VA250 in Highland County

75th Highland County Fair
386 Myers-Moon Road, Monterey
info@highlandcountyfairva.com
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The Highland County Fair is Virginia’s longest-running small-town fair, celebrating 75 years in 2026! This non-profit event serves as Highland’s homecoming, bringing the community together to support local groups, 4-H, and FFA youth.  From livestock shows and handmade quilts to photography, canned goods, and children’s artwork, the fair offers something for everyone.  Dedicated volunteers have sustained its success, making it a beloved tradition.  It remains one of Highland’s most treasured annual gatherings.  The Fair Horse Show kickoff will beheld on August 29, 2026, with the full 75th Highland County Fair being held September 2 - 5, 2026.  Follow at www.facebook.com/HighlandCountyFairVA for updates!

 

Big Fish Cider, Co.
59 Spruce Street, Monterey
540-468-2322
info@bigfishcider.com
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Big Fish Cider, Co is an award-winning cidery in the town of Monterey.  It's a microcidery that makes ciders using locally-grown apples in a range of off-dry to semi-sweet blends, single varietals, as well as seasonal offerings.  The local tasting room hosts open mic nights and trivia nights monthly.

 

Blue Grass Resource Center:  Highland Inn Revitalization Project
68 West Main Street
540-383-9415 or 540-474-3333
innrenovation@htcnet.org
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The Highland Inn, built in 1904 is a historic property located on US 250 (Main Street) in Monterey, Virginia.  For years, the Inn served as transient lodging with 18 rooms, a restaurant and tavern, until it closed in 2019 due to unsafe conditions.  The Blue Grass Resource Center is currently undertaking the Highland Inn Revitalization Project to restore the Inn to its former glory.

Phase I Construction, completed in 2021, mothballed the structure, provided exterior stabilization, and minimized further deterioration.

Phase II Construction will begin in 2026 and includes interior demolition and reconstruction.  When complete, there will be 2 new ADA-accessible rooms (out of 18), restaurant, tavern and public space featuring historic memorabilia.  The project will support increased visitation to Highland County.

Since the Highland Inn renovation starts in 2026, we won’t yet be open for business.  We intend to have multiple days open to the public to see the renovation in process (see Events section of this site).

 

Blue View Lodge
Potomac River Road, Monterey
415-558-8000
johnny@blueviewlodge.com
The Blue View Lodge in Monterey Virginia is a comfortable, convenient country cottage close to town to experience Highland County!  Details and reservations on VRBO and AirBnB.

 

Fair Lawn Farm
3118 Mill Gap Road, Monterey
540-468-3094
tim@visitfairlawnfarm.com
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If you’re looking for historic farms to visit in Virginia, you should add Fair Lawn to your list!  Built in 1887, this site has a deep-rooted history in its home of Highland County.  The farm’s current owners, Tim and Terry Duff, possess a passionate love for the property.  Over the last two decades, the Duffs have faithfully restored the farm, including the extraordinary farmhouse, to honor its past while preserving its future, creating an ideal location for family trips, sugar farm tours, homeschool adventures, and more.

Fair Lawn Farm, which is also a unique stop during the Highland County Maple Festival in Monterey, Virginia, focuses on the late-eighteenth to early-twentieth century era.  The Duffs collect, restore, and reuse antique 18th century trade tools and equipment your great-grandparents would have used in the days of George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, and James Madison.  You can even see these implements and colonial tradesmen in action during Fair Lawn Farm’s 18th Century Trades Fair every year on the first weekend of September.

In addition to their passion of recreating an 18th century farm, the Duff’s also added their own signature mark to this legacy – Duff’s Sugar House, which produces Highland County Maple Syrup and provides sugar farm tours in Virginia.  The farm also makes homemade apple butter during the Fair Lawn Fall Festival – a stop during the larger annual Hands & Harvest Festival in Monterey, Virginia.

To further honor the farm’s history, Tim and Terry have portraits of the original owners – John and Peggy Stephenson – hanging in their restored parlor.

 

Garth Newel Music Center
403 Garth Newel Lane, Hot Springs (Neighboring Bath County)
540-839-5018
info@garthnewel.org
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Founded in 1973, Garth Newel Music Center is a year-round chamber music venue situated in the heart of Virginia’s Allegheny Mountains, presenting over 50 concerts throughout the year performed by the Garth Newel Piano Quartet and other renowned guest musicians. Concerts are paired with gourmet meals created by Resident Chef Josh Elliott, and lodging is available in the Historic Manor House on the exquisite 114-acre property.

