HCM June 2014 by High Country Press

Volume 9 â&#x20AC;˘ Issue 5 June 2014

Twelve Dates For This

Summer

Welcome Back Summer Residents

Introducing 12 Events for the 12 Weekends of Summer June 2014

High Country Magazine

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High Country Magazine

June 2014

Piedmont Federal can help you with a loan for a first or second home, with your mortgage starting and staying right here. Visit piedmontfederal.com or stop by our Boone Office. Happy 30th anniversary to the Appalachian Summer Festival bringing the best in music, dance, theatre, visual arts, and film to the High Country.

piedmontfederal.com Boone Branch | 828.264.5244 | 1399 Blowing Rock Road, Boone, NC 28607 N. Wilkesboro Branch | 336.667.9211 | 200 Wilkesboro Avenue, North Wilkesboro, NCJune 28659 2014

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New Coffee Table Book by Todd Bush

A pictorial journey through Blowing Rock, NC and the surrounding High Country scenery, communities and faces. BLOWING ROCK crown of the blue ridge

Todd Bush

Publisher: Don Iverson

Limited Edition Reserve yours Today Order online: bushphoto.com Call 828-898-8088 2

High Country Magazine

June 2014

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Hwy. 105 in Linville at the foot of Grandfather Mountain 828.733.3726 | Design • Installation • Maintainance Member: NC Nursery & Landscaping Association June 2014

High Country Magazine

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TANNER-DONCASTER OUTLET 537 N. Main Street, Blowing Rock, NC (Across from Chetola Resort)

(828) 295-4200 Monday - Saturday 10 - 6 & Sunday 12 - 5

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Valid in any Tanner-Doncaster retail store. Not valid on prior purchases or on merchandise discounted more than 70% off. One coupon per customer and some exclusions apply. Expires June 30 2014.

High Country Magazine

June 2014

Boone’s Premier Tile Showroom

Come See Our New Showroom Space!

Owners Trudy and David Shell

STore HourS: Monday - Friday: 8:30am to 5pm Saturday: By Appointment 1852 H w y. 105, Bo one • 828-265- 0472 • w w w.Mo un t a inT il eNC .c o m June 2014

High Country Magazine

C O N T E N T S

16 12 Dates for This Summer

Check out our 12 events for the 12 weekends of summer that we hope will be an inspiration for you to take your sweetheart out on a summer date. Make plans now to enjoy the summer season and all the things that will be happening.

36 Hound Ears Club Turns 50

The Hound Ears Club, located where a former mill town once flourished near Foscoe, has come a long way since the famed Robbins brothers developed it 50 years ago. The fascinating history of the resort includes cameos from Paul Harvey, Mickey Mantle and Jack Nicklaus.

Farewell to 60 Bidding Chancellor Peacock

16 60

Chancellor Kenneth E. Peacock has stood at the helm of Appalachian State University for a decade and has been a member of the ASU family for more than 30 years. As he enjoys his final days at the university, he reflects on his time at the school that has been his home for three decades and recalls trials, triumphs and a whole lot of fun.

68 Girls Running for a Reason

One hundred girls and their running buddies came out on May 3 to participate in the final event of the 2014 Girls on the Run spring season: the ZAPP Fitness 5K. But the girls’ journey started many weeks before the race when each of them stepped into their first Girls on the Run practice 12 weeks prior.

Venture for Dyer 82 New and Stripling Friends for roughly two decades and business partners for more than 15 years, Lisa Stripling and Rob Dyer own The Best Cellar and The Inn at Ragged Gardens and the Blowing Rock Ale House and Inn. Their new venture is Roots, a new restaurant that opened in June.

92 Assisting Vets and Their Families

The veterans’ affairs office in Watauga County is highly regarded, and Director April Pope, who took over in 2013 after serving as assistant under Donna Lyons for seven years, runs what has been described as one of the most functional VA offices in the Tar Heel State.

on the cover Todd Bush Photographer Todd Bush went up to the Grandfather Mountain’s Swinging Bridge for this June’s cover shot. Amanda Peacock braved the winds for the photo shoot. See the story on page 15 to read all bout it. To see more of Todd’s work visit: Bushphoto.com. 6

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82 June 2014

READER SERVICES ABOUT US

The first High Country Press newspaper was published on May 5, 2005, and the first issue of High Country Magazine went to press in fall 2005. In March of 2012 the newspaper made the transformation to an online newspaper at our new website: www.HCPress.com. Our new “webpaper” is still packed with information that we present and package in easy-to-read formats with visually appealing layouts. Our magazine represents our shared love of our history, our landscape and our people. It celebrates our pioneers, our lifestyles, our differences and the remarkable advantages we enjoy living in the mountains. Our guiding principles are twofold: quality journalism makes a difference and customer care at every level is of the greatest importance. Our offices are located in downtown Boone, and our doors are always open to welcome visitors.

ADVERTISING & MARKETING

Our magazine is a wonderful way for businesses to advertise to our readers. Our magazines tend to stay around for a long time, on coffee tables and bed stands, and shared with family and friends. To find out about advertising, call our offices at 828264-2262.

BACK ISSUES

Back issues of our magazines are available from our office for $5 per issue. Some issues are already sold out and are no longer available.

PHOTOGRAPHY

Photography and page reprints are available for purchase. For sizing, prices and usage terms, please call our office. Some photos may not be available and some restrictions may apply.

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High Country Magazine

FROM T H E PU B L ISH ER

A Publication Of High Country Press Publications Editor & Publisher Ken Ketchie Art Director Debbie Carter Contributing Writers Madison V. Fisler Megan Northcote Jason Reagan Tim Gardner Jesse Wood

Two Tickets for Summer Please

f our summer weather is anything like we’ve had for the Memorial Day holiday weekend, then we are in for a real treat this summer season – especially after what we endured last year. We missed so many of our favorite events and activities because of the record-breaking rains, and we have a lot of catching up to do this season. We’re are crossing our fingers for a rain-free summer because we brought back our special magazine feature called 12 Dates for the 12 Weekends of Summer. In our annual “Welcome Back Summer Residents” issue, we help you make your summer plans by featuring a number of the events happening across the High Country. Our overview gives you the dates, performance schedules and a little info to help you plan some fun times. We’ve picked out 12 different events for each of the 12 weekends of summer as a place for you to build upon and plan what hopefully turns out to be an enjoyable night out on the town for you and your sweetheart. A number of the events are recurring throughout the summer, so you’ll have multiple chances to plan some of these dates. Others are annual events that require a little more planning. In any case, we hope this feature gives you ideas for your tickets to summer. Let’s just hope a rain check isn’t needed this time around. I’d also like to announce the launch of our new web site at www.BooneNCinfo.com that we built this winter as a digital companion to our seasonal Visitor Guides. The new website can be used as an on-the-go resource for visitors looking for things do and see. It’s also useful to those who live in the High Country area and need a fresh reminder of all that the region has to offer in the way of outdoor adventures, local attractions, wining and dining establishments and diverse arts and entertainment performances. BooneNCinfo.com is photo centric with a sprinkling of video and includes all of the need-to-know details for each activity, adventure or destination such as directions, phone numbers, operating hours, key dates, history and links to more information. Still a work in progress, BooneNCinfo.com has already been praised for its clean design, mobile platform and easy-to-use format. Check it out! Because if you are interested in our 12 Dates for the 12 Weekends of Summer feature, BooneNCinfo.com will give you even more ideas for a fun night on the town with your sweetheart – whether that is dining and shopping in Blowing Rock, cruising the Blue Ridge Parkway, floating along the New River in a canoe or taking in a concert in downtown Boone. 8

High Country Magazine

June 2014

Contributing Photographers Todd Bush Finance Manager Amanda Giles Advertising Director Jeffrey Green

SHARE WITH FRIENDS You can share our magazine with friends that are out of town by sending them to our website. Just click on “Magazine” in the Menu Bar and that will take you to our online magazine where you can flip through an issue online - just like you would with a printed copy.

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BooneNCinfo.com HIGH COUNTRY MAGAZINE P.O. Box 152, Boone, NC 28607 828-264-2262 Follow our magazine online where each issue is presented in a flip-through format. Check it out at:

HighCountryMagazine.com Reproduction or use in whole or part of the contents of this magazine without written permission of the publisher is prohibited. Issues are FREE throughout the High Country. © 2013 by High Country Press. All Rights Reserved.

June 2014

High Country Magazine

Calendarof Events JUNE 2014

90th Annual Singing on the Mountain Grandfather Mountain, June 22

1-16

The Remarkable Rhododendron Ramble, Grandfather Mountain, 828-733-2013

A Taste of Avery, Best Western, Banner Elk, 828-895-5605

5-8

Blowing Rock Charity Horse Show: American Saddlebred Division, Tate Show Grounds, 828-295-4700

First Friday Art Crawl, Downtown Boone, 828-262-4532

Music on the Lawn: Smokey Breeze, The Best Cellar, Blowing Rock, 828-295-9703

Concerts at the Jones House: Soul Benefactor & The Spice Creek Ramblers, Downtown Boone, 828-268-6280

6-8

ASU Alumni Reunion Weekend, Appalachian State University, 866-756-2586

6-15

Day Out With Thomas at Tweetsie Railroad, Blowing Rock, 828-264-9061

6-27

Land of Oz Tour, Beech Mountain, 828-287-9283

Critter Crawl 5K, Grandfather Mountain, MacRae Meadows, 828-773-2013

New River Canoe Race, New River State Park, 336-887-5550

BRAHM Presents: Appalachian Documentary Film, Blowing Rock, 828-295-9099

Ashe Arts Council Presents: Gallery Crawl, West Jefferson, 336-846-2787

Music on the Lawn: King Bees, The Best Cellar, Blowing Rock, 828-295-9703

Concerts at the Jones House: Mercury Dames; Swing Guitars, Downtown Boone, 828-268-6280

Art in the Park, Blowing Rock, 828-295-7851

Concerts at the Jones House: Doc Watson Celebration, Downtown Boone, 828-268-6280

20-9/6 BRAHM Presents: Hound Ears 50th Anniversary Exhibit, Blowing Rock, 828-295-9099 21-22

Roan Mountain Rhododendron Festival, www.RoanMountain.com

21-29

Tuna Does Vegas, Ensemble Stage, Blowing Rock School Auditorium, 828-414-1844

90th Annual Singing on the Mountain, Grandfather Mountain, 828-733-2013

Wine, Women and Song, BRAHM, Blowing Rock, 828-295-9099

BRAHM Presents: Second Annual Art Ball, 828-2959099

Banner Elk Concerts in the Park Presents: The Major Sevens, Tate Evans Park, 828-898-8395

Music on the Lawn: Soul Benefactor, The Best Cellar, Blowing Rock, 828-295-9703

Black and Blue Double Century Bike Relay, Riverside Restaurant, Todd, 366-877-8888

Concerts at the Jones House: Red Leg Husky; The Monroebots, Downtown Boone, 828-268-6280

Birthday Party for Animals, Grandfather Mountain, 828-733-2013

27-29

Third Thursday at BRAHM: Wayne Clawson, Blowing Rock, 828-295-9099

Artist Reception for Joan Sporn, Alta Vista Gallery, 828-963-5247

Banner Elk Concerts in the Park Presents: Annie Robinette, Tate Evans Park, 828-898-839

Outdoor Fireworks Concert: Little Big Town, ASU, Kidd Brewer Stadium828-262-4046

Music on the Lawn: The Harris Brothers, The Best Cellar, Blowing Rock, 828-295-9703

29-7/1-3 Lees-McRae Summer Theatre Presents: Kiss Me, Kate, Lees-McRae College, 828-898-8709 7/5-6

High Country Magazine

June 2014

Spongebob and Patrick at Tweetsie Railroad, Blowing Rock, 828-264-9061

DON’T FORGET

EVENTS

G A L L E R Y

F R A M E M A K E R S

JIM CHAPMAN “Is It Still ... Life?” Fireworks Concert

An Appalachian Summer Festival kicks off its 30th anniversary season with one of the most highly anticipated summer events of the year: the Outdoor Fireworks Concert at Kidd Brewer Stadium. This year, the concert will feature country superstars Little Big Town on June 28 at 7:30 p.m. Hits like “Pontoon” and “Boondocks” will be capped off by a spectacular fireworks show at the end of the night. This is one outdoor concert that you don’t want to miss!

JUNE 28 7:30 PM

JUNE 11 - 28, 2014 2014 Exhibition schedule monthly & weekly events at artcellaronline.com

828-898-5175 920 Shawneehaw Avenue, Hwy. 184, Banner Elk

Ensemble Stage Co.

Starting on June 21, High Country theater lovers are in for a treat as Ensemble Stage kicks off the 2014 Professional Summer Mainstage Season. Catch hysterical comedy Tuna Does Vegas June 21-29; the unbelievably entertaining comedy The Kitchen Witches July 5-13; the thrilling Desperate Affection July 26-Aug. 3 and the fast-paced farce Completely Hollywood (Abridged) Aug. 23-31. And for the little ones, don’t miss the Summer Saturday Kids Theatre production of The Short Tree and the Bird that Could Not Sing June 28, July 12, July 19, Aug. 2 and Aug. 9. Performances are held at the Blowing Rock School Auditorium and tickets are on sale now!

Gabriel Ofiesh Trunk Show JULY 24 - 27, 2014

STARTING JUNE 21

hardinjewelry@gmail.com | 828-898-4653 June 2014

High Country Magazine

mountain

echoes

Take Part in an Independence Day Parade This Summer

othing screams summertime like an Independence Day Parade and the High Country has a whole heap of them to choose from. Though you have most likely attended a parade or two in the past, have you ever wanted to participate and march in one yourself? Well, here’s how you can do just that! The Downtown Boone Fourth of July Parade is an annual tradition that takes place on King Street with floats, decorated cars, performers and spectators. The parade starts at 11 a.m. If you want to register to be in the parade, simply fill out the registration

form with the Town of Boone and familiarize yourself with the brochure on their website. The line-up site is at Horn in the West. For more information, call 828-262-4532. The downtown Blowing Rock Fourth of July Parade will take place July 5 at 2 p.m. Those wishing to participate in the parade simply need to fill out registration form and dropping it off at the Blowing Rock Parks and Recreation office. For more information call 828-295-4636. The Banner Elk Fourth of July Parade is held on July 4 on Main Street. The parade begins at 11 a.m. and leads to the “Party in the Park” at

CARLTON GALLERY Celebrating 32Years

Energetic Expressions by Egi and Edie

Spring Group Exhibition Egi Antonaccio and Edie Maney

May 24 – July 15

Expanding the Edge of Color

Mid-SummerGroup Exhibition Andrew Braitman

July 26 – September 15, Opening Reception July 26, 2-5pm PAINTINGS • CLAY • GLASS • SCULPTURE • WOOD • FIBER ART • JEWELRY Located 10 Miles South of Boone on Hwy. 105 Grandfather Community

TUESDAY-SATURDAY 10:00-5:00 • SUNDAY 11:00-5:00 8 2 8 - 9 6 3 - 4 2 8 8 • Call or check our website for workshop dates www.carltongallery.com • carltongallery@carltongallery.com 12

High Country Magazine

June 2014

Tate Evans Park. To get involved in the festivities, all you need to do is line up at Lees-McRae College between 9:30 and 10 a.m. before the start of the parade, no registration needed! For more information, call 828-898-5398. The Elkland Art Center in Todd hosts the annual Liberty Day Parade to celebrate liberty at Railroad Grade Road in Todd. The parade officially begins at 11 a.m. and is a great choice for those looking for a really interesting parade to attend. To get involved in the parade just call the Elkland Art Center at 336-877-5016. By Madison V. Fisler

World-Class Pickin’ in Sugar Grove This July

Hiking and Biking Trails

ust like every other July in Western Watauga, some world-class musicians will be pickin’ and grinnin’ on the grounds of the Historic Cove Creek School. The 17th annual Doc & Rosa Lee Watson MusicFest ‘n Sugar Grove takes place on Friday and Saturday, July 11 and 12 and features headlining acts such as Doyle Lawson & Quicksilver, Chatham County Line, and Willie Watson (of Old Crow Medicine Show fame). This family-friendly event features two music stages, concessions, vendors, a Pickin’ Parlor for anyone who wants to jam and a playground for the restless kids. Also, the Doc Watson Museum is open to the public during the festival. The music starts at noon on Friday and 10 a.m. on Saturday. Two-day tickets cost $55; Friday tickets are $20; and Saturday tickets run $25. The upcoming festival will also mark the second year that the legendary Doc Watson, who passed away in 2012, hasn’t performed at MusicFest. The festival began in 1998 as Doc Watson Appreciation Day. It has since been a fundraiser for the Cove Creek Preservation & Development nonprofit, which renovated the old high school built during the Great Depression. Today, the refurbished grounds that house the Jung Tao School of Classical Chinese Medicine, a nonprofit daycare center, a woodshop, gymnasium and playground revitalized Cove Creek and has become a model for sustainable community development For more information and to see full lineup and purchase tickets, click to www. BooneNCInfo.com or call 828-297-2200. By Jesse Wood

May 1, 2014 - October 19, 2014

Your Wedding

Saturday, May 3, 2014 - Sunday, October 19, 2014

Fourth of July Sports Shop Sale Friday, July 4, 2014 - Sunday, July 6, 2014

Weekend Scenic Lift Rides

Friday, July 4, 2014 - Sunday, August 31, 2014

Evening rides also available on July 4th until 10pm.

BBQ Boot Camp

Friday, July 18, 2014 - Saturday, July 19, 2014

SugarBrew

Saturday, August 2, 2014

Oktoberfest

Saturday, October 11, 2014 - Sunday, October 12, 2014 Details can be found at:

www.skisugar.com Sugar Mountain Resort

1009 Sugar Mountain Drive • Sugar Mountain, NC 28604

828-898-4521 • info@skisugar.com June 2014

High Country Magazine

MOUNTAIN LAND . . . never a better time! LARGE TRACTS! mountains4sale.com

Mountain Land C O M PANY

336-973-8640 SPRING SALES EVENT Financing Available (O.A.C.)

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www.superior-spas.com 14

High Country Magazine

June 2014

Introducing

BooneNCinfo.com Check Out Our New Website as a Resource for all Things About the High Country

eâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve got a new website! We built it over the winter to accompany our seasonal visitor guides on the World Wide Web, and although we initially had visitors in mind for the site, we believe itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s a valuable resource for locals, too. Just as BooneNCinfo.com can be used as an on-the-go resource for out-of-town folks looking for things do and see, it is also useful to those who reside in and around the Boone area and need a fresh reminder of all that the region has to offer in the way of outdoor adventures, local attractions, wining and dining establishments and diverse arts and entertainment performances. The website is photo centric with a sprinkling of video and includes all of the needto-know details for each activity, adventure or destination such as directions, phone numbers, operating hours, key dates, history and links to more information. Still a work in progress, BooneNCinfo.com has already been praised for its clean design, mobile platform and easy-to-use format. In addition to being an expansive resource to consumers in the High Country, BooneNCinfo.com also provides our advertising partners additional exposure to a different demographic in the digital age. So click toBooneNCinfo.com and make plans in the High Country. by Jesse Wood

mountain

echoes

Howling Winds, Fear of Heights Atop Swinging Bridge

WINE TASTINGS 7 Days a Week from June through December 12:00 - 6:00 pm

hough these adventures weren’t on her bucket list, Amanda Peacock, who graces the cover of this issue, knocked off a couple firsts during a late May photo shoot across the Swinging Bridge on Grandfather Mountain. For one, she has never modeled for a magazine cover – or anything else for that matter – and two, that was the first time the 40-year-old mother of four of Banner Elk walked across the bridge that sways more than one mile in the air. See, Peacock is afraid of heights. A number of times before, Peacock has walked up to the start of the bridge and just looked on as her husband Oliver and their four daughters enjoy the breathtaking view from Linville’s Peak on the other side. “The whole thing [of how this came about] was kind of funny. My husband kind of volunteered me up for doing this. I was like ‘Oh, sure. That would be fun.’ Then he said something about Grandfather, and then something about the swinging bridge,” Peacock said, adding that her initial thoughts, of course, were then, “that’s not really me.” To cap it all off, the winds were howling on that Friday evening with a speed of 34 mph and gusts reaching nearly 50 mph, according to a N.C. Climate Office weather database. Banner Elk-based photographer Todd Bush and Peacock practically had to yell at each other to be heard over the wind whipping by a mile high in the sky. Throughout the shoot, she walked the entire length of the 228foot suspension bridge multiple times. Because she was sidetracked with the actual job at hand, she didn’t focus on her fears. “Any other situation, I would have been a nervous wreck,” Peacock said. With a chuckle, she added that she would “probably” encourage someone else with similar fears to cross the Swinging Bridge. “Once on the other side, it’s absolutely gorgeous,” Peacock said. “It was completely worth it.” by Jesse Wood

FACILITY RENTAL

Weddings, Receptions, Banquets

LIVE MUSIC SCHEDULE June 7: Trevor McKenzie June 14: High Country 2nd Annual Wine & Beer Festival June 21: Johnson Brothers June 28: Rock-A-Billy’s July 5: Bluegrass Blend July 12: Thistle Dew July 19: Wayne Henderson & Friends July 26: Phat City Beach Trio Enjoy breathtaking views, hiking trails and a gorgeous vineyard nestled alongside Fraser Fir Christmas trees. Located on US 221 just north of the Blue Ridge Parkway.

9557 Linville Falls Highway, Newland, NC 28657 linvillefallswinery.com • (828) 765-1400 June 2014

High Country Magazine

Make A Date For Each Of The

12 Weekends Of SUMMER

High Country Magazine

June 2014

1Sum2mer

s e t a D

lright, it’s time to start planning. How often do you and your significant other try to find something to do together at the last minute and end up doing nothing at all? Well, it’s summertime and there’s so much going on that you’d be crazy not to do a little planning and take in some of the sights and sounds the High Country has to offer ... and why not turn it into an awesome date night out opportunity as well. That’s why High Country Magazine has brought back our 12 Summer Dates issue, a guide to make it easy to plan ahead for a number of summer outings. On the following pages we present 12 signature High Country events to which you locals might say, “Been there and done that.” But take another look. You can plan an entire evening or day around these events, complete with dinner, drinks, shopping, picnicking and other activities. So make your sweetheart feel extra special and make all her friends jealous by planning ahead. The anticipation will make the date more exciting and more memorable. Tear the pages out and hang ‘em up on the refrigerator, Take some time to map out your date together. It’s summertime! We hope you enjoy our 12 summer date ideas.

