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2015
Table of Contents An Appalachian Summer Festival ..................... 98 Art Galleries ....................................................... 76 Ashe County ....................................................... 44 Banner Elk ......................................................... 38 Beech Mountain ................................................ 58 Blowing Rock ..................................................... 40 Blowing Rock Art & History Museum ............... 85 Blowing Rock Attraction, The ........................... 32 Blue Ridge Parkway ........................................... 75 Breweries ........................................................... 22 Calendar of Events .......................................... 109 Camping ............................................................. 70 Chambers of Commerce ...................................... 7 Christmas in July ............................................... 42 Climbing ............................................................ 68 Cycling ............................................................... 62 Daniel Boone Native Gardens ........................... 69 Disc Golf ............................................................ 60 Downtown Boone .............................................. 30 Emergency Contacts ............................................ 6 Farmers’ Markets .............................................. 74 Fishing ............................................................... 56 Foscoe ................................................................ 33 Frescoes ............................................................. 88 Golf .................................................................... 36 Grandfather Mountain ...................................... 26 Grandfather Mountain Highland Games .......... 82 High Country Host .............................................. 8 High Gravity Adventures ................................... 43 HighCountryNC.com ........................................... 7 Hiking ................................................................ 68 Home Décor ....................................................... 83 Horn in the West ............................................... 92 Horses ................................................................ 61 Hound Ears Club ............................................... 34 Lees-McRae Summer Theatre ........................... 96 Linville Caverns ................................................. 46 Live Music ........................................................ 100 Local Towns ....................................................... 12 Mountain Biking ................................................ 67 Mystery Hill ....................................................... 28 Parkway Craft Center ........................................ 84 Pet-Friendly Places ............................................. 71 Restaurants ....................................................... 101 Rock Dimensions ............................................... 50 Shopping ............................................................ 19 Sugar Mountain ................................................. 52 Theater ............................................................... 89 Tweetsie Railroad .............................................. 41 Watersports ....................................................... 55 Wineries ............................................................. 20 Ziplines .............................................................. 48
Water Times A great place to take your dog to cool off this summer is the Watauga River, the New River or Price Lake. Be prepared to get wet yourself if your companion decides to dry off like Jake. PHOTO BY ROB MOORE | MTNSNAPSHOTS.COM
2015
SUMMER TIMES SPO N SO RE D C O N T E N T
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2015
2015 Summer Times Staff
in the Mountains
Numbers of Note Law Enforcement Watauga County Watauga County Sheriff’s Office (828) 264-3761
West Jefferson Police (336) 246-9410
Avery County Avery County Sheriff’s Office (828) 733-2071 Banner Elk Police (828) 898-4300
Boone Police Department (828) 268-6900
Elk Park Police Department (828) 733-9573
Blowing Rock Police (828) 295-5210
Newland Police Department (828) 733-2024
Appalachian Regional Healthcare System Police (828) 262-4168 Appalachian State Police (828) 262-2150
Ashe County Ashe County Sheriff’s Office (336) 846-5633 Jefferson Police (336) 846-5529
Seven Devils Police Department (828) 963-6760 Sugar Mountain Police (828) 898-4349 Beech Mountain Police (828) 387-2342
Health Care Watauga Medical Center (Boone) (828) 262-4100
Blowing Rock Hospital (828) 295-3136 Cannon Memorial Hospital (Linville) (828) 737-7000 Ashe Memorial Hospital (Jefferson) (336) 846-7101 FastMed Urgent Care (Boone) (828) 265-7146 AppUrgent Care (Boone) (828) 265-5505
Animal Control Watauga County Animal Control (828) 262-1672 Watauga Humane Society (828) 264-7865 Animal Emergency & Pet Care Clinic of the High Country (Boone) (828) 268-2833
Gene Fowler Jr. Publisher Charlie Price Advertising Director Frank Ruggiero Editor Rob Moore Production Chief Johnny Hayes Sandra Shook Layout Artists Meleah Bryan Creative Services Director Andy Gainey Circulation Manager Suzanne Carter, Jesse Campbell, Shannon Cuthrell, Jeff Eason, Erika Giovanetti, Caroline Harris, Erik Hoffmann, Makenzie Holland, James Howell, Anna Oakes, Garrett Price, Jamie Shell and Sandra Shook Writers Rex Goss, Mark Mitchell and Rick Tobin Sales Marianne Koch, Kristin Powers Creative Services
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Love at First Site HighCountryNC.com raises the bar on tourism in Western North Carolina BY JAMIE SHELL
G
etting it right in the High Country has never been easier. You’ve reached the peak of Western North Carolina tourism with the new HighCountryNC.com. “With more than a dozen professional journalists on staff and more than 125 years of continually serving the High Country, we are in the unique position of providing unparalleled regional tourism content to both our locals and to our out-of-area visitors,” Mountain Times Publications publisher Gene Fowler said. “We are investing in digital infrastructure that will keep us at the forefront, providing the amassed content our team of outstanding staff has created.” Established in May 2014, HighCountryNC.com incorporates the efforts of the largest media group serving the North Carolina High Country. Drawing on more than a century of local tourism promotion and press, HighCountryNC. com is the ultimate, all-inclusive resource for High Country tourism tradi-
tions, events and happenings. We’re here to help you get it right with the High Country’s authoritative source for all things recreation and tourism in our area. From hiking, bed and breakfasts, golf, snowsports, outdoor adventure, fine and casual dining to everyday living, HighCountryNC.com is the definitive re-
source for these activities and more for visitors, tourists and guests. Whether it’s your first visit to our mountain home, or you’ve decided to make our home yours, HighCountryNC.com brings together the inside scoop on the best places to see and things to do the next time you explore North Carolina’s High Country. “HighCountryNC.com is a valuable
clearinghouse for content and context that you can’t find anywhere else,” MTP executive editor Tom Mayer said. “No one has covered our area from a seasonal publication perspective with more content in the past 20 years than Mountain Times Publications, and this endeavor will serve only to enhance that award-winning coverage that our readers have come to expect.” Mountain Times Publications has been at the forefront in showcasing the best of the best in the region for more than a century. That mission, expanded with the launch of the Summer Times print publication in the late 1990s, was followed by the introduction of the Autumn Times and Winter Times publications. Together, these publications have won multiple awards for content and design. Now, Mountain Times Publications is taking the lessons learned along the way to get it right with HighCountryNC.com. We invite you — locals and visitors, alike — to start your journey by clicking to www.HighCountryNC.com. Welcome to your website. We hope you love it, too.
High Country Chambers of Commerce ASHE COUNTY CHAMBER OF COMMERCE 1 N. Jefferson Ave. West Jefferson, N.C. 28694 (336) 846-9550 www.ashechamber.com
AVERY COUNTY CHAMBER OF COMMERCE 4501 Tynecastle Highway, No. 2 Banner Elk, N.C. 28604 (828) 898-5605 www.averycounty.com
BANNER ELK CHAMBER OF COMMERCE 100 W. Main St. Banner Elk, N.C. 28604 (828) 898-8395 www.bannerelk.org
BEECH MOUNTAIN CHAMBER OF COMMERCE 403-A Beech Mountain Parkway Beech Mountain, N.C. 28604 (828) 387-9283 www.beechmountainchamber.com
BLOWING ROCK CHAMBER OF COMMERCE 132 Park Ave. Blowing Rock, N.C. 28605 (828) 295-7851 www.blowingrockncchamber.com
BOONE AREA CHAMBER OF COMMERCE 870 W. King St., Suite A, Boone, N.C. 28607 (828) 264-2225 www.boonechamber.com
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High Country Host’s primary mission is to attract visitors to the High Country and help direct them to the different attractions, arts and recreational activities available. Pictured in front of the Visitor Information Center are HCH staffers Candice Cook, Mollie Shanly, Loraine Tyrie, J.P. Greene and Norma Murphy. PHOTO BY SUZANNE CARTER
High Country Host Visitor Center BY SUZANNE CARTER
T
he fresh smell of mountain air in the summertime pulls everyone in across the High Country area. Locals have the pleasure of experiencing the beauty of summer in the mountains with the numerous outdoor recreation opportunities, different assortment of attractions and the arts available to the public regularly. Tourists and locals alike have the opportunity to experience everything the High Country has to offer through discovering the abundance of information the High Country Host Visitor Center has to share. “We are most helpful when we can help people plan their day, because most people don’t know how much time it takes to get from one attraction to another or how
much time it takes at each place,” said Candice Cook, High Country Host marketing director. North Carolina High Country Host is a membership marketing organization whose primary mission is to attract visitors to the High Country and direct them to member businesses, since 1980. The visitor center is typically always busier during the summer months because most of the people who visit in the winter already know what they’re going to do, Cook said. High Country Host has won many prestigious awards and has become a model for several other host organizations throughout North Carolina because of its extensive efforts to help tourists plan everything in their visit including lodging, restaurants and the different events or attractions they
are interested in. “We get asked a lot if the Swinging Bridge is really scary or how fast the zipline will go,” Cook said. “We also help people with accommodations because when the hotels are completely booked, we know where one room is available.” The High Country Host Visitor Information Center averages 50,000 visitors and 25,000 phone calls in the few months of summer. Its website receives more than 10,000 hits per month year-round. During the summer, the visitor center gets a lot of specific questions about where people can take their bikes for a good bike ride, or where the best place to go fishing is and where the best hiking trail is, Cook said. Downloadable brochures on the High Country Host website allow tourists to
learn more about the different options they have while searching for places to eat and shop or for activities to participate in without having to physically go to the Visitors Information Center in Boone. The High Country Host Visitor Center is open seven days a week year-round. Monday through Saturday, it opens at 9 a.m. and closes at 5 p.m. On Sundays, it opens at 9 a.m. and closes at 3 p.m. If people need to fill the last part of their day or even plan their whole trip, they should stop inside, Cook said. “It’s easier to talk in person than online,” she said. “Don’t be afraid to come in.” High Country Host Visitor Information Center is located at 1700 Blowing Rock Road in Boone. For more information, visit highcountryhost.com, or call (828) 264-1299.
2015
SUMMER TIMES
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SUMMER TIMES
GOLF CLUB
Now Welcoming Public Play
2015
2 Miles South of Linville on 221
New Fleet of Golf Carts for 2015 Food and Beverage Available
Special 18 Hole Rates 2 Uniquely Different 9’s
Book your tee times online now!
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SUMMER TIMES
2015
CELEBRATING
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21 YEARS
OF BUSINESS Original Art Work
George Snyder
Blowing Rock Frameworks & Gallery
2015 Art Shows
Oils from the High Country June 5- June 20th Opening reception: Fri. June 5th 5-8 pm
Group Show of the North Carolina Mountains July 1- July 31st Ongoing
Jason Drake Beautiful Oils from the Heart August 10 - August 28th Artist reception: Sat. August 15th 5-8 pm 7539 Valley Blvd. (Next to Food Lion) Mon-Sat. 9-5pm
www.blowingrockgalleries.com 828-295-0041
SUMMER TIMES
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&
Where Beauty
Our Towns
Functionality Meet
W
122 Summerville Dr., Unit 103 | Mooresville, NC | 704-663-3497
WWW.COPPERINNOVATIONS.COM
2015
elcome to your High Country vacation! But it’s more than that. A trip to the Blue Ridge Mountains is a veritable getaway, an escape to nature that area residents are lucky enough to call home. The towns and communities that make up the High Country are diverse and quaint, vibrant and picturesque, offering visitors amenities aplenty, from dining, lodging and shopping to top-notch entertainment and nightlife.
Watauga County Boone
No matter which 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 makes up the University of North Carolina system and draws about 18,000 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. Just make sure not to cross anyone by mispronouncing the name: It’s “App-uh-latch-un.” Adjacent to the university is King Street and the SEE OUR TOWNS, PAGE 13
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SUMMER TIMES
2015
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OUR TOWNS
Todd
FROM PAGE 12
surrounding area, one of the town’s best shopping destinations. One-of-akind stores and eclectic boutiques dot the landscape, interspersed with legal offices and a diversity of restaurants to suit almost any taste. Departing from downtown, retail chains, big-box stores and other shopping areas ensure that residents and visitors lack nothing in the way of modern conveniences. But Boone has an eye on its past, too. Named for legendary pioneer and explorer Daniel Boone, the town dates back to about 1800, when Jordan Councill opened a store on what is now King Street. In 1820, he opened a post office, and other homes and stores began to spring up nearby. When Watauga County was created in 1849, Boone was picked as the county seat. It remained a typical small town until the university began to grow in the 1960s. A relic of Boone’s storied past, the historic Jones House Community Center is located right on King Street. The house was built in 1908 and was given to the town in the early 1980s. Today, the home is a go-to source for art and community functions. Boone is a town where old and new mix, and visitors are made to feel like part of the family. 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. For another dose of history, visit the renovated and restored Green Park Inn, a site on the National Register of Historic Places that has been a hotel since 1882. After closing due to age and the recession in May 2009, the building was purchased a year later and immediately underwent
A tuber floats on the Watauga River in scenic Valle Crucis. PHOTO BY FRANK RUGGIERO
a complete overhaul. While clinging to the small-town charm and Southern graciousness of its past, Blowing Rock also includes nearly 20 hotels and inns and more than 100 shops. Find a place to park early in the morning and spend the rest of the day on foot, exploring the shops and parks of downtown. Clothing, antiques, home furnishings, mementos and delicious treats will fill your shopping bags and stomach as you examine the town’s treasures. Make sure to visit Tanger Shoppes on the Parkway on U.S. 321 to find name-brand items at outlet prices. The benches in Memorial Park at the center of Main Street make the perfect spot to settle down with a drink or snack and watch the world go by. The less-traveled Broyhill Park down Laurel Lane paints the perfect summer scene, complete with a shady gazebo and glistening pond. The trails surrounding Moses Cone Memorial Park and Bass Lake offer another scenic stroll. 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 the “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 Simplicity at the Mast Farm Inn, Over Yonder, Valle Crucis Bakery and Café and The Ham Shoppe, which boasts some of the best sandwiches in the High Country. For more information, visit www. vallecrucis.com.
Todd is a town so nice it’s claimed by 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 flow north. The Todd General Store is an oldfashioned mercantile that dates 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. Today, the store offers dinner, bluegrass, book signings and demonstrations. 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 ever-crafty 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. Hungry? Sample some home-cooked Southern goodness at the Foscoe Country SEE OUR TOWNS, PAGE 14
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OUR TOWNS FROM PAGE 13
Corner and Deli. 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’s 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
SUMMER TIMES to the 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 experience 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 yearround ziplining. For more information and events at Seven Devils, visit www. sevendevils.net.
Avery County 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, shop, relax by the Mill Pond and stay in one of the inns after dinner in a fine restaurant. 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. New this year is Second Saturday, a town-wide celebration to be held the second Saturday of each month, featuring artist demonstrations, live music, culinary tastings, tours, beer and wine tasting and more. Visitors are encouraged to return to Banner Elk each autumn for its annual 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, of importance right now, is that 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
2015
temperature stays comfortable atop Beech. 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. As the cool summer night air sends you looking for a sweater, you’ll probably smile at the thought. 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, 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 huge 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 Drs. 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 SEE OUR TOWNS, PAGE 15
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OUR TOWNS FROM PAGE 14
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, telephone, paved road and boarding school. Through the Sloops’ 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 that live at home and whose educational needs are best met at Crossnore. The school is also home to Miracle Grounds Coffee Café & Creamery, a working vocational classroom, featuring specialty coffee drinks, homemade snacks, sandwiches, milkshakes, ice cream, WiFi 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 and third Friday nights through the summer 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 oldtime 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. 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. Eseeola Lodge is also a popular destination for golf and lodging during the summer months. 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 N.C. 221 and Linville Gorge wilderness area. For visitors considering making Linville a part-time 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 newest among North Carolina’s state parks, Grandfather Mountain State Park offers hiking trails and picturesque views during all four seasons, while the Grandfather Mountain attraction offers all of the above, as well as animal habitats, a nature museum and the famous MileHigh Swinging Bridge.
Newland
With 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 around 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 churches and complete with a memorial to Avery County veterans. Adjacent to the courthouse is the original jail, which has been converted into the Avery County Historical Museum. Exhibits in the museum, which is free of charge to visit, include the original jail cells, numerous artifacts and information about the history of Avery County. During the summer 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. 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
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Roan Mountain 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 roundtrip ride features a spectacular view of the High Country and typically runs from Independence Day weekend to Labor Day weekend. However, due to the installation of a new chairlift, Sugar will not offer summer lift rides or its annual SugarBrew beer festival in 2015. The lift is expected to be operational by opening day of ski season, and both summer events are slated to return in 2016. Meanwhile, there’s plenty to be seen in the village on foot. With numerous trails that wind throughout, you can see both the brilliant greens of the summer and the vibrant reds and yellows of fall. The trails of Sugar Mountain are not just for those on foot. Many cyclists choose Sugar Mountain for its variety of challenging and picturesque terrain. The village also gives tennis and golf lovers an opportunity to enjoy their favorite sports in a 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.
Ashe County Creston
Located in the northwestern corner of Ashe County, SEE OUR TOWNS, PAGE 16
River Tent Sites, Group Tent Area
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SUMMER TIMES
OUR TOWNS FROM PAGE 15
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, Fleetwood is home of 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
2015
by to look at local crafts, antiques and civic pride in Fleetwood.
Glendale Springs
Home of the breath-taking 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 this summer. Proximity to the Blue Ridge Parkway is an added bonus as summer sets in.
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.
SEE OUR TOWNS, PAGE 18
A North Carolina Tradition. Iconic Views and Unique Gift Shop theblowingrock.com • 828-295-7111 • 432 Rock Road • Blowing Rock
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SUMMER TIMES
Foscoe Rentals, located in the heart of the North Carolina High Country, offers a variety of lodging options. From luxury condos to picturesque log cabins, Foscoe Rentals is your home away from home. Breathtaking views, soothing hot tubs and pools, and relaxing fireplaces welcome you to the peace and tranquility of the mountains.
828-963-8142 800-723-7341 www.FoscoeRentals.com
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2015
OUR TOWNS FROM PAGE 16
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, 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 they will 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 red light, and several businesses line the street. Home-cooked meals can be found at Country House Restaurant, while pizza, sandwiches and salad, 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. explorelansingnc.com. The economy and population begin to take off by 1914 as the Norfolk and Western Railroad, better
Downtown West Jefferson is home to the Ashe County Cheese Plant, where visitors can see cheese being made. A factory store across the street offers a variety of Ashe cheeses, souvenirs and other goodies. FILE PHOTO
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 sale instead of having to travel into West Jefferson. The town was chartered and incorporated 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 continue their adventure on the scenic byway. Although it is located at the top
mountain and 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, better known as “squeaky cheese.” 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 cafés 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.
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Shop, Drop & Roll BY MAKENZIE HOLLAND
BOONE Taking a stroll down Boone’s King Street, lined with local shops and restaurants, is what many people, both local and tourist, enjoy doing in the mountain city. Local shopping brings in revenue for the city, encourages tourism and promotes local businesses, and supports local people seeking to sell their products. Shopping in Boone ranges from clothing and vinyl records to hiking gear and body jewelry. As folks visit the High Country for a brief escape from the exhausting summer heat, to experience the crisp air and beautiful colors of fall, or to enjoy the skiing and snowy walks during the winter season, below is a list of stores that make their home on King Street and that seek to provide visitors with every item they could possibly need or want. Here are some highlights:
ANNA BANANA’S This store specializes in consignment, buying, selling and trading new and slightly used —but ever so stylish — items.
MOUNTAINEER MANIA Boone, home to Appalachian State University, is also home to this store, selling App State apparel and merchandise, as well as other miscellaneous items.
ART OF OIL Bringing a taste of the eclectic to King Street, Art of Oil is an extra virgin olive oil and balsamic vinegar tasting Room.
FOOTSLOGGERS No mountain city would be complete without a store like Footsloggers, packing mountain gear, hiking equipment and everyday travel supplies.
LUCKY PENNY For those looking to shop clothes, Lucky Penny offers options aplenty, from classy and classic trends to modern-day looks.
MAGIC CYCLES While biking in the High Country
The High Country offers a local selection of shopping for all seasons. FILE PHOTO
can be a bit of a challenge with the hills and such, this shop functions as both a bicycle store and repair shop for locals and visitors willing to brave the hills on a bike. For more information on local shopping in downtown Boone, visit www. downtownboonenc.com.
BLOWING ROCK The village of Blowing Rock brings to life the heart of local shopping in the town. With stores ranging from antiques to clothing, visitors can wander Main Street and enjoy the old-style buildings and warm atmosphere of Blowing Rock. Frank Johnson, receptionist at the Blowing Rock Visitor’s Center, said visitors to the village and other local shopping scenes help business owners put food on the table and keep the economy running. Though Tanger Outlets also exists in Blowing Rock, providing such businesses as J. Crew, Coach and the GAP to name a few, it hasn’t detracted from the value of local shopping. When asked if Tanger took business from local business own-
ers, Johnson laughed. “Oh heck no, they help it,” Johnson said. “They (visitors) spend the rest of their money in the shops on Main Street.” Johnson said the number of visitors to the village and other local shopping areas in Blowing Rock is constantly changing. “It’s never the same every year, not even within 5 percent,” Johnson said. Visitors looking to shop in Blowing Rock could spend all day leisurely moving from store to store, or if looking for something more specific, the following businesses in both the village and the surrounding area provide both unique to the area and brand name items. For more information on local shopping in Blowing Rock, visit www.blowingrock.com.
WEST JEFFERSON Established nearly 100 years ago, West Jefferson is a town full of history, activities, events and tons of local businesses. Though it didn’t start out as a tourist destination, it has slowly started to de-
velop into a must-see small town nestled deep within the Blue Ridge Mountains. Wesley Parker, with the West Jefferson Town Hall human resources department, said even 10 years ago, West Jefferson was not as big of a tourist attraction as it is now. However, with a newly developed streetscape and downtown improvements, more and more tourists and visitors are making their way to the town. “I’ve been hearing the rumor that we’re like the next Blowing Rock,” Parker said. Parker said most of the downtown business owners live in either the county or close by, and the city works to promote the initiative to shop local, which helps bring people downtown and helps other local businesses in the area. “It helps put the town on the map,” Parker said. “Word of mouth gets around. The local shops, they have items that usually you can’t find in chain stores, items unique to this area in particular.” Several events take place in West Jefferson every year, but the recently created Antique Fair seeks to promote the local businesses downtown especially. Parker said he can tell a difference in how many people come to the town and where they go following an event, such as a gallery crawl or summer concert. “People will come to town and go to a local restaurant to eat supper,” Parker said. “Other businesses will peg off that and stay open later for shopping. Some restaurants will even have a live band so people will remain in town.” Parker said what makes West Jefferson local shopping different than other local shopping scenes is the variety of unique, local items offered by several of the shops. “Some of the shops are specific to this area,” Parker said. “They’ll have one shop here and nowhere else.” What else makes the area stand out are the improvements that are rapidly taking place around the town. “New businesses coming into town and the storefronts being remodeled help people come into town,” Parker said. “Which is what makes it unique.” For more information on shopping in West Jefferson, visit http://visitwestjefferson.org.
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The Wine Country
2015
High Country vineyards offer a variety of wines year-round
BY ERIKA GIOVANETTI
While California stands out as the Wine Country of the west, North Carolina holds its own in the East with unique grapes and wines. North Carolina is home to more than 140 wineries on over 400 grape vineyards spanning across 1,800 acres, according to ncwine.org. Throughout the nation, North Carolina wine is known for the use of native muscadine grapes, which flourish in the warmer environment. In fact, the Scuppernong muscadine grape is even the official state fruit of North Carolina. Grapes in the High Country tell a different story, surviving harsher winters and flourishing in cooler summers. According to Dylan Tatum, winemaker and winery manager at Grandfather Vineyard and Winery, Seyval and Traminette grapes fare much better in our region. The grapes are used to make the winery’s Grandfather blend, made with 100-percent Watauga County grown grapes. The Grandfather blend, Tatum said, is a great summer wine because the grapes give off floral aromas, while still being a crisp, white wine. “I think that good summertime wines tend to be white wines, because they tend to be a little bit lighter,” Tatum said. “I like a lighter, crisper, acidic refreshing type wine for the summer.” The different strains of grapes aren’t the only things that set the High Country vineyards apart from vineyards and wineries down the mountain. “It’s going to be a different experience than any other region on the East Coast,” Tatum said. “Its hard to find the hillside vineyards anywhere outside of Europe, and we have mountainside vineyards.” The forgiving climate of the High Country during the summer makes the area an ideal spot to enjoy the summer without getting too hot. In fact, the temperature here is rarely higher than 80 degrees. During the summer, one can enjoy a glass of Grandfather wine on a babbling creek with a spectacular view of Grandfather Mountain. The on-site vineyard creeps up the hillside near the stream. Like Grandfather Vineyard and Winery, other area wineries have porches, benches, picnic tables and more for visitors to enjoy their wine in the mountainous scenery.
Situated on a Banner Elk brook, Grandfather Vineyard & Winery offers a serene lawn for beautiful High Country days. PHOTOS BY ERIKA GIOVANETTI
Taste for Yourself BANNER ELK WINERY & VILLA
PLUMTREE VALLEY WINERY
60 Deer Run Banner Elk, N.C. 28604 (828) 898-9090 www.bannerelkwinery.com
4716 U.S. Hwy 19E Plumtree, N.C. 28664 (828) 765-9696 www.toeriverlodge.com
GRANDFATHER VINEYARD & WINERY
THISTLE MEADOW WINERY
225 Vineyard Lane Banner Elk, N.C. 28604 (828) 963-2400 www.grandfathervineyard.com
102 Thistle Meadow Laurel Springs, N.C. 28644 (800) 233-1505 www.thistlemeadowwinery.com
LINVILLE FALLS WINERY
WATAUGA LAKE WINERY
9557 Linville Falls Highway Newland, N.C. 28657 (828) 765-1400 www.linvillefallswinery.com
6952 Big Dry Run Road Butler, Tenn. 37640 (423) 768-0345 www.wataugalakewinery.com
Grandfather Vineyard & Winery hosts rotating wines, many made with locally sourced grapes.
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www.ValleCrucis.com
A haven for travelers since the 1800s, Valle Crucis, a National Rural Historic District, offers shops, beautiful bed and breakfast inns, delicious cuisine, wine tasting, rustic cabins, horseback riding, adventure and more.
