Highlands Inn
Why it's listed
Highlands Inn is a three-story frame hotel at the corner of Main and Fourth Streets in Highlands, North Carolina. Joseph Hallack built the original section of native pine in 1880, soon after the town was laid out by Samuel Kelsey and Clinton Hutchinson. A two-story porch runs across the facade, and the street sidewalk serves as its ground-level porch. Wings were added about 1900, in 1936 and in 1950, each continuing the porch, while a guest wing and dinner theater were built at the rear in 1985. The inn was listed for its role in the recreation and health industry of western North Carolina. It was the first inn in a town planned for tourists and summer visitors, and it is described as the oldest continuously operating resort inn west of Flat Rock. Its street fronts still convey the character of the 1880s through the 1930s.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues the inn is significant under Criterion A in Entertainment/Recreation. Built in 1880, it is one of the oldest continuously operating resort inns in western North Carolina and the oldest west of Flat Rock. It was among the first buildings in Highlands, is still the largest, and reflects the region's recreation and health industry.
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 90001916, listed December 18, 1990. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | Jct. of Main and Fourth Sts., Highlands |
|---|---|
| County | Macon County |
| Listed | December 18, 1990 |
| Reference number | 90001916 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1880-1940 |
| Architect / builder | Unknown |
| Architectural style | Late Victorian Vernacular |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Entertainment/Recreation |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Still operating as an inn; the form describes it as continuing to draw summer visitors, with 1985 rear additions and 1989-90 room renovations. |
| Acreage | 0.5 |
| Coordinates | 35.05283, -83.19662 (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 90001916.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q18151748
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.