Featured DATES High Country Wine Tours ��page 18 Jones House Concerts on the Lawn ��page 19 Best Cellar’s Music on the Lawn ��page 20 Banner Elk Concerts in the Park ��page 21 Contra Dancing ��page 22 Appalachian Summer Festival ��page 25 Lees-McRae Summer Theatre ��page 26 Friday Night at the Highland Games ��page 28 Chetola’s Symphony by the Lake ��page 29 Sugar Mountain’s SugarBrew ��page 30 A Trip to Abingdon ��page 32 A Date with Nature ��page 35

1 3 5 7 9 11

June 2014

2 4 6 8 10 12

High Country Magazine

Summer Date

Y TR N U O C H G I H

1 Wine Tours

Music Schedule Linville Falls Winery

June 7 – Trevor MacKenzie June 14 – The Harris Brothers June 21 – The Johnson Brothers June 28 – Rock-a-Billys July 5 – Bluegrass Blend July 12 – Thistle Dew July 19 – Wayne Henderson & Friends July 26 – Phatt City Beach Trio Aug. 2 – Blue Ridge Entertainers Aug 9 – Andy Ferrell & Oncoming Train Aug. 16 – Elkville String Band Aug. 23 – Scott Kallestead & Andy Page Aug. 30 – Clay Lunsford Trio

Here’s the first of our 12 date suggestions. We start with something that’s a little new to the High Country and becoming more popular every year. Folks are really enjoying the local wineries and their tasting rooms.

Just picture yourself sipping wine, enjoying the summer weather and most of all, impressing your date at one of the area’s beautiful vineyards and wineries. A visit to any one, or all of the wineries is the perfect starting point to a full day of romance. The wineries and the vineyards have matured into beautiful settings and feature tasting rooms that rival what you would fine in Napa Valley. The wineries even host live music on select days! So June 1 – Don Vallarta spare an hour or two and venture out to a tasting June 8 – Cathy Buton room to sample some great local made wines, or June 22 – Don Vallarta better yet, make an entire afternoon of it and settle down together for hours of enjoyment. June 29 – Johnson Brothers Linville Falls Winery July 13 – Ruffin St. The Linville Falls Winery is a family owned and July 27 – Don Vallarta operated winery and tasting room in Avery CounAug. 10 – Ruffin St ty. The winery features a Tuscan-inspired tasting Aug. 24 – Johnson Brothers room and stone patio with views of the 40-acre Aug. 31 – Klee & Mike Show farm. The grounds feature many trails for exploring and a beautiful, 100-year-old spring. The wines feature staple grapes like Riesling and Cabernet SauWEEKENDS – Featuring area favorites vignon and yummy flavors like blueberry and raspJazz and blues guitarist Don Vallarta and berry. The winery also hosts live music on Saturday Dillon Cable afternoons. Linville Falls Winery is a great place to spend an entire day, or is just as good for a quick tasting and grabbing a bottle to take home. Grandfather Vineyard and Winery Grandfather Vineyard and Winery is the first producing winery in Watauga County with the Tatum family planting the very first grapevines in 2003. Today, the Vineyard provides a beautiful backdrop to a wine tasting, or enjoying a bottle on the porch with family and friends. Grandfather Vineyard and Winery also hosts the Music in the Vineyard series, so guests can enjoy live music while they are there. Check out a tasting with your sweetheart, and then get a bottle to share while sitting in the lounging chairs next to the babbling creek on the property listening to live music. Banner Elk Winery The High Country’s original winery, the Banner Elk Winery and Villa was the first commercial winery built in the High Country. Take your date to a tasting at the winery, learn about winemaking as a craft, enjoy a spa service, enjoy the luxurious accommodations or schedule a private tour or tasting for a unique date idea. With the beautiful setting, delicious wines and unforgettable accommodations, Banner Elk Winery is a romantic date idea for any couple. Enjoy live music from 1-6 p.m. on the weekends with area favorites Jazz and blues guitarist Don Vallarta and Dillon Cable. Bring a picnic and enjoy the lush vineyard view and reflecting pond, or try out chef prepared custom cheese and fruit platters which pair beautifully with our award winning wines.

Grandfather Winery

Banner Elk Winery

High Country Magazine

June 2014

Jones 2 House

Summer Date

Concerts on the lawn

Many of our date suggestions are a place to get you started for a night out that can lead you to a number of other places. The Jones House Concerts is one of those locations to start a “night out on the town” - here, in Downtown Boone. There’s restaurants, shopping and bars scattered throughout Boone, many within walking distance of the Jones House. Downtown Boone rocks, it’s a treat to visit. For more than a decade, the concerts played on the Jones House porch have provided a great place to spend a warm Friday evening with friends, family and your significant other. Just walk on up from King Street, spread out a few lawn chairs or your most comfortable blankets and settle down for an evening of local music from your favorite bands. Catch up with old friends, tap your foot to the tune or just chill out on the lawn, pull your hat down and relax. It’s not too fancy, so just come as you are! This year, come out to see great local favorites like Soul Benefactor, the Mercury Dames, Amantha Mill, The Buck Haggard Band, Lazybirds, Redleg Husky and many more. And don’t miss the special events throughout the summer, which include a Doc Watson Celebration with so many bands they have to get started early, a July 4 concert which takes place immediately following the Independence Day Parade and the Local Traditions Showcase to cap it all off at the very end of the season. The Jones House Concerts on the Lawn are perfect for a low-key, relaxing date, and is great for those with little ones in tow too! And

Summer Lineup Guitar ry Dames / 6pm – Swing June 13 5pm – Me rcu Str ing Band / ville Elk – 4pm / Day t/ June 20 Doc Watson – Strictly Cle an & Decen pm 5:15 and Rich Kirby / 4:45pm – Charles Welch the rs 6:3 0pm – The Kruger Bro nroebots Hu sky / 6pm – The Mo June 27 5pm – Red Leg / 2pm – Liz Hayes and / 1pm – Fat Face Band July 4 Par ade at 11a m Common Thread s Buck Stops He re gard Band / 6:3 0pm – The July 11 5pm – Buck Hag – Carolin a Crossing 6pm in / rell and Oncoming Tra Fer y And – 5pm 18 July ys – Kelley and the Cowbo and Marcy Mar xer / 6pm r July 25 5pm – Cathy Fink alle Sch and e Pag itar Duo w/ Mill / 6:30pm – Jazz Gu Au g. 1 5pm – Amantha any mp Co William s and Lat e Bluegr ass / 6pm – Au g. 8 5pm – Never Too – Todd Wr ight 6pm / d Ch alke’s BE Jazz Ban Au g. 15 5pm – Shane wit h original me mber of w sho Kat z / Spe cial one -man Au g. 22 5pm – Steve Blood, Swe at & Tears ard Hula Boys Childe rs / 6pm – Dashbo Au g. 29 5pm – David

BOON E

Restaurants • Black Cat

Premiere destination for the finest burritos, quesadillas, nachos, chilis, soups and salads.

• Boone Bagelry

Taste the goodness that we have been serving customers for over 20 years.

• Café Portofino

Eclectic mix of sandwiches, pastas and steaks with daily culinary specials and fresh seafood.

• Capones

Voted “The Best Pizza In The High Country.”

• Casa Rustica

A true family restaurant built on original recipes from the owner’s grandmother.

• Cha da Thai

Thai cuisine and Thai hospitality are renowned the world over. Join us to savor both.

• Char

Upscale Casual Dining in a Cosmopolitan Setting with Roomy Dining Areas.

• Joe’s Italian Kitchen

A wide variety of traditional, authentic, homemade Italian cuisine.

• Joy Bistro

Elegant but rustic dining, where husband and wife team serves you some of their favorite foods.

• Makotos

Table side culinary magic that is the Best Tasting Show in Town!

• Mellow Mushroom

Supplying the High Country with the finest pizza pie.

• Mike’s Inland Seafood

Serving only the best seafood, steaks, and chicken available.

• Our Daily Bread

Perfectly blending fresh ingredients turning our sandwiches into an art form.

• Peppers

Established in 1975, serving the area’s first taste of the highest quality deli sandwiches. did we mention that all of the concerts are completely free to attend? Located right in the middle of downtown, the location is a perfect start for a night on the town complete with live music, a great dinner at one of the many fantastic local restaurants and to cap it all off, perhaps a stroll through the downtown when the nightlife starts to heat up. But don’t be late! Concerts at the Jones House is no secret and prime seating fills up quick!

June 2014

• Primos

We love pizza and we love making it. It starts with fresh dough made in-house.

• Proper Southern Food

Locally sourced Southern cuisine at extremely reasonable prices, lovingly prepared by our talented cooks.

• Red Onion Café

Unique among Boone restaurants, offering a menu stocked with one-of-a-kind items.

• Town Tavern

Locally owned sports bar and restaurant featuring the best casual selections.

• Troy’s 105 Diner

Step back in time and enjoy the areas only true diner.

• Vidalia

Upscale Casual Restaurant serving creative American cuisine ...think comfort foods with a twist! High Country Magazine

Summer Date

blowing rock

Restaurants

• The Best Cellar

Best Cellar ’s

A favorite for decades. Elegant, fine dining with beautiful gardens.

• Blowing Rock Ale House

The feeling of an English Pub with the mood of a French Bistro.

• Canyons

Southern Comfort ... with a Twist! Best view in the High Country.

• Chestnut Grille at The Green Park Inn

Comfort Cooking with a touch of Gourmet.

• Foggy Rock

“A twist on the ordinary.” Great food at low prices.

• Gamekeeper

A true gourmet restaurant, perfect blend of upscale elegance & charm.

• Mellow Mushroom

Supplying the High Country with the finest pizza pie.

• Papa Joe’s Italian

Try our true Italian - American Food, Done the Italian way!

• Roots

Regional food and drink with an emphasis on chef-inspired specials.

• Six Pence Pub

Warmth and good cheer with the best in food and hospitality.

• Speckled Trout

Where everyone can feel comfortable and the food is always enjoyable.

• Timberlake’s Restaurant at Chetola Resort

Inspired by world-renowned NC artist Bob Timberlake’s culinary favorites.

• Town Tavern

Right on Main Street, a locals favorite featuring the best casual selections.

• Twigs

Highest quality with a Southern twist on many of the classic favorites.

• Woodland’s Barbecue

Specialising in NC Barbecue Pork and Ribs, great food, nightly entertainment and catering. 20

High Country Magazine

music on the lawn

This has become the Friday night hot spot where the best local musicians keep things lively and where guests enjoy mingling among the beautiful gardens while enjoying their favorite beverages. It’s just an easy and fun place to be. A great place to bring a date for sure! Every Friday afternoon, the front lawn at The Best Cellar in Blowing Rock comes alive with music and excitement for families, couples and friends. The perfect springboard for an exciting date in Blowing Rock that can last all night long, the family-friendly events have been known all through the High Country as one of the best ways to start off a relaxing weekend. Kick back in a chair or spread out a blanket in the beautiful Ragged Gardens and enjoy spending some time with nature. But the Best Cellar offers much more than just music on Friday evenings. Music on the Lawn also boasts a full outdoor bar and small finger foods for guests to enjoy while they relax in the sun. While you’re there, take a walk through the gardens and enjoy a nice stroll in the sunshine while you admire the beauty of nature. The Concerts on the Lawn are a great place to have a double date with friends, and sometimes as many as 400 people are in attendance at each concert. The crowd is at the same time intimate and exciting, and is a great way to catch up with the locals. The shows are played by bands local to the High Country and showcase all of the great local talent that the area has to offer. All concerts are free of charge and are a fantastic way to start an evening perhaps finished off with a romantic dinner in one of Blowing Rock’s awesome restaurants. June 6 – Smokey Bre eze June 13 – King Bee s rs JUN E 20 – Harris Brothe ctor June 27 – Soul Benefa July 4 – Sup a Tight r July 11 – Soul Benefacto rs July 25 – Harris Brothe

2014 SCHEDULE

ce july 28 – Matt and Bru eze Bre y Au g. 1 – Smoke Au g. 8 – Drive Sou th

Sons-in -Law Au g. 15 – Worthless s Au g. 22 – Lucky Strike rs the Bro Au g. 29 – Harris

June 2014

Banner Elk

ark p e h t in s t r e Conc

Summer Date

BANNER ELK

Restaurants • Banner Elk Café

Breakfast, lunch and dinner daily. Great food, ranging from eggs bendict to big juicy burgers.

2014 SCHEDULE Here’s another famous outdoor music spot. And a great place to start a date night out in Banner Elk. Follow up the show by dining in one of the many close by fine restaurants. And then finish the night off at one of the happening bars. With a little planning you could have one hell of a romantic night.

• Banner Elk Sushi Club

tte June 19 – Annie Robine ens June 26 – The Major Sev cer s July 3 – The Flying Sau ek Cre July 10 – Wolf r July 17 – Soul Benefacto es July 24 – Da shboard Blu eze Bre y oke July 31 – Sm naires Au g. 7 – The Ext raordi delics Au g. 14 – The Sharka e lug De The Au g. 21 – ddys Au g. 28 – The Whip Da

For an evening in Banner Elk, the Concerts in the Park are a great place to start. The Concerts in the Park take place at Tate Evans Park in a beautiful outdoor amphitheatre. Bring your chairs and blankets, along with a picnic basket of goodies and settle in for some fun and music. On the musical schedule this summer you’ll hear everything from blues to bluegrass. The setting is the perfect place to cozy up under a blanket as the sun starts to set over the horizon and really enjoy some quality time with your better half. While you’re there, take some time to take a stroll through the park and once the music dies down, head out to dinner at one of the many fantastic restaurants that call Banner Elk home and truly experience the beauty of the High Country summertime evening out together.

Finest Japanese cuisine in a casual and comfortable atmosphere with an upscale sushi bar.

• Barra

Elegant old timey Boston style wood bar complimented by Miami style art deco with a mountain Indian flair.

• Bayou Smokehouse & Grill

A New Orleans Restaurant and Bar with Cajun and Texas Cuisine as well as hand-cut Steaks and more.

• Eat Crow

A cozy, eclectic atmosphere with some of the best food in the High Country.

• Louisiana Purchase Food & Spirit

For 27 years a hometown favorite serving Cajun, Creole, French and Northern Italian cuisine.

• Nick’s Restaurant & Pub

Good food, good friends ... We are the Cheers of the mountains!

• Pedalin’ Pig

Southern style with a gourmet flair.

• Sorrento’s

Upscale eclectic gourmet Italian Bistro, is a combination of a visual and culinary celebration.

• Stonewalls

The finest cuts of beef found in prime rib, sirloin, rib eye, New York Strip and Filet Mignon. Our salad bar is a destination.

• Zuzda

A conglomeration of eclectic small plates—including & presenting foods beyond the style of Tapas. June 2014

High Country Magazine

Summer Date

Contra Dancing Let Yourself Go At a hoedown

How many times has your sweetheart begged you to go dancing? Contra dancing has a way of getting you all hot and bothered with nonstop swinging and twirling on the dance floor. It’s a place were romance often blossoms and blooms with smiles and laughter.

Contra dancing is a popular pastime in the High Country and it is perfect for experienced dancers and beginners alike. And you can’t get away with not knowing how to dance anymore! With contra dancing, all the steps are laid out for you and you just have to listen to hear the next step called over the lively music. And don’t be nervous if it’s your first time. Contra dances always have a beginner’s lesson before the dance officially starts, so there’s no excuse for you to say no when your sweetheart begs you to go dancing! Unlike most dance occasions, a contra dance is lively, friendly and exciting and a great way to spend an evening laughing away the evening. The Boone Country Dancers host a Contra Dance once a month at the Apple Barn in Valle Crucis and Todd General Mercantile hosts dances at the store in Todd once a month beginning at 7:30 p.m. At both dances, anyone is welcome regardless of experience and dancers of all ages are invited to participate.

High Country Magazine

June 2014

2014 SCHEDULE BOON E COUNTRY DA

NCERS

au g. 15 June 14, july 12 and Time : 8 - 11 PM ) rs Workshop at 7:3 0 PM nce (New Da IS CRUC AP PLE BA RN IN VA LLE

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PHOTOGRAPHY by Frederica Georgia

June 14–September 15, 2014

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High Country Magazine

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High Country Magazine

June 2014

LITLE BIG TOWN

June 28 – Outdoor Firework Concert: Little Big Town June 29 – Broyhill Chambler Ensemble Reflections Series International Presents: Songs without Words June 30 – Global Cinema Film Series: The Rocket July 3 – Pilobolus July 5 – Michael McDonald July 6 – Eastern Festival Orchestra with Gerard Schwarz, Music Director and Sir James Galway, Flute July 7 – Global Cinema Film Series: The Lunchbox July 9 – Hayes School of Music Faculty Showcase Concert July 10 – All’s Well that Ends Well July 12 – Matthew Morrison with the Greensboro Symphony JULY 14 – Nickle Creek July 15 – Global Cinema Film Series: Like Father, Like Son July 19 – Dance Theatre of Harlem July 20 – Broyhill Chamber Ensemble Reflections Series International Presents: Songs without Words July 21 – Global Cinema Film Series: Jappeloup July 22 – Broyhill Chamber Ensemble Reflections Series International Presents: Songs Without Words July 24 – Carol Grotnes Belk Distinguished Lecturer: Frances Mayes July 24 – Sheryl Crow July 26 – Rosen Outdoor Sculpture Walk July 26 – National Youth Orchestra with David Robertson, Music Director and Gil Shaham,Violin

Appalachain State University presents

App Summer If the last date night you had was little more than hanging out at the house watching reruns, it’s time to shake things up a bit and dial up the romance! App Summer gives you the chance with national musical acts, theater performances, dance ensembles, art exhibitions, and chamber music performances. Dust off that nice suit and bring out that little black dress for a romantic night out where things could light up just like their annual fireworks concert.

Summer Date

Celebrating 30 years of quality entertainment in the High Country, An Appalachian Summer Festival is a month-long festival that takes place on the campus of Appalachian State University each year. The festival is the perfect date for those who crave a little bit of creative entertainment with its awesome lineup of concerts, shows, showcases and exhibitions. With so much to do, you’re sure to find an event during the festival to delight anyone from the casual art lover to the theater aficionado. For decades, An Appalachian Summer Festival has been a favorite of the locals with varied content and exciting offerings. Catch just a concert or two, or make plans to go to as many events as possible for a summer of dates that are seemingly endless! It also provides a great excuse to enjoy the new Schaefer Center for the Performing Arts and expand your horizons to something you may have overlooked. And don’t think that the festival is just for spectators. Aspiring artists and those looking to hone their craft can join their sweethearts for special workshops and interactive events for a date you’re sure to remember for years to come. This year, exciting headlining acts include Little Big Town, Sheryl Crow, the annual Rosen Outdoor Sculpture Walk and much, much more. SHERYL CROW

matthew morrison

PHILOBOLUS

June 2014

SIR JAMES GALWAY

High Country Magazine

Summer Date

Lees-McRae summer theatre

Sometimes a dinner and a movie is just a dinner and a movie. Here’s how you can spice up the romance and still see a show by making a date for the theatre. You’re sure to leave holding hands, ready for your final curtain call and a standing ovation!. If you and your loved one enjoy sitting back and watching a great live show, the Lees-McRae Summer Theatre is right up your alley! Why not surprise your one and only with tickets to a show and treat them to a night out in Banner Elk? The summer theatre season at Lees-McRae College provides a great excuse to make a trip out to beautiful Banner Elk for a night of fantastic live entertainment in one of the most beautiful venues nestled in the Blue Ridge Mountains. Whether you are a fan of musical theater, comedy or drama, the lineup for the Lees-McRae Summer Theatre productions has something to your taste. Grab dinner before the show in one of the many great restaurants in Banner Elk and make a night of it. In fact, check out the rest of LeesMcRae College’s beautiful campus while you are there. The school’s history runs deep and is a great destination for any history buff.

Kiss Me, Kate Combine Shakespeare’s “Taming of the Shrew” with Porter’s music and lyrics and you get “Kiss Me, Kate.” This play within a play tells the story of each cast member’s on stage life and how it is complicated by what is happening on stage. This musical production is fun, melodious and sophisticated. Dates: June 29, July 1, 2, 3, 5 & 6

Roger & Hammerstein’s A Grand Night for Singing A Grand Night for Singing is a musical revue showcasing the music of Richard Rogers and the lyrics of Oscar Hammerstein II featuring songs from lesser-known works as well as music from musical theatre hits. Enjoy music from favorites including The Sound of Music, Carousel and many, many more. Dates: July 16, 17, 18, 19 & 20

Monty Python’s SPAMalot A new musical comedy lovingly ripped off of the film “Monty Python and the Holy Grail,” this production is sure to have you laughing from start to finish. The parody of Arthurian legend brings in a lot of comedy from the movie, but is also unique from the film in many ways. Dates: Aug. 6, 7, 8, 9 & 10 26

High Country Magazine

June 2014

Also at Lees-McRae Lees-McRae also hosts The Forum, now in its 36th season of providing outstanding programs. June 23 - Teresa Walters Teresa Walters, hailed as “The International First Lady of Piano,” is described by Austrian National Television as “that rare musical phenomenon” and “one of the world’s most signiﬁcant pianists.” (www.teresawalters.com) June 30 - Mr. Broadway Mr. Broadway, Michael Walters, presents a one-man journey through the world of Musical Comedy with classic Broadway tunes from Michael’s favorite shows. These classic tunes are intertwined his stories from the stage and family. (www.michaelwaltersonstage.com) July 7 - The Western Piedmont Symphony The Western Piedmont Symphony and its conductor, John Gordon Ross, return for its 11th year. The theme for 2014 will be “Across the Americas” a musical travelogue from Canada to Patagonia with a good bit of the USA in the mix. (www.wpsymphony.org) July 14 - David Burnham & Christina Saffran David Burnham and Christina Saffran are an acclaimed musical duo. David replace Donny Osmond as Joseph in the national tour of “Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat.” Christina has an extensive Broadway career. (www.davidburnham. com) (www.broadwayduo.com) July 21 - Brian Gurl & The Fabulous Five Pianist and vocalist Brian Gurl and the Fabulous Five present a new breakout production, The “KILLER Bs”-- the music of Barry Manilow, Billy Joel and The Beatles. (www. alkahestartists.net/www/docs/289) July 28 - The Rodney Mack Philadelphia Big Brass The Rodney Mack Philadelphia Big Brass is composed of some of America’s top brass musicians dedicated to bringing the joyous experience of great music to a wide range of audiences. (www.rmpbb.com) August 4 - Ben Gulley Ben Gulley, an American operatic tenor, has earned lead and feature roles in opera, solo engagements, concert work, ﬁlm work, nationwide tours, and prestigious appearances abroad. (www.bengulley.com) August 11 | The Marlins These four brothers specialize in country, rock, big band, pop, classical, jazz and bluegrass – performing music for any age group. (www.themarlins.net) All performances begin at 7 p.m. and are held in Hayes Auditorium For season ticket information, call 828.898.8748 or visit lmc.edu/forum. PO Box 649, Banner Elk, NC 28604

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High Country Magazine

friday JULY 11 at McRae Meadows 7-11 p.m.

8 Highland Games FRIDAY NIGHT AT THE

TICKET INFO Tickets for the Celtic Music Jam Concert (7-11 p.m. on Friday, July 11) are $15 for adults and $5 for children ages 5-12. Tickets may be purchased online or at the Grandfather Mountain Highland Games Office in Linville. Tickets purchased at the gate must be paid for in cash.

