Summer Times 2017 by Mountain Times Publications

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YOUR 2017 SUMMER GUIDE TO THE HIGH COUNTRY · www.HighCountryNC.com

Summer in the

BLUE RIDGE MOUNTAINS

EchotaNC.com

OUTDOORS · ACTIVITIES · ENTERTAINMENT · SHOPPING · DINING · LODGING

2017

SUMMER TIMES

79213 - kincaid

4930 Hickory Blvd., Granite Falls, NC • 828.496.2262 • KFDO@La-Z-Boy.com

FACTORY OUTLET

4916 Hickory Blvd., Granite Falls, NC • 828.313.0795 • outlet@bernhardt.com

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TABLE  CONTENTS Numbers of Note ................................................ 5 High Country Host ............................................. 6 Chambers of the High Country ...........................7 Shopping ............................................................. 8 Our Towns .........................................................13 Hike Our Mountains .........................................21 Trail Guide ........................................................ 23 Camping ............................................................ 32 Tips for Fly Fishing .......................................... 34 Water Fun in the High Country ........................41 Mountain Biking Options ................................. 44 Road Cycling ..................................................... 48 Indoor Rock Climbing ...................................... 50 Outdoor Rock Climbing ................................... 52 Zip Lining ......................................................... 54 Grandfather Mountain Adventures ................. 55 Guide to Blue Ridge Parkway ........................... 58 Moses Cone Park .............................................. 68 Summer Motorcycling ...................................... 69 Watauga Lake ................................................... 72 Golf Section ...................................................... 79 Horseback Riding ............................................. 88 Pickleball .......................................................... 92 Disc Golf ........................................................... 93 The Blowing Rock ............................................. 94 Mystery Hill ...................................................... 96 Linville Caverns ................................................ 98 Tweetsie Railroad ............................................ 101 Daniel Boone Native Gardens ........................ 103 Attractions Oﬀ the Beaten Path ..................... 104 Festivals in the High Country ........................ 109 Christmas in July ............................................. 112 Grandfather Mountain Highland Games ........ 114 Pet Friendly Places .......................................... 118 Blowing Rock Charity Horse Show ................ 120 High Country Wineries ................................... 121 Craft Beer in the High Country .......................122 Exploring Arts and Crafts ................................124 BRAHM ...........................................................129 Local Art Galleries ........................................... 131 Frescoes of the High Country ..........................133 Blowing Rock Art in the Park ..........................134 Artist in Residence ..........................................136 Outdoor Music .................................................137 Concerts on the Lawn ......................................139 Restaurants ......................................................139 Appalachian Summer Festival ........................145 Jones House Outdoor Concert series ..............145 Horn in the West .............................................146 LMC Summer Theatre .....................................147 Farmers Markets .............................................148

PHOTO BY ROB MOORE

Green Knob Take a trip on the Green Knob Trail that is a 2.4 miles loop starting at Sims Pond off of the Blue Ridge Parkway at Milepost 296.0. The trail starts at the pond and goes around the back side and eventually will criss-cross over Sims Creek and then over other smaller creeks that feed into it along the route. You will travel through some moist acidic forest and then hardwoods. There’s also a couple of grassy ﬁelds that Fritillary butterﬂies love. This is a diverse trail for nature lovers.

About The Cover

The face of Grandfather Mountain can be seen from this home in the mountain community of Echota.

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Welcome

to Summer 2017 Summer Times Staff Gene Fowler Jr. Publisher Charlie Price Advertising Director Tom Mayer Editor

Numbers of Note West Jeﬀerson Police (336) 246-9410

Avery County

Law Enforcement Watauga County Watauga County Sheriﬀ’s Oﬃce (828) 264-3761 Boone Police Department (828) 268-6900 Blowing Rock Police (828) 295-5210 Appalachian Regional Healthcare System Police (828) 262-4168 Appalachian State Police (828) 262-2150

Ashe County

Avery County Sheriﬀ’s Oﬃce (828) 733-2071 Banner Elk Police (828) 898-4300 Elk Park Police Department (828) 733-9573 Newland Police Department (828) 733-2024 Seven Devils Police Department (828) 963-6760 Sugar Mountain Police (828) 898-4349 Beech Mountain Police (828) 387-2342

Ashe County Sheriﬀ’s Oﬃce (336) 846-5633

Health Care

Jeﬀerson Police (336) 846-5529

Watauga Medical Center (Boone) (828) 262-4100

Foley Center at Chestnut Ridge (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 (Boone) (828) 264-7865 Animal Emergency & Pet Care Clinic of the High Country (Boone) (828) 268-2833

Rob Moore Production Chief Jason Balduf, Taylor Eargle, Johnny Hayes, Marianne Lawrence Layout Artists Emily Robb Production Specialist Andy Gainey Circulation Manager Steve Behr, Troy Brooks, Ben Cogsdale, Matt Debnam, Jeﬀ Eason, Kayla Lasure, Brian Miller, Anna Oakes, Jamie Shell, Thomas Sherrill and Derek Halsey Writers Ron Brown and Mark Mitchell Sales Meleah Bryan Creative Services Director Brandon Carini and Kristin Obiso Creative Services

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2017

High Country Host

provides information for tourism needs BY KAYLA LASURE kayla.lasure@wataugademocrat.com

or those visiting the High Country for the summer and wanting to know the happenings of the area, High Country Host is your one-stop tour guide. High Country Host is open seven days a week and provides information about Allegheny, Ashe, Avery, Wilkes and Watauga counties. “We have information on all of the counties in one place,” said Candice Cook, High Country Host Marketing Director. “You don’t have to visit the area chambers in each county you go to. You can come here and get information on all of those counties.” The center provides information on hiking, outdoor parks, attractions and outdoor recreation on each of the five counties. “Most of the people that work here have hiked all of the trails in the area,” Cook said. “We’re pretty knowledgeable when it comes to outdoor activities here in the High Country.” Those looking for lodging in the area can also find information at High Country Host. Cook said Host staﬀ will know of any lodging specials in the area and can assist visitors in finding lodging if most places seem to be booked. Each week, High Country Host produces a handout with a two-week schedule of events for each county. Visitors can additionally find oﬃcial town guides and maps of each county. While visitors can find all of the information High Country Host provides on its website, Cook said it’s valuable to come in and visit the center. “Especially in the High Country, it’s important to get maps and some print materials because there’s a lot of places around here where cell services don’t work,” Cook said. “A lot of people find that out the hard way and end up having to come in and get their paper maps and books with information in them because they can’t pull it up

PHOTO BY KAYLA LASURE High Country Host is a Department of Transportation-funded organization that provides information about Allegheny, Ashe, Avery, Wilkes and Watauga counties. High Country host is open seven days a week, all year round.

HIGH COUNTRY HOST Hours of operation: Mon. — Saturday: 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday: 9 am. to 3 p.m. Location: 6370 Hwy 321, Blowing Rock

PHOTO BY KAYLA LASURE Candice Cook, Mike Campbell and Mollie Shanly are a few faces visitors can see at High Country Host.

on their phone.” Before visiting the area, people are able to call the Host and request a regional visitors guide to be mailed to them to find

out information before arriving. The Host averages 15,000 visitors each year, Cook said. People from all over the world such as from Australia, New

Zealand, England, Canada have called the Host seeking information about the High Country. “Most everyone that come in here are very excited and happy to be here because they’re on vacation and have always wanted to come to the mountains,” Cook said. “Every day is pretty happy here at the Host.” As of September 2016, High Country Host is located in between Boone and Blowing Rock and housed in the same building as Appalachian Ski Mountain Gift Shop. For more information on High Country Host, call (800) 438-7500 or visit highcountryhost.com.

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Welcome to summer in the High Country

Summer Times 2017 — your complete guide

elcome to the High Country — where summer is unlike summer anywhere else. A perfect mixture of sun and climate combine to create an atmosphere of outdoor fun — no matter what your definition of summer fun might be. From taking a hike along the Blue Ridge Parkway to walking the shoplined streets of our towns; from casting a line on the New River to casting a bid on a piece of local artwork; from sharing s’mores around a campfire to sharing a picnic with your family and friends, the options are limited only by

your imagination. Each year, we offer Summer Times in both print and digitally (www.highcountrync.com) to help you explore those options — and you’ll find more opportunities than ever to embrace the High Country in this 2017 edition. This 2017 Summer Times delivers a

comprehensive, fact-filled rundown of area attractions, activities, galleries, music, theaters and all the High Country has to offer — including extensive sections on the Blue Ridge Parkway, golfing in the High Country and High Country hiking. Also available again this year is a free

app for Summer Times 2017, available in the Google Play and Apple App stores. With that page-by-page view app, even when you don’t have your print copy with you, you’ll be able to access all there is to do in the High Country on your phone, tablet or computer as if you did. But, however you decide to access and use Summer Times, we’re glad you’re here. It’s your High Country summer, and we’re here to help point the way to your next adventure. Tom Mayer Editor

Chambers of the High Country ping and other businesses in Avery County. 4501 Tynecastle Highway, Unit No. 2 Banner Elk, N.C. 28604 (828) 898-5605 www.averycounty.com Greater Newland Association PO Box 396 Newland, N.C. 28657 (828) 278-8360 www.greaternewland.org

ASHE COUNTY CHAMBER OF COMMERCE Ashe County, home to the Jeffersons (West Jefferson and Jefferson, that is), is just about as far as you can go in the High Country before entering Southwestern Virginia. The county is considered, in many respects, a step back in time to the way the Appalachian Mountains used to be. The chamber can direct travelers through the scenic and sparsely populated area of Christmas tree farms and rugged mountain landscapes, while offering a wide selection of brochures and maps. 01 N. Jefferson Ave., Suite C West Jefferson, N.C. 28694 (336) 846-9550 www.ashechamber.com

AVERY COUNTY CHAMBER OF COMMERCE The Avery County Chamber of Commerce Visitor Center is conveniently located in the Shoppes at Tynecastle at the intersection of N.C. 105 and N.C. 184. The center oﬀers information on lodging, dining, attractions, shop-

BANNER ELK CHAMBER OF COMMERCE Located in the heart of town, the Banner Elk Chamber of Commerce promotes the area as a unique place to live in, work and visit. Information on area lodging, dining, shopping and more is available Monday through Saturday, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., and all the time by visiting www.bannerelk.org. 100 W. Main St. Banner Elk, N.C. 28604 (828) 898-8395 www.bannerelk.org

BEECH MOUNTAIN CHAMBER OF COMMERCE Whether you’re looking for a North Carolina mountain vacation full of adventure, or just a few days to relax and breathe the fresh mountain air, Beech Mountain, at an elevation of 5,506 feet, will give your soul something to smile about. The area oﬀers plenty of activities and attractions for the whole family to enjoy, but also plenty of peace and quiet for a relaxing and rejuvenating time. The Beech Mountain Chamber of

Commerce is here to help. 403-A Beech Mountain Parkway Beech Mountain, N.C. 28604 (828) 387-9283 www.beechmountainchamber.com

BLOWING ROCK CHAMBER OF COMMERCE Blowing Rock is considered one of the crown jewels of the Blue Ridge. Its chamber of commerce knows this tight-knit community as no one else, and its representatives are always willing to share this knowledge with visitors. Aside from general information, lists of camping and fishing sites, and brochures, the Blowing Rock Chamber of Commerce also has a generous stock of menus from the town’s many eateries. 132 Park Ave. Blowing Rock, N.C. 28605 (828) 295-7851 www.blowingrockncchamber.com

BOONE AREA CHAMBER OF COMMERCE The Boone Area Chamber of Commerce is one of the High Country’s most active, with both a dedicated membership and an overall commitment to the betterment of the area as both a vacation destination and business hub. Located in downtown Boone on King Street, the chamber is an ideal place to stop for information on area activities, brochures and maps of the community. 870 W. King St., Suite A, Boone, N.C. 28607 (828) 264-2225 www.boonechamber.com

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Enjoy local shopping in the High Country

BY KAYLA LASURE kayla.lasure@wataugademocrat.com

hile shoppers in the High Country can experience department and chain stores, the real joy is finding the local shopping experiences unique to the area. Visitors in the High Country have the chance to shop at stores that sell local homemade goods, boutiques, neighborhood general stores and outdoor/sporting good stores exclusive to the area. Some of the more unique oﬀerings are below:

LOCAL HOMEMADE GOODS • Bear Creek Cabin and Candles (Watauga County) For unique and priminite High Country items, Bear Creek Cabin and Candles in Foscoe is a stop for visitors. “It’s something that you won’t find

PHOTO BY CAROLINE LAWSON Monkee’s is a Blowing Rock shop that carries women’s apparel.

anywhere else in the high country,” said owner Andie Byrd. Specializing in homemade items as well as cabin decor, Byrd said her store is an eclectic blend of the High Country. Bear Creek has items such as locally made soaps, pottery, soy candles, bird houses, jams and honey.

Visit us today! Watauga:

Boone Drug and Healthcare at Deerﬁeld Boone Drug at King St • Boone Drug at Greenway Boone Drug at New Market • Village Pharmacy

Avery: Avery Pharmacy • Crossnore Drug

Ashe: Warrensville Drug

“Serving you since 1919” www.boonedrug.com

The shop also sells cabin decor with wildlife themes such as bears, moose, ducks, alligators, snakes, owls, peacocks, fish and others. For more information on Bear Creek Cabin and Candles, call (828) 963-1183, email Byrd at andreascabins@gmail.com or visit www.bearcreektrader.com. • The Honey Hole of the Blue Ridge (Ashe County) This West Jeﬀerson store sells a variety of bee and honey related products as well as locally made items. Visitors of The Honey Hole can expect to see homemade soaps, fresh eggs, country ham and of course many varieties of honey including a bourbon barrel honey. One of the staples of the store are a few of their honey butters such as the cranberry orange pecan honey butter. The store also sells supplies to support the art of beekeeping as well as bees themselves. For more information on The Honey Hole of the Blue Ridge, call (336) 8462337 or visit www.the-honey-hole.com.

BOUTIQUES • Monkees (Watauga County) Families looking to shop for women’s apparel that spans the generations can stop by Monkee’s boutique in Blowing Rock. “There are so many visitors who come up the mountain because we try to carry brands that your grandma, your mom and your daughter can wear,” said Jess Wehrmann, co-owner of Monkee’s in Blowing Rock. Wehrmann and her husband, Kenneth, said their store carries an approachable fashion that is casual and cool but still trendy. “The best part about Monkee’s is our personalized customer experience,” Wehrmann said. “You come in as a stranger but you leave as family. We really strive to make it a great shopping experience.” For more information about Monkee’s, call (828) 295-0708 or visit www.monkeesofblowingrock.com.

SEE SHOPPING ON PAGE 10

More Information Bear Creek Cabin and Candles Location: 8645 N.C. 105 S., Boone Hours of operation: Monday-Saturday (closed Tuesday): 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sunday: 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. The Honey Hole Location: 6 N Third Ave., West Jefferson Hours of operation: Tuesday-Saturday: 10 a.m. to 5 pm. Mangum Pottery of Turkey Knob/Mangum-Cater on Main Location: 24 S. Main Street, Sparta Hours of operation: Thursday-Saturday: 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monkees Location: 1179 Main St., Blowing Rock Hours of operation: Monday-Thursay :11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Friay-Saturday: 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sunday: Noon to 5 p.m. Bellhop’s Boutique Location: 2 S. Jefferson Ave., West Jefferson Hours of operation: Monday-Saturday: 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. The Dande Lion Location: 4501 Tynecastle Hwy, No. 12, Banner Elk Hours of operation: Monday-Saturday: 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Mast General Store Location: 3565 N.C. 194, Sugar Grove Hours of operation: Monday-Saturday: 7 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. Sunday: Noon to 6 p.m. Mast General Store - Boone Location: 630 W King St, Boone Hours of operation: Monday-Thursday 10 a.m. – 6 p.m. Friday-Saturday: 10 a.m. – 8 p.m. Sunday: 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Fred’s General Mercantile Location: 501 Beech Mountain Parkway, Beech Mountain Hours of operation: Store: 7:30 a.m. to 10 p.m. daily Deli: 7:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. daily Footsloggers Location: 921 Main St., Blowing Rock 139 Depot St., Boone Hours of operation for Blowing Rock location: Monday-Thursday: 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Friday-Saturday: 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sunday: Noon to 5 p.m. Hour of operation for Boone location: Monday-Thursday: 9:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Friday-Saturday: 9:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sunday: Noon to 5 p.m. Mountain Outﬁtters Location: 14 S Jefferson Ave., West Jefferson Hours of operation: Monday-Thursday: 9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Friday-Saturday: 9:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Sunday: 1 to 4 p.m. Cook’s Location: 1402 Willow Lane, North Wilkesboro Hours of operation: Monday-Friday: 8:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday: 8:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.

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SHOPPING CONTINUED FROM PAGE 8

• Bellhop’s Boutique (Ashe County) Carrying a collection of popular brands, Bellhop’s Boutique in West Jeﬀerson oﬀers visitors a chic and trendy style. Shoppers can expect to see an array of tops, jackets, jeans, boots and jewelry. For more information about this boutique, call (336) 846-4677 or visit www. bellhopsboutique.com.

GENERAL STORES • Mast General Store (Watauga County) Shoppers looking to step back in time may want to visit the Original Mast General Store in Valle Crucis. “A general store typically would carry everything from cradles to caskets,” said Mast Storyteller Sheri Moretz. “Whatever your need would be that you couldn’t make for yourself, you would find at the general store.” Initially opening as The Taylor General Store in 1883, Mast General Store oﬀers a look into an older time of a rural, community store. Mast sells items such as cast iron skillets, Amish-made rocking chairs to

PHOTO BY CAROLINE LAWSON Bear Creek Cabin and Candles, located in Watauga County, has items such as locally made soaps, pottery, soy candles, bird houses, jams and honey.

old-fashion toys. Visitors can enjoy coﬀee for a nickel, paid by on the honor system. Shoppers can also see items such as high-end hiking boots and name brand outdoor clothing such as Patagonia and Chaco footwear. “There’s something for everyone whether you’re 1 or 101,” Moretz said. Mast also has an annex store in Valle

Classic Surroundings, Modern Amenities

Music on the Veranda • Sundays at 5pm

Crucis with an eclectic collection of clothing and candy. Mast has other locations such as one in Boone as well as other parts of North Carolina, South Caroline and Tennessee. For more information on Mast, call (828) 963-6511 or visit www.mastgeneralstore.com. • Fred’s General Mercantile (Avery County) Originally opening in 1979, Fred’s General Mercantile in Beech Mountain is open every day of the year. Fred’s is a frequent stop for locals and visitors. Fred’s has everything from ski rentals, firewood, groceries, clothing, knives and knick-knacks. It even has a deli with sandwiches, beer/wine, homemade baked goods and other snacks. This general store carries brands such as Leatherman, Jansport, Carhartt and Colombia. For information on Fred’s General Mercantile, call (828) 387-4838 or visit www. fredsgeneral.com.

OUTDOOR/SPORTING GOOD STORES

Chestnut Grille

Divide Tavern

Serving 6-9 M-F 6-9:30 S-Sun

Serving 5pm-until

ESTD. 1882

Patio Dining Available 9239 Valley Blvd Blowing Rock, NC 28605 828.414.9230 | www.greenparkinn.com

• Footsloggers (Watauga County) This family-owned outdoor and travel store oﬀers camping, backpacking, kayaking and paddle sports, hiking and climbing gear in addition to clothing and footwear. “Footsloggers has a long history of promoting local culture and community while being geared toward supporting the outdoor enthusiast and the areas in which we all recreate,” said Footsloggers’ spokesperson Thea Young. For visitors looking for rock climbing gear, Footsloggers, and Rock Dimensions

Climbing Guides, have equipment for both traditional rock climbing and sport climbing. This includes harnesses, shoes and helmets. The store carries brands such as Chaco, GoPro, Osprey, Black Diamond, Oboz, Kuhl, Arc’teryx and Patagonia. “In addition to offering all the clothing and gear needed for outdoor adventures while visiting the area, we have a wealth of knowledge on fun activities and can offer first-hand advice on trails and rivers,” Young said. “You may even run into our staff on the trail as we all like to get outside on our days off.” Footslogger’s originally opened in 1971 on U.S. 321 in Boone. Since 2005, Footsloggers has been located at 921 Main St. in Blowing Rock and recently reopened its Boone location at 139 South Depot St. For more information about this store, call the Blowing Rock location at (828) 295-4453 or the Boone location at (828) 355-9984. • Cook’s (Avery County) This North Wilkesboro store, originally opened in 1946, carries some of the top brands of sporting goods and athletic equipment. Cook’s offers items in camping, apparel, fitness, footwear, indoor sports items as well as outdoor sports elements. Visitors can also rent equipment such as bikes, kayaks, skis and snowboards. With brands such as Under Amour, Eno, Yeti and Camelback, shoppers can find their indoor or outdoor sporting needs at Cook’s. For more information on Cook’s, call (336)667-4121 or visit www.cookssports. com.

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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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BLOWING ROCK’S FINEST

FULL SERVICE REAL ESTATE COMPANY QUALITY SERVICE SINCE 1976

Established in 1978. Providing the region’s

Largest & Finest Selection of Wine & Beer, Gourmet Foods, Event & Wedding Planning, and Much More.

WINE & BEER

GIFT BASKETS

WEDDING

& PARTY PLANNING

MIXERS M

GOURMET

GLASSG

CELLAR

WARE

FOOD

CIGARS

DESIGN & CONSULTING

828.264.9476 • 1104 HWY 105, Boone • www.PeabodysWineandBeer.com

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OUR TOWNS in the High Country

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 what activity draws you to the High Country, it’s likely that you’ll end up in Boone at some point during your visit. Boone is the hub of Watauga County, the gathering place for people from all walks of life, whether resident or visitor, student or retiree, socialite or seeker of peace and quiet. The town is home to Appalachian State University, one of the 17 colleges and universities that 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 surrounding area, one of the town’s best shopping destinations. One-of-a-kind stores and eclectic boutiques dot the landscape, interspersed with legal oﬃces and a diversity of restaurants to suit almost any taste. Departing from downtown, retail chains, big-box stores and other shopping areas

PHOTO BY ROB MOORE The town of Boone dates back to about 1800, when Jordan Councill opened a store on what is now King Street. This typical small town, as seen from Howard Knob, has grown over the years and is a great destination for shoppers and tourists.

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 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. There’s also the Blowing Rock Art and History Museum in downtown, where you can experience art and discover history. The museum features year-round exhibits, cultural programs, art workshops, lectures and more. The picturesque town of Blowing Rock is the perfect place to have an active summer vacation — or to relax and do nothing at all. For more information, visit www.blowingrock.com.

VALLE CRUCIS Just oﬀ N.C. 105 south of Boone, Valle SEE TOWNS ON PAGE 14

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Devils Resort, and, in 1979, the resort became incorporated as the town. How did it get its name? According to the Seven Devils website, “The founders wanted a catchy, unique name that would bring attention to the mountain. They noticed the repeated appearance of the number seven, including the seven predominant rocky peaks surrounding Valley Creek, as well as the many coincidental references to ‘devils.’ ‘Seven Devils’ seemed to suggest a frivolous, mischievous resort where people could ‘experience the temptation of Seven Devils.” In the 1960s, the town grew with a golf course, ski slope, lake, riding ground and camping area. After the resort venture 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 year-round ziplining. For more information and events at Seven Devils, visit www.sevendevils.net.

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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 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 flows north. The Todd General Store was an old-fashioned mercantile that dated back to 1914 and was built in anticipation of the Norfolk and Western “Virginia Creeper” railroad. Todd was the last stop of the route and got much of its supplies from the train. The Todd Mercantile features the work of local artists and crafters, as well as mountain honey and other local goods, while also hosting monthly square and contra dances, with traditional mountain music by local performers. The 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 unin-

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AVERY COUNTY BANNER ELK

PHOTO BY ROB MOORE This gem of a waterfall is in Seven Devils and has a short trail that is 1.24 miles long with an upper and lower section. The name of the waterfall is called ‘Otter Falls’ by the locals. Parking is limited, but it is worth the short hike.

corporated 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 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

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 1,000 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 LeesMcRae and art festivals by some of the area’s many galleries and artisans. 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 even on the hottest day of the summer, it’s cool on top of Beech Mountain. Even when it’s steamy in the “lowlands” of 3,000-plus feet, the temperature stays comfortable atop Beech. The rest of the resort 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 SEE TOWNS ON PAGE 15

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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, 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 after-hours 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

PHOTO BY ROB MOORE Banner Elk is home to Lees-McRae College, Woolly Worm Festival and is in the heart of the High Country’s many attractions. Just a short drive will take you to numerous natural settings where you can relax and revel in nature’s beauty.

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 and child marriages of mountain families. Mary Martin Sloop eventually put these tales to paper in her autobiography, “Miracle in the Hills.” The Sloops

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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, Wi-Fi and more. Crossnore is famous for its Independence Day parade and celebration, and the town’s Meeting House is home to the Crossnore Jam, a series of gatherings and concerts by local musicians on the first and third Friday nights through the SEE TOWNS ON PAGE 16

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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 old-time feel of Brinkley’s Hardware Store to the additional Lower Street antique shops and classic barbershop, Elk Park takes visitors back to a simpler time. The town’s original thoroughfare, Lower Street, and many businesses originated when Elk Park hosted a train depot for the old East Tennessee and Western North Carolina Railroad. 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

PHOTO BY ROB MOORE The small town of Linville is also home to one of the most visited waterfalls on the East Coast, Linville Falls. It is just off the Blue Ridge Parkway at Milepost 316. This waterfall is the start of the Linville Gorge Wilderness area.

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. 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 U.S. 221 and Linville Gorge wilderness area. For visitors considering making Linville a part- or full-time home, they can visit Linville Land Harbor, where units are available for sale or rent in a cozy community featuring its own golf course and amenities. A number of residents reside at Land Harbor part time, while others stay year-round to enjoy the beauty of the area’s four seasons. During the winter months, Linville is only a short drive to nearby ski slopes such as that at Sugar Mountain and snow-tubing destinations. Perhaps the most popular tourist attraction housed in Linville is Grandfather Mountain. Among the newest of 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 Mile-High 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 more than 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 building is the original jail, which has been converted into the Avery County Historical Museum. Exhibits in the museum, which is free to visit, include the original jail cells, numerous artifacts and information about the history of Avery County. During the 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 events 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 destinaSEE TOWNS ON PAGE 17

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tion for dining and shopping, or just to stop in on a visit to nearby 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. 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, 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 Ameri-

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can 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 by to look at local crafts, antiques and civic pride in Fleetwood.

GLENDALE SPRINGS Home of the breath-taking and awe-aspiring 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 Carolina-Virginia border, Grassy Creek is a tightly knit community that is dotted with smiling faces and countless rows of Fraser fir Christmas trees. Check out the sights around the nationally renowned New River, where you will also find the River House Country Inn and Restaurant for delectable dinners.

JEFFERSON A rich history, dating from 1799, lies in the picturesque town of Jefferson. Jefferson was founded prior to its counterpart, West Jefferson, and stood at the base of Mount Jefferson. The town was first known as Jeffersonton, but then became Jefferson, and was one of the first towns in the nation to bear the name of U.S. founding father Thomas Jefferson. The town is the county seat of Ashe and is home to the new courthouse, as well as the historic 1904 Courthouse. The Museum of Ashe County History is located in Jefferson and can be found in the 1904 Courthouse. The museum, through items collected and on display, offers a look at who the citizens of the county are, where they came from, how they got to the town, what they did 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. SEE TOWNS ON PAGE 20

PHOTO BY ROB MOORE If you drive into Ashe county visiting all the small towns listed, you will be amazed at the patterns of artwork provided by tree farmers in the area.

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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. 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 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 adven-

PHOTO BY ROB MOORE 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. This view comes from high above on Mount Jefferson.

ture 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.

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 Ashe County Cheese Inc.,

where visitors can see cheese made and then 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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HIKE OUR MOUNTAINS Our hiking expert shares all the best trails for all levels while other trails should only be attempted by the most experienced hiker. Underestimating the diﬃculty of a trail can be dangerous, and must be made carefully. Here are 10 trails recommended by Rob Moore that cover the range from the easy to some of the most diﬃcult trails in the area.

BY STEVE BEHR steve.behr@wataugademocrat.com

OONE — Tell Rob Moore to “take a hike” and he won’t take it personally. Instead, he’ll take you up on your offer. Moore knows his hiking trails when it comes to hiking in the High Country. The former Marine and the former Army National Guardsman has been hiking since his days as a Marine recruit, and carried on to his days as a student at Appalachian State. Moore has hiked about 100 trails in North Carolina, Virginia and Tennessee. He’s hiked sections of “the big one,” the Appalachian Trail, otherwise known as the “AT.” “It goes back to my military days when I was an infantryman,” Moore said. “But, that was when I was forced. When I moved up to Appalachian State when I started college in 1989, I started getting more involved into the hiking and camping and stuff because that’s what Boone and the surrounding area has provided.” Hiking is Moore’s way to get away for a few hours to himself and just contemplate things. He also likes the exercise he gets and the views that the High Country offers to those who would rather walk instead of stay in their cars. “It clears my mind,” he said. “It allows me to think and it’s good exercise. It allows me to set a goal or the day from Point A to Point B and back. It’s just cool to be able to think on your own and not have the technology. It just clears your mind.” That doesn’t mean that Moore leaves his cell phone home. Just don’t try to call him since he’s not likely to chat very long, unless it’s important. Moore brings his cell phone in case he has an emergency on the hiking trail. He also brings several things with him that people should bring with them when hiking the High Country. He strongly recommended having a good pair of comfortable boots. Sneakers and flip-flops are not ideal for a hike, but instead, a good pair of boots, waterproof if possible, is better.

EASY

PHOTO SUBMITTED Local hiker Rob Moore takes a break from the city life on PINCHIN trail in the Linville Gorge Wilderness area.

They can either be above the ankle or below if you have weaker ankles. “Footwear is critical,” he said. “You’re coming up on rocks and roots and sometimes they’re wet and sometimes it’s rainy.” Moore also carries other things such as a hat in case it rains, an extra shirt, extra socks, a first-aid kit, food (Moore carries a military MRE in addition to any food for the day he brings just in case he has to unexpectedly spend the night), water, Gatorade, a lightweight rain jacket, lightweight gloves and some waterproof covering to cover his backpack to keep the contents in it dry. A GPS could also be handy, especially if the hikers are not familiar with the area. Moore also carries some extra rope and a tarp in case he has to make a shelter in the case of rain, or in one instance, hail. “It did help me. I got caught up in a hailstorm and I knew a storm was coming in,” Moore said. “I just bungeed up with my tarp and I just road the storm out.” Bad weather is always something hikers need to be aware of. A good weather report before the hike should be looked

at, and a realistic look at the diﬃcultly should be considered. Moore strongly recommends that hikers, be they by themselves or in a group, should let somebody know in advance just in case of an emergency, especially when weather is concerned. “You just need to be aware,” Moore said. “If you’re a strong hiker, you probably need to tell somebody where you’re going and when you expect to be back. Even if it’s one, two or three people on the hike, you need to tell somebody where you’re going and don’t deviate from it.” Common sense can go a long way when hiking the High Country trails. Telling somebody to “take a hike” around here can be worth the eﬀort.

TOP-10 TRAIL PICKS

lthough there are many diﬀerent trails to hike in the High Country, not all of the trails are the

same. Some trails are for the entire family,

Boone Fork Loop Trail This 5-5.4 mile trail is fairly easy to manage and people can bring their dogs with them. The trail goes by Hebron Rock Falls and also connects with the Mountains to the Sea Trail. Price Park off the Blue Ridge Parkway Price Lake Loop Trail is 2.3 miles long, is fairly flat and people can walk their dogs on the trail. It loops around Price Lake off the Blue Ridge Parkway. Cone Manor Carriage Trails up to Flat Top Tower This trail is 2.5 miles to the top. It is located off the Blue Ridge Parkway close to Blowing Rock. Hikers must share the trail with horseback riders. Greenway Trail in Boone This trail goes across the town of Boone. Access to the trail can be found off Deerfield Road next to the Moose Lodge and across the street from the Boone Golf Club Access can also be found next to the National Armory near State Farm Park near the Watauga Parks and Recreation Center.

MODERATE Elk Knob State Park trail Located just North of Boone oﬀ 194 and Meat Camp Road, this trail 1.9 miles deep. Once you get to the top, the viewpoint is 5,520 feet above sea level. Hikers can see Tennessee, Virginia and North Carolina at the summit of the trail. Rough Ridge/Tanawah Trail Another trail that is part of Mountains to Sea Trail. The trail is 1.3 miles to the top and has great views of Grandfather Mountain and the valley looking towards Lenoir and views if the Linville Viaduct. SEE TRAILS ON PAGE 22

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2017

Summer Time

Time

Come See Us For All Your Party & Event Needs • WHITE TENTS - ALL SIZES WITH OR WITHOUT SIDEWALLS & WINDOWS • BEVERAGE COOLERS, FOUNTAINS & HELIUM TANKS • GOBLETS, FLUTES, WINE GLASSES • COTTON CANDY MACHINES, POPCORN MACHINES • ICE CREAM MACHINES

• TABLES & CHAIRS - MANY CHOICES • DANCE FLOORS • PATIO HEATERS • CHOCOLATE FOUNTAINS - SNO CONE MACHINES • LINENS • EVENT PORTABLE RESTROOMS • BBQ COOKER/SMOKER

PHOTO BY ROB MOORE The view from the Elk Knob Trail looking into parts of Tennessee and Virginia.

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CONTINUED FROM PAGE 21 Find us on

The trail is located just oﬀ Blue Ridge Parkway.

DIFFICULT Profile Trail Grandfather Mountain State Park This tail goes 3.3 miles to the top, where it meets the Grandfather Mountain Trail. Hikers can take a left to Calloway Peak or right to Attic Window. See profile side of the mountain at one point going up Profile Trail, and the Red Squirrels along the trail give you the business. One campsite is located on the trail roughly two miles up with a fire pit. Grandfather Mountain Trail Start at Black Rock Parking Lot, or where the Swinging Bridge starts near the summit of Grandfather Mountain. The trail takes you to a series of ladders and ropes up to MacRae Peak and over to Attic Window Peak and up the chute

and on down to the highest peak which is Calloway Peak 5,946 feet above sea level. This trail has access to the Profile Trail and to the Daniel Boone Scout Trail. Conley Cove Trail Located at Linville Gorge, this is a trail that is 1.3 miles long with roughly 9001,000 feet elevation gain. It’s easy going in, but you have to come out. Reward is Linville River to campsites to the right and left with plenty of swimming holes. And remember that what you pack in, you bring back out. PINCHIN Trail in Linville Gorge This trail is 1.5 miles of tough hiking and there is no real switch-backs on this challenging trail, which also begins at the southern end of the Linville Gorge on the east rim. It goes down the ridge line and is very rocky. Must be careful on your footing. Because it goes down ridgeline, elevation gain is pretty tough, around 9001,000 feet and there is a section where the gain is real close together. Goes to the bottom and hooks to the Linville Gorge Trail.

LINVILLE GORGE INFORMATION CABIN Those who wish to hike the Linville Gorge should visit the Linville Gorge Information Cabin, located at the north end of Old Highway 105 (Kistler Memorial Highway). The cabin provides maps, camping gear and proper permits for all of a camper’s needs. The phone number for the cabin is (828) 652-2144.

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LOCAL TRAIL GUIDE List of hiking trails in the High Country Trails, trails and more trails

father Swinging Bridge and is good for beginning hikers. It’s a 1.0 mile turn-around through the forests of this majestic mountain. Offers an excellent view. Crest Trails, Grandfather Trail: This is the big one! It begins at Grandfather Mountain‚ Mile High Swinging Bridge and eventually hits all of Grandfather’s three highest peaks. This 2.4 mile trail requires approximately 5 hours of hiking time to travel the entire length. It’s extremely rugged, with only wooden ladders making some sheer cliff faces accessible. It intersects with several other trails at its northern terminus. Underwood Trail: 0.5 mile bypass around McRae Peak that lets hikers avoid most of the ladders, ropes and/or severe weather on the peak. There is one ladder. Strenuous and rocky.

