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Celebrating Life Together - At Wildcat Cliffs Country Club

Words by Emily Davis
Photography by Courtney Snyder

Perched at over 4,250 feet in elevation and tucked against Whiteside Mountain lies one of the best-kept secrets in Highlands, North Carolina. Wildcat Cliffs Country Club provides an intimate social lifestyle for its members, who come to the mountains for the agreeable weather and scenery but end up staying for the lasting bonds formed within their gates. As an invitation-only private club, Wildcat Cliffs members participate enthusiastically in all aspects of their community, from developing new amenities to recruiting new friends. 
When asked why Highlands residents choose Wildcat Cliffs Country Club, Director of Membership Nikki Sloop replies simply, “Like most clubs, we provide great amenities. But our members come here to form lifelong friendships. Essentially, they’re here for each other, and it’s the members who truly define life at Wildcat Cliffs.”

 

Entering the gates at Wildcat Cliffs, one immediately senses an atmospheric shift. The world outside the club falls away, and the here and now come into sharp focus. Enveloped in a cocoon of lush greenery, comfortable amenities, and close friends, the grounds almost feel like the set of a television series — one revolving around joyful characters and hopeful storylines. 


“I often say it’s like going back to Mayberry times,” laughs Sloop. “Everyone knows their neighbors and you’re greeted by name everywhere you go. You might walk down the street and receive an invitation to play croquet right now, or you could enter the dining room where friends ask you to join their table.” 


Indeed, a planned one-hour tour of the clubhouse and grounds could easily take twice as long. Curious residents, excited to see a new face, often reach out to visitors to begin an acquaintance. In a community so welcoming, a quick trip to Wildcat could turn into a day on the golf course. 


“That’s another thing our members love about Wildcat,” Sloop remarks. “With just 340 members, it’s feasible to grab a tee time or plan a dinner reservation on the spur of the moment. We don’t typically need to plan our activities weeks in advance.” 

 

That same intimate feeling of neighborliness helped the Wildcat Cliffs community peacefully weather the recent pandemic years together. When indoor activities became off-limits, the game of golf enjoyed a resurgence of interest at the club. And because members expressed interest in continuing to socialize, the organization constructed a new area for al fresco dining. In a time when so many sought sanctuary, Wildcat Cliffs enveloped its members in safety while allowing seasonal merriment to continue. 


It’s no wonder about 30 of Wildcat’s member families choose to stay on the Plateau year-round. While the social calendar of the club runs from May 1 to October 31, the private indoor heated pool and fitness facilities remain available throughout the off-season. Remarkably, the club also maintains the area’s only year-round golf course, closing only when temperatures dip below 45 degrees. 


Not wanting to miss any of the fun, seasonal residents typically make their homes at Wildcat for three to six months of the year. Club staff affectionately refer to programming as “adult summer camp,” referencing the jam-packed social calendar and variety of active outdoor amenities. Between rounds of golf, pickleball games, numerous planned excursions, and professional croquet and racquetball lessons, schedules stay happily busy. 


The season kicks off with the annual Welcome Back party in May, featuring a wide array of food and wine vendors, entertainment from a live band, and a dance floor. For the next six months, until the season closes with a Halloween bash, a whirlwind of activities keeps everyone engaged and sharing experiences daily. 


Keeping to the theme of summer camp, Camp Wildcat in the summer provides a unique opportunity for families to reconnect. Held the weekend after the Fourth of July each year, the multi-generational event places kids, parents, and grandparents on teams together. Friendly competition between families in contests such as tug-of-rope or the three-legged race stands as a long-running Wildcat Cliffs tradition. It’s not uncommon for those who grew up attending during the 1960s and 1970s to return with their own children and grandchildren today. 

 

However, one doesn’t require a large extended family — or even a spouse — to participate in planned events. Single club members frequently organize their own excursions, and the community as a whole strives to ensure that no neighbor is ever left out of the fun. At events such as Twilight Golf, typically a couples golf game and dinner, a single member might be invited to fill in for a non-golfing spouse who later joins the evening meal. Inclusion represents a strong core value at Wildcat Cliffs, where membership and friendship go hand in hand.


Because enthusiastic participation is such a prevailing theme throughout the community, many amenities within Wildcat Cliffs were originally planned and even funded by the members themselves. While the organization pours considerable resources into ongoing additions each season, residents often take up their own projects as well. Back in 2005, a group pooled funds and purchased property on the shore of Lake Glenville, making Wildcat Cliffs one of only three area clubs to offer lake access to members. To this day, the Glenville Lake Club and its boat shares are managed by dedicated Wildcat members. Other member-organized endeavors include the new short-game pavilion, playground, and dog park. 

 

Yes, dogs are a welcome part of the Wildcat family, too. The environment is so canine-friendly that members often bring their furry pals to dine on the outdoor club patio, and each year, the community hosts its own Wildminster Dog Show. Named after the famous Westminster competition, the annual favorite event allows participants a festive and casual atmosphere in which to show off their beloved pets. The passion for pooches extends to members individually, as many are actively involved with the Highlands-Cashiers Humane Society, which held its annual Wags and Whiskers gala on the property in 2023. 


When asked about new events for 2024, Sloop reports, “There’s something new every day! Yes, we’ll hold our favorite annual events, and we listen and respond to requests for new programming, too. But the underlying goal of every member, in every season, is to essentially celebrate life together.” Gazing across the picturesque golf course, with the ancient Whiteside Mountain towering above, it’s easy to see how the bonds formed at Wildcat truly last a lifetime. 

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