DIRECTIONS If you arrive early enough to MacRae Meadows, public parking is available on a first-come, first-served basis. Please arrive early if you want to park in the Meadow. Shuttle busses will be used for overflow parking only.

REFRESHMENTS On site there are many options for food and drinks including baked goods, barbeque, homemade ice cream, kettle corn, Scottish meat pies and other authentic treats to give you a taste of the highlands!

MUSICIANS The Celtic Music Jam Concert features world-class, authentic musicians that can provide a taste of the tartan-clad culture while showing everyone present a great time. This year, there will be some new faces alongside some familiar ones to give interesting variations on the celtic theme. Performers for the night include Chambless and Muse, The Red Wellies, The Good Set, Jamie Laval and Brian McNeill. 28

High Country Magazine

Summer Date

You know an evening of Celtic Music can make for a hot date. Especially on a warm summer night up on the grounds of the Grandfather Mountain Highland Games. Famous Sottish bands play their hearts out with music that’s both primal and romantic. The costumes of Scots attending the Games is something to see, as well as enjoying vendors serving local fare.

The Friday night Celtic Jam is a great way to get a little taste of the Highland Games. The setting is beautiful as the sun sets behind the horizon. There’s plenty of room with a hillside that looks down on the stages and lots of room down front to kick up your heels and take in the bands up close. Dance the night away with your sweetheart to a unique blend of music and enjoy the company of the kilt-clad festival goers who liven up the night. The Friday night Celtic Jam is held in MacRae Meadows and features performances that celebrate the connections between the traditional music of the Celtic Isles and the bluegrass music of the southern Appalachians. The Jam provides guests with a variety of great music and truly showcases the unique culture of the gathered clans.With this unique blend of culture and live entertainment, the concert is a rockin’ way to spend time with your loved one after dark, and who knows what could happen after the sun goes down? June 2014

Summer Date

TICKET INFO Tickets can be purchased at Chetola Resort, the Blowing Rock Chamber of Commerce or online at www.BlowingRock.com/ Symphony. Tickets are $32.50 for adults and $14 for children under 12.

PA R K I N G

Parking is available at the Food Lion Shopping Center, Wallingford Parking Deck and American Legion Hall. A parking shuttle is available and runs between the Food Lion Shopping Center, Wallingford Parking Deck, American Legion Hall and Chetola Resort. The free shuttle is handicapped accessible.

DINING OPTIONS Enjoy one of Chetola Resort’s three dining options:

The Picnic on the Lawn is available from 5 p.m. until dusk with no reservations required. Guests can enjoy a delicious selection of salads, wraps and fruit plates. The Pre-Symphony Buffet will be held inside the new Timberlake’s Restaurant and will feature seafood starters, cold salads, hot entrees and a wide variety of sides and desserts. Reservations are required for the Pre-Symphony Buffet. The Prix Fixe Dinner on the Patio includes appetizers, salad, choice of entrée and desert. Call early for this reservationsonly option with the best seats at the Symphony. Chetola offers adult beverage stations and fun treats for the kids! Guests are also welcome to bring their own picnics to enjoy out on the lawn. Chairs and blankets are welcome, but no grills, umbrellas or tables that may obstruct the view of other guests are permitted.

chetola’s

Symphony

Beautiful lakeside music, delicious food and a romantic evening under the stars is a perfect way to get that romantic spark glowing. For a classically romantic date (with maybe something more to look forward to afterwards), look no further than the Symphony by the Lake at Chetola.

by the lake

friday JULY 25

This beautiful experience starts in the late afternoon and ends up under the stars featuring the Symphony of the Mountains playing an outdoor concert by the shore of Chetola Lake. The show is capped off by a spectacular fireworks display to finish off the evening. But that is just the tip of the iceberg. Before the Symphony begins, take a paddleboat ride on the lake with your sweetheart. Then after you’ve worked up an appetite, enjoy a fabulous Picnic on the Lawn outside of Chetola’s restaurant, enjoy the pre-symphony buffet inside Timberlake’s Restaurant or take part in the Prix Fixe Dinner on the Patio, which is always a favorite. Or, if you would like, you are welcome to pack up your favorite items and bring them with you for a DIY picnic on the lawn. Gates for the event will open at 5:30 p.m. with opening bands beginning at 5:45 p.m. and the Symphony officially starting at 7:30 p.m. Spread out your blanket or set up your chairs and then just sit back, relax and enjoy the beautiful music and your time together. The spectacular fireworks show at the end of the last song is the perfect way to cap off a romantic evening under the stars with your loved one.

at Chetola Gates - 5:30 Symphony - 7:30

June 2014

High Country Magazine

Summer Date

’s sugar mountain

SATURDAY AUGUST 2 12 - 6 p.m.

SugarBrew

Let’s face it, when you plan a date it is usually all about what the ladies want. Well, not this time! Here is a date that the guys will look forward to just as much as the ladies, and one that provides it’s own excuse to try tasting many beers, wines and spirits. After all, it’s SugarBrew! Who knows what might happen? Are you or your sweetheart a wine and beer lover? Each year, Sugar Mountain Resort hosts its annual beer and wine festival, aptly named Sugar Brew. This year’s event will be held on Aug. 2 from 12-6 p.m. and it’s a great date idea for anyone who loves beer and wine and enjoys being outside in the summer sunshine. Participating breweries this year include Rail House Brewery, Appalachian Mountain Brewery, Aviator Brewing Company, Oskar Blues Brewery, Dry County Brewing Company and more. Wineries participating include Fiddler’s Vineyard, Duplin Winery and McRitchie Winery and Ciderworks. Guests can also taste spirits from The Brothers Vilgalys Baltic-Style Spirits, Petzoid Distilleries, TOPO Organic Spirits and Muddy River Carolina Rum. During the event, you and your date can spend the afternoon sampling a bounty of beers and wines together, enjoy live music and sample some delicious summertime food. The more adventurous couples can choose to embark on a ski-lift ride and journey 5,300 feet up to the tippy top of Sugar Mountain. This is a great adventure that is perfect for those seeking a little bit of adventure. SugarBrew will host a slew of great entertainment throughout the day. John Carter of WBTV News will act as Emcee for the event, with live music provided by Soul Benefactor, The Johnson Brothers and the King Bees. In addition to live music, SugarBrew is home to the Best in Show Beer Competition where community judges taste and rate beers for prizes in different categories. 30

High Country Magazine

June 2014

TICKET INFO Tickets for SugarBrew’s beer, wine and spirits tasting wristband are $30 online and $35 at the event. Ticket prices include tastings from 12-6 p.m. General admission and parking are free. Tickets may be purchased online at SugarBrew. com or at the event.

F ood Aside from beer, wine and spirits, there are many food and drink options for guests to enjoy. Homemade ice cream (including beer ice cream!), fresh lemonade, hamburgers, hot dogs, kettle corn and more will be available for purchase.

CHAIR LIFTS Chairlift rides are from 10:00 am until 5:30 p.m. Enjoy a breathtaking 45 minute roundtrip lift-ride on Summit #2 to Sugars 5,300 foot peak. The scenery is remarkable. Tickets are $12.

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June 2014

High Country Magazine

n o d g n i Ab o t p i r T A

Summer Date

Really want to impress your date? Take a little trip over to Abingdon, Virginia for dinner and a show at the Barter Theater.

Although the High Country in summer is possibly the nearest place to heaven on this earth, sometimes a day trip to one of our neighbouring communities is a nice summer treat. Just about an hour away from Boone is the beautiful community of Abingdon, just over the state line in Virginia. Abingdon is famous primarily for the Barter Theatre – Virginia’s State Theatre that began 80 years. Barter is where stars such as Gregory Peck, Ernest The Barter Theatre Borgnine and Kevin Spacey launched their careers. Abingdon has for many years been a great day trip for shopping, lunch and a show and today there’s so much more than ever to do. The jewel in Abingdon’s crown is the Barter Theatre – one of the few remaining resident repertory theatres in the nation. When it opened during the depression, management allowed patrons to barter produce and livestock for admission. Scattered throughout the historic district – from Tanner Street to Academy Drive and from Main to Valley Street – art galleries, interior design stores, antique emporia, clothing and gift boutiques and eateries nestle and cluster all within easy walking distance of each other. Abingdon can be “done” in a day – but a real treat is an overnight stay. When that time comes, the real flavor of Abingdon is found in the guest lodgings dotted around. Guest houses enable visitors to mix with locals who know and love their city and can’t wait to pass their One of many Bed & Breakfasts enthusiasm and knowledge on to newcomers.

The Tavern, the oldest of Abingdon’s historic buildings and one of the oldest west of the Blue Ridge, was built in 1779.

For further information, contact: Abingdon Convention & Visitors Bureau, Telephone 276-676-2282, or 800-435-3440 or click to www.abingdon.com.

The Martha Washington Inn originally built in 1832

Barter Theater Summer Schedule

Hollywood Confidential – What

happens when a washed up actor tries to help a temperamental actress in distress? It doesn’t take long for him to discover that no good deed goes unpunished! Dates: June 5 thru 24

A Facility for Living – It’s the Golden Girls meets One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest in this hilarious and disturbing story of what life may be like in the not-so-distant future. Dates: June 18 thru Aug. 7 Winnie-the-Pooh – Winnie-the-Pooh loves stealing honey from the beehive, drinking condensed milk and hanging out with his friends, 32

High Country Magazine

June 2014

Eyeore, Piglet and Rabbit. Then a dangerous creature called “Kanga” arrives in the Hundred Acre Wood and kidnaps Piglet! Dates: June 24 thru July 19

including the push to give women the right to vote. Dates: July 29 thru Aug. 10

Sleeping Beauty – The King and Queen have always longed for a child and when their daughter Aurora is born, their joy is complete. Then, the vengeful Carabosse places a curse on the baby and all seems lost! Dates: July 22 thru Aug. 9

life of Johnny Cash as told by his music. The Man in Black was a man like no other, whether he sang about his love or his deep and abiding faith. Dates: Aug. 15 thru Sept. 6 The Whipping Man – Richmond, 1865. A gaunt confederate soldier stumbles through the front door of his home only to find two men left: former slaves of his father. Dates: Aug. 29 thru Oct. 5

AFPP Mini-Production: Winter Wheat – At the beginning of the last century, great changes were sweeping across America,

Ring of Fire: The Music of Johnny Cash – It’s a journey through the

June 2014

High Country Magazine

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June 2014

A Date with Nature

That has endless possibilities . . . Want to see some?

So we’d like for you to make your 12th date with us on our new website, and we’ll take you on a trip around the High Country. Visit us here as the go to resource for everything about the outdoors in the High Country. All the hiking, biking and fishing spots. Places to go swimming and for water sports. If it’s outdoors – it’s at BooneNCinfo.com.

Summer Date

Introducing

BooneNCinfo.com The high country - At Your Fingertips June 2014

High Country Magazine

Hound Ears Club

50 Years By Jason Reagan PHOTOS BY TODD BUSH

High Country Magazine

June 2014

Building on a tradition of success as western North Carolina’s epitome of mountain living, Hound Ears Club continues to enchant visitors and residents alike after 50 years.

his year, Hound Ears Club is celebrating its Golden Anniversary – 50 years as one of the state’s top rated private mountain communities. The Club will celebrate this Golden Anniversary with a variety of events that truly express the Club’s unique position as one of the region’s most celebrated “escapes” from the hectic pace of modern life. Envisioned in 1964 as a refuge for those seeking a gentle, yet playful, lifestyle, Hound Ears Club will look back at its heritage even as it looks forward to a healthy future as the premier mountain experience.

From mill town to private resort

The 1960s were a time of vast changes for the Boone

region. Tourists had begun to discover the delights of cool summers coupled with accessible ski resorts in the winter. Three brothers – Grover, Harry and Spencer Robbins – were no strangers to this trend. The Robbins family had been instrumental in starting such tourism meccas as nearby Tweetsie Railroad and, later, Beech Mountain Ski Resort and Elk River Club in nearby Banner Elk. The history of the Club is intertwined with the history of the resort and lifestyle community development in the High Country. The Robbins brothers believed that a Bavarian style resort that included both a golf course and a ski slope would find a successful niche in the growing High Country tourism industry. June 2014

High Country Magazine

Golf at Hound Ears is a special experience as mountain vistas surround every hole. The journey from vacant farmland to world-class club started back in 1962 on the site of the now-defunct lumber town of Shulls Mill – just south of Boone and just north of Foscoe. In decades past, Shulls Mill had been the largest town in Watauga County and was a railroad hub for the ET & WNC line, also known as Tweetsie. In that year, Grover and Harry Robbins stood on a hill overlooking farmland owned by the Shore family where parts of Shulls Mill used to stand (in fact, before the #4 hole could be built, workers had to remove an old saw mill and remnants of railroad tracks can still be found on the golf course). The brothers bought 750 acres from Claude Shore for $274,000 (an average of about $360 per acre) and in January of 1964 opened Hound Ears Golf and Ski Club. The brothers had a vision – that they could transform that property into a world-class private club featuring a golf course, ski slope, fine dining and a lodge – in short – a touch of elegance combined 38

High Country Magazine

June 2014

with a whole lot of mountain charm. Ironically, it was Mr. Shore who inspired the name of the Club. As the Robbins brothers were negotiating with the farmer, he pointed at some of the rock formations and said “You surely can see the Hound Ears rocks today.” And the name stuck. Not only were the Robbins brothers

seeking a lucrative return on investment with Hound Ears, but Grover Robbins had another motivation. In June of 1964, he told the Charlotte Observer that he had grown frustrated with crowding at the Blowing Rock Country Club. One day while playing with brother Harry, he yelled: “This area needs another golf course.”

The course has been described as not too difficult but just challenging enough.

Clockwise from top left: Carrie Fisher and Debbie Reynolds visited Hound Ears in the 1970s. Many young golfers learned their game on the course during the same decade. Tennis became a significant amenity in the 1970s and continues today. Southern Living featured a Claus Moberg home for its January 1967 cover. Skiers await a course run in the shadow of the Bavarian clubhouse in the 1960s and enjoy a fireside party in the Lodge.

Today, Hound Ears Club offers a plethora of amenities including tennis, golf, fine dining, as well as a state-of-the-art fitness center and pool which attract a multi-generational clientele. Bill Hensley, former N.C. Director of Travel and Tourism and noted golf writer, recalls many fond memories as he helped the Robbins brothers market the nascent Club from the beginning. “In 1965, I was Director of Travel and Tourism for the state and living in Raleigh. Early that summer I got a call from Grover Robbins at Hound Ears who I knew by reputation but had never met. He invited me to come up for a week end and bring my family. He was anxious for us to see what he had created in the beautiful valley alongside the Watauga River,” Hensley said. As he did with many guests, Grover Robbins took Hensley up in his short takeoff and landing (STOL) aircraft which took off and landed on the 18th hole of the golf course. “A bird’s eye view of the area was an unforgettable experience,” Hensley said. “I’m delighted that Grover conceived the idea to create a resort/club on a whim because a golf course he was playing in the area was crowded and slow. He 40

High Country Magazine

The late Harry Robbins co-founded Hound Ears Club in 1964 along with his brothers Spencer and Grover. June 2014

gave me a lifetime of precious memories,” Hensley said. And to build that course, the Robbins turned to George Cobb, one of the 20th century’s most prolific golf course designers. Cobb created the Par-3 Course at Augusta National Golf Club as well as designing or renovating more than one hundred courses including Sea Pines at Hilton Head. Bob Toski, who had joined the PGA Tour in 1949 and was the leading money winner in 1954, was hired as the first golf pro. He was replaced a few years later by Bob Kepler, the former golf coach at Ohio State. Tom Adams, who now operates Boone Golf course, also served as golf pro. The Robbins brothers weren’t experts in architecture but they knew that they wanted a Bavarian look and feel to Hound Ears. So, they turned to renowned architect Claus Moberg. Although he had made a name for himself in Florida, Moberg already had a summer home on Shulls Mill Road so he was familiar with the Club.

The brothers had a vision – that they could transform that property into a world-class private club featuring a golf course, ski slope, fine dining and a lodge.

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High Country Magazine

Hound Ears Club began as a tract of farmland formerly part of the now defunct town of Shulls Mill.

“We brought a great community of involved people to our area. [The Club] has created new jobs and boosted the economy … and has contributed significantly to [the local] tax base. I feel good about what we started.” – Spencer Robbins

Grover Robbins (right) along with brothers Spencer and Harry bought about 750 acres from Claude Shore for $274,000 (average of about $360 per acre) and in January of 1964 opened Hound Ears Golf and Ski Club. 42

High Country Magazine

June 2014

The Watauga River meanders across Hound Ears Club, creating a unique golfing experience Moberg designed the Clubhouse, lodge, several chalets and later many of the homes within Hound Ears. The uniqueness of Hound Ears’ design caught the attention of Southern Living magazine, which featured one of the Moberg homes on the front cover of the January 1967 cover. The growth of homes on the Hound Ears property was almost an afterthought. Initially, the Robbins intended Hound Ears to be more of a private resort community with a Lodge and chalets to house golfers and skiers. The ski slope was in fact one of the key attractions for the Club until it ceased operating in 1991. The resort included a small slope with one double lift and a rope tow on the kiddie slope. It was considered excellent for beginners and many longtime members fondly recall learning to ski there. One such member is Freda Nicholson. She and her husband, Nick, came to Hound Ears in 1964 as one of the few couples who have been members of Hound Ears Club over the entire 50 years of the Club’s history. Freda recalls many fond memories of Club life. In the early years, the Club founders worked to maintain an image of a Bavarian ski lodge – both in the design of the Clubhouse and in the first homes. “There was special entertainment in the Clubhouse every weekend,” she said, and it was not uncommon to see ski instructors “roaming the Clubhouse singing and yodeling.”

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June 2014

High Country Magazine

“The tremendous support of Hound Ears Club greatly increased our ability to provide specific services such as cardiac care and cancer care for the people of our region.”

– Appalachian Regional Healthcare System president Richard Sparks

From Radio Icons to Galactic Princesses

The Robbins brothers were known for their marketing savvy and were well known enough to garner celebrity attention for their attractions and developments. As a result, many famous people passed through Hound Ears over the years either to stay at the Lodge or to attend other Robbins events. Spencer Robbins recalls that one of his greatest joys in working at Hound Ears Club for so many decades was meeting the many famous people who passed through the Club gates. Paul Harvey stayed at Hound Ears in 1973, when he served as the emcee at Tweetsie’s Old Timers Day. When Beech Mountain held a Snow Carnival in 1969, Grand Marshal Mickey Mantle stayed at – you guessed it – the Lodge at Hound Ears. “He and I played golf in January at Hound Ears,” Spencer recalls. “He was a really good golfer.” When Spencer began plans to develop Elk River in 1982, he looked to Arnold Palmer as a possible course designer. “I had been trading cars with Arnold Palmer for years at his Cadillac dealership in Charlotte, and he kept saying he wanted to fly up and look at the property,” he said. However, prior engagements delayed Palmer’s visit, so Spencer and Harry decided “what the heck, we’d call Jack Nicklaus.” “Jack said he’d heard about Hound Ears Club. If we didn’t mind, he said he’d like to bring his wife, Barbara, with him to come visit us that weekend,” he added. After his visit, Nicklaus decided to design Elk River. Spencer’s “elbow-rubbing” with Hollywood stars increased in 1970 when the brothers opened Land of Oz in Beech Mountain. The amusement park featured costumed actors, rides built to resemble key film plot points and a museum filled with Oz memorabilia. Before the park opened, Spencer traveled to California to bid on museum artifacts from the 1939 film. He found his top auction competitor to be acting icon Debbie Reynolds. Rather than 44

High Country Magazine

June 2014

CELEBRATING 50 YEARS

o celebrate the half-century milestone, Hound Ears Club will partner with the Blowing Rock Art & History Museum to present a community-wide historical exhibit June 20 - September 7. Titled “Hound Ears Community and Club: Celebrating 50 Years of Contributions to the High Country,” the exhibit will coincide with the Club’s 50th anniversary. The exhibit will launch on June 20 and wrap up on September 7. The exhibit will feature a number of artifacts that weave a compelling story of the Club’s history and its relationship with the High Country community created in 1964 by Spencer, Grover, and Harry Robbins, who founded the Club along with High Country attractions such as Tweetsie Railroad, the Land of Oz, Beech Mountain, and The Blowing Rock. Dianna Loughlin, an art management graduate of Appalachian State University, is curating the exhibit. Loughlin has worked as the curator of the Looking Glass Gallery at the ASU Plemmons Student Union and as an intern at the Museum of Modern Art in New York. She has organized and installed more than 20 exhibitions. Jeanne Mercer-Ballard, Associate Professor in the Interior Design Program at Appalachian State, has also created a portion of the exhibit to detail the work of famed architect Claus Moberg, who designed several buildings and homes at

Hound Ears, including the unique Bavarian-styled Clubhouse. Centrally located near Boone, Blowing Rock, and Banner Elk, NC, Hound Ears Club comprises 750 acres tucked into a valley near the Blue Ridge Parkway. The private community’s golf course was recently named a “Top 100 Tar Heel” course by Business North Carolina for the sixth consecutive year. BRAHM promotes visual arts and history in order to celebrate the rich heritage of the mountains. The museum, located at 159 Chestnut Street in Blowing Rock, was incorporated in January 2001 and opened to the public in October 2011. For more information, visit the Hound Ears Club website at houndears.com or the BRAHM website at blowingrockmuseum. org.

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High Country Magazine

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face a protracted, expensive bidding war for the items, Spencer convinced Reynolds to not bid on them in exchange for their use during the winter months at her museum in California (when the Land of Oz would not need them). As part of the deal, Reynolds agreed to cut the ribbon at the Land of Oz on its opening day (which saw 20,000 visitors). She and her daughter, Carrie Fisher, stayed at Hound Ears. Yes, Hound Ears even has a connection to that “galaxy far, far away.” While many New England inns can say, “George Washington slept here,” Hound Ears can proudly proclaim “Princess Leia slept here.” Veteran CBS journalist Bob Schieffer and his wife used to stay at the Lodge at Hound Ears in the 1980s while their two daughters attended nearby Camp Yonahlossee, which was then an all-girls camp. Finally, Darby Hinton, who played Israel Boone with Fess Parker in the hit TV series Daniel Boone, often stayed at Hound Ears, Spencer said, and took golf lessons from noted professional Bob Kepler.

A Friend to the Community

Since its inception, Hound Ears Club has contributed to the local community in many ways. For example, the Club holds an annual golf tournament to benefit the local hospital system. The tournament has generated hundreds of thousands of dollars to help purchase needed equipment

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High Country Magazine

June 2014

for the hospital. “The tremendous support of Hound Ears Club greatly increased our ability to provide specific services such as cardiac care and cancer care for the people of our region,” said Appalachian Regional Healthcare System president Richard Sparks in a recent interview. Perhaps co-founder Spencer Robbins sums up the Hound Ears experience best: “We brought a great community of involved people to our area. [The Club] has created new jobs and boosted the economy … and has contributed significantly to [the local] tax base. I feel good about what we started.”

