WHO WE ARE

The Historic Toxaway Foundation is a diverse collection of full- and part-time residents of Sapphire, Lake Toxaway, and Rosman, NC., established as a nonprofit in 2017 to provide a unified voice for these storied mountain communities.

Each member contributes a unique set of talents and experiences that help us in our mission “to preserve Historic Toxaway’s past while preparing for its future.” Learn more about us as individuals, here.

WHAT WE DO

As a foundation, we participate in a variety of local causes, including service on county boards and committees related to Conservation, Tourism, Historic Preservation, Workforce Housing, and Education. We also regularly engage with both regional Chambers of Commerce and many county and regional agencies.

Through an offshoot organization, the Business Alliance of Upper Transylvania (BAUT), we promote local businesses through a free weekly digital publication, the Red Feather Guide; a seasonal print Visitor Guide; and social media and PR efforts, including negotiated advertising discounts and more.

STORIES: OUR BLOGS

A very young Betsy Gilmour with her mother
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The Girl Who Survived Toxaway Falls

It started with an email - a brother looking for more information about a 1947 incident at Toxaway Falls. Here's the rest of the story.
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Lake Toxaway Schools: 1953 Red Bird

The Historic Toxaway Foundation showcases another gem provided by longtime area residents Harry and Mary Sherwood: an issue of The Red Bird yearbook, circa 1953.
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SHR and the Red Spruce Restoration Initiative

Southern Highlands Reserve, our neighbor on Toxaway Mountain, is leading the way in red spruce restoration. Help with a donation to their greenhouse campaign!
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Lake Toxaway Schools: A Brief History

The Historic Toxaway Foundation has received a unique gift from longtime area residents Harry and Mary Sherwood: a labor of love (and research) they completed in 2004 detailing the history of Lake Toxaway area schools.
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Country Life

Local resident Nancy Henderson has a great knack for storytelling and we'll be sharing some of her short essays here from time to time in a new series of Country Life vignettes.
Indian Lake Estates entry
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Neighborhoods:  Indian Lake Estates

Indian Lake Estates is the second feature in our Historic Toxaway Neighborhood series. Peace and quiet are what this community is known for.
Rainbow Falls
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Gorges State Park

Rainbow Falls Trail is the most popular trail in Gorges State Park - but it's not the only one.
Original Scadin Home in Sapphire
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A 1900s Transylvania County Home: R.H. Scadin

R.H. Scadin constructed this home in Sapphire with help from neighbors. It is representative of the building materials and layout of 1900s-era homes.
Panthertown thumbnail
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Panthertown Valley

Panthertown Valley, the "Yosemite of the East," features granite cliffs, plunging ravines, soaring peaks, and majestic waterfalls.

YOUR DONATION MATTERS

Our donors’ gracious support to date has allowed us to:

— Establish the Historic Toxaway brand, resulting in broader visibility and opportunities for our area

— Commission a private small area plan that identified several key properties for potential development within our footprint, one of which is currently being planned as a proposed ‘town center’

— Curate a robust historical resource via blogs, social media, and image and video libraries

— Bolster our local businesses with free or low-cost marketing tactics to offset their out-of-pocket costs

LEARN MORE DONATE NOW

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