Highlands Biological Station buildings remain closed to visitors with the exception of limited visitor hours for the Nature Center.  HBS Botanical Garden trails remain open, and in accordance with University policy masks and physical distancing are required on the HBS campus.  Highlands Biological Station currently plans to offer academic and public programming in summer 2021, observing University mandated Covid-19 safety protocols.  For the safety of the HBS summer community, before being permitted to work or study at HBS prospective summer students, teaching faculty, and researchers must provide documentation of (1) having received a Covid-19 vaccine or (2) a negative Covid-19 test taken within 3 days of planned arrival.  Please see the HBS website for full summer 2021 Covid-19 safety policies and procedures, and bear in mind that University policy and HBS program plans are subject to change in light of developments with the pandemic this spring. 

Contact Us

For general inquiries, please call 828.526.2602.

Administration

265 North 6th St.
Highlands, NC 28741

828.526.2602

Monday-Friday 9:00am-5:00pm

 

Foundation

P.O. Box 580
Highlands, NC 28741

828.526.2221

Monday-Friday 9:00am-5:00pm

Garden

265 North 6th St.
Highlands, NC 28741

828.526.0188

Open 7 days a week from dawn to dusk

Nature Center

930 Horse Cove Rd.
Highlands, NC 28741

828.526.2623

Spring hours: Friday-Saturday 10:00am-4pm (Reservations required. Click HERE)

Outreach

265 North 6th St.
Highlands, NC 28741

828.526.4123

Programs offered September-May

Our Staff

Dr. James T. Costa, Executive Director | costa@wcu.edu or 828.787.1712

Jason Love, Associate Director | jlove@wcu.edu or 828.787.2820

Charlotte Muir, Executive Director, Highlands Biological Foundation | charlotte@highlandsbiological.org or 828.526.2221

Sonya Carpenter, Project Coordinator, Highlands Biological Foundation | sonya@highlandsbiological.org or 828.526.2221

Paige Engelbrektsson,  Education Specialist, Highlands Nature Center | paige@highlandsbiological.org or 828.526.2623

Katie Cooke, Business Officer | kfcooke@wcu.edu or 828.526.2602

M. Patrick Brannon, Outreach Education Specialist | pbrannon@wcu.edu or 828.526.4123

Rachel Martin, Horticulturist | rmartin@wcu.edu or 828.526.0188

Mike McMahan, Maintenance Supervisor | mrmcmahan@wcu.edu or 828.526.0188

Winter Gary, Communications & Events Coordinator, Highlands Biological Foundation | winter@highlandsbiological.org or 828.526.2221

 

Directions

Our address is: 265 North Sixth Street, Highlands, NC 28741

  • From Cashiers, NC:  Take Hwy 64 W to Highlands and turn left onto Main St.  Continue straight through town.   Turn left onto Sixth St. and make a right turn into the Station driveway.
  • From Franklin, NC:  Take Hwy 64 E (the Gorge Road) to Highlands.  Road becomes Main Street.  Continue straight through town.  Turn left onto Sixth St. and make a right turn into the Station driveway.
  • From Walhalla, SC:  Take Hwy 28 to Highlands and turn right onto Main Street.  Continue straight through town.   Turn left onto Sixth St. and make a right turn into the Station driveway.
  • From Dillard, GA:  Take Hwy 106 to Highlands and turn right onto Main Street.  Continue straight through town.  Turn left onto Sixth St. and make a right turn into the Station driveway.