Moving forward

Today, the member-owned Club remains a family-oriented mountain community. Hound Ears is known for its casual elegance and authentic charm and offers dining, golf, tennis, swimming, hiking, and a fitness center, as well as a full calendar of annual social events. With approximately 300 members, Hound Ears Club cultivates a small-town feeling, an echo of a simpler time, while still embracing the latest in amenities and technology. Members come from as far away as Texas or Florida and as close as Charlotte or Greensboro. Although most members own a home within the Club gates, several live in Seven Devils, Boone, Echota and Blowing Rock as residency is not a requirement for membership. 

I remember Hound Ears

By Bill F. Hensley

his year marks the 50th anniversary of the Hound Ears Club which, since its inception, has become one of North Carolina’s premier recreational communities. I can look back on forty nine of those years, having missed the first year of the reknowned mountain resort that was built on a whim. In 1965 I was Director of Travel and Tourism for the state. Early that summer I got a call from Grover Robbins who I knew by reputation but had never met. He invited me to visit Hound Ears for a week end and bring my family. He was anxious for us to see what he had created in the beautiful valley alongside the Watauga River. We stayed in a house overlooking the golf course and toured the scenic area from top to bottom during a two-day stay. My wife Carol and I played golf while the kids spent the day at Tweetsie Railroad, also a Robbins brothers creation. We met Grover, Harry and Spencer Robbins for the first time and shared lunch and dinner with the creative brothers. In short order, we were discussing marketing plans for the resort and how to tell the world what awaited tourists in the NC High Country. And life-long friendships developed. That winter the family came back for a second visit and everyone learned to ski, a skill that became a family tradition that has lasted until today. Our instructors were Kitty and Willi Falger from Austria, brought over by the Robbins’ in what proved to be a highly successful public relations venture. The Falgers and their Austrian instructors quickly became a hit with members and guests. It was during the winter weekend that Grover Robbins took me up in his STOL airplane which took off and landed on the 18th hole of the golf course. A bird’s eye view of the area was an unforgettable experience. From the beginning Hound Ears had a list of characters as members and employees. One of the most notable was Bert Shrake, a colorful and memorable bartender. He was a bald-headed, middleaged curmudgeon whose sarcastic barbs could sting like a bee. But he could take it as well as dish it out so the repartee was hilarious. His favorite comment to me when I came in the bar was “what the hell do you want? Don’t you have a home?” And the fun would begin. After Bert left the club, he was replaced by Jay Little, a handsome professional dancer who left his duties behind the bar frequently to dance with the ladies. He became one of the club’s best-known and most popular amenities and women flocked to the club to dance with Jay. During the early days, Bob Kepler, the retired golf coach at Ohio State, became the golf professional, assisted by a popular Boone native Tom Adams. Kepler’s wife Gert ran the golf shop. The golf course was designed by George Cobb and became an immediate asset as it is today. The scenic layout was often referred to “as the friendliest and most fun course in the state.” In the early days Mildred Bunting was the club manager, her husband Dick was the chef and her sister Ann Ellis ran the dining room. It was a smooth working family affair that lasted for at least a decade.

I like to think back to the many interesting members I met and played golf with. There was former governor Terry Sanford; Charlotte Observer columnist Kays Gary; Glenn Causey, who played the role of Daniel Boone in the outdoor drama “Horn In The West”; Colin Stokes, who was president of the R. J. Reynolds tobacco company; Jim and Paul Broyhill; Ron Fallows, Blaine Lisk, Bragg McLeod, Kenneth Wilcox, Sherwood Smith, Greg Poole Jr., Roy Clogston, H.B. Crothers, Marcus Hickman and Jim Corrigan. When Southern Living magazine began publishing in 1967, the first cover of the magazine featured a Hound Ears home on the cover. The club has been featured in the publication many times since then. Over the years many celebrities were Hound Ears guests. I recall TV personalities Charles Kuralt and Bob Schieffer; NY Yankee great Mickey Mantle; evangelist Billy Graham; broadcaster Paul Harvey; movie star Debbie Reynolds; golfing great Jack Nicklaus; and governors Dan Moore and Jim Holshouser. I may have played as many as a thousand rounds of golf on the great golf course, mostly with Harry and Spencer. My all time low was a 78, and I had a hole in one on the watery 7th hole. And I remember the course as it was before significant changes were made, all to the better. In a round with Spencer Robbins once, he was even par after eight holes and hadn’t made a par. He had made four birdies and four bogeys. He finally made par on the ninth hole for a hot 36. And the memories go on, including bringing in dozens of travel writers to promote the place; great dinner parties with Kenneth and Gerry Wilcox, Bill and Pat Beck, Ty and Pat Boyd, Betty Jane and Johnny Dillon, Lois and Ed Claughton, and the Robbins brothers and their spouses Delores, Rev and Grace. I have taken golf lessons and written about pros Peter Rucker and Kent Shelton, praised long-time golf course superintendent John Tester, kibitzed with golf course starters Bob Breitenstein and Roby Triplett and locker room attendant Jerry Galya, enjoyed morning workouts with Debra Critcher, and was entertained by great piano music from Gene Fleri and Charlie Ellis. It always thrilled me when I walked into the dining room and Fleri began playing my favorite song. He was a master musician. On the administrative side, manager Chuck Hyatt was a popular leader — and like Grover and Harry — died way too soon. The club has always had good leadership from managers and presidents, as veteran administrator Wanda Barrett can attest. It was always a source of pride that the club grew year after year and provided employment for many local residents. At present there is a permanent staff of 50 plus another 75 seasonal employees, nearly all from the High Country. I’m delighted that Grover conceived the idea to create a resort/ club on a whim because a golf course he was playing in the early 60s was crowded and slow. “Let’s build our own course,” he fumed to Harry. And he did. His unique creation has given me a lifetime of precious memories. June 2014

High Country Magazine

Welcome Back

Summer Dining Guide It’s the height of the summer dining season in the High Country, and there’s no better time to enjoy a casual lunch, a relaxing brunch or a romantic dinner. For your culinary inspiration, you’ll find dozens of fine establishments in the following pages. 48

High Country Magazine

June 2014

PLACES TO DINE THIS SUMMER BANNER ELK CAFÉ BANNER ELK. Serving breakfast, lunch and dinner daily. Great food, ranging from eggs benedict to big, juicy burgers. For the healthy and weight conscience we offer grilled mahi and chicken sandwiches, salad bar, and homemade daily specials. Dinner nightly offering: Ribs, Steaks, Fish and always fresh and creative specials!. The Lodge Espresso Bar and Eatery, friendly coffee-house atmosphere with a smoothie bar, fresh bakery, and gourmet food. Serving, delicious salads, seared Tuna, pizzas, pastas, and wraps. Best Bloody Mary and Cadillac Magaritas in town n 828-898-4040. See ad on page 49

Banner Elk Café

LET’S EAT OUT. These local favorite eateries are here to invite you to visit their restaurant this summer when it’s time to dine out. Bon Appetit!

banner elk sushi club

BARRA

BANNER ELK. The Banner Elk Sushi Club is part of the Downtown Banner Elk Nightlife Group in conjunction with Sorrentos Italian Bistro, The Barra Sport Bar and the Bayou Smokehouse and Grill. Their concept is to present something different to the area of Banner Elk, providing a big city type restaurant and bar in a small town. The Sushi Club also offers a sit down bar area, seating to eat sushi with friends, a dance floor with laser lights and a stage for comedy performances. n 828.898-1940. www.bannerelksushiclub.com. See ad on page 55

Dinner Specialitie

Appetizers

.......... $11 Crispy DuCk Wings ed with a sweet and spicy citrus soy sauce............ Crispy fried duck wings toss grits Cajun shrimp Crab & p crab cake cajun seasoned and pan seared ....... $11 Two large shrimp and a lumese and bacon grits. ............................................. che of bed a on ed serv and

entrees

d with teriyaki glaze sesame salmon on, pan seared and brushe ........$16 Sesame crusted Atlantic Salm , and a starch of the day ................................... accompanied by sautéed kale and red ese DuCk Cranberry goat Che d and topped with a creamy goat cheese spread ......... $16 slice st brea k duc ted les and starch of the day Pan roas etab veg h fres with ed Serv wine reduction cranberries. am rib-eye steak m lobster cream sauce. mushroom lobster Cre ed with a savory mushroo ns .................................... $21 topp eye Char-grilled 10oz. Rib toes and fried green bea pota red d Matched with smashe sauce. Chop baCon glazeD pork pork chop paired with a roasted garlic and bacon pan .......... $18 Pan roasted 10oz. bone-inpotatoes and seasonal vegetables ......................... Served with smashed red hi bs, drizzled Cilantro lime mahi-ma cilantro lime pesto, topped with crispy panko crum ......... $17 Blackened Mahi brushed withAccompanied with wild rice and seasonal vegetables w/honey lemon burré blanc. then fire anD grits Chipolte bbQ shrimp basted with a sweet and spicy chipotle bbq sauce day .. $16 Twenty shrimp skewered and of bacon cheese grits with fresh vegetables of the roasted and served on a bed a lobster n Crab CrusteD ChiCke with a lump crab meat crust baked and topped with........ $19 st day brea the of ken le chic etab ted veg roas and Pan d by smashed red potatoes cream sauce. Accompanie wer f roasted ten-piece shrimp sked surf anD tur in steak paired with a fire she Eight ounce char-grilled sirloonion and garlic compound butter. Served with sma ....... $23 brushed with a roasted redetables ................................................................. potatoes and seasonal veg

BANNER ELK. Barra Sports Bar, Tequila Bar, Outside Fire Pit and Cigar Lounge is located in the downtown village shops of Banner Elk North Carolina. With seven big flat screens Barra allows you to see your favorite sports teams or major events in an upscale setting with family or friends. As you walk in you will see an elegant old timey Boston style wood bar complimented by Miami style art deco with a mountain Indian flair. There is a comfortable group of leather couches and many high bars with seating; covered in brushed copper tabletops and wrapped in leather. n 828-8987727. www.www.bannerelkbarra. com. See ad on page 55

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High Country Magazine

SUMMER DINING GUIDE THE BEST CELLAR BLOWING ROCK. The Best Cellar restaurant has been a favorite among locals for decades. Located in The Inn at Ragged Gardens in downtown Blowing Rock, The Best Cellar offers eleven elegant rooms, seasonal gardens and serves dinner daily. Reservations are suggested. n 828-295-3466. www.ragged-gardens.com. See ad on page 50

Blowing rock ale house and inn

blowing rock. The Blowing Rock Ale House Restaurant and Brewery is located within the Blowing Rock Ale House and Inn and offers the feeling of an English Pub with the mood of a French Bistro. We invite you in to dine on craft pub food and sample our ever-changing artisanal craft beers, brewed on site. The Blowing Rock Ale House Chef team of Erick

and Jenny Virt are both graduates of the Texas Culinary Academy, Le Cordon Bleu and have extensive culinary experience. All of our menu items are made to order using seasonal, local, and organic ingredients when available. n 828.414-9600. www.blowingrockalehouseandinn.com. See ad on page 50

BOONE BAGELRY BOONE. Boone’s oldest bagel shop serves 17 types of freshly baked bagels and hundreds of other menu items. Boone Bagelry is a full-service restaurant that serves breakfast and lunch all day. Patio dining is available, and Boone Bagelry also offers eat in, take out or delivery options. Now with two locations to serve you. Original Location - 516 West King Street. NEW Location by Studio West Apts 125 Graduate Lane. n 828.262-5585 or 828-262-1600. www.bonebagelry. com. See ad on page 52

CAFÉ PORTOFINO BOONE. For a lovely night out with the family or a fantastic evening on the town, look no further than Cafe Portofino. Café Portofino offers a casual atmosphere and truly 5-star dining. Located on Rivers Street, the self-described “Garlic House” menu is a creative mix of Thai, Eurasian and Italian influences. Enjoy daily culinary specials and fresh seafood every day. An eclectic blend of sandwiches, pastas and more, Cafe Portofino has something for everyone. For after-hours entertainment, check out the adjoining taproom featuring billiards and darts, and try out one of fifty bottle and draft beers from around the world. Don’t forget to stop by on Wednesday nights for trivia, prizes and drink specials every week. Tuesday features half-price bottles of house wine, and kids under ten eat free on Wednesdays with the purchase of an adult entree. n 828-264-7772. www.cafeportofino.net. See ad on page 56

For Your Dining and Lodging Pleasure!

High Country Magazine

June 2014

& Friday and Saturday until Midnight Full Bar (open until 2am) 14 Beers on Draught focused on Imports and Micro Brews

Blowing Rock. Located just off of the scenic, winding highway 321 in Blowing Rock, this historic restaurant and bar is well known all over the High Country for its spectacular and breathtaking views of the Blue Ridge Mountains, its scrumptious southwestern choices and unique takes on ordinary American eats. All dishes on the menu are freshly prepared in house with the finest ingredients available. Canyons in Blowing Rock regularly offers a wide variety of seasonally fresh items, so ask about the fantastic nightly specials in addition to the daily menu selections. Every Sunday, enjoy a delicious brunch accompanied by live jazz music. Canyons also offers a diverse selection of domestic and imported wines and a large selection of beers chosen to complement the items on the menu. Just ask a member of the friendly staff for a recommendation, or try something new. n 828-295-7661. www.CanyonsBR.com. See ad on page 56

Six Pence

Canyons

A Taste of England here in Blowing Rock

Restaurant & Pub

Featuring British & American Fare

828.295.3155 } } 1121 Main Street, Blowing Rock, N.C.

CASA RUSTICA BOONE. Conveniently located right off of Highway 105, Casa Rustica offers some of the finest Northern ItalianAmerican cuisine in the High Country accentuated by a cozy, fireside atmosphere. Dishes on the menu from the crisp salads to the scrumptious pastas are adapted from old family recipes that have been handed down for generations. The chefs and owners at Casa Rustica are also committed to offering local beef in their cuisine and proudly offer homestyle meals made with love and meticulous care. Casa Rustica’s extensive wine list is updated every 30 days to include interesting vintages and new organics for guests to try. Enjoy live jazz every Thursday night and classical guitar every Sunday. The restaurant also features a full bar and fantastic drink selections to delight even the pickiest patron. n 828-262-5128. www.casarustica1981.com. See ad on page 59

Chef and Owner David Bartlett Is Celebrating His 29th Year In Blowing Rock

It’s Always Trout Season In Blowing Rock!

At The Corner of Main Street and Hwy. 221

World Famous for His Trout Dishes Prepared 5 Different Ways

SERVING A VARIETY OF FRESH SEAFOOD, LOCAL MOUNTAIN TROUT… Served 5 different ways, ANGUS BEEF, SARA’S BABY BACK RIBS

With A Wide Variety of Made Fresh Daily Side Dishes

AS WELL AS THESE SPECIALITIES Paul Tate Filet Mignon • Sara’s Baby Back Ribs Fresh Gulf Oysters & Shrimp • Seafood Dishes And, of Course, Much More! Serving Dinner 5:00 to 9:00 Tues. - Sat.

OPEN FOR LUNCH

David Bartlett’s

SPECKLED TROUT CAFE Always Fresh Seafood

& Oyster Bar

We also have

Breakfast Buffet on Weekends... Enjoy Our Air-Conditioned Dining Room All youPatio can eat or Our COVERED 9am-Noon At the Corner of Main St and Hwy 221 • 295-9819 ••On$7.95 Facebook

MAIN STREET BLOWING ROCK, NC

SPECKLED Open for Dinner TROUT 5:00-9:00

June 2014

H i g h C o u n&t r y M a g a z i n e

Always Fresh

Oyster Bar

EAT CROW SUMMER DINING GUIDE EAT PIE EAT PIE EAT PIE EAT PIE EAT PIE EAT PIE EAT PIE EAT PIE

Sandwiches

Char modern american restaurant

(Served on our homemade bread)

Pies • Cakes Shepherd’s Pie Steak & Ale Pie Chicken Pot Pie English Specialties Catering (On Request)

Serving Dinner Twice Monthly Call or Check our Website for Dates & Menu

828.963.8228 www.eatcrownc.com

Fabulous British Chef/Owner

Dominic& Meryle Geraghty

EAT CAKE EAT CAKE EAT CAKE EAT CAKE EAT CAKE EAT CAKE

Open Tuesday - Saturday 10am-5pm Take-Out Only after 3pm

BOONE. char ... where New York City meets the Blue Ridge Mountains! A unique, contemporary bistro located in downtown Boone, offering diverse, creative and delectable brunch, lunch and dinner cuisine in a warm, open, cosmopolitan setting. char also features a covered deck and a sleek modern bar. Sample some of their distinctive modern American cuisine including signature dishes including the famous Low Country Shrimp & Grits, the delicious Angus hand-cut Ribeye Steak the refreshing Turkey & Brie Sandwich and the local favorite Grilled Tilapia Fish Tacos. Nightly Entertainment. Come join us at char for Food • Drinks • Music • Art • Fun ... n 828-266-2179. www.char179.com. See ad on page 59

9872 Hwy. 105 S. in Foscoe (across from Mountain Lumber)

Hours: Mon - sat. 6:00am - 5:00pm sun. 7:00am - 3:00pm

Family Owned & Operated since 1988 Serving Breakfast and Lunch All Day 14 Varieties of Freshly Baked Bagels Gluten Free Options Available Free Delivery Deli Sandwiches, Omelettes, Flavored Cream Cheeses, Salads, Burgers Vegetarian Options Members of the Boone Independent Restaurant Association

TWO LOCATIONS • Old dOwntOwn: 516 West King St. • 262-5585 • at the 105 waterwheel: 125 Graduate Lane • 262-1600 www.boonebagelry.com 52

High Country Magazine

June 2014

CHESTNUT GRILLE AT GREEN PARK INN BLOWING ROCK. Come enjoy our remodeled restaurant, The Chestnut Grille, under the direction of New England Culinary Institute trained Chef Steve Birgel. Enjoy Chef Steve’s signature dishes, including his pulled pork sushi! The Divide Tavern and Lounge is now serving mixed beverages in addition to an extensive wine and beer menu. The Chestnut Grille offers Comfort Cooking with a touch of Gourmet, a thoughtful wine selection, and service befitting your expectations. Join us at this newly restored National Historic Register property. The hotel includes 88 guest rooms at the inn to accommodate parties large or small. Reservations can be made on our website. n 828-414-9230. www. greenparkinn.com. See ad on page 53

EAT CROW BANNER ELK. Eat Crow is a wonderful little cafe specializing in fresh baked, delicious goods including a large variety of baked pies and cakes. These delectables are offered by the slice, or you have the option to order a whole one to take home and enjoy. We also offer fresh made sandwiches at lunch time that can not be compared to any other “sandwich shop” in the area.   Since we know life can be very hectic, for your convenience we prepare whole meals and fresh soups daily that are ready for you to take home and heat up for your family. These entrees vary daily. We are always creating something delicious! All sandwiches are served on farmhouse or whole wheat bread. Choices of sides include fresh fruit, firecracker coleslaw or chips. We are open Tuesday - Saturday: 10:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. and are located near Foscoe on Hwy. 105 between Boone and Banner Elk. n 828-963-8228. See ad on page 52

REAL FOOD FOR REAL PEOPLE Casual Mountain Dining

Check Out Our New Summer Menu! Including

The Eseeola Lodge linville. Guests enjoy breakfast and dinner daily as part of their accommodations package, but all High Country visitors are welcome to enjoy the finest cuisine. Spend a leisurely morning with us, or grab a quick bite on your way out for the day. Either way, an outstanding breakfast awaits you each morning in our dining room. Then enjoy lunch at the Grill Room in the Linville Golf Club, where resort casual wear is appropriate for daytime meals. For the evening meal, select your choice of seven meticulously prepared entrees crafted by Chef Patrick Maisonhaute at the helm of your culinary experience. The menu changes daily, and also offers an extraordinary seafood buffet every Thursday evening with seatings at 6:30 and 8:30 p.m. Reservations are required, and gentlemen are required to wear a coat for the evening meal. n 800-742-6717. www.eseeola.com. See ad on page 58

Watercress Salad .................6.95

Herb Roasted Breast of Chicken ..........................16.95

red watercress, granny smith apples, grapes, candied walnuts, blue cheese and fresh cider tarragon vinaigrette

fresh bruschetta, choice of salad and side

Grilled Pork Flat Iron ..........19.95

Seared Scallops ...................9.95

marinated asian style with stewed apples with choice of salad and side

served over mixed greens with citrus vinaigrette

Grilled NY Strip .................23.95 peppercorn or chimichurri sauce and choice of salad and side

Fettucini Carbonara...........15.95 bacon and parmesan rich cream sauce with choice of salad

Pulled Pork Sushi ..............18.95 served with no mayo slaw and choice of salad and side

Black Eyed Pea Cakes ........15.95 served over wilted greens and tomato coulis with choice of salad and side

Outdoor Seating Available!

Wednesday Wine Down 50% Off All Wine Bottles

MuSIC ON tHE VERaNda EVERY SuNdaY FROM 5 - 8 PM www.greenparkinn.com | 828.414.9230 9329 Valley Boulevard, Blowing Rock June 2014

High Country Magazine

Don’t Miss these Dining, entertainMent

us o m a F d l Wor

Bistro

Lunch: Wed-Sat 11 am - 4 pm • Sunday Brunch: 10 am - 4 pm • Dinner Daily: 4 pm - 11 pm

Village Shoppes • Downtown Banner Elk • www.sorrentosbistro.com • 898-5214

Banner Elk Winery & Villa The High Country’s Premier Winery

Bed & Breakfast Open Year Round

Open for Wine Tasting & Tours Tuesday through Sunday Noon - 6 p.m.

Closed Monday except for Holiday Weekends

Unforgettable Weddings at Banner Elk Winery From the light in Banner Elk, 1½ miles North to Gualtney Road. Turn left ¼ mile. 54

828.898.9090 or 828.260.1790

High Country Magazine

June 2014

www.BannerElkWinery.com

a nD ta sting op tions in Ba nner elk B A N N E R

E L K

S U S H I C L U B Sports Bar, Tequila Bar Featuring the Best Tasting Sushi in the High Country!

• Late Night Lounge & Dining • Wednesday Night: Jazz • Thursday: Prime Rib for $9.99 • Friday: Chef’s Choice Seafood Platter for $9.99 • Friday & Saturday: Live DJ

www.bannerelksushiclub.com

828-898-1940

Outdoor Fire Pit & Cigar Lounge

• Thursday: Prime Rib for $9.99 • Friday: Chef’s Choice Seafood Platter for $9.99 • Friday Night Live Entertainment • Late Night Menu until 2am

www.bannerelkbarra.com

828-898-7727

Located Next To Sorrento’s at Village Shops Downtown 140 Azalea Circle, Banner Elk, North Carolina 28604 HouRS oF oPERaTioN

Thursday: 5:00pm - until • Friday & Saturday: 5:00pm - 2:00am Open Wednesdays for Jazz Night from June thru September at 5:00pm-12:00am Sunday: Sushi Club Closed, Barra 4:00pm - 12:00am (1pm – 12:00am during football season) ALL SpeciALS bASeD oN proDucT AVAiLAbiLiTy June 2014 High

Country Magazine

Half Price On Our House Bottled Wines Every Tuesday!

