“You know, the most fulfilling part of ‘all this’ is being able to bring people together,” said Reeves, owner of the HMH. “There was a void here and I felt it. So, I figured let’s bring people from different walks of life into this place — culture, art, music, food.”

Inside the HMH that evening was rising Chicago-based indie-rock singer Neal Francis. Hot off a blistering set of funk-n-soul at the recent Bear Shadow Music Festival at the nearby Winfield Farm, Francis was hosting a packed out late-night DJ set in The Ruffled Grouse Tavern — a cozy, dimly-lit cocktail lounge in the depths of the HMH.

“In this kind of polarizing time in our society, it’s great to have this platform where people meet others they might not cross paths with otherwise,” Reeves said. “But, they show up at this humble abode in the mountains and everybody cares about the music and the art — they care about each other and walk away fulfilled.”

Hailing from Charleston, South Carolina, Reeves purchased the HMH property in February 2020. Originally constructed in 1885 for a supposed retired Charleston sea captain, the house is commonly known to be the second-oldest building in Highlands after the Old Edwards Inn.
 
“I knew the [HMH] could be more and I could see every single detail of it in my mind,” Reeves said. “Realizing that potential [of the building] became kind of a compulsion to me, maybe like the way any artist feels — whatever is inside needs to get out. [With the HMH], the building was finally getting its soul back.”

After an extensive eight-month renovation process, the HMH reopened as an 18-room boutique Appalachian lodge, one filled with antique furniture and modern-day amenities.

“The vision for the HMH has always been as a kind of ‘living room for the area,’ a throwback to a historic tavern where folks can converge over food, drink, warmth, culture and conversation,” Reeves said. “And the fireplace seating lends itself to conversation because of the almost-forced proximity between guests to strike up a meaningful conversation — something that almost never happens in a hotel lobby.”

The HMH also includes the tavern, a restaurant component and a robust live music series. To note, marquee singer-songwriters like Drive-By Truckers frontman Patterson Hood and Grammy winner Sarah Jarosz have sat next to the fireplace and wowed small audiences in a genuinely intimate setting of libations and pinch-yourself moments.

“Music has always been the great unifier in my life. It doesn’t matter where you’ve come from or where you’re going, if two strangers relate to a song, then maybe they’re not really strangers anymore,” Reeves said. “The inspiration and connection music provides me is as important as breathing and will be [part of] everything I’ll ever do in this life.”

Approaching the midnight hour, the Francis DJ set is in full-swing within the tavern. The rollickin’ melodies weave between signature Motown numbers and Chicago blues/soul classics. Silhouettes of numerous figures can be seen through the windows. They’re mingling, laughing, each immersed in the here and now.

Getting up from his seat on the patio, Reeves excuses himself to head back into the party — a vibrant scene and welcoming atmosphere, once dreamt of and now coming to fruition in real time.

“The whole thing has been surreal — it’s happenstance, really,” Reeves said. “There’s some magic here and I think we just found a way to unlock it. There’s good energy here and now all these people are picking up on it — we’re just going to keep riding the wave.”

Want to go?
The Highlander Mountain House is located at 270 Main Street in Highlands. For more information, click on highlandermountainhouse.com, call 828.526.2590 or email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

The Ruffled Grouse Tavern is open for lunch from 11:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Friday, with dinner from 5:30-9 p.m. Thursday-Saturday. The bar is open 4:30-10 p.m. daily.

The HMH’s popular “Salon Series” concerts will feature acclaimed singer-songwriters Erin Rae (Thursday, June 22), Waylon Payne (Monday, July 3) and Caleb Caudle (Thursday, July 27). There’s also a free Sunday Bluegrass Residency from noon to 2:30 p.m.

For tickets to the shows, go to highlandermountainhouse.com/offers-and-events.