Compiled by Rob Moore

GRANDFATHER MOUNTAIN VIEW If you are an outdoorsman and love to hike, there‚ are several options for you in the Boone area. Some hikes are challenging, some not so much, but most offer scenery and options for photographers in the spring, summer, fall or winter. The trails listed below are just a handful but please do your research before you decide to hike. Flip-ﬂops are not what you want to wear on a hike.

WEST SIDE TRAILS

BLUE RIDGE PARKWAY TRAILS Trails located along the Blue Ridge Parkway offer hikers just about any level of trekking their hearts might desire. Some of the trails are long and challenging, others are short loops leading to waterfalls or scenic vistas. For more information, phone (828) 295-7591 or (828) 295-3782. Mountains to the Sea Trail: The trail is broken down into sections. The sections closest to Boone is sections 13-17: Blue Ridge Parkway North Beacon Heights to Devil‚ Garden Overlooks. It covers 88-miles and crosses several main roadways. It actually begins at the rugged base of Grandfather Mountain. For more information visit the website: www.ncmst.org. Doughton Park Trails: Doughton Park, located in Ashe County near Laurel Springs, has more than 30 miles of hiking trails ranging from modest strolls to day-long outings. Some examples include: Bluff Mountain Trail: 7.5 miles, moderate; Cedar Ridge Trail: 4.4 miles, strenuous; Grassy Gap Fire Road: 6.5 miles, easy (horses allowed); Basin Creek Trail: 6.6 miles, moderate; Fodder Stack Trail: 2 miles, moderate. Milepost 241. Call (336) 372-8568 for trail maps. The Cascades Trail: One of the Blue Ridge Parkway most scenic trails, one of its easiest, this 0.5 mile turn-around leads to the scenic Cascades waterfalls. It begins at the Cascades parking lot, about three miles north of Deep Gap, Milepost 271.9. Moses Cone Carriage Trails: Easy to moderate. The Moses Cone Park includes 25 miles of gently sloping carriage trails of varying lengths, available to hikers, joggers, horseback riders and cross-country skiers. Most trails begin near the Moses Cone Manor, Milepost 294.0. Green Knob Trail: Starting at Sims Pond (Milepost 295), this moderate 2.4 mile trail winds along a stream through rhododendron forest, then changes scenery to climb up along a ridgeline. Boone Fork Trail: A moderate/strenuous loop leading through deep woods and along a cascading river of 5-5.4 miles in length. The trailhead is located in the Price Park Picnic Area, Milepost 296.5. Price Lake Trail: An easy trail leading around

PHOTO BY ROB MOORE The view from Proﬁle Trail of the proﬁle about a third of the way up.

scenic Price Lake for 2.7 miles. If you are lucky the beavers will be working. Trailhead is at Price Lake parking area, Milepost 297.0. Tanawha Trail: This trail, 13 miles in length, can be started at either the Price Park Campground, in Blowing Rock, or at the Linn Cove Viaduct parking lot, at Grandfather Mountain (Milepost 305.5). Check with Grandfather Mountain for a map of the trail. Linn Cove Viaduct Access Trail: The world-famous Linn Cove Viaduct, an engineering masterpiece, can best be seen from this trail, which begins at the Linn Cove Visitor Center, Milepost 304.4. The trail actually travels underneath the bridge, giving hikers an unparalleled view of this unique construction project. The trail is handicapped accessible for part of the way, and is a relatively easy stroll, but does link up with the Mountains to the SeaTrail, Nuwati, Boone Fork and the Tanawha Trail. Beacon Heights: A short hike gives you access to great views of Grandfather, the Linville Falls area, Hawksbill, and Table Rock. A nice place to hang out in the sun. Milepost 305.2. Linville Falls Trails: Several trails begin at the Linville Falls Visitor Center, in Linville Falls. All less than a mile in length, some lead to the top of the falls while two lead to the bottom of Linville Falls. All are recommended, although the lower falls trails can be a bit strenuous but give the better images from below. Milepost 316.4. Linville River Bridge Trail: This very short trail takes you down to the Linville River underneath one of the oldest old arched stone bridges on the Parkway. Picnic tables, restrooms, and water are all available. Going North on the Parkway, take a left towards the Linville picnic area and another left just before entering the picnic area. Milepost 316.5.

Chestoa View Loop Trail: A little over a half a mile long, this trail gives you a great view of Table Rock. Milepost 320.8. Crabtree Falls Trail: A strenuous 2.6 mile loop which leads to both the bottom and top of Crabtree Falls. This trail begins and ends in the Crabtree Falls Campground parking area, near Little Switzerland, Milepost 339.5. Other Trails: Several small trails of varying difﬁculty dot the Parkway south past the Linn Cove Viaduct. For a listing of mileposts and trail lengths, call the Gillespie Gap ranger ofﬁce at (828) 7656082.

GRANDFATHER MOUNTAIN TRAILS Grandfather Mountain, one of the tallest and most rugged in the Eastern United States, is crisscrossed with well-maintained trails, most of them for experienced hikers. Some lead into Grandfather deep woods, but most scale cliffs that can sometimes be dizzying in height. Always carry water, food and a trail map and wear sturdy boots. Permits are required for trail access, and hikers are strongly advised to exercise caution in case of thunderstorms or other adverse weather conditions. For further information phone (828) 733-2013 or (828) 737-0833, send a e-mail to hiking@grandfather.com or look online at www.grandfather.com.

PARK SIDE TRAILS The Bridge Trail: Grandfather’s newest trail begins at the Black Rock Parking Area and meanders through forested areas, eventually traveling underneath the Mile High Swinging Bridge. An easy 30 minute walk. Black Rock Nature Trail: This self-guided nature trail begins in the parking lot just below Grand-

Profile Trail: 3.3 miles. The lower part of the trail is an easy out-and-back leg stretcher, but the upper section is fairly strenuous. Links with Grandfather Trail. The trailhead is located near the Shoppes of Tynecastle on Highway 105 in Banner Elk. Calloway Trail (old school): 0.3 mile strenuous trail that links the Profile Trail (at Shanty Spring) and the Grandfather Trail (at Calloway Gap)‚ Bottom-toTop Linked Trail Outing: Profile Trail (3.3 miles) to Calloway Peak (.3 miles) Very strenuous, an all day outing for serious hikers only.

EAST SIDE TRAILS Daniel Boone Scout Trail: Strenuous. Ascends 2,000 feet in just 2.6 miles (allow 4.5 hours for round trip). Recommended access is from the Boone Fork Parking Area via the Tanawha Trail. Strenuous and steep trail to Calloway Peak, the highest point in the Blue Ridge. Nuwati Trail: 1.2 miles, easy but rocky. Located 0.4 miles on Tanawha Trail from Boone Fork Parking Area. Cragway Trail: Rocky and strenuous trail that links Nuwati and Daniel Boone Scout Trails. Beautiful views from this trail. 1.0 mile. Asutsi Trail: 0.4 mile. An easy connecting trail from Hwy 221 at Serenity Farm to Boone Fork Footbridge. Provides winter access to the East Side Trails.

PERMITS Permits are required for hiking all Grandfather Mountain trails and are available at the following locations: Grandfather Mountain Main Entrance, U.S. 221, Linville. Trailhead entrances at the Nuwati and Proﬁle Trail provide a free permit into the park.

LINVILLE FALLS TRAILS Duggers Creek Trail: Real short trail (.2 mile) just before the Linville Falls information center. There is a waterfall, a small one, at the end as this ﬂows down to the Linville River. Plunge Basin Trail: This is a moderate hike with some rugged spots but by far the best vantage point SEE GUIDE ON PAGE 24

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to view the Linville Falls. There is a pool of water at the bottom that is home to river otters if you can catch them out fishing. Length is .72 mile with a great payoff. Plunge Basin Overlook Trail: This is an easy section that is .5 mile in length. It will take you to the overlook of the waterfall and basin. Steps leading down can be slick at times and stay off the rock walls. Linville Falls Trails (upper): This .97 mile trail takes you to a few different places to view Linville Falls and the gorge. The upper falls are your first stop and you can see where the river plunges down a water chute with significant power. Next views you can see the waterfall from the Chimney view, Erwin view and another view much further back. There are well traveled views with plenty of visitors. It is easy and wide to hike.

LINVILLE GORGE TRAILS Here is a list of some of the more popular and longer trails in the Gorge area. The Linville Gorge Wilderness is one of the most remote, rugged wilderness areas in the entire Eastern United States. Trails are marked at the trailhead, but are not signed or blazed once inside the wilderness. Make sure you know how to read a topographical map and use a compass. Be prepared! Some trails include crossings of the Linville River‚ exercise extreme caution when crossing moving water. Hikers, campers, and rock climbers get lost within this wilderness area annually, and deaths are not uncommon. Contact the U.S. Forest Service ofﬁce in Marion for maps, permits, information on other trails, and safety details. Permits are required for overnight outings. For more information, phone (828) 652-2144. Center Gorge Trail‚ Linville Gorge Trail: 11.5 miles ranging from easy to strenuous, wellmarked to poorly maintained. Not for beginners! Take your compass and topo map and enjoy riverside hiking through virgin forest in the bottom of the gorge.

EAST RIM TRAILS Sandy Flats Trail: A strenuous trail on the west rim of the Linville Gorge. 1.3 mile in length and rather poorly maintained, so

be careful! Pine Gap Trail: A short .73 mile hike to the river that is easy. There is a campsite at the end and it also merges with the Linville Gorge Trail. Babel Tower Trail: Located on the West rim, this trail has an elevation change of 1,000 feet within 1.3 miles but is well maintained. The end of this trail brings you to rock towers and campsites that are a nice place to stay overnight. It also hooks up with the Linville Gorge Trail. Cabin Trail: A strenuous, very strenuous, 1-mile descent starting at Forest Service Road 1238 that connects with the Linville Gorge Trail. Poorly marked in some places but there are erosion issues on this trail which makes it tough to traverse, so take your map and compass and exercise extra caution. Cambric Branch Trail: Accessed from Shortoff Mountain Trail, this 1.2 mile trail descends along a ridgeline into the gorge. Your strenuous exercise is rewarded with good views but this trail has been taken off the travel maps. Conley Cove: This is a popular trail thanks to its more gradual descent into the gorge. It accesses Rock Jock Trail on the way to the gorge ﬂoor. A moderate 1.3 mile hike with good views along the way. Bynum Bluff Trail: One mile long, this west rim trail starts out easy but becomes strenuous. A short spur from the main trail leads to great views of the river and gorge. Rock Jock Trail: This is a rocky, well-maintained trail that is 4 miles in length. You will see plenty of spur trails off of this one, especially from the Conley Cove access side, that give you plenty of views up and down the Gorge. There are some nice campsites on this route. PINCHIN Trail: The southernmost access trail into the wilderness area, this very steep and rocky trail is a strenuous 1.4 miles that affords good views. This trail is a workout and not many switchbacks for a good rest. Overmountain Victory Trail: The Overmountain Victory National Historic Trail, established by Congress in 1980, commemorates the campaign that led to the Battle of Kings Mountain. This section runs from Kistler Memorial Highway (1238) up to Road 1560 for about 3.5 miles. This trail is actually much longer

at about 330 miles.

WEST RIM TRAILS Brushy Ridge Trail: This trail head originates at the backend of Gingercake. It is considered a primitive trail but is flat for most of the hike until you start to descend to the river. Total length is 4.24 miles roundtrip. Great views of the river snaking through the Gorge with the cliffs visible for great photos. Devil’s Hole Trail: Tough and strenuous trail that is not well marked as you get down further. Considered primitive but a cool payoff when you get to the river (1.5 miles). Jonas Ridge Trail: The Jonas Ridge Trail official begins in Gingercake Acres and takes you over Gingercake Mountain and ends at Sitting Bear Mountain but connects with Hawksbill Trail. It is an easy hike but a nice hike (4.4 mile roundtrip). Little Table Rock Trail: This is a moderate trail that has about a 1,000 foot elevation gain. It is somewhat primitive in sports but does have some campsites as well as two water points. You can access this trail from the Table Rock Trail or from the Spence Ridge Trail (1.6 miles). Spence Ridge Trail: A moderate 1.7 mile descent from the east rim to the gorge floor, this is a well-used access point to the area. Cross the river to connect to the Linville Gorge Trail. The Little Table Rock Trail connects with this trail. Table Rock Summit Trail: 1.4 miles, moderate. This trail ascends from the Table Rock parking area to the towering, 4,000 foot summit on the rim of the gorge. Views are worth the hike. The Mountains to the Sea Trail uses/crosses over this trail. Shortoff Mountain Trail: A moderate 10 mile roundtrip starts at the Table Rock parking area. The 2.6 mile trail follows the dramatic edge of the Linville Gorge to Shortoff Mountain, with great views of the gorge, Lake James, and the N.C. Piedmont and ends at Wolfpit. It also is part of the Mountains to the Sea Trail system. Hawksbill Trail: This 1.5 mile moderate roundtrip starts on Forest Service road 210. The short steep hike goes to the top of Hawksbill Mountain. The top provides beautiful views of the gorge and back to Table Rock. This is a must see for photographers. Wolf Pit Trail: Wolf Pit Road is where the trailhead begins up

to the Mountains to the Sea Trail and Shortoff Trail. Go to Shortoff Mountain and Table Rock or to the West Rim’s Pinnacle. Either way, the trip up, or down, is 1.1 miles in length and has some elevation gain.

BEECH MOUNTAIN TRAILS – EMERALD OUTBACK A series of nature trails in the Emerald crisscross Beech Mountain, all passing through gently sloping woodlands and passing over several of Beech’s main roadways. Main trail head is off of Oz Road. This trail system also allows for mountain bikers so share the trail and be on the lookout for each other. For more information, phone (828) 387-9283 or visit www. hikingbeechmtn.com. • Oz Forest Run: Magniﬁcent view of Roan Mountain. Easy 1 mile hike. • Wizard’s Way: Complete a loop from Oz Forest Run back to the Emerald Outback Summit Lot. Makes easy access to Southern Ridge. Easy .28 hike. • Jackalope’s: A 1.3 mile moderate to advanced trail. It crosses a small creek on a wooden bridge and Zig Zag falls. • Southern Ridge: The most strenuous of the trails, 1.3 miles, in this system with some cool rock formations. Elk River Valley, Awesome Oz and Pride Rock overlooks are on this trail. • Northview: An easy .7 mile trail. Mostly and easy connector trail. • Chamberlin’s Loop: A moderate .8 mile loop. You can access this loop from the Southern Ridge or Northview trails. This trail takes you through hardwood forests and grassy open areas. If you are lucky you will spot some deer along the way. • West Bowl Connector: A 1.2 mile moderate to advanced trail that has 27 switchbacks because of the descent. Follow signs for Smoketree or West Bowl Loop trails and have plenty of water and food because this trail is the furthest away from the lodge. • Bailout Emergency: Bailout Gravel Road is roughly one mile running in one direction and trails can be accessed from this road. Other Trails on Beech Mountain: • Lake Coffey Course: This scenic 1/4 mile course wraps around the lake and is perfect for both walking and jogging.

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• Pond Creek Trail: This easy to moderate 2 mile trail begins at Tamarack Road, following the creek past Lake Coffey to Locust Ridge Road. The lower end of the trail has a few small waterfalls. Park at Perry Park area. • Grassy Creek Trail: This easy 1.2 mile trail follows the creek from Hawthorn Road and ends at Grassy Gap Creek Road. • Cherry Gap Trail: An easy to moderate 1.6 mile walk up undeveloped Wild Iris Road. Start at Cherry Gap Road. • Buckeye Gap Loop Trail: Moderate 8.4 miles. • West Bowl Buckeye Creek Trail: Moderate 3.4 miles. • Grassy Gap Creek Trail: Easy to moderate 2 miles. • Smoketree Trail: Easy to moderate 2 mile loop.

WILSON CREEK PROPOSED WILDERNESS AREA The Wilson Creek Proposed Wilderness area, National Forest Service land composed of Lost Cove Ridge and the Harper’s Creek Area, borders the Blue Ridge Parkway in Avery County. Twenty-five miles of primitive wilderness trails offer excellent hiking and backpacking opportunities for travelers in this little-known, out of the way (but only about 45 minutes from Boone) wilderness area. Call Pisgah National Forest at (828) 6822144 for details. Maps available through the Pisgah office or area outfitters. The following are a few of the trails offered in this area: Huntfish Falls: Moderately strenuous, 1.4 mile roundtrip descends steeply to a big pool beneath a 10 ft. falls. Starts on forest service road 464. Lost Cove Trail: This moderate 6 mile roundtrip starts at Huntfish Falls and follows Lost Cove Creek for 3 miles. Big Lost Cove Cliffs Trail: Easy 3 mile roundtrip starts on forest service road (FSR) 464. Offers excellent view of Grandfather Mountain. Wilson Creek Trail/Wilson Creek Access/White Rocks Trail: These three trails combine to create an 8.8 mile, moderate to strenuous outing. Offers remote outdoors with fishing, abundant wildlife and rugged terrain. Harper Creek Trail: Strenuous 6.3 mile trail, connects to 9 other area trails, leading to gorgeous waterfalls, aspiring views, and excellent backpacking opportunities.

MOUNT JEFFERSON PARK Mount Jefferson State Park covers 541 acres and hikers can view North Carolina, Tennessee, and Virginia. The abundance of plants and shrubs led to the area’s protection in 1975. For more info, phone (336) 246-9653. Rhododendron Trail: A moderate 1.1 mile trail that starts near the end of the summit trail. Self-guided booklets are available at the trailhead, providing information about points of interest at various stations along the trail. The trail is at its most beautiful in early June when the purple-ﬂowered Catawba rhododendron is in bloom. Magniﬁcent view of summit ridge and valley below. Summit Trail: Beginning at the parking lot on Mount Jefferson, the summit trail passes through the picnic ground and ascends 0.3 miles to the highest point on Mount Jefferson. Moderate. Lost Province Trail: This is a 0.75 mile loop extending off the end of the Rhododendron loop, near Luther Rock, and is relatively easy.

ROAN MOUNTAIN TRAILS Roan Mountain and the Roan Mountain Highlands straddle the North Carolina/Tennessee border about a 45 minute drive from Boone. Several designated hiking trails, ranging up to four miles in length and varying in difﬁculty, meander through the park’s forests and stretches of Grassy Balds. For the experienced hiker, the famed Appalachian Trail crosses Roan Mountain at one of its most scenic junctures. The top of the mountain is open from April to October. For more information, phone (423) 772-3314. Cloudland Trail: A 3 -mile intermediate trail, the Cloudland Trail follows the crest of Roan Mountain, with a trailhead at the top of the Roan. Gardens Trail: This trail, 1 mile in length, is paved and travels throughout Roan Mountain’s famed rhododendron gardens which usually bloom in June. This trail is handicapped accessible. Appalachian Trail: The Appalachian Trail crosses Roan Mountain, literally going right over the top. It’s difﬁcult trekking in spots, but well worth the effort. Check the AT trail maps for shelters and springs if you plan on a trail trek.

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Hiking from mountains to sea BY THOMAS SHERRILL thomas.sherrill@wataugademocrat.com

f you’re hiking a trail in the High Country near the Blue Ridge Parkway, chances are you’ll see a white circle painted on a tree. No, this is not an act of vandalism, this is a sign for hikers that they are on the Mountains-to-Sea Trail. Spanning approximately 1,180 miles from Clingman’s Dome to Jockey’s Ridge State Park in Nags Head in the Outer Banks, the MST has become the premier challenge for hiking enthusiast in the state. The official trail of the State of North Carolina, the MST is a continual work in progress, with more trails and less connecting roads every year. According to the MST website, there are now 680 miles of trails and 500 miles of connecting roads, with miles of new trails being added every year. Hiking the MST has become a badge of honor for avid hikers during the last 20 years, with less than 80 confirmed cases of completion as of 2016, some of which were by the same hiker in different years. Both 2015 and 2016 had 13 hikers each complete the trail, the largest single-year number yet. The sections of the trail that go through the High Country hug close to the Blue Ridge Parkway, utilizing several existing trails. The Friends of the Mountains to Sea trail have divided the trail into sections, with the section encompassing some of Avery, Watauga and Ashe counties known as Section Five. “It’s a less rugged section that Section Four, which has the Linville Gorge, said Kate Dixon, executive director of The Friends of the Mountains to Sea Trail. “It’s good for day hikes and it has incredible views.” Out of the 90.3 miles of Section Five, 82 miles are on trails. Hikers experience some of the great wonders of the region, including the Linn Cove Viaduct, views of Grandfather Mountain, Table Rock, Hawksbill, and Pisgah National Forest, the Moses H. Cone Memorial Park, E.B. Jeffress Park, Mount Jefferson Overlook and Doughton Park and views of every major mountain. One of the new highlights of the High Country section of the trail is a new bridge

MOUNTAINSTO-SEA TRAIL HIGH COUNTRY SECTION FACTS • The length of the Section Five, which goes from Beacon Heights to Devil’s Garden Overlook, is 90.3 miles, with 82 miles on trail and 8.3 miles on the Blue Ridge Parkway. • The section of the trail is “easy to moderate with only a few strenuous parts.” • Views from certain parts of the trail can encompass more than 50 miles on clear days. • This section has 9,674 feet of ascension and 10,489 feet of descending. • The highest elevation is 4,671 feet and the lowest elevation is 2,831 feet. over Boone Fork in Julian Price National Park, which was opened in October 2016. “Before, hikers had to wade across the creek,” Dixon said of the new bridge. Another section that Dixon recommended that normally doesn’t get the attention

PHOTO BY JEFF EASON Posing on the new Boone Fork Trail footbridge is Adam Felmlee of Arete Engineers of Boone, which designed the bridge and supervised construction. The bridge opened in October 2016.

PHOTO BY THOMAS SHERILL White circles painted on trees facing each trail direction like these in Jeffress Park mark the way for those looking to hike the Mountains-to-Sea Trail.

it deserves in E.B. Jeﬀress Park, which is just north of Deep Gap and U.S. 421. “There’s some beautiful waterfalls there,” Dixon said of Jeﬀress Park. Dixon said prospective hikers should go

to www.mountainstoseatrail.org/segment/5/”www.mountainstoseatrail.org/ segment/5/ for everything they need to know about the High County section of the Mountains to Sea Trail.

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High Country: Where it’s cool to camp BY DEREK HAULSEY writer@wataugademocrat.com

great way to explore this beautiful region of Western North Carolina known as the High Country mountains is to camp up in the cool. When the temperatures get unbearable down off the mountains, the High Country is the destination for both amazing natural attractions, small, yet fun, towns, live music and festivals, and weather that will be a lot less hot than down below. In the spring time, those with an explorer’s attitude begin to kick in their warm month activities. For the fine folks at Bumgarner’s Camping Center in Lenoir, spring and early summer is when people begin to think about purchasing a new or used camper with traveling on their mind. “The time of years has an effect on us as far as customers,” said Shannon Bumgarner. “Spring and summer are our busiest months, from March through October. We sell all kinds of different trailers, small ones, big ones, whatever they want to buy.

PHOTO BY ROB MOORE Tents are one of those essential items needed if you are going to stay the night in the wild wilderness of the High Country.

There a lot of people who enjoy camping, even first timers who come in buy their first rig.” Once a new or used camper is bought, or the one in the garage is opened up and cleaned out and made ready for summertime fun, that is when places such as Grandfather Campground in Banner Elk

begin to get calls and reservations. “We have a lot of our seasonal campers get a hold of us in May, but after Memorial Day, the campground begins to get packed,” said Brandi Young, of Grandfather Campground. “Then, we stay pretty full during June, July and August and then again in October. We have people that stay

for the weekend or week, and others that stay for a month or six months. We are right on the Watauga River, so we get a lot of fly fishermen and women. But, there is so much other stuﬀ to do in the area that it keeps visitors entertained. The nearby Profile Trail also brings in a lot of hikers.” As for those hikers, campers and adventurers wanting to take advantage of the many opportunities in the High Country wilderness, Footsloggers is a go-to locally owned store that is capable of fulfilling their gear needs. With two stores now open in Blowing Rock and Boone under the same ownership team, the outdoor equipment business is ready to roll as these summer months unfold. “The weather changes what seasonal or shoulder items that we sell,” said Thea Young of Footsloggers. “If it is a chilly season, obviously we are going to sell more fleece. If it is a hot season, we’re going to sell more wicking shirts. If it is wet season, we’ll sell more Gor-tex footwear than breathable footwear. If we who run the SEE CAMP ON PAGE 33

Where to get camping gear Base Camp B.E. – located at the red caboose at 441 Shawneehaw Road in Banner Elk. The Outdoor Lifestyle Consignment store is geared for those that camp and explore the natural areas of the High Country. More information can be found at (828) 898-2020. Pack Rats is a military surplus store that has plenty of gear for campers. It is located at 150 Linville St. in Newland, and more information can be found at (828) 733-3600. Regear Outdoors is a consignment shop for all things camping and hiking. It is located in the heart of Boone, at 967 Rivers St., near Appalachian State University. More information can be found at (828) 386-3100. Mo’s Boots and Outdoor Gear is the place to ﬁnd new and high quality hiking boots, clothing and more. The store is located at 1586 Old HWY 421 in Boone. More information can be found at (828) 265-2668. Mast General Store has been around since the late 1800s and always features lines of products for the outdoorsman and woman. There are three Mast Stores to choose from, one at 630 W. King St., in downtown Boone, the more rustic and varied selections found at their original store located at 3565 NC-194 in Sugar Grove, and the nearby Mast Annex Store for good deals which is located at 2918 Broadstone Road, Banner Elk. More information can be found at www.mastgeneralstore. com, (828) 262-0000 and (828) 963-6511 The Walmart Supercenter in Boone, features a section for camping and the outdoors. It is located in the Watauga Village Shopping Center at 200

Village Drive. More information can be found at (828) 262-0254. Bumgarner’s Camping Center is the headquarters for those wanting to up their game and buy a new or used camper and camper supplies. Located in 2206 Hickory BLVD in Lenoir, the store touts “The Best Selection in Travel Trailers, Fifth Wheels and Lite-Weight campers.” Bumgarner’s is a family-owned and full service facility geared to fill your camper needs. With an impressive interactive website designed to let you know what products are available, a quick look on www. bumgarnercamping.com will direct you to either new or used camper inventories. More information can be found at (866) 690-8881. Footsloggers, located in the heart of downtown Blowing Rock, at 921 Main St., is the store of choice for a wide array of new running shoes, hiking boots, outdoor clothing and much more to fill your outdoor gear needs. The store provides a nice selection of goods while conveniently located in the High Country close to thousands of miles of running trails, hiking trails and mountains to climb. Footsloggers has also re-opened a store at their old location in Boone at 139 Depot St. The good news is that the same people that own the franchise in Blowing Rock now also run the store in Boone. More information can be found at footsloggers. com. The Boone store can be reached at (828) 262-5111 and the Blowing Rock store can be reached at (828) 295-4453. You can also find the Rock Dimensions Climbing Tower beside their Boone site.

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business are doing our due diligence and looking ahead at the weather constantly, we are able to keep in stock the goods that will help our customers enjoy whatever their outdoor pursuits may be. It involves a little bit of a crystal ball. But, if we keep our eye on more long-term forecasts, then we can stay ahead of how the weather is going to impact us. This year, folks may need both sun-protective shirts and raincoats, and waterproof shoes and Chaco hiking sandals. You make a nice little daypack so that you are prepared if the weather changes, because it is always more fun when you are not miserable.” For those who like to camp and hear the sounds of nature as they relax, there are plenty of opportunities for you to do so at various locations. Below you will find more civilized campgrounds listed, as well as some information for those who like to rough it deep in the heart of the wilderness. • Blue Bear Mountain Campground is located not far from Boone. With plenty of space and beautiful views to boot, there is much to like about this facility. The venue features primitive camping, luxury “glamping,” tepee camping and RV camping. It is located at 196 Blue Bear Mountain Road in Todd, and more information can be found at bluebearmountain.com and (828) 406-4226. • The Boone KOA Campground is located at 123 Harmony Mountain Lane near Boone. At almost 4,000 feet in elevation, it is the highest KOA campground east of the Mississippi River. Only four miles from town and nine miles from the New River, this KOA has all of the amenities you would expect including a game room, pool, mini-golf and even a small animal zoo. There are accommodations for tent, RV and cabins onsite. More information can be found at koa.com/campgrounds/boone/ or (828) 264-7250. • Located four miles from downtown Boone, Honey Bear Campground features a coﬀee shop, outdoor movies, various activities throughout the summer, a fishing pond and their famous “double swing.” For those wanting to relax in your RV at night in front of the TV, wi-fi is available for streaming and movies can be rented at the oﬃce. More information can be found at honeybearcampground.com or (828) 963-4586. • Grandfather Campground is located at the base of the geological structure from which it got its name, Grandfather

SUMMER TIMES Mountain. Located oﬀ of Hwy. 105, there is easy access to all three towns of Boone, Blowing Rock and Banner Elk. Providing tent sites, full hookup sites and cabins, this venue puts you in the heart of the High Country. The famous Profile Hiking Trail is just up the road as is the Blue Ridge parkway and all that goes with that scenic byway. The address for the campground is 125 Profile View Road, Banner Elk, and more information can be found at grandfatherrv.com or (800) 788-2582. • Located on the edge of Boone, is the Flintlock Campground. The venue offers tent sites, full hookup sites and cabins along a mountain stream at 3,500 feet elevation. Family-owned and operated, Flintlock Campground features a newly redone bathhouse, free wi-fi, laundry facilities, camp store, cable TV and other amenities. More information can be found at flintlockcampground.com and (888) 850-9997. • In the nearby town of Vilas, you will find the Vanderpool Campground. A family-oriented venue, the campground features level sites for big rigs, a camp store with ice cream and more, high speed wi-fi, outdoor games onsite, a bath house and a picnic pavilion. More information can be found at vanderpoolcampground. com or (828) 297-3486. • The Julian Price Park Campground is located right on the Blue Ridge Parkway next to Price Lake. The venue has 129 tent sites and 68 electric hookup sites, some located lakeside. The address for the campground is milepost 296 on the Blue Ridge Parkway and it features canoe rentals, ranger presentations in the amphitheater, fishing and other fun. More information can be found at www. recreation.gov or (828) 963-5911 and (877) 444-6777. • For those seeking to hike in the mountains and wilderness areas, there are plenty of remote yet beautiful places to choose from in the High Country. Elk Knob State Park and Grandfather Mountain State Park allow camping with permits in certain areas. But, there are many trails found in the Pisgah National Forest both in the Wilson Creek Gorge area and the Linville Gorge area available for vehicle campers and backpacking campers alike. Both areas feature dangerous terrain so do your homework, plan correctly, bring the right gear and you will have the wilderness trip of a lifetime. More information on camping in the wild and wonderful 500,000 acre Pisgah National Forest can be found at tinyurl. com/PisgahForestCamping.

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2017

5 TIPS for summer ﬂy

ﬁshing in the High Country BY BEN COGSDALE ben.cogsdale@wataugademocrat.com

fter winter weather in the High Country, the familiar warmth of sunshine and summertime can be a welcomed feeling. For anglers, there’s a sense of relief that comes with summertime; no more numb hands and frozen rod guides. It’s a time to ditch the waders and enjoy one of the reasons anglers are drawn to the sport of fly fishing in the first place — being immersed in nature. Unfortunately, there are also downsides to summertime fly fishing. Some of the easily accessible spots are filled with families tubing, kids playing and dogs splashing around, all situations that don’t contribute to stellar fishing. The water also begins to heat up tremendously which, for cold water fish such as trout, also isn’t conducive to an optimal time on the water. Fortunately there are experts who

PHOTO BY BEN COGSDALE What small, wild trout lack in size, they make up for in beauty.

know the ins and outs of the water, advantages and pitfalls, of summertime fishing in the High Country. Summer Times sat down with Foscoe Fishing Company and Highland Outfitters owner, Alex Dale, to talk about five summer SEE FISHING ON PAGE 36

2017

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FISHING

Fishing Outfitters

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 34

Appalachian Angler 174 Old Shull’s Mill Road Boone, NC 28607 (828) 963-5050 www.appangler.com

tips for High Country fly fishing.

FISH WILD STREAMS Many of the larger rivers that run through the High Country area are designated Delayed Harvest — there’s specific months anglers can harvest fish — or Hatchery Supported by the North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission. Both these types of streams are stocked with trout raised in fish hatcheries and are usually fairly accessible. However, the great accessibility leads to other recreation opportunities like swimming and tubing which isn’t great for fishing. Dale recommends fishing several different streams with a “wild” designation. These streams have conditions that are conducive to natural reproduction of the fish and support suitable natural trout populations for anglers. They are often smaller and more secluded as well. Dale said that the Elk River, in Banner Elk, the section of the Watauga River that runs through Foscoe, Winkler’s Creek, that runs behind the Boone Mall and Meat Camp creek on Highway 194, are all great wild streams to fish.

PHOTO BY BEN COGSDALE Fishing remote wild streams is a great way to beat the crowds during the summertime.

fishing when we fish with it. When we’re fishing a nymph pattern we’re still fishing the same species of that adult phase and what’s in between is just kind of forgotten.” This is the most vulnerable stage of an insect’s life where the bug rides in the surface film of the water. These are easy pickings for trout and are a solution when it seems nothing will catch fish.

EMBRACE DRY-DROPPER RIGS During the summer months, Dale said there’s also a switch in the tackle used. Dry-dropper rigs are extremely useful in summer months when insect hatches are plentiful and a strike indicator may spook fish. A dry-dropper rig is where a type of fly that floats on the top of the water is tied on the end of the line first and another sub-surface fly is tied off the back of the first flies hook. The dry fly — representing the adult stage of an insect — acts as an indicator for strikes on the subsurface fly. Dale said focusing on something large and visible for the top fly is more important than a specific pattern. He recommends Caddis, Yellow Sally’s, or Stimulators. Small nymphs — representing the larva stage of an insect — work well for the dropper fly. Dale also said many anglers neglect the middle stage of an insect’s life which are mimicked by emerger flies or soft hackles. “Soft hackles I think are the most underrated bug we have up here,” Dale said. “No one really realizes what we’re

2017

TERRESTRIALS Another change in tackle said Dale, is fishing terrestrial patterns. These patterns mimic bugs that are not aquatic insects but, for one reason or another, landed in the water. Beetles, grasshoppers and ants are all examples of effective terrestrials patterns in the summer. Dale said because conditions on a river have to be right for these bugs to be there, many fish know them and will strike quickly. If they don’t strike quickly, its probable that they are not accustomed to these types of bugs in that section of the river. “The fish that know what terrestrials look like know immediately what they’re looking for,” Dale said. “So some holes are what we call one-anddone. If you hit a hole with a hopper, beetle or something and the fish don’t respond, it’s probably because they don’t see many hoppers of beetles at

Highland Outﬁtters 4210 Memorial Ave, Suite 1 Linville, NC 28646 (828) 733-2181

Due South Outﬁtters 1082 E King St Suite 6 Boone, NC 28607 www.duesouthoutﬁtters.com

RiverGirl Fishing Co. 4041 Railroad Grade Road Todd, NC 28684 (336) 877-3099 www.rivergirlﬁshing.com

Elk Creek Outfitters 1560 N.C. 105 Boone, NC 28607 (828) 264-6497 www.ecoflyfishing.com

Watauga River Fly Shop 5712 N.C. Highway 105 South Vilas, NC 28692 (828) 963-5463 www.wrﬂyshop.com

Foscoe Fishing Co. & Outﬁtters 8857 N.C. 105 Boone, NC 28607 (828) 963-6556 www.foscoeﬁshing.com

that time or specific part of the river.” Dale recommends fishing terrestrial patterns on wider streams where there are fields such as the section of the New River, on 321, between Boone and Blowing Rock. Fish these patterns near the banks, where a bug would naturally fall into the water, and don’t spend much time in one place.