Gamekeeper

KIDS MEAL

FREE

g 5 star dintin without he casual prices in a amosphe re!

Kids 10 and under eat free with purchase of adult entree. Lunch or Dinner. Wednesday

Sun, Tue - Thurs: 11:30 am - 9:00 pm • Fri - Sat: 11:30 am - 10:00 pm 970 Rivers Street • 828-264-7772 • w w w. c a f e p o r t o ﬁ n o . n e t

Daily Lunch Specials

Blowing Rock. You haven’t fully experienced the region until you’ve dined at The Gamekeeper. It’s a true gourmet restaurant, with the perfect blend of upscale elegance and simple mountain charm. The Gamekeeper is famous for Southern favorites - ultimate in comfort food - prepared with creativity and originality, offered through an evolving seasonal menu that blends the traditional with the exotic, satisfying both the meat lover and the vegetarian. Housed in a 1950s stone cottage, The Gamekeeper is an upscale restaurant that offers an eclectic mix of Southern foods and mountain cuisine, offering a selection of unique meat dishes including mountain trout, buffalo rib eye, ostrich, duck and beef tenderloin. The friendly staff literally waits on you hand and foot, assuring that you’ll leave happy and satisfied. The restaurant is located off Shulls Mill Road near Yonahlossee Resort. n 828-963-7400. www.Gamekeeper-NC.com. See ad on page 58

JOY Bistro Boone. Joy Bistro is known all over the High Country as the resident purveyors of Fine Food & Drink. Chefs and Owners Melissa Joy and Gary Claude welcome you to come in and enjoy delicious, unique food selections and delightful cocktails in a casual, warm and inviting setting. Enjoy a relaxed and inviting atmosphere while you experience their unique, handcrafted cuisine. Exclusively fresh and always seasonal ingredients are expertly utilized in their many nightly specials as in all of the daily items in their superb menu. Enjoy scrumptious selections like the famous firecracker shrimp, the unique blood orange salad, local meats and pasta options, and a wonderful dessert like creme brulee or espresso torte. The friendly staff is always on hand to assist you with expert recommendations for dining selections and wine pairings for your choices. Joy Bistro also serving lunch 56

High Country Magazine

June 2014

this summer and offers a full bar, an extensive wine list, & craft beers for guests to enjoy. n 828-265-0500 www.joybistroboone.com. See ad on page 52

Red Onion Café Boone. Established in 1985 as one of the classic restaurants in Boone NC, the Red Onion Café opens daily at 11am and serves continuously to hungry guests well into the evening. The Red Onion Café has created its niche in the High Country for more than 30 years by offering customers a comfortable and welcoming atmosphere and an extensive menu at affordable prices. The café has something for every member of the family, including burgers, sandwiches, wraps, pizza, pasta, fish, steak and delicious homemade desserts. Look for weekly dinner specials and the kid’s menu items as well. The Red Onion Café also offers several of the region’s top beer and wines to compliment any meal as well as friendly staff on hand to assist with your choices from the extensive menu. The outside patio is perfect for a comfortable outdoor lunch or for a cozy dinner on warm evenings. n 828-264-5470. www.theredonioncafe.com.

roots Blowing rock. Roots is located on US 321 across from the Tanger Outlet Mall. The restaurant specializes in regional food and drink with an emphasis on chef-inspired specials. Sunday brunch and dinner Monday thru Saturday. A sister restaurant of the Best Cellar and Blowing Rock Ale House and Inn. n 828-414-9508. www.roots-restaurant.com. See ad on page 50

six pence pub Blowing rock. In 2001 Six Pence opened in Blowing Rock, North Carolina and has been a Blowing Rock staple for visitors and residents alike ever since. Known all over the High Country for establishing itself as a fine example of British fare, the friendly staff, delicious food and extensive beer and wine selection make this local watering hole a local favorite. From traditional British favorites like Shepherd’s Pie and fish and chips to American-style burgers, house made soups and salads, this eatery and bar alleviates everyone’s hunger pains and provides a unique dining experience right on beautiful Main Street. Who knew that one could find such exceptional British cuisine in the heart of the High Country? The pub now proudly features a new patio so guests can choose to sit outside and enjoy their meals and enjoy the beautiful views of Main Street. Or step inside to the air conditioned interior to beat the heat this summer season. n 828-295-3155. www.sixpencepub.com. See ad on page 51

June 2014

High Country Magazine

LET US SHOW YOU SOME FOOD LOVE!

Modern Mountain Cuisine

sorrento’s banner elk. Sorrento’s Italian Bistro is a family run business and has been serving Italian dishes since 1983 to locals and travelers alike. Sorrento’s has evolved in to an eclectic gourmet Italian cuisine open seven days a week and for lunch and dinner. Patrons come back again and again for the Crab Cakes and the Tortellini Sorrentos. This upscale eclectic gourmet Italian Bistro, is a combination of a visual and culinary celebration. Although the menu is Southern Italian cuisine, the sky’s the limit for special events and private parties. n 828-898-5214. www.sorrentosbistro.com. See ad on page 54

Speckled Trout Café Shulls Mill Rd beside Yonahlossee

www.gamekeeper-nc.com

(828) 963-7400

T ime again for a summer tradition, an evening at The Eseeola Lodge.

Filet Mignon with potatos Pont Neuf, local vegetables, and blue cheese compound butter

High Country Magazine

Dinner served: 6:30 til 9 Thursday Nights Seafood Buffet

The Eseeola Lodge at Linville Golf Club www.Eseeola.com

call for reservations

828.733.4311 June 2014

Blowing Rock. When you come to Blowing Rock, look around, see the sights, do some shopping, then come down the quaint downtown street until you reach the corner of Main and Highway 221. It’s on this corner that you will find the Speckled Trout Cafe and Oyster Bar. Since 1986, the Speckled Trout Cafe & Oyster Bar has been pleasing both locals and visitors every evening with its exquisite choices for dinner. The house specialty is smoked rainbow trout which is fished from local waters, but the extensive menu covers everything from terrestrial meat choices like steak and ribs to fresh seafood and so much more. The Speckled Trout is also pleased to be serving lunch for patrons to enjoy either inside the restaurant or for easy take out for a picnic on the Parkway. The restaurant also proudly features a beautiful outdoor patio overlooking Main Street for guests to enjoy their meals in the beautiful outdoors as well as an airconditioned interior to beat the heat this summer season. n 828-295-9819. www.speckledtroutcafe.com. See ad on page 51

timberlake’S RESTAURANT AT CHETOLA RESORT BLOWING ROCK. On July 28, 2012, Chetola officially opened Timberlake’s Restaurant in the historical building, with a menu inspired by world-renowned

North Carolina artist and designer Bob Timberlake’s culinary favorites. The restaurant features three dining rooms, an intimate wine room and waterfront dining on the Patio. The charming and warmly outfitted Headwaters Pub is just inside Timberlake’s main entrance. Bob Timberlake, who is known for creating things of exceptional artistry and imagination, used his deeply rooted love of food as the impetus behind the distinctive menu. From Mesquite-dusted shrimp and salads of mountain-grown spinach, to Carolina-raised trout and roasted Carolina quail, each dish will be one worth savoring. A mouth-watering array of brick-oven pizzas, tender Angus beef filets, seafood, poultry, and an inspired selection of health and wellness dishes will also tempt palates of all tastes. n 828-295-5505. www.chetola. com. See ad on page 57

vidalia Boone. Centrally located on King Street in downtown Boone, Vidalia is a casual, upscale restaurant featuring “creative American cuisine.” Featuring creative menu items for lunch and dinner, it offers daily specials, various events, wine tastings and special nights. Famous menu items include the apple and gorgonzola salad, shrimp and grits, chicken and waffles and mushroom ravioli, with finishing choices like stone ground grits and cheddar mac n’ cheese. All of these choices come to you from the culinary mind of Chef Samuel Ratchford, who also owns the restaurant with his wife Alyce. Taking pride in the local community, the restaurant is proud to offer various local ingredients and choices to patrons who are looking to try local fare. Vidalia holds all ABC permits and has an extensive wine list which routinely features over 60 different wines which can be expertly paired with meals by the staff, a large selection of craft beers, martinis, whiskeys, scotches and cordials. Vidalia’s menu changes twice a year to keep it seasonal and practices farm-to-table food, using local vendors as much as possible. n 828-263-9176. www.vidaliaofboone.com. See ad on page 52 June 2014

High Country Magazine

Farewell to a Legacy Chancellor Ken Peacock Bids Farewell After a Decade at the Helm of Appalachian State University By Madison V. Fisler

n April 18, 2013, Chancellor Kenneth E. Peacock shocked the Appalachian State University body when he announced that he would be stepping down from his position at Appalachian State University once a suitable successor was found. Appalachian State University’s Chancellor Ken Peacock has been at the helm of the institution for a decade, and has spent 31 years employed at ASU. Over the decades, Chancellor Peacock has seen many changes, taken part in many transitions and worked diligently with a dedicated team of staff toward the betterment of the university and the university family. With just a few weeks left until he hands over the reins to chancellor-elect Sheri Noren Everts in July, High Country Press sat down with him to talk about his tenure at Appalachian and to learn what has made this university’s chancellor stick around for so long. To think I have been here 31 years, it doesn’t feel like I have been here that long, Peacock mused sitting on a couch in his office on a rainy Tuesday morning in Boone. “When you’re around young people that really stretches you and keeps you young. In 31 60

High Country Magazine

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years on campus, and for ten of those as chancellor, it has been an incredible experience. It has been an opportunity for me that I never dreamed I would have. It has been absolutely wonderful. So many things have been accomplished, but I don’t want people to think that I accomplished them. A team did. A lot of people worked very hard and share in any accolades, because we all just worked together so well.” Dr. Peacock began his tenure as chancellor of Appalachian State University a decade ago, after many years as a dean and as a professor. Looking back on his time at Appalachian, Dr. Peacock has many fond memories of a long and decorated career that surprised even him. “Honestly, my wife (Rosanne) and I thought when we moved here that we would be here four or five years, that’s what happens in higher education,” Peacock said. “I just wanted to be a good professor. I came and had a great opportunity and I loved my students. I still keep in touch with many of them. I was very content. I came here as a professor to teach from the

University of Virginia and I just loved it. The classroom was great. You get here and you begin to say, why would we want to leave? We love the climate; our sons loved the school system. I never thought I would stay here 31 years and I never thought I would be in this job either. A door opened to become a dean and then a door opened to serve as chancellor and that was incredible for me, so we gave it a shot.” Dr. Peacock first came to Appalachian State University as a professor in the Department of Accounting in the Walker College of Business in 1983. He reflected on what he considered the highlights of his tenure at the university with a smile. “Highlights,” Peacock said. “The creation of the Health Sciences College, the creation of that, that’s the coming greatest need we find in our state and thus in our nation and Appalachian is preparing young people extremely well to go into those fields. Also, introducing the P.A. [physician’s assistant] program being brought to us by Wake Forest University, seeing the Health College birthed and then seeing it grow has been a point of pride for me. Then the creation of the ACCESS program [Appalachian Commitment to a College Education for Student Success]. When you see these young people that

â&#x20AC;&#x153;I think the thing that means so much is the sense of community that is here, people know this is a special place.â&#x20AC;? June 2014

High Country Magazine

Career History Timeline 1983 – Kenneth E. Peacock joins the faculty of Appalachian State University’s Walker College of Business’s Department of Accounting 1987 – Peacock appointed assistant dean of the business school 1989 – Peacock appointed Associate Dean 1992-2003 – Served as Dean of the Walker College of Business 2004 – Appointed as Appalachian State University’s sixth chancellor 2005, 2006, 2007 – NCAA Football Championships 2007 – First ACCESS program award awarded to members of Freshman class 2009 – Construction of Roess Dining Hall (formerly Central Dining Hall) 2010 – College of Health Sciences established 2011 – Campaign for Appalachian launched 2013 – Farthing Auditorium refurbished into the Schaefer Center for the Performing Arts 2013 – Construction of the Beasley Media Complex 2014 – Appalachian State University enters the Sun Belt Conference come to Appalachian from families that are below the poverty level and you talk to them later they never dreamed they could go to college. Especially when I see them before they graduate, they are so excited and ready to change the world. It changes their lives and the lives of others that will follow them. They are breaking that chain of poverty, and I think that is something I will always share as a great moment for me.” Dr. Peacock spoke about the creation of the honors college and his pride in seeing young people at the university succeed. With a laugh, Dr. Peacock remembered the times that crowds of Appalachian students flocked to the door of the Chancellor’s Residence after victories. “I have to say, also, that it is nothing that I did, but just the openness of the students to come to my house at night at 2 a.m. to celebrate with me victories that are their victories, and them coming to share that good news with me [was a highlight].” 62

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Not content to just sit behind his desk, during his tenure at Appalachian State University Chancellor Peacock could oftentimes be found wherever the students were, taking part in whatever victory they happened to be celebrating.

So many things have been accomplished, but I don’t want people to think that I accomplished them. A team did. A lot of people worked very hard and share in any accolades, because we all just worked together so well.” And with a smile, “People would call me to say ‘3,000 students are coming, stay inside,’ and I would ask ‘who are the students?’ Because if they are Appalachian students I’m not about to stay inside. I want to share in their good news! That openness has meant a lot to me. The students felt they could come in the middle of the night to share great news. And they did.” Dr. Peacock has always been known to spend time with students whether at football games, in meetings or just on Sanford Mall. “I love the students, there is no doubt, I love them,” he said. “When I started, people didn’t like my phrasing about ‘students first, quality in all.’ If I put students first that means I want to attract and retain the best faculty and staff anywhere, and I do want to do that. It goes back to building a strong institution. They keep me young, and I like that. Sometimes they would share things with me I really didn’t want to hear, but I do need to hear that. I need

to celebrate with them and talk to them when they have challenges. It means a lot that they have perceived me as I am, willing to listen to them. If they have an issue, then I have that issue too.” Dr. Peacock remembers fondly all the commencement ceremonies that he attended to bid farewell to graduating seniors, and anyone in attendance will remember the line of students getting backed up because of all the new graduates wanting to stop and have a conversation with Dr. Peacock while crossing the stage. “We really don’t have time to talk, but I wish that I could have the time for each student to sit down and talk a few minutes.” After 31 years in Boone, Dr. Peacock seems to have found a home in the High Country. “You can’t find a more beautiful place than Boone, North Carolina,” he said. “I think the thing that means so much is the sense of community that is here, people know this is a special place. When

Chancellor Peacock was always known for taking the time to talk to the students, ometimes showing up in classrooms and meetings to give a speech or just hang out with the student body.

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Though he has been the central figure for ten years at commencement ceremonies, even when he was a professor and later as a dean he always expressed excitement at the prospect of his students’ futures. I go out and try to sell Appalachian to prospective freshmen, I do my best, but I have to tell them that I can’t do it justice. They have to come and walk this campus and feel this place.” Since neither he nor his wife have any siblings, Dr. Peacock found an irreplaceable sense of family on the campus. “This is absolutely a family to me,” he said. “That doesn’t mean that everything is smooth and easy. In a family, you have squabbles and differences of opinion but a family works through it. There is a respect on this campus that I think is unique, a respect for each other as faculty, as colleagues and that is what makes Appalachian unique.” Dr. Peacock admits that what he will miss the most about Appalachian State University isn’t tangible, but is in the simple moments that make it all worth it. “What will I miss the most? Well, some days, things are challenging, there is a budget crisis so day after day that gets to you. So sometimes I will take a moment. I go outside and walk around Sanford Mall. I walk around and I hear the students say 64

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June 2014

‘Hey Peacock! What’s happening?’ and I just think, that’s why I’m here. I will miss that spontaneous interaction with them. I will miss being able to go to student performances. I will miss looking up from the sidelines [of football games] and see thousands of students all smiling and pulling for their school. There is something about that that nothing else matches and I really do enjoy that.” The university has undergone many changes, both tangible and intangible, through the decades that Dr. Peacock has been here. “The quality of young persons that apply to Appalachian has changed,” he said. “That means our curriculum has changed. I have seen us grow in terms of quality, grow in terms of quantity of very fine young people that come to Appalachian. I think we have seen this university step up in really challenging times. These last few years have been very challenging and the strength of Appalachian shows when put under pressure because the faculty and staff realize that the person in this office can’t control the revenue picture. They know that and

so they pull together. The thing that makes me the proudest is that the quality has not diminished at all even though we have had much fewer resources.” But while Chancellor Peacock has overseen and implemented many changes to Appalachian State University during his three decades in various positions, the most surprising thing is the ways that the campus has changed him. “The school has changed me in this way: it has let me see and experience the true value of what an education can do,” he said. “I am an only child, a first generation college student. I would never have had an opportunity such as this without a formal education. It gives individuals an opportunity to do things that they really can’t imagine. It taught me that it’s alright to dream. Dreams come true. I think by serving in this role, I have seen that someone you would have thought a few decades ago wouldn’t be head of Appalachian ... it happened.” But even the dream job comes with its challenges. “The most challenging part, and frus-

I walk around and I hear the students say ‘Hey Peacock! What’s happening?’ and I just think, that’s why I’m here. I will miss that spontaneous interaction with them. trating I will say, is that a lot of times you are asked questions and you can’t answer them. Under this confidentiality, there are things you can’t discuss. You have to be quiet and I just want to tell it. But we are not allowed to do that. It’s the same thing with the finances. That is very frustrating and very challenging.” “The job that I am about to leave, honestly, is not the job that I accepted ten years ago, because the demands have changed so much. I wish the days had more time, more hours in the day because there is stuff I want to do but time is out and you just can’t get it done. There is so much talent that is on this campus, so much ability among the faculty here that there are so many things I wish I could have done for them. I wish we had more space, I wish we had more money, but that has been the toughest part and I think the part I would want to change is to be able to talk, lay it out on the table and tell them where we are.” As head of the university, Dr. Peacock has seen firsthand the contentions between the university and the town of Boone. From his vantage point, Dr. Peacock, along with town and campus authorities, have made strides to strengthen the relationship between the town and the university. “I understand that if you have a growing university like Appalachian in a small town like Boone, I understand the residents’ concern,” he said. “They don’t want anything to change their wonderful lifestyle, and one reason why I love Boone so much is the small town community feel. We want Appalachian to be a great corporate citizen and a great supporter of the town and the life that’s here. If I were a resident sitting here, you would think the university was taking us over. We have improved the relationship somewhat, we are working together on a growth plan, and we work together in formulating these plans and ideas for the future. That is a positive thing. Sometimes we get so busy over here that we don’t hear what their concerns might be until it blows up in the paper and we think, ‘where did that come from?’ This will allow the new chancellor to have an ear in that and to hear what these concerns are and work through them.” When asked about his hopes for the future of the university, Dr. Peacock sat in thought for a few moments. Then he continued: “My hope for Appalachian is that it can continue to grow and develop,” he said. “Just to see the energy on this campus unleashed. I would like to see more graduate programs. I think we are at that level; we have that expertise on this campus. Our mission statement ties our hands a bit, but I would like to see that untied to go forth and do what we can.” But when asked about his personal plans for the future, Dr. Peacock was all smiles. “I want to nap when I want to, eat when I want to, I just want some down time,” he said with a laugh. “It has been ten years, 24/7 and I knew that coming into the job. Nothing has been a surprise there. But after ten years

2014 Programs All performances begin at 7 p.m. and are held in Hayes Auditorium. June 23 | Teresa Walters Teresa Walters, hailed as “The International First Lady of Piano,” is described by Austrian National Television as “that rare musical phenomenon” and “one of the world’s most signiﬁcant pianists.” In recent years, she has performed as recitalist and orchestral soloist on six continents and in most of the 50 United States. (www.teresawalters.com)

June 30 | Mr. Broadway, Michael Walters Mr. Broadway, Michael Walters, presents a one-man journey through the world of Musical Comedy with classic Broadway tunes from Michael’s favorite shows. These classic tunes are intertwined with stories of celebrity encounters, on and offstage mishaps and hilarious tales about his family. (www.michaelwaltersonstage.com)

July 7 | The Western Piedmont Symphony The Western Piedmont Symphony and its conductor, John Gordon Ross, return for its 11th year. The theme for 2014 will be “Across the Americas” a musical travelogue from Canada to Patagonia with a good bit of the USA in the mix. (www.wpsymphony.org)

July 14 | David Burnham and Christina Saffran David Burnham and Christina Saffran are an acclaimed musical duo. David gained critical acclaim when he was chosen to replace Donny Osmond as Joseph in the national tour of “Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat.” Christina has an extensive Broadway career, has performed lead vocals for several world renowned orchestras and provided animated voices for many movie productions. (www. davidburnham.com) (www.broadwayduo.com)

July 21 | Brian Gurl and The Fabulous Five Brian Gurl and the Fabulous Five present a new breakout production, The “KILLER Bs”-- the music of Barry Manilow, Billy Joel and The Beatles. Pianist and vocalist Brian Gurl combines his talent with a world class band and fabulous vocalist to discover a magical synergy in the music of these legendary icons. (www.alkahestartists.net/www/docs/289)

July 28 | The Rodney Mack Philadelphia Big Brass The Rodney Mack Philadelphia Big Brass is composed of some of America’s top brass musicians dedicated to bringing the joyous experience of great music to a wide range of audiences. The group is especially dedicated to reaching out to the world’s youth and inspiring them to reach for their dreams. (www.rmpbb.com)

August 4 | Ben Gulley Ben Gulley, an American operatic tenor, has earned lead and feature roles in opera, solo engagements, concert work, ﬁlm work, nationwide tours, and prestigious appearances abroad. Ben will treat our audience to a diverse program of music, from Jazz to Easy Listening to Classical. (www.bengulley.com)

August 11 | The Marlins The Marlins will be joining FORUM this year for the second time. These four brothers specialize in country, rock, big band, pop, classical, jazz and bluegrass – performing music for any age group. (www.themarlins.net)

For season ticket information, call 828.898.8748 or visit lmc.edu/forum.