Dutch Creek Trails 828-297-7117
St. John’s Church ca. 1858
Little Red School House ca. 1907
Original Mast General Store Est. 1883 828-963-6511
Valle Crucis Bakery & Cafe 828-963-2555
Valle Crucis Log Cabin Rentals & Sales 828-963-7774 Mast Store Annex Outfitters & Candy Barrel ca. 1909 828-963-6511
Rivercross Made in USA 828-963-8623
Mast Farm Inn Lodging & Restaurant ca. 1812 828-963-5857
Over Yonder Restaurant & Bar 828-963-6301
Taylor House Inn Bed & Breakfast ca. 1911 800-963-5581
Valle Crucis Community Web Directory Dutch Creek Trails - dutchcreektrails.com Lazy Bear Lodge - lazy-bear-lodge.com Mountainside Lodge Mast Farm Inn - themastfarminn.com Bed & Breakfasat 877-687-4333 Mast General Store - mastgeneralstore.com Mountainside Lodge B&B - mountainsidelodgebb.com Over Yonder - overyondernc.com Rivercross Made in USA - rivercrossmadeinusa.com Taylor House Inn - taylorhouseinn.com Valle Crucis Bakery & Cafe - sites.google.com/site/vallecrucisbakerycafe Valle Crucis Bed & Breakfast - vallecrucisbandb.com Valle Crucis Log Cabin Rentals & Sales - logcabinrentals.com
Valle Crucis Bed & Breakfast & Valle Crucis Mercantile 828-963-2525
Lazy Bear Lodge Bed & Breakfast 828-963-9201
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2015
High Country breweries are hoppin’ BY ERIKA GIOVANETTI
When it comes to beer, summer is a season for light, fresh and even fruity ales to be enjoyed on a porch, patio or even beach on a hot summer day. In the mountains, we trade out the beach for riverbanks, waterfalls, overlooks and more. Take a break from the adventures of the High Country to enjoy a locally brewed pint at one of our area’s six breweries. Boone’s pioneering Appalachian Mountain Brewery opened its doors on Valentine’s Day 2013, becoming the first brewpub in the town in more than a decade. AMB is host to open mic nights, “drink and draw,” trivia, special events and more. This year, AMB began an extensive canning operation, and the Boone-based brews can be enjoyed for hundreds of miles around. The brewery also began construction for a cider operation earlier in the year. A portion of the proceeds from brews sold goes to support local philanthropic causes. AMB is located at 163 Boone Creek Drive in Boone and is open Tuesday through Saturday from 11:30 a.m. till 11 p.m. and Sunday and Monday from noon till 10 p.m. For more information, visit www.appalachianmountainbrewery.com. Nested in the quaint Beech Mountain Resort Alpine Village, Beech Mountain Brewing Co. has something for snow bunnies and summer bums alike. The brewery, which operates on seasonal hours, features a dozen beers and is capable of brewing up to 100 gallons per day, according to its website. Beech Mountain Resort is located at 1007 Beech Mountain Parkway. For more information or for summer hours, call ahead at (828) 387-2011. Blind Squirrel Brewery’s brewpub (4716 S. U.S. 19) is located at the historic 1919 Vance Toe River Lodge in Plumtree, which also features a bed and breakfast, winery, restaurant and disc golf course. Blind Squirrel offers a variety of beers, including a summer ale, in addition to 14 other brews. For more information, including
Appalachian Mountain Brewery encourages its customers to act local and drink local by donating a portion of its proceeds to area nonprofits. FILE PHOTO
The Mason family — from left, Andrew, Lynne and David — owns and operates Lost Province Brewing Company in downtown Boone. PHOTO BY FRANK RUGGIERO
hours, call (828) 765-2739, or visit www.blindsquirrelbrewery.com. An idea shared by two local residents added with nearly five years of craft beer research culminated in Blowing Rock Brewing Co., a dream turned
reality for Todd Rice and Jeff Walker. In 2013, the Blowing Rock Ale House & Inn became the first brewery to even open in the heart of historic Blowing Rock. After years of success, the duo opened up a brewery in Hickory to in-
crease production of their flagship ales. Blowing Rock Ale House (152 Sunset Drive), which features a full menu and myriad beers on tap, is open Sunday through Tuesday and Thursday from 11 a.m. till 9 p.m. and Friday and Saturday until 10 p.m. For more information, visit www.blowingrockbrewing.com. West Jefferson’s Boondocks Brewing Tap Room & Restaurant offers more than 30 craft beers on tap, as well as a selection of the pub’s own brews, which are available exclusively at the brewpub. In February of 2015, the Brew Haus operation relocated to accommodate a larger operation, essentially doubling the brewery’s output. Guests may still enjoy the brew at the restaurant (108 S. Jefferson Ave.). Boondocks Brewing is open Sunday through Wednesday from 11 a.m. till 8 p.m., Thursday until 9 p.m. and Friday and Saturday till 11:45 p.m. For more information, visit www.boondocksbrewing.com. Featuring mountain spring water and locally sourced hops and barley, Banner Elk’s Flat Top Brewery (567 Main St. East) is new even to the fresh High Country craft beer scene. In the summer of 2014, Flat Top became Banner Elk’s only craft brewery with up to 12 beers on tap at any given time. Various restaurants and bars across the High Country have begun to carry Flat Top brews on tap. Flat Top Brewery is open Monday through Thursday from 2 to 8 p.m., Friday and Saturday till 10 p.m. and is closed Sundays. For more information, visit www.flattopbrewing.com. Downtown Boone’s sole microbrewery, Lost Province Brewing Co., features not only house brews, but serves up a variety of not-so-typical bar food, including artisan wood-fired pizza. While indulging in fine dining and food, guest may also peek in at the brewery’s many fermenting vats to see how the brews they’re drinking were made. Lost Province is open Monday through Wednesday from 11 a.m. till 10 p.m., Thursday through Saturday until 11 p.m. and Sunday until 9 p.m. For more information, visit www.lostprovince.com.
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2015
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SUMMER TIMES
2015
Grandfather Mountain offers a spectacular view from the top BY CAROLINE HARRIS
V
isiting the High Country is not complete without braving the Mile-High Swinging Bridge at Grandfather Mountain. This 228-foot suspension bridge spans an 80-foot chasm between peaks. While walking across, enjoy being suspended in mid-air, 5,280 feet above sea level. The price of admission to Grandfather Mountain includes a trail guide and audio CD guide to the various attractions. Famously, the steep road’s hairpin curves up to the summit were featured in a scene from the movie, “Forrest Gump.” As you drive up to the peak, overlooks include Half Moon Overlook, Cliffside Overlook and Sheer Bluff. These provide an opportunity to stop and take in SEE GRANDFATHER, PAGE 27
Black bears are some of the more sizable denizens of Grandfather Mountain’s animal habitats. FILE PHOTO
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PAGE 27
GRANDFATHER FROM PAGE 26
the view as you make your way up the mountain. Grandfather Mountain also features interesting rock formations accessible on foot, including the Sphinx and Split Rock. The Sphinx rock formation is a whopping 2 million pounds. Grandfather Mountain is home to 11 hiking trails that range in difficulty from an easy nature walk to a trek over rugged terrain. Trails can be accessed for free from trailheads outside of the Grandfather Mountain attraction. Interpretive rangers are available to lead guided hikes, bird walks and wildflower walks for families and groups. Animals native to Grandfather Mountain can be seen in Wildlife Habitats. The seven environmental habitats feature cougars, eagles, white-tailed deer, black bears and river otters. The Grandfather Mountain Nature Museum houses more than two dozen educational exhibits outlining the natural history of Grandfather Mountain and the surrounding region, including gems and minerals native to the region, stories of early explorers and local birdlife. Stop in for lunch at Mildred’s Grill for some elevated eating. The Top Shop gift shop and gallery at the summit offers local and seasonal souvenirs. Check the wildflower calendar to identify what will be in bloom during your tour. For a more in-depth look at flora and fauna, go on a Remarkable Rhododendron Ramble. Grandfather Mountain offers this special program designed to help visitors get the most out of the memorable sight of rhododendron blooming on the mountain’s slopes in early summer. Staff naturalists offer programs and guided walks daily at 1 p.m. Summer hours are 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. Ticket sales end at 6 p.m. Adult admission is $20, senior admission is $18, and child admission is $9. Children younger than 4 are admitted for free. For up-to-the-minute weather information, check Grandfather Mountain’s website at www.grandfather.com The park is fully wheelchair-accessible. Grandfather Mountain is located at 2050 Blowing Rock Highway in Linville. For more information, call (800) 4687325 or (828) 733-2013, or visit www. grandfather.com.
Grandfather Mountain is home to the world-famous Mile High Swinging Bridge. FILE PHOTOS
Grandfather Mountain offers unparalleled views of the High Country from heights exceeding a mile above sea level.
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2015
Defy Gravity at Mystery Hill BY SUZANNE CARTER
P
SEE MYSTERY HILL, PAGE 29
The Vortex/Anti-Gravity room causes people to feel like they are being pulled to the north, causing them to stand at a 45-degree angle. PHOTO BY SUZANNE CARTER
Specializing in quality toys
3411 Hwy. 321 S Blowing Rock 828-264-1422 www.facebook.com/incredibletoycompany
Unique games and old fashion customer service.
A fun place to shop for kids and adults!
eople of all ages come to experience the phenomenon at Mystery Hill. The numerous attractions on site provide a fun environment full of games and an historical education of Native American artifacts. Mystery Hill is a family-oriented entertainment complex with the purpose to enrich the lives of all visitors, no matter their age. “We’ve got history and mystery available at Mystery Hill,” said Wayne Underwood, owner of Mystery Hill. “We’ve got something for everyone.” Today, the current facility includes the original Mystery Platform, Hall of Mystery, the Appalachian Heritage Museum, the Mystery House and the Native American Artifacts Museum. “There’s all kinds of experiments here that show the gravity is different here than other areas,” Underwood said. “We call it antigravity.” Mystery Hill has survived more than 65 years of phenomena and two devastating fires that nearly destroyed
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Summer Events at Fred’s • Beech Mt. Sunday Sunset Concerts Check our website for details: • Crafts on the Green fredsgeneral.com
Come visit us at Eastern America’s Highest Town Kids have a great time trying to pull up a gigantic bubble with someone inside at the Hall of Mystery.
MYSTERY HILL FROM PAGE 28
everything. The first phenomenon, the Mystery Platform, was discovered by William Hudson, owner of Mystery Hill in the early 1900s. Hudson operated a cider mill on an old wooden platform. He had employed identical twins to work the mill. One day, he noticed that the twin who stood on the north end of the platform looked taller. After asking them to switch sides he discovered that the twin who stood on the north end always looked taller. Thus, the Mystery Platform was discovered. Hudson raised apple trees that always grew toward the north, directly into the prevailing winds. No matter his efforts to change the crooked path through the orchard to a new and straighter path, the trees not only still reached toward the north side, but the apples continued to fall on the crooked path, ignoring the straight path. He described it as a pull toward the north.
Hudson recognized the second phenomenon in 1948 while reading a LIFE Magazine that described the same kind of phenomenon happening elsewhere that was now happening on his property. “Our whole desire is that people come here with families,” Underwood said. “They enjoy themselves and laugh with each other and work together to figure out the mystery at Mystery Hill.” Mystery Hill is open year-round, excluding Christmas Day. Hours of operation June through August are 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. and September through May 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Admission is $9 for adults, $8 for senior citizens, $7 for children 5 to 12 and free for children 4 and younger. Season passes feature free admission for one full year, as well as a gift shop discount and an admission discount for any guests accompanied by the season pass owner. Mystery Hill is located at 129 Mystery Hill Lane, just off U.S. 321 in Blowing Rock. For more information, visit www. mysteryhill-nc.com, or call at (828) 264-2792.
Affordable Southern Charm You will love our prices!! • Whimsical gifts ... Cow, Horse and Animal Art. • Boutique apparel, jewelry, and accessories featuring Custom YaYa charm necklaces • Featuring the “Oh My Gauze” collection. • Birdhouses made in NC from reclaimed materials • Cow and Horse “Pop Art” VISIT OUR
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1053 Main Street, Blowing Rock, NC
828-295-4277
Awesome art above the Baby Boutique line
NEW LOCATION
SUMMER TIMES
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2015
DOWNTOWN
BOONE ART
•
DINING
iami New York, Chicago & M Style Pizza & More
•
SHOPPING
•
ANTIQUES 5
1
Voted "The Best Pizza in the High Country"
PRIVATE DOWNTOWN PARKING!
NOW OFFERING DELIVERY!
Located in downtown Boone 783 W. King Street • 828-386-4094 Visit us at www.cilantrosboone.com
828-265-1886 454B West King St. Boone, NC
A Boone Original Since 1988
2
Serving Breakfast and Lunch ALL DAY Omelettes Homemade Salads Flavored Cream Cheese Sandwiches Burgers Vegetarian Menu Gluten Free Bagels
262-5585 516 W. King St.
Fun for Families! No Experience Needed
6
AND A
LARGE VARIETY
Voted Best Hot Dog
Climbing Gear & Apparel
MON-SAT 6am-5pm, SUN 7am-3pm
784 W KING ST 828.265.2658 MON-FRI 11-5 SAT 11-4
2015
828.265.3544 7
3
10
FRESH INGREDIENTS OFFERING
Guided Off-Site Trips
Major Credit Cards Accepted • 5% Cash Discount
Largest Antique Mall in the High Country
9
Large Selection of:
COME SEE OUR NEW DINING AREA AND WINE BAR!
11
• Craft Beer • Wine • Party Essentials • Great Snacks • Delectable Desserts
Appalachian Antique Mall
122 SOUTH DEPOT ST., BOONE, NC 828-386-1329 • BENCHMARKPROVISIONS.COM
631 W. King Street • Historic Downtown Boone 828-268-9988 • Mon-Sat 10am-6pm • Sun 11am-6pm 4
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Restaurant and Wine Bar 831 W. KING ST • WWW.VIDALIAOFBOONENC.COM
693 W. King St. | 828.264.0302 | luckypennyboone.com
Ram’s Rack THRIFT SHOP
12
RAM
A 501-(3)C Organization • Donations Accepted SPONSORED BY RESORT AREA MINISTRIES
• Used Furniture • Clothing & Accessories • Small Household Items • Books Call for Donation Pick-Up Information
Monday-Saturday 9:00am - 5:00pm 877 West King St. Downtown Boone 828-262-5029
HALF PRICE SHOES & CLOTHING ON SATURDAYS
SUMMER TIMES
2015
PAGE 31
it’s all about the Love...
13
PROPER
SOUTHERN FOOD 142 S. Water St. Boone, NC 28607 828-865-5000 www.propermeal.com
18
Old World Galleries
Your Full Service Jeweler
creating special moments!
Mon-Sat 11:30-9:00 Sunday 11:30-3:00 14
Cha Da Thai
OPEN 6½ DAYS A WEEK
697 West King St. 828-264-6559 OldWorldGalleries.com 19
16
Restaurant & Bar
Exquisite Authentic Thai Cuisine jewelry pottery furniture glassware primitives
LUNCH: M-F 11-3, Sun 11:30-3 DINNER: Everyday 5-10 PM Saturday 5-10PM only 173 Howard Street Boone, NC 828.268.0434 828.268.0439 fax
199 howard st • 828-262-1957 • open 7 days a week
www.chadathai-nc.com 15
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Large Selection of Draft & Bottled Beers All ABC Permits Daily Specials 828-264-7772 CAFEPORTOFINO.NET 17
one-of-a-kind
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161 HOWARD ST. SUITE B • 828.386.1201
DAILY
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5 10
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8
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DEPOT STREET
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E W. KING STRE
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421 321
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2015
The Blowing Rock: More Than a Namesake
V
isitors at the Blowing Rock have the opportunity to view the High Country at 4,000 feet above sea level. Dating back to 1933, the Blowing Rock is North Carolina’s oldest tourist attraction. It is a massive cliff 4,000 feet above sea level, overhanging Johns River Gorge 3,000 feet below. During the formation of the Blue Ridge Mountains, strong pressure in the rocks of the earth’s crust produced many features, which we now see at the Blowing Rock. It received its name because the rocky walls of the gorge form a force that enables the northwest wind to sweep through with such energy that it returns light objects thrown over the void. The current of air flowing upward from the rock prompted the “Ripley’s BelieveIt-Or-Not” cartoon about “the only place in the world where snow falls upside down.” Visible from the Blowing Rock are Hawksbill Mountain, Table Rock, Grandfather Mountain (the highest peak in the Blue Ridge chain) and Mount Mitchell (the highest peak east of the Mississippi). The legend of the Blowing Rock says that a Chickasaw chieftain, fearful of a white man’s admiration for his lovely daughter, journeyed far from the plains to bring her to the Blowing Rock. One day, the girl, daydreaming on the cliff, saw a Cherokee brave wandering in the wilderness far below and playfully shot an arrow in his direction. The flirtation worked, because soon he appeared before her hut, courting her with songs of his land, and they became lovers. One day, a strange reddening of the sky brought the brave and the girl to the Blowing Rock. To him, it was a sign of trouble, commanding his return to his tribe in the plains. With the girl’s requests not to leave her, the brave, torn by conflict of duty and heart, leapt from the rock into the wilderness far below. The heartbroken girl prayed daily to the Great Spirit until one evening with a reddening sky, a gust of wind blew her lover back onto the rock and into her arms. From that day, an everlasting wind has blown up onto the rock from the valley below. For people of the past, this was explanation enough for the Blowing Rock’s mysterious winds that cause even
Dating back to 1933, the Blowing Rock is North Carolina’s oldest tourist attraction. It is a massive cliff 4,000 feet above sea level, overhanging Johns River Gorge 3,000 feet below. FILE PHOTO
the snow to fall upside down. The Blowing Rock is open all year, weather permitting, in Blowing Rock. From May
through October, it is open daily from 8:30 a.m. to 7 p.m. General admission is $7 for adults, $2 for children ages 4
to 11 and free for kids 3 and younger. The Blowing Rock is located on U.S. 321, near the Green
Park Inn in Blowing Rock. For more information, call (828) 295-7111, or visit www. theblowingrock.com.
SUMMER TIMES
2015
PAGE 33
BOONE
Foscoe
& Grandfather Community
133 Echota Parkway 800.333.7601
105 126 Taylor Road 828.963.2470 ®
natural. comfortable. home. 9452 NC Hwy 105 S 828.963.4144
8857 NC Hwy 105 S 828.963.6556
ROSA IVEY 9649 NC Hwy 105 S 239.290.3753 8859 NC Hwy 105 S 828.528.4161
Mountain
LUMBER CO.
SUSTAINABLE BUILDING CENTER
9877 NC Hwy 105 S 828.963.7524
105
Grandfather Trout Farm
5111 NC Hwy 105 S 828.898.9887
9021 NC Hwy 105 S 828.963.6260 225 Vineyard Lane 828.963.2400
10767 NC Hwy 105 S 828.963.5098
Blackberry Creek Mattress - www.blackberrymattress.com Country Retreat Family Billiards - www.countryretreatbilliards.com Dewoolfson - www.dewoolfsonlinens.com Dianne Davant & Assoc. - www.davant-interiors.com 5320 NC Hwy 105 S 828.963.6466
Echota - www.echotanc.com Foscoe Fishing Co. - www.foscoefishing.com Grandfather Trout Farm - www.grandfathertroutfarm.com Grandfather Vineyard Winery - www.grandfathervineyards.com Mountain Dog and Friends - www.mountaindogandfriends.com Mountain Lumber Co. - www.mountainlumbercompany.com Prime Lending/Rosa Ivey - www.rosaivey.com Tatum Galleries - www.tatumgalleries.com
BANNER ELK
PAGE 34
SUMMER TIMES
2015
Founded in 1964, Hound Ears comprises 750 scenic acres. PHOTOS SUBMITTED
Mountain Living, Elevated
Hound Ears is home to a George Cobb-designed golf course.
Enchanting members for 50 years, Hound Ears Club offers High Country’s pinnacle in golf, tennis, homes, recreation and dining
C
as from across the Southeast. an you hear that? The mountains are calling. And although many club members own a home Calling you home to a place where trickling within the club gates, residency is not a requirement — creeks, singing birds and soft taps of golf members also live in many local communities, such as balls set the tone for your stay. Echota, Seven Devils, Banner Elk, Blowing Rock and Nestled in the Blue Ridge Mountains near Boone, Boone. Blowing Rock and Banner Elk, Hound For those who can’t deny the call of Ears Club is part golf resort, part residenFor more information on Hound Ears’ 50-50-50 the mountains, single-family chalets, tial community. Membership Plan, visit artisan-crafted condos and two- to fiveFounded in 1964, it comprises 750 scehoundears.com/50, email bedroom homes are currently on the nic acres and was recently named a Top info@houndears.com, or market. 100 Tar Heel course by Business North call (828) 963-2137. Vacation rental and weekend lodging Carolina for the seventh consecutive year. packages are available too, from a room The member-owned club continues its in The Clubhouse Inn to homes of any size. half-century of success as a family-oriented mountain Hound Ears Club planted deep roots within the High community. Country region, beginning in 1964. The 1960s were Home to four-star dining, a George Cobb-designed golf course, and a state-of-the art fitness center, the club a time of vast changes for the Boone/Blowing Rock region. Tourists had begun to discover the delights of also offers tennis, a pool with a rock grotto and watercool summers coupled with accessible ski resorts in the fall, plenty of hiking and fly-fishing opportunities, plus winter. stellar social events. Even the weather is better — the Three brothers — Grover, Harry and Spencer Robbins higher mountain elevation translates to cooler sum— were no strangers to this trend. The Robbins family mers. had been instrumental in starting such tourism meccas With approximately 300 members, Hound Ears Club cultivates a small-town feeling. Most members come from the Charlotte, Greensboro or Raleigh areas, as well SEE ELEVATED, PAGE 35
Most Hound Ears members come from the Charlotte, Greensboro or Raleigh areas, as well as from across the Southeast.
2015
SUMMER TIMES
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ELEVATED FROM PAGE 34
as nearby Tweetsie Railroad and, later, Beech Mountain Ski Resort and Elk River Club in nearby Banner Elk. The brothers believed that a Bavarian style resort that included both a golf course and a ski slope would find a successful niche in the growing High Country tourism industry. They found a tract tucked away on the site of a former mill town, Shulls Mill in southwestern Watauga County, and in January 1964, Hound Ears Club opened to rave reviews. It’s clear that the original founders’ commitment to a tradition of excellence is still alive today and why so many have found their own version of heaven here. In 2015, Hound Ears Club continues to celebrate more than 50 years as one of the top private clubs in the High Country, launching an exciting new membership initiative that will provide the pinnacle of mountain living while maintaining a reasonable value proposition. For more information on Hound Ears’ 50-50-50 Membership Plan, visit houndears.com/50, e-mail info@houndears. com, or call (828) 963-2137.
Hound Ears is home to trickling creeks, singing birds and the soft taps of golf balls.
Vacation rental and weekend lodging packages are available too, from a room in The Clubhouse Inn to homes of any size.
In 2015, Hound Ears Club continues to celebrate more than 50 years as one of the top private clubs in the High Country.
PAGE 36
SUMMER TIMES
2015
Golfing in the High Country offers something special for visitors — namely, beautiful scenery and prime weather. PHOTOS SUBMITTED
High County golf is par for the course BY ERIK HOFFMANN
W
ith picturesque mountain views, cool temperatures and the greenest of greens, there’s no better place to “let ’er rip” than the High Country. The northwest corner of North Carolina offers several choices and levels of play, from the novice to the expert. From Avery County to Ashe County and points in between, golfers’ choices are, well, the sky’s the limit. Boone Golf Club, located at 433 Fairway Drive in Boone, offers 18 holes of what Golf Digest considers “rated 4.5 stars.” The course was designed by Ellis Maples in 1959 and boasts 6,680 yards of golfing bliss. The par 71 course has blue, white, gold and red tees with three par 5 holes, 11 par 4 holes and four par 3 holes. Boone Golf Club also has a pro shop stocked with the latest apparel and equipment for both men and lady golfers. It offers club repair, demonstrations, junior clinics and private instruction.
Mountain Aire Golf Club, located at 1104 Golf Course Road in West Jefferson, has 6404 yards of mountain views and challenging holes throughout its course. With four par 5 holes, 10 par 4 holes and four par 3 holes, Mountain Aire has four sets of tees to challenge anyone’s skill level. If there isn’t time for a full round of golf, check out Willow Creek Golf Course, located at 354 Bairds Creek Road in Vilas. It is a 9-hole, par 3 executive course with varying elevations and lush, green views all around. Willow Creek was designed by Tom Jackson and has hosted many a golfer since its opening in 1975. With no tee times, Willow Creek operates on a “first come, first serve” basis. The Mountain Glen Golf Club, located at 1 Club House Drive in Newland, was designed by George W. Cobb in 1964 and has remained unchanged ever since. The front nine has mostly flat and open fairways and the back nine goes upward to what was once called “Cranberry
Draw.” Mountain Glen also offers a driving range with flag markers up to 200 yards, a practice putting green and chipping area. For anyone would just wants to hit the ball without keeping score, the Mountaineer Golf Center, located at 115 Beverly Heights Ave. in Boone, is the perfect spot for teeing up and smashing a few balls. Mountaineer Golf Center offers a practice facility with multi-level teeing stations, elevation stations to hitting areas and more. It also offers lessons with PGA professional Lee Sayre, who provides more than 40 years of experience and can help correct any golf swing, regardless of your experience. The links at Sugar Mountain Golf Course, located at 1054 Sugar Mountain Drive in Sugar Mountain, reach elevations more than 4,000 feet above sea level and offer a course that is second to none. The par 64 course includes nine par 3 holes, eight par 4 holes and only one par
5 hole. Many have referred to the course as Sugar Mountain as “Everyman’s Golf Course.” Beech Mountain Club, located at 103 Lakeledge Road in Beech Mountain, features an 18-hole, ridge-top golf course, boasting spectacular views of mountain ranges in Tennessee and Virginia. Originally designed by William Byrd, the course has undergone renovation during the last 10 years, using a master plan developed by noted golf course architect Tom Jackson. The renovation provides several sets of tees and new greens, while extending the course to 6,250 yards in length. As such, the course ranges in elevation between 4,200 and 4,700 feet, meaning the average summer temperature rarely exceeds 72 degrees. Since Beech Mountain Club is private, the club is collaborating with the town of Beech Mountain to offer a “Summer of 79° Stay & Play” deal, meaning SEE GOLF, PAGE 95
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2015
HighCountryNC.com
live the adventure Find your adventure
PAGE 37
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Serving the High Country for over 32 years
BANNER ELK OFFICE 110 Main Street West Banner Elk, NC (828) 737-3100
G A L L E R Y
Interior/ Exterior Railings Fireplace screens Driveway Gates Furniture Sculptures Specialty items
(828) 898-8582 • WWW.BLUEMOUNTAINMETALWORKS.COM
BLUE MOUNTAIN
UPSCALE ECLECTIC GOURMET ITALIAN BISTRO
&
THE BEST PLACE FOR FOOD, FUN & FRIENDS
8
F R A M E M A K E R S
A Celebrated Arts Destination
Join Us for Our Sensational 2015 Season of Exhibitions, Wine Flights and Coffee Talks.
YONAHLOSSEE RESORT OFFICE 226 Oakley Green Boone, NC (828) 963-7370
BOONE OFFICE 2237 & 2271 Hwy 105 Boone, NC (828) 263-8711
5
1
www.BlueRidgeRealty.net
2015
artcellaronline.com • 828-898-5175 • info@artcellaronline.com 2
920 Shawneehaw Ave. Hwy 184
• Open 7am Everyday: Serving Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner • Offering Steaks, Burgers, Pizza, Seafood and More... • Live Music Fridays & Saturdays 6-10pm on The Deck
Visit www.bannerlkcafe.com for our entertainment schedule and full menu
Featuring Trunk Shows with Gabriel Ofiesh and Bijoux de Mer. hardinfinejewelry.com • 828-898-4653 • hardinjewelry@gmail.com 3
6
Offering The Very Best Real Estate of The High Country in Western North Carolina
9
WINNER OF 4 GOLD MEDALS world
The most celebrated winery in the High Country Weddings, Events, Tours Daily Tastings
famou
s bistr o
PIZZA • PASTA • VEAL • SEAFOOD ALL ABC PERMITS VILLAGE SHOPS IN DOWNTOWN BANNER ELK 828.898.5214 • SORRENTOSBISTRO.COM
4
SPORTS BAR
&
415 Shawneehaw Ave., Banner Elk, NC 828.898.3500 www.summitgrouprealestate.com
828-898-9090 • www.BannerElkWinery.com 7
Impeccable Pooch New Owner!
WED.
THURS.
FRI.
Jazz Prime Rib Lobster Night $11.99 $11.99 BANNERELKBARRA.COM • 828.898.5214
Angie Jones
828-898-3647 94 High Country Sq., Banner Elk, NC
10
SUMMER TIMES
2015
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11
Looking for that perfect piece? Need to furnish a whole room? Stop by!
YOU’LL BE SURPRISED AT WHAT YOU’LL FIND...
