are available for private lessons to help residents up their game. The fullservice, 15,000 square foot clubhouse at Old Edwards Club complements the spa and fitness center beautifully. To round out the experience, a swim complex has also been completed. Old Edwards Club at Highlands Cove offers their homeowners a trifecta of nature, leisure and luxury living. Membership is by invitation only.

Offered at $2,300,000. Learn more at ncliving.com/listing/95424.

WADDELL/HANKS ESTATE

CASHIERS

offered at $3,700,000

On the market for the first time, the historic Waddell/Hanks House estate sits in the heart of the highly desirable Highway 107 South corridor in Cashiers, North Carolina. The estate overlooks a gently meandering Fowler Creek and Wade Hampton Golf Club's beautiful 7th and 8th holes. This section of the corridor boasts an impressive concentration of luxury homes, a central uncongested location, two prestigious private country clubs, and the newly renovated High Hampton resort. With few building restrictions, the estate property represents an exceptional opportunity to build a custom single-family compound, several estate homes, or a development with upscale cottages for seasonal or year-round residents. The 12.16-acre property consists of contiguous parcels of 3.41 acres, .64 acres, and 8.11 acres. MLS# 94760.

BEAR LAKE

TUCKASEGEE

offered at $2,950,000

Sitting in the middle of this beautiful mountain lake, Bear Lake Heaven Island is truly a unique opportunity. Bear Lake is a pristine lake at 2,600 feet of elevation located in the heart of the Blue Ridge Mountains of North Carolina. With 22 miles of shoreline, much of which is National Forest, Bear Lake is perfect for enjoying all the water sports or simply a slow evening cruise. No need to hop in a boat to reach this island, because there's a causeway for easy access to your property. The island has underground power, a 12 GPM well, an installed 12 bedroom septic system, high-speed internet, 2 large docks, and 1,500 feet of shoreline. Unlike most property on the lake, which requires a building set-back, your property line ends at the water's edge. MLS# 94384.