Plateau Magazine Apr-May 2021

April /May 2021 | 1

2 | ThePlateauMag.com

Architect/Builder/Interiors: PLATT | Photographer: David Dietrich 

ARCHITECTURE 

CONSTRUCTION 

INTERIORS 

WWW.PLATT.US 


Mountain Mist 

Gallery 

Tuesday-Saturday 11am-5pm 

40 Perennial Dr., Cashiers, NC 

1 Block South of Hwy 64 on 107 S 

828-743-1801 

or 407-620-2685 

www.mountainmistgallery.com 

q 

We Are Moving 

in April to 

71 Commons Drive 

Cashiers!!! 

Mama by David Berger 

High Falls by Morgan Samuel Price 

Mangum Pottery 

Skip Kohler Lamps 

Boo Whoo by Julie Berger 

2 | ThePlateauMag.com 

Westley’s Wood 

Pottery by Doug Jones

Glen Cove 

by Old Edwards 

Live a life of adventure and wellness in the beautiful Norton area of Cashiers, North Carolina, 

with abundant leisure amenities including a wellness center, heated mineral pool, 

entertainment barn with golf simulator lounge and 12-hole, par-3 golf course. 

Only 13 Estate Lots remaining, call today for a tour. | 828.526.1783 | GlenCoveLifestyle.com 


LOCATED IN RAVENEL, ONE OF THE 

PLATEAU’S MOST EXCLUSIVE COMMUNITIES 

896 RAVENEL RIDGE ROAD, HIGHLANDS, NC 28741 

The babbling sound of the water feature that flows through the stone driveway greets you 

as you approach this four bedroom, five and a half bath home. It’s a perfect home for entertaining, 

with its covered screened outdoor living space that has its own stone fireplace 

for enjoying the cool evenings and spectacular sunsets. The soaring ceiling and open living 

room add to the appeal. The living, dining, kitchen, and award-wining bar area layout 

make it an easy flow for large groups. This home has spectacular views of 30 mountains 

and overlooks Highlands as well. Located in the exclusive gated community of Ravenel, 

which is within walking distance to downtown Highlands. 

MITZI RAUERS & JUDY MICHAUD 

Mitzi: (404) 218-9123 

mitzi@bhhsmmr.com 

Judy: (828) 371-0730 

judy@bhhsmmr.com 

OFFERED FOR $2,895,000 | MLS# 93210 

HIGHLANDS, NORTH CAROLINA 

The town of Highlands, NC is 

a hidden jewel just two hours’ 

drive north of Atlanta situated 

atop a mountain plateau 

at an elevation of 4,118 feet. 

Highlands is rich in culture, 

shopping, dining, and outdoor 

pursuits. Come see why 

Southern Living magazine 

chose Highlands as a Top 5 

Small Town Getaway. 

HIGHLANDS AREA ATTRACTIONS 

What is there to do in Highlands? Plenty! Dry 

Falls (shown at left) is only a couple of miles from 

downtown and you can walk on the path that 

goes behind the falls for an up close view of its 

mighty power. Whiteside Mountain has a moderate 

hiking trail; the reward for making it to the 

top is a wonderful view of Cashiers valley. If the 

great outdoors isn’t your thing, check out The 

Bascom, a center for the visiual arts near downtown. 

It hosts exhibitions, classes, and more, year 

round. 

MOVING MOUNTAINS 

TRUST • INTEGRITY • STABILITY • LONGEVITY 


MITZI RAUERS, JUDY MICHAUD 

& BROOKS KITTRELL 

Mitzi: (404) 218-9123 

mitzi@bhhsmmr.com 

Judy: (828) 371-0730 

judy@bhhsmmr.com 

Brooks: (828) 230-4453 

brooks@bhhsmmr.com 

OFFERED FOR $1,095,000 | MLS# 95842 

CONVENIENTLY LOCATED 

IN GATED WHITESIDE ESTATES 

268 RIDGE ROAD, CASHIERS, NC 28717 

Located between Highlands and Cashiers, this home sits on a property that is level yet has 

a good mountain view. The wrap-around stone veranda is the perfect spot for morning 

coffee and a good book. This quiet spot welcomes you to a cozy den with a wood-burning 

fireplace. The kitchen is beautifully updated with custom cabinetry, granite countertops, 

and stainless steel appliances. It is open to the great room, so the family chef is never 

out of the conversation. The great room is generously-sized and has a wall of windows, a 

vaulted ceiling, and gleaming hardwood floors. There is plenty of room for everyone to 

gather around the beautiful floor-to-ceiling stone fireplace. Three lovely guest rooms on 

the upper level are perfectly suited for maximum privacy. 

CASHIERS AREA ATTRACTIONS 

The Village Green is a 13.2 acre park in the 

middle of Cashiers with picnic facilities, a playground, 

sculpture, walking trails, and flower 

gardens. The park hosts one of the most beloved 

traditions in Cashiers, Groovin’ on the Green, a 

family-friendly, free concert series held most Friday 

nights during the summer. Just a few minutes 

away are Lake Glenville for boating, and Sapphire 

Valley for golf and hiking in Panthertown, which 

is known as the “Yosemite of the East.” 

CASHIERS, NORTH CAROLINA 

Cashiers, NC boasts a casually-sophisticated 

lifestyle with 

an impressive art and music 

scene. Explore apparel boutiques, 

antique shops, home 

furnishing/decor stores and 

great restaurants. This cool, 

lush area has plenty of beautiful 

spots for outdoor activities 

such as hiking, fly fishing, 

boating, and more! 

(828) 526-1717 

MeadowsMountainRealty.com 

488 Main Street & 2334 Cashiers Road in Highlands, NC 

132 Highway 107 South in Cashiers, NC 

© 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. 


YOUR 90- ACRE 

mountain oasis AWAIT S 

Lonesome Ridge is a stunning private mountain refuge at Lonesome Valley, 

offering a unique opportunity to own on the Highlands-Cashiers Plateau. With 

breathtaking views of the Blue Ridge Mountains in every direction, it’s the perfect 

place to breathe in and spread out. The property can be subdivided into six parcels, 

and the land presents the chance to add guest cottages for an expansive family 

setting. This is truly a one-of-a-kind mountain legacy in the making. 

Visit our community in Cashiers, NC or call 828.743.7696 for additional information. 

LONESOMEVALLEY.COM 


THE DISHES WE CREATE 

A SETTING A SETTING AS inspired AS inspired AS THE DISHES AS THE WE DISHES CREATE WE CREATE 

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Call 828.743.7967 Call or visit 828.743.7967 LonesomeValley.com/CanyonKitchen 

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April / May 2021 

65 

Hello, Highlands 

Shake off the wintertime blues 

with an Appalachian adventure 

By Brittany Conley 

70 

The Swiss Gambit 

Wit and intelligence are the 

name of the game 

By Mandy Murry 

74 

Seeds of Generosity 

Plant for the Plateau gives local 

businesses a chance to dig in 

and help feed the community 

By Judy Royal 

78 

Celebration Central 

A place to gather in Mountaintop 

By Christine Hennessey 

62 

Hello Muddah, 

Hello Fadduh 

Camp is very edutaining… 

By Kat Ford 

PHOTO CAMILLACALNAN 


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 


Departments » April/May 2021 

23 

Buzz 

49 87 

Well Styled Food+Drink 

107 

Travel 

23 Lights, Camera, Action 

Leader of the PAC 

24 Calendar Our five 

musts from this issue’s 

calendar of events 

26 Events Your guide 

to planning your 

social calendar 

32 Entertainment Explore 

titles you might not 

otherwise pick up 

33 Staff Picks Refresh 

your bookshelf this spring 

with new releases 

34 Art Seen Within a 

legacy of woodturning, 

Matt Moulthrop carves 

his unique style 

39 Health Ashby Underwood 

and Chad Garner of 

Yoga Highlands are on a 

mission to teach people 

on the plateau how to 

heal from chronic pain 

49 Make Yourself at HOME 

Define your unique sense of 

place with PLATT HOME 

50 Design Bounds Cave 

Rugs has been flattering 

floors for 40 years 

52 Home A family legacy 

of design, storytelling 

and placemaking 

55 Garden Remembering 

the love and wisdom of 

Grace Underwood Moore 

56 Fashion Lonesome 

Valley paints a serene, 

picturesque setting 

107 

87 Dining Review 

Wolfgang’s Restaurant 

& Wine Bistro has been 

erving high-quality 

cuisine, top-tier service 

and spectacular memories 

for over 27 years 

90 In The Kitchen Full 

of grace and good food 

96 Music Fest Bear Shadow 

takes music lovers offline 

and into the mountains 

98 Restaurant Guide The 

best spots for eating and 

drinking on the plateau 

107 Unexpected Luxury 

The Swag, a North Carolina 

mountaintop inn, is 

a stress-free getaway 

110 Sunset by the Shore 

First, you need an appealing 

top-tier hotel. 

Then, you’ll want lots of 

ways to have fun, both 

on and off the property 

in Beaufort, NC 

Fundamentals 

14 Reader Services 

16 Editor's Letter 

103 Real Estate Forum 

112 The Last Reflection 

40 History Once escaped 

carnival acts, now these 

squirrels rule the town 

43 Newsmaker Put the 

stress down 

44 Local Chatter Big 

Brothers Big Sisters of 

Cashiers and Highlands 

46 Southern Drawl Mary 

Adair Trumbly leads the 

Highlands Performing 

Arts Center 

ON THE COVER » 

Get a little closer to home 

with PLATT HOME’s eclectic 

collection of fine furniture, art, 

accessories and more. 

Photo Brennan Wesley 


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 

Resort Style Villa on Golf Course 

Managing Editor 

Katherine Ford Richardson 

■ ■ ■ 

Account Executive 

Greg Pallen, (404) 520-9279 

Art Director 

Carl Turner 

Graphic Designers 

Kristina Parolla 

Shanna Thomson 

Carl Turner 

Contributing Writers 

Kim Byer, Bridget Callahan, Sarah 

Cameron, Brittany Conley, Christine 

Hennessey, Kim Henry, Noelle Holland, 

Denise K. James, Dawn Liles, Sara 

McBride, Katie McElveen, Kirk Moore, 

Mandy Murry, Katherine Pettit, Anne 

Postic, Kelsey Reidle, Judy Royal, 

Morgan Ryan, Mona Verma 

Photographers 

Kim Byer, Chelsea Cronkrite, Aaron 

Hogsed, Tracy Mendy 

■ ■ ■ 

Customer Service 

Local Office: (575) 496-5466 

Corporate Office/Subscriptions: 

(843) 856-2532 

Black Bear Lodge 

Plateau Magazine (Vol. 2, No. 2) 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. 

SUBSCRIPTION price is $24.95 per year. 

Sapphire, 12 | ThePlateauMag.com NC | 828-553-6535 | blackbearlodgeofsapphire.com

The Carolinas Architect© 

MHK ARCHITECTURE & PLANNING 

Greenville Offi ce: 816 South Main St. Suite 100 Greenville, SC 29601 | 864-603-3260 

Highlands Offi ce: 537 Main Street Highlands, NC 28741 | 828-482-5280 

Charleston Offi ce: 60 Broad Street, Charleston, SC | 843-203-6028 

mhkap.com 


Home Furnishings 

and Accessories 

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Subscribing to Plateau Magazine is easy 

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and billing are handled in-house, providing 

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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 

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Back Issues 

When available, back issues of Plateau 

Magazine can be purchased for $13.50, 

postage included. 

We Feature: upholstered and leather furniture • 

rugs • hand-crafted furniture • outdoor furniture 

a unique offering of linens • home accessories and gifts 

With ever-changing inventory and the frequent addition of new 

products, you will find that after you’ve shopped with us, 

you will keep coming back for more. 


Design Services Available. 

32 Canoe Point, Cashiers NC • 828-743-3172 • rusticks.com 

Writing Opportunities 

We are always interested in receiving article 

ideas from our readers as well as considering 

freelance writers. Please email your ideas or 

writing queries to editor@theplateaumag.com. 

How to Advertise 

If you would like advertising information 

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call Greg Pallen, (404) 520-9279 or 843- 

822-0119, or contact us via the website at 

theplateaumag.com.

DON'T JOIN A CLUB 

When you become a part of Cullasaja Club, you become part of a family. 

Relationships, family and friends are what we are all about... that's the real story. 

Our newly remodeled clubhouse focuses on comfortability for our members. 

The architecture celebrates the beauty of the outdoors with diverse open air spaces, 

casual dining areas, take-away market, and well-appointed wine room. 

Even more reasons why we choose to spend our best times here. 

No matter where you live on the Plateau, you will be at home at Cullasaja Club. 

We look forward to sharing it with you. 

JOIN A FAMILY. 

Give us a call, 828.526.3531 

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

Visit us Online, cullasajaclub.org 

Club Membership April /May is by 2021 invitation | 15only

from the editor 

Give the gift 

that lasts 

all year long... 

a subscription to 


Enfolded 

In April of my 25th birthday, I met my best 

friend. She had golden hazel eyes that were 

expressive and inquisitive. Her fur was 

blonde with hints of auburn and caramel. 

Her nose was light brown. From the first 

day, she carried herself with an air of importance 

– prancing purposefully. I named 

her Grace. For almost thirteen years, she 

was at my side. Grace mastered both verbal 

and nonverbal communication. She loved 

me more than I deserved and taught me 

more than I could have imagined possible. 

She left me right before my 37th Christmas 

the same way she met me, holding my heart 

in those adorable puppy eyes. 

One warm afternoon last summer, I sat 

on the front steps, watching Grace as she 

subtly snooped from one small lavender butterfly 

to the next. In the gravel path's cool 

grey color scheme, the butterflies seemed 

to vanish into thin air as they closed their 

wings. Grace was never fooled; she waited. 

Extending, the sun once again bounced off 

the butterfly's purple wingspan and it was 

visible. A thought came to my mind, "not 

gone, just enfolded." It's a sentiment from 

Madeleine L' Engle's "A Wrinkle in Time." 

I've held it and the first law of thermodynamics 

close to my chest since my father 

passed away in 2019, for similar reasons. 

When we talk about spring, it is easy to 

romanticize new blooms and warm rays. 

In reality, spring represents change and 

the inherent truth that time marches on. 

In ways, that is comforting, but it is a painful 

reminder for some of us. This April will 

recall the stress, fear and loss that began 

in the spring of 2020 for many. 

In this issue of Plateau Magazine, we 

cover topics including summer camps and 

croquet, fine dining and gardening. We 

also remember mothers, talk about family 

legacies and explore healing. As time continues 

on, so do we. If you are looking a little 

harder than expected for the promise of 

hope this spring, I propose a shift in gazefrom 

flower buds to butterflies. The last 

year may have made you feel like quality 

moments with friends and family, memories, 

love, years of hard work, effort and 

planning vanished instantly. But it is not 

gone, just enfolded. Eventually, in the unfolding, 

we will find what my sweet Grace 

and Madeleine L' Engle knew. What we 

thought was lost has been there all along. 

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 

facebook.com/plateaumag 

instagram.com/plateaumag

Two Two in in the the Top Top 10! 10! 

CONGRATULATIONS to two of our Co-owners/Brokers, Liz Harris and Beth Townsend, 

CONGRATULATIONS who placed among the to two Top of 10 our Agents Co-owners/Brokers, for 2020. Considering Liz Harris and there Beth are Townsend, more than 

who 390 placed agents in among the Highlands-Cashiers the Top 10 Agents Board for 2020. of Realtors Considering MLS, this there is an are outstanding more than 

390 accomplishment! 

agents in the Highlands-Cashiers Board of Realtors MLS, this is an outstanding 

accomplishment! 

This high honor makes McKee Properties the only real estate company in the Cashiers- 

This Highlands high honor area to makes have two McKee agents Properties in the Top the 10! only real estate company in the Cashiers- 

Highlands area to have two agents in the Top 10! 

We are incredibly proud of their hard work and grateful for their loyal clients. If you are 

We looking are incredibly to sell or purchase proud of premier their hard property, work and contact grateful Beth, for Liz their or any loyal of clients. our Brokers If you today! are 

looking to sell or purchase premier property, contact Beth, Liz or any of our Brokers today! 

*All data taken from the Highlands-Cashiers Board of Realtors MLS 

*All data taken from the Highlands-Cashiers Board of Realtors MLS 

Liz Harris & 

Beth 

Liz Harris 

Townsend 

& 

Beth Townsend 

Top Top 10 10 Agents* Agents* 

2020 

2020 

619 HWY 107 S | CASHIERS, NC 28717 | 828.743.3411 


MCKEEPROPERTIES.COM 



The Historic Minnie Cole House 



It’s a new season. 

While we’re not yet out of the woods, we can see the light 

that hopefully signals the conclusion of this pandemic era. 

Like many, we took the opportunity to work even harder 

and to recommit… but also to reconsider and reimagine. 

After more than 40 years of luxury real estate expertise 

in the Cashiers area, we know better than to alter what 

has made McKee Properties successful: 

1: Our relationships with our loyal clients, 

2: Our knowledge of area communities, 

neighborhoods and clubs, and 

3: Our authentic experience with the highlydesirable 

plateau lifestyle. 

Deep Knowledge. Unmatched Experience. 

We’re incredibly excited about the future — the market, 

our company, our team and our partnerships. Here’s why: 

›› The plateau real estate market continues to 

experience a steep, upward trend, breaking 

records and setting the stage for another highly 

successful year. From the average sales price 

to the number of sales to total dollar sales to a 

property’s time on the market, all indicators are 

positive and encouraging. 

›› Two of our Co-owners/Brokers, Beth Townsend 

and Liz Harris, placed among the Top 10 Real 

Estate Agents in total volume sales, according 

to the Highlands-Cashiers Board of Realtors, 

making McKee Properties the only company to 

have two agents in this prestigious category. 

›› We will continue our successful partnership with 

Garden & Gun Land, a program of the highlyregarded 

and well-read magazine, exposing 

Cashiers and our clients’ properties to a prime, 

wide audience. 

›› You may notice we’ve given our look a bit of a 

makeover, as we do from time to time. After 

four decades, we know the importance of 

representing our clients with a brand image that 

stays fresh. 

›› We love sharing good news and success stories, 

but we know that our story is best told by our 

clients. So, this year we’ve invited them to share 

what makes McKee Properties and our Brokers 

different from all the rest. 

We look forward to sharing this bright, new era with you! 

The Team at McKee Properties 



BETH TOWNSEND 

Co-Owner / Broker 

LIZ HARRIS 


ANN MCKEE AUSTIN 


COLEEN GOTTLOEB 

Broker-In-Charge 

SANDY BARROW 

Broker Associate 

JOHN BARROW 

Broker Associate / 

Rental Coordinator 

WAYNE MONDAY 


PHILIP BRADLEY 


MAGGIE ELMER 


JOANNE BRYSON 


CLAY CANTLER 


LOGAN CROCKER 


KARA ADDY 

Marketing Director 

LYNDA HODGE 

Creative Director 

KARALINE SHOMAKER 

Marketing Coordinator 

DEEP KNOWLEDGE. UNMATCHED EXPERIENCE. 


Creating the Vision 

“ 

Our dogs are a complete part of our life. So, we wanted open fields and 

flat land for walking with them — and amazing views. Our agent was 

able to visualize this and make it happen, even when we couldn't see it. 

We refer anyone we know to McKee Properties." 

– MELANIE & PETER B. 



To the sponsors of the 

2020 Cashiers Designer Showhouse, 

22 | 

S a v e o u r 2 0 2 1 D a t e s ! A u g u s t 2 0 - S e p t e m b e r 4 , 2 0 2 1 

ThePlateauMag.com

Your Local Rundown on News and Culture 

Lights, 

Camera, 

Action 

Mary Adair Trumbly 

ensures the Highlands 

Performing Arts Center 

takes center stage. 

See page 46 

PHOTO TRACY MENDY 


calendar 

The Reveal: 

APRIL - MAY 

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

Exhibitions 

The Bascom: A Center for the 

Visual Arts 

The Bascom: A Center for the Visual Arts 

has three exhibition spaces open to the 

public year-round. Current exhibitions 

include the “Photo Resident Solo Exhibition” 

for photography resident, Deb Shannan, 

April 3 through May 29; “SKATE,” a 

look at the art of skateboarding, April 6 

through July 3; and “FreeWheeling,” presented 

in partnership with Highlands Motoring 

Festival, May 11 through August 

21. (828) 526-4949 www.thebascom.org 

StoryWalk Ribbon Cutting 

April 2 

Join the Albert Carlton-Cashiers Community 

Library, Literacy Council of Cashiers, 

The Village Green and Vision Cashiers at 

11 am in the Village Play for the ribbon 

cutting of the Cashiers Greenway Ramble 

Storywalk. Enjoy the "Coming Soon" 

pages displayed on the newly installed 

Storywalk standards and learn about 

the first Ramble Storywalk book "Cashiers, 

Come Play with Me!" coming June 

2021. (828) 743-3434 


Highlander Mountain House 

Salon Series 

April 5 through 16 

The Highlander Mountain House Salon 

Series is designed to illuminate the unique 

surroundings of Appalachia and the creative 

work that it inspires. In the second 

event of the series, join artist Jill Hooper 

during her two-week artist residency. 

Hooper is annually the artist-in-residence 

at London Fine Art Studios. For seven 

years, she has been teaching a Fundamental 

Drawing Course at the American College 

of the Building Arts. For more information 

about tickets to Hooper’s class and talk 

during her residency, visit the Highlander 

Mountain House’s website. (828) 526-2590 

www.highlandermountainhouse.com 

A Garden in Every Season 

April 5 and May 3 

There is always something changing in 

the garden! Take a virtual guided tour 

from the comfort of your own home via the 

Highlands Biological Station’s Facebook 

page at 11:30 am. (828) 526-2602 

www.highlandsbiological.org 

Rigoletto 

May 22 

Join the Highlands PAC at 1 pm for Rigoletto. 

Michael Mayer’s acclaimed production, 

first seen in the 2012–13 season, sets the 

action of Verdi’s masterpiece in 1960 Las 

Vegas—a neon-lit world ruled by money 

and ruthless, powerful men. Piotr Beczala 

is the Duke, a popular entertainer and casino 

owner who will stop at nothing to get 

what he wants. Željko Lucic sings Rigoletto, 

his sidekick and comedian, and Diana Damrau 

is Rigoletto’s innocent daughter, Gilda. 

When she is seduced by the Duke, Rigoletto 

sets out on a tragic course of murderous 

revenge. Štefan Kocán is the assassin 

Sparafucile and Michele Mariotti conducts. 

