High Country Magazine | Volume 5 Issue 4 | February 2010

Volume 5 • Issue 4 FEBRUARY 2010

Sugar Turns

40

A Chance To Be Olympians Chit Chat About Coffee Southern Skiing’s Ultimate Accolade

DI A N N E DAVA N T & A S S O C I AT E S Excellence By Design Since 1979

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1009 Sugar Mountain Drive • Banner Elk, NC 28604 1-800-SUGAR-MT • www.skisugar.com Skiing • Snowboarding • Tubing • Ice Skating • Snowshoeing Februar y 2010

High Country Magazine

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The Easiest Go green without sacrificing lifestyle. A Rinnai tankless water heater delivers hot water when you need it for as long as you need it. The Rinnai is the perfect water heating solution for luxury spa baths and full-body shower spray systems that demand more hot water than traditional tank heaters can efficiently provide.

The Rannai only heats the water being used, saving consumers energy each month and money each month.

Install a Rinnai tankless water heater today!

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EVERYTHING YOU’LL NEED FOR FUN ON THE MOUNTAIN.

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High Country Magazine

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2322 Bairds Creek Road Vilas, North Carolina 28692 828-297-2109 • 1-800-922-2109

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Februar y 2010

High Country Magazine

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C O N T E N T S

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Dream On—Sugar Mountain Resort Celebrates 40 Years

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The birth of Sugar Mountain Resort was that of an extravagant, spare-no-expense dream, built just as the High Country was finding its legs as the next epicenter of the American ski industry. Today, 40 years later, that dream continues, becoming sweeter every season.

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32

Hall of Fame Honors at Last For Southern Skiing

With the recent recognition of Sepp Kober, the Austriaborn skier who helped found what is now a booming Southern ski industry, the industry itself has finally achieved national prominence and acceptance. It only took a 20-year effort by David Barudin for Sepp to finally be named to the Michigan-based National Ski and Snowboard Hall of Fame.

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Conquering Mountains

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Stormy Winter

58

Alpacas of the Carolina Alpine

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68 42

The Special Olympics North Carolina Winter Games take place each year at Appalachian Ski Resort, filling the air with exuberant cries of victory and an abundance of smiles on the faces of both athletes and volunteers. The Games provide an opportunity for athletes from North and South Carolina to better their skiing and snowboarding skills, compete against each other and build confidence that transfers to every aspect of their lives.

Take a look back at the first half of winter 2009-10 with a list of notable figures and memorable photographs of nature’s cold season creations—sculpted by snow, ice, wind and below-freezing temperatures.

Prized for their luxuriously soft fleece for thousands of years in the Andes, alpacas were first introduced to the United States in 1984—now, alpaca farms are popping up all across Western North Carolina. The industry is multi-faceted, as Lee Rankin of Banner Elk’s Apple Hill Farm explains, and involves fiber products, breeding, agritourism and shielding the gentle creatures from predators such as cougars and coyotes.

Coffee Chatter

Fifty percent of Americans drink coffee every single day, and in the High Country, caffeine-lovers have shown strong support for locally owned coffee shops. From hyperactive sheep to the anti-Starbucks movement to coffeehouses serving as Christian ministries, enjoy this casual series of facts, stories and conversation starters about coffee.

High Country Magazine

Februar y 2010

58 on the cover

Photographed by Todd Bush Former Olympian Kim Jochl of Sugar Mountain skis down Tom Terrific, a black diamond slope that was one of the original slopes built at 40-year-old Sugar Mountain Resort. Photographer Todd Bush captured this shot on December 22, 2009—only a few days after a large snowstorm blanketed the High Country.

Thick, white rime ice on the trees made for a striking contrast with the blue sky that day. Todd’s photos are featured in numerous magazines, posters and calendars. Call him at 828-898-8088 or click to www.bushphoto.com.

READER SERVICES 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. We publish the newspaper weekly and currently publish the magazine seven times a year. Both are free, and we distribute the newspaper and magazine in Watauga and Avery counties. Our newspaper is packed with information that we present and package in easy-to-read formats with visually appealing layouts.

The 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.

bedding a bloom

Cyclamen by Yves Delorme Š 2010

ABOUT US

SUBSCRIPTIONS

We are now offering subscriptions to High Country Magazine. A one-year subscription for seven issues costs $40, and we will mail issues to subscribers as soon as they arrive at our offices from the printer. To subscribe, call our offices at 828-264-2262.

fine linens from France,

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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ADVERTISING

Obtain information about advertising in our publications from our sales representatives by calling 828-264-2262 or emailing us at sales@highcountrypress.com.

Contact us at:

High Country Press/Magazine P.O. Box 152 130 North Depot Street Boone, NC 28607 www.highcountrypress.com info@highcountrypress.com

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High Country Magazine

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FROM T H E PUB L ISH ER

A Publication Of High Country Press Editor & Publisher Ken Ketchie Creative Director Courtney Cooper Production Manager Michelle Bailey Graphic Artists Tim Salt and Patrick Pitzer Advertising Sales Beverly Giles Bryan McGuire

Ken Ketchie

Ready Yet? …I wasn’t the first time. I didn’t even think about parking my car at the

bottom of the driveway in anticipation of a big snow. But I sure remembered when the second snowstorm came around.

Wintertime definitely came back with a vengeance this year. It’s been quite a while since we’ve had to deal with extended periods of serious winter storms. Battling the weather is the story everyone is talking about, as each storm has brought its fair share of both hardships and humor. I particularly get a chuckle out of the stories about not being ready. As one fellow described it, he said he didn’t just “get caught with my pants down, I got caught with them down around my ankles.” His family couldn’t understand why he could not get off the mountain for a family emergency. “There was snow way up above the car bumpers, up to my car doors’ handles,” he said.

Peter Morris and I were sharing stories a couple days after the first big, two-foot snowstorm of December 18. We were laughing about how crazy hard it was to dig out our cars from our driveways and out to the road. He pretty much hit the nail on the head when he said, “It’s like we forgot how to get ready for a big snow.” But with each storm, I’m relearning. Before the second storm arrived, I parked my car at the bottom of my driveway, with a shovel ready in the backseat. Just a week later, the Christmas Ice Storm brought with it another lesson in storm readiness. Like everyone else, I was without power for days, with near record-low temperatures outside. And just when I needed them the most, I realized that I had stored my kerosene heaters at work. Bad idea! Hauling those heaters up my driveway, winding my way through downed tree limbs and around ice-covered rhododendrons had me sweating and swearing. And after that, I discovered that I didn’t have any kerosene fuel at home either—more swearing and hauling. Both heaters and fuel are in the garage now!

The storms have just kept coming. Right before the last ice storm was due to arrive, I was at Appalachian Ski Mountain talking with Benjamin Marcellin, who was telling some funny storm stories when he mentioned that this time, he didn’t forget to fill up his bathtub with water. The fast learner I’m becoming with storm preparations, I left there and went back to my house to fill my tub up.

It has been crazy. There are all kinds of task we’ve adjusted to. I’ve worn my snow boots for more than a month now—and still love them. Have you noticed that shoveling snow has become a necessity, not just something to do for fun or for improving the aesthetics of your property? And, of course, the storms have resulted in lots of great stories. I’ve overheard many at the grocery store checkout line while buying up supplies for yet another approaching snowstorm—milk, eggs and bread . . . beer and cigarettes— say, “Oh, there’s another one to remember.”

I’m now one of those people who put up the wiper blades on their cars. And the snows keep coming. The way this winter seems to be going, we’ll all be winter-hardened pros by the time spring gets here.

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Associate Editors Sam Calhoun Anna Oakes Contributing Writers Randy Johnson Corinne Saunders Contributing Photograhers Todd Bush James Fay Federica Georgia Peter Morris Lonnie Webster Finance Manager Laila Patrick

High Country Magazine is produced by the staff and contributors of High Country Press newspaper, which serves Watauga and Avery counties of North Carolina

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. © 2010 by High Country Press. All Rights Reserved.

An Appalachian Mountain Tradition Since 1883

Mast Store alle V Crucis, NC

The Original Mast General Store in Valle Crucis is listed on the National Register of Historic Places as one of the best remaining examples of an old country store.

Mast Store locations found along main streets throughout the region offer visitors a chance to enjoy old-fashioned friendly service reminiscent of a bygone era & to browse shelves filled with traditional goods, apparel, and outdoor gear for all seasons.

Valle Crucis • Boone • Waynesville • Hendersonville • Asheville, NC Greenville, SC • Knoxville, TN • MastGeneralStore.com • 1-866-FOR-MAST Februar y 2010

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Calendarof Events

24

24-28

Young Entrepreneurs Symposium, Broyhill Inn and Conference Center, ASU, 828-262-8325

ASU Theatre: Prelude to a Kiss, Valborg Theatre, ASU, 828-262-3028

25

Gabriela Garcia Medina Performance, Evans Auditorium, Cannon Student Center, Lees-McRae College, 828-898-3318

26

Winter Wonder Gala with Chairmen of the Board, Legends, ASU, 828-262-2855

27

High Country Caregiver Foundation Trivia Challenge, La Quinta Inn, Boone, 828-265-5434

March 2010

2

Guided Hike, Smoketree Trail, Beech Mountain, 828-387-3003

5

Downtown Boone Art Crawl, downtown Boone galleries and businesses, 828-262-4532

6

Winter Farmers’ Market, Ashe County Farmers’ Market shelter, Backstreet, West Jefferson, 336-877-4141

An Evening of Classic Lily Tomlin, February 20

7

giant slalom competition proceeds benefit American Cancer Society, Sugar Mountain Resort, 828-898-4521

February 2010

18

Watauga County Spelling Bee, Board of Education office, Boone, 828-264-2225

20

20

Winter Farmers’ Market, Ashe County Farmers’

10

8

20

Market shelter, Backstreet, West Jefferson, 336-877-4141

“Shreddin the Love” Fundraiser Event, Beech

21

21

An Evening of Classic Lily Tomlin, Farthing

16 17

Lecture: Appalachian Mountain Photography Competition, Turchin Center lecture hall, 828-262-3017

19-23

Sugar Bear’s Birthday Celebration, the Great Bear Race, a magic show, special treats, cake and ice cream, Sugar Mountain Resort, 828-898-4521

ASU Wedding Expo, Summit Trail Solarium, Plemmons Student Union, ASU, 828-262-3032

Februar y 2010

Harlem Globetrotters, Holmes Center, ASU, 828-262-7890

Auditorium, ASU, 828-262-4046

High Country Magazine

Carlton Gallery Expressive Arts Workshop Begins, Carlton Gallery, Banner Elk, 828-963-4288

Mountain Resort, 828-387-2011

Richard T. Trundy Memorial Sugar Cup Competition,

Lees-McRae Theatre: Urinetown, Lees-McRae College, Banner Elk, 828-898-8709

20

Winter Farmers’ Market, Ashe County Farmers’ Market shelter, Backstreet, West Jefferson, 336-877-4141

21

Easter Egg Hunt, Sugar Mountain Resort, 828-898-4521

DON’T FORGET

EVENTS

Sugar Bear’s Birthday Celebration

SKI & SNOWBOARD EQUIPMENT CLOTHING • RENTALS • SERVICE ACROSS FROM THE ENTRANCE TO SUGAR MOUNTAIN IN BANNER ELK

(828) 898-9786 (800) 528-3874

Bundle up your kids and head to Sugar Mountain Resort, because Sugar Bear, the resort’s mascot, is having a birthday party, and they’ll surely want to help him celebrate! Join Sugar Bear and his friends for a Birthday Celebration on Sunday, February 21. In the morning, watch Sugar Bear and his friends take part in the Great Bear Race at the bottom of the slopes.

Around mid-day, enjoy a magic show, special treats, cake and ice cream. Children 4 and under get a free lift ticket with a paying parent or guardian.

sunday February 21

www.SkiCountrySports.com

Theatre Nights at ASU, Lees-McRae Watch tomorrow’s future acting professionals today at the theatre performances of Appalachian State University’s Department of Theatre and Dance and the Division of Performing Arts at Lees-McRae College in Banner Elk. ASU Theatre will present Prelude to a Kiss in February and the Appalachian Young People’s Theatre and Metamorphoses in April. The Appalachian Dance Ensemble will perform in March. LeesMcRae Performing Arts presents the musical Urinetown in March as well.

February through April

MerleFest Early Bird Ticket Deadline If you’re planning on attending this year’s MerleFest in Wilkesboro to see Doc Watson, Sam Bush, Steve Martin, Taj Mahal, Rhonda Vincent and the Rage and others, don’t forget the March 12 early bird ticket deadline for savings on reserved seating, four-day and three-day passes and parking.

MARCH 12

Cafe Portofino an international garlic house

All Day Dining 7 Days a Week

ining D r a 5 St sual a C a in ere! h p s o m At 970 Rivers Street • 828-264-7772

w w w. c a f e p o r t o fi n o . n e t Februar y 2010

High Country Magazine

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Chairmen of the Board, February 26

23

High Country Wedding Expo, March 28

Diversity Celebration, Plemmons Student Union,

15

ASU, 828-262-2144 24-27 25

Appalachian Dance Ensemble, Valborg Theatre, ASU,

15-18

Blue Ridge Wine and Food Festival, Blowing Rock, 828-295-7851

Boyles CEO Lecture: Clark S. Kinlin,

20

Farthing Auditorium, ASU, 828-262-2057 26-27

Blue Mountain Documentary Festival, ASU, 828-262-7730

828-262-3063

Harlem Globetrotters, March 16

Ashe County Choral Festival, Ashe County High School, 336-846-2787

BANFF Mountain Film Festival, Farthing Auditorium, ASU, 828-262-4077

27

Easter Egg Festival & Hunt, Memorial Park, Blowing Rock, 828-295-5222

27

High Country Comicon, National Guard Armory, Boone, boonecomicon@yahoo.com

27

Spring Open House, Turtle Island Preserve, Triplett, 828-265-2267

28

High Country Wedding Expo, Chetola Resort, Blowing Rock, 828-295-5148

30

Route 66 Comedy Revue, Ashe Civic Center, West Jefferson, 336-846-2787

Blowing Rock Easter Festival, March 27

April 2010

2

Downtown Boone Art Crawl, downtown Boone galleries and businesses, 828-262-4532

3

3

3-4

21-25

Easter Extravaganza, Appalachian Ski Mountain, Blowing Rock, 828-295-7828

Trout Derby, prizes awarded for biggest catch at the

Appalachian Young People’s Theatre, Meltdown Games, Appalachian Ski Mountain, Blowing Rock, 828-295-7828

10

11

People of the Planet Soccer Tournament, multicultural event for children and adults, Kidd Brewer Stadium, ASU, 828-262-2144

High Country Magazine

Februar y 2010

Sculptor Bill Brown Lecture, Turchin Center lecture hall, 828-262-3017

Market shelter, Backstreet, West Jefferson, 336-877-4141

I.G. Greer Studio Theatre, ASU, 828-262-3063 10-11

21

Winter Farmers’ Market, Ashe County Farmers’

American Legion Hall, Blowing Rock, 828-295-4636 9-11

ASU Theatre: Metamorphoses, Valborg Theatre, ASU, 828-262-3063

24

Shine to Wine Festival, downtown North Wilkesboro, 336-667-4875

25

Blue Ridge Chamber Players, Ashe Arts Center, West Jefferson, 336-846-2787

29-5/2 MerleFest, featuring Doc Watson, Steve Martin and the Steep Canyon Rangers, Taj Mahal, Elvis Costello, Rhonda Vincent and the Rage, Sam Bush and many more, Wilkes Community College, North Wilkesboro, 800-343-7857

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Tweetsie Railroad Opening Day, Tweetsie Railroad, 800-526-5740

DON’T FORGET

EVENTS

Blowing Rock Easter Festival There’s something to do in Blowing Rock for every holiday of the year, and Easter is no exception. Take the family to Memorial Park in downtown Blowing Rock for the Easter Egg Hunt and Festival on Saturday, March 27. Parks and Recreation staff will hide more than 1,000 Easter eggs, and kids will delight in games, prizes, activities and more.

