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The History of Sapphire Valley
Thank you for visiting SapphireValley.com! We hope you enjoy this section of the site. We continue to research this history and will be updating this web site quite frequently - please bookmark us and come back often. As we expand our reporting on this history, we will include the Highlands Cashiers NC connection too.
A Brief Historical Overview
The early days of Sapphire Valley parallel the early history of Appalachia and North Carolina itself. The mountainous location remained part of the Cherokee Nation until 1819. Did you know North Carolina was the first state in which gold was found? Records indicate just before the gold rush in North Georgia, gold was found near Charlotte and later in Sapphire Valley itself - Sapphire Valley Pre-1880!
Sapphire Valley and the Civil War
The Civil War era divided many families in the area. Men had to leave to fight in the war and the economy of the Cashiers - Sapphire Valley stood still until the late 1880s.
image: NC Department of Cultural Resources
Sapphire Valley and Thunder Road
Pioneers
escaping the early taxation of moonshine in the north in the late
1700's and not only migrated down into Kentucky and Tennessee, but
Western North Carolina as well.
The most popular method involved a souped-up car to outrun law enforcement. The cars had to be fast enough to not get caught — even while fully loaded. A fully loaded car careening through the hills of North Carolina might have had 22 six-gallon cases of whiskey.
Sapphire Valley Moonshine...
... was legal until just after the Civil War. With no legal alcohol available in the 1920's, businesses evolved from making small jugs to 1000 gallon and larger batches. Moonshiners had to distribute their product in secret. Some hid it under straw or chickens in a truck.The most popular method involved a souped-up car to outrun law enforcement. The cars had to be fast enough to not get caught — even while fully loaded. A fully loaded car careening through the hills of North Carolina might have had 22 six-gallon cases of whiskey.
Thunder Road is the title of a 1958 drama–crime film about running moonshine in the mountains of Kentucky and Tennessee in the early 1950s.
The story could have just as easily been based on local moonshiners in and around Sapphire Valley!
It was directed by Arthur Ripley and starred Robert Mitchum, who also produced the film, co-wrote the screenplay, and is rumored to have directed much of the film himself. He also co-wrote (with Don Raye) the theme song, "The Ballad of Thunder Road". The movie was filmed partially in Western North Carolina and used actual moonshiner cars from the area!
The story could have just as easily been based on local moonshiners in and around Sapphire Valley!
It was directed by Arthur Ripley and starred Robert Mitchum, who also produced the film, co-wrote the screenplay, and is rumored to have directed much of the film himself. He also co-wrote (with Don Raye) the theme song, "The Ballad of Thunder Road". The movie was filmed partially in Western North Carolina and used actual moonshiner cars from the area!
True local residents in Sapphire Valley keep their moonshine skills intact by making the brew for friends and family!
Image: NASCAR Hall of Fame
Image: NASCAR Hall of Fame
Great Inns of the South
The Lake Toxaway Company built 5 great Inns in the late 1800's and early 1900s - the three most notable being the Lake Toxaway Inn, Sapphire Inn (on what is now Whisper Lake in Sapphire Valley) and The Fairfield Inn - 1896. The Fairfield Inn survived them all until 1986, read more here.
Palm Beach Connection
In the 1940-1970's, the owners of Sapphire Valley and the Fairfield Inn invited friends and guest from the Palm Beach area and many came, built homes, and became the first generation resort owners. The Country Club of Sapphire Valley opened in 1956 and is still one of the finest, mountain courses and clubs anywhere.
Into Modern Times
From the 1970's until today, Sapphire Valley continues to attract mountain loving families from the southeast US and the entire world for that matter. Guest to local resorts come from all over the world to enjoy the beauty of the rivers, mountains and the cooler climate
For more details on any specific time frame, please visit these pages:
Pre 1880's | 1880 - 1916 | 1916 - 1954 | 1954 - 1970 | 1970 - 1982 | 1982 - 1990 | 1990 - Today
We are constantly researching and adding to our historical documentation and images. Suggestions? Contact Us here>>