(828) 526-9047 www.highlandspac.org 

EXHIBITIONS PHOTO THE BASCOM; STORYWALK PHOTO VISION CASHIERS; A GARDEN IN EVERY SEASON PHOTO HIGHLANDS BIOLOGICAL 

STATION; SALON SERIES PHOTO HIGHLANDER MOUNTAIN HOUSE; RIGOLETTO PHOTO HIGHLANDS PAC

Take to 

the water 

We can feel the heat, 

just around the corner! 

Shop swimsuits and more 

in store and online. 

A DESTINATION BOUTIQUE 

CLASSIC. SPIRITED. 

CURATED. 

HIGHLANDS 

Town Square 

828.526.2262 

TJBAILEYS.COM 

@TJBAILEYS 

CASHIERS 

95 HWY 107 S. 

828.743.8855 

PHOTOGRAPHY 

372 Valley Road, Cashiers NC | by appointment | 480-414-5255 | lauramoserart.com | merrellthompson.com 


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 

F L O R S S E N C E 

E 



F L O R E S S E N C E 


Michelle Lyerly Photography 

Michelle Michelle Lyerly Michelle Lyerly Photography Lyerly Photography Photography 

Bear Shadow 


Emerge from hibernation with music, mountains and revelry. This three-day 

festival includes performances by Chuck Leavell, Devon Gilfillian, Drew Holcomb 

& The Neighbors, Jamestown Revival, Love Canon, Mandolin Orange, Robert 

Ellis, Shelly Colvin, St. Paul & The Broken Bones, Thad Cockrell, and The 

War and Treaty. Enjoy a socially distanced concert-going experience as well as 

learning opportunities such as a guitar clinic with Robert Ellis at the Highlander 

Mountain House, Bearfoot in the Park yoga at Kelsey-Hutchinson Founders Park 

and a Rock in Film Fest drive-in movie at the Highlands Performing Arts Center. 

Bear Shadow is partnering with the Highlands-Cashiers Land Trust for the event, 

so feel free to sing along knowing you are supporting a good cause. For tickets and 

additional information, visit the Bear Shadow website. www.bearshadownc.com 

Event Calendar 

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

rundown on what to do and explore. 

al. 

c. 

l. 

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 





ONGOING 

Exhibitions 

The Bascom: A Center for the Visual 

Arts 


has three exhibition spaces open to the 

public year-round. Current exhibitions 

include the “Photo Resident Solo Exhibition” 

for photography resident, Deb Shannan, 

April 3 through May 29; “SKATE,” a look 

at the art of skateboarding, April 6 through 

July 3; and “FreeWheeling,” presented 

in partnership with 

Highlands Motoring 

Festival, May 11 

through August 21 

(828) 526-4949 

www.thebascom.org 

Take and Make 

The Bascom: A Center 

for the Visual Arts 

Take and Make offers 

to-go creative packets with accompanying 

print lesson plans, instructions and

Live • Relax • Explore 

online video tutorials. Stop by The Bascom 

Shop, Macon County Public Library- 

Franklin, Hudson Library-Highlands, or 

Albert Carlton Library-Cashiers for your 

Take and Make program, or head to the 

website to download the PDF. (828) 526-4949 

www.thebascom.org/take-make 

Bluegrass Brunch 

Sundays 10 am to 3 pm 

Positioned overlooking Main Street, Highlander 

Mountain House is quickly becoming 

a favorite brunch destination for 

both locals and visitors. Join the Ruffed 

Grouse Tavern from 10 am to 3 pm for 

brunch favorites ranging 

from avocado toast 

and breakfast tacos to 

omelets, pancakes and 

chicken biscuits. Sip on 

your favorite Sunday 

cocktail while enjoying 

a roaring fire and cozy 

Appalachian hospitality. 

Hoping to get home 

after church to catch 

the game? Call ahead 

for pick up and brunch 

on the run. At noon on April 11 and 25, 

enjoy Bluegrass Brunch. Whether you 

are looking for toe-tapping nostalgia or a 

little day drinking and dancing to chase 

the Monday blues away, this live music 

event has just what the mountain doctor 

ordered. (828) 526-2590 


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 

APRIL 

StoryWalk Ribbon Cutting 



Library, Literacy Council of Cashiers, 

The Village Green and Vision Cashiers at 

11 am in the Village Play for the ribbon 

cutting of the Cashiers Greenway Ramble 

Storywalk. Enjoy the "Coming Soon" 

pages displayed on the newly installed 

Storywalk standards and learn about 

the first Ramble Storywalk book "Cashiers, 

Come Play with Me!" coming June 

2021. (828) 743-3434 

Open air Pavilion 

Managed Equestrian Center 

A Garden in Every Season 

April 5 and May 3 

There is always something changing in 

the garden! Take a virtual guided tour 

from the comfort of your own home via 

Beautiful Fairfield Lake 


the Highlands Biological 

Station’s Facebook page at 

11:30 am. (828) 526-2602 


Highlander Mountain 

House Salon Series 


The Highlander Mountain House Salon 

Series is designed to illuminate the 

unique surroundings of Appalachia and 

the creative work that it 

inspires. In the second 

event of the series, join 

artist Jill Hooper during 

her two-week artist residency. 

Hooper is annually 

the artist-in-residence at 

London Fine Art Studios. 

For seven years, she has 

been teaching a Fundamental 

Drawing Course 

at the American College 

of the Building Arts. For 

more information about tickets to Hooper’s 

class and talk during her residency, 

visit the Highlander Mountain House’s 

website. (828) 526-2590 


Le Creuset, Wolf, Lodge, Breville, Wusthof and more! 

Cookware • Bakeware Kitchen Tools • Small Appliances • Gifts 

Mon-Sat 10am-5pm • 41 Commons Drive, Cashiers, NC • 828-743-9091 

Turnadot 


Join the Highlands PAC at 1 pm for an 

encore performance of Turnadot. Two of 

today’s most thrilling voices share the title 

role of the legendary cold-hearted princess: 

Christine Goerke, the Met’s reigning 

dramatic soprano, and superstar Anna 

Netrebko, making her long-awaited Met 

role debut after providing a hair-raising 

preview in 2019’s New Year’s Eve Gala. 

Tenors Yusif Eyvazov and Yonghoon Lee 

trade off as the bold prince determined to 

win Turandot’s love, alongside sopranos 

Nicole Car and Michelle Bradley as the 

devoted servant Liù and bass-baritone 

James Morris and basses Alexander Tsymbalyuk 

and Ferruccio Furlanetto as 

the blind king Timur. Marco Armiliato 

conducts Puccini’s stirring score. 



Town & Country 

Est. 2018 

Town & Country 

Est. 2018 

Grocery-Produce . Clothing-Decor . Beer-Wine-Ice 

Seafood . Fresh Cut Buckhead Meats 

We Reopen for our 3rd 

Season on April 1st! 

Come see our New HARDWARE and FISHING 

lines in store now, with extended Home Decor 

and Entertainment lines. 

Take-out Deli will reopen May 17th, 

with new covered seating. 

Open 6 days a week, 9am-8pm, closed Sunday. 

Live band line up every Saturday night, 

June - Labor Day, 6-9pm. 

Experience that OLD TIME Store atmosphere 

14 Raggedy Lane, Cashiers, NC 

Between Cashiers and Highlands 

1 mile off Hwy 64 on Norton Road 

828-547-1300 tandcgeneralstore.com 

Follow Us for Sneak Peaks 

of New Merchandise Coming In 


BOUNDS CAVE’S RUG 

GALLERY 

RUG DEALER 

A DIVERSE GALLERY WITH HANDMADE RUGS 

FROM ALL OVER THE WORLD 

HANDMADE RUGS AT AFFORDABLE PRICES 

Full in-home Service 

Store hours: 

April: Mon &Thurs 10-4, Saturday 10-3 

May - August: Mon-Fri 10-5, Saturday 10-3 

MAY 

Fisher Vineyards Dinner 


Join The Farm at Old Edwards beginning 

at 6:30 pm for a Top Chef Dinner featuring 

the extraordinary wines of Fisher Vineyards, 

which produces wines from both 

Napa Valley and Sonoma County. Atlantan 

Chefs, Matthew Basford of Canoe and 

Chris Hall of Local Three, will each cook 

to a different exclusive wine-pairing, creating 

an exciting and delicious exploration 

of the two distinct wine regions. 

(855) 421-2919 

www.oldedwardshospitality.com/oldedwards-inn-spa/calendar-of-events/ 

fishervineyards 

763 Highway 107 South | Cashiers, NC | 828.743.5493 

www.boundscaverugs.com | boundscave@aol.com 

Also Serving upstate South Carolina 

Learning to Understand and 

Appreciate Lichens 


Lichens- these mysterious organisms 

have fascinated people for years. From 

10 am to 3 pm, delve into the enchanting 

world of lichens and learn their basic 

ecology, identification and natural history 

during this workshop. (828) 526-2602 


Rigoletto 


Join the Highlands PAC at 1 pm for Rigoletto. 

Michael Mayer’s acclaimed production, 

first seen in the 2012–13 season, 

sets the action of Verdi’s masterpiece in 

1960 Las Vegas—a neon-lit world ruled 

by money and ruthless, powerful men. 

Piotr Beczala is the Duke, a popular entertainer 

and casino owner who will stop 

at nothing to get what he wants. Željko 


Monday - Saturday 

Lucic sings Rigoletto, his sidekick and comedian, 

and Diana Damrau is Rigoletto’s 

innocent daughter, Gilda. When she is 

seduced by the Duke, Rigoletto sets out 

on a tragic course of murderous revenge. 

Štefan Kocán is the assassin Sparafucile 

and Michele Mariotti conducts. 


The Natural Beauty of Lonesome Valley 


Join the Center for Life Enrichment 

with Gary Wein, the executive director 

of the Highlands-Cashiers Land Trust at 

Lonesome Valley from 10 am to 1 pm to 

explore the over 300 conserved acres of 

the Lonesome Valley box canyon, including 

Laurel Knob, the tallest wall of sheer 

granite rock face east of the Mississippi 

River. Wear good walking shoes and bring 

a box lunch, beverage and camera to this 

ticketed event. (828) 526-8811 

www.clehighlands.com 

10:00 am - 5:00 pm 

44 Village Walk Way 

Cashiers, NC 

828.743.6267 

Author Talk: Mary Alice Monroe 

May 28 and 29 


Library on May 28 

at noon and the Hudson 

Library in Highlands 

on May 29 at 12:30 pm 

for best-selling author 

Mary Alice Monroe's 

talk about her latest 

novel, “The Summer of 

Lost and Found.” Books 

will be available for 

purchase and signing at 

this free event. Reservations are required. 

Albert Carlton-Cashiers Community 

Library: (828) 743-0215 

www.fontanalib.org/cashiers; 

Hudson Library: (828) 526-3031 

www.fontanalib.org/highlands P 


Reviews: Movies & Music 

DENISE K. JAMES ON NEW FILMS AND MUSIC 

Shovels & Rope 

Busted Jukebox Volume 3 

Shovels & Rope has been a mainstay of 

our Lowcountry culture since the day 

they first came onto the scene, and the 

Volume 3 of their “Busted Jukebox” collection, 

released in February, is likely 

one of the best yet. Featuring sounds of 

folk, rock and blues in rousing covers of 

beloved songs such as “Tomorrow,” “You 

are My Sunshine” and “What a Wonderful 

World,” this will be your family’s playlist 

for those windows-down spring days. 

The Flight Attendant 

HBO Max; Starring: Kaley Cuoco, Zosia Mamet, Rosie Perez, Michiel Huisman 

3 Stars 

I usually rely on my friend Anna to give me my latest streaming suggestions — and 

usually, she’s spot-on with her advice, nailing my penchant for TV shows that are either 

cheesy and fun or emotionally dark. So, naturally, I was excited to log into HBO Max 

and watch her latest favorite, “The Flight Attendant.” I settled deep into the sofa with 

my just-baked chocolate chip cookies, relishing the campy, vintage opening credits. With 

an introduction so artistic and appealing, I figured the rest of it wouldn’t be far behind. 

Well, a few episodes in, I was ….not hooked and more like a fish wriggling desperately to 

get away. Yes, the acting in “The Flight Attendant” is great: Kaley Cuoco does a job worthy 

of a standing ovation as our tormented alcoholic main character, Cassie. Meanwhile, her 

accompanying cast members — Zosia Mamet as friend and attorney and Rosie Perez as a 

fellow flight attendant — also dazzle in their roles. And, of course, there’s Michiel Huisman, 

who plays a remarkably charismatic dead guy for more episodes than you’d expect. 

That said, this eight-episode season was not for me. While there were parts of it I appreciated 

— namely, witnessing the truth about Cassie’s traumatic childhood with her 

father who was more like a drinking buddy — overall, “The Flight Attendant” did not 

take off. I found it to be tedious and, frankly, stressful — Cassie’s life is literally ripping 

apart at the seams, yet she fails to pursue any rest or sobriety to tackle her problems. 

She makes rotten choice after rotten choice, and I found myself without a character to 

root for or relate to. 

And, while I enjoyed the show’s concept of being trapped by painful memories and 

having them take spooky, surreal shapes between mind and reality—one gigantic rabbit 

scene, in particular, earned my praise—I felt like the psychological potential of this show 

was muddied by the thriller whodunit aspect. For me, it almost seemed like two shows, 

awkwardly blended into one. Yes, I’m aware that I’m probably alone in that complaint. 

Yes, most people would rather see someone get murdered in a car—because, adrenaline!—than 

see a gigantic bunny walk up to someone in a torturous memory. Actually, as 

I’m writing this, I’m realizing “The Flight Attendant” DID have the emotional darkness 

I crave, just packaged a bit differently to appeal to other viewers. OK, fine. I’ll swallow 

my selfishness. Go ahead and watch it. 


Weezer 

OK Human 

When it comes to our favorite 90s bands, 

it’s either hit or miss regarding whether 

they’ve gracefully updated with the 

times. For me, “OK Human” is a miss. 

“Grapes of Wrath” doesn’t even come 

close to inspiring those happy air-guitar 

riffs of years past, and “Here Comes the 

Rain” sounds like a new band, devoid of 

nostalgia or long-burning love. All in all, 

I think I’ll skip this and just replay “The 

Sweater Song.” 

THE FLIGHT ATTENDANT/HBO MAX;SHOVELS AND ROPE/ DUALTONE RECORDS ;WEEZER/ALTANTIC

staff picks 

Rachel Hawkins, The Wife Upstairs 

Hot off the Press 

Refresh your bookshelf this spring with new releases 

Rachel Hawkins' “The Wife Upstairs” is a riveting retelling of the classic Jane Eyre with an unpredictable 

plot twist at the end - so different than the original, making for a stunning, suspenseful 

and relishing read. Jane, who has had a rough life, arrives in Birmingham, AL, and takes a job 

walking dogs for the Stepford wives in the rich gated community of Thornfield Estates. She meets 

and starts dating Eddie Rochester, whose wife Bea goes missing and is presumed dead during a 

boating accident, the same boating accident in which Bea’s best friend Blanche died. What really 

happened? Jane moves into her new beau’s magnificent house and gets access to his credit cards, 

but she is haunted by the legend of his phenomenal ex-wife. Every character has a disturbing 

past. Nothing is what it seems. Each chapter of this gothic thriller builds the mystery and reveals 

intriguing new details, which culminate in a sensational ending. – Mona Verma 

Vendela Vida, We Run the Tides 

Transport yourself back to the freedom of a 1980s childhood with this dreamy coming-of-age tale set 

in pre-tech boom San Francisco. 13-year-old Eulabee and her friends rule the streets of affluent Sea 

Cliff, the quiet oceanside neighborhood where they live and attend private school. But when a disagreement 

over an encounter with a stranger results in Eulabee being cast out of her friend group and 

shunned by her classmates, an unpredictable and shocking series of events follows. Vida’s ability to 

conjure up the feel of those early teen years is truly transportive, and her characterization of Eulabee 

so deep and subtle that following her story feels almost meditative. “We Run the Tides” delivers an 

engaging blend of nostalgia, sly humor and youthful naivety. – Sarah Cameron 

Laura L. Lovett, With Her Fist Raised: Dorothy Pitman Hughes and 

the Transformative Power of Black Community Activism 

The iconic photo on the cover of this book from Esquire magazine 1971 is well-known, and while 

Gloria Steinem may be a household name, the lesser-known civil and human rights activist next 

to her, Dorothy Pitman Hughes, finally gets her time to shine in this concise and accessible biography. 

After losing her father to KKK violence, she moved to New York and became a social justice 

warrior with child welfare and intersectionality at her forefront. She empowered communities in 

poverty, women and other underserved populations through her work with organizations, such as 

CORE and the Women's Action Alliance. She founded a childcare co-op, spoke nationally about 

women of color’s rights, co-founded Ms. Magazine and was a pivotal figure in Harlem’s Blackowned 

business community. Written with clarity and focus, Laura L. Lovett helps to round out the 

availability of quality books about women’s history and American feminism with the first written 

biography about Pitman Hughes. – Morgan Ryan 

Ijeoma Oluo, Mediocre: The Dangerous Legacy of White Male America 

In this intensely readable book, Ijeoma Oluo (author of “So You Want to Talk about Race”) 

uses a fresh style and touches of humor to expose the consequences of America’s deep history 

of white supremacy for women and people of color. By examining historical movements from 

Manifest Destiny to NFL protests, she points out figures who attained influence and attention 

far beyond their merit and describes the harm done by their elevation. Her thesis is the acceptance 

of mediocrity, if it comes wrapped in whiteness, harms everyone, including white men, 

and it has had deep and far-reaching consequences for American prosperity, education and 

well-being. – Sara McBride 


art seen 

The Wood 

Whisperers 

Within a legacy of woodturning, 

Matt Moulthrop carves his 

unique style 

By KIM HENRY 

YOUR DESTINY MAY FEEL 

a little inescapable if your 

grandfather is iconic woodturner 

Ed Moulthrop and your father is 

equally iconic woodturner Philip 

Moulthrop but luckily for Matt Moulthrop, it 

was a destiny he was happy to fulfill. Being a 

third-generation woodturner, Matt Moulthrop 

grew up around wood and turned his first 

piece at 7 years old. These generational 

artists have literally invented their own tools 

and techniques and have collectively taken 

the world of woodturning to a whole new level 

of recognition. Regardless of his heritage, 

combining the artist’s eye, the mathematical 

mind, the skilled hand and a sixth sense of 

intuition, Matt Moulthrop is a profoundly 

talented woodturner in his own right. 

Primarily creating decorative pieces as opposed 

to functional objects, Matt opens up 

about his fascinating process. “Each piece will 

only be as good as the material you’re working 

with, with what nature provides,” explains 

Matt. He talks about ‘reading’ the log in order 

to decide whether it will be a spherical shape, 

to flatten it or something else altogether. The 

shaping of the wood comes from an instinctual 

place and also involves ‘listening’ to the 

wood as it dries. “I’m listening for failure,” 

he smiles, “anything that’s not in rhythm. A 

weak spot, a crack or a foreign object that may 

have lodged itself within the wood somehow.” 

As the wood is turning, he is able to glean all 

this information. This deep connection to his 

material goes way back in his bloodline and 

Matt is grateful for the gift. 

His grandfather, Ed Moulthrop, is known as 

the ‘father of modern woodturning’ and for creating 

large-scale designs for which he created 

his own tools. Some of them were so big that a 


young Matt Moulthrop posed inside one of 

his grandfather’s creations in order to show 

the scale of the work in a photograph. Ed 

worked predominately with domestic wood 

and also made his own finishes. His son, 

Philip Moulthrop took the torch and ran 

with it, developing his own mosaic style 

of woodturning. This involves combining 

multi sections of wood into one extraordinary 

creation with the assistance of resin 

to hold the pieces together. Although this 

technique broke with some of the more traditional 

methods, Philip didn’t want to be 

limited in his innovation and his work was 

groundbreaking for this craft. 

Honoring his prolific roots and adding 

his own spice to the Moulthrop wooden 

vessel, Matt continues to push the boundaries 

to see where his work will take him. 

Branching out (indulge the pun) to wood 

from other countries, Matt has worked 

on some particularly memorable projects. 

New Season 

New Look 

Open Year Round 

Monday - Saturday 10am - 5pm and Sunday 12-5pm 

252 Hwy. 107 S, Cashiers, NC • 828-743-7151 • jgabrielliving@gmail.com 

PHOTO 3 GENERATIONS, DON CHAMBERS; BOWLS PHILIP MOULTHROP 

(Clockwise) Three generations of woodturners: 

Ed, Philip and Matt Moulthrop; Spiral Form: 

California redwood (Sequoia sempervirens) 15” 

height x 8” diameter, 2020; Pierced Form: 

cherry laurel (Prunus laurocerasus) 8” height x 

12” diameter, 2018; Panamanian Submerged: 

West Indian locust aka “Stinkingtoe” 

(Hymenaea courbaril), 2019. 

MG 

Molly Grace 

The 

W W W . T H E M O L L Y G R A C E C O R P . C O M 

2 0 7 N 4 T H S T R E E T 

H I G H L A N D S , N C 2 8 7 4 1 

( 8 2 8 ) 5 2 6 - 8 3 9 0 


art seen 

Committed to only using wood that has 

already been cut, and never felling trees 

just to turn their wood, Matt has worked 

with botanical gardens from around the 

world and even with wood extracted from a 

volcano. One of his most unusual commissions 

came from Panama. As a result of the 

Panama Canal, a certain area was flooded 

and created an underwater forest where 

the trees were perfectly preserved. “The 

Panamanian ambassador to the United 

States sent a shipping container of this preserved 

wood, and it was just fascinating to 

have completely new kinds of wood to work 

with,” recalls Matt. 

Every generation of Moulthrop has a 

unique style and Matt can instantly tell 

who made a piece just by looking at it. This 

(Clockwise) Matt Moulthrop; Ed Moulthrop 

turning at the lathe; Poison ivy table 

(Toxicodendron radicans), 2011 


Now Featuring 

Cashiers Candy Shoppe 

Johnny Was Clothing 

Barefoot Dreams 

Artisan Jewelry 

Curated Gifts 

Barware 

3 Chestnut Square 

Cashiers, NC 

828-743-1111 

@ajonescompany 

We are located directly across 

the street from the 

Cashiers Farmers Market 

PHOTO PAUL BESWICK; MATT MOULTHROP 

prolific woodturner strives for a balance of 

color and form, shape and substance that 

fully displays the beauty of the tree. “Each 

tree has a story to tell. Wormholes convey 

a past life, rings communicate growth 

and certain colors tell the story of death 

by lightning or blight. My job is to tell the 

story of the tree.” The process of creating 

is clearly one of revelation for this intuitive 

artist. The wood shapes itself to his hands 

as much as his hands shape the wood. It’s 

as much about the empty space and what to 

cut away as it is about what to leave intact. 

