Ray's Roost

Ray's Roost Ray's Roost (named after Jim's Grandfather) is a large, 4bed/4bath vacation home located on Big Bearpen Mountain in the heart of Highlands North Carolina.

12/31/2020

Well, it's official.

Starting January 5th, 2021, we will be at the house full time.

So unless you want to stay in our guest rooms, the home will not be available for 2021.

We are planning on staying here only 6 to 12 months (try out a season), and then move closer to our daughter and grandchild.

So please stay tuned to this station, and watch for the announcement that it is available again.

Thank you SO much for having chosen to stay with us, and taking such good care of our new home.

Happy New Year to ALL !

12/16/2020

Our town's been abuzz about which restaurants will be open and serving for the holidays. CCP Vacation Rentals has put together a comprehensive list of restaurants - keep in mind that reservations are either highly suggested or required, and some may also be 'sold out' for Christmas Eve, Christmas Day and New Year's Eve and Day.

Also NOTE: Due to the current Executive Order that went into effect December 11th and remains in effect until January 8th, restaurants and bars will be closed to the public between the hours of 10:00 p.m. and 5:00 a.m.

SERVING CHRISTMAS DAY:

Ugly Dog Public House
(828) 526-8364
theuglydogpub.com

The Bridge at Mill Creek
3:00 – 10:00PM
(828) 526-5500
thebridgeatmillcreek.com

Highlander Mountain House
(828) 526-2590
highlandermountainhouse.com

AND SERVING NEW YEAR'S EVE:

Wolfgang’s Restaurant and Wine Bistro
(828) 526-3807
wolfgangs.net

The Log Cabin
(828) 526-5777
logcabinhighlands.com

On The Verandah
828) 482-0083
ontheverandah.com

Lakeside Restaurant
(828) 526-9419
lakesiderestaurant.info

Wild Thyme Gourmet
(828) 526-4035
wildthymegourmet.com

Ristorante Paoletti
(828) 526-4906
paolettis.com

4118 Kitchen & Bar
(828) 526-5002
4118kitchen-bar.com

Meritage
(828) 526-1019
meritagehighlands.com

Four65 Woodfire Bistro + Bar
(828) 787-2990
four65.com

The Ugly Dog Public House
(828) 526-8364
theuglydogpub.com

The High Dive
(828) 526-2200

Fire+Water Restaurant at Fire Mountain
firemt.com/taste/

The Bridge at Mill Creek
3:00 – 10:00PM
(828) 526-5500
thebridgeatmillcreek.com

Highlander Mountain House
828 526-2590
highlandermountainhouse.com

Tug’s Proper
828-526-3555
tugsproper.com

New Year’s Eve in Cashiers

The Library Kitchen and Bar
(828) 743-5512
librarykitchenandbar.com

The Orchard
(828) 743-7614
theorchardcashiers.com

The summer in Highlands is in full swing.  The weather remains cool, typically in the 70's, with a rare jump in to the l...
08/05/2020

The summer in Highlands is in full swing. The weather remains cool, typically in the 70's, with a rare jump in to the low 80's. Rain does come, but there is still plenty of sunshine.

All stores and restaurants are open, though mask enforcement is in place while you are not eating.

All trails, streams, waterfalls and swimming holes are open and beautiful. As always.

Here is a picture from our back porch from last night. Sitting out there with a glass of wine, enjoying the end of the day.

06/25/2020

The NC Governor has issued another order related to Covid that now requires facemasks when going out. While walking, shopping, and into restaurants. And there seem to be some teeth in this order.

Restaurants and stores are still open. Just need facemasks.

Here is the faq that helps explain things.

05/22/2020

Choose the food less traveled at Locally Grown On the Green, Cashiers farm stand market for local growers beginning Wednesday, May 27. The market is “producer only” meaning that the vendor must be …

05/20/2020

Phase II of re-opening North Carolina Friday, BUT there are exceptions.

IN effect at 5 p.m. Friday 5/22, restaurants can open indoor dining areas and hair and nail salons, barbershops, spas, tattoo parlors and gyms can reopen as long as they limit the number of people inside to 50 percent of their allowed capacity.

The following places are still closed during Phase 2:

Bars
Nightclubs
Indoor entertainment venues
Public playgrounds

05/16/2020

Highlands is slowly “Waking the Mountain”- but what does that mean for your travels? A few things our friends at Highlands Chamber of Commerce and Visitor Center would like for you to remember Phase 1 Reopening protocols: 50% of capacity in retail stores (we advise you to call before you go to ensure hours of operation), 10 person gathering limit with social distancing measures, and bars and restaurants are still operating under takeout or delivery options only. 📸://

05/11/2020

Things are getting better up here. As you may know, the state has been on lock down, and the City of Highlands had check points on the roads into the town.

But starting last Friday ( 5/8 ), the state went into Phase 1 of reopening. No more check points, stores allowed to reopen. And most restaurants are open for take out (no inside or outside dining yet). And the Short Term Rental (STR) facilities, like Hotels and VRBO properties, are allowed to resume business.

Rumor has it that if there is not a sudden spike in virus deaths, Phase 2 of reopening might come May 22, allowing inside dining (with reduced capacity due to enforcing social distancing). But we will have to see how things go.

Grocery stores have remained open, requiring masks, and limiting the number of people inside at a given time. (Same with the ABC (liquor store), lol).

We have just completed our annual deep clean (every corner & cranny of the house, cabinets inside and out, all blankets & spreads, carpet and furniture upholstery, etc. ).

We have adopted the VRBO/HomeAway cleaning recommendations, as well as most of the more strict VRMA (Vacation Rental Management Assoc) guidelines. So the home should be both cleaned and disinfected when you arrive.

We do require some participation on you part, too. Please don't come if you (or anyone in you party) have or show signs of the Virus. And when you are here, that you follow all the social distancing and mask rules when out in public.

We do get bears visiting us occasionally.  And I can speak from personal experience that they can, indeed, open unlocked...
05/07/2020

We do get bears visiting us occasionally. And I can speak from personal experience that they can, indeed, open unlocked car doors. I have no idea what they were smelling, as I know not to keep food of any sort in the car. But in they went, and did break the latch on my center (between seat) console.

So PLEASE, don't keep any food in you car, and do keep the doors locked at night.

05/05/2020

Starting this Friday (5/8), the Town of Highlands will allow stores to reopen. Using the expected Social Distancing and Masks.

It is also allowing Short Term Rentals (like Ray's Roost) to reopen.

At the moment, restaurants are not allowed to open for onsite dining. But many are open for carry out.

No date has been announced as of yet for a change in the restaurants.

Keep an eye here for any updates.

Every wonder what you can see from the back porch?   I know I did.I just found out about a new phone app called "World P...
04/04/2020

Every wonder what you can see from the back porch? I know I did.

I just found out about a new phone app called "World Peaks". It takes the GPS coordinates of the phone, and then the compass heading of the camera. After a bit of calibration, it then labels the mountain peaks in the view.

I grabbed three pictures of these views (below), and then mapped them in Google Earth. The result is also below, with the main two long view sight lines marked.

Turns out that we can see a peak (Wayah Bald) 27 miles away, and the main view down the valley has Standing Indian Mountain over 22 miles away!

Address

Highlands, NC
28741

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