FIELD GUIDE TO THE LICHENS OF GREAT SMOKY MOUNTAINS NATIONAL PARK
ERIN A. TRIPP AND JAMES C. LENDEMER Illustrations by Bobbi Angell $59.95 A FAMILIAR WILDERNESS
Searching for Home on Daniel Boone’s Road
EDITED BY GREGORY A. WASELKOV $45
FOLK MUSIC IN OVERDRIVE
A Primer on Traditional Country and Bluegrass Artists
S.J. DAHLMAN $29.95 NATIVE AMERICAN LOG CABINS IN THE SOUTHEAST
IVAN M. TRIBE $29.95 WONDERFUL WEEDS AND VARIOUS VARMINTS
The Natural World in Our Backyards and Beyond BOB COLLIER
$26 DAY HIKING THE DANIEL BOONE NATIONAL FOREST
Includes Natural Bridge and Cumberland Falls State Parks
JOHNNY MOLLOY $24.95
The Happy Gardener
Stanley’s Secret to Success! Sean, says to start with the 6 Basics.
*Soil *Water *Light *Food *Design *Maintenance
This issue we’ll give you suggestions for 1,2 & 3.
July issue we’ll finish with 4,5,6. Be sure to pickup the July issue! www.issuu.com/mountainescapesmagazine
#1 Soil - East Tennessee is home to red clay that has poor drainage. This leads to root rot & other problems.
Remedy: Add soil conditioner & mycorrhizae, score the side of your hole. It’ll help your plants root in properly.
#2 Water - Nourish your plants. This includes your houseplants too. Beth says, place your houseplants in the shower for a “Pick me up”, it flushes the roots of built up salt.
#3 Light - Jennifer says, know your sun exposure inside & outside of your home. It also determines how much watering you’ll have to do.
Rule of thumb for exposures: West - really hot & sunny,
South & East give a lot of direct light without the Heat! North - usually doesn’t meet the light plants require.
I hope this bit of information makes you a, “Happy Gardener”!
See you next month & Come Visit Stanley’s Greenhouse 3029 Davenport Rd, KNOXVILLE, TN 37920 865-573-9591
August 30-31, 2019 – WAYNESVILLE, NC
50th Annual Smoky Mountain Folk Festival
2-Day Traditional Music & Dance of Appalachian Region.
Lake Junaluska Conference & Retreat Center.
Mumsy & Eva
Home Decor
ONE OF A KIND ART GALLERY Flourishes in Historic Micaville Store
One of a Kind Art Gallery, celebrating its eighth year of operation, continues to grow with the works of over 170 local artists and craftspeople in the nostalgic Old Micaville Country Store.
Kari Weaver, owner and operator of OOAK welcomes you to come on in and enjoy the fine, folk, and funky local art. The selection of artwork includes pottery, jewelry, paintings, prints, photography, lamps, glass, woodworking, and more. The mountains of Western North Carolina are home to a diverse and vibrant art community, and OOAK offers a broad representation of the creative work being done here. Artwork is uniquely displayed in the vintage 1922 building which retains much of its original architecture still in place, right down to the original hardwood floor and windows.
OOAK has brought live music to Micaville by having the Micaville Music Jam every Saturday morning in the loft. Hosted by local singer-songwriter David Wiseman, the Jam is a gathering of local musicians and visitors to play and share music together. Everyone is welcome.
Micaville Music also hosts Thursday evening concerts from late April though the end of October. The Gallery space is transformed into a listening room for a unique and intimate way to listen to live music. Michael Reno Harrell will be the featured performer on June 13 from 7:00 to 9:00, with a special opening set by David Wiseman at 6:30. The cost for this concert is $15.00, and tickets are
available through Brown Paper Tickets. Michael Reno Harrell is an award winning songwriter, as well as a veteran storyteller and entertainer. One could compare Michael’s performances to his granddaddy’s pocket knife: well worn and familiar feeling, but razor sharp and with a point. His brand of entertainment appeals to a very diverse audience. Michael’s natural knack for storytelling, in print, song and spoken word has earned him praise from not only the music community but from the literary and storytelling worlds as well.