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June 2014

High Country Magazine

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Never one to stay behind the scenes, Chancellor Peacock could usually be found mingling with the students and cheering on the Mountaineers at football games. He was present and cheering with the loudest of the fans when the team was victorious over the Blue Hens in the Mountaineer’s third National Championship win in 2007. A celebrity in the stands, Chancellor Peacock often found himself the subject of many humorous student signs. I’m ready to have some me time. I want two months and then I will decide, and I haven’t decided but somehow I think that young people will be part of that. I have had people call and ask about certain opportunities, not at this level, but I keep saying ‘not now.’ Because I know if I accept something I would start thinking about that job with this job and Appalachian provides enough challenges for me. I want to stay focused on Appalachian as long as I am in this job.” “My wife says I’ll never make it two months that I’m just not wired that way, 66

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but I said ‘just give me a shot!’” In the near future, the Peacocks plan to move back to their home in WinstonSalem, where they have a home, where Dr. Peacock had his first job at Price Waterhouse & Company and where he met his wife, Rosanne. “We want to go back to Winston and honestly, the first two months, I don’t want to do anything. I just want to read. I have some books stacked up and I would just like to read them.” But before he goes, Dr. Peacock hopes that his legacy is one that makes

was just starting this job and they are outstanding in the way they a difference. “I guess I hope that my legacy would be that I made a differ- accepted me. I really appreciate my family for all of their supence in the lives of young people, that some way I touched them. port.” “This is not a job you do by yourself,” he said. “You have to They are the future and they have the skills to guide our state, nation and world. It’s not that I want a legacy of any one thing, have a team in the office and a personal team at home and they all support and pull with you and I have been blessed. Blessed to but that overall, in ten years, I made a difference.” After a decade at the helm, Chancellor Ken Peacock did not have that.”  want to leave without sending his sincere thanks to his support system at the university. Chancellor Peacock was always a champion of student endeavors. When the ASU Solar “I would say a heartfelt thank you, because Decathlon Team traveled to Washington, D.C. in 2011 to compete in the national they allowed me to do it my way,” he said. competition, he was in attendance to show his support. That year, Appalachian State “It wasn’t always the popular way but they University won the “People’s Choice Award” for the Solar Homestead which was allowed me. You will find here faculty, staff and inspired by the “pioneer spirit” of settlers in the Blue Ridge Mountains. students are very forgiving and understanding. At this point, I do have a very sincere appreciation for them allowing me to have this incredible opportunity of leadership and heartfelt thanks for letting me do it my way. I believe in authentic leadership and they accepted me with my strengths and weaknesses, and they allowed me.” When asked if he had anything else to add, he smiled and brought up his at-home support system, his family. “I would be remiss if I didn’t say my thanks for the support from my family. It has been 38 years that we’ve been married and I got lucky because I did it right. I have a wonderful spouse that supports me in this job and she is very involved on campus. Not everyone finds that, so I have been very blessed, and my two sons grew up when I

An Appalachian Summer Festival

Nickel Creek

Matthew Morrison

July 14

July 12

30th Anniversary

FESTIVAL HIGHLIGHTS

Outdoor Fireworks Concert: Little Big Town June 28 Pilobolus July 3 Michael McDonald July 5 Eastern Festival Orchestra with Sir James Galway, flute July 6 Triad Stage: “All’s Well That Ends Well” July 10 Summer Exhibition Celebration at the Turchin Center July 11 Matthew Morrison July 12 Michael McDonald July 5 Nickel Creek July 14 Dance Theatre of Harlem July 19 Sheryl Crow July 24 National Youth Orchestra with Gil Shaham, violin July 26

Sheryl Crow

Dance Theatre of Harlem

July 24

July 19

Pilobolus

OUTDOOR FIREWORKS CONCERT:

Little Big Town

July 3

June 28

Plus lectures, chamber music, film series, visual arts exhibitions, workshops & more!

800.841.ARTS

BOONE, NC June 2014

High Country Magazine

June 2014

Girls on the Run

By Madison V. Fisler

ne hundred girls and their running buddies stood together on the field at Kidd Brewer Stadium on May 3. Rallying together under banners proudly displaying the names of their schools, one hundred girls in grades 3-8 came out for the final event in the spring 2014 Girls on the Run season, the annual ZAP Fitness Girls on the Run 5K. But the story doesn’t begin at the starting line. The story that these girls have to tell began twelve weeks prior to the race. Girls on the Run of the High Country (GOTR) was started five years ago by a group of committed women devoted to the well being of their daughters. “My daughter was a kindergartener at the time [that GOTR of the High Country started] and I could clearly see how beneficial the Girls on the Run curriculum could be to boost her self-

confidence and help her to believe in her capabilities,” said Mary Sheryl Horine, director of the program. “Because of my affiliation with ASU and my role at the Blue Cross and Blue Shield of NC Institute for Health and Human Services – part of the College of Health Sciences - , Appalachian State University agreed to sign on as the affiliate sponsor of GOTR. The program coincided nicely with the mission of the institute to bridge the gap between community needs in public health and utilizing the university’s resources to help solve the problem.” Girls on the Run is a 12-week, positive youth development after school program for girls in grades 3-8 that utilizes running as a way to teach core values. The program combines athletic training with meeting sessions to train the girls to participate in a non-competitive 5K running event with an emphasis on raising self-esteem, June 2014

High Country Magazine

Before the ZAP Fitness 5K, the girls gathered with their coaches under banners displaying the name of their schools. The girls got pumped up together before the race and spent time giving â&#x20AC;&#x153;pep talksâ&#x20AC;? before the event got started.

High Country Magazine

June 2014

Some of the participants and their coaches colored their hair with temporary spray color to show their spirit.

“Running is what I really like to do. I like making friends and having fun, and I want to do it next year too!” – Madelyn Ellis, a nine-year-old Girls on the Run participant using workouts as an uplifting activity and incorporating community service. The official goal of the program is “to encourage positive emotional, social, mental and physical development.” The program encourages participants to talk with their parents, guardians, peers and siblings about the many lessons that they are learning as part of the program which attempt to change the notion that how a girl looks is more important than who she is while teaching healthy habits. Though the 5K at the end of each season is the largest event for the program, the completion of the run is far

from the main importance. The run is merely a display of all of the things the girls have learned together over the 12-week program, and is a true presentation of how much the girls have changed for the better. The Girls on the Run curriculum is based on many learning activities specifically designed to teach the participating girls about topics related to self-respect, self-esteem and healthy living. All classes are taught by certified coaches that volunteer their time and effort to help the girls succeed. “We have had hundreds of volunteers at GOTR and at least 50 coaches

During the team practices, girls engaged in activities that not only helped them achieve healthy bodies, but healthy mindsets as well. June 2014

High Country Magazine

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a year,” said Horine. “We couldn’t offer the program without them so they’re super important. Coaches frequently remark that they get as much out of the program as the girls do. It’s like a refresher course on gratitude and optimism for most of the volunteers, so they find it to be very rewarding and a lot of fun too.” The meetings take place over a 12-week period after school at many elementary and middle schools around the High Country. Each meeting begins with the girls getting together with their coaches to complete a warm-up activity designed to focus on the topic for the day. Following the warm up, the girls are led in a stretching routine which also doubles as a question and answer time for the day’s topic. This allows the participants to talk to each other and connect with each other. After the stretching session is complete, the work out begins where the girls participate together in running activities in the form of a game or fun activity that not only builds physical skills, but serves to build self-esteem, teamwork and friendship. “Our core values are really very simple and how I’ve basically lived my life,” Horine said. “I’ve been blessed to have been raised in a very positive environment, but I realize that not all girls have had that sort of support. Girls on the Run inspires girls to recognize the power they each have to choose attitudes that help them as an individual and as part of their team. One of our core values is to ‘Lead with an Open Heart and to Assume Positive Intent.’ We feel that our core values help girls to combat bullying and gossiping and they will gain life skills

June 2014

that they can carry with them forever.” While the majority of the girls find great enjoyment and friendship throughout the duration of the 12-week season, many continuing to participate year after year, what is surprising is how much the girls take away from the program when they are done. “Girls that participate learn valuable skills to help them to lead healthy and confident lives,” Horine said. “There are currently no other positive youth development programs comparable to Girls on the Run. Research on the program has shown improved self-esteem, improved commitment to physical activity, increased positive attitude toward exercise, increased motivation to be physically active, satisfaction with body shape and increased days of physical activity per week. As adults, most of us place certain aspects of our lives in a box which we call the ‘Girl Box,’ a phrase coined by Molly Barker, the founder of Girls on the Run. It describes the imaginary place most girls go around adolescence, where cultural and societal stereotypes limit choices as well as opportunities. Many girls carry this box into adulthood when we feel that we just aren’t good enough. We hope that through Girls on the Run, girls and their coaches will create a connected and safe space that consciously adopts an attitude that each of us is ‘good enough’ just the way we are!” “I really believe in the program,” said Anna Welsh, a coach at Hardin Park Elementary School. “I have been a coach for four years, and I really believe that it is empowering. It teaches these girls to stand up for them-

“Everyone wins, everyone wears a number one on their bib and everyone gets a medal.” – Anna Welsh, a coach at Hardin Park Elementary School As each girl finished the race, every participant was awarded a medal to show that everyone was victorious.

Kiss Me, Kate July 1, 2, 3 and 5 at 7 p.m. June 29 & July 5 and 6 at 2 p.m. Music and Lyrics by Cole Porter. Book by Bella and Samuel Spewack. Kiss Me, Kate is produced by arrangement with, and the music and dialogue material furnished by TAMS-WITMARK MUSIC LIBRARY, INC., 560 Lexington Avenue, New York, NY 10022.

A Grand Night for Singing July 16 - 19 at 7 p.m. July 17, 19 and 20 at 2 p.m.

A Grand Night For Singing Ticket Prices

Adult Tickets: $42.71 Student/Child Tickets: $21.36 (price includes NC sales tax)

Hayes Auditorium | Box Office Opens June 16 | 828.898.8709 | lmc.edu/summertheatre June 2014

Rodgers & Hammerstein’s A Grand Night for Singing. Music by Richard Rodgers. Lyrics by Oscar Hammerstein II. Musical Arrangements by Fred Wells. Orchestration by Michael Gibson and Jonathan Tunick. Conceived by Walter Bobbie. Originally produced by Roundabout Theatre Company, New York City, in 1993. A Grand Night for Singing is presented through special arrangement with R & H Theatricals: www.rnh.com.

Monty Python’s Spamalot August 6 - 9 at 7 p.m. August 7, 9 and 10 at 2 p.m. Monty Python’s Spamalot. Book and lyrics by Eric Idle. Music by John Du Prez & Eric Idle. A new musical lovingly ripped off from the film “Monty Python and the Holy Grail”. From the original screenplay by Graham Chapman, John Cleese, Terry Gilliam, Eric Idle, Terry Jones, Michael Palin. “Monty Python’s Spamalot” is presented through special arrangement with and all authorized performance materials are supplied by Theatrical Rights Worldwide, 570 Seventh Avenue, Suite 2100, New York, NY 10018. 866.378.9758 www.theatricalsrights.com

High Country Magazine

And they’re off! The participants started the race inside Kidd Brewer Stadium and then continued down Stadium Drive and all through campus before arriving back at the finish line at the stadium. selves and teaches great lessons. It plays a big role in breaking the cycle of negativity, and I just hope that we are doing our part to teach the girls to love themselves and help themselves to be healthy. This is a safe place for them and each school is like a team.” As the program has grown over the years, many girls that participate once end up coming back year after year. “I have seen other girls do it and I really thought it looked fun,” said Madelyn Ellis, a nine-year-old Girls on the Run participant at Hardin Park Elementary School who just completed her first season with GOTR. “Running is what I really like to do. I like making friends and having fun, and I want to do it next year too!” After 12 weeks in the program, it’s time for the capstone event, the ZAP Fitness 5K Race. “Everyone wins, everyone wears a number one on their bib and everyone gets a medal,” Welsh said. Back at Kidd Brewer Stadium, the girls and their coaches, along with their running buddies, start the 5K run together, all the way hearing chants of encouragement and cheering from each other and from the bustling sidelines. After a lap around the track at the stadium to get pumped up, they begin to break into a run as the race begins. “I think this is just an awesome program,” said Gloria Hildebran, mother of 13-year-old Norah Hildebran who is participating in the race. “It gives the girls an opportunity to meet others and talk to other girls, and it helps them to build self esteem. This is her first year and she is sad that it is ending. She is looking forward to doing it again next year.” The girls run through campus alongside their running buddies and after about 25 minutes, the first finishers begin to emerge over the hill. As they cross the finish line, each girl and her running buddy are awarded their medals to the cheers of encouragement and pride from the sidelines. All of the bibs read “1” because winning is not the point to this race. Though the race is timed for each 74

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June 2014

girl, there is no single victor. And the cheering continued until the very last runner and her running buddy crossed the finish line. After the race, the girls got together with their friends and coaches to celebrate another successful season of girls on the run. After a race like that, one would think that the girls would be too tired to stand, but the energy after the race is tangible. After the event was completed, the girls took the time to high five, hug and congratulate each other on a job well done. Parents and running buddies looked on with pride and all present had smiles on their faces. The values of this program are great on paper, but looking at this crowd of 300 girls, at least as many running buddies and 33 coaches makes it obvious. This program is changing lives for the better, and ensuring that these Girls on the Run just keep on going. 

Girls on the Run uses a highly interactive 24-lesson curriculum that combines self-esteem enhancing lessons with uplifting workouts. The aim is to develop the whole girl including her physical, mental, emotional and social self. The Vision • To provide life-changing, high quality programs for girls • To provide life-changing and high quality experiences to the women developing and delivering the programs • To promote and provide an environment that allows girls and women to reach their full potential • To positively transform how girls and women perceive themselves and their place in society The Core Values • Recognize our power and responsibility to be intentional in our decision making • Embrace our differences and find strength in our connectedness • Express joy, optimism and gratitude through our words, thoughts and actions. • Nurture our physical, emotional and spiritual health • Lead with an open heart and assume positive intent • Stand up for ourselves and others

Tradition. Vision. Innovation.

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The Southern Highland Craft Guild is an authorized concessioner of the National Park Service, Department of the Interior. June 2014

High Country Magazine

“

Read All About Local Shopping Here

”

You should enjoy this – a special section we’ve put together to showcase local retail shops. It’s a well-written look at your friends and neighbors in business. Check ‘em out! Make some of your summer shopping local this year. THE ART CELLAR BANNER ELK. Tis the season…for art, and The Art Cellar Gallery & Frame Shop is celebrating its 20th anniversary in the High Country. From fine art to folk art, from metalwork to glass, from pottery to paintings, The Art Cellar has that unique, treasured gift perfect special occasions, Hanukkah, Christmas and the Winter Solstice for the art lover and the artist within. Established in 1993, The Art Cellar began as the lifelong vision of Pamela McKay, who focuses on showcasing the artwork of those indigenous to the mountains of Western North Carolina, which has had an impact on so many in the arts. Whether it is fresh from the painter’s easel, potter’s wheel, sculpture studio or workbench, The Art Cellar has grand sculptures, ceramic serving pieces and the perfect coffee cup, glass bowls, ornaments, small paintings and much more – including gift certificates for art or framing. The Art Cellar is located at 920 Shawneehaw Avenue on N.C. 184.  828-898-5175. www.artcellaronline. com. See ad on page 11 76

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June 2014

BANNER ELK CONSIGNMENT COTTAGE BANNER ELK. Consignment store specializing in classic furniture, art and home goods. Expanding to bring you an even larger selection. You’ll be surprised at what you’ll find! Tue - Sat: 10:30 am - 4:30 pm. 414 Shawneehaw Ave, Banner Elk. Find us on Facebook.  828-898-5733. See ad on page 87

blowing rock estate jewelry BLOWING ROCK. Blowing Rock Estate Jewelry and Antiques, located on Sunset Drive is your local avenue for beautiful jewelry and antique finds. A family owned and operated local store, they have a huge selection of platinum and 14 and 18 kt fine and estate jewelry. They specialize in diamonds, various precious colored gemstones and unique heirloom jewelry of all kinds. Since 1988, Blowing Rock Estate Jewelry has been providing fantastic service to patrons all across the High Country.

Make your way in today to see what you can find. You may find your next family heirloom.  828-295-4500. See ad on page 43

BOONE MALL BOONE. With an varied mix of stylish, name-brand establishments, such as Belk, JC Penny, TJ Maxx, Panera Bread Company, Game Stop, Bath and Body Works, Radio Shack, Old Navy, Black Bear Books and much more, it’s no wonder Boone Mall is called “The Hub of the High Country.” With ample parking and long hours of operation, the Boone Mall is the one-stop shop for all your holiday needs and basic necessities. Need your hair styled or nails cured? Check out Regis Hair Salons and Le’s Spa & Nails; Shoes? The Shoe Department; Glasses or contacts? Blue Ridge Vision; A smart phone? AT&T; Jewelry? Saslo Jewelers; A four wheeler? Brushy Mountain Motorsports. The list is endless. Where else can you do all of that and grab a bite to eat? What other fantastic shops are there? Well, there’s Claire’s, Cookies ‘n

Cream, Gigi’s Uniforms, GNC, Hallmark, Maurice’s, Primo’s Pizza Pasta Subs, RUE-21, Sagesport, Sears, Super Clips, South’s Clothiers, Sports Fanatic, Tucker’s Cafe and much more. The Boone Mall is centrally located with entrances off of N.C. 105 and U.S. 321. It’s open Monday through Saturday from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. and on Sundays from 12:30 to 5:30 p.m. Don’t forget to catch Santa this holiday season, too.  828-264-7286. www.booneshoppingmall.com. See ad on page 78

CARLTON GALLERY BANNER ELK. One of the most established fine art galleries in North Carolina, Carlton Gallery features a spirited collection of artwork in a casually elegant atmosphere. Celebrating nearly 30 years of business in the High Country, owner Toni Carlton selects creations from traditional to contemporary and features a wide variety of fine art and upscale handmade crafts by over 200 local, regional and national artisans. From extraordinary blown glass and exceptional pottery to designer jewelry and original paintings in oil, watercolor, acrylic and mixed media, we offer an array of exceptional gift ideas for visi-

tors and collectors, alike. Workshops are conducted by gallery artists in oils, acrylics, watercolor, drawing, expressive and intuitive arts and mixed media collage. These workshops include traditional and abstract landscapes, still life, figurative and visionary. The Carlton Gallery is located at 10360 on N.C. 105 in the Grandfather Community.  828963-4288. www.carltonartgallery.com. See ad on page 12

The Country Gourmet FOSCOE. Owner Betsy Murrelle has been serving sophisticated customers from around the world since 1974. The Country Gourmet is a gourmet kitchen and home accessory shop that abounds in style, selection and service. Located in Foscoe, The Country Gourmet has what ever you need to set a beautiful table with an endless variety of linens, table cloths, runners, place mats and napkins of every size and color. With dozens of name brand selections, The Country Gourmet carries a large selection of the finest ceramic tableware handcrafted in Italy, classic glassware, pewter and casual flatware, Italian and casual dinnerware, cutlery, cookware, kitchenware and a variety of collectible

accessories for the home that would always make the perfect gift. Whether it’s a casual or an elegant occasion, The Country Gourmet has the goods to set a beautiful table, impress guests and eat and cook in style. And, owner Betsy Murrelle says, “If we don’t have what you are looking for in stock, we will find it for you!” The Country Gourmet is located 10543-5 on N.C. 105.  828963-5269. www.thecountrygourmet. com. See ad on page 79

The dande lion FOSCOE. The Dande Lion, Inc., established in 1997, is near Banner at the Shoppes of Tynecastle, which is across the street from Lowes Grocery Store shopping center. The store has grown from its first small (really small!) location up the road on Highway 105, to a quaint location in Foscoe, to our latest location at The Shoppes of Tynecastle in Banner Elk. The goal of The Dande Lion has always been to provide a wonderful shopping experience for each woman who passes through the door; it is our desire to provide the best shopping experience in the mountains. We want each woman to walk away with more than a shopping bag of new clothes. We

June 2014

High Country Magazine

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specialize in personal shopping, assessing the preferences of each customer and then creating an outfit that fits their personality and body perfectly. Jane, the store owner and buyer, works very hard to create outfits from head to toe. At markets, she works diligently to find the perfect handbag, jewelry and shoes to match every outfit! For a truly uplifting experience, please visit the store. The beautiful clothing and ambiance coupled with the wonderful staff will certainly make you glad you did!  828-898-3566. www.dandelionstyles. com. See ad on page 75

DEWOOLFSON

Working Studio and Gallery 132 Morris Street - Blowing Rock

828.295.3992

Juice Cup. Yes, wine is a juice. TIM TURNER POTTERY Studio visit by appointment. timturner54@gmail.com www.timturnerpottery.blogspot.com 828.260.6016

High Country Magazine

June 2014

FOSCOE. When you spend one-third of your life sleeping, a quality down pillow, comforter and/or feathered bed is one of the best investments for a rejuvenating, restful sleep. DeWoolfson is a High Country business, born and bred. Although DeWoolfson imports a variety of fabrics and goose down fills from Eastern Europe, the business’s office, store and factory are located in Foscoe, supplying European-influenced down and products and fine linens to the world’s most comfortable sleepers. Custom comforters and the other

products are made to order and shipped within 24 to 48 hours all over the High Country, nation and world. DeWoolfson also stocks one of the largest selections of luxury European linens found anywhere – from France, Italy, Belgium, Switzerland, and other locales. These include well-known names such as Abyss and Habidecor, Matouk, Sferra, Yves Delorme and many more. Good night and sleep tight.  800-8333696. www.dewoolfsondown.com and www.dewoolfsonlinens.com. See ad on page 7

DOE RIDGE POTTERY BOONE. The reasonably-priced pottery is stunning, the form and color exceptional. Bob Meier fell in love with pottery in 1973 after taking a ceramics course on a whim to fill his class schedule at ASU. In 1988, he initially established his studio out of his home on Doe Ridge Road, and since then, Doe Ridge Pottery has moved to a few different locations in Boone. Today, the workshop/gallery is located in downtown Boone and hundreds of beautiful pieces decorate the gallery, which is home to 14 other talented artists - from functional pieces that are safe for food, drink, ovens, microwaves

and dishwashers to home decor such as lamps and vases. Also, several specialty items exist, such as handmade sinks and the unusual vegetable steamer. A trip to the gallery sometimes feels like a field trip. The studio is visible from the gallery, and if you walk in at the right time, you may see potters in action, throwing clay on the wheel, entranced in that “Zen-like state.” “I enjoy the process of making things in series where you’re making the same thing over and over again,” Meier said. “You can almost let your mind wander and it’s like a mantra. You get into a zone or Zen-like state. It’s a nice place to be because you get into this rhythm of work that creates a calming, metaphysical zone.” Doe Ridge Pottery is located at 585 West King Street below The Bead Box.  828-264-1127. www.doeridgepottery.homestead.com. See ad on page 78

Gaines Kiker’s Studio BLOWING ROCK. A designer metalsmith, Gaines Kiker specializes in silver, gold, platinum, mixed metals and precious stones. His Blowing Rock gallery showcases an impressive collection of sculpture and contemporary jewelry that includes earrings, necklaces, bracelets and functional art and custom designs. “The feel of the metal in my hands and the gratification involved in the creative process continues to inspire me,” Kiker said. “What I want to do is take your idea and make it into something that is an expression of your personality.” Kiker earned a BFA in Metal Design from East Carolina University and then completed an apprenticeship with Ubaldo Vitali, an Italian silversmith in New York. He has studied at Penland School of Crafts, at the Gemological Institute of America and was a student in the University of Georgia’s graduate studies abroad program in Cortona, Italy. From jewelry and sculpture to wedding, wood and custom pieces, Gaines Kiker’s Studio offers an array of artistic and functional pieces that would be perfect gifts this holiday season. Gaines Kiker’s Studio is located at 132 Morris Street in Blowing Rock.  828-295-3992. www.gaineskikersilversmith.com. See ad on page 78

