c a s h m e r e | Luxury at the Edge of the World c h i m n e y p o n d f a r m | Love, Lake, & Legacy c h r i s t i a n p a l a z z o l o | The Nature of Cars b e t w e e n r i d g e & r i v e r | Living with Wildlife
S I LV E R C R E E K R E A L E S TAT E G R O U P
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ADVERTISING THAT
Moves Markets
R E A C H I N G B U Y E R S AT S C A L E
Our national advertising in Architectural Digest, Golf Digest, Vogue, GQ, and select Condé Nast titles is designed to create demand for the HighlandsCashiers Plateau. We are not advertising individual homes. We are attracting qualified, lifestyle driven buyers at scale. When those buyers engage, they are introduced to our portfolio of properties, positioning your home in front of a broader and more relevant audience. This approach expands your reach and increases the likelihood of attracting the right buyer. M O R E R E A C H . M O R E R E L E VA N C E . M O R E R E S U LT S .
A LETTER FROM OUR FOUNDER & CEO
There is no more beautiful time to experience the Highlands-Cashiers Plateau than fall. As cooler days and crisp mountain evenings return, Mother Nature transforms the landscape with brilliant color, showcasing the Plateau in all its beauty. Within these pages, we explore the fascinating history behind Trappist beer, travel to Tuscany to discover the region’s seasonal treasures, and celebrate the unparalleled lifestyle and landscapes of Lake Glenville. This issue reflects what we have always wanted NC Living to represent: exceptional homes and design, certainly, but also the people, destinations, and experiences that make life interesting. That same philosophy extends beyond the pages of our magazine. Beginning in May, the Silver Creek Social House events have brought together clients, friends, and community members in both Highlands and Cashiers. These gatherings have created an opportunity to connect in a relaxed setting and strengthen the relationships that have always been at the heart of Silver Creek. As we enter the fall selling season, the real estate numbers are telling an equally interesting story. At the time of publication, overall sales volume across the Plateau has increased by approximately 21 percent. Silver Creek’s sales volume has increased 67 percent, growing at more than three times the rate of the overall market. That performance gap is significant, and it is not accidental. We believe it reflects a fundamentally different approach to pricing, positioning, marketing, and exposure. Today’s buyers have more information and more choices. Simply placing a property in the MLS and waiting for the market to respond is no longer a strategy. Exceptional marketing is not optional. It is a prerequisite for generating sales. NC Living is an important part of our marketing ecosystem, complemented by sophisticated digital campaigns and high-net-worth buyer targeting, strategic national advertising, proprietary content, and global exposure through Leading Real Estate Companies of the World and Luxury Portfolio International.
Our objective is simple: put exceptional properties in front of the right buyers, wherever those buyers may be. For property owners considering a sale, fall presents a compelling opportunity. The Plateau provides a spectacular backdrop for showcasing a home, with brilliant foliage and a lifestyle that continues to attract buyers from across the country. If you’ve been considering ownership in this extraordinary setting, or if you are ready for the next chapter, now is the time to begin the conversation. In the meantime, I hope you enjoy this issue of NC Living and another extraordinary fall on the Plateau.
J O C H E N LU C K E Founder, CEO, and Broker of Silver Creek Real Estate Group, and Publisher of NC Living® Magazine
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2 SI LVE R CR E E K R EA L ESTATE GRO UP
JOCHEN LUCKE
Founder | CEO | Broker
GRACE BIXBY Marketing Operations Managing Editor
KYLEE HAMBY Community Engagement Coordinator
MARY ELLIS FERGUSON Lead Designer Art Director
CONTRIBUTING WRITERS Ellen Jones Patricia Laurent Robert McEveety
Copyright © 2026. NC Living® is owned and published by Silver Creek Real Estate Group at 341 U.S. 64 West, PO Box 430, Cashiers, NC 28717. 828-743-1999. All real estate advertised herein is subject to the federal Fair Housing Act, which makes it illegal to advertise “any preference, limitation, or discrimination because of race, color, religion, sex, handicap, familial status, or national origin, or intention to make such preference, limitation or discrimination."
VOLUME 10 NUMBER 5
ON THE COVER Curate mountain interiors with lasting beauty and meaning. Photo by John Bessler via Press Loft pressloft.com. See page 12 for more details.
S c a n t o S u b s c r i b e
GRAND SUITE ON THE VENICE SIMPLON-ORIENT-EXPRESS. PHOTO COURTESY OF BELMOND BELMOND.COM/EN
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within the folds
126
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LIFESTYLE C H R I ST I A N PA L A Z ZO LO Page 06
DESIGNING TOMORROW ’S HEIRLOOMS Page 12
BETWEEN RIDGE & RIVER Page 18
TRAPPIST BEER Page 82
OUR TOWNS: GLENVILLE Page 90
CARS, COFFEE, & G E N U I N E P L AT E A U C A R E Page 96
146
AN EVENING IN THE ORCHARD Page 114
C A S H M E R E AT T H E EDGE OF THE WORLD
R E A L E S TAT E EXCLUSIVE OFFERINGS Page 24
THE BEST OF TIMES Page 72
F E AT U R E D L I S T I N G Page 96
Page 120
THE GRAPE ESCAPE Page 126
C H I M N E Y P O N D FA R M Page 142
T H E T R A I N T H AT TA U G H T U S TO D R E A M Page 146
OUR TEAM Page 102
EXCLUSIVE LAND OFFERINGS Page 132 FOLLOW US ON SOCIAL INSTAGRAM @NCLIVINGMAG FACEBOOK @NCLIVINGMAGAZINE
TOP LEFT: THE GOLDEN AGE OF TRAVEL LIVES ON WITH THE VENICE SIMPLONORIENT-EXPRESS. PHOTO COURTESY OF BELMOND BELMOND.COM OPPOSITE: DISCOVER THE CULINARY TREASURES OF CASTELFALFI, ITALY. PHOTO BY GEORG TAPPEINER COURTESY CASTELFALFI CASTELFALFI.COM
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words by robert mceveety
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photography by christian palazzolo
T H E N AT U R E O F C A R S
“FORCE OF NATURE” — AUDI R8 V10 PERFORMANCE SPYDER UNDER BRIDAL VEIL FALLS IN HIGHLANDS, NC
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At 15 years old, Christian Palazzolo takes some of the most striking automotive photographs in the world — and many of them are being shot right here on the Plateau. This summer, he brought his lens and his debut coffee table book back to these mountains for a month-long showcase at The Bascom. One of the first photographs featured in Christian’s book, “The Nature of Cars,” is of a blue Bentley emerging from heavy fog on a stretch of road in Cashiers. The image, titled “London Fog,” earned a place among the top 100 entries in the Auto Photo Awards last year, competing against thousands of submissions from photographers worldwide.
“911 SUNSET”— A RARE TEAL PORSCHE 911 GT3 TOURING THAT PLACED SECOND IN THE INTERNATIONAL PHOTOGRAPHY AWARDS
Christian’s work has already received the kind of recognition most photographers spend a career chasing. In 2025, his photograph “911 Sunset,” a portrait of a rare teal Porsche 911 GT3 Touring caught in the last light of the day, took second place in the automotive category at the International Photography Awards (IPA), competing against more than 14,000 entries from over 100 countries.
LIGIER P320
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Christian was sitting in English class when his mother texted him that he’d won. “I was just losing it,” he recalls.
LAMBORGHINI AVENTADOR SV
ABANDONED CAR ON THE PLATEAU
Christian learned the art through trial and error, practice, and self-criticism. “I tended to go a little too close,” he says of his early work. “So, I kind of just learned from my mistakes.” He shot and kept shooting. Almost exclusively cars. A school assignment once asked him to photograph his dog. It didn’t go well. “He was constantly moving,” Christian recalls. “I didn’t know how to make him look professional. Whereas cars are standing still. Besides, with cars, I know what people like.”
To understand how a 15-year-old got here, you have to go back to the toys. A N E A R LY O B S E S S I O N
Christian has been infatuated with cars for as long as he can remember. “I was always obsessed with Hot Wheels as a kid,” he recalls. “And I still am.” As he got older, television shows such as “Top Gear” and later, “The Grand Tour,” provided an entertaining crash course on all things automotive. Soon enough, his father, a car enthusiast himself, began to take him along to local events and car shows. And it wasn’t long before Christian was borrowing his dad’s phone to photograph anything with four wheels and a nice paint job. One day, he asked his parents for a camera, specifically an Olympus Stylus One. With zero formal education in photography and no experienced mentor on hand to guide him, young
He began arranging his own shoots and chasing down rare cars to photograph, shooting everything with that Olympus Stylus One. Then one day, almost on a whim, he and his mother went looking online for photography competitions and found the International Photography Awards. Together they submitted his photograph, “911 Sunset.” After that second-place award, everything changed. “Before, it was car shows and tracking cars down,” Christian says. “Suddenly, I had people who wanted to schedule shoots for their cars.” His access to extraordinary automobiles, in his own words, went “way, way higher.” As did his access to state-of-the-art cameras, like the Fujifilm X-T50 he now uses today. THE EYE
But the cameras are just tools. Talk to Christian about the work, and what comes through is how clear-eyed he is about it. He knows what he is good at, and he knows why. The car belongs at the center of the frame, he says, but the world around it is what makes the picture sing. He
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uses light, weather, and landscape to frame and illuminate his subjects, then he trusts a restrained hand at the edit to let the photograph speak for itself. “I really had to teach myself how not to overedit,” Christian says. The cars featured in his book are extraordinary on their own — a Lamborghini, an Audi R8, the teal Porsche from the IPA-winning shot, the Bentley in the Cashiers fog — but Christian’s photographs turn them into something more. Viewed through his lens, set against the backdrop of a soaring cliffside or through the reflection of a sunlit puddle, the exquisite design of these remarkable machines — and the talents of the young photographer who captured them — will impress even those who care nothing for cars. And Christian’s talents have not gone unnoticed. Since the IPA win, he has been named an Artist in Residence at Marriott’s Art Ovation Hotel in Sarasota, where a VIP reception sponsored by Porsche Sarasota nearly sold out his entire show. Not long after, he was invited to cover the fiveday Celebration Exotic Car Festival benefiting the Make-A-Wish Foundation. In May, Christian’s work appeared in “FujiLove Magazine,” the international magazine for Fujifilm photographers. Each was a small confirmation of what those IPA judges already knew.
T H E P L AT E AU A S ST U D I O
It’s no accident that so many of Christian’s best photographs were taken in and around Highlands and Cashiers. His family has a second home in the area, and he has been coming up in the summers for years. Now, it is his favorite place to work. “The nature up here makes shooting so good,” he says. Christian has been to the Cashiers Cars and Coffee gathering, the monthly meet-up that draws collectors from across the region, and he wishes Highlands had its own version. He is, in other words, already paying attention to the car culture of the Plateau. His Bascom show was the formal beginning of that relationship.
OPPOSITE: “LONDON FOG” — THE AWARD WINNING PHOTO OF A BENTLEY CONTINENTAL GT
“G WAGON STORM” — MERCEDES-AMG G63
“FERRARI REFLECTIONS” — FERRARI 458 SPECIALE APERTA
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THE SHOW
W H AT CO M E S N E X T
The Bascom was a fitting room for Christian’s work. Last year, he shot an Audi R8 on the iconic Will Henry Stevens Bridge, which serves as the entrance to The Bascom itself. Of course, Christian didn’t know at the time he would be exhibiting his work inside that same campus a year later.
Christian’s ambitions are clear, if appropriately open-ended for a 15-year-old. He wants to shoot for luxury automotive brands. He wants to do the kind of editorial campaigns that fill the pages of the magazines he has been reading since he was a child. He wants more time on roads like the ones around Highlands. And, as of recently, he is interested in driving. He got his first car earlier this year.
“It’s kind of just a cool place,” he says of the center for visual arts. “It reminds me of that shoot. And we got some really amazing pictures out of it.” Built on a former horse farm just outside downtown Highlands, the institution has been a fixture of the Western North Carolina arts scene for 40 years. More than 25,000 visitors pass through its galleries annually. Christian’s photography exhibit was a huge hit. At the meet-and-greet, he had the chance to connect with the Plateau’s most avid car collectors and owners. One of the best outcomes of the event was that several guests requested custom shoots of their own vehicles on the Plateau.
Asked what the area means to him, his answer is fast and unguarded. “Happiness, I think, is the best way to describe it,” he says. “I love it here. I really, really do love it here. The weather is great. The scenery is great.” He pauses, then adds, “It’s really just fun.”
CHRISTIAN PALAZZOLO
917-657-7861 | info@carstocamera.com carstocamera.com
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THE RIGHT BALANCE OF CONTRAST, COLOR, AND TEXTURE WILL GIVE A HOME PERSONALITY AND TIMESLESS CHARACTER. THE ABERFELDY ARMCHAIR; $3,903. PHOTO COURTESY OF ANBOISE.COM 12 SI LVE R CR E E K R EA L ESTATE GRO UP
DESIGNING
tomorrows’
HEIRLOOMS C R E AT I N G I N T E R I O R S W I T H L A ST I N G B E AU T Y A N D M E A N I N G
words by ellen jones
Once upon a time, kitchens lasted 40 years. Not because anyone was especially sentimental about oak cupboards, but because replacing them required effort and a level of disruption most people reserved for moving house. Today, kitchens rarely make it past the decade mark. Sofas get swapped because beige had its moment and lost it. Cabinets are repainted because interiors glossies decided brass was in, then out, then “actually always classic.” According to the 2026 Houzz & Home Study, homeowners are spending more than ever on renovating, often driven by aesthetics rather than necessity. Somewhere in that cycle, a question has started to surface: “Will this still make sense in 30 years?”
That question sits at the center of a growing shift toward legacy-led interiors — homes designed not as seasonal expressions but as long-term compositions. In other words, it’s not about décor or trend, but something closer to inheritance. Recent National Kitchen & Bath Association trend reports reflect a wider shift in residential design, too — homeowners are gravitating toward natural materials and timeless styles designed to support how they live now and how they may live in the future. And firms like Pinehurst-based Batten Court Design are beginning to define a different kind of luxury altogether. For Elizabeth Valkovics, Batten Court Design’s Founding Principal, the idea of designing tomorrow’s heirlooms begins long before a fabric sample or paint swatch enters the room.
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If we look at the last decade of interiors, one thing becomes obvious: people have been collectively afraid of making mistakes, leading to neutral palettes and all-whites that offend no one and excite even fewer. The logic was simple: keep it neutral, maximize resale value, and avoid regret.
THE TERRACOTTA EFFECT COLLECTION BY MARLBOROUGH TILES. MARLBOROUGHTILES.COM
INTERIOR DESIGN BY BATTEN COURT DESIGN. PHOTOGRAPHY: LUMEN CREATIVE CO. BATTENCOURT.COM
DESIGNING BEYOND TRENDS
“Sourcing beautiful, well-made pieces that, if treated with love and care, will be passed down to future generations is key,” Valkovics explains. “Prioritizing design centered around quality pieces that will stand the test of time has always been a hallmark of our design studio,” she continues. “But we also steer our clients to make bold choices with pieces they love. In my opinion, the quirkier and more personal, the better.” It’s a deceptively simple definition. But it reframes the entire premise of residential design. A home is no longer a finished product at handover. It is an evolving collection of objects, materials, and surfaces that accumulate meaning over time. Imagine a leather armchair that softens with every year of use. A dining table marked by birthdays, homework, and the occasional red wine incident that never quite disappears. A brass handle that darkens where hands naturally reach for it. These aren’t imperfections. They are records. THE MYTH OF TIMELESS NEUTRALITY
Interior trends have always existed, of course. There were the avocado bathrooms of the 1970s, the Tuscan kitchens of the early 2000s, and the all-gray era of the 2010s. The difference today is speed. Social media has compressed trend cycles from decades into months, leaving homeowners constantly wondering whether they’re already behind.
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But in trying not to date a home, we often drain it of personality at the same time. “A safe design is boring and can date your home quickly,” Valkovics says. True longevity, according to Batten Court’s approach, comes from intentional contrast: light and dark, smooth and textured, traditional and contemporary sitting within the same space. “We look at spaces holistically with furnishings, artwork, and lighting,” Valkovics explains. “For instance, we may use a more traditional cabinet door style with contemporary knobs and lighting to give the space a transitional or contemporary feel.” Trends don’t need to be avoided entirely; it is more about refusing to let them dictate the entire composition. A moody powder room can sit comfortably next to a restrained, architectural kitchen. A bold artwork can disrupt an otherwise calm palette. Variety, carefully controlled, is what keeps a home from aging into irrelevance. The irony is hard to miss. In avoiding bold decisions, many interiors end up becoming instantly recognizable… and therefore instantly replaceable.
Legacy design takes a different stance. It allows for contrast, specificity, and pieces that don’t necessarily “match” in a cataloged sense but belong together more humanely. Valkovics describes it through the lens of composition: “We always go back to balance, unity, variety, emphasis, movement, rhythm, proportion, and scale.” M AT E R I A L S T H AT E V O LV E & E N D U R E
Luxury itself has changed. Once defined by rarity or excess, it is increasingly measured in craftsmanship. Handmade ceramics. Joinery that took weeks rather than days. Bespoke upholstery. Objects with provenance rather than popularity. The easiest way to understand heirloom design is to look at materials that not only endure over time but refuse to stay the same. Unlacquered brass is one of Valkovics’ favorites. It arrives bright, almost formal, and then slowly changes its mind. It darkens where it is touched, softens where air reaches it, and eventually develops a patina that belongs only to that house.
“These metals oxidize naturally when exposed to air and, over time, create a beautiful wear pattern,” Valkovics explains. “It’s also naturally anti-microbial. Nature is awesome, isn’t it?” She’s a big advocate for marble and limestone, too. Often criticized for being “high maintenance,” these materials are treated differently in this philosophy. They are not protected from life; they are allowed to absorb it. “Marble and limestone literally absorb the history of a home,” she says. Soapstone behaves similarly, deepening from pale gray to near charcoal over time. “With one project, we used quartzite for the kitchen because it’s bold yet timeless,” reveals Valkovics. “Natural stone will always have a quality to it that engineered stone will not, and it’s a functional piece of art.” Oak and walnut, finished with oils rather than sealed under synthetic coatings, are permitted to breathe. Scratches are not corrected away but accepted as part of the surface language. Even leather becomes something else entirely. Not worn out…just more itself. “Embrace the scratches,” Valkovics says simply. There is a profound
LEFT: MANHATTAN COCKTAIL CABINET BY ARTERIORS; $12,625. ARTERIORSHOME.COM MIDDLE: SIGNATURE ROUGE FLOOR TILE. PORCELAINSUPERSTORE. CO.UK RIGHT: ARMCHAIR UTRECHT, DESIGNED BY GERRIT T. RIETVELD FOR CASSINA; $5,715. DESIGNITALY.COM
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confidence in that instruction. It removes the idea that surfaces must remain untouched to be valuable. And of course, in mountain homes where weekend gatherings and generations of family memories are part of the fabric of daily life, a little wear is evidence of a life well-lived. “If you want to create a legacy home, choose to invest in artisan pieces that have been crafted and hewn with true skill,” Valkovics states. “These are the pieces that will last and be passed down through generations.” H O M E S T H AT G R OW W I T H YO U
As we’ve established, the most common misstep in renovation is not excess but caution. Too uniform. Too afraid of vibrancy. But homes built this way tend to collapse under the weight of their own anonymity. They are technically flawless and emotionally forgettable. “Don’t be afraid of contrast, color, and texture,” Valkovics says. “We think of home design the same way we work on our hotel projects. It needs to be consistent, but with slight accents and breakout spaces.” This idea — that a home can contain variation without losing coherence — is central to legacy design. It acknowledges that life is not static, and therefore neither should interiors be. A well-designed heirloom home not only reflects who lives there now; it anticipates who might live there later. Children grow. Families change shape. Rooms are repurposed without apology. Batten Court’s approach starts with questions rather than aesthetics. “Every project starts with questions,” says Valkovics. “Who is this for? Where is the project? What is the architectural style?” From there, the focus shifts toward adaptability — spaces that can shift function without requiring total reinvention. A guest room that becomes a study. A media room that turns into a retreat. A kitchen designed not only for entertaining but for long-term daily use. Luxury, in this sense, is structural flexibility. THE FUTURE IS PERSONAL
DON’T SHY AWAY FROM VIBRANCY AND PERSONAL TOUCHES. SPRING ALMANAC MURAL WALLPAPER. PHOTO COURTESY OF WOODCHIP & MAGNOLIA WOODCHIPANDMAGNOLIA.CO.UK
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If you’re considering investing in home renovations, Valkovics has some sage advice. “First, invest in good-quality fixtures and choose unlacquered brass faucets, cabinets, and door hardware,” she asserts. “Next, choose natural materials. Lastly, invest in a great designer!”
It is a hierarchy that places permanence above decoration. Fixtures before finishes. Materials before mood boards. Thinking before shopping. And perhaps most importantly, guidance over guesswork. The shift toward legacy. There is a broader cultural movement sitting behind all of this. A growing discomfort with disposable interiors. A fatigue with spaces that are designed to be photographed more than lived in.
TOP LEFT: CHOOSING ARTISIAN MATERIALS IS KEY WHEN CREATING A LEGACY HOME. HERITAGE ORFORD FREESTANDING SLIPPER BATH; $2,030. SANCTUARY-BATHROOMS.CO.UK TOP MIDDLE: MAKE YOUR HOME AN EVER EVOLVING COLLECTION OF PERSONAL PIECES THAT ARE DESIGNED TO SUPPORT HOW YOU LIVE . PHOTO VIA PRESS LOFT PRESSLOFT.COM MIDDLE: VINTAGE ROSE SID STRIPE LINEN BEDDING. PHOTO COURTESY OF THE SECRET LINEN STORE SECRETLINENSTORE.COM BOTTOM LEFT: CUSTOM OUTDOOR AWNINGS BY THOMAS SANDERSON. THOMAS-SANDERSON.CO.UK BOTTOM MIDDLE: INVESTING IN QUALITY FIXTURES AND COUNTERTOPS ALLOWS YOUR HOME TO EVOLVE WITH YOU WHILE REMAINING TIMELESS. PHOTO COURTESY OF ARMAC MARTIN ARMACMARTIN.COM BOTTOM RIGHT: INTERIOR DESIGN BY BATTEN COURT DESIGN. PHOTOGRAPHY: LUMEN CREATIVE CO. BATTENCOURT.COM
“Homeowners view their spaces as their personal sanctuaries that, when designed well, allow them to breathe and live well,” Valkovics notes. “The next generation of luxury homes is a shift from disposable culture… focusing on spaces that have meaning, longevity, and cultivate connection.” That shift changes the role of design entirely. It is no longer about keeping up. It is about staying put. A legacy home does not try to escape time. It collects it. In the patina of a countertop, the soft edge of a well-used step, or the slow deepening of wood, stone, and brass. And perhaps that is the most radical idea in contemporary interiors: not that a home should look new, but that it should become more itself the longer you live in it.
battencourt.com
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LIVING WITH WILDLIFE
words by robert mceveety p h oto g r a p h y by m o l ly h a r r i s
Some of Jason Love’s most vivid childhood memories come from summers spent at his grandparents’ house in the North Georgia mountains: the woods, the streams, and the nights spent under a street light, watching the small swirling galaxy of insects that gathered around it. A few years ago, when Jason went back and looked at that same light, there was hardly anything in it. As a wildlife biologist and the associate director of the Highlands Biological Station at Western Carolina University, Jason has spent three decades studying what happens to animals when the land around them changes. This September, at Silver Creek Real Estate Group’s Social House event “Between Ridge and River: Living With Wildlife,” Jason will share what that work has taught him about the magnificent creatures we share these mountains with. He’ll also talk about the surprisingly small choices that we can all make to help our wild neighbors thrive T H E SA L A M A N D E R C A P I TA L OF THE WORLD
Our stretch of the southern Blue Ridge is the salamander capital of the world. Between 50 and 60 species live across these mountains, with different ones turning up in different ranges; on the 22 acres of the Highlands Biological Station alone there are 14. “Nowhere in the world can you find that,” Jason says. Alongside his scientific papers, he published a children’s book called “Shady Streams, Slippery Salamanders,” which follows two boys catching salamanders and surveying fish in a Blue Ridge stream. These salamanders ask very little of the world. One might live its entire life inside a range of a few meters, which means a researcher can mark it, come back five years later, turn over the same log, and find the same animal sitting there. Their metabolisms run so slow that a few insects will keep them going.
