Hound Ears Club 50th Anniversary Celebration
Building on a tradition of success as western North Carolina’s epitome of mountain living, Hound Ears Club continues to enchant visitors and residents alike after 50 years. Hound Ears celebrated its Golden Anniversary in 2014 with a variety of events that truly express the Club’s unique position as one of the region’s most celebrated “escapes” from the hectic pace of modern life. Envisioned in 1964 as a refuge for those seeking a gentle, yet playful, lifestyle, Hound Ears Club treasures its heritage even as it looks forward to a healthy future as the premier mountain experience.
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A Tradition of Success Since 1964 The 1960s were a time of vast changes for the Boone region. Tourists had begun to discover the delights of cool summers coupled with accessible ski resorts in the winter. Three brothers – Grover, Harry and Spencer Robbins – were no strangers to this trend. The Robbins family had been instrumental in starting such tourism meccas as nearby Tweetsie Railroad and, later, Beech Mountain Ski Resort and Elk River Club in nearby Banner Elk. The history of the Club is intertwined with the history of the resort and lifestyle community development in the High Country. The Robbins brothers believed that a Bavarian style resort that included both a golf course and a ski slope would find a successful niche in the growing High Country tourism industry. The journey from vacant farmland to world-class club started back to 1962 on the site of the now-defunct lumber town of Shulls Mill – just south of Boone and just north of Foscoe. In decades past, Shulls Mill had been the largest towns in Watauga County and was a railroad hub for the ET & WNC line, also known as Tweetsie. In that year, Grover and Harry Robbins stood on a hill overlooking farmland owned by the Shore family where parts of Shulls Mill used to stand (in fact, before the #4 hole could be built, workers had to remove remnants of an old saw mill and remnants of railroad tracks can still be found on the golf course). The brothers bought about 750 acres from Claude Shore for $274,000 (average of about $360 per acre) and in January of 1964 opened Hound Ears Golf and Ski Club. The brothers had a vision – that they could transform that property into a world-class private club featuring a golf course, ski slope, fine dining and a lodge -- in short -- a touch of elegance combined with a whole lot of mountain charm. Ironically, it was Mr. Shore who inspired the name of the Club. As the Robbins brothers were negotiating with the farmer, he pointed at some of the rock formations and said “You surely can see the Hound Ears rocks today.” And the name stuck. To build their dream golf course, the Robbins turned to George Cobb, one of the 20th century’s most prolific golf course designers. Cobb created the Par-3 Course at Augusta National Golf Club as well as designing or renovating more than one hundred courses including Sea Pines at Hilton Head. Bob Toski, who had joined the PGA Tour in 1949 and was the leading money winner in 1954, was hired as the first golf pro. He was replaced a few years later by Bob Kepler, the former golf coach at Ohio State. Tom Adams, who now operates Boone Golf course, also served as golf pro. CONTINUED ON NEXT PAGE 3
The Robbins brothers weren’t experts in architecture but they that they wanted a Bavarian look and feel to Hound Ears. So, they turned to renowned architect Claus Moberg. Although he had made a name for himself in Florida, Moberg already had a summer home on Shulls Mill Road so he was familiar with the Club. Moberg designed the Clubhouse, lodge, several chalets and later many of the homes within Hound Ears. The uniqueness of Hound Ears’ design caught the attention of Southern Living magazine, which featured one of the Moberg homes on the front cover of the January 1967 cover. The growth of homes on the Hound Ears property was almost an afterthought. Initially, the Robbins intended Hound Ears to be more of a private resort community with a Lodge and chalets to house golfers and skiers. The ski slope was in fact one of the key attractions for the Club until it ceased operating in 1991. The resort included a small slope with one double lift and a rope tow on the kiddie slope. It was considered excellent for beginners and many longtime members fondly recall learning to ski there. Since its inception, Hound Ears Club has contributed to the local community in many ways. For example, the Club holds an annual golf tournament to benefit the local hospital system. The tournament has generated hundreds of thousands of dollars to help purchase needed equipment for the hospital. “The tremendous support of Hound Ears Club greatly increased our ability to provide specific services such as cardiac care and cancer care for the people of our region,” said Appalachian Regional Healthcare System president Richard Sparks in a recent interview. Perhaps co-founder Spencer Robbins sums up the Hound Ears experience best: “We brought a great community of involved people to our area. [The Club] has created new jobs and boosted the economy … and has contributed significantly to [the local] tax base. I feel good about what we started.”
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50th Golden Celebration - 2014
Whether it was the communitywide historical exhibit at the Blowing Rock Art & History Museum (top left), the “retro� Pool Party (top right), the Moberg Tour of Homes (above left) or the Golden Gala, the Hound Ears community had plenty of cause for celebration over the summer of 2014. 5
Golden Gala 2014 Bourbon & Bowties
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Bourbon & Bowties
Members and residents enjoyed a premier event on Saturday, June 14 as Hound Ears Club celebrated 50 years as the High Country's top private community with the Golden Anniversary Gala. In addition to amazing food from Executive Chef Luke Fussell, patrons enjoyed costumed valets, vintage 1960s beverages, classic cars, photo portraits, historic slide shows, themed decorations and music by Jim Fleri, son of legendary Hound Ears entertainment director Gene Fleri.
