High Hampton Resort

Open since 1922, High Hampton Resort is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The Lodge was built in 1932 and fits in perfectly with the setting, with tree trunk porch columns and tree bark siding. Inside, the lodge has wooden floors and ceilings, and a large, four-sided, stone fireplace as the focal point of the room. Oatmeal-colored chairs and sage couches offer places for families to sit and play board games while enjoying the fire. The spacious room has a cozy atmosphere, with antique-style chandeliers and small lamps lending a golden glow. Meals are served in a rustic dining hall with

wooden floors and white linens, while the tavern has a long red bar with tree branch barstools and red fabric couches and chairs. Additional wood seating is available on a stone patio outside, with gorgeous views of the property. The scenic grounds are laced with green lawns and pines, with mountain peaks in the distance. The small cabin with a wooden waterwheel on the 35-acre lake is particularly frame-worthy.
Though many may associate Hampton Inn with the budget chain, the High Hampton Resort is completely unaffiliated -- it gets its name from the Hampton family, who first made this estate their mountain retreat in the 19th century.

High Hampton Resort is located in Cashiers, North Carolina, a village about 90 minutes' drive southeast of Asheville. The village is on a plateau in the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains, and is about 20 degrees cooler than other southeastern U.S. locations in the summer due to its unique location. While the village itself had fewer than 200 residents as of 2010, there are several restaurants, a farmers market, and a few shops within a 10-minute drive of the inn.

Rooms at the inn are charmingly rustic. Some have knotty wooden

walls and ceilings, and blue carpeting, while others have white-paneled walls and ceilings. Framed nature photography and blue or sage-green armchairs are in most rooms. Bathrooms are rustic with hand-hewn twig-framed mirrors and shower/tub combinations. Some rooms have fireplaces, screened-in porches, or decks with red rocking chairs and lake views. Rooms don’t have TVs or phones (by design), but do have Wi-Fi, which can be spotty. There’s also no air-conditioning in the rooms. Cottages are available for rent, as well as vacation rentals with up to six bedrooms. Pets are allowed in some cottages and vacation rentals.

There’s plenty to do at High Hampton Resort. On the lake, there are swimming sailing, canoeing, and pedal-boating. There’s a wading area of the lake for little ones near an outdoor playground. Several hiking trails are available, as well as a fitness trail and llama hikes a couple days a week. The club has a golf course, two putting greens, and a practice range. Massages and beauty treatments are offered at the spa, as well as fitness classes. There’s a kids' club at the hotel with scheduled activities, as well as a teen room with foosball, ping pong, and air hockey tables. All three meals (included in the rate) are served in the on-site restaurant, and the hotel has a tavern. There’s a market

selling produce and groceries, as well as deli sandwiches and draft beer. There’s also a free afternoon tea social with cakes and cookies. Some activities -- including tennis, boats, llama hikes, and kids' club -- incur extra, though reasonable, fees. A falconry program is also offered for a somewhat substantial fee.