Autumn Times 2020 by Mountain Times Publications

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AUTUMN TIMES 2020

TABLE OF CONTENTS Numbers of Note ................................................................... 6 High Country Host ................................................................. 8 Chambers of Commerce ........................................................ 8 Our Towns ............................................................................. 13 Canine Camping ................................................................... 24 Camping ............................................................................... 26 Fly Fishing ............................................................................ 36 Hiking in the High Country ................................................. 40 High Country Parks and Trails ............................................. 42 Rock Climbing ...................................................................... 44 Indoor Rock Climbing .......................................................... 45 Pickleball .............................................................................. 48 Ziplining ............................................................................... 62 Putting a New Spin on Golf ................................................. 65 Spending the Day on High Country Waterways ................ 66 Gliding Over the High Country ........................................... 72 Horseback Riding ................................................................. 74 Motorcycling on the Blue Ridge Parkway .......................... 76 App State Football ............................................................... 80 App State Tailgating ............................................................ 81 Golfing .................................................................................. 82 Fall Foliage ........................................................................... 92 Hiking to Find Fall Color ...................................................... 93 Christmas Tree Industry ...................................................... 96 Blue Ridge Parkway ........................................................... 100 Grandfather Mountain State Park .................................... 102 Mystery Hill ........................................................................ 106 Tweetsie .............................................................................. 108 High Country Art Galleries ................................................ 110 Mountain Culture: Arts in Appalachia .............................. 112 Art in the High Country ..................................................... 118 Fall Festivals ....................................................................... 119 Halloween ........................................................................... 122 Antiquing ........................................................................... 126 Craft Breweries ................................................................... 128 High Country Wineries ...................................................... 132 Restaurants ........................................................................ 133

AUTUMN TIMES 2020

WELCOME

to your High Country Autumn

2020 Autumn Times Staff Gene Fowler Jr. PUBLISHER

From The Editor

elcome to fall in the High Country and Autumn Times, your guide to the attractions, places and events that make this area of Western North Carolina a brief, but special time of the year. While most of the attractions listed in these pages are open for business, the global pandemic has altered hours or even canceled some events. Where pos-

sible, we listed such qualifiers. But, like the weather on top of Grandfather Mountain, things can change quickly. Checking the venue you plan to attend and visiting www.highcountrync.com — the website companion to this guide — can help ensure your travels will be smooth. Enjoy your time in the High Country. We’re glad you’re here, and look forward to seeing you again in a few months for Winter Times.

Tom Mayer EDITOR Johnny Hayes PRODUCTION CHIEF Rob Moore LAYOUT ARTIST Andy Gainey CIRCULATION MANAGER Luke Barber, Tom Mayer, Anna Oakes, Abby Whitt, Jamie Shell, Steve Behr, Kayla Lasure, Ian Taylor, Andrew Cole and Derek Halsey WRITERS Mark Mitchell, Teresa Laws, Austin Fowler, Tim Walker, John Goheen, Charlie Price, Nathan Godwin and Henry Volk SALES Photo by Rob Moore Watauga River Fishing - Valle Crucis (MTNSnapshots.com)

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Numbers of Note

WATAUGA COUNTY

Watauga County Sheriff’s Office (828) 264-4764 Boone Police Department (828) 268-6900 Blowing Rock Police Department (828) 295-5210 Appalachian Regional Healthcare System Police (828) 262-4168 Appalachian State University Police (828) 262-8000

ASHE COUNTY

Ashe County Sheriff’s Office (336) 846-5633 Jefferson Police Department (336) 846-5529 West Jefferson Police Department (336) 246-9410

AVERY COUNTY

Avery County Sheriff’s Office (828) 737-0121 ext. 1208. Banner Elk Police Department (828) 898-4300 Elk Park Police Department 828-733-9573 Newland Police Department (828) 733-2024 Seven Devils Police Department (828) 963-6760 Sugar Mountain Police Department (828) 898-4349 Beech Mountain Police Department (828) 387-2342

HEALTH CARE

Watauga Medical Center (828) 262-4100

Cannon Memorial Hospital (Linville) (828) 737-7000 Ashe Memorial Hospital (Jefferson) (336) 846-7101 FastMed Urgent Care (Boone) (828) 265-7146 App Urgent Care (Boone) (828) 265-5505 Blowing Rock Medical Park (828) 295-3116

ANIMAL CONTROL

Watauga County Animal Control (828) 262-1672 Watauga Humane Society (828) 264-7865 Animal Emergency & Pet Care Clinic of the High Country (828) 268-2833

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Questions about leaf color, where to go, where to stay? Ask High Country Host BY ANNA OAKES

he rolling peaks and valleys of the Blue Ridge Mountains are what make the High Country area so scenic, and they also make for plenty of winding, curvy, two-lane roads, making a road trip a destination in itself. But that means those two destinations you see on a map may not be as “close together” as you would imagine, and travel time takes longer than it would in flatter areas off the mountain. That’s where a stop or call to the High Country Host regional welcome center comes in — they can help you plan your day trips so that you’re not spending big chunks of your vacation in the car. “People don’t realize that in the mountains, (destinations are) farther apart than in the city,” said Candice Cook, executive marketing director for High Country Host. North Carolina High Country Host operates the Official Regional Welcome Center located between Boone

PHOTO SUBMITTED North Carolina High Country Host operates the Official Regional Welcome Center located on Highway 321 between Boone and Blowing Rock, within view of N.C. Blue Ridge Parkway Milepost Exit 291.

and Blowing Rock, within view of N.C. Blue Ridge Parkway Milepost Exit 291. The Welcome Center provides maps, brochures, coupons, upcoming event handouts and travel counselor support, as well as clean public restrooms and an area to walk your pets. The center is housed (but not affiliated with) as part of Appalachian Ski Mtn.’s visitor kiosk. For 40 years, High Country Host has represented destinations in five counties, including the towns of Boone,

Blowing Rock, Banner Elk, Beech Mountain, West Jefferson, Wilkesboro and Sparta. High Country Host offers insider information and updates that many visitors won’t find anywhere else. In addition to helping you plan your day trips with travel time in mind, High Country Host can advise on which hotels and lodging facilities have vacancies. “On busy weekends, we call around and see what’s available,” said Cook. The visitor center staff can also advise on group size limits at various establishments and whether you can walk in the day of your visit or need to book several days in advance, Cook said. Frequent visitor questions in the fall are about campground vacancies, festivals and leaf color, Cook says. With the potential for COVID-19 to continue impacting operations at parks and tourism businesses, as well as the peace of mind of area visitors, the visitor center’s services are more useful than ever. The center will keep updated lists

of which businesses and events are open and canceled, or are operating at reduced capacity. High Country Host is also working to provide information about what area attractions and hotels are doing to keep people safe. At the center itself, the staff are taking extra precautions. Hand sanitizing stations are provided and restrooms will be rotated and cleaned every hour. More materials will be provided in outdoor take-home boxes. And if visitors do not feel comfortable entering the visitor center, they can call and staff will bring materials out to visitors’ vehicles. “We welcome people back to the High Country, and we look forward to seeing our returning visitors,” Cook said. The High Country Host Official Regional Welcome Center is located at 6370 U.S. Highway 321 South in Blowing Rock, N.C. The center is open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Saturday and from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Sunday. For more information, call (828) 264-1299 or (800) 438-7500 or visit highcountryhost.com.

Chambers of commerce in the High Country BY IAN TAYLOR

vital part to any county or town, a chamber of commerce provides support for businesses of all sizes and helps to grow the local economy. In the High Country, chambers of commerce take on other roles, providing visitors with information they might not see anywhere else and a warm welcome to a new community. Tapping into the local knowledge and finding the best places to go, a stop by the local chamber is a great way to start a journey anywhere in the High Country. 8

According to Ashe County Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Kitty Honeycutt, a chamber of commerce’s job is not just to drive tourism and commerce, but support the community and the people in it.

Ashe County Chamber of Commerce

The Ashe County Chamber of Commerce can direct travelers through the scenic area of Christmas tree farms, rugged mountain landscapes and the beautiful New River. The staff can help answer questions and give suggestions of which attractions to visit, as well as provide visitors with a wide selection of

helpful brochures and maps. The Ashe Chamber also has an online virtual tour of Ashe County, as well as The Venue, a conference area for all needs, and hosts monthly mingles for member businesses through most of the year. The staff is available to assist visitors to the area Monday through Friday, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., and Saturdays from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. For more information, visit 01 North Jefferson Avenue, Suite C. West Jefferson, NC 28694, call (888) 343-2743, email info@AsheChamber.com or visit www.ashechamber.com/contact.php.

Avery County Chamber of Commerce

The Avery County Chamber of Commerce Visitor Center is conveniently located at the Shoppes at Tynecastle at the intersection of N.C. 105 and N.C. 184. The center offers plenty of useful information on lodging, dining, attractions and other businesses located in Avery County. Aside from helping visitors enjoy the natural wonder of Avery County, the chamber also hosts events such as the Fine Art & Master Crafts Festivals, as SEE CHAMBERS ON PAGE 12

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537 Main Street

Open Monday - Saturday 10:00am - 6:00pm MuSeuM Grade Mineral SpeciMenS & FOSSil SpeciMenS rare GeMStOneS - Fine Jewelry - lapidary ServiceS

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CHAMBERS CONTINUED FROM PAGE 8

well as the renowned Banner Elk Woolly Worm Festival. For more information, visit 4501 Tynecastle Highway, Unit 2, Intersection of N.C. 105 & N.C. 184 Banner Elk, NC 28604, call (828) 8985605, email chamber@ averycounty.com or visit www.averycounty.com.

Banner Elk Chamber of Commerce

Located in the heart of town, the Banner Elk Chamber of Commerce promotes the area as a unique place to work, visit and live. The chamber provides information about area dining, lodging, shopping and attractions. These include

the various events held throughout the town such as A Small Town Christmas. The staff is available to assist visitors to the area Monday through Saturday, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. For more information, visit 100 W. Main St., Banner Elk N.C., 28604, call (828) 898-395 or go to www.bannerelk.org.

Beech Mountain Chamber of Commerce

At a unique and impressive elevation of 5,506 feet, Beech Mountain offers plenty of activities and attractions for all ages to enjoy. The area is also tranquil and offers lots of opportunities for quiet and rejuvenating relaxation. The Beech Mountain Chamber of Commerce

The Perfect

FILE PHOTO The Blowing Rock Chamber of Commerce is a vital part of the area’s tourism and economic development.

is open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Monday through Saturday. Visit 403-A Beech Mountain Parkway, Beech Mountain N.C., 28604. (828) 387-9283. chamber@beechmtn.

com, www.beechmountainchamber.com.

Blowing Rock Chamber of Commerce

The Blowing Rock Chamber of Commerce knows its community like

no other and is always willing to share information with their visitors. Blowing rock is considered one of the crown jewels of the Blue Ridge. The chamber can provide information on various lodging, dining, shopping and recreational activities in the area as well as lists of camping and fishing sites. The Blowing Rock Chamber of Commerce is open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Monday through Saturday. Visit 132 Park Ave., Blowing Rock N.C., 28605. (828) 295-7851. www.blowingrockncchamber.com,info@ blowingrock.com.

Boone Area Chamber of Commerce The Boone Area

Chamber of Commerce is one of the most active chambers in the area and is located conveniently on King Street. The staff is committed to ensuring tourists have a memorable vacation to the area and showing immense support to the local businesses which travelers love to visit. The chamber is an ideal place to stop for information on area activities, brochures and maps of the community. The Boone Area Chamber of Commerce is open Monday through Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Visit 870 W. King St., Suite A, Boone N.C., 28607. (828) 264-2225. www.boonechamber. com. info@boonechamber.com.

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WATAU G A C O U N T Y • AV E RY C O U N T Y • A S H E C O U N T Y

Our towns

BY TOM MAYER

o matter who you are, when you’re in the High Country, autumn has something in store for you. Whether it’s the college town atmosphere that Boone provides, the shops in Blowing Rock, the sights of Beech Mountain and West Jefferson, or nearly everybody’s favorite autumnal activity — leaf looking — or any of the other unique experiences provided by Watauga, Avery and Ashe counties, the High Country can be your getaway for a month or an afternoon. Here’s a brief guide to enjoying the entirety of the diverse mountain community that locals are fortunate enough to call home.

BOONE

No matter what activity draws you to the High Country, it’s likely that you’ll end up in Boone at some point during your visit. Boone is the hub of Watauga County, the gathering place for people from all walks of life, whether resident or visitor, student or retiree, socialite or seeker of peace and quiet. The town is home to Appalachian State University, one of the 17 colleges and universities that make up the University of North Carolina system and more than 20,000 students. Interest in the school boomed after the Mountaineers’ football team won three consecutive NCAA Division I national championships in 2005, 2006 and 2007. The university’s presence helps create a young and friendly vibe throughout the town. AUTUMN TIMES 2020

PHOTO BY ROB MOORE Take a stroll on the greenway in Boone on a cool crisp day in the fall.

Just make sure not to cross anyone by mispronouncing the name: It’s “Appuh-latch-un.” Adjacent to the university is King Street and the surrounding area, one of the town’s best shopping destinations. One-of-a-kind stores and eclectic boutiques dot the landscape, interspersed with legal offices and a diversity of restaurants to suit almost any taste. For more information, visit www.townofboone.net.

BLOWING ROCK

Blowing Rock manages to cram a ton of beauty and fun into just three square miles. The town’s name comes from an immense cliff overlooking Johns River Gorge, where the winds whip in such a way that light objects thrown over the rock float back to their owners. Anyone wishing to experience the phenomenon firsthand can visit The

Blowing Rock attraction, which showcases the town’s namesake and the Native American legend that surrounds it. The trails surrounding Moses Cone Memorial Park and Bass Lake offer a scenic stroll. There’s also the Blowing Rock Art and History Museum in downtown, where you can experience art and discover history. The museum features year-round exhibits, cultural programs, SEE OUR TOWNS ON PAGE 16

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art workshops, lectures and more. The picturesque town of Blowing Rock is the perfect place to have an active summer vacation — or to relax and do nothing at all. For more information, visit www. blowingrock.com.

VALLE CRUCIS

Just off N.C. 105 south of Boone, Valle Crucis offers simplicity and serenity in a pastoral riverside community. The valley contains the site of the only known Native American village in the immediate area. The first European settler of Watauga County, Samuel Hicks, also built a fort in the area during the American Revolution. Today, the community offers several historic inns, restaurants, art galleries, farms and churches that provide service and comfort to all who enter. The Episcopal Church has played a role throughout the community’s history. An Episcopal bishop entered the community in 1842 and provided its name, which is Latin for “Vale of the Cross.” The Valle Crucis Conference Center, on the National Register of Historic Places, stays busy with retreats for numerous groups, and Crab Orchard Falls is a short hike from the conference center. The original Mast General Store provides a central gathering space in the community, as it has since 1883. Residents appreciate the store for its post office, morning news and coffee, while visitors can also find gifts, apparel and souvenirs. Just down the road is the Mast Store Annex, which opened about 25 years later. Behind the annex is a gravel road to the Valle Crucis Park, a recreational area with walking paths, riverfront, picnic areas, sports fields and live music during the summer. Dining highlights include Over Yonder and The Ham Shoppe, which boasts some of the best sandwiches in the High Country. For more information, visit www. vallecrucis.com.

TODD

Todd is a town so nice it’s claimed by 16

PHOTO BY ROB MOORE Take a ride out to Valle Crucis to enjoy the fall colors during peak color.

both Watauga and Ashe counties. The community’s main drag, Railroad Grade Road, is popular with bicyclists and walking tours, as it winds along with the New River, one of the few in the world that flows north. The Todd General Store was an old-fashioned mercantile that dated back to 1914 and was built in anticipation of the Norfolk and Western “Virginia Creeper” railroad. Todd was the last stop of the route and got much of its supplies from the train. The Todd Mercantile features the work of local artists and crafters, as well as mountain honey and other local goods, while also hosting monthly square and contra dances, with traditional mountain music by local performers. The evercrafty Elkland Art Center, known for its colorful parades and environmentally conscious puppet shows, offers summer workshops and programs for those with a flair for creativity. The river itself provides plenty to do, from canoeing and kayaking to excellent fishing. Several companies, including RiverGirl Fishing Company and Wahoo’s Adventures, have outposts near Todd to provide gear and instruction for anyone interested in hitting the river. For more information, visit www.toddnc.org.

FOSCOE

Nestled between Boone and Banner Elk is the unincorporated community

of Foscoe. But don’t let its size fool you. The community is brimming with shopping, art, dining and outdoor fun. Shopping includes mementos and more at Bear Creek Traders, treats, snacks and other tail-wagging goodies for your furry friends at Mountain Dog & Friends, and the luxurious linens of Dewoolfson Down. If you’re shopping for outdoor fun, cast a line with Foscoe Fishing Company, or pan for gold with the Greater Foscoe Mining Company. Some of the High Country’s finest gourmet sandwiches and baked goods await at Eat Crow, while burgers, billiards and family fun are on cue at Country Retreat Family Billiards. Foscoe is also home to one of the views that made Grandfather Mountain famous — the ridgeline’s iconic profile of an old man reclining.

SEVEN DEVILS

From elevations of some 5,200 feet, the town of Seven Devils straddles both Watauga and Avery counties. From many areas in the town, one has views of Grandfather Mountain, as well as Beech Mountain, Sugar Mountain, Rich Mountain and Mount Rogers in Virginia. Seven Devils is just a few minutes from Boone, Blowing Rock, Banner Elk and Valle Crucis and can be found off N.C. 105.

One of the smaller towns in the region, Seven Devils began life in the 1960s as the Seven Devils Resort, and, in 1979, the resort became incorporated as the town. How did it get its name? According to the Seven Devils website, “The founders wanted a catchy, unique name that would bring attention to the mountain. They noticed the repeated appearance of the number seven, including the seven predominant rocky peaks surrounding Valley Creek, as well as the many coincidental references to ‘devils.’ ‘Seven Devils’ seemed to suggest a frivolous, mischievous resort where people could experience the temptation of Seven Devils.” In the 1960s, the town grew with a golf course, ski slope, lake, riding ground and camping area. After the resort venture experienced financial trouble, the town was incorporated. While the golf course and ski slope have been closed for a number of years, Hawksnest has become one of the town’s centerpieces. Among the attractions at Hawksnest (www.hawksnestzipline. com) is year-round ziplining. For more information and events at Seven Devils, visit www.sevendevils.net.

BANNER ELK

The mountain valley town of Banner Elk has grown from a tiny hamlet to a town offering year-round amenities and memorable vacations for the entire family. Banner Elk is home to Lees-McRae College, a small, private, four-year coeducational liberal arts college affiliated with Presbyterian Church U.S.A. with more than 900 students from more than 20 states and countries. The old stone buildings nestled across campus make for a photographer’s delight. The town hosts numerous shops and restaurants and stays abuzz with activities and events. Visitors can picnic or walk in the town park, hear live music, enjoy exquisite shopping or simply relax by the mill pond and stay in one of the inns after dinner in a fine restaurant. SEE OUR TOWNS ON PAGE 17

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Banner Elk is in the heart of the High Country’s many attractions, and just a short drive will take you to numerous natural settings where you can relax and revel in nature’s beauty. Banner Elk also offers many cultural happenings, with a celebrated summer theater program by Lees-McRae and art festivals by some of the area’s many galleries and artisans. Visitors are encouraged to return to Banner Elk in the fall each year for its Woolly Worm Festival, which attracts close to 20,000 people annually. Cutting between the peaks of Sugar Mountain, Beech Mountain and Grandfather Mountain, the topography of the town provides natural definition and gentle undulation through the town’s boundaries. For more information or a calendar of events, call Banner Elk Chamber of Commerce at (828) 898-8395, or visit www.bannerelk.org.

BEECH MOUNTAIN

At 5,506 feet, Beech Mountain is the highest town in Eastern North America. That means two things: When winter comes, it’s a great place to ski, and, even on the hottest day of the summer, it’s cool on top of Beech Mountain. Even when it’s steamy in the “lowlands” of 3,000-plus feet, the temperature stays comfortable. The rest of the world seems distant when you settle down on the front porch of a rental condominium and survey the magnificent view that is one of Beech Mountain’s trademarks. Beech Mountain is a four-season resort. There are more than 5,000 beds available on top of the mountain. These range from rustic cabins to mountain chalets to luxury condominiums. When it’s time to eat, you can enjoy anything from a deli sandwich to pizza to a gourmet meal by candlelight. During the days, there are many specialty stores for shopping, a golf course, SEE OUR TOWNS ON PAGE 18

It’s everything a general store used to be...and more!

Grocery · Deli with Patio Dining Wild Bird Supply · Clothing · Hardware Open from 7:30am to 10:00pm Everyday (828) 387 4838

501 Beech Mountain Parkway · Beech Mountain, NC · www.fredsgeneral.com

Come visit us at Eastern America’s Highest Town

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horseback riding, tennis, swimming and hiking. There are nearby canoe and raft runs that are among the best offered in the Eastern United States. Nightlife is alive and well on the mountain. Whatever your musical taste, you can find a spot to enjoy an afterhours scene. There’s another good thing about Beech Mountain. The mountain is so large that much of it remains in a natural state, with rich forests dotted by rolling farmland. And it’s only a short drive from the “downtown” to the country or resorts. Take your pick. Our guess is if you spend some time in Beech Mountain, you’ll want to come back to do some real estate shopping. Or at least book a slopeside condo for the ski season. For more information, visit www. beechmtn.com.

CROSSNORE

Crossnore is a town steeped in educational history. The town is home to Crossnore Academy, founded by doctors Eustace and Mary Martin Sloop. The Sloops traveled the steep dirt trails in isolated mountain valleys to bring medicine to the people and convince farmers to let their children come to school. Because of poverty and distance, the Sloop school in Crossnore eventually took in boarders and built dormitories to accommodate them. It gained a national reputation for effectiveness in changing lives and in breaking the cycle of poverty, moonshine and child marriages of mountain families. Mary Martin Sloop eventually put these tales to paper in her autobiography “Miracle in the Hills,” which has since been used as the basis for a drama of the same name that takes place each summer in present-day Crossnore. The Sloops built a school, hospital, dental clinic and, eventually, a boarding school to give children the basis for an improved life. They brought to Avery County the first electricity, telephones, 18

PHOTO BY ROB MOORE Linville is host to the Linville Falls that is a must-visit place during the fall.

paved road and boarding school. Through the Sloopses’ advocacy, public schools flourished in Avery County. Today, Crossnore Academy carries on the work of the original school and has reclaimed the educational foundation beneath its commitment to give hurting children a chance for a better life. The school’s teachers enable it to meet not only the special needs of Crossnore residents, but also the needs of area students who live at home and whose educational needs are best met at Crossnore. The school is also home to Miracle Grounds Coffee Cafe & Creamery, a working vocational classroom, featuring specialty coffee drinks, homemade snacks, sandwiches, milkshakes, ice cream, Wi-Fi and more. Crossnore is famous for its Independence Day parade and celebration, and the town’s Meeting House is home to the Crossnore Jam, a series of gatherings and concerts by local musicians on the first Friday night through the summer and fall months. For more information, visit www. crossnorenc.com.

ELK PARK

The town of Elk Park borders the state of Tennessee and offers a unique visiting experience. From the old-time feel of Brinkley’s Hardware Store to the

additional Lower Street antique shops and classic barbershop, Elk Park takes visitors back to a simpler time. The town’s original thoroughfare, Lower Street, and many businesses originated when Elk Park hosted a train depot for the old East Tennessee and Western North Carolina Railroad, better known as Tweetsie. Elk Park thrived due to the industry and remained vibrant after the trains stopped running through town. For more information, call Elk Park Town Hall at (828) 733-9573.

LINVILLE

The community of Linville is located just south of the intersection of U.S. 221 and N.C. 105 in Avery County. The community was founded in 1883, designed by Samuel T. Kelsey of Kansas and named for William and John Linville, who were reportedly killed by Cherokees in 1766. East Tennessee and Western North Carolina Railroad passed through the community from 1916 through 1940, when a major flood washed away the tracks. The old rail route later became N.C. 105 in 1956. Linville has three country clubs in the area: Eseeola, Grandfather Golf and Country Club and Linville Ridge, all open late spring to early fall. A number of local tourist areas within

a short drive share the Linville name, including the Linville River and majestic Linville Falls, Linville Caverns on U.S. 221 and the Linville Gorge wilderness area. For visitors considering making Linville a part- or full-time home, they can visit Linville Land Harbor, where units are available for sale or rent in a cozy community featuring its own golf course and amenities. A number of residents reside at Land Harbor part time, while others stay year-round to enjoy the beauty of the area’s four seasons. During the winter months, Linville is only a short drive to nearby ski slopes at Sugar Mountain and Beech Mountain, popular skiing and snow-tubing destinations. Perhaps the most popular tourist attraction housed in Linville is Grandfather Mountain. The Grandfather Mountain attraction offers picturesque views during all four seasons, animal habitats and the famous Mile High Swinging Bridge. Grandfather Mountain State Park offers hiking trails and backcountry camping opportunities.

NEWLAND

The highest county seat east of the Mississippi River at 3,589 feet, the town of Newland was incorporated in 1913 as the county seat of the newly formed Avery County. Its original name was “Old Fields of Toe,” because it is located in a broad flat valley and is at the headwaters of the Toe River. Newland was a mustering place for Civil War troops. Toe is short for “Estatoe,” an Indian chief’s daughter who drowned herself in the river in despair because she could not marry a brave from another tribe. A town of about 700 residents, Newland succeeded over three other areas for the honor of county seat. The recently renovated courthouse, originally constructed in 1913, overlooks a classic town square, bordered by shops and SEE OUR TOWNS ON PAGE 19

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churches and complete with a memorial to Avery County veterans. Adjacent to the courthouse building is the original jail, which has been converted into the Avery County Historical Museum. Exhibits in the museum, which is free to visit, include the original jail cells, numerous artifacts and information about the history of Avery County. During the autumn and fall months, visitors can check out the farmers’ market that meets on Saturday mornings outside of Newland Elementary School, and visitors traveling out of town can picnic or hike at Waterfalls Park, a unique recreation spot sponsored by Newland Volunteer Fire Department. Heritage Park hosts rodeo events on weekends during the summer and is the permanent home for the county’s annual Agriculture and Heritage Fair each September. Newland hosts an annual Christmas parade through downtown, with decorations adorning the town reflecting the area’s rich Christmas tree industry. With a number of restaurants and boutiques downtown, Newland is a prime destination for dining and shopping, or just to stop in on a visit to nearby Roan Mountain, Tenn., or Grandfather Mountain. For more information, visit www.townofnewland.com.

SUGAR MOUNTAIN

If outdoor activity is your thing, look no further than the village of Sugar Mountain. Offering more than just great skiing, Sugar Mountain also provides its visitors with an array of ways to get outside and enjoy the beauty of the High Country. One attraction in particular is the summer lift rides on Sugar Mountain. On weekends, weather permitting, visitors can ride the ski lift to the 5,300-foot peak of Sugar Mountain. The 40-minute round-trip ride features a spectacular view of the High Country AUTUMN TIMES 2020

and runs from Independence Day weekend to Labor Day weekend. If heights aren’t what you’re looking for, Sugar Mountain can also be seen on foot. With numerous trails that wind throughout the village of Sugar Mountain, you can see both the brilliant greens of summer, the vibrant reds and yellows of fall, and the white of winter. The trails of Sugar Mountain are not just for those on foot. Many cyclists choose the village of Sugar Mountain for its variety of challenging and picturesque terrain. The village of Sugar Mountain also gives tennis and golf lovers an opportunity to enjoy their favorite sports in the beautiful mountain setting. With Sugar Mountain’s golf course, six fast-dry clay courts and full-service tennis pro shop, visitors will never be faced with the problem of finding something to do. Whether you come for a day or stay in one of the many comfortable lodgings the village has to offer, Sugar Mountain will soon become your destination for great outdoor fun. For more information, visit www. seesugar.com.

CRESTON

Located in the northwestern corner of Ashe County, Creston lies on the border of Tennessee. The curvy winding roads can offer travelers some of the most beautiful, scenic byways in the area. The Riverview Community Center is located off of N.C. 88 West in Creston and is home to festivals and other events all year long. Worth’s Chapel at Creston United Methodist Church is located in Creston and was listed as a National Historic Building in 2005. The chapel was built about 1902. The interior of the chapel is finished, in part, with American chestnut wood, harvested before the blight reached the northwestern mountains of North Carolina.

FLEETWOOD

Located just off of U.S. 221 between West Jefferson and Deep Gap, SEE OUR TOWNS ON PAGE 20

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Fleetwood is home to great community gatherings at the Fleetwood Community Center and the local volunteer fire department. On your way to and from the busy towns of Boone and West Jefferson, stop by to look at local crafts, antiques and civic pride in Fleetwood.

GLENDALE SPRINGS

Home of the breathtaking and aweaspiring fresco painting by Ben Long at Holy Trinity Episcopalian Church, Glendale Springs has become revered for its budding arts scene. The community has become a must for anyone visiting Ashe County. Proximity to the Blue Ridge Parkway is an added bonus as summer sets in and fall colors begin to explode.

GRASSY CREEK

Just south of the North CarolinaVirginia border, Grassy Creek is a tightly knit community that is dotted with smiling faces and countless rows of Fraser fir Christmas trees. Check out the sights around the nationally renowned New River, where you will also find the River House Country Inn and Restaurant for delectable dinners.

JEFFERSON

A rich history, dating from 1799, lies in the picturesque town of Jefferson. Jefferson was founded prior to its counterpart, West Jefferson, and stood at the base of Mount Jefferson. The town was first known as Jeffersonton, but then became Jefferson, and was one of the first towns in the nation to bear the name of U.S. founding father Thomas Jefferson. The town is the county seat of Ashe and is home to the new courthouse, as well as the historic 1904 Courthouse. The Museum of Ashe County History is located in Jefferson and can be found in the 1904 Courthouse. The museum, through items collected and on display, 20

offers a look at who the citizens of the county are, where they came from, how they got to the town, what did they do on the way and where do they go next? Ashe County Park and Foster Tyson Park are also located in Jefferson, the former of which hosts a nationally celebrated disc golf course.

LANSING

Whether you’re looking for a town reminiscent of the past or a town that offers whispers of tomorrow, the small, friendly town of Lansing beckons to travelers from near and far to visit and relax, while browsing its shops, trying some home cooking and tasting some locally made wine. The town, in the northwestern section of Ashe County, is 20 minutes from Jefferson and West Jefferson and only 45 minutes from Boone. Travelers can arrive in the town in less than an hour from Abingdon, Va., or Mountain City, Tenn. The town has one stoplight, and several businesses line the street. Homecooked meals can be found at Country House Restaurant, while pizza, sandwiches and salads, along with specialty teas and fresh roasted coffee, are available at Pie on the Mountain. The first post office in the town was established in 1882 and served a rural community, made up of a village and outlying farms until the railroad made its appearance, according to www. lansingnc.com. The economy and population began to take off by 1914 as the Norfolk and Western Railroad, better known as the Virginia Creeper, came to town. A big commodity for area residents was iron ore mined from the mountains. The railroad served as an avenue to transport the ore to markets in Richmond, Va., and Pittsburgh, Pa. During its history, Lansing had a cheese plant, clothing store, coffin shop, doctor’s office, bank and a restaurant, according to the town’s website. The cheese plant allowed area farmers to bring their goods to sell instead of having to travel into West Jefferson. The town was chartered and incorporated

PHOTO BY ROB MOORE The small town of West Jeffeson is a poplar stop after leaf looking.

in 1928. Lansing faced two devastating fires in the 1930s and ‘40s and faced Hurricane Hugo later that century. Despite these setbacks, the town continued to flourish and expand. The Works Progress Administration built the Lansing High School in 1941, using local granite stone. The school still stands today. The scenic Virginia Creeper biking trail is available to visitors, as is the town’s park. For more information about Lansing, visit www.explorelansingnc.com.

LAUREL SPRINGS

Another border community, Laurel Springs prides itself with small town charm and beauty that entices motorists from the Blue Ridge Parkway for a quick bite to eat before continuing their adventure on the scenic byway. Although it touches Wilkes, Alleghany and Ashe counties, Laurel Springs is never more than a 30-minute drive from the listed county seats. Also, be sure to stop by the Thistle Meadow Winery for individualized tours of a family-owned wine business.