SATURDAY March 27

Trout Derby The first weekend in April—April 3 and 4—brings the annual Trout Derby in Blowing Rock, a two-day fishing event with headquarters at the American Legion Hall downtown.

Prizes are awarded for the biggest fish caught in separate age categories. Trout must be taken from Watauga County public trout waters.

And on the Friday evening before the Trout Derby, be sure to eat dinner at the fish fry benefiting the Blowing Rock Fire Department.

APRIL 3 and 4

Blue Ridge Wine and Food Festival The Blue Ridge Wine and Food Festival in Blowing Rock celebrates five years in 2010, with events taking place Thursday through Sunday, April 15 to 18. The festival features winemakers’ dinners, cooking classes, wine seminars, entertainment, champagne brunches, a grand wine tasting and the final rounds of the Fire on the Rock Chef’s Challenge, an “Iron Chef”-style competition.

APRIL 15 to 18

Februar y 2010

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mountain

echoes

Insider tips, fascinating facts, conversation starters and fun stuff to do

e t a r b e l e C Diversity Through Education and Entertainment F

eel the power of a Native American drumbeat, take a salsa lesson, learn

Try lessons and workshops for aikido, Capoeira, clogging, crumping (a version

how to play Mahjong and sample sweet potato latkes from Israel—all in

of break dancing), flatfooting, stepping and West African dance. Taste foods

a single evening—at the 9th annual Diversity Celebration at ASU. The entire High Country community is invited to the multicultural festival that features performing arts, craft workshops, educational exhibits and

of the world such as Brazilian empanadas, Palak paneer from Pakistan, sushi from Japan, African “pop” and Kazakh Salad from Kazakhstan.

Children and adults can take part in the People of the Planet Soccer

ethnic foods by local and regional presenters and artisans. This year’s event

Tournament, a Diversity Celebration event on Sunday, April 11, from 9:00 a.m.

takes place on Tuesday, March 23, from 3:00 to 9:00 p.m. in the Plemmons

to 5:00 p.m. at Kidd Brewer Stadium.

School and youth groups are welcomed at the Diversity Celebration.

Student Union, and all activities are free.

Music and dance performances include bluegrass, clogging, gospel,

Community members who utilize the Rivers Street deck can request a free

Native American drumming and dance, hip hop, spiritual movement, blues,

parking pass for the Diversity Celebration. Other free parking is available in

North Indian classical music, a bagpipe band, bellydancing, folk music,

the Rivers Street bike lanes and in the Belk Library parking deck after 3:00

mariachi, minstrel banjo and West African traditional and fusion music.

p.m. and elsewhere on campus after 5:00 p.m.

Other performances and exhibitions will feature acrobatic yoga, puppetry, storytelling and educational presentations.

The Diversity Celebration also includes the 14th Unity Festival—a community event that has taken place since 1992. Unity Festival activities consist of aboriginal face painting, Appalachian butter making, foreign language activities, Mehendi hand painting, mountain toy making, spinning, using chopsticks, trying on Indian clothing, unity weave and words of peace.

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High Country Magazine

Februar y 2010

For more information and a performance schedule, click to www. celebration.appstate.edu or call 828-262-2144.

By Anna Oakes

mountain

echoes

Like Floating on Air M ary Hazel Farthing Mast is always

hoping one will be. She and three family

up for an adventure, even when the

members, including her son Allen, did

octogenarian gets asked to jump out of an

the parachute jump with the Skydive East

airplane.

Tennessee company in Dandridge, Tenn.

The Valle Crucis resident, whose family

This wasn’t the first daredevilish

founded the Mast General Store, skydived

adventure that Mast has had, as she’s

for the first time on December 6. She has a

parasailed before and jumped off a cliff in

request for the next time she goes.

New Zealand with a parachute.

“If I did it again, I’d ask for the free fall

While she wasn’t nervous for herself, she

to be longer. That was the most fun,” the

was worried about the other members of her

82-year-old said.

family. “I like to do crazy things,” Mast said.

The tandem (which means Mast was attached to an instructor) free fall lasted about a minute, Mast said. “Floating on the

To Mast, her age isn’t going to stop her from having adventures.

“I’m just very lucky to be in such good

air—that’s what it felt like,” she said. “It didn’t

health. Most 82-year-olds aren’t, so I’m just

feel like you were falling at all.”

lucky,” she said.

While another trip isn’t scheduled, she’s

By Jason Gilmer

Februar y 2010

High Country Magazine

13

mountain

echoes Fire on the Rock H

ere’s a suggestion for beating the winter blues: instead of watching “Iron Chef”

On each competition day, the “special ingredient” is rolled out from a cage of

on TV, how about participating in Fire on the

randomly labeled bingo balls, and the

Rock, a local version of the popular show? You

two battling chefs must incorporate that

decide which chefs advance to the next round

ingredient into each of the three dishes they

while enjoying a delectable, blind, six-course

prepare. The chef at Crippen’s serves as the

meal in the process—all for $39, plus drinks,

“chef ref,” making sure everyone plays by the

tax and tip.

rules—for example, chefs are not allowed to prepare dishes from their restaurants’ menus,

Crippen’s Country Inn & Restaurant owner Jimmy Crippen dreamed up Fire on the Rock to fill the need for another local

Jimmy said.

“It’s unlike any other dining experience,”

festival, he said. What began five years ago as

Jimmy said, explaining that “you’re going out

a competition between chefs representing

to dinner and a show that you have to be part

six Blowing Rock eateries has evolved into a

of.” The final four, and then the final two, chefs

bracket-style elimination game of 20 chefs

will face off in April at the Blue Ridge Wine

and their teams from restaurants in Ashe,

and Food Festival in Blowing Rock. For more

Avery, Surry, Watauga and Wilkes counties.

information and/or to make reservations for

Sixteen preliminary rounds take place

any of the 16 preliminary competitions, click

at Crippen’s, located at 239 Sunset Drive in Blowing Rock, every Tuesday and Wednesday

to www.fireontherock.com.

By Corinne Saunders

throughout February and March.

Winter Driving Tips

W

inter is far from over, and over the course of this winter in particular, High Country residents have found themselves dealing

with winter storm after winter storm. Locals and area newcomers can both benefit from the following reminders for driving safely in the elements.

• Check weather conditions for your travel route before you begin driving.

• Choose warm and comfortable clothes. If you need to remove outer clothing later while driving, first stop the vehicle • Slow down (posted speed limits are for ideal travel

in a safe spot.

• Remove snow and ice from your vehicle. It helps to see and, equally important, to be seen.

• Warm up your vehicle before driving off. It reduces moisture condensing on the inside of the windows.

• Never warm up your vehicle in a closed space.

• Bring a cell phone if you have one, but do not leave it in the

High Country Magazine

of ice.

• Don’t jerk the wheel while braking, accelerating or changing lanes—this could cause skidding.

• Don’t use cruise control—be in full control of your vehicle while driving in winter conditions.

By Corinne Saunders

car because the battery will freeze.

14

conditions) and lengthen your following distance in case

Februar y 2010

mountain

Mount Airy’s Andy Griffith Museum

W

hether you watched the show in the ‘60s

last 15 years but never had a true

or in syndicated re-runs, many have fond

home until the doors opened in

memories of Sheriff Andy Taylor, Aunt Bee, Opie,

mid-November 2009 to a new,

Barney Fife, Floyd, Gomer, Goober and the rest

2,500-square-foot museum.

of the Mayberry gang.

echoes

The Andy Griffith Show aired on CBS from 1960 to 1968.

donated by Francey Knotts,

Griffith gave many of the items

widow of actor Don Knotts, who

to Forrest, including the iconic

played Fife on the show. Actress

boundaries of TV Land, fans of The Andy Griffith

signs from the show’s courthouse

Betty Lynn, who played Thelma

Show should consider a trip to the recently

doors that read “Sheriff” and “Justice

opened Andy Griffith Museum, located less

of the Peace.” There are also mementos from

than two hours away from Boone in Mount

Griffith’s movies and his music career.

For a nostalgic experience beyond the

Airy. The museum contains the world’s largest

Lou on the show, donated to the collection as well.

Owned by the City of Mount Airy and

“I’ve been collecting this for 25 years,”

operated by the Surry Arts Council, the museum

collection of Andy Griffith memorabilia,

Forrest said in a press release. “Another favorite

is open seven days a week, and admission

collected by Emmett Forrest, a schoolmate and

item is Barney’s salt-and-pepper suit. Also, Andy

is $3 per person. For information on the

close friend of Griffith.

gave me items from his desk and the keys to the

museum, call 336-786-1604 or click to www.

jail, so those are very special.”

AndyGriffithMuseum.com.

Forrest’s collection has been displayed at various locations in Mount Airy over the

The collection contains several items

By Anna Oakes

Februar y 2010

High Country Magazine

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16

High Country Magazine

Februar y 2010

Story by Sam Calhoun The birth of Sugar Mountain Resort was that of an extravagant, spare-no-expense dream, built just as our region was finding its legs as the next epicenter of the American ski industry.

Today, 40 years later, that dream continues, becoming sweeter every season.

Februar y 2010

High Country Magazine

17

Bill Elder sells Dr. d Thomas Brigham 300 acres atop Beech Mountain for future ski slope d development







Blowing Rock Ski Lodge (Appalachian Ski Mountain) Opens





1962

1961

reams

d

 



1964

are

d

Hound Ears Ski Slope Opens (Now Closed) Dr. Thomas Brigham  moves permanently to High Country and begins work on Beech Mountain Resort



1965

d

Sugar d Mountain Resort Opens

d

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of the South Carnival of the South d permanently is one dominant Carnival trait—  moves to Sugar d there will always be another. d Mountain (Her High Country ski  Inaugural North 4th Annual Mill Ridge Ski Resort   father, Al Traver, industry represents Carolina Ski Snow Carnival  in our High Openscase (Now Closed) dSuch was the  moved to Sugar $1 million/week  Cup at Sugar of the South in 1970) business from Country, and the dreams were and Beech       d  d December 15 to March    carriedout by a  group of ingenious  1971 1972 1971 1969 1971 1972 1970 1970 imagineers among the snow-capped crests of Sugar and Beech Mountain.

And they spared no expense, for these mountains and their customers deserved d Gas crunch; Ray Costin and Dale and 2nd received Annual North d nothing but the very best—5th and final d Snow Carnival recession Stancil lease Sugar Carolina Ski Cup at  the work of dreams, if you will. of the South for one year from Sugar and Beech d bankruptcy court; 3rd and final North  Sugar declares  Sugar Mountain Resort, which Dr. Thomas  Gunther Jochl comes Carolina Ski Cup at bankruptcy  Brigham d had been steadily leaves sprouting from our to Sugar for first Sugar and Beech  Sugar  roleoftime, assuming       d  before   d mountainscape for a few years general manager      it opened on the day after Christmas 1973-1974 1973 1972 1976 1976-1977 1973 1973 1969, was, well, magical when you really think about—still is today, and it seems for tenure.

A large shadow is cast by the present dOktoberfest d Annual New Sugar Sugar Mountain day Sugar. Today, The Land of Certain d Celebration begins Ski/Snowboard becomes a Village  Snow fulfills four-season recreational at Sugar School and d d Patrol buildings  Ray Costin andneeds Dale Stancil buy Sugar Hiking and biking Sugar hosts The  Alcohol sales wants and with flying colors, all  erected Mountain Resort and put property trails open at Sugar Showdown at Sugar  become legal in d  into an its equalleadership trust for their children; while and staff improve  Mountain Sugar Mountain  Bike Gunther Jochl  becomes general  Competition     d  d infrastructure, conditions, customer  manager   and operating partner     experience and safety every season.

1994 1993 1985 1994-2007 1989 1991 1978 Now, most people living in or near the High Country are closer to world-class, four-season outdoor fun than most of the nation or world. At 40 years old, Sugar d Snowshoeing added Sugar’s double Black is ski, Sugar snowboard, dMountain shred, snowshoe, ice d to Sugar’s roster of Diamond slope, Resort receives the  skate, National tube, Ski golf, winter activities Whoopdedoo, opens Patroltennis, mountain bike, d Tubing and the Terrain  Distinguished Annual hike, race, shop, eat, drink, dance,  Summerdine, Lift Rides  Park open at Sugar Service Award SugarFest begin at d  picnic, Oktoberfest, SugarFest andSugar so  Celebration begins       d local ski d on. And it, like the rest of the   3rd Annual Snow

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Sugar’s Ski/Snowboard Patrol awarded Outstanding Patrol in the Southern Division; Sugar receives Alfred Adams  of the Year Leadership Employer Award from Boone Chamber

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Sugar brings North Carolina its first National Mountain Bike Competition

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new amenities and new dreams are taking shape at Sugar these days, building off the mountain’s 40-year history of creating a magical experience for guests.

Photo by Todd Bush 18

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scene when it first opened in 1969. New construction, new ski slopes,

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19

Before the sounds of earthmovers could be heard echoing through the hills of Sugar Mountain, the property, which was owned by George and Chessie MacRae, was a piece of untouched mountain landscape. In the late-1960s, visionary Thomas Brigham saw the land as more than just mountain pasture— he saw it as a template for a dream of a new ski slope, and Sugar Mountain was born. Brigham created Sugar after developing Beech Mountain Resort; later, Brigham would create Snowshoe Ski Resort in West Virginia.

industry, creates much-needed jobs—then, now and in the future.

But that tall shadow—now four decades old, looking good, moving forward and dreaming on—still reaches to fully outshadow its beginning.

Two years before Sugar, a magical dream of regional, national and international proportions began to play out atop Beech Mountain, as the Carolina Caribbean Corporation found its legs with the promise of four-season fun, recreation, entertainment, living, leisure and calculated debauchery.

Skiing was the seemingly final and greatest piece of the puzzle to complete the promotion of North Carolina as the “Variety

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High Country Magazine

Vacationland,” according to North Carolina Governor Robert W. Scott, who quipped this tag often in the 1960s and ‘70s. And Carolina Caribbean— along with its imagineers and believers: Grover C. Robbins Jr., Dr. Thomas Brigham, Harry Robbins, Frank Coffey, Stacy Rowell, Jack Pentes and many others—could take a lion’s share of the credit.

Beech, mixed with Blowing Rock Ski Lodge (1962), Hound Ears Ski Slope (1964) and Seven Devils Ski Slope (1966) had, thus far, put this region on the map.

And then came Sugar.

Sugar was the dream of Brigham, the man heralded as one of the fathers of Southern Skiing, who, after haphazardly learning about the invention of snowmaking through a Reader’s Digest article, had the foresight to dream up Beech, Sugar and Snowshoe Ski Resort in West Virginia. By the time Sugar was becoming a twinkle in Brigham’s eye, he had attracted a few other believers to the vision: his partner, Alex Andrews, a retired Air Force general from Raleigh nicknamed

Februar y 2010

“Captain Marvel” because of his outfit selection; Al Johnson, a Tennessee banker; and George and Serena “Chessie” MacRae, partners and landowners. In time, Sugar became the dream of Ray Costin, Dale Stancil, Gunther Jochl and many others.

It was the next dream…because there is always another dream.

“Sugar was to be different,” said Dedy Traver, one of the first permanent residents of Sugar Mountain.

