Highlands Falls Country Club Homes for Sale in Highlands, NC
Highlands Falls Country Club homes for sale sit inside a private, gated golf community at 1 Club Drive in Highlands, NC 28741, on the Highlands Plateau. The community centers on an 18-hole course whose signature par-3 15th hole sits below a 100-foot waterfall at the headwaters of the Cullasaja River. This page covers the club, its membership options, and what a buyer should confirm before making an offer on a home here.
The Club and the Course
Highlands Falls Country Club is a private, member-owned club set on roughly 550 acres of mountain terrain. According to the club's course page, the layout covers about 6,300 yards and more than 250 vertical feet of elevation change, with a pond or stream on thirteen of its eighteen holes. Bill Bergin of Bergin Golf Designs renovated the course while keeping the original playing corridors. His plan shifted greens, reduced sand around them to open up the ground game, and added drainage and sand capping so the fairways play firm, which is uncommon on a mountain course.
Amenities Beyond Golf
The club's amenities extend beyond golf. The racquet sports program includes three Har-Tru tennis courts and eight pickleball courts, with clinics, organized play, and a tennis professional. Members also have access to croquet, a pool, a fitness center with certified trainers and licensed massage therapists, clubhouse dining, bridge and mah-jongg groups, fishing, and a yacht club that races radio-controlled boats. Golf | 18 holes, about 6,300 yards, renovated by Bergin Golf Designs |
Tennis | Three Har-Tru courts, tennis professional |
Pickleball | Eight courts, weekly clinics |
Fitness | Classes, certified trainers, licensed massage therapists |
Social | Dining, bridge, mah-jongg, croquet, RC yacht club |
Membership at Highlands Falls Country Club
Membership is the single most important fact for a buyer here: owning a home in the community and belonging to the club are two separate things. No private club in Highlands conveys membership with the deed. Highlands Falls admits members through its own approval process, and the purchase contract does not guarantee acceptance.
- Full Equity Golf Membership includes unlimited golf, tournaments, special events, and all club amenities, with privileges extended to children, grandchildren, parents, and grandparents.
- Young Executive Golf Membership carries the same privileges for candidates age 54 and under.
- Provisional Guest Program lets a serious prospect experience the club as a guest for 30 days, one time only. If the guest joins and is accepted within one year, the program fee is credited toward annual dues.
The club's membership director handles sponsorship requirements, fees, dues, and timing. Talk to the club before you sign a contract if club access is part of why you are buying.
Highlands Falls Real Estate: What to Confirm Before You Buy
Homes in the community range from mountain cottages to large custom houses on wooded lots. Because inventory is limited and each sale differs in lot, view, and golf frontage, pricing is best judged from recent closed sales within the community rather than plateau-wide averages. You can see current Highlands Falls Country Club listings on a map. Beyond price, five facts shape the cost of owning a home here:
- Membership status and timing. Whether you intend to join, which category fits, and whether you can be accepted on a timeline that works with your contract.
- Owners association obligations. Community covenants, architectural review, and any association dues are separate from club dues. Read the recorded documents during due diligence.
- Town limits and county. Whether the parcel is inside Highlands town limits determines whether town zoning, watershed rules, and town utilities apply. Confirm on the Macon County records and our guide to Macon and Jackson County deeds.
- Water and wastewater. Confirm whether the home is on a public system or a well and septic system, and schedule a septic inspection where applicable.
- Lot and boundaries. Steep, wooded lots along a golf course make a survey worth ordering.
Buying in North Carolina: What Out-of-State Buyers Should Know
A licensed attorney handles North Carolina closings, examines title, prepares the closing documents, and oversees the transfer. That differs from states where a title or escrow company runs the closing, so choose a closing attorney early. North Carolina also uses a due diligence system. Under the standard offer to purchase, the buyer pays a due diligence fee directly to the seller, and that fee is generally nonrefundable. The buyer can end the contract for any reason before the due diligence period expires. Earnest money is a separate deposit, and it is generally returned if the buyer terminates within the due diligence period. The North Carolina Real Estate Commission publishes answers to common questions about both. For a club community, the due diligence period is when you gather the membership facts. Ask the club how long its approval process takes, then negotiate a due diligence period that gives you time to get answers before your earnest money is at risk. Our due diligence guide covers the full checklist. What This Means If You Are Buying or Selling at Highlands Falls
If you are buying, treat the home and the membership as two decisions with two timelines. Settle membership questions with the club, association obligations with the recorded documents, and utilities and boundaries with inspections and a survey, all before due diligence ends. Buyers coming from Atlanta, Florida, or Nashville can start with our guide to buying a luxury home in Highlands from out of state. If you are selling, gather the facts buyers will ask for before the first showing: association documents and dues, the utility source, any survey, and a plain summary of how club membership works for a new owner. Start with a home valuation based on recent sales in the community. Working With Vignette Realty of Highlands
Vignette Realty of Highlands is the Highlands office of Vignette Realty, which also has an office in Franklin. Our brokers work with buyers comparing club communities on the plateau, including buyers relocating from out of state, and with sellers inside those communities. Commission is negotiable and is not set by law or by any association.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is Highlands Falls Country Club located?
Highlands Falls Country Club is at 1 Club Drive in Highlands, North Carolina 28741, on the Highlands Plateau. It is a private, gated community built around an 18-hole golf course. Buyers should confirm whether a specific parcel is inside Highlands town limits, since that affects zoning, taxes, and utilities.
Does buying a home in Highlands Falls Country Club include membership?
No. Buying a home in Highlands Falls Country Club does not include club membership, because no private club in Highlands conveys membership with the deed. Membership requires acceptance through the club's own process. Contact the club's membership director about categories, fees, dues, and timing before you sign a purchase contract.
What membership options does Highlands Falls Country Club offer?
Highlands Falls Country Club lists a Full Equity Golf Membership, a Young Executive Golf Membership for candidates age 54 and under, and a Provisional Guest Program. The guest program offers a one-time 30-day stay, and its fee is credited toward dues if the guest is accepted within one year.
What is the waterfall at Highlands Falls Country Club?
The club's name comes from a 100-foot waterfall at the headwaters of the Cullasaja River. The signature par-3 15th hole sits on a rock ledge at the base of the falls. The course covers about 6,300 yards with more than 250 feet of elevation change.
Does Highlands Falls Country Club have tennis and pickleball?
Yes. Highlands Falls Country Club has three Har-Tru tennis courts and eight pickleball courts, with a tennis professional, clinics, and organized play for members. The club also offers croquet, a pool, a fitness center, dining, bridge, mah-jongg, fishing, and a radio-controlled yacht club.
How does the due diligence period work when buying in a club community?
The due diligence period is the window when a North Carolina buyer can investigate and exit the contract for any reason. In a club community, use it to confirm membership timing, review association documents, and complete inspections. The due diligence fee paid to the seller is generally nonrefundable.
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Talk with a Vignette Realty of Highlands broker about Highlands Falls Country Club homes for sale before you tour, so you know how membership fits your purchase timeline.
Vignette Realty is a licensed North Carolina real estate brokerage with offices in Highlands and Franklin, NC; Vignette Realty of Highlands is its Highlands office. Club details on this page come from the club's public website as of September 2026 and may change; confirm current terms with the club. This page is not legal advice; consult a North Carolina real estate attorney about your contract. Vignette Realty has no affiliation or compensation arrangement with Highlands Falls Country Club or any organization named here. Equal Housing Opportunity.