WEST JEFFERSON

With a thriving arts district and Christmas trees galore, West Jefferson makes its mark on the High Country as a destination for locals, as well as visitors. The town was built around the Virginia-Carolina Railroad depot during the early 1900s. According to the town’s history, the first ownership of the valley now known as West Jefferson began in 1779 when N.C. Gov. Richard Caswell granted 320 acres to Col. Ben Cleveland, who battled

the British at King’s Mountain. More than a century later, the West Jefferson Land Company surveyed the new town and fixed its limits as a square one-half mile north, south, east and west of the Virginia-Carolina Depot. The town was chartered in 1915. The town’s initial growth came through the railroad, but early development was also spurred by the opening of the First National Bank of West Jefferson in 1915. The bank’s branch office, built in 1962, is now home to West Jefferson Town Hall. The town continues to thrive today and has a little something for everyone. Those visiting the town can browse one of the many art galleries, gift shops and retail stores. West Jefferson is home to many varieties of artwork, from paintings and photographs to sculptures and quilted items. More information about the area’s art district can be found at the Ashe Arts Center, located at 303 School Ave., just off of East Main Street. The center is home to the Ashe County Arts Council, which sponsors a variety of community programming and exhibits throughout the year. A popular spot in the town is the Ashe County Cheese Plant where visitors can see cheese made and go across the street to the Ashe County Cheese Store to purchase a variety of cheeses, from cheddar to pepper jack and the celebrated cheese curds. Old-fashioned snacks and candies and locally made wines can also be purchased at the store. The cheese plant is open year-round and located at 106 E. Main St. in West Jefferson. Just outside West Jefferson, in the Beaver Creek community, St. Mary’s Episcopal Church can be found. The church is the location for a fresco of Jesus on the cross by renowned artist Ben Long. A painting of Madonna with child also hangs on the sanctuary wall. Local eateries and cafes offer all sorts of tasty treats, coffee, spirits and more, from one end of the town to the other. For more information, visit www. visitwestjefferson.org. AUTUMN TIMES 2020

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Canine camping BY ABBY WHITT

amping with man’s best friend can be a rewarding experience for the prepared camper who knows how to care for their four-legged companion outdoors. Canine camping experiences vary based on a number of factors, including the dog’s breed and size, and its age. While canines are happy to be wherever their owner is, there are a number of things that dog owners can do to improve dogs’ adventures in Mother Nature, including packing a dog First Aid kit that contains bandages, allergy treatment and wound care. In the High Country, doggie First Aid kits can be

bought at a number of retail locations and supplies can be gathered from stores such as Pet Supplies Plus and the Pet Place, both of which are in Boone. As many campgrounds in the High Country are pet-friendly, doggie bags should be kept on-hand as a courtesy to others and to keep your pet safe. Keeping your pet leashed and carrying a collapsible food and water bowl is also a good idea. Knowing your pets needs are key. Dogs of any age or breed can accompany their humans on any camping trip as long as their needs are met, such as keeping an older dog in a temperature controlled environment, making sure there’s plenty of water around for swim-

PET FRIENDLY CAMPGROUNDS IN THE HIGH COUNTRY:

PHOTO COURTESY OF DARIN CONRAD Sidney Anderson and her dog, Moo, enjoy the Linville Gorge wilderness during a holiday.

ming and drinking, and packing plenty of your dog’s preferred food. Some campgrounds may have breed restrictions, but there is a place for everyone in the High Country.

Honey Bear Campground www.honeybearcampground.com (828) 963-4586 Flintlock Campground www.flintlockcampground.com (828) 963-5325 Boone KOA www.koa.com/campgrounds/boone (828) 263-7250 Grandfather Campground www.grandfatherrv.com (828) 963-7275 Blue Bear Mountain www.bluebearmountain.com (828) 406-4226 Linville Falls Campground RV Park & Cabins www.linvillefalls.com (828) 765-2681 Raccoon Holler Campground www.raccoonholler.com (336) 982-2706 Buck Hill Campground www.buckhillrvcampground.com (828) 766-6162

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LUXURY DESIGNER FOR THE DAY BRINGING CLIENTS TO THE HICKORY FURNITURE MART · CONCEPT TO COMPLETION/ NEW HOME CONSTRUCTION · RE-MODEL · DESIGNER FOR THE DAY · INTERIOR/EXTERIOR COLOR CONSULTANT DESIGN TO SELL HOME STAGING · A LA CARTE DESIGN SERVICES · AGING IN PLACE

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"I'm excited to become an entrepreneur and look forward to using my 30 years of experience to help my clients realize their dreams," says Lauren Brown, the founder of the company. Lauren has recently been a featured guest on the Nationally Recognized Design Podcast, The Wingnut Social, featured guest on Boone Chamber Podcast Series "Mind Your Business", Jefferson local Radio Station WKSK, and Casart Wall Coverings featured Blog Post "Expert Stay at home Interior Design Advice from A Designers Touch by Lauren". Inspired by her time living in Japan, her trademark designs aim to create a tranquil environment that incorporates elements of nature through color, water features and artwork. Brown began her career providing design services nationally and internationally for major retailers in High Point and Hickory North Carolina. She was consistently recognized by the President of Thomasville Furniture as the runner up for top designer of 350 in the Corporate Stores nationally. The District Manager of Thomasville selected her to mentor other designers on the importance of being authentic, approachable and designing with passion. The American Consulate to the Saudi Arabian Government sent a letter of appreciation and commended her for three villas she designed for the Sheik of Bahrain and the excellent service she provided the Sheik and his wife. Her work has been featured in The Charlotte Observer, Architectural Digest, and Boca Raton Magazine, and has been in the “Million

Dollar Club” for twenty -seven years Brown says her greatest joy is the relationships she has developed with her clients. “I like to work in a very collaborative way with my clients, using my skills, experience, and passion for designing to allow them to realize their vision and dream.” “I’ve been blessed to do what I love and I feel it’s important to “Pay It Forward” both Personally and Professionally. For the Month of October I will be offering A ONE HOUR DESIGN CONSULATION FREE as my way of giving back to my Community, The High Country of North Carolina. Speaking of Community, it has been wonderful to see how giving and loving and compassionate we’ve become. Let us never forget how kindness changes lives during the valleys and the mountaintops! I would love to assist you with your Dream Home to create the Stunning, Inviting, Peaceful Retreat you so desire. A Designers Touch by Lauren is a full-service interior design firm, offering Concept to Completion Design/New Home Construction, Luxury Designer for the Day bringing Clients to The Hickory Furniture Mart, Aging in Place, Design to Sell Home Staging with services including 3D Virtual Tours, 360 Video & Photos provided by one of my Trade Partners, Premier Images, as well as Color Consulting and A la Carte Services. For more information, Lauren’s website is adesignerstouchbylauren.com. Follow her on Social Media: Instagram, Pinterest and Facebook.

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AUTUMN TIMES 2020

Camping Where to enjoy the embrace of Mother Nature

he North Carolina mountains in autumn are praised for their beauty, and if you get the chance to experience them for yourself you will quickly know why. Excluding the occasional storm, the temperature and colors of the mountains could not be better during the fall months. It is truly amazing the shades of color which Mother Nature can produce. The High Country is revered by campers of all experience levels for its beauty, natural spirit and atmosphere of peace and tranquility. For these reasons, setting apart a week or a couple of days of camping is encouraged on the highest level. Whether you want to backpack the Appalachian Trail or simply sit by a fire for a night, these mountains have what you are looking for. New River State Park Campground Named one of the United States National Wild and Scenic Rivers in 1976, the New River is a popular location for recreation water sports, while its banks are speckled with ideal campsites. Kayaks and canoes are available for rent from a number of local river outfitters. The main campground is located at 358 New River State Park Road in Laurel Springs. Call (336) 982-2587 for more information. Linville Gorge Wilderness Linville Gorge is arguably the most popular camping location in all of the High Country and for good reason. It is located on 30,000 acres of the Pisgah National Forest and is considered by many to be the Grand Canyon of the East. The canyon drops 2,000 feet toward 26

the Linville River, which provides some incredible views. There are dozens of trails ranging from easy to difficult, providing something for just about everybody. Grandfather Mountain State Park The profile of Grandfather Mountain is well-known across The High Country and the trails surrounding it are popular for those willing to scale some of the areas highest peaks before setting up camp. Visit https://www.ncparks.gov/ grandfather-mountain-state-park. Blue Bear Mountain Campground Located at 196 Blue Bear Mountain Road in Todd and less than 10 miles from Boone is a location that offers tent camping and RV camping as well as cabin sites on more than 150 acres of natural land. This campground also offers the unique experience of tepee camping. The tepees are each fully furnished, including a queen-sized bed. To learn more call (828) 406-4226. Buck Hill Campground Buck Hill offers family-friendly RV sites equipped with picnic tables and fire pits along 1,600 feet of the North Toe River. The campground also provides hiking trails along 144 acres of wilderness, a lazy river and trout-filled waters. This campground is located at 6401 U.S. 19-E South, Plumtree. For more information call (828) 766-6162. Down by the River Campground This Avery County campground offers RV and tent camping. It also has an indoor recreation area and paved roads designed for bike rides.

PHOTO BY ROB MOORE One of the best places to camp in the fall is in the Linville Gorge. This site is off the Conley Cove trail, and there are plenty of nice places to set up tents.

The site is located on the Linville River and is a popular spot to fish for mountain trout. Specifically, the campground is located at 292 River Campground Road, Pineola. For more information call (828) 733-5057. Flintlock Campground 171 Flintlock Campground Drive, N.C. 105, Boone (828) 963-5325 Conveniently located in Boone, Flintlock Campground offers quaint cabins, tent sites and full RV hookups to suit every kind of camper. The campground is also located beside a mountain stream. The site offers free Wi-Fi and cable TV. Grandfather Campground 125 Profile View Road, Banner Elk (828) 355-4535 Grandfather Campground is located just off N.C. 105, not far from Boone, Blowing Rock, Banner Elk or Beech Mountain. The campground has tent sites and cabins available for rental, and also includes a playground, deluxe bathhouses, picnic tables and fishing. Fisherman can enjoy a stocked trout pond next door, or try their luck in the Watauga River.

Helton Creek Campground 2145 Helton Road, Grassy Creek (336) 384-2320 Located minutes from attractions such as the New River, Virginia Creeper Trail and Downtown West Jefferson in Ashe County, Helton Creek Campground is nestled on the banks of a creek and offers tent camping, as well as full RV hookups. Honey Bear Campground 229 Honey Bear Campground Road, Boone (828) 963-4586 Travelers on the Blue Ridge Parkway or N.C. 105 can easily access the Honey Bear Campground in Boone, which offers tent and RV camping, as well as recreation, including fishing and hiking. Julian Price Park Campground Blue Ridge Parkway, Milepost 297 (828) 963-5911 For a beautiful view by the water, this campsite is located on the Blue Ridge Parkway beside Price Lake. It offers non-electric RV sites and tent sites with access to hiking, fishing, boat rentals and picnic facilities. SEE CAMPING ON PAGE 28

AUTUMN TIMES 2020

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CAMPING CONTINUED FROM PAGE 26

Because of its location, this site fills up quickly, especially on holidays. It is wise to call ahead and schedule a reservation. Boone KOA 123 Harmony Mountain Lane, Boone (828) 264-7250 Located just outside of the Boone town limits off of N.C. 194 toward Meat Camp, the Boone location of the national chain of KOA Campgrounds has tent sites, cabins and full RV hookups. Raccoon Holler Campground 493 Raccoon Holler Road, Jefferson (336) 982-2706 Just outside of Glendale Springs in Ashe County and adjacent to the Blue Ridge Parkway, Raccoon Holler Campground is perfect for RV and tent campers who want to enjoy swimming, hiking, canoeing, fishing and commu-

PHOTO COURTESY LINVILLE FALLS The falls at Linville.

nity events. Vanderpool Campground 120 Campground Road, Vilas

(828) 297-3486 Vanderpool is a family-oriented campground for RV and tent campers located only about seven miles outside

of Boone. The campground offers WiFi, horseshoes, a beanbag toss, volleyball and other outdoor games amid beautiful scenery.

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Spectacular One-of-a-Kind Mountain Home 375 Summit Park Dr, Banner Elk, North Carolina This incredible five bedroom five and a half bath mountain retreat designed by David Patrick Moses is custom-built with unique architectural features throughout. Boasting a spacious 7,593 square foot floor plan, this home showcases solid walnut doors and walnut floors, vaulted decorative wood ceilings, custom built closets, and two primary bedroom suites. Wine connoisseurs will love the dine-in wine cellar and car enthusiasts can park in the luxurious three-car garage with vaulted ceiling and windows. A Light Touch system and elevator provide modern convenience at one touch. Nestled on an 11 acre lot with long range eastern mountain views and no other homes in sight, this is truly a one-of-a-kind private mountain retreat. Presented at $3,950,000 Engel & Völkers Banner Elk · Tricia Holloway +1 828-898-3808 · tricia.holloway@evrealestate.com

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The Dande Lion We are a unique fashion boutique catering to women of various shapes and styles. Celebrating 23 years of business in the High Country! 4501 Tynecastle Hwy, Suite 12 828.898.3566

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Peak Real Estate 25 Years of Experience in High Country Real Estate “We understand the importance of your investment.” 401 Tynecastle Hwy, Suite 6 www.peak-realestate.com 828.898.1880

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Encore Travel A comfortable luxury travel agency where you taste international wines that inspire travel to your next destination. Wine tastings, pairings & events focused on experiential travel. Located next to the Avery Chamber of Commerce. 828-719-6955 wendy@encoretravelltc.com

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Ray Smith Construction Co., Inc An unlimited licensed contractor offering plan development and site for highway and utility systmes in North Carolina and the surrounding states. PO Box 822, Linville, NC 28646 828.898.7729

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Fly fishing in the High Country BY DEREK HALSEY

utumn is a wonderful time in the High Country, especially for the sport of fishing. In the amazing water system found here in the mountains, fish are breaking free of the lethargy that comes from warmer temperatures and are becoming more active as they feed heavily to prepare for winter. There is a wide array of waterways to be explored by the angler around Boone, Banner Elk, Wilson Creek Gorge and Blowing Rock. With a slew of impressive mountains surrounding us, including some of the highest peaks found east of the Rockies, many rivers, streams and creeks originate and flow off of these summits. As a result, due to the natural conditions found in our waterways, trout fishing is of a very high quality here in the High Country. In fact, the trout fishing sport and industry has become one of the biggest businesses in the area. Fly fishing is a different method of fishing compared to the usual rod and reel and can of worms type of angling that many of us learned to do as kids. With many breeds of freshwater fish such as bass, bluegrass, crappie, catfish and more, a spinning reel or bait caster reel is used to throw out either live bait or artificial lures to fool them, catch them and bring them in, depending on the species and natural fishing conditions. Fly fishing, however, is viewed by many as a more refined and precise approach to fishing due to the nature of the species of choice, the trout. As a result, trout fishing requires a different kind of fishing system that is both easy to learn and fascinating to experience. The trout found here in the High Country represent a unique species of fish that have to live in certain natural conditions to survive. First, trout is a fish that likes to live in cooler waters. They are a species that does not do 36

PHOTO BY DEREK HALSEY What is fun about fly fishing is that you can learn how to use fly fishing rods, reels and baits in less than a day.

well in water that gets too hot in the summertime. Even though our state of North Carolina is located in the South, it is our higher mountainous altitudes that create the cooler waters needed for trout to thrive in. Brown trout, rainbow trout and native brook trout are the three species of trout found in North Carolina. The optimum water temperature for trout is found within the 45- to 70-degree range. The rainbow trout is a species that is native to the Pacific Northwest, yet it was successfully introduced into North

Carolina waters many years ago. That is also true with the brown trout, which is a species that was brought in from Europe and Asia. Brook trout, however, is the smaller trout species that is native to the eastern half of the U.S. and Canada. Because this is their original home, they are appreciated and prized by anglers. What is also unique about trout is what they eat and how they eat it. Smaller trout feed on insects found in the water as well as similar critters found on land and in the air that hap-

pen to fall into the water. Older trout still feed on those same terrestrial and aquatic insects, only they add small fish, crawdads, and other smaller vertebrate animals to the menu. Brown trout, being the big brutes of the North Carolina trout world, also eat bigger fish than the other species. All trout, for instance, love a good hatch of flying insects, which will undoubtedly hit the water at some point and be ambushed from below. Because of the troutâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s idiosyncratic traits when it comes to eating; fly fishing rods, reels and baits are the preferred method of fishing for these wonderful creatures. At the heart of the trout fishing sysSEE FISHING ON PAGE 38

AUTUMN TIMES 2020

PHOTO BY ROB MOORE The fall season is a great time to fish the High Country streams.

FISHING CONTINUED FROM PAGE 36

tem is the artificial lure, all of which are designed to mimic the small aquatic, land-based and flying creatures that trout love to eat. Known overall as trout flies, many of these artificial lures are small and hand-crafted, using various materials to make a furry fly that will land on the top of the water just right so it will trigger a strike by a waiting trout. To get a floating artificial fly lure to land just right on the top of the water; that is where the distinctive design of the fly rod and reel comes in. Using a long fly fishing rod, the angler is able to cast the light-in-weight lure back and forth in the air forcibly but smoothly with the goal of releasing enough fishing line to get the lure to the spot where the trout are hiding. Many of you have seen fly fish anglers in action, either walking a stream or on video. What is fun about the sport is that you can learn how to use fly fishing rods, reels and baits in less than a day. Fly fishing adds a whole other layer to the fishing experience and new fly fishing anglers soon develop a passion for the sport. For those of you that want to take the plunge and learn a wonderful new way of connecting with nature that will last a lifetime, there are many fly fishing outfitters located here in the High Country that will assist you and guide you. Not 38

only can you buy gear from them, they will teach you how to fly fish for trout and then take you to the best, most secret waterways where the big trout live. The sport is yet another reason why this area is a great place to vacation, visit and to live in. There is, however, only one fly fishing gear store and guiding service located in the middle of downtown Boone known as Boone’s Fly Shop. Formerly known as Highland Outfitters, Boone’s Fly Shop is located on the second floor suite of a refurbished and old antique building at 140 S. Depot Street, Highland Outfitters is a full-service company ready to supply all of your fishing gear needs and put you on the water with experienced guides. Some of the prime fly-fishing rivers and streams serviced by the company are found in Linville, Blowing Rock, Banner Elk and Boone as well as the Watauga and the South Holston Rivers in Tennessee. Owner Alex Dale found success with his Highland Outfitters store originally located in Linville. Then, he started a second business with the Foscoe Fishing Company located on Rt 105 outside of Boone, which is still in business. Then, when he found out that this prime piece of real estate was open to rent in downtown Boone, he decided to take a leap of faith and move his Highland Outfitters operation to town where the tourist and potential fly-fishing enthusiasts were thick. While Dale had to make adjustments due to the coronavirus crisis, Boone’s

Fly Shop and the Foscoe Fishing Company have survived the storm and has even come away with some new ways to do business that were influenced by the pandemic lockdown. “The retail side of the business is why I am here in downtown Boone, plus the fact that no matter where the shop is, we are never far from prime fishing waters,” said Dale. “The New River starts here in Boone as does Winklers Creek, and we also fish as far away as the tailwaters of the Watauga River and the South Holston River, which are some of the best trout fisheries in the Southeast. Those cool waterways and the limestone rock in the water are all a part of good trout fishing. As for this year of 2020, we have been fortunate enough to leave our doors open during the pandemic, utilizing the 50% capacity limit for stores. People, however, were and are still fishing during this situation, so business is good.” By the time you read this, hopefully the re-opening of society will have kicked in. Business is picking up now that autumn has arrived, however, and Dale is happy for it. “The thing about fly fishing is we prefer to be socially distant anyway,” said Dale. “We had customers who wanted to support us during this hard time so they would buy our gift cards. Things like that helped to keep our doors open. Fly fishing, especially the guide service side of the industry, took a big hit because of the Lockdown as it takes tourism and travel to happen. Even

though we have altered our practices a bit, business has finally picked up. We have a lot of folks that come into town to learn how or where to fish. Our fastest demographic is women taking up the sport and next to that are younger folks who are taking up fly fishing as well, from teenagers to college students to those in their late 20s.” Dale is an optimist when it comes to the future, his company and with fly fishing in general. “Short term, it has been difficult, but long term is starting to look better,” said Dale. “The silver lining is that I am learning new ways to do business and to help our customers. The engagement with our customers that we have experienced on social media has been surprising. I have always used social media as a place where I like to provide free information and entertainment, a place where people can learn how to fly fish, and to paint a pretty picture of life on the water. But, I never focused on selling much on those platforms. At the same time, social media has been very helpful as people have been forward about buying our products and helping us to keep our store open during this crazy time. It has led to a deeper engagement with our local and regional fly fishermen and women.” Now, it seems like more people than ever have discovered the outdoors and all that nature has to offer. The growing sport of High Country fly fishing is an excellent way to experience life in the mountains. AUTUMN TIMES 2020

C R I T T E R F R I E N D LY

WE’RE OPEN WITH LOTS OF FRESH AIR AND SOCIAL DISTANCING IN PLACE

“Enjoy the Legend” NORTH CAROLINA’S OLDEST TRAVEL ATTRACTION SINCE 1933

432 The Rock Road, Blowing Rock, NC 28645 828.295.7111. TheBlowingRock.com

nd” AUTUMN TIMES 2020 OLINA’S OLDEST TRAVEL ATTRACTION, SINCE 1933

Hiking the High Country BY DEREK HALSEY

here have been times during this past summer when there have been more people on hiking trails than usual. The coronavirus pandemic led to quarantine and isolation, and that led to an explosion of people wanting to get outdoors and into nature. While that is a good thing, it also led to novices who either walked into the woods and onto the trails with no prior experience and, in some cases; it has produced injuries and even over-crowding in some spots. But our paths and forests and local, state and national parks are for everyone. So, try and gain knowledge when on the more wilderness trails or before you begin your trek, learn how to deal with the wild animals you may encounter, be prepared in case something goes wrong and help others when possible. When all of that happens, then great times are possible in the wonderful outdoors found here in the beautiful Blue Ridge mountains. The mountainous region located in and around Boone is called the High Country. Made up of seven counties, this beautiful region of the Blue Ridge Mountains contains the highest peaks east of the Rockies. Among this section of the greater Appalachian Mountains, the second oldest mountain chain on the surface of the earth, are trails that explore the summits, valleys, rivers and multiple gorges that are found here. Hiking is one of the most sought out activities in and around the towns of Boone, Blowing Rock and Banner Elk, and on the Blue Ridge Parkway that runs through and around those hamlets. Most of the trails mentioned below can be easily found on GPS, Google Maps and similar apps. For the more secluded trails that need more direc-

fire tower that overlooks Boone. tions, they will be provided. As always, If you continue driving about a half when you hike in and on these mounof a mile further south on the Parkway, tains, know your physical limits, be you will find the Rte. 221 exit to Blowprepared for many scenarios on the trail because mountain weather can ing Rock. Once you turn onto the exit, change quickly, and learn the simple you will also see a sign for Shulls Mill rules when dealing with wildlife. Road. If you stay on Shulls Mill Road One good place to start for the begin- for about 7/10 of a mile, you will come across a metal fence with a wooden ner hiker is the Greenway Trail. Built gate beside it by a small parking lot just for hikers, walkers and bikers, there past the one-way exit road for Trout are sections of the Greenway Trail Lake. This is the awesome Rich Mounlocated in Blowing Rock, Boone and Banner Elk. Mostly flat and in an urban tain Carriage Trail. setting, the exciting news is that a new About three miles in length, the Rich segment of the Mountain CarGreenway Trail is riage Trail is a being constructed moderate hiking More information on the trails menthat will connect and running trail tioned here and more can be found at the following websites: Blowing Rock and takes you through www.fs.usda.gov Boone. Called the a Wizard of Ozhikinginthesmokys.com Middle Fork Gretype of forest to ashevilletrails.com the left, then it enway and built romanticasheville.com/hiking.html winds up to the by the Blue Ridge alltrails.com top of the mounConservancy, the six-mile long, 10-foot wide trail will be tain where you will find a more prairiean exciting addition to the region once type of landscape and eventually a it is completed. wonderful view before you head back For those who seek more adventurdown to where the local cows are hanging out trailside. The lower, downhill ous hiking, the Elk Knob State Park section of the trail leads to Trout Lake, Trail is a two hour romp up to the summit of Elk Knob Mountain just a which features an easy walk at the end short drive from Boone. The trail leads that goes back up to your vehicle. to fabulous views that extend into Back on the Parkway heading south, nearby states with many other peaks look for the parking lot to the Rough visible on the horizon. Ridge Trail on your right. This is a For many of the best trails to be very busy trail in the summer months found here in the High Country, the and can be crowded, yet the views are Blue Ridge Parkway will be your exceptional. But, there is another way connection. Traveling from Deep Gap to utilize the Rough Ridge Trail for north of Boone and going south, the more experienced hikers. Blue Ridge Parkway is marked by white If you park in the Rough Ridge posts found on the side of the road that parking lot and then walk along the are mile markers used for reference. side of the Parkway for a quarter-of-aAt milepost 294 on the Parkway, you mile to the south, you will find the 301 will find the Moses Cone Manor. The milepost right before you cross a short preserved farm house and 1,000-plus section of viaduct. At the end of the acres of surrounding land was turned viaduct you will see a rock wall on the into a park many years ago. There you right. Along the side of the rock wall, will find a 2.5-mile trail to a climbable there will be a trail that follows the cliff

HIKING RESOURCES

wall up the mountain to the Ship Rock geological formation. You do not need ropes to make this trek. Once you are at the very top of the trail, turn right and that summit trail will eventually head downhill and connect with the Rough Ridge trail, which will return you to the parking lot. The views are fantastic and this route will be a lot less crowded for those willing to get off the easier Rough Ridge trail. At milepost 305 on the Parkway, you will find the turnoff to another section of Rte. 221 that leads to Grandfather Mountain and Banner Elk. Grandfather Mountain State Park requires an entrance fee to explore the top of the mountain and to walk on the famous Mile High Bridge. But for experienced hikers, there is another demanding yet adventurous uphill trail to that leads to Grandfather Mountain that is free, and that is the Profile Trail. A couple of years ago, a brand new parking area and building were built for the Profile Trail located on Rte. 105 in Banner Elk. The Profile Trail is marked as strenuous as it will take most of the day to complete, so be sure to research the trail online so you know what to expect. For the experienced hikers, however, it is a great trail to conquer. For a magnificent hiking side trip, set your GPS for the Carverâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Gap parking lot that is the staging area for the Roan Mountain Grassy Balds Trail. It is located about 20 miles from Grandfather Mountain on the North Carolina-Tennessee border. A part of the Appalachian Trail, the Roan Mountain trails are unique and spectacular, representing the largest stretch of grassy balds to be found in the whole Appalachian Mountain chain. Climbing to more than 6,000 feet, the views and the rare plants and flowers and differSEE HIKING ON PAGE 41

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HIKING CONTINUED FROM PAGE 40

ent terrains found on the path are worth the trip. If you return to the Parkway at the Grandfather Mountain exit, the first parking lot on your left will be for the Beacon Heights Trail. Considered one of the “coolest Short Trails in the East.” The Beacon Heights Cliff Trail takes only a quarter of a mile of walking to reach the top. You will see signs for two other trails once you are on the trail, so just pay attention to the signs and stay on the Beacon Heights Trail. Once near the peak, you will find a stone bench. Go straight at the bench for a cool and easy view, but the better vista happens when you take a left at the bench. After turning left, you will hike up a short set of natural rock stairs that will lead to a flat cliff where the views are spectacular. From there you can see Grandfather Mountain to the left, Wilson Creek Gorge in the middle and the dual elbow-shaped mountains to the right known as Hawksbill Mountain and Table Rock Mountains that overlook Linville Gorge. At milepost 308, there is an easy 30-minute hike on the right known as the Flat Rock Trail. Once you leave the parking lot, the fairly flat trail leads through some wonderfully thick woods and ends up at a view that looks over the valley below. This is also known as the “Sunset Trail” as it is a superb place to watch a sunset, especially if nature is putting on a good show as the sun fades under the horizon. At milepost 311 on the Parkway, you will take a left turn onto Old Jonas Ridge road, which will take you further into the Wilson Creek Gorge to some challenging yet rewarding trails. Once you turn left onto Old Jonas Ridge road, go two miles until you see a white church on your left at a big curve in the road. Beside the church is a gravel road that goes straight at the turn. That is Forest Road 464, aka Pineola Road. Once on Forest Road 464, you will see the trailhead for Big Lost Cove Cliffs on AUTUMN TIMES 2020

the left a couple of miles in, and three miles farther you will see a small parking lot on the right for the Little Lost Cove Cliffs trail. The latter is a shorter hike, but both of these moderately difficult trails lead to outstanding cliff-top vistas. Do some research online and you will find many other trails, waterfalls and more on this same Forest Road 464 road as it goes deeper into the Wilson Creek Gorge area. Back on the Parkway, within a few short miles you will enter the Linville Gorge and Linville Falls section of the High Country. For an easy and amazing view of Linville Gorge, go to the Rte. 221 exit at the 317 milepost on the BRP. Once exited, turn left onto Rte. 221 and then take another left onto Rte. 183 less than a mile ahead. About 7/10 of a mile on Rte. 183, you will find a gravel road on the right with signs that will lead you to Wiseman’s View and Linville Falls. This will be Rte. 1238, aka Old Route 105. The first parking lot you will see on the left are for two trails that show you different views of Linville Falls. If you take Rte. 1238 for almost exactly four miles further, however, you will see the sign for the Wiseman’s View parking lot on the left. Turn left there and you will find a short, wheelchair accessible paved walkway that leads to a very special a view of Linville Gorge. The vistas seen there will simply take your breath away. But, a quick warning: remember that Rte. 1238 to Wiseman’s View is a gravel mountain road, so if you have 4-wheel drive or all-wheel drive vehicle, you should be fine. If you are in a vehicle that is only two-wheel drive, only go on the gravel road if it is completely dry. Watch out for the occasional ruts as you venture forth, otherwise the heart-stopping sights at Wiseman’s View are very much worth the effort. Here is a more adventurous way to experience the other rim and the summits of Linville Gorge. Back at milepost 312 on the Parkway, you will see the exit for Rte. 181. Once there, turn south onto Rte. 181 and look

for the second right turn onto Ginger Cake Road, which will be across from a big wooden “Ginger Cake Acres” sign on the left. Once on Ginger Cake Road you will quickly turn left onto Table Rock Road, which eventually becomes a gravel road that will lead you to fantastic trails on the east side of Linville Gorge. As you travel along, you will see a parking lot about four miles in for the trail that leads to the summit of Hawksbill Mountain, which is one of the better hikes in the region. Look for the “Hawksbill Trail” sign on the right at the trailhead. It is only a mile-long hike to the summit of Hawksbill Mountain and your first inclination once at the top will be to veer to the left to get to great views of Linville Gorge. But, remember to also take the summit trail to the right where you will find rock formations and even more sweet access to the gorge. If you travel four more miles on Table Rock Road past the Hawksbill trailhead, you will find the right turn for Table Rock Mountain Trail, which continues up the mountain. Once you are at the Table Rock parking lot on top, the trail to the right of the parking lot takes you to the summit of Table Rock Mountain overlooking Linville Gorge. The trail on the left side of the parking lot leads to what many consider to be a favorite hike in the area known as the Chimneys Trail. A much easier rim trail than the summit hikes, the first mile of the Chimneys Trail finds you hiking through exquisite rock formations on the edge of Linville Gorge that are simply sublime. Instead of looking down at Linville Gorge from the Hawksbill Mountain and Table Rock Mountain peaks, on this trail you literally become a part of the Gorge as you walk along the rim. About a mile into the Chimneys Trail, when the rock formations stop and the path turns into woods; simply retrace your steps back to the parking lot. These hiking hints will keep you occupied for many hours if not days on the trail. Plan your adventures right and you will soon experience why this is one of the best areas for hiking in America.

PHOTO BY DEREK HALSEY The trail marker for the MST features the large white circle, which you will see on trail signs and on trees along the path as well.