And when that dream came to be atop Sugar Mountain, the scene was that of legend. However much it may still be today, go back 40 years to Sugar’s birth and imagine its 3,000 newly-developed acres…

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4th Annual Snow Carnival of the South

ixty acres of carved ski trails dropped from the sky into a 35,000-squared and final Gas crunch; Ray Costin and Dale 2nd Annual North d foot, state-of-the-art resort lodge made from 5th d Snow Carnival recession Stancil lease Sugar Carolina Ski Cup at  of the South for one year from Sugar and Beech and products available. the finest woods d bankruptcy court; 3rd and final North  Sugar declares  Dr. Thomas  Dotting the foothills around the lodge and Gunther Jochl comes Carolina Ski Cup at bankruptcy  Brigham d to Sugar for first Sugar and Beech  Sugar its expansive decks was leaves the famous tennis  roleoftime, assuming       d  that d general manager bubble, a  massive inflatable      bubble  protected three all-weather tennis courts 1973-1974 1973 1972 1976 1976-1977 1973 1973 from inclement weather and that was so large it could be seen from the highway.

The bubble’s bright yellow and white cover served as a backdrop to six more dOktoberfest d Annual New Sugar Sugar Mountain d tennis courts and the resort’s HollywoodCelebration begins Ski/Snowboard becomes a Village  at Sugar School and d esque pool. With regular live performances d Patrol buildings Ray Costin and Dale Stancil buy Sugar Hiking and biking Sugar hosts The  Alcohol sales  erected

by TheMountain Kingston Trio, weekly Mongolian Resort and put property trails open at Sugar Showdown at Sugar  become legal in d  into an equal trust for their children;  Mountain Sugar Mountain  Bike buffets,Gunther gourmet food on-demand, drinks, Jochl  becomes general  Competition      d  of thed manager operating partner   atandThanksgiving    and Christmas ice carvings  – Dedy Traver, one and1978 a hip image hardly paralleled 1993 1985 in the 1994-2007 1989 1991 first1994permanent residents region, the pool facilities could easily of Sugar Mountain. distract customers from the construction noise caused by the crews working on towers that would eventually serve the d

ugar was to be different.

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Summer Lift Rides begin at Sugar

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Bike Competition

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Sugar records a record 140 consecutive skier days

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Sugar’s Ski/Snowboard Patrol awarded Outstanding Patrol in the Southern Division; Sugar receives Alfred Adams  of the Year Leadership Employer Award from Boone Chamber

Sugardreceives Employer of the Year Award from the N.C. Employment Security  Commission; begins five-year overhaul of snowmaking infrastructure

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Give us the opportunity to bring Sugar brings North Carolina its first your d log home dream to life.  National Mountain

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Snowshoeing added to Sugar’s roster of winter activities

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Tubing and the Terrain Park open at Sugar

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us 1996 the unique ability1997 to mesh your lifestyle needs with a quality log and structural heavy timber design to create the perfect log home for you.

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Sugar’s double Black Diamond slope, Whoopdedoo, opens

 ur 30 years of log home  experience   industry gives   d

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Aahs

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High Country Magazine

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A BOB OF A DIFFERENT COLOR Only the finest woods and products were used to build Sugar Mountain’s base lodge in 1968-69.

As a testament to the quality, the 40,000-squarefoot lodge still stands today, thanks in part

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High Country Magazine

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to a dedicated staff that provides care and maintenance to the structure on a regular basis.

tram. A tram, you say? Yes, a tram, like the ones in your dreams that would—if it was ever built—take visitors to a hotel at the top of the mountain…and then through the hotel to a set of even-higher placed condos. You could read all about it in the monthly, members-only Notes from Sugar Mountain magazine.

“The first time I came here (1976), I thought, ‘These guys know how to spend!’” laughed Gunther, general manager, president and operating partner of Sugar Mountain Resort.

“Waiters dressed to the hilt, you know, live music all the time,” smiled Dedy. “It was such a good time, such great people; it’s good to remember.”

No expense was spared—but Sugar was still family-oriented and lighthearted.

It had its own identity, even if it was birthed from a similar understanding and goal: to bring skiing to North Carolina, while allowing the industry to drive a healthy real estate market.

All of it was affordable and real estate driven, plain and simple. A one-bedroom on Hemlock Knob was $18,000 in Sugar’s infancy; a four-bedroom, five-bath fullyfurnished (down to the silverware) ski palace on Snow Lake was $55,000; timeshares came in later—each provided access to the dream of Sugar.

And the dream was thriving.

And the dream was all seasons.

Campouts led by Eric Bindlechner excited youth in the summer, while five-star meals enticed mom and dad to annually take advantage of the resort’s ski week packages and summer getaway packages. Families could be spotted sunbathing on Snow Lake’s beach every summer—families that had decided not to just get a sitter and head to Sugar’s top shop for some wine and cheese.

During Sugar’s popular ski weeks, Sugar’s first ski school director, Eric, introduced countless novices to the sport through his new method of teaching called the Headway Method or GLM (graduated length method).

Off the slopes, Eric and his wife Lucy were integral parts of Sugar’s social scene. “Eric and Lucy brought the color and charisma you had to have at a ski area,” remembered Dedy. Bindlechner passed away in October 2009.

Even in 1969, horseback riding was offered at Sugar, as was paddle tennis, dance and clogging classes, miles of hiking trails, nightlife six nights a week and group trips,

ranging from catching a show at Barter Theater to flying overseas to catch some European ski action.

Ski stars peppered the slopes, and celebrities were often popping in, playing golf, posing for pictures on the slopes and enjoying intimate dinners in the Maple Leaf Room and late-night drinks at the Sugar Hollow Club—some of them may have even been lucky enough to have a locker for their own liquor.

Ski clubs accumulated in the Southeast around Sugar’s inception, as did the clubs’ regular trips to Sugar Mountain, Beech Mountain, Blowing Rock Ski Lodge, Hound Ears Club and Seven Devils Ski Area. Dedy was a proud, long-time member of the Atlanta Ski Club—a club that has, perhaps, fought hardest to enjoy our backyard sport of skiing. Look no further to feel blessed, as Dedy tells tales of Atlanta Ski Club members taking their first lessons on sawdust; once learned, they endured repeated questioning regarding the club’s feasibility. To quell the critics, “we had these buttons that said, We Ski On Grits,” laughed Dedy. But they came to Sugar, in droves. So many that tour

Photo by Peter Morris

No expense was spared when outfitting Sugar Mountain Resort with top-of-the-line infrastructure when it was built. As an example, Sugar’s compressor room looks and operates today (pictured at top) much like how it did in 1969 (pictured on bottom). A witness to this quality is Warren Hodges (pictured at top on left), one of Sugar’s first employees. Hodges started in 1969 as a snowmaker; now, he is operations manager and charged with keeping the underbelly of Sugar running smoothly.

Februar y 2010

High Country Magazine

23

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Behind much of the day-to-day identity of Sugar Mountain during its first years in operation was Eric Bindlechner, Sugar’s first ski school director, and his wife Lucy. The couple worked hard and played hard—”Eric and Lucy brought the color and

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charisma you had to have at a ski area,” said Dedy.

buses had to drop off luggage at hotels so that their coaches could make it up Sugar’s steep grade with the passengers.

Austrians came over by the dozen to work as ski instructors—a practice made common at Beech—and those employees bought homes and added a flavor of Europe to the budding scene. The added prestige brought new dreams, of course, one of which was a second, championship golf course and elite eatery atop Flat Top Mountain, located directly behind Sugar Mountain, present day Linville Ridge.

The mood was playful, carefree.

Almost like a summer camp for kids, Dedy said. Skiers donned ponchos made from burlap sacks when it rained too much, and it was a regular sight to see late-night partygoers sliding down main roads on inner tubes.

Beyond the Sugar Hollow Club, merrymakers could find their way to the Hub Pub Club, another drinking establishment located in the present-day Alpine Ski Center. To get groceries, you had to travel to Linville or Banner Elk, and for a liquor store, well, you had to drive up Shull’s Mill or around Grandfather to get to Blowing Rock. And then, of course, not drink anything to console yourself on 24

High Country Magazine

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2nd Annual North d Carolina Ski Cup at Sugar and Beech

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“They thought it was a bit crazy at first,” he that long trip back.

“People came from all over—a bunch from Alabama, continued. “It was fascinating to me, though. dOktoberfest “It didn’t take [locals] dlong to realize there was jobs,” South Carolina, Georgia came here.

It Mountain was like a great Annual New Sugar Sugar d Celebration begins Ski/Snowboard becomes a Village  64. “We were thankful.” big family,” remembered Dedy. “Everyone treated said Warren, at Sugar School and d d Patrol buildings Ray Costin Dale Stancil buy Sugar were integrated from the very beginning,” everyone withand respect.”

Hiking and biking Sugar hosts The  Alcohol sales “Locals  erected Mountain Resort and put property trails open at Sugar Showdown at Sugar  become legal in d  shared Dedy, who worked 30 years for Sugar Mountain’s into an equal trust for their children;  Mountain Sugar Mountain  Bike Gunther Jochl becomes general       “Until Competition ord of what was transpiring in the High Country Utilities, Inc., the local water and sewer company. d  d  manager   and operating partner     at Sugar Mountain reached far and wide, and the ski slopes came in, there was not much in the way 1994 1993 1985 1994-2007 1989 1991 1978 of jobs up here; it brought in a way to make dependable locals, well, locals looked on with awe and interest.

Warren Hodges was one of the first employees of money.”

Not only was Sugar a new driver to the local Sugar Mountain. He’s now operations manager; started as a snowmaker. He’s still there. Forty years later. Happy economy, it was also magical. d day came to the mountain— “This sweet woman one as ever. Well, almost as happy as when he’s hunting, but Sugar’s double Snowshoeing added Black Sugar dMountain d she asked tousSugar’s roster of slope, Resort receives thethankful for his job. And Gunther Diamond one of those first years—and what we did happy nonetheless and winter activities Whoopdedoo, opens National Ski Patrol d Tubing andspringtime,” the Terrain Distinguished with the snow during the laughed Warren. is happy and very thankful  to have Summer Warren around.

Annual  Lift Rides  Park open at Sugar Service Award SugarFest  Sugar d to our big warehouse and told Gunther is from Austria; Warrenbegin is aatlocal—not your “[An employee] pointed   Celebration begins   her we stored it in there over summer.” every day matchup, wouldn’t you say?

Such was Sugar’s     d  d         arrival.

2000 1999 2003 1997 1998 1996 at first thought that “[Locals] anyone who made snow was right up there with God,” Warren offered about his first days on the job, laughing with good mountain humor.

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Life was magical atop Sugar Mountain in the 1970s—much as it is today. No matter the weather, guests could enjoy tennis within the mountain’s state-of-the-art tennis bubble. In warmer weather, Sugar’s expansive pool was the social gathering place, offering attendees regular live performances by The Kingston Trio (pictured at top), weekly Mongolian buffets and dining alfresco. After working out or hanging out, guests enjoyed five-course, five-star meals at Sugar’s Maple Leaf Room (pictured on left) and late-night drinks at the Sugar Hollow Club.

Februar y 2010

High Country Magazine

25

—The History of Sugar Mountain

Sugar Top Resort Sales Dennis Lacey–Broker

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In 1969, Sugar Mountain was a sleepy, beautiful piece of untouched mountain land owned by George and Chessie MacRae. Brigham partnered with George, Chessie, Al Johnson and Alex Andrews to develop Sugar Mountain Resort.

Brigham and his partners developed Sugar Mountain’s 3,000 acres for $7.5 million, building six ski slopes, a golf course, a year-round tennis facility, residential areas, streams and lakes for fishing and swimming, stables and riding trails. Bob Ash was appointed mountain manager. On opening day on December 26, 1969, Sugar’s 35,000-square-foot ski center (which is now 40,000 square feet) that featured a cafeteria, shops, rental outlets, lounges and a nursery In the mid-1970s, the dream of what Sugar Mountain could become included

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a vision for a tram that would ferry guests up the mountain, make a stop at a fivestar hotel, travel through the hotel lobby and then arrive at its final destination, Sky Leaf Condominiums. The project was abandoned during Sugar’s bankruptcy.

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High Country Magazine

Februar y 2010

had just been completed, as well as 32 condominiums that bordered the ski slopes.

In the beginning, Sugar was just as much about real estate as it was about skiing. A whole team of real estate professionals was hired along with the very first round of ski personnel and instructors.

“It was really a real estate-driven business model,” said Dedy. “It was high class but it was affordable…and it was contemporary, not gingerbread like Beech.”

“Selling real estate was the driver,” said Gunther.

Not like it was a bad deal. Sugar was posh and populated—it’s power lines are even buried. If you’ve never snaked through the rolling back roads of the Village, I urge you to take a look—the homes are unique, high-quality, tastefully placed…and everywhere.

George MacRae engineered and planned the layout of Sugar’s first developments and homes. “When George [MacRae] was here, the homes were built to fit into the mountainscape,” said Dedy, who owes her discovery of Sugar to her father, Al Traver.

Fresh out of the Rhode Island textile industry, Al came to Sugar to work in real estate and, like many others, created a lucrative and rewarding lifestyle for himself and his family.

Selling real estate easily piggybacked off Sugar’s plentiful amenities. At the center of the magical kingdom of outdoor recreation

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Ray Costin and Dale Stancil buy Sugar Mountain Resort and put property d into an equal trust for their children; Gunther Jochl becomes general  manager and operating partner

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the idea of Southern skiing. In 1969, those who visit us from other states is perhaps much of the credit could be increasing every year.” d By the end of Sugar’s second year given to Sugar’s the newborn all-seasons resort Snowshoeing added double Black d to Sugar’s roster slope, in the ofcompany’s balance of SugarDiamond Mountain, but the leadership  operation, winter activities Whoopdedoo, opens sheet showed a profit—a small profit. behind Sugar, like that behind d TubingBeech and the Terrain Annual   Park open at Sugar In 1971, the High Country ski SugarFest industry Mountain, Hound Ears Club, Seven  Rock Ski represented a $1 million Celebration per week d Devils Ski Area and Blowing begins       from December 15through   business Lodge,  understood that no part was 2000 2003 1998 than the whole.1999 stronger The more March.

The 1969 Snow Carnival of the the merrier, as they say. And the scene, lifestyle, perception, larger-than-life South—held the year Sugar Mountain stories, activities, visitors and profits opened—featured a meager operating budget of $6,000. By 1971, the budget started to snowball. d soared toSugar $36,000 and Sugar’s slopes “TheSugar’sincredible development records a record Ski/Snowboard Patrol d 140 consecutive skier days Outstanding Patrol in  suddenly were playing host to a who’s of skiingawarded as a major sport in North the Southern Division; Sugar d Alfred Adams  Commission; begins five-year who of international celebrities, as is unparalleled by any such Sugarsuch celebrates Sugar brings North Carolinareceives Ice Skating   of the Year Leadership Employer overhaul of snowmaking 40 years Carolina its first comes to Sugar  d infrastructure Mickey Mantle and Bobby Richardson, recreational activity in the history of ugar’s impact on the local scene Award from Boone Chamber  National Mountain   a Bike  couldbe felt less than Competition Robert Scott in and ski royalty, year after our state,” wrote Gov.  such as Billy d  Kidd, d        1970. “In barely a decade, this exciting Vladimir “Spider” Sabich and Jeanit opened.

2008 2007 2009 2006 2006 2004 The creation of Sugar Mountain sport has become deeply woven into Claude Killy.

The ski stars came for the North came about just as the Southeast and the fiber of the Tar Heel state, and nation were beginning to embrace its popularity among our citizens and Carolina Ski Cup, the premier racing and contemporary architecture was Sugar’s lodge.

“ItSugar wasMountain and is beautiful,” said Dedy. d Resort receives the class and was well“It was built first National Ski Patrol maintained.”  Distinguished Summer Lift Rides Service Award Warren, begin at Sugar dAccording to Gunther and only the finest wood was used to     d  the lodge  in 1969, and construct 1996 dedicated staff has1997 Sugar’s taken extra care over the past four decades to make sure it retains its original charm and appearance. Originally, the lodge had an 800-square-foot dance floor; in 1973 Sugar anddreceives 1974,Employer the lodge was used as a of the Year Award from the N.C. convention center.