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THE PROBLEM
But as Jason will tell you, those insects are under threat. They evolved here alongside the native plants, and they haven’t yet learned to make much use of anything new. So, when the native plants go, the insects that feed on them go, and then those salamanders that feed on those insects go too. And it all happens by accident. A house gets built, a landscaper gets called, the native plants are yanked out, and in goes the turf and the English ivy. The new yard looks immaculate. “But it’s like a plastic tree,” Jason says. Nothing can eat it.
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Jason isn’t shy about the problems facing our Plateau and the wildlife that makes its home here. It’s a sad fact that North America has lost around 3 billion birds since 1970, close to 30% of the total. Insect populations are similarly down worldwide. As a serious birder himself, Jason has felt the loss keenly, hearing far fewer birds calling this year than in any season he can remember. W H AT H E L P S
As Jason is keen to share, helping to reverse this trend is not that complicated, and most of the time the fixes will cost a homeowner very little. Rather than introducing new species to your garden, you can plant natives. They’re sold at nurseries right
here on the Plateau, and a yard built from these plants looks as good as one that isn’t. And don’t forget to leave some of your yard alone. Leaves in the driveway can stay a while. A messy corner of a property is often the best habitat on it. “It’s okay to let things be,” Jason says. Another fix is to put any outdoor lights on motion sensors, rather than keeping them on from dusk till dawn. In a strange quirk of fate, that galaxy of insects that Jason once watched in his grandparents’ street light has diminished partly due to the light itself. Insects evolved to navigate by the sun and the moon, and a bulb burning till dawn scrambles the whole system as the insects circle it until they’ve spent everything they have. Using a sensor keeps the porch lit when useful, lowers the power bill, and brings the fireflies back. SHADY STREAMS
These mountains are the water towers of the Southeast, and the creek at the bottom of your property feeds the Chattooga River or the Little Tennessee. “We need to treat these streams like they’re precious because they’re holding precious water,” Jason reminds us. Leaving a strip of vegetation along any creek or stream on your property allows the plants that naturally grow there to continue to hold the bank together and keep the water cold. When the foliage is cleared out for a better view or easier access, that stretch of stream can warm by as much as 15 degrees over a summer, which is the difference between water a trout or salamander can live in and water they can’t.
A LIFE IN THE FIELD
Jason grew up in Roswell, Georgia, in the suburbs north of Atlanta, but with both sets of grandparents living up in in the North Georgia Mountains, he spent weeks of every summer roaming the Blue Ridge and feeling more at home in the woods than he ever did in the neighborhoods. He had wild places at home, too, in the undeveloped corners of Roswell where a kid could disappear for an afternoon. Through the 1980s and early 1990s, he watched the neighborhoods swallow those wild places, one lot at a time. That loss lit a fire for conservation that has burned ever since. Jason earned a degree in forest resources from the University of Georgia and a master’s in wildlife and fisheries from West Virginia University. His path wandered from there. He taught science and PE at a Montessori school, handled black bears in the Smokies, ran trail crews and fought fires in Montana, and directed citizen science at the Great Smoky Mountains Institute at Tremont. For 12 years, Jason served as Site Manager for the Coweeta Long-Term Ecological Research program, coordinating work between universities and the US Forest Service, before arriving in Highlands in 2019. He also teaches as an adjunct assistant professor at UNC Chapel Hill.
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JASON LOVE
Along the way, he’s worked with black bears, salamanders, songbirds, bats, butterflies, small mammals, and, as his own bio puts it, the strangest creature of all: humans. He describes the job more simply: “I’m an ecological accountant.” A N ECO LO G I C A L ACCO U N TA N T
What Jason keeps coming back to is how much difference a single property can make. A yard is the one piece of the planet a person actually controls, and the creatures who would benefit are already out there, waiting on the other side of the back door. “Ultimately, we’re the stewards of this planet, and we need to do a better job,” he says. “Reduce the use of chemicals, reduce our use of lights at night, increase the native plants, and decrease the size of our lawns.” Silver Creek Real Estate Group is thrilled to be hosting Jason Love on Thursday, September 3, starting at the Highlands Social House on Main Street at noon and then at the Cashiers Social House on US 64 West at 4 p.m. Come find out who your neighbors are.
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BETWEEN RIDGE & RIVER LIVING WITH WILDLIFE
YOU’RE INVITED! SEPTEMBER 3RD P R E S E N T E D B Y S I LV E R C R E E K R E A L E S TAT E G R O U P
HIGHLANDS 12:30-1:00 PM S I LV E R C R E E K O F F I C E 537 MAIN STREET
CASHIERS 4:00-5:30 PM S I LV E R C R E E K O F F I C E 341 U.S. 64 WEST
SCAN TO LEARN MORE!
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EXCLUSIVE OFFERINGS P R E S E N T E D BY S I LV E R C R E E K R E A L E S TAT E G R O U P
DETAIL FROM MLS #1003540 ON PAGE 28 2 4 SILVE R CR EEK R EA L ESTATE GRO UP
L A K E TOX AWAY E S TAT E S L A K E T O X AWAY
Stonehaven Estate claims 706 feet of private Lake Toxaway shoreline, a stone and timber residence designed equally for multigenerational living, largescale entertaining, and solitary mornings along the water, with a lakeside lawn, dual slip boathouse with upper deck, and waterfront gazebo. MLS# 1003386
$25,000,000
“ 2 74 8 W C L U B B O U L E VA R D , L A K E T O X A W AY, N O R T H C A R O L I N A 2 8 74 7 ”
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ME3 OLD CHIMNEY ROAD, CASHIERS, NORTH CAROLINA 28717
MODEL HOME
S I LV E R R U N R E S E RV E CASHIERS
MODEL HOME
Shape a bespoke mountain estate with Loudermilk Homes in Silver Run Reserve. Perched at 3,800 feet on 2.3 secluded acres bordered by conservancy land, this to-be-built five-bedroom residence captures long-range views, with floor-to-ceiling glass and expansive terraces, all within a nearly 300-acre sanctuary minutes from Cashiers and Highlands. MLS# 1002606
POTENTIAL CLEARED VIEW
2 6 SILVE R CR EEK R EA L ESTATE GRO UP
$6,800,000
GLENSHORE CULLOWHEE
This new lakefront retreat with a dock pairs quiet mornings on the water with fireside evenings on the terrace. Designed for entertaining and comfortable extended stays, it embraces a rhythm of mountain living rarely found, where boating, gathering, and relaxation are simply a part of everyday life. MLS# 1003817
N E W LY O F F E R E D $5,600,000
“935 GLENSHORE DRIVE, CULLOWHEE, NORTH CAROLINA 28723”
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468 GRISTMILL RIDGE, CASHIERS, NORTH CAROLINA 28717
T H E C H AT TO O G A C LU B CASHIERS
Behind the private gates of The Chattooga Club, a meticulous multi-year renovation has yielded a turnkey mountain retreat where European-inspired architecture, antique-sourced finishes, and walls of glass framing long-range views create an atmosphere as effortless as it is refined. MLS# 1003540
$5,200,000 2 8 SILVE R CR EEK R EA L ESTATE GRO UP
L A K E TOX AWAY E S TAT E S L A K E T O X AWAY
Three levels of intentional design within Lake Toxaway Estates, where panoramic lake and long-range mountain views define every living space. A grand stone fireplace, elevator access, four suites, and expansive terraces compose a residence built for both the landscape and the long stay. MLS# 1002999
$4,950,000
“250 MEADOW RIDGE DRIVE, L A K E T O X A W AY, N O R T H C A R O L I N A 2 8 74 7 ”
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110 SPRUCE LANE, HIGHLANDS, N O R T H C A R O L I N A 2 8 74 1
H I G H L A N D S FA L L S C O U N T RY C LU B HIGHLANDS
A complete remodel positioned directly on the 18th fairway, with sweeping pond views, nano doors opening to a large covered deck, a stone fireplace, and a beautifully landscaped acre-plus lot. Mountain modern design, five bedrooms, and one of the finest settings Highlands Falls has to offer. MLS# 1003432
N E W LY P R I C E D $4,950,000 30 SILVE R CR EEK R EA L ESTATE GRO UP
O L D E D WA R D S C LU B AT H I G H L A N D S C OV E HIGHLANDS
A thoughtfully crafted retreat perched above panoramic mountain views at the end of a quiet street. Designed for comfortable, elevated living, this fully furnished home offers covered porches, stone fireplaces, a chef’s kitchen, and four private ensuite bedrooms ready to be enjoyed immediately. MLS# 1003280
$4,850,000
“ 74 4 O L D WAG O N T R A I L , HIGHLANDS, NORTH CAROLINA 2 8 74 1 ”
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132 BENT TREE LANE, CASHIERS, NORTH CAROLINA 28717
T H E C H AT TO O G A C LU B CASHIERS
Experience refined mountain living in the gated Chattooga Club community. This serene 1.27-acre estate offers long-range mountain views, elegant indoor and outdoor spaces, a private guesthouse, and a pavilion by a waterfall, just minutes from dining and shopping amenities. An exceptional blend of luxury, nature, and comfort on the Plateau. MLS# 1001485
$4,750,000 32 SILVE R CR EEK R EA L ESTATE GRO UP
C H I N Q UA P I N GLENVILLE
Experience modern sophistication and mountain living in this beautifully crafted farmhouse, where expert craftsmanship and thoughtful design create a refined yet inviting retreat. Enjoy long-range mountain views from expansive decks, a main-level primary suite, and access to Chinquapin’s 2,000 acres of trails, fishing, and outdoor amenities. MLS# 1002857
U N D E R CO N T R AC T $3,995,000
“238 MISTY RIDGE TRAIL, GLENVILLE, NORTH CAROLINA 28736”
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1 76 R O U N D TO P M O U N TA I N CREST ROAD, SAPPHIRE, N O R T H C A R O L I N A 2 8 7 74
BURLINGAME SAPPHIRE
Perched on 7.68 acres at the highest point, this unique property offers outstanding unobstructed 360-degree views. Chosen by the original developer for his family home and guest house, this most unique property features an octagonal design, floor-to-ceiling masonry fireplaces, and a cupola with views for miles. MLS# 1002709
$3,995,000 34 S ILVE R CR EEK R EA L ESTATE GRO UP
SUMMER HILL CULLOWHEE
Set within the Summer Hill community, this exceptional custom-built home commands sweeping 180-degree views of Lake Glenville and the mountains. The property is meticulously designed with a gourmet kitchen, an indulgent primary suite, expansive decks, a hot tub, a home theater, and deeded lake access. Experience unmatched elegance, privacy, and refined mountain living. MLS# 1003935
N E W LY O F F E R E D $3,950,000
“541 SUMMER HILL ROAD, CULLOWHEE, NORTH CAROLINA 28723”
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2 7 2 L O N G WAY R O A D , SAPPHIRE, NORTH CAROLINA 2 8 7 74
SASSAFRAS RIDGE SAPPHIRE
Set at the end of a private road in Sassafras Ridge, this 6.9-acre estate commands sweeping views across Nix, Toxaway, and Bald Rock mountains from nearly every room. A custom residence, covered porch with stone fireplace, hot tub deck, and detached guest cottage together define a rare standard of mountain estate living on the Plateau. MLS# 1002949
$3,950,000 36 SILVE R CR EEK R EA L ESTATE GRO UP
T H E D I V I D E AT B A L D R O C K SAPPHIRE
A gated retreat showcasing long-range views of Panthertown Valley pairs designer furnishings with craftsman details, cathedral ceilings, dual fireplaces, and a chef’s kitchen built for gathering. Main-level living, guest suites, and the stunning views make this a home for entertaining, unwinding, and settling in for good. MLS# 1003736
N E W LY O F F E R E D $3,850,000
“52 CAPSTONE TRAIL, SAPPHIRE, NORTH CAROLINA 2 8 7 74”
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267 HERO LANE, GLENVILLE, NORTH CAROLINA 28736
1 0 7 N O RT H GLENVILLE
Imagine lounging on the wraparound deck of a log cabin, gazing upon Lake Glenville framed by the beautiful Blue Ridge Mountains. Tucked on a hill within 112 acres of serene privacy, yet just minutes from downtown Cashiers, enjoy an unparalleled vantage point across from the lake. Opportunities like this one don’t come along every day! MLS# 1001402
A P P R OX I M AT E P R O P E RT Y L I N E
38 SILVE R CR EEK R EA L ESTATE GRO UP
N E W LY P R I C E D $3,750,000
C E DA R H I L L CASHIERS
Experience refined mountain living in Cedar Hill. Designed by architect Allen Brown, this spacious home features a gourmet kitchen, pub-style room, multiple masonry fireplaces, and expansive outdoor spaces. With flexible bonus rooms and private guest quarters, it offers comfort, privacy, and connection just minutes from the heart of Cashiers. MLS# 1003133
$3,595,000
“15 E. RIDGE ROAD, CASHIERS, NORTH CAROLINA 28717”
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8 6 5 T O X AWAY D R I V E , L A K E T O X A W AY, N O R T H C A R O L I N A 2 8 74 7
L A K E TOX AWAY E S TAT E S L A K E T O X AWAY
Create lasting memories on over 12 private acres with panoramic views of Lake Toxaway and the Blue Ridge Mountains. This log estate features five ensuite bedrooms, a chef’s kitchen, and exceptional outdoor spaces. Offered for the first time, this home is a rare opportunity to experience luxury and nature in one of Western North Carolina’s most sought-after locations. MLS# 1002493
N E W LY P R I C E D $3,250,000 40 SILVE R CR EEK R EA L ESTATE GRO UP
BUCK KNOB ISLAND GLENVILLE
A private island estate on Lake Glenville, the highest-elevation lake east of the Mississippi, Buck Knob Island delivers luxury and seclusion without sacrifice. A custom four-bedroom main residence, a guest cottage, and a dedicated on-site island curator make this one of the Plateau’s most singular offerings. MLS# 1003165
N E W LY P R I C E D $2,995,000
“18 BUCK KNOB ISLAND , GLENVILLE, NORTH CAROLINA 28723”
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80 HIGHFIELD DRIVE, HIGHLANDS, NORTH CAROLINA 2 8 74 1
V I R T U A L LY S T A G E D
H I G H L A N D S I N -TO W N HIGHLANDS
A P P R OX I M AT E P R O P E RT Y L I N E
Few properties this close to downtown Highlands feel this removed from it, a wraparound porch, a stream-laced backyard, and trails through the woods, all within minutes of Main Street. A rare piece of Old Highlands, offered for the first time in a generation. MLS# 1003485
N E W LY O F F E R E D $2,900,000 42 SILVE R CR EEK R EA L ESTATE GRO UP
C E DA R H I L L CASHIERS
Elegantly positioned within the gates of Cedar Hill, this newly renovated luxury residence showcases sweeping views of Big Sheepcliff Mountain. The dramatic two-story great room with a striking stone fireplace flows effortlessly to a state-of-theart chef’s kitchen and onto a covered porch with a second fireplace. A refined main-level primary suite with a spa-inspired bath completes the exquisite offering. MLS# 1001342
V I R T U A L LY S T A G E D
$2,895,000
“895 W ROCHESTER DRIVE, CASHIERS, NORTH CAROLINA 28717”
V I R T U A L LY S T A G E D
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94 JOSH’S TRAIL, CASHIERS, NORTH CAROLINA 28717
JOSH’S TRAIL CASHIERS
A single-family legacy in Josh’s Trail, this fivebedroom mountain retreat sits on three gently rolling acres with a winding stream, level lawn, and seamless indoor-outdoor living. Customdesigned and family-owned since its creation, it offers privacy, space, and convenience minutes from Cashiers. MLS# 1003463
$2,699,000 44 SILVE R CR EEK R EA L ESTATE GRO UP
GLENRIDGE GLENVILLE
Experience refined mountain living at 4,300 feet in this turnkey Glenridge home with panoramic views, a custom screened porch with fireplace, and a stunning fire pit area. With designer interiors, ensuite bedrooms, and access to both nature and town, this private retreat offers elevated comfort and serenity. MLS# 1002529
$2,695,000
“185 GLENRIDGE ROAD, GLENVILLE, NORTH CAROLINA 28736”
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298 PINE FOREST ROAD, SAPPHIRE, NORTH CAROLINA 2 8 7 74
PINE FOREST SAPPHIRE
V I R T U A L LY S T A G E D
Wake to rolling lawns instead of steep slopes, a rare stretch of usable, level ground positioned between the protected landscapes. Reclaimed oak floors and hand-hewn fireplaces set a mood of quiet permanence, while a creekside drive and covered porch invite long evenings outdoors, just minutes from Cashiers. MLS# 1003696
V I R T U A L LY S T A G E D
46 SILVE R CR EEK R EA L ESTATE GRO UP
N E W LY O F F E R E D $2,695,000
C H I N Q UA P I N GLENVILLE
This newly built mountain home offers the quiet privacy of Chinquapin’s Double Knob enclave, where cool summer air and a firepit gathering space set the stage for easy retreat living. Multiple decks, a bonus room, and space for guests make it as suited to entertaining as to solitude. M L S # 1 0 0 3 8 74
N E W LY O F F E R E D $2,590,000
“28 NOBLE CREST TRAIL, GLENVILLE, NORTH CAROLINA 28736”
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159 KERRY HILL ROAD, CASHIERS, NORTH CAROLINA 28717
BIG SHEEPCLIFF CASHIERS
Experience timeless mountain architecture and exceptional privacy at Big Sheepcliff. Designed by Tim Greene, this classic residence features cathedral ceilings, a floor-to-ceiling stone woodburning fireplace, and sweeping long-range mountain vistas toward Lake Glenville. Enjoy peaceful outdoor living and vibrant sunsets just a short drive from the heart of Cashiers. MLS# 1002672
$2,550,000 48 SILVE R CR EEK R EA L ESTATE GRO UP
S I LV E R S L I P FA L L S CASHIERS
A private mountain retreat where Whiteside Mountain fills the view from every gathering space. Main-level living pairs with a chef’s kitchen, a timber-trussed great room, and a stone fire pit for cool evenings, all bordered by protected forest land for lasting quiet and privacy. MLS# 1003723
U N D E R CO N T R AC T $2,550,000
“126 FORESTLAND ROAD, CASHIERS, NORTH CAROLINA 28717”
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74 W I L D B E R RY L A N E , CULLOWHEE, NORTH CAROLINA 28723
SUMMER HILL CULLOWHEE
Experience unparalleled mountain living and Lake Glenville access behind the gates of Summer Hill. Enjoy stunning views over the water and convenient access to the community’s waterfront features, including a dock, beach, and boat ramp. This fourbedroom home has been thoroughly updated with renovated bathrooms, revamped decks, a new roof, flooring, and more. With underground utilities and fiber optic internet, this home is perfect for a summer retreat or full-time living. MLS# 1003221
$2,500,000 50 SILVE R CR EEK R EA L ESTATE GRO UP
HIGH MEADOWS CASHIERS
Set within the gated community of High Meadows, this updated mountain residence commands panoramic Plateau views with no neighboring homes in sight. A dramatic wall of windows, multilevel decks, and a gracious floor plan create a property equally suited to gathering and retreat. For those seeking membership to High Hampton, a qualifying lot is available for purchase at an additional cost. MLS# 1003005
$2,500,000
“401 MEADOWCREST DRIVE, CASHIERS, NORTH CAROLINA 28717”
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56 THE RAPIDS ROAD, SAPPHIRE, NORTH CAROLINA 2 8 7 74
BURLINGAME SAPPHIRE
Approximately 280 feet of Horse Pasture River frontage frames a lodge-scale custom home with stone fireplaces, a gourmet kitchen, and a screened porch with outdoor kitchen. A private staircase descends to an extraordinary boardwalk and pavilion set directly along the river, a riverfront amenity in a class of its own. MLS# 1003613
N E W LY O F F E R E D $2,499,000 52 SILVE R CR EEK R EA L ESTATE GROUP
G O L F C LU B E S TAT E S SAPPHIRE
The Horsepasture River sets the tempo here, its sound present from nearly every room, its light shifting through the day across decks, ridgelines, and the fairway beyond. A post-and-beam residence with the warmth to match its setting, minutes from Cashiers and Sapphire. MLS# 1002978
$2,495,000
“2119 CHEROKEE TRAIL, SAPPHIRE, NORTH CAROLINA 2 8 7 74”
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139 FOXGLOVE TRAIL , CASHIERS, NORTH CAROLINA 28717
C E DA R R I D G E E S TAT E S CASHIERS
Escape to a private mountain retreat on nearly five acres. This renovated home offers four masonry fireplaces, expansive porches, a luxurious primary suite, and a stream-fed pond with a viewing deck and a pavilion, all just minutes from Cashiers. Perfect for entertaining, relaxing, and embracing nature year-round. MLS# 1002691
N E W LY P R I C E D $2,495,000 54 SILVE R CR EEK R EA L ESTATE GRO UP
BIG SHEEPCLIFF CASHIERS
Defined by panoramic mountain views that carry through every main living space, this Big Sheepcliff residence pairs a double-sided stone fireplace with four bedrooms, a mountain-facing office, and a workshop, all within a gated community minutes from downtown Cashiers and Lake Glenville. MLS# 1003179
$2,300,000
“521 SHEEPCOTE ROAD, CASHIERS, NORTH CAROLINA 28717”
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11 MILKWEED TRAIL, GLENVILLE, NORTH CAROLINA 28736
P I LOT S K N O B GLENVILLE
Capture expansive, layered, long-range views from multiple rooms in this thoughtfully designed mountain home. Expansive glass pocket doors open to a covered deck for seamless indoor, outdoor living, while a firepit and grilling area invite evenings under the stars, just minutes from Lake Glenville, Cashiers, and Highlands. MLS# 1002734
N E W LY P R I C E D $2,090,000 56 SILVE R CR EEK R EA L ESTATE GRO UP
C H I N Q UA P I N GLENVILLE
Enjoy long-range mountain views and refined outdoor living in this Chinquapin retreat. Accordion doors, vaulted ceilings, and stone fireplaces create a seamless indoor-outdoor flow, while spacious decks and a hot tub invite relaxation. With access to premier community amenities, this 3.28-acre home offers the ultimate balance of privacy, beauty, and connection. MLS# 1001910
U N D E R CO N T R AC T $1,995,000
“114 SETTLER’S REST ROAD, GLENVILLE, NORTH CAROLINA 28736”
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C E DA R C R E E K- B E E T R E E GLENVILLE
Located on 2.3 acres near Lake Glenville, this new construction offers sweeping mountain views and modern elegance. The two-level, three-bedroom home features a vaulted great room with a cozy fireplace, an expansive porch, and an open kitchen with Thermador appliances. Upstairs, a loft leads to two guest bedrooms with ensuite baths. With a two-car garage and gentle surroundings, this home blends convenience and natural beauty. MLS# 1002586
NEW CONSTRUCTION $1,925,000
V I R T U A L LY S T A G E D
237 GLASSY ROCK LANE, GLENVILLE, NORTH CAROLINA 28736
V I R T U A L LY S T A G E D
C H I N Q UA P I N GLENVILLE
A move-in-ready Chinquapin retreat at over 4,000 feet, anchored by a brand-new screened porch with a stone fireplace and expansive meadow views. Three bedrooms, a loft, sunroom, and UTV storage, steps from Panthertown Valley and the full suite of community amenities. MLS# 1003294
$1,895,000 58 S ILVE R CR EEK R EA L ESTATE GRO UP
“336 FIRESONG LANE, GLENVILLE, NORTH CAROLINA 28736”
P I LOT S K N O B GLENVILLE
A four-bedroom Pilots Knob retreat above 4,000 feet, designed for gathering and built around sweeping Blue Ridge views. Glass pocket doors, a theater room, wet bar, covered deck, firepit, and short-term rental potential make this a refined mountain property with real versatility. MLS# 1003375
“50 MILKWEED TRAIL, GLENVILLE, NORTH CAROLINA 28736”
N E W LY O F F E R E D $1,890,000
P I LOT S K N O B GLENVILLE
“1106 BRIDGESTONE DRIVE, GLENVILLE, NORTH CAROLINA 28736”
At over 4,000 feet in gated Pilots Knob, the air is cooler, the pace is quieter, and the views stretch unbroken to the horizon. This furnished Loudermilk new construction is ready for the life that brought you to the Plateau. MLS# 1003542
N E W LY O F F E R E D $1,849,000 NC LI VI NG FALL 2026 5 9
SAPPHIRE HIGH SAPPHIRE
Set on nearly three private acres, this Fern Creek-built retreat turns long-range Blue Ridge views into the everyday backdrop for mountain living. Vaulted great rooms, twin stone fireplaces, and covered decks invite year-round gathering — a home built for savoring sunsets and quiet mountain evenings alike. MLS# 1003786
1382 TOWER ROAD, SAPPHIRE, NORTH CAROLINA 28736
N E W LY O F F E R E D $1,795,000
SY LVA S Y LVA
Leafstone Farms spans 60.23 acres in a high-elevation setting, offering a rare canvas for a private estate, equestrian haven, or family compound. Enjoy a custom-built residence with apartment suite, a seven-bay workshop, a ninestall barn, and extensive infrastructure, all just minutes from downtown Sylva and Western Carolina University. MLS# 1002838
N E W LY P R I C E D $1,750,000 6 0 SILVE R CR EEK R EA L ESTATE GRO UP
“1285 LEAFSTONE CIRCLE, S Y LVA , N O R T H C A R O L I N A 28779”
BURLINGAME SAPPHIRE
Located in Burlingame Country Club, this elegant home offers breathtaking views of the 13th hole, pond, and mountains. Vaulted ceilings and natural light highlight the interiors, while the primary suite with a soaking tub by the fireplace creates a serene retreat. Enjoy a theater room, wet bar, guest suites, a six-person hot tub, and optional club membership for the ultimate mountain lifestyle.