The Mountains to the Sea Trail BY DEREK HALSEY

or experienced hikers or those who build up their hiking skills to take on life-changing journeys, there is a series of very long trails found in the United States that provide such an adventure. On the West Coast, the Pacific Crest Trail goes from California to Washington State. Further inland is the 3,000 mile-plus Continental Divide Trail that meanders through New Mexico, Colorado, Wyoming, Idaho and Montana. East of the Mississippi River there is the world-famous Appalachian Trail that travels from northern Georgia to Maine, including a large swath that cuts through western North Carolina. Here in the Tar Heel State, however, is a relatively new 1,200-mile trail that exists almost entirely in North Carolina. It is called the Mountain to the Sea Trail and since its creation just two decades ago; it forges over the Great Smoky Mountains and the Blue Ridge Mountains, down into the flatter SEE MST ON PAGE 42

High Country parks and trails

BY DEREK HALSEY

or many travelers to the High Country, the goal is to relax and enjoy the cool mountain air while not having to hike deep into a wilderness area. To get a hotel room, motel room or a campsite and explore our local shopping and eating opportunities, it can be nice ad-

MST CONTINUED FROM PAGE 41

Piedmont region and ends up on the Outer Banks Barrier Islands found on the Atlantic Ocean coast. When reading the following information on the Mountain to the Sea Trail, remember that this wonderful pathway goes through small towns as well as deep woods. So, do your research as to what supply stores may be open during this time of coronavirus pandemic. And, remember that winter is coming quickly, so time your full trail hikes appropriately. Still, the autumn of the year is a great time to section hike the Mountain to the Sea Trail with fall foliage coming and striper season and more happening on the coast While the Appalachian Trail was conceived in the early 1900s, the Mountains to the Sea Trail was officially created in the year 2000. Technically, the Mountains to the Sea Trail begins near Clingman’s Dome, the highest mountain in Tennessee and in the Great Smoky Mountain chain. The trail then becomes a series of runs on dirt trails and paved roads until it crosses the world-renown Blue Ridge Parkway around milepost 460 at Big Witch Gap. From then on and for many miles, the MST meanders through the beautiful Western North Carolina mountains. Somewhere between Asheville and Boone, the Great Smoky Mountains turn into the Blue Ridge Mountains. There, 42

dition to the trip to take advantage of the parks and trails located within our small mountain towns. In the town of Boone, the go-to recreational pathway is the Greenway Trail. Mostly flat, either paved or gravel as well as green and scenic, the trail system is a wonderful addition to the small mountain town experience. The Greenway Trail meanders

through forests and beside clear mountain streams that are found in-between various neighborhoods. The main stream is actually the South Fork of the historic New River, considered by many geologists as the second oldest river still flowing on the surface of the Earth. Using all of the side trails and areas, one can do a seven mile round trip if

that is your choice. The main part of the trail features about four miles of pathway including picnic sites, mountain biking availability and connected athletic fields. You can find a map of the Boone Greenway Trail at townofboone.net/town-parks-greenways/. An exciting extension of the Boone

MORE INFORMATION

together folks in the communities that the trail intersects and volunteers who work to clear the trail and keep it navigable. The trail collective has a staff and a board of directors who help “trail angels” to improve the pathway as well as advocate for the importance of the MST to local, regional and state politicians. The Friends of the Mountains to the Sea Trail consortium offers Trail Building classes and sets up workdays for volunteers at 20 different crew leader segments located at various points throughout the length of the journey. These good works by volunteers are essential to keeping a younger and lesser known trail among the elite pathways in the world. The organization raises money by memberships, stock gifts, matching gifts, workplace fundraising and even through the purchase of a special MST license plate for your vehicle. Older, more famous trails such as the Appalachian Trail have coordinated this kind of support for decades. Now the MST and its wonderfully unique characteristics are still being brought to life by the efforts mentioned above. Due to the pandemic, of course, check ahead for current news on classes and meetings. As the MST makes its way past Grandfather Mountain and the town of Blowing Rock, it eventually begins to head down into the foothills and eventually the lower elevations of the flat-land Piedmont section of North Carolina. Following a combination of trails and hikeable roadways, the MST comes within eyesight of the famous Pilot Mountain

in-between Mount Airy and WinstonSalem and soon veers south towards Greensboro. The MST then explores the triad area and reverts back to strictly dirt trail near Durham, which lasts until it passes the eastern side of Raleigh. When you reach the town of Smithfield, the MST traveler has an interesting and adventurous decision to make. You can either continue walking on foot to the south and east, or one can bring in a canoe and paddle 170 miles on the Neuse River all of the way to the coastal Pine Cliff Recreational Area. All of this is what makes the MST such a challenge. Like the other long-hike trails mentioned above, the MST is like its trail brethren in demanding proper planning, gear purchasing and exercise while leading up to the months-long adventure. Once the MST begins to follow the coast, it trails through Cedar Island National Wildlife Refuge until a point where you will catch the Cedar Island Ferry, which takes you to the island of Ocracoke and the heart of the Outer Banks Barriers Islands. Once on the wonderful barrier islands, you will follow Rt. 12 until the end of the MST found on Jockey’s Ridge State Park featuring one of the highest sand dunes on the East Coast. Many people simply hike sections of the MST while some seek out the full months-long feat. Either way, it is always a good thing to do your trail research to make sure the trip will go smoothly.

While the MST is still the little brother to all of the more famous long trails found in the U.S., its popularity is growing. That means that you can be a casual hiker on its pathways, or you can be a part of making it grow, making it a better trail, donating to the cause and becoming a part of a real conservation and adventure movement that is the Friends of the Mountains to the Sea Trail organization. To learn more about the trail and find more information on the Friends of the Mountains to the Sea Trail organization, visit mountainstoseatrail.org. the MST makes its way around Asheville to the highest mountain found east of the Rockies in Mount Mitchell, which reaches to 6,683 feet high, where the views are incredible. As the MST intersects the Blue Ridge Parkway often as it heads east, it also intersects many popular trails found in the western North Carolina High Country from Linville Gorge, the “Grand Canyon of the East,” to trails near Boone and Blowing Rock. The trail marker for the MST features the large white circle, which you will see on trail signs and on trees along the path as well. The MST is still a work in process and will be as it becomes more popular. As a result, there is a group called The Friends of the Mountains to the Sea Trail. The loosely affiliated bunch of like-minded hikers work together to help build the trail. The organization brings

SEE PARKS ON PAGE 43

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PARKS CONTINUED FROM PAGE 42

Greenway Trail is in the works with the building of the Middle Fork Greenway. A project guided by the Blue Ridge Conservancy, the Middle Fork Greenway will connect the towns of Boone and Blowing Rock in partnership with the government of those towns and Watauga County. In an impressive effort, many local businesses worked together to raise $400,000 to make the project happen. When done, the six-and-a-half mile multi-use trail will follow the beautiful Middle Fork of the New River. One mile of the paved roadway has been completed with work continuing. For a wonderful mountaintop view of the town of Boone, drive up to Howardâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Knob Park. There you will find an easy 50-foot walk to a great vista. In the heart of Boone beside the Horn of the West outdoor drama am-

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phitheater is the Daniel Boone Native Plant Garden, which is a wonderful place to leisurely walk around and view a myriad of cultivated plants native to North Carolina. There is also a section of the Greenway Trail in the nearby resort town of Banner Elk beginning at Tate-Evans Park. And, not far from Banner Elk are the towns of Beech Mountain and Seven Devils, both of which features wonderful paths to explore. On Beech Mountain, there is the Emerald Outback Trail system, which is adjacent to the Smoketree Trail, the Sassafras Trail, the Backbone Trail and the trail around Lake Coffee. In Seven Devils, look for the path to the beautiful yet often overlooked Otter Falls. In-between Boone and Banner Elk is the vast and beautiful Valle Crucis Community Park. Located along the Watauga River, there is room for everybody with big fields and good trails in a tree-surrounded valley. You can find more information on this outdoor

High Country gem at vallecrucispark. org. There are three North Carolina state parks in our area that are definitely worth seeking out. In Ashe County, there is the New River State Park found at 358 New River State Park Rd, Laurel Springs, NC 28644. There the historic New River widens as the park is not far from where the North Fork and South Fork of the New River combine before crossing the Virginia border. At the park, you will find canoe access, hiking trails and a beach during the summer months. More information can be found at ncparks.gov/ new-river-state-park/home. In Watauga County near the small river town of Todd you will find Elk Knob State Park. With a summit of over 5,000, the views from the summit of Elk Knob Mountain are impressive and inspiring. But for those that do not want to do the strenuous four-mile, round trip Summit Trail, there are three other easy to moder-

ate trails in the park that will give you a full mountain forest experience on flatter ground along with tree-covered picnic areas. More information can be found at ncparks.gov/elk-knob-state-park/ trails. Finally, there is Grandfather Mountain State Park located in Avery County near Banner Elk. With Grandfather Mountain being the highest peak in the Blue Ridge Mountain section of the Appalachian Mountains, there is a very difficult Profile Trail for the heartier hikers among us. As for the main part of the state park, for a fee you can drive to the top and walk across the famous Mile High Bridge. Also while in the park, you can walk on many other trails including the walkway that meanders through the zoo, which houses bear, elk, mountain lion, otters, bald eagles and more. More information on making reservations to visit Grandfather Mountain State Park can be found at grandfather.com.

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Rising Above: Rock climbing in the High Country Reach new heights

POPULAR ROCK CLIMBING DESTINATIONS Popular Climbing Destinations: Linville Gorge Wilson Creek Rocky Face Park Pilot Mountain State Park Crowders Mountain State Park

BY LUKE BARBER

levate to a new level this autumn with a family-friendly guided tour of some of the most astounding rock climbing destinations in the High Country with Rock Dimensions. Based in Boone, Rock Dimensions leads rock climbing excursions that can be enjoyed by the whole family and each trip is specially tailored to the group’s skill level. From the most ardent adventurer to the blossoming beginner, Rock Dimensions will surely take your summer adventure to new heights. Rock Dimension’s team of outdoor guides is made up of a group of seasoned professionals who have a passion for climbing and are Professional Climbing Instructors Association (PCIA) certified. Instructors such as Rock Dimension’s founder Ryan Beasley have years and, in some cases, decades of rock climbing experience. “We’ve taken kids as young as 5 to 6 years old rock climbing, and we set up climbs that people can be successful on. We take beginning climbers all the time. A big part of our business is taking first time climbers or even people who are familiar with the area to learn the area,” Beasley said. Beasley and Rock Dimension’s instructors have a bevy of climbing destinations whose rocky surfaces they know like the back of their hands. Among these sites are trips that are suitable for either half-day or full-day adventures. Beasley said that half-day trips usually take place at climbing sites close 44

Additional Climbing Companies: Center 45, Boone Edge of the World, Banner Elk

PHOTO COURTESY ROCK DIMENSIONS A rock climber shimmies his way up the side of a rock face.

to Boone, while full-day excursions include a hike into a larger climbing area that allows the adventurers to fully immerse in nature. Rock Dimensions takes groups into climbing locations such as the Wilson Creek area, Rocky Face Park, Pilot Mountain State Park and Crowders Mountain State Park. Other trips include caving and bouldering in eastern Tennessee, or if true beginners really want to get their senses tingling, Rock Dimensions takes groups to the Discovery Course in Blowing Rock and the company has its own climbing wall at its offices off Depot Street in downtown Boone. “We’re setting climbs up that people can be successful at,” Beasley said. “We don’t want people to struggle and have a hard time. We want them to have a good time and make it the top and feel accomplished.” While some say that the most experi-

enced climbing communities have their own secret climbing locations hidden with the deep forests of Appalachia, there is no denying the popularity and the challenges that the Linville Gorge presents to climbers who really want to test their abilities. Known as the Grand Canyon of North Carolina, the Linville Gorge is renowned among rock climbers across the world. The 11,000-acre wilderness area maintained by the United States Forest Service drops 2,000 feet from its highest rim down to the Linville River. The gorge possesses an abundance of bouldering and climbing edifices that are tucked away within the halls of rhododendron. Before you set off on your climbing journey, do not forget to stop by Rock Dimensions to ensure that your adventure is a safe one. Helmets, harnesses, ropes, climbing chalk, carabiners, climbing shoes, belay devices and

anchoring equipment are all required safety instruments in order to scale the mountainsides without injury and have a memorable experience with your family and friends. “(Rock climbing) to me is about going out with my friends, hanging out and just having a good day. I enjoy going out and hanging out with people and that’s a big part of it, the characters and people you meet and the friendships you make while rock climbing,” Beasley said. Trips with Rock Dimensions are private, and the company does not mix individuals or other groups of people together. The staff will be wearing face coverings and have additional cleaning and sanitation procedures for participant gear. Rock Dimensions is asking its participants to wear face coverings, and has face coverings available for purchase. Rock Dimensions will be guiding families and other small intact groups on adventures through the rest of the summer and into the fall. To learn more about what Rock Dimensions is doing to keep fellow adventurers safe, or to schedule your next adventure, call (828) 265-3544 or click to rockdimensions.com. AUTUMN TIMES 2020

Bouldering bash

Indoor rock climbing in the High Country BY LUKE BARBER luke.barber@averyjournal.com

ndoor rock climbing offers an assortment of health benefits that stand-alone gym equipment just doesnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t provide, that being a workout for the whole body. When autumn weather wets the cliffside, itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s best to move indoors and break a sweat at Center 45 Climbing and Fitness in Boone. Center 45 offers climbing walls that fitness enthusiasts and beginners alike can enjoy, no matter what the weather is outside. Best of all, a safety harness need not SEE BOULDERING ON PAGE 46

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PHOTO COURTESY CENTER 45 Climbers at Center 45 know how to get horizontal on their indoor climbing walls.

BOULDERING CONTINUED FROM PAGE 45

apply as the gym’s climbing walls stand 15 to 20 feet tall, which is a perfect height for bouldering. Bouldering is a variation of rock climbing, which is done on small rock faces or climbing walls without the need for ropes. Thick cushioned pads rest below the climbers, so if they were to fall they would land safely as the pads will absorb the impact of their fall. Since bouldering is simpler than fullscale rock climbing, it is easier and more affordable to get into. Plus, bouldering and climbing gyms such as Center 45 offer an ideal location for climbers to practice their skills or for newcomers to be introduced to the sport. Seasoned climbers say that beginners are often surprised at how seamlessly one can transition from an artificial wall to a real rock wall once they are ready to take their talents outdoors. In addition to indoor climbing walls, Center 45 also offers personalized training and coaching, and the center rents

POPULAR CLIMBING ‘HANGOUTS’

Climbing walls:

Rock Dimension’s climbing wall, Boone Climbing Center at ASU, Boone

Bouldering locations:

Grandfather Mountain, Linville Lost Cove, Linville 221 Boulders, Linville/Blowing Rock Beacon Heights, Linville crash pads for boulders to take with them outdoors once the weather is more favorable. Since March 18, Center 45 has been operating as a members-only climbing facility due to Gov. Roy Cooper’s executive order. Under the order, gyms and fitness facilities are closed down, and the order is set to expire on Friday, Sept. 11, barring any further extension. Center 45 has also been limiting the number of people indoors as an additional precautionary measure. To learn more about indoor rock climbing offered at Center 45, call (828) 3861550 or click to center45.com.

YOUR VISION BROUGHT TO

PHOTO COURTESY OF CENTER 45 Center 45 also rents bouldering pads for adventurers to bring with them when they take their skills outdoors.

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It’s pickleball y’all!

BY LUKE BARBER

ne of the fastest growing sports in the United States is also a dearly held pastime for full-time and part-time residents of the High Country. Pickleball is a sport for all ages, but it is especially beloved by retirees and those with a fondness for tennis. Pickleball is played using wooden paddles to hit a polymer ball, which is similar to a whiffle ball, back and forth over a net that is lower to the ground than it otherwise would be on a tennis court. Known as a racquet sport, Pickleball is a mishmash of table tennis, regular tennis, badminton and other similar sports, which are typically played in singles or doubles. “Pickleball is definitely like ping pong, except you are standing on the table,” BJ Attwood, Avery County pickleball

FILE PHOTO There are many places around the High Country with facilities for pickleball.

ambassador and one of approximately 150 players at the Linville Land Harbor Racquet Club, said. The game was originally invented in 1965 on Bainbridge Island, an island a short ferry ride from Seattle. The idea for the game came about spontaneously, as inventor Joel Pritchard sought to find a way to entertain his children. He drew some chalk lines on the ground, set up an old net and found some wooden paddles.

All they needed was a ball. Luckily, they found a whiffle ball in the possession of their K-9 companion. Their dog’s name: “Pickles.” People of all ages love the sport, and some even compete in the game professionally, as tournaments are held across the area and the national championships are held in Florida. Attwood describes the sport as being more strategy-based than tennis. Competitors cannot simply power their way through a game, and a short, punchy swing of the arms is usually all it takes to get in range to propel the ball over the net. “It’s the only game around that’s a real sport where a 9-year-old can play with a 70-year-old on equal footing,” Attwood said. Pickleball can also be rambunctious as well. In another contrast from tennis, Attwood says that pickleball players can be rowdy and loud. Whereas, tennis

players typical enjoy the sport in a quiet reverence. Attwood adds that pickleball players often enjoy the game while “laughing their heads off.” It can also be a mellow endeavor as well, since games usually last around 15 minutes and there is little contentious debate on whether or not a ball went out of bounds. Before you begin your pickleballing endeavor, it is always a good idea to ease into any new physical activity, as some competitors can be more intense than others. It can also be wise to go easy on others, since some players get into the sport while healing from certain injuries. Either way, pickleball is not always about competition, as there is a warm social component to the sport as well, and players are often fond of welcoming others to the sport. To dive into the finer details of the sport and get started, click to www. usapa.org.

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Ziplining in the autumn

BY DEREK HALSEY

n the High Country, the mountains open up many exciting opportunities for ziplining. On top of the village of Seven Devils, located in-between Boone and Banner Elk, there is the Hawksnest outdoor facility. In the winter months, the venue is known for many snow tubing opportunities, but in the warmer months, ziplining rules the day. There are two ziplining trails offered at Hawksnest including the Eagle Tour and the Hawk Tour. The Eagle Tour takes almost two hours to complete and is made up of nine cables spread out over three miles. Two of the cables stretch for 2,000 feet and three are 1,200-foot long and 200 feet above the ground. There are requirements: Children must be at least eight years old. Riders cannot weigh more than 220 lbs or less than 80 lbs or have a waist larger than 40 inches. The Hawk Tour is made for first-time zipliners. It consists of 11 shorter cables and travels over woodlands and streams with speed of up to 35 miles an hour. As for participant requirements: Children must be at least five years old. Riders cannot be more than 250 lbs or have a waist larger than 40 inches. Reservations at Hawksnest are required and more information can be found at hawksnestzipline.com and (828) 963-6561. Located on 140 acres near Blowing Rock, Sky Valley Zip Tours offers a wide range of ziplining opportunities. The facilityâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s main zipline features a 1,600foot long stretch known as Big Mama and other great views from as high as 300 feet above the ground. Sky Valley Zip Tours is also geared for the whole family including a zipline trail just for kids ages 4 to 18 who are shorter than 5-foot, 6-inches tall and weigh less than 180 pounds. The venue also offers an instructional Ground 62

PHOTO COURTESY OF HAWKSNEST The High Country is home to numerous ziplining opportunities.

School, ATV rides, a cliff jump and swinging bridge. And, on select weekends, the popular Night Zip tour takes place with headlamps on the zipline trail after dark. They use the first five lines in the trees while under the stars including Big Mama, then adds a cliff jump at the end before an ATV returns you to base camp. More information can be found at skyvalleyziptours.com or (828) 2640002. High Gravity Adventures located

in-between Boone and Blowing Rock offers both an Aerial Adventure Park as well as a zipline tour. The Aerial Adventure Park features three courses of rope climbing fun. The Foothills Course is for youngsters 4 years old and older. The Blue Ridge Course includes 65 high rope elements with three levels of difficulty, and the Ninja Ground Course features more ground-based fun. As for the High Altitude Zipline Tour, up to two hours of fun is included, from

a thousand foot run to a simulated drop-off jump at the end. To add to the good times, next door to High Gravity Adventures is the famous Tweetsie Railroad Theme Park. At press time, Tweetsie Railroad is closed due to the coronavirus pandemic, so call ahead to see if the Old West-themed park will be open. High Gravity Adventures, however, is open for business. More information can be found at highgravityadventures.com and (828) 266-0176. AUTUMN TIMES 2020

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Putting a new spin on golf BY IAN TAYLOR

he most important part of any vacation is the memories that stay long after your stay is over. Memories such as this take many forms, such as a small trinket on a shelf, a smell that reminds you of good times or a new passion that you hold onto for years. The High Country is full of new memories and passions waiting to be discovered. One option is the sport of disc golf, which has grown in popularity throughout the nation, and its foothold in the High Country is here to stay. While the origins of the sport are shrouded in the mist of history, disc golf has climbed its way into the World Games and a professional circuit around the world. Played with specialized flying discs instead of clubs and a ball, disc golf is similar to golf when it comes down to the idea of the game. You have three different types of discs, a long-range driver, a midrange wood or iron, and a short-range putter. They have different weights and sizes to make them do different things, and are fairly cheap. Where a new set of clubs can run around $1,000, a set of discs will cost around $50 and courses can be found throughout the High Country. It doesn’t take long to get the hang of it, and can be fun for the whole family.

High Country Disc Golf Course

The preeminent disc golf course in the High Country, the High Country Disc Golf Course is a must-visit for anyone interested in getting into the sport, or an enthusiast visiting the area. Located in Ashe County Park in Jefferson, the two-mile course is designed to let the players be one with the nature around them. With the weather cooling down and the leaves changing, the course can be a great way to see nature’s beauty in Ashe County as it naturally contours with the land’s hills, pond and trees. The back nine is located deep in the woodland while the front is closer to the park. Each of the 18 holes has an amateur and a pro tee-off pad, allowing people to AUTUMN TIMES 2020

choose how tough the course is. Some of the holes have alternate baskets for newer players, and the constant tweaks done to the course by park officials means there’s limitless opportunities for fun. The home of the High Country Disc Golf Championship, the course is an ideal place to learn the sport, or master it. For more information about High Country Disc Golf Course, call (336) 982-6185 or visit www. thehighcountrydiscgolfclub.com.

Wahoo’s Adventures

Another course that’s great for players who are learning the sport is located at Wahoo’s Adventures at the New River Outpost at 3380 Big Hill Road in Todd. The course’s nine holes each feature both long- and short-starting tees, and a warm-up hole is provided for people to prep their throwing arm.The course itself is a nice hike for disc golf players, which features a catwalk bridge over the creek, perfect for a hot summer’s day. The course is $5 to use per player and is free for anybody tubing at Wahoo’s, with all costs going to maintain the course. For more information on the course at Wahoo’s Adventures, call (828) 262-5774 or visit www.wahoosadentures.com.

Beech Mountain Resort

Featuring 18 holes over thousands of feet of land, Beech Mountain Resort’s disc golf course is designed into the mountain landscape. The course offers scenic views and hikes for players as they make their way through the course’s unique design. Players can take a chairlift ride to get an ever better view of the Blue Ridge Mountains, or hike their way for more of a hard-fought victory. For more information, call (800) 4382093 or visit the resort website at www. beechmountainresort.com.

Chetola Resort

Chetola Resort offers a nine-hole course with three practice holes to boot. Unlike other courses, Chetola is a private resort and is for guests. For more information, call (828) 295-5535 or visit the resort website at www.chetola.com.

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Spending the day on High Country waterways BY KAYLA LASURE

he High Country is known not only for its beautiful views of the mountainous land, but also for its alluring waterways and the opportunities for canoeing, kayaking, whitewater rafting, swimming and fishing. Families looking to explore the High Country on the water may want to visit the area’s oldest adventure company — Wahoo’s Adventures. Wahoo’s co-owner Jeff Stanley said visitors can enjoy rafting, kayaking, canoeing, tubing and caving while also enjoying the changing leaves during the autumn season. Wahoo’s offers activities on the New River near Boone and Todd, the Watauga River near Elizabethton, Tenn., the Nolichucky River near Erwin, Tenn., and Wilson Creek in the Pisgah National Forest near Blowing Rock. For those wanting an easy going experience, Wahoo’s offers tubing on the slow-moving New River that provides scenic views.The adventure company also offers family friendly rafting down the Watauga River in Elizabethton, Tenn., with gentle rolling class one and two rapids and one exciting class 3 rapid. For a more exciting adventure, Wahoo’s offers an all-day rafting experience for beginners ages 7 years old and older on the Nolichucky River. Wahoo’s stated that the Nolichucky River is said to be “one of the most technical big water runs in the south, and one of the top 10 whitewater experiences in the country.” The river offers class three and four rapids. Next is the class five raft experience on Wilson Creek in the Pisgah National Forest. Wahoo’s stated

66 66

HIGH COUNTRY WATER ADVENTURES

PHOTO COURTESY OF WAHOO’S ADVENTURES A Wahoo’s raft guide leads rafters on a High Country river adventure.

that the Wilson Creek trip is typically about four to five hours. Stanley said that all of Wahoo’s trips are by reservation and that guests should call in advance. He said Wahoo’s typically operates through mid-October. On Wahoo’s busiest days — which are typically Saturdays and Sundays — Stanley said the company will accommodate between 60 to 70 visitors every 30 minutes. Wahoo’s also offers riverside outposts with private parking, picnic areas, showers, restrooms, changing rooms and a gift shop. Wahoo’s is operating at a smaller capacity due to the COVID-19 pandemic, and is now running about 30 to 32 people on the busiest days every 30 minutes. Stanley said Wahoo’s requires visitors to wear masks when they’re

riding in shuttles to river sites; the Wahoo’s store follows Centers for Disease Control and Prevention guidelines. Wahoo’s stated that it has been chosen as a two-time recipient of the Outfitter of the Year award by the Professional Paddlesports Association; Stanley said no other outfitter nationwide has received the award twice. He added that most of the staff at Wahoo’s are locals who have been with the business anywhere from 10 to 25 years — most of which received degrees in outdoor recreation from Appalachian State University. Wahoo’s staff “exude mountain hospitality” and show real concern for a guest’s vacation, Stanley said. For more information on Wahoo’s Adventures, visit www.wahoosadventures.com.

Edge of the World 394 Shawneehaw Ave., Banner Elk (800) 789-3343 www.edgeoworld.com High Mountain Expeditions 3149 Tynecastle Highway, Banner Elk (828) 898-9786, (828) 266-RAFT www.highmountainexpeditions.com New River Outfitters 10725 U.S. Hwy 221 N., Crumpler (336) 982-9192 www.canoethenew.com Pioneer Landing at Cherokee Overlook 105 Cowan Town Road, Butler, Tenn. (423) 768-3164 www.pioneerlanding.com Price Lake at Julian Price Memorial Park milepost 297, Blue Ridge Parkway (828) 963-5911, park campground www.blueridgeparkway.org/ poi/julian-price-memorial-park River and Earth Adventures 1655 N.C. 105 S., Boone (828) 355-9797, (866) 411-7238 www.raftcavehike.com RiverCamp USA 2221 Kings Creek Road, Piney Creek (336) 359-2267 www.rivercampusa.com Wahoo’s Adventures 3385 U.S. 321, Boone (828) 262-5774, (800) 444-RAFT www.wahoosadventures.com Watauga Kayak 1409 Broad St., Elizabethton, Tenn. (423) 542-6777 www.wataugakayak.com Zaloo’s Canoes 3874 N.C. 16 South, Jefferson (336) 246-3066, (800) 535-4027 www.zaloos.com AUTUMN AUTUMN TIMES TIMES 2020 2020

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Gliding over the High Country BY DEREK HALSEY

ang gliding may be the ultimate way that humans can mimic the flight of birds. Ground-bound for hundreds of thousands of years, the imagination of the human species has always been envious of our feathered, hollow-boned bird friends who are able to fly at will. During these times of pandemic, an amazing thing has happened when it comes to more and more people wanting to get outside and into the fresh air. Interest in outdoor activities skyrocketed and hand gliding surely fits into that category. This desire to fly has pushed men and women to learn how to do it using everincreasing inventiveness and technology. At first, it was the hot air balloon that lifted us high into the air. That

eventually led to the invention of the airplane and the rocket. But the method of flying that perhaps most resembles the experience of being a bird is hang gliding. In the 1940s, NASA aeronautical engineer Frank Rogallo made the first flexible winged hang glider, inspired by everyone from the Wright Brothers to Leonardo da Vinci. From then on, the sport has gained ground and perfected its technology. Rogallo’s designs led to what the US Hang Gliding and Paragliding Association (www.ushpa.org) calls “foot launched personal powerless aviation or hang gliding.” Hang gliding is one of those human endeavors that require training and safety measures. By definition, there are dangers involved with flying high above the ground. But it was our human desire to overcome those fears that made air flight possible. So, it is considered a true

adventure to take the time to learn how to hang glide and paraglide as the payoff is magnificent. Here is the run down on hang gliding as described by the US Hang Gliding and Paragliding Association. “Hang gliders are now made of aircraft aluminum or carbon fiber, stainless steel cable and Dacron (the same material sailboat sails are made of) and weigh between 45 lbs. and 90 lbs. Although gliders normally fly between 20 and 30 mph, they can reach speeds in excess of 80 mph and have a glide ratio of up to 16:1. That means they fly 16 feet forward for every foot of altitude they lose when flying in calm air. Hang gliders can withstand more G-forces than many single engine aircraft and can be folded up into a bag that is 16’-18’ long and a foot in diameter and easily transported on the roof of a car. Pilots’ prone position when flying gives hang gliding

the feeling of flying like a bird.” In the High Country mountains a few miles north of Boone, there is an annual summertime hang gliding contest known as the Fly Tater Hill Hang Gliding and Paragliding Competition. Taking place on a private hill that features natural conditions conducive to the sport, the status of the annual competition is still up in the air for next year due to the pandemic. But should it happen as planned next July, for those who want to participate and qualify, learning to hand glide begins now. For those who want to train and learn how to be a solo hang glider pilot, you will have to travel a bit to find quality instruction. But for those who want to experience a tandem hang gliding flight with an instructor and certified pilot onboard with SEE GLIDING ON PAGE 74

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Unplug from daily life while horseback riding in the High Country

BY KAYLA LASURE

ith the COVID-19 pandemic keeping many families indoors, Abbie Hanchey — the co-owner of Leatherwood Mountains — said the resort has seen increased participation in its equestrian program as horseback riding allows people to unplug while getting back to nature. Leatherwood Mountains is a 4,000acre resort that is on the border of Wilkes and Watauga counties. The resort offers horse boarding amenities, trail riding, privately owned mountain homes, wedding rentals and year-round equine events. Hanchey said Leatherwood operates a credibly professional program, and garners lots of repeat customers. She added that the resort’s horses are well cared for as “they’re like family to us.” Leatherwood typically offers twohour trail rides, but is now offering one-hour trail rides while operating through the pandemic. Riders will have the opportunity to cross through creeks and beautiful mountain scenery while on horseback through the resorts 75 miles of trails. The resort offers trail rides Wednesday through Sunday year round, and Hanchey recommends that visitors book a trail ride reservation as soon as they’re able as the resort has been busy this season. Protective headgear is provided, but visitors can bring their own riding helmets. Hanchey said the resort suggests that riders wear long pants and closed toes shoes. Riders need to be 7 years old

GLIDING CONTINUED FROM PAGE 72

you, you can do it as close as nearby Lenoir. There, at Thermal Valley Hang 74

HIGH COUNTRY HORSEBACK RIDING

PHOTO COURTESY OF LEATHERWOOD MOUNTAINS Leatherwood Mountains offers trail rides year-round.

Banner Elk Stables 796 Shomaker Road, Banner Elk (828) 898-5424 www.bannerelkstables.com Burnthill Stables 1102 Burt Hill Road, Laurel Springs (336) 982-2008 www.burnthillstables.com Dutch Creek Trails 793 Rubin Walker Road, Vilas (828) 297-7117 www.dutchcreektrails.com Grandfather Stables 534 Church Hollow Road, Boone (828) 963-5000 www.grandfatherstables.com Leatherwood Stables 512 Meadow Road, Ferguson (800) 462-6867 www.leatherwoodmountains.com VX3 Trail Rides P.O. Box 1154, Blowing Rock (828) 963-0260 www.vx3trailrides.com

and older for the trail ride and weigh less than 250 pounds. Previous riding experience isn’t necessary, as instruction is provided and trail rides are geared toward beginners. Children between the ages of 2 and 7 can enjoy lead line rides. Lead line rides use full grown horses led around by a wrangler. Additionally, Leatherwood offers one-hour private riding lessons tailored to an individuals needs and experience level. For families looking to get away for a trip but still needing to conduct work or school lessons remotely, Hanchey said all Leatherwood cabins have high-speed internet. Cabins can be rented from one to five bedrooms. Hanchey said

Leatherwood has adopted stringent cleaning procedures. The resort also has campground sites with power and water hookups. Pets are welcome but must remain on a leash. The only amenity the resort is not offering during the pandemic is its bicycle rentals. Families can otherwise enjoy hiking, fishing, swimming and an onsite tennis court. Hanchey said families can also rent tubes and float down Leatherwood’s one-mile section of hatchery supported trout waters on Elk Creek. Additionally, she said the resort has a great fall music lineup scheduled. Leatherwood opened its restaurant in July after closing briefly during a portion of the pandemic, and is offering

only outdoor dining on a new porch, Hanchey said. Restaurant hours were limited during the summer, but the restaurant planned to open for regular hours during the fall season. Restaurant operations include dinner on Friday; breakfast, lunch and dinner on Saturday; and breakfast and lunch on Sunday. For more information about Leatherwood, call (800) 462-6867 or visit www.leatherwoodmountains.com.

