Plateau Magazine Oct-Nov 2021

October/November 2021 

Top Dog 

Pampered Pets 

Nine Lives 

Protecting Panthertown Valley 

Game Plan 

College Football Preview 

$4.50 US 

Highlands 

Food and Wine 

Festival 

Charlotte Muir of 

Highlands Biological 

Foundation 

Showhouse 

Glamping 

October /November 2021 | 1

2 | ThePlateauMag.com

NC 

ASHEVILLE, 

Sweeten Creek Road 

121 

NC 

CASHIERS, 

Frank Allen Road 

110 

OPEN 

NOW 

NC 

CASHIERS, 

don't smell like a 

We 

furniture store. 

typical 

That's because we're not. 

The new furniture smell is mostly glues, resins, plywood, and other materials used in 

creating furniture. And in today's homes, you're breathing this in daily. At Atelier Maison 

& Co., the first thing you'll notice is that we don't smell like other furniture stores. We 

offer organic, sustainable furniture made with natural materials, as well as FSC Certified 

Wood and low VOC wood stains. 

To learn more, stop by our 20,000-sq-ft studio in Asheville, our new studio in Cashiers 

near The Village Green, and visit us online at AtelierMaisonCo.com. 

ATELIER MAISON& CO. 


Mountain Mist 

Gallery 

Monday – Saturday 11-5 

We have moved! 

71 Commons Dr, Cashiers, NC 

1 Block North of Hwy 64 on 107 N 

828-743-1801 

www.mountainmistgallery.com 

Who’s A Good Boy by David Berger 

High Falls by Roger Bansemer 

Hooker Falls by Morgan Samuel Price 

Mangum Pottery 

Skip Kohler Lamps 

Wren Will I See You Again by Julie Berger Spring Aspens by Wayne Trinklein Westley’s Wood 

Pottery by Doug Jones 


MHK ARCHITECTURE AND PLANNING 

HIGHLANDS, NC| GREENVILLE, SC | CHARLESTON, SC 

mhkap.com 

MHKAP LLC, License #101418 | MHK Architecture and Planning, License #14234 


Main Level Floorplan 

The ASTER | ONE Level 

The LAUREL | TWO Levels 

CUSTOM LUXURY HOMES STARTING AT $1.4M 

FIRST FLOOR PLAN 

MODERN-RUSTIC DESIGN 

NATURAL 40’ WATERFALL & HIKING TRAILS 

ONLY 20 1+ ACRE PRIVATE LOTS AVAILABLE 

Named after its beautiful 40-foot waterfall, Saratay Falls is a new community 

of 20 custom luxury mountain homes to be built just minutes from 

Cashiers, NC, by developer Loudermilk Homes, a large, custom home 

builder out of Atlanta, GA, known for a relentless focus on quality custom 

craftsmanship, transparency and advanced smart home technology. 

Brooks Kittrell at (828) 230-4453 | John Muir at (404) 245-7027 

www.saratayfalls.com 

© 2021 BHHS Affiliates, LLC. An independently owned and operated franchisee of BHHS Affiliates, 

LLC. Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices and the Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices symbol are 

registered service marks of HomeServices of America, Inc. ® Equal Housing Opportunity. 


Main Level 

Highlands 

MLS# 97313 | LOT 9 | TWO Levels 

CUSTOM LUXURY HOMES STARTING AT $2M 

GATED COMMUNITY NEAR DOWNTOWN HIGHLANDS 

WALK TO RESTAURANTS, ENTERTAINMENT & SHOPPING 

ONLY NINE .75+ ACRE LOTS AVAILABLE 

Bear Mòr is a new community of luxury mountain homes to be built in 

the heart of Highlands, NC, by developer Loudermilk Homes, a large, 

custom home builder out of Atlanta, GA, known for a relentless focus 

on quality craftsmanship, transparency, and advanced smart home 

technology. 

Mitzi Rauers (404) 218-9123 | Judy Michaud (828) 371-0730 

www.MeadowsMountainRealty.com 

© 2021 BHHS Affiliates, LLC. An independently owned and operated franchisee of BHHS Affiliates, 

LLC. Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices and the Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices symbol are 

registered service marks of HomeServices of America, Inc. ® Equal Housing Opportunity. 


BETH TOWNSEND 

Co-Owner / Broker 

LIZ HARRIS 


ANN MCKEE AUSTIN 


COLEEN GOTTLOEB 

Broker-In-Charge 

SANDY BARROW 

Broker 

JOHN BARROW 

Broker / Rental Coordinator 

WAYNE MONDAY 

Broker 

PHILIP BRADLEY 

Broker 

MAGGIE ELMER 

Broker 

JOANNE BRYSON 

Broker 

GUS BRIGHT 

Broker Associate 

DEEP KNOWLEDGE. UNMATCHED EXPERIENCE. 


Our Slice of Heaven 

“ 

Our McKee Properties agent sold us on this house before we even 

saw it. He knew we would love Buck Knob Island. He also represented 

the sellers and he really stuck with us through the closing. 

Now, when we're here, we step back in time.” 

– DON, DANETTE, JULIETTE, TRIPP, THOMAS & TYLER 

MCKEEPROPERTIES.COM 


BELONG SOMEWHERE 

outside THE ORDINARY. 

Breathe in the crisp, mountain air. Listen to the soothing 

sounds of songbirds on an early morning hike before the 

rest of the world awakes. Share a farm-fresh meal with 

friends, family, and plenty of laughter. At Lonesome 

Valley, you can create the life you’ve always craved and 

find a new appreciation for the simple moments that are 

anything but ordinary. 

Visit our community in Cashiers, NC to find your mountain home today. 

LONESOMEVALLEY.COM 



264 SKYCLIFF DRIVE 

Asheville, EARLS 

NC 28804 

Canopy: MLS 3768662 

264 Skyclif f Drive 

Privately situated on 4.55 acres of sweeping 264 SKYCLIFF 360 degrees, DRIVE, Asheville ASHEVILLE, mountain views NC and 28804 nestled behind - Due the gates For of Occupancy Wildcat Cliffs, September this home 2021 

Privately situated on 4.55 acres of sweeping 360 degrees, Asheville mountain views and 

exemplifies the quintessential refined mountain escape. The highly crafted architecture represents the finest in materials and craftsmanship, 

nestled behind the gates of Wildcat Cliffs, this home exemplifies the quintessential refined 

including Geo-thermal heated Italian Porcelanosa porcelain floors, Italian porcelain countertops, 3Form Architectural resin for enhancing design 

mountain escape. The highly crafted architecture represents the finest in materials and 

features, Loewen windows, and Turkish & Portuguese limestone exterior features. The spacious floor plan hosts 4 bedrooms, a formal radius 

craftsmanship, including Geo-thermal heated Italian Porcelanosa porcelain floors, Italian 

bar made of semi-precious marble, a grand porcelain salon with countertops, fireplace, a lavish 3Form state-of-the Architectural art movie resin theatre for built enhancing by Boca Raton’s design renowned features, Acoustic Loewen 

windows, Innovations, and Turkish a handsome & Portuguese study, and a limestone studio with en-suite exterior bathroom features. located The on the spacious second level. floor plan 

hosts 4 The bedrooms, outdoor entertainment a formal radius terrace bar is expansive, made of hosting semi-precious a robust stone marble, fireplace a for grand the cooler salon with 

fireplace, evenings a lavish the climate state-of-the provides, and art is sure movie to be theatre a favorite spot built to relax by Boca and indulge Raton’s after a renowned day of enjoying Acoustic 

Doug Treadwell, Broker 

Innovations, all the reasons a handsome for possessing study, the and ultimate a studio mountain with retreat. en-suite Wildcat bathroom Cliffs is minutes located to downtown’s on the second 

828.482.2800 

level. The outdoor entertainment terrace is expansive, hosting a robust stone fireplace 

art galleries and eclectic restaurants, and only two miles to the Blue Ridge Parkway. $8,900,000 

In partnership with the for the cooler evenings the climate provides, and is sure to be a favorite spot to relax 

and indulge after a day of enjoying all the reasons for possessing the ultimate mountain 

Earls | Lappin Team, 

retreat. Wildcat Cliffs is minutes to downtown’s art galleries and eclectic restaurants, and 

John R. Wood Properties only two miles to the Blue Ridge Parkway. $8,900,000 

10 | ThePlateauMag.com 

Canopy: MLS 3768662

EARLS 

732 Peakes Pointe Drive 

Doug Treadwell, Broker 

828.482.2800 

In partnership with the 

Earls | Lappin Team, 

John R. Wood Properties 

732 PEAKES POINTE DRIVE, PENSACOLA FLORIDA - At the Western tip of the Peake’s Point 

Peninsula sits the definition of luxury and elegance. This timeless beauty offers just under 12,000 

square feet with breath taking 300° Views of Pensacola Bay and the Intracoastal Waterway - 

lively vistas in every direction make this home site the diamond in a sea of emerald. Across 

Pensacola Bay, enjoy the passing of ships in and out of port and the sparkling lights of downtown 

shimmering on still night waters. Views of Pensacola Bay to the north and Santa Rosa Sound to 

the South. Enjoy walking and fishing from your 1,000+ feet of beach and shore line, or take your 

boat out to the Gulf only minutes from your dock. Both local and international artisans were 

utilized to incorporate the stunning accents/features including GeoThermal HVAC, Commercial 

grade elevator, whole house fire suppression system, whole house generator, custom designed 

bronze handrails on the 5,000 sq. ft. of porches, handcrafted Sycamore wood walls in the office, 

Pear wood walls in the formal dining room, Spanish cedar shake exterior, a salt water pool, and 

much more. $12,000,000 

MLS 221059943 



75 

V.I.P. Pets 

Rolling out the welcome mat 

for our four-legged friends 

By Dawn Liles 

80 

This Land Is Your Land; 

This Land Is My Land 

Friends of Panthertown joins 

forces with local and national 

organizations to conserve and 

protect Panthertown Valley 

By Christa Miller 

92 


Sports writer Brian Mull breaks 

down all you need to know about 

NC ’s favorite teams 

By Brian Mull 

84 

Glam By Nature 

Glamping redefines campingthese 

designers redefine glamping 

By Brittany Conley 

PHOTO CHRIS LITTLE PHOTOGRAPHY 


| Build Studio and Cabinetry, Tile, and Granite Showrooms 

Design 

2220 N. 4th Street, and 2543 Cashiers Rd, Highlands, NC 28741 

2251, 

Remodeling 

Full 

| Build 

Design 

| Bath 

Kitchen 

Works 

Metal 

Cabinetry 

Lighting 

Granite 

Tile 

828-482-4424 

blackrockdb.com 



Departments » October/November 2021 

21 

Buzz 

21 The Hills are Alive 

Charlotte Muir answers 

the mountains' call 

22 Calendar 

Our five musts from this 

issue’s calendar of events 

24 Events 

Your guide to planning 

your social calendar 

34 Staff Picks 

From heartwarming 

to spine tingling, 

these new reads are 

just in time for fall 

36 Local Chatter 

A celebration rich in 

food, flavor and fun 

40 Newsmaker 

Community fund grants 

are vital for local nonprofits 

44 Art Seen 

Artist April Johnson 

is living her best life 

48 Health 

Nonprofit community care 

51 History 

Shadow of the bear at 

Big View Overlook 

54 Southern Drawl 


Foundation’s executive 

director, Charlotte Muir 

57 97 

Well Styled 

57 Revival 

Dolls by Cherokee artisan 

Laura Walkingstick on 

display at Mountain 

Heritage Center 

58 Shopping 

With 36 years of business 

under its belt, TJ 

Bailey’s is a town staple 

60 Renaissance 

River cane’s cultural and 

ecological significance 

62 Condiments 

New owners find a welcome 

career change in Colonel 

Mustard’s of Highlands 

64 Learning 

Acclaimed author Patti 

Callahan Henry to discuss 

“Once Upon a Wardrobe” 

66 Fashion 

Cozy and fashionable fall 

favorites set the mood 

while Old Edwards 

Club, carved out of the 

Blue Ridge Mountains, 

creates the stage for these 

autumn-inspired looks. 

74 Garden 

Landscape design solutions 

for the fall planting season 

Food+Drink 

97 Dining Review 

The next chapter in 

Cashiers barbecue 

100 In The Kitchen 

Deceptively simple 

seasonal dishes 

106 Libations 

Part three in a threepart 

series exploring 

viticulture and wine 

109 Restaurant Guide 

The best spots for eating 

and drinking on the plateau 

44 

117 

Travel 

117 Refined Retreat 

Hidden within a labyrinth 

of seemingly random hallways, 

hidden staircases and 

unexpected balconies – 

architectural features you’d 

expect to find in a Victorian 

manse turned B&B – lies a 

truly polished and luxurious 

boutique resort. 

Fundamentals 

18 Reader Services 

20 Editor's Letter 

114 Real Estate Forum 

120 The Last Reflection 

Top Dog 

Nine Lives 


Game Plan 


$4.50 US 

Pampered Pets 

Highlands 

Food and Wine 

Festival 



Foundation 

Showhouse 

Glamping 

ON THE COVER » 

The design team for PLATT in 

Brevard, NC, was one of six 

regional designers to redefine 

glamping at the 24th annual 

Cashiers Designer Showhouse. 

Photo Chris Little Photography 


137 N. Highway 107, Cashiers, NC . 828-200-9573 


Come Enjoy the Grandeur of the 

Blue Ridge Mountains. 

CEO & Publisher 

Robert Sweeney 

Executive Director of Operations 

Emily Sweeney 

■ ■ ■ 

Special 

coronavirus 

extended-stay 

discounts are available 

upon request. 

Thank you for 

your patronage. 

Rustic Mountain Settings | Luxury Suites with Italian Linens 

Rustic Mountain Resort Settings Style Villa | Luxury on Golf Suites Course with Italian Linens 

Managing Editor 

Katherine Ford Richardson 

■ ■ ■ 

Account Executive 

Sales: 843-822-0119 

Art Director 

Carl Turner 

Travel Director 

Katie McElveen 

Graphic Designers 

Kristina Parolla 

Shanna Thomson 

Carl Turner 

Contributing Writers 

Kim Byer, Bridget Callahan, Brittany 

Conley, Kim Henry, Kristin E. Landfield, 

Marianne Leek, Mary-Elizabeth Lemons, 

Dawn Liles, Sara Shiver McBride, Katie 

McElveen, Megan Mathis, Christa Miller, 

Brian Mull, Mandy Murry, Anne Postic, 

Judy Royal, Jonathan Shipley, Mona 

Verma, Chantal Wilson 

Photographers 

Maggie Braucher, Nick Breedlove, 

Kim Byer, Chelsea Cronkrite, Chris Little, 

Jim Mauchly, Tracy Mendy 

■ ■ ■ 

Customer Service 

Local Office: (575) 496-5466 

Corporate Office/Subscriptions: 

(843) 856-2532 

Black Bear Lodge 

Sapphire, NC | 828-553-6535 | blackbearlodgeofsapphire.com 


Sapphire, NC | 828-553-6535 | blackbearlodgeofsapphire.com 

Plateau Magazine (Vol. 2, No. 5) is published 

6 times per year by DueSouth Publishing, LLC. 

The entire contents of this publication are fully 

protected and may not be reproduced, in whole 

or part, without written permission. We are 

not responsible for loss of unsolicited materials. 

Copyright © 2021. All rights reserved.

H I G H L A N D S , N C 

AUTUMN SHOWS US HOW BEAUTIFUL IT IS TO LET THINGS GO 

Everyone must sit and watch the leaves turn. We can't think of a better place than fireside. 

Cullasaja Club boasts fireplaces in each of our dining areas, the new marketplace, living room, and even poolside. 

We invite you for a visit so we can show you just how easy it is to unwind here at Cullasaja Club. 

RELAX, IT'S YOUR TIME 

Give us a call, 828.526.3531 

Come see us, 1371 Cullasaja Club Drive, Highlands, North Carolina 

Visit us Online, cullasajaclub.org 

October Club /November Membership 2021 is by invitation | 17 only

Reader Services 

Subscriptions 

Subscribing to Plateau Magazine is easy 

and you save 30 percent off the newsstand 

price. Your subscription includes 6 issues, 

delivered right to your door. Subscriptions 

and billing are handled in-house, providing 

you with the best in customer service. You 

can subscribe by clicking on our Subscribe 

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Order online or by phone. We will send out 

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If you move or change your address, please 

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Letters to the Editor 

We welcome your comments and letters. 

Send letters via email to our editor at 

editor@theplateaumag.com. Please include 

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Back Issues 

When available, back issues of Plateau 

Magazine can be purchased for $13.50, 

postage included. 

Writing Opportunities 

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freelance writers. Please email your ideas or 

writing queries to editor@theplateaumag.com. 

How to Advertise 

If you would like advertising information 

for promoting your products or services, call 

843-822-0119, or contact us via the website 

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from the editor 


Top Dog 

Pampered Pets 

Nine Lives 


Game Plan 


Evermore had an old salon. 

It served mummies, ghosts and werewolves too. 

There were musical performances at half past noon, 

sung by Emmy Lou. 

With her rainbow hair, bright blue eyes 

and a smile that could even shock Frankenstein, 

I guess it should come as no surprise 

that everybody loved Emmy Lou. 

Emmy Lou loved Edgar Joe. 

They lived at One Bat Hill with their pet crow. 

Farmer Bram had a jealous soulbecause 

he wanted Emmy Lou. 

$4.50 US 

Highlands 

Food and Wine 

Festival 



Foundation 

Showhouse 

Glamping 

Give the gift 

that lasts 

all year long... 

a subscription to 

Character Arc 

For my letter this issue, I embraced Halloween 

and thought I’d share a short story, 

“The Ballad of Emmy Lou.” Self-published 

in 2014, it was my ode to Edgar Allen Poe, 

Jack Prelutsky, Tim Burton and Appalachian 

murder ballads. Songs like “Long 

Black Veil” and “Knoxville Girl” paint dark 

pictures of the human condition, but in my 

heart of hearts, I am forever a unicorn-loving 

optimist. So, I needed my spooky story 

sprinkled with whimsy and redemption. I 

illustrated the book by building the town 

of Evermore in my kitchen- made of clay, 

cardboard and fabric. My “monsters and 

circus freaks” were more adorable than 

frightening- a visual reminder that words 

aren’t always properly assigned. Relying 

on photographic illustrations for added 

storytelling, the last scene shows Farmer 

Bram writing an apology letter and returning 

to town with a parade of banners 

saying, “we missed you” and “we are glad 

you aren’t mean anymore!” 

In October, we acknowledge the change 

from abundant fairytale to barren forest 

with all things spooky. While nature sets a 

stage for us to look inward and think about 

the darker parts of the human condition, 

let us also us remember compassion, empathy, 

the healing power of forgiveness 

and the character arc created in redemption. 

In short, remember Emmy Lou: 

One dark night on Wolf Hair Creek, 

Bram took Edgar past where he could see. 

The townsfolk say he did an evil deed, 

so he could have Emmy Lou. 

The verdict came when the sun was low. 

Farmer Bram reaped what he sowed. 

Bitterness was growing, though, 

in the heart of Emmy Lou. 

Edgar Joe feared the fate 

of a woman’s heart that was full of hate. 

He whispered, “Darlin’, please don’t wait 

to forgive him, Emmy Lou.” 

There are consequences for your deeds, 

but forgiveness always sets you free. 

Think twice about your actions, please, 

and remember Emmy Lou. 

Kat Ford 

Managing Editor 

editor@theplateaumag.com 

We welcome your comments. Please send 

us your feedback or story ideas by emailing 

us at editor@theplateaumag.com 

Find Us Online! 

Visit us on our website at 

theplateaumag.com 

Evermore was on Wolf Hair Creek, 

full of washed-up monsters and circus freaks. 

Among them lived the most unique 

and beautiful Emmy Lou. 

facebook.com/plateaumag 

instagram.com/plateaumag 


Your Local Rundown on News and Culture 

The Hills 

are Alive 

Charlotte Muir answered 

the mountains’ call, helping 

environmental education 

and field science find their 

place in nature’s theater. 

See page 54 

PHOTO CHELSEA CRONKRITE 


calendar 

The Reveal: 

OCTOBER–NOVEMBER 

Our five musts from this issue’s calendar of events. 

The Bascom: A Center for 

the Visual Arts 

Mondays through Sundays 

The Bascom: A Center for the Visual 

Arts has three exhibition spaces open 

to the public year-round. Current 

exhibitions include “Art League of 

Highlands-Cashiers Member Exhibition,” 

August 28 through December 

31; “Re: Play,” September 13 through 

December 30; “Craft to Art Series: Mosaics,” 

September 18 through December 

23. (828) 526-4949 www.thebascom.org 

Highlands 

Historical Society 

Thursdays through 

Saturdays 

Join the Highlands Historical Society 

Thursday through Saturday, 10 a.m. to 4 

p.m., for nine new or refurbished exhibits 

through October. Visitors can learn 

about Cherokee hunting and legends, the 

town’s beginnings as a health resort, historic 

Joe Webb cabins, local moonshiners, 

George Masa, Bobby Jones, native plants 

and more. (828) 787-1050 

www.highlandshistory.com 

Music in Motion 

October 8 through 24 

Join Highlands Playhouse as this world 

premiere production takes you on a journey 

through the silver screen with hits from 

Hollywood's greatest movie musicals. Featuring 

selections from such cinema classics 

as "West Side Story," "Singin' in the Rain," 

"Footloose," "Beach Blanket Bingo," "Dirty 

Dancing," "Mamma Mia," and more! This 

90-minute multimedia hit parade is perfect 

for the whole family, and will have you 

dancing in your seat and grooving out to 

the street! All tickets are $45. (828) 526- 

2695 www.highlandsplayhouse.org 

Hosted Event with Walker 

Brothers Craft Kombucha at 

Half-Mile Farm 


Half-Mile Farm is thrilled to welcome the 

Tennessee large-scale kombucha brewery, 

Walker Brothers. Boston-born brothers 

Sam and Luke are blending wellness 

with community by brewing high gravity 

kombucha as an alternative to craft beer, 

offering the same care and attention to 

detail, opportunity for connection and 

thoughtful brewing practices, while 

creating an option for those who might be 

more wellness-minded or who appreciate 

a funky and flavorful brew. Enjoy Social 

Hour Wednesday and Thursday evenings 

from 5 to 6 p.m. with craft beverages 

available from the J. Henry Farmhouse 

Tavern bar and complimentary hors 

d’oeuvres. Hosted events are for Half- 

Mile Farm guests only. (855) 271-7246 

www.oldedwardshospitality.com 

Cashiers Festival of Trees 

November 26 through 27 

Hosted by the Summit Charter School 

Foundation, the Cashiers Festival of Trees 

is a multi-day, family-friendly event during 

Thanksgiving weekend where guests bid on 

decorated trees and holiday décor, enjoy a wide 

variety of holiday performances, create personalized 

children’s crafts, celebrate literacy on 

the Dolly Parton Imagination Library Storytime 

Stage and shop one-of-a-kind gifts in the 

Gift Zone and Build-A-Bear Pop Up. Cashiers 

Festival of Trees will take place at the Summit 

Center, the athletics and fine arts facility at 

Summit Charter School, in Cashiers and is a 

community fundraiser for both the school and 

Cashiers-Highlands’ nonprofits. The event is 

open to all ages, ticket information available 

online. (828) 743-5755 www.summitschool.org 


Glen Cove 

by Old Edwards 

Live a Life of Adventure and Well ness 

in the beautiful Norton area of Cashiers, North Carolina 

Amenities include a community garden, entertainment barn, spa and wellness center, 

heated mineral pool, mountain trails and a 12-hole, par-3 golf course. 

Call 828-526-1783 to Schedule a Tour Today | GlenCoveLifestyle.com 


Cashiers Valley Leaf Festival 


F L O R E S S E N C E 

F L O R S S E N C E 

E 

florals & event styling 




Celebrate the leaves beginning to change with this popular and free event 

welcoming 100 artisans and merchants to The Village Green. Visitors will find 

unique handcrafted wood, pottery, jewelry and much more on display and for 

purchase throughout the weekend. Visit this festive event from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. 

for food, drink, live music and a juried art show. (828) 743-3434 

www.villagegreencashiersnc.com 

onal. 

d. 

tic. 

eal. 



H I G H L A N D S , C A S H I E R S , A S H E V I L L E A N D B E Y O N D 



Michelle Lyerly Photography 

Michelle Michelle Lyerly Lyerly Photography Photography 

ONGOING 

Event Calendar 

Looking to fill your social calendar? We've got the 

rundown on what to do and explore. 

The Bascom: A Center for the 

Visual Arts 

Mondays through Sundays 

The Bascom: A Center for the Visual Arts 

has three exhibition spaces open to the 

public year-round. Current exhibitions 

include “Art League of Highlands- 

Cashiers Member 

E x h i b i t i o n , ” 

August 28 through 

December 31; “Re: 

Play,” September 13 

through December 30; “Craft to Art Series: 

Mosaics,” September 18 through December 

23. (828) 526-4949 www.thebascom.org 

Michelle Lyerly Photography 

Highlands Historical Society 

Thursdays through Saturdays 

Join the Highlands Historical Society 

Thursday through Saturday, 10 a.m. 

to 4 p.m., for nine 

new or refurbished 

exhibits through 

October. Visitors can 

learn about Cherokee 

hunting and legends, 

the town’s beginnings 

as a health resort, 

historic Joe Webb 

cabins, local moonshiners, George Masa, 

Bobby Jones, native plants and more. 

(828) 787-1050 

www.highlandshistory.com 


Listen to Your Dreams and We'll Help You Build Them 

Creating exceptional homes and providing a professional, enjoyable 

building experience for our clients. 

Custom Homes 

Renovations 

12 Canoe Point, Cashiers NC | 828-547-0777 | harriscustombuildersnc.com 


Live • Relax • Explore 

Rejuvenate. Relax. Unplug. Escape. 

The Divide at Bald Rock is your haven from the demands of daily 

life. At The Divide, you will explore the beauty and tranquility 

of the Blue Ridge Mountains, hike or bike local trails, discover a 

waterfall, and free your mind and spirit. 