“119 OLD STILL ROAD, SAPPHIRE, NORTH CAROLINA 2 8 7 74”
MLS# 1001240
$1,750,000
S AG E E M O U N TA I N HIGHLANDS
“1240 BOWERY ROAD, HIGHLANDS, NORTH CAROLINA 2 8 74 1 ”
New construction offers a rare blend of privacy and ease, with a creekside yard, protected preserve views, and a lightfilled great room designed for everyday living. A first-floor primary suite and thoughtful storage throughout make comfortable, low-maintenance living second nature in one of Highlands’ most charming settings. MLS# 1003812
V I R T U A L LY S T A G E D
V I R T U A L LY S T A G E D
N E W LY O F F E R E D $1,700,000 NC LI VI NG FALL 2026 61
SUNSET RIDGE GLENVILLE
A 2024-built Blue Ridge log home perched above Lake Glenville delivers long-range views of the lake and mountains from every room. Eastern pine log construction, soaring A-frame ceilings, and multi-level outdoor decks frame the west-facing sunsets this property was purpose-built to showcase. MLS# 1003253
5 8 5 TA B L E TO P R OA D, GLENVILLE, NORTH CAROLINA 28736
U N D E R CO N T R AC T $1,595,000
C E DA R R I D G E E S TAT E S CASHIERS
A natural creek runs the full length of the property at this four-bedroom Cedar Ridge Estates retreat, 2.67 private acres anchored by a grand stone fireplace, covered porch with fireplace, and an entirely private landscape along the water. MLS# 1003176
$1,595,000 6 2 SILVE R CR EEK R EA L ESTATE GRO UP
“ 7 7 H E A DWAT E R D R I V E , CASHIERS, NORTH CAROLINA 28717”
FA I RWAY H A M L E T S SAPPHIRE
“61 CARNOUSTIE DRIVE, SAPPHIRE, NORTH CAROLINA 2 8 7 74”
Located in the heart of Sapphire Valley, this exquisite home offers a harmonious blend of elegance and comfort. Set on a beautifully landscaped lot with a tranquil water feature, it exudes sophistication. Inside, vaulted ceilings, hardwood floors, and the open kitchen flow into the dining and great rooms, leading to a screened Carolina room with a wood-burning fireplace. Two luxurious primary suites provide spalike retreats. A detached garage with a guest apartment ensures privacy for visitors. Additional highlights include a generator and proximity to top-tier amenities. MLS# 1002864
U N D E R CO N T R AC T $1,570,000
G R E YC L I F F CULLOWHEE
“62 CHANNEL VIEW DRIVE, CULLOWHEE, NORTH CAROLINA 28723”
A fully furnished Arts-and-Crafts retreat in gated Greycliff, minutes from Lake Glenville with golf cart access to the community dock. Mountain ridge and seasonal lake views, soaring ceilings, a two-sided stone fireplace, and flexible multi-level living, move-in ready with no rental restrictions. MLS# 1002407
N E W LY P R I C E D $1,529,500 NC LI VI NG FALL 2026 63
BRIDGE CREEK CULLOWHEE
Design the perfect home with this Lot Home Package in Bridge Creek. Set on 2.2 acres, this offering includes the expertise of builders and designers, allowing for a fully customizable residence. Experience the perfect balance of natural beauty and modern mountain living in this scenic and serene community. MLS# 1000384
1 2 4 C O M P A S S R O S E W AY, CULLOWHEE, NORTH CAROLINA 28723
$1,500,000
A P P R OX I M AT E P R O P E RT Y L I N E
S TO N E C R E E K E S TAT E S SAPPHIRE
Effortless one-level living in a gated community of Stonecreek Estates, close to the invitation-only Country Club of Sapphire Valley. Vaulted ceilings, twin stone fireplaces, and a split floor plan bring warmth and privacy, while a quiet cul-de-sac setting among mature hardwoods offers lasting mountain calm. MLS# 1003811
U N D E R CO N T R AC T $1,495,000 6 4 SILVE R CR EEK R EA L ESTATE GRO UP
“177 TWO PONDS DRIVE, SAPPHIRE, NORTH CAROLINA 2 8 7 74”
C H I N Q UA P I N GLENVILLE
Experience a charming mountain cottage set on a serene lot fronting greenspace, with easy access to an extensive trail system and community amenities. A spacious Carolina porch, an open-concept living room, and a loft retreat create inviting spaces for gathering, relaxing, and enjoying a peaceful connection to nature. MLS# 1002788
“4 4 GAT H E R P O I N T R OA D, GLENVILLE, NORTH CAROLINA 28736”
$1,475,000
WHISPER LAKE SAPPHIRE
“ 1 9 3 C U C U M B E R C O U R T, SAPPHIRE, NORTH CAROLINA 2 8 7 74”
Take in sweeping Blue Ridge vistas from The Lookout, a turnkey log home with screened and covered decks, two stone fireplaces, a hot tub, private lake access, and Sapphire Valley Resort amenities. Offered fully furnished, it is well-suited for both a refined mountain retreat and full-time living. MLS# 1002901
$1,350,000 NC LI VI NG FALL 2026 65
H O L LY F O R E S T SAPPHIRE
Mountain living meets comfort and space in this five-bedroom, fivebathroom Sapphire home with a wonderful mountain view. Enjoy bright living spaces, a family room with a fireplace, covered and screened porches, a stone firepit area, and a water feature meandering around three sides of the house. MLS# 1002703
93 SOUTH BUCKBERRY DRIVE, SAPPHIRE, NORTH CAROLINA 2 8 7 74
$1,349,000
BURLINGAME SAPPHIRE
Experience classic mountain living in this log home on 2.28 private acres in Burlingame. Featuring mountain views, multiple fireplaces, spacious decks, and versatile living spaces, this property offers the perfect blend of rustic charm and modern comfort in one of the Plateau’s premier communities. MLS# 1002657
$1,300,000 6 6 S ILVE R CR EEK R EA L ESTATE GRO UP
“92 ROCKY RIDGE ROAD, SAPPHIRE, NORTH CAROLINA 2 8 7 74”
TRILLIUM LINKS AND L A K E C LU B CASHIERS
Mornings begin on a screened porch and evenings end by firelight, inside and out. Hummingbird Haven is designed for a rhythm of gathering, retreating, and returning to the mountains, with membership privileges close at hand for those who want more. MLS# 1003691
“394 RENDEZVOUS RIDGE, CASHIERS, NORTH CAROLINA 28717”
N E W LY O F F E R E D $1,299,000
L A K E TOX AWAY L A K E T O X AWAY
“800 BLUE RIDGE ROAD, LAKE T O X A W AY, N O R T H C A R O L I N A 2 8 74 7 ”
A Tudor-style retreat on more than two private acres, directly across from Lake Toxaway, with sweeping mountain and lake views, a dramatic wall of glass, a beautifully updated kitchen and living areas, and a finished basement, all in a setting that feels genuinely removed. MLS# 1003467
$1,295,000 NC LI VI NG FALL 2026 67
BALD ROCK SAPPHIRE
Rosewood sits in Bald Rock with direct views of the rock face that defines it, framed through expansive windows, carried onto a river rock fireplace deck, and present from nearly every room. Four bedrooms across three levels, sold furnished, with community trails, waterfalls, and Sapphire Valley Resort amenity access included. MLS# 1003352
15 EQUINE DRIVE, SAPPHIRE, N O R T H C A R O L I N A 2 8 7 74
N E W LY P R I C E D $1,295,000
C H I N Q UA P I N GLENVILLE
This new three-bedroom, fourbathroom home in Chinquapin blends modern design with tranquil living. Featuring a finished basement, one-car garage, and a large deck overlooking a private perennial spring leading to Cow Mountain Branch creek, it offers peace and convenience. Nearby amenities include trails, pickleball, a driving range, and a clubhouse. MLS# 1003800
N E W LY O F F E R E D $1,295,000 6 8 S ILVE R CR EEK R EA L ESTATE GRO UP
“1086 ROAMING ROAD, GLENVILLE, NORTH CAROLINA 28736”
BIG SHEEPCLIFF CASHIERS
Discover a charming mountain retreat in the gated community of Big Sheepcliff, offered for the first time. This thoughtfully designed cottage features hardwood floors, a gas-log fireplace, a covered porch and deck, views of Whiteside Mountain, and low-maintenance living just minutes from Cashiers. MLS# 1002483
“132 SHEEPCOTE ROAD, CASHIERS, NORTH CAROLINA 28717”
$1,290,000
BURLINGAME SAPPHIRE
“131 CLUB DRIVE, SAPPHIRE, N O R T H C A R O L I N A 2 8 7 74”
Brand new construction designed for mountain living, blending rustic character with a contemporary interior. Enjoy cool evenings by the outdoor stone fireplace, an artfully landscaped setting, soaring lap-sided ceilings, and a main-level primary suite. This is comfortable mountain living at its best. MLS# 1002550
U N D E R CO N T R AC T $ 1, 2 74 , 0 0 0 NC LI VI NG FALL 2026 69
C O U N T RY C LU B E S TAT E S SAPPHIRE
This beautifully renovated one-level home offers effortless golf course living along Red Bird Golf Links’ 2nd fairway in Sapphire Valley. Mountain-modern updates create a warm, move-inready retreat, while resort amenities, from lake access to hiking trails, invite year-round outdoor enjoyment. A rare opportunity for restorative mountain living in a coveted gated community. MLS# 1003690
294 NEEDLEPINE LANE, SAPPHIRE, NORTH CAROLINA 2 8 7 74
N E W LY O F F E R E D $1,149,000
T H E P R E S E RV E AT WHITESIDE CLIFFS HIGHLANDS
Capture year-round views of Whiteside Mountain and Black Rock from this distinctive saltbox-style mountain residence designed by acclaimed architect Jeffrey Dungan. Openconcept living, expansive windows, a screened porch off the primary bedroom, and a lower level with a secondary kitchenette offer flexibility, privacy, and effortless mountain living just minutes from Cashiers and Highlands. MLS# 1002659
$1,095,000 70 SILVE R CR EEK R EA L ESTATE GRO UP
“ 1 1 1 M O O N STO N E LO O P, HIGHLANDS, NORTH CAROLINA 2 8 74 1 ”
C E DA R P O I N T GLENVILLE
Custom-built on the east shore of Lake Glenville with lake and mountain views, this home offers main-level living, multiple screened porches, a detached garage with finished studio space above, and lake access just minutes away. MLS# 1003546
“ 2 5 6 VA N D O R A L A N E , GLENVILLE, NORTH CAROLINA 28736”
N E W LY O F F E R E D $1,095,000
H O L LY F O R E S T SAPPHIRE
“165 BIRDNEST ROAD, SAPPHIRE, NORTH CAROLINA 2 8 7 74”
A sky-blue Holly Forest retreat perched high above the ridgelines, this fourbedroom home pairs a striking exterior with sweeping long-range views, two fireplaces, and an open floor plan designed to bring the mountain landscape inside at every turn. MLS# 1003343
N E W LY P R I C E D $1,050,000 NC LI VI NG FALL 2026 71
S I LV E R C R E E K R E A L E S TAT E G R O U P P R E S E N T S
Burlingame is a family-focused mountain retreat located at 3,000 feet in Sapphire, North Carolina. This thoughtfully planned community is designed to celebrate the natural beauty of its surroundings while offering an impressive range of amenities for residents. At its center lies the Burlingame Country Club, where an exquisitely appointed clubhouse serves as a lively gathering spot with inviting lounges and three dining venues. In addition to refined social spaces, residents can enjoy a championship 18-hole golf course, fitness center, tennis courts, pickleball, croquet, and a heated swimming pool.
72 SILVE R CR EEK R EA L ESTATE GROUP
Beyond its outstanding amenities, Burlingame embodies a vibrant lifestyle where families can connect with nature and each other. Parks, hiking trails, fishing ponds, and trout waters create endless outdoor adventures, while charming real estate options range from luxurious mountain-view homes and scenic riverfront properties to rustic, lodge-inspired condos that line the golf course. Built with a reverence for the land, Burlingame embraces a strong sense of stewardship, providing a serene yet engaging environment for all ages to relax, explore, and make lasting memories. Visit ncliving.com/burlingame/ for more information. Photo courtesy of Burlingame Country Club.
364 BRIDGESTONE DRIVE, GLENVILLE, NORTH CAROLINA 28736
P I LOT S K N O B GLENVILLE
$949,900 N E W LY O F F E R E D
A refreshed log cabin retreat where mountain air replaces summer heat and a wrap-around deck becomes the favorite room in the house. Pilots Knob’s quiet, gated setting offers a slower pace minutes from Cashiers and Glenville’s lakes, trails, and dining. MLS# 1003782
“ 1 2 9 W I S T E R I A W AY, GLENVILLE, NORTH CAROLINA 28736”
GLENVILLE
$925,000
GLENVILLE
Southern views of Lake Glenville sweep across an open, light-filled main level built for easy living. Covered and open deck space invites lakeside evenings and a front-row seat to summer fireworks. Minutes from Signal Ridge Marina and downtown Cashiers, this home delivers lake life at an accessible price point. MLS# 1003827
“162 HICKORY RIDGE ROAD, S C A LY M O U N T A I N , N O R T H CAROLINA 28775”
S C A LY M O U N TA I N S C A LY M O U N T A I N
$899,000 N E W LY O F F E R E D
“351 OUTPOST TRAIL, GLENVILLE, NORTH CAROLINA 28736”
C H I N Q UA P I N GLENVILLE
$899,000 N E W LY P R I C E D
A custom mountain craftsman retreat where stone, pine, and bamboo hardwood set a warm, elevated tone. Soaring ceilings and walls of glass frame the scenery, while a private, no-through-traffic setting near Highlands and Sky Valley offers rare quiet, plus garage and workshop space for gear and projects.
Discover refined mountain living in this fully furnished twobedroom cottage in Chinquapin. Perched over 4,000 feet, it offers a split-bedroom layout, premium finishes, and a twocar garage with a lift. Enjoy cool mountain air, endless trails, and access to premier amenities designed for outdoor adventure and connection.
MLS# 1003793
MLS# 1002725
NC LI VI NG FALL 2026 73
64 OUTPOST TRAIL, GLENVILLE, NORTH CAROLINA 28736
C H I N Q UA P I N
$825,000
“428 CHESTNUT RIDGE ROAD, HIGHLANDS, NORTH CAROLINA 2 8 74 1 ”
R U S T I C FA L L S
$799,000
GLENVILLE
HIGHLANDS
This turnkey mountain retreat blends rustic charm and thoughtful updates, featuring beamed cathedral ceilings, warm wood floors, and a raised-hearth stone fireplace. Enjoy a front sitting porch, screened back deck, cool summers at nearly 4,000 feet, and access to Chinquapin’s nature-centric amenities, ideal for getaways or a strongperforming rental.
Custom-built in 2017 within the gated Rustic Falls community, this turnkey two-bedroom retreat delivers Blackrock Mountain rock face views, tongue-and-groove cathedral ceilings, and full furnishings, just ten minutes from downtown Highlands. Privacy, low-maintenance living, and timeless mountain character in the heart of Whiteside Cove. MLS# 1003159
MLS# 1002540
“ 1 3 2 A Z A L E A C O U R T, SAPPHIRE, NORTH CAROLINA 2 8 7 74”
2 2 2 H I G H R O C K V I STA , SAPPHIRE, NORTH CAROLINA 2 8 7 74
V I R T U A L LY S T A G E D A N D R E N O VA T E D
H O L LY F O R E S T SAPPHIRE
$799,000 U N D E R CO N T R AC T
An Arts and Crafts home at the end of a quiet Sapphire Valley cul-de-sac, bordering a trail to the Horsepasture River. Wood floors, a vaulted great room, a finished lower level, and a detached garage with a fully finished guest apartment above make the property well-suited for vacation rentals, multi-generational living, or a full-time mountain retreat. MLS# 1003003
74 SILVE R CR EEK R EA L ESTATE GROUP
M O U N TA I N C LU B SAPPHIRE
$ 7 9 7, 5 0 0 N E W LY O F F E R E D
Ty Mynydd offers timeless log-home charm wrapped in mountain quiet, with a soaring great room, stone fireplace, and light-filled living space set among mature hardwoods. Multi-level design suits full-time residents, multigenerational families, or vacation rentals, with room to gather, unwind, and make the mountains home. MLS# 1003695
“20 CAMP FIRE TRAIL, GLENVILLE, NORTH CAROLINA 28736”
C H I N Q UA P I N GLENVILLE
$795,000 N E W LY P R I C E D
“87 BUCK CREEK CHURCH ROAD, HIGHLANDS, NORTH C A R O L I N A 2 8 74 1 ”
BUCK CREEK HIGHLANDS
$795,000 N E W LY O F F E R E D
Move-in-ready and fully furnished, this one-level Nature’s Walk cottage delivers lock-it-and-leave-it ease inside a beautiful gated community. Low-maintenance living, Chinquapin’s celebrated outdoor amenities, and cool mountain summers, all in one turnkey package.
A rare chance to own a piece of Highlands history, a 1940 cabin on Buck Creek surrounded by ponds, waterfalls, and garden beds. Cast for native brook trout from the back deck, soak beside the creek, or dream up a new home on the property’s private building site.
MLS# 1003292
MLS# 1003820
“ 1 7 0 O S A G E L A N E , S C A LY M O U N TA I N , N O RT H C A R O L I N A 28775”
O S AG E E S TAT E S S C A LY M O U N T A I N
$699,000 N E W LY O F F E R E D
In Osage Estates, mornings begin on the porch, framed by views of Rabun Bald. This two-bedroom retreat pairs ensuite privacy with a kitchen made for gathering, all set in air ten degrees cooler, mountain living, four seasons deep. MLS# 1003795
“1701 CULLOWHEE FOREST ROAD, CULLOWHEE, NORTH CAROLINA 28723”
C U L LO W H E E F O R E S T CULLOWHEE
$ 6 74 , 5 0 0 N E W LY P R I C E D
Nearly 300 feet of frontage along the West Fork of the Tuckasegee River, including a small island and a screened waterfront gazebo, and a natural waterfall, anchors this four-acre Cullowhee Forest retreat. Beamed cathedral ceilings, a rear deck spanning the length of the home, and a spiral staircase to flexible upper-level living complete a property held by only one family. MLS# 1003120
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477 LANCE ROAD, CASHIERS, NORTH CAROLINA 28717
LANCEWOOD CASHIERS
$649,000 N E W LY P R I C E D
A 1950s bungalow on 0.43 acres in the heart of Cashiers, this two-bedroom cottage delivers a genuinely private, foliagescreened retreat close to The Village Green, restaurant favorites, and the full rhythm of Plateau village life, an intown combination that rarely comes available.
“ 6 0 P I N E C O N E C O U R T, SAPPHIRE, NORTH CAROLINA 2 8 7 74”
WHISPER LAKE SAPPHIRE
$649,000 N E W LY O F F E R E D
A thoughtfully designed main-level retreat in Whisper Lake with ridge views, a stone fireplace, and full Sapphire Valley Resort access. The driveway is steep, but buyers who make the approach find a home that delivers at every turn. MLS# 1003641
MLS# 1003211
“363 EAGLE RIDGE ROAD, SAPPHIRE, NORTH CAROLINA 2 8 7 74”
H O L LY F O R E S T SAPPHIRE
$649,000 N E W LY P R I C E D
“111B RUE DE PROVENCE , GLENVILLE, NORTH CAROLINA 28736”
P R OV E N C E V I L L A S GLENVILLE
$599,000 U N D E R CO N T R AC T
Experience long-range mountain sunrise views and cool mountain air from this move-in-ready chalet in Sapphire’s Eagle Ridge community. With extensive updates, step-free main-level living, and resort amenities including golf, pools, and tennis, this serene retreat offers exceptional value within Sapphire Valley Resort’s sought-after setting.
Lake Glenville townhome living minutes from downtown Cashiers, near Signal Ridge Marina, framed by sweeping lake, mountain, and sunset views. Vaulted ceilings, a stacked stone fireplace, and multiple decks, including a hot tub retreat, set the stage for slow mornings, warm evenings, and stunning Fourth of July fireworks.
MLS# 1002168
MLS# 1003769
76 SILVE R CR EEK R EA L ESTATE GROUP
3 6 H E AV E N S G AT E L A N E , GLENVILLE, NORTH CAROLINA 28736
“134 RACQUET CLUB VILLAS DRIVE, UNIT D ,SAPPHIRE, N O R T H C A R O L I N A 2 8 7 74”
V I R T U A L LY S T A G E D & R E N O VA T E D
ADMIRALS POINT GLENVILLE
$ 5 74 , 5 0 0 N E W LY P R I C E D
Privately perched in Admirals Point above Lake Glenville, this custom tri-level retreat blends Hickory cabinetry, quartzite countertops, and spa-inspired finishes with multiple decks, lake access, and front-row views of the July 4th fireworks. Partially furnished and vacation-rental ready for the season ahead. MLS# 1003330
R AC Q U E T C LU B V I L L A S SAPPHIRE
$549,000 N E W LY P R I C E D
Updated and inviting, this Racquet Club Villas residence offers covered and open outdoor spaces overlooking the golf course, mountain views, and evening sunsets. Inside, vaulted ceilings, a floor-to-ceiling stone wood-burning fireplace, renovated bathrooms, and a thoughtfully updated kitchen create a comfortable setting near the Lawn Sports Pavilion. MLS# 1002463
“3605 PILOT KNOB ROAD, GLENVILLE, NORTH CAROLINA 28736”
S I M S VA L L E Y GLENVILLE
$535,000 N E W LY P R I C E D
Experience a custom mountain home where soaring vaulted ceilings, two stacked stone, wood-burning fireplaces, and long-range mountain views set the tone for relaxed mountain living. Set within Sims Valley, with access to trails, waterfalls, and a pool with mountain views, this rare combination of privacy, character, and amenities offers a unique setting.
