Sapphire Area

My office is in Sapphire Valley.....@ the Village Square.
3077 US Highways 64 E.  Suite E.  Sapphire, NC.  828-507-1171

Sapphire is where I built my first home and my favorite place is Lake Fairfield
where there is a delightful 3 mile trail that follows the lake.

In 1965 Eugene Howerdd purchased 5,500 acres of land in Sapphire Valley. Howerdd refurbished the Fairfield Inn that was located on the property, developed the residential areas and had George Cobb design the Country Club of Sapphire Valley. Today, the area is now known as The Sapphire Valley Resort and provides many amenities for residents and visitors to enjoy.

Sapphire Valley is located two miles from downtown Cashiers, and is a beautiful community filled with emerald green mountains, spectacular views, and cascading waterfalls. Sapphire Valley offers the tranquil beauty of Lake Fairfield sprinkled with white blossoming lily pads, and a stunning view of Bald Rock.

More about the amenities..

Fairfield Lake                             Golf

Tennis Courts                               Outdoor Swimming

Indoor Swimming                     

Skiing                                        Putt Putt Golf


Recreation Center                        Sailing



 Outdoor Pools




A bit about the weather!!

Cashiers, NC

Cashiers, (pronounced Cash’ers) is located in Jackson County at the southwest crest of the Blue Ridge Mountains at an elevation of 3,486 feet.

The higher elevation provides for a cooler, more comfortable climate to escape the summer’s heat, and entices many visitors to continually vacation in the area … some eventually purchase second homes because of the perfect climate.

There are two main roads through Cashiers, Highway 64 and Highway 107. Many locals refer to the junction of the two highways as “the crossroads”. The Village Green is a two acre park located at the intersection of “the crossroads” and includes a walking path and a pavilion for outdoor concerts and various community events.

The sense of a “family community” is evident upon arriving in Cashiers. There is always a friendly hello or smile waiting for you here. Quaint specialty shops and casual & fine dining restaurants are delightful and delicious. The combination of the local cuisine and back drop mountain view provides the perfect place
for you to enjoy a flavorful experience.

If you prefer seclusion and privacy, Cashiers is the perfect choice for peace of mind. The area is well known for its many private clubs, summer homes and resorts nestled in the Blue Ridge Mountains. To
see a Cardinal, the North Carolina state bird, or view the magnificent flight of a Golden Eagle, or see a Falcon soaring high on top of the mountain ridge provides a new appreciation of nature.

Creating a special memorable experience begins in the Western Mountains of North Carolina. We invite and welcome you to experience and enjoy what this wonderful community has to offer!

The History of Cashiers

The history of Cashiers began with Colonel John A. Zachary, who explored the area with his son in the
fall of 1832. They returned the following spring to build several cabins establishing it as the first
homestead in the area. Colonel John A. Zachary came from Surry County in North Carolina.

The second settler was James McKinney from Pickens, South Carolina. The McKinney family arrived in 1835 and bought 600 acres, part of which is now the High Hampton Inn property located two miles south on Highway 107. The McKinney’s kept cattle and horses on the property until the late fall, then they
moved the cattle and horses to South Carolina for the winter.

How did Cashier’s get its name?

Several stories have been told … but the most commonly heard is attributed to a white stallion owned by James McKinney. It has been told that James McKinney paid quite a sum for the horse, so he called the horse “Cash”. One day the horse wandered south and found good feeding in the valley. When it was time to herd the cattle and horses south for the winter, Cash was nowhere to be found. The following spring,
the stallion showed up alive and well, thus the McKinney’s started calling the area “Cash’s Valley”.

Cashier’s Economy

The logging industry became a major source of income from 1888 to 1890 with the railroad being
present in northern Jackson County. The lumber business became the second largest industry in the mountains of Western North Carolina and provided many jobs for the settlers.

Disaster came upon the mountain community in the early 1900s that contributed to the loss of many
forests and jobs. The Chinese chestnut tree was imported to the area and brought with it a fatal fungus disease that took over most of the chestnut trees. It was thought that the Chinese chestnut tree would be introduced as a means to help stimulate the re-growth of the forests after much logging was done, but
the virgin forests that contained the beautiful wood grained chestnut tree was overtaken by the Chinese chestnut tree. By 1938, most of the chestnut trees were unfortunately gone.