GO EARLY IN THE MORNING AND FIND THE SHADE In the summer months, as the day progresses, the hotter it becomes. Trout are cold water fish and prefer water temperatures between 50 and 60 degrees. Dale said that time of the day is crucial when fishing in the summer time. “In the summer the time of day greatly affects the temperature of the water, especially those more open streams, so earlier the better.” The earlier anglers are out on the water the more time they have to get in front of the fish when they’re willing to eat. Not everyone is an early riser however and, even with multiple cups of coffee, aren’t functioning enough to catch fish at six in the morning. Luckily enough, Dale said there’s still hope for catching fish in the middle of a hot summer’s day. “Seeking out holes where you know

those fish have more shelter,” Dale said is a huge tip for catching fish when the water temperature is warm. When anglers find a big bank or rock that cast a long shadow over the water, they will usually find pods of fish there. Dale said this especially effective when spots that usually produce fish aren’t producing.

FISH FOR SMALLMOUTH BASS While many anglers in the High Country prefer catching elusive trout, there no denying the amount of thought and effort that goes into catching these fish — especially in the summer when there’s other factors to contend with. Fishing for smallmouth bass, that are prevalent in the New River and larger sections of the Watauga, can provide a nice change of pace. Fishing for smallmouth bass is not as meticulous as trout fishing and can often be enjoyed from a raft or boat. There’s also the added bonus of fighting, what many consider, the hardest fighting pound for pound freshwater fish. Dale said he catches smallmouth bass down on the lower Watauga River below the 321 dam and on the New River. Girdle Bugs and Wooly Buggers are good flies for smallmouth bass Dale said.

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Water Fun in the High Country BY MAT DEBNAN mat.debnan@wataugademocrat.com

hile visitors to the High Country often come to see the area’s sweeping views and picturesque mountaintops, an often overlooked, yet equally impressive, natural feature of the region are the scenic waterways that run through its valleys. From adventure outfitters who specialize in customized float trips to public recreation areas, there are plenty of places to dip one’s toes in the water in the High Country.

ADVENTURE COMPANIES

or those exploring our rivers and streams for the first time, or even rediscovering them for the thousandth, local adventure companies such as Wahoo’s and River and Earth Adventures oﬀer unique adventures for all demographics. From gentle floats down the New River to pulse-pounding whitewater rafting adventures, these businesses oﬀer a variety of unique way to explore the waterways of the High Country.

WAHOO’S ADVENTURES Now entering its 39th season of operation, Wahoo’s has outposts on the New River in Ashe County, as well as the Nolichucky and Watauga rivers in Tennessee. The company offers campgrounds and accommodations on the New and Watauga rivers, as well as hot showers, changing rooms and restrooms at each of its outposts. By locating these full-service outposts in strategic locations, Wahoo’s Owner Jeff Stanley says customers can avoid long bus rides that sometimes come with water adventures. In addition to day trips and half-day outings at each of these locations, Stanley also said one of the company’s newest offerings is what he calls the Whitewater Safari, a three -or four-day journey which begins with a day of canoeing, kayaking, tubing and standup paddle boarding on the New River. On day two, guests can enjoy a half-day of rafting or kayaking on the Watauga River in Tennessee before spending an afternoon zip lining at a lo-

cal venue. On day three, guests will experience class three and four rapids on the Nolichucky River. Day four takes riders down Wilson’s Creek in Burke County on one-person inflatable kayaks. “With all the spring showers we’ve been having, this year is looking to be one of the best years we’ve had in the past 10 to 15 years as far as a river season,” Stanley said. Wahoo’s central oﬃce is located at 3385 US Hwy. 321 in Blowing Rock. For more information call (800) 444-RAFT, (828) 262-5774 or click to www.wahoosadventures.com.

RIVER AND EARTH ADVENTURES With a focus on outdoor adventure and education, River and Earth Adventures has outposts in Vilas, Todd, Marshall and Elizabethton, Tenn., and a presence on the New, Watauga, French Broad rivers. Offering the full gamut of water activities, including tubing, canoeing, kayaking, standup paddle boarding and whitewater rafting, River and Earth also offers environmental education programs, caving, hiking, rock climbing and gem mining. For the truly bold who have the proper experience, the company will also take a group of experts down the 5 1/2-mile Watauga Gorge when water levels permit, tackling class three, four and five rapids. Speaking with River and Earth Manager and Program Director Grant Seldomridge, River and Earth provides not only guided tours but rentals, guide services and assistance for those who have their own equipment. “If people have their own equipment, there are public and private areas on the Watauga and New rivers to access,” Seldomridge said. “If they need shuttle service to help with their own boats, we can help with that. If they need rental equipment, we can provide that.” River and Earth’s main office is located at 5578 US Hwy. 421 in Vilas. For more information on the company’s adventures, call (828) 355-9797 or click to www.raftcavehike.com.

SEE WATER ON PAGE 42

PHOTO COURTESY WAHOO’S ADVENTURES For the thrill seekers, whitewater adventures offer excitement under the guidance of experienced professionals who are dedicated to both fun and safety.

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2017

NC MINERAL AND GEM FESTIVAL August 3-6, 2017 • Spruce Pine, NC

Aisles and aisles of beautiful jewelry, gemstones, sterling silver, diamonds, crystals, fossils and more! Celebrating earth’s treasures for over 50 years!

PHOTO COURTESY WAHOO’S ADVENTURES Tubing on the New River offers a fun, relaxing way to enjoy the beauty of one of the world’s oldest rivers.

WATER CONTINUED FROM PAGE 41

High Mountain Expeditions 3149 Tynecastle Hwy. Banner Elk, NC (828) 266-7238 1380 NC Hwy. 105 South Boone, NC (828) 898-9786 www.highmountainexpeditions.com

Spruce Pine Commons, 12121 Hwy 226 S, Spruce Pine, NC Thursday-Saturday 10am-6pm • Sunday 12:30-5 pm • $3 admission Thursday Senior Citizens Day $1 • www.ncgemfest.com • 828-765-9033

Hikemore Adventures 9041 NC Hwy. 181 Jonas Ridge, NC (828) 595-HIKE www.hikemoreadventures.com

ASHE COUNTY NEW RIVER The oldest river in the Western Hemisphere, the headwaters of the New River are formed by the convergence of two rivers near the small community of Weavers Ford in Ashe County. A number of campgrounds and river guides dot the shores of the river’s south fork, and New River State Park oﬀers camping, hiking and fishing, as well as educational programs on the river’s ecology.

New River State Park 358 New River State Park Road Laurel Springs, NC (336) 982-2587 www.ncparks.gov/new-river-state-park

Green Valley Community Park 3896 Big Hill Rd. Todd, NC www.greenvalleypark.org

River Camp USA 2221 Kings Creek Rd Piney Creek, NC (336) 359-2267 www.rivercampusa.com

Zaloo’s Canoes Kayaks and Tubes 3874 NC Hwy. 16 Jefferson, NC 1-800-535-4027 www.zaloos.com

New River Outﬁtters 10725 US Hwy. 221 North Crumpler, NC

(336) 982-9192 www.canoethenew.com

Riverside Canoe 2966 Garvey Bridge Road Crumpler, NC (336) 982-9439 www.riversidecanoeing.com

AVERY COUNTY ELK RIVER Running along a North Carolina Scenic Byway from Banner Elk to the small town of Elk Park, the Elk River’s rapid flowing waters are certainly a sight to behold. Near the town of Elk Park, the river crescendos in a beautiful display at majestic Elk River Falls, near the North Carolina-Tennessee. While this spectacular, 50-foot waterfall is breathtaking, and can be safely enjoyed from the shore, visitors are cautioned against jumping from the falls into the plunge basin below, as many fatalities have occurred there over the years.

LINVILLE RIVER Flowing from its headwaters near Tynecastle, The Linville River turns into a cascading waterfall near the community of Linvile Falls before forming the heart of the breathtaking Linville Gorge. Visitors to the area will want to make a stop at the Linville Falls Visitor Center at Blue Ridge Parkway mile marker 316 for a short hike to stunning views of the 150-foot falls.

Down by the River Campground 292 River Campground Road Newland, NC (828) 733-5057 www.downbytherivercampground.com

NORTH TOE RIVER With its headwaters situated near Newland in Avery County, The North Toe River runs for miles through a gorgeous valley on a scenic stretch of U.S. Hwy. 19E in western Avery County, passing SEE WATER ON PAGE 43

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WATER CONTINUED FROM PAGE 42

by a number of small communities and campgrounds on its way to Spruce Pine in Mitchell County.

Newland Riverwalk 100 Pharmacy St. Newland, NC (828) 733-2023

Secluded Valley RV Campground 8555 South US Hwy. 19E Newland, NC (828) 765-4810 www.secludedvalleyrvcampground.com

Buck Hill Campground 6401 South US Hwy. 19E Newland, NC (828) 766-6162 www.buckhillrvcampground.com

Blind Squirrel Brewery Campground 4716 South U.S. Hwy. 19E Newland, NC (828) 765-2739 www.blindsquirrelbrewery.com

WATAUGA COUNTY BASS LAKE Part of Moses Cone Memorial Park, Bass Lake is encircled by an extremely east .8-mile walking trail, allowing scenic views and a pleasant stroll. The trail also

PAGE 43

connects to a more extensive network of carriage trails for more ambitious hikers.

PRICE LAKE Encircled by a 2.7 mile trail, Price Lake is located at mile marker 297 on the Blue Ridge Parkway. With Canoe rentals available, as well as campsites nearby, Price Lake is a beautiful spot for a day trip or an overnight excursion.

WATAUGA RIVER Beginning in Tynecastle and running along NC 105 to Valle Crucis, the Watauga River eventually empties into Watauga Lake in Tennessee. With hidden swimming holes and calm areas that allow for tubing and trout fishing, the river has a number of parks and campgrounds where the public can enjoy its beauty.

Valle Crucis Community Park 2892 Broadstone Road Valle Crucis, NC (828) 963-9239

Watauga Gorge River Access 2531 Old Watauga River Road Sugar Grove, NC

Grandfather Campground 125 Proﬁle View Road Banner Elk, NC (828) 355-4535 www.grandfatherrv.com

Honda of Wilkesboro 4641 Hwy 421 N. • Wilkesboro, NC 28697 • 336.973.3325 powersports.honda.com PIONEER 1000 IS ONLY FOR DRIVERS 16 YEARS AND OLDER. MULTI-PURPOSE UTILITY VEHICLES (SIDE-BY-SIDES) CAN BE HAZARDOUS TO OPERATE. FOR YOUR SAFETY, DRIVE RESPONSIBLY. ALWAYS WEAR A HELMET, EYE PROTECTION AND APPROPRIATE CLOTHING. ALWAYS WEAR YOUR SEAT BELT, AND KEEP THE SIDE NETS AND DOORS CLOSED. AVOID EXCESSIVE SPEEDS AND BE CAREFUL ON DIFFICULT TERRAIN. ALL MUV DRIVERS SHOULD WATCH THE SAFETY VIDEO “MULTIPURPOSE UTILITY VEHICLES: A GUIDE TO SAFE OPERATION” AND READ THE OWNER’S MANUAL BEFORE OPERATING THE VEHICLE. NEVER DRIVE AFTER CONSUMING DRUGS OR ALCOHOL,OR ON PUBLIC ROADS. DRIVER AND PASSENGERS MUST BE TALL ENOUGH FOR SEAT BELT TO FIT PROPERLY AND TO BRACE THEMSELVES WITH BOTH FEET FIRMLY ON THE FLOOR. PASSENGERS MUST BE ABLE TO GRASP THE HAND HOLD WITH THE SEAT BELT ON AND BOTH FEET ON THE FLOOR. RESPECT THE ENVIRONMENT WHEN DRIVING. Pioneer® is a registered trademark of Honda Motor Co., Ltd. ©2017 American Honda Motor Col, Inc. (1/17)

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2017

Mountain biking options growing in the High Country THOMAS SHERRILL thomas.sherrill@wataugademocrat.com

s the last of the snow melted and the green sprouted up across the High Country, many locals and visitors took time to dust oﬀ, knock the rust oﬀ and complete a practice run on their mountain bikes. The dust and rust will soon be replaced by mud and sometimes blood as adventure junkies take their machines to test its structural integrity, along with their endurance on one of the High Country’s mountain biking trails. Unlike regular trail riding where a stray root or branch is the biggest obstacle, mountain biking can encompass great inclines, sharp-banked turns, mud bogs, sudden declines and trees whizzing by. For those who seek adventure, the High Country is becoming home to more and more of these mazes meant for two wheels. Upon entering the Boone area on U.S. 421 from the east, visitors might barely notice Rocky Knob. An overhanging sign above a driveway doesn’t look too conspicuous. But behind the sign and in the hills are 185 acres of twists, turns and obstacles. “Rocky Knob Park is one of the premier mountain biking parks,” said Brian Sain, owner of Rhoddies Bicycle Outfitters in Blowing Rock. New to the park in 2017 is a new beginner’s trail, a connector and, by the time you read this, a advance trail should be completed. Sugar Mountain’s trails might not be as plentiful, but the views and scenery provide visitors with bliss-filled memories. “This area is a great weekend getaway for mountain biking,” said Kristin Jackson of Rocky Knob. Sarah Brown of Boone Bike noted that while there aren’t many printed trail maps around, their website, www.boonebike. com, has interactive trail maps.

PHOTO BY THOMAS SHERRILL The trail head at the base of Rocky Knob Park, leading to miles of mountain biking trails, range in difﬁculty from easy to extreme.

PHOTO BY THOMAS SHERRILL The pump track trail at Rocky Knob Park, where visitors can test their bikes before heading out on the main trails.

TIPS FOR MOUNTAIN BIKING IN THE HIGH COUNTRY • • • •

Have a full-extension bike for maximum use. Trails are rated in difficulty from a white circle (easy) to a double black diamond (hardest). Always start with the easiest trails first, even if you’re an experienced rider. If you don’t own a bike, local bike rentals are available at Boone Bike and Touring, Magic Bike, Rhoddies Bicyling Outfitters and other bike retailers.

Brown also recommended area was the Kerr Scott Trail System in Wilkesboro, which includes Dark Mountain, Overmountain Victory Trail and Warrior Creek, which is created and maintained by the Brushy Mountain Cyclist Club. “It’s important that riders check the BMCC cycling club website before heading down the mountain to be sure the trails are dry, open and there’s not something else like an event or bow-hunting taking place on the day they want to ride,” said Brown. For those who don’t want to go all out on cross country trails, there are a growing number of gravel options, Sain said. “Gravel is one of the fastest growing bicycling options as people are looking for quieter places to ride,” Sain mentioned. “You can work your way from here to Asheville on a network on gravel. There’s a 50-mile gravel ride around the Linville Gorge.” For a higher elevation challenge, Beech Mountain Bike Park and Emerald Outback offer a natural high. At 5,500 feet above sea level in the town of Beech Mountain, there are two mountain biking options for visitors. Emerald Outback, managed by the town of Beech Mountain, features cross-country rides over six and a half miles of trails. Trails range from easy to difficult including the “Oz Forest Run” going by the Land of Oz, the scenic “Southern Ridge” and much more. The Beech Mountain Bike Park at Beech Mountain Resort, is now open through Sept. 3, and allows visitors to bike on what are normally ski slopes. Ranging from the easy “Whole Lotta Love” to the double black diamond “Black Dog,” the BMBP offers a serious challenge to mountain biking enthusiasts. From June through September, lift access to both sets of trails is available Friday through Sunday for a fee via the chairlift at Beech Mountain Resort. The resort’s lift SEE BIKING ON PAGE 45

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PHOTO BY ROB MOORE No matter what type of trail you ride, there is a bike option for you – and chances are you will get it muddy.

BIKING CONTINUED FROM PAGE 44

includes trays to carry mountain bikes to the summit, with riders following closely behind in a traditional lift chair. Emerald Outback is free for cyclists with more information including lodging options available at www.emeraldoutback.com. BMBP has various trail pricing and also includes bike rentals and lessons. Pricing is available at www.beechmountainresort.com or at (800) 438-2093.

MOUNTAIN BIKING TRAILS IN THE HIGH COUNTRY • • • • •

Rocky Knob Park in Boone Sugar Mountain Resort in Sugar Mountain The Kerr Scott Trail System in Wilkesboro Emerald Outback, Beech Mountain Beech Mountain Bike Park

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The High Country: A paradise for road cycling BY THOMAS SHERRILL thomas.sherrill@wataugademocrat.com

f you travel the Blue Ridge Parkway this summer, odds are you will pass cyclists trying to recreate the Tour de France, straining their machine up inclines and then trying to be as aerodynamic as possible flying down declines. The skills vary, but the fact remains that the High Country has become a hub for road cyclists.

PHOTO BY MARK MCKILLOP Joe Carpisassi leads Anthony Rizzo and Ross Bowden over the ďŹ nish line in the 17th annual Blood, Sweat and Gears Saturday at Valle Crucis Elementary SEE CYCLING ON PAGE 49 School in June 2015.

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CYCLING CONTINUED FROM PAGE 48

“Boone is a cycling mecca, you’ve just got to know where to go,” said Sarah Brown, co-owner of Boone Bike. While cycling with a helmet is legal on all High Country roads, if you’re a novice, you might want to avoid the highway. The Boone Greenway is a great place for leisure bikers and the not-so-serious riders without having to look out for vehicles. The walkways are for pedestrians, so it’s up to the bikers and runners to avoid the walkers. “The Boone Greenway Trail is a hidden gem for families looking to get outside on bikes,” said Brown “Exploring the offroad sections of the Greenway is something even the local cyclists aren’t aware that they can do.” One of the most popular road cycling spots in not just the High Country, but in the country, is the loop that goes from Blowing Rock, down U.S. 221 to Linville, then back along the Blue Ridge Parkway over the Linn Cove Viaduct. “I tell my customers that it’s the most popular ride,” said Bobby Sain, owner of Rhoddie Bicycle Outfitters in Blowing Rock. “It’s one of the Top 10 rides in the country.” Sain recommends riders of the “Viaduct Loop” either go before 10 a.m. or after 4 p.m. due to vehicle traffic density. The loop has a 15 -or 30-mile option, which is used every Monday at 5:30 p.m. by Rhoddies for a group ride. The Parkway and neighboring roads are popular summer destinations for serious cyclists, but there’s countless roads to enjoy in the High Country. Some of the hidden gems of the High Country are in western Watauga County, where rolling hills filled with farmlands offers picturesque views and limited vehicle traffic. “If you ride more toward Avery and Beech Mountain, heading toward Tennessee or event northeast of Boone toward Todd, even during peak hours the vehicle traffic won’t be as busy. For those who want to test their cycling skills, there are several summer events across the region. The biggest will be the 19th Annual Blood, Sweat and Gears. In 2016, more than 1,400 riders participated. Other events will challenge the endurance of cyclists, such as the Beech Mountain Metric, where cyclists will climb up Beech Mountain Parkway from Banner Elk.

2017 Summer Cycling Events Art in the Park Ride June 10, July 15, August 12, September 9 and October 7 (al Saturdays) at 10 a.m. Organized by Rhoddies Bicycle Outﬁtters during the Blowing Rock Art in the Park Saturday events, this ride will take cyclists around the “Viadcut Loop” on U.S. 221 and the Blue Ridge Parkway in excess of 30 miles. Not a race, but a friendly ride with multiple regrouping points. Contact Rhoddies for more details.

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19th annual Blood, Sweat and Gears June 24 from 7:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. Starting and ending at Valle Crucis Elementary School in Sugar Grove. “BSG is a challenging to strenuous 90 mile loop ride starting and ending at the Valle Crucis Elementary School, approximately 5 miles south of Boone. The cumulative climbing elevation is 6629 feet with the climb up to the gap at Snake Mountain, mile-point 50, reaching an 18-20 percent grade near the top.” Web: www.bloodsweatandgears.org

NEWSPAPER

Boone Grand Fondo August 6 from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. Starting and ending on King Street in Boone. “The Gran Fondo National Championship Series offers not only the hardest road racing series in the nation, but also the most fun. ‘Come Challenge Yourself’ in this race, which beneﬁts the Western Youth Network. There are three distances to choose from: Gran Route (100 miles), Medio Route (55 miles) and Piccolo Route (20 miles)” Web: www.granfondonationalchampionshipseries.com/boone-gran-fondo/

Blue Ridge Brutal August 12 from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. Starting and ending at the Ashe Civic Center in West Jefferson. “There are 3 BRB ride options – 102, 72 and 55 miles. All the rides are challenging and spend at least 20 miles on the Blue Ridge Parkway. While challenging, each of the rides travels through some of the most beautiful scenery in North Carolina” Web: www.blueridgebrutal.org

CowBelle Classic August 26, 2017 from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. Starting and ending at the Old Cove Creek School in Sugar Grove “The CowBelle Classic is a women-only cycling event hosted by the Boone Area Cyclists Club. Women of all ages and abilities are invited to ride in a noncompetitive, social environment. By providing mentoring for new riders, we are expanding the community of women cyclists in our region.” This list was provided by www. booneareacyclists.org

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Indoor rock climbing has many beneﬁts BY STEVE BEHR steve.behr@wataugademocrat.com

t’s no secret that the High Country is a popular destination for rock climbing. Located in the heart of the Appalachian Mountain Range, there is no shortage of locations to climb rocks in the area. But weather may not be ideal to go rock climbing. Snow, ice, rain and simply bitter cold can discourage people from rock climbing. That’s when having an indoor facility comes in handy. Aaron Parlier is the co-owner and general manager of Center 45 Climbing in and Fitness in Boone. An avid rock climber himself, he opened Center 45 two years ago to provide a spot for avid rock climbers a chance to participate in SEE CLIMBING ON PAGE 51

and Climbing Gear Shop

BOONE • BLOWING ROCK, NC

PHOTO BY STEVE BEHR Appalachian State junior Josh Sexton of Asheville scales one of the climbing walls at Center 45 Climbing and Fitness in Boone.

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PHOTO BY STEVE BEHR Aaron Parlier is the co-owner and general manager of Center 45 Climbing and Fitness.

CLIMBING CONTINUED FROM PAGE 50

the activity to do it all year. It’s also a chance for people to build physical fitness. It takes strength and a certain amount of stamina to rock climb, or to go bouldering, which is similar to how indoor rock walls are designed. “It is an extremely eﬀective form of exercise,” Parlier said. “The appeal in it is that it’s never easy. It’s like a collective across the board there is diﬃculty in it. No matter what, the ultimate part of it that keeps people coming back is that it’s fun.”

PHOTO BY STEVE BEHR Asheville native Maya Pletcher, a junior at Appalachian State, takes on a wall that is at a 45 degree angle at Center 45 Climbing and Fitness.

Parlier said indoor rock climbing can be fun on several levels. The challenge, and then beating the challenge, is one level of enjoyment climbers can have. Another is that it’s an activity that can be done by individuals or by groups of people. “It’s fun in its diﬃculty and it’s fun in its social appeal,” Parlier said. “You come in here and you’re working out your entire body.” Parlier said that bouldering requires climbers to work diﬀerent paths along

the rock, which are called problems. Center 45 reworks one-third of its climbing walls each week, which provides diﬀerent problems for its customers. “We’re a bouldering gym, so when you’re bouldering, they’re called problems instead of routes, so that speaks to their complexity of getting to the top,” Parlier said. “Across the board, no longer how long you’ve been doing it, you’re trying to solve the boulder problems. In that community, everybody has the same shared experience. You’re trying really

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hard and you can take that skill set in here and go right outside Boone’s doorstep and you can apply those skills and the same strengths to some of the most amazing — we have world-class bouldering in Boone.” Bouldering is a shortened version of rock climbing. Generally, climbers try to scale a smaller rock, often around 20 feet high, with a spotter and a chalk bag. They also bring a strong foam pad to break any fall that might happen. The indoor facilities can train beginning or advanced boulderers for taking on rock formations outdoors. It can also provide a thorough workout. Parlier said one of the appeals of indoor rock climbing to him was it gave him a way to stay in shape after he was discharged from the army, where he was an airborne ranger. “You don’t need any real skill sets or knowledge,” Parlier said. “You don’t need any to have ever climbed a rock or an indoor wall before period to get that experience. As you do it more, you do develop very strong fingers and you develop an awareness of how to maneuver across a vertical face. Next to swimming, this is probably the most complete workout you can have.”

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Outdoor rock climbing can be done by beginners BY STEVE BEHR steve.behr@wataugademocrat.com

QUICK TIPS Some quick tips for rock climbing: • Wear rock climbing shoes. They grip the rock better than sneakers or hiking boots. • Wear looks clothing for better movement. • Use a chalk bag to carry chalk for better grip and to preserve hands. • Beginners should go with an experienced rock climber for safety reasons. • Prepare for inclement weather, which can strike fast in the High Country

hen there are rocks, there is somebody who is going to want to climb on them. It is Ryan Beasley’s job to make sure that those who come to him wanting to climb the rocks in the High Country, they are equipped to do it properly. Beasley and Jenny Allen own Rock Dimensions in Boone, a business that deals with rock climbing both inside and outside. Rock climbing, which is scaling up the side of a mountain using equipment for safety and for advancement up the mountain, diﬀers from bouldering, which involves climbing up a much smaller rock, closer to 20-30 feet, and have a landing pad and usually a spotter to provide safety. “Rock climbing, you’re attached to a rope,” Beasley said. “You’re wearing a helmet and you have a belay device on and you have persons pulling up the rope so you won’t fall. Somebody is there

to catch your fall with the rope and the belay device. “With bouldering, you’re climbing without a rope, so typically in bouldering, you have spotters and bouldering pads, these high-density pads and you get spotted like gymnasts do. You climb these boulders typically about 20-feet high without ropes and if you fall you land on this crash pad with your friends spotting you.” Beasley, 48, has been rock climbing

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PHOTO BY ROB MOORE Rough Ridge has been a climbers area for years.

since he attended Appalachian State University in the early 1980s. He fell in love with rock climbing during his college years. Many others fall in love with rock climbing for the same reasons. “It’s just the whole package,” Beasley said. “Going for the hike to the location, really the scenery. The areas you climb takes you to some of the most scenic kind of areas. If you’re hanging out with your friends and family outside is a plus.” Beasley said there are other reasons to take up rock climbing — the challenges it presents. “There are the physical and mental challenges of climbing that is presented to you,” he said. “I just think it’s the whole package of being outside and enjoying being in nature.” There are diﬀerent ways to go rock climbing. One is to go up the mountain with friends waiting at the top to ensure the harness is connected properly. The other is to hike to the top of the mountain and then repel down to the bottom. “You’re really not climbing the rope, but you’re using it to go down,” Beasley said. Beasley said beginners often start with bouldering since it’s not as far oﬀ the ground and the equipment isn’t as expensive. “That’s kind of the simplest way to get into climbing,” he said. “You might want to progress and do taller climbs, so at that point, just going out and doing that isn’t the smartest idea because beginners

would not know how to set the ropes up and set the anchors and belay and do things like that.” Beasley said it’s always better to learn rock climbing with somebody who knows what they are doing. That could be a friend who has rock climbing experience, or a business who has staﬀ members who specialize in rock climbing. Rock Dimensions has a staﬀ that works with beginners and those who have already been climbing and may be looking for a new challenge. “They can get out and get exposed and get a little taste of it,” Beasley said. “Our rock climbing tower is good for that because you can just show up for it. There’s no need for a reservation.” With rock climbing comes having proper equipment. It starts with special rock climbing shoes, which are made specially to have the proper grip on the rocks, but are lightweight. Rock climbing shoes typically start around $100 and go to about $180 for top-of-the-line shoes. “You would never hike in them,” Beasley said. “You would use boots or sneakers to hike to the rock climbing site. Then you pull your rock climbing shoes out of your backpack and they are kind of a snug-fitting slipper almost. They have sticky rubber on the bottom and every company has its special blend of sticky rubber. They’re terrible for walking — you would just slip in the mud — but SEE CLIMBING ON PAGE 53

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Rock Dimensions BOONE — It’s as part of Boone as Howard’s Knob, Appalachian State and winter snow. It’s the climbing tower located in downtown Boone. And it’s located at Rock Dimensions. The tower, which is about 40-feet tall, is a symbol of one of the most popular activities to do in the High Country — rock climbing. Rock Dimensions allows all challengers to take on the wall, which is located next to Black Cat Burritos off South Depot Street. “There’s about 15 different routes to choose from,” Rock Dimensions proprietor Ryan Beasley said. “In the summer, we have it staffed and it is open seven days a week and we definitely have facilitators to work with you.” Rock climbing is Beasley’s passion that started when he was a member of the boy scouts. In 1984, he went to Philmont Scout Ranch in New Mexico and was hooked. He and his friends in high school, who were in the scouts, stuck with it and taught themselves to climb. “There were a couple of my friends in high school and we were in scouts together,” Beasley, who will be 48 this summer, said. “We all learned kind of how to climb on our own during high school. It was a group of us who went climbing and camping together. Then I moved up here in the late 1980s and early 1990s and been climbing ever since because of scouting.” Beasley created Rock Dimensions in 1998 with the idea of turning his passion for rock climbing into a business. He remembered roots in scouting as a reason for opening the business. “A big part of our business is working with boy scout groups so they can earn their climbing merit badge,” Beasley said. Rock Dimensions caters to more than just Boy Scout troops. They cater to families and individuals or all skill levels. “We do a lot of half-day trips, so in the middle of summer vacation, families with kids will hire us to take them on a real rock,” Beasley said. “We take beginners all the time. We’ve taken kids as young as 5 or 6 and we pick climbs that they can be successful on.” They train climbers on how what equipment they need, how to set up a harness and anchors for their climbing and lead hikes to the rocks that they will scale or repel down for the day. Repelling is when after the climbers hike to the top of a ridge or a rock, they attach their harness ropes to a repelling device and the scale the rock downwards. “Usually on half-day trips, you’re learning some basic rock climbing knots,” Beasley said. “You’re learning how to belay. You get to climb three or four climbs and you get to do some repelling.” They also have all types of rock climbing shoes, harnesses, helmets, chalk bags and belays so novice climbers can be prepared to participate. “We are a climbing and retail store, so we sell rock climbing equipment, so we could easily get a beginner outfitted with the basics to go out and climb,” Beasley said. “What we teach is more from a national curriculum, so we are kind of teaching standards,” Beasley said. “You could find a friend and go out climbing with a friend, but hopefully that friend is competent in climbing, too.”

CLIMBING CONTINUED FROM PAGE 52

PHOTO BY ROB MOORE Mechelle Melton, climbing, and her husband, Dean, are skilled climbers but beginners can hone their skills and a variety of places.

they’re great for rock climbing.” Then there is the harness and the belay device needed to keep climbers safe, which generally go for $55-125. A chalk bag full of powdered chalk to rub on your hands is also recommended. Chalk bags generally sell for $20-25. Beasley also recommends that climbers wear loose, comfortable clothing. “We chalk our hands up like gymnasts chalk their hands up when doing diﬀerent bars,” Beasley said. “Most beginners are going to need shoes, chalk bag, harness, a helmet and probably some

anchoring gear so they can hike up to the top of the cliﬀ and set up an anchor.” Beasley said Boone is a great place to go rock climbing. He also said there is good rock climbing at Linville Gorge, Table Rock, which Beasley said is a multi-climbing area that has rock faces as tall as 600 feet. Ship Rock oﬀ the Blue Ridge Parkway has rocks as high as 200 feet. Beasley said there are also good places along Highway 221 near Blowing Rock that are good for bouldering. “People move and live here for the climbing,” Beasley said. “That’s what I’ve done. I live here for the climbing and for the outdoor activities.”

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Soar new heights with High Country zip lining BY KAYLA LASURE kayla.lasure@wataugademocrat.com

he High Country oﬀers visitors ways to experience remarkable mountain views that can’t be seen from the ground. Sky Valley Zip Tours in Boone and Hawksnest Ziplines in Seven Devils gives guests opportunities to zip line through the mountains and be as high as high as 150 to 300 feet in the air.

SKY VALLEY ZIP TOURS Sky Valley Zip Tours has been in operation for six years and offers a rustic look at an authentic Appalachian environment, said owner and operator Jack Sharp. “We’re not a huge company compared to some of the big boys out there, but we provide the absolute best experience for a family that’s coming up here to be in the Mountains,” Sharp said. “People really get to experience some of that awe that is the Appalachian mountains.” Sky Valley offers two zip lining tours — the canopy tour for adults and the Whistle Pig tour for kids. The canopy tour consists of 10 zip lines which includes a 16,000-foot-long, 300-feet-high line — coined Big Mama. On this tour, zip liners can jump off a 45 foot vertical cliff into a controlled descent landing in a rock amphitheater. The tour concludes with a walk across a 120-foot-long cable bridge over top a 35 foot cascading waterfall. The canopy tour is for ages 10 and up and takes about two and a half hours, Sharp said. Children ages 4 and older who are at least 48-inches-tall are able to participate in the Whistle Pig zip tour. This children’s zip tour encompasses seven zip lines hundreds of feet below the canopy tour. The Whistle Pig includes a bridge for children to run across as well as a 20 foot slide out of a tree. “They get to do that course as many times as they want,” Sharp said. “It gives them the opportunity to play and have a good for a couple of hours.” Sharp said sometimes the length and elevation of the zip lines intimidate new riders. “We pride ourselves and out staff to work with people to gently introduce them to the sport and encourage them without any sort of peer pressure or do necessary prodding,” Sharp said. Sky Valley is open March through November while sometimes operating in December and part of January depending on weather, Sharp said. Sky Valley takes walk-in visitors, but Sharp said they prefer reservations be made to ensure availability. Reservations can be made by calling Sky Valley at (855) 4759947 or by visiting www.skyvalleyziptours.com/.

HAWKSNEST ZIP LINES Operating zip lining for eight years, Hawksnest prides

PHOTO BY KAYLA LASURE Richard Happel zips over a creek as Sky Valley staff member Adam Newman prepares for his landing.

The hawk tour is scenic mile and a half ride with 11 cables; with two of these cables being over 1,500-feet-long. Riders can expect be 150 feet in the air and go about 35 miles an hour. Both companies have staff who go through training and have regular “It’s going to spend more time doing scenic administered inspections of all equipthings,” Cottom said. “It’s going to go over the trees, ment used. in between the trees and go over lakes and creeks.” Riders on the eagle tour can expect to get up to Sky Valley 50 miles an hour, travel ing up to three miles with Hours of operation: nine cables. These zip lines have heights more than All week; times vary on reservation 200 feet, have two cables more than 2,000-feet-long Location: 634 Sky Ranch Road, Blowing Rock and three cables more than 1,200-feet-long. Cottom Rates: said this tour will spend more time out in the open Canopy tour: $84 versus in the trees. Whistling Pig: $40, $30 with local ID Sticking with authentic Appalachian themes, Hawknest provides riders an opportunity to zip off Hawksnest PHOTO BY KAYLA LASURE of tree platforms instead of manmade platforms. Hours of operation: Dylan Gardner repels A good majority of Hawksnest visitors are first All week; times vary on reservation Location: down a 45-foot contime zip liners, Cottom said. However, he said peo2058 Skyland Drive, Seven Devils trolled descent at Sky ple shouldn’t be afraid of the experience. Rates: Valley Zip Tours. “With zip line, you don’t have the roller coaster Hawk tour: $80 effect where there’s a big drop,” Cottom said. “You Eagle tour: $90 just slide off instead of jumping off and the ground just drops away from you.” itself on having 20 zip lines which make about four miles Hawksnest is open seven days a week, all year round. of adventure for its visitors. While Hawksnest does allow zip lining in the winter “You just can’t just zip line anywhere with this kind months, Cottom said most of the bigger courses aren’t as of terrain and views,” said Hawksnest President Lenny accessible to visitors so summer is a great time for people Cottom.” to make the most of zip lining. Hawksnest offers two tours — the hawk tour for ages 5 Reservations can be made at (828) 963-6561 or at www. and older and the eagle tour for age 8 and older. hawksnestzipline.com.