“86 RACQUET CLUB VILLAS DRIVE, UNIT B ,SAPPHIRE, N O R T H C A R O L I N A 2 8 7 74”
R AC Q U E T C LU B V I L L A S
$499,000
SAPPHIRE
Thoughtfully designed with a cozy, well-planned layout, this Burlingame villa features a private guest suite, a primary bedroom with an inviting screened porch, and an elevated main living area. Enjoy stunning views of the 1st and 9th holes of the Burlingame Golf Course, a picturesque mountain ridge, and breathtaking sunsets. MLS# 1002496
MLS# 1002851
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5 5 1 B O B L O N G M O U N TA I N R O A D , S C A LY M O U N T A I N , NORTH CAROLINA 28775
S C A LY M O U N TA I N
$499,000
“4 8 U P P E R TA N G L E WO O D , U N I T 6 , L A K E T O X A W AY, N O R T H C A R O L I N A 2 8 74 7 ”
TOX AWAY FA L L S
$499,000
S C A LY M O U N T A I N
L A K E T O X AWAY
Perched at approximately 4,100 feet with National Forest at its border and the Bartram Trail just beyond the drive, Sky High Cottage is a furnished mountain retreat that arrives ready to enjoy. Mature native gardens, treetop decks, a stone patio, and a Malm fireplace inside, privacy and outdoor access in equal measure.
A front-row view of Toxaway Falls, thundering cascades, a preserved natural backdrop, and seasonal color, delivered from the living room, primary suite, and covered porch of this turn-key three-bedroom condo. Enjoy main-level access, no interior stairs, an open floor plan, and a proven rental history.
MLS# 1003102
MLS# 1003238
“57 RIVER CLUB VILLAS DRIVE, UNIT A ,SAPPHIRE, NORTH C A R O L I N A 2 8 7 74”
R I V E R C LU B V I L L A S SAPPHIRE
$449,900 N E W LY P R I C E D
One of only six units in River Club Villas, this two-bedroom Burlingame villa combines tasteful updates, wood flooring, granite countertops, vaulted ceilings, with a screened porch, two private decks, and a wooded backdrop protected from future development. MLS# 1002964
“ 2 3 0 TA N G L E R O OT R OA D, L A K E T O X A W AY, N O R T H C A R O L I N A 2 8 74 7 ”
L A K E TOX AWAY L A K E T O X AWAY
N E W LY O F F E R E D
A wooded hillside above the West Fork of the French Broad sets the stage for privacy without isolation, with protected National Forest land across the river. Mornings on the porch, evenings by the fire pit, Bearfoot Cabin offers the rare balance of seclusion and ease, for full-time living or weekend stays. MLS# 1003622
78 SILVE R CR EEK R EA L ESTATE GRO UP
$449,000
205 BLUE STONE TRAIL, GLENVILLE, NORTH CAROLINA 28736
BIG RIDGE GLENVILLE
$420,000 N E W LY P R I C E D
Perched at the top of Blue Stone Trail with Christmas tree farm valleys in every direction, Mossy Hill captures the Plateau at its most unhurried. Floor-to-ceiling windows, a stone fireplace, vaulted ceilings, and landscaped gardens, offered turn-key and fully furnished. MLS# 1002928
“ 9 6 M E A D O W R I D G E C O U R T, TUCKASEGEE, NORTH CAROLINA 28783”
B E A R L A K E R E S E RV E TUCKASEGEE
$399,000 N E W LY P R I C E D
Enjoy creekside privacy and single-level comfort in this three-bedroom Bear Lake Reserve home. Blending timeless mountain charm with thoughtful upgrades, this property features soaring cathedral ceilings, a stone fireplace, and inviting spaces for entertaining, all with access to premier resort amenities and the beauty of the Blue Ridge Mountains. MLS# 1001898
“43 KIWI LANE, UNIT 12 ,SAPPHIRE, NORTH CAROLINA 2 8 7 74”
CHESTNUT RIDGE SAPPHIRE
$385,000 N E W LY O F F E R E D
Mountain living without the upkeep. This Chestnut Ridge townhome puts a wood-burning fireplace, a private deck, and the full Sapphire Valley Masters Association amenity package, pools, golf, skiing, and more, within reach of a low-maintenance, lock-and-leave lifestyle near Cashiers. MLS# 1003461
“ 8 2 V I L L A G E W AY, S A P P H I R E , N O R T H C A R O L I N A 2 8 7 74”
S A P P H I R E V I L L AG E SAPPHIRE
$ 3 74 , 5 0 0 PENDING
Knotty pine walls, a Vermont-style hearth, and multiple outdoor living spaces set the tone for this lovingly maintained one-level mountain cabin with fall and winter views of Hogback Mountain. Move-in ready and fully furnished, with strong vacation rental potential near Brevard, Lake Toxaway, and Cashiers. MLS# 1003146
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1344 FULCHER ROAD, FRANKLIN, NORTH CAROLINA 28734
CLARKS CHAPEL FRANKLIN
“72 DOGWOOD KNOB , UNIT 12B ,SAPPHIRE, NORTH CAROLINA 2 8 7 74”
$369,900
H I L LTO P
N E W LY O F F E R E D
SAPPHIRE
One-level living meets private, wooded seclusion in Clarks Chapel, minutes from downtown Franklin. A split floor plan grants quiet separation between the primary suite and secondary bedrooms, while a covered deck extends the everyday rhythm outdoors. Low-maintenance and move-in ready, this home offers ease without sacrificing character.
$360,000
A fully renovated Hilltop townhome at the heart of Sapphire Valley, with outdoor access on every level, two electric fireplaces, and the kind of mechanical overhaul that will benefit the inspection report. SVMA amenities, lake, golf, pools, and more, are included. MLS# 1003380
MLS# 1003850
“ 1 5 L O N E LY M O U N T A I N D R I V E , UNIT C ,SAPPHIRE, NORTH C A R O L I N A 2 8 7 74”
H I L LTO P
$325,000
SAPPHIRE
SAPPHIRE
N E W LY O F F E R E D
White shiplap, a modern fireplace, and curated furnishings set the tone in this fully updated two-bedroom townhome in The Woods of Sapphire. Light-filled and move-in ready, it offers a private sitting deck off the primary suite and a central Sapphire Valley location close to dining, Cashiers, and Highlands.
Move-in ready and beautifully renovated, this two-bedroom condominium offers effortless mountain living, from seasonal Lake Fairfield views to a rose-lined garden entrance and expanded lower-level suites. Whether embraced as a full-time retreat, second home, or investment, it promises a slower, more scenic way of life.
MLS# 1003127
MLS# 1003879
THE WOODS
80 SILVE R CR EEK R EA L ESTATE GRO UP
$329,000
“37 DOGWOOD KNOB , UNIT 6C ,SAPPHIRE, NORTH CAROLINA 2 8 7 74”
2 3 3 M E A D O W W AY, U N I T U N 1 6 1 5 ,SAPPHIRE, NORTH CAROLINA 2 8 7 74
“98 DOGWOOD KNOB , UNIT 25-2A ,SAPPHIRE, NORTH C A R O L I N A 2 8 7 74”
V I R T U A L LY S T A G E D
RIVER CHASE SAPPHIRE
$289,000
H I L LTO P
N E W LY P R I C E D
SAPPHIRE
Nestled in the serene beauty of Sapphire Valley, this elegant two-bedroom, two-bathroom condo boasts an open floor plan designed for light-filled living and seamless entertaining. A private patio invites relaxation amidst mountain views, while nearby amenities, including a community lake, walking trails and fitness center. MLS# 1002513
$275,000
Enjoy easy, single-level living in this updated Hilltop condominium in Sapphire Valley. Featuring a refreshed kitchen, luxury vinyl flooring, and a screened porch for year-round use, this three-bedroom home offers resort-style amenities and a low-maintenance lifestyle just minutes from dining, shopping, and outdoor recreation amenities in downtown Cashiers. MLS# 1001663
“98 DOGWOOD KNOB , UNIT 25-3C ,SAPPHIRE, NORTH C A R O L I N A 2 8 7 74”
H I L LTO P
$ 1 74 , 0 0 0
SAPPHIRE
SAPPHIRE
N E W LY P R I C E D
Discover easy mountain living in this partially furnished Hilltop end-unit. Featuring a spacious great room, a sunroom, and central HVAC, it offers year-round comfort. Enjoy access to Sapphire Valley Resort amenities, Fairfield Lake, and more. It’s perfect as a full-time home, a seasonal escape, or an investment in the heart of the Plateau.
Experience modern living in this upper-level Hilltop unit featuring stainless steel appliances with a wine cooler, an open floor plan, and a spacious back deck. Located near Fairfield Lake, enjoy access to Sapphire Valley amenities, including pools, a fitness center, tennis courts, and lake activities such as kayaking and boating. This peaceful and stylish home offers the perfect blend of comfort and recreation.
H I L LTO P
MLS# 1001731
$189,000
“407 OVERLOOK ROAD, UNIT 5-3C ,SAPPHIRE, NORTH C A R O L I N A 2 8 7 74”
MLS# 1003379
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VIEW OVER MAAS RIVER IN DINANT, WITH BELGIAN BEER AND CHEESES. PHOTO BY BARMALINI VIA STOCK.ADOBE.COM
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Trappist Beer THE LAST HONEST LUXURY
w o r d s by pat r i c i a l au r e n t
Within the stone cloisters of Trappist monasteries, there is a silence thick with rhythm and reverence; it is a silence measured in matins, lauds, and vespers. It gathers in the long corridors, in the orderly gardens, and in the hush of morning psalms. It governs the day as surely as any clock. And through it, monks live lives of profound discipline: they are guided by the Rule of St. Benedict, a sixthcentury monastic code that prizes humility, contemplation, and manual labor as paths to spiritual clarity.
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These men have renounced the noise of the world, out of devotion rather than disdain. In their rhythm, silence shapes their work, their speech, and their very way of being. The life of a Trappist monk is built on a holy triad of prayer, labor, and stability. The monks wake before dawn. They eat in silence. They speak sparingly and only with intention. They farm, they bake, and they repair. AND IN A HANDFUL OF MONASTERIES, THEY BREW. But brewing, like everything else in monastic life, is not undertaken lightly. It is an extension of their vow: to work with purpose, to live with integrity, and to sustain their community without excess. This is a tradition that reaches back to the medieval Cistercian order of the 11th century, an order whose austerity and self-reliance set the foundation for what would become the Trappist reform. In 1664, Armand-Jean Le Bouthillier de Rancé, a disillusioned courtier turned ascetic, led a radical return to Benedictine discipline at La Trappe Abbey in Normandy. The beer was never intended for indulgence. It began as sustenance — mild, yeasty, and nourishing — like liquid bread for monks and their guests. But over time, as monasteries sought ways to remain financially independent and self-sufficient, brewing became one of t h e
A BIRDS-EYE-VIEW OVER FIELDS, FORESTS AND THE ORVAL ABBEY. PHOTO VIA STOCK.ADOBE.COM
few accepted labors that could support the cloister without compromising its values. Each bottle is the result of centuries of spiritual discipline, based on quiet repetition, monastic restraint, and a worldview rooted in enoughness. And remarkably, it endured. Across wars, famines, revolutions, and renaissances, the Trappist monasteries continued brewing; they were stewards of a modest necessity that eventually became one of the rarest, most respected brewing traditions in the world. LEFT: CHIMAY’S GRANDE RESERVE, A SOFT, ROUND QUADRUPEL WITH NOTES OF BROWN SUGAR, LEATHER, AND COCOA. PHOTO COURTESY OF CHIMAY.COM
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A SACRED HISTORY POURED INTO GLASS
To walk into one of these breweries — Westmalle, Chimay, Rochefort, Orval, or Westvleteren —is to enter a different order of time. One does not hear the clatter of machines or the drone of industrial noise. Instead, there is a kind of calm rhythm. There is the hiss of steam, the clink of glass, and the low murmur of water heating in copper kettles. The space is functional, but not clinical. It breathes, much like the monks who operate it. AGED ORVAL BEER. PHOTO BY KATERYNA MUZHEVSKA VIA STOCK.ADOBE.COM
PROVENANCE AS PURITY
Trappist beer is the material echo of a 900-yearold spiritual practice; it is an offering shaped by silence, by toil, and by prayer. To understand a Trappist beer is to understand its place — not merely in latitude and soil, but in spirit. Each bottle is a distillation of both the ingredients and the cloistered world that gives it life. In an age where origin is often a performance, Trappist beer offers something older and quieter; it offers provenance as vow. To understand its gravity in the realm of contemporary connoisseurship, one must trace its lineage through time and terrain, through both monastic reform and agricultural ingenuity. The tradition began in the monastic communities of the 11th and 12th centuries, when the Cistercians, in their pursuit of a purer Benedictine life, withdrew into the forests of Burgundy. They chose simplicity, and in simplicity, they found precision. Work was prayer. Agriculture was a form of scripture. Brewing, too, took on sacramental meaning that was part necessity, part sacred rhythm.
The ingredients are simple, but they are never generic. Each monastery draws water from its own grounds, often from ancient wells. Grains are sourced locally or grown on-site. Noble hops, used sparingly, lend balance and longevity, not bitterness. But it is the yeast that defines the beer. Each abbey guards its strain; some of these have been cultivated for centuries, singular in character and effect. As well as serving a function, these yeasts are becoming sacred signatures. The fermentation process is slow and contemplative. Primary fermentation may last a week or more, but it is what follows that gives Trappist beer its soul. Most are bottle-conditioned, a traditional and labor-intensive method in which a small amount of sugar and yeast is added before sealing. The beer then ferments a second time within the bottle, naturally carbonating over months — sometimes years. It is, in effect, a living beer. Like wine, it changes, deepens, and breathes. This is the true terroir of Trappist beer. It is not just the climate or topsoil, but the vows taken within the walls. The brewing schedule bends to prayer rather than profit. No decision is made without reflection. Even the pace of fermentation and aging is dictated by fidelity as opposed to efficiency; it is fidelity to the beer, the process, and the spiritual rhythm of the monastic day.
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That is why no imitation, however faithful the recipe, can ever replicate a true Trappist ale. It is not the ingredients alone, but the integration of place, purpose, and philosophy that gives the beer its soul. In fact, it was to protect this integrity that the International Trappist Association was formed in 1997; its purpose was to defend a lineage rather than to promote a product. Only a dozen or so breweries in the world today meet the standard, because the standard is spiritual and cannot be scaled. The resulting styles reflect both the spiritual purpose of Trappist ale and its material mastery: •
ENKEL
The monks’ table beer, remains rare outside the cloister; it is pale, dry, and unadorned, with a low alcohol content (around 4%-5%) making it sustaining rather than intoxicating. It is a beer of humility.
ABOVE: A SELECTION OF CHIMAY BEERS. PHOTO COURTESY OF CHIMAY.COM
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• VIEW INTO ORVAL ABBEY. PHOTO BY CARLO EMANUELE BARBI VIA STOCK.ADOBE.COM
QUADRUPEL
Is the deepest and rarest, with a strong, dark, and contemplative style. Often with an alcohol content of 10% or higher, it delivers notes of fig, molasses, spice, and cocoa. Yet even at this intensity, it avoids indulgence. These are beers meant to be sipped in silence, like a psalm before bed. Each style of beer feels like a theological expression as much as a sensory one. These beers are not so much trends as they are traditions, aged and unhurried. To drink a Trappist beer is to step briefly into this rhythm. It is to taste the possibility that integrity, humility, and beauty can coexist in a single glass. In a luxury wine and spirit market filled with noise, they offer something quieter — and far more enduring. There is a quiet radicalism in the choice of ingredients, the pace of production, and the refusal to scale. Trappist monks do not aim to impress. They aim to remain true. Their beer is, at every stage, a reflection of that truth. To drink a Trappist ale — be it the dark, resinous mystery of Rochefort 10, with its fig, cocoa, and subtle heat, or the airy, structured brilliance of Westmalle Tripel, with its pale malt, citrus lift, and whisper of clove — is not to consume. It is to listen, to participate, and to be reminded that some things still move slowly, beautifully, and by hand. C H I M AY A N D O R VA L : M O N A S T I C I C O N S
ROAD SIGN IN CHIMAY, BELGIUM. PHOTO BY CARLO EMANUELE BARBI VIA STOCK.ADOBE.COM
• DUBBEL
Dark and rounded, brings notes of raisin, caramel, and toasted brown bread. Developed by Westmalle in the 19th century, it became the template for rich Belgian ales. Its sweetness is disciplined, and its body is full yet never bloated. It is a beer that sustains like scripture. • TRIPEL
By contrast, is light in color but strong in spirit. Golden, with a fine white head, it offers aromas of banana, clove, and pear, balanced by floral hops and a dry, peppery finish. Westmalle’s Tripel (1934) defined the elegant, structured, and restrained style. It is perhaps the clearest expression of Trappist order.
This sacred geography of beer finds its most profound expression in two names: Chimay and Orval. Chimay, perhaps the most recognizable of all Trappist breweries, sits atop the Mont du Secours in the southern Belgian region of Scourmont — a plateau once regarded as barren, until monks of the Cistercian Order arrived in 1850 and began their slow transformation of land and life. First came agriculture, then cheese and butter, and finally in 1862, beer. But this was never simply production — it was a form of ora et labora, of sanctifying daily work with spiritual purpose. Everything about the way Chimay was conceived and is still brewed reflects this deep sense of rootedness: the water comes from wells inside the monastery; the yeast was isolated by Father Théodore in 1948 and has remained unchanged; and every stage of brewing, aging, and conditioning is conducted for integrity.
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The beers themselves reflect this ethos: •
THE PREMIÈRE (RED)
First brewed in 1948 for Easter, Première is a Dubbel: chestnut-hued, with aromas of dark fruit, caramel, and soft baking spice. On the palate, it reveals dried fig, toffee, and a whisper of clove. The carbonation is gentle and the finish is warming, like vespers beside a fire. •
THE GRANDE RÉSERVE (BLUE)
Grande Réserve - a Quadrupel - is Chimay’s most contemplative expression. With an alcohol content of 9%, it unfolds in layers: brown sugar, cocoa, ripe plum, leather, and anise. As it ages (and it ages beautifully), it softens, becoming rounder, quieter, and almost vinous in depth. •
THE CINQ CENTS (WHITE)
A Tripel released in 1966 to honor the 500th anniversary of the Chimay principality, Cinq Cents is golden and bright. High carbonation lifts notes of banana, coriander, and white pepper, balanced by noble hops and a dry, elegant finish. Despite its strength, it drinks with clarity and lift.
DUBBEL, A RICH BELGIUM ALE. PHOTO BY GUDELLA PHOTO VIA STOCK.ADOBE.COM
FIELDS OF BARLEY IN BELGIUM. PHOTO BY FLEMAL VIA STOCK.ADOBE.COM
These beers are increasingly revered both for their flavor and for their narrative honesty, for the way their structure reflects their origin. They are crafted within a monastic rhythm, and they carry that rhythm outward into the world. This is why modern drinkers — especially those disillusioned with surface pleasures — turn to Chimay as a ritual, rather than an indulgence. Pairings, too, become acts of reflection: • Red goes with roasted pork and monastery cheeses • Blue pairs with venison or, like a port, can be taken on its own as an after-dinner meditation • White goes with salmon or slow-cooked chicken, or it can be served at the table with silence and intention AND THEN THERE IS ORVAL . If Chimay is the welcoming bell tower — structured, visible, and generous — then Orval is the cloister walk — spare, singular, and more shadow than light. Brewed at the Abbaye Notre-Dame d’Orval in the deep-green quiet of southern Belgium, Orval produces only one beer, and it is unlike any other in the Trappist world. First brewed in 1931, this amberhued ale is dry-hopped and refermented with wild yeast (Brettanomyces), yielding a flavor that shifts over time — tart and floral when young, mellow and honeyed when aged. It is not a beer that conforms. Orval, perhaps more than any other Trappist beer, has become a symbol for modern seekers of meaning. It is ascetic in production, a single expression that is constantly changing yet always the same. The monks have capped production intentionally. “We have no other needs,” says Brother Xavier, voicing a worldview that feels radical in its simplicity. In an age driven by scale, Orval’s decision to stay small is spiritual as much as it is ethical. And so it is that secular pilgrims find themselves drawn to these beers — not merely for their complexity, but for their clarity and for what they represent. In Chimay and Orval, they glimpse a different pace, a different purpose. Each bottle is a form of contemplative architecture. To drink is to dwell. To open is to enter. And this, perhaps, is why these beers endure, in memory as well as in cellars and taverns. They are not chasing relevance. Like the monks who make them, they are anchored in a vow.
OPPOSITE: ABBAYE NOTRE-DAME D’ORVAL IN BELGIUM. PHOTO BY STANISLAVA KARAGYOZOVA VIA STOCK.ADOBE.COM 88 S ILVE R CR EEK R EA L ESTATE GRO UP
THE RAREST LUXURY
There is a paradox at the heart of luxury products: the more it becomes about display, the further it drifts from meaning. In a culture obsessed with speed, scale, and spectacle, luxury goods have too often become synonymous with noise. But Trappist beer offers a model that is older, quieter, and more enduring. A model in which excellence arises not from scarcity or status, but from intention. It is, in the truest sense, the last honest luxury. And so, when we hold a glass of Chimay Blue or open a bottle of Orval, we are participating in a lineage of stewardship and slowness. We are tasting what it means to live with purpose. We are, perhaps unknowingly, performing a ritual that reaches beyond the glass toward something calmer, deeper, and more enduring than flavor. As we look to the future of luxury — of how and why we consume — Trappist beer offers a guiding light. It suggests that the pinnacle of refinement is the quiet object, not the briefly glittering one — it is the product that endures because it was made with care. Perhaps the next chapter of luxury will not be louder but truer, built on substance, grace, and soul-deep meaning rather than novelty. And perhaps that is the paradox of Trappist beer — it is not beer at all. It is a quiet practice. A sanctified pause. A gift of presence. And in a world that has forgotten how to be still, perhaps this is the rarest luxury of all.
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As we continue NC Living’s 10th Anniversary Our Towns series, we journey next to Glenville. Driving toward this laid-back lakeside community, there is a moment when the Plateau begins to loosen its formality. Roads widen slightly, the landscape grows less curated, and suddenly the Highlands-Cashiers Plateau gives way to something more elemental. HERE, AROUND THE WATERS OF LAKE GLENVILLE, THE TERRAIN FEELS LESS DESIGNED AND MORE DISCOVERED; IT ’S A PLACE WHERE THE LAKE LEADS AND EVERYTHING ELSE FOLLOWS.
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Glenville resists easy definition. It is not a village in the traditional sense nor a polished resort enclave. Instead, it is a layered lakeside landscape where luxury residences, weathered homesteads, quiet coves, working docks, and forested ridgelines coexist in an unspoken arrangement. It is, in many ways, the Plateau at its most unfiltered — and arguably — its most compelling. To know Glenville is to accept contradiction: wild and refined, remote and highly coveted, and unassuming yet home to some of the most valuable waterfront in the region. W H E R E T H E VA L L E Y W E N T U N D E R
Long before it became a lake, this valley was a settled mountain community; known as Hamburg in the mid1800s, it was a place of early schools, farms, churches,
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and trade routes. That history still lingers beneath the surface, even if the landscape above it has been dramatically reshaped. To support the need for energy during World War II, in 1941, the Tuckasegee River was dammed and the valley filled, creating what is now Lake Glenville — a vast, high-elevation reservoir sitting at roughly 3,500 feet, the highest of its kind east of the Mississippi. Entire roads, structures, and even a historic town center were replaced by rising water, leaving only fragments of the original settlement relocated above the shoreline. What emerged was not an erasure but a transformation. Today, remnants of that earlier life still echo in small details: Hamburg Baptist Church and its cemetery were relocated, preserved above the waterline, and stories are passed between long-standing families who never fully left.