Garth Newel also hosts the Emerging Artist Fellowship Program each summer (an intensive 4-week workshop for college-age students), an Amateur Chamber Music Retreat each spring, and is home to the Allegheny Mountain String Project, a vital source of music education for children in the Bath, Alleghany, and Highland communities. Known for its breathtaking scenery, world-class performances, and friendly and comfortable accommodations, Garth Newel is truly a one-of-a-kind experience.

 

Hayfields State Park
524 Hayfields Lane, McDowell
540-396-4489
hayfields@dcr.virginia.org
Welcome to Virginia's 44th State Park!  Hayfields State Park is located in Highland County between Bullpasture and Jack Mountains at an elevation ranging from 1,800 to 2,400 feet.  It features a mix of heavily wooded mountain land, valley pastures and several structures, including an 1800s farmhouse.  The Bullpasture River flows through the property for about a mile and is home to numerous threatened and endangered species. The park features 4 miles of easy-to-moderate hiking and biking trails and fishing access along the Bullpasture River.  While the park is open daily it currently has limited hours. Visitors are encouraged to call 540-396-4489 to confirm availability before their arrival.

The Friends of Hayfields State Park is a soon-to-be, non-profit group focused on supporting the growth and development of Hayfields State Park.  Individuals interested in supporting the park will soon be able to become a member of the group.  Membership drives for the Friends of Hayfields will launch in 2026. To join the Friend's mailing list, email info@friendsofhayfields.org.

 

Highland County Arts Council
highlandcoarts@gmail.com
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The Highland County Arts Council (HCAC) exists to promote the arts, to provide cultural enrichment to the community and to make Highland County an Arts destination.  The HCAC believes that the arts are essential to our communities. HCAC supports and encourages artists by holding classes, workshops, and camps and facilitating regular exhibits and performances.  The Highland County Arts Council is a nonprofit organization supported by contributions from members, friends, community foundations, and government organizations.  Check out the Events section frequently for special performances in 2026!

 

Highland Historical Society
The Mansion House at 161 Mansion House Road in McDowell
Charles Pinckney Jones House Museum at 144 W. Main Street in Monterey
540-396-4478
highlandhist@mgwnet.com
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YouTube
The Highland County Museum opened in 2005 in the Mansion House in McDowell.  The museum allows for the collection, preservation, and display of materials related to Highland County’s history.  The earliest settlers were in Highland in the mid-1700's with many of the original families still in the county today.  Permanent exhibits include:

• War in the Mountains - Highland in the Civil War
• Uniquely Highland
• Tol'able David - movie made in 1921
• Country Stores & Churches; Mills; Aileen Sewing Plant
• The Maple Museum

The Charles Pinckney Jones House is Highland County's newest museum in Monterey that features beautiful period furnishings, clothing, and exhibits of a historic 1800s home.

Both museums are open Thursdays through Saturdays between March 14th and October 31st of 2026, or by appointment.

 

Highlander
27 West Main Street, Monterey
540-468-1900
info@highlandermonterey.com
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American restaurant serving pizza, fried chicken, desserts, and souvenirs.  The Highland County Visitor Center is located within the Highlander for local brochures and information!

 

High's Restaurant
73 West Main Street, Monterey
540-468-1700
npclemmons@gmail.com
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Welcome to High's Restaurant in downtown Monterey, where history meets delicious food!  Our restaurant is located in a historic building that once housed a brothel and saloon, making it a must-visit destination for those interested in the fascinating stories of the past.  A popular snowshoe destination, High's Restaurant offers a unique dining experience after a day in the snow.  With accolades and awards, including recognition from America's Best Restaurants and CBS, our high-quality American diner concept is sure to impress.  High’s welcomes your hungry four-legged friends with a variety of pet-friendly meals for dine in or takeout. See menu here.  Don't miss our hand-cut steaks, locally sourced trout and large variety of cakes, pies and ice cream treats.  And if you wear a high's shirt, you'll get $2 off your meal!  We can't wait to welcome you to High's Restaurant in downtown Monterey.