Banner Elk
Downtown Banner Elk Next to Edge of the World Outfitters 414 Shawneehaw Avenue Banner Elk, NC 28604 consign@skybest.com 828.898.5733
15
Like us on
Your Future Elevated | 828.898.5241 | lmc.edu/visit 16
12
The High Country’s Premiere Steak & Seafood Restaurant
Frozen Raw & Freeze Dried Foods
“A Tasting Experience”
High Quality Dog & Cat Food
RAFTING & CLIMBING (800) 789-EDGE
Homemade Dog Treats & USA Sourced Treats
WWW.STONEWALLSRESTAURANT.COM
Toys for Training & Play Holistic Supplements
HIGHWAY 184 | DOWNTOWN BANNER ELK
T
1902 TURNPIKE HOUSE 317 OLD TURNPIKE RD NW
IKE
OLD
PERRY HOUSE 1
BANNER ELK INN
MAIN STREET
11
AZALEA CIRCLE
Not JUS T Bird Sto a re!
3 7 4
INN AT ELK RIVER 875 MAIN ST W
NP TUR
EAS
LN
Wild Bird and Gift Store
13
R UN
WWW.BEOLIVEOIL.COM
176 Shawneehaw Ave. 828-898-5625 mybestfriendsbarkery.com
2
LITTLE MAIN STREET INN
DEER
• All ABC Permits • Serving Daily from 5pm
17
Apparel, Accessories, Collars & Leashes
AZALEA INN GREENWAY
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FUDGE!
8
Downtown Banner Elk • 828-898-5008 0088
12
We offer everything you need to help you create your beau ful garden; annuals, perennials, trees, shrubs and beau ful hanging baskets. Check out our selec on of furniture made from polywood.
1735 Tynecastle Hwy. Banner Elk, NC
9 17
13
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MIL
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ND
Visit Banner Elk
E. SHAWNEEHAW AV
Helping Create Beau ful Gardens Since 1986
14
5
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BEST WESTERN
828-898-5219
www.mountaineergardencenter.com
14
MAP NOT TO SCALE
6
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2015
Fine Teas • Custom Spice Blends
LOVE SPICES & TEAS?
1087 Main Street, Unit 4 Blowing Rock, NC 828-372-7070
Gourmet Salts & Sugars
Fresh Spices & Herbs
Lodging & Shopping of Blowing Rock
spiceandtea.com/blowingrock
Women’s Apparel & Accessories Across from the Chetola Resort 537 North Main Street Blowing Rock, NC 28605 828.295.4200
NOW OPEN Banner Elk Location
Unique Gifts & Home Furnishings
Grandfather Center 3990 NC Hwy 105 S, STE 8 Banner Elk, NC 28604 828.898.2155
Unique accents for your home & patio Open 7 days a week • 828.295.3330 1151 Main Street • Blowing Rock
ES
E FE F CO SM
PR
ES
SO S
OO
TH
IES
W NO
E ON
C
S
Main Street | Blowing Rock | 828.221.6098
BLOWING ROCK CHAMBER OF COMMERCE
www.gregoryalans.com SUMMER 2015 CALENDAR Every Thursday June 4-7 June 13 June 14 July 4 July 5 July 18 July 21-26 July 24 July 29 -Aug 1 Aug 2 Aug 15 Sept 12
Blowing Rock Farmers Market, 4-6pm 828.295.7851 Blowing Rock Charity Horse Show 828.295.4700 Art in the Park 828.295.7851 Concert in the Park 828.295.7851 4th of July Festival, Parade and Fireworks 828.295.5222 4th of July Park Dance 828.295.5222 Art in the Park 828.295.7851 Blowing Rock Charity Horse Show 828.295.4700 Symphony by the Lake 828.295.7851 Blowing Rock Charity Horse Show 828.295.4700 Art & Antiques 828.295.9099 Art in the Park 828.295.7851 Art in the Park 828.295.7851
828-295-9559 www.Homestead-Inn.com 153 Morris Street Blowing Rock, NC 28605
neaco hip home decor 1053 Main Street Blowing Rock, NC
www.neaco.com
828.295.0709
SUMMER TIMES
2015
PAGE 41
Tweetsie on track for summer fun
A
ll aboard! Tweetsie Railroad has pulled into station for summer, bringing along Wild West adventure for the whole family. The park’s 59th season will host a diverse lineup of special events, including fan favorites like Day Out With Thomas, the Fourth of July Fireworks Extravaganza and Tweetsie’s Ghost Train Halloween Festival, as well as a first-time appearance from the colorful characters of Team Umizoomi. Tweetsie has plenty for the whole family to explore, from a variety of amusement rides and live entertainment, to games at the county fair and panning for gold at Miner’s Mountain. Take a stroll through Tweetsie’s very own authentic Western town, where you can go back in time to experience the days of the Old West. And don’t forget about the park’s centerpiece: a three-mile ride through the winding and breathtaking Blue Ridge Mountains behind Tweetsie Railroad’s historic steam locomotives. Be sure to check out one of Tweetsie’s live shows. Sit back and relax while watching Diamond Lil’s Can-Can Revue, featuring the renowned Tweetsie Can-Can Dancers. Join in the fun at the Miner’s Mountain Magic Show, where guests are invited to take part in illusions and slight-of-hand tricks that will baffle any skeptic. Dance along with the Tweetsie Cloggers at the Tweetsie Country Clogging Jamboree. Or help Hopper (Tweetsie’s rabbit engineer) and Porter (its turtle conductor) keep the train running on time at Hopper and Porter’s Musical Celebration. Tweetsie Railroad is open Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays through Memorial Day Monday, and seven days a week from May 29 through Aug. 16. The park returns to the weekend schedule Aug. 17 to Nov. 1, including Labor Day Monday. The 2015 season ends Sunday, Nov. 1. The park’s regular hours are 9 a.m. to 6 p.m., but will be open until 9 p.m. on July 4 for the Fireworks Extravaganza and June 20 and 27 and July 11, 18 and 25 for Cool Summer Nights. Daily admission to Tweetsie Railroad is $41 for adults and $27 for children ages 3 through 12. Children 2 and younger are
visitors enjoy cool summer evenings at Tweetsie Railroad during select Saturdays in June and July. On these nights, the park will remain open until 9 p.m. to make more time for family fun and adventure.
• SCOOBY-DOO AND SHAGGY July 10-12 Meet the Cartoon Network’s Scooby Doo and his crime-fighting friend, Shaggy, during their return visit to Tweetsie Railroad. And make sure to bring your Scooby snacks!
• K-9S IN FLIGHT FRISBEE DOGS
Visitors can get up close and personal with the park’s hairier denizens at Tweetsie’s Deer Park Zoo. PHOTO SUBMITTED
admitted free. The Ghost Train Halloween Festival will take place Friday and Saturday nights Sept. 25 through Oct. 31, from 7:30 p.m. to 11:30 p.m., with an admission price of $34 for adults and children. Tickets and Golden Rail Season Passes are available at tweetsie.com. Tweetsie Railroad is located on U.S. 321, between Boone and Blowing Rock. For more information, visit www.weetsie.com, or call 877-TWEETSIE.
SEASON HIGHLIGHTS • DAVID HOLT AND THE LIGHTNING BOLTS Sunday, May 31 Tweetsie Railroad hosts four-time Grammy Award winner David Holt and the Lightning Bolts for a one-day only special performance. David Holt and the Lightning Bolts enliven old-time music with a new-time jolt. Holt recently released a one-hour television show, “David Holt’s State of Music,” that aired on UNC-TV.
• DAY OUT WITH THOMAS: THE CELEBRATION TOUR June 5-14
Hop aboard with Thomas the Tank Engine as he chugs his way through the Blue Ridge Mountains. Children can meet and take pictures with Sir Topham Hatt, listen to Thomas and Friends storytelling, and enjoy activities in the Imagination Station. Advance tickets are suggested, as tickets are limited for this very popular event.
• TEAM UMIZOOMI June 19-21 They’re mighty. They’re mini. They’re math superheroes! Nick Jr.’s beloved characters, Team Umizoomi, will visit Tweetsie Railroad to entertain and take pictures with guests for this first time this summer.
• FIREWORKS EXTRAVAGANZA Saturday, July 4 Tweetsie Railroad will once again hold a Fourth of July extravaganza, complete with a night full of dazzling fireworks. The park will remain open until 9 p.m., and fireworks begin at 9:30 p.m. Parking is $10 per car for this event.
• COOL SUMMER NIGHTS June 20 and 27, July 11, 18 and 25 This popular event is back, letting park
July 18-26 Are you a dog lover? Then you won’t want to miss this talented team of canines that delight audiences by jumping, flipping, diving and catching flying discs that defy gravity. Be prepared to be amazed each day at Tweetsie Railroad, when they perform at 11 a.m., 1 p.m., 3 p.m. and 7 p.m. (Saturday nights only).
• RIDERS IN THE SKY Aug. 8-9 Enjoy a performance full of Western harmony and humor that has been captivating audiences of all ages since 1977. This multi Grammy Award-winning quartet is an event not to be missed.
• RAILROAD HERITAGE WEEKEND Aug. 29-30 Celebrate the rich history of steam railroading and tour the famous Tweetsie Railroad Train Shop, as the park hosts its annual Railroad Heritage Weekend. The weekend will also include performances and demonstrations by the Cherokee Tsalagi Touring Program.
• GHOST TRAIN HALLOWEEN FESTIVAL Friday and Saturday nights Sept. 25 to Oct. 31 All aboard Tweetsie’s Ghost Train for a nighttime ride with spooky engineer Casey Bones that’s full of thrills and chills, as the park hosts its 26th annual Ghost Train Halloween Festival. Don’t miss the Haunted House, Freaky Forest, trick-or-treating and other Halloween-themed attractions that provide a safe, family-friendly night of Halloween adventure.
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2015
4912 US HWY 421 S. • BOONE, NC • (828) 262-0051 • WWW.MOUNTAINHOMEANDHEARTH.COM
Living Patio/Firepit
Hot Tubs
Outdoor Kitchens Christmas comes early in the High Country, with Ashe County’s annual Christmas in July festival. PHOTO COURTESY OF CHRISTMAS IN JULY
Kitchen Appliances
24" Wine Cellar
3-Oven Gas Cooker
WWW.MOUNTAINHOMEANDHEARTH.COM
Ashe County celebrates Christmas in July
A
she County has been named the largest producer of Christmas trees in the United States. Come and celebrate the tree growers’ accomplishments at the 29th annual Christmas in July Festival. The 2015 festival will be held on the Back Street in West Jefferson the evening of Friday, July 3, and all day Saturday, July 4. Admission is, as always, free. Opening ceremonies begin at 6:45 p.m. Friday. Live music from the Buck Haggard Band and Blue Country will hit the stage on Main Street after the ceremonies. Vendors will offer hot and cold food and snacks. In addition to funnel cakes and typical fair food, Greek and Chinese food will also be served. Food and music will be available from 6 to 10 p.m. The festival reopens at 9 a.m. Saturday. Craft vendors and artisans will sell their handmade goods, including fine art, paintings, pottery, jewelry, photography, metalwork, woodwork, soaps and more. The Ashe County Farmers’ Market will be open during the festival, selling crafts and locally grown food. The market’s
hours will be the same as the festival’s, from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. Two stages will provide entertainment all day. The Community Stage will feature singers, local musicians and dancers, while the Main Stage offers a variety of bands performing bluegrass, country and old-time music. Festivalgoers are encouraged to bring their lawn chairs to sit back and enjoy the shows. Civil War re-enactors will do battle in West Jefferson Municipal Park at 3 and 6 p.m. The re-enactors will be available throughout the day to pose for pictures and answer questions about the soldiers and their life in camp. For the kids — of all ages — children’s activities and street performers will also abound. Sponsors of the 2015 Christmas in July Festival include Dr Pepper Bottling Co., Ashe Civic Center, Ashe Arts Council, AEV, Mountain Town Dental, Libby’s, Blue Ridge Electric, Perry’s Gold Mine and 4 Seasons Vacation Rentals. For more information, visit www. christmasinjuly.info.
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High Gravity Adventures Aerial park newest High Country attraction BY JESSE CAMPBELL
I
t’s no secret. Fun in the High Country increases with elevation, and High Gravity Adventures in Blowing Rock has your fix regardless of age or skill level. Commonly known as an aerial park in generic terms, High Gravity Adventures is anything but your run-of-the-mill tourist attraction by allowing guests to create their own path to fun and excitement — while being suspended more than 50 feet in the air. By supporting more than 75 aerial elements over four levels, which increase in height and difficulty, High Gravity Adventures allows each adventurer the thrill of free roam while towering over
the area below. And don’t worry. The highly trained and educated staff of the aerial park won’t leave you hanging, as specifically designed equipment and on-the-ground training will ensure an exciting — and safe — experience. “We have a state-of-the-art safety system,” HGA vice president Carson Rivers said. “You can’t just unclip yourself from the course. You have these keys, and you have lock onto something before moving on to something new.” While renowned for its rock climbing and ziplining, the High Country’s only aerial park offers a thrill unlike any other that is accessible to anyone as all the gear and know-how you need is provided SEE HIGH GRAVITY, PAGE 46
There are more than 75 challenges to face at the High Gravity Adventures aerial park in Blowing Rock. PHOTO SUBMITTED
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2015
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Have some fun! for over 30 years The coolest corner of North Carolina.
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HIGH GRAVITY FROM PAGE 43
on-on-site, Rivers said. There are no boring lectures or long training sessions either. After a quick orientation, you get strapped in and are ready to tackle the maze of platforms, spider webs, tightropes and swinging foot loops. “You’re not just engaging mentally and emotionally, but also physically,” he said. There’s even a specially designed kids’ course that doesn’t require constant parent oversight, which guarantees a memorable outing for the entire family. “What we are most excited about a facility like this is it allows people to be really active and engaged,” said Rivers. “It’s open to anyone and everyone. There’s no experience necessary. We are trying to create something more accessible.” As a testament to the course’s universal appeal, Rivers said since opening in April, the park has entertained guests as young as 5 years of age and others in their 80s. “What we want people to know is this is not just for kids or elite athletes,” he said. Adults (ages 12 and older) can enter the course for the price of $49 for a three-hour session. Juniors (ages 8-11) can enter for $39, and kids’ tickets (5-10) are $19. The course is open this summer from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday through Sunday. Prospective adventurers are encouraged to sign their waiver online at www.highgravityadventures.com. For more information, call (828) 386-6222.
Linville Caverns: Beauty Eons in the Making BY GARRETT PRICE
T
he immense, quiet power of slowly dripping water is difficult to overstate. Give it a night’s worth of time in a broken faucet, and it will waste gallons. But provide it with unchecked millennia in the resolute darkness that exists only under a mountain, and it will shape stone with all the ease and prowess of a master sculptor. One such display of ancient architecture can be found buried deep under McDowell County’s Humpback Mountain in Linville Caverns. First opened to the public in 1937, Linville Caverns is an active limestone cavern system that is home to an array of extraordinary
Discover Timeless Treasures Visit the Largest Antique Mall in the High Country! Over one million items 23,000 square feet You have to see it to believe it! • 70 Vendors • Beautiful furniture: Primitive, refurbished, shabby-chic upholstery • Amish indoor & outdoor • Glass! Glass! and more Glass! • Collectables! Collectables and more Collectables! • Art - you name it, we have it!
2015
The High Country’s Best Selection, Rock Bottom Prices! A West Jefferson Destination!
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natural rock formations made easily available to the amateur spelunker. “Linville Caverns offers a total walking tour,” said Lanie Gross, a manager and 14-year employee of the caverns. “You won’t have to crawl or get dirty; you don’t have to be afraid of the dark.” The caverns have been retrofitted with a system of concrete paths and ample electric lighting that make a trip under the mountain as simple as walking in and sticking close to the tour guide. Discovered in the early 1800s by local fishermen following trout into what appeared to be a solid rock wall, Linville Caverns has played host to an eclectic group of denizens in its long history. During the American Civil War,
deserters from both sides of the conflict are said to have used the cavern system as a welcome, however dark, respite from their inevitable capture. In 1915, two teenage boys carrying only one lantern and undoubtedly on a mission imbued with all the recklessness that comes with their age, were lost in the cavern system for two days in the complete darkness. Their eventual escape was only made possible by their decision to wade into the frigid, chest-deep water and follow its current to the mouth of the caverns. Linville Caverns is home to a variety of wildlife that, until recently, included a population of SEE CAVERNS, PAGE 47
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Ribbon stalactites, charmingly referred to by the staff as ‘Cave Bacon.’
PHOTOS BY GARRETT PRICE
CAVERNS FROM PAGE 46
blind trout that unfortunately came off worse in a life and death struggle with a river otter who broke into their quiet, otherwise safe neighborhood for a late night meal. The cavern staff has since restocked the now-sighted fish, and they can be seen flitting rock to rock in the creek that runs adjacent to the cavern path. Joining the trout in their subterranean habitat is a smattering of cavern insects, including granddaddy long legs and cave crickets that seem to work in tandem. They cover some of the cavern walls like a crawling, many legged tapestry. Conspicuously missing from the typical roster of cave life are bats. Linville Caverns, along with many other cave and cavern systems in eastern North America has been affected by the spread of White Nose Syndrome, a disease that affects hibernating bats. According to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, White Nose Syndrome has killed 5.5
The caverns boast a diverse and immense color palette.
million bats in the U.S. and Canada and in some cases has a 90- to 100-percent
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mortality rate. Geomyces Destructans, the fungus that causes White Nose Syn-
drome in bats, has no effect on humans, and touring the caverns remains safe. Linville Caverns provides an unequalled service to those visiting the High Country. Natural wonder aside, the courtesy and professionalism of the cavern’s staff is unparalleled. “You have a unique opportunity (at Linville Caverns) to see what water can create,” Gross said. “The experience is made even more valuable with one of our guides because of their experience and enthusiasm.” The tour guides are equal parts well informed and entertaining and are more than ready to answer questions or to take photos for a visiting group. “There is just so much that I like about the caverns.” Gross continued. “Every time I go in, I am amazed, and I feel like I see something new!” For more information on Linville Caverns, visit www.linvillecaverns.com, or call toll free at (800) 419-0540. Linville Caverns is open to guests daily 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. in April and May and daily 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. June through August, and is located at 19929 U.S. 221 North in Marion.
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2550 HWY 421 NORTH, BOONE • 828-297-5055 2011
2012
WWW.APPALACHIANFURNITURESTORE.COM
2013
2014
Voted Best Furniture Store 5 Years in a Row!
2015
You' ll Be Amazed! Sky Valley Zip Tours includes 10 zip lines, a cliff jump, a swinging bridge and a series of countless views. The course is located on 140 acres, including a beautiful waterfall. PHOTO SUBMITTED
Zip through for the best views BY ANNA OAKES
I
f the view from the ground is getting old — how about a view from 200 feet in the air? Ziplining provides a view of the beautiful Blue Ridge Mountains, lush forests and water features from a new vantage point. Zipline tours are composed of a series of steel cables fixed between trees, poles or towers and are traversed on pulleys. All participants wear harnesses and head protection to ensure safety while flying through the air. Sky Valley Zip Tours in Boone was professionally designed and features 10 ziplines, a cliff jump, a swinging bridge and a series of countless views. The course is located on 140 acres, including a beautiful waterfall. The tour groups are led by two trained
canopy rangers who will guide visitors along the three-hour tour, which begins with an off-road ATV ride through the river and up the mountain. Once at the top of the mountain, participants learn the simple techniques used to navigate the course before departing on the first ride across the valley. “One of the authentic points of our course is it’s a true canopy tour … defined by lines and experiences that are in or above the tree canopy,” Sky Valley owner Jack Sharp said. “We’re nestled back in a real rugged piece of property where you’ll able to experience a lot of diverse plants and trees and flowers, as well as fly through them in and above the trees the whole time.” The cliff jump takes zippers to a 45SEE ZIPLINE, PAGE 49
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ZIPLINE
FROM PAGE 48
foot rock cliff, where they jump from the platform and then rappel down the cliff face. “Other people think the 120-foot bridge over the creek is very thrilling,” Sharp added. “It shows the diversity of our tour. We’re not just ziplining.” Sky Valley zippers must be at least 10 years old, at least 70 pounds and no more than 250 pounds. Tours start at $79 per person. Advanced booking is encouraged, and reservations made within 10 days of the trip must be paid in full. Tours are rain or shine — “a little bit of rain seems to add to the adventure,” Sharp said — but severe weather may force tours to be rescheduled. Sharp said the busiest month for tours is July, with late morning tours seemingly the most popular. Sky Valley is located three miles from the Boone Mall in Boone at Camp Sky Ranch, located at 634 Sky Ranch Road. For more information, visit www.skyvalleyziptours.com, or call (855) 475-9947. Hawksnest Ziplines in Seven Devils has 20 ziplines, including four mega zips — two more than 2,000 feet
long and two more than 1,500 feet long. Hawksnest has four miles of zipline riding, with heights that exceed 200 feet and speeds up to 50 mph. Ziplines are over trees, through trees, over lakes and creeks with panoramic views on almost every ride. Hawksnest is open seven days a week. Tours begin at 10 a.m. daily. Tours start at 10 a.m., noon, 2 p.m. and 4 p.m. Early morning tours are available upon request and availability. Two different canopy tours are available, the Hawk Tour, which costs $80 per person, and the Eagle Tour, which costs $90 per person. Children must be at least 5 years old for the Hawk Tour and 8 years old for the Eagle Tour. Reservations are required for tours. Try to arrive 30 minutes before your scheduled tour starts. Tours take about 1.5 to two hours to complete. Hawksnest is located just off of N.C. 105 South between Boone and Banner Elk. For more information about Hawksnest zipline canopy tours, call (828) 963-6561, or visit www.hawksnestzipline.com. View more photos and videos of these adventures at highcountrync.com/play/ zipline.X
The High Country’s Complete Mountain Adventure Store
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102 South Jefferson Ave West Jefferson, NC
336.246.9133 mtnoutfittersnc.com
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One of Sky Valley Zip Tours’ landmark features is a 120-foot-long cable bridge spanning over a waterfall. PHOTO SUBMITTED
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John McGrath, left, and his son, Jack McGrath, zipline from the heights of the Discovery Course at the Blowing Rock Conference Center. Rock Dimensions leads trips to the challenging high ropes course. FILE PHOTOS
Embrace adventure at Rock Dimensions BY SUZANNE CARTER
O
pportunities to chase adventure and face challenges are available at Rock Dimensions through various camps, scout programs and discovery and climbing courses. Rock Dimensions employees are PCIA — Professional Climbing Instructors Association — certified climbing guides. The PCIA is a nonprofit organization focused on providing quality education for new and existing climbing instructors who primarily teach basic skills and facilitate climbing experiences. “Over the summer months we hire 12 or 15 guides,” said Ryan Beasley, owner and head guide at Rock Dimensions. Guided rock climbing programs focus on the skills and unique experience of climbing outdoors on real rock cliffs. Camping trips spend time teaching safety skills, terminology, useful knots, climbing movement, rappelling and belay techniques. “We run the climbing tower at Footsloggers (in downtown Boone),” Beasley said. “We do caving trips, climbing trips, high rods and a zipline. You can call and arrange a half day or full day and we send
Kyle Scannell of Greensboro carefully makes his way across a rope on the Discovery Course tour with Rock Dimensions.
a guide.” Rock Dimensions has been in business for more than 15 years. Its guides and instructors challenge people to test themselves physically and mentally, as they explore their outer limits. Every guide is a skilled climber and can help climbers at any skill level move forward. “We offer a climb and adventure day camp for kids,” Beasley said. “We also offer an intermediate camp. We take them
rock climbing, and we do a day of caving where we go underground cave exploring.” Rock Dimensions’ 2015 Climbing Adventure Camp is offered June 22 to 26, July 6 to 10, July 20 to 24 and Aug. 3 to 7. The camp includes such activities as rock climbing, rappelling, caving, climbing tower and ropes challenge course. Each day begins at 8:30 a.m. and ends at 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday.
Ages 8 to 16 are welcome to participate and experience fun and personal growth, the focus of the program. Over the course of five days, camp members will participate in activities designed to challenge and build confidence. “Our camps are real small,” Beasley said. “The most we have are 10 to 12 kids. All ages do the activities. Kids as young as 5 or 6 go rock climbing.” Having a smaller group of kids attending the camp allows each child to get more attention and gives the guides more of an opportunity to help them individually. Rock Dimensions’ 2015 Intermediate Climbing Camp is for ages 11 and older. The camp is a five-day event held July 13 to 17 and July 27 to 31. The camp exposes youth to climbing in a variety of forms. Camp members will work on top-roping, sport climbing, traditional single-pitch, multi-pitch and bouldering. Camp hours are Monday through Friday 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. each day. “A lot of what we do is families,” Beasley said. “If a family wants to do an activity together we set it up. We specialize more in family groups.” For more information, visit www.rockdimensions.com, or call (828) 265-3544.
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& Home DĂŠcor Fabulous Furniture at Fantastic Prices Huge Selection of
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The Furniture Store you will tell your friends about!
Open Mon. - Sat. 10:00-5:30 | 828.295.9600 Located in the Food Lion Shopping Center | 7531 Valley Blvd, Blowing Rock Also visit Brass Exchange Home located in Charlotte at the Arboretum Shopping Center
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Caving • Christian Camps • Fishing • Gem Mining • Golf • Hot Air Balloon Rides • Shopping
Sugar Mountain
Village of
Thelma's Things
"Treasures to add more fun to your life"
Antiques - Art Home Décor - Jewelry
Thelma McLean, Shopkeeper 828-898-3808 2710 Tynecastle Hwy. Banner Elk, NC 28604
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Reflections where looking good is understood • Rachel Mullins, Owner/Stylist • Kay Farley, Hairstylist • Martha Guardian, Hair Stylist • Alma Guardian, Nail Technician
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Year-round resort offering efficiency, efficiency with loft, 1 & 2 BDR condos. Clubhouse featuring indoor heated swimming pool, hot tub, sauna and Wi-Fi in all Units. Easy access to hiking & biking trails, public golf and tennis all on Sugar Mountain at an elevation of 4900ft.
