Highlands

StarPony Productions is located on the Blue Ridge Divide, 20 minutes from Highlands which is on the Eastern Continental Divide. Highlands is the highest incorporated town in the Eastern US at an elevation of 4100 ft. We are surrounded by temperate rain forest and lots of outdoor activities including; hiking, mountain biking, rock climbing, fishing, canoeing, horse back riding, kayaking and white water rafting. The waterfalls alone are worth a drive up the mountain. Both the Chattooga and Cullasaja Rivers have their headwaters here.

Highlands is a resort town and a great place to get away. We are 2 hours from Atlanta, 2 hours from Greenville, and a little less than 2 hours from Asheville. Our population goes from approximately 3,000 in the winter to over 30,000 in the summer. We boast some of the finest restaurants, many of whom are Wine Spectator Award recipients, and of course -- boutique shopping. Even though we are in the mountains and do get some snow, our temperature is mild averaging 76 degrees in the summer and 35 degrees in the winter. In the nine years that I have lived in Highlands it has been very difficult to watch the declining snows, fall coming later, and spring coming earlier due to global warming. Our water table is dropping and certain species are declining just like they are everywhere. For myself, I feel incredibly blessed to live in a place surrounded by so much natural beauty and friendly Southern Hospitality. I believe that inspiration is priceless and am in deep gratitude for the inspiration I receive from these mountains.

StarPony Productions and Recording Studio is within walking distance of the Bartram Trail and Rabun Bald which has a 360 degree view of North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia and Tennessee. We are in the "Four Corners" of the Southeast, so to speak. Whiteside Mountain is another popular hike and is the oldest mountain in the world. It's 2000 foot granite face is the highest sheer precipice in the Eastern US and a favorite nesting place for falcons (which are protected). A friend of mine, Robert Zahner wrote "The Mountain at the End of the Trail; a History of Whiteside Mountain" which was inspired by Frog Mountain Blues by Charles Bowden, a book about Mt. Lemmon in Tucson, AZ. Having relocated to Highlands from Tucson I knew Bowden's book very well. I highly recommend both books which can be purchased by clicking on the respective links above.

Frog Mountain was what the native Tohono O'odum called Mt. Lemmon. It warmed my heart to pick up Zahner's book upon arriving on the plateau and feel the connection between the two mountains that I love. There is a song for Mt. Lemmon, Calling for Rain, on my new CD, My Mother's Garden. Robert Zahner and his wife, Glenda, spend half the year in Tucson and half the year within walking distance of Whiteside. As a member of the Higlands Biological Foundation Board of Trustees, Robert Zahner has done more for the conservation of this area than any other individual alone. Oh, and lets not forget the most important statistic of all -- There are more than 30 species of salamanders in this area, more than any other in the world. And of course, lots of bird watching. Golden Eagles can be seen from Whiteside during their migration.

Highlands and the Southern Appalachian Mountains boast a rich botanical treasure making it a haven for herbalists. The plateau having survived the glacial masses became a botanical treasury from which the seeds of reforestation of North America were drawn. Japan and India are the only other areas in the world where many of the tertiary types of plants survived the ice age. Certain species of plants are found only in Highlands, India, Japan and China. The water here is also very pure and frequently you will see folks pulled to the side of the road filling up water containers. The mountain itself is a "Crystal" mountain consisting of crystalline igneous and metamorphic types of rock. This tends to amplify everything, including your thoughts, and every thought is a prayer. I have gathered many a garnet on the mountain side and rock and gem hunting is popular at local gem mines. The gem and mineral shows are also very popular just like they are in Tucson. If you would like to learn more I recommend the following books:

Highlands even has its own Cable TV station, Northland Cable. My favorite show is Heart of the High Country now in its third season. Hosted and filmed by Katie Brugger and Arthur Hancock, they air great local happenings in and around Highlands including an uplugged living room interview with Thea & the GreenMan which you can order from the Heart of the High Country website - it's show #208. And we have our very own radio station that serves the Highlands and Cashiers communities with weather updates on the hour, every hour. Check them out on your radio dial or visit them online at WHLC FM 104.5.

Thea Owt.

Thea recording at WHLC studio
Thea Bio

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