Plan your Trip

Lodging & Travel

Highlands, NC has been a beloved mountain retreat for over a century. Offering luxurious amenities in a lush mountain setting, Highlands is located in one of the few temperate rain forests in North America. Highlands has cool temperatures all summer long as well as exquisite restaurants, fabulous shopping, and an assortment of outdoor experiences, including hiking, fishing, and golfing.

Just 10 miles away lies Cashiers, Highlands’ smaller but equally beautiful counterpart. Together, these areas boast stunning views, rushing rivers, and exquisite waterfalls. Both towns offer a wide range of restaurants and accommodations.

Invited guests can spend the day at Blue Star Ranch and retire to lodging off property in the evenings.

Please keep in mind that Highlands and Cashiers are popular wedding and vacation destinations. Because of this, accommodations can fill up quickly. We recommend making reservations as soon as possible, especially for weekend travel.

Lodging in Highlands

Old Edwards Inn

The Park on Main Hotel

200 Main Old Edwards Inn

Mitchell’s Lodge and Cottages

Half-Mile Farm

Lodging in Cashiers

Laurelwood Inn

High Hampton Inn and Country Club

Travel

The closest airports to Blue Star Ranch are Asheville Regional Airport, Atlanta International Airport, and Greenville Spartanburg International Airport.

Asheville Airport is significantly closer in mileage but can be a tough drive for those who are unfamiliar with driving mountain roads or who often suffer from motion sickness. It is about 58 miles from Asheville Airport to Highlands Town Center. This will take approximately 1.5 hours. Please keep in mind you will have limited cell service along the drive and may want to print directions in advance. Cell service will be restored once you reach the town center.
Atlanta International Airport is 142 miles from Highlands Town Center. This drive will take about 2.5 hours. This is a significantly easier drive down major roads with cell service until the last half hour of the drive. Cell service will be restored once you reach the town center.
Greenville Spartanburg International Airport is about 82 miles from Highlands Town Center. This is about a two hour drive, half on a major highway and half along a windy mountain road. Again, you will not have cell service for the second half of the drive, so please print directions in advance.

Frequently Asked Questions

Where should I stay overnight?

Once your day at the Ranch is complete you can retreat to several wonderful hotels and resorts in the nearby Highlands or Cashiers area; most are less than 10 minutes away from the Ranch. We recommend using TripAdvisor to find a great hotel in the Highlands and Cashiers area.
What is the typical weather like?

Cashiers is located in a temperate rainforest. It rains almost daily, and stays pretty cool compared to the rest of the Southeast. Summer temperatures are in the high 70s (peaking at around 90 degrees in August) with lows in the 50s. Bring lots of layers, closed-toe shoes, and a rain jacket!
What type of clothing should I wear for a RingLeader Equine Coaching session/workshop?

The Highlands/Cashiers resort area has a temperate mountain climate. This means it’s cooler and wetter than the rest of the South. Highs are in the low-mid 70s (peaking at around 90 degrees in August) and lows are in the 50s. We recommend bringing layers, and of course rain gear! You are also required to wear appropriate footwear: Shoes MUST be closed-toe and we recommend something that covers your ankle as well, such as hiking boots, although sneakers are acceptable.
What happens if it rains?

Our main Round Pen is covered! However, our Herding Pen is not. We will do our best to work around the weather, but prepare to get wet. All arenas have covered seating areas and we offer a barn and office area to dry off in. Please bring a rain jacket, boots, and a change of socks.
I have a food allergy. Do you accommodate these requests?

We do our best to accommodate our clients with food allergies. Please notify us ASAP. You also have the option of bringing your own snacks, etc. A small refrigerator and microwave are available.
Do I have to drive?

Part of the charm of the Ranch is that we are in a rural mountain area. This does mean that taxis and shared ride apps or services are not available in our surrounding area.

Please note that if you make your way to the mountains without access to a car, it can be difficult to get around town. Hotel, country clubs, and restaurants do not offer shuttle services.

We suggest driving, renting a car, or sharing a rental car with fellow travelers.
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Want more information? Contact us and our staff will get back to you as soon as possible.

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