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Rock Climbing • White Water Kayak • White Water Rafting • Hiking • Kayaking • Ski
2015
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Take a Dip, Make a Splash Mountain rivers and lakes offer endless opportunity in the High Country BY ERIKA GIOVANETTI
J
ust as a quintessential High Country winter can’t be spent without skiing or snowboarding, a High Country summer wouldn’t be complete without taking a dip in at least one of nature’s beautiful water parks. With rivers, lakes, streams, waterfalls and ponds, there’s certainly plenty of opportunity to have some fun in the sun with refreshing mountain water. The Blue Ridge Mountains are host to plenty of water sports, such as kayaking, whitewater rafting, canoeing, tubing and the hottest new trend in aquatics, paddle boarding, in which the rider stands up on top of a board and paddles along the river. The High Country is host to a plethora of lakes and rivers ideal for water sports, including Price Lake, the New River, the Watauga River, Bass Lake, Watauga Lake, Wilson’s Creek and more. These same locations are also host to some of the High Country’s finest fishing opportunities. To read more about fishing, turn to page 56. Although the Boone area is host to plenty of watering holes, many of the faster and more advanced rapids are located in Eastern Tennessee. However, many High Country outfitters will provide transportation, or at least directions, to various locations. Rafting season lasts from around Memorial Day Weekend to Labor Day Weekend due to the cold temperatures of our crisp mountain streams. A wetsuit is recommended for those who partake in water sports outside of this time frame. New to water sports? A number of local outfitters will help you plan your freshwater adventure. Wahoo’s Adventures (3385 S. U.S. 321, Boone) has been providing adventurous opportunities to locals and visitors for 37 years in 2015. With three riverside outposts, Wahoo’s boasts access to the New River in Western
Edge of the World, located in Banner Elk, offers white-knuckle, whitewater fun for the whole family. PHOTO SUBMITTED
Watauga Lake COVE RIDGE MARINA 947 Piercetown Road Butler, Tenn. 37640 (423) 768-3741 www.coveridgemarina.com
FISH SPRINGS MARINA 191 Fish Springs Road Hampton, Tenn. 37658 (423) 768-2336 www.fishspringsmarina.com
LAKESHORE MARINA 2285 U.S. 321 Hampton, Tenn. 37658 (423) 725-2201 lakeshore-resort@earthlink.net
PIONEER LANDING MARINA & CAMPGROUND 105 Cowan Town Road
SEE RIVERS, PAGE 57
Butler, Tenn. 37640 (423) 768-3164 info@pioneerlanding.com
River Outfitters
RIVERCAMP USA 2221 Kings Creek Road Piney Creek, N.C. 28663 (336) 359-2267 www.rivercampusa.com
EDGE OF THE WORLD
WAHOO’S ADVENTURES
394 Shawneehaw Ave. Banner Elk, N.C. 28604 (828) 898-9550 www.edgeoworld.com
3385 U.S. 321 South Boone, N.C. 28607 (800) 444-RAFT www.wahoosadventures.com
HIGH MOUNTAIN EXPEDITIONS
WATAUGA KAYAK
1380 N.C. 105 Boone, N.C. 28607 (828) 264-7368 www.highmountainexpeditions.com
1409 Broad St. Elizabethton, Tenn. 37643 (423) 542-6777 www.wataugakayak.com
RIVER & EARTH ADVENTURES
ZALOO’S CANOES
1655 N.C. 105 South Boone, N.C. 28607 (828) 963-5491 www.raftcavehike.com
3874 N.C. 16 South Jefferson, N.C. 28640 (800) 535-4027 www.zaloos.com
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Gettin’ Hooked in the High Country BY JESSE CAMPBELL
O
n a quiet summer evening, a passive fisherman drops a line into the tranquil waters of the New River as he casually reels his line closer to the bank in order to elicit a response from a passing rainbow bass or trout. A short distance away in one of the river’s trophy-stocked supporting streams, a more seasoned pro deftly plops his homemade lure strategically behind a stone in a cool pond of water to land a fish worthy enough to mount on a wall. These opposing efforts represent a microcosm of fishing in the High Country. The sport can be as passive or involved as you want it to be, and all across the region exist suppliers and shops to satisfy your next lazy day by the river or waistdeep expedition in stocked waters. Regardless of your fishing prowess and level of involvement, be sure to obtain your fishing license to avoid any legal hassles or unwanted run-ins with game wardens that can result in hefty fees and time in the courthouse that could be better spent in the water. License and renewals can be done at almost any outdoorsman retail outlet across the region or online at www.ncwildlife. org. Purchases can also be made by phone by calling (888) 248-6834. First-timers should hit up a local fishing company before hitting the water to learn some basic intricacies of the sport. Foscoe Fishing Company, located at 8857 N.C. 105 in Boone, provides half and full day guided fishing lessons. Half-day tutorials and full-day lessons cost $275 and $375, respectively, for groups of two. “Guided trips are the easiest and best way to learn,” fishing guide Clay Benfield said Most of the guided fishing trips take place locally, although they do offer lessons on float trips in eastern Tennessee. Benfield said most of the tutorial is comprised of lessons on casting and when and where to set your hook. While more leisurely fishing trips have long been a favorite mountain pastime, fly fishing has begun to grow in popularity, especially the past five years. “We’ve noticed a big jump in younger kids,” Benfield said. “Appalachian State University has been doing fly fishing, getting a lot of kids (involved).”
OUTFITTERS AT A GLANCE Appalachian Angler 174 Old Shull’s Mill Road Boone, N.C. 28607 (828) 963-5050 www.appangler.com
Elk Creek Outfitters 1560 N.C. 105 Boone, N.C. 28607 (828) 264-6497 www.ecoflyfishing.com
Foscoe Fishing Co. & Outfitters 8857 N.C. 105 Boone, N.C. 28607 (828) 963-6556 www.foscoefishing.com
Grandfather Trout Farm 10767 N.C. 105 Banner Elk, N.C. 28604 (828) 963-5098 www.grandfathertroutfarm.com
Highland Outfitters 4210 Memorial Ave., Suite 1
Mallory Poe, with her mom, Raven Pruitt, celebrates a recent catch while fishing in Ashe County.
Linville, N.C. 28646 (828) 733-2181 www.highlandoutfittersnc.com
Rick’s Smallmouth Adventures 1757 Pleasant Home Road Sparta, N.C. 28675 (336) 372-8321 www.fishthenew.com
RiverGirl Fishing Co. 4041 Railroad Grade Road Todd, N.C. 28684 (336) 877-3099 www.rivergirlfishingco.com
Rock On Charters 7449 Fernway Drive Roanoke, Va. 24018 (540) 520-9629 www.rockoncharters.net
Watauga River Anglers 5712 N.C. 105 South Boone, N.C. 28607 (828) 963-5463 www.wataugariveranglers.com
This is one of Doug Ward’s recent catches in the High Country. PHOTOS SUBMITTED
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RIVERS FROM PAGE 55 North Carolina and the Watauga River, Nolichucky River and Wilson’s Creek in Eastern Tennessee. Whether you’re looking to whitewater raft, kayak, canoe, tube or paddle your way down one of the area’s many streams, Wahoo’s has the equipment, guides and knowledge for you. Wahoo’s outposts boast amenities, such as hot showers, changing rooms, concessions, gift shops, picnic shelters and more. For more information, or to make a reservation, call (828) 262-5774 or visit www.wahoosadventures.com. Another outfitter on the forefront of High Country aquatics, Edge of the World (394 Shawneehaw Ave, Banner Elk), has been in the area for 33 years, according to its website. Like Wahoo’s, Edge of the World offers multiple activities, from rafting, kayaking and paddle boarding to rock climbing. The company provides transportation to locations on both the Watauga River and Wilson Creek. Guests are also treated to a homemade lunch, with a vegetarian option
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available for those with diet restrictions For more information, or to book your trip, visit www.edgeoworld.com or call (800) 789-3343. Experienced rafters need not look any further than River & Earth Adventures (1655 N.C. 105 South, Boone), another outfitter that offers a trip so extreme that guests must be at least 18 and physically fit and healthy to participate. The Watauga Gorge trip takes brave daredevils through Class III, IV and V rapids throughout the entire trip, travelling more than 5 miles through natural Blue Ridge beauty. River & Earth Adventures also offers canoeing, kayaking and tubing trips for those looking for a more laid-back adventure. For more information, visit www. raftcavehike.com or call (866) 4117238. For those who prefer still water to whitewater, Price Lake, situated in scenic Julian Price Park on the Blue Ridge Parkway, offers canoe rentals during the summer. For more information, visit http://1. usa.gov/1IlfNzS, or call (828) 9635911.
Guided Trips, Local Fishing Info 4210 Mitchell Ave Suite #1 Linville, NC (828) 733-2181
www.highlandoutfittersnc.com
Vacation Paradise awaits you at Leatherwood Mountains Resort located in the heart of the N.C. Blue Ridge Mountains. THE AREAS BEST TRAIL RIDES!!
• Premier equine facilities • Restaurant & bar • Swimming pool • Tennis courts • Trails • Hot tubs • Biking & tubing • Weddings & groups
leatherwoodmountains.com • (800) 4NC-MTNS
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YOU’LL LOVE SUMMER ON BEECH MOUNTAIN Summer golf in the 60s and 70s. Guaranteed.
Highest Bar in NC A Great Spot for Lunch with the Family
Youth and Adult Bike Camps Lessons
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Take a Chairlift to Yoga Class
Tee it up in North Carolina’s Coolest Town A lot of places promise cool summer golf. Only one guarantees it.
Book a Summer of 79° 79° on the day you play, you’ll receive a free round of golf! Beech can make this guarantee because summertime temps rarely exceed 79°. In fact, since National Weather Service reporting started in 1992, the high has only eclipsed 79° on 11 days.
FRIDAY 12:00 - 7:00 P.M. • SATURDAY 10:00 A.M. - 7:00 P.M. • SUNDAY 10:00 A.M. - 6:00 P.M.
800.438.2093 BeechMountainResort.com
Cool summer golf is enticing, and so is the pricing. Packages start at $79 per person, per day.
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2015
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YOU’LL LOVE SUMMER ON BEECH MOUNTAIN Summer golf in the 60s and 70s. Guaranteed.
Highest Bar in NC A Great Spot for Lunch with the Family
Youth and Adult Bike Camps Lessons
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Take a Chairlift to Yoga Class
Tee it up in North Carolina’s Coolest Town A lot of places promise cool summer golf. Only one guarantees it.
Book a Summer of 79° 79° on the day you play, you’ll receive a free round of golf! Beech can make this guarantee because summertime temps rarely exceed 79°. In fact, since National Weather Service reporting started in 1992, the high has only eclipsed 79° on 11 days.
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Cool summer golf is enticing, and so is the pricing. Packages start at $79 per person, per day.
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2015
The High Country’s hidden home for disc golf BY ERIK HOFFMANN
Clubs? Where we’re going, we don’t need … clubs. That’s right. Golf has evolved from woods, irons, balls and carts to a mere throwing disc. That’s it. According to www.discgolf.com, the sport made its debut in 1974, and players would typically use drinking fountains, fire hydrants, garbage cans and light poles as “golf holes.” Rules were usually made up on the spot. This led to Ed Headrick establishing the Disc Golf Association in 1976 and the formation of a new sport. Today, there are more than 3,000 disc golf courses in the United States. One of those courses can be found on the backside of Phoenix Mountain at the Ashe County Park in Jefferson. The High Country Disc Golf Course is a professionally designed 20-hole course with awe-inspiring mountain views, water hazards and out-of-bounds markers. Most golf courses offer 18 holes; however, the High Country Disc Golf Club has two alternative holes on 8 and 9, also
G
The High Country Disc Golf Course was designed to take in all the High Country’s elevation changes, while remaining accessible for players of all skill levels. PHOTO SUBMITTED
known as “the short loop.” The course offers both professional and amateur level tees on every hole. Par for the professional tees is 61 and 57 for the amateur tees. Disc golf rules are similar to traditional golf. Each hole starts with “teeing off,” followed by throws until players reach the basket, or “hole.” Scoring is the same,
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with each throw counting as a “stroke,” with penalties imposed for water hazards and out-of-bounds throws. The player with the fewest total throws wins the round. Todd Patoprsty, who lobbied to bring disc golf course to the High County in 2005, found he was not alone in his love of the sport. After failing to find space
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in Boone, Patoprsty, with help from two-time world disc golf champion and course designer Harold Duvall, established the High Country Disc Golf Course in May 2006 across 70 acres of the Ashe County Park. Volunteers at the High Country Disc Golf Club remind everyone that the course is till under what is considered an establishment period. Anyone responsible for breaking or damaging any living thing on the course will be prosecuted. Everyone is encouraged to stay on the trails provided as much as possible. The course is part of the park, and, as such, golfers are reminded to police after themselves, use good judgment and be conscious of other visitors around the park. If anyone is hit with a disc, it’s the throwers fault and responsibility. Ashe County Park and the High Country Disc Golf Course are free and open to the public daily, from 8 a.m. to dusk. For more information, visit www. thehighcountrydiscgolfclub.com, email comeplay@highcountrydiscgolf.com, or call (336) 982-6185.
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Horsing Around: Equestrian Fun in the High Country BY CAROLINE HARRIS
This summer, trek the High Country on horseback. Mountain vistas offer a breathtaking backdrop for riding winding trails astride a horse. Whether you are a casual rider or a committed equestrian, the High Country has several options for horse sport. In this area, horse sport claims a storied history that dates back more than 100 years. Celebrated naturalist and textile pioneer Moses Cone established a 3,000acre estate near Blowing Rock in the late 1800s, which included more than 36 miles of carriage roads. As Blowing Rock developed as a vacation destination, the Cone estate was a “must-do” activity for riding enthusiasts. Today, the estate is operated as a park and is open to the public. Horseback riding became an integral part of the High Country experience, and in 1923, the first Blowing Rock Horse Show was held. Now an annual extravaganza, the Blowing Rock Charity Horse Show draws competitors and spectators from around the country and numbers among the longest continually running horse shows in the United States. The Blowing Rock Charity Horse show is held over three weeks at the L.M. Tate Horse Show Grounds at the Blowing Rock Equestrian Preserve located west of downtown Blowing Rock off of U.S. 221. The saddlebred portion of the show is held from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Thursday through Sunday, June 4 through 7. The hunter/jumper division is held from Tuesday through Sunday, July 21 to 26, and Wednesday through Sunday, July 29 to Aug. 2. For more information on the Blowing Rock Charity Horse Show, visit blowingrockhorses.com. Check out one of these venues to add horseback riding to your list of High Country vacation experiences.
CONE MANOR AND BASS LAKE Located on the Blue Ridge Parkway in Blowing Rock, Moses Cone Memorial Park and Bass Lake both provide riding trails that are perfect for horse enthusiasts. Moses Cone Park is open year-round and sees 225,000 people each year as the
Visitors at Leatherwood Mountains take a ride through the scenic High Country. PHOTO SUBMITTED
most visited recreational place on the Blue Ridge Parkway. For access to Moses Cone riding, horse owners should drive their trailers to milepost 294 of the Blue Ridge Parkway and pull off at the Cone Manor and Parkway Craft Center. Riders can access the trails just past the manor. For Bass Lake trail access, horse owners should pull off U.S. 221 into a large parking area next to the Bass Lake vehicle entrance. For more information, call the National Park Service information desk at Cone Manor at (828) 295-3782.
LEATHERWOOD MOUNTAINS Leatherwood Mountains is a premier gated vacation resort and residential community centered on the equestrian lifestyle. Established in the early 1980s, Leatherwood Mountains is located on more than 4,000 acres in the Blue Ridge Mountains. Known as a “horse lover’s paradise,” Leatherwood offers horseback riding seven days a week. Leatherwood facilities feature 75 stalls, a show arena and a round pen and boasts a trail system of varied terrain with close to 100 miles of trails. Lead line rides are available for younger children ages 2 and older. Leatherwood also offers horseback riding birthday parties and full-service month and nightly boarding for guests bringing their own horses. Leatherwood Mountains is located at 512 Meadow Road in Ferguson. For more information, call (800) 462-6867, or visit www.leatherwoodmountains.com.
Whether you are a casual rider or a committed equestrian, the High Country has several options for horse sport. PHOTO BY ROB MOORE | MTNSNAPSHOTS.COM
DUTCH CREEK TRAILS Dutch Creek Trails, located in Vilas, is open year round for ages 6 and older. Trail rides last a little more than an hour and cost $50 each, payable by cash or check. Participants will enjoy wooded trails, old farm fields and views of the valley surrounded by beautiful Blue Ridge Mountains. Dutch Creek Trails’ owner, Keith Ward, is also a “cowboy poet,” who provides funfilled entertainment for people of all ages. Rides start at 10 a.m., noon, 2 p.m. and 4 p.m. during the summer, Monday through Saturday. The trails are closed on Sunday. Riders sign up at the house and get on the horse at the guide shack. Dutch Creek Trails has a “shuttle service,” which is a hay wagon ride to and from the place where participants will be riding. It is best to call a week in advance for reservations to ensure you are able to ride on the dates you choose. To makes reservations, call (828) 2977117. For more information, visit www. dutchcreektrails.com.
BANNER ELK STABLES Banner Elk Stables offers memorable horseback riding in nearby scenic Beech Mountain. Open year round, visitors can enjoy nature’s beauty and often spot the wildlife that inhabits the mountains, all on horseback. There are many horses for visitors to choose from. No matter the level of experience, there is a horse to complement each rider. Riders have the opportunity
to choose which horse to ride, including some that have been featured in movies, such as “National Treasure” and “Cinderella.” The riding tours follow a high mountain trail, offering scenic vistas of Beech Mountain. Banner Elk Stables is located at 796 Shoemaker Road in Banner Elk. For more information, call (828) 898-5424, or visit www.bannerelkstables.com.
YONAHLOSSEE RESORT SADLE CLUB The equestrian center at Yonahlossee offers horse boarding and riding instruction in the High Country. The Saddle Club at Yonahlossee features a large indoor arena, outdoor arena, a cross-country course and miles of beautiful riding trails with views of Sugar Mountain and Grandfather Mountain. The Yonahlossee Saddle Club is located at 226 Oakley Green. For more information, call (800) 962-1986 or (828) 9636400, or visit www.yonahlossee.com.
BURNT HILL STABLES Located in Laurel Springs in Ashe County, Burnt Hill Stables offers miles of guided scenic mountain trails and back roads to explore the Blue Ridge Mountains. Horses are available for all skill levels. Burnt Hill Stables offers one- and twohour rides for $25 per hour per horse. Burnt Hill also offers riding lessons, carriage wedding services and horse boarding. Burnt Hill Stables is located at 1102 Burnt Hill Road in Laurel Springs. For more information, call (336) 9822008, or visit www.burnthillstables.com.
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Cycling in the High Country BY JAMES HOWELL
Of all the activities available in the High Country, nothing gives a person a better appreciation for the mountains than cycling. Cyclists will have to pump their pedals to the max up and down the winding mountains of the High Country, but the challenge is worth it to take in the sights of the majestic Blue Ridge Mountains. Cycling in the High Country is also ideal for summer cyclists who prefer cooler weather. “A lot of people (cyclists) come here because they want to climb hills,” said Shaw Brown, owner of Boone Bike and Touring. One of the prime areas for cycling in the High Country is the Blue Ridge Parkway. The parkway offers cyclists beautiful scenic views of the mountains, and slow traffic provides cyclists with added safety. “It’s really a quieter road for people to ride, and there’s also the Boone greenway for casual riders,” Shaw said. As great as the High Country is, riders should take a few precautions, because not every road is as inviting as the Blue Ridge Parkway or the Boone Greenway. Other roads in the High Country feature tight curves and steep inclines, and cyclists should stay on their side of the road and be aware of oncom-
Sam Hutchens repairs a bike at Boone Bike in Boone. PHOTO BY FRANK RUGGIERO
for spectators. Learn more at www.bloodsweatandgears. org.
BOONE GRAN FONDO 2015
The popular Blood, Sweat and Gears charity ride features more than 9,000 feet of total climbing in elevation. PHOTO BY ROB MOORE | MTNSNAPSHOTS.COM
ing traffic when riding through these areas. Several cycling events are scheduled this summer throughout the High Country for more serious riders. The following events and summaries are listed at www. boonebike.com:
BLOOD, SWEAT AND GEARS A demanding route, which showcases the mountain com-
munities of Watauga County, North Carolina, requires more than 9,000 feet of total climbing. Highlights of the route include a 21-mile section of the Blue Ridge Parkway, a strenuous climb over the 4,500-foot gap at Snake Mountain, and a 10-mile “flat” on old US 421. This year marks the 17th annual on Saturday, June 27, 2015. The ride is already sold out, although it’s wide open
This isn’t your typical cycling event. A Gran Fondo is a unique cycling challenge — both a personal challenge and a serious competition. Timing chips allow riders to compete for fastest time during designated sections of the course, and then they enjoy the scenery during the rest of the event. The Boone race will take place on Sunday, Aug. 2. Learn more at https://granfondonationalchampionshipseries.com/ boone-gran-fondo/.
THE WATAUGA LAKE TRIATHLON The 11th annual Watauga Lake Triathlon will take place in Butler, Tenn., on Saturday, Sept. 12, at 8 a.m. The event includes a 1,000-meter swim in a pristine lake, 35-kilometer hilly bike ride and a challenging 8-kilometer run. Learn
more at www.wataugalaketriathlon.com.
THE BLUE RIDGE BRUTAL Choose your poison on Saturday, Aug. 8, and participate in either the 50-, 75- or 100-mile option. This fully supported ride rolls through the Blue Ridge Mountains in Ashe County, starting at the Ashe Civic Center at 8 a.m. Learn more at http://blueridgebrutal.org.
THE BOONE-TOWN THROW-DOWN This is race No. 4 in the N.C. Cyclocross Series and will be held at the High Country Fairgrounds on Sunday, Nov. 1. Want to be a part of the festivities? Wear a costume! This year, proceeds will benefit the Watauga Humane Society. Learn more at www.usacycling.org. For more information about these events, contact Boone Area Cyclists at booneareacyclists@gmail.com.
Area Bike Shops BOONE BIKE AND TOURING
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3981 N.C. 268 Wilkesboro, N.C. (336) 818-1118 www.brushymtnbicycles.com
140 Depot St. Boone, N.C. (828) 262-2211 www.magiccycles.com
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Magic Cycles celebrates its 22nd anniversary this year.
Be sure to visit our downtown location for various specials to be running thru out the summer.
Visit our Rental Shop located at the Village of Ski Beech. Mountain bike rentals and lift passes will be available Fri., Sat. and Sun. from June 7th to Sept 30th.
Mon-Sat 10-6 | Sun 12-4
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Inside Footsloggers Outfitters Guided Rock Climbing • Rappelling • Caving Challenge Course & Zip Line
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139 South Depot Street • 828.265.3544
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YOUR LOCALLY OWNED, CONVENIENT, ONE-STOP-SHOP BUSINESSES ARE TEAMING UP TOGETHER TO FULFILL ALL YOUR PET’S NEEDS! Here to bring confidence to you while your pets are in boarding and daycare, and expert advice in training. With 5 certifications and 10 years of experience, we can assure you that you and your pets will be in great hands!
YOUR FULL-SERVICE PET STORE IN THE HIGH COUNTRY SINCE 2000 Our goal is to provide high quality products to our customers, helping them to keep pets healthy & happy. Come in and see our full line of:
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2015
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Going Off-Road in the High Country BY ERIK HOFFMANN
Cycling in the High Country. It sure is nice to take a leisurely stroll around the river on a lazy Sunday afternoon bike ride. But if slow and steady isn’t your cup of tea, perhaps an adrenaline-inducing mountain bike trail is more your shot of espresso, and this region has plenty of trails to quench any extremist’s thirst. Starting out at Pisgah National Forest, the lands that make up the Grandfather Ranger District can be found between Lenoir and Blowing Rock on U.S. 321. There you will find a variety of bike trails from the 4.5-mile Watauga Turnpike gravel road trail to the most difficult rated 11.4-mile Wilson Ridge Trail. For a complete listing of available trails in the Grandfather Ranger District, visit www. trails.com/activity.aspx?area=13764. While wheeling around the area, Zack’s Fork Mountain Bike Trail is located in the heart of Lenoir with easy access to the downtown area. It is a single-track experience for novices or a fast flow trail for the more experienced cycler. The average ride time for the roundtrip 5.6-mile trail is 55 minutes. For more information or current track conditions, visit their Facebook page at www.facebook.com/zacksforkmtbtrail or www.mtbproject.com/trail/5773178. Beech Mountain boasts the Emerald Outback Trails, which is a year-round destination for avid mountain bikers. The system includes more than eight miles of awesome views and challenging trails. At 5,400 feet above sea level, the trails are free and open to the public seven days a week. For more information, visit www.emeraldoutback.com. For mountain bikers looking to stay around Watauga County, Rocky Knob Mountain Bike Park is the perfect spot to pedal away.
If slow and steady isn’t your cup of tea, perhaps an adrenaline-inducing mountain bike trail is more your shot of espresso. PHOTO SUBMITTED
The park boasts four trails, starting with Rocky Branch Trail. Rocky Branch starts with a climb over rising and falling dips that run next to U.S. 421. The 2.6-mile trail is rated moderate to intermediate. The Jump Start Skills area is on this trail. A more difficult trail, the one-mile Middle Earth Trail takes bikers counterclockwise around a rockier terrain. The trail leaves and re-enters the upper leg of the Rocky Branch Trail. Make sure to check out the PBJ Skills Trail. It’s a stimulating ride named for its pumps, berms and jumps. The Boat Rock Loop is an advanced 3.6-mile trail found on the upper slopes of Rocky Knob. If you only want to do part of the trail, there’s a “bail-out” spot. Finally, the Ol’ Hoss Trail is the highest elevation trail and most advanced trail at Rocky Knob. While the trail is threequarters of a mile, it reaches the summit of the mountain at 4,000 feet. There are drops and obstacles that cannot be avoided. After the climb up, there’s only one direction to go … down! For more information, visit the park’s Facebook page at www.facebook.com/ RockyKnobPark or www.rockyknob. wordpress.com.
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Hiking the High Country BY JESSE CAMPBELL
Looking to clear you mind without breaking the bank this summer? Take a hike! The High Country is teeming with safe and easily accessible trails. From greenways and perfectly manicured walkways at state parks across the region, enjoying the Appalachian Mountains’ bounty by foot is as refreshing as it is invigorating. In Ashe County, Mt. Jefferson State Natural Area, located off U.S. 221 in Jefferson, has miles of smooth trail way for amateur, seasoned outdoorsman and all points in between. The trails begin alongside parking areas and circumvent and cross the mountain’s highest points to provide breathtaking views of the towns and communities in the valleys below. If you want to complement your hike with some fishing or perhaps some time for quiet reflection by the riverside, continue on Old U.S. 221 via the new U.S. 221 to enjoy casual strolls at the New River State Park in the eastern part of
Enjoying the Appalachian Mountains’ bounty by foot is as refreshing as it is invigorating. FILE PHOTO
Ashe County. The Blue Ridge Parkway provides countless opportunities for impromptu hikes to all of the High Country and is accessible by several major thoroughfares including U.S. 421 in Deep Gap, N.C. 163 in West Jefferson, U.S. 321 in Blowing Rock and N.C. 105 in Linville. Greenways abound in Boone, includ-
ing popular walkways at Brookshire Park, located just inside town limits off U.S. 421, and the greenway system near Watauga Medical Center, which is typically accessed by the park at State Farm Road. Grandfather Mountain in Linville — accessible by U.S. 221 from N.C. 105 — offers all skill levels something new and
refreshing. The adjoining profile trails on N.C. 105 in Foscoe are also a welcomed trek off the beaten path. Several area outfitters are also afoot for the season to provide comfortable and durable hiking boots. Mountain Outfitters, located at 102 S. Jefferson Ave., has affordable apparel for the trailblazer in you and an ample selection of outdoor gear. For more information, call (336) 2469133, or visit www.mtnoutfittersnc.com. If your outdoor excursions take a southerly trek to Watauga County, check out Footsloggers, located in downtown Boone at 139 Depot St. You can also give them a call (828) 262-5111 or visit www.footsloggers.com. Footsloggers’ location in Blowing Rock, 921 Main St., is conveniently located near the Blue Ridge Parkway as a last stop for hikers before hitting the trails. Mast General Store, with locations on King Street in Boone and Broadstone Road in Valle Crucis, has backpacks, navigation systems and other outdoor gear for the perfect outdoor experience.
The Mountain: Up Close and Personal BY CAROLINE HARRIS
Area outfitters are afoot for the season to provide hiking equipment aplenty, from backpacks to hiking boots. PHOTO SUBMITTED
Driving the parkway, taking in the breathtaking views of the Blue Ridge Mountains is all well and good. But there is a far more hands-on way to experience the mountain. The High Country is a world-renowned destination for rock climbing, offering rock faces or “problems” for everyone from the novice climber to the seasoned professional who’s ready to be challenged. A day of rock climbing is truly unforgettable. You may want to start your journey at Footsloggers’ Rock Dimensions in Boone. It isn’t easy to miss the 40-foot climbing tower downtown. Rock Dimensions offers everything a
climber needs, from gear to guides to a first lesson. If you are just starting out or want a warm-up, try the climbing tower. Those up for a longer day of climbing can take advantage of the “tower to rock” instructional climbing program. This two-hour instructional course beginning at the tower prepares you for a half-day out on the mountain. Learn all the necessary knots to stay safe on the course, as well as belaying, verbal commands to communicate with your fellow climbers and basic climbing technique. Rock Dimensions also offers full-day trips in Linville Gorge and other areas of Pisgah National Forest. The trips involve a longer drive and hike, with scenic views throughout the day. Ship Rock, Boardwalk, Hawksbill and Linn
Cove Lullaby, all off the Blue Ridge Parkway, are a few local climbing spots to look for. Make the most of your trip to the High Country, and conquer the mountain with a once-in-a-lifetime climbing experience.
