4-1/2 Street Inn

New Blooms, New Birds, New Bikes!

2011-06-14T15:12:00.006-04:00

We come to Highlands because birds sing, water falls, and flowers bloom!

2011-06-14T14:46:00.012-04:00

2011-05-13T16:37:00.004-04:00

We had an unexpected guest for Mothers Day Weekend! He emptied our bird feeders and filled his tummy!

April in Highlands

2011-03-17T16:53:00.018-04:00

April in Highlands is magical. The gentle fog rolls in adding mystical shades of gray to the landscape. The trees are just budding out and there is a hint of bloom all around the mountains. The views are still spectacular and you can actually get a parking place on Main Street. Here are some pictures of our property in April.

Jake's Fan Club

2011-03-17T16:07:00.005-04:00

Jake is now competing with Ricky in being featured in our local paper "The Highlander". This picture was taken of him when he and Ricky were instrumental in getting the Town of Highlands to approve our new Dog Park!

This is a note from his fan club at the bank!

Snow Landscapes at the 4 1/2 Street Inn, Dec. 2010

2010-12-19T19:12:00.006-05:00

December 12th, 2010. Cold, but magical! We had so much fun! Ricky in the snow, and more!

Jake & Friends in the Snow December 010

2010-12-19T18:54:00.011-05:00

We had an amazing amount of snow really early! December 12, 2010 to be exact! Jake and his childhood friend Leon had a ball playing in the snow in our back yard. Once Leon left, Ricky and Jake played ball. A good time was had by all!

Merry Christmas from the 4 1/2 Street Inn

2010-12-18T14:47:00.005-05:00

Ricky and I would like to thank all of our wonderful guests and friends for making this an amazing year! These halls and rooms are hollow without the joy, laughter, and tears of those who fill them. Thank you for the gift of your presence in our lives, and we wish you always years of adventure, outrageous pleasure, songs, laughter, and doing as you wish! Jake wishes you an eternity of your favorite treats and a loving hand to rub your tummy whenever you want. Ricky and I make a toast to all of your hopes and dreams coming true in this next year and always.

Confessions of an Innkeeper

2010-05-31T16:01:00.007-04:00

My alarm clock is the song of birds.

I deliver the morning papers to our guest rooms and smell freshly brewed coffee all they way up to the 3rd floor. I tip toe on the original hardwood floors purposefully stepping over the boards I know that creek.

I turn on the oven and begin making breakfast, everything home made of course. Jake, our precious black lab, watches wistfully hoping something, anything, will drop to the floor.

Preparing food in the kitchen I listen to my husband (Ricky) hold court in the dining room or back deck entertaining our guests with his quick wit and funny stories. As always, he sits on his director’s chair proud of his directorial debut of The Dixie Swim Club, our community theater’s winter play. I still laugh, even though I have heard most all his jokes a million times.

I help people plan their days: Where to hike, where to dine, where to have a picnic. I have maps, make reservations, and share my personal experiences of 14 magical years living in, hiking in, and loving Highlands.

I pick flowers from our gardens for vases, then herbs to cook with. I walk through the halls and smell the Peonies and feel the wind blow through the windows bringing in all of the sounds and sweet fragrances of nature. I smile at the melody of our wind chimes on the wrap around porch.

I dust the antiques and remember the stories each ancestor of this 100 year old home has shared with us.

I admire the original art work, fine bedding, and fresh flowers lovingly placed in each of our guest rooms. I read our room journals, grateful for the shared appreciation our guests have of our efforts, beautiful home, and Highlands.

I bake cookies, and place them in the basket on the stairway newel, knowing how heavenly the smell will be upon entering the Inn, and how it permeates the rooms and hallways.

I make our appetizer for evening wine and hors d’oeuvres, then decide where it should go: the decks; wrap around porch; or parlor.

Ricky and I sit with our guests swapping lies, debating politics, and listening how ordinary people lead heroic lives and end my day inspired. If we are on the porch, we watch the mother birds feed their babies in our hanging ferns.

As I fall asleep in the evening, I feel the cool breezes moving around the room under the quiet motion of our ceiling fan and listen to the night sounds of frogs, cicadas, owls. I hear the winds rustle through tree branches thanking whatever powers that be I live in Highlands and this is my life.

I wake up the next day, and it all starts over again. Some days I walk to town to shop or dine. Some days I lie on our hammock. Some days I just watch the birds, mesmerized.

There is not a day that goes by that I don’t love my life, and love sharing it.

So when you are trying to decide where to stay, I hope you remember these confessions of an innkeeper hopelessly in love with what she does, where she lives, and how she runs her business. We are a value on many levels, not just price. Everything is made with love, and is personal.