Gliding and Paragliding located near the Foothills Regional Airport, you will be trained to fly with a pilot. According to Thermal Valley, “Tandem flights consist of you flying with an experienced USHPA-certified tandem aero-tow hang gliding instructor. The

Dragonfly (airplane) tows the tandem glider to the chosen altitude. Once at altitude, the glider releases and begins free flight. Your instructor will let you fly as much as you want until it is time for the instructor to land. We also offer an HD video of your flight which can

only be purchased at time of flight. The 1500-foot flight lasts 8 to 12 minutes. Plus, each 500-foot upgrade adds 4 to 5 minutes to your flight time.” Thermal Valley Hang Gliding and Paragliding (thermalvalley.net) also provides solo flight training. More inforAUTUMN TIMES 2020

AUTUMN TIMES 2020

MOTORCYCLING

on the Blue Ridge Parkway and beyond BY DEREK HALSEY

uring the autumn months, motorcycling is a wonderful way to explore the High Country area of Western North Carolina. The famous Blue Ridge Parkway is a destination in and of itself, winding through some of the best fall foliage in the country this time of year, although there are many side attractions to explore as well. Coming in from the Shenandoah Mountains in the north, the 469-mile Blue Ridge Parkway is sought out by many motorcyclists wanting to ride the entire BRP, while others come straight to the North Carolina section of the roadway where you will find beautiful scenery and the highest mountains in east of the Rockies. The High Country section of the BRP is one of the more sought-after sections of this scenic and historic roadway featuring quick access to the mountain towns of Boone, Blowing Rock and Banner Elk as well as many wineries, old country stores, hiking trails and more. All of it leads to a drive up to the top of Mt. Mitchell, the highest mountain found east of the Mississippi River. Normally, while you are in this fabulous part of the world, there are usually many motorcycle-specific activities to check out as the summer months play out. Due to the coronavirus pandemic, however, many events have either been canceled or postponed. If there is a cycling event that you are used to attending, be sure and check in with those to get the latest news and updates. Crossroads Harley Davidson, located at 1921 HWY 421 in Wilkesboro, hosts a wide variety of motorcycle challenges, charity runs and benefits throughout the summer months. But, once again, the fate of those events could be affected at any 76

PHOTO BY DEREK HALSEY There are many ‘trails’ in the High Country for the motorcyclist.

time by the pandemic. So, be sure and check for more information at http:// crossroads-hd.com/events and (336) 667-1003. Another stop in the fall for motorcyclists is the Beech Mountain Resort. With a quick trip through the resort town of Banner Elk, you will end up on Beech Mountain, the highest elevated incorporated town in eastern America. At the Beech Mountain Resort, you can park your motorcycle and then rent a moun-

tain bike as the resort turns its ski slopes into some challenging mountain bike trails. The mountain bike-fitted ski lifts will also take you up to the unique 5506’ Skybar located at the top of Beech Mountain. Disc golfing, hiking and sampling craft beers made onsite by the Beech Mountain Brewing Company is also available. On Oct. 3 everything will close down as the resort then prepares for ski season. More information can be found at beechmountainresort.com.

An exceptional mountaintop destination along the Blue Ridge Parkway is a ride to the top of Grandfather Mountain. For an entrance fee, you can ride to the summit and walk upon the Mile High Bridge, which features some of the best 360-degree views in all of the High Country. There is also an animal attraction on the mountain, a gift shop and more. On an especially clear day, you can see the skyline of the city of Charlotte about 90 miles away on the horizon when the conditions are right. Grandfather Mountain is located off of the Rte. 221 exit at the 305 mile marker on the Blue Ridge Parkway. Now, the park is using a phone-in reservation system so people can access the mountain safely. More information on opening and closing times of Grandfather Mountain State Park can be found at grandfather.com. At the 316 milepost of the Blue Ridge Parkway, follow the signs to the Linville Falls and Linville Gorge recreational area. Linville Gorge is considered the “Grand Canyon of the East” as it is the steepest gorge in the eastern United States. Wiseman’s View is located four miles down the gravel road known as Rte. 1238 or Old NC Rte. 105. While the overall Linville Gorge is filled with challenging and dangerous trails suited for more experienced hikers, Wiseman’s View provides an easy walk on a short paved trail that leads to spectacular views of the gorge. The highest mountain east of the Mississippi River is Mount Mitchell. This peak is also accessible mostly by road which leads to a free parking lot just 600 yards from the summit. Mount Mitchell State Park is located at the Rte. 128 exit at the 355 milepost on the Blue Ridge Parkway. The views are simply spectacular. For those riders who want to experience all or most of the wonderful attracSEE MOTORCYCLING ON PAGE 78

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tions found on the High Country gem known as the Blue Ridge Parkway, an interactive map can be found at http:// www.blueridgeparkway.org/map.php. A 30-mile drive from Boone and the Blue Ridge Parkway is Brushy Mountain Powersports located at 4641 US-421 in Wilkesboro. It is the place to go for those looking for a new motorcycle, side by side or ATV. Brushy Mountain Powersports is owned by Tim and Lynn Quinn, both of who were former successful corporate professionals in Atlanta who decided to escape to the mountains. Once they had the chance to purchase the company in 2017, they made the move and decided to run the business in a way that make the customer come first. “I think a lot of our success has to do with a little bit of a different approach to doing business, said Tim Quinn. “A couple of things that we decided to do is No. 1: be more flexible. This is the information age and people can go online

and shop half the way around the world. So, you can’t act as if you live in isolation here.” Another positive aspect of the way Brushy Mountain Powersports and the Quinn’s conduct business is in how they treat the customer. “The second part of our success is that we changed our business model to be more transparent on the sales front,” said Quinn. “If you have bought a motorcycle or ATV in the last few years, frequently you will go in and negotiate a price and then when you are sitting down to do the paperwork, they start adding on dock fees and assembly or set-up fees. That is kind of a matter of smoke and mirrors because at the end of the day, we all pay the same price for these machines. So, we decided that we were going to quit with the mumble jumble. We are going to give you a good, clean price and we did away with dock fees and assembly fees altogether. If someone asks for a price on a motorcycle or ATV, we give them something that they can take to the bank and get a check and come back and ride home with a new bike and a full tank of gas.”

Brushy Mountain Powersports specializes in selling and servicing Yamaha, Kawasaki, Honda and Kymco vehicles. Since the onslaught of the coronavirus pandemic and lockdown, people have fled their isolation by getting outside in record numbers and that has affected motorcycle sales at Brushy Mountain Powersports in a big way. “We are having a phenomenal sales year in 2020 as it seems like everybody has decided to get outdoors because they can’t do all of the other stuff that they had planned on doing,” said Quinn. “March was kind of nominal, and April was a little better than the previous year as our facility was shut down for the whole month. But in May, our sales exploded and we sold over twice the bikes that we sold last year and that was true in June as well. July was also a good month, although demand finally began to taper down a little bit. There seems to have been two factors to our sales this year, and the first one was that by late spring, people wanted to get their kids out of the house and that was when there was a run on our smaller dirt bikes and ATVs. After that, we began

to get the customers who were thinking, ‘Well, we can’t do the vacation we wanted to take, so let’s go and do something.’ While there are some brand new riders in that group, most have riding in their background somewhere and want to get back on the road.” For motorcyclists who are new to the sport or want to rekindle their past love for motorcycles and ATV adventures, Brushy Mountain Powersports is the perfect place to make that happen. “We want to make sure that new riders feel comfortable while sitting on their new bike so they feel like they can control the bike,” said Quinn. “You never want to sell to anyone something that is too heavy, too tall or too powerful for the rider. So, we try to help them and walk people to the machine that they can get some seat time on and build some experience on. Then, later on, if they feel like they want a more powerful bike, then that is good for everyone.” For more information on Brushy Mountain Powersports, go to www.421powersports.com or call (336) 973-3325.

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App State Mountaineers charging ahead with 2020 fall football BY KAYLA LASURE

ith the fall season comes one of the main events that sports fans look forward to all year — college

football. Boone is home to Appalachian State University, which has played championship football since 1928. The App State Mountaineers are one of 12 teams in the Sun Belt Conference — starting as a Football Bowl Subdivision member league in 2001. During the COVID-19 pandemic, the fate of college football has been unsettled for some conferences. The Sun Belt Conference announced on Aug. 4 that the league will move forward with an eightgame conference schedule and the option for each league school to add as many as four non-conference opponents. The Mountaineers were scheduled to play 11 games as of early September — six of the games were scheduled to take place at the Kidd Brewer Stadium. The team’s season will kick off with a Sept. 12 game against the University of North Carolina at Charlotte’s 49ers. The Mountaineers defeated the 49ers in both 2018 and 2019. Continuing its non-conference games, the Mountaineers will face its long time rival Marshall University and the Thundering Herd on Sept. 19 on the road, and Campbell University’s Fighting Camels on Sept. 26 at home. The Mountaineers have gone a recordbreaking 5-0 in bowl games during their first five postseason-eligible seasons, and their 54-12 record since the start of the 2015 season ranks No. 5 nationally. “Our nationally ranked Mountaineers have been working hard to prepare for the 2020 season, and our coaching staff is doing a great job of not only preparing them for on-the-field success, but also promoting an atmosphere that protects their 80

PHOTO BY ROB MOORE The Appalachian State Marching Mountaineers take to the field while at the Sun Belt Football Championship game in 2019.

PHOTO COURTESY OF APPALACHIAN STATE UNIVERSITY Appalachian State University’s end zone project (foreground) is scheduled to be completed for the first phase of its opening by the first 2020 home game.

health and safety,” said Athletics Director Doug Gillin on Aug. 20. The rest of the 2020 fall football schedule for the Mountaineers is full of conference play, starting at home on Oct. 7 against the University of Louisiana at Lafayette’s Ragin Cajuns and ending with another home game on Nov. 28 against the Trojans of Troy University. In between these games, the Mountaineers will face Georgia Southern University (Sept. 14 away), Arkansas State University (Oct. 24 home), University of Louisi-

ana Monroe (Oct. 31 away), Texas State University (Nov. 7 away), Georgia State University (Nov. 14 home) and Coastal Carolina University (Nov. 21 away). Gillin stated on Sept. 1 that all App State athletic home games played during September will be played without any crowds in attendance — including football. “We know this is disappointing news,” Gillin said. “Our games and matches will not be the same without the App faithful. Your passion and enthusiasm make game day one of the best experiences in college

athletics. We will especially miss our App State students loudly cheering on their classmates.” He added that while the athletics department awaited more guidance from state and local health officials, staff would continue to work with university leadership and university medical professionals to evaluate the impact of COVID-19 conditions with the hope that fans could attend games in October. Anticipating a significant reduction in capacity for fans for games after September, App State athletics stated in August that it would prioritize tickets for App State students, season-ticket holders and families of competing student-athletes. Spectators will be required to wear a face covering while in App State athletics venues, in accordance with the university practices and policies, Gillin stated in August. App State athletics stated that game concessions will be implementing many additional safety measures for the upcoming season. This includes physical distancing in the concession lines, cashless transactions and a new flow pattern for patrons. Additional information, as well as a full game day fan guide, will be released closer to game week. The 2020 football season will also welcome the phased in opening of the Kidd Brewer Stadium’s north end zone project. The facility will provide 80,000 to 100,000 square feet of space designed to accommodate various athletics and academic uses. The first phase of the facility’s opening was planned to take place by the first football game of the season. The first phased opening will include retail spaces, box seating and a campus services’ meeting and event space called the Grandview Ballroom, according to the university. To keep up with App State football information, visit appstatesports.com/sports/ football. AUTUMN TIMES 2020

PARKING LOT PARTY

BY KAYLA LASURE

lmost any sports fan’s favorite part of game day is the socializing and camaraderie that is tailgating. Fans gather prior to football games for food, drinks and community before the Appalachian State University Mountaineers face their opponents at Kidd Brewer Stadium — also known as The Rock. While the Mountaineers are moving forward with their 2020 fall season football schedule, university officials are allowing for tailgating with a few safety modifications in light of the COVID-19 pandemic. Joey Jones, the senior associate athletics director for strategic communications at App State, said that university athletics did not anticipate changes to previous parking and tailgating protocols. He added that tailgating policies were subject to change along with public health guidelines.

“Tailgaters will be expected to comply with local and university guidelines like six feet of social distancing and wearing face coverings where social distancing is not possible,” Jones said. Of the Mountaineers 11 games this season, six will be hosted at home; game start times were yet to be determined for some of the home games. The home game against Arkansas State University on Oct. 24 is slated to begin at 3:30 p.m. while both the Nov. 14 game against Georgia State University and the Nov. 28 game facing Troy University will start at 2:30 p.m. Campus lots that have been designated for tailgating will open for entry three and a half hours prior to kickoff on game days, but this is subject to change, according to the university. Spaces open for tailgating include the Greenwood Lot on Bodenheimer Drive for Yosef Club Members and students with a permit (assigned spaces); the Raley/Duncan/Music lots on Riv-

App State to still permit football game tailgating

ers Street for students and Yosef Club members with the proper hang-tag; and Stadium and Justice lots which is open to Yosef Club members with appropriate hang-tags. Additionally, the university offers the alcohol-free tailgate called the family fun zone on the site of the first ever football field on Appalachian’s campus. Consumption of alcoholic beverages may take place in designated parking lots by fans of legal drinking age; those participating in drinking alcoholic beverages must be able to present a valid driver’s license or photo ID to reflect their age upon request. Spirituous liquor, kegs, common containers and glass containers are not permitted in any location. App State’s football tailgating policy states that propane and charcoal grills are the only permissible sources of heat for cooking. The university states that burned coals and/or residue from cooking is not allowed to make contact

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with the paved surface of the parking lot. Hot coals must be completely extinguished with water prior to leaving the tailgating site. Open flame fires are prohibited. The university also recommends that fans use their vehicles to power any audio or video equipment. While generators are not prohibited, they are not recommended as they present safety hazards. Additionally, fans can use bathrooms that are available in Trivette Hall, the Plemmons Student Union and the Central Dining Hall; portable bathrooms are located in parking lots and tailgate locations throughout campus. Tailgating attendees are able to dispose of trash in nearby dumpsters that have been placed in high-traffic tailgate areas. Representatives from a number of agencies pass out trash bags in various parking lots throughout the day to ensure all tailgating garbage is picked up.

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High Country holes among golf’s best

BY HARRIS PREVOST

orth Carolina’s tourism slogan for many years was “Variety Vacationland.” The state boasts a great coastal region, a rolling hills piedmont and the majestic mountains. You could be at the beach in the morning, play nine holes in the Piedmont and ski that night in the High Country. “Variety” is the perfect description of the 315 holes (on 17 courses) awaiting High Country golfers in Ashe, Watauga and Avery counties. The slopes, creeks, forests and scenery in our area make ideal sites for interesting golf courses. Even better, that variety exists within each course. Each one has unique, memorable and fun holes to play. We’ll take a fun trip around the High Country and find out where some of

these great holes are. We have lots of categories to make our choices — long holes, short holes, drivable par 4s, intimidating holes, uphill and downhill holes and, of course, scenic holes. There are many ways to categorize the holes, so, because of space limitation, we will limit those categories in order to spend more time talking about the special holes on each course. I have played all the courses, so I’ll pass on my thoughts about interesting holes on each. For reference purposes, my handicap is five, and my drives are medium length. Of course, your favorite downhill par three or most intimidating tee shot might not be the same as mine, but the idea is to get a conversation started among your friends. More importantly, I hope the conver-

sation gets you to play the memorable and exciting holes awaiting you in your own backyard this season. Courses will first be divided into the courses open to the public and then a few of the nine private clubs.

COURSES THAT ARE OPEN TO THE PUBLIC Jefferson Landing

Jefferson Landing is a semiprivate club located in the pastoral rolling hills of Ashe County, bordering cow pastures, Christmas tree farms and tributaries to the New River. The course was routed by noted Banner Elk architect and land planner, Dennis Lehmann, and designed by PGA Hall of Famer Larry Nelson.

At 7,110 yards, it is the longest course in the High Country, exceeding Grandfather Golf & Country Club by nine yards. From the regular tees, it plays 6,450 yards. Very little land was moved to build the course, which opened in 1990. Originally, the first hole was a long par four from an elevated tee, and the 10th was a dogleg left par five, also from an elevated tee. Now, the sides are switched, with the par five being the opening hole. The most intimidating tee shot for me is on the 376-yard second hole. A river crosses the fairway at a sharp angle from right to left, with the right much farther away. I have to decide whether to gamble and carry the creek on the left side into a narrow landing area with a driver, or lay up in the narrow right SEE GOLF ON PAGE 83

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Mountain Aire Golf Club

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corner of the fairway. A 230-yard drive down the left side gives me a short iron in. A hooked drive or pushed drive leaves me in the river. This a classic risk/reward tee shot. The risk could be a probable triple bogey, the reward an easy par or birdie. The hole is 450 yards from the tips and 376 from the regular tees. There is a reason this is the two-handicap hole. The 227-yard (181 from regular tees) 17th is a beautiful hole from an elevated tee. The view ahead at the clubhouse and up at Mt. Jefferson is spectacular. A creek running in front of the green adds to the beauty … and the challenge. Pray for a par here. This is Jefferson Landing’s signature hole in my book. To experience hitting a very challenging tee shot to the 17th hole, one of the state’s finest par threes, call Jefferson Landing’s pro shop at (336) 982-7767 to set up your tee times.

There is a Mountain Air in Burnsville, but our Mountain Aire is in Ashe County. It is the third oldest course in the High Country behind only Linville and Blowing Rock. The course began as West Jefferson Golf Club in 1949, thanks to the effort of a local farmer who wanted a golf course for the community. It was a true “cow pasture golf course,” with greens being small circles of grass mowed a little lower than the fairways. The Adams brothers — Austin, Sam and Tom — learned to play golf here. Austin became a great amateur player, Sam a PGA Tour winner and Tom head pro at Hound Ears and now Boone Golf Club. I wish I had learned to play at Mountain Aire. When the farmer died, Carl Hagel, a casual golfer who built wooden frames for windows, purchased it in 1971, and it has been in the family since then. In 1985, Carl’s son, Mark, expanded the course to 18 holes, using Dennis

Lehmann as his designer. In 1998, some holes were replaced, and the course has improved each year. It is now under the supervision of Mark’s son-in-law, Philip Shepherd. At that time, the first hole was a par 3, and the third hole returned to the clubhouse. Now, the previous fourth hole was changed to be No. 1 with old ninth becoming No. 6. Holes 1, 2 and 3 are now 7, 8 and 9. One of the new holes, No. 6 (now No. 3), is Mountain Aire’s signature hole. It is the most dramatic hole in the High Country, if not Eastern America. The tee shot on the 468-yard par 4 drops 150 feet in elevation, and, if you hit it a little left, 200 feet. The landing area is very narrow. If the wind is blowing, this is the most intimidating tee shot in the area. It is also one of the most beautiful. You feel like you are on top of the world looking out at surrounding mountain ranges. Shepherd says the hole is “either your favorite or least favorite.” For the longer hitters, Mountain Aire

has two drivable par fours. The ninth is 305 yards long from the very elevated regular tees. A great drive will be a birdie, one a little right or short is in a pond, and a little left in the driving range. The 13th is a 275-yard par 4 with a creek 15 yards in front of the green. To experience driving off the third tee and watching your ball stay in the air forever, call Mountain Aire’s pro shop at (336) 877-4716 to set up your tee times.

Boone Golf Club

The dream for a golf course in Boone began with one of Boone’s greatest citizens, Wade Brown, in 1940. After several false starts, which turned out to be blessings in disguise, Brown’s dream was realized in the summer of 1959. Brown’s quest to provide a golf course for Boone was inspired by the success of the Blowing Rock Country Club and the Linville Golf Club. Potential “false start” locations for the course included Tater Hill, land from Rivers Street up to the former Broyhill Inn & Conference SEE GOLF ON PAGE 86

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Center (derailed by World War II), the Councill property behind the Lutheran church and Earth Fare (property would have been leased) and the Bolick property on U.S. 421 South where the landfill is. One property always in the back of Brown’s mind was the Neal Blair farm. Despite being told the property was not for sale, Brown persisted, and, five years later, he got the Blair farm and the surrounding property he needed. Next, was the critical factor of financing the purchase of the property and building the course, and Brown’s close friend, banker Alfred Adams, also one of Boone’s greatest citizens, made it happen. Ellis Maples, who learned his trade from Donald Ross beginning when he was 14 and ending when he completed Ross’s final course, was chosen to design the course. Boone’s greens show a strong resemblance to Ross’s famed Pinehurst #2. Boone is 6,686 yards from the tips and 6,018 from the regular tees, and it plays to a par 71. It’s not a long course, but its greens defend the course well from low scores. Boone’s collection of par threes — they average 199 yards — are as strong as any in the High Country. Its par 5s aren’t too shabby, either. They average 556 yards. Drivable risk/reward par 4s are a delight to galleries watching PGA Tour events and are fun to play for the rest of us. Boone has three. It’s uphill ninth is reachable for the big boys. It is 333 yards from the back and 299 from the regular tee. The risk is a creek fronting most of the green, deep to the left and out-of-bounds to the right. The 12th is a downhill dogleg left that is reachable with a high tee shot over some white pines. Not high enough or long enough and you may be playing for a bogey. The 15th is a 300-yard carry from both tees. Either carry the wide creek in front of the green, or hit one just short and bounce over (if the ground is hard). 86

My most intimidating shots are not with a driver, but with irons. The tee shot on the 192-yard 16th must be right or you could be in your pocket. Actually, you won’t be in your pocket; your ball will be history. A marsh is in front of the green and deep, really deep rough and briers are immediately to the right. The swamp is also to the left. My other intimidating shot is the second to the 18th green. It usually is hit from a downhill, sidehill (sloping away from you) lie to an elevated, narrow green with a pond on the left catching balls that are the slightest bit offline. This is one of the great finishing holes in the High Country. To experience one of the finest sets of par three holes in North Carolina, call the pro shop at (828) 264-8760. Make tee time in advance, because this is the most popular course in the High Country.

Willow Creek

Dr. Jim Lyons, a Miami surgeon who lived in Blowing Rock in the summers, wanted to build a development in the area and include a golf course. He purchased the Willow Valley property off N.C. 105, and it had room for a ninehole par three course. By coincidence, Carolinas Golf Hall of Fame architect Tom Jackson was doing some renovation work at nearby Hound Ears. Lyons told Jackson he wanted holes that vary in length, that have water features come into play, some bunkers and a hole or two more than 200 yards. Jackson delivered. In 1973, Willow Creek opened for play, and it has turned out to be an undiscovered gem. The course is very challenging. Three holes are more than 200 yards, and taken as a whole, they average 182 yards from the tips. Five have water hazards. Willow Creek is well designed with imaginative, scenic holes and it is well maintained. Simply put, it is a good, fun course to play. And, it is convenient; no tee times, just show up and play. Carts are available, but the course is not hard to walk. If you want to play 18 holes, just use a different set of tees second

time around to add variety. Its greens are relatively small, so accuracy is the key to a good round. Since 75 percent of the shots in a round of golf are from 160 yards in, there is a lot of golf to be played at Willow Creek. There is also a lot to learn as you develop and refine a winning short game. Willow Creek’s 218-yard 18th hole will hold its own on any course in America, and it gets my vote for both most intimidating tee shot and signature hole. The green is guarded with a small pound in its front left that winds around to the left side. A shot that lands six yards left of the green ends up in the pond, and out-of-bounds is 15 yards from the green to the right. The green is only 31 feet wide. A par on this hole will make your day. If time is a factor in whether you play, or if price is a factor, and if long, hard holes beat you up, you can enjoy a relaxing round at Willow Creek. Just show up, or call ahead to the pro shop at (828) 963-6865 and get ready to have a great day.

Sugar Mountain Golf Club

The Sugar Mountain course is a municipal course, owned by the village of Sugar Mountain. How it came to be is a story involving several twists and turns. The land was originally part of the 16,000 acres sold to Hugh MacRae that included Linville Resorts and Grandfather Mountain. In 1952, MacRae died and left the Sugar Mountain/Flat Top Mountain property to his grandson, George MacRae. In 1969, George and his wife, Chessie, began developing Sugar as a four-seasons destination with ski slopes, tennis and golf. They included three partners in their group. They only had 60 acres at the base of Sugar for a golf course, so it had to be an executive course, but they wanted to also have a championship course. They selected Francis Duane to be their architect. Duane was senior project manager for Robert Trent Jones Sr., and later a partner in course design with Arnold Palmer. The MacRaes promised Duane that if he designed the executive course,

he could design their championship course, which was to be called Grouse Moor and located on top of Flat Top Mountain. A perfect storm of bad luck hit the MacRaes in 1974, the year their executive course opened: bad economy, high inflation and interest rates, gas rationing, warm winter and little skiing, and no one buying real estate. As a result, the MacRaes had to declare bankruptcy, and the bank foreclosed. One of the MacRaes’ partners leased the course until he died. The village of Sugar Mountain wanted to buy it, but it was too young a town to take on debt, so the Sugar Mountain Ski Resort purchased it until the town could buy it back. Today, the course is well run, in great condition and very popular. Sugar, like Willow Creek, is a perfect niche golf course for the player who doesn’t have time for a five-hour round or doesn’t enjoy playing 500-yard par 4s. While Willow Creek is a par three course, Sugar is an executive course with nine par 3s, eight par 4s and one par 5. It measures 4,443 yards from the tips and 4,071 from the regular tees, and is par 64. Surprisingly, despite Sugar’s short yardage, it has only one drivable par 4, its ninth hole. The hole is slightly uphill and is 259 yards from the back tee, 239 from the regular tee. There is no trouble on the hole, so it is no risk/all reward. Fire away. There is one hole, though, that is worth a shot just for fun. The sharply downhill 321-yard (back), 288-yard (regular) tee shot on the fifth hole has to be perfect. There is water in front and dense woods bordering both sides of a fairly narrow fairway. There are risk/ reward shots, and then there are risk/ reward shots, if you go for the green on no. 5. But, hey, if you are having a fun round with your buddies, hit your score ball and drop another and have at it just for fun. Sugar holds the distinction of probably having the shortest par five around, only 394 yards. Don’t let the SEE GOLF ON PAGE 87

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hole fool you: It is an uphill dogleg right that plays much longer than its yardage. The second shot is a bear with a narrow opening to the green and creeks left and right. Head professional Tom McAuliffe, who is also one of North Carolina’s top golf writers, says the 212-yard 13th hole has the course’s most intimidating tee shot and also ranks as its signature hole. “There is no margin for error, left or right,” McAuliffe said. “There are bunkers front and left, and anything right ends up in the ‘Valley of Death,’ where there is no escape. The green has a lot of movement and is not easy to putt. It’s the toughest birdie on the course. I’ll take a par every time and not look back.” The culture at Sugar is one of a “down-home feeling.” Guests are treated like old friends and are in for treat once they tee off the first hole. The greens are as good as any in the High Country, and that’s saying a lot. To set up an enjoyable day of golf with friends, call McAuliffe at (828) 898-6464.

Mountain Glen Golf Club

The idea to build Mountain Glen arose from a devastating fire in January 1961 that destroyed one-third of the town of Newland. Local leaders felt something needed to be done to spur economic growth in Avery County. They knew large manufacturing was not an option because of Avery’s rough winters and isolated location. They looked four miles down the road at Linville and saw their answer: Build a golf course and develop the property around it for second homeowners. They formed the Avery Development Corporation and sold shares of stock to raise money for the project. Thanks to great leadership and a generous landowner, Todd Lecka, Mountain Glen would become a reality. George Cobb, who first designed Quail Hollow in Charlotte, the Augusta AUTUMN TIMES 2020

National Par Three Course and, locally, Hound Ears, was the architect. Cobb later designed Linville Ridge. The back nine was built first, and it opened in July 1964. The front nine opened a year later. Mountain Glen has been one of the most popular courses in the area. It plays 6,523 yards from the back tees and 5,968 yards from the regular tees. The signature hole is the beautiful, downhill, 186-yard 12th hole. The view from the tee shows Hump Mountain in the background. Mountain Glen’s hardest hole is the 411-yard dogleg left 11th hole. The hole isn’t particularly long, except that from 200 yards in, it is steeply uphill. Also, the tee shot must be very accurate. A little left and you are blocked by trees; a little right and you are in the trees. It is not a good idea to be above the pin on its sloped green. Mountain Glen’s greens get really fast later in the summer. I rate no. 11 as one of the Top 5 hardest holes in the High Country. Now to drivable par 4s: We need to divide this into two categories. First, the mortals have two opportunities. The 291-yard sixth (265 yards from the regular tees) is a tempting drive. Fade your drive and you are in a pond. Hook it and you might have a shot, you might be blocked by a pine tree or you might be out-of-bounds. Going for it is worth the gamble, though. The 16th is slightly downhill and 313 yards from the regular tees and 339 from the back. Aim right and hit a draw on the downside of a hill, and you’ll be sitting pretty. Get double-crossed and hit a fade, and you’ll be in your pocket. Out-of-bounds is right off the fairway. And then there’s David Forbes. Forbes takes it back as far as John Daly and is twice as strong. Forbes has driven every par four at Mountain Glen except the 11th. On the “short” par 4s such as the 339 yard 16th, he drives it with a 3 iron. Forbes is more than a long hitter. He holds the amateur course record with a 63 from the tips. My most intimidating tee shot? It’s a toss-up between the 11th and the 17th.

No. 17 is a dogleg right with two huge oak trees down the right side of the fairway and a row of white pines bordering the left side. The fairway slopes left into the pines. The best shot is a high fade over the first oak or a low fade under its branches. A tee shot left of the first oak has to be perfect or you are in the pines where the sun never shines. Call Mountain Glen at (828) 7335804 to set up a tee time and to appreciate what it took for David Forbes to drive all but one of their 10 par 4s. If Sam Foster answers the phone, you are talking to someone special. He has been head pro for 42 years and holds the course record with a 62. Before coming to Mountain Glen, Foster was assistant pro at Grandfather Golf & Country Club in season and an assistant at Augusta National in the offseason.