Employment Security

Makotoʼs Seafood & Steakhouse VS. Winner of the Feb. 9th Heat WEDNESDAY FEB. 23rd Wine Feature: Montinore Estate, OR Storie Street Grille VS. Casa Rustica WEDNESDAY FEB 24th Wine Feature: Montinore Estate, OR Hearthstone Tavern & Grille VS. Vidalia TUESDAY MAR. 2nd Wine Feature: Colombelle, France The Table at Crestwood VS. Winner of Feb. 10th Heat WEDNESDAY MAR. 3rd Wine Feature: Colombelle, France Jackalopeʼs View at Archerʼs Inn VS. Winner of Feb. 16th Heat TUESDAY Mar. 9th Wine Feature: X Winery, CA Sorrentoʼs Bistro VS. Hound Ears Lodge & Club WEDNESDAY MAR. 10th Wine Feature: X Winery, CA Twenty One & Main VS. Rowlandʼs at Westglow Resort TUESDAY MAR. 16th Wine Feature: Tortoise Creek, CA Bistro Roca & Antlers Bar VS. Winner of the Feb. 17th Heat WEDNESDAY MAR. 17th Wine Feature: Tortoise Creek, CA

Februar y 2010

High Country Magazine

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Sugar brings North Carolina its first National Mountain Bike Competition

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Like at Beech Mountain, Austrians came over by the dozen in the 1970s to work as ski instructors at Sugar Mountain Resort. Most were larger-than-life characters and some could be found nightly serenading guests with singing and guitar, which just added to the allure and mystique of Sugar Mountain. In time, that allure would attract celebrities and ski stars, which in turn attracted

“

standing-room-only crowds of spectators.

event of the Snow Carnival of the South and the first pro race ever held in the South. Held in 1971, 1972 and 1973, the Cup offered one of the highest purses in the world.

The dream was growing fast, though, and in 1973, the magic began to unravel ever so much from Sugar’s impenetrable image. A gas crunch and recession began to take hold and economic fears proved too weighty for the Snow Carnival of the

t was such a good time, such good people; it’s good to remember.

South. The event ended that year, as did the North Carolina Ski Cup. Brigham, after having a conflict with chairman of the board Alex Andrews, left Sugar in 1973 as well, moving on to dream up Snowshoe Ski Resort in West Virginia— the next dream.

But the skiers kept coming. Members of the loyal ski clubs would go as far as to leave a can of gas halfway between Sugar and their hometown, just so they could make the roundtrip without running out of gas. Weekends were so popular that public lift tickets were limited—members, of course, were always allowed access.

Leaving the slopes meant entering a party during Sugar’s first days. Live music was provided seven days a week and nightlife was available six, leaving little time for guests to sit idle or get bored.

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nd then—the dream came crashing down…briefly.

Sugar Mountain Resort declared bankruptcy in 1976. Flat Top Mountain was immediately sold, construction came to a halt and many of the resort’s extra amenities disappeared.

Many factors contributed to the fall, but extravagant spending and bad accounting were mostly likely to blame. Both Brigham and Dedy, in separate interviews, expressed belief that Sugar could have been saved from bankruptcy if its leadership at the time had made smarter banking decisions, but no one really knows for sure. Dedy also cited Sugar’s plans to build a tram on the mountain that would go through a new hotel and deliver highbrow residents to the Sky Leaf Condominiums at Sugar’s peak as

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High Country Magazine

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an aggravating factor. “That always seemed to be what broke its back,” said Dedy.

Despite the bankruptcy, the community stayed intact. Al Traver took over road maintenance and security in the wake, and Alex Andrews ended up with the golf courses and some of the original condos.

“Bankruptcy spreads to the entire area.

It was rough,” remembered Gunther. fter finding success with other East Coast ski mountains, including Blue Knob, Massanutten and Bryce, Ray Costin and his business partner Dale Stancil identified Sugar Mountain as a viable rescue project shortly after the bankruptcy was made public. Sugar Mountain in 1976 was in the same type of financial difficulty that Ray and Dale had seen at Bryce, Blue Knob and Massanutten—the owners had somewhat neglected the skiing operation and instead focused on selling real estate, using the ski slope as an incentive.

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In 1976, Ray’s attorney, Ernest Delaney, put together a deal in which Dale and Ray would lease Sugar Mountain for one year—1976-77. Dale brought Gunther down from Blue Knob to be the general manager that season.

Skiing conditions on Sugar were great that first year. The 90 inches of natural snowfall atop Grandfather Mountain far exceeded the 57-inch average, and the weather was colder than normal—perfect for snowmaking. Although skiing was good, Dale and Ray weren’t much for summer activities and, also in an effort to slim costs, removed the tennis bubble and caved-in the pool.

The skiers started coming and kept coming—and so did the profits. Ray and Dale made approximately $250,000 in profit from Sugar Mountain in the first year, so the team decided to lease the mountain for one more year—1977-78.

After that first season—in summer 1977—Dale and Ray sold their interests in

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Massanutten and Blue Knob and focused their attention on Sugar. Dale brought in a dear friend, Joe O’Donnell of Boston Concessions, to handle the resort’s food service.

“It was a mutually agreeable deal and it’s been a great relationship ever since,” said Keith Lane, who manages Boston Concessions’ food service at Sugar Mountain. Keith attended Watauga High School and his father was an ASU professor; he now employees more than 100 locals at Sugar Mountain every year.

In 1978, Dale and Ray bought Sugar Mountain Resort for $2.6 million and put the property into an equal trust for their children, with Dale’s kids owning 50 percent of the resort and Ray’s kids owning 50 percent.

They leased Sugar Mountain from the trust, and Dale acted as managing partner, relying heavily on general manager Gunther. Today, Gunther and Dale are the only primary stockholders of the company

The founders of Sugar Mountain Resort would be proud if they could see the present-day Sugar. Infrastructure, its bones now 40 years old, stands tall, and the dream that started it all is being embraced by new generations of visitors who couldn’t imagine summer, winter, fall or spring without the sweetness of Sugar.

Photo by Todd Bush

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“

e, as a staff, sit down together a lot and think about what we can do to make it fun; it takes a lot of coordinating to create this fun,” said Gunther Jochl, general manager, president and operating partner of Sugar Mountain Resort (middle picture).

“This place has a really good group of people that work together,” said Warren Hodges, operations manager of Sugar Mountain Resort (right picture). “I’m proud of this place—really am.”

Behind the curtain of Sugar Mountain Resort are three individuals who, on a daily basis, tirelessly work to uphold the positive image of the four-seasons resort. Every year, more than 500 employees take guidance and inspiration from Hodges, Jochl and Keith Lane (left picture), who manages Boston Concessions’ food service at Sugar Mountain. “Enough is never enough, you know?” said Gunther.

and Gunther is the operating partner.

Gunther’s hard work at Sugar showed and paid off in the following years. He brought conditions on the mountain to stellar levels and the clientele continued to grow.

Timeshares started to pop up around the landscape in the late 1970s and early 1980s, adding to Sugar’s draw with second homeowners. n 1985, Sugar Mountain incorporated as a village. The decision was for many reasons—taxes, trash, public services—but also to create building restrictions that would forbid projects like Sugar Top Resort, which commands the viewshed above Sugar Mountain.

“The community came together again,” remembered Dedy, who sat on Sugar’s first town council.

Roads were paved right away, and Dale bought the golf course from Alex Andrews and sold it to the Village.

In 1989, the Village voted in liquor-bythe-drink, beer and wine. Keith, Gunther and their staffs used a 5,000-square-foot addition to the lodge to create the Last Run Lounge bar and restaurant, which continues to serve as a cozy and fun après ski hangout today.

Two years later, the annual Oktoberfest festival began, and Sugar embarked on a decade of infrastructure improvements and additions, new events, managed growth and increased visibility. oday, under the hands-on, exacting and wise guidance of Gunther Jochl, Sugar employs more than 400 locals at any given time that provide exemplary service to thousands upon thousands of residents and visitors each year.

“We want people to come back, and we get a lot of return customers,” said Gunther. “We, as a staff, sit down together a lot and think about what we can do to make it fun; it takes a lot of coordinating to create this fun.”

“This place has a really good group of people that work together,” added Warren, sincerely. “I’m proud of this place—really am.”

Proud, perhaps, because that place— the 40-year-old Sugar Mountain Resort— is constantly reaching for the stars, its leadership and staff always looking for the latest and greatest new trend in outdoor recreation. Hiking and biking trails opened in 1993; national mountain biking competitions followed in 1994 and continue today. Summer lift rides were added a few years later, and then snow

tubing, a terrain park, snowshoeing and ice skating joined the roster.

Yes, the dream still seems to be plenty alive atop Sugar Mountain. The magic will continue because its current leadership dreams like his predecessors.

“Enough is never enough, you know?” said Gunther, smiling.

Well, dream on, Gunther. We like this dream.

w

Sugar Mountain Resort www.skisugar.com info@skisugar.com 828-898-4521 1-800-SUGAR-MTN * Special thanks to Dedy Traver and Keith Lane for providing historical photographs and documents for this story.

Februar y 2010

High Country Magazine

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Hall of Fame Honors at Last For Southern Skiing

Story by Randy Johnson

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H ii g gh h C Co o uu nn ttrryy MMaaggaazzi innee H

February y2010 2010 Februar

Sepp Kober’s stomping ground: The Homestead ski area in the Virginia Alleghenies, near the border with West Virginia (above). Ever since the 1700s, the area’s thermal waters have attracted many, among them Thomas Jefferson. Sam Snead learned the game at The Homestead’s nationally known golf courses. Sepp Kober (left, and below). His speed and trick skiing skills wowed the crowds when he came south to Weiss Knob ski area in West Virginia.

I

f you’ve seen clips of Sally Field’s famous Oscar acceptance speech for Places in the Heart in 1985 where she gushingly proclaimed “you really like me”—a similar validation has just happened for Southern skiing.

For years, the U.S. National Ski and Snowboard Hall of Fame dismissed the opportunity to honor Sepp Kober, the Austrian transplant who launched skiing at The Homestead resort in Virginia in 1959-60, exactly 50 years ago this winter.

This year, the vote went differently, and the “Father of Southern Skiing” has entered the Hall of Fame as a ski industry figure of bonafide national significance. That honor, in essence, has finally signaled acceptance for the Southern ski industry.

It’s long overdue. The Homestead’s 50th anniversary is the start of half-century status for many regional resorts, starting with North Carolina’s Cataloochee in 2011 and Appalachian Ski Mountain in 2012. Though natural snow slopes had been skied earlier in the South— it was The Homestead’s massive snowmaking system, capable of covering all the slopes, that pins it as the key event in the development of skiing in Dixie.

Sepp’s being named to the Ishpeming, Michigan-based National Ski and Snowboard Hall of Fame brings to fruition a 20-year effort spearheaded by David Barudin, a Roanoke writer and publisher of a magazine called The Southeastern Skier’s Companion in the late ’80s and early ‘90s.

It was David, who after repeated failed attempts to get Sepp nominated, eventually concluded that the region itself was being disrespected by the ski pioneer’s being ignored. David convinced the Southern ski community of that, galvanizing the final 2009 effort that just ended in success.

The effort succeeded not just because David lined up an amazing Who’s Who of regional and national heavy hitters to plead on behalf of The Homestead’s longtime director of skiing. The list of lobbyists was an impressive one, but more impressive than that is the now legendary span of Sepp’s accomplishments in the service of Sunbelt skiing—an industry that has risen from the butt of jokes about “skiing on grits” to now national recognition.

To see just how romantic and unlikely was Sepp’s saga, not to mention his contribution, let’s take a back at 50 years of skiing south of the Mason-Dixon Line

Februar y 2010

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In 1958, Kober ran the slopes at Weiss Knob, the first commercial ski area in West Virginia. The antique lodge and rope tow remains still sit in Canaan Valley looking much as they did in the 1950s (right). Today, it’s White Grass Ski Touring Center, the South’s best cross country ski. resort.

through the eyes of a visionary who helped imagine it into existence.

The Oldest Days In 1950, all that marked the site of the South’s first major ski area (with natural snow) was a huge, irregular snowdrift in an apple orchard under Cabin Mountain in Canaan Valley, West Virginia. The next winter, 1950-51, members of the Ski Club of Washington, D.C., were skiing the roadside drift for the first time and planning a ski area.

The site immediately attracted a small cadre of diehards to “the glacier” that later became Cabin Mountain ski area. A film titled Driftland documented the romantic dedication of these ski club pioneers.

That foothold on the Southern side of the Mason-Dixon Line coincided with the invention of snowmaking and started the sport’s spread down to Dixie.

Competition for Cabin Mountain came in 1955. Robert Barton, III, had left law school at the University of Virginia in Charlottesville, and when he “heard the D.C. Ski Club had a ski area in West Virginia, I joined immediately,” Robert remembered in 1980s interviews before his death. Robert visited Cabin Mountain in 1954 and resolved to open another area nearby. He chose a slope on Weiss Knob, called “weese” by the locals but “vice” by Robert, who pronounced the word in the standard German way, meaning “white.”

Robert’s ski area was the first commercial slope in West Virginia and the farthest South. Today, Canaan Valley Ski Resort is located on the same site.

Sepp Kober Comes Calling In the late ‘50s, Robert wanted ski instructors for Weiss Knob and contacted the Austrian Information Bureau in New York. “It was a big thing back then to have Austrian instructors,” Robert said. He was referred to Sepp, a fully certified Austrian instructor who had just come to the U.S., spending a year at Stowe.

When Sepp showed up in 1958, said Robert, “I could see immediately that there 34

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Februar y 2010

One of many early Homestead photos with the dashing Kober doing his best to promote skiing in the South. Ironically, as the first southern slope with 100% snowmaking, all Kober really needed at The Homestead was falling temperatures, not snowflakes.

Who’s Your Daddy?

The recent death of Thomas “Doc” Brigham, an Alabama dentist instrumental in creating Ski Beech, Sugar, and Snowshoe, has led to confusion about who can rightly be called “The Father of Southern Skiing.”

When Brigham passed away last year, an obituary in Skiing Heritage Magazine and an article in High Country Magazine called him “The Father of Southern Skiing.” However, the Southeastern Ski Areas Association formally bestowed the title on Kober in 1984. That honor was based on Kober’s use of 100% snowmaking coverage to establish a truly new footing for a regional industry. That initial achievement, and involvement in most of the ski areas that followed, makes Kober the giant on whose shoulders stand the accomplishments others.

That in no way diminishes Brigham’s contribution. As the builder of three of the South’s biggest ski areas, Brigham is truly a patriarch of the sport.

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High Country Magazine

Top; Clearing the slopes at The Homestead in 1959. Bottom; The towering edifice of The Homestead. Pulling up out front is a passport to a luxury dining and lodging experience.

Februar y 2010

Sepp Kober was a widely recognized face of Southern skiing throughout the 1960s. His influence was felt at many of the resorts that opened during the decade when skiing reached critical mass in the run-up to construction of Ski Beech, Sugar Mountain, and Snowshoe.

medals at the 1952 Oslo Olympics and before winning world championships in 1954. His aerial maneuvers (and later trick skiing by Art Furrer) helped invent today’s freestyle ski movement. Sepp’s airborne skills were exciting the South a handful of years later.

Sepp Gets His Start

was nothing in Canaan Valley appropriate to a man of his background. Sepp was destined for greater things.”

Sepp taught skiing at Weiss Knob during winter 1958-59 and his aerial ski maneuvers really wowed the crowds: “Trick skiing like

Sepp’s just wasn’t heard of,” Robert said.

Actually, it was. Sepp was using the same elegant aerial ski maneuvers that Stein Eriksen had made famous during winter 1953 in Sun Valley, Idaho. Stein was hired there as a celebrity ski instructor after winning two

Sepp’s early experiences connected him even more deeply to Europeans like Stein who helped popularize skiing in America. Born in Igls, Austria, Sepp was the son of an hotelier. He followed his father into that profession, but Sepp’s true love was skiing. In 1938, he made the Austrian national ski team at age 16. Then came war, and Sepp found himself as a ski trooper in the German army.