The Divide at Bald Rock 

20 Continental Drive | Sapphire NC 

Ph: 800.228.0431 | www.dividenc.com 

Open air Pavilion 

Beautiful Fairfield Lake 

Managed Equestrian Center 

Music In Motion 


Join Highlands Playhouse 

as this world premiere 

production takes you on a 

journey through the silver 

screen with hits from Hollywood's 

greatest movie musicals. Featuring 

selections from such cinema classics as 

"West Side Story," "Singin' in the Rain," 

"Footloose," "Beach Blanket Bingo," "Dirty 

Dancing," "Mamma Mia," and more! This 

90-minute multimedia hit parade is perfect 

for the whole family, and will have you 

dancing in your seat and grooving out to the 

street! All tickets are $45. (828) 526-2695 

www.highlandsplayhouse.org 

Live Music Concert Series 

Fridays and Saturdays in October 

Join the Highlands Chamber of Commerce 

for Friday Night Live and Saturdays on 

Pine from 6 to 8:30 p.m. Check online for 

updated information. (828) 526-2112 

www.highlandschamber.org 

Autumn Ambles 

Thursdays in October 

If you have wondered why leaves change 

color or what conditions make for a spectacular 

fall display, join the Highlands 

Nature Center for their Autumn Amble 

tours this October. Every Thursday in 

October at 1 p.m., staff will lead an exploration 

of the Botanical Garden to discover 

what leaves are already changing and the 

(science of) why. All are welcome to participate 

in these free guided tours, however, 

spaces are limited. Please call to reserve 

your spot. (828) 526-2623 

www.highlandsbiological.org 

OCTOBER 

Hotel California: A Salute 

to the Eagles 

October 7 

Join the Smoky Mountain 

Center for the Performing 

Arts at 7:30 p.m. for this dynamic, 

highly acclaimed show. For more than 

two decades, Hotel California has touched 

the hearts of fans all over the world, by 

faithfully and accurately reproducing the 

Grammy award-winning sounds of the Eagles 

by incorporating their very own worldrenowned 

vocal harmony and authentic 


in the Carolinas 

#1 in the Carolinas 

#1 in the Country for Independent Firms 

#1 Sales Team in Highlands 2020! 

Stronger together! 

Source HCMLS & RealTrends 

Pat Allen 

Broker in Charge 

pat@patallenrealtygroup.com 

828.200.9179 

Main Office 

295 Dillard Road 

Highlands, NC 28741 

828.526.8784 

Julie Osborn 

Broker in Charge 

julie@patallenrealtygroup.com 

828.200.6165 

Wildcat Cliffs Office 

5121 Cashiers Road 

Highlands, NC 28741 

828.526.4525 

patallenrealtygroup.com 

October /November 2021 | 27 

STRONGER TOGETHER

instrumentation, including all specialty 

instruments in a stage spectacle that is 

both modern and exciting. Each concert 

presents an exciting, showcase of The 

Eagles mega- hits such as “Take it Easy,” 

“Heartache Tonight” and of course “Hotel 

California.” The magic and mystique of 

this truly timeless music is as powerful as 

it is captivating. (828) 524-1598 

www.smokymountainarts.com 


32 CANOE POINT • CASHIERS, NC 

- SINCE 1992 - 

Your Destination For 

Locally-Curated 

Furniture and Design 

PLUS 

LIGHTING ART WORK LINENS ACCESSORIES GIFTS 

rustickscashiersnc 

WWW.RUSTICKS.COM • 828.743.3172 

Open M-F 10-5pm • Sat 10:30-5pm 

Hosted Event with Walker 

Brothers Craft Kombucha 

at Half-Mile Farm 


Half-Mile Farm is thrilled 

to welcome the Tennessee 

large-scale kombucha brewery, 

Walker Brothers. Boston-born brothers 

Sam and Luke are blending wellness 

with community by brewing high gravity 

kombucha as an alternative to craft beer, 

offering the same care and attention to 

detail, opportunity for connection and 

thoughtful brewing practices, while creating 

an option for those who might be 

more wellness-minded or who appreciate 

a funky and flavorful brew. Enjoy Social 

Hour Wednesday and Thursday evenings 

from 5 to 6 p.m. with craft beverages 


Tavern bar and complimentary hors 

d’oeuvres. Hosted events are for Half-Mile 

Farm guests only. (855) 271-7246 

www.oldedwardshospitality.com 

Hosted Event with Appalachian 

Mountain Brewery at Half-Mile Farm 


Half-Mile Farm welcomes Appalachian 

Mountain Brewery, a brewery located in 

Boone, NC, that is dedicated to making 

seriously delicious craft beer while focusing 

its business model on community, sustainability 

and philanthropy. Enjoy Social 

Hour on Wednesday evening from 5 to 6 

p.m. featuring a tasting of Appalachian 

Mountain Brewery ciders with craft beverages 


Tavern bar and complimentary 

hors d’oeuvres. A Fireside Chat will be on 

Thursday afternoon from 3 to 4 p.m. in the 

Woodland View Room followed by a Social 

Hour evening 

from 5 to 6 

p.m. featuring 

cocktails made 

with Appalachian 

Mountain

TREES 

CRAFTS 

GIFTS 

C A S H I E R S F E S T I V A L O F T R E E S 

A f e s t i v e f u n d r a i s e r s u p p o r t i n g C a s h i e r s - H i g h l a n d s 

n o n - p r o f i t s . V i s i t s u m m i t s c h o o l . o r g f o r e v e n t i n f o r m a t i o n . 

N O V E M B E R 2 6 - 2 7 , 2 0 2 1 

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Brewery ciders, along with complimentary 

hors d’oeuvres. Hosted events are for 

Half-Mile Farm guests only. (855) 271- 

7246 www.oldedwardshospitality.com/ 

calendar-of-events 

ELEVATING THE ARTS TO 4118 FT 

Oct 8th - Oct 24th 

FOR MORE DETAILS, VISIT 

HIGHLANDSPLAYHOUSE.ORG 

An Evening with Clint Black 


Join the Smoky Mountain Center for the 

Performing Arts at 8:00 p.m. for Clint Black. 

Black surged to superstardom as part of 

the fabled Class of ’89, reaching number 

one with five consecutive singles from his 

triple-platinum debut, “Killin’ Time.” He 

followed that with the triple-platinum “Put 

Yourself in My Shoes,” and then a string 

of platinum and gold albums 

throughout the ’90s. Perhaps 

most impressively, Clint wrote 

or co-wrote every one of his 

more than three dozen chart 

hits, including “A Better Man,” 

“Where Are You Now,” “When 

My Ship Comes In,” “A Good Run of Bad 

Luck,” “Summer’s Comin’,” “Like the Rain” 

and “Nothin’ But the Taillights,” part of a 

catalog that produced 22 number one singles 

and made him one of the most successful 

singer/songwriters of the modern era. (828) 

524-1598 www.smokymountainarts.com 

Halloween in Highlands 


Join the Highlands Chamber of Commerce 

from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. on Main Street in 

Highlands. Visit their website for details 

as they become available. (828) 526-5841 

www.highlandschamber.org 

NOVEMBER 

828.526.2695 | 362 Oak Street, Highlands, NC 28741 | www.highlandsplayhouse.org 

The Magical Lamp of Aladdin 

November 5 through 6 and 12 through 13 

Join the Smoky Mountain Center for the 

Performing Arts at 7:00 p.m. to welcome 

to the mythical, magical lands of the ancient 

middle east- a place of enchantment, 

high-kicking dance numbers and a million 

laughs! When Aladdin, a down on his luck 

orphan discovers a magic lamp and the 

Genie who has the power to grant three 

wishes, he feels his life is 

changed forever. Wanting to 

earn the respect of the beautiful 

princess of the land, Aladdin 

embarks on an adventure 

that will test his will and his 

moral character, finding out 

that being yourself is the best treasure one 


Fall Neutrals 

The weather is cooling, and 

the leaves are crisping. We 

love a cozy neutral for the 

season. 

A DESTINATION BOUTIQUE 

CLASSIC. SPIRITED. 

CURATED. 

HIGHLANDS 

Town Square 

828.526.2262 

TJBAILEYS.COM 

@TJBAILEYS 

CASHIERS 

95 HWY 107 S. 

828.743.8855 


can discover. But beware, the evil lurks 

around every corner, and many a scoundrel 

has other ruthless plans in store. This magical 

stage show has bee-boppin’ tunes, tons 

of heart and a lot of eye-popping wow! Presented 

by the Overlook Theatre Company. 

Approximately one hour in length. 

(828) 524-1598 www.smokymountainarts.com 

Sideline 

November 26 

Join the Highlands 

PAC at 7:30 p.m. for 

Sideline. Sideline is 

a pedigreed six-piece 

powerhouse whose 

style has set the pace in Bluegrass for over 

two decades. Founders Steve Dilling (banjo), 

guitarist Skip Cherryholmes and Jason 

Moore (bass) can all claim their own historical 

significance to the genre as members of 

highly awarded groups, multiple Grand Ole 

Opry appearances and years of national 

and international touring. In 2019, Sideline 

won the IBMA Song Of The Year Award 

for their hit single, "Thunder Dan." To listen 

to Sideline reminds the fan of why so 

many people fall in love with Bluegrass in 

the first place; pulse-pounding drive, songs 

sung from the heart, perfected timing and 

dynamics as well as a visceral emotion in 

the rendering. A band that was started as 

an off-season fun experiment has become a 

full-time dream team of players and singers, 

including its latest additions, Zack Arnold 

(mandolin), Jamie Harper (fiddle) and 

guitarist Jacob Greer. (828) 526-9047 

www.highlandspac.org 

Cashiers Festival of Trees 

November 26 through 27 

Hosted by the Summit Charter School 

Foundation, the Cashiers Festival of Trees 

is a multi-day, family-friendly event during 

Thanksgiving weekend where guests bid on 

decorated trees and holiday décor, enjoy a 

wide variety of holiday performances, create 

personalized children’s crafts, celebrate 

literacy on the Dolly Parton Imagination 

Library Storytime Stage and shop one-of-akind 

gifts in the Gift Zone and Build-A-Bear 

Pop Up. Cashiers Festival of Trees will take 

place at the Summit Center, the athletics 

and fine arts facility at Summit Charter 

School, in Cashiers and is a community 

fundraiser for both the school and Cashiers- 

Highlands’ nonprofits. The event is open to 

all ages, ticket information available online. 

(828) 743-5755 www.summitschool.org P 


Some parents send 

their kids to 

summer camp. 

Others send them 

to the back yard. 

CatatogaClub.com 

Lake Toxaway, North Carolina 

828.450.2551 

Johnny Was Clothing 

Barefoot Dreams 

Mer Sea Clothing 

Artisan Jewelry 

Curated Gifts 

Barware 

Handcrafted Confections 

Jelly Belly Jelly Beans • Jellycat Collection 

Specialty Chocolates 

3 Chestnut Square 

Cashiers, NC 

828-743-1111 

@ajonescompany 

We are located directly across 

the street from the Cashiers 

Farmers Market 

3 Chestnut Square • Cashiers, NC • 828-743-1111 

@ajonescompany 

Located directly across from the Cashiers Farmers Market inside A Jones Company 


staff picks 

Ghoulish Tales 

From heartwarming to spine tingling, these new reads are just in time for fall 

Mary Roach, Fuzz: When Nature Breaks the Law 

Roach is known for her irreverent, witty and accessible approach to science, and “Fuzz” is no exception. 

Her latest endeavor takes you into the world of flora and fauna misbehaving, starting with 

bears dumpster diving and housebreaking in Aspen. She leads the reader around the globe to pickpocketing 

monkeys in India and invasive alien species in New Zealand. Roach explores the issues 

posed by these beings, how they have been dealt with in past, present and potential future solutions. 

“Fuzz” is a simultaneously hilarious and sobering look at the difficult choices wildlife and natural 

resource organizations must make to humanely control out-of-control populations while also appeasing 

those suffering the nuisance and mollifying defenders of animal rights. – Megan Mathis 

TJ Klune, Under the Whispering Door 

Wallace Price was not a good man in life. Now that he’s dead, can he come to terms with the things he 

can’t change? Will his Reaper and his Ferryman be able to help him to move on to what’s next? Will 

the health inspector shut down the tea shop? The themes are heavy, but the tone is light and gentle – 

it deals with serious topics, like suicide, in a profoundly kind and loving manner. This heartwarming 

book is full of tender, fond-family bonds, bittersweet charm and love – a perfect cozy fall read. 

– Sara Shiver McBride 

Erin Sterling, The Ex Hex 

L.R. Dorn’s “The Ex Hex” is a thrilling update of Theodore Dreiser’s 1925 novel “An American 

Tragedy.” When her heart gets broken, Vivienne and her cousin Gwyn jokingly curse Rhys Penhallow, 

but what Vivi doesn’t know is that the curse worked! When Rhys returns to recharge the 

town’s ley lines and make an appearance at the annual fall festival, the Ex Hex kicks in. Things 

take a disastrous turn – Graves Glen, GA, a Halloween hotspot, is suddenly under siege by an 

angry ghost, animated feral wind-up toys and corrupted magic. Erin Sterling’s “The Ex Hex” has a 

witty tone, banter-filled dialog, and likable characters. This paranormal romantic comedy makes 

for a fun and spooky good fall read. – Chantal Wilson 

Tamron Hall, As the Wicked Watch 

“As the Wicked Watch” is a fantastic must-read debut novel by broadcast journalist and daytime 

talk show host Tamron Hall. It is a chilling mystery about the disturbing disappearance 

and death of Masey James, a gifted 15-year-old Black girl. Jordan Manning, the very likable 

main character, is an ingenious Black reporter who gives a voice to the victim and looks for 

compelling clues to find the killer – all while reporting breaking news live, rain or shine, in 

designer stilettos! Hall keeps the book intriguing and insightfully portrays the behind-thescenes 

politics of how the police, media and the community intersect to react to such a ghastly 

crime. This novel serves as a reminder that evil exists among us, and we should be watchful 

and wary. – Mona Verma 


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local chatter 

Infamous Stringdusters create the 

perfect brunch experience at the 

Sunday Shindig in 2019. 

Highlands Food 

and Wine Festival 

A celebration rich in food, flavor and fun 

By MARIANNE LEEK » Photos by MAGGIE BRAUCHER 

NOTABLY ONE OF THE 

highest small towns east 

of the Rockies, there are 

few places as picturesque 

as the plateau in fall, the 

majestic Blue Ridge Mountains awash in 

fiery hues against a brilliant Carolina blue 

sky. With both Great Smoky Mountains 

National Park and the Blue Ridge 

Parkway practically in its backyard, the 

mountain respite of Highlands, NC, has 

always been a wildly popular destination 

spot for visitors in summer and early fall 

not only for its miles of trails, mountain 

vistas and abundance of waterfalls but 

also for its five-star inns, farm-to-table 

dining and charming downtown shopping 

opportunities. But perhaps no event is more 

representative of the best of Highlands and 

what this southern region has to offer than 

the finely curated and highly anticipated 

Highlands Food and Wine Festival, an 

annual celebration that affords patrons the 

chance to get up close and personal with 

some of the most exceptional chefs, vintners, 

mixologists and musicians in the Southeast. 

Since its inception in 2006 with the 

purpose of prolonging Highlands’ shoulder 

season, the originally named Highlands 

Culinary Weekend has undergone some 

significant changes. In 2016, it was rebranded 

in an effort to continue to promote 

the town of Highlands as a premier destination 

as well as provide a late-season 

economic boost to local business owners. 

Established in 2018 to oversee both the 

Highlands Food and Wine Festival and 

Bear Shadow music festival, Highlands 

Festivals, Inc. continues to be an asset 

to the broader plateau community giving 

over $45,000 to local charities such as the 

Highlands Food Pantry and Highlands- 

Cashiers Land Trust, as well as establishing 

a culinary scholarship to The Culinary 

Institute of America, with preference 

given to local students. They also remain 

fiercely committed to environmental sustainability, 

establishing a festival greening 

program and engaging in recycling 

and composting efforts which have thus 

far diverted over nine tons of waste from 

landfills. In the past six years, the festival 

has exploded in popularity and is consid- 


Please s es 

s ealae ls e Plaea 

a se a a e 

Lifting Health and Well-Being, Together. 

Visit t t 


local chatter 

ered one of the preeminent fall festivals in 

the Southeast, with tickets to its four main 

events, Grand Tasting, Truckin’, Main 

Event and Sunday Shindig, selling out in 

a matter of minutes. 

The festival also promotes wine dinners 

and specialty events held at local restaurants 

and retailers. Two notable events include 

the Old Edwards Inn and Spa Farm 

Harvest Dinner and Barn Dance, where 

visitors can expect “a full-on evening of 

authentic mountain culture. Your senses 

will come alive with sights, sounds, smells 

and flavors of farm-fresh creations being 

prepared live.” This event gives patrons 

a chance to meet the farmers of Sunburst 

Trout Farm, Anson Mills and Painted 

Hills Natural Beef, all while enjoying an 

evening of live music from Back Porch Orchestra. 

The second culinary experience 


hosted by Half-Mile Farm allows guests 

the opportunity to “spice up” their “evening 

with Sue Zemanick, of Zasu in New 

Orleans and Melissa Martin, author of 

“Mosquito Supper Club” with this Chefs in 

the House Dinner where Sue will be serving 

up New Orleans style cuisine.” 

This year’s four-day festival will kick off 

on Thursday, November 11th, and promises 

to deliver the finest culinary experience 

in the Southeast. In addition to the outstanding 

chefs who call Highlands home, 

the festival welcomes premier chefs from 

the region. The Grand Tasting will feature 

palate-pleasing fare from Ristorante Paoletti, 

Madison’s Restaurant and Wine Garden, 

Bridge at Mill Creek, 4118 Kitchen + 

Bar, and Jeremiah Bacon, the executive 

chef of Oak Steakhouse and Indigo Road 

Hospitality Group. 

For those who prefer a more laid-back 

savory experience, the Truckin’ event 

delivers. Those who are truckin’ around 

Highlands on Friday will have tasty options 

from a variety of food trucks and restaurant 

partners, including Wicked Good 

Deep Fried Pretzels, Highlands Burritos, 

Root Down, Backwoods Bakery, The Crafty 

Goat and Highlands Smokehouse. Festival 

VIP patrons can also try low country 

cuisine prepared by native Charlestonian 

renowned Chef Mark Bolchoz of Indaco. 

Saturday’s Main Event renders a mouthwatering 

cornucopia of cuisine from the 

popular Four65 Woodfire Bistro + Bar and 

The Darling Oyster Bar, as well as those 

prepared by regional Chef Drew Erickson 

from CAMP Modern American Eatery in 

Greenville, SC, and Victor King and Kristen 

Farmer Hall, both executive chefs and 

co-owners of The Essential and Bandit 

Pâtisserie of Birmingham, AL. 

The festival concludes on November 14th 

with the Sunday Shindig, which provides 

food rich in flavor from Highlands’ Half- 

Mile Farm, as well as tasty farm-to-table 

selections from Shawn Kelly of Fork and 

Plough in Greenville, SC. Festival patrons 

can also sample selections from 

Owen McGlynn of live-fire steakhouse 

Asheville Proper, which opened in 2020 

and promises guests, “refined culinary 

experience without pretension to diners in 

Asheville,” as well as French favorites prepared 

by Jeb Aldrich, the executive chef 

at Charleston’s classic French restaurant, 

Brasserie La Banque. Having appeared on 

PBS’ Cooking Under Fire, Top Chef, Food 

Fighters and Chow Masters, Chef Katsuji 

Tanabe will be opening A’Verde Cocina 

and Tequila Library in Cary, NC, in 2021, 

but will be serving up delicious delicacies 

as the festival winds down. 

The Highlands Food and Wine Festival 

has hosted a wide variety of acclaimed 

musicians in the past, including Bruce 

Hornsby, Mavis Staples, The Wood Brothers, 

Dawes, Rhiannon Giddens, JJ Grey, 

The Infamous Stringdusters, and Anderson 

East, and this year’s musical line-up 

continues to be a stellar representation 

of regional talent. 2021 festival-goers can 

look forward to welcoming Amos Lee, Hiss 

Golden Messenger, Devon Gilfillian, Rufus 

Lee and the Handful, Diana Demuth, and 

Erin Rae. 

With so much to offer, it’s no wonder the 

Highlands Food and Wine Festival is the 

hottest ticket in town. Mark your calendar 

for 2022 and start planning a fall getaway 

rich in mountain music, premier lodging, 

retail therapy and culinary pleasures that 

are sure to please the pickiest palates. P 

(above) Anderson East rocks another sold out 

HFW Main Event in 2019; (left) Chef Johaness 

Klapdohr of The Library Kitchen & Bar serves up 

happiness at HFW’s Main Event 2019.

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newsmaker 

Funded 

Community fund grants are vital for local nonprofits 

By JONATHAN SHIPLEY 

IN THE SPRING OF 1994, THE 

Child Development Center in 

Cashiers, NC, got $500 for new 

tricycles for the children to play 

with in their care. Down the 

way, at the local Cashiers Glenville Fire 

Department, they, too, received $500. It 

was not for tricycles but for new muchneeded 

helmets. It was a good day in 

Cashiers, both at the play yard and at 

the firehouse. It was because of the newly 

established Cashiers Community Fund. 

The child care center and fire station were 

the first grant recipients of the new fund. 

The organization is now celebrating its 

30th anniversary. Because of the initial 

and ongoing generosity of individuals, the 

principal endowment has grown to over 

$4.1 million dollars. Today, that would 

buy quite a lot of tricycles. 

Nearby, in Highlands today, COVID 

has taken a toll on the community. It’s 

been a challenging year for everyone. The 

Highlands Community Fund knows this. 

“While Highlands is a delightful town,” 

notes George Manning, chair of the Fund, 

“the plateau has many in its population 

who live at or below the poverty level 

and are, from time to time, in dire need.” 

COVID has, to put it mildly, been dire. 

The Highlands Community Fund knows 

this, too. “From its inception,” Manning 

says, “Highlands Community Fund has 

focused on a wide variety of needs of the 

plateau’s underserved families including 

preschool education, literacy, public school 

needs, dental and medical needs, legal assistance, 

just to name a few.” These needs 

have only been exacerbated by the pandemic. 

“The highlight of COVID,” if there 

could be one, “was to continue our mission 

and fund worthy entities,” Manning says. 

With an endowment nearing $2 million, 

it will allow the Highlands Community 

Fund to distribute more than $70,000 to 

local nonprofits this year. Since 1996, the 

Highlands Community Fund has awarded 

156 grants totaling $966,846. REACH 

of Macon County was recently awarded 

$1,500 to provide outreach related to elder 

abuse and human trafficking. The International 

Friendship Center received $5,000 

for its food pantry that serves the immigrant 

community. Five thousand was given 

to the Literacy & Learning Center of Highlands 

to support two free after-school pro- 

grams. Other recipients include Highlands 

Emergency Council, Blue Ridge Mountain 

Health Project, Pisgah Legal Services, and 

Counseling and Psychotherapy Center of 

Highlands, among others. Manning says, 

“We want to reach more folks in need.” 

That’s what the funds do. They help folks 

in need. 

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newsmaker 

None of this would be possible without the 

Community Foundation of Western North 

Carolina (CFWNC). Both the Cashiers Community 

Fund and Highlands Community 

Fund are affiliates under the CFWNC umbrella 

to extend and strengthen philanthropy 

across 18 counties. The CFWNC is a nonprofit 

founded in 1978 working with individuals, 

families and corporations to create and 

manage charitable funds and make grants to 

nonprofits and public agencies in the region, 

including the Qualla Boundary. As of June 

2021, the organization manages $423 million 

in assets. More than 1,220 funds make up 

the CFWNC as a whole. In fiscal year 2021 

they distributed $29 million to hundreds of 

nonprofits in the region. Since its inception, it 

has granted more than $305 million. 

Some of that money has found good homes 

in both Highlands and Cashiers. “The highlight 

of the year,” notes Cashiers Chair Lisa 

Bates, “comes when we meet to discuss proposals 

and allocate the annual grants.” She 

continues, “We are thrilled to support the 

organizations accomplishing transformative 

projects.” 

The 2021 grant totals for Cashiers equals 

$151,780. Since 1992, the Cashier’s Community 

Fund has awarded $1,694,290. 

The grants this year are as diverse as the 

community the Cashiers Community Fund 

serves. Five thousand is going to Big Brothers 

Big Sisters of Western North Carolina to 

grow its mentoring program on the plateau. 

Twelve thousand five hundred is going to 

the Blue Ridge Mountain Health Project to 

increase access to free preventative dental 

care services and dental education. Twelve 

thousand is going to the Cashiers Valley 

Preschool to repaint their building. To the 

Friends of Panthertown, $10,000 to help 

steward the forests in the area. JAM Blue 

Ridge received $12,000 for its after-school 

music program. There are many others in 

Cashiers and Highlands alike that have 

received much-needed funds to help those in 

the most need. 

Chair Lisa Bates wishes she could do 

more. “Each year we receive more grant 

requests than we have funds to offer. I look 

forward to the day when we can support everyone.” 

Highlands Chair George Manning 

concurs. “We continue to look for areas of 

need and respond to nonprofits serving those 

populations and needs.” He continues, “We 

review and assess applicants with an open 

mind with the single focus on the most pressing 

needs.” 

If it’s forests or food; school care or dental 

care; the funds are eager to pitch in. The 

health and vitality of the Highlands-Cashiers 

Plateau, in other words, should never 

plateau. There is always more to do. P 

PHOTO ADOBE STOCK 


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art seen 

Lucky Dog 

Artist April Johnson is living her best life 

By KIM HENRY » Photos by APRIL JOHNSON 

at school to the thriving portraiture 

artist she is today, April Johnson is most 

definitely living her best life. And a very 

inspiring one at that. 

As a child, Johnson was always sketching, 

and so it was a natural progression 

that she went to Kent State University to 

study fine art. The surprising gift from 

this period was that she discovered an affinity 

for photography. “It was much more 

mobile and needed less supplies than art,” 

laughs Johnson, exuding her easy-going 

love of life. Although she excelled in her 

newfound artistic expression, she didn’t 

want to be just another photographer, and 

so she began with exploring black and 

white abstract photography. 

Always keen to learn more, Johnson 

applied to the School of Visual Arts in 

New York City and, when she was accepted, 

packed herself off to see what the 

future held. While getting her final project 

framed in a shop, a representative for 

the major international construction and 

concrete company, LaFarge, happened to 

see her work. One thing led to another, 

and before she knew it, she was traveling 

from major city to major city, turning dull 

concrete buildings into dynamic images 

of innovation. Thriving within such a dynamic 

lifestyle, Johnson loved every minute 

until, after a decade, she was ready for 

a change of pace. 

“New York was wonderful and had lots 

of opportunities, but after ten years, it 

was too much,” shares Johnson from her 

peaceful haven in the mountains of western 

North Carolina, “I wanted to simplify 

my life and live in a more natural setting.” 

The move to the mountains inspired her 

jump from film to digital, and following 

the loss of a beloved pet dog, Johnson took 

her next artistic step. Ashville Pets Photography 

was born and was an immediate 

success, with Johnson and her portable 

studio traveling to those who wanted to 

immortalize their animal friends. The 

work was pouring in when COVID hit, 

and like the rest of the world, Johnson had 

The artist standing in front of 

“Blue Ridge Sunrise” 5’x10’ 

April Johnson 

WE’VE ALL HAD THOSE 

moments when we were 

in the right place at the 

right time, and something 

magical unfolded. For 

photographer and artist April Johnson, 

this seems to be the story of her life. 

Charting her journey from a child in Ohio 

winning ribbons for her early sketches 


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to be creative to figure out what her next 

move was going to be. 