HIGH COUNTRY ZIP-LINING

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A destination for all seasons Adventures await at Grandfather Mountain BY JAMIE SHELL jamie.shell@wataugademocrat.com

mong the most recognizable and visited attractions in the state of North Carolina, Grandfather Mountain is nestled in the heart of the High Country. From its lovable animal habitats and comfortable summer climate to hands-on opportunities to get up close and personal with nature, Grandfather Mountain bridges education with outdoor fun. “The list of reasons to visit Grandfather Mountain is a mile high,” Frank Ruggiero, director of marketing and communications with Grandfather Mountain Stewardship Foundation said. “For one, PHOTO COURTESY GRANDFATHER MOUNTAIN STEWARDSHIP FOUNDATION One of Grandfather Mountain’s most popular hikes can be found in it’s a fantastic place to visit in the Grandfather Mountain State Park, wherein hikers use ladders to summit summer. At the base of the mounMacRae Peak. These more strenuous trails are accessible from the Miletain, it’s usually at least 10 degrees High Swinging Bridge parking lot. cooler than oﬀ the mountain and in the foothills and piedmont regions. Once you arrive at the peak ventured out into the woods and up and visitors to tour and experience of the mountain, it’s usually 10 close with nature. A lot of people during their visit. From the Granddegrees cooler than that. It’s a nice have genuine concerns about that, father Mountain Nature Museum way to cool down, as well as get a and whether it’s safe, especially to the vast array of environments 360-degree panoramic view of the out alone, so we like to oﬀer kind and wildlife habitats to the museum High Country, which adds a little of a bridge to that world as well,” restaurant with fresh-made fare that perspective.” Ruggiero said. “They can drive up to includes its popular and sustainGrandfather Mountain features a trail, they can take a short stroll, ably-made fudge, there’s something unique hiking or if they’re for everyone at the mountain. trails and more experi“You can spend the entire day pathways for enced hikers, here and find a whole new set of visitors of they can activities to do here the next day as all ages who venture for well,” Ruggiero added. long for the miles. They Grandfather Mountain is perhaps Grandfather Mountain boasted more than chance to can go to Cal- best-known for two facets of the 300,000 visitors from all areas of the globe in venture out loway Peak attraction: the Mile-High Swinging 2016. According to marketing director Frank and comor MacRae Bridge and its wildlife habitats. The Ruggiero, at any time a patron could meet other mune with Peak and get Mile-High Swinging Bridge, Amervisitors from all reaches of the world. “We draw people from literally all over the nature, but back into the ica’s highest suspension footbridge, world. You can have someone from Avery County may have backcounwas built to give visitors easy access on one side of the Mile-High Swinging Bridge, varying detry. There to the breathtaking view from and have someone from Tibet on the other side,” grees of difare hiking Grandfather Mountain’s Linville Ruggiero said. “The patronage spans the entire ficulty when possibilities Peak. The suspension bridge spans globe. Grandfather is one of those things that it comes to for any level, 228 feet and an 80-foot chasm at local friends have a lot of pride and ownership in reaching whether more than one mile in elevation, throughout the community.” one’s destinabeginner or and is a highlight of any trip. tion. strenuous Grandfather Mountain’s wildlife “Oftentimes, this is people’s first hikers, and all points in between.” habitats are a must-see for any visconnection with nature at GrandFor those not inclined to trek into itor, featuring a variety of animals father. Maybe someone has read the wooded natural splendor of the found in a habitat most like its about it or gone on a brief stroll mountain, there are multiple activiSEE GRANDFATHER ON PAGE 56 on a greenway, but haven’t really ties closer to civilization for families

PHOTO COURTESY GRANDFATHER MOUNTAIN STEWARDSHIP FOUNDATION Nova, one of Grandfather Mountain’s resident North American river otters, strikes a pose during one of her daily enrichments. Enrichment is an integral part of how the mountain cares for its habitat animals each and every day.

LOCAL YET WORLDWIDE ATTRACTION

PHOTO COURTESY GRANDFATHER MOUNTAIN STEWARDSHIP FOUNDATION Grandfather Mountain’s Nature Museum is home to an extensive collection of North Carolina gems and minerals, its cases containing some 62 different types of minerals (350 specimens in all), including crystals of the state’s famed emeralds and rubies and the largest amethyst ever found in North America.

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GRANDFATHER

‘BEHIND THE SCENES’ AND SPECIAL EVENTS

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 55

natural surroundings outside of captivity. “We house black bears, river otters, bald eagles, whitetail deer, and we’ll be getting elk this October. This summer, we’re excited about bringing in our new cougar cubs, Logan and Trinity, who were rescued from Idaho last spring and found wandering and emaciated in a local neighborhood there,” Ruggiero explained. “A donor generously donated a plane to allow us to pick them up and bring them here, and we’ve been adapting a habitat for the past year to help acclimate them. Having the Western cougars here, with the Eastern cougars believed to be extinct, allows us to show how those cougars would have looked in this habitat, as well as also help raise awareness for the cougars’ plight.” Many visitors are unaware that Grandfather Mountain is open year-round, giving patrons the opportunity to witness a kaleidoscope of color and life, opening a curtain to a grand spectacle as seasons blossom and transition. “Experiencing the seasons on Grandfather is like experiencing the regular seasons, but times ten. They’re just

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PHOTO COURTESY GRANDFATHER MOUNTAIN STEWARDSHIP FOUNDATION The Mile-High Swinging Bridge welcomes visitors to admire 360-degree panoramic views from Grandfather Mountain. The bridge has been in place since 1952, but was rebuilt in 1999 using its original towers.

incredible. A lot of people don’t realize that we are open year-round, being here for people to do something in the winter. When the ski slopes might not be available for skiing during a winter day, people can come up during those winter days,” Ruggiero said. “One of the best times to come to the mountain is in the

Dennis Lacey Broker

Enjoy Breathtaking Views

autumn. You can see the leaves changing on the mountain, but you can also see them gradually changing into the valleys below. Even though they may have fallen on top, you can see the whole autumn splendor for an amazing view, getting the entirety of the season. You have the lush greenery of the summer and all the diﬀerent programs. In the fall, there’s the foliage and crisp air, the view shed of being able on a clear day to see as far as Charlotte, almost 80 miles away. Grandfather at wintertime is a magical place, Often it isn’t as crowded, and it feels like you have the place all to yourself. Spring is special as everything comes back to life. The bears begin to shuﬄe around, the birds come back and the trees begin to bud. It’s just a beautiful season. Every

Grandfather Mountain offers opportunities for visitors to get an inside look at wildlife habitats and the inner working of what it takes each day to care for and interact with the attraction’s wildlife. Almost everything is included with admission to the mountain except for the Behind-the-Scenes tours, where patrons can experience where the animals are fed and sleep. “Visitors get pretty much up-close to a bear, a cougar and the river otters. We also have a “Keeper for the Day” program, where guests can work in a habitat behind the scenes and what it takes to care for the animals.” Ruggiero explained. Grandfather also hosts myriad programs throughout the year, including KidFest, Girl Scout Days, Dollar Days, photography and naturalist events, as well as two major annual gatherings held on Grandfather’s MacRae Meadows: the Singing on the Mountain gospel event that occurs the last Sunday each June, and the Grandfather Mountain Highland Games, held the second weekend of each July. season up here is unique, and I encourage anyone to come see for themselves.” Admission to Grandfather Mountain (accessed via automobile through the entrance gate) is $20 for adults (age 13 to 59), $18 for seniors (age 60 and older), $9 for children (age four to 12), with children younger than four years of age admitted free. Grandfather Mountain is open seven days a week, however hours of operation vary depending on the season. For more information, click to www.grandfather.com or call (800) 468-7325.

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Grandfather Mountain prides itself in giving back through its various programs for youngsters and adults alike. Among the offerings available are the mountain’s Naturalist programs, which vary from year to year. A popular program offered at Grandfather is the Junior Ranger Program, where children can pick up a book and complete various tasks around the mountain. Once all the tasks are successfully completed, they are sworn in as a Junior Ranger, complete with a ceremony at the attraction’s gate house. Children of all ages also can enjoy Animal Encounters, which take place hourly in the habitats. Naturalists lead an open discussion about the featured animals and give them an enrichment, sometimes a toy or the animal’s favorite food, something they can give the animal in order to keep the animal mentally active and stimulated to break up their daily routine. “It’s one of those times to see the animals at their most interactive and personal, because they’re active and generally in really good moods,” marketing director Frank Ruggiero explained. ”The otters and bears are fun to watch, and it’s a tremendous learning opportunity.” Grandfather also offers interpretive hikes, a ranger-led hike through many of the mountain’s trails while teaching about the environment’s ﬂora and fauna. Also available are topical events, presentations and keeper talks, where a keeper will give a presentation with some of the attraction’s smaller animals, such as owls or snakes.

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2017

Summer Times guide to the Blue Ridge Parkway

BY DEREK HALSEY writer@wataugademocrat.com

he beautiful Blue Ridge Parkway is perhaps the most traveled scenic road in all of America. Beginning on top of Shenandoah Valley in Virginia, the 469-mile long drive was meant to ride the high ridge lines of the Blue Ridge Mountains to showcase the immense natural beauty of the region. As it winds its way from Virginia to the Great Smoky Mountains of Western North Carolina, the road is marked by Mileposts which come in the form of white blocks seen on the roadside as you travel. Built during the Great Depression, the Blue Ridge Parkway has a historic aspect to it as well as the beautiful stone archway bridges found throughout the length of the road were built by the WPA workers of the day. Ultimately, however, it is the incredible vistas and views that make this road a SEE PARKWAY ON PAGE 60

PHOTO BY DEREK HALSEY The Blue Ridge Parkway offers much to explore — and view.

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destination for tourists from all over the United States as well as the world. The section of the BRP that runs through the Boone, Blowing Rock and Banner Elk region of Western North Carolina is considered one of the more picturesque of the journey. Below is a guide to some of the better stops to be found along this partiicular stretch of the BRP going from North to south. There will be attractions noted for the normal every-day tourists and some adventures listed for the more adventurous among us who want to hike the trails, mountains and gorges of the area. The northside of our journey starts with the Deep Gap exit located at the 276 Milepost of the BRP that puts you onto Hwy. 421. This is the way to go to get to the mountain college town of Boone, where there is much to do as far as food, music and more. Other exits that lead to other notable towns in the area include the Hwy. 221 exit to Blowing Rock at the 291 Milepost and the 305 Milepost exit onto Hwy. 221 that leads to the entrance of Grandfather Mountain and the town of Banner Elk. There is much to do and take in while in Blowing Rock, from the many unique shops found on Main Street to mountain views and fine restaurants. Banner Elk is surrounded by the ski resorts known as Sugar Mountain. HIKERS: For those seeking adventure of a natural kind, begin at the Deep Gap section of the BRP. This begins an amazing section of the BRP that passes by the tallest mountains east of the Mississippi River and multiple gorges including the Linville Gorge, the steepest gorge in eastern America that is also called “The Grand Canyon of the East.” At Milepost 294 you will find the Moses Cone Manor. The house and 1,000-plus acres of land was made into a park. There you will find a gift shop as well as a trail to the fire tower that overlooks Boone. Drive about a half a mile further south and you will find the exit for Hwy. 221 to Blowing Rock. Oﬀ the exit, you will also see a sign to Shulls Mill Road. If you stay on Shulls Mill Road for about 7/10 mile, beside the second road leading down into Trout Lake, you will come across a wooden fence with a metal fence beside it and a small parking lot. This is the Rich Mountain Carriage Trail. About three miles in length, this easy hike/running trail takes you through a Wizard of Oz-type of forest to the left, then up top to more prairie-type

PHOTO BY ROB MOORE The Blue Ridge Parkway offers so much that you could be a lucky one and experience wildlife such as this black bear sow and her cubs.

of landscape and eventually to a wonderful view before you head back down to where the local cows are hanging out trailside. At Milepost 296 you will find Price Lake, campground, amphitheater, picnic area and boat ramp with plenty of summertime activities for the family. At Milepost 299 you will find the beginning of the more adventurous mountain hiking trails to come with the Boone Fork Trail leading things off. Exploring the Northern side of Grandfather Mountain, it is moderately hard trail that is beautiful. For those not wanting to hike, at Milepost 301 you will find a pull-over known as the Wilson Creek Valley View. Whether you stay in your vehicle or walk along the edge, the view is magnificent especially if the sun is shining on Wilson Creek Gorge below. At Milepost 300 you will come across one of the more popular mountain trails on this section of the BRP. The parking lot for the Rough Ridge Trail is usually filled with vehicles, especially on a warm, sunny day. This moderately difficult trail takes you to some stunning overlooks on Grandfather Mountain, although the path can get crowded on the weekends. When that happens, there is an even sweeter route to take for the more daring hiker. If you park in the Rough Ridge parking lot and walk along the side of the BRP about a quarter of a mile to the south, you will find the 301 Milepost right before you cross a short section of viaduct. At the end of the viaduct you will see a rock wall on the right. At the end of the rock wall there will be a trail to the right that follows the cliff wall up the mountainside to the Ship Rock geological formation. You do not need ropes to make this trek. Once at the top of the trail, you turn right and eventually connect with the Rough Ridge trail, which will return you to the parking lot. The views are fantastic and this route will be a lot less crowded yet more adventurous.

Back on the BRP, a little way further south, and you will experience one of the more famous sections of the road called the Linn Cove Viaduct. The last section to be built on the BRP, it is a curvy engineering marvel as the road shoots out over Wilson Creek Gorge. Before the main pathway of the viaduct begins, there will be a parking lot to the left called the Yonahlossee Overlook, which provides a trail that goes alongside and underneath the viaduct and also provides some great views. At Milepost 305, just past the turn off onto Hwy. 221 that leads to Grandfather Mountain and the resort town of Banner Elk, you will find what many view as the “Coolest Short Trail in the East,” the Beacon Heights Cliff Trail. Only 1,400 feet to the top, once you are on the trail you will cross two other trails, the Mountains to the Sea Trail and the Tanawha Trail. The signs, however, will keep you on track. Once near the peak, you will find a stone bench. Go straight at the bench for a cool view, but the better view is to take a left at the bench, hiking up a short set of natural rock stairs that will lead to a flat cliff where the view is spectacular. From there you can see Grandfather Mountain to the left, Wilson Creek Gorge in the middle and the dual elbow-shaped mountains to the right which are Hawksbill and Table Rock Mountains that overlook Linville Gorge. For those with families, the turn into Grandfather Mountain State Park leads you to many sights and activities. For an entrance fee, the trip to the top of Grandfather Mountain will feature animal habitats, trails to hike, a gift shop, restaurant and the famous Mile High Bridge to walk across. The views are stunning and on a rare crystal clear day you can see the skyline of Charlotte, 90 miles away on the horizon. More information on opening and closing times of Grandfather Mountain State Park can be found at grandfather. com. At Milepost 308, there is an easy

2017

30-minute hike on the right known as the Flat Rock Trail. Once you leave the parking lot, the fairly flat trail leads through some thick woods and ends up at a view that looks over the valleys below. This is also known as the “Sunset Trail” as it is a superb place to watch a sunset, especially if nature is putting on a good show as the sun fades under the horizon. HIKERS: At Milepost 311 on the BRP you will find a left turn onto Old Jonas Ridge road which will take you further into the Wilson Creek Gorge and onto some challenging yet rewarding trails. Once you turn left, go two miles until you see a big turn in the road with a white church on your left. Beside the church is a gravel road that goes straight at the turn. That is Forest Road 464, aka Pineola Road. Once on the gravel road you will see the trailhead for Big Lost Cove Cliffs on the left a couple of miles in, and three miles further you will see a small parking lot on the right for the Little Lost Cove Cliffs trail. The latter is a shorter hike but both moderately difficult trails lead to outstanding cliff-top vistas. Do some research and you will find many other trails, waterfalls and more on this road that goes deep into the Wilson Creek Gorge area. Back on the BRP, you will find a series of three exits based on the Linville Falls and Linville Gorge attractions. For those wanting an easy trip, the Milepost 316 exit will take you to the Linville Falls Visitors Center, campground and picnic area. Also, for an easy and amazing view of Linville Gorge, go to the Hwy. 221 exit at the 317 Milepost. Once exited, turn left onto Hwy. 221 and then less than a mile to the south take another left onto Hwy. 183. About 7/10 of a mile further and you will find a gravel road on the right with signs that will lead you to Wiseman’s View and Linville Falls. This will be Hwy. 1238, aka Old Route 105. The first parking lot you will see on the left are for two trails that show you different views of Linville Falls. If you take Hwy. 1238 for almost exactly four miles, however, you will see the sign for the Wiseman’s View parking lot, where you turn left. Here there is a baby stroller/wheelchair accessible paved walkway that leads to as special a view of Linville Gorge as you could hope to experience. The vistas will simply take your breath away. Know that Hwy. 1238 to Wiseman’s View is a gravel mountain road, so if you have four-wheel drive or all-wheel drive, you should be fine. If you are in a vehicle that is two-wheel drive, only go on the gravel road if it is dry. Watch out for the occasional SEE PARKWAY ON PAGE 64

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ruts, otherwise the heart-stopping sights at Wiseman’s View are very much worth the effort. HIKERS: At Milepost 312 you will see the exit for Hwy. 181. From there turn south onto Hwy. 181 and look for the second turn off for Ginger Cake Road on the right, across from a big “Ginger Cake” sign on the left. Once on Ginger Cake Road you will quickly see Table Rock Road which veers off to the left. Table Rock soon becomes a gravel road and will lead you to fantastic trails on the east side of Linville Gorge. As you travel along, you will see a parking lot for the trail that leads to the summit of Hawksbill Mountain about four miles in, which is one of the better hikes in the region. Look for the “Hawksbill Trail” sign on the right at the beginning of the trail. Eight miles in on Table Rock Road will get you to the turn off to Table Rock Mountain Trail, where you will turn right and continue up the mountain. Once at the Table Rock parking lot, facing the gorge, the trail to the right takes you to the

2017

summit of Table Rock Mountain overlooking Linville Gorge. The trail on the left side of the parking lot leads to what many consider to be a favorite hike in the area known as the Chimneys Trail. For the next mile on the Chimneys Trail, you get to hike through exquisite rock formations that are simply sublime. Instead of looking down at Linville Gorge from the Hawksbill and Table Rock peaks, on this trail you literally become a paHwy. of the Gorge as you walk. Further down the BRP will lead you to even more great views and fun stops along the way with places to explore such as Crabtree Falls, the town of Little Switzerland, the Museum of North Carolina Minerals, the live music venue known as the Orchard at Altapass and more. A few miles south of the BRP on Hwy. 221 will lead you to the entrance of the popular Linville Caverns. As you continue on your way, you will eventually come across the turn oﬀ to Mount Mitchell at Milepost 355. At 6,683 feet in elevation, Mount Mitchell is the highest mountain east of the Mississippi River and the good news is that you can drive virtually all of the way to the top. There is much to take in on this truly special section of the Blue Ridge Parkway. Have fun, be safe and go explore!

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2017

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Moses Cone Park offers trails, history and gift shopping BY JEFF EASON jeff.eason@wataugademocrat.com

here are many, many reasons while Milepost 294 is among the most popular destinations on the entire Blue Ridge Parkway. First and foremost is Flat Top Manor, also known as Moses Cone Manor, the former home of Moses and Bertha Cone. The mansion sits atop a hill outside of Blowing Rock, and from its front porch you can see Bass Lake and a seemingly endless south-facing view. Flat Top Manor sits in the middle of Moses H. Cone Memorial Park, a 3,496-acre federal park, which includes Bass Lake, Trout Lake and some 25 miles of hiking and horseback riding trails. Together with nearby Julian Price Memorial Park it is the largest developed area set aside for public recreation on the Blue Ridge Parkway. The mansion was built by denim magnate Moses Cone in 1900, eight years before he died. After Bertha Cone died in 1947, the mansion and sur-

PHOTO BY JEFF EASON From Cone Manor, hikers and equestrians can access 25 miles of trails.

PHOTO BY JEFF EASON Moses Cone Manor is a must-stop destination for those traveling through the High Country on the Blue Ridge Parkway.

rounding property was bequeathed to the Moses H. Cone Memorial Hospital in Greensboro. Two years later, the hospital board donated the property to the National

Park Service to become part of the Blue Ridge Parkway. The 23-room mansion now features an NPS information desk, gift shop and the Southern Highlands Craft Guild

shop. The National Park Service offers regular tours of the mansion. For more information, call (828) 295-7938.

Craft demonstrations at Cone Manor BY JEFF EASON jeff.eason@wataugademocrat.com

raft demonstrations by members of Southern Highland Craft Guild will take place on the front porch of Flat Top Manor on the Cone Manor Estate. The demonstrations are free and open to the public. The demonstrations take place from 10 a.m. until 4 p.m. with a lunch break at the demonstratorâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s discretion. The 2017 craft demonstration schedule includes Sandy Adair on May 26-29 (fiber, needle tapestry weaving), Lin Oglesby on May 27-29 (fiber, crocheting, knitting, yarn plying), JeďŹ&#x20AC; Neil on May 30-June 1 (wood, Shaker style box construction), Peter Werner on June

2-4 (natural materials, broom making), Lorraine Cathey on June 5-7 (fiber, felted bears and landscapes), Charlie Patricolo on June 5-7 (mixed media, doll making), Jay Pfeil on June 8-11 (paper, printmaking, etching), Lynn Jenkins on June 12-17 (raku ceramics), Lee Entrekin June 18-21 (wood, Native American flute making), David Crandall on June 22-25 (wood, dovetail box construction), Judy Brater on June 26-30 (clay, hand building), Barb Miller and Deb Schillo on July 1-2 (fiber, weaving and spinning), Jay Pfeil on July 3-7(paper, printmaking, etching), Allen Davis on July 8-11 (wood, wood turning), Lorraine Cathey on July 12-13 (fiber, felted bears, landscapes), Peter Werner on July 14-16 (natural materials, SEE CRAFT ON PAGE 69

PHOTO BY JEFF EASON The Parkway Craft Center at Moses Cone Manor offers hundreds of unique handmade items for sale.

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Summer motorcycling the High Country BY DEREK HALSEY writer@wataugademocrat.com

uring the summer months, motorcycling is a wonderful way to explore the High Country. The Blue Ridge Parkway is a destination in and of itself, although there are many side attractions to explore as well. Coming in from the Shenandoah Mountains in the north, the 469 mile Blue Ridge Parkway winds through the highest mountains east of the Mississippi River once you get into Western North Carolina. The High Country section of the BRP is one of the more beautiful parts of this scenic and historic road, with quick access to the mountain towns of Boone, Blowing Rock and Banner Elk as well as many wineries, old country stores, hiking trails and more. All of it leads to a drive up to the top of Mt. Mitchell, the highest mountain in eastern United States. For the folks at Crossroads Harley Davidson in Wilkesboro, the warmer months mean a big uptick in customers as folks get the itch to ride. “Generally, we see more interest from

CRAFT CONTINUED FROM PAGE 68

broom making), Sandy Adair on July 1719 (fiber, need tapestry weaving), Mary Mikkelsen on July 20-24 (clay, hand building), Ronnie McMahan on July 2526 (wood carving), Lynn Jenkins on July 27-31 (raku, clay), Jay Pfeil on August 4-6 (paper, printmaking, etching), Sue Grier on August 7-9 (clay), Sandy Adair on August 10-13 (fiber, needle tapestry weaving), Judy Brater on August 14-17 (clay, hand building), Lee Entrekin on August 18-20 (wood, Native American flute making), Lorraine Cathey on August 21-22 (fiber, felted bears and landscapes), Lynn Jenkins on August 23-28 (raku, clay), Ronnie McMahan on August 29-30 (wood, carving), David Crandall on August 31-Sept. 4 (wood, dovetail box construction), Lee Entrekin on Sept. 8-10 (wood, Native American flute making), Jay Pfeil on Sept. 15-17 (paper, printmaking, etching), Lynn Jenkins on Sept. 18-23 (clay, raku), Brandy Clements on Sept. 24-25 (mixed media, chair caning),

PHOTO BY ROB MOORE Motorcycling is popular on the Blue Ridge Parkway with many options for activities and scenery while enjoying the open road.

the beginning of March until about the start of June, depending on the weather,” said Jamie Seymour, of Crossroads Harley Davidson. “But every year is diﬀerent. It has a lot to do with what kind of spring we have, whether it is cold or wet, or warm and sunny. Motorcycles are a seasonal industry. When it is warm and sunny, people start showing up wanting to buy. The vast majority of bike

Allen Davis on Sept. 26-30 (wood, wood turning), Lee Entrekin on Oct. 1-4 (wood, Native American flute making), Marc Tickle on Oct. 5-8 (glass, kaleidoscope construction), Sandy Adair on Oct. 9-10 (fiber, needle tapestry weaving), Jeﬀ Neil on Oct. 11-13 (wood, Shaker style box construction), David Crandall on Oct. 14-17 (wood, dovetail box construction), Tom Gow on Oct. 18-21 (wood, cottonwood bark carving), Lin Oglesby on Oct. 22-27 (fiber, yarn plying, knitting, crocheting), Sam Johnson on Oct. 28-29 (mixed media, fly fishing rods) and Marc Tickle on Oct. 29-30 (glass, kaleidoscope construction). The Parkway Craft Center will also present a “Children’s Hour” from 10:30 to 11:30 a.m. every Wednesday from May 7 through August 9. Children’s Hours are free and best suited for children ages 4-12. They include simple hands-on crafts and activities. An adult or older responsible attendee must stay with children in order for them to participate. For more information, call the Parkway Craft Center (828) 295-7938.

owners bring them out of the garage in the spring, despite our urging for them to come in during the oﬀ-season to get their biked serviced so that they are ready to roll for spring and summer. But, most of the time they wait until it is 70 degrees outside and they decide they want to ride, and then they go and get it serviced

with dead batteries, old gas and the things that come with winter storage.” There are many motorcycle-specific activities to check out in the months to come in the High Country. On June 2-3, the Boone Spring Bike Rally takes place near Boone, at the High Country Fairgrounds located at 748 Roby Greene Road. The rally will feature live music by the groups Throwdown Jones, Asylum Suite, Black Glass, Ambush and Southern Thunder. There will also be $1,000 bike games contest and a $1,000 bike show. The event is BYOB in coolers, but no colors, no glass and no attitudes. More Information can be found at www. boonebikerally.com and (828) 7338060. The Boone Bike Rally was created by Kenny Johnson, whom many will know as a member of the Johnson Brothers Band. “I started this event in the fall of 2011,” said Johnson. “I’ve always noticed all of the motorcycles that make their way to this area in the warmer months and SEE MOTORCYCLING ON PAGE 70

Temple of the High Country-Schaefer Jewish Community Center Home of the High Country Jewish Community Come join our Jewish Community Friday Night Shabbat Services: 7 PM Sisterhood Mahjong – Wednesdays (call for information) Check our website for additional information on: Shabbat morning services • Shabbat “Torah Brunch and Learns” (Beech Mountain Area) Shabbat “Torah Lunch and Learns” Potluck Lunches • Sisterhood Meetings High Holiday Services Schedule • Congregational Newsletters

Rabbi: Stephen Roberts, MBA, BCC Location: 1043 West King Street, Boone, NC 28607 • Mailing Address: PO Box 2895, Boone, NC 28607 www.TempleOfTheHighCountry.org • 828.266.9777 • templeofthehighcountry@gmail.com A Proud Member of: Union for Reform Judaism TOHC Mission: Our mission is to be a spiritual, educational, and social home for our Jewish community and to enhance the lives of our congregants and community at large. As we embrace our Jewish traditions, we are able to support one another through times of sadness and joy as well as further the Jewish vision of worldwide justice and peace.

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I had a lease on the fairgrounds, so we decided to create this rally. Now, we get people riding in from Michigan, Pennsylvania, Florida, Georgia, South Carolina, Tennessee and a lot from Virginia. We use the Blue Ridge Parkway as a draw as well. We also do a bike rally in the fall, but the spring event is the bigger one. The motorcyclists usually start rolling into this area by May, so we try to schedule the spring bike rally on the weekend after Memorial Day. We provide prize money for bike contests and we also have a bike show on Saturday afternoon where people display their best motorcycles, trying to win some prize money. The attendees of the rally get to choose who wins the bike contest in five diﬀerent categories. Some of the folks roll in on Friday night, but most riders make a day of it and come in on Saturday morning from Charlotte and the whole region.” On June 3, Crossroads Harley Davidson will host the Pink Heals Poker Run and Fire Truck Pull. Crossroads Harley Davidson is located at 1921 Hwy. 421 in

Wilkesboro. More information can be found at crossroads-hd.com and (336) 667-1003. More events at Crossroads Harley Davidson include the 5th Annual Josh Foust Memorial Ride and Guatemala Fundraiser on June 5, the Wilkes County Fireman’s Memorial Ride on June 24, the Night of Fire Motorcycle Festival with fireworks and other events as the season progresses. On Aug. 11 – 13, the Carolina BMW Motorcycle Owners Association will host the 40th annual Dan’l Boone Bike Rally. The center for events of the rally will be the KOA Campground located at 123 Harmony Mountain Lane in Boone. There will be door prizes, classic and vintage people’s choice bike awards, a special 40th anniversary pin for the first 200 entrants and a catered BBQ dinner on Saturday night. Camping will be $55 for both Friday and Saturday evenings and $10 for Thursday night. More importantly, the central location will provide access to wonderful roads to travel on bike including the Blue Ridge Parkway as well as wonderful drives in both nearby southwestern Virginia, to places such as Whitetop Mountain and

Mount Rogers, and to northeastern Tennessee where you will find destinations that include beautiful Roan Mountain, the Channels of Virginia rock formations, the Birthplace of Country Music Museum in Bristol and many other attractions. More information can be found at www. caroloinasbmwmoa.com. Exciting mountaintop destinations close by the Blue Ridge Parkway include a trip to the top of Grandfather Mountain. For an entrance fee, you can ride to the summit and walk upon the Mile High Bridge, which features some of the best views in all of the High Country. There is also an animal habitat on the mountain, a gift shop and more. On an especially clear day, although it can be a rare occurrence, you can see the awesome skyline of the city of Charlotte about 90 miles away, looking like the Land of Oz on the horizon when conditions are right. Grandfather Mountain is located oﬀ of the Hwy. 221 exit at the 305 mile marker on the Blue Ridge Parkway. More information on opening and closing times of Grandfather Mountain State Park can be found at grandfather.com. At the 316 milepost of the Blue Ridge Parkway, follow the signs to the Linville

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Falls and Linville Gorge recreational area. Linville Gorge is considered the “Grand Canyon of the East” as it is the steepest gorge in the eastern United States. Wiseman’s View is located four miles down the gravel road known as Rt. 1238 or Old NC Rt. 105. While the overall Linville Gorge is filled with challenging and dangerous trails suited for more experienced hikers, Wiseman’s View provides an easy walk on a short paved trail that leads to spectacular views of the gorge. The highest mountain east of the Mississippi River is Mount Mitchell. This peak is also accessible mostly by road which leads to a free parking lot just 300 yards from the summit. Mount Mitchell State Park is located at the Rt. 128 exit at the 355 milepost on the Blue Ridge Parkway. The views are simply spectacular. The park also contains tent camping areas, a museum, restaurant, picnic areas and more. For those riders that want to experience all or most of the wonderful attractions found on the High Country gem known as the Blue Ridge Parkway, an interactive map can be found at http:// www.blueridgeparkway.org/map.php.

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2017

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2017

DOWNTOWN WEST JEFFERSON 31st Annual

CHRISTMAS IN JULY Festival Saturday

JULY 1 Watauga Lake 9am-7pm • FREE

The crown jewel of the Eastern Tennessee Mountain Music • Arts & Crafts • Family Fun • Children’s Activities Dance • Farmers’ Market • Food • Civil War Reenactments

COME EARLY! Friday, June 30

Music & Street Dance 3-10pm • Food Vendors 5-10pm

336-846-9196

www.ChristmasInJuly.info

to higher ground in what today forms the town of “New” Butler. All told, the relocation project required 55 miles of esting like a cool, blue jewel new road construction and the relocation amidst the emerald green of more than 1,000 graves. of the mountains, Watauga Today, visitors can explore the area’s Lake is history at The arguably one of the Butler Museum, lomost stunning pieccated at 123 Selma es of nature in all of Curtis Rd in Butler, the High Country. Tenn. The museum With swimming is open on Saturareas, miles of days and Sundays hiking trails, campfrom 1:30 to 4 p.m. sites and boating during the summer, opportunities and tours can be galore, the lake is a made by appointbeloved destination PHOTO BY MATT DEBNAM WITH SPECIAL THANKS ment. For more TO JEFF WILLIAMS OF JOHNSON CITY, TENN. information, click for families seeking Encircled by mountains that seem to summer fun. Yet, to www.thebutlerrise from its very depths, the beauty of in a strange twist of museum.com. irony, this beautiful Watauga Lake cannot be overstated. ON SHORE lake is decidedly Visitors to Watauga Lake will be unnatural. pleased to discover a variety of options HISTORY for dipping their toes in the lake’s cool, Sitting at the confluence of the Watauclear waters. With five U.S. Forest ga River, Elk River and Roan Creek, Service maintained recreation areas in Watauga Lake was formed in 1948 when the vicinity, there are many options for a the Tennessee Valley Authority completrelaxing day of family fun. Sites requiring ed the Watauga Dam, which was built in reservations and fees can be reserved by an eﬀort to control flooding in the Tenclicking to www.recreation.gov. For more nesee River watershed after the infamous information about USFS maintained flood of 1940. areas in the area, click to www.fs.usda. In the path of this project was the town gov/main/cherokee/home or call the of Butler, known today as “The Town Watauga Ranger District oﬃce at (423) that Wouldn’t Drown.” As the project 735-1500. moved forward, the town’s population of 600 people, and even many of the town’s SEE WATAUGA ON PAGE 74 homes and businesses, were relocated BY MATT DEBNAM matt.debnam@wataugademocrat.com

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PHOTO BY MATT DEBNAM WITH SPECIAL THANKS TO JEFF WILLIAMS OF JOHNSON CITY, TENN. Lakeshore Marina, pictured here from the water, is one of three public marinas on Watauga Lake. Along with Mallard Cove and Fish Springs Marina, these marinas are the ‘go-to’ location for visitors who want to rent a boat. Boat owners can also launch from three US Forest Service access points around the lake.

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Shook Branch Beach Located on the southwestern corner of Watauga Lake, adjacent to U.S. Hwy. 321, this 20-acre site is a great location for individuals or families seeking a day trip on the lake. With a large, enclosed swimming area, a beautiful sandy beach,

24 picnic tables on site, and a large grassy field for romping, Shook Branch Beach oﬀers opportunities for swimming, grilling, sunbathing and all the quintessential summertime activities a family can hope to enjoy. The area is open from 6 a.m. to 10 p.m. through October 27 and is a short drive away from the nearby town of Hampton, Tennessee. Activities and amenities — Beach area, SEE WATAUGA ON PAGE 75

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swimming, picnic areas, grills, restrooms Fees — Fee for vehicle access is $2 per vehicle per day or a $30 per year with a Cherokee National Forest Pass.

Watauga Point Picnic Area Oﬀering scenic views of the lake, this recreation area is shaded by large trees, but also contains a beautiful grassy area with plenty of room for picnicking and sunbathing. There is also a gravel trail that loops through the nearby forest. A large pavilion and picnic tables are available for rent for family gatherings and other events, and a number of smaller picnic tables are available free of charge. As there is no designated swimming area on site, swimming is at the visitor’s own risk. No overnight camping is allowed at the site, which is open from 6 a.m. to 10 p.m through. Activities and amenities — Picnic areas, scenic views, swimming (at patron’s own risk), drinking water, restrooms. Fees — $30 rental fee per day for pavilion or large picnic tables.

Cardens Bluff Campground High on a bluff overlooking Watauga Lake, Carden Bluff offers more than 40 tent campsites. Situated a short distance from Shook Branch Beach and the Rat Branch Boat Launch, this site offers easy access to the lake’s day use recreation areas. Gates open at 7 a.m. and close at 10 p.m. Campsites are for one group of up to five individuals and two vehicles. The site is open through Sept. 18. Activities and amenities — Camping, bathrooms, warm showers, potable water. Fees — Campsites are $12 per night.

