EXHIBIT 12: MCDOWELL ARTS COUNCIL ASSOCIATION

The Orchard at Altapass is located on 144 acres in northern McDowell County along the Blue Ridge Parkway. The Clinchfield Railroad started the orchard in 1908 and shipped apples by rail around the country. The Orchard still grows a variety of apples and is operated today by a non-profit organization dedicated to preserving local history and lore, heritage apple varieties, and traditional music, and storytelling. The McDowell Arts Council Association (MACA) is a non-profit organization formed in 1972 to support the local creative economy, arts education, and the performing arts. MACA offers a variety of classes, hosts a unique gift shop filled with local artisans’ works, and monthly gallery exhibits. Local craftsmen show and sell pottery, woodwork, photographs, original paintings, and sculpture.

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PUBLIC ENGAGEMENT & EMERGING THEMES

This chapter discusses tools used for public engagement, highlights stakeholders and organizations involved in the planning process, and presents key results from an online survey designed to obtain ideas from the community regarding outdoor recreation, tourism, and future development priorities for McDowell County. The chapter culminates with key emerging themes that guide plan recommendations. This chapter is organized into the following sections:

3.1 TOOLS OF ENGAGEMENT 3.2 COMMUNITY PARTNERS 3.3 COMMUNITY SURVEY 3.4 EMERGING THEMES AND GUIDING PRINCIPLES