Today, the largest source of income for the Cashier’s community is the income from residents who own second homes, and the vacationers who stay at residential communities in the spring, summer and fall. The area’s attraction is the beautiful mountains, spectacular golf courses and the vibrant blossoms in the spring and the colorful foliage in the fall. It is the perfect place to enjoy the blossoming azaleas, rhododendron and many other species of plants and flowers.

The second largest source of income for the community is the Christmas tree production. Christmas
trees are grown and shipped to places all over the United States. Every year, many Atlanta residents
arrive to pick out their special tree for the holiday season, and enjoy the Christmas spirit present the community.

Lake Toxaway, North Carolina

The development of resorts in the mountains of western North Carolina can partially be attributed to George W. Vanderbilt who purchased 8,000 acres of land outside of Asheville, North Carolina. In 1889, Vanderbilt began building the French chateau style estate and famously named it “The Biltmore”. The Biltmore soon attracted visitors and investors to the area, as it was highlighted for its prominent structure and affluent family located in the region.

Southern Railway built a railway system to The Biltmore, and became the steepest railway system in the United States at that time. Southern Railway system continued to build railway systems in Western North Carolina, and eventually arrived at the construction site of what was to be Lake Toxaway.

By 1896, Lake Toxaway was started by a group of stockholders and investors, which they called themselves The Toxaway Company. The Toxaway Company built and opened the Toxaway Inn in 1903
 as was part of a series of luxurious resorts located in the area.

Lake Toxaway is rich in history with the likes of Edison, Firestone, Ford, Reynolds, Duke, Vanderbilt
 and Wannamaker enjoying the luxurious comfortable lifestyle at The Toxaway Inn. Other fabulous resorts in the area included the Fairfield Inn, the Sapphire Inn, the Lodge and the Franklin Hotel. It was the perfect getaway for those who wanted to enjoy many amenities such as ballroom dancing, bowling, golfing, swimming, fishing, horseback riding, tennis and fine dining.

The grand lifestyle at The Toxaway Inn came to a disastrous result in August of 1916. The dam was not engineered to handle the stress of extra water, and gave way after 24 inches of rain fell in 24 hours. The Toxaway Inn itself was not washed away, but the Inn stood empty for over thirty years until it was
eventually torn down.

In 1960, R. D. Heinitsh, Sr. and a group of investors purchased 9,000 acres of land and decided to
restore the 640 acre lake to create a beautiful mountain retreat. The Lake Toxaway Company has an impressive club house, pro shop and fine dining … and includes such amenities as golfing, tennis,
fishing, pontoon boating, water-skiing, windsurfing, sailing, and croquet.

Peaceful surroundings and beautiful mountains brought Ford, Edison, Firestone and Rockefeller to the area. These are the same reason why Lucy Armstrong Moltz was attracted to Lake Toxaway, and
decided to build a six level mansion which was completed in 1916. The mansion became a welcome addition to the community, and provided a charming addition on the lake. Today, it is known as The Greystone Inn.

If you are looking for a private mountain getaway, The Greystone Inn is the ideal resort to enjoy the
 serene scenery of Lake Toxaway.

In 1985, the mansion was purchased and restored to its natural grandeur by Tim Lovelace, and it is
listed on the National Register of Historic Places in North Carolina. The Greystone Inn’s personnel provide excellent service earning it AAA’s Four Diamond Award for excellence.

Upon arriving at The Greystone Inn, you are treated as a “guest” of the mansion. You are able to enjoy many relaxing activities such as a champagne cruise in the evenings or enjoying a glass of tea sitting
 in the wicker rockers on the porch. The ambiance is old-world hospitality with a touch of warmth filling
each room. The rich beauty, elegance and charm is located at The Greystone Inn.

Glenville, North Carolina

Lake Glenville is located 2 miles from downtown Cashiers and provides 26 miles of shoreline sitting at
an elevation of 3500 feet. The full recreational lake provides good fishing, boating, skiing and sailing for the sports enthusiast. If you are looking for beautiful shoreline property and recreational fun … Lake Glenville is a beautiful lake to explore.