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The lake itself has become the defining feature of the region. With more than 26 miles of shoreline, multiple tributaries, and a constellation of coves, beaches, and inlets, Glenville is an entire ecosystem. It is also the highest reservoir in the region, known for its unusually cool summer temperatures — a defining draw for seasonal residents seeking relief from the heat of the South. T WO WO R L D S T H AT SHARE THE SHORELINE
Unlike the more structured communities elsewhere on the Plateau, Glenville unfolds without a single center. Instead, life here is distributed along winding shoreline roads, forested hillsides, and quiet waterfront stretches. The result is a striking contrast of lifestyles. On one hand, there are multi-million-dollar lakefront homes with private docks and panoramic views; on the
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other, modest cabins, family homes passed through generations, and working properties that reflect the area’s rural roots. The coexistence is simply how the valley has evolved. This juxtaposition gives Glenville a character that feels both authentic and surprising. The absence of a traditional town center reinforces this sense of openness. Instead of a central square, Glenville’s social rhythm is shaped by the lake itself, where people gather on docks, boats, and beaches, particularly in the warmth of summer. LOW-KEY LOCAL LIVING
Shopping in Glenville is not about promenades or curated high streets; it is grounded, practical, and more reflective of everyday mountain life. Small, independently run businesses serve the community, from local supply stores and hardware outlets to informal roadside stands.
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they’re places where the lake narrows into wooded channels and where the landscape briefly feels untouched. On dam release days in summer, High Falls transforms dramatically, drawing kayakers and spectators into a shared moment of natural theater. Seasonal traditions also shape the lake’s identity. On the Fourth of July, boats gather across open water for fireworks displays reflected in the surface of the lake — a rare example of collective celebration in an otherwise dispersed community. U N S C R I P T E D N AT U R E
Glenville’s dining scene is famously compact. From mountain-inspired meal-serving local institution Happ’s Place to rustic barbecue spot The Local, they’re relaxed eateries where long lunches stretch into early evenings beside the lake’s shimmering backdrop. Together, they reflect Glenville’s broader identity: layered, unpolished, and refreshingly unforced. L I F E O N T H E WAT E R
Water in Glenville is reflected in infrastructure, recreation, and identity. At the heart of the lake is a rare curiosity: Buck Knob Island, a privately inhabited community featuring a handful of homes, no cars, and accessed only by ferry. With a limited number of parcels and a single-dock system, it represents one of the most exclusive residential enclaves on the Plateau. Elsewhere, gated dock communities such as Summer Hill provide secure lake access for residents who may not live directly on the water but still want to participate fully in lake life. Signal Ridge Marina serves as the operational heart of boating activity, supporting everything from seasonal rentals to long-term storage. Meanwhile, the exclusive Trillium Links and Lake Club brings together a championship golf course, clay tennis courts, and state-of-the-art wellness facilities for an unmistakably elevated lake lifestyle. Scattered across the shoreline are four hidden waterfalls: Mill Creek Falls, Hidden Falls, Norton Falls, and Hurricane Falls. Best seen from the water,
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Despite increasing interest and development, Glenville remains deeply tied to its natural environment. The lake is renowned for its fishing — particularly its legendary bass — and supports a wide range of species that attract anglers throughout the year. Surrounding forests and waterways provide constant access to outdoor life. Quiet coves and forested trails offer space for exploration without formality. The Friends of Lake Glenville conservation group actively works to preserve water quality and shoreline integrity, reflecting a strong local commitment to stewardship. Summer here is pure perfection. It’s warm enough for swimming and boating but cool enough to remain comfortable even in peak season. It is this climate, combined with elevation and water access, that has made Glenville a long-standing refuge for families from across the Southeast. It is a place where contrasts coexist without resolution: old and new, modest and monumental, local and luxurious. Where homes sit beside history and where the lake holds everything together without insisting on uniformity. For those who understand the Plateau, Glenville represents a different kind of value — one anchored not in presentation but in possibility. Here, life evolves along the shoreline rather than the street. And for many who arrive, it becomes clear that Glenville is not simply a place you visit. It is a place you learn to read.
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CARS, COFFEE, & GENUINE PLATEAU CARE BROKER SPOTLIGHT WITH ROB WHITNEY
words by robert mceveety photography by m o l ly h a r r i s
ROB WHITNEY HAS SPENT 20 YEARS HELPING PEOPLE FIND HOMES ON THE HIGHLANDS-CASHIERS PLATEAU. IN THAT TIME, HE’S LEARNED THAT SUCCESS COMES DOWN TO THREE THINGS: LISTENING CAREFULLY, COMMUNICATING CLEARLY, AND CONNECTING CLIENTS WITH EXACTLY WHAT THEY NEED WHEN THEY NEED IT. It’s a straightforward approach, and it works. At Silver Creek Real Estate Group, Rob combines a thorough understanding of the local market with a philosophy built on responsiveness and genuine service. When clients call with questions, they get answers — whether it’s 7:30 in the morning or 9:00 at night.
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TENNESSEE ROOTS
T H E M OV E T H AT C H A N G E D E V E RY T H I N G
Rob grew up in Brentwood, Tennessee, back when it was still fields and pastures rather than one of the state’s wealthiest counties. His early life was spent attending small schools and playing tons of sports. College brought a significant shift when he moved from a 400-student high school to the University of Tennessee in Knoxville, where 25,000 students packed the campus. Rob adapted quickly. He started working for GNC while still attending classes, learned the retail business inside out, and eventually became a franchisee. He ran his first store solo for six months straight, working seven days a week. He wanted to build the customer base himself, get to know the community, and make sure the business would generate profit.
In 2003, Rob met Susanne Moore, a HighlandsCashiers Plateau resident and successful general contractor. It wasn’t long before he was making the drive to the mountains every weekend, hours away from his Tennessee life and GNC stores. After six months, they both knew they’d found their one and only.
Rob’s hands-on approach to business has stayed with him throughout his career. The store took off, and he eventually opened a second location. Rob had every reason to stay put in Knoxville. Then he met the love of his life.
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Rob proposed, spent a year selling his stores, and relocated to North Carolina in 2005. He and Susanne married the following year on Snowbird Mountain. Starting fresh in a new area meant choosing a new career, and real estate made sense. Susanne’s mother was already a broker in the area, and the work wasn’t entirely different from retail: it still involved serving people and building relationships, but out among the mountains instead of inside a store. Rob liked that change. He got his license in 2005 and hasn’t looked back.
T H E VA LU E O F D E E P C O N N E C T I O N S
What Rob brought from his GNC days was an understanding of customer service and the importance of being genuinely available. He assures every client that they can reach him from 7:30 a.m. until 9:00 p.m., seven days a week. Whether they contact him by phone, text, or email, he’ll respond. That level of accessibility has become his calling card.
parties on the buyer’s behalf, leveraging his local knowledge and network to navigate the deal to a successful close. “His local connections and knowledge of the process in the area were instrumental in getting me to the finish line,” the client recalls. But Rob’s connection to the Plateau goes well beyond real estate.
Another of Rob’s real estate hallmarks comes from Susanne, who has served the Plateau as a general contractor for 29 years. When clients have questions about retaining walls, wiring, plumbing, or whether a renovation is worth the investment, Rob doesn’t have to guess. He has immediate access to expert knowledge as well as contractor referrals from Susanne’s long working relationships with the best professionals in the area.
CARS & COMMUNITY
“Because of her connections, whether it’s a plumber, electrician, septic installer, whatever those facets are that a contractor has to utilize, I’m able to provide those to my clients quickly,” Rob says.
The event takes place at Blue Ridge School on the second Saturday of each month from June through October. Happ’s Place restaurant runs a food truck. People wander between the hoods and fenders, trading stories about engines and restorations or just grabbing coffee and catching up.
Those connections prove especially valuable in complex transactions. One out-of-state buyer found this out firsthand when facing an issue with a septic system that was located on the neighbor’s property. Rob coordinated with all
Rob has been a car guy his whole life. His father was into cars, and Rob grew up with an appreciation for anything with a V8 under the hood. He drives a 1970 Camaro and a 1962 Chevy C10 truck, well-built, beautifully maintained American automobiles you can still drive without worrying too much about them. Two years ago, he brought that enthusiasm to the Plateau by starting Cashiers Cars & Coffee.
“I see a lot of parents come with their younger teenage kids, and they’re all looking at the cars and taking pictures,” Rob says. “It’s become an event that anyone can come out to and just hang out and be a part of. Everybody’s on equal footing.” The informal spirit is the whole point. Bring a car or don’t. Show up to look or just hang out. There’s no pressure and no pretension. THE PHILOSOPHY BEHIND THE WORK
If you ask Rob what makes him effective as a broker, he doesn’t lead with sales numbers or market knowledge. “Kindness and generosity,” he says. “Honesty and ethics. I think if you have those things, there’s always going to be an opportunity because someone is going to like you and what you have to offer.” Rob has spent 20 years proving that genuine care and honest communication lead to better outcomes for everyone involved. Clients come back. They refer their friends. They call Rob first because they know he’ll pick up the phone, give them an honest answer, and never waste their time.
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“[ROB] IS SO KNOWLEDGEABLE ABOUT THE AREA AND VERY EASY TO WORK WITH.” - SARAH 100 S ILVE R CR EEK R EA L ESTATE G RO UP
Rob’s clients see the difference his philosophy makes. One couple, after being referred by a friend, worked with him to find a home that fit their budget, lifestyle, and family needs. Rob did the research, listened to what mattered, and ultimately recommended a home in a location they hadn’t considered. It turned out to be their dream home. “His thoughtfulness, dedication, and hard work paid off,” the client wrote. “We love our new home and highly recommend Rob to anyone looking to buy or sell a home in the Cashiers area.”
easy to work with. We have enjoyed getting to know him and appreciate all of his help in finding us a great house.”
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ROB WHITNEY
Rob lives on Lake Glenville, though he’ll be the first to admit he doesn’t use his pontoon boat nearly as often as he should. He’s too busy working. When he has free time, he can be found biking or working on his cars. What Rob values most about the Plateau is the freedom of living in such a tightknit community.
After 20 years on the Highlands-Cashiers Plateau, Rob’s approach has proven itself again and again. Rob Whitney does more than facilitate real estate transactions. He builds relationships that last, solves problems that matter, and shows up when clients need him.
BROKER ROB@NCLIVING.COM
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“I think the more you transition down to smaller communities, the more at peace you can feel,” he reflects. “We don’t have any real traffic lights or heavy congestion of people 365 days a year. It’s very liberating to be able to move around at your own pace and be in a quiet environment.” W H Y S I LV E R C R E E K
Rob’s move to Silver Creek Real Estate Group came after years of watching the company’s growth and understanding what was driving it: strong marketing, smart business strategy, and a team positioned to become the area’s top firm. “I’ve seen the numbers, I’ve seen how it’s been done,” Rob explains. “The online marketing, the local marketing, it’s made the firm a real powerhouse. As a 20-year real estate agent here, being able to see that growth is what led me to say I need to be on the winning team.” For clients, working with Rob means accessing someone who combines two decades of local knowledge, immediate access to construction expertise through his wife, a communication style that keeps them informed every step of the way, and a philosophy built on honesty and genuine care. As one longtime client put it: “He is so knowledgeable about the area and very
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LOCAL KNOWLEDGE, GLOBAL REACH
At Silver Creek Real Estate Group, our team is united by a shared passion for the Highlands-Cashiers Plateau and a dedication to helping clients find their perfect place here. Each of our brokers brings a unique blend of market expertise, local insight, and genuine care, ensuring every transaction is handled with skill, integrity, and personal attention.
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With a sharp entrepreneurial instinct and a lifelong passion for real estate, Jochen Lucke brings a dynamic perspective to every client interaction. His journey from Southeast Florida to the Highlands-Cashiers Plateau was driven by a love for the mountains and a desire to create a more grounded, community-focused life. That same passion now shapes his approach to real estate, blending deep local knowledge with a broad view of market trends.
JOCHEN LUCKE
Known for his tenacity and thoughtful negotiation style, Jochen is also a dedicated community leader, with years of service on local nonprofit boards. Whether guiding clients through their first purchase or a complex development opportunity, he brings a calm confidence, a builder’s eye, and a sincere commitment to helping others find their place in the mountains.
“If you’re looking to sell your home, we highly recommend Jochen. His experience, communication, and dedication make all the difference.” — D. and A. Pugel
FOUNDER | CEO | BROKER 828-226-1126 JLUCKE@NCLIVING.COM JOCHENLUCKE.NCLIVING.COM
DAN ALLEN Dan Allen offers something exceptional: thirty years of genuine community investment that has created unparalleled local expertise. Since calling the mountains his permanent home in 1995, he has built lasting relationships throughout the region, making him a trusted guide and giving clients access to a strong network of local professionals and resources. Known for his “treasure hunter” approach, Dan focuses on understanding each client’s vision and using his extensive market knowledge to find the right match. His commitment extends beyond closing, offering ongoing guidance and support. An advocate for the environment and passionate community supporter, Dan brings exceptional knowledge, authenticity, insight, and dedication to every client he serves.
BROKER CERTIFIED LUXURY HOME MARKETING SPECIALIST GUILD™
“Dan and his team continue to set the standard for excellent communication, diligent practices, and high fidelity in their work.” — M. Draughon
828-508-2107 DAN@NCLIVING.COM DANALLEN.NCLIVING.COM NC LI VI NG FALL 2026 103
PARKER ANDERSON From the French Quarter to the Blue Ridge Mountains, Parker Anderson’s path to Cashiers has been one of adventure, intention, and heart. A third-generation real estate broker from Rome, Georgia, Parker built his expertise in New Orleans’ competitive market before answering the mountains’ call. Now with Silver Creek Real Estate Group, he pairs bigmarket savvy with an authentic love of community, helping clients find not just homes, but lifestyles that fit who they are. Deeply rooted in Cashiers, Parker and his wife, Caroline, are raising their children, Reeves and Figgy, surrounded by the beauty and warmth of the place they proudly call home.
“ It was a pleasure to work with such an honest and enthusiastic individual that exhibited true ethical values toward his profession. I wouldn’t hesitate to work with [Parker] again in the future.” — C. Jacobson
BROKER 828-200-2695 PARKER@NCLIVING.COM PARKERANDERSON.NCLIVING.COM
JULIA TATUM BANNER With a background in fine arts, construction, and entrepreneurship, Julia Tatum Banner brings a creative and solution-driven perspective to real estate. A descendant of builders, artists, and innovators, she draws on her family’s legacy to help clients see the hidden potential in every property. Julia’s hands-on experience with design and development, as well as her company, Banner & Associates, allows her to offer thoughtful guidance throughout the buying and selling process. Known for her dedication, vision, and personal touch, Julia helps clients not only find a home but imagine what it could become. She lives in Lake Toxaway with her husband, Mac.
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“We could not have been more pleased with [Julia’s] professionalism and kindness. There is no doubt that we will be working with her again when we are ready to make our next purchase!” — L. and A. Wiedersum
Marsha Bricker has been a cornerstone of HighlandsCashiers Plateau real estate for over 30 years. A New York native and NYU graduate who left her corporate career at what is now Verizon, she moved to Sapphire in 1992 and discovered her calling in mountain real estate. Dedicated, passionate, and always communicative, Marsha has built her practice almost entirely on repeat business and referrals, while her deep local knowledge and unwavering work ethic have cemented her reputation as one of the Plateau’s most trusted real estate professionals.
MARSHA BRICKER
A 13-time club champion at Burlingame Country Club, Marsha shares her home and her love for the Plateau community with her husband of almost 50 years and their three adorable Australian Labradoodles.
“[Marsha’s] responsiveness and followthrough are exceptional. Having someone who gets you answers quickly and confidently makes all the difference, and Marsha exceeds expectations every time.” — M. & A. Skinner
BROKER 828-553-2357 MARSHA@NCLIVING.COM MARSHABRICKER.NCLIVING.COM
ANN COOPER Ann Cooper brings deep local roots and an entrepreneurial mindset to her real estate practice on the Highlands-Cashiers Plateau. A lifelong resident of Western North Carolina, she knows the region not just as a market, but as home. With a background as a multi-business owner, Ann understands service, efficiency, and the importance of listening closely to her clients’ needs. Her approach is energetic, professional, and highly personal, guided by a genuine desire to help others navigate meaningful transitions. Known for her strong work ethic and warm, approachable style, Ann is a trusted partner for buyers and sellers seeking thoughtful guidance grounded in local knowledge and community values.
“Working with Ann was and continues to be an absolute pleasure ... Her caring, handson approach makes us feel supported every step of the way, and we always know she has our best interests at heart.” BROKER 828-736-1198 ANN@NCLIVING.COM ANNCOOPER.NCLIVING.COM
— P. Watt
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CHRIS DUFFY Chris Duffy’s journey to the Highlands-Cashiers Plateau began in 2017 when a radio hosting job brought him to the mountains sight unseen. What began as a career move became a calling, blending his broadcasting, investigative, and culinary backgrounds into a real estate practice built on service, curiosity, and connection. Chris’s inquisitive nature helps uncover opportunities, guiding clients to the right home and community. Known for his 6-foot-9-inch frame, his approachable style, and his knowledge of the Plateau’s diverse towns, Chris is deeply involved in local life — serving on boards, volunteering at events, and championing the community he treasures.
“Chris went above and beyond for us... he stepped up and did whatever was needed to see [the closing] through. We could not have done it without him!” — Blair and Allison
BROKER RESORT AND SECOND-HOME PROPERTY SPECIALIST 828-526-6763 DUFFY@NCLIVING.COM C H R I S D U F F Y. N C L I V I N G .C O M
DEBBY HALL With decades of experience as an interior designer and business owner, Debby Hall brings an exceptional eye for possibility to every listing and an intuitive understanding of how people truly live in their homes. She helps sellers elevate their spaces with thoughtful guidance and supports buyers in envisioning what a property could become. Warm, perceptive, and solutions-oriented, Debby blends creative vision with practical expertise, making the process feel clear and enjoyable. Deeply engaged in the Plateau community, she offers clients local insight and genuine care. For those seeking a home that fits both their lifestyle and aspirations, Debby is a trusted guide.
“[Debby] was very professional and kind, and she answered all my questions no matter how small. She is smart and caring and goes above and beyond in her duties.” BROKER 828-200-4057 DEBBY@NCLIVING.COM DEBBYHALL.NCLIVING.COM 106 S ILVE R CR EEK R EA L ESTATE GRO UP
— K. Strang
JONATHAN HOUGH Jonathan Hough approaches real estate with a service-first mindset and a deep belief in the power of relationships. With a background rooted in leadership, faith, and family values, he brings thoughtful guidance and genuine care to every client interaction. His interest in real estate was sparked by his father’s example as a general contractor, and his approach is grounded in integrity, professionalism, and personal connection. Whether supporting his community, leading within the industry, or helping clients navigate important decisions, Jonathan is known for his steady presence, clear communication, and commitment to delivering an experience defined by trust and results.
“From the initial consultation to the final closing, Jonathan was always available and responsive, and he provided expert guidance. We highly recommend [him] to anyone looking for a dedicated and successful realtor.” BROKER
— J. and M. Kiker
704-202-4161 J O N AT H A N @ N C L I V I N G .C O M J O N AT H A N H O U G H . N C L I V I N G .C O M
RICK JACKSON Authentic and approachable, Rick Jackson offers a steady demeanor complemented by a comprehensive real estate background. After selling his software company, he entered real estate in 1998, later finding his perfect fit on the Highlands-Cashiers Plateau. Splitting time between Atlanta and the mountains before settling full-time, Rick brings unique insight into the transition to mountain living. He’s known for building genuine relationships, and maintaining a strong moral compass, enabling him to guide clients with integrity and ease. Active in local organizations and an avid golfer, boater, and vintage motorcycle enthusiast, Rick has built a life he loves and helps clients do the same on the Plateau.
“Rick was perfect throughout our purchase in Lake Glenville. [He was] knowledgeable, responsive, informed, and helpful at all turns.” BROKER
— D. and K. Feist
404-275-7617 RICK@NCLIVING.COM RICKJACKSON.NCLIVING.COM NC LI VI NG FALL 2026 107
BAMBI FAMOUS KAINE For Bambi Famous Kaine, real estate is a calling rooted in connection, not just to homes, but to people and the communities where they’ll thrive. With a background in sales and a deep love for the mountains, Bambi brings a calm, intentional presence to every client relationship. Her unwavering passion for helping others is matched only by her legendary attention to detail. As a self-described “community concierge,” Bambi believes people should fall in love with a place before they fall in love with a property, and she’s there to make that happen, every step of the way.
“Bambi was our selling agent and she was superb. There aren’t enough adjectives and stars to compliment her, her team, and their service. She is the epitome of professional, knowledgeable, and customer service oriented ... Truly, she was magnificent!” — F. Trammel
BROKER CERTIFIED LUXURY HOME MARKETING SPECIALIST GUILD™ CERTIFIED RESIDENTIAL SPECIALIST 828-200-4040 BAMBI@NCLIVING.COM BAMBIKAINE.NCLIVING.COM
EDDY MCDONALD With more than 30 years on the Highlands-Cashiers Plateau, Silver Creek’s Eddy McDonald brings a rare depth of experience — from PGA pro to club manager, builder, and seasoned broker. As someone who listens first and talks second, Eddy combines technical know-how with genuine care, guiding clients through every market with calm confidence. His hands-on construction background and decades of community connections allow him to see value that others might miss, while his commitment to service extends far beyond closing day. Whether helping first-time buyers or seasoned investors, Eddy leads with integrity, insight, and the steady assurance of someone who knows these mountains by heart.
“Eddy is a fabulous realtor. He has been responsible for our rental home for the last year and has increased our rentals by 200%! He is always available and responsive to our needs and those of the renters.” BROKER 828-421-8196 EDDY@NCLIVING.COM EDDYMCDONALD.NCLIVING.COM 108 S ILVE R CR EEK R EA L ESTATE GRO UP
— J. and M. Serdula
JODI MOORE With over two decades of experience and an award-winning start to her career, Jodi Moore brings unwavering dedication and warmth to every client relationship. A former Vice President of Sales and Marketing turned real estate broker, she’s known for her honesty, responsiveness, and genuine care. Now a respected expert in Burlingame Country Club and Lake Toxaway, Jodi combines insider knowledge with a client-first philosophy built on patience and trust. Her approach is simple but rare: Treat people the way you want to be treated and never stop working until they find the mountain home that feels just right.
“The Monteleones have bought many homes in our 56 years of marriage! But, without a shadow of a doubt, Jodi Moore is the best realtor we have ever had.” — P. and B. Monteleone
BROKER 828-482-2525 JODI@NCLIVING.COM JODIMOORE.NCLIVING.COM
CASSIE NEAL For more than 20 years, Cassie Neal has built her reputation as a real estate broker on listening deeply, communicating clearly, and perfecting the art of connecting people with places where they’ll truly belong. A military upbringing taught her to adapt quickly and connect with people from all walks of life — skills she brings to every transaction. Cassie pairs deep market knowledge with genuine care, guiding clients through the Plateau’s unique nuances with honesty and attention to detail. Her love for mountain living is contagious. Clients often leave with more than a home — they leave with a trusted friend.
BROKER CERTIFIED LUXURY HOME MARKETING SPECIALIST GUILD™
“[Cassie Neal] sincerely cares about what is best for her clients and encourages you to buy what is best for you, rather than trying to make a quick sale.” — A. Hurst
828-226-0383 CASSIE@NCLIVING.COM CASSIENEAL.NCLIVING.COM NC LI VI NG FALL 2026 109
KATIE NICHOLSON Since moving from Georgia to the Highlands-Cashiers Plateau in 2008, Katie Nicholson has built a thriving real estate career rooted in authenticity and trust. A former acquisitions professional with a global real estate investment firm, she transitioned to mountain living and became deeply involved in the development of the Chinquapin community, specializing in land and new home builds. Known for her patient, relationship-focused approach, Katie guides clients toward the right home and community, often remaining a resource long after closing. Her local ties, construction knowledge, and commitment to honest service make her a trusted guide for those seeking both a property and a place to belong.