Father and son may share an exhibit, but 

they do not work on the exact same piece together. 

Their extensive collections are displayed 

in countless galleries and museums 

across the country. Including more local 

destinations such as The Carter Center and 

the Museum of Design in Atlanta, GA, and 


in Highlands, NC. Receiving commissions 

Kid’s Mural 

Wet Bar 

Bath Vanity 

Decorative Painter 

Cabinets 

Beams 

Ceilings 

Kids’ rooms 

678.943.4637 

JennyMixon.com 


art seen 

MKT-5894J-A-A1 



What's important 

to you? Let's talk. 


Mary Beth Brody 

Financial Advisor 


Wright Square 

149 Main Street 

Highlands, NC 28741 

828-787-2090 



edwardjones.com 

Mary Beth Brody 

Financial Advisor 

Mary Beth Member Wright SIPC Brody Square 

Financial Advisor 149 Main Street 

Wright Square Highlands, NC 28741 

149 Main Street 828-787-2090 


828-787-2090 


Member SIPC Member SIPC 


Easy 

Breezy 

Spring 

Dressing . . . 

Monday - Saturday 10-5 

Open Sundays in Season 

A Highlands tradition since 1940. 

828.526.3160 

382 Main Street, 

Highlands NC 

from around the world and always eager to 

explore his own ideas, this father of two has 

little time to question the path he took. 

Does he want to pass on the family legacy 

to his own children? “Both of my children 

show artistic interest, especially my daughter, 

but I do not want them to feel any pressure 

or expectation, so we’ll see,” smiles 

Matt. This insightful artist returns to his 

creations, continuing to tell the stories 

that only the wood whisperers are privy to. 

Humbly confessing that he still only uses 

two main tools, one for the outside of the 

wood and one for the inside, we stand in 

awe at the precision and artistic integrity of 

multiple generations. P 

Redefining 

High-Class Quality 

Quality Work . Fully Insured 

House Maintenance 

Call for your free consultation today! 

Office: 828-349-4577 

Cell: 828-200-6694 

Come visit Peak Experience for fine 

American handcrafts, including 

jewelry, pottery and great gifts! 

2820 Dillard Road, Highlands, NC | 828-526-0229 | Call for Spring Hours. 

(Top) Rhythm Form: dogwood (Cornus florida) 

10” height x 14” diameter, 2018; Philip 

Moulthrop mosaic bowl made from grape vine 

cross sections- pinot noir, chardonnay, merlot 

and cabernet vines; Carolina cherry burl (Prunus 

caroliniana) 10” height x 14” diameter, 2020 


health 

Meeting the client fully is the hallmark 

of Ida Rolf’s method of bodywork. 

Releasing Tension 

Ashby Underwood and Chad Garner of Yoga Highlands 

are on a mission to teach people on the plateau how to heal 

from chronic pain 

FASCIA RESPONDS TO 

a broken heart just like a 

broken leg and working with 

the fascia helps heal both 

the emotional and physical.” 

Ashby Underwood’s words rang through 

my head as I lay on the bodywork table. I 

had interviewed Ashby over the phone a 

few days earlier about Rolfing, “the work” 

I was now in the process of experiencing. 

During my drive into Yoga Highlands, I 

wondered if she would identify a 20-yearold 

college injury of a dislocated fibula. In 

our interview, Ashby explained a ten-step 

series of working through a client’s unique 

structure and posture. “The series gives 

me a sense of order to work with a person’s 

vastness,” she said. By evaluating my 

posture, how I sit, stand and walk, she was 

confident that she could help me pinpoint 

the root cause of a series of interconnected 

pulling and strained tissues. 

It took less than two minutes of watching 

me stand and walk during the beginning of 

our session for Ashby to ask if I had ever had 

an ankle injury. Laying on the table as she 

worked with her hands, she asked, “Were you 

under a lot of stress when you were sixteen?” 

By KAT FORD 

In a reassuring voice, she added, “maybe 

this won’t be your Achilles’ heel for much 

longer.” My mind shot back to our interview 

a few days earlier and the statement about 

emotional and physical pain. I did experience 

a deep pain when I was sixteen, but not 

physically. It was my metaphorical Achilles’ 

heel that was damaged emotionally, with my 

first dose of jadedness in student leadership. 

The emotional scar tissue of that event was 

enough to change my desired career path 

from law to the arts. 

What is now called Rolfing was developed 

by Ida Pauline Rolf, who had a Ph.D. in 

biochemistry from the College of Physicians 

and Surgeons of Columbia University and 

conducted research in organic chemistry 

at the Rockefeller Institute. Structural 

Integration, a form of bodywork emerged 

that focuses on a connective tissue 

throughout the body known as fascia. 

Dr. Rolf recognized that the body was an 

interconnected network. She believed that 

by working with gravity and understanding 

the organization of the human form, 

damaged tissue could be decompressed, 

rehydrated and oxygenated, releasing 

tension. Rolf practitioners are licensed 

under state massage laws, and it is up to the 

client how light the practitioner should work 

based on comfort level. “Healthy tissue does 

not hurt,” says Underwood, “each client has 

a unique body; when you are balanced, you 

don’t have to fight the gravity field.” 

The desire for balance drove Ashby and 

her husband, Chad Garner, to offer Rolfing 

to their clients starting in 2001. Ashby and 

Chad both learned what practitioners refer 

to as “the work” from teachers that studied 

directly under Dr. Rolf. Clients can expect 

a 70-minute session in a private room 

in the back of the beautifully remodeled 

Yoga Highlands studio. Comfort is key. An 

interactive process that feels somewhere 

between a one-on-one yoga class and a 

massage, assessment and bodywork is 

completed in a warm room on a bodywork 

table. Clients can stay fully clothed or dress 

for a workout. “Our desire is to give people 

hope through mobility - to give them their 

movement back,” says Underwood, noting 

that she encourages plateau residents with 

chronic pain to not give up. “Rolfing strives 

to make better order of the body,” says 

Ashby. “Osteopathy is a form of medicine 

that has been around since the 1800s,” 

but research science is still unpacking the 

mysteries that fascia holds, “there is a place 

where the mysticism meets the science,” 

smiles Underwood. P 

www.yogahighlands.com 

828.526.8880 

Ashby 

Underwood 


history 

The other was soon released, both thought 

to be gone forever. Yet, in the wild, the 

pair thrived. Over the years, sightings of 

their descendants popped up all over Brevard 

and Transylvania County. 

The White Squirrels 

of Brevard 

Once escaped carnival acts, now these squirrels rule the town 

By BRITTANY CONLEY 

Fabled Favorites 

It is a fun story to believe—and many locals 

do, including Katy Rosenberg, the director 

of the White Squirrel Institute, a nonprofit 

organization dedicated to the conservation 

and preservation of Brevard’s white squirrels. 

“The story varies,” says Rosenberg, 

“but I do believe they came from Florida... 

and they came to live with [Barbara] and 

began breeding in the wild.” 

Regardless of whether Brevard’s white 

squirrels descended from two precocious 

carnival escapees or are simply the product 

of a genetic fluke, one thing is for 

certain: they are some of the most beloved 

residents in town. So loved, the town hosts 

a yearly festival each May in their honor. 

The White Squirrel Festival brings in local 

artisans, delicious food, music, races 

and more. Unfortunately, this cherished 

celebration has been postponed until further 

notice due to the pandemic, but it is 

one not to miss once it returns. 

The festival isn’t the only time the city 

comes together to celebrate its favorite 

animal. Every February 2nd, the famous 

groundhog, Punxsutawney Phil, has some 

serious competition. Brevard gets its 

weather predictions from Pisgah Pete, 

a rescued white squirrel, and the town’s 

adorable ambassador. This local celebrity 

also has quite the knack for picking the 

winning Super Bowl team, predicting correctly 

four of the last five years. 

THERE IS AN ADORABLY 

peculiar creature scurrying about 

one of Western North Carolina’s 

most beloved cities. Brevard is 

home to a rare species of white 

squirrels—they are not albinos but are mostly 

snow white with tufts of dark gray fur on their 

heads and sometimes streaking down their 

backs. If you’ve never seen one in person, you 

may think them a myth or perhaps a marketing 

tactic by the town. No doubt the animal is real. 

Their origin story, however, perhaps that is up 

for you to decide. 

Fact or Legend? 

It is said that sometime in the late 1940s, 

a traveling carnival passed by the home 

of a Mr. Black in Florida. A truck carrying 

an assortment of interesting animals 

of all shapes and sizes overturned near 

Mr. Black’s property. The fate of the other 

animals is unknown, but a short time after 

the accident, Mr. Black discovered a 

most curious sight flitting about his pecan 

grove: two alabaster squirrels, the likes of 

which he had never seen. 

Mr. Black captured the escaped carnival 

acts and eventually gifted them to a 

beloved niece, Barbara, of Brevard, NC. 

In captivity, the squirrels refused to mate 

and, yearning for freedom again, one of 

them absconded into the Pisgah Forest. 

PHOTOS SHERI BLYTHE, WHITE SQUIRREL INSTITUTE, 

JENNIFER BURGIN 


If you’re keen to spot a white squirrel, 

knowing where to look is key. Contrary to 

the advice for most wildlife sightings, the 

best place to catch a glimpse of these critters 

isn’t in the woods, but instead they 

thrive in town, with larger populations at 

the college campus and behind the Visitor 

Center. While you might see one along a 

trail or near a waterfall, because of their 

lack of camouflage, white squirrels are 

better protected within the city limits, 

where their natural predators are fewer 

in number—and protecting the squirrels’ 

welfare is something the city of Brevard 

takes seriously. 

Safeguarding the Squirrels 

In 1986, an ordinance was passed to prevent 

people from harming or trying to trap 

white squirrels for pets. In 1997, efforts 

to ensure the species’ future went even 

further when the White Squirrel Institute 

was formed by Dr. Robert Glesner and a 

group of students from Brevard College. 

(Clockwise) As residents and visitors of the 

Highlands-Cashiers Plateau know, white 

squirrels cover a fifty-mile radius in Western 

North Carolina; A rescued baby white 

squirrel; For a donation of $25, you can 

'adopt' a white squirrel. Adoption fees go 

towards local rehabilitation efforts. 

106 Dillard Rd, Highlands • 828-526-5029 


history 

What started as a project meant to keep a 

sort of census of the animals blossomed into 

full-blown research, stewardship programs 

and rehabilitation efforts. 

While on your quest to see them, you can 

help protect the white squirrel population 

by paying close attention to your driving. 

“...Mind the speed limits and keep an eye 

out for them crossing the road,” says Rosenberg. 

“Be careful not to disturb their nests,” 

she adds, explaining that they don’t look 

much different than a bird’s nest in a tree. 

Undisturbed nests are of vital importance, 

especially during the spring mating season. 

For more information or to adopt a white 

squirrel, you can visit the institute’s website 

at www.WhiteSquirrelInstitute.org and follow 

them on Facebook and Instagram. P 

(Top) The white squirrels found in Brevard, 

NC, are a color variant of the native species 

of the eastern gray squirrel; Brevard’s Pisgah 

Pete. 

Allaben Fine Art 

Featuring Works in Oil and Watercolor 

Paintings can be purchased at 

The Bascom Highlands, NC 

Let me paint your 

favorite place 

Studio visits by appointment. 

www.stantonallabenart.com 

Cashiers, NC . 843-422-3126 

allabenart@gmail.com 

PHOTOS JENNIFER BURGIN, WHITE SQUIRREL INSTITUTE 


PTSD 

Put the stress down 

newsmaker 

By NOELLE HOLLAND, WELLNESS DIRECTOR AT THE CULLASAJA CLUB 

PHOTOS NOELLE HOLLAND 

THE ROAD TO HAPPINESS LEADS TO JOY, BUT THE ROAD MUST 

be paved with challenges. These challenges are opportunities to strengthen, 

teach and empower you to handle the next challenge with more grace. If 

you find a way to not take life personally, you can be liberated from pain 

and experience more of the good stuff. 

We are designed to be strong, to recycle 

pain into something nonthreatening and 

beautiful. Finding the courage to communicate 

your life’s traumas constructively 

can help you and the listener feel hopeful 

and realize that suffering is normal. 

Trauma can be used to develop our empathy 

towards ourselves and others and ultimately 

strengthen our bond as humans. It 

is impossible to be hopeful every day, but 

if you look for hope, you will find it. When 

you find hope, you will be inspired to look 

for it again until it returns to you. 

PTSD is a psychiatric disorder that occurs 

when people experience traumatic 

events or chronic stress. Traumatic events 

and stress are relative to our own lives. 

What seems traumatic to one might not 

be so to another. Instead of treating our 

trauma as a disorder, why not allow it to 

become a gateway for exploration and healing 

within the body and mind. 

The 2020 pandemic is a traumatic event to 

which we can all relate. Whatever your role 

is in the world, we have all felt psychological 

distress. We lost our abilities to work, travel, 

breathe and emotionally connect freely with 

friends and even our own families. Panic, 

anxiety, lack of control and fear of death 

are now globally common emotions. A local 

professional shares her COVID-19 experience, 

“I was somewhat prepared for the loss 

of taste/smell, dizziness and malaise. No 

one warned me how it can turn you into an 

anxious ball of tears. My psyche was badly 

affected, and I find myself still delicate after 

a month of recovery. The anxiety of letting 

down my clients, fear of infecting someone 

and fear of a long-term debilitating illness 

made my heart uncontrollably palpitate. 

At times, I felt as though I would have a 

heart attack. The mental toll surprises me 

the most. I had to take action to preserve 

my happiness by quitting alcohol and using 

lymphatic drainage therapies. With a new 

perspective for the gift of health and life, I 

want to better honor this time on earth and 

savor each and every precious breath I have 

left here.” 

For some, the pandemic created new 

trauma, and shock took us to new levels of 

unknown anxiety. For others, our repressed 

emotions were awakened, forcing the reliving 

of painful experiences. Whatever your 

emotional experience, you’re not alone. 

We can endure anything that doesn’t kill 

us. Not only were we meant to be resilient, 

we were meant to be happy. Happiness is a 

practice that requires your daily participation. 

We have many tools for being successfully 

happy, especially within this community. 

I use nature, healthy eating, work, yoga, 

running, a great therapist, good friends, 

family and sometimes an intense screaming 

fit. Whatever tools help you feel better, use 

them! We are not meant to understand the 

meaning of trauma. We are meant to give 

our trauma meaning by Putting The Stress 

Down and making peace with the pain. P 

Acupressure is a form of Chinese medicine that 

may provide temporary relief from anxiety. 

Massage the pressure point pictured for 10-60 

seconds, taking slow, deep breaths. Visualize 

stress leaving your body and mind. 


local chatter 

Big Sister Karla, Little Brother Hudson, 

Big Brother Billy and Little Sister Kira 

attend an event hosted by The Spice 

& Tea Exchange of Highlands with 

manager, Rachel Lewicki. BBBS Bigs 

and kiddos enjoyed a cooking class 

featuring seven-layer dip made by 

Littles Hudson and Kira, homemade 

tacos, donuts and more! 

Bridging Communities 

Big Brothers Big Sisters of Cashiers and Highlands 

By DAWN LILES 

HELPING ALL CHILDREN 

to grow and flourish is 

one of a community’s most 

consequential and meaningful 

responsibilities. Each community 

on the plateau has its own unique mix of 

parents, children, teachers and caring adults 

who work together to positively influence the 

youth in their towns. 

But in certain situations, sharing resources 

across the plateau just makes 

sense. That was the thinking behind the 

merger late last year of the Highlands 

Big Brothers Big Sisters Council (BBBS) 

with the Cashiers Big Brothers Big Sisters 

Council. The main goal of the two councils 

is to match a caring local adult or high 

school-aged mentor with a 6-to-14-year-old 

child, providing the child with new, lifeenriching 

experiences. 

The councils had been operating separately 

but with one program coordinator, 

Danielle Hernandez. “It made a lot of 

sense to not duplicate our efforts when the 

two communities are so close in proximity. 

One of the biggest things I seek to do is 

to build bridges between communities and 

PHOTOS DANIELLE HERNANDEZ 


serve more kids in our area. This merger 

has allowed us to do that.” 

The two former advisory council chairs of 

the Highlands BBBS and the Cashiers BBBS 

agree. “We’ve literally doubled our brainpower,” 

said council leader, Ricky Siegel, who 

formerly served as the council chair for Highlands 

BBBS. “Two heads are better than 

one and both councils have already learned 

something from each other. We have a wonderful 

team of movers and shakers in place 

and we are 100% self-sustaining due to the 

council’s fundraising efforts.” 

Donations are always welcome, but the 

organization’s greatest need is for additional 

people to train as mentors to kids. Currently, 

there are 17 Bigs (mentors) matched 

with 17 Littles, but ten children are on the 

waiting list for Bigs. Each Big and Little 

get together approximately twice a month 

for two to four hours at a time. 

Hernandez works diligently in conjunction 

with the parents of each Little to find 

the best match. She has a background in 

teaching and said she finds nothing more 

rewarding than working with kids. “What 

I love about this job is I have a much different 

interaction with the families than what 

I was able to have as a teacher. I have a lot 

closer connections and a lot of love and support 

from the parents and the kids.” 

And the positive feelings extend to the 

council members as well. “Danielle goes 

above and beyond her role to make relationships 

so special,” said BBBS advisory 

council chair, Nancy Albers. “She’s become 

quite a support person on her own for the 

families, so that’s wonderful to see.” 

Albers got involved with the program 

several years ago as a Big to a 10-year-old 

girl. One of her best memories with her 

Little was a carefree afternoon paddleboarding 

on Lake Glenville. Her Little was 

having a tough time standing up on her 

board, but Albers kept encouraging her, 

Little Sister Claudia and 

Big Sister Rachel enjoyed 

wintertime 

fun at a 

January 2020 

program 

recruitment 

and community 

awareness event 

held at the Highlands 

Pool Complex. 

Mark English, with llama Caddy, hosted one of many llama hikes with BBBS matches at Camp 

Merrie-Woode. Mark shares facts and other educational pieces about llamas followed by 

active interactions between the animals and children. This is one of the most loved activities 

the program is able to provide, as seen by the smile on Little Sister Kira’s face. 

and after several attempts, she was able 

to stand. They paddled around awhile, 

sat down on their boards and just drifted 

around the lake. “We ended up having a 

really meaningful discussion about not 

giving up, which made the whole adventure 

even more worthwhile.” 

Spending just a few hours a month with 

a child can have a profound effect. According 

to the BBBS website, when compared 

to their non-mentored peers, Little Brothers 

and Little Sisters are 52% less likely 

to skip school and 46% less likely to begin 

using illegal drugs, and there are so many 

other immeasurable benefits that Littles 

will experience from having a consistent 

and caring adult in their life including 

higher self-confidence and personal 

aspirations. 

There are two ways mentors can get 

involved: either site-based, at the child’s 

school, or community-based, which allows 

Bigs and Littles to explore other interests 

like hiking, throwing a Frisbee at the park 

or just getting a Coke together. 

At this time, Highlands and Cashiers 

are the only communities on the plateau 

with a BBBS program. But Hernandez 

has had calls from parents in neighboring 

communities like Franklin and Sylva who 

would love to pair their child with a Big 

Brother or Sister. “We’re hoping some people 

in those communities will put together 

a council as well and start programs 

there,” said Siegel. “The need for mentors 

is great. Time spent with these kids is one 

of the most valuable things we can offer.” 

To enroll a child, become a mentor or 

find out more information, contact BBBS 

program director, Danielle Hernandez, 

at 828-399-9133 or go to their website, 

www.bbswnc.org. 


southern drawl 

PAC Pivots 

Mary Adair Trumbly leads the Highlands Performing Arts Center 

FEW INDUSTRIES HAVE BEEN 

affected more adversely by 

COVID-19 than the performing 

arts. But “the show must go on” can 

still be heard in the resilient voices 

of those who have worked tirelessly to make 

the Martin Lipscomb Performing Arts Center 

(PAC) a cultural destination in Highlands. 

and sets the stage for expansion 

By DAWN LILES » Photos By TRACY MENDY 

Construction for the PAC’s expansion 

begins this summer with an anticipated 

completion date of June 2022. 

Anna Norton, senior 

program manager, works 

with students during afterschool 

programs. 

“With the generosity of our patrons and 

supporters, we have been able to come 

through the pandemic and reschedule 

our 2020 concerts for this year,” said PAC 

Executive Director Mary Adair Trumbly, 

who has headed the organization since 

2010. “We are hoping that much of our 

demographic will be vaccinated by the end 

of May and can come back and enjoy inperson 

shows again in the summer.” 

Throughout 2020, the PAC has continued 

to sponsor events including The 

National Theatre Live, The MET and live 

streaming events. Additionally, a portable 

drive-in system for shows can be placed at 

a customer’s site for a private showing or 

in the PAC’s Laurel Street parking lot. 

Cancelled 2020 concerts have been rescheduled 

for this year, in a “reduced COV- 

ID-19 compliant” environment of socially 

distanced seating with all the personal 

safety requirements in place. The theater 

normally seats 220 but currently can seat 

a total of 60 for now, as North Carolina 

Governor Cooper continues to lift restrictions, 

hopefully a full house by summer. 

And perhaps the best news for patrons 

is that the theater’s planned expansion 

will continue to move forward. Construction 

begins in June of this year, with an 

anticipated completion date of June 2022. 

With both theaters, the total number of 

seats will be 516. 

Nearly 100 private donors have raised 

$10 million for the original project, which 

includes renovating and expanding the existing 

PAC. The PAC coordinates concerts 

and fundraising drives to offset the cost of 

operating the facility and keeps rents low 

for the nonprofit resident groups. 

Initial plans for expansion were first discussed 

in 2015. Highlands Mayor Pat Taylor 

had a vision to bring all the performing 

arts groups under one roof. The facility 

will be home to the Highlands Cashiers 

Players, Highlands-Cashiers Chamber 

Music Festival, Bel Canto, the Highlands 

Playhouse, youth theaters and live streaming 

of the New York Metropolitan Opera 

and the National Theatre of London. 

Trumbly expressed that all of those involved 

are excited with what the architect 

is proposing for the expansion. “Our new 

building is a total collaboration between 

the project manager, architect, our theatrical 

people and board members. This is 

very rare. Everyone hears everyone else’s 

concerns and needs. It’s been fascinating 

and very educational.” 

Leading the Way 

Trumbly’s love for and interest in the arts 

began with ballet lessons she took as a little 

girl growing up in Oklahoma. She con- 


Mary Adair Trumbly 

Executive Director, Martin 

Lipscomb Performing Arts Center 

» Birthplace: Big Spring, TX, but 

moved to Oklahoma City at age 3 

» Family: Three children, 

eight grandchildren 

» Education: Attended the 

University of Oklahoma and 

studied theater and ballet 

» Hobbies: Volunteering. She 

currently serves on the board 

of directors for the Highlands- 

Cashiers Hospital, the Highlands 

Chamber of Commerce (HCoC), 

Highlands Festivals, Inc. as well 

as The Rotary Club of Highlands. 