With in-person sessions at a standstill, 

Johnson began to invite people to send 

photographs of their pets for her to paint 

and so evolved her next creative endeavor 

- hand-rendered mixed media artwork. “I 

picked up a paintbrush, and this is what 

came out! I’m in my glory,” smiles Johnson 

with gratitude, “I get to blend my 

photography and artistic skills and create 

work that is very satisfying to me and 

brings so much joy to my clients.” Striving 

to capture the essence of a person or 

a pet through her work, Johnson’s colors 

and textures leap off the canvas with the 

acrylic or oil paints that she uses. Celebrating 

each and every life, be it human 

or animal, that comes her way, Johnson’s 

aim is to represent the spirit of her subject, 

allowing them to express themselves 

through her work. 

(left) "Ryder," hand-rendered mixed media 

artwork oil, 16" x 20"; (above) "A Hope and a 

Promise," hand-rendered mixed media artwork 

oil, 16" x 20" 


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Having spent so many years with the 

straight lines and the greys of modern 

architecture, Johnson is relishing the vibrancy 

and color of her present muse. “It’s 

a beautiful feeling when people call me to 

tell me how much they love their picture. 

I can hear how much it means to them in 

their voice,” shares Johnson, whose infectious 

love of life is inspirational. 

As an international, state and regional 

award-winning artist, Johnson is also a 

member of multiple artist associations 

and consistently receives invitations to 

acknowledge her talent. Her work will 

soon appear on the cover of the Afghan 

Hound of America magazine, she exhibits 

at the Blue Moon Gallery in Brevard and 

was recently invited to be featured on the 

American Kennel Club website. Her natural 

affinity with animals is perhaps what 

gives her animal portraits such potency. 

“I love working with people, but animals 

exude unconditional love, and as long as 

they get a treat at the end of a session, they 

don’t mind posing for the camera, and that 

works well for me,” laughs Johnson. P 

(clockwise) "Dior & Bella," hand-rendered 

mixed media artwork oil, 32" x 32"; "Mr. 

Fitz Hunting," hand-rendered mixed media 

artwork oil, 16" x 20"; "Beautiful Ginevra," 

hand-rendered mixed media artwork oil, 

16" x 20"; "Baby Blue," hand-rendered mixed 

media artwork oil, 16" x 20"

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health 

A Day in the Life 

of a Hero 

Nonprofit community care 

By MARY-ELIZABETH LEMONS 

Left to right: Jeanne C. 

Reynolds with (brother) 

Rick, (husband) Jeff, (son) 

Casey, (daughter-in-law) 

Gillian and (daughter) 

Carlye. 

many of the clubs, grants from foundations 

and churches. We have a broad base of 

funders.” 

The doors open without fail every Monday 

through Friday, and the office is ready 

to take calls between 10 a.m. and 5 p.m. 

One of the warm and welcoming voices 

on the line is Sandy Fleming, clinical coordinator 

and seemingly Energizer Bunny 

come-to-life. Faviola Olvera is the other 

voice, director of clinical services and resident 

interpreter who not only does phone 

consultations but bridges the gap between 

languages. Says Olvera, “We have had 

phone conferences here and even out of 

state. We could not do what we do without 

our translators!” Both Fleming and Olvera 

share the load of endless tasks, including 

helping people sign up and get registered 

for appointments, also being in constant 

contact with the pharmaceutical companies 

who provide the medicine. Then there 

are lab orders, orders to fax and imaging 

orders, along with medication requests, 

prescriptions and refills. Somewhere in between, 

they also receive shipments of stock 

and manage inventory. Clinic nights happen 

twice a week on Tuesdays and Thursdays 

from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m., addressing 

issues anywhere from hypertension and 

diabetes to gynecology and X-rays. Fleming 

adds that “In addition to our primary 

IT ALL BEGAN YEARS AGO IN 2004, WHEN A CRUCIAL NEED WAS 

observed in the community. The tiny group of citizens who took notice had an idea, and 

unlike so many ideas that have been abandoned, these seven or so people remained 

tenacious and slowly began to work. As they gathered the needed documentation and 

followed detailed guidelines, their commitment only grew and even gained traction 

as more volunteers joined forces. The project consumed the better part of a year until at last, 

through strenuous research, they established the thriving and philanthropic business we 

know today as the Community Care Clinic of Highlands-Cashiers. 

Twenty-two thousand visits later, the 

clinic consistently reaches full capacity 

to this day, proof that it was all worth it. 

Nestled in Highlands, the office is just 

minutes from the hospital and houses the 

remarkable team that makes it all possible. 

The magic begins with the executive 

director, Jerry Hermanson, the leader who 

keeps the engine stoked and the vision 


alive. “This is the best job in health care 

I’ve ever had, and I’ve been in the medical 

field for over 45 years. This is just my passion.” 

Hermanson explains how the generosity 

of others helped the private nonprofit 

clinic begin and how it has kept it going, 

the donations coming from private citizens 

to civic organizations in the community. 

He elaborates, “We get donations from 

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medical, we have diabetic educators, and 

we also have OB-GYNs that come in about 

once a month.” The two staff providers, 

Rebecca Baker, NP-C, and Aubrey Balmer, 

FNP-C, have been known to stay as late as 

10 p.m. and later for needy patients and to 

top it all, the clinic even provides therapy 

sessions about once a month. 

If for any reason the clinic is not able to 

provide a service, they have an impeccable 

referral system in place. “If we realize 

there’s a need for a food pantry, we direct 

them to the three food pantries which are 

in Highlands and Cashiers which provides 

meals, household furnishings and gas,” 

says Fleming. 

Further referrals range from the Highlands-Cashiers 

Hospital ER to medical 

specialists, Blue Ridge Free Dental Clinic 

and REACH. Hermanson explains that all 

of the nonprofits continually seek improvement 

in their collaborative efforts because 

it’s ultimately the most efficient for the 

patients. “We don’t duplicate services that 

are already available because that would 

be a waste of funding; we want to support 

all of them,” says Hermanson. 

The need of the community seems ever 

growing, but the collective passion inside 

the clinic continually trumps it all. Olvera 

and Fleming radiate utter humility in 

their voices as they talk about reaching 

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health 

can only be positive. Hermanson expresses 

a strong urge to expand the mental health 

services provided and stresses that there 

are always more services they would like 

to offer. We’ll just have to wait and see. 

“It’s a personal ministry for me, an important 

part of my life. But please don’t make 

it about me!” he says. This selflessness is 

a consistent and collaborative sentiment 

echoed in the very halls by all who volunteer 

at this fine clinic. It is fervent evidence 

that the purity of benevolence and quiet 

determination from the most passionate 

individuals truly does change the world, 

one day at a time. P 

www.highlandscashiersclinic.org 

828.526.1991 

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as many as possible and why they do it. “I 

was born in Mexico,” explains Olvera. “I 

grew up here and was able to complete my 

studies in this area. Growing up, I received 

a lot of support from the community, so it 

was important for me to return that and 

be a support for others.” Fleming mirrors 

her sentiments, saying, “We’re called to 

do it. No one would work here unless they 

had a heart. The patients are of the utmost 

importance: if someone comes out feeling 

better, happier and healthier, that’s what 

it’s all about.” 

For those wondering how they can help, 

monetary gifts are always welcome and 

volunteers are encouraged! There are several 

positions that don’t require a medical 

background, and there especially is a need 

for bilingual volunteers. While the clinic’s 

board is dedicated to spreading the word 

through pamphlets, social media and their 

website, they can always rely on the power 

of word of mouth. “The biggest challenge,” 

says Hermanson, “is that everyone who 

needs our services actually gets it. The 

other is to have good access to secondary 

care and when the patient needs to be referred; 

there are not that many willing to 

see patients for free, getting them in to see 

specialists.” 

Whatever is in store next for the clinic 


history 

The shadow of the bear as seen 

from Rhodes Big View Overlook. 

PHOTO ANDREW RENFRO 

Guardian of the Forest 

Shadow of the bear at Big View Overlook 

By MANDY MURRY 

MANY TRAVEL FROM ALL 

over to experience the 

spectacle of autumn colors 

and the welcome feel of 

the cooler, crisper air of 

western North Carolina. The beauty of 

our storied mountains lies not only in the 

magic of the four seasons but the depth 

of rich history as well. Each October and 

November, as Mother Nature displays her 

vibrancy of color- viewed from overlooks, 

hikes and even walking down Highlands’ 

Main Street, there is a natural phenomenon 

that occurs in views of Whiteside 

Mountain- the shadow of the bear. 

In Cherokee folklore, bears were believed 

to be descendants of a specific Cherokee 

clan. Famous ethnologist, James 

Mooney, collected numerous stories and 

myths and wrote his version of the “Origin 

of the Bear: The Bear Songs.” In his writings, 

he portrays the story of a young boy 

from the Cherokee clan, Ani’- Tsa’guhi. In 

the story, a young boy ventures out into 

the forest to spend all day in the mountains. 

As time passes, he begins leaving 

his home at daybreak and does not return 

until the dark of night. The boy’s parents 

notice hair beginning to grow all over his 

body as he stops eating with the family, 

the beginning of his transformation into a 

bear. The young boy persuades his parents 

to follow him into the woods and live off 

the land, expressing, “I find plenty to eat 

there, and it is better than the corn and 

beans we have in the settlements. If you 


history 

The Bear and Company at Rhodes Big View 

Oct. 21, 2010 

The Turtle 

The Anteater 

The Bear 

The Warthog 

will come with me, there is plenty for all of 

us.” After seven days of fasting, the Ani’- 

Tsa’guhi tribe left for the forest and never 

returned, “We are going to where there is 

always plenty to eat. Hereafter we shall be 

called yanu (bears), and when you yourselves 

are hungry come into the woods and 

call us and we shall come to give you our 

own flesh. You need not be afraid to kill us, 

for we shall live always.” 

This legend lends bears and forests immortality, 

aligning with Native American 

spiritual beliefs that bears are, in fact, the 

guardians of the forest. 

As the beauty of fall graces our senses 

and the natural bear shadow phenomenon 

occurs, could it be Mother Nature’s gentle 

reminder of strength, courage and honoring 

the land? 

All myths aside, the shadow of the bear 

draws a crowd each year. Visitors and locals 

alike attempt to catch a glimpse and perfect 

photo of the cast of the bear’s shadow. The 

shadow only appears for 30 minutes a day 

(on sunny days); therefore, proceed with 

caution in crowds and on the road. 

According to Ran Shaffner of Highlands 

Historical Society, the shadow is best 

seen during this season during the last 

two weeks of October and the first week 

of November, beginning around 5:30 p.m. 

The time changes to 6:30 with the end of 

daylight savings time. It can be seen again 

from the last half of February into March. 

“The best viewing is around October 

21st and 22nd from 5:45 until 6:15 p.m. 

The bear appears at his best at 6:00 p.m. 

His right ear is Devil's Courthouse; his left 

ear, Devil's Pulpit, and his back, Whiteside 

Mountain. His nose projects into the 

Chattooga River, which courses between 

two ridges.” 

In addition to the bear, there are actually 

five animals that visit the Big View on 

Cashiers Road during the last two weeks 

of October and the first week of November, 

and again during the end of February and 

the beginning of March. They appear in 

the order that they are numbered here: 

The Rhinoceros 

The Duck 

R. Shaffner 

1. Turtle 

2. Bear 

3. Anteater 

4. Warthog 

5. Rhinoceros 

If you happen to find yourself in the area 

in mid-December, a sixth critter visits but 


only shows his head, a duck. 

To see the shadow of the bear, the best 

place to view it is a marked overlook, 

known as the Rhodes Big View Overlook, 

along U.S. Highway 64 West between 

Cashiers and Highlands. There is no actual 

parking lot, so use caution when trying 

to view. 

Pro-tip: The bear will only come out to 

show its shadow on clear sunny days. 

Fun fact: The Cherokee word for bear 

is yona. 

For more learning: Visit the Highlands 

Historical Society’s exhibit “Cherokee 

Presence: Learn of the original occupants 

to hunt and fish the Highlands Plateau” to 

learn more about the indigenous people of 

western North Carolina. P 

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(opposite) Visitors gather for a glimpse of the 

shadow of the bear. Please remember to park 

safely for viewing and to use caution while 

crossing the road; (above) A 1970 republished 

copy of “Myths of the Cherokee” by James 

Mooney. Mooney’s works were originally 

published by the U.S. Bureau of Ethnology, 

“Myths of the Cherokee” (1900) and “The 

Sacred Formulas of the Cherokees” (1891). 

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southern drawl 

Answering the 

Mountains’ Call 

Highlands Biological Foundation’s executive director, 

Charlotte Muir 

By CHRISTA MILLER 

CHARLOTTE MUIR LIKES 

to say that “two John Muirs” 

brought her to the mountains 

of western North Carolina: 

her husband and the famed 

naturalist, whose quote “The mountains 

are calling, and I must go,” adorns many a 

hiker’s Instagram profile. 

Muir answered that call in 2018 when she 

accepted her role as the Highlands Biological 

Foundation (HBF)’s executive director. 

Since then, she and her all-female team 

have taken the foundation’s programming 

from seasonal to year-round, navigated 

the unique educational challenges posed by 

a pandemic and still grown revenue—all 

within four years. 

Regional growth spurs 

foundation growth 

The HBF serves as the nonprofit partner 

for the field research-oriented Highlands 

Biological Station (HBS), which draws 

researchers from all over the country and 

world. In turn, the researchers benefit from 

the HBF’s educational programs, which 

draw a wider audience for the research. 

Muir’s arrival coincided with an inflection 

point in the HBF’s growth. It had just completed 

its first capital fundraising campaign 

but had yet to begin the project, a lakefront 

teaching pavilion and pollinator garden 

now known as the North Campus. 

In addition, the HBS had become an official 

multi-campus center of Western Carolina 

University. Momentum was strong but 

unfocused; with more funds than they’d 

ever raised, the foundation still operated on 

a very small organization’s infrastructure 

and wasn’t sure where to grow from there. 

Muir’s first order of business was to bring 

her knowledge of nonprofit management 

best practices to upgrade internal systems 

and processes so the organization could 

start to expand its programming. 

To do that, Muir drew on her extensive 

nonprofit management experience—not in 

conservation, but in the arts, including a 

stint as theater director at Colorado’s Vilar 

Performing Arts Center. There, her focus 

had been the “behind the scenes” business 

side of nonprofit management. 

“I learned how to put on a show, not with 

lights and sets and costumes,” she explains, 

“but with ticketing systems and budgets 

and community outreach programs.” 

PHOTOS CHELSEA CRONKRITE 


Charlotte Muir 

Executive director, 


Foundation 

» Birthplace: Monroe, LA 

» Education: M.A., Arts 

Administration, University of 

New Orleans; B.A., Spanish, 

University of Mississippi 

» Family: Husband, John; Son, 

Shep (5), Daughter, Eliza (1) 

» Hobbies: Reading, strolling 

Eliza and walking Hula (her 

beloved yellow lab), attending 

live theatre (musical 

obsessed), tennis, Peloton 

PHOTO CHELSEA CRONKRITE 


southern drawl 

That experience turned out to be exactly 

what the HBF needed when they hired 

Muir part time to help with marketing 

and office administration. It was meant to 

be a “filler” job until Muir figured out what 

she wanted to do in Highlands. 

“I quickly realized that whether you're 

at an arts museum or performing arts 

center or a scientific-educational organization, 

it needs a nonprofit management 

skillset,” she says. 

Putting on nature’s theater 

show for a diverse audience 

Producing what Muir calls “nature’s 

theater” for plateau residents 

benefits from her layperson’s—and 

arts-oriented—perspectives. 

“I’m constantly figuring out how to 

put on a show with the biodiversity of 

Highlands,” she says. “I love to look at it 

through the lens of a mom or someone on 

vacation for the weekend or someone who's 

retired looking for something fun to do.” 

To do this effectively, the first thing she 

needed to learn was what she says is “a 

whole language around environmental 

education and field science.” 

But the HBS’s environment is designed 

for learning. “I'm not afraid to ask for 

clarification when we’re working with 

researchers, trying to tell their stories,” 

Muir says. “If I don't know what it is, most 

people probably don't know.” 

To that end, the HBF’s “K to gray” programming—everything 

from a preschoolage 

“Knee High Naturalists” program, to 

summer camps, to birdwatching and leaf 

tours, to a free summertime weekly conservation 

lecture series—represents one of 

Muir’s mandates: expansion to year-round 

community outreach. 

It’s part of the HBF’s vision to encourage 

what Muir calls “the next generation 

of field scientists.” “We feel like, the younger 

we can get you interested, the better 

chance we have of you coming back here in 

twenty years and continuing this research 

that's guiding big decision-making,” she 

explains. 

This long view helps Muir to keep perspective. 

“Nonprofits are held to a higher 

standard because you’re not only trying to 

break even; you’re trying to inspire people 

and better their lives, provide education. 

You're always seeking this intangible level 

of awareness,” she explains. 

“Sometimes, you just don't know how 

John W. “Sto” Stowers Jr. 

Teaching Pavilion 

you're doing. And so, you track numbers: 

how many people come to your events and 

how many kids sign up for camp and that 

kind of thing, but it can be hard to know if 

you're really making an impact.” 

By focusing on people’s desire to “learn 

about why this place is so special and what 

biodiversity means,” she hopes to encourage 

them “to make better decisions about 

what to plant in your yard and to think 

more globally about stewardship.” 

In turn, this philosophy is pivotal to 

Muir’s community outreach work. She’s on 

the board of directors for both the Highlands 

Chamber of Commerce and the Performing 

Arts Center, as well as the vestry 

of her church and Rotary Club membership, 

where together with the rest of HBF’s 

staff, she volunteered with the COVID-19 

vaccine initiative. 

Growing towards a postpandemic 

future 

Coming to know the community this 

way helped everyone during the pandemic. 

The uncertainty was the hardest part, 

says Muir, “because for a lot of the work 

we do, we plan months in advance.” That 

means decisions had to be made without 

knowing what the summer would entail — 

even for the in-person programs she calls 

“the heart and soul of what we do.” 

“We were lucky that the foundation is 

very connected in the environmental education 

world, especially in North Carolina,” 

Muir adds. “There's a great organization 

that unites all the organizations like us. 

And so, we all brainstormed: how do we do 

virtual programs?” 

It helped that the small size of Muir’s 

team makes it extremely nimble and 

adaptable. Rather than have to wait for, 

say, committee approvals, they could make 

decisions as rapidly as they needed to. 

And so together, Muir and her peers 

figured out how their programming could 

complement one another’s. The new virtual 

format unexpectedly reached a much 

further ranging audience: former residents 

and visitors, as well as seasonal residents 

in other states. 

That creativity meant that even though 

major fundraising events, including the 

annual Soiree and the Highlands on the 

Half Shell oyster roast—which support the 

foundation throughout the year—couldn’t 

happen in 2020, the community stepped 

up. Funding kept flowing, and no one 

suffered, in spite of what Muir calls the 

“peaks and valleys” of the past two years. 

“I think it's a testament to the history of 

this organization that one pandemic wasn't 

going to slow down nearly a hundred years 

of work,” says Muir. “I feel very lucky to 

work here. It's not a job I ever imagined 

having, and I didn't think that I would be 

here this long, but now I feel like I have the 

greatest job in town.” P 

Muir with HBF team 

member, Paige 

Engelbrektsson, at an HBF 

spring education event. 

PHOTO CHELSEA CRONKRITE; HBF STAFF 


shopping renaissance condiments learning fashion garden 

Revival 

Dolls by Cherokee artisan Laura 

Walkingstick depicting traditional uses of 

river cane are on display in the “River Cane 

Renaissance” exhibit at the Mountain 

Heritage Center in Western 

Carolina University. 

See page 60 

PHOTO SARA STANLEY, MOUNTAIN HERITAGE CENTER, WESTERN CAROLINA UNIVERSITY 


shopping 

Sharp Dressed Man 

With 36 years of business under its belt, TJ Bailey’s is a town staple 

By JUDY ROYAL » Photos By TRACY MENDY 

IN 1985, ANITA LUPOLI WAS 22, 

working as a secretary, selling real 

estate and waiting tables when she 

decided it was time for something 

different. There were no men’s clothing 

stores in town, but demand was growing. 

“Highlands was attracting new summer 

residents and young retirees with local 

restaurants and country clubs gaining 

popularity,” she said. “It was time to party, 

and the men needed a place to shop. Cocktail 

attire, brightly colored sport coats and 

ties were the standard, and I had a knack 

for dressing the men in my life.” 

Lupoli’s family had been living in Highlands, 

NC, since 1965, and it was her 

dream to open a business in the heart of 

her hometown. She made it a reality when 

TJ Bailey’s was launched 36 years ago, 

and it’s still going strong. 

“TJ Bailey’s is a destination boutique,” 

Lupoli said. “We began by selling men’s 

clothing in Highlands and then women’s 

in Cashiers. We’ve also expanded our 

black-tie essentials into an entire groom’s 

room at our Highlands location where men 

can create a complete made-to-measure 

look. We pride ourselves on finding and 

bringing fun and sophisticated brands to 

our clients. Our tagline has always been 

‘casual clothing for civilized fun.’” 

TJ Bailey’s strives to have an appeal 

that extends more widely than to a “typical 

customer,” Lupoli said. 

“Our fashionable clients range from 

the lavish and playful to the traditional,” 

she said. “They understand the value of a 

quality product and appreciate our wide 

range of price points. We have casual 

statement pieces, golf course classics and 

even bespoke formalwear.” 

Lupoli said the people – both clients and 

the TJ Bailey’s team – are her favorite 

thing about owning the business. 

TJ Bailey’s opened 36 years ago to meet the 

growing demand for men’s clothing; 

Owner Anita Lupoli. 


“It’s the best feeling when you see customers 

return year after year,” she said. 

“Our clients become our friends, and we 

consider it an honor to help them feel 

good about themselves through their 

wardrobes.” 

Teamwork is necessary to create a oneof-a-kind 

experience, Lupoli added. 

“What sets us apart is our level of customer 

service and our ability to provide a 

unique product,” she said. “We truly are 

a family at TJ Bailey’s, and I believe it 

creates a unique and welcoming environment 

for our clients. My team and I seek 

out designers who are innovators in their 

field. For example, we began carrying 

Brackish bow ties, one-of-a-kind accessories 

made from exquisite and natural 

feathers, years ago before they graced the 

necks of celebrities on red carpets.” 

Frequent customer DJ Williams is 

among those who keep coming back for 

more. 

“I purchase 90 percent of my clothing 

from them because of the level of quality 

in what they sell and incredible customer 

service,” he said. 

Five years ago, TJ Bailey’s opened a 

second store in Cashiers that offers much 

of what it has in Highlands with the addition 

of women’s clothing that is carefully 

curated to consider female clients’ style, 

dress occasions and love for quality and 

comfort, Lupoli said. 

“We offer a selection of clothing for everything 

from an evening at a nice restaurant 

or wedding event to a wide variety of 

comfortable, casual items for a day at the 

Five years ago, TJ Bailey’s opened a second 

location in Cashiers for men's and women’s 

apparel. Women’s clothing is curated 

considering a variety of plateau needs- from 

casual comfort to elegant evenings. 

lake or a run to a grocery store,” she said. 

Despite changes brought about by the 

COVID-19 pandemic, TJ Bailey’s is sticking 

to its core values while keeping an 

open mind about better ways to reach its 

valued clients, Lupoli said. 

“We have certainly navigated many 

challenges in the past year and a half, 

as have all small businesses,” she said. 

“We are very careful and happily follow 

all local mandates and COVID protocols. 

Our team has become closer, and we have 

continued to learn the value of connection 

and compassion. In an effort to keep everyone 

safe and healthy, we are also serving 

more clients than ever through phone 

and web orders. 

“Additionally, supply chains have, of 

course, been affected,” Lupoli said. “A lot 

of our clothing is made in Europe, and 

with shutdowns, everything is delayed. 

Because our industry’s seasons are so 

short, timing is vital, and we have had to 

creatively adapt.” 

After more than three decades in business, 

it’s no surprise when things evolve, 

but the most important aspects of TJ Bailey’s 

are steadfast, she said. 

“It has been amazing to watch our 

community over the years,” Lupoli said. 

“While change is inevitable, one thing 

remains the same: Our visitors and residents 

are among the best in the world.” P 

More about 

TJ Bailey’s 

» Owner: Anita Lupoli 

» Services: Clothing 

» Location: 343C Main 

St., Highlands, NC, 

and 95 Highway 107 South, 

Cashiers, NC 

» Contact Info: 

828.526.2262 (Highlands) 

828.743.8855 (Cashiers) 

www.tjbaileys.com 

facebook.com/tjbaileys 

Instagram: @tjbaileys 


enaissance 

Restoring Native River Cane 

Its cultural and ecological significance 

By DAWN LILES 

KNOWING THE HISTORY 

and culture of the people 

who settled the valleys and 

highlands of the plateau 

enriches our lives and teaches 

us about our responsibilities as stewards 

of this land. 

One of the current exhibits at the Mountain 

Heritage Center (MHC) is “River Cane 

Renaissance,” which highlights the historical 

uses of river cane, a type of bamboo, by 

residents of the southern Appalachians. The 

exhibit features a wide range of river cane 

artifacts and reproductions, ranging from 

woven baskets and mats to tools, weapons 

and musical instruments. The exhibit 

also explores the biology behind this type 

of bamboo- a unique grass that is native to 

and grows throughout the Southeastern U.S. 

The once abundant river cane is essential 

to the lives of the Eastern Band of Cherokee 

Indians who have lived in this area for thousands 

of years. River cane is used to make 

incredibly strong and beautiful baskets, 

blowguns, knives, spears, bows and arrows, 

flutes, candles, building materials, sleeping 

mats, fishing traps and poles, tobacco pipes 

and medicine, among other things. Native 

river cane is typically less than 1 inch in 

diameter and 6-15 feet tall. 

According to MHC Director Pam Meister 

the goals for “River Cane Renaissance” are 

to raise public awareness of the close connections 

between stewardship of natural 

resources and cultural preservation, to 

increase appreciation of river cane’s importance 

to Cherokee crafts, and to promote 

knowledge of the ways in which sustainable 

environmental and cultural preservation 

initiatives can benefit all residents of 

our region. 

“What I love about this work is the collaboration 

between so many community 

partners,” said Meister, who has been with 


(above) During fall 2020, a WCU biology class led by Dr. Katherine Mathews and Dr. Beverly Collins 

studied a canebrake near Cherokee, NC, to determine the impact of light levels on river cane 

growth; (right) Graham County summer school students visit "River Cane Renaissance" at the 

Mountain Heritage Center’s exhibit gallery at Western Carolina University. 

MHC since 2010. “We want to be a learning 

center and community resource as well 

as a platform for people to talk about their 

cultures. Our job is to amplify their authentic 

voices, share their culture with the 

community and help preserve it for future 

generations.” 

Community Partners 

One of the MHC’s partners for “River Cane 

Renaissance” is a group called the Revitalization 

of Traditional Cherokee Artisan 

Resources (RTCAR), which focuses on environmental 

preservation with the specific 

purpose of increasing the availability of 

natural resources, such as river cane, for 

tribal artisans. 