FOOTSLOGGERS In addition to all the gear you’ll need for your climbing adventure, Footsloggers offers books and maps you’ll need to plan your trip. Visit the stores in downtown Boone and Blowing Rock, call (828) 262-5111, or visit www.footsloggers.com.
EDGE OF THE WORLD The Banner Elk-based outdoor gear store also offers guided rock climbing and rappelling trips. Visit the store at 394 Shawneehaw Ave. in Banner Elk, call (800) 789-EDGE, or visit www.edgeoworld.com/summer/climbing.
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Painters enjoy creating works en plein air at the Daniel Boone Native Gardens. PHOTO BY ANNA OAKES
Daniel Boone Native Gardens offers activities for all ages COMPILED BY ANNA OAKES
Hundreds of native North Carolina species are represented at the Daniel Boone Native Gardens in Boone, with a progression of blooms throughout the growing season. Located on property off of Horn in the West Drive leased from the town of Boone, Daniel Boone Native Gardens was established in 1963 as a project of The Garden Club of North Carolina. Created and maintained over the years thanks to the dedicated efforts of local women, Daniel Boone Native Gardens feature more than 200 species of native plants, including trees, wildflowers and ferns. The mission of the three-acre garden is to educate the public and to conserve rare or endangered species. The gardens serve as a retreat for birders and artists and offer special programs for seniors, children and other groups. The High Country Audubon Society, for example often hosts regular bird walks
at the gardens, and photographers and painters enjoy creating works there en plein air. The antique one-room “Squire Boone Cabin� is a century old, with roughhewn logs that are some 18 inches wide. Formerly located in the wilderness below Grandfather Mountain, the cabin was originally built by Jesse Boone Cragg, a great-great-grandson of Jesse Boone, youngest brother of Daniel. The Daniel Boone Native Gardens are located at 651 Horn in the West Drive in Boone. The gardens are open daily, May through October. Admission is $2 for people ages 16 and older. Wheelchair access is available at the rockery entrance; call ahead to arrange for assistance. Group tours can be provided, and the gardens are available for weddings and other events. Dogs are not permitted, except service animals. For more information, visit www. danielboonenativegardens.org, or call (828) 264-6390.
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Camping in the High Country BY CAROLINE HARRIS
Nothing says “summer” quite like camping. If you prefer camping out under the stars in the woods of a national park or lounging comfortably in your RV with a lakefront view, the High Country has many scenic camping options to choose from. High Country campgrounds feature a host of activities: kayaking, rock climbing, biking, hiking, tubing, sports, fishing and more, as well as playgrounds and family activities for the kids. Up here, it’s easy to find the camping experience you’re looking for. Camping is permitted in national forests, but not on the Blue Ridge Parkway. Camp must be at least 1,000 feet from vehicular roads, as well as parking and recreation areas. National forests in the High Country include Pisgah National Forest, Linville Gorge and Grandfather Mountain.
• THE LINVILLE GORGE WILDERNESS The “Grand Canyon of North Carolina”
remote, still offers the beauty of a natural setting. Blue Bear Mountain offers spacious, low-density RV Camping, private rustic car-accessible tent camping. and remote tent camping. Located eight miles from Boone.
CAMPING TIPS • Bring warm clothes and linens. High Country summers bring delightful weather during the day, but the mercury can dip into cool temperatures at night. Be prepared. • Lather on sunscreen and bug spray. Contrary to some beliefs, mosquitos and other bugs do thrive in the mountains. And while it may not be as muggy here as in the lower elevations, you’ll get sunburned just as easily. • Leave the firewood at home. Firewood from locations outside of the High Country can transfer non-native, invasive species that can disturb the local ecosystem. Many camping facilities sell firewood on site. is part of the Pisgah National Forest. The gorge is formed by Jonas Ridge on the east and Linville Mountain on the west and is bisected by the Linville River, which drops 2,000 feet into the valleys below. Recreation opportunities include hiking, backpacking, rock climbing, fishing and hunting.
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Marshmallows — don’t go camping without them.
Camping is permitted in the Linville Gorge Wilderness, but permits are required on weekends and holidays May 1 to Oct. 31. Free permits may be obtained at the District Ranger’s Office in Marion Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Walk-in permits, for the current week only, are available at the Linville Gorge Information Cabin, located on Kistler Memorial Highway. The cabin is open April through October, seven days a week, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
• GRANDFATHER MOUNTAIN STATE PARK Backpack camping is allowed with a permit at 13 backpack camping sites along the trail system. Though camping is free, campers must self-register at the trailheads. Campers must leave vehicles at either the Profile Trail or Blue Ridge Parkway trailheads; no vehicles can be left overnight in the Grandfather Mountain attraction. For cooking, a gas-powered backpacking stove is recommended. Water is available only from intermittent streams. The park office is open Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
• BLUE BEAR MOUNTAIN CAMPGROUND 196 Blue Bear Mountain Road Todd, N.C. (828) 406-4226 Blue Bear Mountain is a facility offering private, remote, rustic, leave-no-trace tent camping on 150 acres of pristine, natural land. RV camping, while not
6401 N.C. 19-E South Plumtree, N.C. (828) 766-6162 Located 10 miles north of Spruce Pine in the Blue Ridge Mountains along 1,600 feet of the North Toe River, Buck Hill Campground is the perfect place for families to relax and play, offering 60 large, shady RV sites, each equipped with picnic tables, fire pits and full hookups. The campground features 144 acres of hiking trails. Enjoy a lazy ride down the river on your inner tube or spend the day fishing from the trout-filled waters stocked by the state hatchery. Primitive tent campers can enjoy the campground’s open grassy fields overlooking the pond.
• DOWN BY THE RIVER CAMPGROUND 292 River Campground Road Pineola, N.C. (828) 733-5057 At an elevation of 3,350 feet, Down by the River Campground offers full hookups and spacious RV and tent camping by the Linville River. Open through October.
• FLINTLOCK CAMPGROUND 171 Flintlock Campground Drive, N.C. 105 Boone, N.C. (828) 963-5325 Enjoy camping in the center of North Carolina’s High Country! Flintlock Campground features all the camping amenities, including cabins, tent sites and full hookups. Located on a mountainside stream at 3,500 feet in elevation, Flintlock is open April through October.
• GRANDFATHER CAMPGROUND 125 Profile View Road Banner Elk, N.C. (828) 355-4535 Located just off N.C. 105 about 10 miles south of Boone, Grandfather Campground RV Resort & Cabins covers acres of breathtaking scenic views. More than 100 acres are kept by nature herself and are ideal for light to moderate hiking. SEE CAMPING, PAGE 72
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2015
A Tail-Wagging Vacation BY CAROLINE HARRIS
Ridge Parkway.
Looking for fun things to do in the High Country with your furry best friend? Not to worry, there are plenty of places you can bring Fido along. Dine al fresco at one of several poochfriendly restaurants in Boone, Blowing Rock or Banner Elk. In addition to municipal parks and hiking trails, let your pet off the leash in one of the High Country’s designated dog parks. Local pet stores offer everything your pet could need. From outdoor activities to patio dining, there are plenty of options that are petfriendly.
TANAWHA TRAIL
Parks TATE-EVANS PARK This park, located in the middle of downtown Banner Elk, offers a walking trail and plenty of open space. 210 Park Ave. Banner Elk, N.C. 28604 (828) 898-5398 www.townofbannerelk.org
BEECH MOUNTAIN BARK PARK The park is a fenced in, off-leash dog park where well-behaved dogs can exercise in a clean, safe environment. The park is a beautiful, well-maintained space open to all dog lovers and friends who are willing to uphold the park’s rules and restrictions. Features include two play areas, dog watering stations and a picnic shelter. 403 Beech Mountain Parkway Beech Mountain, N.C. 28604 (828) 387-3003 www.beechrecreation.org
WATAUGA HUMANE SOCIETY DOG PARK The dog park consists of approximately 3.5 acres of fenced land for dogs to play, and a smaller, half-acre section for smaller dogs. All dogs must have a current rabies certificate, and their owners must submit an application. Day passes are $3. For more information, visit www.wataugahumanesociety.org/
Lola enjoys a trip to Julian Price Park on the Blue Ridge Parkway. PHOTO BY FRANK RUGGIERO
catalog/dog-parks-pd-35.php. Open daily from 6 a.m. to sundown. (828) 264-7865 312 Paws Way Boone, N.C. 28607 www.wataugahumanesociety.org
Trails BOONE GREENWAY TRAIL The Boone Greenway Trail is a beautiful paved walk meandering several miles along the New River, crossing a covered bridge and several other stone and wooden bridges. The trail is landscaped, with flowers, birds, butterflies, picnic tables and park benches. The Greenway Trail is open year-round, free of charge, located off State Farm Road in Boone and can be accessed at the Watauga Parks and Recreation Center and other locations throughout town. For more information, including a map, visit www. townofboone.net/departments/public_ works/parks.php. (828) 264-9511 231 Complex Drive Boone, N.C. 28607 www.townofboone.net
PRICE LAKE LOOP TRAIL Price Lake is a memorable walk with views of Grandfather Mountain that circles a beautiful mountain lake. The trail is 2.4 miles round trip on mostly flat terrain. Trail access is at the Price Lake Overlook at Milepost 296.7 on the Blue
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Pet-friendly Places in the High Country
Stretching 13.5 miles from Julian Price Park to Beacon Heights, this trail parallels the Blue Ridge Parkway on Grandfather Mountain and offers spectacular views of the High Country. The Tanawha Trail can be hiked in shorter sections and is moderate to easy with some strenuous areas. The main access is at Milepost 305.5 on the Blue Ridge Parkway, although the trail is accessible via other points and paths. To download a map, visit www.nps.gov/ blri/planyourvisit/upload/tanawha%20 trail.pdf.
SIM’S POND Sim’s Pond is the first stop after you enter Julian Price Park. The pond is a stop along the Green Knob Trail, which originates from the nearby Sim’s Creek Overlook. Hike a few hundred feet north on this trail and you will see the remnants of an old mill pond. Access is at Milepost 295 on the Blue Ridge Parkway.
Restaurants & Bars
(386) 506-1073 www.facebook.com/ highcountrytaproom
MURPHY’S RESTAURANT & PUB 747 W. King St. Boone, N.C., 28607 (828) 264-5117 www.murphysboone.com
TOWN TAVERN 1182 Main St. Blowing Rock, N.C. 28605 (828) 295-7500 www.towntavernbr.com
Retail Stores ANIMALS … NATURALLY! 718 W. King St. Boone, N.C. 28607 (828) 773-4386 www.facebook.com/ foranimalssakeboone
MOUNTAIN DOG & FRIENDS 126 Taylor Road Foscoe, N.C. 28607 (828) 963-2470 www.mountaindogandfriends.com
BANNER ELK CAFE
MY BEST FRIEND’S BARKERY
119 Central Way SW Banner Elk, N.C. 28604 (828) 898-4040
176 Shawneehaw Ave. Banner Elk, N.C. 28604 (828) 898-5625 www.mybestfriendsbarkery.com
BAYOU SMOKEHOUSE AND GRILL 130 E. Main St. Banner Elk, N.C. 28604 (828) 898-8592 www.bayousmokehouse.com
CAFÉ PORTOFINO 970 Rivers St. Boone, N.C. 28607 (828) 264-7772 www.cafeportofino.net
COYOTE KITCHEN 200 Southgate Drive Boone, N.C 28607 (828) 265-4041 www.coyotekitchen.com
HIGH COUNTRY TAPROOM 110 Sugar Mountin Drive Sugar Mountain, N.C.
THE PET PLACE 240 Shadowline Drive Boone, N.C. 28607 (828) 268-1510 www.petplaceboone.com
PET SUPPLIES PLUS 2575 N.C. 105, Suite 100 (828) 266-2100 www.petsuppliesplus.com
Emergency Vet ANIMAL EMERGENCY & PET CARE CLINIC 1710 NC 105 Boone, N.C. (828) 268-2833 www.boonevet.net
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Both campgrounds and backcountry camping offer a chance to embrace nature. PHOTO SUBMITTED
CAMPING FROM PAGE 70
Or go a little farther to Grandfather Mountain, where you can choose your hiking by level of difficulty and distance. See the Mile-High Swinging Bridge, natural wildlife habitat and more. Full RV hookups and tent sites available. Open year round.
• HELTON CREEK CAMPGROUND 2145 Helton Road Grassy Creek, N.C. (336) 384-3474 A family campground nestled in the banks of Helton Creek in Ashe County, five miles from N.C. 16 North and minutes away from the New River, Virginia Creeper Trail, Shatley Springs and Mount Rogers. Shady and peaceful with sites for tents and full RV hookups.
• HONEY BEAR CAMPGROUND 229 Honey Bear Campground Road Boone, N.C. (828) 963-4586 Conveniently located off Blue Ridge Parkway Milepost 294 or just one mile off N.C. 105, Honey Bear Campground features 26 acres of seclusion just three miles from downtown Boone. The campground features fishing, hiking, tent sites, full RV hookups and cabins.
• JULIAN PRICE PARK CAMPGROUND Blue Ridge Parkway Milepost 297 (828) 963-5911 Located a few minutes south of Blowing Rock on the Blue Ridge Parkway, Julian Price Memorial Park features a campground with non-electric RV and tent sites, as well as bathroom and drinking water facilities. Campers have
convenient access to hiking trails, fishing and boat rentals on Price Lake and picnic facilities. Open early May through the fall leaf season.
• KOA 123 Harmony Mountain Lane Boone, N.C. (828) 264-7250 Located just outside of the Boone town limits off of N.C. 194, the Boone KOA Campground has tent sites, cabins and full RV hookups. Open until Nov. 1.
• RACCOON HOLLER CAMPGROUND 493 Raccoon Holler Road Jefferson, N.C. (336) 982-2706 Raccoon Holler is adjacent to the Blue Ridge Parkway between mileposts 257 and 258 at an elevation of 3,200 feet. Raccoon Holler features 150 sites with full hook-ups, a stocked lake, hiking, swimming and canoeing. Open from April 20 through Oct. 31.
• RIVERCAMP USA 2221 Kings Creek Road Piney Creek, N.C. (336) 359-2267 Rivercamp USA features riverfront, full-hookup campsites for RVs, tents and pop-ups. Rent canoes, kayaks and inner tubes for a leisurely float down the wild and scenic New River. Open through October.
• VANDERPOOL CAMPGROUND 120 Campground Road Vilas, N.C. (828) 297-3486 Located in Vilas, just seven miles north of Boone on U.S. 421, Vanderpool Campground in Boone offers yearround RV camping and tent camping.
2015
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Welcome to Downtown Boone! YOUR HUB FOR THE HEARTBEAT OF THE HIGH COUNTRY
Summer Concerts at the Jones House Free concerts on the Jones House lawn every Friday night June – August, starting at 5:00 p.m. Annual Doc Watson Day Celebration June 19, starting at 4 p.m.
joneshouse.org
Downtown Boone First Fridays Fridays June 5th, July 3rd, August 7th and September 4th. Come out every First Friday to enjoy art receptions, live entertainment, and complimentary refreshments, 6:30 to 8 p.m.
4th of July Celebration Celebrate the 4th in Boone! The annual parade starts at 11 a.m. and travels through downtown Boone. After the parade, enjoy free cake and watermelon at the Jones House. Later, visit Clawson-Burnley Park for fun and fireworks.
townofboone.net
Visiting Downtown Boone Enjoy extended shopping hours in downtown Boone throughout the summer. Spend more time at your favorite shops and stay for dinner at one of the many downtown restaurants featuring local food and wine. To learn more about parking and download a downtown Boone map visit
downtownboonenc.com
828.268.6280 • downtownboonenc.com
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Satisfy your senses at weekly farmers’ markets BY ANNA OAKES
A
MARKET TIPS
multi-sensory experience awaits at the many weekly farmers’ markets in the High Country. Dozens of vendors display their fruits and vegetables in a multi-colored array of gold, scarlet, purple, green and orange and every hue in between. A stroll through the market brings the sounds of live musicians and the laughter of local friends and neighbors catching up, accompanied by the aromatic scents of baked goods, fresh flowers and hot coffee. And no two markets are ever the same, with various crops coming in and out of season and featured events, such as tomato contests, cobbler competitions, cooking demonstrations and more. Our farmers’ markets are truly a feast — not only the table but also for the eyes and soul.
8 a.m. to noon Saturdays in November, 9 a.m. to noon 591 Horn in the West Drive Boone, N.C. 28607 (828) 355-4918 www.wataugacountyfarmersmarket.org
WATAUGA COUNTY FARMERS’ MARKET
BLOWING ROCK FARMERS’ MARKET
Saturdays, May 2 through October,
Thursdays, May 28 through Oct. 15,
These tips will help make the most out of your farmers’ market shopping experience. • Arrive early for the best selection. • No pets, except service animals. • Carry small bills. It’s easier for vendors to make change. • Ask. Learn about unfamiliar varieties and even how to prepare them. • Use large, reusable bags or baskets. Eliminate the need for plastic or paper bags.
4 to 6 p.m. 132 Park Ave., Blowing Rock (828) 295-7851
ASHE COUNTY FARMERS’ MARKET Saturdays through Oct. 31, 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. Backstreet, West Jefferson, N.C. 28694 www.ashefarmersmarket.com
AVERY COUNTY FARMERS’ MARKET Thursdays, 4:30 to 7 p.m. Old Banner Elk Elementary School 185 Azalea Circle, Banner Elk, N.C. 28604 www.averycountyfarmersmarket.net
JOHNSON COUNTY FARMERS’ MARKET Saturdays through September, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. 110 Court St. Mountain City, Tenn. 37683 (423) 707-7093 johnsoncountyfm.org
The Watauga County Farmers’ Market is ramping up for another season.
Dozens of vendors display their fruits and vegetables in a multi-colored array of gold, scarlet, purple, green and orange and every hue in between. PHOTOS BY ANNA OAKES
2015
SUMMER TIMES
PAGE 75
Blue Ridge Parkway offers ride of a lifetime Mileposts of Interest
BY JAMIE SHELL
T
he Blue Ridge Parkway in North Carolina weaves through vibrant and engaging communities. Many visitors to the parkway include visits to unique destinations in their journey. Extending for 469 miles along the spine of the Appalachian Mountains through North Carolina into Virginia, the parkway was commissioned during the Franklin Roosevelt presidency in the mid-1930s and was not fully completed until the construction and opening of the Linn Cove Viaduct, located near Grandfather Mountain in Avery County, in 1987. The parkway features many natural wonders and sights that make the journey unforgettable. In addition to the destinations along the parkway itself, the road meanders through historic towns offering fascinating exploration of the heritage and culture of the region along the way. A popular stop along the parkway path is Moses H. Cone Park, located at milepost 294. In addition to adjacent Julian Price Lake (named for an insurance executive who made his fortune in the first part of the 20th century, as well as the only lake on the Blue Ridge Parkway where paddling is allowed), the majestic 4,200-acre area comprises the largest developed area set aside for public recreation on the Blue Ridge Parkway. While at Moses Cone estate, visitors can check out the parkway’s official craft center at Flat Top Manor and watch mountain handicraft demonstrations. The estate includes a family cemetery to explore, as well as carriage and apple barn, in addition to a system of carriage trails for a unique parkway experience. Cone Park provides opportunities to walk along a nature trail or picnic in one of more than 100 picnic sites on the property. Visitors can camp under the stars at the parkway’s largest campground and, on a seasonal basis, enjoy interpretive programs in a 300-seat amphitheater or an evening campfire program. Visitors can view the majestic Blue Ridge Mountains from Flat Rock, located near Grandfather Mountain at Milepost 308. A short distance to the south will take visitors to Milepost 316 and Linville Falls Recreation Area, where
In addition to the destinations along the parkway itself, the road meanders through historic towns offering fascinating exploration of the heritage and culture of the region along the way.
The Blue Ridge Parkway extends for 469 miles along the spine of the Appalachian Mountains from North Carolina into Virginia. PHOTOS BY ROB MOORE | MTNSNAPSHOTS.COM
trails and overlooks to Linville Falls and Linville Gorge are available. Visitors are allowed to drive the parkway free of charge, but commercial vehicles are prohibited without approval from Park Service Headquarters. In all, Blue Ridge Parkway offers nine campgrounds, as well as fishing opportunities in one of 13 lakes for those possessing the appropriate Virginia or North Carolina fishing license. Weather conditions, as well as potential areas of road construction, can have an effect on travel across the Blue Ridge Parkway. The parkway is not maintained by road crews in the winter, and sections pass over especially high elevations and through tunnels that are often impassable and closed from late fall through early spring. Conditions can change quickly in the higher elevations of the High Country where the parkway passes, so drivers are encouraged to check ahead on if the parkway is open to traffic. For more information about the Blue Ridge Parkway, visit www.blueridgeparkway.org.
• 248.1: NC 18 Crossover 2 Mi. west of Laurel Springs. 24 mi. east to North Wilkesboro, NC. • 261: NC 16 Crossover. West 12 mi. to Jefferson, 14 mi. to West Jefferson, 26 mi to Grassey Creek. East 20 mi. to North Wilkesboro. • 268: Benge Gap. • 272: E.B. Jeffress Park. Picnic area, Comfort station, trail to Cascades. • 276.4: Deep Gap. US 421 Crossover. W. 11 mi. to Boone. E 26 miles to North Wilkesboro. • 291.9: US 221/321 Crossover. 7 mi. north to Boone, 2 mi. south to Blowing Rock. • 292.7: Moses H. Cone Memorial Park, 3,600 acres. Many miles of horse and carriage trails, hiking, fishing. • 294: Historic Flat Top Manor House; Parkway Craft Center; comfort station; visitor information, publications. • 295: Julian Price Memorial Park. 4,344 acres. Campground, picnic area, lake, boating, fishing, trails. Alt. 3,400. Reservations for camping www.recreation.gov. • 304.4: Linn Cove Viaduct information Center. Visitor information, comfort station, publications. Trail access viaduct. Alt. 4,000. • 305.2: Junction Parkway and US 221. 3 mi. west to Linville. • 308.2: Flat Rock Parking Area. Self-guiding nature trail to superb view of Linville Valley and Grandfather Mountain. • 312: NC 181 Crossover, 32 miles southeast to Morganton, 2 mi. north to Pineola. • 316.3: Linville Falls. Visitor Center. Campground and picnic
area. Trail to overlooks of falls and gorge. For more information on Linville Falls, click here. For camping reservations www.recreation.gov. • 316.4: Linville River Parking Area. One of the Parkway’s largest stone arch bridges. Three spans of 80 feet each. Fish in Linville River. Picnic area. Comfort Station. Alt. 3,250. Take Spur Rd. to Linville Falls, campground and visitor center. • 317.4: South 1 mi. to Linville Falls community. 24 mi. To Marion. • 320.7: Chestoa View offers an unusually fine view from one of the many vertical cliffs on Humpback Mountain. • 331: NC 226 Crossover. 6 mi. north to Spruce Pine. 14 mi. south to Marion. • 331: Museum of North Carolina Minerals. Junction of Parkway & NC 226. Features minerals found in North Carolina and regional geology. County Chamber of Commerce Office. Restrooms. Open daily year around. • 331: Overmountain Victory National Historic Trail Commemorates the campaign leading up to the American victory at Kings Mountain in 1780. Route crosses the Blue Ridge Parkway at Gillespie Gap, near the Mineral Museum. Administered by the National Park Service. www.nps.gov/ ovvi. • 334: NC 226A Crossover to Little Switzerland. • 339.5: Crabtree Falls. 250 acres. Hiking, picnic area, camping, comfort station, drinking water. 40-minute walk to Crabtree Falls.
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2015
The High Country’s Art Galleries
rt buyers and enthusiasts will find that the High Country’s art galleries have much to offer. Home to almost countless venues that host a variety of styles and mediums, the High Country has a gallery for just about every artistic disposition.
Fine Art
The Art Cellar Gallery has been a celebrated arts destination for more than 20 years, featuring the works of regional, national and internationally acclaimed artists. From primitive to realistic, impressionistic to abstract, The Art Cellar features fine quality artwork by both established and emerging artists, while providing clientele with a comfortable exhibition space in which to select the next treasured additions to their collections, large or small. The Art Cellar is located at 920 Shawneehaw Lane in Banner Elk. For more information, call (828) 898-5175, or visit www.artcellaronline.com. For more than two decades, Blowing Rock Frameworks & Gallery has provided its clientele with custom framing and artwork. During its 20-plus years, owner Tim Miller has assembled a gallery featuring more than 25 of the most accomplished artists in the Southeast, including the renowned Elliott Daingerfield. According to Miller, a stroll through Blowing Rock Frameworks is as pleasing to the first time visitor as it is to seasoned collectors. Blowing Rock Frameworks is located at 7239 Valley Blvd. in the Food Lion shopping center in Blowing Rock. For more information, call (828) 295-0041, or visit www. blowingrockgalleries.com. Carlton Gallery in Banner Elk is one of the most established fine art galleries in North Carolina. Boone native and artist Toni Carlton has spent 33 years as owner and curator of her gallery, promoting the work of local, regional and national artists. Creations from traditional to contemporary feature a wide variety of fine art and upscale handmade crafts by more than 200 local, regional and national artisans, including paintings, glass, sculpture, wood, clay, wearable art
‘Blue Ridge Splendor’ by Kevin Beck at Carlton Gallery
and jewelry. The gallery is located 10 miles south of Boone and seven miles north of Linville on N.C. 105 in the Grandfather Mountain community. For more information, call (828) 963-4288, or visit www. carltongallery.com.
Pottery
Doe Ridge Pottery is the High Country’s premier local pottery dealer. Bob Meier opened the gallery and store in 1988 and remains a resident master potter with numerous other artisans. With a freshly designed showroom and new displays, Doe Ridge’s collection of fine pottery includes functional, specialty and home decor pieces. Doe Ridge Pottery is located at 585 W. King St., Suite D, in downtown Boone. For more information, call (828) 2641127, or visit www.doeridgepottery.com.
Jewelry
With more than 30 years of experience, Old World Galleries’ Charles and Joy Travis and Morgan Shaw value the relationship with each client, striving to ensure that every transaction provides true customer satisfaction. Old World specializes in fine jewelry in platinum, gold, sterling silver, precious and semi-precious gemstones, as well as custom-designed jewelry for budget-
minded customers. The gallery also buys, sells and appraises antique and estate jewelry, while offering a full line of jewelry repair, cleaning, evaluation and more. “From simple repairs to complex styles, we offer complete jewelry design, repair, estate buying, appraisals and sales, custom engagement rings, antique and modern jewelry with diamonds and precious stones,” professional jeweler Shaw said. “Our gallery also features the work of noted local artists Wes Waugh, Jane Miller and Gaines Kiker. Each of these artists is very talented and brings the spirit of creativity and quality to our King Street gallery.” Old World Galleries is located at 697 W. King St. in downtown Boone. For more information, call (828) 264-6559, or visit www.oldworldgalleries.com.