“Thanks to Katie, we are home in a community that we love. We could not recommend [her] more highly.” — E. Tucker
BROKER 828-399-1824 K AT I E @ N C L I V I N G .C O M K AT I E N I C H O L S O N . N C L I V I N G .C O M
CHUCK SELF Chuck Self first came to the Highlands-Cashiers Plateau more than 30 years ago, drawn by its beauty and sense of community. After a successful 30-year career in corporate television sales, he made the mountains his full-time home and now helps others discover the lifestyle he treasures. By partnering with Riva Smith, Chuck combines unmatched business expertise and seasoned negotiation skills with a deep knowledge of the area and a commitment to honest, thorough service. Active in local organizations and dedicated to giving back, he guides clients with professionalism, care, and a focus on finding the right home and community for their needs.
BROKER CERTIFIED LUXURY HOME MARKETING SPECIALIST GUILD™ 828-734-7302 CHUCK@NCLIVING.COM CHUCKSELF.NCLIVING.COM 11 0 S ILVE R CR EEK R EA L ESTATE GRO UP
“As out-of-towners looking for a second home, Chuck’s local knowledge of each and every neighborhood was invaluable. Five stars — highly recommended!” — J. and K. Anderson
BONNIE SHERMAN Bonnie brings warmth, curiosity, and thoughtful attention to detail to her real estate practice on the Highlands-Cashiers Plateau. After relocating from Miami to Western North Carolina in 2017, she quickly put down roots with her husband and has been practicing real estate since 2019. A former performer, Bonnie understands that every home and every community tells a story — and she takes pride in helping clients find the one that fits their lives. Known for making clients feel like family, she pairs a personable approach with a detail-oriented mindset that ensures nothing is overlooked.
“[Bonnie’s] communication was always clear and concise, and we truly appreciate [her] ability to bring a sense of humor to what can often be a stressful process. [She] listened carefully, respected our pace, and helped us make our own decisions... At every step, we felt confident [she] had our best interests at heart. — Judy & Donald P.
BROKER 8 2 8 - 4 8 9 - 7476 BONNIE@NCLIVING.COM
JESSICA STOUGH Fluent in three languages and fearless in any challenge, Jessica Stough brings a global perspective and tireless energy to Silver Creek Real Estate Group. Born in Brazil and trained as a corporate attorney, she built a thriving law practice before moving to the U.S., where her professionalism and adaptability quickly set her apart. As Jochen Lucke’s right hand, Jessica blends precision with poise, managing details with the same care she gives clients. Now building her own real estate practice, she channels her international experience, legal acumen, and unshakable work ethic into helping others find their perfect place in the mountains.
“We had an exceptionally positive experience working with Jessica Stough. [She] is a top tier agent we would recommend to anyone. BROKER
— J. Walsh
617-584-0080 JESSICA@NCLIVING.COM NC LI VI NG FALL 2026 111
RAY TRINE With more than four decades of experience, Ray Trine is one of the Highlands-Cashiers Plateau’s most knowledgeable and trusted real estate professionals. After relocating from Florida in the early 1980s, he built and led one of the area’s top firms and helped assemble landmark communities including Trillium, Summerhill, and Bridge Creek. Known for his warm, approachable nature and encyclopedic understanding of local land, Ray is often described as a true “guide to the Plateau,” offering insight, history, and an infectious enthusiasm for mountain living. Still based on his Glenville farm today, Ray continues to help clients find the places they’ll love calling home.
“Ray has been my real estate agent for close to three decades and no one knows more about Cashiers and Lake Glenville than he does. He’s a pleasure to work with.” — Cason
BROKER 828-506-8520 R AY @ N C L I V I N G . C O M R AY T R I N E . N C L I V I N G . C O M
RACHEL WAVRA Rachel Wavra brings a hospitality-driven mindset and meticulous attention to detail to her real estate practice. Originally from Winter Park, Florida, she helped grow a national restaurant brand before settling in Scaly Mountain with her husband, Tyler, and their two children. Known for her client-first philosophy, Rachel believes the difference between good and exceptional lies in carefully considered moments. Blending thoughtful touches with modern marketing savvy, she offers the perfect balance of luxury service and heartfelt hospitality. Her practice is built on thoughtfulness, authenticity, and exceptional standards, qualities that leave a lasting impression long after the transaction is complete.
“Working with Rachel to sell our property in Highlands was an absolute pleasure. Her communication, patience, and genuine care for our goals really shined through.” BROKER 828-505-6190 RACHEL@NCLIVING.COM R AC H E LWAV R A . N C L I V I N G .C O M 11 2 SILVE R CR EEK R EA L ESTATE GRO UP
— J. Walsh
SERVICE THROUGH Collaboration When you work with one Silver Creek agent, you access the insight of many. Our in-house creatives, researchers, and advisors move in concert, so you can focus on the decisions that matter.
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AN EVENING IN THE ORCHARD THE CULLASAJA AND THE JUNALUSKA
words by robert mceveety p h oto g r a p h y by m o l ly h a r r i s
This October, Silver Creek Real Estate Group’s Social House ventures into the art of horticulture. “An Evening in the Orchard: The Cullasaja and the Junaluska” is a conversation that pairs orchardist extraordinaire, Lec Hobbs, with Amelia Golcheski and Lindsay Garner Hostetler of the Cashiers Historical Society, who will be hand-pressing cider for the occasion. Their subject is two amazing apples that very nearly disappeared from the world, the craft that brought them back, and the long and storied saga of orcharding on our Plateau.
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HOW TO MAKE AN APPLE
In 1989, an apple historian named Lee Calhoun discovered a gnarled old apple tree standing in Macon County, North Carolina. It was identified as a Cullasaja, a variety first grown in North Carolina in the 1830s and seemingly lost to the world for more than half a century. Not long after, a man named Tom Brown located another lost apple tree known as a Junaluska, which had been considered extinct for more than 100 years.
Rescuing a single tree doesn’t sound like much. But for an apple, it’s everything. As Lec Hobbs will explain in further detail on the night, when you plant an apple seed, you’ll get an apple tree. But what you won’t get is the same type of apple you took the seed from. Instead, you’ll get something new and unpredictable, an entirely different variety — and the odds are it won’t be worth eating because apples don’t breed true.
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The only way to keep a variety alive is for someone to cut a living piece from one tree and bind it onto the roots of another in a process known as grafting. That Honeycrisp bought from Ingles comes from a cutting that’s come from a cutting from a cutting, traceable back to a single original tree. Both Cullasaja and Junaluska apples can be enjoyed today, exactly as they were in the 19th century, because Mr. Calhoun and Mr. Brown found these solitary surviving trees, allowing them to be grafted by talented orchardists like Lec Hobbs. THE ORCHARDIST’S JOURNEY
Lec did not set out to become an apple person. He grew up in Macon, Georgia, before moving to Western North Carolina in 1992. An avid outdoorsman, he taught programs at Earthshine Mountain Lodge and spent 13 years at Headwaters Outfitters. Today, he manages Highland Hiker. Lec and his husband bought their dream home in Jackson County in 2019, spending that fall renovating it before they moved in. That’s when the apples found Lec. Every day that he drove down to the house to check on the work, he’d find more and more of them. The seven heritage trees on his property, each somewhere between 80 and 100 years old, were dropping fruit faster than anyone could gather it.
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“I can’t waste these apples,” Lec remembers thinking. “What am I going to do?” He still has a photograph of his kitchen sink from that first fall, filled to the brim with apples. There was no way the couple could eat them all. So Lec began making applesauce, then apple butter, which turned out to be the thing everyone wanted. Soon enough, he was mailing jars out to friends who’d gotten hooked. Cider was pressed, and hard cider fermented. This fall, he’s attempting apple cider vinegar for the first time. Somewhere along the way, Lec’s hobby turned into something else. He attended Heritage Apple Day at the Cashiers Historical Society, which opens its orchard and invites attendees to learn the art of horticulture. “That’s when I got my first dose of the history of it and where I learned how to graft trees,” Lec says. He grafted about 15 trees that first season. They were still in pots when a freeze of minus 7 came through, and only three of them survived. But Lec kept going. Those three are in the ground now, and they’re thriving.
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THE CORE OF THE NIGHT FAR RIGHT: AMELIA GOLCHESKI, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE CASHIERS HISTORICAL SOCIETY WITH HER TEAM. PHOTO COURTESY OF CASHIERS HISTORICAL SOCIETY CASHIERSHISTORY.ORG
At the Social House, Lec will tell the full story of the Cullasaja and the Junaluska, and he’ll introduce a few of the other heirloom apples that grew up on this Plateau. He’ll also get into grafting and propagation, point folks toward the orchards around here that still collect heritage varieties, and talk about what it takes to preserve an heirloom fruit once you’ve got hold of one. He’s still at that work himself: two of his oldest trees are going off for DNA testing this fall because he wants to know exactly what he has before he ever puts a name on a tree he passes along to somebody else. Part of what hooked Lec is that there is always more to learn when it comes to apples. There are thousands of varieties, with whole subcategories nested inside them. “There’s so much,” he says. Preparing for this talk has only pulled him further in. “I was already way down this rabbit hole, and I’m just getting deeper and deeper,” he remarks. “I think I’m just maybe a little bit more obsessed with it than everybody else.” PEELING BACK THE HISTORY
Which brings us back to one of the sources of Lec’s obsession: the Cashiers Historical Society, whose annual Heritage Apple Day taught him how to graft. Amelia Golcheski, the Society’s executive director, is a historian of Appalachia who grew up in the Blue Ridge of Virginia and joined the Society three years ago after a career in museums. Before that, she held a fellowship at the National Museum of American History, where she built an entire program on the history of apples in America. “Knowledge I never thought I’d use again,” she says with a laugh. “But here we are.” Amelia intends to open with the particular histories of the two apples: one takes its name from the river it grew up beside and the other from a Cherokee leader on whose land the original tree stood. From there, she’ll explore how apples such as the Cullasaja and the Junaluska ended up at the center of life for settlers in these mountains. After all, the apple kept through the winter when almost nothing else did. Slightly alcoholic cider was deemed safer to drink than spring water. And a good harvest could be turned into applesauce, apple butter, vinegar, and the traditional stack cake that remains one of the best-loved desserts in Appalachia. The Society will close the night the way it’s done at Heritage Apple Day every spring — pressing cider by hand with anyone who wants to take a turn. Amelia makes a claim about the results she’s willing to stand behind: fresh-pressed apples beat anything on the grocery shelf. Silver Creek Real Estate Group is thrilled to be hosting this conversation alongside the Cashiers Historical Society on Thursday, October 15. Come thirsty. 11 8 S ILVE R CR EEK R EA L ESTATE GRO UP
YOU’RE INVITED! AN EVENING IN THE ORCHARD THE CULLASAJA AND THE JUNALUSKA
OCTOBER 15
CASHIERS 4:00-5:30 PM S I LV E R C R E E K O F F I C E 341 U.S. 64 WEST
SCAN TO LEARN MORE!
PRESENTED BY S I LV E R C R E E K R E A L E S TAT E G R O U P NC LI VI NG FALL 2026 119
CASHMERE AT THE EDGE OF THE WORLD A WINTER AMONG THE CHANGPA NOMADS OF LADAKH
w o r d s by pat r i c i a l au r e n t
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HERD OF CHANGPA CASHMERE GOATS. PHOTO BY KIM PETERSEN VIA STOCK.ADOBE.COM
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True luxury begins where the map fades and the air thins. Atop the remote Changthang Plateau of Ladakh lives a culture whose grace defies geography. Here, amid a landscape of raw minimalism and elemental purity, the Changpa nomads have, for over a millennium, curated something so rare and enduring that it cannot be replicated by machines. They do not manufacture luxury; they live it. This is the birthplace of pashmina — cashmere in its most authentic, most elevated form. At 14,000 feet above sea level, the Changthang Plateau of Ladakh is not where one expects luxury to begin. This high-altitude desert, ringed by wind-chiseled peaks and cut by salt-bright lakes, offers little in the way of comfort. The air thins into silence, with winds that move unimpeded across the stone plains as they lift dry dust and old snow in wide, indifferent spirals. Temperatures fall to minus 35 C and remain there, steady and unmoved. There are no trees, there is no electricity, and there are no marked roads. Yet in this severe and sacred terrain, where the cold burns and the horizon feels unbroken, a people continue to live in a rhythm that has endured for centuries.
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This is the home of the Changpa nomads and the finest cashmere in the world. For over a thousand years, the nomads have migrated seasonally across this frozen plateau, navigating altitude, weather, and sparse resources within the Zanskar Valley around the lakes of Tso Kar and Tso Moriri. As stewards of an ancient system of life that is finely attuned to one of the planet’s most hostile climates, the Changpa are a semi-nomadic tribe of Tibetan ancestry, with roots in both trans-Himalayan and Central Asian traditions. Their knowledge is passed through generational bloodlines; it is cultural know-how that is based on both being ecologically intuitive and preserving tradition. This is an existence that is defined by continuity; it is rooted in the cyclical wisdom of seasons, migrations, rituals, and memory. The Changpa’s lives are shaped by a purposeful practice of living with the land, where every aspect of their cultural tradition, from the structure of their yak-wool rebo tents to the rotational cycles of grazing, has been honed through this same cultural know-how passed down through
generations. Their spiritual life too is not separate from the daily work of tending to animals, mending wool, or watching for snow; their world is densely inhabited with spirits, guardians, and energies that are acknowledged in every act. In Thukjey, an elder named Nawang Tharchin speaks quietly of these presences. “We have guardian spirits everywhere,” he says. “Our pastures, springs, lands, mountains, snow, and animals are all protected by them.” His voice carries the weight of knowing rather than believing. “Our animals help us communicate with the spirits. If our herd is lost, our communication is lost.” There is no division here between ecology and reverence. Everything is alive, and everything is bound by responsibility.
And it is precisely this affinity of living with the land that lies at the heart of the Changpa’s cultural preservation. It is the knowledge of how to live at altitude, of how to coexist with extreme cold while navigating the preservation of traditional knowhow in rearing and herding the precious Changra goats, who are revered for their unparalleled lightweight softness and luxurious appeal. T H E G OAT T H AT B R E AT H E S LU X U RY
The Changra goats are among the Changpa’s most valued companions. These medium-sized and sure-footed animals with curved horns and a quiet presence are as much a part of the plateau as the ochre stones and brackish lakes. To survive the unrelenting Ladakhi winters, when the winds move unchecked across open earth, the Changra goat grows a double-layered fleece. A coarse outer coat protects it from snow and wind, but it is the layer beneath — an undercoat of downy fibers so fine they are measured in microns — that carries the true brilliance of this animal.
LEFT: CHANGPA MOTHER AND CHILD. PHOTO BY ANOOP NEGI VIA FLICKR.COM OPPOSITE: PASHMINA GOATS ON THE CHANGTHANG PLATEAU OF LADAKH. PHOTO BY ANOOP NEGI VIA FLICKR.COM
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This underlayer, known to the Changpa as pashm, grows slowly through winter, formed only under sustained cold and only in goats that graze freely at high altitudes. Each fiber measures between 12 and 15 microns — one-sixth the width of a human hair — and contains a natural air chamber that allows for thermoregulation and insulation. M I G R AT I O N
Every year, between late May and early June, the Changpa begin their seasonal migration from the winter camps near Hanle toward the summer pastures near Tso Moriri. When the Zanskar Valley begins to awaken after its long winter slumber, when spring touches the plateau with hints of meltwater and the first flush of alpine grass, the Changpa guide their flocks across mountain passes over 4,500 meters. It is a physically demanding time, but it is also when the days are long and luminous, and the land is at its most generous, with carpets of wildflowers spread across the meadows. The harvesting of the precious yarn begins as the goats’ undercoats begin to loosen, when the weather is milder. Using the traditional “combing” technique, a delicate and timeintensive method in which each animal is handled individually, the coats are gently brushed from chin to under the belly with a small comb, shearing the thickest, most compact, and softest fibers. The combs, made of iron or polished wood, are small and blunt-tined, designed to lift only the soft fleece without harming the outer coat or the animal. It takes several rounds of combing, often over a week, to gather the full yield of around 150-250 grams of pashm from one animal. One of the reasons for the high value of cashmere is the very limited quantity of high-quality yarn. FROM PASHM TO PASHMINA
Once the fleece has been collected, the pashm — light, fine, and barely visible to the eye — is carried back to camp in cloth bundles
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and kept safe from moisture and dust. Here the fiber moves slowly, by hand, through a series of steps gained from knowledge that is passed quietly across generations. Inside the rebo tents, the wool is spread and sorted, while the outer hairs, which are coarse and wiry, are carefully removed by hand. Bits of dried grass and dirt are picked from the fleece, one pinch at a time. This is work done mostly by women, who sit cross-legged, working without hurry. There is no scale, no machinery, and no rush to finish. The goal is to clean the wool without damaging it. Each handful is turned and felt, the soft from the rough, the usable from the waste. Nothing is wasted without reason. The finest wool is then collected in shallow baskets or folded cloths, where it rests until ready to be spun into a finished cashmere shawl or scarf, a task traditionally done by women of Ladakh and Kashmir using simple wooden spinning wheels or drop spindles. Movements repeat steadily — twist, draw, drop, wind — spanning days, even weeks. The yarn emerges strong, even, and incredibly fine. Traditionally, the Changpa supplied raw pashmina, as Ladakh lacked facilities to process or weave wool locally. Even today, around 90% of Ladakh’s pashmina is exported as raw fiber, leaving local artisans and herders with only a small fraction of the final product’s value. THE JOURNEY BACK
Come August, the migration reaches its midpoint. Herders settle temporarily at higher pastures, allowing the goats to feed and regain strength. By late September, the air shifts again. The light becomes thinner while the shadows grow longer, and the goats begin their descent. The return is faster, driven by the instinct to outrun the snow. Early October marks the final chapter of the migration, and by mid-month, the valleys are once again cloaked in silence. Roads begin to close, and winter’s grip tightens.
RIGHT: VIEW TOWARDS UMLING LA, THE WORLD’S HIGHEST MOTORABLE PASS, THROUGH THE VAST LADAKH VALLEY. PHOTO BY NICK VIA STOCK.ADOBE.COM LEFT: SPINNING PASHMINA IN A REEBO, LADAKH. PHOTO BY ANOOP NEGI VIA FLICKR.COM OPPOSITE: HAND COMBING CHANGTHANGI FIBRES. PHOTO BY ANOOP NEGI VIA FLICKR.COM
Families pack their rebos, tighten their loads, and follow the trail back to lower valleys, leaving behind no trash or tracks, only the memory of movement. It is a spectacle watching the animals come down the mountains toward their settlement every day. Their seemingly endless flow may begin as early as 5 p.m., and they continue to arrive for the next two hours until the daylight begins to fade. Then the cycle starts again. Nothing is wasted or rushed. The goats, having given their fiber, now grow it again. In the world’s luxury markets, Ladakhi pashmina is often spoken of in numbers — micron count, weight, and rarity. But here, on the plateau where it is born, those measures mean little. What matters is that the goats are healthy, the pastures have rested, the combing was done with respect, and the spirits have been thanked. This is what makes the wool soft and what gives it meaning. A LU X U RY T H AT R E S I STS I M I TAT I O N
To own true Ladakhi pashmina is not merely to possess softness — it is to carry a fragment of a vanishing world, honoring human precision over industrial repetition. It is to wrap oneself not only in warmth, but in a story of twilight migrations, of goats that endure the world’s coldest winds to gift us pashmina’s warmth, and of hands that spin for culture and tradition rather than for markets.
These true stories tell of extreme provenance, of a place where silence stretches wide, and of a people who trace their lineage by altitude. To witness the creation of a pashmina shawl from start to finish is to participate in a narrative of survival and grace. To sit inside a rebo tent and watch a Changpa woman spin pashm on a hand spindle is to see the meaning of slow luxury. There is no haste. The spindle turns and the goats bleat outside while butter tea simmers in a corner. A shawl may take a month to spin and weave; luxury, when stripped of artifice, is nothing more — and nothing less — than time well spent. In every fiber, there is resilience; in every weave, there is intention. To wear true pashmina is to wrap oneself not just in comfort, but in culture, history, and the quiet brilliance of a life lived far above the clouds. This is much more living heritage than it is fashion. And for those attuned to the profound, it is the very definition of rarefied luxury.
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SWEEPING VIEWS ABOVE THE VILLAGE OF CASTELFALFI, ITALY. PHOTO BY GEORG TAPPEINER COURTESY OF CASTELFALFI CASTELFALFI.COM
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FOLLOW THE WINE, TRUFFLES, & OLIVE OIL INTO TUSCANY’S MOST DELICIOUS SEASON
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VIEW OVER A TUSCAN VILLAGE SURROUNDED BY VINYARDS. PHOTO COURTESY OF CASTELFALFI HOTEL CASTELFALFI.COM
It’s also the best time to be here as a traveler. Fewer crowds and cooler days make climbing to hillside villages and exploring vineyards something you actually want to do for longer than 10 minutes. THE VENDEMMIA
A TOUR AND TASTING EXPERIENCE AT CASTELLO DI AMA. PHOTO BY DAMIANO VERDIANI COURTESY OF CASTELLO DI AMA CASTELLODIAMA.COM/EN/
Driving along Tuscany’s undulating roads in fall, every turn and every hillside looks like a Van Gogh painting. Honey-hued hilltop farmhouses rise through ribbons of morning mist; vineyards thread across the slopes in tight, disciplined rows, their leaves turning copper at the edges as if they’ve been touched by heat one last time before letting go. But beauty aside, this is when the landscape slips into its most productive mood. Welcome to vendemmia season, Tuscany’s iconic grape harvest. This is when the region feels less like a vacation destination and more like a working, living thing you’ve been lucky enough to arrive inside. Olives are beginning their slow descent toward pressing. Hounds are nose-deep in soil sniffing for truffles. Kitchens shift into autumn gear. Even the light seems more useful, stretching across the hills in vast swathes of gold.
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One of Italy’s oldest agricultural traditions, the vendemmia is when grapes are picked by hand at the peak of perfection before being transformed into some of the world’s most revered wines. The vendemmia has a symbolic meaning too; it heralds the transition from summer to fall, and towns and villages celebrate with food, festivities, and — of course — plenty of local wine. Let’s talk grapes. Chianti Classico is the historic Sangiovese grape heartland between Florence and Siena. Picture the postcard Tuscany of olive grove-lined roads, stone farmhouses, and cypress-studded hills that seem to roll on forever. Cellar door detours are non-negotiable during and just after vendemmia, but Tuscany doesn’t really do casual wine tasting. Even a “quick stop” usually involves a vineyard tour, a story about someone’s grandfather, and at least one moment where you’re standing in a cellar thinking you should probably cancel your afternoon plans. One of the most reliable introductions to Sangiovese country is the Castello di Ama winery. Daily flight tastings (including its award-winning Castello di Ama San Lorenzo 2021 flagship) take place in the Enoteca on the ground floor of the 18th-century Villa Pianigiani. Don’t miss Castello di Ama’s marvelous art collection, either.
On the coast sits Bolgheri, Tuscany’s younger, more rebellious wine region (its first commercially released Sassicaia was in 1968) and home of the Super Tuscans. Here, Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, and Cabernet Franc thrive in gravelly soils that convinced legendary winemaker Mario Incisa della Rocchetta he could essentially make Bordeaux wines in Italian sunlight. A short drive south brings you to Brunello di Montalcino. Here, Sangiovese Grosso is known as Brunello, aged for at least five years (four in oak) and treated with near-religious seriousness. If you’re ever perusing a fancy wine list, the chances are that Brunello di Montalcino will sit at the very top of the reds as one of Italy’s premier drops. This is serious wine country, and Capanna Winery is one of the clearest ways to understand it. A vast estate set among rolling Montosoli vineyards, Capanna offers cellar tours that move through oak-aging rooms and production spaces before arriving at structured tastings of Brunello and Rosso di Montalcino.