RTCAR Program Director Dr. Adam 

Griffith said, “historically, river cane 

was everywhere, as evidenced by the hundreds 

of place names across the United 

States with the word ‘cane’ in them, particularly 

in the Southeast.” River cane is 

an amazing and useful plant. The cultural 

uses are significant for the native Cherokee 

and other tribes, but there are also many 

ecological benefits for all of us. 

“If you stand inside a canebrake, which 

is a dense patch made up of only river 

cane, you can see all the different habitats 

PHOTOS PHOTOS COURTESY OF THE MOUNTAIN 

HERITAGE CENTER, WESTERN CAROLINA UNIVERSITY

formed from the roots, culms (stems) and 

canopy for a variety of animals. Additionally, 

large canebrakes help slow down water 

significantly during floods and can remove 

excess nitrogen, phosphorous and sediment 

at a higher rate or equal to a riparian 

buffer (the land alongside creeks, streams, 

gullies, rivers and wetlands) of mixed species. 

It does a great job of improving the 

water quality and keeping excess, harmful 

nutrients out of it.” 

Revitalization Efforts 

But river cane can’t do its job if the community 

doesn’t recognize its value. Nearly 

all the ecologically and culturally essential 

river cane has been removed for human 

development and is now mostly seen only 

in small patches. Only one or two percent 

of the river cane remains, and the unique 

ecosystem it forms is endangered. 

According to Griffith, “because of the 

complex flowering and fruiting cycle of river 

cane, we can’t rely on seeds as a source of 

plant material for restoration. So, what we’re 

doing a lot of now is transplanting large 

patches of river cane. We’re using machinery 

or hand tools to dig it up and move it to a 

new location where it has room to expand.” 

Visitors to the “River Cane Renaissance” 

exhibit can learn more about the revitalization 

efforts being made by community 

groups and WCU students and alumni to 

improve river cane habitat and bring back 

this native species. 

In addition to RTCAR, Qualla Arts & 

What is River Cane? 

River Cane (Arundinaria gigantea) is a member of 

the bamboo family. It is often confused with its 

non-native and invasive relative, Golden Bamboo. 

Even though there are over 1,300 species of 

bamboo in the world, river cane is one of only 

three that are native to North America, and North 

Carolina is home to all three. River cane is by far 

the largest, reaching heights of up to 30 feet and 

retaining its leaves throughout the year. The other 

two varieties are Switch Cane and Hill Cane 

which both top out at six feet in height and are 

River Cane (left) and Golden Bamboo (right). 

deciduous, losing their leaves in the fall. Switch 

cane grows in coastal plains. Hill cane shares the mountains with river cane but it prefers 

the drier uplands and slopes. River cane grows in the damper river and creek valleys. 

River cane was once a dominant part of 

the southeastern landscape but human 

activity has decimated its habitat. An 

estimated 98% of historic river cane 

growth has been eliminated and it now 

survives only in isolated fragments. 

Where it once thickly carpeted river 

valleys and mountain streams, river cane 

now clings to the margins and spaces 

between waterways and man-made fields, 

fences, and railroads. 

River cane grows in thick stands called canebrakes which historically covered large portions 

of the lowlands in the U. S. Canebrakes develop when underground rhizomes travel away 

from the parent plant and send up shoots called culms. In this way river cane reproduces 

and, in many canebrakes, all the visible culms are part of the same organism. River cane 

flowers and produces seed but 50 years can pass between flowerings. How or what compels 

cane to flower could be related to a genetic clock. 

2021 River Cane restoration 

project along the Pigeon River, 

Clyde, Haywood County, NC. 

The future of river cane depends on today’s conservation and 

restoration efforts. Most prime land for river cane is reserved 

for commercial, farming, and housing uses. Concerned 

environmental groups are working to bring river cane back to 

some of its original habitats. This will improve soil and water 

conditions, protect wildlife, and provide raw materials for 

traditional craftspeople. With today’s increased awareness, 

education, and restoration of canebrakes, these groups and 

this exhibit hope to make a positive impact on the future of 

North America’s only native riparian cane: river cane. 

Crafts Mutual, Inc., the Cherokee artists’ 

co-op, has been involved in the project, 

along with several WCU students and faculty, 

including Dr. Katherine Mathews and 

Dr. Beverly Collins, biology faculty who 

served as exhibit advisors. 

The exhibit is open to the public Monday 

through Friday, from 10 a.m. to 4 

p.m., at MHC on the campus of WCU 

through December 10, 2021. P 


condiments 

Crazy for Condiments 

New owners find a welcome career change in Colonel Mustard’s of Highlands 

By JUDY ROYAL » Photos By JIM MAUCHLY 

HAVE YOU EVER BEEN 

such a good customer of a 

place that you thought you 

might be better off buying the 

store? That’s how Chad and 

Donna Skiles became the owners of Colonel 

Mustard’s of Highlands in February 2019. 

“Donna couldn’t come in here without 

spending 100 bucks, so we figured we 

may as well buy it,” Chad said of Colonel 

Mustard’s, which has been a fixture in 

the heart of Highlands for 17 years. “We 

talked to the previous owner and asked 

if he wanted to sell, and things just went 

from there. We carry the same great items 


as before and added so much more.” 

Colonel Mustard’s offers gourmet condiments 

and other specialty foods such as 

jellies, jams, preserves, salsa, nuts, honey, 

hot sauces, seasonings, rubs and pickled 

items. There are a few non-edible items, 

such as Stonewall towels and collegiatethemed 

cake pans, but those are definitely 

secondary to the multitude of tasty treats 

you’ll find overflowing from the store. 

“We like to think that we are unique in 

that we carry the unusual, the things you 

can't find in your grocery store,” Donna 

said. “Our customer base is vast. We have 

something for everyone. So often we hear, 

‘We can’t find this anywhere else.’ Many 

customers are buying gifts for people back 

home who watched their pets or watered 

their plants while they were away on vacation. 

We are a hot spot for thank-you 

gifts. Everyone appreciates a gift of food.” 

The Skileses had been in the nursery 

business in Florida for many years but 

wanted to do something different to avoid 

working out in the heat. 

“Because of medical reasons, we decided 

it was now or never,” Donna said. “We’re 

now doing something we love in a place 

that is like no other.” 

Besides the Skileses, there are no other

employees at the store. During the summer 

their 16-year-old son Ty helped, but 

he’s now back in school. Colonel Mustard’s 

is open every day, except for January 

through April when it’s closed on Sundays. 

“It’s been harder and longer hours than 

we thought,” Chad said. “We didn’t move 

to the mountains to work seven days a 

week, but that’s what we’re doing. Right 

now, we’re just thankful to be open and 

doing so well.” 

While the COVID-19 pandemic prompted 

some changes around the store – most 

notably the removal of the plentiful samples 

that allowed customers to try before 

they buy – Colonel Mustard’s has weathered 

the challenges and flourished. 

“We didn’t believe the store would survive, 

but our numbers are up,” Chad said. 

“People are eating more at home and 

wanting to try something different. We’re 

always hoping our products make a meal 

better.” 

The Skileses had considered opening a 

second store in Mount Dora, FL, but put 

that plan on hold due to the pandemic. 

For customers in Florida or anywhere 

else, Colonel Mustard’s sells its products 

online, which is a new feature for the 

business. Chad said this comes in handy 

in case of a “jelly emergency,” meaning 

you are craving your favorite product but 

won’t be coming back to the mountains for 

a while. 

“We only see a lot of people once or twice 

a year,” Chad said. “We thought it would 

help balance out our year because winters 

are so empty up here; 80 to 85 percent of 

business is done during tourist season, 

and in January through April we’re just 

trying to pay rent.” 

"The website is constantly being updated,” 

Donna said. “We are adding items 

every day. We carry thousands of items, so 

it has been a big project. We are hoping to 

be complete by the end of the year." 

Ana Flores of Parkland, FL, is among 

Colonel Mustard’s frequent online customers. 

She and her husband discovered 

the brick-and-mortar shop during a trip 

in 2019 and have been hooked ever since. 

She even emailed a photo of her stash. 

“Donna helped me ship all the goodies 

because we were flying home the following 

day and I couldn’t bring all those jars 

with me,” Flores said. “After receiving the 

jars, my family and I instantly fell under 

the spell of these products. I tasted the 

pear preserves and said to my husband, 

‘This is like eating a homemade dessert 

with way less calories,’ and I felt the same 

way with all the products we purchased. 

I also recommend the Braswell’s Truffle 

Mustard. Since then, we’ve been ordering 

from them. Donna is a sweetheart, very 

professional and goes the extra mile for 

her clients.” P 

(opposite) Colonel Mustard’s is located 

on Main Street in Highlands; Owners 

Chad and Donna Skiles; Customers with a 

“jelly emergency” can now shop from the 

comfort of their home all year at www. 

colonelmustardshighlands.com. 

More about 

Colonel Mustard’s 

» Owners: Chad and Donna Skiles 

» Products: Gourmet condiments 

and other specialty food items such 

as jellies, jams, preserves, salsa, 

nuts, honey, hot sauces, seasonings, 

rubs and pickled items 

» Location: 

343B Main St., Highlands, NC 

» Contact Info: 

828.526.8697 

www.colonelmustardshighlands.com 

facebook.com/col.mustardshighlands 

@col.mustardshighlands 


learning 

Literacy Grows Communities 

Acclaimed author Patti Callahan Henry to discuss “Once Upon a Wardrobe” 

By MARIANNE LEEK 

ONE OF THE FIRST BOOKS 

to ignite my love of reading 

was “The Lion, the Witch, and 

the Wardrobe,” the first in the 

“Chronicles of Narnia” series 

by C.S. Lewis. When I was 10 years old, a 

family friend gave me a boxed set (which I 

treasured) of the entire series. I longed to be 

Lucy; I wanted to step through a wardrobe 

into the magical world of Narnia and have 

tea with Mr. Tumnus, who, like all of us, 

was at times misguided and flawed, but at 

his core, seemed to be good. And perhaps 

that’s the beautiful thing about books; at 

the very least, they can take us to magical 

places; at their best, books and literacy 

become a catalyst for transforming us for 

the better as human beings. 

That very premise is at the heart of the 

mission of the Literacy & Learning Center 

in Highlands, NC. They recognize and 

are committed to connecting the people in 

their communities with literacy enrichment 

opportunities, educational tools and 

books. In addition to offering a wide range 

of programs such as after school enrichment, 

homework helpers and English 

as a second language courses, they also 

provide large print books to senior care 

facilities, extend individual tutoring to 

students and adults of any age, and have 

volunteers who work directly with Macon 

County child care and Macon County 

Schools to foster a love of learning among 

the youngest of readers. The Literacy & 

Learning Center also participates in Dolly 

Parton’s Imagination Library, an early 

intervention literacy program providing a 

free monthly book to children ages birth 

PHOTO BRIAN O'SHEA 


to 5. Dolly Parton once said, “The seeds 

of dreams are often found in books, and 

the seeds you help plant in your community 

can grow across the world,” and 

the Literacy & Learning Center has been 

busy planting seeds and cultivating a 

community garden of lifelong readers and 

learners. 

On October 17, as part of a fundraiser, 

the Literacy & Learning Center will be 

hosting Patti Callahan Henry, a New 

York Times and USA Today best-selling 

author of 16 novels and podcast host. In 

fact, in just the past year, she published 

an audible short, a novella about Florence 

Nightingale, “Surviving Savannah,” 

a historical novel about a shipwreck that 

happened in 1838, and a short story collection, 

“Reunion Beach.” The recipient of 

numerous awards, including The Harper 

Lee Distinguished Writer of the Year for 

2020, she will be kicking off her latest 

book tour by discussing and answering 

questions about her newest work of historical 

fiction, “Once Upon a Wardrobe,” 

which launches around the same time. 

I recently had the opportunity to speak 

with Henry about the inspiration for 

writing “Once Upon a Wardrobe,” which 

examines seven seminal events in C.S. 

Lewis’ life that “you can tell have soaked 

their way into Narnia.” Initially curious 

about the connection between Lewis’ own 

life and the characters and events that 

are part of Narnia, she is “really excited 

to have ‘Once Upon a Wardrobe’ in the 

world. It feels like a book that is a culmination 

of a lot of things in my life, from 

the love of Lewis to the love of storytelling 

to the curiosity about the origin of stories 

in our lives, especially the ones that really 

stick in our consciousness.” 

However, this is not the first time Henry 

has examined the life of C.S. Lewis and 

those closest to him. Her critically acclaimed 

book “Becoming Mrs. Lewis” 

explored his relationship with Joy Davidman. 

She explained her choice to research 

and write about the wife of Lewis, “I have 

been a life-long reader of C.S. Lewis and I 

knew about his doomed love story. He fell 

in love later in life and he married; they 

were only married a little over three years 

before she died of cancer, and he knew she 

was dying when he married her. It’s just 

this heartbreaking love story, and yet I 

had never heard about it from her point 

of view, from her side of the story. So, my 

initial interest in her was ‘oh, I want to 

hear about her side of this love story,’ but 

as I started to learn about her and do my 

research and dig into her history, I discovered 

a fascinating woman who deeply influenced 

the last ten years of Lewis’ work.” 

Patti Callahan Henry has devoted 

much of her life to telling stories - some 

fiction and some nonfiction - but all with 

the intention of helping the reader to look 

deeper at the world, themselves and others. 

“I feel like the story is the force behind 

how I spend my life. The days, the 

hours, the weeks, the months that add to 

the years and the decades that add to a 

life are, for me, motivated by the power of 

story. Whether it’s the story we tell ourselves 

about our life, or whether it’s the 

stories I write that hopefully other people 

will see themselves in or resonate with or 

at least enjoy, and I learn more from stories 

than I do from any lectures someone 

can give me. Stories enrich our lives and 

it’s how we communicate.” 

Bonnie Potts, executive director of The 

Literacy & Learning Center, says, “We are 

so fortunate to be hosting Patti Callahan 

Henry at this year’s Celebration of Education. 

Patti’s lifelong dedication to literacy 

aligns perfectly with our mission and values 

at The Literacy & Learning Center. It 

will be a true honor to hear her speak to 

our community in October.” The Literacy 

& Learning Center holds its fundraising 

event, Celebration of Education, each year 

to support its free educational programs for 

people of all ages. This year, the celebration 

will be held at Wildcat Cliffs Country Club 

on October 17, 2021, from 5:30-9:00 p.m. 

Tickets are $150 each and are available 

online at www.maconncliteracy.org/events. P 

For more information about The Literacy 

& Learning Center’s Celebration of Education, 

programs, or for information about 

becoming a volunteer, please visit 

www.maconncliteracy.org, contact TL&LC 

at (828) 526–0863 or email 

info@maconncliteracy.org. 

PHOTO HARPERMUSE; BUD JOHNSON 

(opposite) The Literacy & Learning Center 

(TL&LC), formerly known as The Literacy 

Council, is a nonprofit seeking to nourish 

minds through diverse literacy programs; 

(left) Patti Callahan Henry with her book 

"Once Upon a Wardrobe." 


Casually Elegant 

Cozy and fashionable fall favorites set the mood while Old Edwards Club, carved out of the 

Blue Ridge Mountains, creates the stage for these autumn-inspired looks. The Tom Jacksondesigned 

course at Old Edwards Club offers one of the most beautiful and challenging golf 

games in Highlands. The front nine meanders serenely through a lush mountain valley, while 

the back nine takes you to the top of the highest ridges and alongside a towering granite 

cliff. In addition to the breathtaking fall landscape, visitors enjoy a golf shop, farm-to-table 

restaurant, an outdoor heated mineral pool, clay tennis courts and a modern fitness center 

— accessible to club members and guests of Old Edwards Hospitality properties. 

Photos by CHELSEA CRONKRITE 

Models: DAVID LANGLEY AND PEYTON WOOD 

Location: Old Edwards Club 


Connie Roberson “Ronette” 

jacket, $362; Lior “Sasha” 

pant, $118; Bali camisole, 

$39; all at The Look 

Boutique. 


Johnny Was “Perennial 

Sweater,” $320; MerSea 

“Anywear” light hoodie 

$110; MerSea” Anywear” 

jogger $120; all at A Jones 

Company. 


Renuar sweater in heather 

cloud, $89; Liverpool Abby 

“Skinny Pant” in golden ember, 

$98; Caite “Geovanni Jacket” 

in dark grey, $275; Bed | Stu 

“Jacqueline” boot in pecan 

rustic, $295; all at Bella Cotn. 


Joseph Ribkoff black coat, 

$335; Joseph Ribkoff “Show 

Your Shoe” pant, $155; 

Frank Lyman “Topside Tee,” 

$159; all at Spoiled Rotten. 


On Him: Peter Millar cord 

pant, $158; Alan Paine plaid 

shirt, $145; Stenströms quilted 

vest in olive, $259; all at 

TJ Bailey’s 

On Her: MAC 

jean- distressed, 

$129; Fifteen Twenty 

motorcycle twist top, 

$129; Brushed plain 

shirt jacket, $399; all 

at TJ Bailey’s. 


Love Shack Fancy “Amber,” 

$395; Love Shack Fancy coat 

in white, $795; Ariel Okin x 

Neely & Chloe travel tote in 

creme floral, $338.00; all at 

Wit’s End. 


Estelle & Finn faux suede jacket in 

blush, $403; Estelle & Finn stretch 

crepe flare leg pant in chocolate, 

$213; Estelle & Finn ivory knit 

tunic turtleneck, $125; Atelier 

tobacco suede zip bootie, $198; 

all at Wish & Shoes. 


garden 

Eluding Erosion 

Landscape design solutions for the fall planting season 

By KRISTIN E. LANDFIELD 

AUTUMN IS UPON US HERE 

in our beautiful mountain 

surrounds. For me, the 

fall is the most evocative 

and nostalgic time in 

the landscape. The refracted light of 

the season, damp scents in the woods, 

changing leaves trembling in the wind— 

all are tender reminders of the passage of 

time and the need to notice and appreciate 

abundance as the year wanes. 

Fall is also a great time to consider our 

landscapes and gardens. It’s a choice time 

to plant, so says the adage “fall is planting 

season,” especially when installing trees and 

shrubs or plants sited in areas difficult to 

water. Fall planting affords the benefit of cool 

nights and rainfall while there is still some 

warmth in the soil, stimulating initial root 

production. Allowing field-grown plants and 

larger specimens to go dormant prior to transplant 

assists their transition before spring leaf 

production. When planning larger landscape 

projects requiring equipment, working in the 

colder months means the messiest and more 

disruptive work will be complete while the 

herbaceous plants are asleep. 

This year in western North Carolina, 

many fall landscape projects will attempt 

to resolve resultant damages from the torrential 

rainfall this past August. Reverberations 

from tropical storm Fred pummeled 

the region, ensuing historic flooding 

and devastation. Anyone who witnessed 

this deluge recognized the potency with 

which rainfall can course down these rugged 

mountain inclines, demanding access 

to our abundant waterways. Such climate 

phenomena are integral to many of our 

most treasured natural landscape features 

(i.e., lush vegetation and biodiversity) as 

well as destructive outcomes (i.e., erosion), 

especially as building increases. More built 

structures, construction compaction and impermeable 

surfaces limit rain absorption in 

the natural contours and plant communities 

that support our slopes and valleys. 

As homeowners and stewards in this 

beautiful area, our private landscaping 

and gardens are powerfully impacted by 


Fall is a choice time to consider landscapes and gardens. 

the striking ecology around us. Reciprocally, 

our personal landscape practices have 

robust effects on precious wilder spaces. 

As larger projects are planned and implemented, 

treatment of water management 

and erosion mitigation are essential to both 

the project’s success and protection of the 

surrounding beauty that draws us here in 

the first place. So, as we’re enjoying our 

fall planting, it’s essential to consider and 

resolve the movement and receipt of water. 

Erosion mitigation can be supported in numerous 

ways; on steeper inclines, a multipronged 

approach may be required. 

A few tips for successful fall planting and 

erosion management: 

» Identify areas for drains, berms, channels, 

etc. along with other landscape features. 

These should all work in tandem to 

create a beautiful and healthy landscape. 

» Use the movement of water to your advantage. 

Our rugged topography supports 

naturalistic interpretation in landscape 

design. Grading and contouring, using native 

boulders effectively, and creating rock 

channels can all direct water and simultaneously 

enhance aesthetics. 

» Think in terms of plant communities 

and a cohesive native palette to help support 

hillsides, banks, woodland and riparian 

spaces. Plants should weave together 

and carpet the understory. This may 

require such initial strategies as erosion 

matting, forming rock planting wells, staking, 

hydroseeding etc. to aid purchase and 

root growth on an incline. Large swaths of 

mulch are not your friend. 

» Wait to plant herbaceous plants until after 

winter’s freeze and thaw cycle. Smaller 

plants can heave from the frozen ground 

and be exposed to winter damage. If planted 

in late fall or winter, be sure to mulch and 

check to see if a plant needs to be nestled 

back in place after a pronounced freeze. 

P 

PHOTO KRISTIN E. LANDFIELD

V. I. P. Pets 

Rolling out the welcome mat for our four-legged friends 

By DAWN LILES 

The plateau offers a variety of 

outdoor activities for pets and their 

well-behaved humans. Zak likes 

to take his human on the lake to 

watch the sunset. 

PHOTO NOELLE HOLLAND 

IN THE PAST YEAR, IF YOU’VE FOUND YOURSELF PAMPERING YOUR POOCHES AND CODDLING YOUR KITTIES 

a little more than usual, then you’re in good company. “Pets have played a central role in comforting Americans during the 

COVID-19 pandemic,” according to Steve King, president and CEO of the American Pet Products Association (APPA), in 

an article for Pet Business. “Thirty-five percent of pet owners surveyed said they spent more on their pets in the previous 

12 months than in the preceding year.” Although spending levels on pets are returning to pre-pandemic stages in 2021, 

owners’ enthusiasm for pets on the plateau continues. We’ve gathered many of the resources you need to rescue a pet, volunteer 

to help or care for a pet, play with a pet and indulge a pet. 


With a combined capacity of 150 animals, 

the CHHS Canine Adoption Center and the 

CHHS Feline Adoption & Animal Care Center 

are two of the most modern animal welfare 

facilities in North Carolina. Built entirely with 

private donations, both buildings opened 

their doors on the first day debt-free. 

Animal Advocates 

Cashiers-Highlands 

Humane Society 

For more than a quarter-century, the Cashiers-Highlands 

Humane Society has rescued, 

provided compassionate care and found forever 

homes for thousands of abandoned and 

neglected animals. They receive no federal, 

state or county tax dollars and no funding 

from any national animal organization. 

“The Cashiers-Highlands Humane Society 

is one of the most picturesque no-kill 

shelters in the United States,” explains 

CHHS Executive Director David Stroud. 

“Our dogs romp and run in acres of outdoor 

play yards and our cats relax and 

roam in cageless playrooms and sunlit 

porches. Residents from 24 different states 

have traveled to CHHS to meet their new 

best friend. We invite you to do the same.” 

For more information, go to their website 

at www.chhumanesociety.org. 

Highlands, Cashiers and the surrounding areas host 

a wide offering of dog-friendly hikes and trails. 

Remember to bring fresh drinking water for Fido 

and doggie waste bags to clean up after your pet. 

Our forests are home to wild animals, so do plenty 

of research about how to keep your best friend safe 

from toxic flora, contaminated water, insects, snakes, 

bears, wild cats and birds of prey. Gracie preferred a 

harness so her human could easily pick her up when 

she wasn’t feeling like a brave wolf pup. 

Advocates for Animals 

of WNC, Sylva 

AAWNC is a nonprofit organization whose 

mission is to keep at-risk pets with their 

families and assist the community in rescuing 

homeless animals off the streets. 

Collaborating with local veterinarians, 

PHOTO DAVID STROUD; KAT FORD 


oarding facilities, pet supply stores, other 

surrounding rescue organizations and dog 

trainers, AAWNC has been able to provide 

successful measures of intervention resulting 

in pet-owner retention. They hope 

to continue to provide emergency care and 

cover the cost of expensive veterinary procedures 

to the underserved and at risk in 

our communities. 

"We can't emphasize enough the importance 

of having your pet spayed or 

neutered, and the impact it will have on 

reducing pet overpopulation and suffering, 

as well as the pet’s health as they age,” 

explains AAWNC’s founder Pat Thomas. 

“Having your pet vaccinated, especially 

as a puppy, will eliminate diseases such 

as parvo and distemper. It is your duty to 

both your pet and the community to ensure 

your pet receives vaccinations throughout 

their life, for both their health and for the 

public health.” 

Donations are much needed and have 

decreased in the past year. To donate or 

volunteer, visit their website at 

www.a4awnc.org. 

Highlands Dog Park 

According to Lester Norris, program director 

for the town of Highlands, “it’s great 

to see that the park is usually very busy, 

which is just what it was built for.” 

Pet Stores 

Woof Gang Bakery, Cashiers 

Woof Gang Bakery & Grooming offers 

a wide selection of high-quality, natural 

and healthy pet foods, fun and tough toys, 

stylish collars and leads, bowls, doggy 

spa products and fashionable doggy apparel. 

They have a huge treat table filled 

with delicious seasonal decorated baked 

Dog Parks 

Cashiers Dog Park 

PHOTO KAT FORD; WOOF GANG BAKERY 

Cashiers’ first dog park is the result of a 

collaboration between the Jackson County 

Parks and Recreation Department and Vision 

Cashiers, a not-for-profit organization 

led by volunteers devoted to improving the 

Cashiers community. The park is a clean, 

beautiful and safe recreational area for 

families and their four-legged friends. 

The park is open 24/7, and dogs must be 

fully vaccinated. There is space set aside 

for smaller dogs. 

“We are delighted at the reception the 

park has received, especially now that the 

benches and doggie water fountain are in 

place. We look forward to continued cooperation 

with the county on other projects to 

enhance the natural beauty and livability 

of Cashiers,” said Ann Wrobleski, Vision 

Cashiers board member. 

Highlands Dog Park 

The Highlands Dog Park is part of the 

Highlands Recreation Park just off Foreman 

Road and is open from dawn to dusk. 

The park is fully fenced with a separate 

area for small, skittish or elderly dogs. The 

base for the park is mulch, and there is a 

covered area and water for dogs. 

Fashionable treats for 

fashionable pups art 

Woof Gang Bakery 

Woof Gang Bakery 

boasts a huge table 

filled with delicious 

seasonal decorated 

baked treats. 


treats. “Absolutely no rawhide is allowed 

in our store,” said Kassie Puzzello, store 

manager. “Our all-natural chews are easily 

digestible and good for cleaning their 

teeth, skin and coat.” 

Their pet stylists are ready to lavish love 

and gentle care on your furry friends. They 

offer full and a la carte services. 

“We’re here to help our community be 

the best they can for their dogs, and we 

want to help our furry friends live their 

best life possible!” said Puzzello. 

Highlands Mountain Paws 

This family-run boutique on Main Street 

in Highlands was established in 2014. 

Dogs are welcome and encouraged to join 

their owners in the store, which carries locally 

made fresh, grain-free treats. 