Gallery Listings Banner Elk
(828) 963-7246 www.artpurveyors.com
Carlton Gallery 10360 N.C. 105 South (828) 963-4288 www.carltongallery.com
Clark Gallery 393 Shaneehaw Ave. (828) 898-2095 www.clarkgallerync.com
Maggie Black Pottery 1225 N.C. 105 (828) 773-2459 www.maggieblackpottery.com
Sally Nooney Gallery 7137 N.C.194 South (828) 963-7347 www.sallynooney.com
Blowing Rock
The Art Cellar
Art & Artifacts
920 Shawneehaw Ave. (828) 898-5175 www.artcellaronline.com
159 Sunset Drive (828) 414-9402 www.artandartifactsbr.com
Art Purveyors World HQ 112 Aldridge Park
SEE GALLERIES, PAGE 81
SUMMER TIMES
2015
G A L L E R Y
&
PAGE 77
F R A M E M A K E R S
2015 EXHIBITION SCHEDULE Unparalleled Vision, William Dunlap June 3 - 14 Three Perspectives, Scott Boyle, Tim Ford and Margaret Salisbury June 17 - 27 New Views, Gregory Smith July 1 - 11 Speaking Figuratively, Jane Jaskevich, Lisa Joerling and Tim Turner July 15 - 25
Where Hills Meet Sky, Tony Griffin July 29 - August 8 Composed Realism, David Birmingham and Loren Dibenedetto August 12 - 22 Works On Paper, Curated Gallery Collection August 26 - September 26 Fall Colors And Vistas, September 30 - October 31
For Details about our Friday Wine Flights and Coffee Talks Visit our Website
Monday - Saturday 10am to 5pm and by Appointment | Extended Hours: June - August, Friday & Saturday 10am - 6pm
artcellaronline.com
828.898.5175
info@artcellaronline.com
2015 Trunk Shows
GABRIEL OFIESH
BIJOUX DE MER
GABRIEL OFIESH
JULY 23 - 26 Thursday 1 to 5, Friday 10 to 6, Saturday 10 to 6 and Sunday 1 to 4
August 21 - 22 Friday 10 to 6 and Saturday 10 to 6
September 24 - 26 Thursday 1 to 5, Friday 10 to 5 and Saturday 10 to 5
hardinfinejewelry.com
828.898.4653
hardinjewelry@gmail.com
PAGE 78
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Established in 1978. Providing the region’s
Largest & Finest Selection of Wine & Beer, Gourmet Foods, Event Planning and Much More.
WINE & BEER
GIFT BASKETS
WEDDING
& PARTY
PLANNING
MIXERS
GOURMET
GLASS-
CELLAR
WARE
FOOD
CIGARS
DESIGN & CONSULTING
828.264.9476 476 • 1104 HWY 105, 105 Boone • www.PeabodysWineandBeer.com
Follow us on
SUMMER TIMES
2015
PAGE 79
WWW.VACATIONCONDOS.COM
Solid Wood Furniture Full Line of Outdoor Furniture Home Accessories Over 25 Years Experience
Interior Design Service
VISIT OUR WINERY & TASTING ROOM!
PROUD TO
Impeccable Service
BE THE FIRST PRODUCING WINERY IN WATAUGA COUNTY!
11 miles from Boone on Highway 105 South 5320 Highway 105 South Banner Elk, NC Mon-Sat 10am - 5pm OPEN ALL YEAR 828 963 6466
Enjoy a picturesque view of Grandfather Mountain on the front porch while sharing one of our delicious wines with friends!
Owners Steve & Sally Tatum HOURS Dec 1 - May 15 Mon, Wed-Sat Noon-6pm, Sun 1-5pm, Closed Tues May 16 - Nov 30 Mon-Sat Noon-6pm, Sun 1-5pm
www.grandfathervineyard.com
225 VINEYARD LANE BANNER ELK, NC 9 miles from Boone on Hwy 105 or 3.5 miles from the intersection of Hwy 105 & 184 toward Banner Elk
828 963 2400
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2015
Special Gifts
real estate sales vacation rentals
Large Selection of Fine Jewelry
Jefferson, NC • 336-246-2700 www.4SeasonsVacations.com
an Marriage Sy Symbol Jewelry • Plus • Journey Lockets • Christian • LeStage Convertible Collection • Larg Large Selection of Pearls •
Newland, NC • (828)733-0186 Like us on
Tues-Fri 9-5 Sat 9-3; Sun and Mon closed
Celebrating 33Years • Hot Tubs • Game Tables • Fireplaces • Trout Streams • Riverfront • Views • Pet Friendly
Spring Group Exhibition
May 23 - July 15 • Opening Reception May 23, 2-5pm
The Landscape – Masculine and Feminine by Kevin Beck & Amy Sullivan
Mid-Summer Group Exhibition July 25 - September 15 Opening Reception July 25, 2-5pm
Serving the High Country!
From a Textural Point of View
by Andrew Braitman & Toni Carlton Located 10 Miles South of Boone on Highway 105 in Grandfather Community 828-963-4288 | www.carltongallery.com | carltongallery@carltongallery.com
PAINTINGS • CLAY • GLASS • WOOD • FIBER ART • JEWELRY
SUMMER TIMES
2015
GALLERIES
Valle Crucis
FROM PAGE 76
Alta Vista Gallery 2839 Broadstone Road (828) 963-5247 www.altavistagallery.com
Blowing Rock Frameworks & Gallery 7935 Valley Blvd. (828) 295-0041 www.blowingrockgalleries.com
Rivercross Market 3595 N.C. 194 (828) 963-8623 www.rivercrossmarket.com
Bolick Pottery & Traditions Pottery The Martin House 1116 Main St. (828) 295-6128 www.traditionspottery.com
West Jefferson
Rock Galleries of Fine Art
Ashe Arts Center Gallery
1153 Main St. (828) 295-9752 www.thomaskinkadeasheville.com/ blowingrock
303 School Ave. (336) 846-2787 www.ashecountyarts.org
Acorn Gallery 103 Long St. (336) 246-3388 www.acorngallery.com
Boone ArtWalk
Bohemia
611 W. King St. (828) 264-9998 www.artwalkboone.com
106 N. Jefferson Ave. (336) 846-1498
www.bohemianc.com
Blue Ridge ArtSpace
Broomfields Gallery
377 Shadowline Drive (828) 264-1789 www.watauga-arts.org
414 E. 2nd St. (336) 846-4141 www.broomfieldsgallery.com
Doe Ridge Pottery
Ripples Gallery
585-D W. King St. (828) 264-1127 www.doeridgepottery.homestead.com
101 N. Jefferson Ave. (336) 219-0089 www.claytonproctor.com
Hands Gallery 543 W. King St. (828) 262-1970 www.handsgallery.org
R.T. Morgan Art Gallery & Glass by Camille ‘Rolling Hills’ by Egi Antonaccio at Carlton Gallery.
Jones House Community Center 604 W. King St. (828) 262-4576 www.joneshousecommunitycenter.org
Kevin Beck Studio 1590 Shull’s Mill Road (828) 963-1181 www.kevinbeck.com
Old World Galleries 697 W. King St (828) 264-6559 www.oldworldgalleries.com
Turchin Center for the Visual Arts 423 W. King St. Boone, N.C. 28607
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(828) 262-3017 www.tcva.org
Linville & Newland 87 Ruffin Street Gallery 87 Ruffin St., Linville (828) 733-6449
Pam Brewer Studio 41 Redbird Lane, Newland (828) 733-5755 www.pambrewer.com
Pineola, Crossnore &
Linville Falls Linville River Pottery 2180 Goose Hollow Road, Pineola (828) 387-1944 www.linvilleriverpottery.com
Crossnore Fine Arts Gallery The Crossnore School 205 Johnson Lane (828) 733-3144 www.crossnoregallery.org
Anvil Arts Studio 9600 Linville Highway, Linville Falls (828) 765-6226 www.studiosculpture.com
120 N. Jefferson Ave. (336) 246-3328 www.rtmorganartgallery.com
The Artists’ Theatre 8 E. Main St. (336) 846-3355 www.theartiststheatre.com
Ashe Custom Framing & Gallery 105 S. Jefferson Ave. (336) 846-2218 www.ashecustomframing.com
Originals Only 3-B N. Jefferson Ave. (336) 846-1636 www.originalsonlygallery.com
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The annual Highland Games and Gathering of Scottish Clans march into Grandfather Mountain’s MacRae Meadows July 9 to 12. PHOTO SUBMITTED
2015
Runners, like former champion Michael Lilley of Hagerstown, Md., test their physical and mental mettle in running The Bear, a five-mile road race from the intersection in Linville to the Mile High Swinging Bridge atop Grandfather Mountain. The race serves as an unofficial kickoff to each summer’s Highland Games. PHOTO BY SAM CALHOUN
Games for All Times!
Grandfather Mountain Highland Games reacquaints present with past BY JAMIE SHELL
F
or the past 60 years, Grandfather Mountain Highland Games has served as a grand tartan reunion. This summer, the tradition is perhaps more steeped than ever. Each second weekend in July (this year from Thursday to Sunday, July 9 to 12), GMHG inundates and educates festivalgoers in traditional Scottish culture, from pipes and drums to haggis and shepherd’s pie. The four-day festival that is the Games has been a destination for competition, entertainment, reunion and celebration of Scottish heritage by thousands who return each year to “America’s Braemar.” This year’s GMHG will be no different. Whether it’s the opportunity to try Scottish Cottage’s barbecue haggis or competing in such events as the tossing
of the sheaf or The Bear, enjoying the dulcet tones of Celtic music from bands from around the world in one of the two groves at MacRae Meadows, observing Scottish traditions and customs or simply stopping by a clan tent to learn one’s family history or pick up a souvenir for a family member or loved one, Grandfather Mountain Highland Games leaves an indelible impression as a unique and fun-filled weekend. GMHG is a thrilling event where thousands of visitors enjoy a wide range of activities. The musical competitions — fiddles, pipes, drums, harps and more — are a buffet for the ears, while the Games features dancing events that will have the most novice of dancers tapping their feet to the rhythm. Each year, the athletic competitions at GMHG rival any Scottish games in the world. The foot races, such as “The
Bear,” in addition to traditional competitions, such as caber throwing, hammer, sheaf and weight tossing, not to mention the popular tug of war, attract fans and clans of all sizes who cheer the competitors to victory and honor the spirit of friendly competition. For many attending the Games, the weekend serves as a family reunion of sorts. The largest single gathering of Scottish clans anywhere in the world, more than 100 in all gather on MacRae Meadows annually for GMHG, as those visiting the Games comprise a population on between 30,000 and 40,000 people. Tickets for GMHG are available by cash upon arrival at the Games, or visitors may purchase them by credit or debit card at the GMHG office in downtown Linville. Parking is available at MacRae Mead-
ows until filled on Thursday and Friday, July 9 and 10, while patrons and sponsors only are allowed special parking privileges on the mountain for Saturday and Sunday, July 11 and 12. Games officials urge patrons to take advantage of the bus shuttle system, where attendees for a small fee can park in Linville and get chauffeured to the Games entrance, or a weekend ticket pass is available to ride a shuttle for the entire weekend for a one-time fee. From the torchlight ceremony on Thursday night to the closing ceremony on Sunday afternoon, GMHG is chock full of events to entertain the entire family. Grandfather Mountain Highland Games is located off U.S. 221, two miles north of Linville and one mile south of the Blue Ridge Parkway. For more information on GMHG, visit www.gmhg.org.
2015
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Hunting for Home Décor BY JAMES HOWELL
A
n often understated part of the High Country’s economy is the wide variety of home décor shops scattered throughout the area. Places like DeWoolfson Down, Tatum Galleries and Blowing Rock Furniture Gallery add to the charm of the area’s small mountain towns and complement the tradition of simple living for which the High Country is known. “With places like the Mast General Store and us and Tatum Galleries, there are just so many diverse shopping locations in the High Country,” said Susan Bracewell, operations manager of DeWoolfson Down in Foscoe. “Anybody coming to the High Country should be able to find a good shopping experience.” Dewoolfson Down, for example, provides customers with fine linens, comforters, down pillows and featherbeds.
Dewoolfson Down has stayed in a unique niche in the community for the past 30 years, and other businesses fill other niches to meet customers’ needs. According to Bracewell, home décor shops are especially busy in the summer, when more second homeowners visit the High Country. “We get a lot of traffic in the summer and fall and a little bit in the spring from people who own second homes,” Bracewell said. “That’s really who our primary customers are, second home owners, and some locals and tourists, as well.” Lisa Willingham, owner of the Artists’ Theatre in West Jefferson, also noted an uptick in business from second homeowners in décor shops. “We wish more homeowners would shop downtown with the economy sort of bouncing back,” Willingham said. “If shoppers take the time to look, they can find almost anything they want. You can find sofas, chairs, rugs; there are
Several places in the High Country offer a variety of home décor, such as Quiet Country Amish Furniture in West Jefferson. PHOTO BY JAMES HOWELL
than visiting large department stores in search of a particular item, High Country shoppers have the unique opportunity to find one-of-a-kind items “Certainly that’s what would intrigue me is making it a hunt, being able to find things that I wasn’t necessarily looking for, but that I discovered.”
places in the community where you can buy sheets, linens, lamps and almost anything you would need to furnish a home.” According to Willingham, shopping in the High Country can be a unique adventure, because visitors and locals alike never know what they’ll find. Rather
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2015
Making Crafts the Mountain Way
Craft demonstrations take to the porch at Moses Cone Park
BY JEFF EASON
I
t is sometimes hard to fathom that people lived without electricity or automobiles in the mountains of North Carolina as recently as a century ago. How did they do it? Well, with some pluck, determination and ingenuity, our ancestors used the simple tools they had to make everything they needed out of wood, clay and other natural materials. Those craft traditions continue to this day, and artisans of the Southern Highland Crafts Guild demonstrate them on the front porch of Flat Top Manor at Moses Cone Park, located on the Blue Ridge Parkway in Blowing Rock. The demonstrations are free, and the craftspeople love to converse with visitors while they make their wares. Generally speaking, the demonstrators work from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. and usually take a lunch break. After watching one of the demonstrations, be sure to walk inside to purchase a souvenir at the Blue Ridge Parkway Crafts Center. This season, the Craft Center will host demonstrations by the following artisans: Jeff McKinley (glass blowing) May 15-17; Jeff Neil (woodworking, Shaker boxes) May 20-22; Lin Oglesby (fiber arts) and Sandy Adair (tapestry weaving) May 23-25; Beth Zobanos (natural materials, corn shucks) May 26-27; Charlie Patricolo (fiber arts, doll making) May 28-29; Lee Entrekin (woodwork, Native American flutes) and Tom Turner (wood carving) May 30-31; Judi Harwood (mixed media, drum making) June 6-12; Lynn Jenkins (clay, raku) June 11-17; David Crandall (wood working, dove tail box construction) June 18-21; Sandy Adair (fiber arts, tapestry weaving) and Ellie Kirby (paper, wood block printing) June 22-23; Tom Turner (wood carving) June 26-28; Jay Pfeil (paper, etching and engraving)
Some of the best in traditional Appalachian Mountain crafts can be found at the Blue Ridge Parkway Craft Center at Flat Top Manor on the Moses Cone Estate. PHOTOS BY JEFF EASON
July 3-5; Ronnie McMahan (wood carving) July 6-9; Lee Entrekin (wood carving, Native American flutes) July 10-12; Larry Allen (clay) July 14-15; Ellie Kirby (paper, wood block printing) July 22-23; Lynn Jenkins (clay, raku) July 24-30; Jay Pfeil (paper, etching and engraving) July 31-Aug. 2; Allen Davis (wood, wood turning) Aug. 6-9; Lee Entrekin (wood, Native American flutes) Aug. 14-16; Betty Fain (fiber, quilting) Aug. 17-18; Lynn Jen-
kins (clay, raku) Aug. 19-25; Kim Adams (jewelry, glass beads) Aug. 27-31; Sandy Adair (fiber, tapestry weaving) Sept. 1-3; David Crandall (wood, dove tail box construction) Sept. 4-7; Judi Harwood (mixed media, drum making) Sept. 8-13; Lynn Jenkins (clay, raku) Sept. 12-18; Tom Gow (wood, cottonwood bark carving) Sept. 25-28; Lee Entrekin (wood, Native American flutes) Sept. 29-Oct. 1; Erin Keane (paper, bookmaking) and Mary Carol Koester (mixed media, bookmaking) Oct. 2-4; Jeff Neil (wood, Shaker boxes) Oct. 5-7; John Dickens (Oct. 8), Carlos Robledo (clay) Oct. 9-14; Sandy Adair (fiber, tapestry weaving) Oct. 15-18; Lin Oglesby (fiber, knitting, crocheting) Oct. 15-21; Jeff McKinley (glass blowing) Oct. 2325; Beth Zorbanos (natural materials, corn shuck) Oct. 26-28; and Bill and Tina Collison (woodworking) Oct. 29-Nov. 1. The craftsperson schedule is subject to change. For more information, call the Parkway Craft Center at (828) 295-7938.
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2015
In its three years of existence, the Blowing Rock Art and History Museum has become one of the most popular cultural destinations in Western North Carolina. PHOTO BY JEFF EASON
Blowing Rock Art and History Museum Offering culture, history and more BY JEFF EASON
T
he Blowing Rock Art and History Museum (BRAHM) is your onestop destination for culture, history and fun. Now in its third year, BRAHM is hosting a number of interesting exhibits this summer and will feature a lot of special events, all of which are designed to entertain the entire family.
ful yet utilitarian sculptures, allowing them to stand alone as highly appreciated works of art. The exhibition is organized and on loan from curators at the Cameron Art Museum in Wilmington, N.C.
“Millhands/Handmade” will be on exhibit from now through July 26. Throughout the years, the process of textile making has involved Fibert art by Catharine Ellis at BRAHM a lot of time and hard work. PHOTO SUBMITTED “Millhands/Handmade” takes a EXHIBITS look at the South’s vast textile history, from the growth of industrial “Floating Sculpture: Bruce mills and their effect on Southern families, to regional Barclay Cameron Duck Decoy Collection” will be textile artists working today and keeping handmade on exhibit from now through July 26. techniques alive through traditional practices. Bringing treasures from the coast to our mountains, this prestigious collection of duck decoys analyzes the careful craftsmanship involved in creating these beautiSEE MUSEUM, PAGE 86
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BRAHM’s ‘Millhands/Handmade’ exhibit examines the South’s vast textile history, from the growth of industrial mills and their effect on Southern families, to regional textile artists working today and keeping handmade techniques alive through traditional practices. PHOTO COURTESY OF BRAHM
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“1923: The Blowing Rock Fire” will be on exhibit through July 26. Visiting Blowing Rock for the first time, you’d hardly find a trace of evidence of the devastating fire of 1923 that took down most of the town. After the disaster, the official Blowing Rock Fire Department was founded, and the town worked together to gather funds to purchase its first fire engine. This exhibit takes a look back at this significant moment in Blowing Rock’s history and corresponds with the celebratory restoration of the village’s historic fire engine to be revealed in July. BRAHM is collaborating with the Blowing Rock Historical Society and Blowing Rock Fire and Rescue to bring this project to fruition. “Romantic Spirits: Nineteenth Century Paintings of the South from the Johnson Collection” will be on exhibit from Aug. 8 through Nov. 2. Featuring 38 Southern masterworks, “Romantic Spirits” is loaned by the Johnson Collection from Spartanburg,
2015
S.C. The collection’s debut publication, “Romantic Spirits,” examines the core concepts of the Romantic movement as it unfolded in the fine art of the American South and, in particular, as borne out in these works in the collection’s holdings of seminal 19th-century paintings. “The Sculptor’s Voice” will be on exhibit from Aug. 15 through Nov. 14. Guest curated by local sculptor Bill Brown, BRAHM presents its first-ever sculpture retrospective. Visitors to the exhibit will experience different approaches to sculpture as a medium, explored and interpreted by artists across the Southeast. Exhibiting artists include John Acorn, Rick Beck, Tinka Jordy, Hanna Jubran and Corrina Sephora Mensoff.
ONGOING Ongoing events at BRAHM include the Tuesday Afternoon Art Club for children ages 6 to 10 (3:30 to 4:30 p.m.), the Doodlebug Club for children ages 3 to 5 on Thursdays (1 to 2 p.m. and 3 to 4 p.m.) and museum tours with docents at 4 p.m. on Thursdays and 2 p.m. on Saturdays.
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2015
Ashe County Frescoes BY JAMES HOWELL
E
very year, thousands of visitors and locals flock to two of the greatest hidden gems the High Country has to offer: Ashe County’s frescoes. In fresco painting, and artist presses pigment into wet plaster, creating long-lasting and vibrant images that can be enjoyed for hundreds of years. The frescoes were painted in two churches located in Ashe County and are enjoyed for their religious significance and artistic excellence. According to information from the Ashe County Frescoes Foundation, thousands of people visit the frescoes each year, which are a favorite destination for locals to take guests. “Our frescoes are a major tourist attraction and are important to the region’s economy,” a spokesperson for the foundation said. “Those who visit Ashe County for the frescoes experience typically include visits to our art galleries, restaurants, shops and the unique cheese factory in West Jefferson.” Both frescoes were painted by internationally renowned artist Ben Long in the 1970s. Long was born in Texas, grew up in Statesville and studied at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Long later began advanced studies at the Art Students League of New York in 1969. After his military service, Long became an apprentice under famed Italian artist Pietro Annigoni. During his apprenticeship, Long learned fresco art techniques and oil painting. In 1974, Long arranged with the Rev. Faulton Hodge to create the first of two frescoes in Ashe County at Saint Mary’s Episcopal Church, located in West Jefferson. After creating two paintings, named “Mary Great with Child” and “John the Baptist,” Long began work on the first of two magnificent frescoes in Ashe County, called “The Mystery of Faith.” This fresco covers the entire sanctuary wall at St. Mary’s Episcopal Church and depicts the Crucifixion of Jesus Christ. In 1977, Long gathered apprentices and assistants and created the second of Ashe County’s frescoes at Holy Trinity Episcopal Church in Glendale Springs. This fresco, called “The Last Supper,” takes inspiration from the event for which the fresco is named. According to the fresco foundation, “Ashe County has been blessed with these awe-inspiring and eternal art treasures. The subject matter and uniqueness have brought countless numbers of visitors to our community.” With fresco painting, pigments become chemically bonded with plaster, producing surfaces that are remarkably resistant to the ravages of time. This means the frescoes will be available for enjoyment for years to come.
Visitors to Holy Trinity Episcopal Church can take a seat in one of the old pews and flip through the hymnals as they take in the view of Ben Long’s ‘The Last Supper’ fresco. FILE PHOTOS
The map above shows where frescoes can be found throughout the region, from West Jefferson to Charlotte and locations in-between. IMAGE SUBMITTED
Want to Go? HOLY TRINITY EPISCOPAL CHURCH 120 Glendale School Road West Jefferson, N.C. (336) 982-3076 www.ashefrescoes.org
ST. MARY’S EPISCOPAL CHURCH 400 Beaver Creek School Road West Jefferson, N.C. (336) 982-3076 www.ashefrescoes.org
‘The Mystery of Faith’ fresco by Ben Long is featured on the wall of St. Mary’s Episcopal Church in West Jefferson. The church is also home to two other frescoes by Long.
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Left, BeanStalk Community Theatre performs ‘Disney’s Aladdin Jr.’ last August, based on the animated version of Disney’s classic, ‘Aladdin.’ PHOTOS SUBMITTED
Right, from left, Andrea McDonough, Terry Woolard, Wendy Jensen, Tom McDonough (standing) perform in BeanStalk’s ‘Dearly Departed’ performance this March.
Theater in the High Country Show-stopping theater takes back summer
BY SUZANNE CARTER
K
nown for the art, music and crafts filled with deep cultural roots, the High Country puts on just as enthusiastic and lively shows in the theater. Summer theater in the Blue Ridge Mountains takes the stage with mystical and comedic characters played by dedicated and talented performers working together to tell a story.
ENSEMBLE STAGE The Blowing Rock-based professional theater company, Ensemble Stage, presents five exciting Summer Main Stage season productions and two children’s theater productions. “The Love List,” “Killing Time,” “I Ought to Be in Pictures,” “Ears on a Beatle” and “And a Child Shall Lead” are Main Stage productions. “Voyages of Sinbad” and “The Princess and the Pea” are children’s theater productions. Go along with Bill, a perennial bachelor, to hire a gypsy to find his “ideal woman” from a list of the top 10 best qualities he wants in a mate in “The Love List” by Norm Foster. Show times are June 21 and 28 at 2 p.m. and June 20, 22, 23, 26, 27 at 7:30 p.m.
Meet a man and woman on stage that are part of some sinister plot by someone they don’t know and find out who the predator and the prey really are and what their “end game” might be in “Killing Time” by Richard Stockwell. Show times are July 11, 13, 14, 17, 18 at 7:30 p.m. and July 12 and 19 at 2 p.m. Herb, a Hollywood scriptwriter, gets another chance at fatherhood when part of his forgotten past reappears in his life in the form of Libby, a teenage daugh-
ter from Brooklyn, in “I Ought to Be in Pictures” by Neil Simon. Show times are Aug. 8, 10, 11, 14, 15 at 7:30 p.m. and Aug. 9 and 16 at 2 p.m. Travel with a veteran FBI agent and a new recruit to get John Lennon out of the country before Richard Nixon runs for reelection in 1972 in the humorous and thought-provoking play, “Ears on a Beatle” by Mark St. Germain. Show times are Aug. 29 and 31 at 7:30 p.m., Aug. 30 at 2 p.m., Sept. 1, 4, 5 at 7:30 p.m. and
Sept. 6 at 2 p.m. “And a Child Shall Lead” by Michael Slade is based on a true story, centering on eight children confined in Terezin Concentration Camp during the height of the Holocaust. Ensemble Stage is proud to bring this inspiring and moving play to the stage, where the story of fear turns into a story of resilience and eternal hope of the children. Performances will be July 24 and 25 at 7:30 p.m. and July 26 at 2 p.m. All Mainstage performances are $21 for adults, $19 for seniors, adults and military and $11 for kids, 16 and younger. Visit foreign lands in a creative version of the “Seven Voyages of Sinbad the Sailor” as he faces the giant Roc bird, the King of the Skeletons, Zughub the Ogre and the Old Man of the Sea in the comedic production, “Voyages of Sinbad.” Show times are June 26 and July 18 at 11 a.m. and are approximately one hour in length. All tickets are $6 at the door. Join a princess through hilarious tests with her fairy godmother with great humor in the production of “The Princess and the Pea.” Show times are July 4 and Aug. 1 at 11 a.m. and are approximately one hour in length. All tickets are $6 at SEE THEATER, PAGE 90
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THEATER FROM PAGE 89
the door. All performances will all be held at Blowing Rock School Auditorium, located at 160 Sunset Drive in downtown Blowing Rock. For more information, visit www.ensemblestage.com.
APPALACHIAN STATE UNIVERSITY An Appalachian Summer Festival puts on more than a dozen events and performances in dance, music, film and theater. Enjoy In/Visible Theatre’s production of “Without Words” July 24 and 25 at 8 p.m. at the Valborg Theatre on campus. This production shows how language is more than words. It is a true story of how Ildefonso, a 27-year-old Mexican Indian born deaf with no knowledge of sign language, learns to communicate with Susan, a sign language interpreter through dance, drama, sound and silence. For additional details and schedule information for An Appalachian Summer Festival, visit www.appsummer.org.
BEANSTALK COMMUNITY THEATER BeanStalk Community Theatre, performing in the High Country area since 2012, presents “Shrek the Musical.” Based on the popular animated film, Shrek, a green
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An Appalachian Summer Festival presents Brian Stokes Mitchell and the Winston-Salem Symphony on July 11 at 8 p.m. in the Schaefer Center.
ogre in a far away kingdom, finds his swamp full of dozens of fairytale misfits that were cast off by Lord Farquaad. See Shrek spring to life on stage, as he befriends a wisecracking donkey and sets off on a journey to rescue Princess Fiona from a dragon-guarded tower in order to reclaim his swamp from Lord Farquaad. BeanStalk Community Theatre, co-founded by creative director Amy Beane and executive director Andrea McDonough, produced one theatrical production the first year it opened. This year, BeanStalk will perform a total of five shows. As BeanStalk began to grow its performances, so did its cast. Adults play a big part in the performances, along with the kids. “Shrek the Musical” is familyfriendly and has humor for both kids and adults to enjoy. Show times are July 30 and 31 at 7 p.m. and Aug. 1 at 2 p.m. at Watauga High School, located at 300 Go Pioneers Drive in Boone. Tickets for “Shrek the Musical” go on sale July 1. To purchase tickets, or for more information, visit www. beanstalkcommunitytheatre.com/tickets.html.