 

Monterey Inn
32 West Main Street, Monterey
540-495-0070
reservations@montereyinnva.com
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Monterey Inn, newly established in 2023 within a stunning 1905 Victorian structure, lies at the heart of “downtown” Monterey Virginia – a quaint mountain town that is the county seat of Virginia’s Highland County.  This serene and picturesque location rests deep in Virginia’s Allegheny Highlands, that form the western border of the captivating Shenandoah Valley.  Our history and traditions, mountain agriculture, artisan and Scots-Irish roots have earned our moniker as “Virginia’s Little Switzerland.”  Highland County and Monterey captivate with bucolic charms and award-winning venues and events – such as Highland County’s Maple Festival each March, and the “Mountain Mama” road-bike race each August, not to mention our proximity to popular destinations such as Snowshoe Mountain Resort, Cass Scenic Railway, The Green Bank Observatory, and The Warm Springs Pools.  We are honored to be a part of this proud and individualistic rural community that offers rich cultural traditions amidst a uniquely idyllic atmosphere – with The Monterey Inn offering central access to experience it all!

 

National Land Realty
101 West Main Street, Monterey
540-324-8866
cneely@nationalland.com
Looking to purchase your own property in Highland County, Virginia?  Chuck Neely was born and raised in southwest Virginia in the Blue Ridge Mountains.  His ancestors settled in the Virginia and North Carolina mountains in the early 1700s, where they prospered as livestock farmers.  So, it comes as no surprise that Chuck inherited a keen interest in the outdoors, mountain land, farming, and hunting.

Chuck and his wife Lou Ann bought their first farm in Highland County, Virginia in 1996. They learned to farm, focusing on alternative, holistic grazing practices.  They also bought and restored several additional farms over the next 15 years. They raised their son, Matt, on the farm, and in the small community of Monterey.  Their current farm, Riven Rock Farm, is a 100% grass-fed grazing operation, spread across 750 acres of mountain pastures.  Contact Chuck today to find your place in Highland County!

 

The Omni Homestead Resort & Spa
7696 Sam Snead Highway, Hot Springs (Neighboring Bath County)
1-800-838-1766
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Discover historic Hot Springs and more at America's first resort!  The Omni Homestead Resort & Spa has been delighting vacationers—including 24 U.S. presidents—for over 250 years.  A recently completed $170 million renovation restored the historic character to this Allegheny Mountain resort in Virginia, from the Great Hall to the guest rooms and the bathhouses at the iconic Warm Springs Pools.  Our one-of-a-kind resort features a two-acre water park and top-ranked golf courses, including the nation’s oldest first tee in continuous use.  Deepen your experience at The Omni Homestead Resort & Spa with a soothing massage at The Spa.  Enjoy local favorites at eight charming restaurants and bars and taste wines from fine regional vintners.  However you choose to spend your vacation at our Hot Springs, VA resort, it’s guaranteed to be memorable.

 

Puffenbarger’s Sugar Orchard
17 Maple Syrup Lane, Blue Grass
540-474-5712 or 540-474-5700 (Just during the Highland County Maple Festival)
puffenbargersmaple@gmail.com
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Puffenbarger's Sugar Orchard has been in operation for over 100 years. They started out tapping trees with hand held augers, collected water in buckets, and carried those buckets by horse to the sugar camp. Current owners Doug and Terri Puffenbarger now tap over 1,800 trees (some over 200-years-old) and use miles of plastic tubing, vacuum pumps, a reverse osmosis machine, and an oiled fired evaporator to make their pure Highland County maple syrup.  They make and sell their maple syrup, candies, fudge, and other food during the annual Highland County Maple Festival on the second and third weekends of March.

 

The Recorder
108 West Main Street, Monterey
540-468-2147 or 540-292-0037
RecorderAnne@gmail.com
Founded in 1877, The Recorder is the primary news source for Highland, Bath, and Alleghany counties.  The weekly newspaper has been in continuous publication for nearly 150 years under 10 publishers during that time.  The Recorder has been the recipient of numerous state and national awards for its quality journalism, keeping its rural communities well-informed.

 

Townsend Draft Goods
10677 Mill Gap Road, Monterey
info@townsenddraftgoods.com
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Townsend Draft Goods sources natural goods and products that support a healthy lifestyle.  The goods are rooted in nature & the practice of Ayurveda, yoga and herbalism.  Available online at TownsendDraftGoods.com and Wednesday - Saturdays 11 am to 5 pm in Mill Gap, south of Monterey.   Owned and operated by Marcella (Raven) Townsend of Mill Gap, Virginia, which is the location of her online operations & warehouse inside her eclectic barn.  The area is referred to locally as “Townsend Draft”, which influenced the naming of the business.