“We also pride ourselves on helping customers 

select the right gear to help their 

furry friends enjoy the outdoors,” said 

owner Mia Nelson. The store stocks collars, 

leashes, harnesses and toys for your 

next pet adventure. Nelson hand selects 

these items at the world’s largest pet expo, 

held annually in Orlando. “How lucky am 

I?” asks Nelson. “Every day, I’m fortunate 

to chat with wonderful customers and 

meet their pets.” 

Paws on the Mountain, Cashiers 

Paws on the Mountain is dedicated to dogs 

and cats. Owners Matt and Angel Stanley 

focus on nutrition, but they also offer products, 

treats and toys to help enrich your 

pet’s life through play and training. Their 

self-serve dog wash offers natural shampoos, 

thick towels and a hair dryer. 

Matt and Angel’s passion for healthy 

pet nutrition comes from the loss of their 

cat Dylan due to tainted pet food in 2007. 

Their store freezers are full of species-appropriate 

food, and they plan to add more 

soon. They love what they do, are always 

willing to share their knowledge and hope 

to have nutrition seminars again in 2022. 

Highlands Mountain 

Paws is a great place 

to stock up on fresh 

baked treats, high 

quality ingredients 

and a variety of flavors 

suitable for all diets! 

Paws on the Mountain 

offers a whole room of 

feline products. 

The Village Hound, Cashiers 

Housed in a charming 1930s era building, 

the eclectic boutique houses much more 

than just items for your pets. But you’ll 

find one large room filled with dog leashes, 

harnesses, doggie dresses, safety vests, 

flotation vests and backpacks. They also 

carry a huge selection of dog beds and offer 

organic homemade dog biscuits. 

Owner Lee Boone Dages loves meeting 

customers and their furry friends. “I have 

PHOTO KAT FORD; HIGHLANDS MOUNTAIN PAWS 


een at The Village Hound for the past 

seven years and have loved every second 

of it,” said Dages. “I never tire of watching 

my customers' enthusiasm as they browse 

through my shop, eventually ending up in 

the dog room grinning ear to ear.” 

Veterinarians 

Highlands-Cashiers 

Animal Clinic 

The Highlands-Cashiers Animal Clinic 

has been serving pets and their owners in 

the area since 1987. Their goal is to provide 

the highest level of veterinary medicine 

along with friendly, compassionate service. 

Veterinarian Dr. Amy Patterson, her sister 

Cookie, a licensed veterinary technician, 

and their staff believe in treating 

every patient as if they were their own pet 

and giving them the same loving attention 

and care. They believe in nurturing the 

human-animal bond and creating a harmonious 

relationship between people and 

animals. 

The Park on Main 

provides dog treats, dog 

beds and towels in every 

room. 

PHOTO PARK ON MAIN 

Animal Wellness Hospital 

of Highlands 

The Animal Wellness Hospital of Highlands 

is a well-established, full-service, 

small animal veterinary hospital providing 

comprehensive medical, surgical and 

dental care. 

Their services and facilities are designed 

to assist in routine preventive care 

for young, healthy pets, early detection 

and treatment of disease as your pet ages 

and complete medical and surgical care as 

necessary during his or her lifetime. Veterinarian 

Dr. Brad Smith feels fortunate 

to provide medical care to the animals in 

a community that values their pets as true 

members of the family. 

Spas/Boarding 

Mountain Dog Spa, Cashiers 

Mountain Dog Spa offers a luxurious warm 

water bath that includes massage and nail 

trim, as well as dog training, boarding and 

day care. 

“We are very proud of our day care,” said 

owner and trainer Alissa Short who has 

trained dogs for 15 plus years. “It’s not just 

free-for-all play; our program is structured 

like a preschool, with creative time, play 

time, structured learning time and nap 

time. Dogs are organized into play groups 

based on size, temperament and energy 

and every dog is taught how to be crated in 

a positive way. Our clients are happy with 

the results they see in their dogs. We send 

them home at the end of the day happy, 

calm and less stressed.” 

Posh Paws Pet Spa, Highlands 

This full-service pet spa offers bathing, 

grooming, blow dries, teeth brushing and 

toenail trimming as well as some retail 

items such as dog treats. Owners Michael 

and Shea Fox opened their doors in 2015 

and have been busy ever since. They currently 

don’t have the capacity to groom any 

additional larger breed dogs but are still 

accepting smaller breeds. 

Pet-friendly Hotels 

Highlander Mountain House 

The Highlander Mountain House is an 

English country house hotel full of incredible 

curated art and literature, roaring 

fires, cozy seating and a warm staff. Dogs 

are welcome to stay in the Bunk House 

rooms. 

“Dogs are as much a part of the landscape 

as the waterfalls up here, so we love 

being able to accommodate dogs and their 

owners,” said Jason Reeves, creator/owner. 

There is an additional fee for pets; please 

call the hotel regarding exact details 

of their pet policy as they do have breed 

restrictions. 

The Park on Main 

The Park on Main is a 24-suite luxury 

dog-friendly hotel in Highlands with an 

upscale-rustic theme and a private garden. 

The hotel has a relaxed vibe and offers dog 

treats, dog beds and towels in every room. 

The hotel partners with the Cashiers- 

Highlands Humane Society to foster pets 

and help them get adopted. There is no additional 

charge for pets. 

“We’re all a part of a community here 

and dogs are certainly no exception,” said 

John Woods, general manager. 

All of these businesses are grateful for 

their clients’ patronage and support. Our 

community is proud to welcome pets, and 

you can indulge your four-legged friends’ 

every desire at spas, groomers, pet stores, 

veterinarians, dog parks and pet-friendly 

hotels. But pet advocacy organizations 

remind us that not all dogs and cats live 

pampered lives, so please don’t forget about 

the neglected and abandoned animals who 

are also part of our community. P 


This Land Is Your Land; 

This Land Is My Land 

Sunset from 

Tranquility Point 

Friends of Panthertown joins forces with local and national organizations 

to conserve and protect Panthertown Valley 

By CHRISTA MILLER 

IT'S BEEN A LONG WEEK. YOUR BODY IS WOUND TIGHT AFTER HOURS OF CONFERENCE CALLS AND 

rush-hour traffic; you can't take the thought of yet one more project, and the news steadily streams negativity. A day 

hike at Panthertown Valley seems like just the thing. Before long, you're on a pristine western North Carolina pathway, 

wending your way between trees, around boulders, up and down hills. As your mind and body focus on balance, pacing 

and your breath, you finally start to unwind. 

By the time your hike is done, you feel so 

refreshed that you just have to share your 

experience. You give the trail five stars on 

all your favorite review apps, adding the 

selfie you took at the trailhead. And when 

you return, you vow, it'll be for an overnight. 

Except that a few weekends later, trying 

to make plans, you learn that others have 

the same idea, and dispersed backcountry 

camping can be challenging. Some areas 

An autumn 

view at 

Little Green 

Mountain 

could be inaccessible because the trails 

leading to them have been washed out by 

rain or blocked by fallen trees. You know 

that means the other trails will be more 

crowded. Disheartened, you wonder: "what 

can be done?" 

Conserving a local treasure 

A trail system as extensive as Panthertown 

Valley's —30 miles' worth—takes a 

PHOTOS THOMAS MABRY 


PHOTO KRISTA ROBB 

lot of time and effort to maintain. Diverting 

water off a trail, clearing trees and 

cutting back brush, and sometimes even 

relocating a section of trail all take careful 

planning and regular maintenance. 

And while factors like storm damage 

are normal and expected, says Jason Kimenker, 

executive director of the nonprofit 

Friends of Panthertown—climate change 

notwithstanding—human activity can 

compound the impact to the trails and 

their surrounding environment, which 

includes the headwaters of the Tuckasegee 

River and a rare high elevation mountain 

bog. Some plant species are native only to 

Panthertown Valley. 

"We're not going to stop the valley from 

changing due to natural events, but we 

need to assess what impact that has on 

the recreation trails and use in the valley," 

adds Maggie Carton, president and chair 

of the Friends of Panthertown board of 

trustees. 

Whether this means closing a trail for a 

few weeks to let it dry out, or rerouting it 

altogether in the long term, is driven by a 

volunteer service agreement with the U.S. 

Forest Service. 

The Forest Service focuses on wildfire 

suppression and prevention, invasive species 

control and overall forest management; 

Friends volunteers work to maintain 

the trails and fund their efforts—a model 

that Kimenker says is replicated on public 

lands nationwide. 

The service agreement is part of the Forest 

Service's 15-year forest management plan for 

the broader Nantahala and Pisgah National 

Forests. Covering not just recreation, but 

also timber sales, prescribed burning and 

other management tools and techniques, the 

plan is in the process of being updated from 

the previous, 20-year-old plan. 

That's especially important as new visitor 

groups, like anglers and rock climbers, 

come to the valley from around the Southeast—not 

just western North Carolina— 

and as Panthertown Valley seeks to maintain 

its backcountry designation. 

"We're not looking for a lot of development," 

says Carton. "We want it to be 

simple and rustic that relates to this very 

natural area that we're conserving." 

To that end, the Forest Service provides 

background information and limited equipment 

and training resources for the volunteers. 

But the Friends of Panthertown are 

responsible for finding the volunteers in 

the first place, delivering the training and 

most of the tools and funding the efforts. 

That's where partnerships with other community 

groups become mission-critical. 

Schoolhouse Falls 

Drawing on the support of the 

business community 

Kimenker, a lifelong outdoors enthusiast 

with roots in New England, and Carton, 

a longtime resident of Atlanta, GA, have 

both been in the Cashiers, NC, area for 

about 20 years and involved with Friends 

of Panthertown for roughly half that time. 

Their recent participation in the local 

Chamber of Commerce's Leadership Cashiers—Carton 

in the inaugural group in 

2019, and Kimenker last year—provided 

what Carton calls "more outlets for information 

that informs our strategic planning," 

including connections to groups that 

can inform the nonprofit's development of a 

five-year strategic plan. 

"That's when the real magic begins," 

says Kimenker, "because now we start 

collaborating with each other to develop 

benefits for the Cashiers area that maybe 

wouldn't have happened before." 

Part of that, says Carton, is working 

with the Cashiers Area Chamber of Commerce 

and the Jackson County Tourism 

Development Authority to encourage visitors 

to recreate responsibly and abide by 

the Leave No Trace principles (see sidebar). 

Another part is data collection "to 

understand more where people are going," 

Carton explains. Traffic counters set up 

on busy holiday weekends, for one, and a 

survey, for another, will help. 

The data will be used together with feedback 

from community leaders on how they 

envision Panthertown in five years, especially 

how they anticipate higher visitor 

Wanted: Friends 

of Panthertown 

Volunteers 

No experience needed; 

all ages and skill sets 

welcome (business and 

school groups too!) 

» Board and committee work 

» Community outreach 

» Light or heavy maintenance 

» Workshopping 

» Trail ambassadorship 

» Donations: equipment, refreshments 

Learn first aid, trail design and 

construction, chainsaw technique 

and more 

Must enjoy hiking and the 

satisfaction of a day's hard work 

Training, tools and personal 

protective equipment provided 

(ask about the Green Helmet Award!) 

Scholarships available for 

four-day courses 

Have fun! 



Friends of Panthertown volunteers 

work to maintain trails

PHOTO THOMAS MABRY 

numbers to affect trail system usage—as 

well as whether the Friends are focusing 

in the right areas. 

A shift to stewardship from 

membership opens doors 

It's the kind of feedback that led Friends of 

Panthertown to shift from a membershiporiented 

funding strategy to a stewardshiporiented 

one. Because Friends isn't an artsoriented 

nonprofit, says Carton, it can't offer 

comparable membership benefits. "We can't 

offer you special parking in the parking lot, 

or a discount on a performance," she explains. 

Besides, volunteers are equally important. 

So, Carton says, shifting focus to 

natural resources stewardship is a more 

inclusive way of allowing residents and 

visitors alike "to be a friend of Panthertown 

in whatever way that means for you." 

"For some people, it's being a volunteer 

on the trails," she continues. "For some 

people, it's writing a check once, and for 

others, it's writing a check every year. 

Everybody is a friend, whether you give 

us money or you put on a hard hat and do 

chainsaw work for us." 

This strategy also supports Friends 

of Panthertown's efforts to diversify and 

include underserved, underrepresented 

populations. Groups like the local Boys and 

Girls Club and Big Brothers, Big Sisters, as 

well as educational institutions, work with 

the Friends to deliver outdoor education. 

The stewardship fund further offers 

more flexibility to the organization's maintenance 

and public education work. Rather 

than process membership renewals at the 

end of each year, says Kimenker, the annual 

fund will allow for funds to be available 

sooner—in spring and summer, just 

as the valley's busy season begins. 

That flexibility will be integral to bigger 

projects that could require machine work 

rather than conventional hand tools. One 

such project-converting the water bars 

that divert stormwater off the trail to 

rolling grade dips that are more efficient, 

safer for mountain bikers to navigate and 

easier to maintain over the long term. 

It's the kind of effort, says Kimenker, 

that will meet demand as outdoor recreation 

has become one of the leading economic 

drivers across the entire country—and 

as the valley continues to change. Ironically, 

just as human activity can harm the 

natural environment, it's the only way to 

continue to protect it. 

"This is your public land," Kimenker 

says. "It's yours to come and visit, and it's 

yours to come and protect also." To learn 

more about how to get involved doing that, 

visit www.panthertown.org. P 

The 7 Leave No Trace Principles 

of Good Stewardship 

In September, the national Leave No Trace Hot Spot program sent a small 

team of educators to Panthertown Valley to conduct a four-day series of 

trainings, workshops and service projects to improve visitors' recreational 

experience. The fruits of this program will be harvested for years to come. 

In the meantime, if you're visiting Panthertown Valley, a few pointers: 

1. Plan ahead and prepare. 

Before your visit: Visit panthertown.org for the most up-to-date notices and advisories, 

as well as its visitors' guide. When you arrive: Read the public notices on the kiosk 

bulletin board and/or visit the information booth. Make sure you have a map and, 

preferably, a compass or GPS—and that you're prepared for any kind of emergency, 

from extreme weather to bee stings and snake bites. If you're not prepared for a 

primitive experience, consider nearby sites like DuPont State Forest or Whiteside Mountain. 

2. Travel and camp on durable surfaces. 

Stick to Panthertown Valley's official, maintained trails—not footpaths, and no shortcuts 

of your own, especially if you're not familiar with the area. Not only can you get 

lost, but you can also inadvertently damage fragile ecosystems. Be mindful of the trailhead 

signs that designate hiking, mountain biking or equestrian usage. Park, camp 

and latrine at least 200 feet from lakes and streams, and stick to existing campsites 

rather than making your own. 

3. Dispose of waste properly. 

Most of Panthertown Valley's visitors are great about cleaning up and packing out 

their own trash, says Carton, but Leave No Trace is about much more than that. 

Because the valley has no toilet facilities, visitors should know how to dig, use and 

cover over catholes. Know where—and where not—to go. (Hint: don't go in lakes and 

rivers, and don't wash dishes there, either. Carry water you need at least 200 feet away.) 

4. Leave what you find. 

Leave rocks, plants and other natural objects, as well as any historical manmade 

structures, as you find them. Don't pick flowers, especially if they're unusual, and don't 

stack rocks. Rock cairns look cool but selecting the river rocks can disturb aquatic 

creatures that live underneath them. 

5. Minimize campfire impacts. 

Arson, not a campfire, started the 2016 wildfires that burned 46,000 acres in the Nantahala 

National Forest—but the lesson stands. To minimize the risk of fire as well as 

the impact to the area, pack a lightweight camp stove for cooking and candle lanterns 

for light. If you must use firewood, use dead wood that you find at or near your campsite 

rather than bringing outside wood (which could contain pests) in. 

6. Respect wildlife. 

Panthertown Valley is a bear sanctuary. Store your food and other scented items properly 

in bear canisters and keep your campsite tidy, and make sure to secure your tent. 

Definitely don't feed (or take selfies with) the bears or other wildlife! If you're hiking 

instead of camping, bring a bear bell or a group. The noise will discourage bears from 

approaching, though in the interests of preserving the experience for others, don't drown 

out nature's sounds. 

7. Be considerate of other visitors. 

Whether hiking or riding (bikes or horses), be mindful that you're sharing the trail 

with others. And if you're camping, do so on sites away from trails or other campers. 

Go ahead and post the waterfall selfie—but encourage your friends and followers to 

become stewards, too! 


Glam By Nature 

Glamping redefines campingthese designers redefine glamping 

By BRITTANY CONLEY » Photos by CHRIS LITTLE PHOTOGRAPHY 


of a glamping tent—six glamping tents provided by the legendary 

Diamond Brand Gear. While no two designs were alike, they all had 

something in common: they all took glam to the next level. 

Tori Alexander, Alexander Interiors 

One could almost hear the lively conversation between daughter, 

mother and grandmother lounging about this garden-inspired 

tent. This nod to different generations was intentional by designer 

Tori Alexander, who said she wanted to accomplish something 

reminiscent of the High Hampton renovation, a long-standing 

tradition for generations of families who have vacationed here. 

“Because that’s how I see people enjoying Highlands. They’re here 

with their grandparents and children,” says Ms. Alexander. 

This story of setting strong local roots is exactly what Ms. Alexander 

hoped to tell with her work. “My family has a house in 

Highlands, and we spend as much time here as possible,” she said, 

adding she hopes to work with more clients in the Highlands- 

Cashiers area she loves so much. 

Making generational 

memories was at the 

heart of Alexander 

Interiors' gardeninspired 

tent. 

The design team for PLATT expanded 

their livable space by creating an 

outdoor kitchen and dining area. 

IN AUGUST, THE CASHIERS HISTORICAL SOCIETY 

unveiled its annual Cashiers Designer Showhouse, their signature 

fundraising event. Traditionally, several of the region’s best 

designers take over a local home, each responsible for designing a 

specific room. But, with the pandemic still lingering and without 

a house due to a booming real estate market, the Cashiers Historical 

Society reimagined the entire event to maximize both entertainment 

and safety. So how might one tour the work of interior designers 

while remaining outdoors? With their infinitely vivid imaginations 

and no shortage of determination, this year’s designers accepted 

the challenge to marry form and function inside the canvas walls 


A lush garden landscape draws 

you into Spruce Interiors’ tent with 

touches of Scottish Highlandsinspired 

design elements 

Melanie Couch & Nancy 

Dyleski, Spruce Interiors 

Rethinking the use of their tent 

was paramount for designers Melanie 

Couch and Nancy Dyleski. 

“We felt it was important to look 

past how one initially thinks to 

use a tent,” says Couch. Everything 

about the design whispers 

promises of relaxation, starting 

with the landscaping. A dreamy 

path of lush plants, moss and 

stone draws you into a space replete 

with touches of the designers’ 

love of nature and the Scottish 

Highlands, notably with swaths 

of tartan draped from the ceiling 

and walls, encapsulating a seating 

area and bar instead of a bed. 

“After a year of social distancing, 

our space invites people to gather 

and connect...to celebrate all the 

beauty the plateau has to offer,” 

says Couch. 


Spruce Interiors rethought 

the use of their tent, creating 

a seating area inviting guests 

to gather and connect. 

October /November 2021 | | 87 87

DWH Interiors created a 

transcontinental tale with 

eclectic art and furniture. 

The Stanton Carpet faux 

sisal flooring is waterresistant, 

creating both 

style and function in the 

DWH Interiors tent. 

Douglas Hilton, DWH Interiors 

The concept of glamping might feel new, but everything has a history. 

Designer Douglas Hilton had a lot of fun exploring what a 

nomadic life may have looked like for someone as glamorous as 

Marie Antoinette. Modeling his tent as an office fit for a queen 

on safari, it was only natural to showcase decadent velvets and 

an array of eclectic souvenirs, from Parisian photography, Yoruba 

sculpture, Moroccan artwork and an 18th century-design Spanish 

Colonial desk for all of Marie's important correspondence. 

There is a huge transcontinental tale unfolding in a small space. 

“This has been an incredible experience,” says Hilton, a longtime 

participant in the annual event who falls more in love with 

the plateau year after year. 

Holly Laughridge, Old Edwards Inn & Acorns Boutique 

Despite the world quarantining for the last year and a half, it 

can still be hectic sometimes. Designer Holly Laughridge wanted 

to slow things down and create a haven for those seeking respite 

from the everyday hustle and bustle. “All the colors are soft and 

flowing, nothing too bold,” says Laughridge, “and I have two chaise 

lounges that are velvety...you just want to grab a blanket, a book 

and a glass of wine and rest.” 

The gentle palette allows the mind to drift, and it is easy to 

imagine lazing atop a chaise, sipping a chardonnay and catching 

up with an old friend, laughter mingling with the surrounding 

symphony of nature. 


The designers weathered two tropical storms 

(Fred and Ida) during the 2021 Showhouse. 

Thanks to their clever functional and stylish 

design choices, combined with their tried-andtrue 

Diamond Brand Gear tents, the designers 

remained able to convey feelings of relaxed 

serenity- even in the midst of major storms. 

Two velvety chaise lounges in the Old Edwards 

Inn & Acorns Boutique tent beckon glampers 

to grab a blanket and glass of wine- the 

perfect combination to sit out any storm. 


Susan Peace-Vernon, Tribus 

A luxurious sleeping area 

awaits PLATT glampers. 

Texture and color took center stage in designer Susan Peace- 

Vernon's tent. A pair of teak Adirondack chairs invite laid-back 

conversation on the porch. It’s when you step inside the tent, however, 

that one truly appreciates the splendor of Ms. Peace-Vernon’s 

imagination. An oversized rattan chandelier placed prominently 

above the swinging bed tethered to the tent’s frame proves a small 

space can be big on design, and the vibrant Turkish rug which 

ties everything together leaves no room for doubt that to enjoy the 

great outdoors does not require sacrificing luxury. 

The most amazing thing about visiting each of these glamping 

tents wasn’t the impeccable fabrics and artwork, nor even the 

knowledge these designers worked through periods of torrential 

rain to bring their visions to fruition. The true magic trick each 

of them performed was providing serenity amid a time that’s been 

anything but serene. To inspire a natural spirit of gathering, of 

kinship, when we’ve spent so long purposefully distanced. In their 

own unique way, each designer used their talent to remind us of 

the best parts of the past and give hope to a future filled with 

beautiful memories. Which is, I suppose, the ultimate purpose of 

a well-designed space. 

Regardless, if you’re ready for glamping, whatever room you 

have in mind, if you are interested in working with one of these 

fabulous designers, be sure to check them out online and follow 

them across social media. And if you are excited to go glamping, 

Diamond Brand Gear is delighted to outfit you with the most incredible 

canvas tents on the market. P 

To learn more about the 24th annual Cashiers Designer Showhouse, 

take virtual tours of the tents, listen to designer interviews 

and watch panel discussions on style and stewardship, purchase a 

virtual ticket at www.cashiershistoricalsociety.org. 

Parker Platt & Katie P. Jackson, PLATT 

First-timers to the event, architect Parker Platt and designer 

Katie P. Jackson didn’t just think outside the box; they thought 

outside the tent. “Getting our minds around the small scale of it 

was a little [challenging], so we solved that by expanding the liveable 

space outside of the tent,” says Platt, who believes this was a 

great year to join the Showhouse. 

They created a luxurious sleeping area and bar inside the tent, 

transformed their platform into a spacious outdoor kitchen and 

dining area, then expanded to a ground-level gathering spot with 

a fire pit and several incredible examples from their PLATT 

HOME collection. “This is how we like to create experiences for 

people,” says Jackson, “to have the full environment to enjoy family 

and friends.” 

Outdoor dining at 

the PLATT tent 

Resources 

Tori Alexander 

Alexander Interiors 

Highlands, NC and 

Nashville, TN 

(615) 438-6388 

alexanderinteriors.net 

Melanie Couch 

& Nancy Dyleski 

Spruce Interiors 

Highlands, NC 

(828) 528-1556 

Douglas Hilton 

DWH Interiors 

Atlanta, GA 

(404) 550-5484 

dwhinteriors.com 

Holly Laughridge 

Old Edwards Inn & 

Acorns Boutique 

Highlands, NC 

(828) 301-8961 

hmorris@oldedwardsinn.com 

Parker Platt & Katie P. Jackson 

PLATT 

Brevard, NC 

(828) 630-9500 

platthome.us 

Susan Peace-Vernon 

Tribus 

Cashiers, NC and Greenville, SC 

(864) 729-4148 

tribusinteriordesign.com 

Diamond Brand Gear 

Fletcher, NC 

(828) 209-0322 

diamondbrandgear.com 


Texture and color take 

center stage in the 

Tribus tent. 


UNC Quarterback, 

Sam Howell 

COLLEGE FOOTBALL 

PREVIEW 

Sports writer Brian Mull breaks down all you need 

to know about NC ’s favorite teams 

By BRIAN MULL 

SUMMER IS FADING. THE KIDS ARE HEADING BACK TO SCHOOL. JEANS AND HOODED PULLOVERS 

will soon replace shorts and t-shirts. Folks will tie their shoes again, trade sunscreen for sweaters, turn their thoughts 

to cooler days. And yes, college football will return. What a return it will be. Packed stadiums! Marching Bands! 

Cheerleaders! Elaborate pregame tailgates with abundant fixins and libations! After the strangest of seasons, the 

colorful symphony entwined with the 60-minute game between the sidelines will share the stage again, providing the 

pageantry fans took for granted in the past. 

The NCAA granted players a free year of 

eligibility so rosters are stacked with returning 

players. Coaches are relishing the 

opportunity to direct the experienced leaders 

guiding their teams. Unprecedented 

optimism swirls around most of the Tar 

Heel state’s football programs, including 

those in Chapel Hill and Raleigh that annually 

garner the most attention. 

Those aforementioned Tar Heels and 

Wolfpack have top-25 and championship 

dreams. Wake Forest seeks a sixth consecutive 

bowl game appearance, which would 

extend a school record. East Carolina is 

trending upward in Mike Houston’s third 

season. Duke hopes to hang onto the ball 

and shift its path in a positive direction. 

UNC Head Coach, 

Mack Brown 


Before the first football flies through 

humid air across blue skies on a steamy 

Saturday afternoon, here’s what you need 

to know about the state’s four ACC schools 

and ECU. 

Tar Heels ready to make 

national noise 

Mack Brown needed only two seasons to 

repair and renovate a devastated program. 

The immediate success - two winning 

records and an Orange Bowl appearance 

last season - buoyed by consecutive 

top-15 recruiting classes means expectations 

around Chapel Hill have never been 

higher. UNC enters the season ranked in 

the top-10 in national polls and welcomes 

back sensational quarterback Sam Howell, 

a strong candidate to win the Heisman 

Trophy. 

Howell has completed 68 percent of his 

attempts in two years as the Tar Heels’ 

signal caller, passing for more than 

7,200 yards and 68 touchdowns. He’s the 

ideal general for offensive coordinator Phil 

Longo’s attack and while his best weapons 

from a year ago have moved on to the 

NFL, he has no shortage of options thanks 

to his coaching staff’s relentless recruiting 

and acute player development skills. 