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High Country Magazine

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Kober promoted Southern skiing on TV (upper left) and as a rep for ski gear and fashion firms. Posing with Howard Head, developer of the first modern ski, in the 1960s (upper right). Kober accepts a “thank you� Olds convertible.

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After the war, Sepp restarted the Ski School Igls-Patscherkofel and in 1948, was certified as an instructor in St. Christoph on the Arlberg, a region acknowledged as the “Cradle of Alpine Skiing.” It was there, in the first years of the 20th century, that Austrian ski pioneer Hannes Schneider had perfected the modern downhill skiing technique still used today. His ski school helped launch the sport in Europe, and in the United States as well when he relocated to New Hampshire after the Nazis took over Austria.

After achieving the “holy grail” of certification in modern skiing’s birthplace, Sepp coached the Spanish national team in 1951 and 1952 while managing Ski School Nuria in the Pyrenees. He coached the Norwegian ski team between 1954 and 1957.

Then he taught skiing at Stowe, Vt.

Heading South to Ski Following the lure of new horizons, Sepp went south to Canaan Valley in 1958—earning his resumé’s claim as the “first Southeastern U.S. ski instructor and ski school director” at both Weiss Knob and at nearby Wisp, Md. In 1959, Robert decided to move Weiss Knob. With prodding and help from Sepp and John Mathewson, salesman for Larchmont, the earliest manufacturer of snowmaking equipment, Robert located a better site on nearby Bald Knob. And like the entrepreneurs running The Homestead in Hot Springs, Va.— where Sepp was simultaneously designing slopes—Robert was installing snowmaking at Weiss Knob. Both early systems began operation the same winter, 1959-60.

Home to The Homestead After a year at Weiss Knob, Sepp left for The Homestead, the first ski area in the South to combine total snowmaking coverage, exceptional ski facilities and accommodations. In short, The Homestead was the region’s first ski area that could rightly be called a ski resort.

In the mid-1950s, The Homestead managers were lamenting the resort’s winter decline in business and decided to add skiing. Larchmont was contacted to provide snowmaking, and Sepp was recommended to the resort as a ski professional capable of running the ski area.

Skiing debuted in 1959. Overnight, The Homestead became the region’s premier ski area, but not just for the quality of its skiing. Sepp was a world-class ski coach, and each winter, his imported team of Austrian instructors brought expert instruction, and European atmosphere, to the South. Sepp’s ski area construction and management skills were second to none.

Sepp’s winter garb typically included an Februar y 2010

High Country Magazine

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The history of Southern skiing abuts the larger history of skiing in the United States in a surprising number of ways. One of those is that when The Homestead’s slopes debuted they shared the quirky “skimobile” chairlift that had also graced Cranmore Mountain in North Conway, New Hampshire since the 1938. Skiers didn’t like having to take off their skis, so a chairlift replaced it in the 1970s. Cranmore Mountain’s skimobile lasted till 1989. They were the only two such lifts ever built.

ear-warmer headband that swept his hair back like a ski racer underway. It would take a book to detail Sepp’s decades-long influence on so many Southern ski areas. Suffice it to say, his expertise, wide ranging publicity activities and involvement as a representative for manufacturers of ski lifts, ski equipment, snowmaking machinery—and even ski apparel—made his influence felt, in one way or another, from Weiss Knob to virtually all the Southern slopes that followed.

Sepp’s ski area design, management, and consultation directly shaped at least 10 Southern resorts. His young associates went on to create other ski areas. One said that “in the early years, there wasn’t a new chairlift, rental ski, or ski school director that didn’t go through Sepp.”

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High Country Magazine

Sepp also led the way in what may be his profession’s most important achievement: the creation of the Southern ski market.

Homestead’s “Come South to Ski” promotional campaign signaled the start of mass public awareness of skiing in the South. Traveling extensively, Sepp met skiers at department and sporting goods stores that were just starting to stock ski equipment. He addressed and encouraged fledgling ski clubs.

There were television and radio appearances. The appeal of The Homestead and Sepp’s reputation attracted wide publicity for the resort and the sport. At The Homestead, Sepp helped establish the newspaper and television practice now common of running ski photos and video when resorts open for the season

Februar y 2010

or when major winter storms strike.

Along the way, Sepp helped found the Mid-Atlantic Ski Areas Association in 1960, the Southeastern Ski Areas Association in 1964, the Southeastern Ski Representatives Association in 1970 and, in 1962, the National Ski Areas Association. In 1984, after 25 years at The Homestead, the Southeastern Ski Areas Association honored Sepp as “The Father of Southern Skiing.”

As The Homestead was setting the South abuzz about skiing, Tom Alexander brought skiing to North Carolina at Cataloochee, his cattle and guest ranch in Maggie Valley.

The resort opened the weekend before Christmas 1961 after consultations with Larchmont’s John Mathewson, and—who else?—Sepp Kober.

This classic, 1990s shot of the “The Father of Southern Skiing” (right), now nearing 90 and in poor health, shows the South’s National Ski & Snowboard Hall of Famer as a ruggedly handsome, weather-worn icon of the skiing lifestyle.

In 1962-63, the Blowing Rock Ski Lodge opened, becoming the first of an eventual six ski resorts near Boone. “The rich and famous came in droves,” recalled Grady Moretz, owner of Appalachian Ski Mountain,. Sepp associate Tony Krasovic initiated the mountain’s ski rental and instruction programs. He was followed by Peter Reinecke, a German referred by Sepp.

Sepp was called in to design slopes and install Virginia’s first chairlift at Bryce Resort in 1965. In his letter recommending Sepp for Hall of Fame honors, Bryce Resort owner Paul Bryce specifically nodded at the economic impact of skiing: “Just our ski area contributes 14 percent of the total tax base in our county.”

In 1966, brothers Horst and Manfred Locher arrived at Bryce to co-manage the ski school. “Sepp Kober helped us get here,” Manfred said. The European ski immigration didn’t end with the Lochers.

The brothers hired Gunther Jochl as a ski instructor. Gunther, who arrived in America in 1971, is today the owner of Sugar Mountain in Banner Elk. Many Europeans came to America for economic opportunity that didn’t seem available in the crowded European ski industry. “In the fifties,” said Manfred, “skiing in the United States was young and American resorts had to bring in Europeans to staff ski schools. Eventually, American ski instructors took over.”

Without ski instruction, ski areas might never have become economically viable. Sepp’s certified Austrians and other Europeans were first. Then Americans, like Dick Heckman at Cataloochee, began teaching and affiliating with national organizations like the Professional Ski Instructors of America. Today, PSIA Region 4, which includes the South, is the organization’s largest and teaches more lessons than any other region in the nation.

In 1996, Sepp was honored with lifetime membership in the Professional Ski Instructors of America. In 1998, he retired from The Homestead. And in 2006, Sepp received the Order of the Silver Eagle, the second highest honor bestowed by the Austrian government.

Quest for Hall of Fame For decades, Sepp was a fixture at breakfast in the dining room of the Homestead. His Old World roots and the refined atmosphere of The Homestead were a perfect fit. One doesn’t know whether Sepp reveled in the atmosphere of The Homestead or if the resort gained from his presence.

In the late-1990s, David Barudin and others launched an effort to see Sepp named to the National Ski and Snowboard Hall of Fame. Sepp’s role in Southern skiing had included direct involvement in most of the resorts that followed the opening of The Homestead, but the effort to name him to the Hall was repeatedly unsuccessful, including in 2008.

An adequate appreciation of Sepp seemed destined for the future.

For a time early in the last decade, skiing seemed to ebb in importance at The Homestead and Sepp was sorely disappointed. Since then, skiing has stabilized at The Homestead in time for the 50th anniversary—and Sepp has finally seen

success in his quest for the Hall of Fame.

“The nation may finally be realizing the significance of what’s going on down here,” David said.

“The South is where more lessons are taught to new skiers than anywhere else in the nation,” David said. “It’s home to the nation’s biggest ski clubs that send thousands of club members each year to destination resorts in the North and West. For all of that and more— the South deserves the national ski industry’s gratitude and recognition.”

At long last, America’s ski industry has embraced Sepp Kober—the man who more than any other person, turned the dream of Southern skiing into a reality.

They really like us.

w

Randy Johnson’s 1987 book Southern Snow: The Winter Guide to Dixie, has been called “a cult classic.” It’s the definitive guide to Southern skiing and its history. An updated edition will be published in 2011 by the University of North Carolina Press.

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Story by Corinne Saunders • Photography by James Fay

Conquering Mountains Winter Games Like No Others

A

s recent as the early 1970s, the intellectually disabled (then called “mentally retarded” and later, “mentally challenged”) were routinely institutionalized for no reason other than their low IQs, and hundreds were forcibly sterilized in North Carolina from 1929 to 1974.

When a 1975 law declared that people cannot be institutionalized against their will if they are not a threat to themselves or others, a largely shunned population was finally able to begin living without restrictions based on cognitive aptitude.

For many Americans, the mid-1970s brought a paradigm shift in a longstanding stereotype that the intellectually disabled were largely incapable of many activities. The Special Olympics movement, founded by Eunice Kennedy Shriver in 1968, was at the forefront of this change.

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Medal-winners celebrate at the awards ceremony for the 2010 Special Olympics North Carolina Winter Games. From left to right are Jonathan Carter, second place; Michael Schmid, first place; and Leesa A. Dabbs, third place. These athletes participated in one of 13 green (beginner-level) competitions.

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A group of Special Olympics athletes relax outside after finishing their competitions and before the awards ceremony.

Approximately 100 athletes and 25 coaches from North and South Carolina converged on Appalachian Ski Mountain for the 2010

T

SONC Winter Games that took place on January 10 and 11.

h e Special Olympics is a story of triumph.

And not just for those who walk away with medals around their necks. The annual Winter Games not only bolster the spirits of an often-overlooked and misunderstood population, but the fact that the event exists 33 years after its conception attests to the firm belief of event organizers and volunteers that the Games provides an important stepping stone to better the lives of the participants.

“There is nothing in my life that has meant more to me than these games have,” announced an emotional Jim Cottrell at the January 10 opening ceremonies of the 2010 Special Olympics North Carolina (SONC) Winter Games—Alpine Skiing and Snowboarding. Jim is president of the French-Swiss Ski College at Appalachian Ski Mountain and also serves as games director for Alpine Skiing.

Over the past two years, the economic recession has caused many people to feel their options in many aspects of their lives are uncomfortably limited. But for the Special Olympians—30 to 40 percent of whom are ages 30 and older, according to 44

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Jim—opportunities have been restricted since birth. The Special Olympics is perhaps the one event that unapologetically puts the athletes in the public’s eye and serves as a “proving ground,” helping them—as well as general society—realize the great potential inherent in anyone and demonstrating that it is not lessened by having what is considered a low IQ. Persons competing in Special Olympics events must be 8 years or older and have an IQ below 80, Jim said. Some athletes will go on to join school sports teams, he said. Others will get better jobs because the confidence to pursue such opportunities was instilled in them through the Games, while others may only take away fond memories—but athletes, organizers and volunteers alike all walk away from the Games with a firmer sense of purpose.

“I love it better than anything,” said Zach Butler of snowboarding, in which he has competed for four years. “I was really nervous when I first started coming, [but I have] moved up in the world,” the 25-yearold stated. “I’ve been on my game. Last year I got a silver medal here, [and I’m]

Februar y 2010

hoping to get a gold medal this year.”

Zach became involved in Special Olympics at age 15 and has participated in basketball, softball and soccer, among other sports. He was a member of Team USA, ice skating in the Special Olympics World Winter Games held in Anchorage, Ala., in 2001. “I fell short on the last run,” he recalled, adding that he was beaten by someone from the Netherlands. But whether winning or placing second, his participation in the Games has been an entirely positive experience. “They inspire me from start to finish,” Zach said. “I’ve been really good at them. It gives me something to do. I’m active, [and] I’m out with friends doing stuff. I can’t be sitting at home all the time.” Zach, who lives in Raleigh, also spends time working with an after school program and, last year, was a volunteer camp counselor, he said.

Life, Unlimited

Collecting, folding and placing in a cardboard box the numbered bibs that Special Olympics athletes wore in the competitions on January 11, a bubbly

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strap on his skis (top left) and volunteer Bill Rose helps Monica Hernandez find her balance on a snowboard (bottom right). Jamarreo Biggers of Mecklenburg County (bottom left) celebrates after finishing his skiing competition.

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“I try to tell kids to keep doing this; it’s fun, [and] you might be lucky—you might go to World Games one day.”

- Catlin Bray, Watauga County resident and Special Olympics athlete who skied in the 2009 World Games in Idaho

Jennifer Wardlow, with a good-natured shake of her head, compared the repetitive task to shelling peas.

A seventh-year Special Olympics skiing participant, Wardlow proudly said that she has been involved in Special Olympics for more than 20 years, participating in various sports and also helping out with volunteer tasks, such as the bib collecting. She actually met her husband, also a Special Olympics athlete, while playing basketball; both are from Forsyth County. “It was love at second sight,” Wardlow stated, with a mischievous grin. At first sight, she explained, she wasn’t interested, but “he kept tapping,” she said, gesturing to her shoulder—and then she really noticed him. They have been married since 2001, she added, with obvious pride.

As shocking as it might be to think about, none of the three populations with whom Jennifer could be identified—African American, female and intellectually disabled—had basic civil rights in this country until mid- to late-last century. Only a matter of decades ago, those with intellectual disabilities were often institutionalized for most, if not all, of their lives.

It wasn’t until the U.S. Supreme Court case O’Connor v. Donaldson took place in 1975 that the law was changed, stating that people cannot be institutionalized against their will unless they are determined to be a threat to themselves or to others.

In the 20th century, 33 states had eugenics laws, which called for the sterilization of the intellectually disabled.

As in other states, North Carolina’s 1929 sterilization law sought to prevent the “mentally ill, mentally retarded and epileptic” from becoming parents, according to a 2009 project completed by the University of Vermont’s Honors College. The forced sterilization (eugenics) of the intellectually disabled

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Catlin was the emcee for the 2010 SONC Winter Games opening ceremonies, which took place at Meadowbrook Inn on January 10.

in the state was a common practice from about 1938 to 1973. But unlike in most other states, which ceased the operations prior to World War II (WWII), eugenics in North Carolina peaked from 1950 to 1952, after WWII. From 1950 to 1963, an average of 300 North Carolinians were sterilized per year. And although the last documented sterilizations in the state occurred in 1974, the eugenics law was not officially overturned until April 4, 2003, when the North Carolina Senate voted unanimously to do away with the 74-year-old law.

An ongoing societal stigma that the intellectually disabled are incapable of many activities was forever challenged— and successfully overcome for many— through the Special Olympics. “Special Olympics has been the vehicle to change that attitude,” Jim said.

‘One Success Breeds Another’

“One success breeds another,” said Michael Maybee, a member of the

Level the Competition E vent organizers took the international trails classification system and applied it to the Winter Games as a way to group athletes by their abilities, said Jim Cottrell, president of the French-Swiss Ski College at Appalachian Ski Mountain and games director for Alpine Skiing.

Yellow participants, levels one through three, are the brand-new beginners; green athletes, also divided into levels one through three, are on the beginner terrain; the blue level signifies intermediate ability; and black denotes advanced skills, he explained.

Special Olympics athletes are of “every level, from straight run to advanced,� Jim said, noting that the athletes only compete against people who are within 10 percent of their ability level. A person with a time

of 20 seconds, for example, will only compete with 18- to 22-second finishers, he said.

The athletes typically train for at least 10 weeks prior to coming to the Winter Games, Jim said, adding that most athletes participate in more than one sport of the 23 offered.

Additionally, some athletes participate in two skiing or snowboarding competitions each year. The Southeast Region Games take place every year in early February, also at Appalachian Ski Mountain, Jim said. The SONC Winter Games split off about 10 to 15 years ago, with the purpose of getting more people involved, and most athletes in the advanced and intermediate groups will also participate in the Southeast Region Games, he added.