Bourbon & Bowties 7
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Bourbon & Bowties
50th Golf Tournament
Bourbon & Bowties / 50th Golf Tournament
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Hound Ears Community & Club Celebrating 50 Years of Contributions to the High Country
Blowing Rock Art & History Museum (BRAHM) June 20 - September 14, 2014
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BRAHM
From June 20 through September 14, 2014, the Blowing Rock Art & History Museum (BRAHM) featured Hound Ears Club: Celebrating 50 Years of Contributions, an exhibit celebrating the historical significance and community impact of Hound Ears Club. The exhibit featured a number of artifacts that weave a compelling story of the Club’s history and its relationship with the High Country community created in 1964 by Spencer, Grover, and Harry Robbins, who founded the Club along with High Country attractions such as Tweetsie Railroad, the Land of Oz, Beech Mountain, and The Blowing Rock. Jeanne Mercer-Ballard, Associate Professor in the Interior Design Program at Appalachian State, created a portion of the exhibit to detail the work of famed architect Claus Moberg, who designed several buildings and homes at Hound Ears, including the unique Bavarian-styled Clubhouse.
BRAHM
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50 Years of Hound Ears: A Community Anniversary Celebration Exhibit
RECREATION PLACE/ RESIDENCE/ ARCHITECTURE
HISTORY + INTRO
Historical Objects Gallery BRAHM Blowing Rock, NC June 2014
SOCIAL/CLUB COLONY LIFE MOBERG
SCHEMATIC PLAN – OPTION C ©2013 Jeanne Mercer‐Ballard. All rights reserved.
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BRAHM
N.T.S.
Hound Ears Club Celebrating Fifty Years of Contributions to the High Country Sponsors: Creating Printing & Internet Services, LLC GDS/Republic Services
Ed and Linda Kelly Triple Crown Bouldering Series
Clean Cut Landscaping & Lawn, LLC New River Building Supply
Contributors: Betsy Alden and Mark Rutledge Bob and Carol Allen Alan and Sally Cone Edwin and Nancy Cornelius Santo and Jean Costa Thomas and Mary Lee Douglas Fred and Annemarie Halback
Larry and Diana Hall Beachy Harrell Barry and Cyndy Hersh John and Margaret Lanman Harry and Betsy Mashburn Dick and Cornelia Matson Budd and Nanette Mayer
Nick and Freda Nicholson Harold and Sandra Parker Gary and Alice Pearl James and Margaret Rouse Raymond and Deborah Sczudlo Tim and Jo Ann Voight James and Rebecca Whicker
Special Thanks: On behalf of the Hound Ears Club and community, we’d like to offer special thanks to the following individuals for the time and effort they’ve contributed to this exhibition. This project would not have been possible without the help of these people. Exhibition Designers:
Dianna Loughlin
Jeanne Mercer-Ballard
Photographers:
Todd Bush
Drew Atkinson Andrew Beach Zachary Breazeale Renee Cloud
Chip Williams
Jody Servon and ASU Art Management Students:
Bailey Dalton Angela Hercula Ingrid Humphrey
Shaun Moore William Seal Jody Servon
Sam Stark Erin Taylor Caitlin Thomas
Devyn Vasquez Rye Wellemeyer Zoe Whiteside Whitney Willetts
Hound Ears Exhibition Committee
Betsy Alden Bryant Critcher Darryl Eggers
Margaret Lanman Nanci Tolbert Nance Freda Nicholson Jason Reagan
Ann Rousseau Debbie Sczudlo Don Vance 13
Claus Moberg Tour of Homes
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Tour of Homes
Nearly 100 Hound Ears members and residents took part on July 26, 2014, in the 50th Anniversary Claus Moberg Tour of Homes, viewing six original Moberg designs (many with original elements dating back to 1964). A well-respected architect, Claus Moberg designed several buildings and homes at Hound Ears, including the unique Bavarian-styled Clubhouse.
Tour of Homes
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Tour of Homes
Tour of Homes
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Dance to the Music 2014 Pool Party
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Pool Party
Pool Party
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Pool Party
Pool Party
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50th Anniversary Committee
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50th Anniversary Committee
Co-Chairs Freda Nicholson Betsy Alden Golden Anniversary Gala Co-Chairs: Lynn Eisenberg Jane Deavers Hound Ears Celebrates 50 Years BRAHM Exhibit Jan Elder Ann Rousseau Nanci Tolbert Nance Margaret Lanman Debbie Sczudlo BRAHM Exhibit Staff and Consultants Dianna Loughlin, Exhibit Manager Jeanne Mercer-Ballard (Moberg Exhibit) Joann Mitchell, former Executive Director, BRAHM 50th Anniversary Pool Party Rob and Fran Hannah Pool Party Flowers Chris James, Katy Boles, Lynn Eisenberg, Mary Jane Dewees, Linda Kelly and Celie Sutton 50th Anniversary Golf Tournament Committee Peter Rucker, Director of Golf Kent Shelton, Head Professional 50th Anniversary Tennis Tournament Donna Crisp Colin Crothers, Director of Tennis
Claus Moberg
Tour of Homes Committee Harold and Sandra Parker Jean Costa Jo Ann Voight John Morris Tour Homeowners John and Karen Black Taft and Ann Bradshaw Burl and Alice Brady Jim Love Dick and Cornelia Matson Scott and Jane Sullivan Tour Docents Jean Costa Cindy Kovalcin Meghan Kress Margaret Lanman Harold and Sandra Parker Ann Rousseau Eric Teeter Jo Ann Voight Jim and Barbara Whitton Hound Ears Staff Don Vance Bryant Critcher Keith Jennings Darryl Eggers Jason Reagan John McManus Luke Fussell 23
Lees-McRae