The Tar Heels return nine offensive 

starters and 18 of the 22 players from last 

year’s two-deep. The most important piece 

of the arsenal, though, is a newcomer. 

Ty Chandler rushed for 2,046 yards and 

13 touchdowns in four seasons at Tennessee. 

The graduate student runs for power 

inside, has speed on the perimeter and has 

sure hands in the passing game. 

He’ll also enjoy running behind a veteran 

offensive line. 

Beau Corrales, Emory Simmons and 

Antoine Green lead a deep and talented 

corp of receivers. Howell has command of 

the offense and a strong relationship with 

Longo, enabling the Tar Heels to line up 

in the proper formations and call the appropriate 

plays. 

Scoring shouldn’t be an issue. The Tar 

Heels lit up the scoreboard for 41.7 points 

per game last season and a similar output 

is a reasonable expectation. 

Defense will determine whether Carolina 

belongs with the nation’s elite teams. 

Last season, UNC ranked 65th in scoring 

defense (29.4 ppg), 74th in yards allowed 

per play (5.8), surrendered 25 rushing 

touchdowns and struggled to keep opponents 

out of the end zone once they entered 

the red zone. 

Brown believes the defensive line is the 

most improved unit in the program, possessing 

the speed and skill to harass opposing 

quarterbacks. The Tar Heels expect 

to shuttle 8 to 10 linemen - each weighing 

at least 285 pounds - into a game without 

sacrificing performance. 

“You’ve got to be able to stop the run and 

disrupt the pass,” Brown said. “We have 

not been able to consistently do that. We’re 

gonna get off the bus and walk into the 

stadium looking like a much better football 

team than we have in the past.” 

Desmond Evans, a 6-6, 260-pound former 

in-state blue chip recruit could also 

shine this season at defensive end and 

outside linebacker. The secondary should 

be among the ACC’s best. 

The Tar Heels will likely be Vegas favorites 

in their first seven games, setting 

up a potential tasty matchup against 

Notre Dame in South Bend on Halloween 

Eve between two highly ranked, if not 

unbeaten, teams. If that scenario unfolds, 

the Carolina Blue crowd will be focused 

solely on the football field, not yet ready 

to turn their attention toward preseason 

basketball scrimmages and such. 

A rare occurrence, indeed. 

Wolfpack ready to howl after 

surprising 2020 

NC State starts the season outside the 

preseason top-25, however, coach Dave 

Doeren likes the experienced talent he 

observed on the practice field in training 

camp. The Wolfpack should also benefit 

from a full offseason, a luxury their two 

new coordinators didn’t enjoy a year ago. 

The Wolfpack exceeded preseason prognostications 

in 2020, posting an 8-4 overall 

record and 7-3 ACC mark, earning a Gator 

Bowl bid. Not that NC State is satisfied. 

This season they have the depth to take 

the program further. 

“It's a hungry team. And it's competitive, 

there's guys trying to get on the field 

versus other guys that are also really good, 

and they can't really have a down day and 

keep their job,” says Doeren. 

In what will become a familiar refrain in 

this post pandemic college football season, 

NC State returns 20 starters, including 

four ‘super’ seniors (players who chose to 

return for a fifth season of college football). 

Devin Leary’s resume is less impressive 

than his rival quarterback in Chapel 

Hill, however, his arm strength and pocket 

poise put him on the radar of NFL scouts. 

Injuries limited Leary to four games last 

season and the Pack won three of those as 

he passed for 222 yards per game. 

He won’t have to carry the offensive burden 

alone. Zonovan “Bam” Knight received 

preseason All-ACC accolades after rushing 

for 1,533 yards and two touchdowns in 

his first two seasons at NC State. 

All-ACC offensive tackle Ickey Ekwonu 

will help plow holes and provide protection. 

Emeka Ekezie, the Wolfpack’s top receiver, 

was hobbled during August training 

camp but is scheduled to play in the 

opener. He led the team with 47 receptions 

for 738 yards and five TDs in 2020. 

The offense should evolve in offensive 

coordinator Tim Beck’s second season. 

Doeren described last year’s attack as “watered 

down” out of necessity. 

The defense was decent a year ago, ranking 

top 15 in the nation in sacks (32) and 

top 30 in interceptions (10). Getting off 

the field was often a problem, though. The 

Wolfpack ranked 75th in rushing defense, 

allowing 173.9 yards per game. Preseason 

All-ACC pick Payton Wilson believes the 

Pack has the requisite depth and experience 

to be among the best in the conference 

- if not the nation. He leads an excellent 

group of linebackers and there are more 

able bodies available in the secondary. 

After the first month of the season, NC 

State will know where it stands. The Wolfpack 

must navigate an unfavorable schedule 

throughout. It travels to face Mike 


Wake Forest 

Quarterback, 

Sam Hartman 

Leach’s Air Raid attack at Mississippi 

State in week two and heads to Death Valley 

to battle league powerhouse Clemson 

on Sept. 25th. A date with Miami is another 

key road matchup before the regular 

season ends with a visit from UNC. 

Demon Deacons 

Wake Forest missed out on a fifth consecutive 

winning season in part because it was 

denied the usual complement of nonconference 

games due to COVID-19 induced ACC 

regulations. 

Still, opponents who overlook the Demon 

Deacons often pay a price. 

Dave Clawsen has sustained a solid, 

fundamentally sound program in Winston-Salem 

and if not for a couple of blown 

leads in the second half, it could have been 

another special season. 

Wake’s offense was electric behind quarterback 

Sam Hartman, who passed for 

more than 2,200 yards and 13 touchdowns 

to produce a school-record 36 points per 

game. The Demon Deacons could have 

been even more proficient if not for a lack 

of physicality up front that proved costly 

in short yardage situations. Clawsen 

described the squad as the weakest at 

Wake since 2014, leading a strength coach 


change after the season. 

The offensive line is smaller than most 

of its ACC counterparts, but athletic and 

quick. Hartman lost leading receiver Donavon 

Greene to a torn ACL, although he 

can still rely on Jaquarii Roberson, who 

averaged more than 100 yards per game 

receiving. 

Christian Beal-Smith (732 yards and 

five TDs), Justice Ellison and Christian 

Turner give the Deacs a three-headed 

rushing attack. 

Wake must show improvement on defense. 

Miles Fox (10.5 tackles for loss) was

a bright spot and returns to solidify the interior 

defensive line. The rest was a mess. 

Wake ranked 87th or worse nationally in 

rushing defense, passing defense and scoring 

defense. 

Miles Fox had 10.5 tackles for loss and 

solidifies the interior of the Deacons’ defensive 

line. Wake’s linebackers are unproven, 

but the secondary should be able to match 

the ACC’s talented fleet of receivers, assuming 

the line can do its part and apply 

pressure on opposing passers. 

The Deacs face a backloaded schedule 

in 2021 with matchups against UNC, NC 

State and Clemson in the final month. 

Blue Devils hope to solve 

turnover troubles 

Throughout his coaching career, Duke’s 

David Cutcliffe has built teams that protected 

the football and minimized mistakes. 

There’s been a much different story 

in Durham the last two years. The Blue 

Devils committed a staggering 39 turnovers 

in 11 games a year ago, prompting the 

staff to institute 10 minutes of ball security 

drills in every practice last spring. 

They’ll try to correct those mistakes 

with a first-time playcaller, 32-year-old cooffensive 

coordinator Jeff Faris, a former 

Duke walk-on and graduate assistant under 

Cutcliffe. 

He’ll hand the ball to first-time starter 

Gunnar Holmberg, who is in peak condition 

and gives the Blue Devils a running 

and passing threat. Holmberg missed the 

2019 season with an injury and completed 

18 of 25 passes for Duke last season in a 

backup role. 

He’ll certainly spend many plays handing 

off to Mataeo Durant, one of the ACC’s 

top running backs and a strong candidate 

to become Duke’s first 1,000-yard rusher 

since 2003. 

The 6-5, 215-pound wide receiver Jake 

Bobo and surehanded Jalon Calhoun are 

the top receivers. The Blue Devils entered 

training camp searching for a reliable 

deep threat to join them. 

Finding one is critical considering the 

Blue Devils ranked last in the ACC in 

pass plays of 30 yards or more last season, 

managing only 11 in a 2-9 campaign that 

closed with four consecutive defeats. 

The defense probably wasn’t as bad as 

the numbers (38 ppg, 444 ypg) appeared 

last season. Giving the football to the other 

team with a short field makes any defense 

(top) The early schedule (Charlotte, NC A&T, Northwestern, Kansas) should allow the Blue 

Devils to develop much needed confidence before they enter the ACC fray. (bottom) Duke's 

Head Coach, David Cutcliffe, hopes to try to correct mistakes of the past two years with a 

first-time playcaller, 32-year-old co-offensive coordinator Jeff Faris, a former Duke walk-on and 

graduate assistant under Cutcliffe. 

look worse. But in a conference loaded with 

playmakers, the questions at linebacker 

are a concern entering the season. 

Cutcliffe believes the offensive line, 

which allowed an alarmingly high rate of 

sacks and tackles for a loss a year ago, is 

one of the team’s strongest groups this season. 

If so, the Blue Devils should be much 

more competitive. 

The early schedule (Charlotte, NC 

A&T, Northwestern, Kansas) should 

allow the Blue Devils to develop much 

needed confidence before they enter the 

ACC fray, traveling to UNC on Oct. 2nd 

and later visiting Virginia, Wake Forest 

and Virginia Tech before closing the 

season in Wallace Wade Stadium against 

Miami. 


Pirates ready to bowl again 

In the 16 college football seasons between 

1999 and 2014, ECU participated in 11 

season-ending bowl games. The Pirates 

enjoyed nine winning records in the span. 

They’ve not finished above .500 nor tasted 

a postseason reward since. 

There’s reason to believe ECU could 

snap both streaks in 2021. 

Let’s face it. Mike Houston inherited a 

smoking dumpster fire when he was named 

head coach in the first week of December 

in 2018. The talent level in the program, 

not to mention the players’ strength, conditioning, 

depth and even discipline were 

poor, at best. 

ECU's starting 

Quarterback, 

Holton Asher 

Slowly and surely, he and his staff 

have improved the athleticism, skill level 

and toughness while building the depth 

required to compete against American 

Athletic Conference opponents. It’s yet to 

show up in the win / loss column - ECU 

is 7-14 the last two years - but there was 

obvious growth late last season capped by 

impressive wins over Temple and SMU to 

close the season. 

ECU produced 30 ppg last season (50th 

in the nation) and Holton Ahlers resumes 

control of the offense, looking to continue 

his personal progression. Ahlers, a 6-3, 

230-pounder in his fourth college season, 

has 7,099 passing yards, 51 touchdowns. 

He’s also rushed for 1,060 yards and 13 

TDs. That pedigree makes him the Pirates’ 

obvious leader and in the spring he 

called the Pirates a “bowl program.” 

Tyler Snead is a favorite target, snagging 

134 receptions for 1,519 yards and 14 

TDs. 

When he’s not launching passes, Ahlers, 

one of nine returning starters on offense, 

has two terrific options leading the rushing 

attack. Rahjai Harris, the 2020 AAC 

Rookie of the Year, and Keaton Mitchell 

combined for 1,067 yards in an ECU attack 

that averaged 173 rushing yards per 

game. 

“You look at the offensive line and I feel 

good about that group, because you have a 

mix of younger guys and older guys with 

some experience,” Houston said. “Our 

lines were probably the weak point in the 

program when we got here. I think we’ve 

strengthened that significantly.” 

“The defensive line’s ability to control 

the run game and generate a consistent 

pass rush could be the key to the Pirates’ 

season,” Houston said. There’s talent returning, 

but overall it’s a smaller group 

which puts ECU at a disadvantage against 

physical AAC opponents such as Cincinnati 

and Navy. 

The top eight tacklers return, including 

Xavier Smith at linebacker. His ballhawking 

skills propelled the Pirates to 18 

takeaways. If the Pirates can stop the run, 

teams may have difficulty passing because 

the secondary has never been stronger in 

recent program history. 

Like some of their in-state brethren, 

ECU will understand its strengths and 

weaknesses early. The Pirates open on 

Thursday, Sept. 2 in Charlotte against 

Appalachian State in Bank of America 

Stadium, home of the Carolina Panthers. 

They play host to SEC member South 

Carolina the following week and travel to 

Marshall from there. A 3-1 start in September 

should keep the bowl talk buzzing 

in Greenville well into the fall. P 


dining review in the kitchen libations 

Smokeshow 

Cashiers Valley Smokehouse 

is the talk of the town. 

PHOTO NICK BREEDLOVE 


Cashiers Valley Smokehouse 

The next chapter in Cashiers barbecue 

By BRIDGET CALLAHAN » Photos by NICK BREEDLOVE 

281 US 64 W 

Cashiers, NC 28717 

(828) 547-2096 

cashiersvalleysmokehouse.com 

WHILE THE QUESTION 

of whether it’s “barbecue” 

or “barbeque” will likely 

stay the subject of debate 

for decades to come, an 

indisputable fact is there is no greater 

comfort food than smoked meat. A plate full 

of sauce-covered brisket or melting pulled 

pork brings families and communities 

together. And that’s the tradition the 

Peterkin family is trying to keep alive with 

Cashiers Valley Smokehouse, formerly 

Adair Brothers Smokehouse, on Hwy 64. 

“You know, when my wife was growing 

up, their family would come to Cashiers to 

get a Christmas tree and come eat here at 

the barbecue place. It was tradition. And I 

think that’s true for a lot of folks in town 

and even out of towners. When you’re in 

Cashiers, you come to the barbecue place. 

We’re lucky to take on a place with such a 

good foundation and reputation, and we’re 

happy we can keep that reputation going,” 

says Brien Peterkin Jr. (The North Carolina 

Barbecue Society says it’s spelled with 

a “c,” so we’ll go with their ruling for now.) 

The Peterkins have been known in the local 

scene for quite a while, first with family-owned 

Cornucopia, one of the best casual 

lunches in town for over forty years, and 

next, the wildly popular Slab Town Pizza. 

When Brien Jr. and his business partner 

Jon Caddell went looking for their next 

venture, they had originally thought of another 

location for Slab Town. But when the 

smokehouse, which has had a few different 

names over the years, became available, 

they jumped on the opportunity to keep the 

beloved spot alive. 

The bright red building with airy interior 

is exactly what you want your BBQ joint to 

look like - comfortable, casual and all about 

the food. Outside there’s a cheery patio of 

(top) With a traditional menu, the food is kept 

simple and fresh- the meats are cooked fresh every 

day; (right) Picnic tables and string lights make 

perfect for afternoon lunches and sunset dinners. 

picnic tables and string lights, perfect for 

afternoon lunches and sunset dinners. 

Opening up in the middle of last year with 

pandemic restrictions was less than ideal, 

but the guys kept the menu traditional for 

the most part and focused on the food. 

“We keep it as simple and fresh as possible,” 

Brien Jr. says. “The meats are cooked 

fresh every day; the sides are fresh. We used 

process stuff as little as possible.” Which 

means they are constantly in the kitchen, 

since barbecue can be an intense process. 

But the results are worth the effort. 


The homemade sauces reflect the unique 

barbecue intersection that western Carolina 

finds itself in. 

“We do have a Carolina vinegar sauce. 

But we’re right on the border of Georgia 

and South Carolina, so we also have a 

kind of sweet red that is usually found in 

Georgia. And a hot mustard that is more 

common in South Carolina. A lot of different 

types of barbecue have found their 

way here, which is great for us because we 

can explore and not be stuck with just one 

type,” Brien Jr. says. 

(clockwise left to right) With options like fried okra, mac ’n cheese and potato salad, the sides are 

almost as important as the barbecue itself; The menu offers something for everyone including 

meat by the pound, sandwiches and a house salad; Explore different types of barbecue on the 

menu, from Texas to St. Louis. 

“The brisket, for instance, is Texas style, 

with just rub on it. We cook it overnight, 

then wrap it in the morning and let it finish. 

Next, it gets a little higher heat, and 

then it rests for a long time. The key with 

our meat is we only cut them one at a time 

to order, so everything tastes fresh and 

doesn’t have time to dry out.” 

At the peak of season, the kitchen will 

go through 10-12 briskets in a day, and up 

to 30 pork shoulders. They’re also serving 

up half chickens, smoked turkey, pulled 

chicken and St. Louis style ribs. It’s a lot of 

meat, a lot of love and a lot of smiling faces. 

Of course, the sides are almost as important 

as the barbecue itself, and all the 

favorites are here. There’s fried okra, rich 

mac ’n cheese, potato salad and Sallie Peterkin’s 

personal favorite, collard greens. 

Brunswick stew, tater tots, hushed puppies 

and baked beans are all there, too, all made 

fresh. And if you’re going to be *that* person 

at the smokehouse, you can even get a house 

salad. Everyone will pretend to respect that. 

But if you’re not in the mood for a heaping 

tray of meat, there’s also a great selection 

of sandwiches available, including a brisket 

Philly, a brisket burger, classic BLT, or 

a Cuban. While Brien Jr. prefers the ribs, 

his mother Sallie recommends the Smokehouse 

Cobb Salad with smoked turkey. You 

can even get the pulled chicken or brisket 

topping a pile of cheesy nachos made with 

wonton chips, black beans, queso, jalapenos 

and house-made salsa. 

But no matter how the menu evolves, 

barbecue by the pound will always be the 

star. Get it family style, with three pints of 

sides, hushpuppies, Texas toast and sauce. 

Splurge on a full rack of ribs for the family 

get-together. Or get a platter just for yourself, 

all piled on that essential smokehouse 

brown paper-covered tray, with pickles. 

The servings are huge and dripping with 

tangy sauce, and who in the history of the 

world has ever resisted a perfectly fried 

hushpuppy? But if you can save room for 

dessert, there’s sweet banana pudding or a 

cobbler of the day to finish off the perfect 

picnic table meal, made in house by Brien’s 

wife Sarah Ann. 

At the moment, the Peterkins are happy 

just to have made it successfully through 

the pandemic and are gearing up for winter 

in the valley. While the Highlands 

area is still fairly seasonal, it’s safe to say 

Cashiers has hit a critical mass in tourism, 

and local restaurants are finding it 

easier to fill seats no matter what the time 

of year. There certainly has been no shortage 

of customers lining up for their favorite 

meats, and the family is thrilled to live up 

to the challenge of restoring barbecue to its 

proper place of glory in Cashiers. P 


Smoke & 

Mirrors 

Deceptively simple 

seasonal dishes 

Recipes and Photos by KIM BYER 


Mirror, mirror on the wall, who makes the most delicious peanut butter pie of them all? 

“Mwah, haha,” spoke the mirror, “that would be Sue Kornegay Junkin.” In Tuscaloosa, 

AL, my Aunt Sue was famous for two things: her devilish wit and her peanut butter pies. She would 

wink and whisper how easy they were to make. Years after she passed, I finally made one for myself. 

The myth that was her peanut butter pie held—it is not only soft-as-chiffon and delicious, but it is also 

delightfully simple. Of course, being the obstinate niece I am, I tried to one-up her legendary pie with a 

salted peanut and pretzel crust. But do not be fooled; her pie recipe makes a store-bought graham 

cracker crust shine. Aunt Sue also knew her way around an oven, so I am sure she’d approve of my 

tweaks on the celebrated baked feta and tomatoes recipe that flew from Finland around the world last 

year in a viral sensation. You’ll want to try it Southernized with caramelized Vidalia onions. In this 

enchanted season of colorful trees, back-to-school mornings (hurrah!) and pumpkin-dotted porches, I 

hope you’ll tie on an apron (my favorite “I’m-sooo-domestic” disguise) and delight your favorite monsters 

with one of these highly complicated and time-consuming recipes. Wink, wink. 

Rice Krispie Chocolate Cake-in-Disguise 

with chocolate frosting and ghastly decorations 

Makes one 6-inch, 3-layer cake and 3 cups of frosting; three 6x3 cake pans recommended 

Rice Krispie Layers 

6 tablespoons butter (high fat is best) 

20 ounces mini marshmallows (two 10-ounce bags) 

9 cups Rice Krispies or puffed rice cereal 

Whipped Chocolate Frosting 

1/2 cup butter, melted 

2/3 cup unsweetened cocoa powder 

3 cups confectioners’ sugar 

1/2 cup whole milk 

Directions: 

1. To make the tower “cake”: In a stockpot, melt butter over low heat and pour in mini marshmallows. 

Continue stirring on low until marshmallows melt. Remove from heat. Slowly pour and gently fold 

cereal into marshmallows until combined. 

2. Suggestion: Prepare the 6-by-3-inch cake pans with parchment paper (parchment rounds with lifting 

tabs are great) and butter or baking spray. Divide the cooling marshmallow mixture into three equal 

parts. Press one mound of marshmallow mixture into each pan until firm and even. Lift one layer out of 

the pan and place on a 6” or 8” cardboard circle. Place circle on a revolving cake stand or lazy Susan. 

3. To make frosting: Using a mixer, beat melted butter and cocoa powder on medium speed until smooth. 

Add confectioners’ sugar and milk and mix on low until sugar is dissolved. Gradually increase speed to 

high until frosting is smooth and creamy. 

4. Add a layer of chocolate frosting to the top of the first layer. Repeat with two more layers of marshmallow 

mixture and frosting. Push a dowel or skewer through the center of the three layers to add stability while 

you frost the sides. Using a small offset spatula or icing spatula, frost the sides, then remove the skewer. 

Re-frost the top, add chocolate glaze if desired. 

5. To make chocolate drip/glaze: In a small bowl, stir melted butter and cocoa powder until smooth. 

Add confectioners’ sugar and stir until sugar is dissolved. Add milk and corn syrup and stir again until smooth. 

Continue adding single teaspoons of milk and stirring until desired consistency is reached—either for an 

all-over glaze or for dripping down the sides. 

Note: Tightly wrapped or covered cake will stay fresh on the countertop for several days. 

Chocolate Glaze (optional) 

3 tablespoons butter, melted 

3 tablespoons unsweetened cocoa powder 

1/3 cup confectioners’ sugar 

2 tablespoons whole milk + 3-4 teaspoons 

1 teaspoon light corn syrup 

Toppings 

Halloween candy, chocolate-dipped 

pretzels, mini chocolate chips, M & M’s 

or Reese’s Pieces, sprinkles, chocolate 

bar shards, etc. 



Roasted Tomatoes & Sheep’s Feta 

inspired by @liemessa, with added onions and pine nuts 

Serves 3-4 as a pasta sauce or as a topping for freshly baked bread 

Ingredients 

1-2 Vidalia onions, quartered 

1-2 shallots, sliced into rings 

Generous amounts of olive oil for drizzling/tossing/baking 

2 pounds tomatoes in various sizes, shapes and colors, 

sliced (larger tomatoes) or whole (cherry/grape) 

10-ounce block Greek sheep’s feta in brine 

(not cow’s milk feta!) 

2-3 garlic cloves, sliced 

1 tablespoon capers 

¼ teaspoon red chili pepper flakes 

¼ cup raw pine nuts 

Handful fresh basil leaves 

Kosher or sea salt and freshly ground pepper 

Boulevardier 

with charred citrus peel 

Makes 1 cocktail 

Ingredients 

1 orange 

1 1/2-ounces bourbon (your favorite mix-friendly 

bourbon, from Bardstown to Buffalo Trace) 

1-ounce Campari 

1-ounce sweet vermouth (such as Carpano Antica or Dolin) 

1-2 good quality maraschino cherries (optional—recommend 

Luxardo, Fabbri Amarena or Bada Bing) 

Ice (recommend 1 large cube or sphere) 

Directions: 

1. Peel orange skin around and winding down the circumference 

with a flat peeler. Using a small knife, 

remove jagged edges. Cut two additional 2-inch slices 

and cut the remaining strip in half. Shape each long 

strip into a point on both ends. 

2. Place ice cube(s) into glass. Pour bourbon, Campari, 

and sweet vermouth over ice. Stir. Add long orange 

peel and cherries to each glass. 

3. Take one of the 2-inch strips into your dominant hand 

and, carefully lighting a match with the other, hold the 

citrus peel atop one glass as you squeeze it above the 

match flame to express the citrus peel’s oil into the drink. 

The heating peel will sizzle as the oil releases. Rub the 

slightly charred citrus strip around the rim of the glass. 

Tip: Vermouth will last for up to one month chilled in your refrigerator. 

Large cube and sphere silicone ice molds are widely available 

online and at home stores. 

Directions: 

1. Preheat oven to 400°F. Prepare a sheet pan or rimmed 

baking dish with 1/3 cup of oil. Add onions and shallots, 

toss with salt and pepper and bake for 15-20 minutes. 

2. If using any tomatoes with stems and/or fresh herbs, place 

into a shallow dish of water while onions are cooking. 

If serving with pasta, cook pasta according to directions. 

3. Remove pan from oven and add tomatoes, sheep’s feta, 

garlic, capers and any water-soaked tomatoes on the 

vine or herbs. Generously drizzle more olive oil. Return 

pan to oven and bake for 20-30 more minutes or until 

tomatoes are softened and feta has started to melt. 

4. Increase temperature to 450°F. Roast (or broil) until feta 

begins to melt and brown (5-15 minutes). 

5. Remove charred tomato and herb stems. Add a few fresh 

basil leaves. If serving over pasta, pour several tablespoons 

of pasta water onto the sheet pan and toss with feta and 

tomatoes until you get your preferred sauce consistency. 

Otherwise, add a few tablespoons of water to the mix 

depending on how chunky or smooth you prefer the spread. 

6. Top with pine nuts before serving over pasta or as a 

spoon-able spread with freshly baked bread. 


Chunky Shrimp Salad 

in buttery brioche rolls 

Yields enough salad for 8 buns 

For the shrimp: 

2 pounds Carolina wild-caught shrimp—jumbo, 

shelled and deveined (about 24 shrimp) 

2 teaspoons smoked paprika 

2 teaspoons kosher salt 

1 teaspoon coarse black pepper 

Coconut oil for flash frying 

For the salad: 

3 stalks celery, minced 

1 large ripe tomato, chopped, or one dozen grape 

tomatoes, sliced 

½ cup Duke’s mayonnaise 

2 tablespoons capers 

Juice of 1 lemon 

1 heaping tablespoon fresh dill, minced 

¼ cup sliced salad olives with pimento 

1 package split-top bakery brioche buns (6-8) 

2 tablespoons butter, melted 

Directions: 

1. Pat shrimp completely dry. In a large bowl, mix 

seasonings and toss shrimp until covered. 

2. Heat 3 tablespoons of oil in a large skillet until 

it begins to pop. Place 1/3 of the shrimp into 

the pan one at a time. Flash fry until pink 

(about a minute) and then turn over once. 

Remove to a paper towel and repeat until all 

shrimp are fried. You may need to add more 

oil and allow it to reheat between batches. 

3. In a large bowl, mix salad ingredients. Chop shrimp into 

bite-size chunks and add to mixture. Refrigerate salad 

for at least 2 hours or overnight. 