ASHE LITTLE THEATER With the intent to enrich the cultural life of the region, Ashe Little Theater presents the productions of “The Wiz” and “Dixie Swim Club” to stage. Travel down the Yellow Brick Road with Dorothy and her dog, Toto, in the Land of Oz to see the wizard at the Ashe Civic Center in “The Wiz,” the musical version of “The Wonderful Wizard of Oz.” “The Wiz” hits the summer stage June 25 to 27 and 29
at 7:30 p.m. and June 28 at 2 p.m. “Dixie Swim Club” is a hilarious and touching comedy about friendship that lasts forever between five Southern women whose friendship began when they were teammates on the same swim team in college. Experience the different challenges each woman faces over 33 years of friendship including men, sex, parenting, divorce and aging. Show times are Aug. 27 to 29 at 7:30 p.m. and Aug. 30 at 2 p.m. at the Ashe Civic Center. All tickets cost $16 for adults and $5 for students. The Ashe Civic Center is located at 962 Mt. Jefferson Road, West Jefferson. For more information or to purchase tickets, visit www.ashecountyarts.org.
WILKES PLAYMAKERS Annually, the Wilkesboro-based Wilkes Playmakers present a dramatization of the legendary tale of Tom Dooley. According to director Karen Wheeling-Reynolds, “This is the dramatization of the well-known 1868 Wilkes County love triangle that resulted in the murder of Laura Foster and the subsequent hanging of Tom Dula (pronounced Dooley). Folklore and legend feel that he confessed to the murder to protect his true love, Anne Melton.” For the play, Wheeling-Reynolds said audiences will also be treated to local musicians singing and playing acoustic instruments, along with some Appalachian square-dancing. Dates have yet to be set for this year’s production, but updates and more information can be found at www. wilkesplaymakers.com.
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Window World
Concerts on the Deck presents
‘Horn in the West’ brings Blue Ridge history to life
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In Downtown North Wilkesboro’s Yadkin Valley Marketplace 700 CBD Loop
May 16 Too Much Sylvia June 20 Jim Quick & Coastline July 18 Beach Music & Vettes w/ The Embers & Craig Woolard August 15 Band of Oz September 19 Shine to Wine Fest with Mark Roberts starts at 2pm October 17 The Holiday Band
Every third Saturday May-October from 6pm-10pm FREE Admission Bring lawn chairs and dancing shoes Concessions sold at all events, no coolers
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2015
Boone’s celebrated outdoor drama, ‘Horn in the West,’ has brought Blue Ridge history to life since 1952. PHOTOS BY GREG WILLIAMS
istory comes alive in Boone’s celebrated outdoor drama, “Horn in the West.” Running all summer at the scenic outdoor Daniel Boone Amphitheater, “Horn in the West” presents the captivating story of the hardy pioneers who settled this area before the Revolutionary War, eventually facing the British army at King’s Mountain and changing the course of the revolution. The production, produced by the Southern Appalachian Historical Association (SAHA), features 45 professional and university actors, including singers, dancers, stage combatants, designers and technicians from Boone and the southeastern region, along with local children and teens. “For young and old alike, the show teaches about this important national history and entertains at the same time,” SAHA’s Greg Williams said. “If you have SEE HORN, PAGE 108
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2015
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Located in the heart of the Blue Ridge Mountains. Beautiful scenery and cool temperatures in the summer.
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GOLF
PAGE 95
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Public Courses BOONE GOLF CLUB 18 holes over 6,680 yards with a par of 71 433 Fairway Drive Boone, N.C. 28607 (828) 264-8760
MOUNTAIN AIRE GOLF CLUB 18 holes over 6,404 yards with a par of 72 1104 Golf Course Road West Jefferson, N.C. 28694 (336) 877-4716
MOUNTAIN GLEN GOLF CLUB 18 holes over 6,723 yards with a par of 72 1 Club House Drive
MOUNTAINEER GOLF CENTER (DRIVING RANGE) 115 Beverly Heights Ave. Boone, N.C. 28607 (828) 264-6830
REDTAIL MOUNTAIN 18 holes over 6,884 yards with a par of 72 300 Clubhouse Lane Mountain City, Tenn. (423) 727-7931
SUGAR MOUNTAIN GOLF COURSE 18 holes over 4,560 yards with a par of 64 1054 Sugar Mountain Drive Sugar Mountain, N.C. 28604 (828) 898-6464
WILLOW CREEK GOLF COURSE 9 holes over 1,663 yards with a par of 27 354 Bairds Creek Road Vilas, N.C. 28692 (828) 963-6865 The northwest corner of North Carolina offers several choices and levels of play, from the novice to the expert.
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‘The Denim King’ comes to life Aug. 1 at LMC Summer Theatre.
2015
LMC Summer Theatre presents ‘Oliver!’ June 26.
Summer on Stage in Banner Elk Lees-McRae College Summer Theatre presents trio of must-see productions BY JAMIE SHELL
For any fan of the fine arts, required viewing during the summer months must include visits to Lees-McRae College’s Hayes Auditorium during its Summer Theatre series. Since its first production hit the stage in the summer of 1985, LMC Summer Theatre has exposed viewers to a vast array of the best actors, producers and musicals and plays the world has to offer. LMCST is committed to producing quality theater experiences, serving audiences who view the productions, students who are training in their craft and the High
Country community as collaborators for the betterment of the area. Since LMCST’s inception, summer in the North Carolina mountains suggests wonderful opportunities to bring communities together, and perhaps there is no better fashion to accomplish this goal than through theater. “Our heritage, our commitment to the ideals of art and humanity, and our great attention to the heart have made our work special,” LMCST artistic director and professor emeritus Janet Speer said. “We may not have the bells and whistles, but we will always have the heart.” Performances coming to the stage this
summer include a classic musical, a comedic farce and a locally inspired production. LMCST officially raises its curtain with the musical production, “Oliver!,” coming to Hayes Auditorium Friday, June 26. The beloved musical, based on Charles Dickens’ “Oliver Twist,” has won numerous awards, including the Tony for Best Musical and Academy Award for Best Picture. Set in the 19th century, Dickens makes important social statements about the conditions of poverty in London, yet does it with comedy, empathy and the everpresent sense of hope. The production is family-friendly one Speer said all will enjoy.
“We have a group of almost 50 local children in the production from around Avery County and the region, ranging from 5-years-old to teenagers,” she said. “It’s a production that connects with both children and adults. Poverty is still a world issue, and it’s good for us to shed light on that. There are great pieces of music in the musical, with a cast of almost 70 people. This will be the most people we will ever have on stage for a Summer Theatre production.” Skyline/Skybest Communications is sponsoring this summer’s production of SEE LMC THEATRE, PAGE 97
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SUMMER TIMES
Lees-McRae College Summer Theatre presents ‘Lend Me a Tenor,’ opening July 15.
LMC THEATRE FROM PAGE 96
“Oliver!” LMCST brings to the stage the hilarious comedy, “Lend Me a Tenor,” beginning Wednesday, July 15. Called “one of two great farces by a living writer” by The New York Times, “Lend Me a Tenor” is the story of famous opera star Tito Morelli, who is slated to perform Otello, but is given tranquilizers so the manager has to find someone else to play his role. Once Tito awakens, two “Otellos,” two women in lingerie who think they are Tito’s lovers and the manager find themselves in one mishap after another. The comedy is sure to provide more than its fair share of laughter and is suitable for children. “’Lend Me a Tenor’ is just a great comedic farce that is full of laughs,” Speer said. “There is a lot of action surrounding Tito, and it’s a hilarious story to see unfold.” LMCST concludes its season with performances of “The Denim King,” beginning Saturday, Aug. 1. The musical was produced at the now defunt Blowing Rock Stage Company and became the group’s best-attended produc-
tion. LMC is partnering with sponsors Blue Ridge Parkway Foundation and Well-Spring Retirement Community to produce the story of how Moses Cone and his brother, Ceasar, developed textiles in the South after the Civil War — particularly denim. “I wanted to direct this production, and it’s been enough years we felt we could do it here,” Speer said. “The composer and I have worked on a couple of new songs and tightened up the script after more research. It’s just a compelling story. I’m really excited about bringing this show to Summer Theatre, and it’s such an interesting story in our own backyard.” For complete show times and more information, visit www.lmc.edu/summertheatre. Tickets for LMCST productions range from $35 to $40 for adults and $18 to $20 for students. Visit the Hayes Auditorium box office to purchase tickets (box office opens June 17), or tickets can be purchased online by visiting www.lmc.edu/summertheatre. For season-ticket sales, call (828) 898-8721. Sponsors of LMCST include BB&T, Banner Elk Tourism Development Authority and the Village of Sugar Mountain.
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Appalachian Summer highlights the arts Lineup includes Beach Boys, David Grisman, Kacey Musgraves, Lisa Fischer and more BY FRANK RUGGIERO
Lush greenery, pleasant temperatures, mountain splendor and a highly regarded, multi-disciplinary arts festival named one of the Top 20 Events in the Southeast — the hallmarks of a High Country summer. The latter — Appalachian State University’s An Appalachian Summer Festival — returns for its 31st season, packing a year’s worth of entertainment into roughly one month. Tickets are now on sale for a lineup that includes pop legends The Beach Boys, acoustic icon David Grisman, country star Kacey Musgraves, Grammywinning vocalist Lisa Fischer, Broadway luminary Brian Stokes Mitchell and much more. “We’re excited about this year’s programming mix, which features the blend of artistic disciplines that has always defined App Summer,” said Denise Ringler, director of ASU’s Office of Arts & Cultural Programs. “The festival strives to present a balance of artists who are well-known, along with names that may be new or unfamiliar to our audiences, but who are sure to provide memorable experiences.” Anna Gaugert, director of marketing and public relations, agrees. “A lot of these performers have been in the business forever and have really perfected their talent and business in general,” she said. “I think they’re going to bring a level of professionalism this year that will just wow the audience.” As an example, she mentioned Brian Stokes Mitchell, who will perform “An Evening of Broadway” with the WinstonSalem Symphony on Saturday, July 11, at the Schaefer Center. “He has been on Broadway forever, on film, television, and The New York Times called him ‘the last leading man on Broadway,’” Gaugert said. David Grisman is another case in point. Nicknamed “Dawg” by a close friend, the late Jerry Garcia, Grisman de-
veloped “Dawg Music,” a unique fusion of Americana and acoustic jazz that he’ll bring to the Schaefer stage on Friday, July 17, with the David Grisman Sextet. “He’s such a pioneer for his kind of music,” Gaugert said. “He’s a pioneer in not only bluegrass, but he has that Grateful Dead connection, so I think he can connect with younger audiences, as well as older audiences who knew him back in the day.” Opening for Grisman and likely joining him for some numbers is the Bryan Sutton Band, led by IBMA Guitarist of the Year and Asheville native Bryan Sutton. Living legends The Beach Boys take the Holmes Center stage Saturday, July 18, “so it’s going to be a fun time in there,” Gaugert said. The band’s current makeup includes founding member Mike Love and Beach Boys veteran Bruce Johnston, and Gaugert said the concert would help celebrate the band’s 50th anniversary of making timeless music. “To continue the theme of having really great musicians, we’ll also have Lisa Fischer,” Gaugert said. Vocalist and songwriter Fischer will perform Thursday, July 23, at the Schaefer Center. Although she’s performed as a back-up singer for the likes of The Rolling Stones, Tina Turner, Sting and Luther Vandross, Fischer also launched a celebrated solo career, even taking home a Grammy for Best Female R&B Performance for her hit single, “How Can I Ease the Pain.” Postmodern Jukebox will make its App Summer debut on Friday, July 31, at the Schaefer Center. The band, essentially a swing orchestra, specializes in adapting modern pop into swing era classics. “Scott Bradlee, the bandleader, said he wants to hear a song a certain way, and he’s going to do it that way,” Gaugert said. Examples include Miley Cyrus’s “We Can’t Stop” done doo-wop style, a jazzy SEE APP SUMMER, PAGE 99
2015
2015 FESTIVAL SEASON Kacey Musgraves will perform at An Appalachian Summer Festival’s Outdoor Fireworks Concert June 27.
PERFORMING ARTS Kacey Musgraves: Saturday, June 27, 7:30 p.m., Kidd Brewer Stadium Broyhill Chamber Ensemble: July 7, 9, 21 and 30, 8 p.m., Rosen Concert Hall Parsons Dance: Friday, July 10, 8 p.m., Schaefer Center An Evening of Broadway: Brian Stokes Mitchell with the Winston-Salem Symphony, Saturday, July 11, 8 p.m., Schaefer Center for the Performing Arts Eastern Festival Orchestra with Awadagin Pratt, piano, featuring harpist Amber Carpenter, winner of the 2014 RosenSchaffel Competition for Young and Emerging Artists: Sunday, July 12, 4 p.m., Schaefer Center The David Grisman Sextet with special guests Bryan Sutton Band: Friday, July 17, 8 p.m., Schaefer Center The Beach Boys: Saturday, July 18, 8 p.m., Holmes Convocation Center Rosen-Schaffel Competition for Young and Emerging Artists: Sunday, July 19, 1 p.m., Schaefer Center “Twenty Feet from Stardom’s” Lisa Fischer & Grand Baton: Thursday, July 23, 8 p.m., Schaefer Center Postmodern Jukebox: Friday, July 31, 8 p.m., Schaefer Center In/Visible Theatre presents “Without Words”: Friday and Saturday, July 24 and 25, 8 p.m.,
Valborg Theatre
FILM SERIES “Pride” (2014): Wednesday, July 1, 7 p.m., Schaefer Center “GETT: The Trial of Viviane Amsalem” (2014): Wednesday, July 8, 7 p.m., Schaefer Center “The Hunt” (2013): Wednesday, July 15, 7 p.m., Schaefer Center “Twenty Feet from Stardom” (2013): Wednesday, July 22, 7 p.m., Schaefer Center “Valley of the Saints” (2012): Wednesday, July 29, 7 p.m., Schaefer Center “Reaching for the Moon” (2013): Wednesday, Aug. 19, 7 p.m., Schaefer Center “Oranges and Sunshine” (2010): Wednesday, Aug. 26, 7 p.m., Schaefer Center
VISUAL ARTS TCVA Summer Exhibition Opening — “STREAM: Razi Projects, the Collaborations of Suzi Davidoff and Rachelle Thiewes,” Friday, July 3, 6 to 10 p.m., Turchin Center for the Visual Arts 29th Rosen Outdoor Sculpture Walk, Saturday, July 25, 10 a.m., Schaefer Center Lunch and Learn Lectures — Wednesdays, July 8, 15, 22 and 29, noon, TCVA Lecture Hall Workshops for Kids, Older Teens and Adults — Throughout the month of July, schedule available at www.tcva.org/workshops
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The David Grisman Sextet will perform Friday, July 17, at Appalachian State. PHOTOS SUBMITTED
APP SUMMER FROM PAGE 98
version of Carly Rae Jepsen’s “Call Me Maybe,” a vintage take on M.I.A.’s “Paper Planes” and more, available online at www.youtube.com/user/ScottBradleeLovesYa. Pop country star Kacey Musgraves will kick off the summer festival Saturday, June 27, at Kidd Brewer Stadium for the festival’s fan-favorite Outdoor Fireworks Concert. “She’s really fun,” Gaugert said. “She sang with Loretta Lynn at last year’s CMAs and is a true country singer, writing her songs and treasuring the country gold kind of artists. But then she’s also really new and has good, fresh ideas. She won a Grammy for her first album, and her second album is coming out fairly soon. “As always, the outdoor concerts are really fun, and it’s going to bring a good element to the season.” Other festival highlights include Parsons Dance on July 10 and Boonebased In/Visible Theatre’s production of “Without Words” July 24 and 25. “With In/Visible Theatre, we thought we’d go local this year,” Gaugert said. “The play is about someone born deaf who never learned sign language and has lived on the fringes of society because of this. An interpreter finds him and tries
to help him learn how to communicate. So, In/Visible will use dance, drama, sound and even silence as a way to tell the story.” As always, the festival features a classic music component, with performances from the Broyhill Chamber Ensemble and Eastern Festival Orchestra with pianist Awadagin Pratt and harpist Amber Carpenter. Visual arts programming returns to the Turchin Center for the Visual Arts, while the 29th Rosen Outdoor Sculpture Walk will hit campus. In addition, the festival has expanded its annual Global Film Series. According to Ringler, whether it’s in a concert hall, under a firework-lit sky or in an art gallery, Appalachian Summer’s offerings are a perfect match for the festival’s audience. “Performing and visual artists seek out the High Country,” she said, “not only because it’s one of the most beautiful places on Earth, but because of the wonderful mix of residents and visitors that extends such a warm and enthusiastic welcome to them each summer.”
TICKETS Ticket prices range between $5 and $50 and are available by visiting www. appsummer.org or by calling the Schaefer Center box office at (828) 262-4046. For more information, visit www.appsummer.org.
Parsons Dance will take the stage Friday, July 10, at ASU’s Schaefer Center. PHOTO BY LOIS GREENFIELD
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Welcome to Ashe County Cheese Ashe County Cheese is Carolina’s oldest cheese plant, producing quality cheese since 1930. We are located in the picturesque Blue Ridge Mountains. Watch the fascinating process of cheese making from our viewing area (check cheese making schedule) and visit our cheese and gift shop. We sell over 20 varieties of original Ashe County Cheese as well as our own county butter, homemade fudge and everyone’s favorite, fresh variety of gifts, souvenirs and old fashioned snacks and candies.
Boone’s own Swing Guitars perform on the porch at the Jones House Community Center in downtown Boone, as part of the center’s summer concert series. Free concerts are held every Friday afternoon during the summer months. PHOTO SUBMITTED
Sounds of the
Blue Ridge Summer offers opportunities for outdoor live music BY ERIKA GIOVANETTI
Cheese Making Days & Events The Ashe County Cheese viewing room is open year round at no charge. Our cheese making schedule changes from week to week, so be sure to check our cheese making schedule or call ahead and we’ll do our best to tell you when we are making. Bus Groups Welcome • Handicap Accessible • Clean Restrooms
106 E Main St • West Jefferson, NC 28694 • 336.246.2501 • 800.445.1378 www.ashecountycheese.com • info@ashecountycheese.com Insta
T
he High Country is known for preserving the traditions of Appalachian music, such as old-time mountain music and bluegrass. Home to such mountain music legends such as Doc Watson and renowned luthier Wayne Henderson, the Blue Ridge Mountains are a hub for the sounds of the Blue Ridge. However, fiddling isn’t the sole identifier of the High Country music scene. The quaint college town of Boone has bred a number of bands of various genres, from alternative rock groups to fiddling duos. Over the summer, the Blue Ridge’s balmy days and pleasant nights paint a picturesque scene for enjoying live outdoor music. Here are some opportunities to catch live tunes in the High Country this summer.
• MUSIC IN THE VALLE May 22 to Sept. 11
The Music in the Valle Concert Series at Valle Crucis Community Park runs each Friday evening May 22 through Sept. 11. The lineup includes such acts as Tellico, Grits & Soul, Rescue Jack, Letters to Abigail, The Swing Set, The Worthless Son-in-Laws and The Lucky Strikes Classic Jazz Band. Concerts begin at 7 p.m. May 22 to Aug. 14 and 6:30 p.m. Aug. 21 to Sept. 11. Admission is free, but a $5 donation to the park per person is recommended. Bring a chair or a blanket and a picnic, as food generally is not available for sale. For more information, including a complete lineup, visit www.vallecrucispark. com/music-in-the-valle-2015/.
• JONES HOUSE COMMUNITY CENTER June 5 to Aug. 28 Seated at the heart of downtown Boone, the Jones House Community Center is an ideal place for many community gatherings. On Friday evenings during the SEE SOUNDS, PAGE 102
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• Extensive Wine List • Adjacent Tap Room with Billiards & Games • Large Selection of Craft Beers • Patio Dining Available, • All ABC Permits Leashed Dogs Welcome • Daily Culinary & Beverage Specials • 12 Rotating Taps to Include a • Large Parties Welcome Large Selection of Local Beers • Reservations Accepted
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Live Dining Music Every Thursday 6-9 p.m. 970 Rivers Street, Boone, NC 828-264-7772 • www.CafePortofino.net Follow us on Facebook & stay up to date on special events and daily specials!
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SOUNDS FROM PAGE 100 summer, the Outdoor Summer Concert Series on the Jones House Lawn provides free entertainment. Every week, artists from the High Country and beyond gather at the Jones House to play for the whole community. Bluesy jazz band The Lazybirds kicks off the series on June 5, paving the way for other musical guests, such as Boone’s own Todd Wright, Soul Benefactor, Maureen Renihan and Strictly Strings. Concertgoers are encouraged to bring their own blankets or lawn chairs to sit on the outdoors Jones House lawn. The concerts begin at 5 p.m., except on Doc Watson Day (June 19), when the celebration starts at 4 p.m. For more information, and for a full schedule of the 2015 concert series, visit www.joneshouse.org, or call (828) 2686280.
• MUSIC ON THE LAWN AT RAGGED GARDENS May through October A hidden gem in the historic village of Blowing Rock, The Inn at Ragged Gardens (203 Sunset Drive) is an enchant-
ing early-1900s manor featuring an acre of gardens and outdoor space ideal for a summer getaway. Visitors and locals alike are welcome to enjoy the scenic grounds free of charge at the Music on the Lawn concerts, a weekly celebration held every Friday from May to October, weather permitting. Music on the Lawn features live music from a different band many week, with many of the performers being of local origin, such as Soul Benefactor, The Lucky Strikes Classic Jazz Band and The Harris Brothers. Performances are from 5:30 until 8:30 p.m. Concertgoers are encouraged to bring a lawn chair or blanket and to arrive early to secure a spot on the lawn. A cash bar and lawn menu are available. No pets, coolers or outside food are permitted. Each week, a local nonprofit organization is featured to educate the public about the charity work done in the area. For more information, and for a full concert schedule, visit www.raggedgardens.com/music-on-the-lawn.
SEE SOUNDS, PAGE 103
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SOUNDS FROM PAGE 102
• MUSIC ON THE VERANDA Sundays Blowing Rock’s historic Green Park Inn hosts Music on the Veranda from 5 to 8 p.m. every Sunday through summer. Green Park Inn is located at 9239 Valley Blvd. in Blowing Rock. For more information, visit www. greenparkinn.com.
• MUSICFEST ’N SUGAR GROVE July 10 and 11 The Doc & Rosa Lee Watson MusicFest ’n Sugar Grove is a celebration of the sounds of the High Country, focusing on Appalachian music and cultural heritage. To honor the traditions of old-time mountain music and more, bands that keep Appalachian music alive headline the event. This year, musical performances by The Krüger Brothers, Doyle Lawson & Quicksilver, the Snyder Family Band, Town Mountain, Strictly Strings and more are to be expected. Single day prices are $20 for Friday, $25 for Saturday and $55 for two-day reserved seats. Children 12 and younger
are admitted free. MusicFest takes place at the Historic Cove Creek School at 207 Dale Adams Road in Sugar Grove. Proceeds from the event benefit the Doc and Merle Watson Folk Art Museum on site. For more information, visit www. musicfestnsugargrove.org.
• SYMPHONY BY THE LAKE July 24 The perennially popular Symphony by the Lake will take place July 24 at Chetola Resort in Blowing Rock. Spend an evening under the stars by Chetola Lake with the Symphony of the Mountains. This annual outdoor concert on Chetola Resort’s sweeping lawn is one of the pinnacle events of Blowing Rock’s summer season. A fireworks display caps off the evening. Gates open at 5:30 p.m., opening bands begin at 5:45 p.m., and the symphony begins at 7:30 p.m. For tickets and meal options, call (828) 295-7851, or visit www.symphonybythelake.com.
• ASHE COUNTY BLUEGRASS & OLD-TIME FIDDLERS’ CONVENTION July 24 to 25
Restaurant & Music Venue
Competition has never sounded so good. Returning for its 46th year Friday and Saturday, July 24 and 25, the Ashe County Bluegrass and Old-Time Fiddlers’ Convention invites locals and visitors alike to enjoy — or even compete in — one of the High Country’s largest jam sessions. This weekend of live music features some $4,350 in prize money to be awarded in 22 adult and youth categories and includes vendors, concessions, informal jam sessions and more. Proceeds benefit the Junior Appalachian Musicians program. For more information, visit www. ashefiddlersconvention.org.
• OLA BELLE REED FEST Aug. 7 to 8 Lansing’s Ola Belle Reed Music Festival acts as an opportunity to celebrate the life and music of High Country born country singer Old Belle Campbell Reed. Performances by Wayne Henderson, Whitetop Mountain Band, Terry Baucom and the Dukes of Drive and more highlight the event, celebrating the Blue Ridge music culture. The festival is held at the Lansing Creeper Trail Park, located on N.C. 194
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North behind the Fire Department. Tickets are $10 on Friday, $20 on Saturday, or purchase an early bird two-day ticket for $25 through June 30. For more information, visit www. olabellefest.com.
• THE MUSIC FEST AT BLUE BEAR MOUNTAIN Sept. 11 to 13 Making its debut in 2014, the Music Fest at Blue Bear Mountain celebrates music new and old of the mountains of Western North Carolina. Though the full schedule has yet to be released, festivalgoers can expect to see regional bands Acoustic Syndicate, the Jeff Little Trio, Dr. Bacon, the Carter Brothers, Mel Jones and more. Like many other music festivals, the Music Fest at Blue Bear Mountain encourages camping on its 155 acres of grounds and offers free camping Thursday night with the purchase of a weekend camping pass. The festival takes place at the Blue Bear Mountain Campground (196 Blue Bear Mountain Road) in Todd. For more information, visit www. musicfestatbluebearmountain.com.
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2015
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never seen ‘Horn in the West,’ make sure you do this summer. If you’ve seen it before, this is your summer to come back.” “Horn in the West” has delighted audiences under the evening skies since 1952 and is the nation’s oldest Revolutionary War outdoor drama. Along with fictional characters, the story follows the legendary Daniel Boone and other historical figures, including Nancy Ward, the “Cherokee Beloved Woman” who lived near Matney, and her cousin, the Cherokee war chief Dragging Canoe. Playwright Kermit Hunter’s script underwent a major rewrite last year, complete with a brand new scene conceived by the Hickory Ridge Living History Museum curator — and Daniel Boone descendent — Dave Davis. Last summer’s audience raved about the changes, saying it was easier to follow and more dramatic. Audiences also appreciated the overhaul to the sound system and dozens of new costumes created over the last five years. This summer will bring additional improvements in sound, along with lighting upgrades, bigger battles and more fire. “Horn in the West” runs June 26
through Aug. 15. The amphitheater is located in the heart of Boone at 591 Horn in the West Drive. Visit www.horninthewest.com to order tickets, plan for dinner on the grounds before the show, reserve a backstage tour or learn about special events.
HICKORY RIDGE LIVING HISTORY MUSEUM A visit to the Hickory Ridge Living History Museum makes a fitting preamble to seeing the show. Visitors may tour historic log cabins and learn from costumed re-enactors about life in the mountains in the 18th and 19th centuries. Hickory Ridge is open this year from May 2 through Oct. 31 on Saturday mornings, every evening at 5:30 p.m. before Horn in the West performances and by appointment for groups. Group tours can enjoy demonstrations and participate in craft projects tailored to suit them. The museum regularly hosts groups of school children, seniors, college students, photographers and videographers. To learn more, visit www. hickoryridge.com. For more information about both “Horn in the West” and Hickory Ridge Living History Museum, call (828) 2642120, or visit www.horninthewest.com.
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Your Summer Times Calendar MAY 23 RACING: The Mountain View Speedway takes place at High Country Fairgrounds, 748 Roby Green Road, Boone. After 17 years, racing has returned to the High Country Fairgrounds with an evening of full-fendered door-to-door racing. Pit gates open at 3 p.m., front gates open for fans at 5 p.m., and racing begins at 6 p.m. Admission charged. For more information, visit www.mountainviewspeedway.com. Grassroots racing will happen on most Saturday nights through October, including May 30; June 6, 13, 20 and 27; July 1, 8, 11, 15, 18 and 25; and Aug. 8, 15, 21 and 29. “BARNEY FIFE”: The Ashe Civic Center is hosting Michael J. as Barney Fife at 7 p.m. May 23. All proceeds will go to LIFE Village, a village being developed for adults with autism by KAMPN Inc. For more information, contact the Ashe Civic Center at (336) 246-4483, www. ashevicic.com or www.kampn4autism. appstate.edu. POETRY: A Night of the Spoken Word will be held at 7:30 p.m. May 23 at the Ashe Civic Center in West Jefferson. It is an evening of poetry, stories and prose by local writers. Admission is free. For more information, visit http://ashecountyarts. org.