Smokey Joe Peoples’ CD Release Concert on June 6 and Denny Blue on June 27 round out the June concerts. These shows are from 7:00 to 9:00, and the cost for these concerts is $5.00 at the door. Micaville Music is proud to be a part of the Blue Ridge Music Trails of North Carolina.
Come visit us and stay awhile. Hours are 10:00am to 5:30 pm Monday through Saturday and noon to 5:00pm on Sunday. We are open 7 days a week through the first week of January.
Micaville is located 4 miles east of Burnsville, NC, 9 miles west of Spruce Pine, NC, and 14 miles north of BRP milepost 344 at the intersection of Hwy 80 S and Micaville Loop on the Mt Mitchell Scenic Byway. Parking is available in front of the church, across the street in the empty lot and in the old Taylor Togs parking lot. For more information, please call 828-675-0690, email ooakartgallery@gmail. com, or visit us on Facebook or ooakartgallery.com
EAST TENNESSEE PBS’ CELEBRATION OF OVER 100 YEARS OF COUNTRY MUSIC
East Tennessee PBS’ celebration of Over 100 Years of Country Music highlights some of the little known stories of the people, places, and events from East Tennessee that shape the early days of country music.
This month we look back on the Johnson City Sessions, a seminal series of recordings from October 1928 and October 1929, produced the earliest commercial releases of several country and old-time music standards. Like the more famous Bristol Sessions, the Johnson City sessions started as a talent search since hillbilly music proved to have an audience.
In October 1928 Frank Walker of Columbia Records began conducting recording auditions at 334 East Main Street in Johnson City. These auditions featured country music pioneers like the Old Time Fiddle player Charlie Bowman and his brothers, fiddle and guitar player Clarence Green and the famous Roane Country Ramblers.
Frank Walker returned to Johnson City in 1929 for a second round of recordings which are now considered the “Johnson City Sessions” that included Clarence Tom Ashley who began playing the claw hammer banjo and the guitar as early as 1911 and who recorded Dark Holler Blues. The Johnson City sessions helped pioneered the art of remote recording and captured undiscovered country music talent in the region such as Byrd Moore and His Hot Shots with the songs The Hills of Tennessee and Frank Silvers. These recordings were then shared beyond East Tennessee with the rest of the country.
While the Bristol Session are well known around the country, the Johnson City Sessions are relatively unknown, including to locals. As interest increases about the earliest country music recordings, the interest in the music made in Johnson City shortly before the Great Depression is also on the rise. A few of the records produced in Johnson City are already acknowledged classics of old-time music, but many of the approximately 100 other records from Johnson City are exciting, oneof-a-kind recordings, and they deserve to be more widely known.”
Learn more about the Johnson City sessions and our Appalachian musical heritage nightly on East Tennessee PBS with our Over 100 Years of Country Music celebration.
Marc Nelson Denim Creates Custom Jeans and Suits for Men
BY CAROL EVANS
Denim soaked in whiskey to soften the fabric. Custom-fitted jeans to flatter every build. These were things Marc Nelson Denim, 700 E. Depot St. in Knoxville, was known for.
Marcus Hall is owner of Marc Nelson Denim and he took a few minutes at the end of the day to talk about his career.
“My mom calls me ‘Marc,’” he says, “and my great-grandfather, C.L. Nelson, was the inspiration for me being in the fashion industry. He always told us, ‘No matter who you are, a janitor or the mayor, you always leave your house looking like a million bucks.’
“When I was about 12 my mom taught me to sew. I took tailoring at Austin East High School my freshman and sophomore years. In Knoxville there was a Levi’s plant. My brother worked there and I had dreams of working there too and going in and starting sewing to make a higher wage. But they started phasing jobs out shortly after I graduated.”
jeans start out at $400.
“Eventually we’ll come out with a skinny/curvy for women and a straight for women, but that’s about a year out. We will launch the next collection of whiskeystained denim in late August. It does some softening and it gives it a dark caramel color. We also do custom and do off-the-shelf with alterations.
