Highlands? (Asheville, Waynesville, Brevard: to rent, crime, motel)

[spunky1]

Ok, some of you have been kind enough to share your thoughs regarding Brevard and Waynesville so here is another question. . What are your thoughts on Highlands NC?

While I have spent more time in the Waynesville/Brevard area (hiking mostly) I have also passed through Highlands on various occasions. Basically just doing a little shopping and eating dinner. So here's my questions: Is Highlands a "real town" or is it just more of an area for tourists and rich Floridians with second homes? I like the elevation and that it is a pretty area, but is it too artificial? Are there as many outdoor opportunities in the area. Is there hiking in your backyard as there is in the Brevard and Waynesville areas?

I checked realtor.com and there did seem to be housing in the 200-300K price range.

Thoughts, opinions. . .

[Father John]

Highlands is gorgeous - and WET. It is literally a rain forest, getting 80-90 inches of rain a year. It is also a tourist/vacation area more than one where you might find year 'round gainful employment. I suppose a nurse can fit almost anywhere, but I found Highlands a great place to visit, but ...

[vq1]

Yes, Highlands is a beautiful and quaint place. Just imagine Mayberry meets Rodeo Drive shopping. We moved out before the major change when A.L. Williams came to town, so some of my memories may be history.

Town closes up at 5:00, so if you need something to fix that toilet at 5:30, you head down US 64 to Lowes in Franklin. Only a few miles, but what a drive (think of the Good, the Bad, and the Beautiful ... keep your eyes on the road and remember that tractor trailers do use that road too.) It was always fun to drive under Bridal Veil Falls. Glad I wasn't though, when the forces of nature moved it on top of the old portion of US 64, rather than over it.

Prices are very high for everything. Not only do you have the Law of Supply and Demand in action, you also have a bumped demand to supply a major part of the summer and holiday population. Highlands has long been a retreat for Floridians, Atlantans, and the rich and famous (Loni Anderson and Burt were the "news" of my time there.)

Rental rates are very high during the summer. The secret was to rent one of the houses for the entire off season at a fraction of the summer rate. If you are buying, double check if the lot is not on town sewer.

Back then, there were no fast food chains. Hampton Inn became the first and only national motel chain. The Fireside Inn had great food and M I C K 's (for some reason the program thinks that is a bad word, so I had to space it) had excellent dining.

Crime did not exist in Highlands. The weekly paper's "Police Blotter" usually filled the space with reports of "assistance" types of calls, such as when somebody had an accident, locked themselves out of the car, or rescue was dispatched for a medical reason. While these were simpler days, before meth came east, I feel certain that it is still an extremely safe area.

The local hospital was well regarded and convenient. If I remember correctly, it was tied into either Mission Hospital in Asheville or Duke Hospital.

Just reading your topic "Highlands" was relaxing and brought back many fond memories. It is definitely worth it for most to visit, if not a stay awhile.

[spunky1]

Thank you again for your thoughts, it's very helpful. I am really more interested in relocating permanently to WNC. I really hadn't considered Highlands until recently and just wanted you guys valued opinions!

[mm34b]

I like Highlands, but it's too small and remote for my tastes on a year-round basis.

[Highlands/PVBeach]

Originally Posted by Father John

Highlands is gorgeous - and WET. It is literally a rain forest, getting 80-90 inches of rain a year. It is also a tourist/vacation area more than one where you might find year 'round gainful employment. I suppose a nurse can fit almost anywhere, but I found Highlands a great place to visit, but ...

Highlands is usually WET, but we have been having a drought lately -- the past two years. We were on water restrictions this summer. We could only water our flowers every other day and by hand. Everyone in our neighborhood with water features and ponds was required to install cisterns to catch water off the roof when it did rain to recycle into the water feature to refill from any evaporation rather than refill them from the main water system.

We were limited to 300 gallons per day. It used to rain every afternoon in Highlands. We had weeks without rain this summer. The rhododendrons were very stressed and looked so pathetic. They came back after it finally rained.

Some of the people who had wells in town, had their wells go dry. They either had to drill deeper, or just go to someone else's house to shower or get water. My sister-in-law's sister experienced this in Wanynesville at here house there.

Our community has several wells and a neighborhood water system, so it was not as big a problem as an individual house. This is something to consider if you are thinking of buying up here.