Hardin FINE Jewelry BANNER ELK. Hardin Jewelry in scenic Banner Elk is a must for any lover of fine jewelry, or for anyone who is just curious about beautiful pieces. This June 2014

High Country Magazine

local jewelry destination specializes in unique gems, dazzling diamonds and eclectic gifts for that special someone. It is also a must see shop if you just feel like indulging yourself a little! Their elegant jewelry showroom showcases the best in fine gems. Featured at the shop are rare, precious and semi-precious gemstones in exquisite settings. This lovely little shop, located just down the road, is the perfect place to find just what you’ve been looking for in a new piece of fine jewelry.  828-898-4653. See ad on page 11

MAST GENERAL STORE

SHANNON’S

BOONE & VALLE CRUCIS. Imagine downtown Boone or Valle Crucis without a Mast General Store. It’s almost inconceivable. The store is a tour de force. Whether snow is on the ground or the leaves are green, yellow red or orange, more visitors pack into the Mast General Store locations in the High Country than they do The Rock during an ASU football game. The stores are packed with the highest-ofquality goods that range from rugged apparel and gourmet kitchenware to old-fashioned toys and women’s fashions that it is also inconceivable to leave the store empty handed. Oh, and don’t forget about the Candy Barrel. During the holiday season, prices are slashed to accommodate next year’s inventory, so if you are looking for a special gift for a special somebody (even if that person is you!), be sure to stop in on your next visit to the High Country. It’s an experienced guaranteed to be pleasing. Not only has Mast General Store revived the downtowns that it inhabits, but the Mast General Store Family has been good stewards of the High Country and good neighbors to the so many that call the High Country home. Two locations exist on N.C. 194 in Valle Crucis.  828963-6511. www.mastgeneralstore.com. See ad on page 9

old World galleries BOONE. Beginning with a few hundred dollars and a dream a few decades ago in Blowing Rock, Charlie and Joy Travis of Old World Galleries quickly established themselves as the go-to experts for clients in the High Country for estate jewelry, custom pieces and repair and appraisal. After taking a decade off from the retail side of things, the Travis’ have finally returned to the High Country to help keep up their es80

High Country Magazine

tablished relationships and forge new friendships as well at their new location in downtown Boone. Come find out what has made Charlie and Joy Travis synonymous with quality, service and satisfaction and visit Old World Galleries in Boone for all of your jewelry needs. Their new showroom and friendly service will ensure you find exactly what you’re looking for, from a family heirloom estate piece to a beautiful gift for that someone special on your list.  828-264-6559. www.oldworldgalleries. com. See our ad on page 81

June 2014

BOONE. For 29 years, Shannon’s Curtain, Bed and Bath has supplied customers in the High Country with indoor decorative and practical merchandise that fits their specific needs. “I opened in 1985” said owner Shannon Russing, “because there was no home furnishing store in Boone and we needed something.” A full-line linen store, Shannon’s offers window treatments, bedding, sheets, table linens, bath accessories, shower curtains and an array of other accessories. “We’re your complete decorating source” Russing said. “We try hard to keep our prices affordable, and we try to give people a real good value for their money.” The store’s best-selling item is its handmade quilts, Russing said, explaining that quilts fit in with the “lodge look” that is so popular in the area and can compliment nearly any décor. Russing attributes the store’s success to hard work and getting to know her customers on a personal level. Shannon’s is located at 1950 Blowing Rock Road in Boone.  828-264-8321. www.shannonscbb.com. See ad on page 79

THE SHOPPES AT FARMER’S HARDWARE BOONE. Some places in downtown Boone are iconic and provide a link to the past. Think Boone Drug, Appalachian Twin Theater and Farmer’s Hardware. All three, which have been quintessential to downtown for decades, have had to adapt to the changes and pressures of technology and big-box stores. Farmer’s Hardware, which originally opened in 1924 as a hardware retailer, closed its doors in 2004, changed its business model and reopened the next summer as an eclectic emporium called The Shoppes at Farmer’s Hardware. In 1924, Clyde Greene opened Farmer’s

Hardware at the current Boone Bagelry location. Soon, Farmer’s moved to the corner of Depot and King streets, where it stands, albeit in a different form, today. It’s still a local, family business, though, with Greene’s descendents running the show and providing a 21stcentury vision for Farmer’s. The Shoppes at Farmer’s Hardware has more than 100 shops and features a wide variety of merchandise including jewelry, handbags, totes, footwear, apparel, baby gifts, handcrafts, framed art, home décor, furniture, toys, stringed instruments, kitchenware, birdfeeders and much more.  828-2648801. www.shoppesatfarmers.com. See ad on page 77

SUPERIOR SPAS BOONE. “Your backyard specialist.” A Jacuzzi 5 star dealer and a top Connelly Billiards Dealer. We also carry Big Green Egg Grills, game tables, pool chemicals, pool, spa and billiard accessories. We pride ourselves with our service and our customers tell us we do an excellent job at it. “Excellent service from the moment we walked through the door. Not pushy which was very important to us. Great service in delivering spa. We have called with umpteen questions and are treated with the same level of attention.”  828-9636624. www.superior-spas.com. See ad on page 14

Tatum Galleries BANNER ELK. A fresh, new vision for your office or home– that’s what Sally and Steve Tatum have, for decades, offered the High Country with their “Home Décor Center,” known as Tatum Galleries in Banner Elk. Since it opened nearly 30 years ago, the showroom has expanded to 6,000 square feet and includes indoor and outdoor furniture, bedding, floor, wall and window treatment and a huge collection of lamps, artwork, decorative accessories and other unique furnishings. With a seasoned interior design team, the staff offers years of experience and a variety of styles and choices that can accommodate all design needs and budgets – not to mention great service! The vast collection that Tatum Galleries offers will accentuate your home with timeless furnishings. Whether you need a little direction or a complete revamping, Tatum Galleries can help. Let their beautifully decorated showroom spark

your imagination and introduce you to the possibilities that await you inside your home. Tatum Galleries is located at 5320 N.C. 105 in Banner Elk.  828-9636466. www.tatumgalleries.com. See ad on this page 31

TIM TURNER POTTERY BANNER ELK. I started my clay adventure at Appalachian State University in the mid 70’s, moving on to Penland, NC where I met and worked with some remarkable artists and craftspeople. In the early 80’s I moved backed to the Boone/ Banner Elk area in the northwest corner of North Carolina where I set up a studio and produced pots for over twenty years. In 1996, after the Watauga River had washed through my studio for the third time I decided to take a hiatus from pots and concentrate on painting, which I had also been doing in my “spare” time and could easily be done on higher ground. Eleven years later I had an opportunity to get my hands dirty again thinking, I’d just play around a bit but I caught the clay bug again. My goal is to produce strong, simple forms with minimal decoration. The majority of my work is made from high fired stoneware and fired in a gas kiln to 2345 degrees. Glazed with shino glazes, patterns are drawn with wax then a final glaze sprayed over. Pots are made for daily use being food, microwave and oven safe. I also wood fire a few times a year, giving me a chance to play around with different shapes and glazes. Pots are covered with slips and glazes and fired for 12-14 hours to 2345 degrees. I love using the wood/soda aspect of the firing as a means to create subtle effects that emphasize the strength of the form.  828-260-6016. www.timturnerpottery. blogspot.com. See ad on this page 78

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WINGn’IT BANNER ELK. WingN’It is “Your Local Wild Bird & Gift Store” with an eclectic mix for indoor and outdoor decorating! We have the largest collection of wild bird houses, feeders and bird baths in the mountains. BUT, we’re NOT JUST A BIRD STORE! From wind chimes on the porch, to flags in the garden, whirligigs in the yard, and a balancer or two bobbing across the lawn - we are your source! Think of us first for all your GIFTS!! And, don’t forget the CREAMY FUDGE!! Located in “The Little Red Caboose,” Downtown Banner Elk.  828898-5008. www.wingnitnc.com. See ad on page 81

697 West King Street | Boone, NC 28607 | 828-264-6559 Hours: Tuesday - Saturday, 10am - 5pm June 2014

High Country Magazine

Blowing Rock Business Buddies: Building Success Through Friendship

Story by Megan Northcote Photography by Ken Ketchie

s Rob Dyer says of his relationship with longtime business partner Lisa Stripling, “We’re like brother and sister, like family.” After both graduated from Appalachian State University, the two met in the early ‘90s at Twigs in Blowing Rock, where they tended bar, waited tables and learned the ropes of hospitality management before striking out on their own. Since buying The Best Cellar Restaurant in 1997, Dyer and Stripling have added The Inn at Ragged Gardens (2006), Blowing Rock Ale House and Inn (2013) and most recently Roots, a Southern-style restaurant, to their medley of Blowing Rock ventures. Roots opens this June. 82

High Country Magazine

June 2014

Lisa Stripling & Rob Dyer of the Best Cellar Business Partners Since 1994 June 2014

High Country Magazine

Embarking on a Venture

The Best Cellar in Blowing Rock has a main dining room (pictured above), a front deck, two smaller rooms and, for those looking for some privacy, a place for guests to dine in the wine cellar.

Known as The Cave in the Best Cellar, this dining area is located adjacent to the wine cellar and seats 28.

The living room of The Inn at Ragged Gardens, which is an early 1900s manor. 84

High Country Magazine

June 2014

Dyer and Stripling’s formative college years unfolded like those of many 20-somethings – lots of fun with few plans for the future. Dyer was born in Savannah, Ga., and attended high school in Charlotte. He transferred to both UNC-Wilmington and Elon University before finally settling in the High Country and earning a communication degree from ASU. Likewise, Stripling was born in Kentucky and moved across the Southeast before settling in 1985 in Blowing Rock, where she made biscuits at 4 a.m. at Hardee’s before heading to high school. She also attended ASU. She worked at the Green Park Inn as a night auditor before graduating with a business management degree. It wasn’t until both began working at Twigs Restaurant and Bar in Blowing Rock that their paths crossed. Both started out waiting tables before working their way into management roles. “I learned more [at Twigs] than I did in college,” Stripling said. “How to deal with customers, and what hospitality really is. It’s not really the bookwork side of it, but it’s the person-to-person interaction, knowing the wants, needs, likes and dislikes of customers.” Gradually, both Dyer and Stripling began gaining hospitality management experience, and after seven years working at Twigs, a mutual friend in the real estate industry told them that The Best Cellar, a historic restaurant located at the time off of U.S. 321 in Blowing Rock was on the market. Feeling confident in the sound management of the former owner Ira Wilson, Dyer and Stripling purchased the property in 1997, entering into their first joint business venture. The Best Cellar has a storied history, beginning in 1975 as a small soup and sandwich shop in the cellar of an old building right off Main Street in downtown Blowing Rock. The business also sold a wide selection of used books, earning them the reputation as “the best cellar” for finding the perfect read. A few years later, the shop moved across the street before relocating a third time in the former Tijuana Fats Mexican restaurant off Main Street. By the time Dyer and Stripling purchased the restaurant from Wilson at its fourth location off U.S. 321, the focus of the menu shifted from lunch food to more upscale mountain dining with clientele treated to valet parking. That service continues today. Business boomed until one tragic morning in early 2006. Dyer received a devastating phone call from his business partner: The

Best Cellar was up in flames. The source of the fire remains unknown to this day.

A Second Chance Buoyed by the backing of a loyal clientele, Stripling and Dyer moved The Best Cellar operation to The Inn at Ragged Gardens off Sunset Drive just a few months after the fire in June 2006. Lee Hyett then offered Stripling and Dyer first rights to purchase The Inn at Ragged Gardens, which they did in October 2006 â&#x20AC;&#x201C; after another offer surfaced. Built as a private summer home at the turn-of-the century, this Arts and Crafts style building originally

Rob Dyer (in the back) and Lisa Stripling (second from left) stand with patrons at the original The Best Cellar Restaurant before it burned down.

In 2006, The Best Cellar went up into flames. The source of the fire is still unknown. Months after the fire, Dyer and Stripling moved the restaurant operation to downtown Blowing Rock. June 2014

High Country Magazine

Partners in Roots The latest venture of Dyer and Striplingâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s is Roots Restaurant. Jim Triplett (second from left) and Kenneth Wilcox (third from left) bought the property in an auction and partnered with Dyer (left) and Stripling (right) to operate the restaurant.

balance in their managesat on 11 acres with a rial strengths; Stripling rock wall surrounding focuses on the bookkeepthe property. Throughout ing and administrative the century, the property tasks, while Dyer focuses switched ownership nuon community advertising merous times, operating and responding to routine as a bed and breakfast, maintenance requests. But Italian restaurant and because the inn operates a private summer resiwith such a small staff, at dence. On May 1, 1996, the end of the day, Stripthe Hyetts reopened the ling said all employees building as a year-round find themselves pitching bed and breakfast, which in with whatever needs included their fine dining to be done, whether itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s restaurant Heirlooms. running the front desk or The Hyetts also booking a reservation at renovated their own Pictured above is the interior booths and main dining the restaurant. residence attached to the room of Roots, which opens in June. The Best Cellar resmain building into a twotaurant occupies a glassunit Carriage House. The property eventually shrank to one acre â&#x20AC;&#x201C; the size it remains enclosed dining room, overlooking the rock wall garden; today. In recent years, Dyer and Stripling transformed The guests can enjoy a full-service breakfast in the morning and an Maple Cottage, another small building adjacent to the inn, upscale, mountain dinner in the evening. Visitors seeking an into a three-suite unit. Chestnut paneled walls, stone fireplac- even more intimate dining experience can dine in the downes, earth-toned ceramic vases, and assorted antiques give each stairs cellar, which also stores some local wines. Fresh meat and seafood dishes still grace the menu, featurroom a distinctive mountain-lodge feel. Despite having had no previous bed and breakfast experi- ing regional specialties such as the North Carolina mountain ence, Dyer and Stripling figured out early on the importance trout topped with jumbo shrimp and Louisiana Creole sauce or of prioritizing Southern hospitality and excellent customer the roasted half duckling served with raspberry sauce. Baked service. To do this, the business partners have found a nice acorn squash finished with brown sugar cinnamon butter and 86

High Country Magazine

June 2014

The building where Roots Restaurant exists used to house Pssgetti’s before the operation closed down.

the stuffed zucchini boat packed with three cheeses, pecans, and caramelized onions are also guest favorites. Yet, more than the food, what makes The Best Cellar and Inn at Ragged Gardens such a special place for Dyer and Stripling is seeing generations of families return each year to celebrate special milestones in their lives. “It’s great for us to see the same folks on their anniversaries or birthdays year after

year,” Stripling said. “They’ll have their wedding rehearsal dinners with us and ten years later they’ll come in and bring their newborn with them.” To further strengthen that sense of community, each summer The Inn at Ragged Gardens hosts Music on the Lawn, a Friday evening concert series from May to October, which draws locals and visitors to enjoy a different band each week.

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High Country Magazine

Brewin’ up a Business Occupying the longest continuously operated inn in Blowing Rock, the Blowing Rock Ale House provides exceptional customer service as a bed and breakfast, restaurant and brewery. The origins of this original inn go back to a day during the height of World War II when community resident Jo Greene’s home on a Sunset Drive went up in flames. Mistaking the fire alarm for a blackout siren, Blowing Rock firefighters turned out the lights and hid inside their station as the building turned to ash. After a few years, the home was rebuilt and opened as Maple Lodge, a quaint bed and breakfast in the heart of downtown, which flourished for several decades. The property then became the Blowing Rock Ale House and Inn in 2013 after Stripling and Dyer purchased The Maple Lodge and formed a partnership with Todd Rice and Jeff Walker, founders of Boone Brewing Company. Stripling and Dyer renovated the rooms in the inn and Rice and Walker renovated the ale house and restaurant. Finding the Lodge’s original Victorian interior room decorations a bit too antiquated, Dyer and Stripling quickly replaced excessive doilies and floral wallpaper with rustic mountain décor, much like they did at The Best Cellar. In June 2013, the Blowing Rock Ale House and 88

High Country Magazine

June 2014

The Blowing Rock Ale House and Inn is brewery and bed and breakfast all rolled into one. The restaurant and bar operates in the tradition of an English-style public house.

“We would close the business before we lost our friendship. In the big scheme of things, if we’re going to argue about something, we’re going to come to an agreement of some sort.” Lisa Stripling Inn debuted to the public (see insert). Serving affordable, yet gourmet pub style food to compliment 12 high-quality craft beers brewed primarily onsite, the Ale House has quickly become a tourist destination and a favorite local hangout.

Country Cooking Meets Southern Charm On a whim last October, veteran real estate developer Kenneth Wilcox attended a bank auction for Pssghetti’s, a fine dining Italian restaurant in Blowing Rock that closed down last year. By the end of the auction, Wilcox, along with his longtime friend Jim Triplett, placed the highest bid and bought the restaurant. Both gentlemen have made successful careers as real estate developers in the High Country. Wilcox and his family owned Wilcox Drug Co. in Boone for generations and then helped start the Western Steer Steakhouse chain in the early 70s and the Sagebrush Steakhouse chain in the 90s. Triplett specializes in commercial and residential real estate development and property management. Knowing Dyer and Stripling’s reputation as respected business owners, the two gentlemen wasted no time in partnering with them to transform Pssghetti’s into Roots, a new Southern style restaurant serving homemade dishes, which opened at the end of May. “[The four of us] went with Roots be-

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High Country Magazine

cause whether or not we’re local, our interests are here, in the mountains and in Blowing Rock,” Dyer said. “Whether it’s our families or our businesses, our roots are here.” Dyer best describes Roots as “good Southern comfort food your grandma would make with a twist and a flair,” similar to the types of mid-priced dishes served at the rapidly expanding, Asheville-based chain, Tupelo Honey Café. The restaurant seats 70 people for dinner Monday through Saturday and for Sunday brunch. Classic county cooking dishes include shrimp and grits served with country ham, bone-in pork chops with blueberry moonshine barbecue sauce, and chicken and dumplings covered in a thick stew with white truffle oil and shaved Asiago on top.

Guests can round out their meal with Southern sides such as collards and turnip greens and squash casserole. Later on for dessert, diners can savor maple bourbon pecan pie or chocolate ginger pound cake as good as grandma makes. The owners have also added an oyster bar and plan to carry four beers on tap from the Blowing Rock Ale House. Minimal restorations were needed to create this downhome country atmosphere. Pssghetti’s pasta making machine has been replaced with wine racks. New steel pail and decorative metal flower light fixtures were installed, and the walls were painted subdued, earth-toned colors. Yet, without a doubt, Wilcox and Triplett believe Roots will be eagerly received by the Blowing Rock community and

“We’re operating in the tradition of an English-style public house, offering a brewery onsite along with lodging and dining all in one.”

Blowing Rock Ale House

odd Rice and Jeff Walker have been finding ways to market and distribute their signature Blowing Rock Ale long before they ever had a local brewery. Around 2004, these two High Country entrepreneurs formed a partnership to create the Boone Brewing Company. The two friends brewed their beers at a traditional craft brewing facility in Pennsylvania, building a market for their Blowing Rock Ale brand. Eager to move their facilities to Blowing Rock, they jumped at the opportunity to renovate a portion of the former Maple Lodge on Sunset Drive into a state-of-the-art, five barrel brewery operation and restaurant. The brewery produces the Blowing Rock Ale Series, 12 original, high gravity ales and lagers served in pints and growlers onsite. “We’re like a small boutique Napa Valley winery producing small quantities with high quality,” Walker said. “Instead The Blowing Rock Ale House and Inn is a partnership between of brewing hoppy beers, we emphasize the elegance in the flaRob Dyer, Lisa Stripling and Boone Brewing Company vor profile.” Head brewer Ray Hodge uses natural flavorings co-owners Jeff Walker and Todd Rice. to enhance each unique recipe, such as the widely popular Big Chocolate Porter which contains cocoa nibs and the newly debuted Farmhouse Peach Ale brewed with real peaches. The company also has an offsite 30-barrel operation in Hickory, where they brew The Legacy Series, a continuation of its Pennsylvania brews that includes their flagship High Country Ale and IPA as well as four seasonal specialties. Yet, there’s no better way to really appreciate their beer than by pairing each one with different Ale House menu items. Chefs Erick and Jenny Virt serve affordable pub food using the freshest, local ingredients for lunch and dinner six days a week, and they are quick to recommend dish pairings, such as the award-winning bison burger that compliments the pale Scotch ale. “We’re operating in the tradition of an English-style public house, offering a brewery onsite along with lodging and dining all in one,” Walker said. “We attract a lot of local people, Boone Brewing Company utilizes an onsite, state-of-the-art, fivebut we also attract a lot of people who drive from a nearby barrel brewery operation in the Blowing Rock Ale House and Inn. city just to meet the brewer and see a batch being brewed.” While the Ale House is becoming more popular as a travacross the country, including major retailers such as Harris Teeel destination, the company is also doing exceedingly well on the national level with more than 500 distribution accounts ter, Whole Foods Market and The Fresh Market.  90

High Country Magazine

June 2014

Lisa Stripling and Rob Dyer tourists who have frequented Dyer and Stripling’s two other businesses. “You have the right employers who know what they’re doing,” Wilcox said. “They’ve got a great following. [The Best Cellar] is one of the most successful restaurants in the area. There’s no reason why [Roots] won’t be very successful as well.”

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Friendship Over Business As summer swings into full gear, Dyer and Stripling anticipate having their hands full as they juggle three unique and increasingly popular properties. Yet neither Dyer nor Stripling anticipates the hefty workload demands interfering with each other’s family or their positive relationship as business partners. “We would close the business before we lost our friendship,” Stripling said. “In the big scheme of things, if we’re going to argue about something, we’re going to come to an agreement of some sort.” Dyer lives in Boone with his wife, Jackie, and two daughters, ages 8 and 10. His family enjoys boating and picnicking at Watauga Lake. Stripling and her longtime fiancé, Billy, take day trips from Blowing Rock to relax beside the lake, too. Neither Dyer nor Stripling has thought too far into the future to anticipate where their next business venture might take them, but if it’s anything like the last three, you can almost guarantee it won’t be far away from these mountains they’ve come to call home. 

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High Country Magazine

April Pope â&#x20AC;&#x201C; Serving Armed Forces Veterans With Sterling Professionalism By Tim Gardner 92

High Country Magazine

June 2014

Navy veteran Randy Bigbee visits with April Pope in her office to look over documents and answer questions.