Linville Land Harbor

Linville Land Harbor is a 48-year-old, 1,000-acre residential resort that is, by far, the largest in Avery County with 1,400 homes. It is designed around a 48-acre lake visible from U.S. 221 three miles south of Linville. Land Harbor was created by the Robbins brothers — Grover, Harry and Spencer — who also brought to the High Country Tweetsie Railroad, Hound Ears, Beech Mountain, Land of Oz and the Elk River Club. The original idea was to build a recreation resort for short-term or extended-stay vacationers who used their campers or RVs to live in. Back in the 1960s and early ‘70s, campers were the rage. The RV lots made up 1,510 of the 1,933 lots, with homesites making up most of the rest. Later on, people wanted to spend more time at Land Harbor, so many of the RV lots were combined to provide an additional 500 building lots. The Land Harbor property belonged to a lumber company in the early 1900s. In 1923, 5,000 acres of that property was purchased by Howard Marmon, an engineering genius whose parents took him to the Eseeola Lodge when he was a boy. Apparently, Marmon had health

problems when he was young, and being in the mountains healed him. He came back to build a second home. In 1909, Marmon built the car that won the first Indianapolis 500. The following year, 61 of the nation’s official speed records were owned by Marmon cars. Amelia Earhart rode in a Marmon in her New York City ticker-tape parade, and supposedly, Bonnie and Clyde used the speedy car to outrun the police after their bank robberies. Marmon was good friends with Harvey Firestone, Henry Ford and Thomas Edison. They came for visits and fished in the lake Marmon built, which is now the Land Harbor lake. Mr. and Mrs. Marmon left their estate to their nephew, and when he died, he put it in a trust to benefit the hospital, library and airfield in Avery County. Warren Buffett now owns the Marmon Company. Part of the Marmon property was developed into a nursery, and that is the property that is Land Harbor. Land Harbor was a subsidiary of Carolina Caribbean, developer of Beech Mountain and owned for the most part by the Robbins brothers. Carolina Caribbean, like Sugar Mountain, was a victim of the turbulent ‘70s and had to declare bankruptcy in 1975. A bank took over the property and decided it was in the best interest of the resort’s property owners to sell them the property. The first nine holes of the Land Harbor Golf Club was designed by architect Tom Jackson in collaboration with local golf hero Ernie Hayes. It measures 2,950 yards and plays to a par 36. It is a delightful nine with smallish greens and well-placed hazards. The course is in excellent shape. The 463-yard first hole is a great start. It is downhill with a sharp dogleg left and creek running down the left side of the fairway. The creek crosses the fairway at a sharp angle about 120 yards out and forms a pond to the front left of the green. The small, undulating green has a very narrow opening with trouble all around the green. If you go for the green in two, you best have your “A” game right out of the chute. SEE GOLF ON PAGE 88

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The 273-yard par 4 sixth is drivable, but dangerous. The fairway narrows considerably the closer you get to the green. Houses and out-of-bounds are on the right, and left is not a nice place to be. Go for it for fun, lay up for score. The 141-yard slightly downhill seventh is one of the prettiest on the course. It has a beautiful view of Grandfather Mountain in the background. Land Harbor was originally going to be an 18-hole golf course, but some of the best property for the second nine was sold to try to avoid bankruptcy. All that was left was 23 acres of rugged, unusable property. The Land Harbor POA didn’t think it was possible to design nine holes on the property, but asked Ernie Hayes if he could give it a try. After numerous failed attempts, he came up with a routing. It is different than any nine holes I have ever seen. The back nine is 1,927 yards long and

FILE PHOTO Linville Land Harbor hole number two is part of the 1,000-acre resort created by the Robbins brothers.

is a par 33. The longest par 4 is 335 yards and the shortest 196 yards. The course plays up hills and down into valleys and around the mountainsides. Most par 4s are doglegs. Several are

drivable, but Land Harbor rules forbid going for the green because of safety concerns. The 196-yard par four 18th can be two wedges, but you need to respect this

hole. A tee shot a little right will be off the world. I double bogeyed the hole. If you think outside the box, forget the standard driver-of-the-tee par 4s and understand the limitations of a 23-acre nine-hole layout, the back nine actually is a lot of fun. Its holes are like no other. The signature hole on the back nine has to be no. 17. It is a 112-yard par three that is straight up — like, 45 feet straight up. You can’t see the pin. If you are short, back down it comes. If you are a little right, off the world it goes. A par is a nice score. A plaque on the tee names the hole “Ernie’s Revenge” in appreciation for his creating nine holes that no one thought could be built. Land Harbor has been private until recently, but now it is open to the public. My advice: Play the course. The front side is pretty neat, but the back side is simply something you have to experience for two reasons — because you’ll never see holes like this anywhere else, and secondly, to appreciate the SEE GOLF ON PAGE 89

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genius of Ernie Hayes. Call the pro shop at (828) 733-8325.

PRIVATE CLUBS

Typically, private clubs are for members and their guests. The High Country has an incredible collection of private clubs, the envy of the rest of the state. Guess what? You can play most of them. The private clubs are very community-oriented, and most make their courses available to various charities for fundraising golf tournaments. Play in one of those tournaments, and you will be helping a worthy cause and, at the same time, enjoy an experience you will fondly remember for a long time. That’s called a win-win.

Hound Ears Club

The Robbins brothers — Grover, Harry and Spencer — have had an incredibly positive impact on the High Country. In addition to Tweetsie Railroad, Ski Beech and the Land of Oz, they have given us one-fourth of all the golf courses in the High Country: Linville Land Harbor, Beech Mountain, Elk River Club and Hound Ears. Hound Ears was their first. In the early 1960s, they saw the popularity of the new Boone course and the Blowing Rock Country Club, and they felt the area could use a new course. They chose a site in Shulls Mill, south of Boone along N.C. 105. In the early 1900s, Shulls Mill was one of the county’s primary commercial centers. Its sawmill and lumberyard, along with a Tweetsie Railroad junction, employed enough people to support a hotel, small hospital, stores and a movie theater. By the time Hound Ears was built, only remnants of the community remained. Spencer Robbins was working at Pine Needles golf resort in Southern Pines, one of the top golfing destinations in the country, and Grover and Harry were frequent visitors. They liked Pine Needles and decided to follow their example in their golf course. They did AUTUMN TIMES 2020

FILE PHOTO Boone is 6,686 yards from the tips and 6,018 from the regular tees. It plays to a par 71. This is a view to hole number 9.

Pine Needles one better by adding one of the South’s first ski slopes. They decided to have a Bavarian theme to their clubhouse and lodge to complement the ski slope. Their golf course was designed by George Cobb, then known for his redesign work at Augusta National. Both the ski slope and golf course opened in 1964. They chose the name Hound Ears because the rocks on top of the ridge behind the course stood up like dog ears. Hounds Ear or Hound Ears? Spencer Robbins answers the question by saying, “One dog, two ears.” Hall of Fame golf instructor Bob Toski, still going strong at about 90 years old, was the club’s first professional. After Toski resigned to be the Johnny Miller of NBC’s golf telecasts, the club hired Ohio State University golf coach Bob Kepler, who worked with Jack Nicklaus, Tom Weiskopf and Ed Sneed. Following Kepler was Tom Adams, now at Boone, and then Adams’s assistant, Peter Rucker, who started out at Hound Ears as a cart boy in 1981. Most of the golf course is located in the flat bottom land of Shulls Mill. The Robbins brothers also acquired some rugged mountain land with the property purchase, but they saw no use for it. The course became so popular that people who played it wanted to have a home there. Thus, the mountain land became homesites. “We didn’t have a

plan for a development,” Spencer Robbins said. “It just happened.” The first six years, the third, eighth and 18th holes doubled as an airport runway for the resort. The hanger that housed the planes still exists behind the third green. In 1974, Hound Ears redesigned several backside holes on adjacent property it purchased. Tom Jackson designed the 12th and 14th holes. The 15th is Hound Ears’ signature hole, and it is one of the great par 3s in the state. Only 110 yards, the tee is perched on a mountain ridge, and the green lies 70 feet below. In front of the green is a creek and bunker. The green has a nice back to front slope, so golfers hitting their tee shots over the green face a very challenging chip shot. Despite its lack of length, par is a good score on this hole. The 18th hole is a great finishing hole. It is a last-minute dogleg right, 414yard hole with a creek down the right side until it crosses the fairway near the front of the green. Because the dogleg is so close to the green, tee shots need to land on the left side of the fairway. A large tree at the beginning of the dogleg protects the green from players whose drives are from the center to the right side of the fairway. The hole plays longer than its yardage. The neat thing about no. 18 is its tee box. It is perched on top of a large boulder.

Hound Ears’ most scenic shot is teeing off the par five sixth hole. It is a highly elevated tee with an incredible view of Grandfather Mountain. Peter Rucker’s favorite hole is the uphill 490yard par five fourth (also No. 1 handicap hole.). Rucker said, “The fairway narrows significantly beginning 100 yards before the green. It is bordered by woods on the right and woods and a creek on the left.” Rucker’s favorite hole should be the 491-yard par 5 12th. He has double-eagled it twice. There really aren’t drivable par 4s at Hound Ears, even though the course is 6,307 yards from the tips/6,145 from regular tees. I was playing with the golf pro son of famed teaching pro Jack Lumpkin, and he drove the 360-yard 10th. Then on the 491-yard 12th, which winds around a lake, he drove across the lake and landed in the bunker in front of the green. I saw them both, but I don’t believe what I saw, so those shots don’t count.

Beech Mountain Club

Beech Mountain’s golf course is another of the Robbins brothers’ contributions to the High Country, but in this case, oldest brother Grover was the visionary and primary contributor to its creation. Grover envisioned the Hound Ears concept (resort, golf, skiing, property and airport) being taken to a much higher level at Beech Mountain. He even used the Bavarian architectural theme that he used at Hound Ears. Grover quietly purchased 10,000 acres, 7,300 acres on Beech Mountain and 2,700 acres in the valley where the Elk River Club now stands. His slogan was “9,000 families on 10,000 acres.” Grover built the ski slope and airport in 1967. The airport now is a part of the Elk River Club, which the Robbins brothers also developed. A development of this magnitude required more investment capital, so Grover set up the Appalachian Development Corp. that attracted 40 initial investors. Later, when he added a development in the Virgin Islands, he SEE GOLF ON PAGE 90

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changed the name of the company to Carolina Caribbean. Robbins chose Atlanta architect Willard Byrd to design two golf courses at Beech Mountain, one for recreational play and one for championship play. Byrd had designed a number of great courses in the Piedmont part of North Carolina and in the Myrtle Beach area, but Beech Mountain would be his first mountain course. Willard’s land planner, Dennis Lehmann, helped plan the resort, as well as all of Linville Land Harbor, also a Robbins brothers development. Lehmann would end up playing a major role in the design of several High Country courses. Byrd’s recreational course would be built first. The front nine opened in 1969 and the back nine two years later. Tragedy struck Beech Mountain about this time. Grover Robbins died of cancer in 1970. Without his vision and leadership, Carolina Caribbean began to unravel. The organization began taking on more projects than it could handle. At their peak, they had 11 planes they used to fly in prospective property buyers. They had to sell a lot of property to keep all their projects going. Unfortunately, the economy tanked, inflation was rampant, interest rates were 18 percent, there was gas rationing and several of their property owners in the Virgin Islands were robbed and killed while playing golf. The bank foreclosed in early 1975.All the company’s properties were sold to pay off its debts. The second course, which was under construction, was never completed. It was included in the property purchased by the Eagles Nest development. Tweetsie Railroad bought the Elk River Club property, including the airport. The Land of Oz and ski slopes were sold to a mortgage company, and Land Harbor was sold to its POA. The Beech Mountain golf course and a 13-acre recreation park were purchased by its POA, but not without some trying times. First, they had to 90

FILE PHOTO Sugar is an executive course with nine par 3s, eight par 4s and one par 5. It measures 4,443 yards from the tips and 4,071 from the regular tees, and is par 64.

convince the bankruptcy trustee they were the best option as owners. Then, they had to finance its purchase and operation. They had to get the North Carolina General Assembly to make Beech Mountain a town, so it could legally enforce the payment of property taxes and utilities. Today, the Beech Mountain Club has close to 1,300 members and is a healthy operation. The golf course is on the backside of Beech Mountain, around 4,500 feet in elevation, and its panoramic views stretch into Tennessee and Virginia. The course plays to 6,225 yards from the back tees and 5,743 from the regular tees. Because of the up-and-down terrain, it plays longer than its yardage. Needless to say, there are a number of spectacular holes on the course. Two in particular are the 394-yard eighth hole with beautiful views of mountain ridges located in three states. The 10th tee is located to the right of the clubhouse, which is perched on a ridge, and that means the tee shot has a dramatic drop in elevation. The tee shot is exciting, to say the least. Beech Mountain is a private club open to its members, and their guests, and those staying in lodging on the mountain that offers golf privileges for its guests.

Linville Ridge

The prized scenic view in the High Country is looking at Grandfather

Mountain. Its ruggedness and abrupt rise in elevation makes for a spectacular site. Several area courses have views of Grandfather, but none are eyeballto-eyeball like Linville Ridge. Its par 5 13th, at 4,984 feet, is the highest elevation hole in Eastern America. The course has an elevation change from its lowest point to its highest of 760 feet. At this elevation, because of the thinner air, your shots go further than off the mountain. Linville Ridge sits atop Flat Top Mountain, which is part of the original 16,000-acre land purchase by Hugh MacRae in 1885 that included Grandfather Mountain, Sugar Mountain, Grandmother Mountain and Linville. The property was owned by MacRae’s grandson, George MacRae, who also inherited Sugar Mountain. He lost the property to bankruptcy when the economy failed. Raymond Lutgert from Naples, Fla., purchased 1,800 acres on Flat Top in the early 1980s. Lutgert brought in an engineering firm to help him decide where to locate his golf course — on top of the mountain or at its base? They said a course was buildable at either location, so Lutgert chose the top because of its views. The engineering firm also recommended that George Cobb design the course because of his familiarity with the area. Cobb designed Hound Ears and Mountain Glen, as well as a halfdozen other mountain courses. He also was the original designer of Quail Hollow in Charlotte. Linville Ridge would

be Cobb’s last course. In 2007, Scott Lutgert, Ray’s son, who is now president of the company, commissioned Bobby Weed, a disciple of Pete Dye, to renovate the course to make it more challenging for low handicap players and easier and more fun for those with higher handicaps. Weed designed the highly acclaimed Old Farm course in Southwest Virginia and had done major work at Grandfather Golf & Country Club and Linville. His renovations have been enthusiastically received. Part of the makeover was to flip the nines, so the former ninth hole is now No. 18. Half the course is on the relatively level summit of Flat Top Mountain. The remaining holes drop down from the summit and work their way back up. There are numerous views from the course of Grandfather Mountain, but the following will be etched in your mind forever: from the second green, the ninth fairway, the 12th green, along the 15th fairway to the green and approaching the 18th green. Every hole at Linville Ridge is interesting and memorable, but these are a cut above. The course’s signature hole is the 225-yard (183 yards from regular tees) 16th hole. The elevation drop is so dramatic that you can hit the same iron to the green that Bubba Watson hits to 225 yards with no elevation change. Tell that to your buddies. Linville Ridge probably has the neatest drivable par four in the High Country. The seventh is a 252-yard drive from the regular tee. The shot is uphill and a creek runs in front of the green, but even I can drive it. My most intimidating tee shot is the par three 16th, but my most intimidating drive is the 12th hole. It measures 405 yards, but the elevation gain adds 50 yards to the hole. The pressure is on you to hit a really good drive in order to get home. If you don’t, your third shot is from a steep uphill lie. Miss your drive to the right, and you are off the world. Linville Ridge plays to 6,813 yards from the back tees and 6,210 from the regular tees. AUTUMN TIMES 2020

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Fall foliage in the High Country BY DEREK HALSEY

all foliage is a spectacular wonder of nature in the autumn months, and that is particularly true here in the High Country. Along the Blue Ridge Parkway near Linville Gorge, for instance, you will find signs beside the road that say “High Accident Zone Next Three Miles.” While those signs are up all year long, they were meant for the time of the year when the leaves change color and folks from around the world fill the roadways while taking in the woodland magic. The autumn fall foliage season of 2020, however, will be different than previous years due to this ongoing coronavirus pandemic. While all of the Blue Ridge Parkway and other state and national forest roads are open, changes have been made to the nearby attractions that have accompanied leaf season in the past. For example, the 43rd annual Woolly Worm Festival in Banner Elk has been canceled due to the pandemic. At the same time, the 42nd annual Valle Crucis Fair, which happens 8 miles away from the Woolly Worm Festival in Valle Crucis, has been canceled as well. Those two celebrations usually bring tens of thousands of people to the area. While those event closings are unfortunate, this maybe an opportunity to visit and view the change of the colors with less people on the roadways. As always, the wonderful mountain towns of Boone, Blowing Rock and Banner Elk will be perfect bases of operation for those wanting to explore the color-filled forests and mountainsides in our unique region. Hotels, motels, restaurants and shopping opportunities are all available, even under the everchanging pandemic regulations. As for where to see the technicolor creation by nature known as fall foliage season, a simple walk or hike in the right places will surround you with 92

PHOTO BY DEREK HALSEY Autumn on the Linn Cove Viaduct on the Blue Ridge Parkway.

PHOTO BY DEREK HALSEY Autumn on Rough Ridge Trail on the Blue Ridge Parkway.

wonder. Hiking up Elk Knob Mountain in nearby Todd, for instance, will be a good way to take in this seasonal phenomenon as will other similar trails. Sugar Mountain Ski Resort will host its annual Oktoberfest Celebration on Oct. 10-11, as of presstime. Then, along with a German band, vendors and beer all happening outdoors, their ski lifts to the summit will be in operation as well. That will also be true when their ski lifts and bike trails open again the next weekend on Oct. 17-18.

Beech Mountain Ski Resort will be open continuously until Oct. 3, featuring ski lift rides to the summit, where you will find the 5506 Skybar with great views, and the mountain biking trails and disc golf will be offered as well. Grandfather Mountain State Park will be open the whole season. For a fee, you can drive up to the Mile High Bridge and walk the grounds of their mountain zoo and more throughout the autumn months. Due to the pandemic, you must register for a visit online at grandfa-

ther.com. For those who want to take an adventurous daytrip or take a hearty hike, a visit to Roan Mountain Grassy Balds Trail is a good choice. Located on the North Carolina-Tennessee border, the leaf colors are known to be magnificent on the ride up to Carver’s Gap, where there is a big parking lot for those who want to hike the trail up to Roan Mountain. After a spectacular hike, you can be back in Boone, Blowing Rock or Banner Elk in time for dinner, shopping and rest later that same evening. Another good tip is to consult our article on hiking found in this supplement as it will lead you to other wonderful fall foliage opportunities. As for the best and most well-known place to take in the changes of the leaves here, our section of the Blue Ridge Parkway stands on top. You can drive on the Parkway for miles and miles and take in the usual great views and side stops from the Virginia border all of the way to Mount Mitchell, the highest mountain east of the Mississippi River. For whatever reason, however, the section of the Parkway closest to Boone, Blowing Rock and Banner Elk, from the Moses Cone Manor located at milepost 294 heading south to the Little Switzerland exit at milepost 334, proves to have the most vibrant colors year after year. This is especially true on the backside of Grandfather Mountain where the word famous Linn Cove Viaduct winds its way out over Wilson Creek Gorge at milepost 303 as the fall foliage there at the right time of year is simply stunning. As you travel around this High Country region during this time of year, be patient and careful on the roadways, find a trail to your liking and capabilities, enjoy the hospitality of our small towns and have a great time during a special season here in the Blue Ridge Mountains. AUTUMN TIMES 2020

Hiking to find fall color along High Country waterways BY KAYLA LASURE

atching and listening to local waterways while viewing the changing autumn leaves is a sight to behold by High Country residents and visitors alike. According to High Country Host, the fall peak leaf color season in the High Country region is typically from late September to early November due to varying elevations. Areas such as Mt. Mitchell and Grandfather Mountain that are in the 6,000 feet in elevation range may see leaves changing the last week of September while places such as Wilkesboro or the Stone Mountain State Park in the 2,000 feet range could see leaf change in the fourth week of October. Listed below are trails for those who are looking to observe the fall leaf colors reflected on the waters of High Country rivers, creeks and waterfalls. Be sure to dress appropriately for the cooler weather as well as proper football for possible slippery conditions. Hikers should research each of the below trails to ensure hiking opportunities are appropriate for their skill levels. Boone Fork Trail: Boone Fork Trail is a strenuous 5-mile loop that leads to the 25-foot Boone Fork Falls or also known as Hebron Falls. The trail is located on the Blue Ridge Parkway at Milepost 296.4 at the Julian Price Park Picnic Area. There are several other creeks that hikers will cross along the way. This area is visited frequently, but worth the hike. Price Lake Trail: Price Lake Trail is an approximate 2.7 mile loop trail that’s flat and goes around Price Lake. According to the National Park SerAUTUMN TIMES 2020

PHOTO BY ROB MOORE Leaves begin to change in the autumn season at Price Park.

vice, the trail can be reached from the Price Lake Overlook (milepost 296.7) or the Boone Fork Overlook (milepost 297.1) on the Blue Ridge Parkway. Linville Falls trails: At Linville Falls, hikers can take either the moderate Erwins View Trail or the strenuous Linville Gorge Trail to see views of the waterfall that drops 90 feet into the 12-mile long Linville Gorge. Erwins View Trail is a moderate 1.6 mile round-trip walk that offers hikers four overlooks at the top of the falls. Whale Linville Gorge Trail can be strenuous, it offers beautiful views from below the falls. The National Park Service advises to avoid weekends for a less crowded experience. Trails can be found off of the Blue Ridge Parkway at

Milepost 316.4. Crabtree Falls Trail: The 2.5mile loop trail to Crabtree Falls is moderate to strenuous with a steep incline and rocky terrain. According to the National Park Service, hikers should allow one and a half to two and a half hours for the entire hike. At the base of the trail is Crabtree Falls with water cascading over a 60-foot rock cliff. The park service advises that hikers do not climb on the rocks as they are slippery. Find the trailhead at the Crabtree Falls campground at Blue Ridge Parkway milepost 339.5. Crab Orchard Falls Trail: Crab Orchard Falls is located on the property of the Valle Crucis Conference Center. Crab Orchard Falls Trail

is a 1.5 mile out-and-back trail that features a waterfall. Parking is located behind the paved part into the gravel which is marked “waterfall parking.” The trail is located on private property, so hikers are asked to be courteous to the area. Conley Cove: A favorite trail for many hikers of the Linville Gorge, Conley Cove is about 1.3 miles to bottom. Conley Cove descends more than 1,200 feet into the Linville Gorge with several switchbacks, with views of the Linville River as the trail finally flattens toward the bottom. Some areas are rocky, and hikers will have to hike back out through the trail to get back to the start. Spence Ridge Trail: A strenuous hike, Spence Ridge Trail is best accessed from the Table Rock parking area — about four miles south of the Blue Ridge Parkway intersection with N.C. 181. The trail is a moderate 1.7 mile decent that requires hikers to execute a wet crossing to proceed as the bridge has been washed out. Hunt Fish Falls: Rated as moderately strenuous, this 1.4 mile roundtrip trail takes hikers to a popular, but smaller, waterfall. The area provides a lush forest sure to provide beautiful fall colors, and an approximate 10-foot two-part waterfall. The trail can be found several miles from the Mortimer Campground in Collettsville by taking forest service road 464 (Pineola Road). Harper Creek Trail: A strenuous 6.3 mile trail, Harper Creek Trail offers creekside scenes, to long-distance views of the mountains and closer encounters with two major waterfalls. The parking area can be found near 7973 Brown Mountain Beach Road in Collettsville. 93

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Homegrown memories Fraser Fir Christmas tree industry provides family experiences

BY BAILEY LITTLE

he High Country is home to the captivating Blue Ridge Mountains and plenty of seasonal attractions and opportunities for adventure. One of the most popular industries in the area is Christmas tree farms. While traveling on many on both highways and backroads in the High Country, rows of Christmas trees can be seen lining the sprawling hills. According to the North Carolina Christmas Tree Association, the state is home to approximately 1,300 growers who produce Fraser Fir Christmas trees on an estimated 40,000 acres. Fraser fir, which is native to the Appalachian Mountains of the Southeasern U.S. represents more than 99.4 percent of all species grown in North Carolina. According to Watauga Cooperative Extension Director Dr. Jim Hamilton, historically the Christmas tree industry in the High Country began at the scale it has grown into in Avery County. “I think Avery County can claim the first established farms,” Hamilton said. These premier farms were started by entrepreneurial farmers who brought wild harvested seedlings from Roan Mountain, Tenn., and planted them on newly cleared or abandoned fields. “As neighbors and friends and associates saw that Christmas trees could be grown on their fields, it sort of spread,” Hamilton said. As Christmas tree production became more widespread, growers worked with what was known at the time as the Agricultural Extension Service to help them improve the quality of trees and help with any diseases or pests. According to Hamilton, in the early 96

NORTH CAROLINA CHRISTMAS TREE ASSOCIATION CHOOSE & CUT FARMS

SUBMITTED PHOTO Christmas tree farms in the High Country see guests from across the country. The Cornett-Deal Christmas Tree Farm has hosted guests from Ohio, Florida and Massachusetts throughout the 2019 season.

2000s, the area experienced a boom in Christmas tree production. However, the housing crisis in 2008 presented a major challenge to the industry. “After the recession, some growers either aged out of the industry or got out due to profitability,” Hamilton said. “You still see about the same acreage of trees planted in the High Country but fewer growers, because it is such a labor-intensive industry and farming in general has declined over the last decade.” Also during the recession with some growers leaving the industry, the seedling industry also suffered. According to Hamilton, it takes anywhere from four to five years to prepare a seedling to be transplanted into a field. Once

planted, the tree grows in the field for a minimum of six to seven years before it reaches a harvestable size. Within the industry, some farmers sell wholesale Christmas trees which they sell to small mom and pop roadside Christmas tree retailers in urban areas that to established Christmas tree lots in cities. Other farmers simply grow trees to sell to wholesale tree retailers. According to Hamilton, trees produced in the High Country are shipped to every state in the U.S. as well as overseas. Choose-and-cut Christmas tree farms have increased in popularity since the late 1980s in Ashe, Avery and Watauga SEE HOMEGROWN ON PAGE 98

Bear Valley Farm Email: info@bearvalleyfarm.com Phone: 1 (828) 736-1405 231 Bee Tree Rd Glenville, NC 28736 Boyd Mountain Christmas Tree Farm Email: trees@boydmountain.com Phone: (828)926-8888 445 Boyd Farm Rd Waynesville, NC 28785 Brown Family Farm Email: masonfiresmith@gmail.com Phone: (828)674-1067 740 Odoms Chapel Road Buladean, undefined 28705 Buck Knob Farm Email: tomwaller55@gmail.com Phone: (828)743-0248 1051 Wolf Knob Road Cullowhee, NC 28723 C & J Christmas Trees Email: candjchristmastrees@nccta.com Phone: (828)264-6694 1999 Brookshire Rd Boone, NC 28607 Cartner Christmas Tree Farm Email: cartner@carolinafraserfir.com Phone: (828)733-1641 901 Balsam Drive PO Box 247 Newland, NC 28657 Circle C Tree Farms Email: circlectrees@gmail.com Phone: (828)265-7504 372 Will Cook Road Boone, NC 28607 Clawson’s Christmas Tree Farm Email: clawsons@ncchristmastrees.com Phone: (828)719-6395 4805 194 N Boone, NC 28607 Cornett-Deal Christmas Tree Farm Email: cdtreefarm@skybest.com Phone: (828)964-6322 SEE MORE 142 Tannenbaum Lane FARMS ON Vilas, NC 28692 PAGE 98

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HOMEGROWN CONTINUED FROM PAGE 96

counties. “At one point in time, from the early 2000s through the recession, here in Watauga we had over 35 chooseand-cut farms,” Hamilton said. “That number has dwindled to around 12, simply due to the fact that Christmas tree farming is hard work and a lot of the farmers who started 20 or 30 years ago are retiring.”

According to Hamilton, choose-and-cut season is a huge “bridge season” for tourism in the High Country since it falls between leaf season and ski season. “It provides not only sales in Christmas trees and wreaths, but also sales for the restaurants and retailers,” Hamilton said. Choose-and-cut season also capitalizes on the family experience and the creation of memories by letting families come out to a farm and pick their own tree from the field while interacting with farmers.

According to the North Carolina Christmas Tree Association, individual Christmas tree growers may sell anywhere from a few dozen trees per year to hundreds of thousands of trees per year. The North Carolina Christmas tree industry is also ranked second in the nation in number of trees harvested and cash receipts. For more information about the history of Christmas tree production in North Carolina and more information about the industry, visit NCCTA website at ncchristmastrees.com.

NORTH CAROLINA CHRISTMAS TREE ASSOCIATION CHOOSE & CUT FARMS Douglas R. Clark Nursery dba C&G Nursery Email: drcn1@live.com Phone: (828)733-4850 204 White Pine Rd Newland, NC 28657 Dutch Cove Christmas Tree Farm Email: dctreefarm@aol.com Phone: (828)400-0806 280 Setzer Drive Canton, NC 28716 Fir Heaven Sake Christmas Tree Farm Email: ricktrees@yahoo.com Phone: (828)361-4350 40 Fir Heaven Sake Lane Topton, NC 28781 Frosty Mountain Christmas Trees Email: frostymountainchristmastrees@gmail.com Phone: (828)656-8100 13623 Hwy 212 Marshall, NC 28753 Frosty’s Choose & Cut Email: sextonfarms@skybest.com Phone: (800)238-8733 2152 Beaver Creek School Rd West Jefferson, NC 28694 Helms Christmas Tree Farm Email: henryhelms@bellsouth.net Phone: (704)276-1835 6345 Christmas Tree Lane Vale, NC 28168 Jonas Ridge Tree Farm Email: shelltrio@att.net Phone: (828)733-4654 8050 Joe Poore Rd Jonas Ridge, NC 28641 Lil’ Grandfather Choose and Cut Email: info@lilgrand.com Phone: (336)372-9613 15371 NC Hwy 18 South Laurel Springs, NC 28644 McInnis Tree Farm/Wishon Evergreens Email: Wishontrees@skybest.com Phone: (336)372-7086 468 Presnell Road Glade Valley, NC 28627 Mehaffey Tree Farm Email: mmehaffe@gmail.com 98

Phone: (828)476-8505 24 Corner Drive Waynesville, NC 28785 Mistletoe Meadows Email: mistletoem@skybest.com Phone: (336)465-9754 583 Burnt Hill Road Laurel Springs, NC 28644 Panoramic View Christmas Tree Farm Email: Panoramictreefarm@yahoo.com Phone: (828)719-6395 368 Panoramic Lane Boone, NC 28607 Pressley Tree Farm LLC Email: scottpressley1946@gmail.com Phone: (828)743-2275 770 Shirley Pressley Rd. Glenville, NC 28736 Reece Farm & Nursery Email: rbreece@skybest.com Phone: (828)898-5642 241 John Jones Rd Elk Park, NC 28622 Reeves Tree Farm Email: reeveslandscaping96@gmail.com Phone: (828)779-0115 9507 NC 63 Hwy Leicester, NC 28748 Roan Valley Tree Farm Email: waynetree@charter.net Phone: (828)688-2675 1030 Green Creek Road Bakersville, NC 28705 Sandy Hollar Farms Email: sandyholfm@aol.com Phone: (828)683-3645 63 Sandy Hollar Lane Leicester, NC 28748 Smoky Mountain Christmas Tree Farm Email: r115angel@aol.com Phone: (828)400-2933 756 Hemphill Road Waynesville, NC 28785 Snow Creek Christmas Trees Email: jlwilson513@gmail.com Phone: (828)385-2388 447 Wilson Rd

Bakersville, NC 28705 Snowy Mountain Christmas Tree Farm Email: snowymtn@yahoo.com Phone: (828)733-9589 4699 Linville Falls Why 221 S Newland, NC 28657 Spillman’s Christmas Tree Farm Email: spillmanschristmastrees@gmail.com Phone: (336)495-1090 1576 Will Coltrane Rd Sophia, NC 27350 Stone Mountain Farms Email: staylor239@gmail.com Phone: (828)773-7651 301 Sherry Reece Lane Trade, TN 37691 Stonewall Christmas Trees Email: cmwilson1510@gmail.com Phone: (828)467-0628 1510 Mckinney Cove RD. Bakersville, NC 28705 Sugar Plum Farm Email: sugarplumfarm@att.net Phone: (828) 765-0019 1263 Isaacs Branch Rd Newland, NC 28657 Trinity Tree Company Email: averyfarms3@gmail.com Phone: (828) 733-5052 P.O. Box 190 Plumtree, NC 28664 Two D’s Nursery Email: johnd@twodsnursery.com Phone: (828) 733-6686 7849 Linville Falls Highway Newland, NC 28657 Wintergreen Farm Email: wintergreenfarm@gmail.com Phone: (423)727-2593 223 Waddell Rd. Mountain City, TN 37683 Yeater’s Christmas Trees Email: dsyeater@gmail.com Phone: (828)674-3884 489 River Walk Dr Burnsville, NC 28714

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PHOTO BY ROB MOORE Linn Cove Viaduct on the Blue Ridge Parkway.