She also enjoys reading and 

spending time with her family. 


southern drawl 

tinued to excel at ballet and attended the 

University of Oklahoma to study theater 

and ballet. At the time, U of O was one 

of only two colleges in the nation to offer 

ballet as a major. She was thrilled to 

study with the famous husband and wife 

ballet dancers and instructors, Miguel 

Terekhov and Yvonne Chouteau. She 

Mary Adair Trumbly has headed 

the PAC since 2010. 

The new building is 

a total collaboration 

between the project 

manager, architect, 

theatrical people and 

board members. 

danced professionally for about a year before 

marrying and settling down to raise 

a family. 

She moved to Highlands over 20 years 

ago and quickly immersed herself in volunteering 

and getting to know her new 

community. “My philosophy has always 

been - your community is only as good as 

you make it, not as good as your neighbor 

makes it, but as good as you make it,” 

said Trumbly. “I believe volunteerism 

should be a priority for everyone. Plus, 

it’s a great way to get to know a community 

and other people.” 

Before being tapped to head the PAC, 

Trumbly operated a successful art gallery 

in Highlands, Summit One Gallery. 

The recession of 2008 caused her to close 

her doors, but by then, she had made a 

name for herself in the community and 

was recognized for her marketing skills 

and her tremendous energy. 

Those traits have served her well as 

executive director for the PAC, where 

her responsibilities include fundraising, 

community relations, management and 

operations, budgeting, managing staff, 

administering corporate and individual 

donor programs, scheduling and operation 

of events and designing promotional 

materials. 

A History of Enrichment 

In 1999, the Highlands-Cashiers Chamber 

Music Festival partnered with the 

Highlands Community Players to purchase 

the Community Bible Church for 

sale on Chestnut Street. Several prominent 

local citizens donated generous financial 

gifts and thus began the Martin 

Lipscomb Performing Arts Center. The 

PAC’s goal was to provide Highlands with 

a first-class, low-cost, state-of-the-art facility 

for nonprofit organizations within 

the community to use as a venue for performing 

arts. The building was opened to 

the community on June 16, 2001. 

The PAC continues to broaden its audience 

demographics to include all age 

groups and socioeconomic ranges. Its 

mission is to keep admission and ticket 

costs to an affordable level, allowing the 

entire community to enjoy its programs 

and events. Targeted populations include 

children and youth, local year-round residents 

and second homeowners. 

Patrons can now do one-stop shopping 

for memberships, tickets and discounts 

for events at the PAC, the Highlands 

Playhouse and the Highlands Cashiers 

Players on one website. Go to the Patron- 

Portal and log into the ticketing site at 

www.highlandsperformingarts.com to view 

the upcoming season’s events. P 


design home garden fashion 

Make Yourself at HOME 

From architecture to art and texture, PLATT HOME 

encourages you to define your unique sense of place. 

See page 52 

PHOTO BRENNAN WESLEY 


design 

Passion is the Key 

Bounds Cave Rugs has been flattering floors for 40 years 

JUDY BROWN’S CAREER DIDN’T 

start with rugs, but she has built 

a business and life around them. 

Brown, who went to school to be 

an interior designer, was living 

in her native Florida and designing a 

jewelry store in the early 1980s when she 

met a Turkish man who was connected 

to weaving houses in his homeland. That 

was her introduction to fine Oriental rugs; 

she had no prior knowledge or interest at 

all. As it turns out, the man didn’t speak 

English very well and needed help selling 

the rugs. Brown opened her first rug 

store in June 1981. 

“I just fell in love with his rugs,” she said. 

“I had a passion for rugs, and it just took 

By JUDY ROYAL 

Hand-woven and hand-knotted products are available in natural fibers, including wool 

and silk; Bounds Cave Rugs also specializes in consulting with clients to find the perfect 

complement to their space; Staff expertise in carpets and areas where they are woven 

ensures that machine-made varieties are never part of their offerings; Bounds Cave Rugs 

will make suggestions based on a client’s current fabrics, wall coverings and paint. 

over my life and I became as involved as I 

could be. I started learning about carpets 

and all different areas where they are woven. 

The rugs tell a story, every last one of 

them.” 

Brown met her life partner Mark Petrancosta 

in 1997, and he soon became a full 

partner in the business also. Shortly thereafter, 

Brown was invited to Cashiers, NC, 

to lecture at the Blue Ridge Antique Show. 

Petrancosta and Brown loved the area so 

much that they decided to open a store just 

for the summer in 1998, but things went so 

well that they relocated their business and 

home base permanently. They moved the 

store in 2014 to its current 1,800-squarefoot 

site, which they gutted and renovated. 

“We love our location,” Brown said. “We 

love looking out. We can see Grandfather 

Mountain from the front porch.” 

Bounds Cave Rugs specializes in handwoven 

and hand-knotted products in 

natural fibers, including wool and silk. Machine-made 

varieties are never part of the 

offerings. There are rugs for customers who 

walk in and know exactly what they want, 

but Bounds Cave Rugs also specializes in 

consulting with clients to find the perfect 

complement to their space. 

“We don’t charge for anything but the 

rugs themselves,” Brown said. “Our clients 

like the idea that we can take a look at their 

house. We see what they’re already doing 

with fabrics and wall coverings and paint 

and make suggestions.” 

Whether a customer needs a little or a lot 

of attention, Bounds Cave Rugs strives to 

provide excellent service to all. 

“Our job is to make our customers happy,” 

Brown said. “I don’t care who you are or 

what income bracket you’re in. If you have a 

love for beautiful things and you’re talking 

to us, then we hear you.” 

Judy Henson of CJ Brownhouse, an interior 

design firm in Cashiers, NC, said 

she has worked with Bounds Cave Rugs 

exclusively for the past 20 years due to the 

expertise of the owners and staff member 

Miguel Garcia. 

“They make purchasing a rug so easy,” 

Henson said. “They’re just a pleasure to 

work with. I can’t say enough good about 

them. They pretty much know me like a 

book and what I want, and they always find 

exactly what you’re looking for. I wouldn’t 

consider working with anyone else.” 

While some businesses have struggled 

during the COVID-19 pandemic, Bounds 

Cave Rugs has thrived. Brown attributes 

this to more people flocking to smaller towns 

as an escape and also the store’s nature as a 

low-traffic business that isn’t constantly full 

of customers. 

“I didn’t expect so many people to be here 

last summer and this winter,” she said. “It’s 

such a blessing when sales have increased 

because people are coming here to get away. 

PHOTOS: RUGS, CHELSEA CRONKRITE; OLIVIA EDWARDS 


We limit the volume of people who are inside 

at one time, so our customers feel safe here. 

We are very COVID-aware, and so are our 

customers.” 

While Bounds Cave Rugs calls the plateau 

region home, it serves clients all over 

the country and is available for both residential 

and commercial projects. 

“It's a privilege to be in this business,” 

Brown said. “We feel like every single day 

we meet the most wonderful people.” 

While there are many challenges to being 

an entrepreneur, passion is the key to satisfaction 

and success, Brown said. 

“Anytime you own something, if you really 

care about it, you’re going to do your best 

and it brings out the best in you,” she said. 

“We love our customers and love making 

them happy, and we love rugs. We wouldn’t 

do anything else. P 

Jannie Bean 

More about 

Bounds Cave Rugs 

» Owners: Judy Brown 

and Mark Petrancosta 

» Products: Hand-woven 

and hand-knotted rugs 

» Location: 

763 Highway 107 South, 

Cashiers, NC 

» Contact Info: 

828-743-5493 

www.boundscaverugs.com 


home 

Getting HOME 

A family legacy of design, storytelling and placemaking 

By KAT FORD 

THERE'S A TABLE IN THE MIDDLE OF THE NEW PLATT HOME SHOWROOM. LONG AND WEATHERED, 

it could effortlessly serve as a repurposed harvest table- the setting for a doting mother's large family gathering. It 

could just as easily be a worktable- where a tinkering father unrolls maps, collects tools and teaches small hands 

big skills. The androgyny in purpose magnifies the table's appeal. Layered with objects, it captivates, evoking the 

unspoken importance of togetherness. Fingertips follow the grain from one wood plank to the next, taking note- a 

stack of books, an orchid. A story forms, you become less consumer, more student. The showroom transcends retail. You are a 

welcomed observer in the abode of a well-traveled host. Each article hints at the inherent nature of things - the insight contained 

is free for any willing to study. As in any home, these items hold intimate meaning. Especially that orchid, those stacks of books. 

The House That Al and Cindy Built 

Every home starts as a house. The house 

of PLATT began with Al and Cindy. Al 

had a Bachelor of Arts in English from 

UNC-Chapel Hill. With an innate understanding 

of how his surroundings affected 


him, he soon found himself desiring a different 

career path. He received a Master 

of Architecture from NC State University 

in 1975, and the couple moved to Brevard, 

NC. In 1982, Al formed what would grow 

to become a respected architectural firm. 

Al was focused more on people from the 

beginning. In designing homes, he intended 

to listen and construct something 

that complemented each client's life. With 

a portfolio including houses with native 

pollinating roof gardens and a bridge

house built to create living space over a 

protected creek, PLATT triumphs over 

ubiquitous industry jargon and ego- not 

merely resulting in a sense of place but 

manifesting physical settings for clients 

to live out the desired story of their lives. 

Armed with a degree in the liberal arts, 

it's no surprise Al Platt excels in the 'who, 

what, when, where and why.' 

While Al elevated the bar of storytelling 

from English to architecture, Cindy mastered 

the narrative of placemaking, both in 

the residence where they raised their three 

children and the community of Brevard. 

The walls sheltering her family were full of 

works by local artists, people they knew. She 

loved layering colors and found objects with 

an affinity for orange, orchids and stacks of 

books. Cindy had strong feelings about togetherness, 

both in family and community. 

She served in leadership roles for and was 

a founding member of several organizations 

benefiting children and the arts. 

All three Platt children expanded on the 

strong creative and community-focused 

foundation that Al and Cindy provided. 

Their youngest son, Woody, plays guitar 

in the Grammy award-winning American 

bluegrass band Steep Canyon Rangers. 

Daughter Maggie, sharing her mother's 

love for children, teaches in the exceptional 

children’s program at Brevard Elementary. 

In 2021, their oldest son, Parker, became 

principal owner and president of PLATT, 

having worked alongside Al since 1994. 

While Parker shares his father's appreciation 

for architecture as an experience, 

he admits that Cindy made the earliest 

impression on him in the art of decorating 

spaces within his childhood home. 

Load-bearing walls are critical to the 

structure of a house. The same can be true 

of a matriarch. In 2013, Cindy Platt passed 

away unexpectedly. With a lifetime example 

of teaching and service, she left behind 

a master plan and blueprint for the future. 

"She did and still does center us all, and the 

example she set continues to keep us focused 

on the things that really matter- family, 

community, kindness, generosity, beauty 

and plain old hard work," said Parker. 

(Left) PLATT HOME founders: Curtis 

M. Greenwood, Parker Platt and Katie 

Jackson; (Below) The new PLATT HOME 

retail showroom is located at 214 South 

Broad Street in Brevard. With a collection 

of furniture, found objects, custom pieces 

made by local artisans and antiques, 

the PLATT HOME product mix heralds a 

family legacy of design and togetherness. 

Orchids and stacks of books throughout 

the PLATT HOME showroom offer 

personal touches honoring Cindy Platt’s 

love of placemaking. 

PHOTOS CHELSEA LANE, BRENNAN WESLEY 


home 

Making a House a HOME 

Since it began in 1982, PLATT has grown 

into a multiple division, full-service firm 

including architecture, construction and 

interior design. Al and Cindy's legacy of 

connecting people and places radiates 

through a company that designs and 

builds highly regarded residential and 

commercial projects and helps clients protect 

their land through Witherspoon Platt 

+ Associates, their affiliated real estate 

brokerage and land conservation consulting 

business, which has helped preserve 

nearly 9,000 acres to date. 

Up until 2015, PLATT had worked with 

many great interior designers, but all 

third parties, none in-house. For PLATT, 

this was a missing piece. While in school 

at NC State University, Parker Platt once 

pitched an entire project by describing the 

experience of a child living in the dwelling. 

A house should mean something to 

the owners and offering interior services 

would enhance PLATT's ability to help clients 

find and define their own space. The 

opportunity came in 2015 through a project 

in Omaha, NE, creating a guest lodge 

for The Cloisters on the Platte. The client 

requested full design services- from start 

to finish. By chance, Parker had met Katie 

Jackson through mutual friends. Katie had 

just moved to Brevard from Atlanta, desiring 

to be near her recently retired parents. 

Parker asked if she had the professional 

acumen to tackle a large interior design 

project. It just so happened that she did. 

Katie learned how to sew at a young 

age from both of her parents. In college, a 

neighbor in her apartment complex needed 

a seamstress to make a bed canopy cover 

for a Highlands, NC, client. Katie took the 

gig and fell in love with the process of interior 

design. She soon began working for the 

same design firm, first in administration. 

After 13 years, Katie had worked her way 

up to partner. When she left Atlanta, she 

thought that world was behind her; perhaps 

she would grow flowers in the country. 

Katie joined the team part-time, and 

PLATT explored the entire spectrum of experiential 

architecture. The lodge project 

gave PLATT precisely what they needed, 

a client who offered free reign to cut their 

teeth while expanding a new in-house offering. 

PLATT developed a custom scent; 

Woody Platt and wife Shannon Whitworth 

assembled a 30-minute original soundtrack 

for the lodge. Katie moved into a space in 

PLATT's main office. Word spread that 

PLATT was offering full-service interiors. 

Before long, they were taking additional 

clients, with Katie soon becoming PLATT's 

interior design director. The Cloisters on 

the Platte project set into motion a path 

that would ultimately lead to the creation 

of PLATT HOME, founded by Parker, Katie 

and PLATT's business director, Curtis 

M. Greenwood. 

PLATT interior services are currently 

available for PLATT architecture clients. 

Showing clients samples often meant a 

drive to product showrooms in Atlanta or 

Charlotte. It became clear that a retail 

location would be advantageous and allow 

PLATT to display represented brands, 

stock product and explore other offerings 

they are known for- found objects, custom 

pieces made by local artisans, antiques 

and community-mindedness. At PLATT 

HOME, clients and shoppers alike are 

encouraged to peruse various options and 

price points, from a $40 PLATT HOME 

candle to a unique piece of furniture. "We 

like to mix fine pieces with less expensive 

items. With the right mix of meaningful 

things, it gives the whole room energy, 

soul," said Jackson. Touches that reflect 

PLATT's sense of authentic integrity lie in 

their private-label furniture, where a nearly 

30-piece offering in luxe, durable fabrics 

are all made in North Carolina, two hours 

away. Treasures throughout the store reflect 

Katie and Parker's travels. Argentine 

textiles and knives mark Parker's love of 

South America. The collection of hats- also 

a nod to Parker's style. Several items in 

the store are made by local craftsmen- like 

a collection of handsome leather fire bags, 

projects conceived while Katie and Parker 

collaborated for PLATT clients. Even the 

PLATT HOME candles have personal sentiments. 

Katie chose 'Earl Grey' for memories 

of drinking tea with her mother. Parker 

chose 'Honeysuckle' because it reminds 

him of his youth. And of course, there are 

those stacks of books, that orchid. 

Blueprints for the Future 

Plenty of poetic sentiments play on the 

concept of home; most surmise that when 

the memories are gone, so is the enchantment. 

A simply stated lyric from the Steep 

Canyon Rangers' 2018 album "Out in the 

Open" laments, "I can find the house- but 

I can't get home." The band has hosted 

the Mountain Song Festival in Brevard 

since 2006 after Cindy asked Woody to 

plan a music event to benefit the local 

Boys & Girls Club, now named The Cindy 

Platt Boys & Girls Club of Transylvania 

County. For over 40 years, the Platt family 

has built a legacy in placemaking, creating 

a sense of place for clients and making 

the community of Brevard a better place. 

"This part of the world is important to us, 

and we are trying to make a difference 

where we can," said Parker Platt. 

While memories are so much more than 

objects, it is deep-rooted within the most 

intimate items in a living space to tell a 

narrative. Stories that teach, remind and 

are passed down to future generations- narratives 

that come with a master plan and 

blueprint. With a collection of products 

intended to help customers leave their own 

legacy of personalized placemaking, PLATT 

is hoping to get us all a little closer to homewhether 

that be through items crafted by 

local artisans, found objects, a piece of furniture, 

an orchid or a stack of books. P 

www.platthome.us 

828.630.9500 

PHOTO BRENNAN WESLEY 


garden 

Mother's Magic 

Remembering the love and wisdom of Grace Underwood Moore 

By KIRK MOORE 

PHOTO KIRK MOORE 

OAKLEAF HAS CREATED A 

unique 'look' that reflects a sense 

of place. Using local botanicals, 

mosses, twigs and other discoveries 

from the forest floor mixed with 

floral specimens grown locally, a composition is 

born that tells a story. 

My sister Leith and I are constantly 

asked, "Where did you learn this?" We 

happily and quickly respond, "It's in our 

DNA." 

Our mother was a force to be reckoned 

with. Always ahead of the curve and always 

'out of the box!' 

She found bridge club pedantic but was 

the head witch at garden club! While she 

directed flower shows with Swiss watch 

precision, she always threw spice in the 

pot. Her little South Georgia club was 

one of the first in the nation to create an 

entry for children. Never structured, the 

kiddos' floral compositions were reflections 

of growing personalities. To this day, there 

are men and women across the South who 

savor the love of flowers and gardening because 

of Grace Underwood Moore and her 

loving patience. 

It is apt that one of my earliest memories 

in life was preparing and attending 

a winter flower show. I was almost 3, and 

my mother and I filled white shirt box lids 

with damp Spanish moss, then lovingly 

went into the garden and snipped short 

stems of specimen Camellia japonicas and 

tightly nestled them in the moss bed, "but 

not too tight, my little garden boy." Off they 

traveled in the back of the station wagon 

to the Methodist Church social hall to be 

displayed with hundreds of other curated 

beauties. My mother got a red second place 

ribbon for her "Pink Perfection and Betty 

Sheffield" flower heads. I remember her 

congratulating Ann Jackson on her blue 

ribbon. Forever, I will remember that. My 

mother was a gracious gardener. 

That winter was huge for me. A few 

weeks before, mother and I went to Lott's 

Grace Underwood Moore 

1950, Dover Hall Plantation 

5&10 and filled baskets with the most 

wonderful toys, brushes, combs, balls and 

puzzles. Of course, "for me?" was the question. 

Mr. Lott lifted me up on a counter 

so I could see my mother's eyes. It was 

explained to me that not every little boy 

and girl have Christmas presents under 

a tree. And that it is a God-given gift to 

make Christmas memorable for others. 

That same Christmas, there was a decorated 

shoebox at the hearth filled with oranges, 

walnuts, apples and 'feed and seed 

store' old-fashioned candy. It was a subtle 

reminder that not everyone was as lucky 

as I. For so many, a shoebox of fruit, nuts 

and candy was 'the' Christmas gift. I always 

made sure that I enjoyed the oranges 

et al. And when Leith was born five years 

later, the tradition continued. 

We grew up in the post-war era of 

Gemini space missions and TV dinners. 

I always loved to 'spend the night' with 

friends so I could savor a Salisbury steak 

in an aluminum foil tray! Not something 

we enjoyed at home. Fresh from the garden 

was the order of the day for our mother. 

And in winter, it was a treat for Mama to 

pull butter beans and cut off corn from the 

freezer and take us back to warm summer 

days. She was a country cook but adventurous. 

Fresh herbs were added to the mix. 

One summer, we had an abundance of 

cinnamon basil, and we made jelly. It was 

perfection as a condiment with chicken or 

pork. 

I look back red-faced that I dreaded 

friends from school coming to visit. In 

town, my friends' houses were bandboxes 

furnished with shiny Ethan Allen reproductions. 

My friend William once said to 

me that he was sorry that we had “poor 

people furniture” - walnut corner cupboards, 

pine huntboards, a cypress farm 

table where meals were served. 

In summer, all the antique wing chairs 

and other soft seating were slipcovered 

with the same cotton duck that the dogs' 

beds were made. 

There were always big ironstone pitchers 

in winter filled with forced honeysuckle 

and forsythia. In spring, a favorite 

pastime was hunting for violets. We would 

wander all over in search, and when a violet 

was discovered, we would point a finger 

and say, "bang!" I have loved teaching my 

nieces and great-nieces the gentle art of 

violet picking. 

On Mother's Day, as every day, I am so 

thankful for the lessons and gifts that I 

use to make my life as a gardener and a 

human complete. This Mother's Day, I'd 

like to share a little bit of Mama's magic 

and invite you to visit the Oakleaf Style 

blog for her cinnamon basil jelly recipe. 

www.oakleafstyle.com. P 


Naturally Inspired 

LoveShackFancy 

dress, $295; Enewton 

stack bracelet, $195; 

all at Wit’s End. 

Lonesome Valley paints 

a serene, picturesque 

setting, steeped in a 

valued tradition of 

conservation and 

stewardship, for these 

bright, floral 

spring looks. 


On her: Fifteen Twenty 

linen sleeve sweatshirt, 

$169; Mac essential pant, 

$299; all at TJ Bailey’s. 

On him: Bugatchi 

floral print shirt, $199; 

Bugatchi performance 

pullover, $139; Meyer 

trouser, $289; all at 

TJ Bailey’s. 

Photos by CHELSEA CRONKRITE 

Models: Anna Cleaveland and David Klein 

Location: Lonesome Valley 

February April /March /May 2021 | 57

Johnny Was pansy blouse, 

$250; MB Greene wine bag, 

$72; all at A Jones Company. 



Lior “Elise” top, $124; 

Lior “Sasha” pant, 

$118; Designer inspired 

bracelet, $43; all at 

The Look Boutique. 


Lior shirt, $86; Lior 

“Jane” jean, $149; all 

at The Look Boutique. 


S p e c i a l S e c t i o n 

Hello Muddah, Hello Fadduh 

Camp is very edutaining… 

By KAT FORD 

AH, SUMMER CAMP, THE PLACE OF NOSTALGIA AND MEMORIES. HERE, FRIENDSHIPS ARE FORGED, 

fears conquered, skills learned, marshmallows melted and macaroni glued. In a picturesque setting like Western 

North Carolina, it should come as no surprise that there are countless sleepaway camps for parents to choose. 