“We do suiting as well,” he said. “You get to pick out your fabrics, your buttons, lining and the fit. Then we outsource the sewing. When you come in, we get your size, from your shirt to your pants to your shoe size. We create a file on each customer. Then if a woman wants to buy a pair of jeans or slacks for her husband, we have his size on file.
“The ultimate goal is to have a factory here in Knoxville that’s sold worldwide and train local community members on how to make denim and canvas products.”
After a stint at a cut-and-sew facility in California, Hall came back home in 2012 to launch his own men’s and women’s custom jean business next to the Fireproof Storage Building. His career has had its ups and downs, to say the least. In 2015, he was arrested for an illegal gambling and money laundering. After spending 14 months out of a 30-month sentence, he came back to Knoxville once again.
He’s busy now rebuilding his business by focusing first on men only, since they don’t require as many fits or fabrics as women do.
“What we do now is men’s jeans, a slim, slim straight and a straight,” Hall says. “Jeans generally start off at about $180 on average. A pair of custom
He says his experience in prison has absolutely changed changed his perspective on life and work.
“Starting a small business is tough,” he says. “I respect people who have started small businesses from the ground up. It’s given me the thought of ‘Wow! Everything I gained from illegal activities I lost. Just going about it the right way is always the right thing to do.
“What’s the meaning of success?” he asks. “Is it having a bunch of money or having the support of friends, family and loved ones?”
Hours are 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Monday-Friday, and 10 a.m.-3 p.m. on Saturday. For more information call 865-240-3834 or visit www.marcnelsondenim.com.
FLY – FIGHT – WIN IN AIR – SPACE – CYBERSPACE
By Owen Haddock, Military Editor.
While the USAF’s partner and official Auxiliary CIVIL AIR PATROL shares the Air Force’s mission statement, CAP also has its own: “Supporting America’s communities with emergency response, diverse aviation and ground services, youth development and promotion of air, space and cyber power.” Its Emergency Response originated just before WW II, when WW I pilot Gill Robert Wilson recognized Germany’s growing threat in 1936. Civil Air Patrol was founded Dec. 1, 1941. CAP was initially a National Defense service and, by 1942, saw combat searching for and attacking German submarines. Its Congressional Gold Medal shows a Stinson Voyager 10A with a demolition bomb. Sixty five CAP members were killed during the war.
From March, 1942 through August, 1943, armed CAP aircraft operated from 21 coastal patrol bases extending from Maine to the Mexican border. Their WW II success thwarting attacks and safeguarding shipping lanes resulted in President Franklin D. Roosevelt issuing Executive Order 9339, April 29, 1943, transferring CAP from the Office of Civilian Defense to
the Department of War. After the USAF became a separate organization. President Truman signed Public Law 80-557, establishing CAP as the Air Force’s civilian auxiliary on May 26, 1948. On Aug. 28, 2015, Gen. Mark A. Welsh III, Air Force Chief of Staff, announced CAP is a member of the U.S. Air Force’s Total Force.
Col. Dent Young, CAP Tennessee Wing Commander, unties the unit’s Cessna 182. He flies counterdrug reconnaissance, tissue/organ transplant flights (American Red Cross) plus traditional search and rescue missions. CAP’s expanding roles has it receiving new technologies such as hyperspectral imaging, improved airborne communication, forward looking infrared systems, GPS-equipped glass cockpit avionics and geospatial information interoperability. He also oversees 498 cadets and 699 adult members. CAP Cadets participate in real missions, such as relief efforts radio networks, Aerospace Education, foreign exchange, search and rescue. Civil Air Patrol offers invaluable national defense services as an ALL VOLUNTEER ORGANIZATION.
AUGUST
Saturday: August 17, 2019 10am – 1pm
BUTTERFLY FESTIVAL
On the Wing
Stanley’s Fourth Annual Butterfly Festival
This educational event will have a children’s butterfly workshop, a seminar on butterflies and other pollinators, pollinator plant exhibit and a butterfly release on the Stanley’s – Davenport farm in Monte’s Meadow.