Dennis Cove Campground Situated approximately five miles south of the recreation areas on the western end of the lake, Dennis Cove Recreation Area is a secluded campground and picnic area adjacent to the Laurel Fork Creek, which oﬀers trout fishing opportunities for the intrepid angler. Of all the sites in the area, Dennis Cove has the most to oﬀer for the serious hiker. With a network of five trails spanning the distance between the lake and the campground, and three more connecting to the Appalachian Trail to south of the site, truly adventurous campers who enjoy moderate to strenuous hikes in and

PHOTO BY MATT DEBNAM This swimming area at Shook Branch Beach is one of many low-cost public recreation areas in the Watauga Lake area. While some campsites and picnic shelters carry fees, most sites can be accessed for $2 per vehicle per day or $30 per year with a Cherokee National Forest Pass.

KNOW BEFORE YOU GO Hiking Know where you are and where you are going; carry a map. Prepare with appropriate clothing and equipment. Carry plenty of water to hydrate. Be on the lookout for wildlife such as bears and snakes. Know your own physical limits.

Recreation areas Secure your vehicles when leaving them unattended. Be respectful of other visitors. Fishing at Watauga Lake requires a Tennesaround the rugged and pristine terrain of the Pond Mountain Wilderness Area. A short drive from the lakeshore recreation areas, along the lake’s shore makes this campground a great place to retreat to after a full day of fun in the sun. Activities and amenities — Camping, hiking, picnic area, fishing, potable water, restrooms Fees — Campsites are $10 for a single site and $20 for double sites. The campground can accommodate 80 individuals and groups of less than 75 people may reserve the entire campground.

Pond Mountain Shooting Range Firearm enthusiasts can enjoy a day

see ﬁshing license, which can be obtained at most retail stores. Do not carve, chop or damage live trees. Place all litter in bins or pack it out. Do not burn outside of designated areas. Alcoholic beverages are prohibited at all US Forest Service-maintained recreation areas and campgrounds.

Boating Always maintain awareness of your surroundings. Be courteous to other boaters. Be aware of no-wake zones. Boating under the inﬂuence of alcohol is both dangerous and against the law. Please respect the pristine beauty of Watauga Lake. Don’t litter. of shooting on this USFS maintained shooting range, located on 321 between Watauga Point and Shook Branch Beach. With targets set up at 25, 50 and 100 yards, the range is open from daylight to dusk. Fees — Fee is $2 per vehicle per day or $30 per year with a Cherokee National Forest Pass.

ON THE WATER With 6,430 acres of lake to explore, individuals wishing to explore Watauga Lake in full are going to need a boat to experience all the area has to oﬀer. Fortunately, three marinas on the lakeshore provide rentals, as well as slips for folks

who want to keep their boats on the Watauga year-round. Boaters who bring their own vessels for a day trip on the lake can also put in at three convenient USFS launch ramps.

Lakeshore Marina From rental pontoon and ski boats to slips and boats for sale, Lakeshore Marina offers a wide variety of services for visitors to the area. A shop on site sells snacks, tackle and beverages, and guests can dine at the Captain’s Table restaurant after a long day on the water. Lakeshore also has rental cabins on site, offering gorgeous views of the lake. For more information about rentals and offerings at the marina, click to www. lakeshore-resort.com, or call (423) 7252223.

Fish Springs Marina With pontoon boat rentals, jet ski tours and rentals of standup paddle boards, and canoes and kayaks, Fish Springs Marina has a number of options for cruising the lake. The marina also oﬀers slip rentals, boat sales, RV campsites and a store on site. For more information about Fish Springs, click to www.fishspringsmarina.com or call (423) 768-2336.

Mallard Cove Marina A sizable carp population at this SEE WATAUGA ON PAGE 78

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marina makes for a unique attraction, in addition to pontoon boat rentals, a boat launch and a snack bar. For more information, click to www.mallardcovemarina.com or call (423) 768-3440.

Cove Ridge Marina and Yacht Club This private marina oﬀers covered slips and long-term RV camping, as well as many activities and amenities such as walking trails, horseshoes, volleyball, basketball, a children’s playground, a private beach and swimming lagoon. For more information, click to www.coveridgemarina.com or call (423) 768.3741.

Rat Branch Launch This paid USFS boat launch is conveniently located between Shook Branch Beach and Carden Bluﬀ of of Highway 321. In addition to the launch, the site also features a fishing pier and restrooms. Located on the eastern end of the lake, this launch is also outfitted with restrooms. Parking is $2 per vehicle per day or $30 per year with a Cherokee National Forest Pass. Open sunrise to sunset, year round. Located oﬀ U.S. 321 and Moody Road.

Sink Mountain Launch Located on the Northeastern shore of the lake, east of Butler, there is no charge to this secluded launch at the end of paved forest road 298 oﬀ TN. Highway 167.

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WATER FUN IN THE HIGH COUNTRY ADVENTURE COMPANIES Local adventure companies offer trips ranging from gentle ﬂoats down the New River to pulse-pounding whitewater rafting adventures, as well as other unique excursions throughout the region. Wahoo’s Adventures 3385 US Hwy. 321 Blowing Rock, NC (800) 444-RAFT (828) 262-5774 www.wahoosadventures.com River and Earth Adventures 5578 US Hwy. 421 Vilas, NC www.raftcavehike.com High Mountain Expeditions 3149 Tynecastle Hwy. Banner Elk, NC (828) 266-7238 1380 NC Hwy. 105 South Boone, NC (828) 898-9786 www.highmountainexpeditions.com Hikemore Adventures 9041 NC Hwy. 181 Jonas Ridge, NC (828) 595-HIKE www.hikemoreadventures.com

ASHE COUNTY New River The oldest river in the Western Hemisphere, the headwaters of the New River is formed by the convergence of two rivers near the small community of Weavers Ford in Ashe County. A number of campgrounds and river guides dot the shores of the river’s south fork, and New River State Park offers camping, hiking and ﬁshing, as well as educational programs on the river’s ecology.

PHOTO BY MATT DEBNAM WITH SPECIAL THANKS TO JEFF WILLIAMS OF JOHNSON CITY, TENN. For hiking enthusiasts, the area surrounding Watauga Lake offers a plethora of trails for both day hikes and backpacking. A section of the Appalachian Trail passes around the lake, traveling along the ridge pictured here in the Big Laurel Branch Wilderness.

New River State Park 358 New River State Park Rd. Laurel Springs, NC (336) 982-2587 www.ncparks.gov/new-river-state-park Green Valley Community Park 3896 Big Hill Rd. Todd, NC www.greenvalleypark.org River Camp USA 2221 Kings Creek Rd Piney Creek, NC (336) 359-2267 www.rivercampusa.com Zaloo’s Canoes Kayaks and Tubes 3874 NC Hwy. 16 Jefferson, NC 1-800-535-4027 www.zaloos.com New River Outﬁtters 10725 US Hwy. 221 North Crumpler, NC (336) 982-9192 www.canoethenew.com Riverside Canoe 2966 Garvey Bridge Rd. Crumpler, NC (336) 982-9439 www.riversidecanoeing.com

AVERY COUNTY Elk River Running along a North Carolina Scenic Byway from Banner Elk to the small town of Elk Park, the Elk River’s rapid ﬂowing waters are certainly a sight to behold. Near the town of Elk Park, the river crescendos in a beautiful display at majestic Elk River Falls, near the North Carolina-Tennessee. While this spectacular, 50-foot waterfall is breathtaking, and can be safely enjoyed from the shore, visitors are cautioned against jumping from the falls into the plunge basin below, as many fatalities have occurred there over the years. Linville River Flowing from its headwaters near Tynecastle, The Linville River turns into a cascading waterfall near the community of Linvile Falls before forming the heart of the breathtaking Linville Gorge. Visitors to the area will want to make a stop at the

Linville Falls Visitor Center at Blue Ridge Parkway mile marker 316 for a short hike to stunning views of the 150-foot falls. Down by the River Campground 292 River Campground Rd. Newland, NC (828) 733-5057 www.downbytherivercampground.com North Toe River With its headwaters situated near Newland in Avery County, The North Toe River runs for miles through a gorgeous valley on a scenic stretch of U.S. Hwy. 19E in western Avery County, passing by a number of small communities and campgrounds on its way to Spruce Pine in Mitchell County. Newland Riverwalk 100 Pharmacy St. Newland, NC (828) 733-2023 Secluded Valley RV Campground 8555 South US Hwy. 19E Newland, NC (828) 765-4810 www.secludedvalleyrvcampground.com Buck Hill Campground 6401 South US Hwy. 19E Newland, NC (828) 766-6162 www.buckhillrvcampground.com Blind Squirrel Brewery Campground 4716 South U.S. Hwy. 19E Newland, NC (828) 765-2739 www.blindsquirrelbrewery.com

WATAUGA COUNTY Bass Lake Part of Moses Cone Memorial Park, Bass Lake is encircled by an extremely east .8-mile walking trail, allowing scenic views and a pleasant stroll. The trail also connects to a more extensive network of carriage trails for more ambitious hikers. Price Lake Encircled by a 2.7 mile trail, Price Lake is located at mile marker 297 on the Blue Ridge Parkway. With Canoe rentals available, as well as campsites nearby, Price Lake is a beautiful spot for a day trip or an overnight excursion. Watauga River Beginning in Tynecastle and running along NC 105 to Valle Crucis, the Watauga River eventually empties into Watauga Lake in Tennessee. With hidden swimming holes and calm areas that allow for tubing and trout ﬁshing, the river has a number of parks and campgrounds where the public can enjoy its beauty. Valle Crucis Community Park 2892 Broadstone Rd. Valle Crucis, NC (828) 963-9239 Watauga Gorge River Access 2531 Old Watauga River Rd. Sugar Grove, NC Grandfather Campground 125 Proﬁle View Rd. Banner Elk, NC (828) 355-4535 www.grandfatherrv.com

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HIGH COUNTRY HOLES

among golf’s best 2017 BY HARRIS PREVOST

orth Carolina’s tourism slogan for many years was “Variety Vacationland.” The state boasts a great coastal region, a rolling hills piedmont and the majestic mountains. You could be at the beach in the morning, play nine holes in the Piedmont and ski that night in the High Country. “Variety” is the perfect description of the 315 holes (on 17 courses) awaiting High Country golfers in Ashe, Watauga and Avery counties. The slopes, creeks, forests and scenery in our area make ideal sites for interesting golf courses. Even better, that variety exists within each course. Each one has unique, memorable and fun holes to play. We’ll take a fun trip around the High Country and find out where some of these great holes are. We have lots of categories to make our choices — long holes, short holes, drivable par 4s, intimidating holes, uphill and downhill holes and, of course, scenic holes.

There are many ways to categorize the holes, so, because of space limitation, we will limit those categories in order to spend more time talking about the special holes on each course. I have played all the courses, so I’ll pass on my thoughts about interesting holes on each. For reference purposes, my handicap is five, and my drives are medium length. Of course, your favorite downhill par three or most intimidating tee shot might not be the same as mine, but the idea is to get a conversation started among your friends. More importantly, I hope the conversation gets you to play the memorable and exciting holes awaiting you in your own backyard this season. Courses will first be divided into the courses open to the public and then a few of the nine private clubs.

Courses open to the public JEFFERSON LANDING Jeﬀerson Landing is a semi-private

club located in the pastoral rolling hills of Ashe County, bordering cow pastures, Christmas tree farms and tributaries to the New River. The course was routed by noted Banner Elk architect and land planner, Dennis Lehmann, and designed by PGA Hall of Famer Larry Nelson. At 7,110 yards, it is the longest course in the High Country, exceeding Grandfather Golf & Country Club by nine yards. From the regular tees, it plays 6,450 yards. Very little land was moved to build the course, which opened in 1990. Originally, the first hole was a long par four from an elevated tee, and the 10th was a dogleg left par five, also from an elevated tee. Now, the sides are switched, with the par five being the opening hole. The most intimidating tee shot for me is on the 376-yard second hole. A river crosses the fairway at a sharp angle from right to left, with the right much farther away. I have to decide whether to gamble and carry the creek on the left side into a narrow landing area with a driver, or lay up in the narrow right corner of the fairway. A 230-yard drive down the left side gives me a short iron in. A hooked drive or pushed drive leaves me in the river. This a classic risk/reward tee shot. The risk could be a probable triple bogey, the reward an easy par or birdie. The hole is 450 yards from the tips and 376 from the regular tees. There is a reason this is the two-handicap hole. The 227-yard (181 from regular tees) 17th is a beautiful hole from an elevated tee. The view ahead at the clubhouse and up at Mt. Jefferson is spectacular. A creek running in front of the green adds to the beauty … and the challenge. Pray for a par here. This is Jefferson Landing’s signature hole in my book. To experience hitting a very challenging tee shot to the 17th hole, one of the state’s finest par threes, call Jefferson Landing’s pro shop at (336) 982-7767 to set up your tee times.

MOUNTAIN AIRE GOLF CLUB There is a Mountain Air in Burnsville, but our Mountain Aire

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is in Ashe County. It is the third oldest course in the High Country behind only Linville and Blowing Rock. The course began as West Jeﬀerson Golf Club in 1949, thanks to the eﬀort of a local farmer who wanted a golf course for the community. It was a true “cow pasture golf course,” with greens being small circles of grass mowed a little lower than the fairways. The Adams brothers — Austin, Sam and Tom — learned to play golf here. Austin became a great amateur player, Sam a PGA Tour winner and Tom head pro at Hound Ears and now Boone Golf Club. I wish I had learned to play at Mountain Aire. When the farmer died, Carl Hagel, a casual golfer who built wooden frames for windows, purchased it in 1971, and it has been in the family since then. In 1985, Carl’s son, Mark, expanded the course to 18 holes, using Dennis Lehmann as his designer. In 1998, some holes were replaced, and the course has improved each year. It is now under the supervision of Mark’s son-in-law, Philip Shepherd. At that time, the first hole was a par 3, and the third hole returned to the clubhouse. Now, the previous fourth hole was changed to be No. 1 with old ninth becoming No. 6. Holes 1, 2 and 3 are now 7, 8 and 9. One of the new holes, No. 6 (now No. 3), is Mountain Aire’s signature hole. It is the most dramatic hole in the High Country, if not Eastern America. The tee shot on the 468-yard par 4 drops 150 feet in elevation, and, if you hit it a little left, 200 feet. The landing area is very narrow. If the wind is blowing, this is the most intimidating tee shot in the area. It is also one of the most beautiful. You feel like you are on top of the world looking out at surrounding mountain ranges. Shepherd says the hole SEE GOLF ON PAGE 80

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

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

SUMMER TIMES ence Center (derailed by World War II), the Councill property behind the Lutheran church and Earth Fare (property would have been leased) and the Bolick property on U.S. 421 South where the landfill is. One property always in the back of Brown’s mind was the Neal Blair farm. Despite being told the property was not for sale, Brown persisted, and, five years later, he got the Blair farm and the surrounding property he needed. Next, was the critical factor of financing the purchase of the property and building the course, and Brown’s close friend, banker Alfred Adams, also one of Boone’s greatest citizens, made it happen. Ellis Maples, who learned his trade from Donald Ross beginning when he was 14 and ending when he completed Ross’s final course, was chosen to design the course. Boone’s greens show a strong resemblance to Ross’s famed Pinehurst #2. Boone is 6,686 yards from the tips and 6,018 from the regular tees, and it plays to a par 71. It’s not a long course, but its greens defend the course well from low scores. Boone’s collection of par threes — they average 199 yards — are as strong as any in the High Country. Its par 5s aren’t too shabby, either. They average 556 yards. Drivable risk/reward par 4s are a delight to galleries watching PGA Tour events and are fun to play for the

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rest of us. Boone has three. It’s uphill ninth is reachable for the big boys. It is 333 yards from the back and 299 from the regular tee. The risk is a creek fronting most of the green, deep to the left and out-of-bounds to the right. The 12th is a downhill dogleg left that is reachable with a high tee shot over some white pines. Not high enough or long enough and you may be playing for a bogey. The 15th is a 300-yard carry from both tees. Either carry the wide creek in front of the green, or hit one just short and bounce over (if the ground is hard). My most intimidating shots are not with a driver, but with irons. The tee shot on the 192-yard 16th must be right or you could be in your pocket. Actually, you won’t be in your pocket; your ball will be history. A marsh is in front of the green and deep, really deep rough and briers are immediately to the right. The swamp is also to the left. My other intimidating shot is the second to the 18th green. It usually is hit from a downhill, sidehill (sloping away from you) lie to an elevated, narrow green with a pond on the left catching balls that are the slightest bit oﬄine. This is one of the great finishing holes in the High Country. SEE GOLF ON PAGE 82

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To experience one of the finest sets of par three holes in North Carolina, call the pro shop at (828) 264-8760. Make tee time in advance, because this is the most popular course in the High Country.

WILLOW CREEK Dr. Jim Lyons, a Miami surgeon who lived in Blowing Rock in the summers, wanted to build a development in the area and include a golf course. He purchased the Willow Valley property oﬀ N.C. 105, and it had room for a nine-hole par three course. By coincidence, Carolinas Golf Hall of Fame architect Tom Jackson was doing some renovation work at nearby Hound Ears. Lyons told Jackson he wanted holes that vary in length, that have water features come into play, some bunkers and a hole or two over 200 yards. Jackson delivered. In 1973, Willow Creek opened for play, and it has turned out to be an undiscovered gem. The course is very challenging. Three holes are over 200 yards, and taken as a whole, they average 182 yards from the tips. Five have water hazards.

Willow Creek is well designed with imaginative, scenic holes and it is well maintained. Simply put, it is a good, fun course to play. And, it is convenient; no tee times, just show up and play. Carts are available, but the course is not hard to walk. If you want to play 18 holes, just use a diﬀerent set of tees second time around to add variety. Its greens are relatively small, so accuracy is the key to a good round. Since 75 percent of the shots in a round of golf are from 160 yards in, there is a lot of golf to be played at Willow Creek. There is also a lot to learn as you develop and refine a winning short game. Willow Creek’s 218-yard 18th hole will hold its own on any course in America, and it gets my vote for both most intimidating tee shot and signature hole. The green is guarded with a small pound in its front left that winds around to the left side. A shot that lands six yards left of the green ends up in the pond, and outof-bounds is 15 yards from the green to the right. The green is only 31 feet wide. A par on this hole will make your day. If time is a factor in whether you play, or if price is a factor, and if long, hard holes beat you up, you can enjoy a relaxing round at Willow Creek. Just

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show up, or call ahead to the pro shop at (828) 963-6865 and get ready to have a great day.

SUGAR MOUNTAIN GOLF CLUB The Sugar Mountain course is a municipal course, owned by the village of Sugar Mountain. How it came to be is a story involving several twists and turns. The land was originally part of the 16,000 acres sold to Hugh MacRae that included Linville Resorts and Grandfather Mountain. In 1952, MacRae died and left the Sugar Mountain/Flat Top Mountain property to his grandson, George MacRae. In 1969, George and his wife, Chessie, began developing Sugar as a four-seasons destination with ski slopes, tennis and golf. They included three partners in their group. They only had 60 acres at the base of Sugar for a golf course, so it had to be an executive course, but they wanted to also have a championship course. They selected Francis Duane to be their architect. Duane was senior project manager for Robert Trent Jones Sr., and later a partner in course design with Arnold Palmer. The MacRaes promised Duane that if he designed the executive course, he could design their championship course, which was to be called Grouse Moor and located on top of Flat Top Mountain. A perfect storm of bad luck hit the MacRaes in 1974, the year their executive course opened: bad economy, high inflation and interest rates, gas rationing, warm winter and little skiing, and no one buying real estate. As a result, the MacRaes had to declare bankruptcy, and the bank foreclosed. One of the MacRaes’ partners leased the course until he died. The village of Sugar Mountain wanted to buy it, but it was too young a town to take on debt, so the Sugar Mountain Ski Resort purchased it until the town could buy it back. Today, the course is well run, in great condition and very popular. Sugar, like Willow Creek, is a perfect niche golf course for the player who doesn’t have time for a five-hour round or doesn’t enjoy playing 500-yard par 4s. While Willow Creek is a par three course, Sugar is an executive course with nine par 3s, eight par 4s and one par 5. It measures 4,443 yards from the tips and 4,071 from the regular tees, and is par 64. Surprisingly, despite Sugar’s short yardage, it has only one drivable par 4, its ninth hole. The hole is slightly uphill and is 259 yards from the back tee, 239 from the regular tee. There is no trouble

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on the hole, so it is no risk/all reward. Fire away. There is one hole, though, that is worth a shot just for fun. The sharply downhill 321-yard (back), 288-yard (regular) tee shot on the fifth hole has to be perfect. There is water in front and dense woods bordering both sides of a fairly narrow fairway. There are risk/reward shots, and then there are risk/reward shots, if you go for the green on no. 5. But, hey, if you are having a fun round with your buddies, hit your score ball and drop another and have at it just for fun. Sugar holds the distinction of probably having the shortest par five around, only 394 yards. Don’t let the hole fool you: It is an uphill dogleg right that plays much longer than its yardage. The second shot is a bear with a narrow opening to the green and creeks left and right. Head professional Tom McAuliffe, who is also one of North Carolina’s top golf writers, says the 212-yard 13th hole has the course’s most intimidating tee shot and also ranks as its signature hole. “There is no margin for error, left or right,” McAuliffe said. “There are bunkers front and left, and anything right ends up in the ‘Valley of Death,’ where there is no escape. The green has a lot of movement and is not easy to putt. It’s the toughest birdie on the course. I’ll take a par every time and not look back.” The culture at Sugar is one of a “downhome feeling.” Guests are treated like old friends and are in for treat once they tee off the first hole. The greens are as good as any in the High Country, and that’s saying a lot. To set up an enjoyable day of golf with friends, call McAuliffe at (828) 898-6464.

MOUNTAIN GLEN GOLF CLUB The idea to build Mountain Glen arose from a devastating fire in January 1961 that destroyed one-third of the town of Newland. Local leaders felt something needed to be done to spur economic growth in Avery County. They knew large manufacturing was not an option because of Avery’s rough winters and isolated location. They looked four miles down the road at Linville and saw their answer: Build a golf course and develop the property around it for second homeowners. They formed the Avery Development Corporation and sold shares of stock to raise money for the project. Thanks to great leadership and a genSEE GOLF ON PAGE 83

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erous landowner, Todd Lecka, Mountain Glen would become a reality. George Cobb, who first designed Quail Hollow in Charlotte, the Augusta National Par Three Course and, locally, Hound Ears, was the architect. Cobb later designed Linville Ridge. The back nine was built first, and it opened in July 1964. The front nine opened a year later. Mountain Glen has been one of the most popular courses in the area. It plays 6,523 yards from the back tees and 5,968 yards from the regular tees. The signature hole is the beautiful, downhill, 186-yard 12th hole. The view from the tee shows Hump Mountain in the background. Mountain Glen’s hardest hole is the 411-yard dogleg left 11th hole. The hole isn’t particularly long, except that from 200 yards in, it is steeply uphill. Also, the tee shot must be very accurate. A little left and you are blocked by trees; a little right and you are in the trees. It is not a good idea to be above the pin on its sloped green. Mountain Glen’s greens get really fast later in the summer. I rate no. 11 as one of the top five hardest holes in the High Country. Now to drivable par 4s: We need to divide this into two categories. First, the mortals have two opportunities. The 291-yard sixth (265 yards from the regular tees) is a tempting drive. Fade your drive and you are in a pond. Hook it and you might have a shot, you might be blocked by a pine tree or you

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might be out-of-bounds. Going for it is worth the gamble, though. The 16th is slightly downhill and 313 yards from the regular tees and 339 from the back. Aim right and hit a draw on the downside of a hill, and you’ll be sitting pretty. Get double-crossed and hit a fade, and you’ll be in your pocket. Out-ofbounds is right oﬀ the fairway. And then there’s David Forbes. Forbes takes it back as far as John Daly and is twice as strong. Forbes has driven every par four at Mountain Glen except the 11th. On the “short” par 4s such as the 339 yard 16th, he drives it with a 3 iron. Forbes is more than a long hitter. He holds the amateur course record with a 63 from the tips. My most intimidating tee shot? It’s a tossup between the 11th and the 17th. No. 17 is a dogleg right with two huge oak trees down the right side of the fairway and a row of white pines bordering the left side. The fairway slopes left into the pines. The best shot is a high fade over the first oak or a low fade under its branches. A tee shot left of the first oak has to be perfect or you are in the pines where the sun never shines. Call Mountain Glen at (828) 733-5804 to set up a tee time and to appreciate what it took for David Forbes to drive all but one of their 10 par 4s. If Sam Foster answers the phone, you are talking to someone special. He has been head pro for 42 years and holds the course record with a 62. Before coming to Mountain Glen, Foster was assistant pro at Grandfather Golf & Country Club in season and an assistant at Augusta National in the oﬀseason.

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LINVILLE LAND HARBOR Linville Land Harbor is a 48-year-old, 1,000-acre residential resort that is, by far, the largest in Avery County with 1,400 homes. It is designed around a 48-acre lake visible from U.S. 221 three miles south of Linville. Land Harbor was created by the

Robbins brothers —Grover, Harry and Spencer — who also brought to the High Country Tweetsie Railroad, Hound Ears, Beech Mountain, Land of Oz and the Elk River Club. The original idea was to build a recreation resort for short-term or extended-stay vacationers who used their campers or RVs to live in. Back in SEE GOLF ON PAGE 84

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the 1960s and early ‘70s, campers were the rage. The RV lots made up 1,510 of the 1,933 lots, with homesites making up most of the rest. Later on, people wanted to spend more time at Land Harbor, so many of the RV lots were combined to provide an additional 500 building lots. The Land Harbor property belonged to a lumber company in the early 1900s. In 1923, 5,000 acres of that property was purchased by Howard Marmon, an engineering genius whose parents took him to the Eseeola Lodge when he was a boy. Apparently, Marmon had health problems when he was young, and being in the mountains healed him. He came back to build a second home. In 1909, Marmon built the car that won the first Indianapolis 500. The following year, 61 of the nation’s oﬃcial speed records were owned by Marmon cars. Amelia Earhart rode in a Marmon in her New York City ticker-tape parade, and supposedly, Bonnie and Clyde used the speedy car to outrun the police after their bank robberies. Marmon was good

SUMMER TIMES friends with Harvey Firestone, Henry Ford and Thomas Edison. They came for visits and fished in the lake Marmon built, which is now the Land Harbor lake. Mr. and Mrs. Marmon left their estate to their nephew, and when he died, he put it in a trust to benefit the hospital, library and airfield in Avery County. Warren Buﬀett now owns the Marmon Company. Part of the Marmon property was developed into a nursery, and that is the property that is Land Harbor. Land Harbor was a subsidiary of Carolina Caribbean, developer of Beech Mountain and owned for the most part by the Robbins brothers. Carolina Caribbean, like Sugar Mountain, was a victim of the turbulent ‘70s and had to declare bankruptcy in 1975. A bank took over the property and decided it was in the best interest of the resort’s property owners to sell them the property. The first nine holes of the Land Harbor Golf Club was designed by architect Tom Jackson in collaboration with local golf hero Ernie Hayes. It measures 2,950 yards and plays to a par 36. It is a delightful nine with smallish greens and well-placed hazards. The course is in excellent shape. The 463-yard first hole is a great start.

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It is downhill with a sharp dogleg left and creek running down the left side of the fairway. The creek crosses the fairway at a sharp angle about 120 yards out and forms a pond to the front left of the green. The small, undulating green has a very narrow opening with trouble all around the green. If you go for the green in two, you best have your “A” game right out of the chute. The 273-yard par 4 sixth is drivable, but dangerous. The fairway narrows considerably the closer you get to the green. Houses and out-of-bounds are on the right, and left is not a nice place to be. Go for it for fun, lay up for score. The 141-yard slightly downhill seventh is one of the prettiest on the course. It has a beautiful view of Grandfather Mountain in the background. Land Harbor was originally going to be an 18-hole golf course, but some of the best property for the second nine was sold to try to avoid bankruptcy. All that was left was 23 acres of rugged, unusable property. The Land Harbor POA didn’t think it was possible to design nine holes on the property, but asked Ernie Hayes if he could give it a try. After numerous failed attempts, he came up with a routing. It is different than any nine holes I have ever seen. The back nine is 1,927 yards long and is a par 33. The longest par 4 is 335 yards and the shortest 196 yards. The course plays up hills and down into valleys and around the mountainsides. Most par 4s are doglegs. Several are drivable, but Land Harbor rules forbid going for the green because of safety concerns. The 196-yard par four 18th can be two wedges, but you need to respect this hole. A tee shot a little right will be off the world. I double bogeyed the hole. If you think outside the box, forget the standard driver-of-the-tee par 4s and understand the limitations of a 23-acre nine-hole layout, the back nine actually is a lot of fun. Its holes are like no other. The signature hole on the back nine has to be no. 17. It is a 112-yard par three that is straight up — like, 45 feet straight up. You can’t see the pin. If you are short, back down it comes. If you are a little right, off the world it goes. A par is a nice score. A plaque on the tee names the hole “Ernie’s Revenge” in appreciation for his creating nine holes that no one thought could be built. Land Harbor has been private until recently, but now it is open to the public. My advice: Play the course. The front

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side is pretty neat, but the back side is simply something you have to experience for two reasons — because you’ll never see holes like this anywhere else, and secondly, to appreciate the genius of Ernie Hayes. Call the pro shop at (828) 733-8325.

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

HOUND EARS CLUB The Robbins brothers — Grover, Harry and Spencer — have had an incredibly positive impact on the High Country. In addition to Tweetsie Railroad, Ski Beech and the Land of Oz, they have given us one-fourth of all the golf courses in the High Country: Linville Land Harbor, Beech Mountain, Elk River Club and Hound Ears. Hound Ears was their first. In the early 1960s, they saw the popularity of the new Boone course and the Blowing Rock Country Club, and they felt the area could use a new course. They chose a site in Shulls Mill, south of Boone along N.C. 105. In the early 1900s, Shulls Mill was one of the county’s primary commercial centers. Its sawmill and lumberyard, along with a Tweetsie Railroad junction, employed enough people to support a hotel, small hospital, stores and a movie theater. By the time Hound Ears was built, only remnants of the community remained. Spencer Robbins was working at Pine Needles golf resort in Southern Pines, one of the top golfing destinations in the country, and Grover and Harry were frequent visitors. They liked Pine Needles and decided to follow their example in their golf course. They did Pine Needles one better by adding one of the South’s first ski slopes. They decided to have a Bavarian theme to their clubhouse and lodge to complement the ski slope. Their golf course was designed by George Cobb, then known SEE GOLF ON PAGE 85

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for his redesign work at Augusta National. Both the ski slope and golf course opened in 1964. They chose the name Hound Ears because the rocks on top of the ridge behind the course stood up like dog ears. Hounds Ear or Hound Ears? Spencer Robbins answers the question by saying, “One dog, two ears.” Hall of Fame golf instructor Bob Toski, still going strong at about 90 years old, was the club’s first professional. After Toski resigned to be the Johnny Miller of NBC’s golf telecasts, the club hired Ohio State University golf coach Bob Kepler, who worked with Jack Nicklaus, Tom Weiskopf and Ed Sneed. Following Kepler was Tom Adams, now at Boone, and then Adams’s assistant, Peter Rucker, who started out at Hound Ears as a cart boy in 1981. Most of the golf course is located in the flat bottom land of Shulls Mill. The Robbins brothers also acquired some rugged mountain land with the property purchase, but they saw no use for it. The course became so popular that people who played it wanted to have a home there. Thus, the mountain land became homesites. “We didn’t have a plan for a development,” Spencer Robbins said. “It just happened.” The first six years, the third, eighth and 18th holes doubled as an airport runway for the resort. The hanger that housed the planes still exists behind the third green. In 1974, Hound Ears redesigned several backside holes on adjacent property it purchased. Tom Jackson designed the 12th and 14th holes. The 15th is Hound Ears’ signature hole, and it is one of the great par 3s in the state. Only 110 yards, the tee is perched on a mountain ridge, and the green lies 70 feet below. In front of the green is a creek and bunker. The green has a nice back to front slope, so golfers hitting their tee shots over the green face a very challenging chip shot. Despite its lack of length, par is a good score on this hole. The 18th hole is a great finishing hole. It is a last-minute dogleg right, 414-yard hole with a creek down the right side until it crosses the fairway near the front of the green. Because the dogleg is so close to the green, tee shots need to land on the left side of the fairway. A large tree at the beginning of the dogleg protects the green from players whose drives are from the center to the right side of the fairway. The hole plays longer than its yardage. The neat thing about no. 18 is its tee box. It is perched on top of a large boulder. Hound Ears’ most scenic shot is teeing oﬀ the par five sixth hole. It is a highly elevated tee with an incredible view of Grandfather Mountain. Peter Rucker’s favorite hole is the uphill 490-yard par five fourth (also No. 1 handicap hole.). Rucker said, “The fairway narrows significantly beginning 100 yards before the green. It is bordered by woods on the right and woods and a creek on the left.” Rucker’s favorite hole should be the 491yard par 5 12th. He has double-eagled it twice. There really aren’t drivable par 4s at Hound Ears, even though the course is 6,307 yards from the tips/6,145 from regular tees. I was playing with the golf pro son of famed teaching pro Jack Lumpkin, and he drove the 360-yard 10th. Then on the 491-yard 12th,

PHOTO SUBMITTED Linville No. 6 hole approach.

which winds around a lake, he drove across the lake and landed in the bunker in front of the green. I saw them both, but I don’t believe what I saw, so those shots don’t count.