This encompasses all-boy camps, all-girl camps, religious camps and co-ed camps, each with a wide variety of 

activities, including backpacking, rock climbing, kayaking and more. 

Alas, two weeks in sleepaway summer 

camp paradise does not a summer make. 

That’s why we’ve scoured the internet 

for day camps to fill the void and offer a 

serious dose of medicine for a bad case 

of ‘I’m bored.’ With options ranging from 

treasured local nonprofits to regional 

rock-and-roll or space camps, these gems 

of edutainment are guaranteed to ignite 

creativity, spark interest and sneak in the 

kind of STEAM learning that points to 

bright futures. 

Local Camps 

Many of the plateau’s nonprofits offer summer 

activities for children. Unfortunately, 

due to COVID-19 restrictions, some have 

been postponed and cancelled, while others 

will wait until later in the year to confirm 

specifics. Make sure to check for updates 

with your camper’s favorite nonprofit for 

2021 activities. 

The Bascom: A Center for the Visual 

Arts 

828.526.4949 

www.thebascom.org 

For years, children of the plateau have enjoyed 

exploring creativity during summer 

offerings at The Bascom: A Center for The 

Visual Arts. Due to possible COVID-19 

restrictions, The Bascom will wait until 

later in the summer to make decisions on 

2021 offerings. Check for updates on their 

website and enjoy creative opportunities 

through private lessons. 


Highlands Biological Foundation 

828.526.2221 


Get to know your nature neighbors through 

a series of age-appropriate themed camps 

at the Highlands Biological Foundation. 

Camps will be limited to eight campers 

each and allow attendees to catch insects, 

investigate where and how animals live, 

traverse local trails and make crafts with 

natural materials. 

PHOTO LINDSEY BAILEY 

PHOTO HIGHLANDS BIOLOGICAL FOUNDATION 

Cashiers-Highlands Humane Society 

828.743.5752 

www.chhumanesociety.org 

The CHHS Critter Camp offers campers 

interactive experiences with animals, 

humane education programs, and guest 

presentations by wildlife biologists, law 

enforcement K9’s and animal welfare experts. 

Due to possible COVID-19 restrictions, 

CHHS will wait until later in the 

spring to make decisions on 2021 offerings. 

Check for updates on their website 

and consider adopting a furry friend for 

countless summer memories. 

PHOTO DAVID STROUD

Regional Camps 

There are plenty of learning opportunities 

on and near the plateau. These regional 

camps are located less than two hours 

from Highlands and Cashiers and offer exciting 

warm-weather educational quests, 

including jamming in a band and coding 

your own video game. 

The Music Academy of Asheville 

828.252.1888 

www.musicacademyasheville.com 

Is there anything more epically youthful 

than starting a band over the summer? 

This six-day camp allows aspiring young 

musicians to dive into rock-and-roll and 

pop music while in a band setting and 

under the supervision of a staff of professional 

musicians. Industry-related skills 

taught include music theory, recording, 

composition and, of course, performing. Is 

your camper a little less Jagger and a little 

more Bach or Krauss? The Music Academy 

also offers camps for string ensembles and 

folky acoustic jams. 

offerings are within age brackets where 

campers learn essential outdoor and survival 

skills, including stewardship, investigation 

and observation. Examine creeks, 

identify wildlife, make shelters and more. 

PARI 

828.862.5554 

www.pari.edu 

Is your camper destined for the stars? 

PARI in Rosman is on a mission to empower 

people to reach the next frontier. 

With an offering ranging from residential 

summer camps for kids from ages 11 to 

PHOTO THE NORTH CAROLINA ARBORETUM 

17 with tailored STEM and/or single day 

space camps for families and groups, this 

experience allows for hands-on learning in 

astronomy, astrobiology and astrophysics, 

robotics, cryptography, planetary geography 

and 3D printing. Humanity may be 

waiting to make it to Mars in person, but 

your camper can get there by simulating 

their own mission this summer. 

Camp Muddy Sneakers 

828.862.5560 

www.muddysneakers.org 

PHOTO PARI 

The North Carolina Arboretum 

828.665.2492 

www.ncarboretum.org 

The North Carolina Arboretum in Asheville 

invites rising second through seventh 

graders to become real wilderness explorers 

through their series of day camps. Camp 

PHOTO THE NORTH CAROLINA ARBORETUM 

PHOTO CAMILLACALNAN 

PHOTO PARI PHOTO PARI 

Located at the REEB Ranch adjacent to 

DuPont State Recreational Forest, Camp 

Muddy Sneakers in Brevard encourages 

kids to follow their imagination and curiosity 

as they adventure through the forests 

and streams of Western North Carolina. 

Camps offer weekly sessions within three 

age brackets. Each session only allows 

15 campers to delve into both nature and 

creativity, so sign your camper up today. 

April /May 2021 | 63 

PHOTO CAPTURING WNC

S p e c i a l S e c t i o n 

Camp Muddy Sneakers 

Zaniac Asheville 

828.575.0355 

www.zaniaclearning.com 

Learning doesn’t have to stop during the 

summer, and STEAM learning gives the 

gift of exploring future vocations. Grouped 

into three age brackets by grade, this camp 

roster calls all coders, engineers, scientists 

and designers. With options including 3D 

printing, fashion design, kitchen chemistry, 

robotics and game-based learning using 

Minecraft, chess and classic arcade 

games, your camper will never look at 

science, math and art homework the same. 

Online Camps 

Need camp to be a little closer while you 

work remotely? As close as your living 

room? These online activities and kits 

will give your camper something to write 

home about- even if that means sending a 

text from the kitchen. If these don’t offer 

what you are looking for to keep your home 

campers edutained, fear not. Thanks to 

last year’s shutdowns, the answer to your 

unique online camp need is just a Google 

search away. 


Camp Kinda 

www.kindaguide.org/camp-kinda 

Developed by EdNavigator and available 

in English and Spanish, Camp Kinda 

keeps children in kindergarten through 

PHOTO CAPTURING WNC 

eighth grade engaged with hours of activities, 

including making graphic novels, unlocking 

the mysteries of history, traveling 

to rainforests and the art of moviemaking. 

It’s a little bit like MasterClass, for kids. 

National Inventors Hall of Fame 

www.invent.org/kits 

The mission of the National Inventors Hall 

of Fame is to recognize inventors and invention, 

promoting creativity and advancing 

the spirit of innovation and entrepreneurship. 

Its Camp Invention program is a 

STEM summer program for kindergarten 

through sixth grade, providing a complete 

curriculum for educators. Luckily for parents, 

Camp Invention has created a set of 

Innovation Exploration Kits available to 

purchase in a range of subjects. Each kit 

is packed with an exclusive robot, handson 

materials and step-by-step activities 

for hours of creative fun. Young innovators 

will explore robotics and think like a veterinarian, 

investigating dog anatomy and 

performing surgery in Robotic Pet Vet; 

travel a step-by-step process of entrepreneurship, 

from sketching ideas to marketing 

products, in Design Thinking Project; 

or customize a flight simulation robot 

while experimenting with the principles of 

flight in Camp Invention Flight Lab. P 

PHOTO NATIONAL INVENTORS HALL OF FAME

Hello, Highlands! 

Shake off the wintertime blues with an Appalachian adventure 

By BRITTANY CONLEY 

PHOTO OLD EDWARDS INN 

PEOPLE HAVE BEEN IN LOVE 

with Highlands for nearly 150 

years. Two ambitious men, Samuel 

Truman Kelsey and Clinton 

Carter Hutchinson, huddled over 

a map in search of the perfect spot for trade 

and commerce. They drew two lines, one from 

Savannah, GA, to Chicago, IL, the second line 

from New Orleans, LA, to New York City. The 

pair marked the intersection of those lines—thus, 

in 1875, the city of Highlands was founded, and 

history made. “The little village was hardly more 

than a crossroad—and a dirt one at that,” says 

author and historian Randolph Shaffner in his 

nomination to list a local home on the national 

registry of historic places. He also notes that by 

1880 the population of Highlands was a mere 82. 

As access to the plateau improved, the 

population grew. By the 1930s, Highlands 

emerged as one of the great vacation destinations 

in Southern Appalachia, a title it still 

boasts. The director of the Highlands Chamber 

of Commerce, Kaye McHan, says the 

welcoming spirit in Highlands is intrinsic 

to our way of life. “We work enthusiastically 

to maintain our small-town culture and the 

environment we promote because it is what 

brings people to Highlands. A great place to 

live is a great place to visit,” she says. 

Shop 

A point of pride for the town is its reputation 

for family-owned businesses. Standing 

out as a true treasure downtown is The 

Molly Grace, whose owners are well-rooted 

Highlanders, their lineage and connection 

to the town going back several generations. 

As you approach the front door there 

is an undeniable buzz of excitement, as the 

whimsical displays outside draw you in 

with the promise that what lies inside will 

not disappoint. Getting people in, though, 

is only part of the equation. “Our customer 

service keeps people coming back,” says 

Kedra McCall, store manager and daugh- 

Hospitality is in bloom 

at Old Edwards Inn. 


The Molly Grace has an undeniable 

buzz of excitement with merchandise 

sourced almost entirely from other small 

businesses and local artisans. 

Peak Experience has dazzled the area 

with its unique offerings of antiques and 

handcrafted items for over 20 years. 

ter of the shop’s owner. McCall also credits 

their carefully curated displays and irresistible 

merchandise—almost entirely 

sourced from other small businesses and 

local artisans, which ties in beautifully 

with their niche. The Molly Grace’s entire 

aesthetic warms the soul. 

Just a short drive outside downtown 

and nestled in the woods, you’ll find another 

beloved Highlands staple: Peak 

Experience, which has dazzled the area 

with its unique offerings of antiques and 

handcrafted items for over 20 years. “We 

love living in Highlands and sharing our 

love of the mountains with our customers,” 

says owner Victoria Ingate. “Highlands is 

great because it’s about two hours from 

several major cities, so it is an easy getaway,” 

Ingate says, noting that springtime 

is an especially delightful treat for visitors. 

“[There is] a little less traffic than in 

the fall and summer. Also, seeing everything 

blooming and getting green again 

after the winter is beautiful.” Stopping in 

at Peak Experience is also a treat. The Ingates 

keep a keen eye out and continually 

refresh their impressive inventory. 

Play 

For outdoor enthusiasts, Highlands is 

your new favorite playground. Bring your 

fishing poles and kayaks, lace up your hiking 

boots and pack your trekking poles, 

because there are hundreds of miles of 

rivers and trails on which to stretch your 

legs—ranging from an easy stroll like 

Sunset Rock, to the far more strenuous 

Yellow Mountain. Be sure to check out the 

list of trails maintained by the Highlands- 

Cashiers Land Trust and at the Highlands 

Visitor Center; you’ll find a trail for every 

experience level. There is always another 

breathtaking view to witness, be it a vista 

or cascading falls—and in the spring, the 

colors come alive as everything blooms 

and there are endless opportunities to 

glimpse local wildlife emerging to do some 

post-winter exploration of their own. 

Highlands is no slouch with big events, 

either. The Bear Shadow festival (April 

23-25, 2021) celebrates both music and 

the mountains, featuring several artists, 

food vendors and a healthy dose of 

conservation outreach. And beginning 

in May, you’ll find opportunities to enjoy 

a free concert series hosted by the Highlands 

Chamber of Commerce almost every 

weekend through October at the Kelsey- 

Hutchinson Founders Park, right in the 

heart of downtown. 

PHOTO SARAH LOWN; BRITTANY CONLEY 


PHOTOS OLD EDWARDS INN 

Stay 

Old Edwards Inn and Spa has been in 

an unceasing evolution since 1878, when 

it was originally known as the Central 

House. While they are firmly planted in 

the modern era now, they haven’t deviated 

from their rich history of dedicated service 

nor flawless attention to detail. And 

in the springtime, just like the mountain 

laurel, their genial spirit—and their Wine 

Garden—is in full bloom. “It’s a great 

place to relax with friends and take in the 

pace of life that defines Highlands,” says 

Amy Passauer, marketing manager for 

Old Edwards Inn, who encourages visitors 

to check out the brand-new Old Edwards 

Shop at Acorns, which “brims with the 

impeccable luxuries our guests have come 

to love,” says Passauer. It’s those indulgent 

details which keep people coming back 

year after year, enjoying special events 

and packages such as April’s Slip Away 

and Save and their May Getaway. Their 

restaurants are an incredible amenity as 

well, especially this time of year. “Look 

for fresh, seasonal items, many of which 

Hickory Pool at dusk at the Old Edwards Inn; Four65 Woodfire Bistro and Bar boasts wood-fired 

artisan sourdough pizza, cast-iron sandwiches, salads and small plates- handcrafted with local 

ingredients. 


The Park on Main has been 

welcoming guests and their 

pets since 2014. 

Come say hello to Mr. Pickles 

at The Park on Main. 

PHOTOS THE PARK ON MAIN 


Highlands Chamber of Commerce 

www.HighlandsChamber.org 

828-526-5841 

The Molly Grace 

www.TheMollyGraceCorp.com 

828-526-8390 

Peak Experience 

www.peakexpshop.com 

828-526-0229 

Old Edwards Inn and Spa 

www.OldEdwardsHospitality.com 

866-526-8008 

The Park on Main 

www.TheParkonMain.com 

800-221-5078 

PHOTO OLD EDWARDS INN 

Relax at Old Edwards Inn 

are harvested from our own gardens and 

greenhouses,” says Passauer. 

If you can’t imagine a vacation that 

doesn’t include your canine companion, 

look no further than The Park on Main, a 

luxury boutique hotel that not only allows 

your pup, but pampers them with the same 

reverence and distinction as they provide 

their two-legged guests. “Pets are a part 

of the family,” says John Woods, general 

manager of The Park on Main. “Many of 

our guests are empty-nesters and their 

dogs are their children...they don’t want 

[to leave home] without them,” he notes. As 

soon as your dog enters the lobby, they’re 

greeted with as warm a reception as you 

are, though they may be a hint more excited 

about the dog treats and complimentary 

toy provided by Mr. Pickles, 

a debonair Scottish terrier and the 

hotel’s pride and joy. Once you retreat 

to your sumptuous suite, you and your 

pet will enjoy all the creature comforts 

one could hope for, including soft Italian 

sheets on a plush mattress for you and 

a top-notch therapeutic bed for Fido. No 

detail has been overlooked—even your 

bathroom floor is heated! 

It’s a perfect time to head up into the 

hills and say hello to Highlands! More 

information about Highlands, NC, and 

these incredible local merchants and 

inns can be found at the following and 

across their social media channels: 

» Hiking is a favorite pastime for many visiting 

Highlands. Enjoy one of these public hikes 

protected by the Highlands-Cashiers Land 

Trust, the oldest land trust in North Carolina 

protecting over 3,000 acres across Macon and 

Jackson counties. 

» Satulah Mountain Preserve 

Difficulty: Hard. Beginning in town, the hike 

goes a mile up paved roads to a cul-de-sac. 

From there moderate trails traverse a ridge to 

a southern vista overlooking NC, SC and GA. 

Length from town: 3 miles round trip. 

» Brushy Face Preserve 

Difficulty: Moderate. Heading out from a culde 

-sac, the trail crosses through a wide range 

of habitats and over Clear Creek. 

Length: 1.4 miles round trip. 

» Ravenel Park 

Difficulty: Moderate. From Horsecove Road the 

trail climbs a gravel road to two scenic viewpoints, 

Sunset and Sunrise Rocks. 

Length from Horsecove Road: 1.1 miles round trip. 

Length from property parking: 0.25 miles 

round trip. 

» Kelsey Trail 

Difficulty: Moderate. From the end of North 

5th Street, the trail follows an old oxcart trail 

along a creek and connects to Rhododendron 

Park. 

Length from town: 0.7—0.82 miles round trip. 

» Rhododendron Park 

Difficulty: Hard. The trail follows a number of 

stone stairways as it curves around Big Bearpen 

Mountain through thick rhododendrons. 

Length from parking: 0.6—0.7 miles round trip. 

» Dixon Park 

Difficulty: Easy. A network of trails covers the 

flattest of the HCLT properties in Highlands. 


Members of the Chattooga Club don their whites 

and enjoy two world-class croquet lawns for 

competitive tournaments and private lessons from 

their resident pro; social events include Wine & 

Wickets or Croquet & Rosé. 

The Swiss Gambit 


Wit and intelligence are the name of the game 

CROQUET COULD BE 

described as a form of chess 

standing up. If you have 

seen “The Queen’s Gambit” 

on Netflix, you understand 

the thought, skill and mental dexterity it 

takes to successfully beat your opponent(s) 

at a game of chess. One move can entirely 

decide an outcome, win or loss. Just as 

chess is more than a board with a fancy 

king’s court, croquet is more than a mallet 

knocking wooden balls through hoops. 

Croquet dates back to the 1400s; however, 

it first became a recreational activity 

in the United States in the 1860s. On the 

plateau and for many East Coast families, 

By MANDY MURRY 

croquet is a time-honored tradition. A 

game played for fun, sport, comradery and 

healthy competition. Players adorned in 

all white from head-to-toe take their place 

on manicured greens to put their mental 

toughness and mallet skills to the test. 

The most common form of the game is 

known as golf, requiring only a few basic 

skills and understanding of the rules. It is 

perfect for social settings and no doubt part 

of its summertime allure in the mountains 

of Western North Carolina. Burlingame 

describes it as, “This easily learned game 

combines golf putting skills, pool shot 

skills and chess strategies in a very social 

atmosphere.” What attracts many to the 

game is the strategic thinking croquet 

requires. Players are trying to both score 

goals and defend the goal at the same time. 

They must think many moves in advance 

in order to score the most points and outmaneuver 

their opponents. 

A croquet lawn 100 ft long by 50 ft wide, 

set with six hoops, often referred to as 

wickets, is where the game is played. Each 

player takes one turn at a time, playing 

from hoop to hoop, striking a ball with a 

mallet with the goal to ‘run a hoop.’ Not as 

easy as it seems. Running a hoop is similar 

to a putt in miniature golf. In mini-golf, 

the ball is placed into a hole. In croquet, 

running a hoop and earning a score is 

placing the ball where it does not protrude 

beyond the side of the hoop from which it 

started. It sounds complicated, yet once 

you’ve experienced it once or twice, you get 

the hang of it. It’s more social and strategy 

than anything. 

A hoop is won by the first ball to go 

through each hoop. There are no additional 

turns for hitting other balls. Each 

player takes a stroke in turn, each trying 

to hit a ball through the same hoop. The 

PHOTO BRENN PHOTOGRAPHY

PHOTO CEDAR CREEK CLUB 

The croquet lawn at Cedar Creek Club is 

the only turf lawn on the plateau. 

In recent years Cedar Creek Club has witnessed 

a rise of interest in croquet. In 2019, the 

Cedar Creek Club Croquet Team won the Bill 

McClanahan Mountain Croquet Challenge, 

bringing home the coveted crystal mallet. 

PHOTO CEDAR CREEK CLUB 


The first of the Cullasaja Club's four 

croquet courts was opened in 2013 and 

won the National Croquet Association's 

"Lawn of the Year” award. 

With the rising 

popularity of croquet 

amongst members of 

the Cullasaja Club, two 

additional lawns were 

created in 2019. 


PHOTO SUSAN RENFRO 

The croquet facility at Highlands Falls Country 

Club entertains weekly social play, competitive 

tournaments and international exhibitions. 

Members have the opportunity for lessons with a 

16-time national champion and they will host the 

2021 USCA GC 8’s Tournament this May. 

PHOTOS CULLASAJA CLUB 

sequence of play is blue, red, black, yellow. 

Blue and black balls play against red and 

yellow. When a hoop is won, the sequence 

of play continues as before. The winner of 

the game is the player/team who wins the 

most hoops. 

Your approach to how you play the 

game is a key factor. Many would think 

that something such as knocking your opponent’s 

ball away from a hoop would be 

the answer. But playing the ‘Aunt Emma’ 

card, a term for being more concerned 

about preventing the progress of your competition 

than competing and taking your 

own risk, can be considered dull. Learning 

the croquet jargon is part of the fun. The 

game language and strategy keep you on 

your toes. 

The game can be played in singles or in 

doubles. 

Clubs across the plateau offer a variety 

of croquet gatherings, from serious to laid 

back; this game is a staple summertime 

activity. A perfect way to pick up the game 

is at a weekly club event, such as Wine 

and Wickets, Croquet and Rosé or Mallets 

and Martinis. Most clubs on the plateau 

offer a social event such as this. What is 

better than sipping your favorite wine or 

adult beverage in between turns swinging 

a mallet at a ball? 

Having fun under the sun never looked 

so good on the mountain. Croquet is a 

hoot. Bring your cleverness and your take 

on the ‘Swiss Gambit’- an intentional loss 

of one’s first game to get into the easier 

bracket. I feel a television series coming 

on, or at least an episode of “The Kominsky 

Method.” P 

Fun Facts: 

» There are three different grips, Solomon, Standard and Irish grip. 

» The sport has different types of gameplay; the two main forms of gameplay are Golf Croquet and Six Wicket. 

» The most popular gameplay on the plateau is Golf Croquet. 

» Mallets weigh 2 to 3 pounds, and the length of the shaft varies from 30 - 38 inches. 

» All players are required to be dressed in white. 

» Watching the game as a spectator can be as much fun as playing! 


Consider planting an extra row in your 

vegetable garden to donate to the 

plateau’s local food pantries this year. 

Seeds of Generosity 

Plant for the Plateau gives local businesses a chance to dig in and help feed the community 

By JUDY ROYAL » Photos by CHELSEA CRONKRITE 

THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC BROUGHT ABOUT MANY CHANGES TO OUR WORLD, SOME POSITIVE AND 

some negative. Among the positive, many people sought new hobbies and activities to keep themselves busy while staying 

at home and social distancing. As a result, gardening experienced a surge in popularity, not only for the aforementioned 

reasons but also as a means of reducing trips to the store for the grocery items necessary to prepare more meals at home. 

At the same time, hunger became an issue 

for many more Americans due to pandemic-related 

loss of income. In communities 

across the country, the lines at food pantries 

have grown longer with no clear end 

in sight. Before the pandemic, the number 

of families experiencing food insecurity, 

defined as a lack of consistent access to a 

healthy supply of food, had been steadily 

falling. But due to the health crisis and 


resulting economic instability, food insecurity 

is on the rise almost everywhere, 

with some estimates pointing to as many 

as 23 percent of U.S. households being affected. 

Families with children were among 

the hardest hit by the problem as access 

to school meals was disrupted. And things 

will take time to recover. Feeding America 

projects that 42 million people (1 in 8), including 

13 million children (1 in 6), may 

experience food insecurity in 2021. 