Our annual store wide sale with all items 10%-75% OFF. JUNE 15th – Saturday 10:30-11:30
Happy Houseplants!
Don’t forget about your houseplants over the summer! Learn the best practices to keep them happy and healthy. Led by Stanley’s houseplants specialist, Juniper Teffeteller.
For Tickets or More Information please call 423-392-8427 or visit www.kingsporttheatre.org
jan Bowden Artist, co-owner of Union St Gallery LLC 100 Union St., Erwin, TN 37650 ph (740) 398-0855
Chance favors the prepared mind, and opportunity favors the bold. —Louie Pasteur
Wed. – Sat. 10-5
We have FIRST FRIDAYS Our gallery carries our work, fused glass & metal sculptures. We also offer classes.
Burnsville, nc
SHOW YOUR PATRIOTIC PRIDE WITH MUSIC IN THE MOUNTAINS
Acclaimed pianist and vocalist Brian Gurl brings his rollicking rendition of patriotic hits to Burnsville Town Center on Wednesday, July 3. Gurl and his sixpiece band present “America the Beautiful.” The family-friendly concert includes such standards as “This Land Is Your Land,” “An American Triology,” “God Bless The USA” and “God Bless America”.
Gurl has been studying classical piano since age 6. He combines his natural piano talent with more than a decade of vocal training. A former WNC resident, Gurl considers the area one of his favorite places to visit and perform.
“There’s something special about the mountains of Western North Carolina,” Gurl says. “Having lived in Burnsville for 25 years, I know there’s a deep sense of community, family, culture and pride in our country. That’s why I was drawn to bring this show to Yancey County.”
Show includes “Yankee Doodle” played on dueling pianos, which is always a crowd-pleaser. The finale features the dropping of an American flag that flew over the Arizona War Memorial as the cast sings an exuberant rendition of “You’re A Grand Old Flag.” “Patriotic songs are important to me because they bring us all together and remind us of who we really are as a country,” Gurl says.
The show starts at 7:30 p.m. Tickets $30- reserved seating, $20- general admission, $10- students. Call (828) 682-7209 or visit Burnsville Town Center.
Other weekend activities include a Fourth of July picnic and live music at the Orchard at Altapass. Parkway Playhouse presents “A Gentleman’s Guide to Love and Murder.” Performances take place Friday, Saturday and Sunday, July 5-7, and continue the following Friday and Saturday, July 12-13. Go to www. YanceyChamber.com or call (828) 682-7413.
Integrating therapeutic, deep tissue and relaxation massage to help you heal.
Integrative deep tissue massage, in downtown Burnsville, North Carolina. Sessions by appointment only, 7 days a week, hours vary. Treatments are adjusted to meet the comfort level of each client and can vary from deep work to relaxation as you need. 131 North
Eliza Wallace, LMT Licensed Massage and Bodywork Therapist NC License #9118 ironwoodarts.net ironwoodarts@yahoo.com 828-231-9523
•
Mount Mitchell Nachos!
"Parkway Playhouse is celebrating it's 73rd Season with a very exciting lineup of shows! Our 2019 Mainstage Season will include the bluegrass musical "Along About Sundown", the heartwarming comedy The Dixie Swim Club", the Tony Award winning musical "A Gentleman's Guide to Love and Murder", the beloved 2017 musical "Amelie", the Tony Award winning dark comedy "The Humans", and the Appalachian classic "Dark of the Moon". Please visit parkwayplayhouse. com for more information regarding our vast array of performances and events."
