Tar Heel Travels for August 2004

Cashiers
Escape summer's sauna to hike along waterfalls pouring from majestic peaks
Below: The stately High Hampton Inn and Country Club is listed on the National Register of Historic Places

By Bill F. Hensley
Someone once said that “bragging isn’t bragging if you can prove it.” He must have known the man I met in Cashiers recently. He was a one-man chamber of commerce for the area.

Tucked away quietly in the southwest corner of the state, Cashiers is a charming place that has become all things to all people. In talking with the enthusiastic resident, I was told that the quaint village “has got it all.”

“It is peaceful, scenic, diverse, friendly and casual,” he said proudly. “It’s the most beautiful place imaginable, and it’s air conditioned by nature.”

 I certainly couldn’t disagree.

At an elevation of 3,485 feet, the Jackson County town anchors the surrounding area of Lake Glenville, Sapphire and Lake Toxaway and is near the junction where the state joins South Carolina and Georgia. It is surrounded by the towering peaks of the Blue Ridge mountains and features fertile valleys; thickets of rhododendron, laurel and azaleas; swift-flowing streams and rivers; and picturesque lakes.

It’s a delightful place to live, mainly because of its relaxed, casual aura where people know your name but don’t stick their noses in your business. Old-fashioned southern hospitality, history, heritage and traditions run deep in this mountain paradise. Thankfully missing are flashing neon lights or any sign of a honky-tonk atmosphere that is often found in widely popular travel destinations.

From the peak season of May to October, Cashiers (pronounced CASH-ers by the locals) welcomes more than 10,000 visitors annually. The town prides itself on its cleanliness and has become a haven for outdoor enthusiasts who take in the scenic splendors. Hiking is big here with numerous trails up, down and around the steep terrain.

Visitors also enjoy reeling in trout from a cool stream; playing golf on challenging courses; taking a whitewater trip; riding bicycles on off-the-beaten path trails, or boating on one of the many lakes.

Less active visitors browse in the many fine shops in town or just settle back and enjoy the cool breezes and awesome vistas. After sundown they dine in a number of excellent restaurants, attend plays, concerts or lectures, or applaud the local entertainment. When it’s all over, they go to sleep under a blanket, even in summer.

A trip here wouldn’t be complete, however, without seeing the more than a dozen waterfalls that are easily accessible. Whitewater Falls is the granddaddy of them all and is the highest in eastern American. It has an upper cascade of 411 feet, making it higher than Niagara Falls. It has a drop of 800 feet. But there are more; falls with such names as Silver Run, Sliding Rock, Hurricane and Rainbow are no less magnificent and are fun to explore.

A favorite trek is a forested path along the roaring Horsepasture River that features three dramatic falls within a mile. Pack a picnic lunch and see what Mother Nature has created in these majestic hills.

There are a variety of scenic drives through the Cullasaja Gorge; Horse Cove to the Chattanooga River; through Whiteside Cove; and to the overlooks of the Blue Ridge Parkway at Blue Valley and the Devil’s Courthouse. This is mountain viewing at its best.

The venerable High Hampton Inn is the area’s most renowned hostelry. A popular destination since the 1920s, it is now serving its fourth generation of loyal, enthusiastic families from around the south who come here for the rustic accommodations, the family dining and the personable service. Other mainstays include the Millstone Inn, Innisfree Inn, Laurelwood, Mountain Inn, Cottage Inn, and Fairfield Sapphire Mountain Resort.

The area’s top-rated inn is The Greystone on Lake Toxaway, a 15-mile drive. It boasts Four Stars and Four Diamonds for its outstanding cuisine, service and facilities, including golf and a spa. Be sure to take owner Tim Lovelace’s late afternoon champagne cruise around the lake and learn more about the history of this fascinating locale.

Golfers can tee it up at High Hampton, Sapphire Mountain or Highlands Cove or — if you know a member — at Wade Hampton, Sapphire Valley and Trillium. All the courses are in dramatic settings and offer a variety of challenges because of the rolling terrain and many natural hazards.

Dining in the Cashiers area is casual and unique. The Market Basket, for example, is a popular in-town restaurant that is housed in a grocery store. It offers excellent entrees and features nightly entertainment.

Other notable dining spots include Mica’s, the Library at Sapphire Valley, Lightwater Grille and Horacio’s. For lunch, try the Cornucopia, a homey deli-style restaurant with tasty sandwiches and gourmet dinners. Diners can eat outside on a covered deck or inside in one of the valley’s oldest buildings.

Come October, the area turns into a colorful and lavish display of natural beauty when the leaves of a million trees change from a cool green to sparkling reds and yellows, lighting up the area like a fireworks display that never ends. Visitors come from around the nation to enjoy the unforgettable scenery. They fill the many inns quickly, so be sure to make reservations before coming here for the fall color show.

As the longtime resident said, Cashiers has much to offer. But you need to see for yourself what this special place is all about. For more information, call 828-743-5191 or visit www.cashiers-nc.com.


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