A single cobbled street threads down past the 15th-century Church of San Floriano, flanked by chic boutiques, a gelateria, and a pizzeria. Beyond that, it expands into something closer to a self-contained world, with vineyards, olive groves, clay tennis and padel courts, a woodland adventure center, multiple pools, and enough activities (from archery and beekeeping to cookery and even winter ice-skating) to suggest that boredom has been formally abolished. Interiors, redesigned by Milan studio Caberon Caroppi, lean into a kind of restrained drama, featuring velvet, marble, and leather, muted Tuscan earth tones, and bathrooms so elegantly appointed you’ll find yourself lingering in them longer than strictly necessary. There’s also the 1,500-square-meter RAKxa Wellness Spa, the first European outpost of the acclaimed Bangkok medi-spa, where Thai therapies meet Tuscan tranquility.
CASTELFALFI
Perched loftily on Tuscany’s highest hill, Castelfalfi is what happens when a billionaire decides a medieval borgo deserves a second act. After a 2024 full resurrection, the 2,700-acre former village re-emerged as a 146-room luxury microuniverse. The setting is absurdly cinematic: hills edged in oak roll out like they’re still waiting for the Renaissance to resume, and the 14th-century castle of La Rocca (once occupied by the Medicis) watches over it all like it never ended. FRESH OLIVE OIL TASTING. PHOTO COURTESY OF CASTELFALFI CASTELFALFI.COM
TRUFFLE HUNTING. PHOTO BY EUGENIA MAFFEI COURTESY OF CASTELFALFI CASTELFALFI.COM
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Just over an hour’s drive away, Florence reminds Tuscany that it also happens to be the birthplace of the Renaissance. Beat the queues and start early at the Uffizi Gallery to gasp in awe at Botticelli’s “Birth of Venus” and Caravaggio’s “Medusa.” From there, wander across the Ponte Vecchio, (essentially a jewelry shop pretending to be a bridge) and into the Oltrarno district to find artisan workshops, tiny wine bars, and less-trodden piazzas. Witness the Duomo’s striking white, red, and green marble facade, then retreat immediately for espresso in Piazza Santo Spirito, where life feels more local and less curated. The medieval hill town of San Gimignano appears before you arrive, like it knows it is the point of the journey. Its 14 stone towers (there were once 72!) were built by families competing over status in the original architectural arms race. Now they mostly compete over views and, more importantly, gelato. Food is taken seriously in multiple directions at once, from long breakfasts at Olivina that make lunch optional to trattoria pizzas at Il Rosmarino. Much of it is drawn from the estate itself; organic vineyards, olive groves, and farm production are overseen by an agronomist who can apparently explain terroir and soil chemistry over dinner without checking notes. And to explore Tuscan’s autumnal bounty, you don’t even need to leave the borgo. With its own vineyard, cellar, and barrel room, Castelfalfi is an oenophile’s dream. You’re invited to step among the vines, explore production, and enjoy a tasting tour. During harvest season, you’ll be bestowed with a harvest kit so you can pluck grapes straight from the vines before watching the crushing process and the first stages of fermentation, then toasting your experience with some organic wines. Grapes aren’t the only thing being harvested in fall. It’s prime olive oil and truffle season, too. Guided by one of Castelfalfi’s experts and his trusty team of dogs, you can go out on a truffle woodland forage to unearth some tasty Tuscan treasures while learning about their wide varieties.
Amble through the UNESCO-listed preserved historic center and you’ll find world-renowned gelato shops selling everything from vanilla saffron to prosecco sorbet flavors. Next, drift into quieter corners where workshops still sell ceramics and locally produced Vernaccia white wine. Climb the Torre Grossa if you want the view; stay below if you want better lunch options. Although Tuscany has few beaches, its main one is Forte dei Marmi on the west coast, close to Pisa. The wide, orderly beach is lined with private clubs, striped umbrellas, and beach clubs that feel closer to designer hotels than sand. In fact, Castelfalfi is partnered with the stylish Alpemare Beach Club, so reserve a beach tent and recline with a cooler. Summer in Tuscany is undeniably beautiful. But it can also feel like Tuscany is performing for its visitors. In fall, the curtain drops. Tractors outnumber tour buses, and restaurant menus are written around whatever came in from the fields that morning. Leave with a few bottles of Brunello, an extra suitcase of olive oil if you must, and the uncomfortable realization that lunch back home probably doesn’t need to be eaten in under 20 minutes after all.
EXPLORE
Once you leave Castelfalfi’s hills, Tuscany turns into a cluster of very different personalities, stitched together by cypress roads and an almost unreasonable number of exceptional lunches that extend long into the afternoon.
130 S ILVE R CR EEK R EA L ESTATE GRO UP
TOP RIGHT: CASSETTA OLIVES. PHOTO BY ALESSANDRO MOGGI COURTESY CASTELLO DI AMA OF CASTELLODIAMA.COM OPPOSITE: RELAX BY THE POOL OF YOUR SPACIOUS COUNTRY VILLA. PHOTO COURTESY OF CASTELFALFI CASTELFALFI.COM
YOUR TUSCAN
CHEAT SHEET BEST TIME TO VISIT
Late September to November is harvest season. Grapes are typically picked throughout September, while olive harvest usually begins in late October and continues into November. White truffle season also peaks from October through December. GETTING THERE
There are no direct flights from North Carolina to Tuscany, but the easiest routes are via Atlanta, New York, or Charlotte to Florence (FLR) or Pisa (PSA). GETTING AROUND
Hire a car. Tuscany’s greatest pleasures are found between destinations, such as roadside wineries, tiny villages, olive groves, and family-run trattorias that public transport simply doesn’t reach. H O W L O N G T O S TAY
A stay of five to seven nights allows enough time to base yourself at Castelfalfi while exploring Florence, Chianti, Montalcino, San Gimignano, and the Tuscan coast without rushing. Castelfalfi.com PA C K F O R L AY E R S
Days can still reach the mid-70s F (around 24 C), but evenings cool quickly, particularly in the hills. Comfortable walking shoes are essential: medieval towns were designed centuries before sensible pavements. BOOK AHEAD
Harvest experiences, truffle hunts, and winery tours often have limited spaces during vendemmia. Reserve tastings several weeks in advance, especially at smaller estates. DON’T SKIP THE OLIVE OIL
If someone offers you olio nuovo (freshly pressed olive oil), say yes immediately. It tastes completely different from the bottles you’ve been saving for “special occasions” at home.
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EXCLUSIVE LAND OFFERINGS P R E S E N T E D BY S I LV E R C R E E K R E A L E S TAT E G R O U P
FALL LEAVES AND LONG-RANGE VIEWS FROM MLS# 1002009. SEE PAGE 135 FOR MORE DETAILS 132 S ILVE R CR EEK R EA L ESTATE GRO UP
LAKE LIFESTYLE AT ITS FINEST ON BUCK KNOB ISLAND. MLS# 1003727
BALD ROCK
BUCK CREEK
3 BIG GRANITE COURT
A fully build-ready 5.56-acre parcel at 4,200+ feet on the edge of US National Forest, with sweeping westward views, privacy in perpetuity, and no deed restrictions. Septic, well, electric, and site work are complete, the canvas is set for a custom Highlands retreat.
6.86 Acres | $249,000 | MLS# 1000565
B A L S A M G R OV E 132 JASON MCCALL CEMETARY ROAD
4.66 Acres | $145,000 | MLS# 1003261
B E A R WA L LO W SPRINGS LOT G11 BENT BLADE
1.303 Acres | $60,000 | MLS# 106278
BIG RIDGE 7 7 VA L L E Y V I E W T R A I L
TBD BUCK CREEK ROAD
5.56 Acres | $595,000 | MLS# 1003495 TRCT 3 BUCK CREEK ROAD
16.52 Acres | $499,000 | MLS# 1002289
BUCK KNOB ISLAND LOT 6 BUCK KNOB ISLAND
0.91 Acres | $425,000 | MLS# 1003727 LOT 8 BUCK KNOB ISLAND
1.29 Acres | $89,000 | MLS# 1000738
0.74 Acres | $425,000 | MLS# 1003726
BRIDGE CREEK
BURLINGAME
1 2 4 C O M PA S S R O S E WAY
2.22 Acres | $150,000 | MLS# 1000385 LOT 82 FISHING VILLAGE LANE
1.53 Acres | $89,000 | MLS# 1000978
Burlingame is a family-focused mountain community set at approximately 3,000 feet in Sapphire, North Carolina, offering a lifestyle that balances natural beauty, recreation, and connection. Winding roads, parks, hiking trails,
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POTENTIAL LONG-RANGE VIEWS ON MLS# 1003837
fishing ponds, and trout waters create an inviting setting for time outdoors, while homes range from golf-course residences to riverfront and mountainview retreats. At the heart of the community is Burlingame Country Club, featuring dining, social spaces, an 18-hole championship golf course, fitness facilities, tennis, pickleball, croquet, and a heated pool. Club membership is available upon application and approval and is not required for property ownership, allowing residents to enjoy Burlingame’s relaxed, welcoming lifestyle at their own pace. LOT1HR TURKEY ROOST ROAD
4.33 Acres | $295,000 | MLS# 1002395 LOT 1 HERITAGE DRIVE
2.05 Acres | $275,000 | MLS# 1001370 LOT 3 HERITAGE DRIVE
1.72 Acres | $275,000 | MLS# 1001372 LOT 8R RIVER OVERLOOK ROAD
1.18 Acres | $225,000 | MLS# 1002410 LOT 108R ROCKHOUSE FALLS LANE
2.2 Acres | $219,000 | MLS# 1002724 LOT 3 TURKEY ROOST ROAD
1.64 Acres | $195,000 | MLS# 1002396 1 1 E R B E AV E R DA M R OA D
0.75 Acres | $95,000 | MLS# 1003592 29C ROCK BRIDGE COURT
0.65 Acres | $65,000 | MLS# 1003578 63B BIG PINE ROAD
1.27 Acres | $45,000 | MLS# 1003577
134 S ILVE R CR EEK R EA L ESTATE GRO UP
LOOK OUT OVER THE WATER IN CHINQUAPIN FROM MLS# 1000986
CASHIERS On more than 25 acres near Cashiers and Sapphire, this land invites endless possibilities, a legacy estate, a family compound, or a thoughtfully placed development among mature hardwoods and rolling terrain. A rare canvas for building a mountain life exactly as imagined, in one of the Plateau’s most sought-after settings. TBD AIMLESS HILL ROAD
25.58 Acres | $1,100,000 | MLS# 1003837
C E DA R H I L L LOT 12 W ROCHESTER DRIVE
2.28 Acres | $169,000 | MLS# 1002844 LOT 46 EAST ROCHESTER DRIVE
3.39 Acres | $119,000 | MLS# 1002633
C H I N Q UA P I N Chinquapin’s 2,000 acres were designed for people who moved to the mountains to immerse themselves in the outdoors. Bordering Panthertown Valley, one of the Southeast’s most celebrated wilderness areas, and with more than 700 acres in permanent conservation, this is the Plateau’s most adventure-forward community. Hike, bike, fish, or explore by UTV on trails that wind through protected forest and past mountain lakes. Come evening, the Outpost Clubhouse draws neighbors together around live music and fire pits. Fiber optic keeps life connected. Everything else keeps you outside.
LOT D52 SPRINGWATER ROAD
C47 ROAMING ROAD
9.4 Acres | $599,000 | MLS# 1001677
2.58 Acres | $235,000 | MLS# 1003309
L O T 8 T R A I L H E A D WAY
L O T 6 3 N E W S E T T L E R ’ S WAY
2.07 Acres | $499,000 | MLS# 1003816
1.199 Acres | $220,000 | MLS# 1002987
L O T 2 0 N E W S E T T L E R ’ S WAY
C20 ROAMING ROAD
7.94 Acres | $499,000 | MLS# 1003694
2.67 Acres | $210,000 | MLS# 1000449
L O T 6 2 N E W S E T T L E R ’ S WAY
L O T E 4 N E W S E T T L E R ’ S WAY
2.17 Acres | $475,000 | MLS# 1003063
4.72 Acres | $199,000 | MLS# 1001457
C46 ROAMING ROAD
LOT C7 SNOWCREST DRIVE
3.62 Acres | $419,000 | MLS# 1000451
2.25 Acres | $198,500 | MLS# 1002542
85 REDROCK TRAIL
LOT C51 ROAMING ROAD
0.7 Acres | $410,000 | MLS# 1002009
1.58 Acres | $189,000 | MLS# 1002512
D14 MOSSY BARK TRAIL
LOT 123 RIPPLING WATERS TRAIL
1.97 Acres | $375,000 | MLS# 1002878 L O T 3 6 N E W S E T T L E R ’ S WAY
2.15 Acres | $339,000 | MLS# 1003203 C21 ROAMING ROAD
2.61 Acres | $299,000 | MLS# 1003416 L O T 2 2 N E W S E T T L E R ’ S WAY
6.93 Acres | $299,000 | MLS# 1001774 L O T E 8 N E W S E T T L E R S WAY
4.05 Acres | $299,000 | MLS# 1001286 L O T 1 0 T R A I L H E A D WAY
3.41 Acres | $279,000 | MLS# 1002856 D34 BENCHMARK DRIVE
1.71 Acres | $249,000 | MLS# 1002689 L O T 3 4 N E W S E T T L E R ’ S WAY
3.38 Acres | $249,000 | MLS# 1003062 W5 WATERSOUND TRAIL
1.3 Acres | $239,000 | MLS# 1000986 C34 ROAMING ROAD
2.65 Acres | $185,000 | MLS# 103010 L O T 1 7 N E W S E T T L E R ’ S WAY
2.95 Acres | $179,000 | MLS# 1002344 96 BLAZING STAR DRIVE
3.46 Acres | $150,000 | MLS# 1000987 105 CRIPPLED OAK TRAIL
2.47 Acres | $139,000 | MLS# 1003787 N14 OUTPOST TRAIL
0.7 Acres | $129,500 | MLS# 1003520 LOT 98 BLAZING STAR DRIVE
1.91 Acres | $120,000 | MLS# 1001759 L O T E 7 N E W S E T T L E R ’ S WAY
1.632 Acres | $119,000 | MLS# 1000313 246 OUTPOST TRAIL
0.48 Acres | $89,000 | MLS# 1003317 W23 FISH CAMP TRAIL
0.97 Acres | $89,000 | MLS# 1001780
2.68 Acres | $235,000 | MLS# 1003064
POTENTIAL CLEARED VIEW FROM MLS# 1003203
NC LI VI NG FALL 2026 13 5
CROSS CREEK P R E S E RV E 364 CROSS CREEK TRAIL
2.86 Acres | $155,000 | MLS# 1002814
C U L LO W H E E 0 WHITE ROCK ROAD
60.3 Acres | $499,000 | MLS# 1001074 N /A H U N T E R J I M C R E E K R OA D
GLENRIDGE LOT 16 GLENRIDGE ROAD
4.82 Acres | $199,000 | MLS# 1002984 LOT 11 GLENRIDGE ROAD
4.51 Acres | $160,000 | MLS# 1002511
GLENVILLE 49 HERO LANE
105 Acres | $2,150,000 | MLS# 1001344
8 Acres | $115,000 | MLS# 1002268
TR 4 ROBINSON CREEK ROAD
C U L LO W H E E F O R E S T
B&C KNOB HILL ROAD
10.43 Acres | $225,000 | MLS# 1003528 1.01 Acres | $95,000 | MLS# 1002912
LOT 47 CULLOWHEE FOREST ROAD
15.09 Acres | $219,000 | MLS# 1002888 LOT 55 CULLOWHEE FOREST ROAD
G R E YC L I F F
3.89 Acres | $65,000 | MLS# 1002705
LOT 24 GREYCLIFF MOUNTAIN DRIVE
FA LC O N R I D G E
LOT 47 SQUARE STERN DRIVE
Tap into the full range of Sapphire Valley Resort amenities, golf, skiing, pools, and Fairfield Lake, while coming home to an open meadow and a community bonfire ring. Falcon Ridge sits along the edge of Panthertown Valley, putting one of the Southeast’s most celebrated wilderness areas just beyond your property. Cashiers and Highlands are both within easy reach, bringing mountain village charm, acclaimed dining, and year-round events to your doorstep.
LOT 10 CHANNEL VIEW DRIVE
12/12A TRUSSING TERRACE
11.04 Acres | $299,000 | MLS# 1002390 LOT 51 TOWER ROAD
3.17 Acres | $195,000 | MLS# 1002400 L O T 1 R YA R A K D R I V E
7.31 Acres | $132,999 | MLS# 1001013
FERNWOOD LOT 7 SORI LANE
4.32 Acres | $175,000 | MLS# 1003826
F I V E S TO N E
3.03 Acres | $299,000 | MLS# 1003746 2.19 Acres | $125,000 | MLS# 1003747 1.44 Acres | $80,000 | MLS# 1002943
H O L LY B E R RY E S TAT E S LOT B2B TWIN LAKES DRIVE
5.69 Acres | $85,000 | MLS# 1003476
H O L LY F O R E S T Expansive and deeply rooted in the Sapphire Valley, Holly Forest is one of the Plateau’s largest and most established mountain communities. Owners enjoy full access to Sapphire Valley Resort amenities, golf, skiing, pools, and Fairfield Lake, while the landscape itself invites year-round exploration. Sparkling creeks, cascading waterfalls, and wooded roads wind through a community that feels as much like wilderness as neighborhood. Just down the road, Cashiers delivers the charm of a true mountain village, boutique shops, acclaimed restaurants, seasonal festivals, and The Village Green. Resort living, mountain wilderness, and village charm, all within easy reach.
Capture a rare 41.35-acre offering in gated FiveStone, featuring six contiguous homesites with sweeping views of Whiteside Mountain and Chimneytop Mountain. Thoughtfully prepared for building and just minutes from Cashiers, this property offers the scale, privacy, and flexibility to create a signature mountain retreat.
LOT 59 NARROWS ROAD
41 ACRES TRUSSING TERRACE
0.71 Acres | $15,000 | MLS# 1002308
41.35 Acres | $599,000 | MLS# 1002865
LOT 37 ALDER COURT
0.55 Acres | $29,000 | MLS# 103970 LOT 72 BLACK OAK DRIVE
0.54 Acres | $18,000 | MLS# 1002328 LOT 91 BALD EAGLE COURT
0.36 Acres | $18,000 | MLS# 1002808 LOT 30 ROCK CREEK COURT
0.53 Acres | $15,000 | MLS# 1002447 LOT 40 BUCKBERRY DRIVE
0.83 Acres | $14,000 | MLS# 1002613 136 S ILVE R CR EEK R EA L ESTATE GRO UP
105 ACRES ON LAKE GLENVILLE. APPROXIMATE PROPERTY LINE ON MLS# 1001344
PROXIMITY TO WHITESIDE IN THE GREYCLIFF COMMUNITY. MLS# 1003476
MOUNTAIN VIEWS FROM MLS# 1002865
PANORAMIC VISTAS OF LAKE GLENVILLE FROM MLS# 1003746
NC LI VI NG FALL 2026 13 7
LO N E S O M E VA L L E Y Enjoy privacy and natural beauty on this 2.57acre homesite at the end of a quiet cul-de-sac in Lonesome Valley. Gentle, highly buildable terrain and partial views of Cow Rock Mountain pair with access to trails, lakes, fitness amenities, and Canyon Kitchen for an exceptional mountain lifestyle. 1 7 2 LO N E S O M E VA L L E Y R OA D VIEWS OF COW ROCK MOUNTAIN FROM MLS# 1002361
2.57 Acres | $925,000 | MLS# 1002361
MANTLE RIDGE L O T 4 L U C K I E S WAY
2.22 Acres | $175,000 | MLS# 1003140 L O T 5 L U C K I E S WAY
3.26 Acres | $135,000 | MLS# 1003141
N O RT H N O RTO N POTENTIAL CLEARED VIEW FROM MLS# 1003548
LAKE FOREST LOT 2 GLENSHORE DRIVE
1.2 Acres | $165,000 | MLS# 1001211
35 unrestricted acres just off Lake Glenville, with artesian springs, flat to gently sloping terrain, and mountain views available with selective clearing. No HOA, no architectural review, no deed restrictions, and approximately ten minutes to Cashiers. A rare opportunity to build, develop, or simply hold land on the Plateau. TR A FENLEY FOREST TRAIL
35.48 Acres | $1,250,000 | MLS# 1002929
L A K E TOX AWAY E S TAT E S
P I LOT M O U N TA I N
LOT 7 MEADOW RIDGE ROAD
1.73 Acres | $47,000 | MLS# 1002247
3.4 Acres | $449,900 | MLS# 104718 48 D-2 NORTH CLUB
1.02 Acres | $259,000 | MLS# 1003434
107 VISTAWILLA DRIVE
P I LOT S K N O B LOT 29 BULLBRIAR DRIVE
L AU R E L FA L L S
1.49 Acres | $199,000 | MLS# 1003548
Escape to tranquil living in gated Laurel Falls. This property boasts a 35-foot waterfall, Robinson Creek frontage, multiple homesites with westerly views, and access to Panthertown Valley trails. Build a dream retreat amid pristine wilderness and enjoy unmatched privacy and natural beauty in the Blue Ridge Mountains.
1.58 Acres | $59,000 | MLS# 1003558
G110 TRIMBLE RIDGE
LOT 7 R AV E N E L L A K E T R A I L
17.82 Acres | $1,180,000 | MLS# 1003277
1.71 Acres | $149,000 | MLS# 1002230
LT D 6 4 RY E M O U N TA I N D R I V E
3.33 Acres | $35,000 | MLS# 1002277
138 S ILVE R CR EEK R EA L ESTATE GRO UP
50/50B WINTER GREEN DRIVE LOT 51 WINTER GREEN DRIVE
1.51 Acres | $59,000 | MLS# 1003553
R AV E N E L L A K E P R O P E RT I E S
R AV E N E L R I D G E Create a private retreat on this 1.98-acre mountain homesite in the gated community of Ravenel, just minutes from the heart of Highlands. Mature woods, preserved landscape, and understated amenities set the tone for relaxed mountain living, seamlessly connected to award-winning dining, boutique shopping, and year-round outdoor recreation. LOT 1 0 R AV E N E L R I D G E R OA D
1.98 Acres | $895,000 | MLS# 1002658
SAPPHIRE
SHEPHERDS M O U N TA I N Gated and well-kept, Shepherd’s Mountain offers a genuine neighborhood feel, pavilion, playground, fire pit, and meticulously maintained paved roads lined with moss that set the tone. A short drive leads to Lake Glenville, the highest elevation lake east of the Mississippi, where over 1,400 acres of clear mountain water await. Skiing, tubing, fishing, quiet morning paddles, the lake delivers in every season. Cashiers and Glenville are close by for everything else. 723 SHEPHERDS GAP ROAD
LOT 9R WHITEWATER RIDGE ROAD
3.32 Acres | $169,900 | MLS# 1000750
12.97 Acres | $140,000 | MLS# 1001847
LOT 13 SHEPHERDS GAP ROAD
SAPPHIRE RIDGE L O T 1 7 O R C H A R D WAY
2.55 Acres | $59,900 | MLS# 1002122 LOT 4 PARK VIEW LANE
4.72 Acres | $49,000 | MLS# 104667
2.58 Acres | $299,000 | MLS# 1003268
ENJOY ACCESS TO YOUR VERY OWN 25-FOOT WATERFALL ON MLS# 1003277
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S I LV E R R U N R E S E RV E
LOT 23 ROCK MOUNTAIN ROAD
Build an elegant retreat on 2.3 acres in Silver Run Reserve, a gated community of preserved meadows, lakes, and trails. At 3,800 feet with longrange mountain views and curated amenities, this homesite offers privacy, sophistication, and a refined mountain lifestyle minutes from Cashiers and Highlands.
LOT 25 ROCK MOUNTAIN ROAD
2.65 Acres | $200,000 | MLS# 1001842 1.19 Acres | $150,000 | MLS# 1001841 18 COUNTRY CLUB ESTATES DRIVE
0.94 Acres | $129,000 | MLS# 1000616 1 J U D G E M E N T WAY
1.98 Acres | $30,000 | MLS# 1000383
ME3 OLD CHIMNEY ROAD
2.3 Acres | $985,000 | MLS# 1001860
S TO N E F LY
S I M S VA L L E Y
Gated and just over a mile from the center of Cashiers, Stonefly offers something rare, genuine seclusion without isolation. The neighborhood sits beneath a hardwood canopy, bordered by streams, rhododendrons, mountain laurel, reflective ponds, and cascading waterfalls. Spacious homesites mean privacy is built in, providing an intimate setting only minutes away from shopping, dining, public golf courses, and other amenities.