4. Before serving, brush tops of buns with butter and warm, 

butter-side-down, on a flat grill or in batches in a large skillet. 

Spoon salad into buns and serve while buns are warm. 


Aunt Sue’s Peanut Butter Pie 

with a thick salted peanut & pretzel crust 

Makes one 8-inch pie 

Salted Peanut & Pretzel Crust 

1/4 cup lightly salted roasted peanuts, plus more for topping 

1 3/4 cups salted pretzels (sticks are easier to measure) 

6 tablespoons salted butter, melted (if unsalted, add 1/8 

teaspoon coarse salt) 

2 tablespoons sugar 

Pie Filling 

8 ounces cream cheese, softened 

½ cup extra crunchy peanut butter (recommend Jif brand) 

3/4 cup confectioners’ sugar, sifted 

16 ounces whipped topping, thawed if frozen (divided use) 

Toppings 

Chopped roasted peanuts and/or Reese’s Pieces 

Directions: 

1. Preheat oven to 350°F. Coat an 8-inch springform pan 

or pie pan with baking spray. 

2. In a food processor, blend peanuts and pretzels for 10 

seconds. Add melted butter and sugar and reduce the 

mixture to a coarse meal—no more than 15 more seconds. 

3. Press into the bottom of the pan and bake for 12-15 

minutes. Allow to cool completely. 

4. Using a mixer, beat the cream cheese and peanut butter until 

fluffy. Then, add sifted confectioners’ sugar and three-fourths 

(12 ounces) of the whipped topping into the bowl and beat again. 

5. Spoon over cool crust and spread the remaining 

whipped topping on top. Chill for at least 2 hours. 

6. Before serving, top with chopped peanuts, if desired. 

Pie will last for several days in the refrigerator. 

Note: This pie is deeper, and the crust is thicker when using an 

8-inch springform pan, but a 9-inch or regular pie pan also 

works. Aunt Sue recommended store-bought graham cracker 

crusts for her peanut butter pies. 

Grilled Cheese &Mango 

Chutney Melts 

with smoked turkey 

Makes 4 sandwiches 

Ingredients 

Mayonnaise (recommend Duke’s) 

Dijon mustard 

Butter 

8 (1/4-inch thick) slices of bakery-bought white 

sandwich loaf 

½ cup of mango chutney 

Smoked gouda cheese, approximately 2 ounces, grated 

4 ounces sharp cheddar, grated 

¼ pound deli smoked turkey, sliced for sandwiches 

Directions: 

1. Prepare a work surface with parchment paper or foil. Spread 

8 slices of bread evenly with mayonnaise (about 1/2 teaspoon 

each side). Flip mayo-sides-down and spread 1 tablespoon of 

chutney onto each slice. Spread Dijon mustard on four slices, 

then divide cheeses and turkey among the bread slices. 

2. Assemble sandwich halves with chutney on the inside, 

mayo on the outside. 

3. On a smooth grill or in a large flat-bottomed skillet, 

melt butter over medium-high heat. Add sandwiches 

(in batches if using a skillet) and heat until one side is 

toasted and golden. 

4. Carefully flip sandwiches (adding more butter, if needed); 

turn heat to medium-low and continue to toast while preparing 

plates. Cut sandwiches diagonally and serve warm. 

Tip: If using a panini grill, spread butter (not mayonnaise) on the 

outside of each slice before assembling and heating/pressing. 


libations 

Terroir: A Winemaker’s Vision 

for a Regional Landscape 

Part three in a three-part series exploring viticulture and wine 

By KRISTIN E. LANDFIELD 

FOR THE LIBATIONS SECTION 

of Plateau Magazine’s summer 

issues, we’ve been exploring 

elements of the local wine scene 

from my novice perspective. 

I’ve had the opportunity to learn from Davis 

Picklesimer at the Highlands Wine Shoppe, 

just beginning to scratch the surface of a 

vast universe of wine. Davis regards his wine 

business from a relational stance. That is, he 

espouses that the best way to help a person 

select wine is to learn about that person. He 

queries their tastes and aligns preferences to 

apprehend which wines might best suit their 

particular palate. In his person-centered model, 

Davis recognizes that appreciation of wine 

is fostered by experiencing wine through an 

individual lens—each person’s tastes are valid, 

the callow drinker and developed connoisseur 

alike. His method is one of relational affinity, 

and to talk to him is to recognize his profound 

knowledge and bond with wine. 

In this exploration, I’ve also learned 

about the local wine industry in western 

North Carolina, how integrated it is into 

the native landscape of the southern Appalachians. 

The same aspects of microclimate 

and soil biology that dictate our 

ecologically diverse region are the same 

elements that shape the phenotype of a 

grapevine and consequential character of 

wine in the bottle. 

In this third act, Davis arranged a 

much-coveted interview with prestigious 

winemaker Daniel Daou of DAOU Vineyards 

in Paso Robles, CA. Daou is regarded 

as a pioneering innovator who foresaw 

the promise for cabernet sauvignon and 

Bordeaux wines in a region not previously 

associated with such winemaking. Now 

DAOU Vineyards is seen as a vanguard 

maker of choice wines, all with enviable 


ratings 91 and above. To learn the story 

of DAOU’s success is to learn about Daniel 

Daou himself, a prime mover who was 

willing to step out of Napa Valley, the most 

celebrated and profitable region for American 

winemaking, to trailblaze a new path 

in the winescape. 

Malcom Gladwell’s book “Outliers” posits 

a much-cited 10,000-hour rule, maintaining 

that 10,000 hours is the amount of 

immersion time necessary for someone to 

become a master in their métier. Gladwell’s 

notion germinates from his survey of psychological 

research into expertise, success 

and genius. Though this concept has been 

questioned, what remains incontrovertible 

is that along with innate talent, temperament 

and opportunity, quality time is an 

essential ingredient. Opportunity and relationship 

beget virtuoso accomplishment. 

Enter Daniel Daou. His is a story of 

passionate devotion. Daou’s insistence on 

learning the land—the terroir—has yielded 

a catalogue of top-tier wines that were 

unforeseen for a stateside region outside of 

Napa. When Daou and his brother Gorges 

found this mountain, immediately they 

recognized a place they’d long envisioned. 

This was the sacred terroir on which the 

Daou brothers could unearth and express 

its nature through artful winemaking. 

The cabernet and Bordeaux become physical 

instantiations of the land on which the 

grapes are grown. 

DAOU Mountain stands at 2,200 feet in 

elevation in the Adelaida district west of 

Paso Robles. This mountain proved to be 

a high elevation sweet spot, with a steep 

rise from sea level, only 14 miles east of 

the Pacific Ocean. Especially unique in 

its calcareous soil and its western aspect, 

DAOU Mountain’s proximity to the Pacific 

PHOTOS DAOU VINEYARDS

provides a cooling effect. This microclimate 

creates just the right admixture of 

warm days and cool nights for ripening 

cabernet sauvignon and Bordeaux varietals. 

The calcareous limestone underfoot 

replicates terrain in the French Bordeaux 

region—an unexpected geology for California—distinctive 

to the Paso Robles AVA 

area. Limestone in the soil raises pH, a 

rare and desirable characteristic that assists 

in producing grapes with superior 

phenolics. Phenolics are organic molecules 

and compounds found in grapes and vines 

(and other fruits) that are responsible for 

the taste and color profile of a given wine. 

Mouth feel, flavor and pigmentation are 

influenced by tannins, flavonoids, anthocyanins 

and other phenolic acids found in 

the grapes and stems. (Incidentally, anthocyanins 

provide color pigmentation in 

most flowers that are the botanical precursors 

for fruiting plants.) 

A vineyard’s terroir is arguably the most 

important influence on wine phenolics. 

Paso Robles soil is chalky and porous sediment 

with a distinctive minerality content 

especially amenable to grape production. 

Realizing that this landscape could conceive 

exceptional phenolics, Daou knew he 

had found the place to transform excellence 

in American cabernet and Bordeaux wine. 

He speaks to his ethos: “My purpose is to 

create a pure expression of this terroir-to 

allow this mountain to speak through the 

wines that came from it.” 

As Davis and I listened to Daniel’s impassioned 

speech about DAOU Mountain’s 

terroir, I was especially moved by the idea 

that this singular extraction—beautiful 

and choice wine—could embody a landscape 

in a pure and sensitive form, each 

barrel sympathetic to the microclimate 

from which it was derived. A landscape 

incarnate, so to speak. This concept extrapolates 

beyond wine to other precious 

derivatives from the land, though it’s hard 

to think of one purer than fine wine, borne 

of the ancestral practice of viticulture. 

Circling back to the 10,000-hour theory, 

DAOU Vineyard’s success correlates directly 

with Daniel Daou’s vision, his in- 

(opposite) Daou cabernet sauvignon; 

(top) Cabernet grapes ripening in Paso Robles; 

Time for harvest; Ripe and harvested, cabernet 

in the making. 


libations 

Grapevines in fall 

Daniel Daou 

Daniel Daou 

assessing scent with 

his exacting palate. 

sistence of will and lifelong allegiance to 

learning about wine. He has created an exceptional 

oeuvre, one that tells the story of 

devotion to place—a place he and Gorges 

had long imagined. In turn, his keen observations 

promote very specific varietal 


choices for each pocket of the landscape in 

which they are grown. There is a richness 

folded into the brand and its accompanying 

phenolics system. The measurement 

protocol DAOU uses to ensure excellence 

was produced from thousands of samplings 

judged by Daou’s own highly developed 

palate. I see this as a sound system rooted 

in thoughtful awareness—not unlike the 

detailed attention reserved for a beloved. 

Among the many nuggets of wisdom I’ve 

learned from Davis over the last several 

months, most salient is that exploration 

and enjoyment of wine is personal, and 

the more experienced the enthusiast, the 

more personal it becomes—a deepening of 

relationship. This series started with an 

interest in the soil science of viticulture, 

but we’ve actually taken a broader vantage 

point to observe terroir: the constellation 

of elements, including soil chemistry and 

biology, that define a landscape and its 

sense of place. DAOU Vineyards is as 

intertwined with their own mountain’s 

atmosphere as are the botanists and naturalists 

preserving plants here on the high 

elevation Highlands-Cashiers Plateau. 

We often think of wine as an article of 

romance. In this exploration, what I see 

now is that the romance is, in fact, with 

the landscape. The wine is a sensory narrative 

of the land on which each grape was 

grown, tended and harvested with care. 

Love of place—terroir—is at the heart of 

the romance in each bottle. 

Visit www.daouvineyards.com for the 

Daou brothers’ romantic story. To experience 

some of DAOU’s exceptional wine, 

find Davis and his knowledgeable staff at 

Highlands Wine Shoppe, located at 269 

Oak Street, Highlands, NC 28741. P

PHOTO NICK BREEDLOVE 

Cashiers Valley Smokehouse is 

restoring barbecue to its proper 

place of glory in Cashiers. 

American 

Ready to Eat? 

Use our restaurant listings to find the best 

eating and drinking on the plateau. 

4118 Kitchen + Bar (H) 64 Highlands 

Plaza, 828-526-5002. With a casual dining 

ambience, this New American cuisine eatery 

offers a delectable menu that changes seasonally, 

using fresh, local ingredients. Craft 

cocktails, beer and wine. Lunch and dinner 

Tue-Sun. 

Brunch HQ (H) 137 Main St., 828-820-8686. 

A breakfast and lunch café serving locally 

sourced American fare, fresh baked goods 

and house-squeezed juices. Open Wed-Mon. 

Cornucopia Restaurant (C) 16 Cashiers 

School Rd., 828-743-3750. A cozy open-air 

cottage is a local staple, serving an American 

menu of soups, salads, sandwiches and entrees. 

Try their Savannah crab cakes, trout 

piccata, chicken pot pie or famous house Reuben. 

Lunch and dinner, seasonally. 

Grill at The Barn (T) 16614 Rosman Hwy, 

828-883-5551. A casual and family-friendly 

eatery serving country-style breakfast and 

lunch. Eggs, bacon and biscuits, and tasty 

burgers and sandwiches. 7:30am-3pm Mon- 

Fri (Sat-Sun seasonally). 

Mica’s Restaurant & Pub (S) 25 Logan 

Creek Trail, 828-743-5740. A down-home tavern 

serving American cuisine like NC rainbow 

trout, filet mignon and prime rib. Burgers, 

sandwiches, soups, salads and pizza. Large 

covered patio with a fire pit and live music. Full 

bar, beer and wine. Lunch and dinner daily. 

Mountain Fresh Grocery & Wine Market 

(H) 521 E. Main St., 828-526-2400. An upscale 

grocery and specialty shop that offers a deli, 

grill, wood-fired pizza, bakery, butcher and 

wine. Stop in for breakfast, lunch or dinner 

daily, enjoy a glass of wine or craft beer, or take 

home a dinner-to-go during winter season. Catering 

and custom cakes are available. 

The Blind Mule (T) 502 Blue Ridge Rd., 828- 

553-8978. Enjoy creative American cuisine 

and a rotating menu of farm-fresh meals from 

Michelin Star trained Chef Hargis. Beer and 

wine. Lunch and dinner, seasonally. 

Tug’s Proper (H) 310 Main St., 828-526-3555. 

A contemporary American eatery with classy 

digs and a large bar area. Salads, burgers and 

sandwiches for lunch and entrees for dinner. 

Try the trout piccata, duck confit or the grilled 

veal meatloaf. Full bar, wine and beer. Lunch 

and dinner Mon-Sat, Sun brunch. 

Locations: (C) Cashiers; (H) Highlands; (S) Sapphire; (SM) Scaly Mountain; 

(T) Lake Toxaway 

Whiteside Brewing Co. (C) 128 Hwy 107, 

828-743-6000. Serving up American pub-grub 

with handcrafted beers that change seasonally. 

Wings, paninis, soups, salads, burgers 

and sandwiches. Try the Whiteside burger, 

salmon BLT or the Reuben. Large outside 

seating area and several TVs for watching 

your favorite sports. Lunch and dinner, 

Thur-Tue. 

Asian 

Asia House (H) 151 Helens Barn Ave., 828- 

787-1680. Authentic Asian eatery serving 

Chinese, Japanese and Thai dishes, including 

sushi, hibachi, soups and curry. Kani salad, 

red snapper, beef and scallops and red curry 

chicken are some of the favorites. Full bar. 

Lunch and dinner. Closed on Wed. 

Bakery 

Cake Bar (H) Town Square, 828-421-2042. 

A cozy speakeasy for the sweet-tooth, offering 

decadent handcrafted desserts, wines by the 

glass, cappuccino and espresso. Live jazz on 

the weekends. Savor on-site or take-out. 

Sugar Cloud Baking Company (C) 113 

Hwy 64-E, 828-774-9709. An award-winning 

bakery and wedding cake boutique. Specializing 

in gourmet cupcakes, donuts, Macarons, 

cookies, handcrafted pies and custom cakes. 

9am-5pm Tue-Fri, 9am-4pm Sat. 

Bar/Pub 

Highlands Wine Shoppe (H) 269 Oak St., 

828-526-4080. A cozy wine shop with a cellar 

collection of rare and hard-to-find wines. 

Sample up to 16 wines at the Napa Wine Station. 

Gift baskets and Riedel glassware. Open 

daily. 

Satulah Mountain Brewing Company 

(H) 454 Carolina Way, 828-482-9794. Producing 

a premium craft beer, the brewery offers 

8 high-craft beers in their taproom. Try the 

Tuckasegee Gold or the Sunset Saison. Open 

Thur-Sat. 

Sapphire Mountain Brewing Company 

(S) 50 Slicers Ave., 828-743-0220. A pub-style 

eatery overlooking Sapphire Mountain and 

the golf course. Small plates, salads, pub grub 

and entrees. Try the smokehouse burger, 

steak frites or a wood-fired pizza. Full bar, 

wine and several craft beer selections. Lunch 

and dinner, Thur-Sun. 

SlopeSide Tavern (S) 217 Sapphire Valley 

Rd., 828-743-8655. Enjoy a menu where 

traditional tavern favorites get a little twist. 

Full bar with wine and large selection of local 

beers. Indoor and outdoor seating, dog friendly. 

Open every day but Tuesday, 11 am to 9 

pm. Live music every Thursday from 6 - 9 pm. 


Table 64 (S) 3093 Hwy 64-E, 828-743-4135. 

A cozy tapas and wine bar, upscale yet casual, 

serving an array of tasty options like venison 

tartare, duck confit egg rolls, beet salad, sunburst 

trout, Kobe beef and lamb lollies. Full 

bar, wine and beer. Dinner Mon-Sat. 

The Cork & Barrel Lounge (S) 3093 Hwy 

64-E, 828-743-7477. A favorite spot for locals, 

this casual and friendly bar serves tapas style 

American food. Try the Bangers in a Blanket 

and Caprese Tartlet or Philly cheesesteak 

egg rolls. Full bar, beer and wine. Open daily 

4-12pm. 

The High Dive (H) 476 Carolina Way, 828- 

526-6400. A late-night bar where the locals 

and visitors come for libations and stay for 

the fun. Enjoy karaoke on Tuesdays and live 

music on Fridays. Tue-Sun beginning at 4pm. 

The Ugly Dog Pub (C) 25 Frank Allen Rd., 

743-3000; (H) 294 S. 4th St., 828-526-8364. 

Two locations that offer a casual and relaxed 

atmosphere, serving American pub grub, like 

chef-created burgers, sandwiches, salads and 

soups. Full bar, regional craft beers and wine. 

Live music with top talent weekly. Lunch, dinner, 

Sunday brunch. 

Celebrating 

40 Years of 

Fine Dining! 

Enjoy international cuisine while 

overlooking beautiful Lake Sequoyah. 

Book Reservations by phone 

or online with RESY 

Open nightly, 5:30-9pm 

Barbecue 

Cashiers Valley Smokehouse (C) 281 Hwy 

64 W, 828-547-2096. The perfect casual spot 

to kick back and enjoy a great meal of honestto-goodness 

pit cooked barbeque pork, chicken 

or beef, with homemade sauces for every 

taste. Their home cooked sides will make you 

reminisce of by gone days, with Sunday dinner 

tables laden with vegetables, homemade 

potato salad, slaw and baked beans. 

Highlands Smokehouse (H) 595 Franklin 

Rd., 828-526-3554. Enjoy real pit barbecue, 

including pulled pork, brisket, ribs and classic 

Southern sides. Also offering tasty burgers, 

tacos, stew and vegetarian. Full bar and beer. 

Lunch and dinner, Wed-Mon. 

On The Side Barbeque (C) 78 Hwy 64-E, 

828-743-4334. Located at the Cashiers Farmers 

Market, this take-out eatery serves sandwiches 

like pulled pork, smoked turkey, beef 

brisket and egg salad. Take home ribs and 

BBQ by the pound and sides. Open seasonally. 

Bistro 

Bistro On Main (H) 270 Main St., 828-526- 

2590. Classic, polished bistro located inside 

The Main Street Inn, featuring elevated 

American fare and outdoor dining. Appetizers, 

soups and sandwiches for lunch, and dinner 

includes trout, steaks, salmon and lobster 

bisque. Lunch and dinner seasonally. 

Four65 Woodfire Bistro + Bar (H) 465 Main 

St., 828-787-2990. Enjoy handcrafted Neapolitan 

wood-fired pizza, cast-iron sandwiches, 

small plates and salads in a modern Mediterranean 

eatery. Try the Polpette (homemade pork 

meatballs), cast-iron grilled cheese or choose a 

tomato-based or olive oil-based pizza baked to 

perfection. Lunch and dinner, Wed-Mon. 

Meritage Bistro (H) 490 Carolina Way, 828- 

526-1019. An intimate and cozy bistro with 

full bar, serving European cuisine like Faroe 

Island salmon, lamb meatloaf and sea scallops 

Caponata. Small plates include their classic 

Pomme Frites and appetizers, salads and 

sandwiches round out the menu. Lunch Thur- 

Sat, Dinner Wed-Mon, Sunday brunch. 

Zookeeper Bistro (C) 45 Slab Town Rd., 

828-743-7711. Casual dining for breakfast and 

lunch, serving American dishes like caramel 

apple French toast and Western omelet, or try 

the Slabtown burger or Jackson County club. 

New American Cuisine 

Seasonal menus showcasing regional products 

1536 Franklin Road, Highlands 

828-526-2338 

ontheverandah.com 

Open daily for lunch and dinner • Sunday brunch 

Craft cocktails, beer & wine 

$6 smash menu provides the most affordable lunch in town! 

64 Highlands Plaza, Highlands NC 

828-526-5002 • 4118kitchen-bar.com 


Beer and wine. 7:30am-2pm, Tue-Sun. 

Café 

Annie’s Café (SM) 7420 Dillard Rd., 828-526- 

1663. A country-style eatery serving salads, 

soups, burgers and sandwiches, along with 

daily specials. Try the steak sandwich, tuna 

melt or chicken Caesar salad. 11am-3pm Sun- 

Thur, 11am-9pm Fri-Sat. 

Bella’s Junction Café (SM) 20 Old Mud 

Creek Rd., 828-526-0803. A casual dining café 

serving American fare. Salads and sandwiches 

for lunch, like salmon BLT and Reuben, 

and for dinner try a homemade pizza or the 

stuffed flounder, prime rib or lobster ravioli. 

Lunch Thur-Sat, dinner Fri-Sat, Sun brunch. 

Blue Bike Café (H) 423 N. 4th St., 828-526- 

9922. A casual breakfast and lunch café offering 

breakfast all day, and tasty burgers, sandwiches 

and salads for lunch. Try the grilled portabella 

with sweet potato tots or the smoked chicken 

salad. Open daily 7am-3pm, closed Wed. 

Buck’s Coffee Café (C) 6 Hwy 107 S., 828- 

743-9997. The local’s hangout most mornings, 

offering fresh brewed coffee and tea, along 

with breakfast, lunch and dessert items. Try 

the egg & cheese English muffin or a grilled 

Panini. Open daily 7am-6pm. 

Calders Coffee Café (H) 384 Main St., 828- 

200-9308. Calders serves up fine classic coffee, 

tea, wine and food. Select from breakfast and 

lunch sandwiches like ham and cheese croissants 

or smoked salmon and special treats like 

caramel stroop waffles. Open daily 7am-6pm. 

Fressers Courtyard Café (H) 470 Oak St., 

828-526-8847. A small take-out café with patio 

tables offering delicious baked goods, hearty 

burgers and sandwiches, and their famous 

thick-cut Fresser fries. Full-service catering is 

available. Lunch and dinner seasonally. 

The Falls Café & Grill (T) 9 Toxaway Church 

Rd., 828-877-3322. A casual dining restaurant 

offering American fare in a family style atmosphere. 

Great views of the Toxaway Falls. 

Burgers, sandwiches, salads and entrees like 

chicken marsala and pecan-encrusted trout. 

Lunch and dinner daily, seasonally. 

Deli/Ice Cream 

Kilwins (H) 341 Main St., 828-526-3788. An 

old-fashioned confectionery serving original 

recipe ice-cream, hand-crafted chocolates, 

Mackinac Island fudge, handmade sweets and 

gift baskets. Try top sellers like turtle fudge or 

milk sea-salt tuttles. Open daily. 

SweeTreats (H) 115 S. 4th St., 828-526-9632. 

A craft ice-cream shop and deli that has been a 

family gathering place for over 30 years. Soups, 

salads and specialty sandwiches like the Muffaletta, 

French dip and torta de carnitas are crowd 

favorites. Or try a delicious milkshake, sundae 

or frozen yogurt. Lunch and dinner daily. 

Fine Dining 

Canyon Kitchen (S) 150 Lonesome Valley 

Rd., 828-743-7967. An upscale restaurant 

serving New American cuisine in a rusticchic 

ambience. Enjoy a four-course meal with 

selections like flounder crudo, duck boudin, 

seared diver scallops and apple foster cheesecake. 

Full bar and extensive wine list. Dinner 

Wed-Sun, May-Oct. 

Lakeside Restaurant (H) 531 Smallwood 

Ave., 828-526-9419. A fine dining experience 

within a cozy cottage on Harris Lake, offering 

fresh seafood and American fare. Local rain- 

25 Frank Allen Road, Cashiers, NC 828.743.3000 


ow trout, Carolina grouper and Marylandstyle 

crab cakes are favorites. Extensive wine 

list. Dinner Tue-Sun. 

Madison’s Restaurant & Wine Garden 

(H) 445 Main St., 828-787-2525. Awarded the 

AAA Four-Diamond Award, Madison’s offers 

a seasonal, farm-to-table fine dining service 

in the elegant Old Edwards Inn. Enjoy lush 

dishes like Painted Hills beef ribeye and Sunburst 

trout, along with an extensive wine list. 

Lunch and dinner daily. 

Midpoint Restaurant (H) 332 Main St., 828- 

526-2277. An eco-friendly restaurant using local 

farm-to-table practices. A global culinary 

team offers an inventive menu, like lemon 

crisp calamari, chicken tikka masala, sea bass 

aw mawk and Spanish paella. A good selection 

of wines to pair with your meal. Dinner 

nightly. 

On The Verandah (H) 1536 Franklin Rd., 

828-526-2338. An upscale eatery offering international 

cuisine and seafood, with a romantic 

atmosphere overlooking Lake Sequoyah. 

Enjoy dishes like spicy Thai coconut shrimp, 

filet mignon, Creole chicken and seared scallops. 

Extensive wine list. Dinner nightly, 

seasonally. 

Ristorante Paoletti (H) 440 Main St., 828- 

526-4906. Enjoy refined Italian dining in an 

elegant European-style atmosphere. Handmade 

pasta, veal, beef, lamb, elk and several 

fresh seafood dishes comprise the extensive 

menu. Over 850 wines to pair with your 

meal, that has earned Wine Spectator’s Best 

of Award of Excellence since 1987. Dinner 

nightly, seasonally. 

The Bridge at Mill Creek (H) 445 N St., 

828-526-5500. A high-end, farm to table atmosphere, 

enjoy lunch or dinner in casual 

luxury. Menu includes mains ranging from 

burgers and salads to NC trout and Delmonico 

rib eye stake. Small plates include crispy brussels 

and shrimp tartine. Mon/Thu 11 am - 2:30 

pm, 5 - 9:30pm; Fri/Sat 11 am - 3 pm, 5 -11pm; 

Sunday brunch 8 am - 2pm. 

The Orchard Restaurant (C) 905 Hwy 107 

S., 828-743-7614. A restored farmhouse serving 

southern-inspired American cuisine with 

an elegant, rustic ambience. Try the trout 

Chattooga, Grimshawe’s ribeye or apple bourbon 

pork osso buco. Full bar, extensive wine 

list and beer. Dinner Wed-Sat. 

The Restaurant at the Greystone (T) 220 

Greystone Ln., 828-966-4700. Situated inside 

The Greystone Inn, the restaurant offers breathtaking 

views of Lake Toxaway and mountains. 

Enjoy a seasonal menu from award-winning 


Chef Sean, like Bouillabaisse and pomegranate 

and molasses glazed duck breast. Breakfast, 

lunch and dinner daily, seasonally. 

