Wednesday, June 17, 2020

Sapphire Valley and COVID-19

While the Resort and area businesses slowly open up, we are seeing many guests not practicing social distancing. Remember wearing masks and staying 6' away from others will help stop the spread of COVID-19.

Please have respect for area employees as well as your other vacation guests by wearing masks all you can when in public and around others.

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Thursday, May 21, 2020

North Carolina Moves to Phase 2

Updates on our area restaurants should be available soon!
Phase 2 lifts the Stay At Home order moving into a Safer At Home recommendation, especially for people at high risk for serious illness. Teleworking is also urged when possible. 
Mass gathering limits in Phase 2 will be no more than 10 people indoors or 25 people outdoors in most circumstances. These limits apply to the following: event venues; conference centers; stadiums and sports arenas; amphitheaters; and groups at parks or beaches. 
Some businesses will remain closed in Phase 2 including: bars; night clubs; gyms and indoor fitness facilities; indoor entertainment venues such as movie theaters, and bowling alleys. 
Certain businesses will be open at limited capacity with other requirements and recommendations including: restaurants at 50% dine-in capacity with distancing and cleaning requirements; personal care businesses, including salons and barbers, at 50% capacity with distancing and cleaning requirements; pools at 50% capacity with distancing and cleaning requirements. Employees of personal care businesses will be required to wear face coverings. 
Childcare facilities, day camps and overnight camps will be open with enhanced cleaning and screening requirements. Retail businesses allowed to open in Phase 1 at 50% capacity will continue at that level. 
Public health recommendations are provided for worship services to practice enhanced social distancing and other cleaning and hygiene practices.

The Safer At Home Phase 2 runs through at least Friday, June 26.
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Monday, May 11, 2020

COVID-19 UPDATE FROM NC HEALTH



May 8, 2020
North Carolina Enters Phase 1 of Lifting COVID-19 Restrictions
Today at 5 p.m., North Carolina will move into Phase 1 of the plan to slowly ease certain COVID-19 restrictions that Governor Roy Cooper announced earlier this week. The Stay at Home Order remains in place with some modifications.

North Carolina is taking a three-phased approach – based on data from testing, tracing and trends – to safely lift restrictions while continuing to slow the spread of the COVID-19 pandemic and save lives.

People who are sick or at higher risk of serious illness from COVID-19 should continue to remain at home as much as possible. More information is included in a list of frequently asked questions about the governor's modified Stay at Home Order.

Below is a general overview of what Phase 1 means for North Carolina.

Remember Your 3 Ws: Wear, Wait, Wash 
Wear. Wait. Wash. As North Carolina moves to ease some COVID-19 restrictions starting today, the NC Department of Health and Human Services is asking people to remember these three things to continue to slow the spread of COVID-19 and flatten the curve.

If you leave home, practice your Ws: Wear, Wait, Wash:  
  • Wear a cloth face covering if you will be with other people. 
  • Wait 6 feet apart. Avoid close contact.
  • Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds or use hand sanitizer. 
These actions can protect our families and neighbors as the state takes a cautious step forward while the virus is still circulating.

Businesses, organizations and individuals are asked to post materials and social media in English and Spanish encouraging people to remember their 3 Ws: Wear, Wait, Wash

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Friday, May 1, 2020

COVID - 19

Sapphire Valley Resort Announcement

We hope you are all staying safe and healthy during these unprecedented times.
  • Red Bird Golf and Footgolf will open Monday, May 4th.  Hours of operation will be Monday – Sunday 8:00AM – 5:00PM.
  • SV Community Center will open Monday, May 4th for amenity card purposes only.  Hours of operation will be Monday – Friday, 8:00AM – 4:00PM.
  • Fairfield Lake & Boat Dock will open Wendesday, May 6th.  Hours of operations will be Wednesday – Saturday, 9:00AM – 5:00PM.
  • SV Racquet Club & Pickleball will open Monday, May 18th.  Hours of operation will be Monday – Sunday 8:00AM – 5:00PM.


You will be provided a copy of the policies and procedures for using each facility upon arrival. 
If you have any questions, please contact  the resort offices at 828-743-7667.


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Monday, March 30, 2020

COUNTY AND STATE ISSUE STAY AT HOME ORDERS - - AMENITIES CLOSED UNTIL APRIL 30, 2020

SAPPHIRE VALLEY RESORT AMENITIES CLOSED UNTIL APRIL 30, 2020


COUNTY AND STATE ISSUE STAY AT HOME ORDERS
For more information, click here to read the supplemental Jackson County order requiring traveler quarantine effective Saturday noon, 3/28/20 and here for the County's previous emergency declarations.