Locally, the plateau region is not immune 

to the issue of hunger. An interactive 

map from Feeding America projects 

the food insecurity rate due to COVID-19 

to be 14.5 percent in Macon County and 

14.4 percent in Jackson County. 

Last year, an effort to pair the popularity 

of gardening with helping the hungry 

took root in our area. Highlands Food

Doug Lanning, 

Lonesome Valley’s 

certified horticulturist, 

and Andrew Renfro, 

Lonesome Valley’s 

resident services and 

activities director 


Spring is the perfect time to prepare your 

garden for warmer weather planting. 

Pantry and Fishes & Loaves Food Pantry 

in Cashiers invited members of the 

Highlands-Cashiers community to Plant 

for the Plateau last summer. Participants 

pledged to grow tomatoes, squash, peppers, 

corn, onions, potatoes, carrots and 

beans and harvest them to donate to the 

food pantries to supplement the typical 

canned and boxed offerings. The effort 

was a success and allowed the charitable 

organizations to stretch their resources 

further. 

This year, as spring looms on the horizon, 

the community is preparing to Plant 

for the Plateau for another season of 

giving. Local businesses are literally digging 

in and making plans to continue or 

increase their involvement in a cause that 

has become more than just another project 

for them. 

“I really like to do this to give me an extra 

way to connect with the community,” 

said Kirk Moore, owner of Oakleaf Flower 

& Garden and Oakleaf Home Farm. “I’m 

involved with a lot of organizations, but 

Plant for the Plateau is dear to my heart. 

There are so many little kiddos who go to 

bed hungry every night, and it worries me 


and makes me sad. It’s my love to be able 

to figure out a way to help.” 

Moore, a landscape architect and garden 

historian, helped out with Plant for the 

Plateau last year but is taking his participation 

a step further in 2021 by starting a 

designated garden for children who want 

to learn more about growing fresh food, 

including preparation techniques. He said 

this idea was born out of concern that the 

families receiving fresh donations might 

not always know how to use them at home. 

“Being a gardener, I like to put my 

hands in the soil,” Moore said. “It’s nice to 

be able to help people in such a wonderful 

way and create healthy lifestyles for these 

young kids. This is a very exciting project 

for me. I hope to be able to inspire young 

people about the importance of growing 

their own vegetables and not depending 

on things being shipped from across the 

country. Maybe a lot of these kids will 

want to do a garden at home.” 

The Lonesome Valley community is also 

looking at ways to get more involved with 

Plant for the Plateau after residents asked 

to be part of the effort last year. Andrew 

Renfro, resident services and activities 

director, said the project was very appealing, 

especially for members of the garden 

club. 

“We’ve always had an active and busy 

group, and they saw the call to action at 

the beginning of the pandemic regarding 

food insecurity in the plateau, so really 

everything just kind of fit perfectly 

and they said we really want to do this,” 

he said. “They wanted to give back, and 

the initiative was a great way for us 

to give residents a sense of community 

and connection to the greater Cashiers 

community.” 

It was eye opening to learn how much 

need is right here in the area, Renfro said. 

“You never expect for a region like this 

to qualify as a food desert, but it does just 

in terms of access,” he said. “To be able to 

participate in a project like Plant for the 

Plateau, it really does help paint that complete 

picture of why it is important to grow 

food. It really has helped connect our residents 

to the plateau and a lot of the need 

many families face up here. We’re excited 

to continue running with the program.” 

Lonesome Valley has a community garden 

with row beds for residents’ use and

is expanding that area to produce more 

for the needy in 2021, Renfro said. While 

COVID-19 guidelines made programming 

challenging during most of last year, the 

community hopes to hold “plant days” every 

Saturday morning during the upcoming 

growing season and get even more people 

on board, he said. 

“Involvement is good, and it’s continuing 

to grow,” Renfro said. “As we see more 

and more people spend time here in the 

shoulder season, we’re also seeing more 

community buy-in. It’s nice to be connected 

in this way to an initiative that affects 

a lot of people here on the plateau and to 

be able to get your hands dirty in the most 

basic form of giving back. A lot of folks are 

used to being on boards, so this is a new 

way for them to help.” 

Doug Lanning, Lonesome Valley’s certified 

horticulturist, said he is looking forward 

to another great year of producing 

food for Plant for the Plateau. 

“I think people are going to be more inclined 

to come to the garden workdays and 

gather with others because they haven’t 

been able to do so for so long now,” he said. 

“I think that now it’s going to be kind of 

a mainstay of our community garden that 

we always find space to grow things for 

donation purposes.” 

Organizers of Plant for the Plateau, 

a grassroots awareness campaign, hope 

Lonesome Valley’s efforts will serve as a 

model to encourage other communities 

to launch similar projects, but increasing 

involvement even down to the individual 

level is beneficial. Steps for participants 

are as follows: 

» Pledge and plant needed crops. 

» Email plantfortheplateau@gmail.com 

with a list of the vegetables you pledge 

to grow, date planted and expected 

harvest date. Volunteers will update 

food pantries so they can consider 

projected inventory when budgeting. 

» Harvest and deliver your crops. 

The Plant for the Plateau Facebook group 

connects local farmers and gardeners so 

they can share tips and tricks. In addition, 

both food pantries are always seeking 

donations of time and/or money. More 

information is available at the following 

websites: 

» www.internationalfriendshipcenter.org/ 

foodpantry 

» www.fishesandloavescashiers.org P 

For those looking to give back through 

gardening, spring is the perfect time to 

make a plan, Lanning said. 

“Now is the time to have your garden 

prepared, and once the warmer weather 

is here to stay then you can go about 

planting,” he said. “Don’t overcomplicate 

it. Try to simplify the process as much as 

possible.” 

Lanning suggests determining what 

you can grow well and then picking two 

or three commonly used vegetables so you 

can plant quantities large enough to donate 

rather than growing small amounts 

of a wider variety of things. 

Moore said it’s usually best to start 

planting after Mother’s Day, so he cautioned 

gardeners to resist the urge to start 

too soon. He also recommended figuring 

out ways to use gardening space efficiently 

and relying on a tried-and-true guide: an 

almanac. 

“That will tell you all kinds of great tips, 

like what to plant with what for how to protect 

your crops,” Moore said. “It also helps 

with timing of planting. To every month 

there is a time to plant. Never plant on a 

waning moon. It’s not an old wives’ tale. It 

really is important. Old advice is always 

the best advice.” 

Determine what you can grow well and 

then pick two or three commonly used 

vegetables so you can plant quantities 

large enough to donate. 



Celebration 

Central 

A place to gather in Mountaintop 

By CHRISTINE HENNESSEY » Photos by AARON HOGSED 

Set against the Carolina Blue Ridge Mountains, 

the home is an ideal outdoor adventure 

location while enjoying beautiful views. 



W 

HEN CHRIS ESPOSITO, a native New Yorker, sold his 

business and retired, he moved to Florida. There, he 

met Helen. Originally from Toronto, she’d lived in the 

Sunshine State for over thirty years. The two fell in love, 

and the rest was history. 

“We love our life in Florida,” says Helen, “but we also love the mountains, 

especially at Christmas. We don’t experience much cool weather in Florida.” 

A few years ago, the Espositos were visiting a friend who lived in Cashiers’ 

Mountaintop Golf & Lake Club, an exclusive community that provides 

an exceptional mountain experience, traditional and playable golf, luxurious 

lake recreation and plenty of outdoor activities. Set against the Carolina 

Blue Ridge Mountains, it’s an ideal location for outdoor adventures 

and beautiful views. During their visit, Chris and Helen took in the club, 

the friendliness of the residents, and the beauty of the area and decided to 

make a commitment and purchase a property. 

“We love to hike, we love the outdoors,” Chris says. “We wanted property 

close to the clubhouse so we could walk there and something with a view, 

and we were able to get both.” 

Once they secured the perfect location, their next step was finding an 

architect and a builder to create their mountain retreat. Travis Mileti of 

Mountainworks signed on as custom home designer, which led them to Ben 

Harris of Harris Custom Builders. “We interviewed a few builders and 

were very impressed with Ben,” Chris says. “He showed us some of his 

projects and they were unbelievably beautiful.” 

With vaulted 

ceilings and 

antiquated 

beams, the great 

room creates a 

wonderful space 

for entertaining 

family and 

friends. 


Harris Custom Builders 

Harris Custom Builders has been building 

homes in the Cashiers-Highlands area for 

over 19 years. The firm was founded by 

Ben Harris, a second-generation homebuilder 

who learned the art of building 

houses while working alongside his father 

in Alaska. He moved to North Carolina 

after graduating from college, started his 

own company at the age of 24, and has 

been growing it ever since. 

A boutique company, Harris Custom 

Builders completes between eight and ten 

custom homes a year. “From a business 

standpoint, it’s been a wildly productive 

year,” Ben says. “This time last year, when 

the pandemic was first beginning, we had 

no idea what would happen. But then it became 

apparent that there would be a ton of 

demand.” Despite the increase in demand 

for new construction, Ben has no plans to 

change the way he operates his business. 

“We’re comfortable with where we’re at,” he 

says. “At the end of the day, we want to provide 

our clients a high-quality product and 

guarantee them a great building experience, 

and our current model lets us do that.” 

During most builds, Ben and his project 

managers are on the job site daily, managing 

the day-to-day operations and keeping 

up communications with the client. For the 

Espositos’ home, his participation started 

even earlier. “I was involved with consulting 

as they went through the design process 

with Travis,” he says. “And then we spearheaded 

the project once construction began.” 

Craftsmanship and 

Communication 

“We chose Ben because of his craftsmanship, 

but also for his communication skills,” 

says Helen. This was important since the 

Espositos were in Florida while their home 

was being built. Ben was able to keep them 

up-to-date and involved by sending photos 

and videos of the progress and calling them 

to discuss things as they popped up. “We 

have friends who have built houses and 

thought it was an absolute nightmare,” 

Helen says. “But for us, instead of being a 

headache, it was a pleasure.” 

Part of this was because everyone shared 

a vision for the home. “Ben gave us many 

options and of course we were the ones who 

made the final decision, but this was our 

first mountain home,” Helen says. “It was 

a little more complicated with the foundation 

and some other things. Ben was excellent 

at explaining everything to us so we 

could build a sound home.” 

“They were looking for a summer home, 

a place where they could entertain family 


The mountain 

retreat is exactly 

what the Espositos 

envisioned, 

beautiful, very 

sunny and bright. 


Like many homes in the Cashiers 

area, the house is inspired by the 

mountains. Natural materials from 

the local environment, like wood and 

stone, create a truly timeless design. 

and friends,” Ben says. “They wanted most of 

the house to be on one level, so it has a pretty 

large footprint with five bedrooms on the 

main level and large, grand common spaces. 

That really drove the design philosophy.” 

Above all else, the Espositos wanted 

their mountain retreat to have a timeless 

look. “That was definitely delivered,” 

Helen says. “In ten years, the house still 

will be a little rustic, a little contemporary, 

but timeless. It all just ties together.” 

“Like many homes in the Cashiers area, 

the house is inspired by the mountains,” 

Ben says. “It uses a lot of natural materials 

from the local environment, mostly 

wood and stone, and has a truly timeless 

design, something Travis really excels at. 

Often people get very trendy with their designs, 

and that’s fine, but when houses are 

this well-constructed, they’re going to be 

around for a long time. You want a design 

that will age well.” 

No matter how detailed a plan may be, 

there are almost always a few surprises 


during the build process. The Espositos’ 

home was no different. “The house kind of 

grew as we got into the project,” Ben says. 

“Because of the topography, it’s a steep lot, 

and an unfinished lower level was originally 

designed into the house. Once we got 

it framed out, the Espositos saw how great 

the volume was down there and they decided 

to finish that out, too.” This is fairly 

common, Ben explains. When most clients 

hear “lower level,” they think “dark basement.” 

When they actually see the space— 

which, in this case, included twelve-foot 

ceilings and windows on three sides—they 

start to think “another beautiful room.” 

“We ended up creating an open and airy 

family room downstairs, as well as a big 

exercise room,” Ben says. “In the end, the 

house turned out quite a bit bigger than 

they anticipated, but it flows nicely and it’s 

very functional.” 

Ready to Celebrate 

When the Espositos walked into their 

finished home for the first time, they were 

blown away. “We couldn’t believe it,” Chris 

says. “I kept saying, ‘Do we really live 

here? Do we really own this?’” 

From the antiquated look of the beams 

with just the right patina, to the timeless 

finishes, to the furniture and finishing 

touches coordinated by interior designer 

Cheryl Benitez, the house is breathtaking 

and exactly what the Espositos envisioned 

while sitting on a Florida beach, dreaming 

about a mountain retreat. “It’s just beautiful, 

very sunny and bright.” 

When you walk in, you’re greeted by a 

huge vaulted great room with large pocketing 

doors at the far end that completely 

open. The 20 foot by 12-foot-tall opening 

that connects the great room to the porch 

creates a wonderful space for entertaining 

family and friends. The effect this detail 

gives is one of living outdoors, but with 

modern comforts such as a wood-burning 

fireplace, a covered porch, an eating area 

that seats twelve and a full bar.

Every bedroom has its own 

fireplace and ensuite bathroom. 

“It’s definitely a party home,” Chris says. 

“Helen’s daughter and husband love the 

home; they’ve already visited from Atlanta 

many times.” 

“They’re up there more than we are!” 

Helen adds, laughing. 

Between the two of them, the Espositos 

have four children who already love to 

spend time at the house, whether or not 

Chris and Helen are there. The couple is 

happy to host, even from afar. “The location 

is perfect,” Helen says. “Close to Highlands 

and Cashiers, a little bit of shopping 

and some nice restaurants. Everything 

is very easy to get to.” The layout of the 

house also makes hosting a breeze. Every 

bedroom has its own fireplace and ensuite 

bathroom, and downstairs a second master 

suite boasts its own bar and living 

room. “We can entertain and have family 

members stay with us, but everyone still 

has their own space,” Helen says. 

As for the lower level they decided, during 

the process, to finish out? It’s now a 

personal gym and spa, which the couple 

spent all winter enjoying. “It’s a huge 

room, 20 by 35 feet, with all kinds of exercise 

equipment,” Chris says. “And we still 

get terrific views, even from that level.” 

The biggest issue with their home, the 

couple jokes, is getting visitors to leave 

once their stay is over. 

Looking Ahead 

Because the Espositos moved in during 

COVID-19, their mountain adventures 

thus far have been a bit limited. “We’re 

outdoor enthusiasts,” says Chris, “so we’ve 

found every hike they offered, every mountain, 

some great waterfalls.” 

“We haven’t really gotten to get the full 

club feeling yet, but everyone keeps telling 

us to hang in there, that next year will be 

better,” Helen says. “The people that we’ve 

met are so nice and I’m looking forward to 

meeting more of them next season and enjoying 

the amenities at the club even more. 

I’m just glad we had a beautiful home to 

hang out in in the meantime.” 

They are also looking forward to welcoming 

more guests to their new home and 

have already been fielding requests from 

friends and family eager to travel once 

the pandemic is over. “We’re going to need 

to create a schedule,” Chris jokes, but it’s 

clear he’s looking forward to sharing their 

home with loved ones—and hosting some 

great parties. P 

Resources 

Home Builder 

Harris Custom Builders 

828-547-0777 

harriscustombuildersnc.com 

Home Design 

Mountainworks 

828-743-9677 

mtnworks.com 


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dining review in the kitchen music fest restaurant guide 

Food for 

Thought 

With 27 years of top-tier service, 

Wolfgang's Restaurant & Wine 

Bistro is a favorite amongst 

epicurean enthusiasts. 

PHOTO CHELSEA CRONKRITE 


Wolfgang , s Restaurant 

& Wine Bistro 

Serving high-quality cuisine, top-tier service 

and spectacular memories for over 27 years 

By BRIDGET CALLAHAN » Photos By CHELSEA CRONKRITE 

474 Main Street 


(828) 526-3807 

www.wolfgangs.net 

THE FIRST THING TO KNOW 

if you visit Highlands is you need 

a reservation at Wolfgang’s. The 

beautiful, gracious restaurant 

fills up quickly, especially as the 

warmer spring weather appears and outdoor 

sunset dinners become a pleasure again instead 

of just a pandemic precaution. Wolfgang’s has 

weathered the last year better than most, thanks 

to its well-established reputation of 27 years. 

Highlands regulars have been enjoying 

Chef Wolfgang’s culinary blend of German, 

Cajun and a little bit of everything 

else for decades. But for new visitors to the 

area, this gem of a menu contains a surprising 

amount of specialties waiting to 

become their favorite. And the extensive, 

award-winning wine list is a must-see for 

any wine aficionados. 

Chef Wolfgang and his wife, Mindy 

Green, are themselves a Highlands institution. 

Born in Germany, Wolfgang’s 

career in kitchens took him around the 

world, from Jamaica to Hawaii to New 

Orleans to Dallas, where he met and married 

Mindy. Mindy had a successful clothing 

line, which required business trips 

to Atlanta, and one weekend the couple 

decided to get out of town and drive out 

to the country. They fell in love with the 

Highlands area and almost immediately 

started looking for restaurants, settling 

on the old Hildegard’s restaurant, a small 

50-seat place which had been around for 

several decades. 

“We started basically at ground zero; 

it took us a couple of years to build it up. 

We’ve built the pavilion, then the deck, 

and now the bistro,” Mindy says. She gave 

up her business to take on marketing and 

Thanks to a dedicated staff, Wolfgang’s has 

established a reputation of excellence; Guests 

enjoy an extensive, award-winning wine list. 

front-of-house duties, while Wolfgang went 

to work slowly tailoring the menu to his 

own style. The small wine list of 30 grew 

into an extensive collection of over 750 

wines. The menu grew into a reflection 

of his travels. Now the entire Wolfgang’s 

experience has become such a classic 

Highlands-must, it’s hard to think of it as 

changing. 

The good news is it most likely won’t. 

When asked if they’ve thought of retire- 


ment after so many years, Wolfgang 

laughs and says it’ll probably be another 27 

years. He isn’t looking to leave the kitchen 

anytime soon. And while little menu items 

may change here and there, for the most 

part, if it’s working, why change it? 

“We do have daily specials, but the menu 

itself, everything on there sells so well that 

if I do take an item off, I will hear about it. 

But if we take something off, we’ll still do 

it,” Wolfgang says. And of course, there are 

always the daily specials to play around 

with. This week’s fresh fish is halibut 

and there’s a lobster ravioli. He has some 

(Left) Wolfgang’s indoor dining room (Above) Featured entrees include roast loin of lamb and 

venison au poivre. 

grouper coming in next week. How they’ll 

serve it depends entirely on what they’ve 

got in the kitchen that day. 

Both fish and steak lovers will be 

thrilled by the dinner menu. The starter 

menu features crab cakes in lobster sauce, 

pecan-crusted shrimp and smoked salmon. 

There’s always fresh local trout available. 

And for red meat, the filet mignon is the 

perennial favorite, but the New York strip 

and the chateaubriand don’t lag too far 

behind. Every steak is house aged before 

he will touch it. 

“When you buy from a supplier, you 

want at least four weeks age on it, and we 

age it another four weeks after that. You 

really have to think ahead and not be too 

far off from what you forecast,” Wolfgang 

says. “When you’re in this business, you 

get to have a feeling for what you need, 

what you’ll use. Now and then, I’m off a 

bit, but in general, I’m right on. And deliveries 

are more frequent than they used 

to be, but it’s not a big town where you can 

just say I need this, I need that.” 

“He’s very good at figuring it out; I’ll say 

that. He’s got it down to a science,” Mindy 

says. Her favorite dish is the braised beef 

short ribs, generally considered by locals 

to be the best in town. It’s on the specialty 

menu, where Chef Wolfgang really shows 

off his style with classic Wiener schnitzel 

or Cajun bar-b-que shrimp, served with 

Asiago grits and andouille scented collard 

greens. His own favorite dish? 

“I would probably say the veal cutlets 

Wolfgang. Obviously, I named it after myself; 

I came up with it. It’s a combination of 

continental and Cajun, with veal scallopini 

on cabernet sauce topped with crawfish 

and hollandaise sauce. It’s a very rich dish, 

but we sell a lot of it,” he says. 

The dessert menu features a family 

recipe apple strudel and favorites like 

chocolate mousse and bananas Foster. 

But for something you won’t see on many 

menus, try the strawberries Romanoff. 

Strawberries are sliced and marinated in 

brown sugar and Grand Marnier. They’re 

then mixed with sour cream and whipped 

cream and served in a glass on top of ice 

cream, with Romanoff sauce, a sweet blend 

of blackberries and red wine. 

Mindy, who also helps coordinate special 

events, says the decadent dessert, perfect 

for a summer night, is truly a best seller 

for rehearsal dinners and welcome parties. 

Thanks to a dedicated staff, like chef 

Brian Cress, Wolfgang’s right-hand man, 

Jacque Taylor the intrepid general manager, 

and D’Arcy Adams, director of that 

famous wine collection, Wolfgang’s has 

managed to pull off the trick that so many 

restaurants fail at. For over 27 years, 

they’ve provided consistent, high-quality 

cuisine, reliable, top-tier service and spectacular 

memories. And as Chef Wolfgang 

says, here’s to another 27 more. P 


in the kitchen 

Recipes and Photography by Kim Byer 

Sunday Table 

Full of Grace & Good Food 


» 

The Southerner’s Sunday table is full of grace. Meals start with bowed heads 

and deviled eggs and end with pie. And in between, we feast on baked ham and fresh vegetables. It’s what we do. Even in 

today’s upside-down, curbside-to-go-or-delivered world, Southern cooks make a herculean effort to bring on their Sunday best. 

For the queen of springtime Sundays—Easter— try our lemony shrimp deviled eggs. The lemon zest and sriracha topping will 

tickle your taste buds. Plus, they pair beautifully with our brown sugar-crusted ham, which is studded with cloves and 

dripping with a rich caramel-orange syrup. For dessert, Louise’s Lemon Chess Pie should be your first move. I’ve updated my 

grandmother’s recipe with a pressed almond crust and a powdery gameboard pattern that will delight your youngest—or 

oldest—chess master. Round out your dessert game with a coconut chip bar and a piece of the giant jelly bean chocolate bar. 

Serve with coffee or more sweet tea while someone sneaks outside to hide Easter eggs. 

