Last Updated on April 11, 2024
What three words would you use to describe the high-altitude village of Cashiers, NC?
Cashiers (pronounced CASH-ers) is a tiny mountain community of just 1.1 square miles and 750 full-time residents. And yet, it may be one of the most precious gems hidden within the Blue Ridge Mountains.
There are many words you could use to describe Cashiers, NC. Here are three terms that we think fit the village well. Did we miss any you would include?
Cashiers, NC is Lofty
The Village of Cashiers likes to boast of its location—and for good reason. The community is perched on the highest plateau in the Blue Ridge Mountains of Western North Carolina (town elevation 3,500 feet). And there’s no doubt this unique geography is spectacularly beautiful! The surrounding peaks are filled with hundreds of waterfalls, quiet lakes, stone mountains, and rhododendron forests. Pictured at the top of the post is the view from the roadside to the summit of nearby Whiteside Mountain.
The community’s altitude also brings Cashiers closer to the clouds. Classified as a temperate rainforest, Cashiers receives an average of 87.57 inches of precipitation annually. That’s more than 7.25 inches a month! That makes it one of the rainiest places in the eastern United States. However, its altitude also affords many benefits. The area is one of the coolest places in the mountains, with an average daily July temperature of 78 degrees.
Cashiers, NC is a Crossroads
Cashiers is a true crossroads community. Two roads bisect the town, serving as the only arteries in or out. U.S. Highway 64 leads travelers from Transylvania County in the east to Highlands in the west. NC-107 runs roughly perpendicular, connecting residents to Cullowhee and Sylva in the north and Upstate South Carolina to the south.
At the nexus of these roads is Cashiers’ Village Green, a 13.2-acre community park and common area lined with diverse shops and award-winning restaurants. Walk the paths of the green and enjoy beautiful gardens, outdoor sculpture by renowned artists, and boardwalks over wetlands. The park also serves as an important metaphorical crossroads for the community, hosting thousands of visitors and more than 80 events each year.
Cashiers, NC is Invigorating
If you’ve been feeling down, let the nature surrounding Cashiers reinvigorate you! There are plenty of hikers and rock climbers amongst the permanent residents of and visitors to Cashiers. In addition to its ecological splendor, nearby Panthertown Valley boasts 6,700 acres of sheer rock, waterfalls, and hiking and biking trails. Whitewater Falls, the tallest waterfall in the east, is 10 miles from the village center. The Chattooga River also rises nearby.
In addition to nature-made playgrounds, Cashiers has excellent golfing and country clubs. High Hampton Inn and Country Club, as well as Fairfield Sapphire Valley, are full-service resorts. Each provides rooms, golfing, dining, and other invigorating amenities after a day on the links. In the village proper, a walking trail leads shoppers to the community’s many retail shops and restaurants.
Find what feels like home in Cashiers, NC
Jackson County, which includes the county seat town of Sylva and village of Cashiers, was established in 1851. The county has some of Western North Carolina’s most spectacular scenery, including portions of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park and the highest point of the Blue Ridge Parkway. The Tuckasegee River winds through the county, boasting some of the best trout fishing in the region.
Does that sound like the perfect lifestyle for you? Find what feels like home in Cashiers, NC now!