The Ruffed Grouse Tavern (H) 270 Main 

St., 828-526-2590. Enjoy a locally sourced, seasonal 

menu, craft cocktails, extensive wines 

and a curated selection of craft beers and ales 

by the wood burning fireplace in the eclectic 

tavern or outside on the wrap around terrace. 

(Dec-May) Breakfast, lunch and dinner 

served Wed -Sat, brunch on Sunday. (June- 

Nov) Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner Tues-Sat, 

brunch on Sunday. 

Wild Thyme Gourmet (H) 343 Main St., 

828-526-4035. An upscale eatery serving 

Asian-influenced American cuisine. Specialty 

dishes include spicy stir-fry waterfall beef tenderloin, 

herb crusted rack of lamb and salmon 

with Vidalia onion crust. Wine list won Wine 

Spectator Award of Excellence in 2018. Lunch 

and dinner daily. 

Winslow’s Hideaway (C) 33 Village Walk 

Way, 828-743-2226. Fine dining in the heart 

of Cashiers, serving authentic American cuisine. 

Try the trout Winslow, Manhattan bonein 

strip or roast Long Island duckling. Full 

bar. Dinner Tue-Sat. 

Wolfgang’s Restaurant & Wine Bistro (H) 

474 Main St., 828-526-3807. Enjoy an eclectic 

menu of German, American and Cajun cuisine 

by nationally recognized Chef Wolfgang. An 

intimate and upscale bistro serving up dishes 

like Venison Au Poivre, pecan crusted shrimp 

and roast loin of lamb. Award-winning wine 

list. Dinner nightly, seasonally. 

German 

The Library Kitchen & Bar (S) 184 Cherokee 

Trail, 828-743-5512. An historic upscale 

eatery with a casual and modern vibe, serving 

dishes with German influences from Michelinstar 

trained Chef Johannes. Try the pistachio 

crusted Georgia quail or the coriander sautéed 

Carolina trout. Full bar, wine and beer. Catering 

available. Dinner Tue-Sat. 

Italian/Pizza 

Slab Town Pizza (C) 45 Slab Town Rd., 

828-743-0020. Enjoy New York style pizza 

with handmade dough and fresh toppings. 

Build your own pie or choose from one of their 

specialty pizzas. Calzones, salads and sandwiches. 

Beer and wine. Lunch and dinner, 

Tue-Sun. 

The Pizza Place of Highlands (H) 365 

Main St., 828-526-5660. A community staple 

since the mid ‘70s, offering an extensive 

menu selection of pizza, calzones, sandwiches, 

salads and a kid’s menu. Lunch and 

dinner, Mon-Sat. 

Villa Amato (T) 15887 Rosman Hwy, 828- 

885-7700. Classic homemade Italian fare like 

eggplant parmesan, lasagna, penne vodka, 

pizza, Stromboli and calzones. Lunch and 

dinner, Mon-Sat.and a 2018 Winner of the 

WWAY Best Pizza in Wilmington award! Offering 

a variety of homemade dishes and pizza 

made with fresh, local ingredients. Open daily 

for lunch, dinner and Sunday brunch. 

Mexican 

Chile Loco (C) 45 Slab Town Rd., 828-743- 

1160. Casual dining in a friendly atmosphere, 

serving authentic Mexican fare. Tacos, soups, 

fajitas, tortas, steak, chicken and specialties 

like chalupas, tostadas and chimichangas. 

Full bar, beer and wine. Lunch and dinner, 

Mon-Sat. 

El Azteca Rainforest Bar & Grill (H) 72 

Highlands Plaza, 828-526-2244. Authentic 

Mexican cuisine using fresh, local ingredients, 

featuring ceviche, tacos, fajitas, enchiladas 

and burritos. Full bar, beer and wine. Lunch 

and dinner daily. 

El Manzanillo (C) 30 Hwy 64-E, 743-5522; 

(H) 30 Dillard Rd., 828-526-0608. Two locations 

offering authentic Mexican cuisine. Burritos, 

fajitas, quesadillas, enchiladas, steak, 

chicken and seafood. Margaritas, wine and 

beer. Lunch and dinner daily. 

Pescado’s Highlands Burritos (H) 226 S. 

4th St., 828-526-9313. A lively burrito eatery, 

serving up specialty burritos like roast pork 

and garlic-cilantro steak. Tacos, quesadillas 

and homemade soups. Lunch Mon-Sat.Main 

St., 828-526-5660. A community 

Take-Home Meals 

Dusty’s Rhodes Superette (H) 493 Dillard 

Rd., 828-526-2762. A 2nd generation, family 

run specialty foods store, with a butcher shop, 

deli, sundries, take-home prepared meals, 

wine and gifts. Tue-Sat. 

Rosewood Market (H) 117 Franklin Rd., 

828-526-0383. A fixture in Highlands for homemade, 

prepared foods to-go and catering. Choose 

from over 150 menu items with local favorites 

like lemon-caper chicken or baked halibut. 

The Kitchen CarryAway & Catering (H) 

350 S. 5th St., 828-526-2110. Short on time? 

Come in for high-quality, made-from-scratch 

take-home meals. Also offering full-service 

catering for any occasion. Open seasonally.

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REAL ESTATE FORUM | Special Advertising Feature 

237 Old Ford Ranch 

Cashiers 

Old Ford Ranch is an equestrian estate just three 

minutes from Cashiers and 15 minutes from 

Highlands. Named after an old 1926 Model T found 

on the property’s old logging road, this 26+ acre 

gated estate has breathtaking southern exposure and 

panoramic views of Whiteside Mountain, The Devil’s 

Courthouse, and more. Two private entries lead to 

an authentic farmhouse and a two-stall barn. The 

beautiful grounds boast mature dogwoods, fenced 

pasture, and a stocked, spring-fed pond. The recently 

renovated farmhouse has three fireplaces, two 

covered decks, an updated kitchen and all new baths. 

MLS# 96822 7 | Offered for $4,900,000 

John Bynum, Faye Wurm, 

& Dave Kirchner 

John: (828) 200-0144 

Faye: (828) 200-1345 

Dave: (828) 577-0620 

MeadowsMountainRealty.com 

121 Bobby Jones Road 

Highlands 

Amazing new construction in renowned Highlands 

Country Club. Located on a cul de sac with a 

circular driveway and carport in front, this home 

will be a real showstopper. The home is beautifully 

illuminated inside with high true divided light 

windows all around. The covered deck flows 

seamlessly from the great room that has a fireplace 

with built-ins flanking the sides; it is the perfect 

spot to entertain. The large kitchen will have 

custom cabinetry and top-of-the-line stainless steel 

appliances. The terrace level has a wonderful family 

room with a stone fireplace plus three ensuite guest 

rooms, a second laundry, and kitchenette. 

MLS# 93866 | Offered for $2,250,000 

Judy Michaud & Mitzi Rauers 

Judy: 828.371.0730 

Mitzi: 404.218.9123 


411 Lakeshore Drive 

Glenville 

Fantastic home on Lake Glenville near Norton 

Falls with dock and 24-foot Sweetwater 

pontoon boat included in the sale. Numerous 

upgrades such as premium hardwood floors on 

the main level, Jeld-Wen metal-clad windows, 

soapstone countertops, high-grade cabinets, 

and more! Large, hidden flat-screen TV and 

remote-controlled gas fireplace in great room. 

Offered professionally furnished and decorated. 

Don’t miss this opportunity to own a lakefront 

home on Lake Glenville! 


Sherman Pope 

(828) 342-4277 


346 Whiteside Cove Road 

Highlands 

This amazing cottage has been completely renovated 

and is located just minutes from High Hampton and the 

Crossroads. The great room is spacious with a vaulted 

wood ceiling and a floor-to-ceiling stone fireplace. The 

kitchen is a showstopper with a brick backsplash and 

"leathered" granite atop custom cabinetry. The piece 

de resistance is the covered deck - a huge space with 

plenty of room for seating plus a large hanging bed 

swing that is the perfect spot to snuggle with your 

significant other or the family dog. In addition, there is a 

stone fireplace to warm up the cool summer nights and 

a large outdoor table for entertaining. 

MLS# 97336| | Offered for $995,000 

Judy Michaud, Tom Goldacker, & Mitzi Rauers 

Judy: (828) 371-0730 

Tom: (828) 200-9045 

Mitzi: (404) 218-9123 



441 Tower Road 

Sapphire 

Custom built lakefront home on two beautifully 

landscaped acres providing incredible views of 

Hogback Lake and the surrounding mountains. 

The large living area features vaulted ceilings, a 

massive stone fireplace, and warm pine walls. On 

the main level you have a spacious chefs eat-in 

kitchen featuring Sapele custom wood cabinetry; 

just off the kitchen is a peaceful screened-in porch. 

As you walk through the main floor you will find 

the master bedroom suite and master bath which 

brilliantly opens out to the back deck to marvel 

over nature’s splendor. Masterfully designed, the 

main level also has two additional guest bedrooms, 

two full bathrooms, and one half-bath. 

MLS# 97052 | Offered for $975,000 

Louise Booth 

(386) 679-7212 


1121 Wilson Road 

Highlands 

Located in a great spot, right in town where you 

can walk to everything: dining, shopping, the arts, 

and church are just minutes from your doorstep. 

This well-maintained home has lots of room for 

family and friends. The back deck is spacious for 

entertaining and has views of the gardens. The 

main level boasts three ensuite bedrooms, and the 

lower level boasts a bunk room, game area, and a 

kitchenette. The great room opens to the deck and 

has gleaming wood floors with a stone fireplace 

and beautiful pine walls and ceilings. 


Judy Michaud, Tom Goldacker, 

& Mitzi Rauers 

Judy: (828) 371-0730 

Tom: (828) 200-9045 

Mitzi: (404) 218-9123 

MeadowsMountainRealty.com

250 Winfield Farm Road 

Scaly Mountain 

Nestled between national forest and a ridgetop of 

gorgeous mountain views, lies the beautiful Winfield 

Farm. This multi-generational family farm is located in 

Scaly Mountain on the southern edge of the Nantahala 

National Forest just 10 minutes from Highlands, North 

Carolina. Winfield Farm features long range mountain 

views, gently rolling pastures, heirloom apple trees and 

gardens, spring fed lakes and ponds, mountain streams, 

multiple homes, barns, and other structures. The main 

home is perched on a gentle knoll overlooking the farm, 

while two other homes are within easy walking distance. 

Another lovely home is tucked in a large meadow 

bowl that looks up to the surrounding mountains. Two 

large barns, workshops, and a historic lodge are also 

contained within the 142+/- acres. 

MLS 97357 | Offered for $6,950,000 

Liz Harris 

828.342.3194 

liz@cashiers.com 

657 Smoky Ridge Road 

Cullowhee 

Ethyl’s Cove Farm is a 214+ acre property, 

boasting all the wonderful outdoor features that 

draw people to Cashiers: spectacular, long-range 

mountain views; rolling, open meadows (some 

fenced and cross fenced); a pond with an active, 

flowing stream and private waterfalls; and miles 

of trails! This property is unrestricted and located 

only 9.5 miles from the middle of Cashiers. 

The renovated cottage with recently updated 

bathrooms is charming and overlooks the 

majority of the property. Plus, there are many 

fine additional building sites for a future main 

house or subdividing. 


Beth Townsend 

828.421.6193 

beth@cashiers.com 

512 Sparkling Waters Drive 

Glenville 

This beautiful lake home is set up to enjoy 

immediately with its updated interior, expansive 

decks and large dock all resting in a quiet 

cove on the desirable southeast side of Lake 

Glenville close to town. The home features 

a master suite and guest room on the main 

level, a third guest suite on the upper level and 

a fourth suite on the lower level. The dining, 

kitchen and great room, featuring a stone 

fireplace, flow together with vaulted ceilings 

and lake views off the front deck to enjoy the 

pristine setting on the lake. The large family 

and game room on the lower level provides 

for cozy evenings around the fireplace while 

enjoying beautiful lake views. 


Liz Harris 

828.342.3194 

liz@cashiers.com 

1898 Cherokee Trace 

Cashiers 

Located in Wade Hampton Golf Club, a McKee 

Development, this stately 3 BR / 3 BA home offers 

lots of natural light and views of Whiteside Mountain. 

The paved loop driveway passes under a two-car 

carport with covered access to the home. Inside you'll 

find pretty wood floors, a large, welcoming living 

room with soaring ceilings and a floor-to-ceiling stone 

fireplace. All rooms are generous in size, and the 

bedrooms are nicely separated for ultimate privacy. 

The kitchen shares a generous space with the nearby 

dining area which has access to the open view porch. 

On the opposite end of the house is a bright, Pullmanstyle 

bar area with a sink, refrigerator and windows 

overlooking the view, as well as a door to the outside. 


Beth Townsend 

828.421.6193 

beth@cashiers.com 

Hwy 64 W 

Cashiers 

These two parcels are perfect for either multiple 

homes or family estate. It has tremendous 

development potential with frontage along 

Highway 64 and approximately 1 mile from the 

Crossroads. The first parcel is 38.67 acres with 

long mountain views of the top of Whiteside, 

Terrapin Mountain, Chimney Top, downtown 

Cashiers and more. The second parcel is 9.02 

acres and is gently rolling with a cottage and 

a garage. This would make a great in-town 

development. 

MLS 93633 | Offered for $950,000 

Wayne Monday 

828.508.8661 

wayne@cashiers.com 

1388 Cullowhee Forest Road 

Cullowhee 

Located on 17+ acres with incredible mountain views, this 

move-in ready home is the perfect mountain retreat. The 

house has stunning views of Pilot Knob and surrounding 

mountains. The well-maintained home features 3 

bedrooms and 3 and one half baths. The spacious kitchen 

includes a breakfast area with a beautiful view. The living 

room has a lovely stone faced, wood-burning fireplace, 

gorgeous wood floors and opens onto a full-length porch 

and deck. Also on the main level is the master bedroom 

with doors opening to the deck and porch. On the lower 

level are 2 bedrooms and 2 baths, an inviting den, a large 

workshop area and storage space and a large deck. 

MLS 96988 | Offered for $855,000 

John Barrow 

828.506.9356 

john@cashiers.com 

Sandy Barrow 

478.737.9664 

sandy@cashiers.com 

October August /September /November 2021 | 115

REAL ESTATE FORUM | Special Advertising Feature 

480 Flat Mountain Estates Rd 

Highlands 

Fabulous entertaining or large family home 

close to town. Outdoor living spaces include 

multiple porches, stone terrace with fire pit and 

water features on over 2 acres. A large enclosed 

porch off the main living area showcases a wall 

of glass that brings the outside into the home 

while creating a wonderful private setting tucked 

into the trees. Long range mountain views. 

Abounding with the charm that is uniquely 

Highlands, this property is ready to move in and 

create your family's story in the mountains. 

MLS# R96529A | $1,580,000 

Pat Allen & Julie Osborn 

828-526-8784 


78 Citadel Lane 

Scaly Mountain 

Sunset Ridge is the perfect name for this magical 

piece of paradise. Located only 15 mins from 

Highlands but also convenient to Franklin, 

Clayton, and hiking trails all around! The many 

colors of the spectacular sunsets enjoyed from 

the deck of this home inspired room color choices 

throughout the home. The vaulted great room 

with stone fireplace is open to a large kitchen 

and dining area with plenty of windows providing 

great natural light and views of the mountains 

beyond. The home, situated on 2+ acres, is 

offered furnished and has an excellent rental history. 

MLS# R96748A | Offered for $499,000 


828-526-8784 


911 Trillium Ridge Rd 

Cullowhee 

This meticulously maintained and beautifully 

furnished English Cotswold style home with 

a newly constructed 2-car garage will be the 

envy of your friends. This home boasts an open 

floor plan with soaring ceilings and a floor to 

ceiling fireplace. Shiplap walls throughout add 

to the mountain chic feel of this perfect home, 

that is decorated to the nines with beautiful 

furnishings and fabrics throughout. A fully 

finished lower level features an additional living 

area with wet bar and two additional guest 

bedrooms and baths. Offered furnished with a 

full golf membership to upscale Trillium Golf and 

Country Club. 

MLS# R97249A | Offered for $1,375,000 


828-526-8784 


59 Whiteside Cove Road 

Cashiers 

Beautiful home located in the prestigious High 

Hampton Club community. The large one-story 

house contains four bedrooms and four full 

baths, with three bedrooms having their own 

en suite bathroom. The many extras include a 

generously sized laundry room and oversized 

two car garage. Deed restrictions on the lot 

end in 2025, allowing even more opportunity 

for the owners. Don’t miss your chance to see 

this incredible, private home in a premier club 

of the area! $1,525,000 

Kyle McKim 

828-200-0454 

highlandsproperties.com 

Lot 17, Lone Chimney Drive 

Cashiers 

One of the best lots in Pinchot, this private 

and beautiful 5.13 acres is located in the 

heart of this prestigious gated community. 

With spectacular long-range mountain views, 

property is flat with easy topography and has 

a great home site overlooking a quiet, open 

and fenced pasture area. Membership to 

Mountaintop Golf and Lake Club is available 

with approval upon the purchase of this 

property. $880,000 

Kyle McKim 

828-200-0454 

Highlandsproperties.com 

731 Ravenel Ridge Road 

Highlands 

Rare listing on Ravenel Ridge with an eastern 

panoramic view. There are two bedrooms and 

a den/media/bedroom with a full bath in the 

main house. A 4th bedroom/apt. is located 

above the oversized 2 car garage. Many fine 

details are located in this custom home built by 

John Lupoli. Whole house generator powers 

house and guest house. $2,995,000 

Myrna Moore 

828-371-2446 

Highlandsproperties.com 


Refined Retreat 

Hidden within a labyrinth of seemingly random hallways, hidden staircases and 

unexpected balconies – architectural features you’d expect to find in a Victorian 

manse turned B&B – lies a truly polished and luxurious boutique resort. 

By KATIE MCELVEEN 

Entering the antique-filled lobby of Old Edwards Inn, it’s hard to imagine 

that this refined mountain retreat in Highlands, NC, started life in the 19th century as a 

boarding house. Though there are now nearly 100 guest rooms spread over the inn’s expansive 

downtown location—up from 11 in 1905—public areas, which are cozy rather than expansive, 

feel like private havens where you can curl up with a book. No staff members are bustling 

by, no mood music and no promotional flyers—but you will find urns of ice water and a 

freezer filled with Dove ice cream bars that are free for the taking. Even better, some spaces 

seem to have no purpose other than offering a comfortable place for guests to enjoy a cocktail 

before dinner—we sipped ours one night on the front porch of the inn—play cards, slurp 

your ice cream bar or watch shoppers on Main Street dodge raindrops. 


Grounds, gorgeously landscaped with lush greenery, blooming 

shrubs and bright annuals, are neat as a pin, with spent flowers removed, 

mulch swept and pathways free of litter. Inside, mahogany 

staircase newels, many of which were carved by local artisans, gleam 

with years of elbow grease; half-finished glasses are whisked away 

the moment the guest has left. It’s the kind of low-key elegance that 

makes a place feel special but incredibly welcoming as well. 

Though Old Edwards could have wedged a spa into its existing 

footprint, the owners instead chose to create an immersive oasis of 

sound and light surrounded by porches crafted from native stone. 

Therapies, which range from European-style massages and facials 

to those based on ancient Asian rituals and practices, take place 

in state-of-the art treatment rooms that are both soothing and 

comfortable. It could easily stand on its own as a destination spa. 

The team behind Madison’s, the inn’s fine dining establishment, 

have also created an experience that quietly impressed us from 

the moment we arrived. Poised, confident and knowledgeable, our 

waiter was also fun and funny, laughing with us as we requested 

second helpings of bread, but still able to guide us to wines by the 

glass from the restaurant’s well-curated list. 

The food at Madison’s was another delightful surprise. Hotel 

dining rooms have a challenge to create menus offering a range of 

dishes that can satisfy diners of every ilk. At Madison’s, each dish 

is simple enough to showcase the quality of the ingredients, but, 

thanks to spot-on technique and sophisticated seasonings, a soulsatisfying 

example of what farm-to-table can—and should—be. 

The Inn’s surprisingly vast array of lodging options were also 

designed with a variety of guests in mind. The main inn, which 

occupies both the original structure and several connected additions, 

offers both rooms and suites. Our spa suite wasn’t just out- 


fitted with classic Old Edwards luxuries like a super-comfy bed and 

a Nespresso machine, but with an eight-jet shower, a marble vanity 

as long as a runway, a spacious outdoor patio and deliciously heated 

floors. Set atop a wide staircase in a building we shared with just one 

other suite, our space was as private as it was expansive. 

Located behind the inn and on the other side of Church Street, a collection 

of rooms, suites, cottages and residences, all separated by winding 

pathways dotted with pools and bright green lawn, occupies a parklike 

city block. Offering lots of outdoor space and some kitchen facilities, but 

with easy walking access to town, it’s a great option for families. There’s 

also Half-Mile Farm, a 38-room adults-only retreat set on a pond a short 

drive from the Inn. Acquired by Old Edwards Hospitality Group in 2015, 

the resort, with its elegant gardens and open meadows, feels like a bit of 

Europe that’s been transported to North Carolina. 

As mountain towns go, Highlands checks all the boxes. Shops, cafes, 

restaurants and coffee bars line the Main Street area, which is 

also home to parks and even a small lake. Tucked into a shopping 

center at the corner of Fifth and Main, Mountain Fresh Grocery is a 

one-stop-shop for cheese, charcuterie, wine, baked goods and other 

essentials. It also serves a fabulous breakfast—think corned beef 

hash, fried eggs, grits and pillowy biscuits—to be eaten outside on 

picnic tables or, as we did, on the terrace of our room. 

Beyond the Inn, Highlands and the mountains that surround it 

are filled with adventures. Hiking trails wind through the Highlands 

Plateau and offer stunning views of the deep valleys, waterfalls and 

dramatic rock faces that dot the region. Some, like the two-mile-long 

Whiteside Mountain trail, require a car to reach the trailhead; others, 

such as the easy path that loops through the Highlands Botanical 

Garden, are just a stroll away. However you choose to spend your 

time, though, give yourself at least one more day than you think 

you’ll need. You’ll be glad you did. P 

Learn more at www.oldedwardshospitality.com. 


the last reflection 

Aging However You Like 

By ANNE WOLFE POSTIC 

THE OTHER DAY, I FOUND 

myself searching for a 

turtleneck dickie on the 

internet. A dickie, for those 

of you who are too young to 

know, is a collar, for when you want the look 

of a shirt under another item of clothing, but 

you don’t want to wear a whole shirt. For 

example, you have a cashmere turtleneck 

dress you love because, to quote the late, 

great Nora Ephron, you feel bad about your 

neck, but you also hate it a little because it 

makes your neck itchy. Ironically, in your 

effort to cover your neck, you end up with an 

angry rash from the knitwear. The solution, 

obviously, is a cotton turtleneck dickey. 

When summer rolls around, exposing 

your neck, which you still feel bad about, 

you explore solutions, like a chemical peel, 

which makes your neck red and flaky before 

it looks better. At this point, you may 

be thinking of the classic childhood book, “If 

You Give a Mouse a Cookie,” in which a demanding 

little mouse finds that every time 

he gets what he wants, he needs something 

else to go with it. But back to the dickey. 

Now that your neck is red and rashy 

again, you need to protect it from the sun, 

which will definitely make things worse. 

Chemical peels are expensive, so protecting 

the results is key. You pull out the basket of 

scarves, a treasure trove of brightly colored 

silk and cotton you inherited from your 

mother and grandmother, who probably felt 

bad about their necks. Tying the scarves 

jauntily around your neck makes you feel 

chic and vaguely French. They feel smooth 

against your rashy, crepey neck and hide 

a multitude of sins. But who wears a scarf 

while playing golf or taking a power walk? If 

it’s wrapped well enough to cover your neck, 

it will slip and bunch, which makes you want 

to abandon exercise altogether, which is far 

too easy for those of us who hate exercise. 

Why wear a scarf when you can pop one 

of those all-cotton turtleneck dickies under 

your golf polo? Problem solved. The dickie 

provides cover, doesn’t slip and is cooler 


than a scarf. And by cooler, I’m definitely 

referring to temperature, not fashion cred. 

Because who needs fashion cred when you 

feel happy and comfortable while protecting 

your neck? 

Aging is different for everyone, but as 

they say (or print on a tea towel or needlepoint 

onto a throw pillow), it’s better than 

the alternative! (Yes, in my old age, I’ve not 

only embraced the turtleneck dickey but the 

needlepoint pithy comment. Also, words like 

“pithy.”) Although I’m not above putting in a 

little effort (see previous reference to chemical 

peels), I’m old enough to prioritize having 

fun over looking perfect. There’s only so much 

one can do about a waggly neck, and I refuse 

to give up golf, so turtleneck dickey it is. 

I often joke that when I had the body to 

be an exotic dancer, I was too timid and full 

of self-loathing to take advantage of it. After 

three children and multiple hospital stays, 

enough people have seen me in various stages 

of nudity that I just don’t care. Is there 

a market for a middle-aged mother of three 

with droopy bits and a well-worn c-section 

scar on the gentleman’s club circuit? Prob- 

ably, because if the internet has taught us 

anything, it’s that everyone is a little weird. 

Did I threaten to start a webcam business 

catering to men with a cranky mommy complex 

during the pandemic when I was afraid 

my fully clothed freelance writing business 

would suffer? Yes. Did I mean it? Probably 

not, but my kids haven’t been asking for 

much in the way of material goods, likely 

from sheer terror that I would do it. 

I’m rarely asked my age because people 

know it’s rude to ask when the person may 

not want to answer. When my age does come 

up, the response is often, “Oh! But you don’t 

look that age!” But I look about like everyone 

else my age. And I also think I’m pretty 

enough, and I also don’t really care. No one’s 

paying me to look good, so it’s no one’s business 

but my own how I age. Look at me or 

don’t. It’s your choice. 

And you better believe that if I do start 

that webcam account? I’ll take everything 

off but the turtleneck dickey, which I’ll sport 

proudly as I do the electric slide around my 

messy closet for all my fans. Because there 

has to be a market for that, right? P

Custom Home Building on the 

Highlands-Cashiers Plateau 

Custom residential construction in Lonesome Valley 

Highlands & Cashiers, NC 

828.743.0724 

Located at 17 Old Cashiers Square, Highway 107 South in Cashiers 

www.ChinquapinBuilders.com 

Scott Westendorf, Owner/General Contractor 


Highlands Properties 

INTEGRITY | SINCERITY | CREDIBILITY 

Representing Buyers and Sellers for 25 Years 

in the Highlands/Cashiers Market 

“Thousands of tired, nerve-shaken, 

over-civilized people are beginning to 

find out that going to the mountains 

is going home—that wilderness is a 

necessity.” – John Muir 

Let us help you find your piece of Heaven on the Highlands/Cashiers plateau 

R E A L T O R S ® 

450 N. 4th Street, Highlands, NC | 828.526.5522 | highlandsproperites.com

Plateau Magazine Oct-Nov 2021

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