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Special Olympics athletes converge by the flags bearing the color of their respective skill levels, and volunteers help them prepare for the competitions. Each athlete wears a numbered bib that also bears a circular sticker showing his or her skill level color of either yellow, green, blue or black.

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“The intrinsic rewards of working with Special Olympics [are] different than anything else we do. I’ve never met a population that appreciated [our efforts] so much, and was sincere in that appreciation. I guess that’s why I’ve been doing it for 33 years; there’s a joy in it.”

- Jim Cottrell, president of the French-Swiss Ski College at Appalachian Ski Mountain and games director for Special Olympics Alpine Skiing

games management team and president of Watauga Opportunities, a nonprofit that helps participants overcome barriers to employment. The success of athletes in the Special Olympics leads to success in work and overall “helps them be more successful in the community,” he said.

Each of the five Watauga County athletes who competed in the 2010 SONC Winter Games holds a job that was either secured through Watauga Opportunities or is with Watauga Opportunities, Michael said.

Clint Miller, a Watauga County athlete who began skiing at age 13 in 1983 and has won the gold medal at least once, said that he has worked at Papa John’s for three years. “He’s getting ready to go on his seventh or eighth cruise,” Michael added, explaining that Watauga Opportunities organizes a cruise every year and a half and participants pay for it with money they have saved. Clint, who will turn 40 this year, said that he plays three-on-three basketball, participates in track and field and skis in the advanced group. He said he is always excited about “whatever comes next” in terms of Special Olympics events.

“It only took us seven years to get Clint off the beginner slope,” quipped Jim at the opening ceremonies. “Now he owns his own skis and skis with us. Clint exemplifies what we’re trying to do here.”

Another Watauga County athlete who has taken her game to the next level is Catlin Bray. Catlin was the emcee for the 2010 SONC Winter Games opening ceremonies, as well as for the 2008 Southeast Region Games, and she skied in the 2009 World Games in Boise, Idaho, she said.

More than 3,000 athletes from 115 countries participated in the World Games, and Catlin was one of four athletes representing North Carolina, she said. “It was me, Matt Carpenter from Johnston

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County and two figure skaters from Charlotte,” she recalled, explaining that the names of athletes who win gold medals in regional games the year before are put into a hat, and four names from North Carolina are drawn. Catlin said she was amazed and honored to have been selected for the World Games and did well— she placed third in the intermediate ski competition and fourth in the giant slalom.

“I love it every year when it comes back,” Catlin enthusiastically said of skiing. “I can’t wait for winter to come back.” Participating in the im Cottrell, president of the French-Swiss Special Olympics has “helped me Ski College at Appalachian Ski Mountain, out,” she said. “It gives me something was instrumental in founding the annual to do, [so] I’m not stuck at home.”

Twenty-four-year-old Catlin, who Special Olympics Winter Games in the High Country grew up in Florida and moved to in 1978. At the Games today, the reason for his the High Country in 1995, began dedication and that of all the volunteers is evident participating in Special Olympics at age 12. She competes in “one or on each athlete’s face—the joy of competing, of two sports each season,” including sharing time with friends and of developing skills cycling, soccer, softball, swimming, in a sport, as well as more confidence in his or her cheerleading and basketball, she said. ability to conquer any obstacles in their life, even The only time Catlin took a respite from competing was when she tore off the slopes. a joint in her knee and took a few years off, she said.

But now, Catlin is back in action, and, along with her personal The Special Olympics began because of skiing achievements in the World Games one woman’s determination to help her sister last year, she also received the statewide and others with intellectual disabilities live “Athlete of the Year” award in 2009, she life to the fullest. Eunice Kennedy Shriver said. “I’m going to keep going ‘til my knees (1921-2009) organized the first-ever 1968 and ankles won’t let me anymore,” Catlin International Special Olympics Games in said enthusiastically, adding that she hopes Chicago, and the first International Winter to encourage kids to begin, or to continue, Games took place in Steamboat Springs, competing. “I try to tell kids to keep doing Colo., in 1977. “She was behind the whole this; it’s fun, [and] you might be lucky— Special Olympics movement,” Jim said. you might go to World Games one day,” Eunice created an international foundation, she said. “You never know.” set up offices in every state and got the ball rolling for a program that now boasts 3

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J

Let the Games Begin!

million athletes and operates in about 150 countries. “She pretty much did that singlehandedly,” Jim said.

Jim attended the 1977 International Winter Games, and, shortly thereafter, he was involved with a weekend training program that brought seven athletes to the High Country for some crash-course instruction. The program was “not so much to teach them how to ski, but how to race,” Jim said, joking that as far as teaching basic skiing went, “we skipped that part,” but “it worked pretty well.” The seven athletes went on to compete internationally, he said.

In 1978, the French-Swiss Ski College at Appalachian Ski Mountain ran the first Special Olympics Winter Games, and the event proved difficult. Jim and other event organizers “suffered the first year,” he admitted. “It would take us hours to set up everybody with equipment [and] we had to keep track of who’s in who’s group.

Nowhere else in the country was doing this.”

For Jim and Monty Castevens, the state Special Olympics organizers at the time, that fact clarified the need for a manual on how to run the Winter Games, Jim said.

“The second year, 1979, got a lot better,” Jim said, noting that in that year, he and his coworkers wrote a manual. “We were the first [group] to [host the games] with any consistency with large groups of people. We changed it from being logistically terrible to easy.”

The manual included checklists, procedures, how to group the athletes, how to conduct the program and more. The Special Olympics International Board “took our manual and made that the international model,” Jim said, modestly adding that it was not because of the manual’s excellence, but simply because it was the only manuscript in existence written for that purpose.

Also in the second year, mild weather forced some of the instruction to take place indoors. “We found out we could teach a lot of those basic fundamentals indoor better than outdoor,” Jim said. Thirty-three years later, with Winter Games implementation down to an artform, Appalachian Ski Mountain remains the host for the annual event, and Jim sees many of the same volunteers year after year.

“People who get to come out and work with the athletes do it for a really long period of time because of the rewards,” Jim said. “The reward we get out of it is greater than the effort we put into it. The intrinsic rewards of working with Special Olympics [are] different than anything else we do. I’ve

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“To see the achievement the athletes have made, not only in competitions but personally they’ve grown in self-confidence it’s been wonderful.” ~ Marilyn Sturgill, an aquatics coach, member of the special development team for alpine skiing and member of the games management team.

never met a population that appreciated [our efforts] so much, and was sincere in that appreciation. I guess that’s why I’ve been doing it for 33 years; there’s a joy in it.”

Learning from the Athletes

“When you start volunteering, you think you’re doing something good for someone else, [but] you end up getting more out of it,” said Paul Stackhouse, who has served as a volunteer photographer for Special Olympics events for the past 10 years.

Other Winter Games volunteers expressed similar sentiments. “The athletes have really shown me a lot,” said Bill Rose, an eighth-year volunteer. “You don’t think they can do something, [but] two days later, maybe next year, they will be able to do

it. It’s been inspiring to me to watch how hard they work and how much they enjoy it. The athletes really can do anything.”

Bill volunteers through the Raleigh Ski and Outing Club, which hosts a fundraiser that enables volunteers to travel several times to Appalachian Ski Mountain for the Special Olympics competitions, he said.

Sydney Ferren, an 11-year-old who has volunteered with the Winter Games for three years, said she enjoys working with the athletes, “getting to know them [and] helping them get better at skiing. I’ve learned that each person is different in their own way. [They] go at their own speed in learning to ski.” Sydney lives in Charlotte and has been skiing since age 7, she said.

Her father is Art Ferren, a French-Swiss Ski College instructor and a volunteer of

about five years, and her mother and sister also come up from Charlotte to help with the Winter Games.

Keron Poteat, local coordinator for the Special Olympics and member of the games management team for the Alpine Games, has been involved with Special Olympics for about 15 years, she said, and has seen athletes improve exponentially. “We used to have tons of [participants in beginner levels],” Keron said, adding that now, most athletes are “[intermediate and advanced levels]. You see the most advancement out of any Special Olympics sport in skiing.”

Countless times over the years, Keron has watched athletes go from barely being able to walk in snowboots to easily negotiating a mid-level course, she said.

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“To see the achievement the athletes have made, not only in competitions but personally…they’ve grown in self-confidence…it’s been wonderful,” said Marilyn Sturgill, an aquatics coach, member of the special development team for alpine skiing and member of the games management team.

When Jim and other FrenchSwiss Ski College personnel started running the Winter Games, they tried to take programs they offered to the public and adapt them for the Special Olympics, he said. Instead, they found they needed to take the rationale and components of what became the Special Olympics—customizing programs for the individual, being patient, setting realistic goals for each person and more—and offer

that to the community. “We’ve taken what’s Special Olympics, and this is the way we [determine] what the public needs,” Jim said.

During the opening ceremonies of the 2010 Winter Games, Keith Fishburne, president/CEO of Special Olympics North Carolina, praised the event as having “the quality and caliber of a statelevel event [and] the feel of a hometown event.”

Keith encouraged people to get involved with the Special Olympics, in whatever capacity and in whatever sport that interests them. “Most people think of us as a spring event, [but] we truly are year-round,” he said.

To find out how to get involved, click to www.sonc.net and find your county coordinator, he added.

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T

alk of the incessant snow, record cold temperatures and rounds of ice persists around town as one impressive winter for the books continues. Old-timers shake their heads and reminisce, “Yeah, this is how winters up here used to be.” But by the time this winter ends, it might actually top “the old days.” Even if it doesn’t, locals of all ages will not soon forget winter 2009-10.

The High Country has not been completely snow-free since December 18, when the biggest snowstorm of the decade—and one of the four largest in the past 20 years—brought one to two feet of the white stuff to the area, according to www.raysweather.com.

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Then the ice storm that began on Christmas Eve wreaked havoc on Christmas Day, knocking out power for thousands of residents, with some outages lasting up to a week.

And several other storms have blasted through so far in the New Year. Boone received 4.5 inches of snow January 3 to 6, 0.35 inches of ice on January 23, nearly nine inches of snow from January 29 to 30 and seven inches of snow from February 4 to 5.

And, well folks, it isn’t over yet. The good news? You’ll finally be able to compete with your grandparents’ stories of “when I was your age.” such as walking uphill in the snow, barefoot, both ways.

number of days Watauga County Schools closed (as of February 5)

number of consecutive days in Boone with temperatures below 20 degrees Fahrenheit (new record)

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Photo by Frederica Georgia

Photo by Todd Bush 54

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Photo by Ken Ketchie

Photo by Randy Johnson

Photo by Todd Bush

“More than half of our 7,000 miles of power lines were damaged in the [Christmas Day] ice storm.” said Renee Whitener, director of public relations for BREMCO. The storm also brought down many trees, breaking 150 power poles. Many of the poles were in remote places—

“places where we had to pull bulldozers in and use a helicopter to assess the damage.”

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In spite of the inconveniences, the recent storms have blanketed the High Country in wintry beauty. The ice-laden trees and snowy fields are a photographer’s dream and a magical playground for children, but even the most captivating pictures fall short of relaying the full scene. Locals glory in the abundance of shimmering white and crystal that have transformed the landscape, and really, you just have to be here to appreciate the magnitude of an

“old-fashioned winter.”

Photo by Todd Bush

Photo by Randy Johnson

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Photo by Ken Ketchie

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alpacas in the Carolina Alpine (and Their Shaggy Cousins, the Llamas)

Anna Oakes Lonnie Webster

Story by Photography by

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Alpacas are alert, curious and intelligent animals that seek social companionship. Raised for their luxurious fiber, they come in 22 natural colors—more than any other fiber-producing animal.

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ith their awkward bodies and adorable faces, alpacas are arguably the cutest of the barnyard animals. As Lee Rankin, owner of Apple Hill Farm in Banner Elk, and I stepped into the pasture with the gentle creatures and their llama guards, they huddled close, curious, attentive, with different personalities to match their varied haircuts.

There’s Mojo, the survivor, a handsome reddishbrown fella with hair flopped to either side, skimming his eyes. Moonshine is small and dark brown. Billy is large and black—almost as big as the llamas. Harley, a llama so named for his tendency to be somewhat of “a hog,” hummed loudly and butted his large head in, sniffing Lee to see if she was hiding any food. He’s quite the loquacious llama. Although alpacas generally shy away from human affection, Lee stole a kiss from Guinness, a white alpaca with one of the sweetest temperaments.

The alpacas eagerly followed Lee as she headed to a pasture gate, and once released into the pasture, the animals clumsily padded their way through six inches of snow, making a wobbly beeline for an apple tree with downed branches, which seemed to intrigue them.

Everyone has a job at Apple Hill Farm. Basil, the other llama, is in charge of security detail. And so are the donkeys. Everything from the layout of the farm to the types of animals there is intentionally designed to protect the alpacas—all because of a tragic incident involving a mountain lion several years ago.

Lee Rankin hands out treats to eager members of her alpaca herd at Apple Hill Farm, located on a ridge top between Valle Crucis and Banner Elk. Februar y 2010

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“Western North Carolina in particular, with its cooler temperatures, is ideal for [alpacas].”

David Schieferstein, co-owner of Fireweed Farm, formerly of Valle Crucis

A 7,000-Year-Old Industry

Alpacas and llamas are members of the camel family, native to the Andes Mountains of South America, which were domesticated approximately 7,000 years ago by the ancestors of the Incan people, the Quechua Indians. Alpacas and llamas were treasured by the Incans, who used the products of the animals for clothing, hides, fertilizer, fuel and meat. Llamas were the Incans’ pack mules, capable of carrying loads through steep mountain terrain. The luxuriously soft fiber of the alpaca was reserved for the garments of the elites.

Llamas first came to the United States as zoo animals in the late 1800s. Alpacas came much later—they were first imported to the U.S. in 1984. Now, alpacas are raised throughout North America, but Peru remains home to the majority—3.5 million alpacas, or 80 percent of the world’s total population, are found there.

Alpaca and llama farming has continued to grow in Western 60

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alpacas and llamas what's the difference? alpacas

• weigh 150-200 lbs.

• are about 3 feet tall at the shoulder • have soft, silky fleece • are gentle and timid • need herdmates • have been bred for their fiber

llamas

• can weigh up to 400 lbs. or more • are about 4 feet tall at the shoulder • have coarse fleece • are brave and make good guard animals • are more independent • can be used to carry packs or pull carts—llamas are used as golf caddies at some NC golf courses

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All of the alpacas at Apple Hill Farm are sheared once a year, on a single day in early June. An alpaca can be sheared in about five minutes without harm to the animal, and the process also provides a good time for toenail trimming and other health procedures.

North Carolina, with farms in Valle Crucis, Creston, Asheville, Hickory and Hayesville, among other locations. David Schieferstein is co-owner of Fireweed Farm, an alpaca farm that operated about five or six years in Valle Crucis before moving to the Richmond, Va., area several years ago. He noted that the Western North Carolina area is well suited for raising alpacas.

“Western North Carolina in particular, with its cooler temperatures, is ideal for them,” David said. “Being a fiber animal, it’s not impossible to raise them in hotter, more humid territory, but it just requires a little more effort.” Owners in warmer climates must watch more carefully for heat stress to the thick-coated animals, whose native Andean Mountains range from 10,000 to 14,000 feet in altitude.

And, he said, “They love running up and down hills.”

‘The Fiber of Gods’

Alpaca fiber is as soft as cashmere and warmer, lighter and stronger than wool. It comes in 22 natural colors (along with many variations and blends), more than any other fiber-producing animal. The fibers have a hollow core, which works as a good insulator—alpaca products feel warm when worn outside, but not too hot when worn inside. The fiber contains no lanolin, the itchy substance in wool that is also a common allergen. And alpaca fiber is naturally water-resistant and doesn’t hold odor. Perhaps all these qualities are reasons that in ancient times, alpaca fiber was known as the “fiber of gods.”