The Crazy Daisy Thrift Boutique helps support the programs of the Family Violence Coalition of Yancey County, Inc., so every time you donate clothing or household items to the store or make a purchase you are helping the FVC’s domestic violence and sexual assault programs. The FVC is a private, nonprofit that has served victims of both domestic violence and rape/sexual assault in Yancey County, N.C. since 1995. In addition to an emergency shelter for victims of domestic violence and/or sexual assault and their children, the FVC also provides a 24/7 crisis line, medical and legal advocacy, peer counseling, crisis intervention, referrals and information, multiple support groups, limited transportation and financial assistance, as well as outreach education/awareness. Stopping violence in our communities start with all of us. The 24-hour crisis line for the FVC is (828) 682-0056.
ORCHARD TO HOST TERRY HAMMOND AS HE PAYS A MUSICAL TRIBUTE TO COUNTRY MUSIC HALL OF FAME RECIPIENT, JOHNNY CASH
On Thursday, June 20, from 6 to 7:30PM, the Orchard at Altapass will host Terry Hammond as he pays a musical tribute to Country Music Hall of Fame recipient, Johnny Cash. Hammond’s concert will feature several of Cash’s popular songs and stories of his life and struggles. Cash, who recorded his first song in 1955, gained notoriety with “I Walk the Line” from his Folsom Prison Blues album that topped Country Music Charts in 1957. Almost a half-century later, his last concert was performed to a soldout audience.
As a youth, Terry Hammond would listen to country music on the radio. He ordered his first guitar in 1953; he was 15. On this $17 Sears instrument, he practiced a Mother Maybell Carter’s song until he learned some basic chords and could play other songs. A few years later, he was introduced to the music of Johnny Cash. An indelible impression was made.
A Tribute to Johnny Cash will reflect on Hammond’s research and his respect for the man. Cash died at the age of 71 in 2003, but his music remains as iconic as the man himself.
The concert begins at 6PM on Thursday, June 20. Tickets are $10 and available at the door. Come early to get a good seat. The General Store will be open and offering refreshments. The Orchard at Altapass is a nonprofit working orchard, entertainment and educational venue dedicated to the preservation of Orchard lands and culture of the region. For more information, visit www.altapassorchard.org.
THE ORCHARD OF ALTAPASS WILL PRESENT A TALE OF TWO CHARLIES
At 6:30PM on Thursday, June 27, the Orchard of Altapass will present a twoperson, one-act play, “A Tale of Two Charlies,” written by Jo Carson, a wellknown Tennessee author and playwright.
Most folks around the region know the story of Frankie Silver, hanged by the state of North Carolina for killing her husband, Charlie. Almost two centuries later, circumstances surrounding the murder are still under some discussion. But in 1833, women had little rights, and Frankie was not permitted to testify, to tell her story. The two-day trial ended in a guilty verdict and brought about the first (and supposedly only) hanging of a woman in Burke County.
Twenty miles away on what is now Yellow Mountain Trail and on Orchard property, lived Charlie McKinney, who by mountain standards, was a wealthy landowner. He was married reportedly four times, fathered 48 children. He built
each ex-spouse her own house on the property, and each could decide whether or not or when to “spend time” with him. When Charlie died, he left his 1,500 acres to the wives—unheard of during the mid 19th century—yet not illegal.
“Two Charlies” directed by Kiesa Kay, local playwright, features actors Sherry Lovett and Larry Pearlman.
Tickets are $15; available at the door. The General Store will be open with refreshments available.
The Orchard at Altapass, a not for profit working orchard, entertainment, and educational venue, is open 10AM to 5PM, Wednesday-Sunday through October.
For more information, please visit www.altapassorchard.org and the Orchard Facebook.
Everything You Need for Your Outdoor Spaces at Lakeview Mercantile and Gardens
BY CAROL EVANS
Halfway between Boone and Asheville you’ll find everything you need for your garden or outdoor room. Lakeview Mercantile and Gardens, 665 Oak Ave., Spruce Pine, is owned and operated by Jeff and Darla Harding.
“Year-round we have house plants,” Darla says. “In the spring we have vegetable plants, annuals, perennials, shrubbery, hanging baskets, concrete and pottery, all kind of bird supplies and Woodstock windchimes. And we’ve added a toy line including Melissa and Doug toys.”
