Fairfield Inn
Why it's listed
Overlooking Fairfield Lake in the Sapphire Valley near Cashiers, this two-and-a-half story, 100-room resort inn was built in 1896-98 by the Toxaway Company, a land development corporation led by Pennsylvania investors. Its Queen Anne design combines weatherboard and shingle surfaces, three large gables, hipped dormers, a shingled corner turret and a long lakeside veranda. Inside are a lobby with two corbelled brick fireplaces, a turned-baluster staircase, a dining room with Doric columns and a library with decorative wooden friezes. Edward H. Jennings of Pittsburgh bought the resort at a 1911 foreclosure sale and developed the surrounding land until his death in 1937. Several later owners kept the inn operating, and it was renamed more than once before returning to the Fairfield name. Alterations include a simplified turret, an enclosed veranda and a modern rear entrance. The inn is significant for what it shows about outside investment in mountain tourism and as a surviving example of regional resort architecture.
Significance in brief: The inn is argued to show how interstate business ventures, especially speculators from Florida and Pennsylvania, promoted tourism and developed natural resources in western North Carolina. It is also described as a well-preserved example of informal Queen Anne resort architecture from the region's late-nineteenth-century tourist boom.
Machine-generated summary. This summary was generated by a language model from the official nomination document and has not been reviewed line by line by an editor. It may contain errors. Check the source document before relying on any detail. Source: nomination document (PDF) · National Archives catalog entry. NRHP reference 82003476, listed June 14, 1982. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | U.S. 64, Cashiers |
|---|---|
| County | Jackson County |
| Listed | June 14, 1982 |
| Reference number | 82003476 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1800-1899, 1900- |
| Architect / builder | Toxaway Company (builder); architect unknown |
| Architectural style | Queen Anne |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Entertainment/Recreation, Architecture |
| Level of significance | State |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Described as in continuous use as a thriving seasonal resort, with some exterior and interior alterations that do not significantly compromise integrity. |
| Acreage | 5 |
| Coordinates | 35.12401, -83.04414 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
For an income-producing building, listing (individually or as a contributing building in a district) is the gateway to the 20% federal rehabilitation tax credit on qualified rehabilitation costs, often stackable with state credits. Work claiming the credit must follow the Secretary of the Interior's Standards and be approved in advance.
Listing does not restrict a private owner acting without federal money or permits; where federal funding or licensing is involved, Section 106 review applies.
General information, not legal or tax advice. Rules change; confirm with your State Historic Preservation Office or a qualified adviser.
Sources and further reading
- National Park Service, National Register of Historic Places database (snapshot May 2026), reference 82003476.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q5430312
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.