Sims Valley stands apart as a gated mountain community where preserved natural landscape, sweeping long-range views of the Great Smoky Mountains, and a deep sense of history create a setting that feels more like a private park than a traditional development. Trail Dynamics-designed trails, waterfalls, and the open-air Mountain Chapel are complemented by the original Sims family homestead, a community clubhouse, rustic sports and billiards room, and a pool with mountain views. Between Cullowhee and Cashiers, with Lake Glenville close by, secluded, full of character, and well-connected to the best of the Plateau. LOT 56 PILOT KNOB ROAD
2.84 Acres | $149,500 | MLS# 1003823 LOT 5 7 S I M S VA L L E Y
1.51 Acres | $100,000 | MLS# 1002994 21R PILOT KNOB ROAD
2.69 Acres | $75,000 | MLS# 1001470
LOT 13 STREAMSIDE DRIVE
1.51 Acres | $390,000 | MLS# 1001395 LOT 14 STREAMSIDE DRIVE
1.5 Acres | $390,000 | MLS# 1001396 LOT 16 ZEB ALLEY ROAD
2.61 Acres | $390,000 | MLS# 1001406 LOT 10B STREAMSIDE DRIVE
1 Acres | $280,000 | MLS# 1001393 LOT 1B STREAMSIDE DRIVE
1.1 Acres | $240,000 | MLS# 1001391
2652 PILOT KNOB ROAD
S T R AW B E R RY H I L L
0.89 Acres | $35,000 | MLS# 1003673
LOT 33 WILD BLACKBERRY RIDGE
LOT 27 AUTUMN BLAZE TRAIL
0.88 Acres | $59,000 | MLS# 1002845
0.89 Acres | $31,500 | MLS# 1002710
S TO N E C R E E K E S TAT E S Stonecreek Estates sits just inside the gates of the Country Club of Sapphire Valley community, private and well-positioned, with club membership available by invitation. The Blue Ridge mountains surrounds you at every turn, with hiking, fishing, and renowned golf courses all within easy reach. Minutes from Cashiers and right on Highway 64, residents enjoy the serenity of the mountains without sacrificing accessibility.
SUMMER HILL LOT 26 WILDBERRY LANE
1.58 Acres | $102,500 | MLS# 1003660
S U N S E T C OV E LOT 9 SPLENDOR COVE ROAD
0.6 Acres | $55,000 | MLS# 1002730
TA H A L A S H O R E S LOT 5 WOODS MOUNTAIN TRAIL
0.9 Acres | $39,900 | MLS# 1002121 LOT 6 WOODS MOUNTAIN TRAIL
0.89 Acres | $19,900 | MLS# 1002123
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T H E P O I N T AT GLENVILLE LAKE LOT 4 UPPER MEADOW ROAD
0.588 Acres | $485,000 | MLS# 1002521
TRILLIUM LINKS AND L A K E C LU B Trillium Links and Lake Club is Lake Glenville’s most complete community, an 18-hole championship golf course, indoor clay tennis courts, stocked fishing ponds, a lakeside pavilion, and a fleet of boats for rent, all framed by stone and timber homes built in the Arts and Crafts and Adirondack tradition. The clubhouse anchors neighborhood life with casual and gourmet dining, wraparound porches, and an expansive lawn built for the holidays and celebrations that bring residents together. Cashiers is a short drive away. Everything else is already here. LOT 4 TRILLIUM RIDGE ROAD
3.87 Acres | $425,000 | MLS# 1003114 LT 1 & 2 T R I L L I U M R I D G E R OA D
4.21 Acres | $425,000 | MLS# 1001743 LOT 1 TRILLIUM RIDGE ROAD
2.23 Acres | $235,000 | MLS# 1001739 LOT 2 TRILLIUM RIDGE ROAD
1.98 Acres | $205,000 | MLS# 1001742
TUCKASEGEE A true peninsula on one of the Plateau’s most private lakes, this rare parcel offers 1,400 feet of frontage, three-directional views of water and mountains, and no community restrictions, all bordered by 12,000 acres of U.S. Forest Service land. Build without compromise. 16C VESS OWEN ROAD
6.18 Acres | $899,000 | MLS# 1003569
WHISPER LAKE 283 PINE CONE COURT
1.45 Acres | $16,000 | MLS# 1003284
VIEW FROM MLS# 1003558. SEE PAGE 138 FOR MORE DETAILS NC LI VI NG FALL 2026 14 1
words by ellen Jones
CHIMNEY POND FARM LOVE, LAKE, & LEGACY
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“We believe weddings should feel less like an event and more like coming home” - BROOKE ROBINSON, DIRECTOR OF EVENTS
Wedding venues are a dime a dozen. Wedding weekends that become family folklore are another matter entirely. Overlooking the glassy waters of Lake Glenville, Chimney Pond Farm does events at a true mountain pace. Bubbly is sipped as mist lifts from the Blue Ridge peaks. Children disappear into open fields before reappearing, rosy-cheeked, for s’mores around a crackling fire. Grandparents settle into chairs with stories that grow taller as the evening wears on, while newlyweds realize that the greatest gift they’ve given themselves is uninterrupted time with everyone they love, set against a spectacular backdrop. The multi-award-winning, 120-acre Chimney Pond Farm is more than somewhere to say “I do.” It’s somewhere to reconnect. “We believe weddings should feel less like an event and more like coming home,” explains Director of Events, Brooke Robinson. And that philosophy has shaped Chimney Pond Farm from the very beginning. WHERE HISTORY STILL GLOWS TOP RIGHT: NOT ONLY AN EVENT VENUE, CHIMNEY POND IS ALSO A CHRISTMAS TREE FARM. PHOTO BY STEPHANIE A SMITH PHOTOGRAPHY STEPHANIEASMITH.COM OPPOSITE: WEDDING CEREMONY WITH A STUNNING LAKE GLENVILLE BACKDROP. PHOTO BY STEPHANIE A SMITH PHOTOGRAPHY STEPHANIEASMITH.COM
Long before wedding dresses and champagne toasts arrived, this land was telling stories. “The farm itself has been part of the Glenville landscape for more than 80 years,” Robinson explains. “And its story is woven into the history of this community.” The land first grew cabbage, later became an apple orchard, before eventually transforming into the working Christmas tree farm visitors know today. If you know where to look, original apple trees still dot the landscape, offering subtle reminders of lives lived here long ago. NC LI VI NG FALL 2026 14 3
THEN THERE’S THE CHIMNEY.
BEAUTY BEYOND THE LENS
Standing proudly where a family home once stood, the farm’s namesake remains fully operational today. Guests still gather around its warmth, sharing conversations in the same spot generations once called home. Its authentic history still does what it has always done: keeping conversation alive around the fire.
And she’s right.
W E S T E R N N O R T H C A R O L I N A’ S F I N E S T
A wedding at Chimney Pond Farm is a celebration of Western North Carolina itself. Beautiful bouquets are designed by local florists who know the seasons of these mountains. Music comes from regional musicians who understand how to read a room, while caterers, photographers, planners, and rental companies each bring their own slice of local expertise to the day. Moving beyond a one-size-fits-all formula, Chimney Pond Farm curates a team of creative partners whose shared passion for genuine hospitality shines through in every detail. “Every wedding is a collaboration,” says Robinson. “We’re proud to support local businesses that share our commitment to hospitality, craftsmanship, and making every celebration feel personal.” The result is a celebration that couldn’t happen quite the same way anywhere else: a wedding rooted not only in a spectacular landscape but also in the people who call it home.
Ah yes, that landscape. Instagram may have trained us to judge places by the perfect photograph, but Chimney Pond Farm stubbornly refuses to fit inside a screen. “Almost every guest says the same thing,” Robinson laughs. “‘Pictures don’t do this place justice.’”
There’s something about the crisp Appalachian air, mirror-like reflections on Lake Glenville, and rolling Christmas tree fields climbing towards distant peaks of the Nantahala National Forest that refuses to flatten into pixels. It’s not just stunning; it’s immersive. The sort of scenery that makes conversations pause mid-sentence as guests instinctively look up. Even the venue space itself has been designed to blur the line between indoors and out. Expansive doors slide open on both sides, allowing mountain breezes to drift through while celebrations spill out onto the stone patio and fire pit beyond. “It’s one of those spaces where guests naturally linger because they simply don’t want the evening to end,” Robinson says. Few venues can claim a better compliment. THE WEEKEND EFFECT
It’s not just guests who don’t want the experience to end. Rather than rushing guests in and out, Chimney Pond Farm encourages them to stay
LEFT: FALL COLORS ON THE PLATEAU ARE SHOWN TO PERFECTION ON THE GROUNDS OF CHIMNEY POND FARM. PHOTO BY STEPHANIE A SMITH PHOTOGRAPHY STEPHANIEASMITH.COM
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RIGHT: CURATE YOUR DREAM EVENT BOTH INDOORS AND OUT. PHOTO BY SHEILA MRAZ COURTESY OF CHIMNEY POND FARM CHIMNEYPONDFARM.COM FAR RIGHT: ENJOY A COZY WEEKEND AT HILLTOP HOUSE, ONE OF THE FIVE PRIVATE HOMES AVAILABLE TO GUESTS AT CHIMNEY POND FARM. PHOTO COURTESY OF CHIMNEY POND FARM CHIMNEYPONDFARM.COM
awhile. “I think what truly sets us apart is that we’re not just a venue. We’re a destination,” she asserts. “Couples don’t simply book a beautiful place for a ceremony; they create an entire weekend experience for the people they love.” Rather than sending guests off to anonymous hotel rooms at the end of the evening, Chimney Pond Farm offers a choice of five individual houses, allowing family and friends to wake under the same mountain sky, share leisurely breakfasts, and make a weekend of it. The real magic lies in the slower pace the estate invites. “That feeling is something you can’t manufacture; it’s simply part of who we are,” says Robinson. MEMORIES BETWEEN THE MILESTONES
Ask her about her favorite memory, and she doesn’t mention extravagant floral installations or perfectly choreographed first dances. Instead, she recalls something entirely unscripted. “After one reception, several generations of one family gathered around the historic chimney, sharing stories and laughing together long into the evening. The newlyweds sat quietly listening.” This moment perfectly captured what Chimney Pond Farm has become. “It reminded all of us that weddings aren’t just about two people; they’re about bringing families together.” It’s a sentiment that feels increasingly relevant. As modern families become more geographically dispersed, couples are searching for venues that allow loved ones to spend genuine time together instead of waving hello between the ceremony and dessert.
THE VIEW FADES, THE FEELING DOESN’T
Western North Carolina is blessed with spectacular scenery, but beauty alone doesn’t create unforgettable celebrations. “Don’t just fall in love with the view,” Robinson advises. “Fall in love with how a place makes you feel.” It’s perhaps the simplest and wisest piece of wedding advice. Years from now, few guests will recall every carefully chosen centerpiece. Instead, they’ll remember conversations on the patio as dusk settled over the mountains, laughter echoing across the lake, and, above all, how the place made them feel. “Our goal has never been to simply host beautiful weddings,” Robinson reflects. “We want to create weekends that become family stories; memories that are shared around holiday tables for years to come.” In an age obsessed with creating picture-perfect moments, Chimney Pond Farm offers something infinitely more valuable: the chance to create the kind of moments that last. Chimneypondfarm.com NC LI VI NG FALL 2026 14 5
The Train
To Dream T H AT TA U G H T U S
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T H E V E N I C E S I M P L O N - O R I E N T- E X P R E S S
w o r d s by pat r i c i a l au r e n t photography courtesy of belmond
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T H E V E LV E T H O U R
There is an hour before dawn when the world has not yet decided who it will be. The sky is still indecisive, where the dark is reluctant to withdraw, but the light is not quite brave enough to claim the horizon. Fields lie in a bluish hush, rivers are strips of dark metal, and villages are only clusters of shadow with one stubborn light burning in a window. Somewhere along the rails — between one border and the next, between one life and another — the Venice Simplon-Orient-Express breathes in and wakes. You hear it before you fully understand it. A low shudder rumbles through the carriages, and a faint chime sounds as glass kisses glass in the bar. The soft click of a steward’s door, and the gentle sigh of a curtain pulled back an inch to test the dawn signal that the train is beginning to surface from its sleep. It doesn’t roar into life, though; rather, it stretches slowly, much like the way a cat stretches before deciding the day is worth knowing.
Inside the train, the corridors are empty. Passengers lie in their cabins in that sweet confusion of half-sleep, aware only of motion and warmth, relishing the feeling of linen against their skin, while the distant rhythm of the machinery soothes like a heartbeat outside the body. They do not yet know that the first spell has already been cast. For this is what the Venice SimplonOrient-Express does best: It builds another world within the world. A world where time is silken and slow. Where distances are not conquered, but savored, and identity itself becomes something supple, softened by candlelight and the hum of the rails. The train moves, and with it, the dance of possibility begins. Outside, a field becomes a forest, a forest becomes a river, and a river dissolves into mist. Nothing fully announces itself. Everything comes as an invitation, a suggestion, or a promise. The familiar map of Europe loosens at the edges, and in its place appears a dreamscape stitched together from reflections in glass. People think they board this train to go somewhere — Venice, perhaps, or Istanbul. In truth, they come for the part in between. For the hours when the world outside the window turns liquid with uncertainty, when the past seems very far away and the future not yet fixed. They come for the old-fashioned thrill of not quite knowing what will happen between stations. No one on board wakes as the same person who fell asleep. The transformation is delicate, almost imperceptible, but it begins the moment the wheels turn. This is the first spell. PARIS, 1883
To understand why this particular train has entered the collective imagination with such tenacity — why it continues to haunt the fantasies of travelers who could cross continents in private jets if they wished — you must return to its first great apparition. In October of 1883, the Gare de l’Est glittered under gaslight, its stone arches beaded with the breath of an autumn evening. Europe was vibrating with new possibilities: telegraphs stitching cities together with metallic urgency, empires drawing and redrawing their borders, and electricity new enough to still be seen more as sorcery than science. The continent was trembling on the threshold of modernity.
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The passengers of that inaugural journey could have been cast by a novelist intoxicated with possibility. Diplomats carried dispatches that might reconfigure alliances, while nobility navigated the narrow strait between reverence and scandal, and industrialists stuffed their pockets with the future. Women were seen traveling alone, some in their own names, some in names they had borrowed for the occasion. And threaded among them were the dreamers: the men and women who believed that the truth of the world revealed itself most clearly through a railway window, in the hours when everyone else had fallen asleep.
Then, with the discretion of something that knows it has nothing to prove, the Orient Express slid into the station.
As the train slid out of Paris, the city receded with a sigh, and the seduction began in earnest. Borders unfolded like pages. Germany’s forests gathered close to the tracks, somber and watchful, while Austria’s mountains rose with the unbothered majesty of creatures who existed before national anthems. The Hungarian plains stretched out in such calm that they felt almost confessional, as if submitting their vastness to the judgment of the sky.
The carriages gleamed in the brittle light. Mahogany panels reflected the glow of the lamps in honeyed tones, and brass fittings shone like jewelry. Upholstered walls, thick curtains, and softly padded seats spoke of ateliers where artisans did not simply assemble furnishings but composed an idea of civilization. To step aboard was not to “catch a train.” It was to cross a threshold into a curated secrecy and experience a moving world with its own codes of intimacy and intrigue.
Each frontier was more than a line on a map, as languages shifted, uniforms changed, the color of dusk seemed to adjust its hue. By the time the train entered the Balkans, the expedition had slipped into a realm thick with folklore: Villages appeared like hallucinations and vanished without explanation, rivers shone with a metal glint as if they were carrying old stories in their currents, and midnight stations glowed under oil lamps, populated by silhouettes rather than people.
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And, at last, Constantinople. For 19th-century Western travelers, it was less a destination than an enchantment — a city made of rumor and desire, of domes and minarets silhouetted against a sky that seemed permanently on the verge of evening. Arriving there by train felt less like completing a journey than walking into a story one had been told since childhood. The original Orient Express did more than cross Europe. It rewrote the psychology of travel. Movement was no longer simply about where one was going, but about who one became while in transit. THE SEDUCTION
That undertow still shapes every excursion of the Venice Simplon-Orient-Express, the painstakingly restored descendant of that first mythic train. Today, to board her in Paris and set out for Venice or Istanbul is to submit to an exquisitely choreographed seduction that unfolds not in grand declarations but in a thousand considered details.
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The first impression is tactile. The air smells faintly of polished wood and linen, with a whisper of something floral. The corridor is narrow — a deliberate intimacy — lined with marquetry that depicts stylized landscapes already suggestive of the journey ahead. Stepping into your cabin, you are momentarily struck by its modest dimensions. Then your eye begins to register the composition: the way the light falls on the inlay, the silver of the sink fittings, and the soft insistence of the textiles. Everything is exquisitely subtle. In the bar car, polished mahogany and deep blue upholstery hold the lamplight as if it were liquid. The piano waits for practiced fingers to caress its keys, while glassware stands in fragile ranks. Conversation starts out decorous — how long you’ve been in Europe, where you’re headed next, and the polite exchange of itineraries. But as the train gathers pace, something else gathers, too: an unspoken agreement that time inside these walls will obey different laws.
By the time dinner is called, the transformation has begun. Evening dress is not merely a nod to tradition; it is a ritual, a way of entering a role suited to this rolling stage. The dining cars glow in candlelight, their Lalique panels and crisp linens invoking an era that valued elegance as a kind of moral discipline. Courses arrive from the narrow galley with an assurance that defies the physics of the space, tantalizing taste buds with such dishes as lobster delicately crowned with caviar, slow-cooked beef deepened with truffle, and a chocolate creation so exact it feels architectural. The pleasure is not only in what is eaten and poured but in the tempo. Service is attentive but unhurried. Voices are low, and the clink of china and crystal becomes part of the train’s own score. For a few hours, the outside world — the emails, the headlines, and the luminous tyranny of the screen — slips into irrelevance. All that remains is a measured movement through a landscape glimpsed in fragments between courses, one that instills a sense of being suspended in a time that belongs neither to the past nor the present but to the travelers who have elected, for now, to drift.
Later, the bar car becomes the beating heart of the train. The pianist begins to play something just on the verge of familiar, altered enough to feel like a memory slightly misremembered. Champagne flows gently, without the shout of excess. A couple sways in the narrow space near the piano, the motion of the rails lending their steps an unplanned grace. A stranger’s story extends into a second glass, then a third. The train curves; everyone leans briefly in the same direction, a roomful of lives momentarily aligned. Yet it is not in the bar that the deepest spell is cast. It is in the narrow corridor leading back to the cabins, where the world contracts to two parallel lines of carpet and the soft glow of shaded lamps. Here, where shoulders almost touch and voices instinctively lower, the real seduction takes place: identities unbuttoning, postures softening, people becoming slightly more themselves or slightly less, depending on what they came here seeking.
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Long after midnight, when the piano has fallen silent and the last glass has been reluctantly surrendered, the train enters its most intimate phase. Doors close, and lamps are dimmed. Somewhere, a steward pads softly down the corridor, performing one final check. The locomotive breathes deeply, settling into the rhythm of sustained speed. Outside, the world has become brief impressions: a scattering of farmhouses, a flare of light at a remote station, and the insistent black of a forest translated into the faintest reflection in the window. Inside the cabin, the window shifts from a simple pane of glass to a conspirator. It is a mirror and a movie screen at once. Your own reflection hovers there, softened by the dim light, and your face becomes superimposed on a dark landscape you can’t quite see. The rhythm of the wheels — steady, insistent, and comforting — fills the silence. It is in this intimate, late-night moment that the journey tilts inward. The train is moving, but you are strangely still, pinned between who you were before you boarded and whoever you might be by morning. You are nowhere and everywhere at once. And in that nowhere, the mind does what it rarely has permission to do in ordinary life: It wanders. T H E S P E L L T R AV E L S : NEW LANDS, SAME LONGING
As the Venice Simplon-Orient-Express reclaimed its place in Europe’s imagination, something curious happened. The spell that had once belonged only to the Paris-to-Constantinople route began to surface in other corners of the world — places far from the Orient Express’s original geography yet somehow aligned with its emotional landscape. It was as if the train’s essence — its slowness, its sensuality, and its invitation to drift — had been unmoored from its rails and drifted toward new terrains that intuitively understood the human hunger for mystery. The destinations may have changed. The seduction did not. This is the secret the Belmond trains carry now. In Peru, the Andean Explorer climbs through mountains that hold an ancient stillness. In Southeast Asia, the Eastern & Oriental moves through jungles where humidity softens edges into invitation. In Scotland, the Royal Scotsman glides past lochs wrapped in mist: a palette of greens, greys, and silvers that feels both tender and austere.
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Each of these landscapes holds a different shade of longing, a different dialect of seduction. These routes do not rush past. They reveal themselves with patience, allowing the mind the spaciousness contemporary travel often denies. Each journey expands the emotional vocabulary of luxury rail: Slowness becomes an invitation rather than a limit. THE JOURNEY WITHIN
In the end, the enduring enchantment of the Venice Simplon-Orient-Express is not that it offers passage from one city to another, or even that it resurrects the glamour of an earlier age of travel. It is that it invites a very modern kind of metamorphosis. The story of the train is not, ultimately, a story of destinations. It is the story of enchantment itself — of glamour, yes, and sensory richness, but also of what happens when human beings surrender to a passage through time and space that cannot be accelerated, only experienced. The carriages become a sanctuary, a stage, and a floating world where everything is deliberate, and nothing is urgent. That is why this train, more than any other, has taught us to dream. It teaches us that the unknown need not be feared; it can be upholstered, lit by lamps, and accompanied by a piano. It teaches us that adventure can arrive as a whisper rather than a shout, as a slow unfolding of scenes beyond the glass. It teaches us that the greatest journeys may not be the ones that fling us furthest across the map, but the ones that carry us deepest into ourselves. To travel on the Venice Simplon-Orient-Express is to be reminded that the rarest luxury is not distance or distinction, but metamorphosis: the chance to step onto a train as one person and, somewhere between night and morning, become quietly, irrevocably, someone else. The locomotive breathes. The whistle sounds. The carriages, heavy with linen and crystal and freshly imagined lives, begin to move once more. And somewhere along the line between here and there, between what is known and what waits to be discovered, the oldest lesson of all is softly relearned: Dreams do not always arrive while we are sleeping. Sometimes, they arrive on rails.
Visit belmond.com for additional information.
VENICE SIMPLONO R I E N T- E X P R E S S PA R I S - B U DA P E S T- I S TA N B U L
Why Go: Step into the golden age of travel aboard Belmond’s Venice Simplon-Orient-Express. Art Deco interiors, poised cuisine, and attentive service define a standard of European luxury that remains unmatched. A candlelit dinner rolling past the French countryside becomes less an indulgence than a rite of passage. Travel Tip: Grand Suite cabins reward the splurge with butler service, marble bathrooms, and panoramic windows that make the landscape feel composed for you.
ANDEAN EXPLORER CUSCO-LAKE TITICACA-AREQUIPA
Why Go: South America’s first luxury sleeper train moves through the Andes with a calm authority. Plush cabins, an open-air observatory car, and live Andean music create a night journey that feels both intimate and expansive. Bucket List Moment: Watch the sunrise over Lake Titicaca from your suite, where the light gathers with an almost ceremonial grace.
T H E R OYA L S C OTS M A N EDINBURGH-SCOTTISH HIGHLANDS
Why Go: The Royal Scotsman travels like a country house set on rails. Fine whisky tastings, outdoor excursions, and the quiet of the Highlands are arranged into a few, unhurried days. Unmissable Moment: A private whisky tasting on board, followed by time in the Bamford Spa Car, the only full spa on a European luxury train.
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