Broccoli & Bacon Soup 

with Coconut Milk and 

Golden Potatoes 

Serves 8-10 as a side 

Ingredients 

6 slices bacon, chopped 

1 medium yellow onion, diced 

4 medium garlic cloves, minced 

2 teaspoons kosher salt 

1 teaspoon coarse ground black pepper 

1/2 teaspoon dried red chili pepper flakes 

4 cups chicken stock 

1 1/2 pounds baby gold potatoes, diced 

1 1/2 pounds broccoli (both florets and 

peeled stems), chopped 

1 cup milk (or unsweetened nut milk of 

choice) 

1 can coconut milk (15 ounces) 

Garnish with bacon bits, fresh cilantro 

and scallions 

Directions 

1. In a large, heavy soup pot, add 

chopped bacon; sauté until crispy over 

medium-low heat. Transfer bacon 

bits to a paper towel, reserving for 

garnish. Drain most of the bacon 

grease, reserving 2-3 tablespoons 

of the bacon grease in the pot. Add 

onion and garlic and sauté until 

translucent, about 5 minutes. Then 

add kosher salt, pepper and dried red 

chili flakes and stir. 

2. Add chicken stock, chopped baby gold 

potatoes, broccoli florets, milk or nut 

milk and canned coconut milk. Simmer 

until the veggies are soft, about 20 

minutes. 

3. Turn off the heat and carefully transfer 

4 cups worth of soup to a blender and 

blend on high until puréed. Pour, then 

stir the blended soup back into the soup 

pot. 

4. Ladle soup into bowls and garnish 

with chopped bacon, cilantro and black 

pepper. 

5. Store soup (and bacon bits) in the 

refrigerator for 2-3 days. 

Sunday Ham with a Spiced 

Sugar Crust & Clove Studs 

Makes enough rub for 1 large ham 

Ingredients 

Large semi-boneless, pre-cooked and/or 

smoked ham, approximately 10-15 lbs 

Juice of 1 orange (approximately 3 

tablespoons) + a few more (see no. 3 below) 

1 ½ cups brown sugar 

1 tablespoon + 1 teaspoon garam masala 

spice (or substitute Chinese 5-spice) 

2 teaspoons mustard powder (or 

substitute 1 ½ teaspoons Dijon mustard) 

Cloves for studs 

Directions 

1. Preheat oven to 500°F. In a mediumsized 

bowl, mix orange juice, brown 

sugar and spices to form a paste. Score 

outer ham and make a small hole in 

each square with an ice pick. Poke a 

clove into each hole, then rub the mix 

all over the ham and into the crevices 

where possible. Bake for 20 minutes, 

uncovered, in a heavy baking pan. 

2. Reduce oven temperature to 325°F. 

Continue baking uncovered for 

remaining time. Note: Refer to 

directions with ham. Temperature and 

cooking time per-pound will vary. 

3. While ham bakes, add small amounts 

of liquid (orange juice +water mix) to 

the pan to keep the sugar from burning. 

It will cook into a dark, sweet, umami 

syrup. Add ¼ cup liquid every 20-30 

minutes. 

4. If desired, deglaze pan (ham removed) 

by heating over the stove and pouring 

a ¼ cup of orange juice into pan. Using 

a wooden spoon, dislodge the syrup 

on the bottom of the pan and stir 

until thickened. Pour into a separate 

container. Use sparingly with ham. 

5. Allow to cool slightly before slicing. 

Note: Spiral hams are not recommended 

as they will dry out using this method. 




» 

Lemony Shrimp Deviled 

Eggs with Lemon Zest 

and Sriracha 

Serves 6 

Ingredients 

1 dozen large eggs, boiled, peeled and 

halved lengthwise 

Filling 

2 dozen small shrimp (or 4 ounces), 

peeled, deveined and cooked 

¼ cup Duke’s mayonnaise 

3 teaspoons lemon juice 

2 teaspoons onion, minced 

2 teaspoons parsley, minced 

2 teaspoons capers 

1 teaspoon Dijon mustard 

1 teaspoon fish sauce 

A few grinds of black peppercorns 

Toppings 

Zest of 4 lemons 

Sriracha sauce 

Boiled egg yolk and minced parsley 

(optional) 

Directions 

1. Remove boiled egg yolks from egg 

whites. Place into a medium-sized 

bowl. Reserve 4 yolk halves for 

topping. 

2. Chop shrimp into small pieces and 

mix with boiled yolks, mayonnaise, 

lemon juice, onion, parsley, capers, 

fish sauce and pepper. 

3. Refrigerate for at least 30 minutes, 

then stir again and spoon into egg 

whites. 

4. Before serving, top each half with 

a generous pinch of lemon zest, 

a squirt of sriracha, a sprinkle of 

yolk and minced parsley. 

Tip: Egg halves and shrimp filling 

can be prepared a day or two 

before combining and serving. 

Jelly Bean Chocolate Bar 

Makes one giant, double-layer 

chocolate slab 

Ingredients 

1 12-ounce bag mini chocolate chips 

1 10-ounce bag mini white chocolate chips 

Light corn syrup and cold milk (both 

optional) 

1 cup assorted jelly beans, Easter candies, 

and/or sprinkles 

Method 

Line a baking sheet or jelly roll pan with 

parchment paper. Then, in a small-sized 

microwave-safe bowl, follow package 

directions to melt mini chocolate chips 

in microwave— 45 seconds on high, stir 

vigorously then repeat, in increments 

of 15 seconds, until chocolate is smooth. 

Spread layer onto parchment paper 

with a solid spatula, then sprinkle with 

1/3 of the jelly beans and candy. Place 

baking sheet into refrigerator while you 

repeat the melting method on the white 

chocolate chips. Spread the layer of white 

chocolate on top of the chocolate, then 

sprinkle with remaining jelly beans and 

candy. 

Tip: For a thick and chewy chocolate bar, 

add 1 tablespoon of corn syrup and cold 

milk while microwaving and stirring 

vigorously. Corn syrup adds shine and 

softness and cold milk will coax the 

chocolate out of a seized state. 



Louise’s Lemon Chess Tart 

Makes one 11-inch tart 

Almond Crust 

1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour 

1/2 cup powdered sugar 

1/2 cup slivered almonds 

1/2 cup cold, unsalted butter, cut into 

cubes 

Filling 

1 1/2 cups sugar 

4 large eggs 

1 tablespoon all-purpose flour 

1 tablespoon cornmeal 

1/4 cup milk 


1/4 cup butter, melted 

1/3 cup fresh-squeezed lemon juice 

1 tablespoon lemon zest 

Confectioners’ sugar for dusting 

Lemon slices and mint leaves for decoration 

Directions 

1. Preheat oven to 350°F. In a food 

processor, combine the flour, powdered 

sugar, almonds and butter and pulse until 

the mixture is the consistency of soft sand. 

2. Press the crust mixture evenly into the 

bottom and up the sides of an 11-inch 

tart pan. Set aside in refrigerator. 

3. In a large bowl, combine sugar and 

eggs. In a small bowl, whisk flour and 

cornmeal and stir into egg mixture. 

4. Gradually add milk, melted butter, lemon 

juice and zest. Pour into unbaked tart shell. 

5. Bake for 35-45 minutes or until center 

of tart is firm. Allow the pie to cool 

completely. Remove side and bottom of 

tart pan and place tart on pie stand. 

6. Just before serving: Lay seven 1/2-inch or 

7/8-inch strips of ribbon at equal distances, 

across the tart. Dust with confectioners’ sugar. 

Carefully remove (sugared) ribbons, then 

place them at opposite (perpendicular) angles 

in equal distances across the tart. Dust again. 

Remove ribbons, add embellishments and 

serve immediately. 

Tip: Grating zest from a lemon is easier 

before slicing and squeezing the juice. Also, 

please note that the pie’s sugared pattern will 

disappear if/when the pie is refrigerated.

Coconut Chip Bars with White 

Chocolate Chips & a Butter 

Pecan Crust 

Makes 24 small square bars 

Butter Pecan Crust 

2 cups all-purpose flour 

1 cup brown sugar 

½ cup chopped pecans 

½ teaspoon kosher salt 

¾ cup high-fat butter, melted 

Filling 

4 cups unsweetened shredded coconut, 

divided use 

1 cup mini white chocolate chips 

½ cup all-purpose flour 

¼ cup brown sugar 

½ teaspoon kosher salt 

3 large eggs 

1 (14-ounce) can sweetened condensed milk 

¼ cup high-fat butter, melted then slightly 

cooled 

1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract 

1 coconut, shelled, with meat shredded 

Directions 

1. Preheat oven to 350°F. Line the bottom and 

sides of a 13 x 9 pan with parchment paper. 

2. In a large bowl, mix flour, brown sugar, 

pecans and kosher salt together; then, stir in 

melted butter. Firmly press into the bottom 

of the pan using a solid spatula to flatten the 

batter. Bake for 15 minutes or until golden 

brown. Remove and allow to cool. 

3. In a large bowl, mix 1 ½ cups of shredded 

coconut, white chocolate chips, flour, brown 

sugar and salt together. In a small bowl 

gently beat eggs, condensed milk and vanilla 

extract together. Then, slowly pour (slightly 

cooled) melted butter into liquid while stirring 

constantly. Pour over dry batter and stir until 

mixed. 

4. Spoon over crust then add a layer of the 

2 ½ remaining cups of unsweetened shredded 

coconut and all of the freshly shredded 

coconut. Bake for 35-40 minutes or until the 

filling is set and pale golden. Allow to cool 

then refrigerate for at least 1 hour before 

lifting the parchment paper/bars out of the 

pan. Slice into small squares and serve cool 

or at room temperature. Store leftovers in the 

refrigerator for up to one week. Bars can be 

frozen for up to 3 months. 

Coconut shredding 101: Crack open the 

coconut by hitting the shell forcefully once 

or twice with a hammer. Remove the meat. 

Using a paring knife, peel off the skin, then 

shred the edges using a peeler. 


music fest 

Screen Weary? 

Bear Shadow takes music lovers offline and into the mountains 

By KELSEY REIDLE 

MONTHS OF UNCERTAINTY 

and trepidation threatened 

the first Bear Shadow 

mountain music festival, but 

plans for the weekend event 

are finally locking into place. With a new, 

larger venue came additional COVID-19 safety 

considerations as well as the ability for event 

planners to work around necessary restrictions. 

The festival, which has become an opportunity 

to help relieve a bit of ‘COVID 

fatigue’ after the 2020 Highlands Food 

and Wine was canceled, will certainly be 

a unique experience for music lovers, but 

Bear Shadow organizers are confident that 

a secluded venue and a creative format will 

guarantee a weekend of entertainment, 

musical fellowship and perhaps even a bit 

of familiarity for those who long for the 

days of intimate mountaintop gatherings. 

Bear Shadow, scheduled for April 23-25, 

may not happen if Eleven Events, in partnership 

with Highlands Festivals, Inc., 

hadn’t been able to secure Winfield Farm, 

a bucolic 50-acre farm in Scaly Mountain. 

While original plans intended for the festival’s 

flagship concert series, Base Camp, 

to be held in Kelsey-Hutchinson Park, attendees 

at Winfield Farm will be able to 

purchase tickets as part of smaller groups 

while remaining distanced from others. 

Plans include seating groups of four 

to eight attendees in COVEs (contained 

open-air viewing environments) situated 

six feet from each other. 

Casey Reid of Eleven Events explained 

the operational challenges involved in 

planning such an event. Her team was 

forced to find new, creative strategies while 

working around additional unplanned 

expenses. Despite the logistical and financial 

hurdles, however, the vision for Bear 

Shadow has gone unchanged: To support 

the Highlands-Cashiers Land Trust and 

its mission while offering a fun, varietypacked 

event in the plateau spirit. 

PHOTO BEAR SHADOW 


While several Bear Shadow events will 

still occur in and around Highlands, options 

were limited for Base Camp, which 

is expected to draw up to 1,000 attendees. 

Performers include Robert Ellis, Drew Holcomb 

& The Neighbors, Mandolin Orange, 

Thad Cockrell and St. Paul & The Broken 

Bones, among others. 

“In order for this to move forward, we 

had to move it out,” she explained. “Our 

mission is to really support our stakeholders 

in Highlands, including our hotels and 

inns, and our restaurants and retailers. It 

hurt for us to have to move Base Camp out 

of the center of town like we usually have 

for Highlands Food and Wine.” 

But a schedule packed with layered 

events designed to invite people to explore 

the parts of Highlands they may not be 

familiar with is an opportunity Reid’s 

team continued to hold on to. From an intimate 

gathering with the legendary Chuck 

Leavell at The Farm at Old Edwards, to 

a three-night drive-in rock inspired film 

festival at the Performing Arts Center, to 

Saturday’s guitar clinic with Robert Ellis 

at the Highlander Mountain House and a 

complimentary energizing movement yoga 

session in the park, the weekend offers 

something for music lovers of any budget. 

“We’ve really found that our folks who 

come to Highlands Food and Wine enjoy a 

more intimate experience where everyone 

feels like a VIP in a way,” Reid explained. 

“They’re not coming up here to go to a 

5,000-person festival. We always imagined 

Bear Shadow as more of a micro-festival 

compared to other similar events.” 

The Highlands-Cashiers Land Trust will 

be leading an excursion to the top of Satulah 

Mountain on Saturday and Sunday, offering 

hikers the unique opportunity to take in the 

mountain’s 360-degree view of three states 

while enjoying refreshments and acoustic 

performances by Devon Gilfillian (Saturday) 

and Thad Cockrell (Sunday). 

Reid and her team know the energy of a live 

musical performance is unmatched by any 

virtual experience, and they’re enthusiastic 

about the future of live music festivals in a 

post-COVID-19 era. Like the bear emerging 

from her winter slumber, music lovers are 

eager to adopt a new kind of normal. 

Read more about Bear Shadow, including 

ticketing information and frequently 

asked questions, at bearshadownc.com. P 

Drew Holcomb 

Bear Shadow Weekend Lineup 

» Thursday, April 22 

Chuck Leavell @ The Farm 

at Old Edwards 

» Friday, April 23 

Drew & Holcomb & The Neighbors 

@ Base Camp 

Shelly Colvin @ Base Camp 

Thad Cockrell @ Base Camp 

Robert Ellis @ Base Camp 

Chuck Leavell 

Jamestown Revival 

» Saturday, April 24 

Mandolin Orange @ Base Camp 

Jamestown Revival @ Base Camp 

Love Canon @ Base Camp 

» Sunday, April 25 

St. Paul & The Broken 

Bones @ Base Camp 

The War & Treaty @ Base Camp 

Devon Gilfillian @ Base Camp 


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828.743.0623 

Cashiers | North Carolina 

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 

1536 Franklin Road, Highlands 

828-526-2338 

ontheverandah.com 

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). 

Pecan crusted 

shrimp at 

Wolfgang's 

Restaurant & 

Wine Bistro 

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. 

Randevu Restaurant (C) 18 Chestnut 

Square, 828-743-0190. A rustic and cozy 

eatery serving American fare. Try the classic 

eggs benedict or monte cristo for breakfast, 

and for lunch the black and blue tuna sandwich 

or classic Rueben. 8am-3pm, Wed-Sun. 

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. 

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

(T) Lake Toxaway 


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. 

Come Experience the All New 

Club Car Onward TM PTV 

Whiteside Brewing Co. (C) 128 Hwy 107, 

828-743-6000. Serving up American pubgrub 

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) 2254 Dillard Rd., 828-421- 

2042. A cozy speakeasy for the sweet-tooth, 

offering decadent and gluten-free fudge 

brownies, banana bread and cakes like coffee 

cake, caramel cake and red velvet cake. 

Savor on-site or take-out. 

Sales, Service 

and Parts for Club Cars 

Serving WNC since 1993! 

Open 8am – 5pm 

18029 Rosman Hwy, Sapphire, NC | 828-884-4653 

appalachiangolfcars.com 

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. 

Whether it’s grooming or a 

special treat, we have 

eveything your furry family 

member needs from top 

rated food brands to wellness 

products, toys & more! 


FireMoss Pottery 

and Ceramic Art 

By appointment only 

until April. 

107 Lance Road, Cashiers NC 

239-331-0054 

AUTHENTIC MEXICAN FOOD 

Burritos | Tacos| Fajitas| Quesadillas| Full Bar 

Mon-Sat 11am –9pm 

45 Slab Town Road, Cashiers NC 

828-743-1160 

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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. 

Barbecue 

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), castiron 

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 

serving wine and 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. 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. Fullservice 

catering is available. Lunch and 

dinner seasonally. 

M-Brace Café (H) 462 Dillard Rd., 828- 

787-1212. A cozy café offering crepes, sandwiches, 

wraps and salads. Friendly staff 

and quick service. Breakfast, lunch and

dinner, 11am-7pm Wed-Sat. 

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 rainbow trout, Carolina grouper and 

Maryland-style 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 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. 

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 bone-in 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 Michelin-star 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. 

New American Cuisine 

Seasonal menus showcasing 

regional products 

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 

R 

B 

EST 

A 

E 

K 

F A 

S 

T 

& 

L 

U 

HIGHLANDS, NC 

N 

C 

H 

2019 

BLUE BIKE CAFE 

A Casual and Affordable Café 

Offering Delicious Food 

Check out our New merchandise. 

T-shirts, hats, mugs, homemade jam. 

Breakfast and Lunch 

423 N 4th Street, Highlands NC 

828-526-9922 


UNDER NEW OWNERSHIP 

family owned and operated 

A Little Taste in 

The Mountains 

mustards | jams and jellies | pickled 

vegetables | oils and vinegars | bbq 

sauces | steak sauces | dips | olives | 

bruschettas | pretzel dips | peanuts 

| honeys | pepper jellies | pancake 

syrups and mixes and much more! 

colonelmustardshighlands.com 

col.mustardshighlands@yahoo.com 

343 B Town Square 

Main Street, Highlands 

(828) 526-8697 

Colonel Mustard’s of Highlands 

@col.mustardshighlands 

Highlands 

Highlands is calling... 

THE BEST RENTAL SOURCE IN HIGHLANDS 

Chambers 828-526-3717 | www.highlandsiscalling.com Realty 

& Vacation Rentals 

is calling... 

THE BEST 

RENTAL SOURCE 

IN HIGHLANDS 

The longer you stay, the less you’ll pay. 

Contact us direct for the best guaranteed rate. 

Chambers Realty 

& Vacation Rentals 

The longer you stay, the less you’ll pay. Contact us direct for the best guaranteed rate. 

REPRESENTING BUYERS AND SELLERS SINCE 1941 

• See Homes • Check Availability • Book Online: info@highlandsiscalling.com 

THE BEST RENTAL SOURCE IN HIGHLANDS 

The longer you stay, the less you’ll pay. Contact us direct for the best guaranteed rate. 

828-526-3717 | www.highlandsiscalling.com 

828-526-3717 | www.highlandsiscalling.com 


• See Homes • Check Availability • Book Online: info@highlandsiscalling.com 


We can help you turn your vacation into a forever home. 

812528 

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 

812528 

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, madefrom-scratch 

take-home meals. Also offering 

full-service catering for any occasion. 

Open seasonally. 


REAL ESTATE FORUM | Special Advertising Feature 

41 Hearthstone Way 

Cashiers 

Gorgeous Moss Creek designed timber frame 

home with multiple design awards and write ups 

in several architectural and lifestyle magazines 

including Pinnacle Living and Custom Wood 

Homes. Conveniently located only 10 minutes 

to downtown Cashiers, this amazing home is 

perched above Trillium Links and Lake Club's 

17th tee and enjoys golf course frontage plus 

beautiful views down the fairway and to the 

mountains beyond. Mountain living has never 

been more comfortable with approximately 

6,500 sf of living space and 4,000 sf of deck 

space - perfect for entertaining! 

MLS# 95263 | Offered for $3,700,000 

Mary Abranyi 

(828) 226-9818 


39 Crescent Trail 

Highlands 

A picture of good taste and style, this beautiful 

home is surrounded by enchanting gardens and 

trails, babbling water features, a gazebo, and 

dock. The living room has a ceiling that soars 

two stories, a floor-to-ceiling stone fireplace, 

a wall of glass that opens to the spacious 

covered deck, and a built-in bookcase. With 

350’ of lake frontage on Lake Ravenel, this 

private retreat has many options for enjoyment. 


Judy Michaud & Mitzi Rauers 

Judy: (828) 371-0730 

Mitzi: (404) 218-9123 


81 South Old Wahalla Road 

Highlands 

The perfect blend of historic charm and 

modern comfort, this unique property features 

three separate homes. The striking fourbedroom 

main house is simply stunning; there 

is a separate one-bedroom guest house and a 

delightful two-bedroom cabin. The main house 

showcases tall, vaulted wood ceilings, a cozy 

stone fireplace and walls of windows in the 

living room. The kitchen has quality appliances, 

a large island and sweeping countertops. Set 

on more than eight acres, the property includes 

a well-appointed dog kennel, wine cellar, a 

creek, and a pavilion beside the lake.. 


Judy Michaud (828) 371-0730 

Tom Goldacker (828) 200-9045 

Mitzi Rauers (404) 218-9123 


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. 


Judy Michaud (828) 371-0730 

Mitzi Rauers (404) 218-9123 


346 Hummingbird Lane 

Highlands 

This wonderful European-style cottage has just 

the right amount of mountain flair. Located at 

Highlands Country Club overlooking the Donald 

Ross golf course with views of the three fairways 

and greens, this home provides the perfect spot 

to relax on the deck and enjoy the golfers miss 

those long putts! This home offers four bedrooms 

and 4.5 baths with the master bathroom and 

bath on the main. The upper level holds two 

large ensuite bedrooms. Above the two-car 

garage is a large room that would be perfect for 

a game room. 

MLS# 94671 | Offered fo $1,900,000 

Judy Michaud & Mitzi Rauers 

Judy: (828) 371-0730 

Mitzi: (404) 218-9123 


Highlands 

3BR/2 baths renovated home within 

2.4 miles of Main St. Highlands 

MLS 94729 | Offered for $359,500. 

Contact Jeannie@highlandsiscalling.com 

for more information. 

Chambers Realty & Vacation Rentals 

Highlandsiscalling.com 



671 Zeb Buchanan Road 

Cullowhee 

Yellow Mountain boasts the highest elevation 

and offers the finest estate opportunity on the 

Cashiers-Highlands Plateau. The 205+ acre 

property, which adjoins the Nantahala National 

Forest, has roads and utilities in place for a lowdensity 

estate development, or it can be 

enjoyed as a single or shared family estate. 

Yellow Mountain Preserve is beautiful...by 

nature. 

MLS 95168 | Offered for $8,450,000 

Liz Harris 

828-342-3194 

McKeeProperties.com 

657 Smoky Ridge Rd. 

Cullowhee 

Ethyl’s Cove Farm is a 157+ acre fine estate 

property, boasting all the wonderful outdoor 

features that draw people to Cashiers: spectacular 

long-range mountain views, Lake Glenville 

frontage with a dock, rolling open meadows 

(some fenced and cross fenced), a pond with an 

active, flowing stream, private waterfalls and 

miles of trails. The land is unrestricted and 

located 9.5 miles from the center of Cashiers. The 

renovated cottage is charming and 

overlooks the majority of the property; plus, many 

additional building sites for a future main 

house or subdividing are available. 