Blue Ridge Parkway

BY DEREK HALSEY

t has been an unusual summer on the Blue Ridge Parkway in 2020 for the National Park Service, which looks over this amazing roadway. Since the spring and the onset of the coronavirus pandemic, parts of the Blue Ridge Parkway were subsequently closed and then slowly re-opened as summer emerged. Looking back, unusually, the Linn Cove Viaduct section of the BRP was closed and that led to a spontaneous movement by tourists and locals alike to park and walk upon the world famous section of roadway overlooking Wilson Creek Gorge on the back slope of Grandfather Mountain. The event was written up in newspapers as far away as Winston-Salem as the stretch of high altitude pavement became a crowded greenway path for hard road hikers. By the month of May, officials reopened all of the BRP and the brief shining moment of pedestrian freedom went away as soon as it appeared. Now, as fall arrives and the beauty of the Blue Ridge Mountains begins to change, the BRP is a spectacular way to see the highest mountains east of the Mississippi River as the seasons change. The Blue Ridge Parkway is perhaps the most traveled scenic road in all of America. Beginning on top of the beautiful Shenandoah Valley in Virginia, the 469-mile long drive was meant to ride 100

The section of the BRP that runs the high ridge lines of the Blue Ridge through the Boone, Blowing Rock and Mountains to showcase the immense Banner Elk regions of western North natural beauty of the region. Carolina is considered one of the more As it winds its way from Virginia to picturesque of the journey and there the Great Smoky Mountains of western will be much to do along the way. North Carolina, the road is marked by As the pandemic continues, please mileposts which come in the form of check in with the websites listed in the white blocks seen on the roadside as sidebar or with you travel. Built the businesses during the Great mentioned in this Depression and For more information on the Blue Ridge Park- article for any sanctioned by way during this time of pandemic, please stay news concerning President Rooupdated by viewing the following websites: facility closures, sevelt, the Blue Blueridgeparkway.org altered hours Ridge Parkway has Brpfoundation.org of operation or a historic aspect www.nps.gov/blri/index.htm restrictions. to it as well as the During the weeks when our magnifibeautiful stone archway bridges found throughout the length of the road were cent fall foliage is in full effect, beware built by the WPA workers of the day. of parked cars or slowed down vehicles Ultimately, however, it is the incrediin the turns in front of you so that evble vistas and views that make this road eryone stays safe. As the attractions found on various a destination for tourists from all over sections of the BRP are highlighted bethe United States as well as the world. low, we will travel from north to south. While the Rocky Mountains are taller The northern end of our journey starts and majestic in their own way, much of in Ashe County as the BRP winds its what you see above a certain height is way south. It is a mellow and pristine all rock. The Appalachian Mountains stretch of the roadway, which leads to found here, however, are millions of the newly-refurbished Northwest Tradyears older and because they have been ing Post found at milepost 259. There eroded by nature to a lower elevation, you will find many items for purchase they are covered by some of the most diverse forests in North America. Those as well as information. attributes also make the region a great A few miles further and you will find place for the changing of the leaves and a wonderful overlook at milepost 264. bird watching, especially during the There you will find interesting signage autumn migration. that tells the story of Tom Dooley, who

BEFORE YOU VISIT

was the subject of a world-famous true murder ballad that folk musicians have sang for many a decade. Also, behind the sign is a small grassy knoll and when you briefly hike to the top of it, the view of Yadkin Valley is breathtaking in the autumn months. As you continue to travel south, you will come up on the Deep Gap exit that will put you onto Rte. 421. This is the exit to use to get to the lovely mountain college town of Boone, where there is much to do as far as food, shopping and more. At milepost 294 on the BRP you will find the Moses Cone Manor. The old house and 1,000-plus acres of wonderful land was turned into a park many years ago. There you will find a gift shop filled with works made by artists specifically located in the Appalachian Mountains. The Moses Cone Manor house was renovated last summer, both inside and out, so stop by to see the improvements and to visit the grounds. One thing to look for is the Fire Tower Trail, which crosses the Parkway near the parking lot and heads toward a fire tower that overlooks the city of Boone. For those of you wanting to get off the Parkway for a while and explore a unique mountain town, look for the exit onto Rte. 221 which leads you to the famous hamlet known as Blowing Rock. There you will find tourist attractions, a SEE BRP ON PAGE 101

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museum, lots of shopping opportunities and fine restaurants. Back on the Parkway, at milepost 296 you will find Price Lake and its campground, amphitheater, a picnic area and boat ramp. A good place for family camping, there is a lot to do at Price Lake and in the surrounding areas. Please check beforehand for availability during these restrictive times. At milepost 299 of the BRP, you will find the beginning of a run of more adventurous hiking trails including the Boone Fork Trail found on the right. Exploring the northern side of Grandfather Mountain, it is a moderate, mostly level trail that is a beautiful five-mile roundtrip. For those not in the mood to hike, on the left at milepost 301 is a pull-over known as the Wilson Creek Valley View. Whether you stay in your vehicle or walk along the edge, the view is magnificent, especially if the sun is shining on Wilson Creek Gorge below at sunrise or right before sunset. At milepost 300 you will come across one of the more popular mountain trails on this section of the BRP called the Rough Ridge Trail. The parking lot is usually filled with vehicles, especially on a warm, sunny day, mostly because this moderately difficult trail takes you to some of the more stunning overlooks found on Grandfather Mountain. The path can get crowded on the weekends, so social distancing may be required, but the views are wonderful. When you get back on the BRP and travel a little further south, you will experience one of the more famous sections of the road; the aforementioned Linn Cove Viaduct. The last section of the BRP to be built, it is a curvy engineering marvel that shoots out over Wilson Creek Gorge. Before the main part of the viaduct begins, there will be a parking lot to the left called the Yonahlossee Overlook that provides a trail that runs alongside and underneath the viaduct and that walkway also provides AUTUMN TIMES 2020

PHOTO BY ROB MOORE If you are lucky you might have an opportunity to say hello to friendly horses along on the Blue Ridge Parkway.

some great views. The viaduct section is also known for being one of the best spots to see vibrant fall foliage. For an even higher adventure, continue just a mile or so past the Linn Cove Viaduct and take the Rte. 221 exit to Grandfather Mountain State Park. There you will find many sights and activities for the whole family. For an entrance fee, the trip to the top of Grandfather Mountain will feature a wild animal zoo, trails to hike, a gift shop, a restaurant and the famous Mile High Bridge to walk across. The views are stunning and on a rare, crystal-clear day you can see the skyline of Charlotte, 90 miles away on the horizon. More information on entrance fees, tourist reservations and opening and closing times of Grandfather Mountain State Park can be found at grandfather. com. If you continue on Rte. 221 past the entrance to Grandfather Mountain, that will lead to the resort town of Banner Elk. Within a short distance of this mountain village, you will find Sugar Mountain Ski Resort and Beech Mountain Resort. In the fall months, these resorts provide everything from high altitude mountain biking, and disc golf to craft breweries. Grandfather Vineyard

and Winery and Banner Elk Winery are also found close by. Back on the Blue Ridge Parkway heading south from Grandfather Mountain, drive ten or so miles and you will find a series of three exits leading to the Linville Falls and Linville Gorge attractions. The milepost 316 exit will take you to the Linville Falls Visitors Center, campground and picnic area. For an easy and amazing view of Linville Falls and Linville Gorge, go to the RT 221 exit at milepost 317 on the BRP. Once exited, turn left onto Rte. 221 and then take another left onto Rte. 183 less than a mile ahead. About .7 tenths of a mile on Rte. 183, you will find a gravel road on the right with signs that will lead you to Linville Falls. The first parking lot you will see on the left leads to two short, moderate yet awesome trails that lead to different views of Linville Falls as well as the gorge it flows into, which extends for another 12 miles in the distance. After that hike, backtrack and return to Rte. 221. At that three-way intersection, you can turn left onto Rte. 221 and

you will soon find the entrance to the popular Linville Caverns just a short drive away. As of this printing, Linville Caverns were shooting for a summer of 2020 opening so check in at linvillecaverns.com for updated information. When you return to the Blue Ridge Parkway and continue southward, this exceptional roadway will lead you to even more great autumn views and fun stops along the way with places to explore such as Crabtree Falls, the town of Little Switzerland, the Museum of North Carolina Minerals, the live music venue known as the Orchard at Altapass and more until you arrive at the city of Asheville and the Great Smoky Mountains further west. And, you will eventually come across the turn off to Mount Mitchell at milepost 355. At 6,683 feet in elevation, Mount Mitchell is the highest mountain east of the Rockies and the good news is that you can drive virtually all of the way to the top. There is much to take in on this truly special section of the Blue Ridge Parkway in the fall of 2020. Have fun, be safe and go explore!

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PHOTO COURTESY GRANDFATHER MOUNTAIN STEWARDSHIP FOUNDATION Grandfather Mountain is the highest summit in the Blue Ridge Mountain chain. Here is the Mile High Bridge at the park.

Grandfather Mountain STATE PARK BY DEREK HALSEY

ising to nearly 6,000 feet above sea level, Grandfather Mountain is a distinctive natural landmark in a region that features the highest mountains east of the Mississippi River. In fact, Grandfather Mountain is the highest summit in the Blue Ridge Mountain chain. Depending on the angle that you view Grandfather Mountain, it can either appear like the most Rocky Mountainlooking of the peaks found in the High

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Country region when seen from the west, or the face of the old man it is named for appears when you view it from the north. Privately owned for many years, Grandfather Mountain is now a state park. For an entrance fee, there is much to explore on this unique and ancient precipice. The views from the top of Grandfather Mountain overlook Wilson Creek Gorge and also include many other peaks found nearby, including Mount Mitchell, the tallest mountain east of the Rockies. You can even see the skyline of Charlotte on the horizon 90 miles away on a clear day.

Grandfather Mountain State Park, however, provides much more than just panoramic views as it seeks to sustain a unique eco-system. A trip to the top of the mountain features a wild animal attraction, trails to hike, a gift shop, a restaurant and the famous Mile High Bridge to walk across. The wildlife habitats on the mountain feature live black bear, mountain lion, bald eagles, otters, elk and more. The park also houses a Nature Museum that offers an opportunity to learn about the diverse and sometimes rare aspects of nature

found in the park. The museum displays range from 60-plus examples of gems and crystals found in this mineral-rich region to native plant life displays created by the late artist Paul Marchand. Many wildlife movies have been filmed on Grandfather Mountain and the parkâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Nature Museum Theatre plays these productions on a regular basis throughout the day. As with most aspects of life in recent months, Grandfather Mountain State Park was closed this past spring due to SEE GMSP ON PAGE 104

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the coronavirus pandemic. But as society slowly opened up, the park adjusted and opened as well. Frank Ruggiero is the director of Marketing and Communications for the Grandfather Mountain Stewardship Foundation. “In March, we decided to temporarily close Grandfather Mountain to help reduce the spread of COVID-19,” said Ruggiero. “We tried to make the best of the situation by performing maintenance that we otherwise couldn’t have done if guests were in the park. Meanwhile, our animal keepers continued to care for the resident animals who call Grandfather Mountain their home. We reopened on May 15, with mountains of safety measures and procedures in place.” While some of the changes are listed below, however, be sure to look for updates and park news at grandfather.com or (800) 468-7325.

BY DEREK HALSEY A wild animal attraction is part of the adventure of visiting Grandfather Mountain State Park.

“Now, rather than purchasing tickets at our entrance gate, visitors must do so online at www.grandfather.com by placing a reservation for a set date and time of entry,” said Ruggiero. “This measure aims to help limit the number of guests in the park at one time, in accordance with the state of North Carolina’s social

gathering guidelines. As such, tickets will not be sold or available at the gate as visitors must book online in advance. Here’s a quote from Jesse Pope, our president and executive director; ‘The safety of our guests and staff comes first and foremost. We will continue to follow the situation closely, while implementing a phased

reopening plan closely correlated with Gov. Roy Cooper.’” With each new re-opening phase that is expected to happen within the state of North Carolina, changes are sure to come. As of early September, “We have enacted operational measures to discourage crowds and encourage social distancing,” said Ruggiero. “High-traffic pedestrian areas such as the Mile High Swinging Bridge and wildlife habitats will implement a one-way directional system to ensure that guests do not come within six feet of each other. The number of guests allowed to visit such areas at one time will be limited, based on state social gathering recommendations, while a time limit will ensure that others can participate in turn. However, guests are welcome revisit such areas during the same trip. Time limits will be not be enforced for the park’s less crowded, lower-traffic areas. We’ve also enhanced our already stringent cleaning procedures and placed additional sanitization stations in key areas, while SEE GMSP ON PAGE 105

We are keeping the store safe and healthy!

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PARK DETAILS Each guest entering the park must have a ticket, which includes a reserved timeslot. Prices are as follows: Adults are $22, Seniors age 60+ are $20, children ages 4-12 are $9, AAA Adult is $20 (must present valid AAA card) and AAA children’s fee is $8 with a valid AAA card. Proceeds from admission tickets benefit the Grandfather Mountain Stewardship Foundation, a nonprofit organization dedicated to preserving and protecting the park for future generations. Tickets will be sold from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., with the park closing at 7 p.m.

PHOTO BY ROB MOORE One of the highlights of Grandfather Mountain through the years is the opportunity to view a sunrise.

GMSP CONTINUED FROM PAGE 104

boosting staff presence to direct traffic flow and encourage safe social distancing.” In the autumn months, the mountains come alive as the leaves begin to change and a multitude of colors light up the forests. To take advantage of this wonderful time of the year, Grandfather Mountain State Park will offer Fall Color Ramble Guided Walks on Oct. 3-11. These easy, AUTUMN TIMES 2020

20-minute hikes taking place at 2 p.m. daily will let visitors take in the best fall foliage with a naturalist as their guide. “The fall colors in the Southeast are exceptionally spectacular because of the diversity of species that change color,” said Lauren Farrell, interpretation and education programs coordinator for the Grandfather Mountain Stewardship Foundation, the nonprofit organization that owns and operates the Linville, N.C., nature preserve. “It’s definitely one of my favorite times on the mountain.” Even if you miss the guided fall foliage walks, Grandfather Mountain State Park

should still be your destination for family adventure. “All throughout October and possibly beyond, the mountain will offer an ample display of fall color even after the local leaves have peaked,” said Ruggiero. “You’re essentially able to see the entire season unfold before your eyes. Autumn always look spectacular from a mile high up in the sky.” For the in-shape hikers among us, you can climb to the top of Grandfather Mountain via the famous Profile Trail. The trailhead for the Profile Trail can be found on Rt. 105 in Banner Elk. The hike,

however, is considered difficult as it rises 1, 775 feet over 3.6 miles and requires stream crossings and ladder usage. Once on the summit, however, you can explore other peaks or hike to the Mile High Bridge free of charge. Still, preparation is the key on the Profile Trail as inclement weather can happen at any time. Once you have summated, you can continue over the mountain and climb down to the Blue Ridge Parkway where someone can pick you up, be picked up on top of Grandfather Mountain, or climb back the way you came. With all scenarios, proper planning is essential. 105

Appalachian Anomaly:

MYSTERY HILL The history of the mystery

BY LUKE BARBER

or more than 70 years, Mystery Hill has delighted inquisitive tourists and families looking to renew their sense of wonder. The roadside attraction’s natural gravitational anomaly has remained the destination’s original source of interest, with families returning continuously over the years to share their amazement with each new successive generation. In Mystery Hill’s famous gravity room, parents share the same bright-eyed excitement with their children, as they watch in wonder at water flowing up hill and other natural phenomenal that appear to defy the laws of physics. In the room, visitors feel the force of gravity pulling down on them like they’ve never felt before. Visitors can’t help but lean to the side like Michael Jackson’s “Smooth Criminal” music video and in one section younger children can enjoy being taller than their older sibling for a brief moment. It’s a sensation that must truly be experienced firsthand. Mathew Underwood, who is a thirdgeneration caretaker of Mystery Hill, said that the natural gravitational anomaly first puzzled the Hudson family, who were the original owners of the property. “The gravitational anomaly, as far as we know it, has been there forever. The Hudsons were the first ones to really discover it and ask why it was happening,” Underwood said. “(The phenomena) goes about 1,040 feet up the hillside from that room, and if you take any object hanging from mid air it will take twice as much force to push it one direction.” William Hudson discovered the phenomena back in the 1920s and 1930s without knowing exactly why it was happening. Hudson noticed that the trees in his apple orchard grew toward the north, directly into the prevailing winds. He also 106

ATTRACTIONS AT MYSTERY HILL • • • • • • • •

Natural Gravitational Anomaly The Hall of Mystery Bubblerama Native American Artifact Museum 1903 Doughtery House Museum Doc’s Rocks Gem Mine Appalachian Fossil Museum Professor Finnegan’s Old Time Photos

Click to www.mysteryhill.com or call (828) 264-2792 for more information. noticed that the apples that fell from the trees appeared to roll uphill on his old walking path. One day, Hudson picked up a copy of Life Magazine and read an article about a place in California that possessed all of the same peculiarities. He and his wife traveled to California where they discovered that the people out there were charging a nickel to see it. On the couple’s way home, Hudson told his wife that they would start charging people a nickel to see it and that people would be amazed. Underwood said that Hudson’s wife responded by saying, “People in California might pay a nickel, but North Carolina people aren’t going to do that!” “In 1948, they put a sign on the road saying it was the Mystery Hill and the rest is history,” Underwood said. Underwood’s grandfather, RJ Underwood, purchased the property from the Hudsons in 1958. After looking into building a restaurant on the site, Underwood became intrigued by the natural phenomena that appeared to cause unusual things to happen on the side of the mountain. The Underwoods ended up purchasing the entire property and it has continued to dazzle generations of visitors ever since. “We’ve added quite a few new things,”

PHOTO BY LUKE BARBER Mystery Hill has nine unique attractions that family members of all ages can enjoy.

Underwood said. “We’ve had a lot of visitors that we’ve not seen in years. It’s almost like being shut-up with family during quarantine has got a lot of people nostalgic. We’ve had so many people coming in say, ‘We were here forty years ago, and I wanted to bring the grandkids to see it.’” In 2019, the attraction added on tomahawk throwing and Front Porch Eats, featuring Hole Lotta Donuts, Appalachian Cookie Company, Hatchet Coffee and Java Rocks Coffee Shop. In the near future, Mystery Hill will be adding on even more attractions to the exhibit. While the COVID-19 pandemic has stalled the attractions continued expansion, it still has several projects in the works. This fall, Mystery Hill will be expanding Professor Finnegan’s Old Time Photo Parlor by almost tripling the amount of space and adding new scenes and costumes. Underwood said that the attraction may also have pedal cars available for rental this fall as well. Families will be able to rent out four-wheeled peddle cars that each family member will be able to take on the greenway next to the property. The greenway is expected to be finished by the end of fall as well. Once completed, the

Middle Fork Greenway in Boone will connect to Sterling Creek Park and go all the way to Tweetsie Railroad, with Tweetsie eventually being connected to Gold Mine Branch Park. In the spring, Mystery Hill will be adding a new eight-sided climbing tower as part of the Tomahawk Hill experience. Also in the works is an expanded farm yard experience, as more animals, such as goats and a miniature donkey, will be added on to the small farm next to the Doughtery House (the house which was once home to the family that started Appalachian State University). The Soaring Eagle zip line is also planned to be installed next year. Also induced in the Mystery Hill experience is the Hall of Mystery, the Appalachian Fossil and Dinosaur Museum, Doc’s Rocks Gem Mine and the Native American Artifact Museum. The attraction will also be expanding its storytelling times, which take place the first Saturday of each month, with traditional music and more stories through the fall. Mystery Hill is requiring face masks to be worn, and the property is spread out, making it easy to social distance. For more information, click to www.mysteryhill.com or call (828) 264-2792. AUTUMN TIMES 2020

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Natural Gravitational Anomaly

Tomahawk Hill

Hall of Mystery

Bubblerama

Dougherty House Museum

Historic Farmyard

Native American Artifacts Museum

Greenway Adventures

Prof Finneganâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Old Time Photos

LOCATED ON HWY 321 IN BLOWING ROCK, NC AUTUMN TIMES 2020

BUY TICKETS ONLINE AT MYSTERYHILL.COM 107

TWEETSIE

FILE PHOTO Tweetsie Railroad’s Ghost Train pulls into the station on Main Street.

WILD WEST IN THE HIGH COUNTRY

BY ABBY WHITT

weetsie Railroad, one of North Carolina’s oldest theme park attractions, sits in the Blue Ridge of North Carolina, between Blowing Rock and Boone. Visitors travel from across the coun-

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try to ride in the park’s open-air train cars and hear its engines’ whistle blow through the mountains. The park hosts a number of annual events that are fun perfect for families, especially for those with younger children, and each train ride features a wild west-themed skit for the train’s

passengers to enjoy. A number of retail stores offer shopping to park patrons in the town junction on Main Street while park employees are dressed in period costumes. While the COVID-19 pandemic prompted the closure of the park, the owners said in August that they hope to

reopen in time for Tweetsie Christmas. Canceled events for the 2020 season include the July 4 Fireworks Extravaganza, Day Out With Thomas, K-9’s In Flight Frisbee Dogs and the awardwinning Ghost Train in October. SEE TWEETSIE ON PAGE 109

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The park’s annual Ghost Train is a regular indicator of the seasonal change from fall to winter, held during weekends in September and October. While the Ghost Train is running, park visitors are welcome to take a spooky ride into the night with engineer Casey Bones through the Freaky Forest, and the park opens a chilling Haunted House with 13 scares. Tweetsie Christmas is traditionally held on Friday and Saturday evenings from the last weekend in November until the last weekend in December. During these weekends, park transforms into a winter wonderland complete with twinkling lights, Santa, live Christmas shows and more. Season passes bought for the 2020 season at Tweetsie Railroad will be honored during the 2021 season. Updates from the park can be found online at www.tweetsie.com.

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PHOTO COURTESY OF TWEETSIE RAILROAD One of the highlights for guests visiting Tweetsie Railroad is riding on one of the park’s two historic narrow-gauge steam locomotives.

FILE PHOTO 2017 Tweetsie Railroad’s iconic engine No. 12, one of the original East Tennessee/ West North Carolina locomotives, celebrates its 103 anniversary in 2020.

PHOTO COURTESY OF TWEETSIE RAILROAD The Tweetsie cowboys provide entertainment for park guests aboard train rides.

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Regional artists highlight mountain life

growing art scene since its establishment and especially during the past decade, the High Country is home to thousands of artists who work in a variety of mediums. As a region that’s proud to be known for its creativity and uniqueness, visitors will find art around every corner and in every open space. In Blowing Rock, the Blowing Rock Art & History Museum showcases one of the town’s legendary artists, Elliott Daingerfield, painting plein air. The bronze statue is complete with an easel and colorful paints, and it stands beside Edgewood Cottage, which was his home in Blowing Rock. To keep the community connected to the regional arts during the COVID-19 pandemic, BRAHM launched BRAHM at Home, which features frequent uploads, how-to videos and virtual gallery tours. Learn more about BRAHM at Home at https://www.blowingrockmuseum.org/ athome. Edgewood Cottage, maintained in part by the Blowing Rock Historical Society, also highlights the arts by hosting an annual program titled “Artists in Residence at Edgewood Cottage.” In the heart of downtown Boone, on King Street, is the Turchin Center for Visual Arts, which is a part of Appalachian State University. The Turchin Center has a number of galleries that are filled with pieces from local and regional artists, faculty members

High Country art galleries Banner Elk:

Art Cellar 920 Shawneehaw Ave S (828) 898-5175 www.artcellaronline.com 110

PHOTO BY CAROLINE LAWSON Photographs from the annual Appalachian Mountain Photography Competition are exhibited in a gallery at the Turchin Center.

and students. The Turchin Center hosts annual exhibitions, including the Rosen Sculpture Competition and faculty showcases, and weekly workshops. During the COVID-19 pandemic, the Turchin Center has launched Turchin At Home to continue connecting the community to art. Turchin at Home content can be found at https:// tcva.appstate.edu. In West Jefferson is the Ashe Arts Center, which features a variety of artwork each year in varying mediums. Recently, the Ashe Arts Center displayed “Barnyard Antics,” which included fiber, photography and painting. The Ashe Arts Center features a gift Carlton Gallery 10360 Hwy 105 S. (828) 963-4288 www.carltongallery.com Clark Gallery 393 Shawneehaw Ave (828) 898-2095

shop where community members and visitors can support local artists and hosts annual events such as Art on the Mountain and the Ashe County Fiddlers Convention. Learn more about its offerings at https://ashecountyarts.org/index.php. The Watauga Arts Council is housed in the Blue Ridge ArtSpace on Shadowline Drive in Boone. Composed of four separate galleries and a number of classroom spaces, the arts council hosts several long-running programs including music lessons which are being offered virtually during the pandemic. In May, the Watauga Arts Council and Blue Ridge ArtSpace launched the Blue Ridge ArtStream, which was a weekly http://chrisclarkgallery.com Maggie Black Pottery 112-1 Clubhouse Drive (828) 773-2459 http://maggieblackpottery.com/contact.html Sally Nooney Gallery

stream of performing artists across a variety of mediums, via Facebook. ArtStream events can be found online at www.facebook.com/WataugaCountyArtsCouncil. Outside of the COVID-19 pandemic, the ArtSpace hosts monthly events to showcase local artists and unveil new exhibits in the facility’s galleries. These family friendly events that include live music from the ArtSpace’s porch are called Second Saturday Celebrations. In August, Cherry Johnson, the Watauga County Arts Council executive director during the past 28 years, retired and was succeeded by Amber Bateman, who says she has “big plans” for the future of the Blue Ridge ArtSpace. Learn more about the Watauga Arts Council at www.watauga-arts.org. Avery County artists are largely showcased by the Toe River Arts Council in Spruce Pine since the disbanding of the Avery County Arts Council in 2012. Toe River Arts features artists who work in a variety of mediums including glass, metal, fibers, clay, drawing and painting, photography, and more. From Sept. 11 until Oct. 24, Toe River Arts will display an collective exhibit titled “Think BIG Prints” which includes the art of 37 artists across the nation and 10 from North Carolina. Prints in this exhibit range from 2’ by 3’ to 4’ by 8’. Toe River Arts galleries are located at 269 Oak Avenue in Spruce Pine and at 102 W. Main Street in Burnsville. Learn more at www.toeriverarts.org.

7143 N.C.-194 (828) 963-7347 SEE MORE www.sallynooney.com Studio 140 at Sorrento’s GALLERIES ON PAGE 111 140 Azalea Circle (828) 898-5214 www.facebook.com/studio140 AUTUMN TIMES 2020

High Country art galleries Blowing Rock:

Blowing Rock Art and History Museum 159 Ginny Stevens Ln. (828) 295-9099 www.blowingrockmuseum.org Blowing Rock Frameworks and Gallery 7539 Valley Blvd. (828) 295-0041 www.blowingrockgalleries.com Bolick and Traditions Pottery 1155 Main St. (828) 295-6128 www.bolickandtraditionspottery.com Crown Gallery 1153 Main Street (828) 818-0008 https://crowngalleryusa.com Martin House Gallery 1098 Main St. (336) 508-2828 www.martinhousegallery.com

Boone:

Blue Ridge ArtSpace 377 Shadowline Drive (828) 264-1789 www.watauga-arts.com Doe Ridge Pottery 585 W. King St. #D (828) 264-1127 www.doeridgepottery. homestead.com Hands Gallery 543 W King St. (828) 262-1970 www.handsgallery.org Jones House Community Center 604 W. King St. (828) 268-6280 www.joneshouse.org Nth Degree Gallery 683 W. King St. AUTUMN TIMES 2020

(828) 963-5247 www.altavistagallery. com

West Jefferson:

SUBMITTED PHOTO ‘Tea Time’ by Lori Hill on exhibit at the Turchin Center in Boone.

(828) 919-6919 www.nthdegreegallery.com Turchin Center for the Visual Arts 423 W. King St. (828) 262-3017 www.tcva.org

Crossnore:

Crossnore Fine Arts Gallery 205 Johnson Lane (828) 733-3144 www.crossnore.org/ fine-arts-gallery

Linville:

Anvil Arts Sculpture Garden and Gallery 9600 Linville Falls Highway (828) 765-6226 www.studiosculpture. com Linville River Pottery 2180 Goose Hollow Rd. 828-387-1944 828-387-1818 www.linvilleriverpottery.com

Valle Crucis:

Alta Vista Gallery 2839 Broadstone Road

Acorn Gallery 103 Long Street 336-246-3388 http://www.acorngallery.com Ashe Arts Center Gallery 303 School Ave. (336) 846-2787 www.ashecountyarts.org Backstreet Beads and Handcrafted Jewelry 111 N Jefferson Ave A (336) 877-7686 https://www.backstreetbeads.com Catchlight Gallery 118 N. Jefferson Ave. 336-846-1551 http://catchlightgallery.net Florence Thomas Art School 10 S. Jefferson Ave. (336) 846-3827 www.florenceartschool.org Originals Only Gallery 3-B N. Jefferson Ave. 336-846-1636 http://originalsonlygallery.com Quilt Square Girls 5 E. Second St. (336) 385-0196 http://www.ilovebarnquilts.com R.T. Morgan Art Gallery & Glass by Camille 120 N. Jefferson Ave. (336) 246-3328 www.rtmorgangallery. com 111

Mountain culture:

Exhibited work changes every month, and artists always try to work a day in the gallery in order to meet-and-greet customers. The gallery is open from 11 a.m. until 5 p.m. on Monday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday, and from 11 a.m. until 4 p.m. on Sundays.

Arts in Appalachia

ne of the most special seasons in the High Country, autumn, brings new colors, sounds and appreciation to the mountains each year. As football season kicks off, students return to their dorm rooms and a vibrant green turns to orange, maroon and bright yellow, artists take to their medium to capture the change. The High Country’s geographic location in North Carolina draws artists from across the nation who fall in love with the community and decide to sell their art in one of the regions many galleries for people to have in their home. Showcasing a number of art styles with varying textures, art galleries in the High Country have something for everyone and their budget.

ASHE COUNTY

Acorn Gallery 103 Long Street, West Jefferson

(336) 246-3388 www.acorngallery.com The Acorn Gallery in West Jefferson showcases a number of styles of art from photo-realism to impressionism to plein air. Curator and owner, Raney Rodgers has taught art in public schools and to private students. Art is available to order online along with requesting commissions. Visit the gallery website to learn more.

Ashe Custom Framing and Gallery 105 S. Jefferson Avenue, West Jefferson (336) 846-2218 www.ashecustomframing.com Visit Ashe Custom Framing and Gallery, which has been in the High Country for more than 18 years, to have a piece professionally framed or to find the perfect art for your home in the gallery.

PHOTO SUBMITTED Wes Waugh’s ‘Parkway Evening’ (20” x 28”) in watercolor on paper, from the Blowing Rock Frameworks & Gallery.

Store hours from April through December are from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Tuesday through Friday, and from 10 a.m. until 2 p.m. on Saturdays. From January through March, Ashe Custom Framing and Gallery is open from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., Tuesday through Saturday. CatchLight Gallery 118 N. Jefferson Avenue, West Jefferson (336) 846-1551 www.catchlightgallery.net CatchLight Gallery is a photo gallery nestled in the mountains of Ashe County.

Cher Shaffer Studio Gallery 676 S. Main Street, West Jefferson (336) 385-6001 www.facebook.com/mojogallery Cher Shaffer is a self-taught artist, who has compiled a gallery of nationally known original folk art, outsider art, antiques and collectibles located in West Jefferson. To learn more about current and upcoming exhibits, call the gallery or visit its Facebook page. Florence Thomas Art School 10 S. Jefferson Avenue, West Jefferson (336) 846-3827 www.florenceartschool.org The Florence Art School Gallery hosts an open studio every Thursday from 1-4 p.m. in the downtown West Jefferson studio space. This is a non-instructional, SEE ARTS ON PAGE 114

Alta Vista Gallery

Oils by Monique Carr

• Over 100 artists, including Joan Sporn, Monique Carr, Jeremy Sams, and Will Moses, heir to Grandma Moses • In our 30th year: Oils, watercolors, pastels, prints, custom framing

www.AltaVistaGallery.com

On National Register of Historic Places, at 2839 Broadstone Road in Valle Crucis Near Mast Store Annex • 15 minutes from Boone or Banner Elk • 828.963.5247 112

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ARTS

Gallery hours change with the season, so call the gallery or visit its website or Facebook page for the current schedule.

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informal time to enjoy working and meeting other artists. Membership is $50 annually. Artists and the public are welcome. Visit the gallery website for more information. Originals Only Gallery 3-B N. Jefferson Avenue, West Jefferson (336) 846-1636 www.originalsonlygallery.com This gallery features original works of art by two of Ashe County’s artists: Joan Stiles Bell and Susan Van Wyk. It also features handcrafted folk art trees and wood furniture by Elijah Holman, plus North Carolina pottery and a large collection of fine scarves, bags and textiles from around the world. Prints by Lenore de Pree. Originals Only is open Wednesday through Saturday from 10 a.m. until 5 p.m., and by appointment. Quilt Square Girls 5 E. Second Street, West Jefferson (336) 385-0196 www.ilovebarnquilts. com The shop has an eclectic array of artists including photographers, fiber artists, jewelry, pottery, hand forged knives and carpenters. Gallery hours are from Monday through Saturday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., and closed on Sunday. Call or visit the website for more information. R.T. Morgan Art Gallery and Glass by Camille 120 N. Jefferson 114

PHOTO SUBMITTED Jean Pollock’s ‘Willow at Lake’ (30” x 40”) in oil on canvas is on display at the Alta Vista Gallery in Valle Crucis.

