-The High Hampton Inn, an historic mountain lodge in Cashiers known for its homey charm, is partnering with Blackberry Farm, the Tennessee-based luxury hotel and resort, to restore and manage the inn, the Crossroads Chronicle newspaper reported recently. High Hampton Inn, which had been family owned for nearly a century, was sold in 2017. Daniel Communities led the acquisition on behalf of Arlington Family Offices, according to a press release at the time, adding that Daniel Communities would manage the property going forward. Arlington Family Offices is a wealth management company, while Daniel Communities is the owner and developer of destination resorts. All three entities will work together, along with the North Carolina Historical Preservation Office, to restore the original inn, cottages and golf course, the newspaper reported. In 2021, Blackberry Farm will take over management of the inn, as well as food and beverage offerings there, according to the report. Back in February of this year, Blackberry Mountain, a sister resort to Blackberry Farm, opened just 7 miles from the farm property. Blackberry Mountain calls for the same caliber of service, wellness, and dining offered at its sister property, reports Travel + Leisure, while also placing an emphasis on outdoor experiences, from rock climbing and mountain biking to fly-fishing and foraging. (Here’s what I wrote about High Hampton Inn after visiting in 2016.)
-The new Asheville Area Habitat for Humanity Re-Store in Weaverville is going in where the old ACE Hardware store was.
-Sam Neill, a former Hendersonville lawyer who once ran for N.C. Senate and U.S. Congress in Western North Carolina, was release from prison last month after serving six years in federal and state prisons, the Hendersonville Lightning reports. Neill, who was disbarred, was convicted on charges of embezzling from estates he represented. Neill, 69, was released from Craggy Correctional Center in Asheville, the Lightning reports.
-Pack Memorial Library is celebrating a big anniversary this month – the library’s 100th year as a free public library. (Pack originally opened as a subscription-based library back in 1879, and after 40 years it became a public library in 1919, according to a press release. After several locations around downtown Asheville, Pack moved into its current home in 1978.) Follow Pack Memorial Library on Facebook to keep up with all the events.
-This summer, Mercy Urgent Care is offering free tick removal kits at each of its seven Western North Carolina locations. Mercy will be offering one free tick removal kit per family while supplies last at each of its seven urgent care locations in West, East and South Asheville, Weaverville, Brevard, Burnsville and Columbus, according to a press release. Why tick removers? Removing ticks is tricky business, as these skin-burrowing insects must be removed both as quickly as possible and with extreme care, the release states.
-Asheville is a top city in the U.S. where investors are taking advantage of Airbnb, reports smartasset.com.
–Hinds’ Feet Farm celebrated its 10-year anniversary in Asheville on July 18. Founded in 2000, Hinds’ Feet Farm is a non-profit organization dedicated to serving adults with brain injuries. Its mission is to maximize the potential of our members with integrated, unique and holistic programs; enabling them to pursue meaningful activities while developing a sense of belonging at home and in the surrounding communities. Hinds’ Feet Farm operates two residential programs and a day program in Huntersville and a day program in Asheville.
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“Less than three quarters of all listings – 73.44% to be precise – are for the entire house… [which is illegal in Asheville outside downtown] The average Airbnb rate here is 3.69 times the average daily rent and the city ranks eighth for this metric in the study as a whole.”
Huh, you mean the proponents of short-term rentals aren’t resident homeowners who want a little extra cash, but are instead absentee landlords content to stripmine Asheville for profit? Who could have imagined?