Beth Townsend 

(828) 421-6193 

beth@cashiers.com 

9583 Cullowhee Mountain Road 

Cullowhee 

The Preserve at Eagle Crest is a 72+ acre estate 

property on its own ridge features long-range 

views of Lake Glenville, Yellow Mountain and 

many more mountain ranges. The property has 

no restrictions and may be used to build a 

private compound or subdivided. Three buildings 

made of antique materials are on site to use as a 

guest house and/or workout facility. Located 

about halfway between Cashiers and 

Cullowhee, the property offers easy access 

to Lake Glenville for boating, fishing and 

swimming. An opportunity as nice as this does 

not come along often! 


Wayne Monday 

(828) (828) 508-8661 

wayne@cashiers.com 

1269 Cherokee Trace 

Cashiers 

Located at a high point on approximately 3.5 

acres in Wade Hampton Golf Club, a McKee 

Development, this home offers privacy and 

fabulous mountain views. Designed by the area’s 

top home and interior designers, this is 

essentially a brand new home offered with an 

exceptional furniture package. The outdoor 

space overlooks gorgeous, pristine views of the 

mountains in nearby National Forest. This home 

is a special beauty! 


Liz Harris 

828.342.3194 

liz@cashiers.com 

349 Little Ellijay Circle 

Franklin 

Little Ellijay Farm is a beautiful, 100+ property 

close to the Snowbird Community. Full of charm, 

it features gorgeous views, rolling land, a main 

house, a guest house, an art studio, a large 

functioning barn, gardens, a chicken coop, fruit 

trees, fenced pasture land, fresh water ponds, 

springs and creeks throughout! 


Liz Harris 

828.342.3194 


Off SR 1120 

Glenville 

This pristine large tract in the Cedar Creek area, 

located approximately five miles to center of 

Cashiers, is almost completely surrounded by 

three conservation easements: Chinquapin’s 

(700 acres), The Webb family’s (600 acres) and 

Campbell’s (50+ acres). This parcel has old 

logging trails, rock outcroppings and a central 

“bowl” — prime for clearing as a meadow. A 

pretty stream headwaters on this high elevation 

tract and has several small sets of ripples and 

falls. The views have not been cleared, but will 

be substantial. 


Beth Townsend 

828.421.6193 



115 Silver Springs Road 

Cashiers 

This is a charming, classic mountain home 

located in the highly sought-after community 

of the Wade Hampton Golf Club, a McKee 

Development just five minutes from Cashiers. 

The home has gorgeous, sweeping, long-range 

views year round and is located on a spacious 

1.42 acre homesite. The exterior features 

beautiful stacked stone, cedar shingles and 

gentle, nearly-level topography. 


Liz Harris 

828-342-3194 


62 Bowline Court 

Cashiers 

This lovely, four-bedroom cabin in Mountaintop 

Golf and Lake Club offers great mountain views 

and is within easy walking distance of the 

clubhouse and amenities! Current finishes 

provide a “ready to go” opportunity without the 

need for remodeling or building. The master suite 

is located conveniently on the main level, and 

three spacious guest suites are located on the 

upper level. This is a fantastic and rare 

opportunity in Mountaintop! 


Liz Harris 

828.342.3194 


CT-1 Feather Moss 

Cashiers 

Located in Silver Run Reserve, this Meyer- 

Greeson-Paulin-Benson designed home in the 

Mountain Cottages section features a 4 

bedroom, 4.5 bath floor plan. The Mountain 

Cottages boast beautiful mountain and wooded 

views on 0.3 to 0.5 acre lots, and are located 

within a short walking distance to The Lodge 

and the center of the community. Home of the 

2020 Cashiers Designer Showhouse, Silver Run 

Reserve offers a variety of activity-focused and 

natural amenities. 


Liz Harris 

(828) 342-3194 


1898 Cherokee Trace 

Cashiers 

UNDER CONTRACT — Located in Wade 

Hampton Golf Club, a McKee Development, this 

stately 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. All rooms are 

generous in size, and the bedrooms (two on the 

main level) are nicely separated for ultimate 

privacy. This property has wonderful garden 

space available and very easy access through the 

south gate of Wade Hampton. A new cedar 

shake roof was installed in 2020. 


Beth Townsend 

828.421.6193 


19 Buck Knob Island 

Glenville 

This home is located on the top knoll of Buck Knob 

Island in the middle of Lake Glenville! One of only 

nine homes on the island, it conveys the feeling 

of secluded living, while remaining completely 

accessible and convenient to the mainland of 

the nearby town of Cashiers. This home has the 

most wonderful wood work and details in its 

craftsmanship. The primary bedroom, on the 

main level, has a large, walk-in closet and spacious 

bathroom. Twoguest ensuite bedrooms upstairs 

offer guests privacy and plenty of room to enjoy 

theirmountain experience. Most of this home’s 

furnishings, the boat and the ATV are negotiable. 


Philip Bradley 

843.224.5592 

philip@cashiers.com 

Off Cedar Creek Road 

Glenville 

Introducing “Sarvis Ridge” — rolling meadow, 

dense woods and a table-flat building site at 

the top — at 4,020 elevation. The meadow 

features a small, dipping pond. The property 

can be divided into four parcels (with five-acre 

minimums). The Webb Lake 1930’s cabin, a 

common area lake and trails and a caretaker 

home are directly across the road from this 

prime tract. Southern to eastern views are into 

the 600-acre Webb conservation easement. 

This heritage property has unlimited potential! 

MLS 95707 | Offered for $875,000 

Beth Townsend 

828.421.6193 




2, 2A, 2B Turnberry Lane 

Cashiers 

Large lot and in town! This property is too 

good to be true. Located in the desirable 

neighborhood of Sheepcliff Crossings just 

minutes from the Crossroads. This lot has 

a good building site, plenty of privacy, 

and slopes down to the headwaters of the 

Horsepasture River. 

MLS 94650 | Offered for$120,000 

Maggie Elmer 

(803) 493-5734 

maggie@cashiers.com 

R-46 Ox Lock Road 

Cashiers 

Build your home at Wade Hampton Golf Club! 

This competitively priced, gently sloping, 

wooded lot provides an excellent building site for 

your mountain getaway. Located on a quiet 

and secluded cul-de-sac of four lots, the property 

is not far from the clubhouse and driving 

range. Wade Hampton Golf Club is a McKee 

Development neighborhood featuring an 

awardwinning golf course designed by Tom 

Fazio which continues to maintain high rankings 

among golf courses throughout the world. 

MLS 94423 | Offered for $110,000 

John Barrow 

828.506.9356 

john@cashiers.com 

R26 Cherokee Trace 

Cashiers 

A fantastic opportunity to own a buildable lot in 

the exclusive community of Wade Hampton 

Golf Club! This beautiful, wooded lot has a rock 

face on the back of the property that would be 

a great natural accent to any garden. The 

community consists of 255 properties, of which 

161 have homes on them. Wade Hampton 

Golf Club was designed to blend nature with a 

home community and offer the best mountain 

amenities available anywhere. This lot is one of a 

kind and can be best appreciated only by seeing 

it in person. 

MLS 95662 | Offered for$90,000 

Philip Bradley 

843.224.5592 

philip@cashiers.com 

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 


By KATIE MCELVEEN 

Unexpected 

Luxury 

The Swag, a North Carolina 

mountaintop inn, is a stress-free getaway 


Just a ten minute stroll from the 

main lodge, Gooseberry Knob is 

a perfect spot for lunch. 

It’s 9:30 pm on a Tuesday night and my husband Bill and I 

are staring into the fireplace in our cottage at The Swag, a 

16-room Relais & Chateaux mountaintop inn located just 

outside Waynesville, NC. We’re feeling absurdly proud of 

our little fire – out of practice and impatient to create a 

roaring blaze, we’d watched attempt after attempt spark, 

catch…and die. Nearly out of kindling and starter fluid, we 

celebrated our triumph then promptly fell asleep. 

Our first day at The Swag was just the antidote 

we needed after months quarantining 

at home. We’d spent the afternoon rambling 

around the overlooks, creeks, gardens and 

meadows that fill the 250-acre property 

before unpacking and getting ready for 

dinner. I’d hoped to linger on the porch but 

didn’t want to miss the chance to mingle 

with the other guests at the nightly predinner 

cocktail hour. 

Dinner at The Swag is an elegant, multicourse 

affair that begins each evening at 7 

p.m. Be sure to book a table on the breezy 

dining porch, which overlooks blooming 

gardens and, in the distance, tall mountain 

peaks. You place your dinner order early in 

the day and once you’ve chosen your wine, 

the rest of the meal is stress-free. The food 

is lovely – approachable and delicious, yet 

fancy enough to feel special—and much of 

it comes from local producers as well as the 

inn’s own garden. 

Couples—it was all couples during our 

stay—chat with each other and, occasionally, 

with guests at surrounding tables. 

The Swag is owned by Annie and David 

Colquitt, who honeymooned at the property 

in 2011 and, seven years later, purchased 

it from the inn’s original owners who were 

friends of Annie’s grandparents. 

Since then, the couple has made a number 

of changes, including the addition of a 

small spa and a wine bar as well as new 

furnishings in each of the rooms. 

“Our goal is to stay true to the inn’s authentic 

feel and sense of place, but with a 

fresher look,” explains Annie. “We want 

guests to feel like they’re staying in someone’s 

mountain home.” 

They’ve succeeded. The décor in each 

room feels as if it was collected over the 

years—a portrait here, an interesting chair 

there, a collection of books ranging from Kipling 

to King lined up on a shelf. There are 

treasures to discover as well, like the enormous 

copper tub that graced our bathroom or 

a set of benches created by woodcrafter David 

Howard after he spotted similar seating at a 

nearby schoolhouse. 

Getting to The Swag is easy—most of the 

route is via interstate highways, about five 

hours drive from Charleston – but be prepared 

to spend about 20 minutes inching along the 

twisty drive that takes you from the road to 

the resort, which sits at 5,000 feet up. Luckily, 

once you’ve arrived, you’ll have no reason—or 

desire—to leave. All meals are included in the 

room rate (alcohol is extra), and thoughtful 

extras like a cooler full of drinks, afternoon 

snacks, stocked in-room fridges and coffee setups 

with beans, grinders and brewers make 

provisioning trips unnecessary. The resort 

even provides hiking sticks, bug spray, water 

bottles, backpacks and small coolers so you 

can take your lunch with you to enjoy outside. 

I would have been perfectly happy if the list 

of amenities had ended there, but here’s my favorite 

offering: the resort shares a border with 

Great Smoky Mountains National Park. For 

outdoorsy types, that means incredible access 

to hundreds of miles of hiking trails through 

some of the most beautiful landscapes in the 

country. Even a stroll in the woods is trans- 

PHOTOS CHIP HENDERSON, THE SWAG 


Most rooms at The 

Swag come with 

wood-burning 

fireplaces and 

plenty of kindling. 

formed into a kaleidoscope of sights, smells and the 

near absence of sounds not found in nature. 

I spent one morning on the path to Hemphill 

Bald, a boulder-strewn overlook I shared with half 

a dozen cows and just two other hikers. The trail 

cut through deep woods before opening onto a sunny 

ridge lined with wildflowers; along the way I ran 

into several flocks of wild turkeys, a few deer and a 

couple of cows gone walkabout. 

Another day, I joined a small group hike led by 

naturalist Nancy East, who is one of just 680 people 

to have hiked all 900 miles of trails within Great 

Smoky Mountains National Park. 

The hike is one of many organized by The Swag 

to encourage guests to explore the park more deeply 

than they might on their own. As we strode over 

the path, Nancy shared harrowing tales from her 

volunteer job as a member of the park’s search and 

rescue team, pointed out rocks, boulders and plants 

that had stories to tell and passed along cool factoids 

about the park. 

We returned in time for me to grab Bill and wander 

up to Gooseberry Knob, a lush meadow on the 

resort’s property. A gazebo and Adirondack chairs 

make it impossible not to pause and take in the 

endless view of the mountains and fields below. 

And that is the beauty of The Swag. Everything 

within the resort and its magnificent backyard are 

ready for you to take in and enjoy, at whatever 

level you need that day or that moment. It’s an 

unexpected luxury that we could all use a bit more 

of right now. P 

www.theswag.com. 

The Swag’s newest 

offering is a low-key 

wine bar. 

Hiking trails 

crisscross 

The Swag’s 

expansive 

property. 


Sunset by the Shore 

Explore Beaufort, NC, in style 

By KATHERINE PETTIT 

Situated on ten acres across from the 

barrier islands with views of Taylor’s 

Creek, the Beaufort Hotel offers the 

privacy of a resort-style setting. 

Make sure you arrive at the Beaufort Hotel in time to 

check in, head to the patio of 34° North Restaurant, order your favorite 

libation, and toast the sunset as you watch the magic appear. This is 

North Carolina’s Beaufort (pronounced Bo-firt) – historic, beautiful and 

fun-filled, no matter what your pleasure. 

First, the hotel. Find it on ten acres across 

from the barrier islands, with views of 

Taylor’s Creek. It’s in a resort-style setting, 

with plenty of privacy. A member of 

Concord Hospitality Enterprises, this newest 

vacation destination along the Crystal 

Coast of the Southern Outer Banks creates 

unforgettable memories and remarkable 

amenities. In your room, you’ll find plush 

linens (feel the richness), internet, large flat 

screen TVs, signature bathrobes – ooh so 

comfy – and high quality Tommy Bahama 

eco-friendly products. Think casual and 

luxurious, pampered and relaxed. There 

are concierge services, an outdoor swimming 

pool, a fitness center, a lobby marketplace 

for life’s little necessities and a guest 

laundry, just in case. 

If there’s a chill in the air, consider a glass 

of wine in front of the lobby fireplace. This 

takes cozy comfort to a new level. 

The thing is, you may not spend lots of 

time in the room. There are so many ways 


to enjoy yourself, no matter what your preferences. 

Of course, sitting on your waterview 

balcony, sipping the hotel’s Maker’s 

Mark Private Select® Bourbon, is a great 

way to unwind after a day of play. (Look 

for it in their restaurant as well.) You may 

even see the wild horses on Rachel Carson 

Reserve. 

If you want to stay in for dinner, take a 

look at 34° North Restaurant’s menu. You 

already know about the views, but here are 

a few insider tips on expertly-prepared dining 

options. Seafood lovers can’t go wrong 

with pan-seared scallops as a starter. Or, 

don’t overlook the crispy pork belly. Try 

them both and share. The pan-seared 

grouper is one of the most popular entrees 

and everyone loves their bourbon bread 

pudding with brown butter bourbon ice 

cream. Beyond yum! 

Or, blaze your own dining trail. Are you 

traveling with the kids or taking a romantic 

few days of R&R? Either way works at 

this hotel. It might be fun to scout out the 

surroundings first. And if you are thinking 

of the perfect wedding venue, consider one 

couple who got very lucky on their special 

day, when the owner of a vintage boat 

docked at the Beaufort Hotel, and allowed 

them to take wedding photos on board. Talk 

about magical! Even the business meetings 

have a bit of fairy dust sprinkled around. 

Everything works better when the behindthe-scenes 

professionals have it all covered. 

If you’ve left the little ones at home for 

your first trip, ask the concierge about children’s 

activities in the area for the future. 

There are plenty, in addition to the outdoor 

pool and spacious grounds. And your little 

ones will feel welcome and pampered, and 

that makes Mom and Dad happy, too. 

Although you may want to stay on site 

forever, take advantage of the many ways 

to play and learn. Rent a kayak and paddle 

over to Rachel Carson Reserve with its 30 

wild horses. Beaufort Paddle offers rentals 

and instruction. Shackleford Banks is another 

island with resident horses – perhaps 

100 of them. Island Express Ferry Service 

is the only ferry authorized to drop off visitors 

at the banks as well as Cape Lookout 

National Seashore to see the 161-year-old 

lighthouse. 

And there’s another treasure you’re sure 

PHOTOS BEAUFORT HOTEL

Cape Lookout National 

Seashore is accessible by 

boat or ferry to see the 

161-year old lighthouse. 

Hungry Town Tours is a 

great way to discover 

Beaufort with a guide 

or on your own. 

34° North Restaurant 

at the Beaufort Hotel 

serves breakfast, 

lunch, upscale dinner, 

weekend brunch 

and in-room dining. 

to love. Miss Crystal Coast Lady will take you to 

Sand Dollar Island which features the best hunting 

grounds for sand dollars. It’s also surrounded 

with shallow tidal pools for safe swimming and 

excellent snorkeling. Picture your catch of sand 

dollar beauties on display back home – a lasting 

reminder of the fun you enjoyed. 

Or sign up for Lookout Cruises, where you’ll 

enjoy cushioned seating aboard a 42-ft catamaran. 

Plenty of shade and large clean restrooms guarantee 

a very pleasant experience. 

Want to stay ashore? Consider Hungry Town 

Tours – a guided, or on your own bike tour. It’s 

a great way to pedal around town, discovering 

the history, culinary arts and shops. Why the 

name? It was briefly called “Hungry Town” in the 

1713 plan for the area, but the name was quickly 

replaced with Beaufort – much better, although 

hungry visitors can find plenty to satisfy themselves, 

including Aqua Restaurant, where the local 

catch and grilled rack of lamb are topped only 

by their bananas Foster. 

When you’re strolling by shops (and in the lobby of 

the hotel), stop to check out the glass stingrays created 

by local artist Stan Harmon. His stingrays are world 

renowned, and makes a perfect memento of your trip. 

Children of all ages will appreciate the ties 

famed pirate Blackbeard had to Beaufort. You’ll 

discover amazing stories of him and his crew at 

the North Carolina Maritime Museum. Seek out 

the Old Burying Ground if you enjoy reading old 

tombstones and finding out more about Beaufort’s 

oldest residents. The town was founded in 1709 

and has been going strong ever since. The Beaufort 

Historic Site will assist in finding the historic 

homes that are charming. Priceless furnishings 

and artifacts intrigue the most casual visitor. And 

finally, old and new come together at the Harvey 

W. Smith Watercraft Center, where boatbuilding 

is still happening. It’s easy to see why noted author 

Nicholas Sparks chose Beaufort as the setting for 

two of his novels. 

It’s a hotel you’ll love, a trip you’ll remember and 

a town you’ll return to. P 

Explore more at: beauforthotelnc.com 

hungrytowntours.com 

stanharmonglassart.com 

islandexpressferryservice.com 

Beaufort, NC Accolades 

America’s Most Romantic Towns 

Travel + Leisure 

Best Small Town for Adventure 

USA Today 

South’s Best Small Town 

Southern Living 

Coolest Small Town in America 

Budget Travel 


the last reflection 

Tough Decisions Made Easy 

Sometimes the perfect choice is– there isn’t one 

By ANNE WOLFE POSTIC 

IN OCTOBER, A LOVELY YOUNG WOMAN REARended 

me at a stop sign. She was sweet and honest, 

apologizing profusely and accepting responsibility 

immediately. When she asked for a hug, I obliged. No 

one was hurt, so we exchanged information and went our 

separate ways. Hooray! Right? As it happens, my car was totaled. No 

big deal, since her insurance was footing the bill. Months passed as 

the insurance adjuster dealt with some personal problems, seemed 

overwhelmed at work, and took a well-deserved vacation. Then 

the holidays came. At the time of this writing, the claim lingers, 

unresolved, but that’s a whole ‘nother story, as they say. 

Silver linings and mundane joy are my jam, so I let my 14-year-old 

son choose my rental wheels, which lead to a selection of American 

muscle cars. They were fun! But the last one, a Mustang convertible, 

stole my heart. I fell hard, and even decorated it with Christmas 

lights for the holidays. Giving it back was going to hurt. 

For months, I agonized over whether to buy another new car or 

something used. My frustration grew while I waited on a settlement, 

the imaginary storm cloud growing with each unanswered 

email. I missed out on end of the year deals and dreaded using savings 

to get a new car. We’re in the middle of a pandemic, I thought, 

what if I need every penny to escape to…I wasn’t sure where. 

The Mustang was the vacation no one could take. A short drive 

to the grocery store — top down, wind in my hair, heated seats activated, 

and Engelbert Humperdinck blasting from the speakers — 

felt like a trip to somewhere new. Or at least a weekend getaway. 

My feelings about returning to the family car game were not 

mixed so much as negative, but I knew it was the right thing to do. 

Or was it? On not quite a whim, I visited my favorite purveyor of 

used cars. After some discussion, he delivered the verdict, “If you 

came here to be talked out of the Mustang, you came to the wrong 

place.” I slept on it, woke up the next morning feeling at peace, and 

asked him to find one. It arrives next week! But I digress. 

Decisions come with adulthood, and perfect choices are elusive. 

You ponder options for days (or weeks or months). You lie awake 

at night, wondering which job is right, if you should get a dog, or 

whether the teal velvet sofa is practical. You wander the aisles of 

the grocery store, unable to put your finger on what exactly you 

want. So you come home with a bunch of mismatched groceries 

and order pizza, which isn’t what you wanted either. 

The best way to manage that anxiety is to do something. How 

do you start? Flip a coin. If you’re disappointed with the result, go 

with the other choice. If you feel relieved or happy, stick with it. 

Still unsure? Make lists, pros and cons. Which list was the hardest 

to make? If there aren’t enough pros to justify an option, move 

on. Did you struggle to think of cons? Decision made! 

If that doesn’t work, ask for advice. May I recommend someone 

who will tell you what you want to hear? While our car dealer 

friend is definitely an expert, and I knew I could trust his advice, 

I’d also seen quite a few sporty cars on his lot. If you ask someone 

who knows what they’re doing, and they give you the advice you 

want to hear, you still got good advice. 

Ask yourself what happens if you make the wrong choice, 

whatever that is. What’s the worst-case scenario? Can you live 

with that, or is the benefit not worth the risk? After researching 

Mustang safety ratings and reliability, and being sufficiently 

impressed, I realized that if a drop top doesn’t bring me the joy 

I imagine, I can sell it. Very few decisions are irrevocable, even 

the big ones. 

Children crave control. Adults soon realize that control isn’t all 

it’s cracked up to be, and choices can be stressful and consuming. 

Acknowledging that there is no perfect choice, and often no clear 

winner, goes a long way if the goal is not to win, but to achieve 

peace. After all, my used Mustang might be someone else’s less 

than perfect choice, but I bet we’re both sleeping just fine. And I 

can’t wait to drop that top as soon as the sun comes out. P 


Custom Home Building on the 

Highlands-Cashiers Plateau 

Photos by Woeltjen Photography 

Completed 2020 in Mountaintop Golf & Lake Club 

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 Apr-May 2021

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