MAY 25 COLOR BLAST 5K: Hospitality House and Welcome Home Thriftique will be hosting the second annual Color Blast 5K Run/Walk on May 25 to raise funds, awareness and support for individuals and families in the community. The 5K will begin at 5 p.m. at the Boone Greenway Trail at Clawson-Burnley Park in Boone. A “Fun Run” will be held at 6:30 p.m. for children younger than 10 to run a lap on the dirt track through clouds of color. The cost is $5 and kids can sign up at the event with parental assistance. On-site registration will begin at 4 p.m. Food donation bins for canned goods, boxed goods and dry goods, like coffee, sugar, tea and bread, will be located at
the picnic shelters beside the start and finish of the race.
MAY 29 CONCERTS: The Backstreet Park Concert Series begins on May 29 and will be held from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. at the Backstreet Park in West Jefferson. Admission is free. Enjoy the sounds of traditional, old-time and bluegrass music. The summer concert series is held every third and fourth Friday through August. Bring a chair, blanket or picnic. Rain location will be held at the Farmer’s Market or the Ashe Arts Center. For more information, visit www.visitwestjefferson.org.
MAY 30 EMERGENCY FEST: Emergency Fest will be sponsored by the Watauga County Fire Fighter’s Association and is open to the public. The event will be held from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. May 30 at the Peacock (formerly Raley) lot off Rivers Street in Boone. The event is an educational and fun event for children and adults. Some of the activities include a bounce house, children’s bike rodeo, scavenger hunt, live house burn and various law enforcement demonstrations. Weather permitting, there will be medical helicopter display. There will be fire trucks, ambulances, forest service tools and many types of law enforcement vehicles and equipment on exhibit. There will be a bomb disposal demonstration and an automobile extraction. There will also be a fire extinguisher display where the public can put out a fire. Boone and Foscoe fire departments will also demonstrate a live fire in a house. For more information, contact Jim Landis at jdl0911@yahoo. com, or call (828) 406-0911.
MAY 31 ASHE EMPTY BOWLS: The first Ashe County Empty Bowls will be held from 12:30 p.m. to 3 p.m. May 31 at Ashe County High School. The event is in memory of Lt. Col. Bud Honeycutt. All proceeds will go to the Ashe County Sharing Center. There is a minimum
$25 donation. The event will include soup, bread, desserts, silent auction and live music. For more information, email ashecountyemptybowls@gmail.com, or call the Ashe County Sharing Center at (336) 846-7019.
JUNE 1 RHODODENDRON RAMBLE: The Remarkable Rhododendron Ramble will be held June 1 to 14 at Grandfather Mountain, 2050 Blowing Rock Highway, Linville. Join in special programs designed to help visitors get the most out of the memorable sight of Catawba rhododendron blooming on the mountain’s slopes in early summer. Staff naturalists offer programs and guided walks daily at 1 p.m. June 1 to 14. All events are included in the price of admission.
JUNE 4
sounds of traditional, old-time and bluegrass music. The summer concert series is held every third and fourth Friday through August. Bring a chair, blanket or picnic. Rain location will be held at the Farmer’s Market or the Ashe Arts Center. For more information, visit www.visitwestjefferson.org.
JUNE 6 STREET DANCE: A free street dance at Beech Mountain Town Hall will be held June 6. Dancers and non-dancers alike can enjoy the old-fashioned street dances. A sand dance floor is made in the parking lot in front of town hall and chairs are set out for spectators. Music is provided by a DJ or small local band. Dances take place from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. For more information, email chamber@ beechmtn.com, call (828) 387-or visit www.beechmtn.com.
TASTE OF AVERY: The Avery County Chamber of Commerce will present a Taste of Avery from 6 to 8:30 p.m. June 4 at the Best Western in Banner Elk. Enjoy samplings from more than 16 of Avery County’s finest restaurants. Contact the Avery County Chamber Office at (828) 898-5605 to purchase advance tickets, or stop by the chamber office located in the Shoppes of Tynecastle at the intersection of N.C. 184 and N.C. 105. Admission is $25 in advance or $30 at the door.
HUMANE SOCIETY SALE: The Watauga County Humane Society will hold a rummage/yard sale in Blowing Rock beginning at 7 a.m. June 6. The sale will be at the Hartleys’ House, next to Bistro Roca on Wonderland Trail, and will be manned by Watauga High School volunteers. Donations for the sale can be dropped off at any time at the carport of Alice Roess, located at 241 Wonderland Trail (four houses past Bistro Roca on the left). For more information, call Roess at (828) 295-7384.
JUNE 5
JUNE 7
ART CRAWL: Downtown Boone hosts its monthly First Friday Art Crawl, in which downtown galleries and businesses open their doors and stay open in late in celebration of art and community. Times vary, depending on participating businesses, but crawls typically run from 6 to 8:30 p.m. Refreshments and live music are often served. For more information, visit downtownboonenc.com.
JAZZ SOCIETY: The Blowing Rock Jazz Society offers jazz concerts every second Sunday of each month from April through October. Concerts are hosted at the Meadowbrook Inn, Blowing Rock. Call the hotel at (828) 295-4300 for reservations or plan to arrive early for best seating. Concerts and guests include Keith Davis Trio June 7; Larry Lapin with Michelle Amato July 19 (Note: This concert is the third Sunday of the month); Noel Freidline Aug. 9; Brazilian Romance Jazz featuring Todd Wright,
CONCERTS: The Backstreet Park Concert Series takes place from 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. at the Backstreet Park in West Jefferson. Admission is free. Enjoy the
SEE CALENDAR, PAGE 110
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CALENDAR FROM PAGE 109 Welson Tremura and Keith McCutchen Sept. 13; and ASU Jazz Ensemble I Oct. 11. Concerts begin at 7 p.m. Admission is $20 for nonmembers, $5 for students. BRJS members are admitted free. A preset dinner menu is available via reservation.
JUNE 12 ART: The Ashe County Arts Council will sponsor an opening reception for the Shadow of the Hills on June 12 at the Ashe Arts Center in honor of an annual exhibit by the Blue Ridge Art Clan June 10 through July 4. GALLERY CRAWL: The Ashe County Arts Council will sponsor a Gallery Crawl from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. June 12 in downtown West Jefferson. There are 11 galleries, shops, restaurants and more. For the June crawl, there will be new gallery exhibits, special artists, refreshments and in-store promotions. The crawl begins at 5 p.m.
JUNE 13 RIVERFEST: The 2015 Watauga RiverFest will be held from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. June 13 at Valle Crucis Community Park, 2892 Broadstone Road, Valle Crucis. RiverFest celebrates the Watauga River and the High Country’s natural resources The event will be free and open to the public. In its 15th year, RiverFest will feature educational activities and demonstrations. There will be hands-on activities and information for both youth and adults. Events include old-fashioned hayrides in the fish mobile, a fingersin-the-creek activity where children can hunt for Mandy the Mayfly, a trip through the 50-foot water cycle obstacle course and a watermelon-eating contest. Kids can join in the Krazy Kazoo band concert, get their face painted, have their pictures taken as fish and visit with goats and alpacas. All games at the festival will have prizes, which can be taken home. For more information, visit http:// wataugariverpartners.org/riverfest/. MILE HIGH YARD SALE: A Mile High Community Yard Sale will be held at the Beech Mountain town kite field from 8 a.m. to noon June 13 at the field next
to the Brick Oven on Beech Mountain. Table spaces are $10 each; bring your own table. For more information, email chamber@beechmtn.com, or visit www. beechmtn.com. ART IN THE PARK: The outdoor art show, Art in the Park, will be held at the Blowing Rock American Legion Grounds, 333 Wallingford Road, Blowing Rock, June 13. The show features more than 90 artists. Admission is free. The season shows also include July 18, Aug. 15, Sept. 12 and Oct. 3. For more information, email terri@blowingrock.com, call (828) 295-7851, or visit www.blowingrock. com/artinthepark.
at Beech Mountain Town Hall will be held June 20. Dancers and non-dancers alike can enjoy the old-fashioned street dances. A sand dance floor is made in the parking lot in front of town hall and chairs are set out for spectators. Music is provided by a DJ or small local band. Dances take place from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. For more information, email chamber@ beechmtn.com, or visit www.beechmtn. com.
JUNE 25
FEAST: The Ashe County Arts Council will sponsor A Feast for the Arts Gala at 8 p.m. June 13 at the Ashe Arts Center featuring wine and desserts. The evening benefits the arts. To purchase tickets, call (336) 846-2787, or stop by the Ashe Arts Center in West Jefferson.
TROLLEY TOURS: The High Country Trolley Tour will be held from 11:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. June 25, July 23 and Aug. 27. The trolley will load in the Avery County Chamber of Commerce parking lot. Seating is limited to 33; the cost is $55 per person. The tour trolley ride, lunch, visit to local art galleries, attractions and local wineries. For more information, call (828) 898-5605, or visit averycounty. com.
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JUNE 26
ELVIS TRIBUTE: A Spirit of Elvis Valentine’s Day Show with Jimmy W. Johnson will be held June 20 at the Blue Ridge Dinner Theater. Tickets are $30 preordered, $35 day of the show. Buffet opens at 5 p.m., show begins at when everyone is finished eating. Call for tickets, (336) 246-2900. Tickets include both the buffet and the show.
CONCERTS: The Backstreet Park Concert Series takes place from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. at the Backstreet Park in West Jefferson. Admission is free. Enjoy the sounds of traditional, old-time and bluegrass music. The summer concert series is held every third and fourth Friday through August. Bring a chair, blanket or picnic. Rain location will be held at the farmers’ market or the Ashe Arts Center. For more information, visit www.visitwestjefferson.org.
CONCERTS: Each Sunday after Art in the Park from May through September, bring a chair or blanket and enjoy free entertainment at the gazebo in Memorial Park off Main Street in Blowing Rock. The American Legion Hall is the backup venue in case of inclement weather. Concerts begin at 4 p.m.
JUNE 17 GRANDFATHER MOUNTAIN: Grandfather Mountain in Linville celebrates the birthdays of all the animals in the park with games, contests, crafts and surprises one June 17. The habitat staff has prepared a fun-filled day for guests, as well as programming to celebrate its furry inhabitants. Events are included with park admission.
JUNE 20 STREET DANCE: A free street dance
JUNE 27 POTTERY: Bolick & Traditions Pottery will hold a Heritage Day and Wood Kiln Opening June 27 at Traditions Pottery, 4443 Bolick Road, Blowing Rock. The groundhog wood kiln will be unloaded at 10 a.m. The event also hosts local and locally made soaps and lotions. There will be bluegrass music throughout the day at the stage, plus storytelling and a gee-haw whimmy diddle contest. An interactive quilting party will be held, as well as demonstrations of hit-and-miss engines and a steam-powered sawmill. It’s free to the public. Food will be available. For more information, email sales@traditionspottery.com, phone (828) 2955099, or visit www.traditionspottery. com.
2015
JUNE 28 SINGING ON THE MOUNTAIN: The 91st annual Singing on the Mountain will be held June 28 at Grandfather Mountain in Linville. Thousands gather annually for this all-day outdoor gospel sing and fellowship opportunity. Music from top gospel groups begins at 8:30 a.m., and many families bring lawn chairs and picnics to enjoy the event. Camping (without RV hookups) is available on the field on a first-come, first-served basis. The event is free according to the longstanding motto: “Whosoever will may come.”
JULY 3 ART CRAWL: Downtown Boone hosts its monthly First Friday Art Crawl, in which downtown galleries and businesses open their doors and stay open in late in celebration of art and community. Times vary, depending on participating businesses, but crawls typically run from 6 to 8:30 p.m. Refreshments and live music are often served. For more information, visit downtownboonenc.com.
JULY 4 ROASTING OF THE HOG: The 47th annual Roasting of the Hog will take place July 4 at the Beech Mountain Ski Resort, 1007 Beech Mountain Parkway, Beech Mountain. This long-standing community event has been a sell-out almost every year. The event features barbecue pork and turkey prepared by the Beech Mountain fire department, as well as all the fixings, topped off with a Moon Pie. Serving begins serving at 6 p.m. Music, vendors and children’s activities entertain the crowd right up to the fireworks celebration at dark. Tickets can be purchased in advance from the Beech Mountain Chamber of Commerce. For more information, email chamber@ beechmtn.com, or visit www.beechmtn. com. FESTIVAL: Blowing Rock’s annual Fourth of July Festival and Parade will be held in the downtown area. There will be games, music and competitions beginning at 9:30 a.m. At 2 p.m., the town will host its annual Independence Day Parade, followed by bluegrass music and then fireworks at 9:30 p.m. at the SEE CALENDAR, PAGE 111
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CALENDAR FROM PAGE 110 Blowing Rock Country Club. For more information, email prdirector@bellsouth.net, call (828) 295-5222, or visit www.blowingrock.com. BOONE FOURTH OF JULY: The Downtown Boone annual Fourth of July parade always takes place on July 4 and is an event for the whole family. The parade travels down King Street in downtown Boone at 11 a.m. and concludes at Poplar Grove Extension. Take a spot on King Street to watch the parade, and then join the mayor of Boone for refreshments at the Jones House Community Center, located in the heart of downtown Boone, and at 1 p.m. for music. Later that evening, check out the festivities at Clawson/Burnley Park off of Hunting Hills Lane, starting at 7 p.m. with music and fireworks by Zambelli at 9:30 p.m. For more information, visit www. joneshouse.org.
JULY 10 RECEPTION: An opening reception for “Through the Camera’s Eye” will be held from 5 to 8 p.m. July 10 at the Ashe Arts Center in West Jefferson. The exhibit is by the Ashe Camera Club. GALLERY CRAWL: From 5 to 8 p.m. July 10, the arts district of downtown West Jefferson will come alive with folks strolling the streets. The Gallery Crawl features gallery exhibits, special artists, refreshments and in-store promotions. A gallery crawl will also take place Aug. 14.
JULY 11 CONCERT: Nationally acclaimed mountain dulcimer player Neal Hellman will be in concert at 7:30 p.m. July 11 at the Ashe Arts Center in West Jefferson. For more information, visit www.ashecivic.com.
JULY 17 CONCERT: The Moondance Orchestra performs a mix of popular favorites and will be in concert beginning at 7:30 p.m. July 17 at the Ashe Civic Center in West Jefferson. For more information, visit www.ashecivic.com.
ART SHOW: Fine Arts and Mastercrafts Festival of Avery County will be held July 17 to 19 and Aug. 14 to 16 at the Old Banner Elk Elementary School in Banner Elk. There are 85 artisans presenting their handcrafted fine arts and masterly crafted mediums. There will also be demonstrations. Admission is free. For more information, visit www. averycounty.com.
JULY 18 ART IN THE PARK: The outdoor art show, Art in the Park, will be held at the Blowing Rock American Legion Grounds, 333 Wallingford Road, Blowing Rock, July 18. The show features more than 90 artists. Admission is free. The season shows also include Aug. 15, Sept. 12 and Oct. 3. For more information, email terri@blowingrock.com, call (828) 2957851, or visit www.blowingrock.com/ artinthepark.
JULY 23 TROLLEY TOURS: The High Country Trolley Tour will be held from 11:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. July 23 and Aug. 27. The trolley will load in the Avery County Chamber of Commerce parking lot. Seating is limited to 33; the cost is $55 per person. The tour trolley ride, lunch, visit to local art galleries, attractions and local wineries. For more information, call (828) 8985605, or visit averycounty.com.
JULY 24 PET FEST: The fourth annual High Country Pet Fest is a communitywide event to celebrate dogs and the families who love them and will be held July 24 and 25 in Banner Elk. The Banner Elk TDA, the Avery County Chamber of Commerce and My Best Friend’s Barkery host the festival, with proceeds from this event to benefit local animal-related charities. This year’s High Country Pet Fest 2015 will feature entertainment and educational opportunities for pet owners. Planned exhibitions include Southeast Disc Dogs Competition, Swift Paws lure coursing, working dogs, including the Avery County K9 unit and a search and rescue team, educational seminars by local veterinarians and other local pet professionals, the Blessing of the Dogs and a concert with The Whip Daddys with Madd Dog. There will also be the High Country Dog Show and a variety
of vendors. For more information, visit www.highcountrypetfest.com. CONCERTS: The Backstreet Park Concert Series takes place from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. at the Backstreet Park in West Jefferson. Admission is free. Enjoy the sounds of traditional, old-time and bluegrass music. The summer concert series is held every third and fourth Friday through August. Bring a chair, blanket or picnic. Rain location will be held at the farmers’ market or the Ashe Arts Center. For more information, visit www.visitwestjefferson.org. CAMPOUT: A Grandfather Mountain Campout will be held at Grandfather Mountain in Linville July 24 and 25. The Grandfather Mountain Campout is a special opportunity to camp in MacRae Meadows and enjoy day and night activities led by Grandfather’s naturalists and interpretive rangers. For more information, email events@grandfather.com, call (828) 733-2013, or visit grandfather. com/events/the-grandfather-campout/.
JULY 27 STREET FESTIVAL: Boone CycloVia! will be held from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. July 27 on Howard, Depot and Rivers streets in Boone. Boone Cyclo.Via is a free street festival sponsored by Boone Area Cyclists and other local nonprofits and agencies, which promote healthy, active lifestyles, education and recreational opportunities in the community. Visit www.boonecyclovia.com or www.booneareacyclists. com for more information.
JULY 31 BIRTHDAY: There will be a Centennial Welcome Home to West Jefferson celebration July 31 to Aug. 2 in downtown West Jefferson. Admission is free. It’s a weekend of events, including a homecoming for current and previous residents and visitors new and old. There will be a community picnic, street dance, children’s activities, storytelling, a West Jefferson High School Reunion, community worship, special events at local businesses and more. For more information, visit www.westjefferson100.com.
AUG. 1 CRAFTS ON THE GREEN: Crafts on the Green will be held at Fred’s General
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Mercantile, 501 Beech Mountain Parkway, Beech Mountain, on Aug. 1. The annual event features many artists and craftspeople, who converge around the gazebo next to Fred’s General Mercantile on the first Saturday in August. This year, the event takes place from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. and includes food and music, as well. There’s no charge for admission. For more information, email fred@ fredsgeneral.com, call (828) 387-4838, or visit www.fredsgeneral.com.
AUG. 7 ART CRAWL: Downtown Boone hosts its monthly First Friday Art Crawl, in which downtown galleries and businesses open their doors and stay open in late in celebration of art and community. Times vary, depending on participating businesses, but crawls typically run from 6 to 8:30 p.m. Refreshments and live music are often served. For more information, visit downtownboonenc.com.
AUG. 11 CONCERT: “Yesterday and Today — Interactive Beatles Experience” will be held at 7:30 p.m. Aug. 11 at the Ashe Civic Center in West Jefferson. It’s a request show with the best of The Beatles’ hits.
AUG. 14 GALLERY CRAWL: From 5 to 8 p.m. Aug. 14, the arts district of downtown West Jefferson will come alive with folks strolling the streets during the Gallery Crawl. There will be new gallery exhibits, special artists, refreshments and in-store promotions. ART SHOW: Fine Arts and Mastercrafts Festival of Avery County will be held Aug. 14 to 16 at the Old Banner Elk Elementary School in Banner Elk. There are 85 artisans presenting their handcrafted fine arts and masterly crafted mediums. There will also be demonstrations. Admission is free. For more information, visit www.averycounty.com. CONCERTS: The Backstreet Park Concert Series takes place from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. at the Backstreet Park in West Jefferson. Admission is free. Enjoy the sounds of traditional, old-time and bluegrass music. The summer concert series is held every third and fourth Friday through August.
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Advertising Index 4 Seasons Vacation Rentals – 44, 80 An Appalachian Summer Festival – 74 Anna Banana’s – 30 Antiques on Howard – 31 Antiques on Main – 46 App Urgent Care – 97 Appalachian Antique Mall – 30 Appalachian Furniture – 48 Art Cellar, The – 38, 77 Artists Theatre, The – 44 Ashe Civic Center – 44 Ashe County Arts Council – 44 Ashe County Bluegrass & Old-Time Fiddlers Convention – 57 Ashe Chamber of Commerce – 45 Ashe County Cheese – 100 Ashe County Farmers’ Market – 44 Ashe County Little Theatre – 44, 48 Ashe County, N.C. – 44 Ashe High Country Realty – 43 Ashe Rental Agency – 45 Banner Elk Café & The Lodge Pizzeria and Espresso Bar, The – 38 Banner Elk Consignment Cottage – 39 Banner Elk Winery & Villa – 38 Banner Elk, N.C. – 37 Barra Sports Bar & Sushi Club – 38 Bayou Smokehouse & Grill – 38 Beech Mountain Club – 59 Beech Mountain Resort – 58 Bella’s Italian Restaurant – 104 Benchmark Provisions – 30 Bernhardt – 3 Blackberry Creek Mattress – 69 Blowing Rock Brewing Company – 40 Blowing Rock Chamber – 40 Blowing Rock Frameworks – 11 Blowing Rock Furniture Gallery – 66 Blowing Rock, N.C. – 26, 40 Blowing Rock, The – 16 Blue Mountain Metalworks – 38 Blue Ridge Realty – 38, 84 BO’s – 65 Bob Caldwell Photography – 112 Boone Bagelry – 30 BRAHM – 69 Buffalo Tavern – 45 Bumgarner Camping Center – 94 Cabin Store, The – 10 Café Portofino – 31, 101 Capone’s Untouchable Pizza – 30 Caracole – 3 Carlton Gallery – 80 Cha Da Thai -31 Chick-fil-A – 105
Christmas in July - 49 Cilantro’s Mexican Grill & Cantina – 30 CoBo Sushi Bistro & Bar - 31 Copper Innovations Inc. -12 Country Retreat Family Billiards – 102 CR Catering Co. – 106 Days Inn – 25 DeWoolfson Down – 91 Dianne Davant & Associates – 115 Doc’s Rocks Gem Mine – 9 Dos Amigos – 101 Downtown Boone – 30, 31 Downtown Boone Development Association – 73 Echota – 116 Edge of the World – 39, 53 Erick’s Cheese & Wine – 66 Eseeola Lodge, The – 93 Everything Has a Story – 44 Festiva Hospitality Group Blue Ridge Village Resort – 79 Fleetwood Max General Store – 44 Florence Thomas Art School – 83 Foggy Mountain Gem Mine – 83 Footsloggers – 63 Foscoe & Grandfather Community – 33 Foscoe Fishing Company – 65 Foscoe Rentals – 17 Fred’s General Mercantile – 29 Friendship Honda – 108 Gamekeeper – 14 Gilded Lily, The – 29 Grandfather Campground & Cabins – 60 Grandfather Mountain – 66 Grandfather Trout Farm – 95 Grandfather Vineyard & Winery – 79 Green Park Inn – 12 Greenhouse Crafts – 44 Gregory Alan’s – 40 Hardin Fine Jewelry – 38, 77 Hawksnest Zipline – 26 Hemlock Inn – 40 Hickory Furniture Mart – 73 High Country Tap Room – 52 High Gravity Adventures – 94 HighCountryNC.com – 37, 65, 112 Highland Outfitters – 57 Homestead Inn, The – 40 Honey Hole, The – 45 Hotel Tavern, The – 102 Hound Ears Club – 87 Impeccable Pooch – 38 In Your Home Furnishings – 114 Incredible Toy Company – 28 JAD Financial Group – 5
Jeff’s Plumbing & Repair Inc. – 112 Jenkins Rentals – 12 Jim’s Corner Furniture – 45 Kincaid – 3 Leatherwood Mountains – 57 Lees-McRae College – 39 Lees-McRae Summer Theatre – 72 Lenoir, N.C. – 9 Linville Land Harbor – 10 Local, The – 31, 101 Lost Province Brewing Company – 30 Lucky Penny – 30 Magic Cycles – 63 Makoto’s Japanese Steak House & Sushi Bar – 106 Mary Rupp, Coldwell Banker, Blair & Associates – 112 Mast Farm Inn, The – 93 Mast General Store – 2 McKethan Brothers Barbecue – 105 Mellow Mushroom – 101 Monkee’s – 23 Mountain Aire Golf Club - 93 Mountain Dog and Friends – 70 Mountain Home & Hearth – 42 Mountain Jewelers – 80 Mountain Outfitters – 49 Mountain Times, The – 85 Mountaineer Garden Center – 39 Museum of Ashe History, The – 45 Mustard Seed Market, The – 60 My Best Friend’s Barkery Mystery Hill – 9 Nation’s Inn – 25 Neaco – 40 New River Building Supply & Lumber Company – 86 Nick’s Restaurant & Pub – 107 North Wilkesboro Tourism – 92 Old World Galleries – 31 On the Same Page – 84 Originals Only Gallery – 45 Our Daily Bread – 106 Over Yonder- 93 Parker Tie Company Inc. – 44 Parkway Craft Center & Southern Highland Craft Guild – 94 Peabody’s Wine & Beer Merchants – 78 Perry’s Gold Mine – 67 Pet Place, The – 64 Primo’s Pizza Pasta Subs – 105 Proper – 31 Puerto Nuevo Mexican and Seafood Restaurant – 102 Rachel’s Reflections – 52
Ram’s Rack Thrift Shop – 30 Red Onion Café – 107 River & Earth Adventures – 24 RiverCamp USA – 15 Rivercross Market – 16 Rivers Street Ale House – 31 Riverside Log Cabins – 9 Rock Dimensions – 30, 63 Roots Restaurant – 104 Rose Mountain Butcher Shoppe – 45 Roy Phillips Total Home Care – 112 Rustique – 105 Self Storage – 112 Seven Devils, N.C. – 79 Six Pence Pub – 103 Sky Valley Zip Tours – 64 SkyLine SkyBest – 28 Sorrento’s – 38 Spice & Tea Exchange, The – 40 Stonewalls – 39 Sugar Shack – 40 Sugar Ski & Country Club – 52 Sugar Top Resort – 52 Summit Group of the Carolinas – 38 Tanner Doncaster Outlet – 40 TApp Room, The – 107 Taste Grill – 104 Tatum Galleries & Interiors – 79 Thelma’s Things – 52 Timberlake’s Restaurant – 107 Tis the Season For All Seasons – 45 Tom’s Discount Golf – 90 Town Home – 37 Trolly Stop, The – 30 Trout & Barrel – 103 Tweetsie Railroad – 78 Valle Crucis – 21 Valle Crucis Bakery & Café – 104 Vidalia Restaurant & Wine Bar – 30 Village Inns of Blowing Rock, The – 86 Village of Sugar Mountain – 52 Village Real Estate - 99 Wahoo’s Adventures – 54 Ward’s Painting – 112 Watauga Lakeshore Resort – 92 West Jefferson, N.C. – 25 West Jefferson Antiques Fair – 46 When Pigs Fly of Ashe – 44 Willow Creek Golf – 95 Windwood Too – 51 WingNIt – 39 Woodlands Barbecue – 106 Woof Pack Dog Training – 64 Zaloo’s Canoes – 65
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5 YEARS NO INTEREST CHECK US OUT ON
NO INTEREST FINANCING • NO CREDIT CHECK FINANCE OPTIONS 210 13TH ST SW • HICKORY, NC 28602 828-304-0741 • INYOURHOMEFURNISHINGS.COM M-S 10:00am-7:00pm • Sunday 1:00pm-5:00pm See store for any and all details.
WORLD WIDE DELIVERY AVAILABLE
Largest selection of displayed mattresses in our area.