BEECH MOUNTAIN CLUB Beech Mountain’s golf course is another of the Robbins brothers’ contributions to the High Country, but in this case, oldest brother Grover was the visionary and primary contributor to its creation. Grover envisioned the Hound Ears concept (resort, golf, skiing, property and airport) being taken to a much higher level at Beech Mountain. He even used the Bavarian architectural theme that he used at Hound Ears. Grover quietly purchased 10,000 acres, 7,300 acres on Beech Mountain and 2,700 acres in the valley where the Elk River Club now stands. His slogan was “9,000 families on 10,000 acres.” Grover built the ski slope and airport in 1967. The airport now is a part of the Elk River Club, which the Robbins brothers also developed. A development of this magnitude required more investment capital, so Grover set up the Appalachian Development Corp. that attracted 40 initial investors. Later, when he added a development in the Virgin Islands, he changed the name of the company to Carolina Caribbean. Robbins chose Atlanta architect Willard Byrd to design two golf courses at Beech Mountain, one for recreational play and one for championship play. Byrd had designed a number of great courses in the Piedmont part of North Carolina and in the Myrtle Beach area, but Beech Mountain would be his first mountain course. Willard’s land planner, Dennis Lehmann, helped plan the resort, as well as all of Linville Land Harbor, also a

Robbins brothers development. Lehmann would end up playing a major role in the design of several High Country courses. Byrd’s recreational course would be built first. The front nine opened in 1969 and the back nine two years later. Tragedy struck Beech Mountain about this time. Grover Robbins died of cancer in 1970. Without his vision and leadership, Carolina Caribbean began to unravel. The organization began taking on more projects than it could handle. At their peak, they had 11 planes they used to fly in prospective property buyers. They had to sell a lot of property to keep all their projects going. Unfortunately, the economy tanked, inflation was rampant, interest rates were 18 percent, there was gas rationing and several of their property owners in the Virgin Islands were robbed and killed while playing golf. The bank foreclosed in early 1975. All the company’s properties were sold to pay oﬀ its debts. The second course, which was under construction, was never completed. It was included in the property purchased by the Eagles Nest development. Tweetsie Railroad bought the Elk River Club property, including the airport. The Land of Oz and ski slopes were sold to a mortgage company, and Land Harbor was sold to its POA. The Beech Mountain golf course and a 13-acre recreation park were purchased by its POA, but not without some trying times. First, they had to convince the bankruptcy trustee they were the best option as owners. Then, they had to finance its purchase and operation. They had to get the North Carolina General Assembly to make Beech Mountain a town, so it could legally enforce SEE GOLF ON PAGE 86

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

LINVILLE RIDGE The prized scenic view in the High Country is looking at Grandfather Mountain. Its ruggedness and abrupt rise in elevation makes for a spectacular site. Several area courses have views of Grandfather, but none are eyeball-to-eyeball like Linville Ridge. Its par 5 13th, at 4,984 feet, is the highest elevation hole in Eastern America. The course has an elevation change from its

lowest point to its highest of 760 feet. At this elevation, because of the thinner air, your shots go further than oﬀ the mountain. Linville Ridge sits atop Flat Top Mountain, which is part of the original 16,000-acre land purchase by Hugh MacRae in 1885 that included Grandfather Mountain, Sugar Mountain, Grandmother Mountain and Linville. The property was owned by MacRae’s grandson, George MacRae, who also inherited Sugar Mountain. He lost the property to bankruptcy when the economy failed. Raymond Lutgert from Naples, Fla., purchased 1,800 acres on Flat Top in the early 1980s. Lutgert brought in an engineering firm to help him decide where to locate his golf course — on top of the mountain or at its base? They said a course was buildable at either location, so Lutgert chose the top because of its views. The engineering firm also recommended that George Cobb design the course because of his familiarity with the area. Cobb designed Hound Ears and Mountain Glen, as well as a half-dozen other mountain courses. He also was the original designer of Quail Hollow in Charlotte. Linville Ridge would be Cobb’s last course. In 2007, Scott Lutgert, Ray’s son, who is now president of the company, commissioned Bobby Weed, a disciple of Pete Dye, to renovate the course to make it more challenging for low handicap players and easier and more fun for those with higher handicaps. Weed designed the highly acclaimed Old Farm course in Southwest Virginia and had done major work at Grandfather Golf & Country Club and Linville. His renovations have

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been enthusiastically received. Part of the makeover was to flip the nines, so the former ninth hole is now No. 18. Half the course is on the relatively level summit of Flat Top Mountain. The remaining holes drop down from the summit and work their way back up. There are numerous views from the course of Grandfather Mountain, but the following will be etched in your mind forever: from the second green, the ninth fairway, the 12th green, along the 15th fairway to the green and approaching the 18th green. Every hole at Linville Ridge is interesting and memorable, but these are a cut above. The course’s signature hole is the 225-yard (183 yards from regular tees) 16th hole. This hole is the cover photo for this issue of the Summer Times. The elevation drop is so dramatic that you can hit the same iron to the green that Bubba Watson hits to 225 yards with no elevation change. Tell that to your buddies. Linville Ridge probably has the neatest drivable par four in the High Country. The seventh is a 252-yard drive from the regular tee. The shot is uphill and a creek runs in front of the green, but even I can drive it. My most intimidating tee shot is the par three 16th, but my most intimidating drive is the 12th hole. It measures 405 yards, but the elevation gain adds 50 yards to the hole. The pressure is on you to hit a really good drive in order to get home. If you don’t, your third shot is from a steep uphill lie. Miss your drive to the right, and you are oﬀ the world. Linville Ridge plays to 6,813 yards from the back tees and 6,210 from the regular tees.

You already know Sugar Mountain is the place for great winter sports. Isn’t it time you discovered Spring, Summer and Fall, too? Cool temperatures, scenic lift rides, hiking, cycling, public golf and tennis are calling you, and our fabulous accommodations deliv er the High Country experience in beautiful central to the Blue Ridge Parkway and its myriad of colorful mountain towns. See why Sugar in a great choice for any season of the year. Book your stay today and ask about our unlimited Golf and Tennis packages. At Sugar Mountain, the only thing missing is you.

S e e S u g a r . c o m | G o l f : 8 2 8 . 8 9 8 . 6 4 6 4 | T e n n i s: 8 9 8 . 6 7 4 6

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Saddle up for horseback riding in the High Country BY KATIE MURAWSKI katie.murawski@wataugademocrat.com

orseback riding in the High Country is a unique experience because of the breathtaking views of the Appalachian Mountains. A number of companies in the High Country specialize in caring for their horses and their customers. Leatherwood Mountains Resort, Dutch Creek Trails, Elk Mountain Riding Company and Grandfather Stables all provide a memorable and educational experience.

LEATHERWOOD MOUNTAIN RESORTS: AN ‘OUT OF THE ORDINARY’ GETAWAY When it comes to prime getaway locations that combine the solitude of a mountain environment with the amenities of a top-notch facility, look no further than Leatherwood Mountains. Located in Ferguson, Leatherwood Mountains offers myriad activities and vacation opportunities that is just a short drive away from anywhere in the High Country. Leatherwood Mountains is an equine-inclusive resort location that is also a versatile destination, possessing the ability to host corporate outings, afternoon trail rides, romantic rendezvous and weddings, family getaways or any of a number of special events. Leatherwood Mountains offers resort amenities that include more than 45 home rental properties that range from one-bedroom honeymoon lodging to five-bedroom, large square-footage log homes that can accommodate large families. Most resort rentals include hot tubs and gourmet kitchens for dining and pleasure, in addition to breathtaking views of the famed Blue Ridge Parkway. Leatherwood Mountains prides itself in being a destination for all tastes and outdoor enthusiasts. From its swimming facility and numerous hiking trails to prime fishing and horseback riding locations, as well as offering visitors opportunities to utilize the facility’s campsites with full hookups, guests who traverse the gravel road to Leatherwood Mountains have many options to choose from to enjoy themselves.

PHOTO BY KATIE MURAWSKI Robin Ollis poses with one of her horses inside her newly built stable at Elk Mountain Riding Company.

Horse riding trails are numerous and prominent at Leatherwood, offering oneand two-hour guided trails to guests age seven years and older. For the youngsters, Leatherwood Mountains offers lead-line rides, where trained staff members walk the horses in order for little ones to enjoy the thrill of riding like their older counterparts. Leatherwood boasts a wide variety of deeded, maintained trails ranging from easy, wide forest paths to rugged mountain trails. The resort’s equine center also offers full service boarding, including 60 stalls, outdoor show-sized riding ring, a generous covered and lighted arena for riding in less-than-ideal conditions, horseback riding lessons and a training program, guided trail riding services, and events year round. Visitors from across the region come to Leatherwood to ride on some of the most scenic North Carolina horseback riding trails in the mountains. Once guests experience the amenities and courteous employees and staff at Leatherwood Mountains, they often want to stay long term. The resort offers real estate purchasing opportunities, with options to purchase lots, custom-built log residences and pre-built homes on site. Leatherwood Mountains is truly a

full-service resort location, with a restaurant, live music and entertainment of the highest quality. Leatherwood Mountains makes the getaway from the hustle and bustle of everyday life like a breath of fresh mountain air. “Leatherwood is the destination for people who are traveling here. They should come here because they’ve found a home they want to rent, and when they’re here, they rarely ever leave,” Abbie Hanchey, Leatherwood’s event and marketing director noted. Leatherwood Mountains Resort is located at 512 Meadow Road in Ferguson, N.C. For more information, or to plan your next adventure, click to www. leatherwoodmountains.com or call (800) 4NC-MTNS (462-6867).

DUTCH CREEK TRAILS Keith Ward has operated Dutch Creek Trails since 2002. Dutch Creek Trails used to be open year-round until as recently as the past couple of years, but Ward said he has to close down for winter and open back up in March. “I leave every afternoon with a big head,” Ward said. “The people come back and they are bragging on my guides and

bragging on the horses. I think it is just the personality of the place.” Ward loves the business and attributes his love to his customers and tourists who come to visit. Customers Rebecca and Doug Dietly are a couple from northern Florida who have taken a trail ride at Dutch Creek Trails for their vacation. The Dietlys were so amazed by the beauty of their trail ride, they want to move to the High Country. “It was beautiful. There was a little apple orchard that we went through and a creek where the horses drank for a bit. It was absolutely beautiful,” Rebecca Dietly said. “It is not like what we are used to seeing in Florida. I wish we could ride longer or come back again. A deeper look at Dutch Creek Trails: Dutch Creek Trails sits on a 132acre farm at 793 Rubin Walker Road in Vilas. Dutch Creek Trails is home to 15 horses and Ward said he usually takes up to eight or 10 people per ride with one person per horse. Dutch Creek Trails generally takes four rides a day and rides take roughly an hour and 10 minutes. There are three trails in and three that lead out, and Ward said they each take the same amount of time. The cost per person per ride is $50.

ELK MOUNTAIN RIDING COMPANY Robin Ollis has operated Elk Mountain Riding Company for four years, and she runs the company with her boyfriend and lead trail guide, Marty Singleton. EMRC has recently expanded with the hiring of a pair of additional employees and students of Ollis. The business’s three decker rat terriers assist with keeping the trail clear of wildlife, as well as keeping the barn free of rodents and other pests. Ollis started teaching riding lessons to children 5 years and older, then parents started wanting to go on rides, so the business evolved. “Our Facebook reviews are stellar and people feel like family. That is how we try to treat them when they come here,” Ollis said. “That is how the business has grown. People come here and they just keep on coming back, we are so blessed.” SEE RIDING ON PAGE 91

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Ollis said this is unique from other commercial horseback riding trails that follow the instruction where no one can pass the trail guide. Ollis said her horses are so welltrained that customers are allowed to walk beside or in front of the trail guide and are not restricted to the back of the line. Elk Mountain Riding Company also oﬀers a “build-your-own experience” option. People can bring a picnic lunch and wine on the trail to watch the sunset and can even bring their dogs along on the trail, in addition to an opportunity to provide horseback riding camping on the mountain. Singleton is an avid largegame huntsman and can provide food for customers that include exotic items such as bear, wild boar, venison and trout for customers while they camp. “We try to cater our company to people,” Ollis said. “It is not just a trail ride, it is an experience, and we want to not only highlight the riding company but also the county. This is a beautiful place to live.” More about Elk Mountain: Elk Mountain Riding Club has 16 trail horses in the summer. The trails total 1,000 acres of private land and is located at 136

SUMMER TIMES Elk Mountain Road in Newland, NC. Elk Mountain Riding Company is open year round. Ollis states that during the holiday season, the business was completely booked, so she recommends early booking. Ollis said her customers say Elk Mountain Riding Company rivals with riding companies in Wyoming and Colorado, and adds that the trail rides are interactive, so customers get to control the horse. A two-hour ride with Elk Mountain Riding Company is $60 for a two hour ride. Ollis said they can also adjust the price for half-day or full-day rides. Ollis said the views from the riding trail are better than any place around with a 360-degree view of Mt. Mitchell, Roan Mountain, Grandfather Mountain, Table Rock and more. Ollis recommends in the busy months of June and July people call at least two to five days ahead to reserve their ride. Click to www. elkmountainridingcompany.com for more information.

GRANDFATHER STABLES Grandfather Stables oﬀers boarding, lessons and trail rides. Although they have been operating for a while, Lesley Wooten is the current owner and operator of the company, who explained that the business has found itself busier in recent times, allowing her business to expand operating hours.

Wooten said Grandfather Stables is unique to the area because she focuses on properly caring for horses, as well as educating customers on caring for horses. Grandfather Stables offers a positive riding experience for the horses and customers because the horses are well-kept and the facility is clean. Wooten explained how her staff is there to help customers and wants to ensure they have the most enjoyable experience possible. “For the short time people are here, we try to make sure they are safe,” Wooten said. “We want them to have an enjoyable ride on our horses and get to view the scenery.” Wooten said there are a couple of options when it comes to trail rides. She said the ride that is on site goes through her pasture and up on a ridge across the street. Off-site locations include Moses Cone and the newest addition, Elk Park. Grandfather Stables has plans to combine the trail riding experience with trout fishing as there is a pond on the trail. Once the trail is complete, Wooten explained that the business plans to offer a giveaway and free ride to the first customer on the trail. Grandfather Stables also allows visitors to bring their own horses, stating how in the summer months, which are cooler in comparison to off the mountain, people enjoy the breeze and the fresh mountain air,

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and it inspires them want to return to the High Country. “We are not breathing in city pollution,” Wooten said. “This is a more earth-friendly kind of environment.” Reserving your ride: Grandfather Stables is located in a valley at the base of Grandfather Mountain and Seven Devils at 534 Church Hollow Road in Boone. The stables houses 20 horses and offers on-site and off-site trail rides. The on-site trail ride is recommended for beginners and lasts for one hour at a cost of $50. For a ride lasting 1.5 hours, the rate is $60. The off-site trail ride at Moses Cone is two hours and costs $100. The Elk Park trail ride will be two hours and includes a fishing trip. This is a more private ride consisting of three to four guests, and although there hasn’t been a set price, Wooten indicated that cost would range around $100. On-site rides go through the pasture and onto the parkway ridge that connects to Grandfather Mountain. To reserve a ride, call or go online to the stables’ website by clicking to www. grandfatherstables.com at least one day in advance. Wooten said for people to check the website for days and times in order to reserve a spot, and that customers may choose to pay upon arrival.

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Pickleball in the High Country

BY TROY BROOKS troy.brooks@mountaintimes.com

game for everyone, pickleball is a sport that has seen a growing fan base during the past couple of decades. It combines many elements of racquet sports including tennis, badminton and ping-pong. Players use solid paddle made of wood to hit a perforated polymer ball back and forth over a net, which is shorter than those used for tennis. The game is much like a scaled down tennis with games being played on either indoor or outdoor courts. With a slower moving ball and a smaller court, the game provides a less pressured event that is great for all ages. Two to four players can play at any time and the game is usually played in doubles. The game was invented in the mid1960s as a children’s backyard pastime and has grown in popularity with children and adults. According to the USA Pickleball Association website, the sport was invented in 1965 on Bainbridge Island, which is a short ferry ride from

Seattle. There, three dads, Joel Pritchard, Bill Bell and Barney McCallum were credited for creating the game while finding a summer activity for their children. The sport has grown and evolved since then throughout the United States and Canada and courts have also been popping up in Asia and Europe. The High Country oﬀers several places to play pickleball.

Ashe County Parks and Recreation Ashe County Parks and Recreation at Family Central, located at 626 Ashe Central School Road in Jeﬀerson, provides two painted courts that have been seeing a growing number of regulars according to Ashe County Parks and Recreation Director Scott Turnmyre. The courts are opened Monday and Thursday from 9:30 to 11:30 a.m. Paddles and balls are provided for newcomers. For more information, call (336) 982-6185.

Watauga County Parks and Recreation The Watauga County Parks and Recre-

ation has three outdoor pickleball courts available at 231 Complex Drive for people to play on a first come first serve basis. According to Stephen Poulos, director of Watauga County Parks and Recreation, courts are free to use unless reservation is desired. Courts are open all day long. Equipment is provided on limited basis. Courts may be occupied June 5 through July 28 on Monday, Wednesday and Friday between 8:30 a.m. and 2:30 p.m. for summer programs. For more information, call (828) 2649511.

Avery County Parks and Recreation Two marked courts are available inside the Rock Gym in Avery County through the Avery County Parks and Recreation at 185 Shady St. The courts are available Tuesdays and Thursdays from 9 am. to noon during the summer. Equipment, including balls and paddles, are available For more information, call (828) 3878266.

Linville Land Harbor

Linville Land Harbor is also working on preparing six dedicated pickleball courts to open this summer at the Overlook Park. Equipment will be available for players, including balls and paddles. Membership is $90 although people can also play for a daily fee of$5 or with a 10 play coupon book for $40. According to Leon Howard, pickleball liaison at Linville Land Harbor, open rallies will be taking place seven days a week 9 a.m. to noon Mondays through Saturdays, Sundays from 2 to 4 p.m. and Thursdays from 5 to 8 p.m. Lessons and clinics will also be available throughout the season. For more information, call (828) 7338300. You can learn more about pickleball and where to play at the USA Pickleball Association website at www.usapa.org. You can also find a list of places to play the game both in the High Country and across the nation at www.usapa.org/ places-to-play-pickleball.

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The ﬂight of Disc Golf

BY TROY BROOKS troy.brooks@mountaintimes.com

olf is taking to the air around the nation. An inexpensive sport to start playing, Disc Golf lets people play a game of golf with the swing of a disc. According to the Disc Golf Association, the game started as an offshoot of the many games spawned through Frisbee. The game holds several similarities to regular golf. Disc Golf players use golf discs and aim for a disc pole hole which extends up from the ground with a basket where the disc lands. Like golf, the goal of the game is to complete each hole in the fewest number of throws. The Disc Golf Association was established in 1976 by Ed Headrick, forming a new international sport and promoting the installation and use of disc golf courses around the world. Today, there are more than 2,500 Disc Golf Courses in the United States and between 7 million to 10 million people playing the game. Scott Turnmyre, director of Ashe County Parks and Recreation, believes the sport has become popular due to the low expense of entering the sport. It can only cost about $50 for a few discs to start throwing. Just as regular golf uses different clubs during a game, disc golf uses many kinds of discs with different classifications, including drivers, mid-range throws and putters. Differences in disc design are based on thickness and diameter. According to Turnmyre, the terrain in disc golf can vary greatly and the obstacles tend to be more abrupt than in regular golf. In addition, disc golf is a sport that can be played any time of the year. Turnmyre even stated that he has seen players playing while on cross country skis in the middle of winter. “You’re able to see your progress pretty quickly as far as improving as a golfer,” said Turnmyre. “It’s also a great opportunity to be with friends and families. I’ve often seen groups of four to six playing together.”

HIGH COUNTRY DISC GOLF COURSE One of the largest courses in the High Country is the High Country Disc Golf Course located at the Ashe County Park in Jefferson. The course offers 18 holes along with two additional optional holes. In total, the Ashe County Park is 73 acres and the course covers the majority of the park. The course allows players to visit a majority of the park during a one-round hike. Courses are designed with both amateur and advanced level starting pads and tees for both new and experienced players. Holes have varying levels of difficulty, often provided by the terrain of the park, from adjusting to a 146 long elevation change down to the basket to throwing the disc through a corridor of trees. The course is free for the public and is

C GO

PHOTO BY TROY BROOKS Disc Golf players use golf discs and aim for a disc pole hole which extends up from the ground with a basket where the disc lands.

PHOTO BY TROY BROOKS Jeared Booth practices disc golf at the High Country Disc Golf Course in Jefferson.

open during the park’s hours from 8 a.m. to dark. For more information on the course, visit http://www.thehighcountrydiscgolfclub.com or call (336) 982-6185.

WAHOO’S ADVENTURES You can also practice your throwing arm at Wahoo’s Adventures. The disc golf course opened up in May 2015 at the New River Outpost at 3380 Big Hill Road, Todd. The course oﬀers nine holes plus a warm up green with two tees per hole. Golfers get to play the course while enjoying a nature walk. Holes are spread throughout the woods, making them fairly challenging according to Wahoo’s owner Jeﬀ Stanley. The course is free for everyone who goes down a Wahoo Adventure and $5 for everyone else, with costs going toward the maintenance required to keep the course open.

“This sport has become popular all over the united states and I think the popularity just continues to grow,” said Stanley. “It gives people a way to unwind, enjoy nature and it’s a great way to socialize. Plus, it meets a diﬀerent genre of sports lovers.” For more information, call Wahoo’s Adventures at (828) 262-5774 or visit www.wahoosadentures.com. To learn more about disc golf, visit https://www.discgolf.com.

BEECH MOUNTAIN RESORT Another notable disc golf course is located at Beech Mountain Resort. The 18-hole course is more than 8,000 feet long with a one-of-a-kind design. Players can enjoy a beautiful scenic view while hiking from hole to hole and can take a chairlift ride to get an even better view of the Blue Ridge Mountains. Beech Mountain Resort is open Friday through Sunday from June 5- Sept. 27.

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The Blowing Rock: North Carolina’s oldest tourist attraction (by far) BY JEFF EASON jeff.eason@wataugademocrat.com

o fully appreciate the wonders of the Blowing Rock, you must know something of its history, geography and legend. As for its history, it is easily North Carolina’s oldest tourist attraction. Geologists estimate that the gneiss rock formation that makes up the Blowing Rock is 250 million years old. Top that, Carowinds. The geography aspect is equally as impressive. The Blowing Rock sits on the edge of a large cliﬀ of the Appalachian Mountains, some 4,000 feet above sea level. From the edge, visitors look down into the Johns River Gorge, some 3,000 feet below. Consequently, the views of the valley below and the distant peaks of Mt. Mitchell, Table Rock, Hawksbill

Mountain, Grandfather Mountain, Beech Mountain and others are nothing short of breathtaking. The legend of the Blowing Rock involves a Chickasaw maiden and her Cherokee warrior lover. After he threw himself oﬀ of the Blowing Rock into the valley below, she prayed to the Great Spirit until one evening with a reddening sky, a gust of wind blew the warrior back onto the Blowing Rock and into her arms. From that day forward, a perpetual breeze has blown up onto the rock from the valley below. The Blowing Rock is much more than a spectacular view of the Appalachian landscape (as if that weren’t enough). Visitors will also find a waterfall, gardens, nature trails, picnic areas. Blowing Rock Photo Gallery and one of the SEE BLOWING ROCK ON PAGE 96

PHOTO BY JEFF EASON Some of the best photo opportunities in the High Country are at the Blowing Rock.

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Mystery Hill: Where the laws of gravity have been repealed BY JEFF EASON jeff.eason@wataugademocrat.com

prevailing winds. Hudson noticed that when the apples fell from the trees, they appeared to roll uphill on an old walking path. In 1957, Buford Stamey and Rondia J. Underwood were looking to building a restaurant in the High Country and considered the Mystery Hill as their location. Throughout their tour Hudson explained the strange phenomena associated with the location. It seemed the gravitational pull on the side of the mountain caused unusual things to happen. Underwood purchased the entire operation in 1958 and it has been open to the public ever since.

or the past six decades, visitors and High Country residents have been astounded by a place where the laws of gravity have been repealed: Mystery Hill. From optical illusions to a rich mountain history, Mystery Hill is a fun and educational experience for the entire family. The attraction’s mission is to have a family-oriented entertainment complex that is devoted to enriching the lives of people of all ages. “This place is so special because the people come here to have fun,” said Wayne Underwood, owner of Mystery Hill. Mystery Hill has been in the Underwood family for 69 years and Wayne hopes that the family-friendly atmosphere will encourage families in a positive way. “Families need to be able to do more together,” Underwood said. “It seems that through all of the hustle and bustle of things, folks seem to forget that. We have activities for families to learn and have fun together.” Located on U.S. 321 between Boone and Blowing Rock near Tweetsie Railroad, Mystery Hill includes optical illusions, the Mystery House, Mystery Platform, Hall of Mystery, Appalachian Heritage Museum and Native American Artifacts Museum.

HISTORY Mystery Hill and the strange phenomena that occur

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biggest gift and souvenir shops in the High Country. The Blowing Rock is open daily April through mid-January and open Thursday through Monday (weather permitting) mid-January through March. For more information, call (828) 295-7111.

SHAGGING AT THE BLOWING ROCK Brand new this year is a live music called Shagging at the Blowing Rock, to be held on Saturday, Aug. 12. Fans of Carolina beach music should definitely put this show on their calendars. Shagging at the Blowing Rock will feature performances by The Tams, The Original Drifters, Eric and the Chill Tones and The Magnificents Band. The gates open at 10 a.m. and tickets go on sale June 15. Adult tickets are $40 from June 15 through August 6, $55 from

PHOTO BY JEFF EASON Visitors have been astounded by the natural wonders and optical illusions at Mystery Hill since the early half of the 20th century.

there date back to the early part of the 20th century when William Hudson, the original owner of the land first discovered oddities about the place. Hudson operated a cider mill on an old wooden platform. A pair of identical twins worked at the mill, and Hudson noticed that despite being the same height, the twin who stood on the north end of the platform always looked taller. Visitors can still experience the Mystery Platform today. The second phenomenon appeared in the apple orchard. Hudson’s trees grew toward the north, directly into the

CABINS Your trip to the High Country can be made even more special and comfortable by staying at Riverside Log Cabins at Mystery Hill. The cabins are conveniently located between Boone and Blowing Rock and are along the Middle Fork Greenway Trail. Grab and fishing pole and you are just a short walk down the Greenway to the Middle Fork of the New River, a dandy place to cast a line for trout. Cabins are available for nightly and weekly rentals. For more information, call (828) 264-2792. Mystery Hill is open year-round excluding Christmas Day. From June through August, hours of operation are 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. and from September through May, hours are 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. For more information, call Mystery Hill at (828) 2642792 or visit mysteryhill-nc.com.

August 7 through the day of the show. Tickets for children ages 12 and under are $10.

BLOWING ROCK MUSIC FESTIVAL The 4th annual Blowing Rock Music Festival will take place at the Blowing Rock on Saturday, Sept. 16. The event features a full day of music on two stages, fireworks at sunset and a chance to visit the historic Blowing Rock. Performers at the festival include The Harris Brothers, the Shelby Rae Moore Band, Soul Benefactor, the Carolina Gator Gumbo Band and many others. The event will also feature a very special appearance by “Elvis.” The gates open at 10 a.m. and tickets go on sale July 15. Adult tickets are $30 from July 15 through Sept. 10 and $45 from Sept. 11 through the day of the show. Tickets are $10 for children 12 and under. For more information, call (828) 2957111.

PHOTO BY JEFF EASON The 4th annual Blowing Rock Music Festival will be held on Saturday, Sept. 16. Great regional acts such as The Harris Brothers, Soul Benefactor, the Shelby Rae Moore Band and others are slated to perform.

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Zaloo’s offers the complete family adventure New River - Ashe County Zaloo’s Canoes is located on the South Fork of the New River, a National Scenic and Wild River and an American Heritage River. Zaloo’s Canoes Kayaks and Tubes is the oldest and friendliest outﬁtter in the Blue Ridge Mountains, celebrating its 41st anniversary this year! Our ideal riverside location is 4 miles from Jefferson, NC in Historic Ashe County. We are on the very best stretch of the New River in North Carolina. 31 miles of river below us is designated as a National Scenic and Wild River, with 3 canoe accesses to the New River State Park. The park offers campgrounds that make for great 2 to 5 day canoe and kayak camping trips. We are open 7 days a week for canoeing, kayaking and tubing from April through mid October. Reservations are highly recommended, especially for weekends. The New River is also recognized as prime

2017

Underground wonders of

Linville Caverns terrain allowed them to enter the subterranean recess that is still home to native ocated at the southern end trout in an underground stream. of the High Country, nestled Linville Caverns was opened for public within touring in 1937 Humpback and, since then, Mountain, is many upgrades Linville Caverns, have taken place, the only show cave including construcin North Carolina tion of pathways that is open to the and the addition of public. a lighting system According to that has enhanced cavern oﬃcials, the the safe touring Linville Caverns experience. PHOTO BY KATIE MURAWSKI were unknown to Andrew Quinn, A sign beckons visitors to enter an man for centuries. manager of Linville underground and historic world of In the early 1800s, Caverns, says peoa fishing expedition adventure at Linville Caverns. ple should visit the headed by Henry E. caverns, especially Colton was astounded to see fish swimduring the summer heat, to escape the ming in what appeared to be solid rock. SEE CAVERNS ON PAGE 100 A small opening in the mountainous BY KATIE MURAWSKI

L for sport fishing. The New River is a favorite of small mouth bass fishermen. Trout fishing is excellent in the smaller, faster tributaries, most of which are designated general trout waters and are stocked regularly with rainbow and brown trout. Anglers need a state fishing license in order to fish the designated trout streams. A license can be obtained online at www.ncwildlife.org. Call 800-535-4027 for reservations and info. 3874 NC HWY 16 South Jefferson, NC 28640

Oldest, Friendliest and most experienced rental in the area! “Once is never enough with us” Our fans come back year after year, after year. Best stretch of New River (America’s Oldest River) 5 miles, 10 miles, 16 miles or overnight! Camping is available downstream at the New River State Park. Go to www.ncparks.gov for information and reservations. Group camping is also available at Zaloo’s Outpost Big River Campground.

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high temperatures and enjoy spending time with family inside the coolness of a mountain. “It is 52 degrees in here all year long, so it gets nice and cool in here when it is 90 degrees out,” Quinn said. “Most kids like the formations and the fish inside of the cave.” Quinn added that he would recommend people visiting the caverns to bring a sweater or light jacket on normal days, and a rain jacket after heavy rains, noting that the caves are active and it stays drippy. Quinn said to be sure to wear comfortable shoes, but that shoes with a thick or hard sole should be avoided, however, due to the damp walkways. Strollers and child-carrying backpacks are not allowed due to low-hanging rocks and confined spaces. Linville Caverns is one of the few caverns that is partially wheelchair accessible. There are two places that a wheelchair cannot access; a dead-end passage into the narrowest section of the caverns, and in the back of the caverns where it is necessary to climb a few flat steps going into one room.

PHOTO BY KATIE MURAWSKI Stalactites, which are formed by calcium salts deposited by dripping water, are prominently hanging inside Linville Caverns. There are lights within the cave so that pictures can be taken by visitors.

According to the attraction’s website, there are no restrooms located within the cavern, and if the last tour has already SEE CAVERNS ON PAGE 101

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All aboard!

Tweetsie’s Locomotive No. 12 turns 100 this year BY JEFF EASON jeff.eason@wataugademocrat.com

here are milestones and then there are milestones. Tweetsie Railroad is celebrating two very significant birthdays this year: the 60th anniversary of North Carolina’s first theme park and the centennial of Tweetsie’s engine #12. Both of these events will be celebrated all through the summer season at Tweetsie. Visitors and locals alike know that when the Tweetsie steam engine whistle blows, adventure awaits. Tweetsie Railroad, located on U.S. 321 between Boone and Blowing Rock has treated generations of visitors to a Wild West theme park, family friendly entertainment, gem mining, petting zoo, carnival rides and more. Live entertainment at Tweetsie includes the Country Clogging Jamboree, Diamond Lil’s Can-Can Review and the Hopper and Porter Show. And, of course, there are the locomotive steam engines. The No. 12 “Tweetsie” started its life in 1917 as one of the engines on the East Tennessee/Western North Carolina Railroad, a line that transported passengers, lumber and other goods between Boone and Johnson City, Tenn.

In 1956, Grover Robbins Jr. of Blowing Rock acquired the steam locomotive from legendary singing cowboy Gene Autry for one dollar. In 1960, Tweetsie Railroad acquired another steam locomotive, No. 190 “Yukon Queen” from Alaska’s White Pass & Yukon Railway. Locomotive No. 190 was built in 1943, by the Baldwin Locomotive Works, for service during World War II. “North Carolina’s first theme park promises guests a special trip back to the days of America’s frontier full of cowboys, Indians, gold rushes and ten-gallon hats,” said Leah Knepper, publicist for Tweetsie. “Tweetsie Railroad is an American treasure brimming with Wild West nostalgia and home to classic family fun. Hop aboard one of Tweetsie’s historic steam locomotives for a thrilling, scenic three-mile adventure, then stroll down Main Street and mingle with the city folks.” Special events at Tweetsie Railroad this year include live music with Grammy Award winner David Holt and the Lightning Bolts (May 27), a Day Out with Thomas the Tank Engine (June 9-18), the Independence Day Fireworks Extravaganza (July 4), Cool Summer Nights (July 8, 15, 22 & 29), Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (July 7-9), K-9s in Flight Frisbee Dogs

PHOTO BY JEFF EASON Tweetsie Railroad’s locomotive No. 12 will celebrate its centennial this summer.

(July 22-29), The Backyardigans (August 4-6), Riders in the Sky (August 12-13) and Railroad Heritage Weekend (August 26-27).

GHOST TRAIN Tweetsie’s Ghost Train and Halloween Carnival returns on Friday and Saturday nights, Sept. 22 through Oct. 28. The event includes trick-or-treating, the Freaky Forest, Haunted House, rides through the night on the Ghost Train with conductor Casey Bones and much more.

TWEETSIE CHRISTMAS Tweetsie Railroad will begin a new holiday tradition this year with its new oﬀering: Tweetsie Christmas. Celebrate all

CAVERNS

PLAN YOUR TRIP

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left, the restrooms will be closed upon exiting the tour, so it is advised to use facilities prior to entering the cave. Flash photography and videography is allowed in the caverns, but management asks that visitors do not bring external light sources, such as a spotlight. The use of tripods or unipods in the caverns is not allowed due to confined space. Pets are allowed in the caverns but may only be carried, pets who are not carried will not be allowed inside. For more information on Linville Caverns, or to plan your next expedition, call (800) 419-0540, or click to www. linvillecaverns.com.

of the joys of the holiday season as the park will be transformed into a winter wonderland. The event will feature a train ride through an enchanted land of twinkling lights, a visit with Santa Claus, Christmas shows in the Palace Saloon and more. Your family will even be able to pick out a locally grown Christmas tree while you’re there. Tweetsie Christmas will take place on Friday and Saturday evenings Nov. 24 through Dec. 30. Daytime admission to Tweetsie is $45 for adults, $30 for children ages 3-12, and free for children 2 and under. Admission prices for Ghost Train and Tweetsie Christmas are $38 for adults and children. For more information, visit tweetsie.com or call (828) 264-9061.

PHOTO BY KATIE MURAWSKI The entrance of the cave, which features a guard rail and an observation pond to see the underwater trout swimming around in the cave.

Linville Caverns is located in the Pisgah National Forest off US Hwy. 221 in Marion, NC. The tour of the cavern takes about 30 minutes and adult tickets are $8.50, $7.50 for seniors age 62 and older and children’s tickets age 5 to 12 are $6.50, with free admission for children ﬁve years old and younger. The caverns accepts VISA, MasterCard, Discover Card, American Express & travelers checks, however personal checks will not be accepted. In May, the caverns are open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily, and in June through Labor Day the caverns are open until 6 p.m.

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*Manufacturer’s mail-in rebate offer valid for qualifying purchases made 4/15/17 — 6/26/17 from participating dealers in the U.S. only. For certain rebate-eligible products, the purchase of multiple units of such product is required to receive a rebate. Rebate will be issued in the form of a prepaid reward card and mailed within 6 weeks of rebate claim receipt. Funds do not expire. Subject to applicable law, a $2.00 monthly fee will be assessed against card balance 6 months after card issuance and each month thereafter. Additional limitations may apply. Ask participating dealer for details and rebate form. ©2017 Hunter Douglas. All rights reserved. All trademarks used herein are the property of Hunter Douglas or their respective owners. 17Q2MAGSILC1

FREE Friday Night Concerts Newland Riverwalk Park* • 6pm-9pm • June 23 - August 18 FRIDAY NIGHT CONCERT SCHEDULE June 23 – Dave Calvert Collective – R&B, Rock, Pop Hits June 30 – Johnson Brothers – R&B, Country, Rock July 7 – Asheville Aces – R&B July 14 – Rick Strickland Band – Beach, R&B July 21 – Blue Country – Pop Country, R&B, Beach July 28 – Soul Benefactor – R&B, Rock Aug 4 – Swing Set – Big Band Swing & Pop Aug 11 – Lucky Strikes – Variety, Pop Hits Aug 18 – Bonus Music Night – Song Writer’s Showcase Food • Beverages • 50/50 Cash Prizes • And More! www.GreaterNewland.org • 828-278-8360 *Alternate Rain Location Posted Online Day of Concert

Visit www.TownofNewland.org for July 4th Celebration & Fireworks …plus other Summer-long Festivals & Events

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Glistening in the gardens Enjoy a day at the Daniel Boone Native Gardens BY KACEY HOWARD

Bring Your Fishing Rod and Your Dreams!

ake a walk through a colorful oasis in the Daniel Boone Native Gardens. The gardens contain an array of native trees, shrubs and wildflowers. A fern garden, bog garden, rhododendron grove, rock garden, rock wishing well, vine-covered arbor, ponds and grad vistas fill the three acres of garden lands. You can catch the sights and smells of the gardens through Oct. 1. The gardens originally opened in 1963 as an educational and conservation eďŹ&#x20AC;ort to nurture rare or endangered plant SEE GARDENS ON PAGE 104

This lake and other amenities will be yours. Give us a call and let us show you how to make your summer dreams come true. 800-521-3712 or visit us at www.northcarolinaland.com

PHOTO BY ERIKA GIOVANETTI Arisaema triphyllum, commonly known as Jack-in-the-Pulpit, is one of many native plants that can be found at the Daniel Boone Native Gardens.