“The veterans’ office belongs to the vets and our office doors are open to them. I hope they will come in if they think we can help.” – April Pope, Watauga County Veterans Affairs

pril Pope is kind, soft-spoken and director of one of the most functional and highly-regarded veterans’ service offices in the State of North Carolina. As head of Watauga County Veterans Affairs, April works with hundreds of local clients, and many others from various locations who only are summer residents of Watauga County or college students here who have enlisted in the U.S. Armed Forces. She also assists veterans from nearby regions with special cases. April is a quintessential Veterans’ Service officer with a gift for organization—an allimportant perquisite for her job. She’s also a confidante and trusted friend to all veterans she serves. Her service is marked by a warm demeanor with a clear sense of what the priorities are for efficiently performing her duties. Interestingly, her penchant for the job has been obtained solely through practical experience. Truly, April has a noble love for her country and her job that grows daily. Indefatigable energy and a downright passion for assisting veterans and their families undergirds her accomplished life. “My work is ultra-rewarding because you get to work with, and hopefully, help, true national and international heroes,” April proclaimed. “They are heroes to the greatest kind and it gives me the highest satisfaction to give back to those who gave to me and my family so unselfishly.” She continued: “I hold the veterans and their families in such high regard that I actually consider them to be part of my own family.” The Watauga Veterans’ Office has received high ratings by various VA and related organizations for the services it offers. It is accredited by the American Legion and the North Carolina Department of Veterans Affairs, the latter of which gives it all-important access to the National Data Base of veterans’ records in Washington, DC. Paul Caudill, a retired Federal and North Carolina Veterans’ District Service Office Manager said that April is “a standard by which veterans service officers are measured.” Caudill continued: “April is very intelligent and spends the necessary time to review and understand the many complex rules and regulations of working as a veterans’ service officer. She is actually like a lawyer representing veterans. Her expertise greatly increases the chances of her clients having their claims approved and being awarded financial compensation. The Watauga Service Office is among the best I’ve ever seen in my more than forty years working in veterans’ affairs and it’s because of employees there like April.” June 2014

High Country Magazine

Watauga County Veterans Affairs Office is in the Watauga Courthouse Annex, often called the “Rock Building,” which has housed the Veterans’ Services office for more than seventy years. April became Director of Veterans’ Services after being recommended by a selection panel to the Watauga County Commissioners, who unanimously approved her to take over for the retiring Donna Lyons. April had previously served as an assistant to Lyons for seven years (2006-’13). Working from her office suite in the Watauga Courthouse Annex, often called the “Rock Building,” which has housed the veterans’ services office for more than seventy years, April handles a multitude of paperwork and records and familiarizes herself with the hundreds of veterans she serves. She also attends various workshops and clinics as mandated by the U.S. and the State of North Carolina Departments of Veterans Affairs. With the help of ace aide, Karen Jones, April assists veterans and their families apply for benefits through the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. Those include: enrollment in VA Medical Centers, compensation for service-connected dis-

abilities, pension programs for wartime veterans their widows and dependents, Dependency and Indemnity (DIC) program, death benefits and scholarships for dependent children. April pointed out that low-income wartime veterans may qualify for pension benefits if they meet certain service income and net worth limits set by law; are age 65 or older, permanently and totally disabled, a nursing home patient receiving skilled nursing care, receiving Social Security disability insurance or Supplemental Social Security income. April also noted that surviving spouses and children of deceased veterans who have qualifying income are eligible for

VA pension benefits. She added that in appreciation for the service of North Carolina’s war veterans, a four-year scholarship program at approved schools in the state was established for qualifying natural or adopted children (before age 15) of certain class categories of deceased, dismembered in combat, Prisoners of War (POWs) and Missing In Action (MIA) veterans. When April became Veterans’ Office Director, she took on the additional duties of formulating a yearly budget for her office to present to the commissioners for approval every fiscal year (Each July 1 through June 30 of the following year), and then overseeing, and operating within, that budget. April estimates that she and Karen make approximately a whopping 10,000 in-person – James Corbin

“April is a caring young lady who works so diligently to help all veterans and their families. It’s really hard to explain how helpful she’s been. She just keeps on keeping on for the veterans”

High Country Magazine

June 2014

April attended the Memorial Day ceremony at the Boone Mall where she felt right at home with the many veterans in attendance. Her acquaintance with Sonny Sweet (pictured in bottom photo with April) goes back seven years when Sonny had an office in the same building while at the Red Cross. She cherishes the time and stories he shared with her. or telephone contacts with veterans’ or their family members each year. She works with veterans’ from World War II, the Korean War, The Vietnam Conflict and the Gulf War as well as those who have not experienced combat. Veterans whom April serves such as Boone resident James Corbin gives her high marks for how she carries out her duties. “April is a caring young lady who works so diligently to help all veterans and their families. It’s really hard to explain how helpful she’s been. She just keeps on keeping on for the veterans,” said Corbin who holds the rare and most commendable distinction of serving three different tours of duty during the Vietnam Conflict. Corbin continued: “The Watauga Veterans Service office is known as one of the best and it’s obvious why and that’s because of officers and assistants like April, her predecessor as Director, Donna (Lyons), and April’s assistant, Karen (Jones).” Banner Elk native and long-time Boone resident Buddy Townsend, a veteran of

The Vietnam Conflict echoed Corbin’s sentiments about April. “I’ve been getting assistance from April ever since she started working in the Watauga office and she has always gone far beyond what anyone could expect and past what her job calls for to help veterans like myself,” said Townsend, who spent 21 years in the National Guard, four years in the U.S. Navy and now works for the Disabled American Veterans service. Despite the compliments from others, April deflects credit on herself, but heaps praise on Lyons and Jones. “I’m just part of a big process,” she said. “If it weren’t for Donna (Lyons) and Karen (Jones) we wouldn’t have accomplished what we have and what we continue to do. Donna was my mentor and I learned so much from her. Her experience and knowledge was most invaluable. I was honored to have worked with her.

“Karen took my old job as assistant, and although this is her first experience working in a veterans’ service office, she performs her duties like someone who has many years experience in the job. She has proven to be a wonderful helper. She handles a lot of our work. The veterans we served enjoyed working with Donna and they do with Karen.” April lists the biggest change in working in a veterans’ office from when she first began as an aide as ”filing most claims through a new, more detailed online proJune 2014

High Country Magazine

cess instead of mailing them that has provided better accuracy and, usually, better expediency.” She added that the National Veterans Affairs Division got behind on working more than 600,000 claims in the past few years, but has sliced that total in half during the past few months and hopes to cut into it much further within the next year. April also noted that she expects the number of the nation’s— and this area’s-veterans to rise as more pullout of the Middle East and others retire. Anyone who served in the active military, naval or air service and are separated under any condition other than dishonorable, may qualify for VA health care benefits. Current and former members of the Reserves and National Guard who were called to active duty (other than for training only) by federal order and completed the full period for which they were called or ordered to active duty may also be eligible for VA health care services. However, sometimes veterans don’t take advantage of serves available to them. Many take up to a year or longer to explore their options because they are busy getting back to the general routine of their civilian lives. But April said as veterans’ age, they become more interested in the health care, insurance and financial assistance available to them. Most veterans who enlisted after September 7, 1980, or entered active duty after October 16, 1981, must have served continuous months or the full period for which they were called to active duty in order to be eligible. The minimum duty

April with her family, daughter Alyssa, left, husband Teddy and Alexis and Isaiah. requirement may not apply to veterans who were discharged for a disability incurred or aggravated in the line of duty, discharged by a hardship or received an “early out.” Since there are various other exceptions to the minimum duty requirements, the VA encourages all veterans to apply for benefits to determine their enrollment eligibility. April commented that veterans should, indeed, come to her office and explore their options for filing claims or about receiving other services. “The veterans’ office belongs to the vets and our office doors are open to them.

Veteran Service Assistant Karen Jones helps April with the work at the office. 96

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I hope they will come in if they think we can help.” she said. “No veteran should ever have to pay to file claims or for services that they should and can receive free. They’ve already earned those services.” During her time away from work, April lists her primary hobby as “spending time with her family.” She also enjoys skiing and canoeing as well as hiking many of the beautiful High Country trails. April attends Laurel Springs Baptist Church in Deep Gap, where she is a long-time member. Incidentally, April has one family member—paternal grandfather Stanford Coffey who served in the U.S. Army during World War II. In standard parable of talents, the point is clear: do not bury them, use your talents wisely and they will multiply. Never would April Pope bury her talents. Each job responsibility she carries out displays her dedication to the veterans’ she serves, and through that work, essentially to the United States of America, while her professional repertoire and reputation and true American patriotism continues to expand.  -Tim Gardner is a freelance journalist from the North Carolina High Country of Avery County, and has also written for various magazines, newspapers and online sports publications. Tim’s father, the late George Lee Gardner, was a highly-decorated World War II veteran, whom April Pope helped serve as a Veterans’ Service Representative.-

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Minimum Duty Requirements Most Veterans who enlisted after Sept. 7, 1980 or entered active duty after Oct. 16, 1981 must have served 24 continuous months or the full period for which they were called to active duty in order to be eligible. This minimum duty requirement may not apply to Veterans who were discharged for disability incurred or aggravated in the line of duty, discharged for a hardship or received an “early out.” Since there are a number of other exceptions to the minimum duty requirements, VA encourages all Veterans to apply in order to determine their enrollment eligibility.

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Champ Robert Young making an indelible legacy in Avery County sports and life in the NC High Country

Story by Tim Gardner 98

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“I just try to help whenever and wherever needed. There’s a lot of other people who have been very helpful and instrumental in sports being so successful in Avery County for so long and I like to do my part to assist, too.” – Champ Robert Young

hamp Robert Young is a classic example of someone who has taken life’s lemons and made lemonade, and he has taught others to do the same. The only son of the late Dudley Robert (D.R.) Young, Jr. and Beulah (Bootsie) Watson Young, and a lifelong resident of Minneapolis in Avery County, Champ Robert has made a profound impact on many people’s lives. That is especially true of those from his home community (also affectionately called Dogtown by many) and Avery County, which proudly claims the title of “Christmas Tree Capital of the World.” When told of this writer’s desire to feature him in a High County magazine article, Champ Robert replied: “Why? I appreciate it, but I’m not famous. I’ve not found a cure for some physical ailment. I’ve not set any kind of world or national record. I’ve not invented something and became a millionaire from doing so. I’ve not done anything that would warrant it. I’m just me.” Well, it’s because he’s just Champ Robert that makes him so newsworthy. Continue reading for proof.

Overcoming Life’s Cruelty

In 1977, two years after graduating from Avery County High School in Newland, Champ Robert was involved in a motorcycle accident that left him paralyzed and confined to a wheelchair. The accident would have meant complete surrender to many people, but not so to Champ Robert. Instead of giving up, Champ Robert has kept going with a fervor that any person should seek to duplicate. It’s only human nature to resent not being able to walk or run, and Champ Robert had wondered why he has had to endure such tough luck. It seemed especially unfair for him to experience such trauma. After all, he had never been in trouble with the law or anything of the sort and he had never given his parents any trouble. He is a prime example that bad things happen to good people, or so it seems. “It was God’s grace that I’m still alive after the motorcycle wreck,” Champ Robert said. “I could see that although I had gone through a tough ordeal, there were still many other people a lot less fortunate than me.” Champ Robert truly is an optimist. Despite being physically handicapped, he believes there is no job too hard to be done and no obstacle that can’t be conquered. “I just keep trying and usually I can accomplish most of the things I want,” Champ Robert said.

A Highly-Successful Sports Playing Career Champ Robert is one of the most well-known sports personalities in Avery County. His success as a standout basketball player for the Avery High Vikings (he also played football and baseball on organized teams) and as a coach in Avery County is considerable. Obviously, Champ Robert comes from good genes. Those who know the Young’s well will declare that they are simple, unassuming, uncluttered and God-fearing people. It seems only natural that he has excelled in athletics, as Champ Robert’s family also is rich in sports heritage. His father was an accomplished football and basketball player and his mother is generally considered one of the best prep basketball and softball players ever to come out of Avery County. Both played at old Cranberry High School, and D.R. was later a coach there. Champ Robert’s two older sisters, Sandra Young Hughes, of Newland and Deanne (married to Larry Jones) of Elk Park were also standout basketball players at Cranberry in the mid-to-late 1960’s. That sports prowess continued into a third generation as Champ Robert’s nephew, Ben Jones (basketball), and his nieces, Christie Hughes Carpenter (basketball and tennis) and Jodi Jones (basketball, volleyball and softball) were among Avery’s High School’s all-time top players. Ben and Jodi both played basketball collegiately at nearby Lees-McRae College in Banner Elk. A guard and forward, Champ Robert is one of the best pure shooters in Avery High’s storied basketball history. He led the Vikings to a 17-9 record and the 1974-75 Northwestern 3-A Conference Tournament crown. Champ Robert was the star of the championship game against Alexander Central as he rebounded his own missed shot and followed with the winning basket as time expired. He was named the tournament ‘s most valuable player. He was also an integral factor in the Vikings’ victories over perennial powers Freedom and McDowell during the same season. The win at McDowell came in the Titans’ first game in their new gymnasium. Champ Robert’s sterling play helped Avery sweep a pair of victories from its two fiercest rivals, Mitchell and Watauga. Champ Robert hasn’t lost his shooting touch either. Simply put, he can still shoot the lights out. He’s not lost one bit of his shooting ability from prep playing days. Just ask those who play against him, as they usually taste defeat. June 2014

High Country Magazine

Champ Robert Young (fourth from left) celebrates with his teammates when he receives the Most Valuable Player Award after leading the Avery Vikings to the 1974-75 North Carolina Northwestern 3-A Conference Prep Basketball Tournament Championship.

To honor Champ Robert and his basketball prowess, Avery school officials retired his number 42 jersey. Only Vikings’ basketball immortal and former North Carolina State University All-American and pro player Tommy Burleson has been extended the same honor. For many years, Avery High gave the “Champ Robert Young Cup” to a deserving male or female athlete who played at an accomplished level that would seem to especially exceed their athletics talent level.

Stellar and Loyal Service to Avery County Athletics

Avery County Recreation League

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Champ Robert probably has given more of his time to help promote and better youth, high school and adult sports programs in Avery County, in more ways, and over a longer period of time than many other individuals. “I just try to help whenever and wherever needed,” Champ Robert noted. “There’s a lot of other people who have been very helpful and instrumental in sports being so successful in Avery County for so long and I like to do my part to assist, too. I’ve not worked with any athletes or teams for any great monetary reward or praise. I loved playing and coaching sports, and I enjoy helping out with sports here if I can.” Champ Robert has been a head coach for various youth and adult league basketball teams, both male and female in Avery County. He has assisted with the Avery High men’s and women’s programs in various capacities, directed teams to numerous championships as a head coach and helped many others achieve the same as an assistant. Avery school officials had activity buses equipped with portable ramps and had back seats removed to provide adequate space for Champ Robert’s wheelchair so he could travel with the team to away games instead of driving himself, which he had to do for many years. When he rode an activity bus as a coach, Champ Robert was always helped on to the bus by several Avery players. Athletes are generally taught by coaches how to achieve success through hard work, commitment, discipline and dedication. However, Avery County coaches don’t need to use any complicated journals of philosophies about success. Their athletes can learn a much more valuable lesson than such things could teach by just observing Champ Robert. He has a lot of quality attributes as a coach, most notably being an astute motivator. Many players prefer to love their coach, but that kind of relationship can cause a problem, especially if a coach isn’t tough enough. Players must learn to play tough and to be willing to fight like a Marine storming a beachhead. I don’t know many coaches who are as well liked as him, but his players also respected him; and to be sure, he coached them tough.

Family and close friends. (Left-To-Right) Front Row: Beulah (Bootise) Watson Young, Champ Robert Young and Tim Gardner. Back Row: Christie Hughes Carpenter, Larry Jones, Jeremy Jennings, Deanne Young Jones and Sandra Young Hughes. Not pictured: Ben, Catherine, Gracie, Sophie and Jodi Jones.

Living a Life That Matters Partly a result of his paralysis, Champ Robert has developed various ailments throughout his life that hindered his work with certain personal projects and hobbies, but each time he finds something else that he can physically undertake. He has never lost his zest for living. Champ Robert has varied interests. He named his favorites as listening to Country music, shopping, collecting caps and of course, following sports. In fact, much of his time is spent watching sports in person and on television. His favorite collegiate teams include Wake Forest and Duke and his favorite professional teams are the Boston Celtics (basketball), Cincinnati Bengals and Los Angeles Rams (football) and the Cincinnati Reds and Atlanta Braves (baseball). Champ Robert is an avid Internet surf-

er and a Facebook fanatic. He has worked in various capacities with several civic and community organizations. He has a passion for politics, and has been active in the Democratic Party for many years. A devout member of the Minneapolis Baptist Church, Champ Robert is eager to bless and befriend others regardless their color, nationality, wallet content or gender. His mantra is to live each day as if it’s his last and to make the most of life. Champ Robert has underscored altruism in his life. He is kind, witty and most of all, positive. He can be tough if the situation calls for it, but he is mostly gentle. If anybody has a reason to feel bitter toward the world, it’s Champ Robert. It’s good to observe Champ Robert and his youthful heart in times when so many people who have enjoyed the good life remain pessimistic. Beulah may have summed up her son best with this matter-of-fact statement: “Champ Robert just keeps on keeping on,

someway, somehow, despite his physical limitations. He’s independent, and sometimes he does so well it almost seems as if he’s not handicapped.” Maybe the most important lesson that can be learned from Champ Robert is that no matter how difficult you have things, you can always look around and find someone who is having them more difficult. Champ Robert's inspiration and friendship to all helps makes this spring-- and all four seasons-- extra special in the North Carolina High Country. -Tim Gardner is a long-time journalist whose articles have appeared in various newspapers, magazines and online publications. Like Champ Robert Young, Tim is a lifetime resident of Avery County (Ingalls) and the North Carolina High Country. For years Tim has been a biographer of Champ Robert and a personal friend to him and his family. -Photos provided for this story courtesy of Champ Robert Young and Tim Gardner. June 2014

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ADV E R T I S E R S I N D E X Please patronize the advertisers in High Country Magazine, and when you purchase from them, please be sure to mention that you saw their ad in our pages. Thank them for their support of this publication by giving them yours! Without their support, this magazine would not be possible. To all of our advertisers, a most sincere thank you.

All Area Codes are 828 unless noted. ADVERTISER

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JoLynn Enterprises, Inc.................................... 297-2109........................... 12 Joy Bistro........................................................ 265-0600 �� 52 Lees-McRae Summer Theater........................... 898-8709........................... 73 LifeStore Bank.................................................. 265-2580........................... 89 LiLu Interiors.................................................... 719-5700........................... 27 Linville Falls Winery......................................... 765-1400........................... 15 Mast General Store .....................................866-FOR-MAST �� 9 Monkees of Blowing Rock................................ 295-0708........................... 33 Mountain Home & Hearth................................. 262-0051........................... 46 Mountain Land............................................. 800-849-9225 �� 14 Mountain Stretch Limo & Tours........................ 295-2230........................... 72 Mountain Tile................................................... 265-0472 �� 5 Mountaineer Landscaping................................ 733-3726 �� 3 Mustard Seed................................................... 295-4585........................... 97 Old World Galleries.......................................... 264-6559........................... 81 Parkway Craft Center........................................ 295-7938........................... 75 Piedmont Federal Bank..................................... 264-5244............................. 1 Roots Restaurant.............................................. 414-9508........................... 50 Seven Devils.................................................... 963-5343........................... 91 Shannon’s Curtain, Bed & Bath........................ 264-8321........................... 79 Shoppes at Farmers Hardware.......................... 264-8801........................... 77 Six Pence......................................................... 295-3155........................... 51 Sky Line/Sky Best........................................ 800-759-2226........................ 43 Sorrentos Bistro............................................... 898-5214........................... 54 Speckled Trout Cafe......................................... 295-9819........................... 51 Stone Cavern................................................... 963-8453 �� 24 Sugar Mountain Resort..................................... 898-4521 �� 13 Sunalei............................................................ 263-8711......................... 105 Superior Spas.................................................. 963-6624........................... 14 Tanner-Doncaster Outlet................................... 295-4200............................. 4 Tatum Galleries & Interiors............................... 963-6466 �� 31 Tim Turner Pottery............................................ 260-6016........................... 78 Timberlake’s Restaurant at Chetola................... 295-5505........................... 57 Todd Bush Photography................................... 898-8088 �� 2 Todd Rice Real Estate....................................... 263-8711........................... 66 Vidalia Restaurant............................................ 263-9176........................... 52 Watsonatta....................................................... 264-4540........................... 35 Wellspring Retirement Community............... 800-547-5387........................ 89 WingN’it.......................................................... 898-5008........................... 81

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June 2014

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Parting Shot... PHOTOS Provided by Grandfather Mountain Stewardship Foundation.

Rhodos, Rhodos, Rhodos!

hile blossoming rhododendrons don’t officially mark the end of winter or start of summer, the beautiful, pink-colored flowers of the Catawba rhododendron seem to bloom once the weather turns the corner in the High Country. For a plant that goes unnoticed much of the year – aside from one trying to navigate the dense thickets of brush or gauging the outside temperature by the droop and curl of its leaves during winter – the luscious flowers make you take notice for a few weeks in May and June as they enliven the countryside, mountain houses, business fronts and, as the above photo depicts, the landscape of Appalachian State University. “Out of all the diversity we have here on [Grandfather] Mountain — numerous trees, all the wildflowers — this set of shrubs in the heath family are the gems of the Mountain,” said Mickey Shortt Jr., a naturalist with the Grandfather Mountain Stewardship Foundation. “They are the 104

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showiest, the brightest, the ones that we turn our heads to look back at.” From June 1 to 16, Grandfather Mountain hosts the Remarkable Rhododendron Ramble with short, guided strolls each day at 1 p.m. where visitors learn the ins-and-outs of the Catawba species of rhododendron, which are abundant from MacRae Meadows at 4,300 feet in elevation to MacRae Peak at 5,845 feet. Then on Saturday, June 21, and Sunday, June 22, the Roan Mountain Citizens Club sponsors the Roan Mountain Rhododendron Festival that first began in 1947 to “memorialize and perpetuate the most gorgeous display of natural beauty on the North American continent,” according to the festival’s website. Like Grandfather Mountain, Roan Mountain sits high in the sky, and like

June 2014

Grandfather Mountain, Roan Mountain has a bountiful spread, aptly called a “sea,” of the Catawba rhododendrons in the gardens atop Roan Mountain State Park. As the pink Catawba rhododendron blossoms begin to fade, the other prevalent rhododendron in the area will start to shine. The rosebay rhododendron, although not as dashing, will flaunt its snowy-pink flowers in late June and into July, and once the rosebay blossoms fade, say hello to the dog days of summer. By Jesse Wood

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828.263.8711 • BOONE, NC www.SunaleiPreserve.com www.BlueRidgeRealty.net June 2014

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L E S S O N S

F R O M

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G R A N D F A T H E R

“You’ll never regret the times you spend together.”

_ Grandfather

From your deck, Grandfather Mountain speaks to you. Inspiring you to slow down, cherish time with family and friends, and soak up all the beauty and adventure the mountains have to offer. Echota is the most successful community in the history of the High Country with owners from across the Southeast. They’ve each learned that whether we’re talking about a mountain as ancient 133 Echota Parkway Boone, North Carolina 800.333.7601 EchotaNC.com

as time itself, or wisdom born from experience and love: When Grandfather speaks, you should listen. To arrange a tour of Echota, call 1.800.333.7601 or stop in today.

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