The business was started as Lakeview Nursery and Garden Center when her parents, James and Rita Phillips, and her grandmother, Willie Mae Phillips, known to all as “Mama Bill”, opened it in 1963.
“I was 2 years old when they started it,” Darla says. “My mom was the grower, really. I was always in the garden center. My brothers and sisters and I always had jobs we had to do there. One of my favorite memories was playing in the dirt and watching my grandmother transplant the seedlings. I had always worked in the business after school and in the summers. After I came home from college, it just
seemed right.”
This is their third spring back open as Lakeview Mercantile and Garden.
“We’re converting what used to be the full-time florist and Christmas shop into a general store,” she says. “My father is still able to come and visit every day. Even though he can’t get around like he used to, he has a real knowledge to share still and we have a special rocking chair for him to sit in.”
Jeff and Darla’s two sons worked in the business after school part-time until they left for college. Their little girls, both 8, personalize all the brown paper bags with Sharpies, magic markers and crayons according to the season.
Darla loves where she works.
“I like the fact that it’s never really the same day twice, especially since you’re surrounded by beautiful flowers and plants. I learn something every day and enjoy the interaction with the customers. There’s a lot of friends and family and a lot of friends who become family.”
Regular hours are Monday-Sunday, 8 a.m.-6 p.m. For more information call (828) 765-9133.
Spruce Pine, Mars Hill, NC
RIO DÓCE
... THE GEM OF THE BLUE RIDGE
We will transform your stones into family heirlooms.
The serene Madonna, the strong woman and the mermaids can be enjoyed in our shop. Thousands of hand picked crystal points and clusters and dozens of amethyst cathedrals fill our shelves with beauty. Sterling jewelry, Native American items, a few antiques, and much more fill the store with wonderful items.
We are open 7 days a week from 9 to 5 in historical downtown Spruce Pine at 114 Oak Ave. Phone: 828-765-1667, email: rocksandthingstoo@hotmail.com or watch our virtual tour at www.shopmainstreets. com. Click North Carolina, Spruce Pine, and Rocks and Things to enter.
Information on rock hunting, motels, gem mines, waterfalls and more is available.
Check out the ( www.spacenc.com)
Spruce Pine Alien Conference and Expo June 14-15th and the (www. grassycreekgemshow.org) Grassy Creek Gem show July 27th to August 4th.
Check our virtual tour at www.shopmainstreets.com. Click on North Carolina, Spruce Pine, and Rocks and Things.
We are located in the historical downtown Spruce Pine @ 114 Oak Avenue. Contact us at 828-765-1667
SOUTHERN APPALACHIAN REPERTORY THEATRE
Southern Appalachian Repertory Theatre launches into their 45th summer season with Steve Martin and Edie Brickell’s bluegrass musical BRIGHT STAR, in historic Owen Theatre, on the campus of Mars Hill University.
Performances will run May 30-June 16, Thursday- Saturday at 7:30, and matinees on both Saturdays and Sundays at 2:30. Tickets are $34 (premium seating), $29 (standard seating), and $18(students and children). Additionally, we offer a discounted group rate of $20 (groups of 10 or more). Tickets can be purchased via the SART website: sartplays.com, or by calling the SART box office: 828.689.1232.
BRIGHT STAR was nominated for five Tony Awards and called “a shining achievement” by The New York Times. Inspired by real events, BRIGHT STAR tells a sweeping tale of love and redemption set against the rich backdrop of the Blue Ridge Mountains in the 1920s and ‘40s. The story follows young writer Billy Cane, recently returned from World War II, and Alice Murphy, the editor who takes a chance on him. As Billy mines his childhood home for engaging stories, Alice sets out to explore the pain and mystery of her own small-town past. The overlapping secrets they uncover lead them into a startling and heart-warming connection.
Founded in 1975, Southern Appalachian Repertory Theatre is celebrating its 45th anniversary. Since the beginning, SART’s primary mission has been to cultivate quality, professional theatre for the WNC region. We look forward to seeing you at SART as we raise the curtain for our 45th summer season.