L INVILLE A REA M OUNTAIN P ROPERTIES

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Oﬀ-beaten-path

attractions in the High Country offer something for everyone BY KAYLA LASURE kayla.lasure@wataugademocrat.com

PHOTO BY ERIKA GIOVANETTI The Daniel Boone Native Gardens is located at Horn in the West Drive in Boone, adjacent to the home of the Watauga County Farmers’ Market.

he High Country is home to a copious amount of activities for families and visitors. Whether someone is looking for thrilling adventures, a laid back afternoon or to learn more about the area, there’s an activity for everyone.

GARDENS CONTINUED FROM PAGE 103

HIGH GRAVITY ADVENTURES (WATAUGA COUNTY) High Gravity Adventures is an aerial adventure course that offers visitors challenges at their own pace. “We like to think of ourselves as a gateway for adventure for people that haven’t gone out and done anything like this but want to find a way to step outside of their comfort zone,” said Ruthie Nathan, assistant director of marketing and sales. High Gravity Adventures has two courses —the Foothills and the Blue Ridge. The Foothills course is mainly geared toward children ages 4 and up and can even be for adult beginners who feel more comfortable on a smaller scale. This course is 15 feet off of the ground and stays at one level. The Blue Ridge course encompasses three levels of difficulty with 75 elements, rappelling and climbing stations. The higher the participant travels, the harder the elements become. Nathan said a participant as old as 86 has used the Blue Ridge course. In 2016, High Gravity Adventure added a three-person giant swing that brings visitors 45 feet above ground and flying through the air with the pull of a rip-cord. Additonally, a Ninja Ground Course is offered with 45 degree walls, over-under logs, monkey rings and a climbing net. Sometime during mid-to-late summer, Nathan said the adventure course is adding a canopy tour with five zip lines and a sky bridge. High Gravity Adventures is open 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. seven days a weeks from Memorial Day until Labor Day.

PHOTO BY CAROLINE LAWSON High Gravity Adventures will get your vacation off the ground.

For more information, call (828) 3866222 or visit or www.highgravityadventures.com.

THE ORCHARD AT ALTAPASS (MITCHELL COUNTY) This nonprofit orchard in Spruce Pine oﬀers more than just apples to those who stop by. Hiking trails, hay rides, educational programs, book clubs and live bands on weekends are provided for visitors. This is in addition to a grill that serves farmto-table food and a shop that sells locally made jams/jellies, canned goods, soaps, pottery and regionally written books. “Our mission is we’re trying to preserve the heritage of the southern Appalachian region,” said Katie Medford, store manager at the orchard. “We”re also trying to further educate this generation and further generations that Earth is our home and we have to take care of it.” The orchard grows 40 diﬀerent types of apples that start coming in, in early July. Hayrides are $5 a person and take place on the weekends at 1 p.m., 2:30 p.m. and 4 p.m. Medford said riders learn a history of the area during the hayride which include topics such as the

Battle of Kings Mountain and the Overmountain Victory Trail that runs through the orchard. Every third Wednesday a free book club meets, highlighting novels from the Appalachian region. The Orchard at Altapass is open Wednesday through Sunday with live bands Friday, Saturday and Sunday nights. For more information, call (828) 7659531 or visit www.altapassorchard.org.

ASHE COUNTY CHEESE (ASHE COUNTY) Visiting the oldest and largest cheese manufacturer in the state is a must when coming to the High Country. Ashe County Cheese, located in West Jeﬀerson, has been in operation since 1930. Co-owner and store manager Josh Williams said Ashe County Cheese is a staple in the community. “We make 40 thousands pounds of cheese a week on average,” Williams said. Visitors can watch the cheese making process from a viewing room. The store sells 100 diﬀerent varieties of cheese — both made locally and imported. Samples of products are available to SEE ATTRACTIONS ON PAGE 108

species. The wrought-iron gates at the entrance of the garden were made by Daniel Boone himself. Today, the gardens thrive oﬀ of community support from garden club members in Watauga County. Dianne Dougherty invites the public to come see two new installations in the gardens for the 2017 season. First, the Blue Ridge Garden Club has redesigned and recreated the mediation terrace. The newly names Blue Ridge Garden Club Mediation Terrace will be complete in June. Second, the Dougherty family made a donation to install Reed’s Garden, an educational and sustainability project. The garden will include native medicinal plants and herbs that provide an educational opportunity from a historical perspective. “It is a chance for people to see the plants that were planted around the settlers age,” Dougherty said. The installation also provides information from a sustainable perspective and is said to be complete mid-July. The garden welcomes all participants to take part in the planting all season long. You can make a monetary donation to the gardens online or by writing a check. The Daniel Boone Native Gardens are located at 651 Horn in the West Drive in Boone. Admission is free; however you can make a $2 donation per adult visitation. For more information on the gardens or to schedule a garden tour, visit danielboonenativegardens.org or email dbgardens@danielboonenativegardens. org.

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A North Carolina Tradition. Iconic Views and Unique Gift Shop

theblowingrock.com 828-295-7111 432 Rock Road â&#x20AC;¢ Blowing Rock

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The Hillwinds Inn: 828.295.7660 The Ridgeway Inn: 828.295.7321 The Village Inn: 828.295.3380

The Village Inns of Blowing Rock are Hillwinds Inn, Ridgeway Inn and The Village Inn, three stylish accommodations conveniently located just steps from the shops and restaurants of Blowing Rock. Each of the three inns offers a complimentary continental breakfast and afternoon reception. Accommodations include deluxe rooms, suites and cottages. Pet friendly rooms available. www.TheVillageInnsOfBlowingRock.com

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• Cloches • Compost

Visit the High Country’s Favorite Destination Garden Shop

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 104

try. Along with cheese products and North Carolina wines, the business also makes fudge and oﬀers hand-dipped ice cream. Starting this summer, Williams said a candy room will open with 100 diﬀerent varieties of candy. “One of the products that we sell that people like to try and you can only normally get fresh at a cheese factory are cheese curds,” Williams said. “Cheese curds are cheese before it’s pressed.” Ashe County Cheese is open 8:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Monday through Saturday. Cheese making viewing times are listed on the Ashe County Cheese website at www.ashecountycheese.com. For more information, call (800) 445-1378 or (336) 246-2501.

• Container Gardens • English Antiques • English Hayracks • Fairy Gardens • Flying Pigs • Garden Benches • Hedgehogs • Iron Gates • Italian Pottery • Landscape Design • Native Trees & Shrubs • Organic Herbs & Soil Amendments • Roosters & Pigs

BLIND SQUIRREL BREWERY (AVERY COUNTY)

• Succulents • Terrariums • Unusual Perennials & Herbs • Urns

ATTRACTIONS

5589 US Hwy 321 • Blowing Rock 828 295 4585 • Mon-Sat 9-6

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For families looking for lodging, outdoor activities, casual dining and local brews, Blind Squirrel Brewery in Plumtree is a great destination. “Blind Squirrel has been crafting high country adventures since 1996,” said Zachary Shytle, Blind Squirrel’s opera-

2017

tions manager. “We are a true destination microbrewery.” All of the beer is made on site with home-brewing starting in 2006 and in-state distribution starting in 2012. Brewery tours are offered free for ages 12 and up; for those at least 21 years of age the tour is $10 person which includes a full flight of four 4 ounce brews. This spot offers a three hour zip line tour with 11 cables and four sky bridges. The zip line is for ages 10 and up and has a weight requirement of at least 70 pounds. An hour and a half tubing trip down the North Toe River is offered and even allows those 21 and up to take two 16 ounce of the brewery’s beer with them for the ride. Tubing is for ages 4 and up; lifejackets are required for those 12 and under. Reservations are required for tubing. Blind Squirrel site also has places for disc golf with three different courses. Visitors also have the option of staying in a bed and breakfast or on the campground in a cabin, lodge or RV’s/tents. From May through October Blind Squirrel will be open seven days a week. Times vary for each activity. For more information call (828) 765-9696 or visit www.blindsquirrelbrewery.com.

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High Country summertime festivals BY DEREK HALSEY writer@wataugademocrat.com

ummertime in the Western North Carolina High Country is a good time for festivals of all kinds and stripes. The beautiful mountains of the seven-county region known as the High Country is a go-to destination in and of itself, with the historic Blue Ridge Parkway being a gateway to a lot of activity and natural beauty. The Boone, Blowing Rock and Banner Elk area of Western North Carolina is ripe for fun and adventure in the warmer months of the year. Many tourists and visitors will want to explore more than just the trails and byways of this region as they choose to time their trips to check out the various local festivals that happen throughout the summer. A perfect example of a local festival that brings in visitors from all over the world as well as America is the North Carolina Mineral and Gem Festival held every August in Spruce Pine. The High Country is known for its rich heritage of gem and mineral mining and that led to the creation of this event nearly 60 years ago. Patti Jensen, executive director of the Mitchell County Chamber of Commerce, is the coordinator for the North Carolina Mineral and Gem Festival. “Spruce Pine is known as one of the most important mining districts in the world, and the reason for that is the purest quartz in the world is mined here,” said Jensen. “If you have a computer or anything that has a silicon chip in it, it is connected to Spruce Pine. And, the bunkers at the Masters Golf Tournament have been lined with a byproduct of the quartz mines for over 44 years. “The festival began when Charlie Mae Sproles, a science teacher here, was teaching her students about minerals and the local mining district and they began to do science fair competitions with minerals. She started the festival soon after, which began as a rock swap. That soon attracted people from all over who would bring their own specimens.” Sproles would go on to become the chairwoman of the N.C. Mineral and Gem Festival for 25 years. She died at the ripe old age of 97 in 2009. The festival has grown exponentially over the decades

PHOTO BY DEREK HALSEY Beverly ‘Guitar’ Watkins at the New River Blues Festival.

and now brings the world as the in gem, mineral mountains surand jewelry venround the region dors from across with greenery the globe. and amazing “We have 50 views. to 60 dealers • Located that come at more than every year,” said 3,000 feet in Jensen. “We elevation, Boone have an opal is lucky to be a dealer who has college town in his own mine in the mountains. Brazil. There is Along with everything feaeverything else tured here from that goes with raw specimens hosting a worldto fine finished class university jewelry and you such as Appacan also design PHOTO BY DEREK HALSEY lachian State, your own jewel- Grandfather Mountain Highland Games will the institute of ry. You can find be held July 6-9. higher learning something for a adds much to dollar and all of the way up. Some people the culture of the area even when most of bring fossils and geodes. Less than a mile the students have left for the year. The away, the Parkway Fire Department hosts Appalachian State Summer Festival another mineral and gem show at the brings a wide variety of shows, concerts, same time. And, we also do mine tours movies and more to the area all through that weekend hosted by the Quartz Corthe season. poration. Those that sign up and pay to On tap for the Appalachian State go on the evening tour will be able to dig Summer Festival in 2017 are concerts by and collect their own gem specimens.” acts such as Rock and Roll Hall of Famers Here is a list of some of the other fesYes, Todd Rundgren, Carl Palmer’s Emtivals that happen in this unique part of erson, Lake and Palmer’s Legacy Band,

Broadway star Sutton Foster, country star Jennifer Nettles, Bruce Hornsby and the Noisemakers, the Broyhill Chamber Ensemble, the Eastern Festival Orchestra featuring Midori, jazz artist Chris Botti and more. The arts will be well-represented with an appearance by the Charlotte Ballet, exhibitions at the Turchin Center for the Visual Arts and movie series such as the Young people’s Global Film Series and the Weicholz Global Film Series. More information on dates and times can be found at appsummer.org or (800) 841-2787. • The Avery County Beer and Wine Festival will take place from noon to 5 p.m. on June 10 at Blind Squirrel Brewery in Plumtree, N.C. The event will feature craft brews from many local breweries and wineries. It will be a great chance to taste the local libation creations. Tickets are $20 in advance and $25 at the gate. For more information, call (828) 898-5605. • The Avery County Chamber of Commerce will hold its Fine Arts and Master Craft Festivals on the lawn of the Cultural Arts Center at the Historic Banner Elk School on July 14 to 16, and again on Aug. 11 to 13. Taking place in the middle of one of the true resort towns in western NC High Country mountains in Banner Elk, the show hours will be from 1 to 5 p.m. on Fridays, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturdays and 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Sundays. For more information go to www.averycounty.com/fine-arts-a-mastercrafts-festival. • The town of Newland will host its inaugural Bluegrass Festival on Aug. 19 at the Newland town park. While details of the event were not available as of press time, visit www.townofnewland.org for updates and more information. • The nearby mountain town of Blowing Rock will host the Art in the Park Festival on various dates throughout the summer of 2017. Those dates will include May 20, June 10, July 15, Aug. 12, Sept. 9 and Oct. 7. Located on Park Avenue in downtown Blowing Rock, the arts festival adds to all of the other attractions that Blowing Rock has to oﬀer, from restaurants to outdoor concerts to magnificent mountain views. For instance, the Music on the Lawn summer concerts series at SEE FESTIVALS ON PAGE 110

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Open Tuesday - Saturday Free Admission 423 West King Street, Boone, NC tcva.org 828.262.3017

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Turchin Center for the Visual Arts

Bob Ray, Birthday Party

Seven galleries with changing exhibitions of new and historically important works by local, regional, national and international artists.

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the Inn at Ragged Gardens lasts from mid-may until mid-October. • The Christmas In July Festival takes place from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. on July 1 in beautiful West Jefferson, N.C. This year’s event will be the 31st annual Christmas in July Festival, which offers much more activities and fun than meets the eye. There will be much to do in Ashe County as the festival gets under way. On Friday evening, there will be live music beginning at 3 p.m. with the Music and Street Dance kicking in from 5 to 10 p.m. On Saturday, festival day, the live music begins bright and early at 9 a.m. with the Backporch Bluegrass band. Throughout the day and into the evening there will be food vendors, Civil War reenactments, kid’s activities, a farmer’s market, street performers and more. The local Christmas tree growers will also be on hand with an official Christmas Tree contest where all visitors can vote for the winners. More information can be found at christmasinjuly.info and (336) 846-9196. • The Grandfather Mountain Highland Games is a very special event that will take place high up on Grandfa-

ther Mountain on July 6-9. It is a full-on festival of all things Scottish, from live music to various displays of Celtic culture to the ever-popular Highland games which feature events such as the turning of the caber, the Scottish hammer throw, Highland wrestling, the tossing of the sheaf and more. There is also bagpipe, fiddle and pipe and drum contests along with the Celtic dance competitions as well as concerts at night by world-renown musicians. If you have Scottish ancestry, or think you may have, there will be 100 booths representing the many clans that came from Scotland to America over the centuries. If you have zero Scottish ancestry you will still find it to be a week of big fun with the beautiful Grandfather Mountain peak present at all times. More information on ticket prices, directions and event schedules for the Grandfather Mountain Highland Games can be found at www.gmhg.org or (828) 733-1333. Camping is also available.

MUSIC FESTIVALS The High Country is located in a region known for its live roots music, and there are festivals that highlight that wonderful aspect of our region. Some of those SEE FESTIVALS ON PAGE 112

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Celebrating 31 years of Christmas in July BY BEN COGSDALE ben.cogsdale@mountaintimes.com

or years, Ashe County has been known for growing Christmas trees. In fact, since 1966, seven of these Fraser Fir trees have been selected as a White House oﬃcial Christmas tree, according to the Ashe County Christmas Tree Association. The business of growing trees has become a major economic and agricultural staple for the county and it led to the creation of Ashe’s annual Christmas in July Festival in 1987. An event originally created to promote and showcase Christmas trees in Ashe County, has grown over the years to become their premier summer event. “Thirty-one years later the event that’s grown and morphed from the original Christmas in July Festival stands on its own two legs in terms of being a premier event for arts and crafts, for showcasing music that’s indigenous to this region — celebrating traditional music — and over all celebrating our mountain heritage,” Jane Lonon, vice president of the Christmas in July board of directors, said. The 31st annual Christmas in July Festival will take place on Saturday, July 1, from 9 a.m. until 7 p.m. and admission to the festival is free. There are a number of convenient parking places throughout the downtown area that are used as fundraising opportunities for local organizations that may be subject to parking fees.

PHOTO SUBMITTED Large crowds gather every year to enjoy live music, civil war reenactments, arts and crafts and festival food.

While the main event is scheduled for Saturday, kickoﬀ events will begin on Friday, June 30. Live music will begin at 3 p.m. and food vendors will be open at 5 p.m., with both running until 10 p.m. There will also be a farmers market on June 30, from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m., where attendees can buy local produce. The festival wouldn’t be complete without the The Best of the Best Christmas Tree Competition, which is a large draw, connecting the festival to its original heritage. According to Lonon, the Christmas tree competition is not only a fun event, but it also provides local grow-

ers with valuable information about their product. Aside from the Christmas tree competition, Saturday’s events include live music on the Main Stage, arts and crafts stations and, many attendees favorite part, festival food like deep fried Oreos. Saturday will also include the popular Civil War reenactments at the West Jeﬀerson Municipal Park. When asked to sum up what makes Christmas in July such a enduring festival Lonon said, “The uniqueness of the name, the inaugural product, being the Christmas tree, and the overall focus of celebrating our mountain heritage makes for a very unique event.”

FESTIVAL LIVE MUSIC MAIN STAGE SCHEDULE: Friday, June 30

PHOTO SUBMITTED The Christmas in July festival has been taking place in downtown West Jefferson for 31 years.

3-4:40 p.m. — Restless 5-6 p.m. — Lien Frienz 6:30-8 p.m. — Lucky Strikes 8:30-10 p.m. — Buck Haggard Band

Saturday, July 1 9-10 a.m. — Backporch Bluegrass Band 10-11 a.m. — Crooked Road Ramblers 11-12 p.m. — Elkville String Band 12-1 p.m. — Nothing New Band 1-2 p.m. — Jeff Little: The Pianoman 2-3 p.m. — Barr and Williams Band 3-4 p.m. — ClayBank 4-5 p.m. — The Dollar Brothers Band 5-6 p.m. — Never Too Late Band 6-7 p.m. — Amantha Mill

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oﬀerings: • The 48th annual Ashe County Bluegrass and Old-time Fiddles Convention takes place on July 28-29. Located at Ashe County Park at 527 Ashe Park Road in Jeﬀerson, N.C., the festival will feature a Friday Night Appalachian Barn Dance with live music by the Zephyr Lightning Bolts and Strictly Strings, live music and jamming by festival attendees, camping and a full slate of kid and adult band, dance and individual instrument contests all day on Saturday. More information can be found at ashefiddlersconvention.org and (336) 846-ARTS. • Local High Country Blues greats The King Bees host the annual Labor Day Weekend New River Blues Festival. This year, the festival takes place on Sept. 3 at the River House Inn in Grassy Creek, N.C., in Ashe County. With the beautiful and historic New River running behind the stage, the festival consists of The King Bees backing up at least five great legacy blues artists who come in from various parts of the U.S. More information and the announcement of this year’s 2017 lineup can be by regularly checking newriverbluesfestival.info. • On Sept. 7-9, the annual Blue Bear Mountain Music Festival takes place on the outskirts of Boone at the beautiful Blue Bear Mountain Campground. The event always hosts a diverse array of local and regional acts from this music-rich part of America and plenty of camping is available. More information and the coming announcement of this year’s lineup can be found at musicfestatbluebearmountain.com and (828) 406-4226. • On June 24, the fourth annual Sirens on the Mountain music festival takes place at the New River Barn in Todd, N.C., along the New River. This family event celebrates the women musicians who rock, although everyone of all genders is invited for some summertime fun. More information can be found at sirensonthemountain.com. • The 93rd annual Singing on the Mountain will take place at McRae Meadows on Grandfather Mountain on June 25. Music begins at 8 a.m. and lasts throughout the day. A dozen top gospel groups will perform and audiences can expect a sermon from a well-known speaker. Admission is free and camping (without hookups) is available on the field.

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Games for all times! Grandfather Mountain Highland Games reacquaints present with past JAMIE SHELL jamie.shell@wataugademocrat.com

F PHOTO BY ROB MOORE Banner Elk’s Judd Gowin marches at the ﬁeld during the Grandfather Mountain Highland Games in Linville. Clans gather annually to reunite, reacquaint and reminisce of the Scottish homeland during the extended weekend on MacRae Meadows.

or more than six decades, the Grandfather Mountain Highland Games in Linville has served as a grand tartan reunion where clans gather from around the world to celebrate their Scottish heritage. Each second weekend in July, 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 the event aﬀectionately known as “America’s Braemar.” This year’s GMHG is no diﬀer-

ent. Whether it’s the opportunity to try Scottish Cottage’s barbecue haggis, or competing in events such as the tossing of the sheaf or “The Bear;” whether enjoying the dulcet tones of Celtic music from bands from around the world in one of the multiple groves at the site of the Games, 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. “Patrons visiting the Grandfather Mountain Highland Games have the opportunity to research their Scottish heritage and find which clan they belong to while enjoying a great weekend of events,” GMHG General

Manager Tommy Taylor said. “The entertainment aspect of the Games is vast. I’ve told people it sometimes compares to a 20-ring circus with everything going on in the Groves and on the field.” Thousands of visitors — recent years have seen attendance peak at anywhere from 30,000 to 50,000 visitors from around the globe — enjoy a wide range of activities. The musical competitions — fiddles, pipes, drums, harps and more — are a veritable 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 SEE GAMES ON PAGE 117

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VARIETY OF GAMES TESTS ATHLETICISM The games of the Grandfather Mountain Highland Games test the competing athletes in feats of strength, agility and skill. The games themselves, the main event, are the centerpiece of this great gathering. Scottish highland games throughout history were a time to gather and compete to determine who was fastest and strongest in a region. Modern-day champions can win those same titles in this collection of games that have been handed down through centuries of Scottish tradition. The caber toss and hammer throw are iconic to the games. Appropriate to the Scots, these sports demand more than the average measure of strength, stamina and sheer determination. As a highland games gathering where world records have been set, the GMHG attracts professional athletes and amateurs alike who are up to the challenge. Athletes can participate in heavy events more traditionally associated with the games, in addition to light events, such as foot races. Heavy events include the clachneart, or stone throw. The athlete must throw a 16-pound stone without using overhand, underhand or two-handed techniques. In order to throw the stone a greater distance, athletes will spin to gain centrifugal PHOTO BY ROB MOORE force before flinging the Amanda Ford, a 33-year-old former Marine door gunstone as far as possible. ner who served two combat missions in Iraq, took on Not only do caber toss her competition in Scottish athletic events at the 61st participants pick up a Grandfather Mountain Highland Games in 2016 like 20-foot pole that weighs she was still on active duty, winning all but one event a daunting 175 pounds, to capture Female Athlete of the Games honors. they throw it. Caber toss athletes lift the caber, balance it upright and “turn” it, or flip it to make it fall end over end. In a bygone time when farming was a way of life, sheaf tossing was an everyday chore. A holdover from that time, sheaf tossing is now competition. A pitchfork is used to throw a burlap sack stuffed with straw over a high bar, without touching the bar. As the bar is raised, the athlete who clears the bar at the highest level wins the competition. Similar to the stone throw, the hammer throw requires the athlete to throw a hammer from a standing position. In spite of the hammer weighing 22 pounds, the record distance last year was more than 118 feet. Kilt-clad athletes from lightweight to heavyweight classes will also participate in Scottish Highland wrestling. Light events include the 100-yard dash, long jump, high jump and pole vault. Adults and kids alike can participate in the kilted mile run. A game of stamina, the Grandfather Mountain Marathon has gained the reputation as one of America’s toughest runs and for good reason. The final 13 miles are straight uphill. Starting in Boone and stretching 26.2 miles long, the trek winds up Grandfather Mountain, with runners eventually gaining 1,000 feet in elevation. The going is tough, but according to GMHG, the marathon boasts a 96 percent completion rate. “The Bear” is a five-mile footrace that begins in Linville and climbs to the summit of Grandfather. As the race’s reputation has grown, GMHG is expecting double the number of participants this year. From the athlete to the spectator, the games of the Games offer more than their fair share of challenge and spectacle.

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such as “The Bear,” and the Grandfather Marathon, have tested the will and skills of hundreds of athletes annually, while traditional competitions like caber throwing, hammer, sheaf and weight tossing, not to mention the popular clan tug-of-war, attracts some of the world’s greatest and most-recognizable Heavy Scottish Games competitors, as well as 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 de facto family reunion. The largest single gathering of Scottish clans anywhere in the world, more than 100 clans total gather on MacRae Meadows annually for GMHG, as those visiting the Games comprise a population on between 30,000 and 40,000 people. “The Games is such a family atmosphere,” Taylor explained. “People feel really safe and secure at the Games.” Tickets for GMHG are available by cash upon arrival at the Games, or visi-

tors may purchase them by credit or debit card at the GMHG office in downtown Linville or on site. Parking is available at MacRae Meadows until filled on Thursday and Friday of the Games, while patrons and sponsors only may have parking privileges on the mountain for Saturday and Sunday of the event. 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 passes are 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 Highway 221, two miles north of Linville and one mile south of the Blue Ridge Parkway. For more information on the Games, to purchase tickets, for entertainment information and more, visit the Grandfather Mountain Highland Games website by clicking to www.gmhg.org, or call (828) 733-1333.

GMHG ASSISTS LOCAL STUDENTS WITH SCHOLARSHIPS At each year’s Grandfather Mountain Highland Games, a number of young people are key contributors to helping the Games operate. From picking up trash around the premises to assisting patrons and guests, students have always been pivotal players in the success of GMHG. In return for their service, a number of local high school students can prove extremely valuable, as these students are eligible for, and often receive, ﬁnancial scholarships awarded by GMHG. For decades, GMHG has made it a priority to assist high school students in Avery County and vicinity who work or volunteer with the Games assistance through scholarships. According to GMHG General Manager Tommy Taylor, hundreds of thousands of dollars in scholarship aid has been awarded over the course of decades, including eight scholarships awarded to deserving high school seniors of the Class of 2016. Taylor added that 100 percent of the recipients each year fall into one or more of three criteria: students themselves who work for the Games, family members of the students working for the Games or the student is part of a civic group or organization. “We strive each year to give anywhere from six to 10 scholarships to high school seniors,” Taylor said. “The scholarship often serves as a motivator for the students to work with us, as they recognize they can earn a scholarship because of their efforts and afﬁliation with the Games.” Students attending a major college or university receive a $1,000 scholarship renewable for four years, for a total value of $4,000, while students attending a community college receive a $500 scholarship renewable for four years, for a total value of $2,000. Many students who have worked at Grandfather Mountain Highland Games and received scholarships often return to Avery County following school, with a large contingent returning to work and help with the Games they grew to love. “So often, students return to the area to help with the Games and contribute to making them successful,” Taylor explained. “We’ve always viewed the scholarships as a way we can make a tremendous investment in their future. More often than not, those same students return after college and continue to work on the mountain and help invest their time to making the Games the success it is today.”

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2017

The High Country: A pet-friendly part of the world

BY DEREK HALSEY writer@wataugademocrat.com

here are a lot of reasons why the High Country is a very pet friendly region of Western North Carolina. Boone, of course, is a college town and many young people own dogs, cats and other more unique companions. But, residents and visitors of all ages and walks of life also own various pets of diﬀerent species that are there to brighten their life on a daily basis. There are many dog-friendly hotels, restaurants and bars in the Boone, Blowing Rock and Banner Elk area of the High Country, but the best way to confirm that is to call ahead wherever you go. More than anything, being located in the beautiful Blue Ridge Mountains, there are many trails for dog lovers to bring their furry buddies for a walk or a hike or even a camping experience. Elk

Knob State Park, Grandfather Mountain State Park, the Moses Cone Manor Trails, the Rich Mountain Carriage Trail, the Price Lake Loop Trail, the many trails in the Pisgah National Forest, the Wilson Creek Gorge and Linville Gorge Trail system all provide numerous opportunities for dog lovers to get out into the wild. Closer to civilization, the Greenway Trail winds its way through both of the towns of Boone and Banner Elk. The fully-accessible trail is mostly flat and paved with gravel and makes for a wonderful path to bring Fido. You can find a map of the Greenway Trail, by going to the “Town Parks and Greenways” section of townofboone.net. More information on the Greenway Trail in Banner Elk can be found here at townofbannerelk.org/recreation/greenway-trail. There are also oﬃcial dog parks to be SEE PETS ON PAGE 119

PHOTO BY RANDY JOHNSON There are unique stores found in the High Country dedicated to all of your pet needs, such as the Mountain Dog store in Banner Elk.

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! Classes we offer:

BASIC OBEDIENCE

YOUR FULL-SERVICE PET STORE IN THE HIGH COUNTRY SINCE 2000

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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:

INTRODUCTION TO TREIBBALL

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WIDE VARIETY OF TOYS AND TREATS FOR YOUR DOG, CAT, HAMSTER, RABBIT, REPTILE, BIRD OR OTHER SMALL ANIMAL!

For rates and availability, please visit our Facebook or website.

YOUR LOCALLY OWNED, CONVENIENT, ONE-STOP-SHOP BUSINESSES ARE TEAMING UP TOGETHER TO FULFILL ALL YOUR PET’S NEEDS!

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VOTED BEST BOARDING FACILITY SINCE 2016

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utilized in the High Country, fenced-in areas where you can let you dog off of its leash to have big fun, as long as it can get along with his or her canine mates. In The Boone Area, the Watauga Humane Society offers a dog park, and more information on times and fees can be found at wataugahumane.org/other-stuff. In Banner Elk, Tate-Evans Park is a goto area for those wanting to spend some time in the sun with their dog, including at the weekly Thursday evening concerts hosted for free in the park at 6:30 p.m. The resort town also hosts the annual High Country Pet Fest every July. For more information on pet friendly attractions in Banner Elk, visit bannerelk.org/ index.php/pet-friendly. Up on top of the spectacular vista known as Beech Mountain, the highest incorporated town in Eastern America, you will find the Beech Mountain Bark Park. This fenced-in, off-leash park is big, roomy and fun for your puppy with two play areas, plenty of parking, dog watering stations and other features.

PHOTO BY ROB MOORE There are plenty of options for your pets to have a healthy and productive life in the High Country.

More information can be found at townofbeechmountain.com/beech-mountainbark-park/. There are also unique stores found in the High Country dedicated to all of your pet needs.

PROVIDING 24/7 EMERGENCY VETERINARY CARE Preventative Services • Acupuncture

Laser Therapy • Canine Rehabilitation

Stem Cell Regenerative Therapy • Exotic Pet Care 1710 NC Hwy 105, Boone, NC 28607 • (828) 268-2833 • www.boonevet.net

The Mountain Dog store located at 126 Taylor Road oﬀ of Hwy. 105 in Banner Elk, and it also features a small fencedin area for pets to romp without a leash. Inside the store, which is found in a beautiful and historic stone house, pro-

prietor Cathy Johnson runs a shop that prides itself in oﬀering the best products for your pet that does not contain fillers or other unsustainable byproducts that are not good for your animal. “Very good dog foods are a product of good dog food processing, which is a big part of a quality product,” said Johnson, owner and operator of Mountain Dog. “With what I sell, I know the companies, I know the owners, I know the ingredients and I know how they make the food. So, there is a lot that goes in to choosing what I sell. To me, knowing the manufacturer is number one and what is in the ingredients is number two, because you can read a label and it seems like it would be a good food yet there are problems with some of the brands.” New visitors love to come into the Mountain Dog store to see what it is all about, while many repeat customers return again and again, sometimes just to hang out and take in the positive vibe. “Everybody brings their dogs,” said Johnson. “In seven years, I have had over 4,000 dogs in this store. People come in with their dogs and they want to see what is new and to talk with me. I am lucky in that I have the best clientele. Many peoSEE PETS ON PAGE 120

• Full service general practice • Complete medical and preventative health care • Spacious, comfortable dog and cat housing • 1+ Acre fenced, wooded dog park 1614 NC Hwy 105 • Boone, NC 28607 • (828)268-1419

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94th annual Blowing Rock Charity Horse Show PHOTO BY JEFF EASON The 94th annual Blowing Rock Charity Horse Show will take place this summer at the L.M. Tate Horse Show Grounds at the Broyhill Equestrian Preserve. The Saddlebred division competes June 8-11 and the Hunter/Jumper divisions compete July 25-30 and August 1-6. Spectator admission is $10 per day and free for children ages 12 and under. Competition begins each day at 8 a.m. For more information, call (828) 295-4700.

THE HIGH COUNTRY’S PREMIER DOG AND CAT STORE AND GROCERY • Highest Quality Dog and Cat Foods + Raw • Organic Treats and Gourmet Bakery Items • Holistic Nutritional Supplements • Toys • Raincoats, Sweaters, Collars, Harnesses • Outdoor Gear and Travel Goods • Gifts for People and Pets • Grooming Supplies • Quality Beds and Blankets • World Fair Trade Products

VISIT OUR PET PLAY AREA

LOCALLY OWNED Specializing in USA Made and Organic Products

www.MountainDogAndFriends.com

PETS CONTINUED FROM PAGE 119

ple who shop here know a lot about the products as well and tell me things. I am not the one that knows everything, because I don’t. So, it is kind of like a swap shop in here when it comes to pet knowledge. We are always talking about health and food and nutrition. I have people that come here to shop from Charlotte, Asheville and the seasonal guests as well. That is why I am a unique store.” More information on Mountain Dog can be found at mountaindogandfriends. com and (828) 963-2470. In the town of Boone, there is The Pet Place store located at 120 Shadowline Drive. The Pet Place also features high quality foods and products for dogs and cats as well, but also prides itself in oﬀering products for the more unusual pets that people have in town. “We have a very strong, loyal community-based group of customers that visit us year round,” said Sandy Yarchin of The Pet Place. “We are a full-service pet store, which means we cover all pets.

We carry products for birds, reptiles, fish, small animals, cats, dogs and even for chickens. We don’t sell the animals themselves, but we do carry live chickens in the spring and chicken feed the rest of the year. We specialize in holistic foods that are made in the U.S.A. Our food products don’t have the corn, wheat and soy byproducts in them, and probably 80 percent of our foods are not found in the big box stores. If you use low quality food with fillers, you’re giving your dog four to five cups a day and he has to go outside all of the time. If you buy high quality food, you only have to feed them two cups a day and they may have to go outside once or twice a day.” It can be an interesting day at The Pet Place due to the fact that they sell supplies for many of the more exotic pets among us. “We have people who come in here with ferrets, guinea pigs, rabbits, snakes and lizards,” said Yarchin. “We see it all, even pot belly pigs, which are actually very smart. This town is a very pet-friendly place.” More information can be found at petplaceboone.com and (828) 268-1510.

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High Country wineries offers a unique mountain tasting experience BY THOMAS SHERRILL thomas.sherrill@wataugademocrat.com

t elevations above 3,000 feet, the wineries of the High Country offers a different experience than many other wineries in the United States. With the warm days and cool nights during the summer, tasters can enjoy a variety of wines not found in hotter climates. And now, with the Appalachian High Country American Viticultural Area having been established in October 2016, opportunities for further development is possible. “The AVA can attract more growers and more wineries,” said Dylan Tatum, winemaker and general manager of Grandfather Vineyard and Winery. The area’s cold winters, cool summers and rainy seasons allows the High Country to offer more dry wines, while warmer climates allow sweeter wines to be created. “Within our AVA, we have our own distinct climate, soil, taste,” Tatum said. “It’s different than Yadkin Valley, with the cool nights. Our claim to fame is our dry white wine, which is crisp and acidic.” A big positive of High Country wineries is that they the three in Avery counties form what High Country Host calls the Boone Area Wine Trail. “Great thing about the wineries of the High Country is that they’re basically on trail,” Candice Cook, director of High Country Host said. “Visitors can visit all three local wineries in one day.” The three wineries on the Boone Area Wine Trail,

PHOTO BY ROB MOORE The terraced vineyards at Grandfather Vineyard and Winery are full come summer time.

the Grandfather Vineyard and Winery, the Banner Elk Winery and Villa and the Linville Falls Winery, all oﬀer indoor and outdoor seating. The scenery, which matches some of the mountain wineries in Europe, oﬀers visitors great view and ambiance as they try wines that are local to the area. “Unless you go way-far north, I don’t know if any other

mountainous region that has what we have on the East Coast,” Tatum noted. “We have very diﬀerent wines than anywhere adjacent to us. It’s a completely diﬀerent climate.” The local vineyards are also about more than just tastings and relaxation, as several sites now host private events such as weddings, meetings and celebrations.