Avenue, West Jefferson (336) 246-3328 www.rtmorganartgallery.com Internationally known artist/co-owner R.T. Morgan is very diverse with his art. On display are stainless steel sculptures and wall hangings for outdoors and interiors ranging from 2 to 12 feet, incorporating different materials and styles. Camille has been a selftaught stained glass artist since 1986, discovering a world of talent within herself. She made simple sun catchers in her early years and now creates original door panels, window panels and even three dimensional stained glass wall hangings. Hours are 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Closed on Wednesday and Sunday. Call for private viewings anytime. Stephen Shoemaker Gallery 113 S. Jefferson Avenue, West Jefferson (336) 877-7642 www.stephenshoemaker.com Stephen Sharpe Shoemaker is a detailed artist located in downtown West Jefferson in Ashe County.

Visitors to the gallery will find giclées, lithographs, puzzles and original works available for sale. Commissioned work also available. Call the gallery or visit its website for more information.

AVERY COUNTY 87 Ruffin Street Gallery 87 Ruffin Street, Linville (828) 737-0420 www.business.averycounty.com/list 87 Ruffin Street Gallery is located next to the Old Hampton Store, Barbeque & Tavern on Highway 221 in Linville. The gallery features the work of local and regional folk artists, potters, figural wood carvers, glass artists and painters. The gallery also carries furniture handcrafted by local artists from local woods. 87 Ruffin Street is housed in the original 1921 Hampton residence and joins the adjacent barn. Demonstration artists are often at the gallery. The gallery is closed Monday through Wednesday, and its hours of operation are from 10 a.m. until 5 p.m. Thursday through Sunday.

BE Artists Gallery The Historic Banner Elk School 185 Azalea Circle, Banner Elk www.beartistsgallery. com BE Artists Gallery is a cooperative of artists who have joined to open a gallery of fine arts and crafts in Banner Elk. Hours are 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Tuesdays through Saturdays. Visit the gallery website for current featured artists and displays. Carlton Gallery 10360 Hwy 105 S., Banner Elk (828) 963-4288 www.carltongallery. com Carlton Gallery is located 10 miles south of Boone, 7 miles north of Linville or Banner Elk and 8 miles from Blowing Rock on Hwy 105 south in the Grandfather Mountain community. Hours are 10 a.m.until 5 p.m. Tuesdays through Saturdays and 11:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. on Sundays. For more information about gallery workshops, artists or exhibitions call (828) 963-4288. Clark Gallery 393 Shawneehaw Avenue S., Banner Elk (828) 898-2095 www.chrisclarkgallery. com Chris Clark has been representing fine art for fourteen years. As a painter himself, he is sensitive to both the artists and clients’ needs. The gallery represents a wide range of American artists from regional to national

acclaim, and is active with American auction houses, acquiring a collection of older works that are not by artists represented in the gallery, as well as found objects. The gallery is open Tuesday through Saturday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., and closed on Sunday and Monday. To learn more, visit the gallery’s website or Facebook page. Crossnore Fine Arts Gallery 205 Johnson Lane, Crossnore (828) 733-3144 www.crossnore.org/ fine-arts-gallery The Crossnore Fine Arts Gallery represents regional painters, sculptors and fine craft persons. A portion of all proceeds benefit the children of Crossnore School and Children’s Home. Gallery hours are from Monday through Saturday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Maggie Black Pottery 112 Clubhouse Drive, Hwy 105, Banner Elk (828) 773-2459 www.maggieblackpottery.com Maggie’s pottery has gained an enthusiastic audience at galleries state-wide and at juried craft and music festivals. For the past ten years she has also been teaching in the same program where she developed her skills, the ASU Craft Enrichment program. Maggie Black Pottery is located at Shops at Mill Ridge on Highway 105 in Banner Elk. Here she may be found throwing pots on her wheel in the back of the upstairs gallery, or downstairs, glazing and firing. Gallery art is displayed

on the gallery’s website. Sally Nooney Gallery 7143 N.C.-194, Banner Elk (828) 963-7347 www.sallynooney.com Sally Nooney Gallery offers unique glass sculptures to brighten a garden or entrance, and beautiful new paintings ready to grace homes. Find Sally Nooney Gallery on Highway 194 midway between Banner Elk and Valle Crucis. Gallery hours are 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday, and 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Sunday. Studio 140 at Sorrento’s 140 Azalea Circle, Banner Elk (828) 898-5214 www.facebook.com/ studio140 Studio 140 at Sorrento’s features large paintings by artist Kent Paulette. As they enter the gallery, visitors will see paintings of animals that once roamed the area such as elk and wolves. They might hear live music coming from the next room which is dedicated to pop art portraits of famous musicians. The upstairs gallery features Paulette’s paintings of dancing female figures and abstract mountain landscapes. The gallery is open Wednesday through Sunday from 5-10 p.m.

WATAUGA COUNTY Alta Vista Gallery 2839 Broadstone Road, Valle Crucis (828) 963-5247 www.altavistagallery. com In its 29th year, Alta SEE ARTS ON PAGE 116

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Vista Gallery shows more than 100 artists in all media specializing in mountain landscapes. The gallery is constantly receiving new landscape paintings by award-winning artists. View images of paintings on the gallery’s Facebook page @AltaVistaGallery.com Gallery hours are from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily, except for Sundays. Anvil Arts Sculpture Garden and Gallery 9600 Linville Falls Highway, Linville Falls (828) 765-6226 www.studiosculpture.com Visitors are welcome to visit the gallery five days a week. Visit Tuesday through Saturday from 10 a.m. until 5 p.m. to walk the grounds, sit under the trees and discover works inside the gallery. All the artwork exhibited both inside and outside are available for purchase, from small works for interiors to large scale outdoor works. Art Cellar Gallery 920 Shawneehaw Lane, Banner Elk (828) 898-5175 www.artcellaronline.com A High Country arts destination for more than two decades, The Art Cellar Gallery is located on Highway 184 in Banner Elk and is open Monday through Saturday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Blowing Rock Art & History Museum 159 Ginny Stevens Lane, Blowing Rock (828) 295-9099 www.blowingrockmuseum.org The Blowing Rock Art and History Museum is a hub of artistry and entertainment in the heart of the High Country. BRAHM offers annual membership and weekly and monthly events. Visitors can visit the gallery’s website and follow @brmuseum on social media to view a variety of videos, artist interviews, behind-the-scenes sneak peeks, art lessons geared towards youth and more. The museum’s regular hours of operation are from 10 a.m. until 5 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday, year-round, and from noon until 4 p.m. on Sunday, May through October. See a full list of gallery

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events online at https://www.blowingrockmuseum.org/calendar. During the COVID-19 pandemic, BRAHM is showcasing programming virtually through BRAHM at Home. More information can be found on its website. Blowing Rock Frameworks & Gallery 7539 Valley Blvd., Blowing Rock (828) 295-0041 www.blowingrockgalleries.com Located off of Hwy. 321 in Blowing Rock, Blowing Rock Frameworks & Gallery has been providing the highest quality fine art and framing to the High Country and surrounding areas for more than 25 years. Tim Miller founded the shop in 1994 and pursued furthering his education in the art of framing by gaining the accolades of Certified Picture Framer and Guild Commended Framer. With an emphasis on landscapes, the gallery represents numerous and wellknown local and contemporary artists. Gallery hours are Monday through Saturday 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. and can be found on Facebook and Instagram under the handle @brframeworks. Blue Ridge ArtSpace 377 Shadowline Drive, Boone (828) 264-1789 www.watauga-arts.com The Blue Ridge ArtSpace has four galleries that are filled monthly with locally created artwork. To learn about current or upcoming exhibits, visit the gallery’s website at www.watauga-arts.org. The gallery is open Tuesdays and Wednesdays from 1:30-5:30 p.m., and from 11:30 a.m. until 5:30 p.m. on Thursdays through Saturdays. During the COVID-19 pandemic, Blue Ridge ArtSpace is showcasing local talent each week at 7 p.m. on the gallery’s Facebook page. Bolick and Traditions Pottery 1155 Main Street, Blowing Rock (828) 295-6128 www.bolickandtraditionspottery.com In 2019, Bolick and Traditions Pottery welcomed Pete and Kim McWhirter to the shop/gallery in Blowing Rock. Pete and Kim are second-generation potters and have a shop near the South Toe River valley near Mt. Mitchell. The shop also carries locally made soaps and candles by Mary Ferrell, jewelry by Melissa Cox of the Vintage Locket and The Artist Jay of Greensboro.

The store hosts two wood kiln openings and various other events throughout the year. Gallery hours are 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Saturday and 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Sunday. Crown Gallery 1153 Main Street., Blowing Rock (828) 818-0008 www.crowngalleryusa.com Crown Gallery is proud to represent exceptional local, regional and nationally acclaimed artists, each offering a unique style. The gallery has been designed with a relaxed atmosphere to comfortably view the ever-changing collection. Gallery owners, James Selby Rue and Carolyn Crocker-Rue, bring many years of combined experience in the field of art to their roles as curators of original fine art by an exceptional roster of mid-career professional artists. Doe Ridge Pottery 585 W. King Street #D, Boone (828) 264-1127 www.doeridgepottery.homestead.com Doe Ridge Pottery Gallery is the home of Master Craftsman Bob Meier as well as a number of other fine potters from the High Country such as Becki HendersonGow, Carol King, Cindy Pacileo, Claire Lenahan, Connie Cox, Gene Arnold, Latonna Bowman, Millie Goodnight, Nathan Fields, Nancy Graham, Patti Carmen-Whitehead and Stephanie Welden. Each artists brings their own unique personality and creative gifting to the art of ceramics, providing an array of both functional and decorative pieces. Hands Gallery 543 W King Street, Boone (828) 262-1970 www.handsgallery.org The gallery, open for more than 45 years, offers a selection of jewelry, fiber, baskets, pottery, photos, gourds, woodblock prints, soaps, mosaics, stained glass, wrought iron, wooden bowls, furniture and many other hand-crafted items. Hands Gallery is open every day from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. All members live within 50 miles of the gallery, and the gallery has consignment from other parts of the state. Jones House Community Center 604 W. King Street, Boone (828) 268-6280 www.joneshouse.org

Each month a new artist or organization presents their work in the Mazie Jones Gallery and is featured in the monthly First Friday Art Crawl reception. The Jones House gallery is open from noon to 5 p.m. Tuesday through Friday, and from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday. Visit the Jones House website for the 2019 gallery schedule. Martin House Gallery 1098 Main Street, Blowing Rock (336) 508-2828 www.martinhousegallery.com The Historic Martin House located in the heart of Blowing Rock has been showcasing some of the region’s most established and talented artist for over 30 years. The gallery offers free delivery and installation as well as after hour showings. Visit the Martin House Gallery website to see artists and available work. Find the gallery on Facebook and Instagram @ martinhousegallery. The gallery also offers showings after hours by request (336) 508-2828. Nth Degree Gallery 683 W. King Street, Boone (828) 919-6919 www.nthdegreegallery.com The Nthº Gallery and Studios is a not-for-profit, member and donationsupported art venue serving as an incubator for emerging and established artists in the Boone area. The gallery’s season spans the entire year with shows taking place on the first Friday of every month. The space also features six studio rooms and seven active artists who use the space to create their own work and also contribute to the operation of the gallery. Turchin Center for the Visual Arts 423 W. King Street, Boone (828) 262-3017 www.tcva.org The Turchin Center, located on King Street in Boone, has seven galleries with changing contemporary art exhibition and is the largest facility of its kind in the region. The gallery is free and open to the public. Hours are from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Tuesday to Thursday and Saturday, and Friday, noon to 8 p.m. For more information about exhibitions and programs, visit tcva.org or call (828) 262-3017. AUTUMN TIMES 2020

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High art in the High Country Hiking the Ben Long Fresco Trail

he seminal work of visionary painter Benjamin Long adorns towns and cities across North Carolina. Long’s artwork not only attracts tourists to the beautiful hillsides of Ashe County and other locations in the High Country, but art connoisseurs also search his paintings for hidden religious insight. Long’s paintings are of great significance to the Christian community. Long is a master in the art of painting frescoes. Frescoes are a style of painting that was populating during the Italian Renaissance and harken back to a period of classical imagery. Frescoes are painted on a pieces of wet plaster, thus making the painting a part of the wall in a church or other structure. Long’s paintings at churches, galleries and offices across the state make up what is affectionately known as the Benjamin Long Fresco Trail. Long’s paintings are featured in Charlotte, Statesville, Wilkesboro, Morganton, Montreat, Crossnore, Glendale Springs and West Jefferson. Before you head out on your artful adventure to view Long’s work, consider making your first stop in Ashe County, where two of Long’s frescoes are on display. St. Mary’s Episcopal Church, also referred to as the Church of the Frescoes, is home to “Mary Great with Child, John the Baptist and Mystery of Faith,” which are on display at 400 Beaver Creek School Road in West Jefferson. In the summer of 1977, five years after Long left Vietnam for Italy to go study under Pietro Annigoni (the last living Italian master of the 20th century), Long finished his work “The Mystery of Faith” at St. Mary’s. Long’s determination and attention was unmovable during this time, as Long would work 118

FILE PHOTO The ‘Mystery of Faith’ fresco by Ben Long is featured on the wall of St. Mary’s Episcopal Church in West Jefferson.

nonstop even during church service. He only paused to accept communion, and then he would continue to work on his masterpiece. In nearby Glendale Springs, Long began his work “The Last Supper” during the late 1970s as well while the church was undergoing a restoration project after being closed for more than 30 years. As work progressed and the original pews, altars and candle stands, among other furnishings, returned, Long worked diligently on yet another masterpiece to adorn the church’s alter. Long finished the piece in 1980. “Long and 20 of his students spent three months completing the fresco while the church was still undergoing renovations,” the parish stated. “Local people served as models for all the biblical figures except the waiting maid, Judas, Thomas and Christ. Benjamin F. Long was the model for Thomas. In a scrip at the right of the foot-washing bowl, Long painted a dedication to his father, who died just as the fresco was being completed.” Holy Trinity Church is located at 120

PHOTO BY BAILEY LITTLE St. Mary’s Episcopal Church, located at 400 Beaver Creek School Road in West Jefferson, is one of Ashe County’s most visited attractions. The early 20th century church houses three beautiful 1972 frescoes by artist Ben Long.

Glendale School Rd in West Jefferson. In Avery County, Long’s stirring depiction of Mark 10:14 is a fitting tribute to the children and staff at The Crossnore School, a nonprofit children’s home. The painting “Suffer the Little Children” is located in the E.H. Sloop Chapel and features children who were residents at the school crowding around an image of Christ. Mark 10:14 states “Suffer the little children to come unto me and forbid them not: for such is the kingdom of God.” Long’s masterpiece was finished in 2006. The rest of the locations along the Benjamin Long Frescoe Trail include St. Peter’s Catholic Church, Bank of America skyscraper, Trans-America Dome, Montreat College, Statesville Civic Center, First Presbyterian Church, St. Paul’s Episcopal Church, Morganton Municipal Auditorium and Wingate University. For more information on the High Country’s frescoes, click to highcountryhost.com.

ADDITIONAL FRESCOES IN THE HIGH COUNTRY AREA Murals in West Jefferson:

(Mural maps are available at the Ashe County Arts Center, contact (828) 846-2787) “Gardens of the Sea” by Raney Rodgers “Unity in Diversity” by Mary Ann DiNapoli-Mylet and Ashe County Middle School students “Blue Ridge Parkway” by Bessie Clay “Train at Jefferson Station” by Stephen Shoemaker “Spring Wildflowers on Mount Jefferson” by Robert Johnson “Weathered Pines” by R.T. Morgan “History of Ashe through the Ages and Seasons” by Jack Young “Wings and Things” by Earle and Raines Thompson and community volunteers “New River Traditions” by Mary Ann DiNapoli-Mylet “Hayden and Chaco” by Olivia Harless and Stephen Shoemaker “Somewhere in Ashe” by R.T. Morgan “Cut at Devil’s Stairs” by Stephen Shoemaker

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Fall Festivals dot High Country autumn landscape

hether it be a seasonably cool and clear weekend afternoon with a bright sun beaming or an overcast and chilly fall day, the High Country generally offers a plethora of opportunities throughout the season to satisfy virtually anyone’s discriminating taste. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic of 2020, however, many area festivals have faced the unfortunate reality of having to cancel their annual events, as area festivals often average into the thousands of patrons to visit the area and festival grounds. Despite facing the unprecedented adversity, however, a number of area groups have vowed to return in 2021 bigger and better than ever. With that in mind, a number of long-standing events have helped shape the tourism and philanthropic landscape of the High Country region.

Valle Country Fair, Valle Crucis

The Valle Country Fair is always a must-experience destination that is diverse enough to satisfy whatever craving a visitor desires. The festival is held in the hamlet of Valle Crucis and is a perfect mix of food, crafts and entertainment that the entire family can enjoy. The fair takes place from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. on the third Saturday in October on the grounds of the Valle Crucis Conference Center on N.C. 194. Starting as a fundraiser for a little country church, Valle Country Fair has grown into an annual happening that attracts thousands and raised more than $40,000 for High Country charities in 2015. Admission to the event is free of charge, and ample parking is available in the adjoining field for $10 per car, $25 for a small bus or van and $50 for a motor coach. The fair takes place in a huge meadow between a picturesque red barn and a field of sorghum. The tents of 150 craft exhibitors line wide lanes that meander back and forth across the grounds. Bales of hay are stacked in the interAUTUMN TIMES 2020

tryfair.org.

Banner Elk Woolly Worm Festival, Banner Elk

PHOTO BY KAYLA LASURE Bill Welch, Jim Toomui and John Goodrich make apple cider during the 2019 Valle Country Fair. The festival features numerous crafts and hand-crafted goods, as well as plenty of good food and refreshments to enjoy onsite or to take home.

sections of these alleys to offer fairgoers a spot to sit as they ponder which craft booths to visit next. Exhibitors are juried to find the highest-quality handmade crafts available, and to ensure that there is a wide variety of unique products available for the shoppers. As well, these exhibitors selected for the event donate at least 10 percent of their earnings back to the charitable work of the fair. Two stages are set up to provide entertainment throughout the day. The stage located near the dining tent features the best in local mountain music. The youth stage located near the live alpacas, face painters and sand artist booth features cloggers and other younger performers. The Kids Area activities include pumpkin carving, making fall crafts, old-fashioned carnival games and a kids market where kids can set up their own booth to sell their own crafts. Kids of all ages will also find their favorite fall festival treats, including kettle corn, cotton candy and

candied apples. Visitors are encouraged to eat all they want at the Valle Country Fair because almost all of the food concessions are operated by the church or by other nonprofit organizations that return 100 percent of their earnings to local charities. Tables and chairs are provided under a large tent next to the music stage so that fairgoers can enjoy the entertainment while they dine. Food concessions include Brunswick stew, barbecue, chili, hot dogs and hamburgers, corn dogs, sausage with onions, ham biscuits, ice cream, funnel cakes, baked goods, jams and jellies, freshpressed apple cider and hot-out-of-the kettle apple butter. Taking place around peak leaf time, the fairgrounds cover a beautiful meadow that slopes off into the distance to join the surrounding ridges, ablaze with fall color. For more information, contact Holy Cross Church at (828) 963-4609 or click to the fair’s website at www.vallecoun-

For the past 42 years, the Banner Elk Woolly Worm Festival has brought thousands of patrons to downtown Banner Elk for woolly weekend of fun. Recognized as “The Official Woolly Worm Festival of North Carolina.” the festival features wriggling worms working their way up a string to bring glory (and some folding money) to its owner, as well as the time-honored tradition of the worm predicting the upcoming winter weather in the High Country. The festival, which has been going strong in the High Country since 1978, has transcended its local, small town roots and firmly planted itself, much like worms on a string, upon the national stage. Festival co-founder Jim Morton, who spent his first autumn in the area in 1973, was enamored by the local legend of the woolly worm as a weather forecaster. According to folklore, the 13 segments of a woolly worm correspond with the 13 weeks of winter. Black segments are said to indicate severe weather, while orange or brown segments are indicative of milder weeks. Morton put the worm to work in Banner Elk when he, along with a group of local merchants, was tasked to find an annual event to bring to the area. While Morton had faith in the little worm’s accuracy, not all worms tell the same story. Some of the High Country’s woolliest denizens warned of severe winter weather with their solid black coats. Other, perhaps more optimistic worms in the same area would have more brown on their backs, indicating that the winter would be mild. While all the worms were woolly, not all the the worms could be right, so Morton set out to find only the best wormy weathermen by means of a race, of course. It stands to reason, at least to all of SEE FESTIVALS ON PAGE 120

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those learned in worm lore, that the fastest, most fit woollies will naturally be the most able forecasters of the weather. So it has been ever since. Woolly worms and their handlers have flocked to Banner Elk every year from all over the world for the chance to win the right to warn the High Country about its upcoming season. Banner Elk’s small population swells during the festival. More than 20,000 people have attended the past few events. People flock from all over the country, and not just to gratify the olympian ambitions of their woolly worms. The Banner Elk festival has something to offer to the whole family. In recent years, more than 150 art and craft vendors have been present at the event. Prospective vendors are juried by the Woolly Worm Festival Committee so that only the best handmade wares are allowed to be sold. No buy and resell vendors are allowed at the festival. The festival, while now a mega-modern woolly worm event to rival the very woolliest the world has to offer, had humble beginnings. The first Woolly Worm Festival took place at Banner Elk Elementary School on a cold and windy day. The festival organizers discovered through their groundbreaking worm research that woolly worms, like people, aren’t usually too interested in recreational climbing when it is too cold. Unfortunately, it is currently impossible to impress the importance of the race upon the woolly worms who, while they are endowed with certain meteorological abilities, resolutely don’t speak English. To combat the cold, which typically hasn’t totally taken hold over the High Country by mid-October, handlers have now learned that worms can be motivated by hot air blown through a straw, as well as vocal encouragement. The worms that festivalgoers race in the fall aren’t just adept at predicting the winter, they are also well equipped to survive it. Woolly Worms outlast the winter in hibernation. Instead of burrowing deep underground like many animals, they choose to spend the winter closer to the surface, under rocks, fallen foliage or logs. The worms produce a chemical called cryoprotectant that allows their bodies to totally freeze solid with no adverse effects. Some worms are known to survive as many as 14 winters using this method. 120

When it decides it is ready and the spring thaw comes, the worm that stuck itself in the freezer emerges as a moth and spends its newly winged life fluttering around lamps and streetlights remembering the glory days when it was a weatherforecasting festival star. With the exception of the pandemicinduced cancellation of this year’s event, the Banner Elk Woolly Worm Festival is scheduled for each third weekend of October. Races take place from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturday and 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Sunday. Saturday’s grand prize winner will go home with $1,000, while Sunday’s races, which are typically smaller, will award a grand prize of $500. For more information, call the Avery County Chamber of Commerce at (828) 898-5605 or click to www.woollyworm. com.

Oktoberfest, Sugar Mountain

The annual Sugar Mountain Oktoberfest brings a festive, Bavarian atmosphere to the High Country during the autumn season. Featuring the Harbour Towne Fest Band and music from the Valle Crucis Middle School band, the festival often offers plenty of musical entertainment. Activities at the festival take place from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. each day and admission, parking and shuttle service is free. Bavarian cuisine including bratwurst, knockwurst, sauerkraut, strudel and pretzels. In addition to traditional Bavarian cuisine, there are good old American standards, including hot dogs, hamburgers, soda, cotton candy, kettle corn, funnel cakes, candy apples and more. Activities are also available for the kids, as the whole family can enjoy hayrides, inflatable bounce houses and a chance to meet Sugar Bear and Sweetie Bear, Sugar Mountain’s mascots. For more information and to confirm the status of this festival for 2020, click to oktoberfest.skisugar.com or call (828) 898-4521.

On the Same Page Literary Festival, West Jefferson

On the Same Page Literary Festival is held each The festival, which will return in 2021, is usually held each September and is sponsored by the Ashe County Public Library and the Ashe County Arts Council and is supported with major funding from SkyLine Membership Corporation and many individual donors – the Page Turners. Started in 2009, the festival is a fiveday celebration of reading and writing. On the Same Page offers a chance for

writers to interact with readers and for readers to connect with writers. Writers are also given the opportunity to participate in a variety of workshops and programs that instruct on the craft. On the Same Page is also funded in part by a grant from South Arts in partnership with the National Endowment for the Arts and the North Carolina Arts Council. The county of Ashe and the town of West Jefferson also support On the Same Page. For more information, click to www. onthesamepagefestival.org for details about times and locations of events. Most are free and open to the public, while some require reservations/tickets.

Autumn at Oz, Beech Mountain

Autumn at Oz is a celebration of all things “The Wizard of Oz.” The event, which is canceled for 2020 but taking bookings for its return in 2021, is held at the original Wizard of Oz Theme Park that ran atop Beech Mountain in the 1970s. The event features a walk through Oz where you will meet many of the movies characters and see vignettes from the original film. You can also view original movie props and memorabilia in the Oz museum. Other festival activities such as a petting zoo, hayrides, food vendors and more are also present. The theme park first opened in 1970 to celebrate the mythos of the legendary film. The initial theme park is now closed, but reopens for one weekend each fall for a special trip down the yellow brick road, accompanied by a full cast of characters from the film. For more information, click to www. landofoznc.com or call (800) 514-3849.

Town of Newland Harvest Festival

In the month of October, the Town of Newland hosts an annual Harvest Festival. Featuring craft vendors, food vendors (including turkey legs) live music and a variety of entertainment that includes pumpkin bowling, games, bouncy houses and a pumpkin carving contest, the event has evolved into a local favorite and an attraction for visitors alike. For more information on the status of this year’s festival, call the Town of Newland at (828) 733-2023, or visit the event’s Facebook page for updates.

Toe Jam Festival, Spruce Pine

Toe Jam II Festival is located in the town of Spruce Pine in the mountains of Western North Carolina, Toe Jam II features great local and regional bands at a riverside venue. The event, scheduled to

occur in October, offers fun for all ages, with adult beverages, food and drink, games, crafts vendors and more! Admission to attend the event is $4 for adults 18 and older, and $2 for children up to age 18. Beer bracelets are available for $1. The one-day, all-inclusive music festival is scheduled to take place October 24 at Riverside Park, and is the perfect getaway for rock and country music lovers who prefer to “experience” live local music and interact with artists amidst a beautiful mountainous riverside setting. The music & event programming was specifically designed so parents can watch music with or without their kids. With a playground, zipline, inflatables, vendors, watermelon eating and hula hoop contest, Toe Jam II: Rocktoberfest! is an awesome fall music festival for the entire family. Toe Jam was originated as an effort to build community and provide quality entertainment featuring some of the finest local and regional rock and roll bands. The 2020 lineup is diverse, adding “rockin’” country and original music acts. In addition to country music, the music offerings will span decades of 70’s, 80’s, 90’s, as well as modern rock. Among the scheduled returning artists include crowd favorites SPANK!, whose “retro 80’s” stage show and sound will take you “Back To The Future.” This Southeast premier 80’s band covers all of classic hits. Also, back by overwhelming demand is The Rewind, which plays an amazing assortment of hits from the 70’s through the 90’s. The Pierce Danger Band is a local favorite ,playing the best Southern and classic rock and some of the best folks you will ever meet. For more information and to confirm this event’s availability, click to www. sprucepinejoejam.com, or email sprucepinetoejam@gmail.com.

Unicoi County Apple Festival, Erwin, Tenn.

Although the 2020 edition of the festival was canceled due to the global pandemic, The Unicoi County Apple Festival usually draws more than 110,000 annual attendees. The festival has been consistently named one of the Southeast Tourism Society’s Top 20 events in the Southeast, and is a three-year winner of the Northeast Tennessee Tourism Association’s Pinnacle Award. This event displays agricultural, horticultural, craft, cattle, sheep, the farm produces, vegetables, flowers, cookery, wine, arts and crafts, horticultural and Industrial marquee, etc. AUTUMN TIMES 2020

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Thursday, January 28th THROUGH

IN THE PARK MAY 22 JUNE 12 JULY 17 AUGUST 14 • SEPTEMBER 11 OCTOBER 2 •

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Sunday, January 31st Join the Village of Blowing Rock as we celebrate the fun side of winter with the 23rd annual Blowing Rock WinterFest! Many events are kid-friendly – bring the whole family! WinterFeast • Polar Plunge • Evening Ice Stroll Silent Auction & Raffle • Ice Carving • Beer Garden Charity Chili Cook-Off • Cork & Canvas Wine Tasting & Auction • Kids Activities

Over 90 Juried Artists PARK AVENUE IN DOWNTOWN BLOWING ROCK 10 AM UNTIL 5 PM • FREE ADMISSION A Blowing Rock Chamber of Commerce Event WOOD • CLAY • JEWELRY • METAL • GLASS • FIBER • PAINTING • PHOTOGRAPHY FOR INFORMATION, CALL, WRITE OR VISIT OUR WEBSITE:

BLOWING ROCK CHAMBER OF COMMERCE PO BOX 406 • 132 PARK AVENUE, BLOWING ROCK, NC 28605 828/295-7851 • www.BlowingRock.com

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HALLOWEEN highlights in the High Country weapon-wielding masked maniac and his deranged mutated family?” Event tickets are $10 if purchased online, and $13 if purchased at the door, with group discounts available for parties of 15 or more individuals. The trail portion of the experience is around 30 minutes for most groups, and the venue makes beer and concessions available to patrons, and the group notes that strobe lights and fog are used throughout the experience, so it is not recommended for people that have epilepsy, asthma, heart issues or women who are pregnant to go through the haunt. For availability of this event or for more information, click to hauntedhorn.com.

BY JAMIE SHELL

alloween in the High Country is promises a scary-good time for visitors to the various attractions and events during the witching season. From corn mazes to haunted trails, there is sure to be sense-tingling occasions that will make your hair stand on end and provide copious amounts of goosebumps. As the seasons turn and the chilly air of fall settles upon the High Country, there are numerous opportunities to see the region and enjoy many pumpkin-spiceinundated adventures with family and friends. Due to the 2020 COVID-19 global pandemic, many events have been altered or canceled in the region, so it’s best to contact the respective businesses/activities prior to visiting. The following are notable regular Halloween events across the High Country area.

New River Corn Maze, Boone

Located on the historic Brown Family Farm beside the scenic New River, this five-acre corn maze offers more than just a challenge. There is a hayride and a “pick your own pumpkin” patch, and closer to Halloween there are haunted hayrides. Patrons can get lost in the corn maze, stroll along the New River, and bring a picnic while enjoying the pristine fall colors and crisp mountain air. Tram rides around the farm are available, and visitors can select their perfect pumpkins to decorate for fall or bake the perfect 122

PHOTO BY JAMIE SHELL Chrissy and Liam Kasper, as well as Alyssa and Amber Hughes visited the offices of The Avery Journal-Times for some Halloween candy and a photo opportunity with Mr. Bumble B. The newspaper is one of many locations throughout downtown Newland and businesses throughout the High Country that numerous trick-or-treaters visit on Halloween.

pumpkin pie. Visitors can play a game of cornhole or simply soak in the changing season and colors. The corn maze is open on weekends in September and October from 10 a.m. until dark on Fridays and Saturdays, and from 1 p.m. until dark on Sundays. Other days, you may visit the maze by appointment. New River Corn Maze is located just off of U.S. 421 between Boone and Deep Gap on Laurel Gap Ridge Road. Look for signs on the highway. For more information, click to www. newrivercornmaze.com.

Haunted Horn in the West, Boone

Outdoor attraction Horn in the West hosts an annual haunting event. According to the organization of the interactive event, “It’s 1988 and tonight is the big party and orientation before the campers arrive. As a camp counselor, you will head toward the festivities, but something just doesn’t seem right. As you encounter many gruesome and grisly scenes, you realize you aren’t alone. Can you and the rest of the gang use your stealth-like tactics to maneuver your way through the camp and make it through the woods without being detected by a

Ashe County Corn Maze, West Jefferson

Although closed for 2020 due to the global pandemic, the Ashe County Corn Maze vows to return its fall tradition in the High Country just in time for the 2021 fall season. The venue features a large corn maze that can take anywhere from 25 minutes to hours to complete. In addition to the maze itself, the site offers multiple games and activities for the whole family, including a monster slingshot, a pumpkin cannon, jump houses, pumpkin bowling and the famous giant pipe slide. There’s also a smaller hay bale maze for younger children. Live music is featured every Saturday during the fall season, while the venue boasts a recent addition to its barn and a one-acre pond. Admission to the venue is $12, while children age three and younger are SEE HALLOWEEN ON PAGE 123

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admitted free. An all-activity pass is also available for $20. Ashe County Corn Maze is located at 2152 Beaver Creek School Rd. in West Jefferson. For more information, call 1 (800) 238-8733, or click to www.ashecountycornmaze.com.