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“It’s a fabulous fiber to make things out of,” Lee said.

Alpacas come in two varieties: huacaya (pronounced wah-KIya) and suri. The most distinguishing trait between the two is the quality of their fiber; huacaya fiber is short, dense, crimpy and gives a woolly appearance, while suri fiber is silky and resembles pencil-like locks. Suris account for only 10 percent of the alpaca population, said Lee. Each member of Lee’s alpaca herd is sheared once a year—all in a single day in early June. Lee hires an expert to do the shearing, which requires quite a bit of equipment. A halter is placed on the alpaca, and each animal can be sheared without harm in about five minutes.

“they're like the perfect animal”

Kirby Maram, What Fir! Christmas Tree Farm

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including socks, hats and gloves, are produced for the Apple Hill Farm label. The socks—a pair of knee-highs priced at $24—are a big seller; “we have a lot of fans of these socks,” Lee said. Other items produced from alpaca and sold in the store include felted items from an artisan in Kentucky, knitted items from a local woman, silky-soft pillows, scarves, throws and even bars of soap wrapped in alpaca fleece, which acts as a shower loofah. Lee also

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“We do everything we can to make it as pleasurable as possible,” Lee said. This year, she said, Apple Hill Farm will be open on shearing day, with the public invited to observe.

Each alpaca yields about four pounds of fiber per year.

Lee works with a number of artisans and businesses that process the raw fiber and create products for sale in her store.

Four ounces of spun premium yarn sell for $30. Some products,

www.MerleFest.org

Februar y 2010

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OPPOSITE PAGE: Shannon, an employee at Apple Hill Farm, models some of the products produced by alpaca fiber. Fiber from the farm’s alpacas is used to create hats, gloves, scarves, socks, stuffed animals, yarn and more.

retails high-quality alpaca clothing produced in Peru.

Llama fiber, although more coarse than alpaca, can also be used for textiles. “Llama is perfect for felting,” Lee pointed out. The farm has been saving fiber sheared from its two llamas with hopes of putting it to use in the future.

“We’re really hoping to expand what we do with fiber,” she said.

Learning the Biz– and Surviving a Predator’s Attack

Lee moved to North Carolina from Kentucky with her year-and-ahalf-old son in 2001. The year before, she fell in love with alpacas.

After spending some time in upstate New York living on old dairy farm, Lee decided she wanted to become a farmer herself—but what would she farm? She considered goats at first. Then she went to the Kentucky State Fair, where she met her first doe-eyed, furry, oh-soloveable alpaca.

“That was it; that sealed the deal,” Lee said behind a grin. She began researching alpacas and purchased land formerly used for apple orchards and Christmas trees off Highway 194 between Valle Crucis and Banner Elk for her Apple Hill Farm. She purchased her first animals from Teri Phipps at Fireweed Farm in Valle Crucis, and Teri also showed Lee the ins and outs of the business.

Lee’s herd started with three members, and right away one of them

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In addition to alpacas, Lee raises goats, chickens, donkeys, horses and llamas at her farm. During the warmer months, Apple Hill Farm is open for farm tours—agritourism has become a very time-consuming part of the business, she said.

had a baby alpaca—a cria—making four. She originally intended for her farm to have alpacas, a couple of horses and chickens. But a tragedy would change her farm completely.

In May of the year following Apple Hill Farm’s opening, Lee’s alpacas were attacked. Lee had left the farm for a meeting, and her son was at preschool. She returned around noon to find her fence destroyed and bodies everywhere—she had to search to find all five of the alpacas she owned at the time.

“I couldn’t be with them all at the same time,” Lee remembered.

“It was horrifying.” It took 45 minutes for someone to respond with medical care—by that time, three alpacas were already dead.

The remaining two were rushed to the University of Tennessee in Knoxville, but only one survived. A little boy, Mojo.

“We didn’t know what had done it,” Lee said. But based on tracks spotted on the farm, wound patterns and other experiences, Lee is now convinced the predator that attacked her alpacas was a mountain lion.

“We know based on prints that we’ve had mountain lions on the property,” she said.

Rendered defenseless against predators by their anatomy and docile temperament, alpacas require protection. Their soft padded feet have only two toes, and they lack horns hooves, claws, incisors and upper teeth. Looking to prevent future attacks on her alpacas, Lee did some research and spoke with alpaca owners out West, where mountain lions are more prevalent.

“We knew whatever it was would come back,” she said.

She re-outfitted her farm and hired a new security team— comprised of llamas, donkeys and a guard dog. Lee now has nine donkeys that patrol the perimeter of her alpaca pastures—the aggressive animals form a sort of “moat.” Donkeys will chase off coyotes and other predators, acting as both a deterrent and an aggressor, Lee said.

“Coyotes especially are very sensitive about donkeys.”

Basil and Harley, her two llamas, share pastures with the alpacas. Although llamas are almost as defenseless as alpacas, their relative size—standing a foot taller and weighing about 200 more pounds—will make a predator think twice about approaching. To add to their perceived size, Lee keeps their coats cut long. And unlike the timid alpaca, a llama will actually stand their ground in the face of a predator.

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“Llamas will face off with something,” Lee said. “Predators don’t like to be chased, and they don’t like to be confronted.”

To test her system, Lee also added goats to her farm. “So far, it’s worked,” she said. Because alpacas are expensive investments, all of Lee’s alpacas are insured—so the attack a few years ago was not financially devastating. But she never wants to go through the trauma of a predator’s strike again.

“Agritourism has gotten to be the biggest part of our business.”

Lee Rankin, owner of Apple Hill Farm A Multi-Dimensional Industry

Lee says she is now at “max-capacity” with 22 alpacas in her herd, ranging from 1 to 8 years old. Alpacas can live 20 years or more. She also co-owns studs with other farms. Because a lot of alpaca farms are small, there is a lot of trading and borrowing between farms to diversify the breed lines.

“Any stud that I own is available to anyone [in our network],” she said. “The alpaca business is astoundingly non-competitive and friendly.” The breeding of alpacas is one of the most profitable aspects of the business. Investment-quality females will fetch anywhere from $10,000 to $30,000 apiece, according to Fireweed Farm, and fiber-quality males run between $500 and $2,000. A recent article in the York Daily Record in York, Pa., said a championship stock sire might go for as much as $600,000.

Owners of good studs can charge owners of female alpacas $15,000 to mate with their males.

Kirby Maram, owner of What Fir! Christmas Tree Farm outside of Boone, worked with Teri from Fireweed Farm and now works with Lee to borrow a few alpacas each Christmas.

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Donkeys and miniature donkeys are fenced in around the alpaca pastures to provide protection— donkeys are aggressive and will chase away predators. And, unlike the sensitive alpacas, donkeys enjoy a nice pat on the head.

Through hard work—seven days a week and many hours a day—Teri’s farm of 50 to 75 alpacas grossed about $400,000 a year, Kirby said.

“She had quite an operation,” she added.

Agritourism is a growing part of the alpaca biz. Apple Hill Farm hosts farm tours for a fee from mid-May to midOctober and four weekends in the holiday season, when the farm also sells Christmas trees and wreaths. Private tours can also be booked for schools, churches and other groups. “Agritourism has gotten to be the biggest part of our business,” said Lee. The donkeys help satisfy visitors’ needs to pet the animals, as they don’t mind gentle stroking by humans. An alpaca, on the other hand, is a bit like a cat, Lee said—they want to be near you, but they don’t necessarily want to be petted.

Kirby has borrowed a few alpacas from Teri and Lee during the Christmas tree season since 2000. In exchange for What Fir! Tree Farm selling Apple Hill Farm’s products, Lee takes care of the setup and clean-up and also brings a couple of donkeys for the alpacas’ protection, she said.

“The alpacas have given us an edge here in the High Country because we are the only Choose & Cut [Christmas tree farm] with a petting zoo, and most people have never seen an alpaca,” Kirby said.

“Children love them. They have these big, beautiful soft eyes. They’re like the perfect animal.”

To meet Guinness, Billy, Buckaroo, Chip, Harley, Mojo, Basil and the rest of the gang, click to www.applehillfarmnc. com for more details about the farm, directions and contact information.

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Februar y 2010

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i uM

ght N

Bre w

Things Yo

Coffee Chatter l a ot Kno out Loc w Ab

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F

or many people, coffee shops are their “third place,” as one local proprietor put it—the place where they regularly spend time other than home and work. Whether stopping in for a quick to-go cup or spending hours chatting with friends or working on a laptop, coffee and coffee shops represent an essential part of the day.

In the High Country, where there is great support for locally owned coffee shops, shop owners have spent years learning the complexities of the beverage. Here are a few quick facts, interesting stories and conversation starters related to local coffee.

Hyperactive

&Monks

Sheep

Wired

According to legend, a sheepherder named Kaldi first discovered coffee in Ethiopia. He noticed that his sheep became

hyperactive after eating red cherries from a coffee plant. After Kaldi tried it for himself, a monk scolded him for “partaking of the devil’s fruit,” but soon monks were using coffee to stay awake during their prayers.

This and other interesting stories and facts about coffee are available on the website of Mountain Grounds Coffee & Tea Company, located on Highway 105 in Banner Elk. The shop carries gourmet coffees and teas, smoothies and pastries.

Did you know that coffee was baptized?

Some Christians used to believe that coffee was the devil’s drink. Pope Vincent III decided to taste the beverage before banishing it, but he liked it so much that he baptized it instead. “Coffee is so delicious, it would be a pity to let the infidels have exclusive use of it,” he supposedly said.

In 1668, coffee reportedly replaced beer as New York City’s favorite breakfast drink. Beer for breakfast? And coffee sales boomed after alcohol prohibition went into effect in the U.S. in the 1920s.

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The Many

Incarnations

of a CoffeeShop

The location and building on Howard Street in downtown Boone that now houses Espresso News had many former lives. Somewhere around the ‘40s or ‘50s, it was the site of a showroom for cars and tractors. In the 1980s, it was an arcade. At some point it was an office, with an apartment upstairs.

In 1994, it’s where Mark DeBroder decided to start his new coffee shop, Espresso News, from scratch. He wanted to bring coffee roasting to Boone, a small college town that at the time had only one other café. In 1997, the current owner, Uijin Park, started working at Espresso as a barista. In 2002, Mark learned he had terminal cancer and asked Uijin and his wife if they wanted to buy the business. They did.

“That time was a very bittersweet transition,” said Uijin. Mark took great care in the roasting of his coffee

beans, roasting all of the beans himself.

It was difficult for him to impart his time-earned knowledge and secrets to others, so Uijin basically had to teach himself the craft when he took over the business. After nearly a decade in the roasting business, Uijin says he feels pretty confident about his abilities.

“It’s a science and an art,” he said.

FACT or MYTH

?

The darker the roast, the stronger the coffee.

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Not true, Uijin says. A darker-roasted coffee does not have more caffeine than a light roast. In fact, the longer beans are roasted, the more caffeine is roasted out of the beans.

Over-roasting can lead to a burnt flavor.

“Darker doesn’t mean better,” he said.

Brew

déjà vu?

Photo by Amelia Catherine

If you were driving down King Street in Boone in the past year or so, something along the way—well, right in the vicinity of First Baptist Church—might have sparked a strange sense of déjà vu.

That’s because back in the 1990s, a coffee shop called BeansTalk was located at 352 West King Street. It closed around ’99 or 2000, but a few years ago, a former customer, Wil Bryan, moved back to Boone from Seattle and opened a coffee shop, using the same name, at the old BeansTalk location.

Wil was a regular at BeansTalk throughout the ‘90s. “This was

Februar y 2010

the place that you came” to socialize—especially if you were under 21, said Wil, who added that he has always preferred coffee shops over bars.

“The BeansTalk was very much an institution.”

After moving to Seattle in 2001, Wil worked for a corporate call center for Starbucks and took a course that expanded his knowledge of coffee. When visiting his family in Charlotte in 2004, he ran into an old friend from BeansTalk who told Wil he had purchased the coffee shop building, and he asked Wil to return to Boone to open a new BeansTalk. Wil asked Greg, the original owner of BeansTalk, if it would be ok to use the BeansTalk name, and Greg said he could not imagine anyone better to do it.

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Coffee is the world’s most popular drink after water. Around 167 million Americans drink coffee every day.

From

Bush to Bean to Cup

Coffee beans grow on evergreen shrubs or small trees, typically within latitudes 15 degrees north or south of the equator. Only about two pounds of coffee beans can be harvested from a single tree annually. The trees produce cherries, and inside each cherry are two green coffee beans. Coffee beans must be handpicked because the cherries ripen at different stages.

“You only want the red ones,” said Uijin Park of Espresso News in Boone.

“It’s a labor-intensive process.”

The coffee roasted and brewed at Espresso News comes from several locations in Africa, South America and Indonesia. The beans are roasted in a gas-powered steel roasting machine that continuously spins and tumbles the beans for an even roast throughout. The beans gradually transform in color from pale green to cinnamon to brown as the roasting process develops the sugars in the bean. A raw bean, Uijin says, would taste sour—and like grass.

Coffee beans can be light, medium or dark roasted. Different coffees from different areas all have specific inherent qualities that a roaster considers in

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determining the best type of roast for the bean. Like wine, coffee beans can have varying qualities in taste and smell, with hints of chocolate, herbs, fruit and other flavors.

“Coffee, like any other agricultural product, has certain parameters whereby

Februar y 2010

the quality of the cup can be either enhanced or diminished,” said Don Cox of Bald Guy Brew. “Our goal is to make sure that we roast each varietal in such a manner so that the characteristics unique to that country are not lost during the roasting process.”

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Banner Elk The Kind Grind 9872 Highway 105 South 828-963-1996 The Lodge Espresso Bar and Eatery 119 Central Way Southwest 828-898-3444 Mountain Grounds Coffee and Tea Co. 3990 Highway 105 South 828-898-5878 Sweet Sue’s Bakery 3587 Tynecastle Highway 828-898-2432 Vivo 142 Main Street 828-898-5282

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High Country Magazine

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Students

Is

the

No

Say to Starbucks

Bald really Guy

When ASU was about to open its new Belk Library and Information Commons a few years ago, the original plan called for a Starbucks to operate in the library’s 24-hour cyber café. The university also considered a second Starbucks for its renovated bookstore.

But student opposition to bringing Starbucks to campus resulted in a change of plans. In spring 2005, the Student Government Association passed a resolution in support of a local coffee shop instead of a Starbucks. The legislation cited unfavorable results in blind taste tests of Starbucks coffee, social issues surrounding the relationship between Starbucks and its coffee farmers and the negative impact of Starbucks on local businesses.

Administrators listened, allowing nearly 100 coffee businesses to bid on the library cyber café space. Ultimately, the university decided to call the café The Wired Scholar and to serve coffee from a Seattle coffee brewer.

bald?

Yep.

“Yeah, people call me the bald guy,” said Don Cox. “It started up in Pittsburgh.

The street kids that I was working with couldn’t remember my name, so they just called me ‘bald guy.’”

A 2006 clinical review of nearly 300 studies suggests that moderate coffee drinking could help prevent a number of diseases, including type 2 diabetes.

Music

+ + Art

Coffee

Coffee shops in the High Country exist not only to provide a caffeine boost, but also to nurture local arts, music and culture.

BeansTalk is a regular performance space for musicians and features art exhibitions that rotate every six to eight weeks. Popular regional bluegrass band Acoustic Syndicate—at one time a national act—performed some of its first shows upstairs at BeansTalk back in the ‘90s.

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High Country Magazine

Son’s Light Coffeehouse in Boone features a stage with instruments for anyone’s use. The coffee shop has hosted concerts, speakers, open mic nights and benefit performances, said Brandon Hall, music director for Son’s Light Ministries.

Februar y 2010

Brandon, a music major at ASU, said, “I’ve always realized how music impacts us [and] affects the community.”