It is true for Ricky too. Our gardens are a reflection of his passion, skill, and taste. He loves to serve and entertain. He too gains strength and inspiration from our guests.

This is why we are not a hotel or inn. We are the quintessential B&B. With 10 rooms, we are large enough to not be too close, but small enough to be intimate. Our decks, porches, and common areas give our guests plenty of room to spread out and find as much privacy as they need.

Our gardens heal, and offer respites for mediation and reflection. There is not at thing within normal boundaries that Ricky and I would not do for our guests, which is why many of them have been coming back for 14 years and we remain #1 on Trip Adviser out of 11 B&B’s and Inns.

We are not for everyone, but if you are looking for a B&B, we are for you. Try us.

A star is born, but can we live with him?

2009-05-16T10:03:00.011-04:00

From the Highlander, Thursday, May 14th, 2009
"....And Rick, oh my goodness, how funny was he? He deserved that standing ovation at the end, didn't he?..."

Ricky stole the show as Lenny in Neil Simon's Rumors. We all laughed so hard we cried!

100 years, and counting. The history of our Inn

2009-04-25T15:21:00.013-04:00

Our home will celebrate its 100th year in 2010. The Inn has only had 4 owners. It was initially built by Irvin Rice in 1910 as a family home. In the late 40's it was purchased by the Potts family and became the Fairview Inn, a seasonal tourist home.

When the Pott's could no longer operate the tourist home, they leased it to the Highlands Playhouse as a dorm for visiting actors.

The Clark's purchased the Inn in 1990 and renamed it the 4 1/2 Street Inn. We became the proud stewards of this historic Inn in 1997.

Martha Bennett Rogers walked into our kitchen one day out of the blue and surprised us with the gift of these photographs. They are amazing. Martha is a decedent of the Rice family, and these are part of her personal family album. For more information, go to the page "About the Innkeepeers" on our website www.4andahalfstinn.com

The 4 1/2 Street Inn is on the Highland's Historical Society's walking tour of historical homes. Double click on the images to enlarge them.

Wildflowers & Waterfalls

2009-04-24T13:39:00.012-04:00

I hike with the over the hill hiking club, but there is nothing over the hill about this group. Last Thursday we hiked to High Falls & Rough Run. The area is known for its abundance of waterfalls and wildflowers. All amazing! This hike is not in any books, but we would be happy to help you find a guide to go there.

The magic of Highlands, North Carolina

2009-04-13T12:36:00.005-04:00

On Good Friday, April 10th, 2009, Ricky and I were awe struck by this rainbow. So was the rest of Highlands! Copyright Matthew Eberz

We were both sent multiple pictures by many of our various friends of this same rainbow the next day. The magic of it is that in some kind of wonderful way we were all in the same place at the same time. This photograph was taken by Matthew Eberz, a local photographer, real estate agent, and overall Renaissance man and it is a BEAUTY!!! (mgeberz@verizon.net)

Nothing Could be finer then to be in Carolina.... Let us find you a guide!

2009-03-26T18:59:00.010-04:00

Winter, Spring, Summer, or Fall Highlands offers extraordinary views and a plethora of outdoor activities. I have joined a hiking club, and met extremely knowledgeable and gifted hikers who are happy to share their knowledge and lead you to places you might have never dreamed of going on your own. Also, birders & photographers! www.4andahalfstinn.com

Family Fun at the Beach

2009-03-26T18:23:00.015-04:00

We took our 70lb. baby lab to the Edisto Island and had a great family vacation. It is the quintessential beach town about 45 minutes outside of Charleston. We had record cold, and the pipes at our rental house froze, but we have wonderfully warm memories! www.4andahalfstinn.com

Our vacation in Zihuatanejo, Mexico

2009-03-26T17:02:00.011-04:00

We loved our time in Zihuatanejo, Mexico! We have more pictures and stories to tell!

Halleluiah, He fixed the front door!

2009-03-26T16:47:00.006-04:00

It takes a village to fix a door, but fixed it is. After all these years our front door closes quietly, easily, & gently. Thank you all, and thank goodness!

Jake Rules

2009-03-26T15:25:00.010-04:00

Jake has been our "little bundle " of joy for a year now. Our guests love him! He grew some, huh?

Rebuilding the Side Porch, What a Job!

2009-03-26T14:16:00.000-04:00

Ricky & his friend Larry beautifully rebuilt the south side of our wrap around porch in temperatures from 9 degrees in the dead of winter. It looks FABULOUS! Come see the end result!