2023 HIGHLANDS NC EXPERIENCE GUIDE
From its earliest days, Highlands has attracted diverse groups of people looking to escape from the pressures of the outside world. Decades ago, it might have been emphysema patients lured by the promise of brisk mountain air and cold, pure water. In the 1920s and 30s, practically the entire executive suite of Coca- Cola made Highlands their sea- sonal home, following the lead of Chairman Robert Woodruff and the almost mystical presence of golf leg- end Bobby Jones. That golfer’s siren call remains pow- erful today. Witness the number of courses that ring Highlands or stop by Bobby Grace’s workshop and learn why he chose to set up his interna- tionally recognized putter studio here in town. (Bobby is a natural storyteller and he loves to chat.) No matter the reason they are drawn to Highlands, the area’s natural beauty, fine dining and extraordi- nary accommodations are the fixed assets that visitors enjoy. These days, groups intentionally choose Highlands as the place to meet up and spend time. Family reunions, corporate meetings, bachelorette par- ties and hobbyist retreats are a few of the types of calling cards that bring folks together to the rural utopia. There’s simply something magical about gathering with co-workers and loved ones around a fire pit and talking
-- really talking -- about truly important things. The Cherokee who lived here understood this principle; they main- tained undying ceremonial fires where everyone was welcomed to speak. Consider the groups who trek togeth- er up to Sunset Rock or Whiteside Mountain. There’s something trans- cendent about the journey and the destination, and for those open to the experience, the transformation can be profound. Groups can find a new energized spirit around a large dinner table, enjoying an unforgettable meal pre- pared by the finest chefs. Or, by at- tending Highlands’ free weekend concerts -- Friday Night Live and Saturdays on Pine -- an irrefutable way to loosen boundaries. Melissa Delany, Old Edwards Inn & Spa’s director of sales, attributes the rise in group travel to the area to the pandemic. “A lot of people discovered Highlands because they were looking for somewhere safe, remote and not highly populated. Whether you’re a foodie, or chas- ing waterfalls, it’s a magical perfect place for a stay.” Atlanta businessman and retreat leader Woody Faulk cites the area’s spectacular topography, altitude, ac- cessibility to the south’s major popu- lation areas, and its remoteness as powerful lures. “Though the approach and con- tent of our workshops are portable, I only want to host our retreats in
Highlands. It meets and exceeds our location criteria. Highlands is just far enough that it feels like an adventure.” That Highlands has become a mecca for groups is also attributed to the unique allure of its accommodations. ROCKWOOD LODGE Covering 350 acres and only 17 min- utes from town, Rockwood Lodge sits atop one of the highest peaks in the area. Panoramic, unobstructed views of the mountains abound, along with eight bedrooms, multiple gathering areas – indoors and out – luxurious furnishings, stunning accommoda- tions and grounds that include a pond and a lake with canoes. It’s ideal for group getaways and a fa- vorite spot for weddings. Faulk started visiting Highlands in the late 1990s. In 2020 he bought a 1940s cottage in town, and the fol- lowing year he and his wife began hosting marriage enrichment week- ends at Rockwood Lodge. In search of a place where the group could be sequestered with priva- cy guaranteed, Faulk discovered Rockwood. “The lodge is unique enough that you feel far away from life. It provides a serene quietness that you need when focusing on top- ics that require spiritual energy. It is a remarkable setting for a gathering of people to have intentional conversa- tions, free of interruptions.”
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