Bob Dews
Robert “Bob” Dews played a foundational role in what would become the Walk Cashiers initiative.
Back in the early 2000s, as the owner of the Laurelwood Inn, Bob envisioned a way for residents and visitors to explore Cashiers without relying on cars.
He rallied friends and local business owners to raise $25,000, which seeded the original Cashiers Walking Trail—a mulch-lined loop that quietly stitched together the village’s commercial core.
Bob’s vision was simple but transformative: create a leisurely path behind storefronts and green spaces, allowing people to park once and wander freely.
He secured matching funds from organizations like the Rotary Club of Cashiers Valley, and the Jackson County Tourism Development Authority, multiplying his initial fundraising fivefold.
In many ways, Bob was the trail’s original cartographer – mapping not just a physical route, but a community vision that continues to grow through Vision Cashiers, local donors, and volunteers. His early advocacy helped shift Cashiers toward walkability, connectivity, and ecological mindfulness long before those became buzzwords.
What began as a modest trail concept nearly two decades ago has evolved into a multi-phase, five-mile network of sidewalks, boardwalks, and public spaces known as the Cashiers Greenway Ramble.
Following the successful opening of a 1.5-mile loop through The Village Green and surrounding areas, the project is now deep into Phase 2, which runs north along Slab Town Road. This section features a shaded boardwalk and connects to the sidewalk along Highway 64, looping back toward the Cashiers Area Chamber of Commerce. Phase 3, slated for completion by year’s end, will enhance existing sidewalks along Frank Allen Road and Cashiers Lake Road, adding native landscaping, benches, and dark-sky compliant lighting.
The Ramble’s design reflects a “smart village” ethos: fiber internet, 911 access, and low-level lighting ensure safety and connectivity, while public art nodes, curated in partnership with The Bascom, offer visual storytelling along the trail. Sculptures by regional artists now grace key points, including McKinney Meadow, Slab Town Pizza, and the Thomas Taulbee Memorial Entrance—named for the late Chamber director whose vision helped propel the project forward.
Landscape architect Arielle McIntyre, working with Dargan Landscape Architects, continues to champion native plantings and edible landscaping. She’s introduced muscadine arbors and is exploring pawpaw trees and berry bushes to revive Appalachian foodways. These additions not only beautify the trail but invite public foraging and pollinator support.
The initiative’s collaborative spirit remains its backbone. Local builders, artists, and volunteers have donated time and resources, while Vision Cashiers, Jackson County, and the Cashiers Area Chamber of Commerce guide the project with unanimous consent.
To volunteer, donate, or explore the trail map, visit walkcashiers.visioncashiers.com. As the Plateau grows, Walk Cashiers ensures it does so with grace, connectivity, and a deep respect for place.
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