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History of Colonial Pines Inn

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Beginning as a small cabin with a sweeping view, Colonial Pines was once home to the McKinneys, the Piersons, and the Cleavelands, many of whose descendents still live in Highlands. When you visit the Inn, you can see a photo of the view from 1908 - there were not many trees!

Each family left its mark until the house was finally a two story structure facing South with four bedrooms, one bath, a parlor, dining room, and kitchen. Teachers, stone masons, and real estate investors by trade, the families also at times operated a laundry, a beauty shop, and a woodworking shop on the grounds. Especially then, it took more than one income to live in the mountains.

In 1961, an energetic lady from Florida, Irene Coal Parr, bought the property and turned it into a guest house, facing it East and adding the wrap-around porch, colonial facade, multiple bathrooms, an owners quarters, and a new kitchen. At first she named it Parr's Guest House, then more appropriately, Colonial Pines Inn.

Eleven years later Irene went back to Florida (probably exhausted) and sold to Florence & Johnny Lupoli, teachers from Miami. Known for their warm hospitality and for being the only place with adequate heat for the (then) harsh winters, they ran it as a tourist home. No formal meals were served but they would often graciously invite guests to have supper with their family.

In 1984 Chris & Donna Alley (that’s us) needed an escape from Atlanta, and bought the Inn after looking at it for half an hour. We knew this was the place we wanted to be. After twenty-five years, we’ve raised two daughters and cracked about 100,000 eggs and we’re still counting!

With our backgrounds in interior design, contracting, and woodworking, we hope you enjoy the meticulous attention to detail we have put into each room and cottage. Four bed and breakfast rooms are in the main building and a bargain-priced fifth room is in the guest house building. All include private baths, unlimited refreshments from our guest pantry, and of course our hearty, homemade breakfast which some say is the best in town.

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