As Spring comes to the mountains, many folks are heading to the High Country for a visit. Kaye’s Kitchen, opened in 2014 in Newland, NC, has become known as the place “Where Good Friends and Great Food Meet”.
“Our State”
Magazine picked us as one of the best places to go for breakfast served all day until 2:00. We have a Saturday All-You-CanEat Breakfast Buffet featuring eggs, omelets, tender, fluffy pancakes and French toast, biscuits and gravy, your favorite breakfast meats, fresh fruit and much more. On Sunday we add a luncheon table to make it a memorable choice for Brunch. For lunch we offer our homemade soups, sandwiches and
Newland, Banner Elk, NC | Damascus,
salads. And there’s a daily hot lunch special that’s proven to please. Guests who are gluten free or have other dietary requirements will find many options to fill the bill. The Seasonal Specials will introduce you to some new trends and other healthy options.
Dinner is served Tuesday through Saturday evenings and Monday’s in early May. Our Dinner menu changes daily, but always includes great beef, seafood, and chicken entrées. The favorites are Grilled Scottish Salmon, Beef Stroganoff, Chicken Piccata, Veal Marsala, and Sirloin, Ribeye or Tenderloin Steak grilled to perfection. We have “Five star food at Three Star Prices”! You Must Come!
New Paltz, NY | signal hill, tn | w jefferson, nc
SUMMER TRAVEL
Suggestion for the Family
IMMERSE YOURSELF IN THE ART OF NATURE AWARENESS
Save 20% June 10 – 14, 2019
Save 15% August 19 – 23, 2019
Join Mohonk’s Naturalist, Michael Ridolfo as he teaches timetested principles of tracking and nature observation, authentic survival skills, and the spontaneous attention that occurs when we move through the arena of the natural world.
Exclusive Outings with Michael:
• Night hike to Copes Lookout
• Reconnecting with the Natural World
• Primitive Fire-Making
• The Gift of Water: Hike to Mossy Brook Spring
• The Five Voices of the Birds
• The Art of Aidless Navigation
• Fox Walk: The Way of our Ancestors
• Tracking: Reading the Stories in the Earth
Your Overnight Stay Includes:
• Three meals daily featuring fresh, locally sourced ingredients
• 85 miles of hiking trails
• Boating, fishing, and swimming
• Yoga, meditation, and fitness classes
• Afternoon tea and cookies
• Complimentary greens fees on our Scottish-inspired golf course
• Nightly evening entertainment
SCCi Membership is... Preserving Natural Wonders
What do prehistoric jaguar bones, Native American drawings and gray bats all have in common? Give up? The can all be found in caves right here in the US! The United States is home to some of the most beautiful and scientifically significant caves in North America. But sadly, many of them are under threat of destruction from development or misuse. So we work to protect and preserve these caves for you, for future generations, and for the hundreds of endangered species that call them home. Learning about and protecting our underground resources are the mission of Southeastern Cave Conservancy, Inc. SaveYourCaves.org is a movement powered by the Southeastern Cave Conservancy, Inc. a 501(c)3 nonprofit. Founded in 1991, SCCi is the world’s largest land conservancy solely dedicated to cave and karst landscape conservation. We protect and manage 4,500 acres on 30 preserves in 6 states.
Many of the most beautiful caves in the Southeast are present in limestone that was deposited in a relatively shallow sea more than 300 million years ago during the Mississippian Period. Wonder and beauty lie just beneath the earth’s surface.
For over 25 years, SCCi has balanced conservation with recreational use. Permits are required for all visitors on an SCCi preserve and there is no charge for a permit. You can request a permit through our website and they are available for caving as well as camping and hiking When on SCCi properties, we ask that you follow Leave No Trace principles above and below ground. You can visit our website for more information on safe caving and Leave No Trace.
As a nonprofit, we rely on members and donors to accomplish our mission of protecting cave and karst landscapes throughout the southeastern US through conservation, education and recreation. We encourage you to help us by becoming a regular member for $35 a year or a sustaining member by giving a monthly donation.