Son’s Light organizes the High Country Praise Festival (formerly the High Country Youth Festival), which features contemporary Christian musicians and motivational speakers. Brandon and other Son’s Light volunteers are currently working on a plan to start a record label and open a recording studio and community music school. The music school would offer lessons on contemporary instruments and provide a safe place for kids to come after school, he said.

Coffee is the # 1 source of antioxidants in the American diet.

If you’ve been to a festival or a farmers’ market in the High Country, chances are you’ve seen Bald Guy Brew’s colorful coffee van. Seen regularly at the Watauga County Farmers’ Market, the van is fully equipped for serving coffee and espresso drinks, with a roaster and machines for espresso, smoothies, frappes and drip coffee.

Bald Guy Brew collaborated with the Appalachian State University appropriate technology department to reduce the van’s carbon footprint as much as possible—it runs on biodiesel and utilizes solar and wind power.

“What good is a business if it’s not doing any good?” said Don Cox, owner of Bald Guy Brew.

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High Country Magazine

Just for Breakfast

“Coffee isn’t just for breakfast,” said Wil at BeansTalk, which stays open later than most coffee shops in the area. The original BeansTalk used to keep the doors open until 1:00 a.m., he said, and currently, BeansTalk manages

Februar y 2010

Photo by Amelia Catherine

to stay open ‘til 11:00 p.m., when they have to run people out.

Wil said he wants to foster a nightlife scene that isn’t alcohol-centered and that is conducive to non-drinkers, high school students, college freshmen and families.

“It’s not about the coffee here,”

said Dave Ward, leader of Son’s Light Ministries and owner of Son’s Light Coffeehouse, located on Boone Heights Drive in the shopping center with Los Arcoiris and Joe’s Italian Kitchen.

Son’s Light Ministries started as a Christian ministry for middle school, high school and college students in 2002, first meeting in Blowing Rock. The ministry opened the coffee shop in May 2008.

“It’s a great venue for reaching people,”

said Dave, who is also a public school teacher and a track coach at ASU. Students meet at Son’s Light to study, do homework, watch movies and play video and board games. The coffeehouse is also a gathering and meeting place for Bible studies, an addiction ministry and other groups. “We consider ourselves an outreach ministry,” he said. “It really is kind of a unique place.

It’s about the people.”

Son’s Light does want to sell some coffee, of course. The coffeehouse serves

Conrad’s Coffee, a family-owned and operated coffee roaster and distributor based in Boone. “Conrad Poe helped set us up in the coffee business,” Dave said.

The shop is set up as a nonprofit, and all sales help fund the building’s rent and supplies. Five or six volunteers and two interns on scholarship help keep the shop open every day but Sunday.

A local celebrity was the first to sample the coffee shop’s brew. “Jerry Moore drank the first cup of coffee here,” Dave stated.

Coffee

Cupping

Cupping is coffee’s equivalent to wine tasting. “Cupping coffee is the procedure of determining the aromas and taints of coffee,” said Don Cox, owner of Bald Guy Brew. Cupping first takes place in the coffee’s country of origin.

The coffee producers roast the beans at different temperatures to determine the beans’ specific qualities, or “notes,” and to check for any defects.

The grower will inform the broker of the beans’ qualities, and a buyer, such as Bald Guy, will ask the broker about the qualities and which type of roast they would recommend, e.g., light, medium or dark. Once Don receives the coffee, he’ll then roast it three different ways and cup it himself. Cupping involves smelling dry and wet coffee grounds and identifying its aromas. The potential aromas include a multitude of scents— floral, earthy, chocolaty, herbal, cedary,

vanilla-like, malt, pungent and many others. Cuppers then taste the coffee to evaluate its flavors (with even more variations, including caramelly, sweet, nutty, pruny, citrusy, leathery, tobaccoey and berryish), acidity, body and finish.

Based on his own cupping results, Don determines how long to roast each particular

type of coffee he sells. “We believe each country has its own flavor profile,” he said.

“The great thing about coffee is that every crop cycle has something new and fun to try and roast.” Recently, Don hired a local woodworker to build a coffee cupping table and plans to start holding coffee cupping events open to the public.

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A Cleaner World . ............................................ 265-1888 ��������������������������35 Abbey Carpet & Floor . .................................... 265-3622 ��������������������������61 Adam Hill, D.D.S., P.A...................................... 265-9603 ���������������������������39 Advanced Realty.............................................. 264-5111 ��������������������������24 Antiques on Howard ........................................ 262-1957 ���������������������������36 Appalachian Energy ........................................ 262-3637 ����������������������������2 Appalachian Performing Arts Series.................. 262-4046 ���������������������������71 Banner Elk Realty............................................. 898-9756 ��������������������������26 Bayou Smokehouse & Grill............................... 898-8952 ���������������������������29 Beech Mountain Resort.................................... 387-2011 ���������������������������76 Bistro, The....................................................... 265-0500 ��������������������������46 Blowing Rock Resort Rentals & Sales............... 295-9899 ��������������������������50 Blowing Rock Properties, Inc............................ 295-9200 ������������� Inside Back Blue Ridge Vision ........................................... 264-2020 ��������������������������29 Boone Drug Down Town................................... 264-3766 ���������������������������70 Boone Mall...................................................... 264-7286 �����������������������������2 Cabin Store, The.............................................. 295-8005 �����������������������������3 Café Portofino.................................................. 264-7772 ����������������������������9 Casa Rustica ................................................... 262-5128 ��������������������������15 Debbie Goldberg C.P.A, P.A............................... 268-9618 ���������������������������45 Deer Valley Luxury Condos............................... 264-5583 ���������������������������57 DeWoolfson Down .......................................... 963-4144 ����������������������������5 Dianne Davant & Associates . .......................... 898-9887 ������������Inside Front Echota......................................................... 866-861-4150 ��������� Back Cover Fabric Shoppe, The.......................................... 355-9153 ���������������������������19 Fire on the Rock............................................... 295-3487 ���������������������������27 Footsloggers.................................................... 262-5111 ��������������������������24 Framing by Lori................................................ 262-0033 ���������������������������51 Fred’s General Mercantile................................. 387-4838 ����������������������������2 Gamekeeper..................................................... 963-7400 ��������������������������70 Gems By Gemini.............................................. 295-7700 ��������������������������67 Gladiola Girls................................................... 264-4120 ���������������������������61

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ADVERTISER

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Green Leaf Services, Inc................................... 737-0308 ���������������������������49 Haircut 101...................................................... 262-3324 ��������������������������22 Hawksnest Zipline & Snowtubing................. 800-822-4295 ������������������������13 High Country Timberframe............................... 264-8971 ���������������������������11 Jo-Lynn Enterprises, Inc................................... 297-2109 ����������������������������2 Logs America, LLC........................................... 963-7755 ��������������������������21 Makoto’s Japanese Steak House & Sushi Bar... 264-7976 ���������������������������79 Maple’s Leather Fine Furniture ........................ 898-6110 ��������������������������19 Mast General Store ......................................... 262-0000 �����������������������������7 MerleFest..................................................www.merlefest.org ���������������������63 MHS Technologies........................................... 733-0141 ���������������������������37 Mountain Construction Enterprises, Inc............ 963-8090 ��������������������������46 Mountain Land............................................1-800-849-9225 ����������������������79 Mountain Tile................................................... 265-0472 ���������������������������36 Page Denistry................................................... 265-1661 ���������������������������50 Pet Place, The.................................................. 268-1510 ���������������������������29 Pioneer Insurance Agency, Inc.......................... 355-9612 ���������������������������49 Planet Tan........................................................ 262-5721 ���������������������������39 Precision Printing............................................. 265-0004 ���������������������������65 Pssghetti’s....................................................... 295-9855 ���������������������������22 Red Onion Café................................................ 264-5470 ���������������������������73 Seven Devils Tourism Development Authority... 963-5343 ���������������������������79 Shoppes at Farmers Hardware.......................... 264-8801 ��������������������������19 Ski Country Sports........................................... 898-9786 �����������������������������9 Stick Boy Bread Company................................ 268-9900 ���������������������������57 Sugar Mountain Resort...............................1-800-SUGAR-MT �����������������������1 Sugartop Resort Sales...................................... 898-5226 ���������������������������26 Tatum Galleries & Interiors............................... 963-6466 ���������������������������75 Todd Bush Photography................................... 898-8088 ���������������������������57 Turchin Center for the Visual Arts...................... 262-3017 ���������������������������71 Turtle Old Man................................................. 264-4882 ���������������������������29 Watauga Insurance Agency, Inc........................ 264-8291 ��������������������������73

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767.7 Acres • Caldwell County • $6,800,000 411 Acres • Wilkes/Ashe County • $5,300,000 305 Acres • Watauga County • $3,300,000 194 Acres • Wilkes County • $562,600 185 Acres • Caldwell County • $2,300,000 165.57 Acres • Wilkes County • $910,635 164 Acres • Wilkes County • $907,500 160 Acres • Caldwell County • $1,328,000 152.83 Acres • Caldwell County • $362,980 150 Acres • Alexander County • $1,197,000 140 Acres • Wilkes County • $821,000 134.88 Acres • Ashe County • $1,498,000 132 Acres • Alexander County • $787,304 88.7 Acres • Wilkes County • $417,000 87.36 Acres • Caldwell County • $520,000 81.82 Acres • Caldwell County • $695,470 77.92 Acres • Caldwell County • $311,290 72.84 Acres • Watauga County • $671,000 70.14 Acres • Wilkes County • $352,000 63.5 Acres • Wilkes County • $373,000 61.08 Acres • Wilkes County • $165,000 59.2 Acres • Iredell County • $668,960 55.61 Acres • Caldwell County • $485,000 53.29 Acres • Caldwell County • $206,700 35 Acres • Caldwell County • $311,500 26.5 Acres • Wilkes County • $132,500 13.4 Acres • Wilkes County • sold!

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Brokers: Paul Breden & Chris Breden Februar y 2010

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Parting Shot...

By

Ken Ketchie

Boldly Playing (in the Snow) Like No Other Region Has Before E ven the Star Trek Enterprise comes to play in the High Country during wintertime—yes, residents of these mountains see no reason to limit outdoor recreation, festivals and fun when the snow is falling, which can be seen through the packed roster of events that take place weekly at our snowsport resorts.

The past decade has seen the birth of countless new winter activities as well as a resurgence of events that sat dormant for years because of lack of interest. One such event is Beech Mountain Resort’s Winterfest, which was recently brought back into the annual winter schedule and deemed a success by the hordes of visitors and locals who take advantage of the winter weekend of live music, rail jams, cookouts, clothing sales, demos, contests and the now-famous Cardboard Box Derby, pictured. By the way, the Star Trek Enterprise cardboard creation, sponsored by Beech’s snack bar staff, won second place in this season’s derby, using warp speed, of course, to boldly go faster than most other competitors.

The newer events, such as Beech’s Winterfest and 3rd Rail Hip-Hop Rail Jam and Appalachian Ski Mountain’s Fresh Fridays and Shred for the Cup series, complement the

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resorts’ more-longstanding events, such as Sugar Mountain’s Oktoberfest and SugarFest and Appalachian’s Meltdown Games, assuring visitors that the High Country is truly the “Place for All Seasons,” which was a tagline to advertise the area in the 1960s.

And just because winter is winding down—or so they tell us—that doesn’t mean there are any less happenings at local snowsport resorts. Sugar Bear’s Birthday Celebration, which doubles as Sugar Mountain Resort’s 40th birthday, takes place March 7, as does Ski Beech’s End of Season Celebration, which includes a not-to-miss pond-skimming contest. Speaking of unique contests, Appalachian’s Meltdown Games is scheduled for April 10, offering guests yet another chance to look like a happy fool skimming across a pond or racing a cardboard creation down a snowy mountain. What’s more, local snowsport resorts—including Hawksnest Snow Tubing—lower lift ticket rates every March, eradicating any excuse you may have had to forgo the fun and stay in the house. Whereas the rest of the country may be hibernating, the High Country is just getting warmed up every winter, so come play in the snow with us.

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CARLISLE: Exquisite Turtle Creek Townhome offers timber framed mountain elegance, 1st floor master suite, gourmet kitchen, massive stone fireplace, & 2-car garage. $995,000 BRADLEY: Cherished Family Estate home in rural Watauga County. Home features massive beams, huge stone FP, 4BR/3BA, 2 half-bath. 1-acre lot - $895,000. Additional acreage available.

ISENHOUR: Spectacular long range views all the way to Mt. Mitchell on a clear day! Views sweep 180 degrees with spacious covered decks for outdoor enjoyment. Stone fireplace and open floor plan fabulous for entertaining. Kitchen/Dining/Living all open to the view. 5 fabulous decks and much more! $525,000 LYNAGH: Uncomparable Mountain Retreat on 7.7 exceptional acres close to Blowing Rock! Long range valley & Grandfather Mountain views. 4BD/5BA, 5 real stone masonry fireplaces and gourmet kitchen. $2,395,000 NOVACEK: Great Investment. 3BR/2.5 BA home with separate 1BD/1BA metered above-garage efficiency apartment with impressive rental history. Walk to Blowing Rock’s best restaurants, school or the park. Flat yard, easy access, two car garage, and A/C. Broker Interest. $389,000 PARKS: Commanding location on top of Misty Mountain. Fantasy log cabin with Canadian Cedar logs, massive Douglas Fir beams, hand pegged antique heart-of-pine floors, massive hand-built doors with giant iron hinges, soaring cathedral ceilings in all bedrooms.

Beautiful bead board throughout. Absolute charm. LONG RANGE MOUNTAIN VIEWS all the way to Mt. Mitchell. $753,140.

SAILLEY: Great subdivision on the New River in Todd with common river access. Enjoy the lovely views in this 3BR/3BA mountain log home, featuring tile counters and solid pine cabinets, vaulted great room with T&G ceiling and stone fireplace, covered porch areas and a spacious rec room with space for media center & pool table! $395,000 WALKER: Beautifully renovated 3BR/3BA, Stone FP, granite ctrs., fenced with playground & lovely landscaping. Large covered porch.Orig. Pastor Jim’s rectory from Mitford Series. $449,500 WELLMAN: Stunning Mountain Lodge in Valle Crucis with gorgeous views! Over 4300 sq. ft., energy star rating. 4BD/4.5BA, Australian cypress floors, 2 stone fireplaces & beautiful cabinetry & woodwork. $1,175,000 WALLACE: Beautiful home on a 1 acre manicured lot on Sugar Mtn. Home features 4BR/4.5BA, huge kitchen/breakfast area, separate dining room, great room with stone fireplace, ATV included. Perfect size and location for your family gatherings. $799,000 GEILSER 2: Located in desirable Misty Mountain neighborhood being sold furnished with French country charm! Solid pine plank doors and soaring cathedral ceiling. One of the most beautiful granite stone fireplaces in Blowing Rock. $369,900 HADLEY: Gentle lot with 3BR/2BA home, centrally located between Linville & Blowing Rock, with proximity to the Blue Ridge Parkway attractions and Grandfather Mtn. Recent updates include new engineered wood floors, new roof, exterior paint and cultured stone trim work on foundation. $319,500

Blowing Rock Properties, inc

800-849-0147 • 828/295-9200

www.BlowingRockProperties.com Februar y 2010

High Country Magazine

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Actual view of Grandfather Mountain from Echota on the Ridge.

Like our legendary views, the reasons Echota has become the High Country’s most successful community are clearer than ever.

Lock-and-leave luxury. And a central location between Boone, Banner Elk and Blowing Rock. See for yourself why Echota was the only choice over 450 families could make.

800.333.7601 EchotaNC.com

facebook.com/ EchotaResort

Second Home. FirSt cHoice.

VisitD oneH of our sales offices: 1107 MainFebruar St, Suite C, Blowing Rock, NC or 133 Echota Pkwy, Boone, NC • Condos from the High $200’s igh Country Magazine y 2010