Tweetsie Railroad’s Ghost Train, Blowing Rock

Tweetsie Railroad’s annual Ghost Train Halloween Festival was canceled for 2020 due to the global pandemic, but the event is renowned as one of the most attended and family-fun events in the region. Operating during September and October weekends, the Ghost Train at Tweetsie Railroad offers Ghost Train rides (every 30 minutes), a haunted house, Halloween shows, a 3D maze, the Black Hole, trick-or-treating, the Freaky Forest and the Warp Tunnel. Officially generally recommend that children ages 8 and younger avoid going

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through the Haunted House, Freaky Forest or Ghost Train. Patrons of all ages are welcomed to the park for other Halloween activities and rides, however. A limited number of guests are admitted each night, so it’s encouraged to order tickets in advance. Ghost Train tickets do not include admission to the park’s daytime activities. For more information on the Tweetsie Ghost Train, click to www.tweetsie.com or call (877) 893-3874.

The Haunted Factory, West Jefferson

The Haunted Factory opened in 2016 and features more than 40 actors while located in the former Catawissa Lumber building behind the West Jefferson Fire Department. The venue features heartstopping action and frightening encounters with monsters from the underworld. The business began haunting in 2008 upon opening its first haunted attraction. With great success, the organization moved its business location to the factory in 2016, with the primary goal of providing a memorable experience for all who

attend. This creepy haunted-house style attraction is recommended for ages 8 and older, and includes a Tunnel of Terror. Admission to the factory is $10. The Haunted Factory is located at 301 Locust Street in West Jefferson. For additional information or to confirm its opening this year, click to www.facebook. com/thehauntedfactory, or call (336) 977-9025.

Beary Scary Halloween, Grandfather Mountain

Unfortunately, the 2020 edition of the Beary Scary Halloween event at Grandfather Mountain has been canceled, but if the past is any indication, the event will be bigger and better than ever next fall. In fact, Grandfather Mountain can bear-ly stand the excitement of looking ahead to hosting the event at the nature park in Linville. This special daylong event typically features a wide range of activities, including trick-or-treating, spooky arts and crafts, making enrichments for animals, and a costume contest, and is included with the

price of admission to the attraction. Kids dressed in costume even receive admission at half price. “Beary Scary is a great way for kids to come up to celebrate Halloween and learn all about bears and other fun creatures,” said Jenny Condron, assistant habitats curator for the Grandfather Mountain Stewardship Foundation, the nonprofit organization that owns and operates the park. During the event, patrons can trick-ortreat throughout the park while learning about bear facts. Locations include the gate house, Half Moon Overlook, animal habitats, Nature Museum, Top Shop and the Mile High Swinging Bridge. “Not only is it fun to say, Beary Scary is a truly unique way to celebrate Halloween — with Grandfather Mountain’s resident party animals,” added Frank Ruggiero, director of marketing and communications for the Grandfather Mountain Stewardship Foundation, the nonprofit organization that owns and operates the park. For more information on the status of this event, click to www.grandfather. com, or call (800) 468-7325.

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Antiques are nothing new in the High Country BY BAILEY LITTLE

orthwestern North Carolina is not only home to a rich history, but also relics of the area’s past. Locals and visitors to the area can find several local stores stocked with antiques from years passed and give them new life and purpose in their homes. Antique stores can be found in the towns of Boone, Blowing Rock, Banner Elk and West Jefferson for those of all ages to revel in nostalgic treasures. Antiques on Main, located at 842 S Jefferson Avenue in West Jefferson features new and used furniture, glassware, home decor, coins, yard art and more. Keith Woodie, owner of Antiques on Main, shared some of his family’s history in the antique business. Woodie said it all started 20 years ago in Jefferson, with his good friend, Frank Parsons. The two friends started their business in the former Shoe Show building, which was 3,000 square feet. According to Woodie, once they began renting booths, they realized they needed a bigger space. Woodie then rented a 5,000-square-foot building in West Jefferson, which was formerly the Lewis Furniture building. He named this building “Antiques on Main.” “In three months, every booth was rented and we had a waiting list for booths,” Woodie said. “It was really amazing.” Woodie has been buying and selling on the streets of West Jefferson since he was 10 years old and says it is something he was born to do. He later acquired a huge building, which is the current location of Antiques on Main Antique Mall. The building was formerly Yates Furniture and Woodie initially was 126

PHOTO BY BAILEY LITTLE Old telephones on display at Antiques on Main in West Jefferson.

wondering how he could fill it. However, in two years he had waiting lists and people were coming from everywhere to shop. When the building beside this new space became vacant, the two buildings were combined and measured more than 20,000 square feet. “Once it was filled, we began advertising over 1 million items and we became a destination,” Woodie said. “People always ask, ‘Where is Ashe County Cheese?’ and, ‘Where is Shatley Springs?’ Now they ask, ‘Where is Antiques on Main?’” Woodie frequently travels to buy items to sell to states such as Ohio and Pennsylvania. He also purchases local estates. According to Woodie, the business has continued to grow each year in every aspect and they complete a lot of estate buy outs each year. They also buy from 10 different states. Antiques on Main has more than 70 booths. Woodie said one of the reasons the store is great is because of the quality of the great vendors who run their booths like a small shop. Most of the vendors work their booth two to three times per week. The store has vendors from as far away as Florida and draws a lot of shoppers from all over. “We have a great local customer base

PHOTO BY BAILEY LITTLE A wide array of antiques are available for shoppers to explore including furniture, glasswares, lighting fixtures and art.

and a lot of repeat customers,” Woodie said. “We keep our prices in line and you can afford to shop at our mall.” According to Woodie, the most popular response he receives from customers is how great the prices are. According to Woodie, they always try to keep a variety of items with new merchandise weekly. They try to maintain a combination of both new and used items. Some recent items include new metal decor from Texas and new decorative furniture from Georgia and Tennessee. They also have a full line of outdoor furniture made by the Amish. Woodie says he is so blessed to be able to do something that he loves so much. “Antiques on Main continues to grow and change in one of the best towns in North Carolina, West Jefferson,”

ANTIQUE STORES IN THE HIGH COUNTRY Appalachian Antique Mall 631 W. King St. Boone, NC 28607 (828) 268-9988 Antiques on Howard 199 W. Howard St. #1 Boone, NC 28607 (828) 262-1957 A Piece of the Past 597 W. King St. Boone, NC 28607 (828) 264-8979 Back Alley Pickers 111 Estatoa St. Newland, NC 28657 (828) 742-1533 Blowing Rock Antique Center 7593 Valley Blvd. Blowing Rock, NC 28605 (828) 295-5056 Boonies Old Country Store 2963 NC-105 Boone, NC 28607 (828) 719-1219 Cobblestones Antiques 113 BackStreet West Jefferson, NC 28694 (336) 469-2490 Drexel Grapevine Antiques S. 3451 U.S. 321 Blowing Rock, NC 28605 (828) 386-1881 Fleetwood Antiques 8864 U.S. Hwy 221 S. Fleetwood, NC 28626 (336) 877-9353 Front Porch Antique Market 8807 NC-105 S. Boone, NC 28607 (828) 963-7450 Hidden Treasure Antique 137 Main St. Elk Park, NC 28622 (828) 733-0081 Hidden Valley Antique Mall, Inc. 8795 NC-105 S. Boone, NC 28607 (828) 963-7450 Graylight Gallery 231 Mitchell St. Newland, NC 28657 (828) 733-1368 Gilded Age Antiques 10890 NC-105 Banner Elk, NC 28604 (828) 963-8633

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Woodie said. It is one of the largest malls in the High Country and has won Ashe Best of the Best nine years in a row, as well as small business of the year in 2010. His entire family is part of the business. His wife, Denise, is always beside him along with their two sons, Mathew and Gavin. In 2015, the family opened Antiques Main in Blowing Rock. The shop is located at 109 Aho Road. Matthew manages the location, which measures more than 12,000 square feet and features over 50 vendors. Woodie’s youngest son, Gavin, went to auctioneers school and he now has Woodie’s Auction Co. which is located at 676 S. Main St in Jefferson. This site is also home to the family’s new market place flea market which has more than 35,000 square feet. The flea market was established in 2018 and is a work in

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PHOTO BY BAILEY LITTLE Storefront of Antiques on Main in West Jefferson

progress. For more information about Woodie’s Auction Co. call (336) 877-7106 or visit the Facebook page. Gavin also owns the newly-opened North State Antiques located at 3 S. Jefferson Ave. in downtown West Jefferson. To learn more about North State

Antiques, call (336) 877-7106 or visit the Facebook page. For more information about Antiques on Main call (336) 846-1231 or visit the Facebook page. To learn more about Antiques Main in Blowing Rock, call (828) 414-9365 or visit the Facebook page.

Possum Hollow Antiques 247 Possum Hollow Road Blowing Rock, NC 28605 (828) 295-3502 Southern Market by Twin Creeks 505 S. Jefferson Ave. West Jefferson, NC 28694 (910) 358-3452 Stoney Creek Antiques & Native American Jewelry 10893 NC-105 S Banner Elk, NC 28604 (828) 963-8833 The Twisted Twig Antiques & Accents 2780 Tynecastle Hwy Banner Elk, NC 28604 (619) 964-0038 Those Were The Days Antiques & Collectibles 3440-C Tynecastle Hwy Banner Elk, NC 28604 (828) 898-5505 Windwood Antiques 1157 Main St. Blowing Rock, NC 28605 (828) 295-9260

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High Country craft breweries BY DEREK HALSEY

uring the last decade, the craft brewery industry has taken off in the state of North Carolina and in Watauga, Ashe, and Avery counties specifically. Throughout the state of North Carolina, more than 10,000 jobs can now be credited to the burgeoning craft brew industry. In the beautiful section of the Blue Ridge Mountains, craft breweries have become a great source of locally brewed beer of superb quality and live entertainment when the conditions allow during this time of pandemic. During the various governmentmandated stages of the coronavirus lockdown, things have changed a bit for our area’s craft breweries. Many of the jobs associated with local beer establishments were furloughed earlier in the year as many establishments had to resort to

PHOTO BY DEREK HALSEY In the Blue Ridge Mountains, craft breweries have become a great source of locally brewed beer of superb quality and live entertainment.

carry out only sales. Slowly, society has opened up more as the different phases have been enacted by the state of North Carolina. As with all businesses, when you read this article as the fall month’s progress, be sure and check in with this area’s breweries as to their current ways of doing business.

In Ashe County, there is the Boondocks Brewing Company found at two locations in West Jefferson. Founded by head brewer Gary Brown, Boondocks Brewing Company is a locally owned business that is employee-owned and growing every year. Like a lot of future craft brewery owners, Brown began to make his own beer while in the armed services in Fort Campbell, Kentucky. That soon became a passion and eventually Brown moved forward with the idea of starting his own company in Rocky Mount. Brown and his family often vacationed in Ashe County, however, and he found the mountain water there to be of high quality. In 2012, Brown retired from his day job and set out to create Boondocks Brewing Company. As West Jefferson began to make the changes that would make it the happening small town that it is today, he saw an opportunity to locate his business there and catch the wave.

Now, Boondocks Brewing Company is open on Thursday, Friday and Saturday from 11:30 a.m. to 8:30 p.m. and their Brew Haus restaurant and pub is open from Monday through Saturday. More information on the Boondocks Brewing Company can be found at boondocksbeer.com or (336) 246-5222. New River Brewing Company also hails from Ashe County, located at 108 South 3rd Avenue in West Jefferson. Created by Greg Hershner and Adam Hershner, a family doctor and an industrial engineer turned brewers respectively, they formed the New River Brewing Company in 2017 making them on of the new kids on the brewing block. At their New River Taproom and Eatery, they brew craft beers such as the Old Caboose Golden Ale, Appalachian Full Moon Wheat, Gentlemen’s Agreement SEE BREWERIES ON PAGE 130

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IPA, the North Fork Porter and a host of other brews. More information can be found at newriverbrewing.beer. The Kettell Beerworks Company is located at 567 E. Main Street in the resort town of Banner Elk. They are a small batch brewery that relies on the fresh, high-quality Appalachian Mountain water found in the higher altitudes. Some of uniquely-crafted brews that they make include Crabby Louie IPA, the Speak Easy Baltic Porter, Cherry Panda Stout, Supernova IPA, Velvet Panda Oatmeal Stout, Copper Elk Amber and more. More information on the Kettell Beerworks Brewing Company can be found at kettellbeerworks.com or (828) 898-8677. Beech Mountain Brewing Company is located literally at the Village of the Beech Mountain Resort ski slopes. In fact, it is the only brewery owned and operated by a ski resort in the state.

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During the summer months, Beech Mountain Resort offers an array of activities for the public to enjoy including mountain biking, hiking, disc golf and ski lift rides up to the 5506’ Skybar. To help make the day fun, Beech Mountain Brewing Company is there to cure your thirst with innovative beers. Some of the beers made by the Beech Mountain Brewing Company include Beech Blonde, 5506’ Pale Ale, Patroller Porter, Mountain Town Amber and more. They will be open in the fall months until Oct. 3, and then reopen as ski season arrives. More information on the Beech Mountain Brewing Company can be found at www.beechmountainresort.com or (800) 438-2093. The Blowing Rock Brewing Company is located at 152 Sunset Drive in beautiful Blowing Rock. Opening in 2013, the brewery’s founders Jeff Walker and Todd Rice set out to take advantage of the fresh mountain water and ingredients found in the area. The company’s creed is as follows; “The Blowing Rock Brewing Company

is committed to providing you with handcrafted, mountain artisan beer. All of our beers are brewed using fresh, local ingredients. ‘Go To The Mountains’ can be found on our cans for a reason, and it is not just because we want you to visit.” Some of the beers offered include the award-winning High Country Ale, Midnight Raspberry Wheat, Blowing Rock IPA, Big Chocolate Porter, Cloud Rise IPA and more. More information on Blowing Rock Brewing Company can be found at blowingrockbrewing.com and (828) 414-9600. Appalachian Mountain Brewery was the first craft brewery to open in Boone. Known fondly by locals and visitors alike as “AMB,” the company has created a fun place to drink beer at their establishment at 163 Boone Creek Drive. Featuring live music on most nights and a high-end food truck for your eating needs, AMB is a popular spot for beer and cider lovers of all ages and stripes. AMB is also committed to the use of sustainable business practices and the

support of local non-profit organizations. The company uses solar panels when possible, has helped to restore Boone and Hodges creeks and have constructed bike stations in town. AMB’s beer is also bottled and sold regionally. Recently, they have branched out to make hard ciders as well. The brewery is perhaps best known for its Black Gold Porter. Other craft brews include the Boone Creek Blonde Ale, Long Leaf Indian Pale Ale, Mystic Dragon Cider, and a large array of other varieties on tap. More information about Appalachian Mountain Brewery can be found at amb. beer or (828) 263-1111. Lost Province Brewing Company was named after the name given to Ashe, Watauga and Allegheny Counties back in the early 1900s. Due to the ominous mountains, the three counties were often isolated from the rest of the Tar Heel State. Lost Province Brewing Company features a brewery, wood-fired restaurant SEE BREWERIES ON PAGE 132

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High Country wineries BY DEREK HALSEY

igh Country wineries have come a long way in a relatively short period of time, especially over the last decade and a half as the industry in North Carolina has grown exponentially. In the autumn months, all three local wineries, Banner Elk Winery, Grandfather Vineyard and Winery and Linville Falls Winery, feature warm afternoons filled with live music and local wine lovers as well as tourists stopping in from around the world. As with all industries, wineries have also had to deal with the realities of the continuing coronavirus pandemic, including limiting crowds, outdoor social distancing, healthy commerce and more. As the months go on, all of these things may change as state and local governments adapt to the progress made with coronavirus situation, so please call ahead for more information before you travel. The wine making business in the Tar Heel State is catching up with other states and regions, and our local vineyards are

BREWERIES CONTINUED FROM PAGE 130

and live music venue all in one location at 130 N. Depot Street in Boone. Owned and operated by Andy and Lynne Mason, the brewery offers up a continuing array of beers due to the fact that the perfection and invention of new brews is what fascinates the staff and brew team. Some of the brews now on tap include Kiss My Grits Lager, Bless Your Heart Blonde Ale, Hipster Juice IPA, Pink Velvet Raspberry Wheat, Passion Potion Tart Fruit Ale and many more with the variety and lineup changing often. Lost Province Brewing Company is also committed to sustainable business practices as well as providing a venue for 132

producing worthy, award-winning wines every year. To add to the quality of the local wine industry, Appalachian State University in Boone created the new Enology and Viticulture program a few years ago, which includes a Fermentation Science Degree as well as research and lab work geared specifically for the North Carolina winemaking industry. This has helped to provide quality workers and wine innovators into the state’s wine industry. The aim of the ASU Enology and Viticulture program is as follows; “The wine industry in North Carolina is a significant tourism-based economic driver, centered on profitable agricultural value-added products. Small businesses account for the majority of growth in the wine and brewing industries in the Southeast. The initiatives of the Enology and Viticulture program support rural development and agri-tourism by directly contributing to the sustainability of the wine industry in North Carolina.” In the High Country, our wineries are uniquely positioned to take advantage of the beauty of the surrounding Blue Ridge

Mountains, which provide gorgeous spaces where tourists and locals can enjoy a tasty glass of fermented grapes, often augmented by live music in these fall months. Banner Elk Winery and Villa was the first commercial winery built in Avery County back in 2005. Like most High Country wineries, they combine their own grapes with other varieties brought in from high-quality growers in nearby areas. Located at 60 Deer Run Lane on the mountainous outskirts of the resort town of Banner Elk, the winery stays open all winter for tastings and purchases. The attached villa with its various luxury suites and event rooms are available to rent all year for weddings, business meetings, parties and more. The Banner Elk Winery Tasting Room is open every day of the year. Some of the premium wines made by the winery include their Heirloom Blend, Banner Elk Merlot, Sangiovese Red, Banner Elk Red and Banner Elk White, Banner Elk blueberry, Seyval Blanc and more. Banner Elk Winery wines have won

multiple medals at the North Carolina State Fair and International Eastern Wine Competition in Sonoma County, California. More information can be found at www.bannerelkwinery.com and (828) 898-9090. At the heart of Linville Falls Winery, located near Linville Falls and Linville Gorge, is local entrepreneur Jack Wiseman. Since he was a young man in the 1950s, Wiseman always had an interest and a talent for making wine and brandy. After traveling the world and country, and spending time in Napa Valley of California in the 1960s befriending people who made high-quality wines, Wiseman came home to Avery County with ideas of creating a vineyard. Once back in the High Country, Wiseman’s first successful business venture was in the Christmas tree industry. He was the first to plant thousands of high altitude-growing Frasier Fir trees here in this section of the Blue Ridge Mountains. That business continues today, but winemaking was still in his blood and he created Linville Falls Winery about seven years ago.

local musicians who are paid a good pay scale, which also applies to the employees they hire. More information on the Lost Province Brewing Company can be found at lostprovince.com and (828) 265-3506. Booneshine Brewing Company is one of the newer breweries to open up in Boone, NC. Founded by beer lovers Carson Coatney and Tim Herdklotz, the two home brewers met while fishing with mutual friends in the Outer Banks barrier islands of North Carolina. Coatney is also the owner of the Stick Boy Bread Company while Tim came from the financial business to brew some fine beer. The brewery offers libations that include Tropicpale Ale, Booneshine IPA, East Boone Pilsner, Beacon Heights Hefeweizen, Molasses Porter, High

Country Honey Red Ale and more. Booneshine Brewing Company has a wonderful new home found at 465 Industrial Park Road in Boone. “We are doing pretty well during this phase 2 part of the lockdown,” said Alex Stutts, one of the front house managers at Booneshine. “Our indoor seating is spaced out at 50% capacity as well as on our patio. We also have several picnic tables available outside. We have been doing good business and things are going good so far. Our brewmasters have been taking the proper precautions and the stores that we sell our beer at have stayed steady and our accounts are still active as there is always going to be a call for beer, even in a pandemic.” While this pandemic plays out, the folks at Booneshine are continuing to

create a new outdoor area for fun that hopefully will include live music. “We are currently outfitting our lawn space and will be getting a food truck up and running soon,” said Stutts. “Hopefully, after the craziness is over, we will build an outdoor stage out there as well. Mainly, we are going to stay adaptable and take things one day at a time and give folks a safe place to enjoy a fresh brew. More information on the Booneshine Brewing Company can be found at booneshine.beer and (828) 278-8006. A tour of the High Country’s local craft breweries can make for a wonderful vacation or weekend getaway, especially considering the natural beauty of the mountains and gorges and rivers that surround every brewery in the area. AUTUMN TIMES 2020

Home of the Famous Bagelicious

HOURS: Monday - Saturday 6am - 5pm Sunday 7am - 3pm

Boone's Original Bagel Shop Since 1988 Serving Breakfast and Lunch All Day 14 Varieties of Freshly Baked Bagels Vegetarian and Gluten Free Options Available

Featuring: Deli Sandwiches, Fresh Salads, Home made Flavored Cream Cheeses, Omelettes, Pancakes, French Toast, Burgers, Gyro

Now Offering Espresso & Cappuccino Free Delivery

OLD DOWNTOWN LOCATION 516 West King Street 828.262.5585 | www.boonebagelry.com

1972 Blowing Rock Road | Boone, NC 28607

(828) 264-4433

Caribbean Inspired Kitchen and Bar We Cater and Host Private Events

HOURS Su-Th 5p.–9:30p • Fr 5p-10p • Sa 4p–10p AUTUMN TIMES 2020

488 Main Street W Banner Elk, NC 828.898.7773 www.bodegasbe.com 133

8 9 9 8

Country Retreat Family Billiards & Grill, conveniently located off highway 105 south in Foscoe, halfway between Boone and Banner Elk, has been considered one of the top billiard rooms in North Carolina for a quarter century since their opening in 1996. Family Billiards is a family friendly non-alcohol recreation destination, as well as a full service restaurant / grill. They host weekly tournaments for the more dedicated pool players, but also cater to recreation and first time pool players. The grill operates from 11am until 8:30pm every day except Sundays, with the pool room staying open until 11pm. The dining area includes a covered front porch for those wishing to eat outside. According to Chris Aldridge, the original and current owner/manager, “Our main business is our quality 134

SE A EV FOO ER D Y F SP RI EC DA IAL Y

Family Billiards: A Tradition of Excellence Since 1996

J TE UK LE E B VI OX SI O NS

food and beverage operation, but the pool room is absolutely top notch as I’m a lifelong pool player myself. The majority of our regulars come for here for our quality, consistent and affordable food offerings even BEST SALADS though they may have never played BURgER & AND on our pool tables here. Our chef, HOT DOgS gRILLED Brian Anderson, offers daily specials AROUND! CHICKEN! Monday through Friday and they Large nearly always sell out. Most of our Groups customers likely may have never set Welcome! foot in a pool room, but once they’ve been here they are likely to come Where World Champions Come to play back often. We are a small operation that caters to and largely depends on our loyal regulars, but everyone is welcome here, and we provide Full Service Grill Open Mon-Sat a family friendly recreational / Grill Hours: Mon - Thurs 11:00am - 8:30pm and Fri - Sat 11:00am - 9:00pm entertainment option for locals as Daily Lunch Specials Mon - Fri · Open until 11pm Mon - Thurs and Midnight Fri - Sat well as tourists visiting the high Home Pool Table Repairs, Recovery & Move & Setup country.” Family BIlliards is located Cues, Lights, Covers & Complete Billiards Accessories 8 miles South of Boone on Highway HIgHwAY 105 · FOSCOE, NORTH CAROLINA · 8 MILES SOUTH OF BOONE 105 South.

10 Professional Pool Tables

828-963-6260 · 11:00am until 11:00pm Everyday

AUTUMN TIMES 2020

Tasting room and Restaurant Visit our new outdoor beer garden in East Boone.

www.booneshine.beer BOONESHINE BREWING COMPANY 465 INDUSTRIAL PARK DRIVE, BOONE, NC, 28607 AUTUMN TIMES 2020

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NOW OPEN! Breakfast, Lunch, Brunch, aLL at Once! Famous ToasTery 349 sunseT Dr, Blowing rock, nc 28605 Phone: (828) 414-9813 FamousToastery.com

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Delicious Sandwiches (Served on our homemade bread)

Pies • Cakes • Dinner Entrees & Soups To Go British Specialties Upon Request

Catering

The Spice and Tea Exchange 12B S Jefferson Ave Downtown West Jefferson, NC

336-846-8327

1087 Main St #4, Blowing Rock, NC 28605

828-372-7070

Social Distancing Policies In Place

828.963.8228

www.eatcrownc.com Fabulous British Chef/Owner

Dominic & Meryle Geraphty Open Tuesday - Saturday 10 am -4 pm Lunch Served 11 am - 3 pm 9872 Hwy. 105 S. in Foscoe

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ADVERTISERS INDEX

A DESIGNERS TOUCH ............................................................ 25 A FLOORING OUTLET ............................................................. 28 ABBEY CARPET ..................................................................... 46 ALLEN TATE REALTORS .....................................................68, 69 ALTA VISTA GALLERY .......................................................... 112 ANIMAL ADVOCATES .......................................................... 124 ANTIQUE ON HOWARD ......................................................... 51 APPALACHIAN ANTIQUES MALL ........................................... 50 APPALACHIAN FURNITURE ..................................................... 6 APPALACHIAN REGIONAL HEALTHCARE SYSTEM ................. 81 ASHE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE ........................................... 58 ASHE COUNTY ARTS COUNCIL .............................................. 58 BANNER ELK OLIVE OIL COMPANY ....................................... 56 BANNER ELK WINERY ........................................................... 59 BERNHARDT ............................................................................ 3 BEST CELLAR ....................................................................... 135 BLACK BEAR WINE AND SPIRITS ......................................14, 61 BLACKBERRY CREEK MATTRESS COMPANY .....................47, 55 BLOWING ROCK ATTRACTION ............................................... 39 BLOWING ROCK CHAMBER OF COMMERCE ........................ 121 BLOWING ROCK ESTATE JEWELRY ........................................ 53 BLOWING ROCK FRAMEWORKS ............................................ 11 BLOWING ROCK FURNITURE GALLERY ................................... 7 BLUE DEER COOKIES ......................................................51, 113 BLUE MOUNTAIN ...........................................................64, 112 BLUE PEARL .......................................................................... 61 BLUE RIDGE ELECTRIC ......................................................... 117 BODEGAS .......................................................................56, 133 BOONE BAGELRY ...........................................................50, 133 BOONESHINE ...................................................................... 135 BRASS EXCHANGE, THE ......................................................... 49 BRENDA KAY’S CRAFTS ......................................................... 60 BRUSHY MOUNTAIN MOTOR SPORTS, INC ............................ 77 BULLS WESTERN STORE ........................................................ 78 BUMGARNER CAMPING ........................................................ 27 CABIN STORE ...................................................................... 127 CAFÉ PORTOFINO ................................................................ 134 CAPTAIN JIM’S ...................................................................... 61 CARLTON GALLERY ............................................................. 111 CHETOLA RESORT AT BLOWING ROCK ................................... 91 CLASSIC STONE WORKS ...................................................... 125 COFFEY FURNITURE .............................................................. 22 CROSSNORE SCHOOL INC ...................................................... 95 CRUZ THRU ......................................................................60, 64 CUMBERLAND MARKETING .................................................. 72 AUTUMN TIMES 2020

DANDE LION .....................................................................33, 56 DIANNE DAVANT ..............................................................55, 73 DISTINCTIVE CABINETRY ...................................................... 32 DOE RIDGE POTTERY ............................................................. 50 EAT CROW ........................................................................... 136 ECHOTA ..........................................................................55, 140 ENGLE & VOLKERS ...................................................30, 31, 124 FAMILY BILLIARDS .........................................................55, 134 FAMOUS TOASTERY ........................................................52, 136 FARMERS RENTALS & POWER ............................................. 131 FOSCOE REALTY RENTALS ................................................... 139 FRED & LARRY’S COFFEE ..................................................... 135 FREDS GENERAL MERCANTILE ............................................. 17 GAINES KIKER ....................................................................... 53 GEM MOUNTAIN ................................................................... 64 GRANDFATHER MOUNTAIN ................................................... 43 GRANDFATHER MTN CAMPGROUND .................................. 101 GRANDFATHER VINEYARD ...............................................55, 79 GREGORY ALAN’S ................................................................. 52 HABITAT FOR HUMANITY ..................................................... 60 HAWKINS JEWELERS ............................................................ 61 HAWKSNEST ......................................................................... 63 HIGHLAND OUTFITTERS ....................................................... 37 HIGH COUNTRY CHARITABLE FOUNDATION ....................... 124 HOLIDAY INN EXPRESS ......................................................... 58 INCREDIBLE TOY COMPANY ................................................ 104 JENKINS REALTORS ............................................................... 15 JIM ARMSTRONG ................................................................ 129 JONES HOUSE ....................................................................... 48 KAYE’S KITCHEN .................................................................... 60 KELLER WILLIAMS ................................................................ 99 KINCAID .................................................................................. 3 LAKEVIEW NURSERY ............................................................ 64 LEATHERWOOD MOUNTAIN .................................................. 75 LEES MCRAE COLLEGE .......................................................... 24 LINVILLE AREA MOUNTAIN PROPERTIES .............................. 85 LINVILLE LAND HARBOR P.O.A. ..........................................2, 84 LOST PROVINCE .................................................................... 51 MAST FARM INN ................................................................... 54 MAYFLOWER ....................................................................... 134 MCCOY MINERALS .................................................................. 9 MILLER PROPERTIES ............................................................. 99 MITCHELL COUNTY CHAMBER OF COMMERCE ................... 109 MOLLY NORTHERN INTERIORS ............................................. 23 MOUNTAIN CONSTRUCTION ................................................. 52

MOUNTAIN DOG .................................................................... 24 MOUNTAIN JEWELERS .......................................................... 60 MOUNTAIN LAND .................................................................. 28 MOUNTAIN OUTFITTERS ..................................................... 130 MOUNTAIN SPIRITS .............................................................. 65 MUSEUM OF ASHE COUNTY .................................................. 58 MY BEST FRIENDS BARKERY ................................................. 56 MYSTERY HILL .................................................................... 107 NEW LIFESTYLES CARPET ONE ........................................... 130 NEW RIVER BUILDING SUPPLIES ........................................ 115 OVER YONDER ....................................................................... 54 PARAMOUNT MOTORS ........................................................ 138 PARKER TIE ........................................................................... 58 PEABODYS .......................................................................... 128 PEDALIN PIG ....................................................................... 135 PEDDLER STEAKHOUSE ...................................................... 133 RAM’S RACK .......................................................................... 51 RECESS .................................................................................. 17 REMAX .................................................................................. 19 ROCK DIMENSIONS ..........................................................45, 50 SHOPPES AT FARMERS ...................................................50, 123 SHOPPES AT TYNECASTLE ................................................34, 35 SILVERS BULLET GUN AND PAWN ......................................... 78 SKYLINE TELEPHONE CORP ................................................. 104 SORRENTOS BISTRO .............................................................. 57 SOUTHWEST TRADING COMPANY ........................................ 67 SPICE AND TEA EXCHANGE ................................................. 136 SPRUCE PINE CHEVROLET .................................................... 65 STONEWALL’S ................................................................56, 133 SUGARTOP RESORT ............................................................... 21 SUPERIOR SPAS .................................................................... 12 TATUM GALLERIES ...........................................................55, 79 TAYLOR HOUSE INN ............................................................... 54 TOM’S CUSTOM GOLF ............................................................ 83 VALLE CRUCIS CONFERENCE CENTER .................................... 54 VANDERPOOL CAMPGROUND ............................................. 123 VANNOY CONSTRUCTION ................................... 10, 70, 71, 103 VILLAGE JEWELERS .............................................................. 51 VILLAGE OF SUGAR MTN. ..................................................... 88 WATAUGA COUNTY CHRISTMAS TREES ................................ 97 WHISPERING STREAMS ........................................................ 29 WILDLIFE UNLIMITED ........................................................... 94 WOODLANDS ...................................................................... 136 YELLOW MOUNTAIN ............................................................. 60

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LOOK A N D LO V E. LO CK A N D L E A V E . With effortless living at Echota, everything you could want surrounds you from the promise of adventure to eternally inspiring views. And nothing surpasses the comfort of our maintenance-free homes designed with mountain-modern architecture, starting in the $200s. Visit soon and discover why youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ll actually never want to leave our exceptional community. EFFORTLESS MOUNTAIN LIVING FROM THE $200s | ECHOTANC.COM