INTERVIEW WITH MS. SUE BUMGARNER
On January 15, 2003, Luxury Vacation Home had the pleasure of speaking with Ms. Sue Bumgarner, who has served as Executive Director of the Chamber of Commerce in Cashiers, North Carolina for the past 18 years. A lifelong resident of Cashiers, Ms. Bumgarner is the area's most knowledgeable resource to the attractions, lifestyle and history that makes Cashiers so unique.
LVHN: How would you describe Cashiers to someone that has never been there?
BUMGARNER: Our motto is, "Cashiers Is Beautiful," and it really is. The scenery is stunning. There are waterfalls and lots of hiking trails. We have many golf courses. Whatever you need or want to do, you can escape the rat race of the city and just simply enjoy. You can sit back and not do anything if you want.
LVHN: We understand that Cashiers has a long history of attracting summer visitors. How has the town's history evident in Cashiers today?
BUMGARNER: The Cashiers area has been preserved and is more like a village than a town. Cashiers has grown a lot over the years, but there are still no high-rise buildings or hotels in the area. Nothing has been developed here that destroys the aesthetic appeal of the area.
A couple of original buildings that were built in the 1800's are still standing. The Cornucopia restaurant occupies one of them and the Zachary Talbert House Museum occupies another one. For the most part, the village and local businesses have grown at a steady rate, but slow enough for us to maintain our small town atmosphere and our reputation as an escape from incorporated cities.
LVHN: Cashiers is one of the most popular mountain retreats on the East Coast. What keeps people coming back year after year?
BUMGARNER: First of all, people come here because of the weather. Our temperatures are cooler during the day and in the evenings. For example, Cashiers is 20 degrees cooler than Atlanta and even 10 degrees cooler than it is 30 miles down the mountain. Our winters are also very mild.
But most of all, the area itself is what keeps people coming back. Visitors enjoy the size of the village and the slow pace of life. Cashiers is an area that has everything, but also has nothing - it just depends what you're looking for.
LVHN: What is the Chamber of Commerce doing to draw more visitors to Cashiers?
BUMGARNER: We answer about 26,000 inquiries a year and send out appropriate literature. We advertise in publications like Southern Living, Better Homes & Gardens and the Atlanta Constitution. We find that many of our visitors and second homeowners come from Atlanta.
The Chamber also offers small business accounts and lending for local or incoming businesses, but we don't actively seek new businesses. By that I mean that we don't attend trade shows or recruit companies to expand their operations to Cashiers - we don't want to spoil the village-appeal of the area.
LVHN: In addition to Atlanta, where are the majority of visitors coming from?
BUMGARNER: Florida, Georgia, Alabama, North and South Carolina - those are our most heavy market areas. Atlanta is the hottest market for weekend getaways and Florida is most popular for second homeowners.
LVHN: Do most people drive or fly into Cashiers?
BUMGARNER: Most drive because the closest airport is in Asheville, which is an hour away. The Greeneville/Spartanburg area, which also has an airport, is about 90 minutes from here. But driving is much more convenient. Atlanta is only 150 miles south, meaning you can drive here in two-and-a-half hours. People also drive into town because they need a car for transportation once they arrive - we have no taxicabs in town.
LVHN: What are the local tourist hot spots?
BUMGARNER: Visitors want to see the waterfalls. We have the Flat Falls, which is the highest in the Eastern U.S., descending 411 feet. Plus, there are probably 20 or 30 other waterfalls in the area.
We have 27 restaurants in town with a wide variety of options. Cashiers also has wonderful antique shops and high-end gift stores. Many of them carry native artwork and pottery. And of course, there is plenty of recreation - golfing, tennis, boating, and fishing. Trout fishing is really popular in this area as we have many trout streams.
LVHN: Do tourists come to Cashiers for any specific events or festivities?
BUMGARNER: Over 4th of July weekend, we host an outdoor symphony called Symphony Under The Stars. The concert begins around 7 p.m. and finishes with a firework display after the sun goes down. It is so popular that we are already selling tickets.
For the last 25 years, Cashiers has hosted an antique show every July, which attracts many visitors.
LVHN: What trends have you seen in the local real estate market over the years?
BUMGARNER: Prices have increased dramatically and continue to rise. Over the last 10 years, prices have tripled and even quadrupled in some cases.
LVHN: Are more and more homes appearing on the market?
BUMGARNER: Yes. Many people build homes and then decide they want a bigger house or a different location, so they sell it and build another. There are several private communities and different developments selling land for people that want to build homes.
LVHN: We know that Cashiers is a second-home community for many vacationers and retirees. What is the ratio between full-time residents and second homeowners in Cashiers?
BUMGARNER: Cashiers has about three second homeowners to every full-time resident. The winter population is about 1,700 and escalates to between 8,000 and 10,000 in the summer.
LVHN: What communities are most popular for second home ownership?
BUMGARNER: Sapphire Valley Resort seems to be very popular. There is also the Wade Hampton, which sells property around its private golf course. Trillium is another golf community. Lake Toxaway is 15 miles away and many people build homes there for the views. Only five miles away is Lake Glenville, whose land prices have escalated over the last five to 10 years. Between golf, lakes and forests, there is a community here for everyone.
LVHN: How often do second homeowners occupy their homes?
BUMGARNER: Six to eight months a year. Owners usually arrive on the first of May and stay through the end of October, although some don't leave until after Thanksgiving. Many second homeowners are retired, which allows them to stay here for extended lengths of time.
LVHN: What do you anticipate for the local tourism industry and real estate market in the coming years?
BUMGARNER: Because of the area itself, I think our community will continue to grow. Cashiers used to be a secret, but it is definitely not a secret anymore. More and more people are telling their friends and more people want to visit the area each year. We have between 10,000 to 12,000 visitors annually and during the next 15 to 20 years, I think the number will continue to rise.
LVHN: That's all the questions we have. Do you have anything else you'd like to say?
BUMGARNER: If there is anyone who hasn't been to Cashiers, they should come visit and see for themselves that "Cashiers Is Beautiful."
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