This has been a favorite destination of mine for years. I’ve watched this little store evolve being very rustic (it still is but that is part of its charm) to offering very high end merchandise. The Lick Log Mill Store is located just outside of Highlands, North Carolina and plenty of people stop to purchase items for their homes in the mountains.
The store has been featured in Southern Living magazine and has a super loyal following. But the owner told me this past weekend that she had decided that she would probably never have a computer. She accepts cash or a check but that’s it. She still hand writes out her invoices and wraps everything purchased in lovely tissue paper. So, you won’t find her or her store on the internet except when it has been mentioned by another loyal customer.
When I left, her husband was hard at work in the garden that runs alongside the old mill. The flowers were lovely thanks to the afternoon rains this area always seems to enjoy.
My wife and I have enjoyed this store for years. One tradition we had when our two children were still at home was to take a picture of them next to the old car. (Model T truck?) We have some of those pictures framed and on our living room wall. On our 25th anniversary trip, we had already decided to buy something special and when we walked into this store, there was a picture of it covered in snow. That was it! It hangs about the pictures of the kids next to the car. Great memories. We were just by there a week or so ago (amazingly we didn’t stop as we were in a hurry to get to Whiteside Mt.) and noticed the car was no longer there. We are wondering what happened to it. (I know, if we had stopped, we could have found out.) Thanks for your pictures.
Lee,
She (the owner) is selling the store and the property. It is sad. She sold the car but did say that if she did not get a buyer, she would try to keep the store open. The inventory is really low. So I doubt that she will keep it going. I agree: there are lots of memories of that store over the years. Thanks for dropping by CocoaSmiles.