Click here for the NC Stay  state order which becomes effective Monday 3/30/2020 at 5:00 p.m.


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Sunday, March 22, 2020

Mountain Towns are no safe Haven....

PSA: MOUNTAIN TOWNS ARE NOT SAFE HAVENS DURING COVID-19

Sorry folks, this is not a time for a roadtrip.

There seems to be this strange perception that mountain towns are safe in the wake of the current COVID-19 crisis. Safe to whom? Most of these small communities have limited medical resources, in fact, the town of Jackson, Wyoming only has 10 ventilators. All it takes is one asymptomatic person with the virus to potentially overload an already tiny medical center.

Does this situation sound particularly safe to an immunocompromised 65-year-old who lives here?

Mountain towns all throughout the U.S. are making the same plea to visitors: Please stay home. Visit Mammoth Lakes recently released a statement asking anyone who wasn’t a primary resident of the area to stay away temporarily. And while these statements might feel blunt to visitors, please understand that they’re hard to make. Small communities are largely driven by tourism. Cutting off this the essential source of revenue equates to a catastrophic loss of hotel, restaurant, and other customer service jobs. We’re already seeing this play out in Jackson with a large portion of the community currently unemployed. Rather than add stress to our already spread thin resources, consider making a donation to our local food bank.

Instead of going on an epic road trip right now, use your time at home to plan a vacation when the pandemic settles down. All these communities would love your business—just not right now.


Mar 20, 2020  By: Katie Lozancich   [Read More / Follow Her Instagram]


Sapphire Valley / High South Adventures Webmaster Note: 

We all make a living on tourism, vacation rentals and the 2nd home industry here in The High South. The Smoky Mountains and the Blue Ridge Escarpment are great places to live and visit - mountain vistas, cascading waterfalls, miles and miles of hiking trails, golf, tennis, etc. etc.

However, mountain towns just do not have the resources to deal with a crisis like COVID-19 for the locals plus deal with a influx of visitors that very well may bring the virus to our back doors. Our restaurants have limited hours and are take out only. Our grocery stores are struggling to stay stocked as flat-landers panic and buy too much of everything! 

We will get thru this and The High South will still be here -- as inspiring as ever.


Our slogan is Sapphire Valley and The High South: Come.Play! ... but right now for our vacation visitors and 2nd homeowners, please - Stay. Plan!

Friday, March 20, 2020

COVID-19 Dining Update

COVID-19 Dining Update: Several area restaurants have increased their take out menus to support Sapphire Valley residents and guests:

Randevu – Cashiers: Back Door Specials, $8 Breakfast, $10 Lunch,  10AM – 2PM

Micas – Sapphire Valley: Expanded Takeout menu including extensive Beer and Wine Takeout, plus bulk items at their deli. 11AM – 6PM

Cork and Barrel – Sapphire Valley: The Cork’s full tapas menu is available 4-9pm Daily



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Monday, March 16, 2020

COVID-19 Virus and Sapphire Valley

Ensuring the health and safety of our owners, guests, and staff here at Sapphire Valley is the highest priority as the number of COVID-19 cases continues to increase state and countrywide.  

At this time we feel it is in the best interest of everyone to temporarily close all Sapphire Valley amenity offerings starting at 5:00 PM today until further notice and at the end of 14 days we will reevaluate and decide whether continued mitigation is needed.  

We understand this may be disruptive to our patrons however by taking these steps now, we can help protect public health and slow the spread of this virus. If you have any questions or need immediate assistance please call the resort management office at 828-743-7667.

We support our government's request not to take unnecessary trips over the next 14 days in an attempt to knock down the virus expansion. Stay safe and healthy and let's plan your mountain vacation trip in about two weeks!

Please see our Rentals and  Real Estate site, SapphireValley.com, about planning your late spring and summer vacation! 

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Monday, March 9, 2020

Ski Sapphire Valley Closes for the Season - Get Ready for Spring!

Ski Sapphire Valley closed for the season on March 8th. 

Now, get ready for our 'Secret Season' - Spring in the mountains as we just don't have that many visitors and the mountains are in bloom, the waterfalls booming, and the world is yours to explore! 

We have your mountain experience covered from A-Z: Antiques to Zip Lines as we will reopen our Vordach Zip Line soon!

Come. Explore. Play!

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Friday, February 28, 2020

Sapphire Valley Resort - Ski Area Update


Ski Sapphire Valley has great conditions as we near the end of the season! The resort has many lodging options too! It not to late to plan your trip and come on up! (Ski Sapphire is open until March 8!!!)

Ski Area Web Site | Lodging on the new SapphireValley.com!


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