HIGH COUNTRY WINERIES

PHOTO BY ROB MOORE Cold winters, cool summers allow for dry wines in the High Country.

Banner Elk Winery & Villa 60 Deer Run Banner Elk, NC 28604 (828) 898-9090 www.bannerelkwinery.com Grandfather Vineyard & Winery 225 Vineyard Lane Banner Elk, NC 28604 (828) 963-2400 www.grandfathervineyard.com Linville Falls Winery 9557 Linville Falls Highway Newland, NC 28657 (828) 765-1400 www.linvillefallswinery.com Thistle Meadow Winery 102 Thistle Meadow Laurel Springs, NC 28644 (800) 233-1505 www.thistlemeadowwinery.com/ Watauga Lake Winery 6952 Big Dry Run Road Butler, Tenn. 37640 (423) 768-0345 www.wataugalakewinery.com

FILE PHOTO Wines of all colors at Grandfather Vineyard and Winery.

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Brewed with altitude

Plan to Attend The 6th Annual Classic & new Antiques Primitives Collectibles Furniture Entertainment Food Music

2017

Craft beer in the High Country DOWNTOWN WEST JEFFERSON

September 15th & 16th, 2017

Friday, 1pm-8pm | Saturday, 8am-5pm

LOTS OF FUN for the ENTIRE FAMILY! For more information call (336) 977-9165 or (336) 977-0398

or visit www.WJAntiquesFair.com

"The High Country's largest antiques fair"

Dis isco cover ver Timel imeless ss Treasur sures

BYBEN COGSDALE ben.cogsdale@wataugademocrat.com

eer industry titans have long dominated the U.S. beer market and many beer consumers, including North Carolinians, often reach for these stalwart brands in their local beer aisle. Since 2010 however, there has been a massive explosion in the popularity of microbreweries, and craft beer, across the Tar Heel State, and Western North Carolina in particular. Major craft brewing

When you’re in

PHOTO COURTESY PIXELS ON PAPER INC. Gary Brown, owner and head brewer of Boondocks Brewery in West Jefferson, works inside his Brew Haus.

operations such as New Belgium, Sierra Nevada and Oskar Blues have sprouted up in varying cities across the region in recent years.

According to statistics from the North Carolina Craft Brewers Guild, North Carolina has more SEE BREWED ON PAGE 123

Blowing Rock

stop in our second location:

Over 12,000 sq. ft. of space!

Visit the Largest Antique Mall in the High Country!

Antiques Main A n

109 Aho Road Blowing Rock, NC

336-877-7106

Over one million items • 23,000 square feet! You have to see it to believe it! The High Country’s Best Selection, Rock Bottom Prices!

• 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!

A West Jefferson Destination! 842 S. Jefferson Ave. West Jefferson 336-846-1231 or 336-977-9165

OPEN: Monday-Saturday 10 a.m. - 5 p.m., Sunday 1-5 p.m.

for the latest updates or email us at: antiquesmain@skybest.com

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than 200 microbreweries and ranked 11th in 2015 in barrels of craft beer produced per year with 675,469. While Asheville, a four-time Beer City USA poll-topper, leads the way with 20 breweries, the High Country has gained significant momentum as a craft beer destination over the past five years. The combined counties of Ashe, Avery and Watauga boast eight different microbreweries spread throughout the three counties. Gary Brown, owner and head brewer of Boondocks Brewing in West Jefferson, believes the attractiveness of the High Country speaks for itself and is a main reason breweries are successful here. “’If I had to explain then you just would not understand’ is my usual response to that question,” Brown said. “It is really simple — Western North Carolina and the High Country holds a special allure to people looking to get away from the hustle and bustle of the city. It is also attractive to folks off the mountain that may not live in a big city but are looking for fresh air, nice people and beautiful views.” Brown said that a big part of his success is community driven and being a place that’s both attractive to locals and out-of-towners. “We do not want to be the next great craft beer on the supermarket shelves, in fact, we only distribute our beers to just a few select locations outside

of West Jefferson,” Brown said. “My business model from day one has been to give residents of Ashe County a place to call their own that they can be proud of, and to provide a destination that is attractive to folks off the mountain so that they will spend some time in Ashe County.” Although Brown was speaking for himself, he touched on the important ability of microbreweries to create a community atmosphere while also drawing in visitors from out of town — a large part of their overall success in North Carolina. According to the North Carolina Craft Brewers Guild, craft beer has an annual economic impact of $1.2 billion, while creating $300 million dollars in annual wages and 10,000 jobs in the state. In 2015 North Carolina had the second largest increase in barrels of craft beer produced, and with the popularity of craft beer continuing to rise, there’s no denying North Carolina as a hotbed for beer connoisseurs and brewers alike. For example, as one of the only U.S. breweries owned and operated by a ski area, Beech Mountain Brewing Company is dedicated to action sports enthusiasts. The brewery is nestled in the village of Beech Mountain Resort, offering, skiing, snowboarding, snow tubing, ice skating, mountain biking and disc golf. The brewery provides the perfect atmosphere to relax after a long day or skiing, biking or hiking, a spokesman said. The Beech Mountain Brewing Co. is accessible for all patrons. For more information visit High Country Brews at www.ncbeer.org.

Microbreweries in the High Country Microbreweries in the High Country Appalachian Mountain Brewery 163 Boone Creek Drive, Boone (828) 263-111 www.appalachianmountainbrewery.com Beech Mountain Brewing Co. 1007 Beech Mountain Parkway, Beech Mountain www.beechmountainresort.com/ mountain/brewery Blind Squirrel Brewery 4716 S. U.S. Hwy. 19, Plumtree (828) 765-2739 www.blindsquirrelbrewery.com Blowing Rock Brewery 152 Sunset Drive, Blowing Rock (828) 414-9600

www.blowingrockbrewery.com Boondocks Brewing Tap Room & Restaurant 108 S. Jefferson Ave., West Jefferson (336) 246-5222 www.boonedocksbeer.com Booneshine Brewing Company 246 Wilson Drive, Boone (at Basil’s Deli) (828) 386-4066 www.booneshinebeer.com Flat Top Brewing Company 567 Main St. E., Banner Elk (828) 898-8677 www.facebook.com/ﬂattopbrewing Lost Province Brewing Co. 130 N. Depot St., Boone (828) 265-3506 www.lostprovince.com

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2017

Exploring arts and crafts in the High Country BY TROY BROOKS troy.brooks@wataugademocrat.com

rts and crafts have also remained an important part of the economic development of the High Country communities with towns and counties benefiting from the gifts and talents of our artisans and craftsmen. Ashe County Arts Council Executive Director Jane Lonon stated that the arts are important for enhancing our quality of life and give people diﬀerent ways to explore themselves and show their creativity. The scenic and natural beauty that abounds in the mountains of the High Country is inspiring for many artists in this region. For those who love to find what the High Country has to oﬀer, several arts and crafts venues are coming up this summer.

ART IN THE PARK Created in 1962 by local artists and craftspeople to showcase their work and talent, Art in the Park now plays host to nearly 100 vendors working on a wide range of handcrafted art and crafts from all over the southeast, including ceramic, weaving fiber art, paintings, glass and more. Art in the park will take place from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. May 20, June 10, July 15, August 12, September 9 and October 7 at Park Avenue in Downtown Blowing Rock. For more information, call (828) 2957851 or visit http://blowingrock.com/ artinthepark.

ASHE COUNTY STUDIO TOUR The Ashe County Studio Tour is a premier event for the High County in showcasing the work of dozens of artists in the High Country and gives visitors the chance to visit the studios of artists and craftspeople in Ashe County. The Tour will start with an exhibit at

the Ashe Arts Council Aug. 4 — 6 featuring nearly 30 artists. The whole tour will take place at more than 20 locations in Ashe County and will feature an incredible array of artists and craftsmen who open up studios and exhibits to demonstrate the process of creating their art. For more information, call (336) 8462787 or visit http://ashecountyarts.org/ studio-tour.

PHOTO PROVIDED BY BLOWING ROCK CHAMBER OF COMMERCE Shoppers browse the local vendors and stands at the Art in the Park event in Blowing Rock.

BLOWING ROCK ART AND ANTIQUES SHOW Need to find that perfect item you’re looking for? Come out to the Blowing Rock Art and Antiques Show this summer in Blowing Rock. The show takes place inside the Blowing Rock Art and History Museum at 159 Chestnut St., where the space will be reinstalled into a setting to house more than 20 vendors from around the High Country, featuring linens, antiques, furniture’s, jewelry, and much more. The show will take place July 28 — 30 Friday and Saturday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Sunday from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. A fundraiser event and preview party will also take place from 6:30 to 9 p.m. July 27, the day before the event, to give people an early start before it gets too busy. For more information, call (828) 2959099 or visit http://blowingrockmuseum.org.

CRAFTS ON THE GREEN The Annual Crafts on the Green features many artisans from around the High Country and the surrounding mountains. About 65 to 75 craftsmen and vendors will be present for the festivities, featuring woodturning, jewelry, pottery, fused glass paintings, and authors, just to name a few. The event take place from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Aug 5 and will also feature live music, a kids magic show and food and drinks. The show is set to Fred’s General Mercantile on the lawn around the Gazebo Park near the top of Beech Mountain

PHOTO BY TROY BROOKS Lexie Danner of Todd works on her barn quilt during a class at Florence Thomas Art School in West Jefferson.

at 501 Beech Mountain Parkway. For more information, call (828) 3874838 or visit https://www.beechmtn. com/things-to-do/nearby-attractions/ festivals.

FINE ARTS AND MASTER CRAFTS FESTIVAL A festival that has been around for more than two decades, the Fine Arts and Master Crafts Festival features anywhere from 50 to 75 vendors from local communities, counties and areas around the southeast. The festival will take place July 14

-16 and Aug 11-13. Both festivals will be located in downtown Banner Elk at the Historic Banner Elk Elementary School Fridays from 1 to 6 p.m., Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Sundays from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. For more information, call (828) 8985605 or visit http://averycounty.com/ fine-arts-a-mastercrafts-festival.

PARKWAY CRAFT CENTER Located at Moses Cone Manor on the Blue Ridge Parkway, Parkway Craft SEE ARTS ON PAGE 126

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ARTS

volunteers and schools in the High Country. They are a significant piece of life here in the Appalachian Mountains and can be found on farm buildings, businesses, dog house, homes and bird houses, making them displays of public art that are accessible to everyone. Barn quilts expand the concept of public art, taking it out of the downtown area throughout the High Country. According to Lonon, they are located throughout the western mountains of North Carolina, including the High Country. According to Cherry Johnson, executive director of Watauga Arts Council, barn quilts first originated in the midwest before spreading to the Appalachian Mountains. Today, they decorate many places. To find them, many people often take road trips around the countryside in search of them, making for a beautiful afternoon trip. Maps for barn quilt trips are available at both the Ashe and Watauga County Arts Councils. To learn more about barn quilts, where to find them and where to make them, contact the Ashe Arts Council at (336) 846-2787 or visit http://ashecountyarts. org. You can also visit the Watauga Arts Council at (828) 264-1789 or visit http:// watauga-arts.org/wordpress.

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Center is one of the five crafting shops of the Southern Highland Craft Guild and features works from more than 200 Southern Appalachian Craftsmen, including clay, glass, leather , fiber, jewelry, wood, paper and metal. The craft center also holds demonstrations throughout the season. The shop is open seasonally from mid March to the end of November and is located at Milepost 294 on the Blue Ridge Parkway. It is opened for its 66th season. The craft shop’s hours are 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. For more information, call (828) 295-7938 or visit www.southernhighlandguild.org/retail-shops/moses-cone-manor.

BARN QUILTS IN THE HIGH COUNTRY Barn Quilts are beautiful depictions celebrating the traditional quilt patterns, the heritage art form of quilting and the architecture of farms, outbuildings and agriculture. They are often made out of wood and have been painted by many individuals, families, community groups,

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PHOTO BY JEFF EASON The Blowing Rock Art and History Museum is located on Chestnut Street in downtown Blowing Rock. A two-story public parking lot is conveniently located behind the museum.

Art and history come alive at

BRAHM

BY JEFF EASON jeff.eason@wataugademocrat.com

aseball is a summer tradition in America. Culturally speaking, this summer the Blowing Rock Art and History Museum has all its bases covered. BRAHM will feature four new gallery exhibits this summer as well as presenting workshops for adults and children, a film series and various lectures and live music events. The four new exhibitions include “Fire & Form: North Carolina Glass,” “History of Tweetsie Railroad,” “Inside Looking Out/Outside Looking In: Paintings by Ronna S. Harris,” and “In the Evening West: Boone’s Revolutionary Drama.” The museum’s on-going exhibitions, “Selections from the Collection” and “Elliott Daingerfield,” will also be open to the public. “Exciting new exhibitions debut this spring, ranging from glass to student art, honoring both the art and history components of our

PHOTO BY JEFF EASON Costumes worn by actors in the historic outdoor drama ‘Horn in the West’ are part of a new exhibit at BRAHM.

mission,” said BRAHM Executive Director, Lee Carol Giduz. “We are very pleased with this season’s exhibitions and hope you will take time to come visit the museum.”

‘Inside Looking Out / Outside Looking In: Paintings by Ronna S. Harris’ Now through July 23 SEE BRAHM ON PAGE 130

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Ronna S. Harris was trained in the philosophy of impressionism and its warm and cool palette, yet her current practice involves a back-and-forth and intertwined relationship between American realism and abstract expression. Formally, her paintings depict still lifes, portraiture, and landscape details. Conceptually, Harris discloses connections between all three. “Inside Looking Out/Outside Looking In” celebrates this and many other diverging and converging relationships in her work through an exhibition of 20 oil paintings.

‘Fire & Form: North Carolina Glass’ Now through July 23 While the production of glass objects in Appalachia dates as far back as the 1700s, it was only within the past few decades that artists began exploring and defining the creative potential of glass as a sculptural medium. American ceramicist and educator Harvey K. Littleton was teaching at the University of Wisconsin when he began experimenting with glass in the 1950s.

SUMMER TIMES Glass working arrived in western North Carolina in 1965 at Penland School of Crafts with a studio built by Bill H. Boysen, one of Littleton’s students. Many glass artists practicing at Penland in the 60s and 70s—including Mark Peiser, Penland’s first residential glass artist— have grown to become some of the most influential artists of the American Studio Glass Movement. When Littleton retired and moved to Spruce Pine in 1977, many young glass artists followed. Since then, Western North Carolina has become a hub for the Studio Glass Movement where contemporary glass artists continue to learn and share glass working techniques—including glassblowing, hot sculpting, and cold working—to create beautifully crafted works of art. There are more than 60 studio glass artists working around the region, many of whom are recognized as some of the most influential contemporary glass artists of our time. “Fire & Form” features more than 30 glass artists currently living and working here in North Carolina, exploring a wide variety of techniques and approaches to studio glass today. Exhibiting artists include Kathryn Adams, Dean Allison, Valerie & Rick

Beck, Gary Beecham, Eddie Bernard, Alex Bernstein, Katherine & William Bernstein, Jennifer & Thor Bueno, Ken Carder, Cristina Cordova & Pablo Soto, Tina Councell, Courtney Dodd, Ben Elliott, Shane Fero, Greg Fidler, Nick Fruin, John Geci, Joe Grant, Michael Hayes, Mike Krupiarz, Jon Kuhn, Rob Levin, Amber Marshall, John Nygren, Mark Peiser, Corey Pemberton, Kenny Pieper, IlaSahai Prouty, Richard Ritter, Kate Vogel & John Littleton, Hayden Wilson, and Thoryn Ziemba.

‘History of Tweetsie Railroad’ Now through July 23 Explore the history of the East Tennessee and Western North Carolina Railroad and its place in the history of the High Country. The ET&WNC began operating in 1881, stretching from Tennessee to North Carolina. The line was extended to Boone in 1919. The ET&WNC discontinued narrow gauge rail service in 1950. Each year, thousands of visitors take a trip back in time when they visit the Tweetsie Railroad Wild West theme park, which opened in 1957, making it the first theme park in the Carolinas. Among various attractions, the park allows visitors to take a ride on the original engine No. 12, an authentic narrow gauge steam locomotive, which turns 100 years old in 2017. No. 12 — also known as “Tweetsie” (which references the “tweet, tweet” sound of its steam whistle) — is the last operating locomotive of the ET&WNC. It was a mainstay of the ET&WNC Railroad, winding through rugged terrain and steep grades. When you step onto a train pulled by No. 12 at Tweetsie Railroad, you are truly experiencing a bit of mountain history. It was locomotives like No. 12 that spread commerce and spurred settlement across the frontier.

‘In the Evening West: Boone’s Revolutionary Drama’ Now through July 23 As the sun hangs low on summer evenings over the Blue Ridge Mountains, a ritual practiced for 66 years plays out on the stage at Horn in the West. High above Boone, NC, sits the Daniel Boone Amphitheatre, home to “Horn in the West,” an outdoor drama about some of the first European settlers to make the High Country their home. Since 1952, the Southern Appalachian Historical Association, in partnership with the Town of Boone, Watauga County, Appalachian State University, and the

2017

community has come together to put on a Broadway-quality theatrical production. The show focuses on Daniel Boone, the American Revolution, and those who set out to make a new life for themselves in the Blue Ridge Mountains. This exhibition pulls the curtain back on the High Country’s oldest theatrical production. In addition to the new art and history exhibits, BRAHM will continue its tradition of presenting workshops and other cultural events. This summer,BRAHM will present a Summer Concert series, Summer Day Camps for Kids, Alexander Lecture series, Scholars and Scones series, beginner life drawing classes, an acrylic paint workshop and more. Pre-school aged children can enjoy the Doodlebug Club, which is offered every Thursday from 10:30 to 11:30 a.m. and again from 1 to 2 p.m. The club is an educational program focused on basic art skills while introducing kids to different art mediums. The class is free for BRAHM members and $5 for nonmembers. Older children, ages 6-10, can take part in the Afternoon Art Club, which meets from 3:30 to 4:30 p.m. every Tuesday. Participants will find inspiration from current exhibitions that will introduce them to different art mediums. The class is free for members and $5 for non-members.

Blowing Rock Art & History Museum The Blowing Rock Art & History Museum seeks to provide cultural enrichment to the High Country communities by promoting the arts and Southern Appalachian heritage and history through educational programs, exhibitions, activities and permanent collections. General admission to the Blowing Rock Art & History Museum is $7 for adults and $6 for students, seniors, and children ages 5 and up. Free for active military, EBT cardholders, and children under 4 years of age. Donations of any amount are accepted instead of full admission to the museum on Thursdays. Located at 159 Chestnut Street on the corner of Chestnut and Main in Blowing Rock, NC. From May through October, the museum is open 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday and Saturday; 10 a.m to 7 p.m., Thursday; noon to 4 p.m., Sunday. For more information, please call (828) 295-9099 or visit www.BlowingRockMuseum.org.

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event takes place from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. on June 2. For updates and more information, visit http://www.downtownboonenc.com. Downtown West Jeﬀerson has its Gallery Crawl on the second Friday of each month, in which visitors are invited to stroll the streets, check out local art and more. The first summer event takes place from 5 to 8 p.m. on June 9. Also, from Aug. 5 to 6, the Ashe County Arts Council is hosting a self-guided Studio Tour, in which Ashe County artists open their studios to the public. For updates and more information, visit www.ashecountyarts.org.

More than just art Local galleries bring culture, music and more to the High Country BY BRIAN MILLER brian.miller@wataugademocrat.com

rom green mountain landscapes to various rivers and streams, summertime in the High Country is a beautiful experience. In such a serene environment, the Blue Ridge region is an ideal location for artists. With acclaim as a popular destination for local and national artists alike, the High Country’s unique art captures a culture that is truly one-of-a-kind. Galleries in the region have capabilities to please any individual’s taste, boasting countless opportunities in various mediums, from pottery to painting to quilting. One does not have to be an artist or art collector to appreciate the area’s many destinations that highlight always impressive talents. Among the largest showcases in the High Country are Appalachian State University’s Turchin Center for the Visual Arts, and the Blowing Rock Art and History Museum. Each location oﬀers collections both permanent and temporary, while providing several educational opportunities and workshops for both children and adults. On a smaller and more intimate scale, the area is also home to countless privately owned galleries that display the artwork of local talent. Many of these galleries give you the options to buy paintings, pottery, jewelery, gifts and more. One such destination is Blowing Rock Frameworks & Gallery — a staple of the region since 1994. “Art is extremely important to the High Country, and the local art scene is thriving right now,” said Tim Miller, owner of Blowing Rock Frameworks & Gallery.

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BANNER ELK

PHOTO SUBMITTED The High Country offers a variety of art, including quilts, as exhibited in the Main Gallery of the Blue Ridge ArtSpace in Boone in April.

“Full-time and part-time residents can bring new life into their homes with local art, or get a taste of the intimate culture here by exploring diﬀerent galleries. It’s just a great place to be.” Dating even further back is Carlton Gallery in Banner Elk, originally established in 1982 as a small fiber studio. The gallery now features more than 200 local, regional and national artists in all mediums as it celebrates 35 years in business. As stated on its website, Carton Gallery owner, Toni Carlton, extends a heartfelt appreciation to all the artists, literally hundreds, who have created, inspired and supported her vision to promote the work of local, regional, national and international artists.

GALLERY CRAWLS A cool evening after a hot summer day is the perfect time to get outside, go downtown and enjoy a relaxing stroll. And why not add local art, food and live music to the mix by attending monthly Art Crawls in both Boone and West

FLORENCE THOMAS ART SCHOOL West Jefferson offers Florence Art School: Let the life and legacy of a gentle Appalachian farm woman encourage you to fulﬁll that long delayed wish to do something creative — to paint that landscape, weave that basket, make that barn quilt or hook that rug. Florence Thomas, at her death in 2007, provided the means for visitors to do just that, leaving a legacy which established a nonproﬁt art school in Ashe County. Today the Florence Thomas Art School in West Jefferson offers a wide array of art and craft classes for students of all ages and levels of experience. The 2017 Workshop catalog has all the details and is free for the asking. Call (336) 846-3827 to get a copy.

PHOTO SUBMITTED ‘Mama Bear and the Magic Air’ is a painting by Kent Paulette of Studio 140 in Banner Elk. Catch Paulette painting live at the studio during select summer evenings.

Jeﬀerson. The Downtown Boone Art Crawl takes place at galleries and other local businesses throughout King Street in downtown Boone on the first Friday evening of each month. The first summer

The Art Cellar Gallery 920 Shawneehaw Ave. (828) 898-5175 www.artcellaronline.com Carlton Gallery 10360 N.C. 105 South (828) 963-4288 www.carltongallery.com Clark Gallery 393 Shawneehaw Ave. (828) 898-2095 www.clarkgallerync.com SEE GALLERIES ON PAGE 132

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GALLERIES CONTINUED FROM PAGE 131

Maggie Black Pottery 1225 N.C. 105 (828) 773-2459 www.maggieblackpottery.com Sally Nooney Gallery 7143 N.C. 194 South (828) 963-7347 www.sallynooney.com Studio 140 140 Azalea Circle (828) 352-8853 www.facebook.com/studio140

TOE RIVER ARTS In Burnsville, check out Toe River Arts: The Toe River Studio tour happens twice a year in Mitchell and Yancey Counties of Western North Carolina — the ﬁrst weekend in June and December. But there is so much more to do before, after, and in between. For decades, artists have been coming to the area to study at Penland School of Crafts. They have fallen in love with the serenity of the land and camaraderie of its artists. Many have stayed, bought homes, built studios and raised families. Toe River artists are masters and their work is diverse and exceptional. Painters, potters and glassblowers share the mountain landscape with musicians, writers and actors. For more information, visit www.toeriverarts.com, or call (828) 682-7215.

BLOWING ROCK Blowing Rock Art & History Museum 159 Chestnut St. (828) 295-9099 http://blowingrockmuseum.org Blowing Rock Gallery of Home & Land 159 Sunset Drive (828) 414-9400 www.brghomesandland.com Blowing Rock Frameworks & Gallery 7935 Valley Blvd. (828) 295-0041 www.blowingrockgalleries.com Bolick Pottery & Traditions Pottery The Martin House 1116 Main St. (828) 295-6128 www.traditionspottery.com Morning Star Gallery 1151 Main St. (828) 295-6991 www.morningstargalleryusa.com

BOONE Artwalk 611 W. King St. (828) 264-9998 www.artwalkboone.com Blue Ridge Artspace 377 Shadowline Drive (828) 264-1789 www.watauga-arts.org Doe Ridge Pottery 585-D W. King St. (828) 264-1127 www.doeridgepottery.homestead.com Hands Gallery 543 W. King St. (828) 262-1970 www.handsgallery.org Jones House Community Center 604 W. King St. (828) 262-4576 www.kevinbeck.com

PHOTO SUBMITTED Hands Gallery in Boone features a new artist each month. In March, the featured artist was potter Brenda Schramm.

Kevin Beck Studio 1590 Shull’s Mill Rd. (828) 963-1181 www.kevinbeck.com Nth Degree Gallery 683 W. King St. (828) 719-9493 www.nthdegreegallery.com Turchin Center for the Visual Arts 423 W. King St. (828) 262-3017 www.tcva.org

CROSSNORE Crossnore Fine Arts Gallery The Crossnore School 205 Johnson Lane (828) 733-3144 www.crossnoregallery.org

LINVILLE 87 Ruﬃn Street Gallery 87 Ruﬃn St. (828) 737-0420 Linville River Pottery 2180 Goose Hollow Rd. (828) 387-1944 www.linvilleriverpottery.com

PHOTO SUBMITTED Kevin Beck’s work can be found at Carlton Gallery in Banner Elk.

NEWLAND Anvil Arts Studio 9600 Linville Highway (828) 765-6226 www.studiosculpture.com Pam Brewer Studio 41 Redbird Lane (828) 733-5755 www.pambrewer.com

SPRUCE PINE Toe River Arts Council Gallery 260 Oak Ave. (828) 765-0520 www.toeriverarts.org

VALLE CRUCIS Alta Vista Gallery 2839 Broadstone Rd.

2017

(828) 963-5247 www.altavistagallery.com Rivercross Market 3595 N.C. 194 (828) 963-8623 www.rivercrossmarket.com

WEST JEFFERSON Acorn Gallery 103 Long St. (336) 246-3388 www.acorngallery.com Ashe Arts Center Gallery 303 School Ave. (336) 846-2787 www.ashecountyarts.com Ashe Custom Framing & Gallery 105 S. Jefferson Ave. (336) 846-1498 www.ashecustomframing.com Backstreet Beads and Handcrafted Jewelry 111-A North Jefferson Ave. (336) 877-7686 www.backstreetbeads.com Bohemia 5 N. Jefferson Ave. (336) 846-1498 www.bohemianc.com Catchlight Gallery 108 North Jefferson Ave. (336) 846-1551 www.catchlightgallery.net Florence Thomas Art School 10 S. Jefferson Ave. (336) 846-3827 www.florenceartschool.org Foxfire Holler Fiber Arts 08 E. First Main St. (336) 620-2829 French’s Gallery 119 N. Jefferson Ave. (336) 846-1900 Great Southern Gothic 103 N. Jefferson Ave. (336) 846-2410 Originals Only Gallery 3B North Jefferson Ave. (336) 846-1636 www.originalsonly.com Quilt Square Girls 5 East Second St. (336) 385-0197 www.ilovebarnquilts.com R.T. Morgan Art Gallery & Glass by Camille 120 N. Jefferson Ave. (336) 246-3328 www.rtmorganartgallery.com Shoemaker Studio and Gallery 111 South Jefferson Ave. (336) 846-3401 www.stephenshoemaker.com

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Blessed by frescoes

MORE INFORMATION

Thousands visit each year to see Ben Long’s masterpieces According to information from benlongfineart.com, the true fresco painting technique is one that involves mixing sand or almost 30 years, between and lime, placing the mix on the wall and 1934 and 1972, the Ashe County painting it while it is still wet. Great skill fresco churches were without a and meticulous planning must be mainrector and subject to declining tained in order to achieve a beautiful result infrastructure according to Doug Wordue to the quick nature of the bonding of sham, co-chairman of the Fresco Docent the pigment to the wet plaster. Outreach. After a stint in the VietToday Worsham said nam War, Long studied the church estimates that true fresco painting in about 50,000 people Italy under some of the visit annually Saint Mary’s remaining artists who still Episcopal Church in West understood the technique Jeﬀerson and Holy Trinused by Michelangelo on ity Episcopal Church in the ceiling of the Vatican’s Glendale Springs to see the Sistine Chapel. When churches that house artist Long returned to the U.S., Ben Long’s storied frescoes he sought out a place to painted in the 1970s. showcase his skills near “They are one of a very his hometown of Statesfew of the ancient art of ville. true fresco painting where After meeting at a mucolored minerals like clay tual friend’s party, Long painted into wet plaster contacted Father Faulton which makes a very perHodge, in 1974, about manent type of artwork.” painting a fresco at St. Worsham said. “Some peoMary’s in West Jeﬀerson. ple come to see them just Hodge agreed and Long to see the art, and some went to work on his first PHOTO BY BEN COGSDALE fresco called “Mary Great people come to see them Ben Long’s fresco titled because of their religious with Child” — one of only ‘John the Baptist’ was comsignificance.” a few paintings in the BY BEN COGSDALE ben.cogsdale@wataugademocrat.com

world to depict Mary pregnant with Christ according to Worsham. Long subsequently created a second fresco called “John the Baptist” in 1976. Long eventually completed his third fresco, “The Mystery of Faith,” at St. Mary’s in 1977, this time covering the entire sanctuary wall behind the altar with a stunning depiction of Jesus’s crucifixion. In 1980, Long returned, with several students from Wilkes Community College to aid him, and painted a fresco titled “The Lord’s Supper,” behind the altar at Holy Trinity Episcopal Church in Glendale Springs. Long also included several hidden images in his depiction of Jesus and his disciples to give viewers extra pause when viewing the fresco. Audio recordings to aid the viewing process are also available at each location. Worsham said that Long went on the paint several other frescoes around Western North Carolina, but that his first frescoes, in Ashe County, drew buses of visitors each year to witness his religious masterpieces.

Holy Trinity Episcopal Church Glendale School Road, Glendale Springs, NC 28629 (336) 982-3076 http://phc.diocesewnc.org/ 3holytrinity.html St. Mary’s Episcopal Church 400 Beaver Creek School Road, West Jefferson, NC 28694 (336) 982-3076 http://phc.diocesewnc.org/ 3holytrinity.html The Ashe County Frescoes Foundation, a nonprofit created by community members, currently protects and preserves the Ashe County Frescoes. For more information visit their website at www.ashefrescoes. org or the church’s website at www.churchofthefrescoes.com. And, Ashe County isn’t the only place to find frescoes by Long in the High Country. In nearby Avery County, the fresco at The Crossnore School renders the scripture of Mark 10:14, “Suﬀer the little children to come unto me and forbid them not: for of such is the kingdom of God.” It features children who were residents at The Crossnore School. For more information, call (828) 733-4305.

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PHOTO BY BEN COGSDALE Ben Long’s fresco behind the altar of Saint Mary’s Episcopal Church in West Jefferson titled, ‘The Mystery of Faith.’

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PHOTO BY JEFF EASON Blowing Rock’s monthly Art in the Park events attract thousands of visitors to the village during the summertime.

Blowing Rock’s

Art in the Park has something for everyone BY JEFF EASON jeff.eason@wataugademocrat.com

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or more than a half century, some of the finest craftspeople and artisans in the Southeast have made regular trips to Blowing Rock to participate in Art in the Park. Held six times a year during the warmer months, Art in the Park features more than 80 fine arts and crafts booths selling paintings, jewelry, furniture, ceramics, fiber items and much more. It is presented by the Blowing Rock Chamber of Commerce and held on Park Avenue next to Blowing Rock Memorial Park. “Art in the Park is the premier outdoor fine art festival in the area, and we’re very proud to be celebrating our 55th year,” said Art in the Park director Loni Miller. “This year we juried nearly 400 artists and selected 205 to participate. We will have between 80 and 97 incredible artists at each show across a variety of mediums including pottery, glass, painting, photography, basketry, metal, wood, clothing, jewelry and more. “Last season I watched as a $20 pair of earrings made from repurposed vinyl records sold in one booth, while another

customer purchased a $10,000 wood table with turquoise inlay in the next booth. “We work hard to make sure there’s something for everyone, and that all of the work represented is top notch and one-ofa-kind.”a Art in the Park’s location is convenient to public parking decks, Memorial Park and all of its kid-friendly amenities, and downtown Blowing Rock shops and restaurants. “Since moving to Park Avenue, it’s been really easy for customers to park in the American Legion parking deck, which spills out to the show entrance at Park Avenue,” Miller said. “We also run a free trolley for customers between Tanger Outlet Shoppes on the Parkway and the Food Lion Shopping Center.” 2017 Art in the Park show dates and featured artists are: May 20: Tim Turner (clay), June 10: Courtney Tomchik (sculpture), July 15: Joanna White (fiber), August 12: Julie Simon (jewelry), Sept. 9: Andy Costine (wood), Oct. 7 Kue King (metal). Hours are 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Art in the Park, presented by the Blowing Rock Chamber of Commerce, is sponsored by Modern Automotive. For more information, call the Chamber at (828) 295-7851.

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2017 Artist-in-Residence series brings art to life Edgewood Cottage events return to Blowing Rock June 22-August 29 BY JEFF EASON jeff.eason@wataugademocrat.com

ust in front of the Blowing Rock Art and History Museum in downtown Blowing Rock is another place where art and history meet. Edgewood Cottage on Main Street is the former studio of legendary Blowing Rock impressionist Elliott Daingerfield. During the summer months, the cottage is home to the annual Artist-in-Residence series, presented by the Blowing Rock Historical Society. The Artist-in-Residence series is a free event where art lovers are invited to meet with artists, watch them create new pieces and purchase original art, if they like. This year the series features painters, wood carvers and a traditional North Carolina ceramicist. The series takes place every day except Wednesday from June 22 through August 29. Hours are 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. most days and noon to 6 p.m. on Sundays. The Edgewood Cottage Artist-in-Residence series begins with the 2016 Alumni Show from Thursday, June 22 through Sunday, July 2. Artists who participated in the event last year will be on hand to discuss their work, explain their artistic techniques and sell select pieces to the public. The Alumni Show will feature the work of artists Derrick Chalfant, Dawn Wicklow, Barbara Sox, Kathy Rosenberger, Charlie Frye, Susan Sharpe, Caron Baker Wike, Dottie Baker, Nancy Graham, Bob Meier, Cindy Pacileo, Remo Piracci, Becky Henderson Gow, Nancy Lewis, Theresa McGrath, Jennifer Gardiner, Pam Washer, Beth Taylor, Marti Kardol, Deone Roe and Ed Dyer. The remainder of the 2017 Artist-in-Residence schedule is as follows: • July 6-11: Kay Robb. “With the wealth of beauty in creeks and rivers of Western North Carolina, Robb is drawn more and more toward depicting the magical world hidden among the hem-

PHOTO BY JEFF EASON Edgewood Cottage in Blowing Rock will host the 2017 Artist-in-Residence series, beginning June 22.

PHOTO BY JEFF EASON Blowing Rock artist Lee Harper will bring her vibrant oil paintings to the Artist-in-Residence series July 27 through August 1.

locks and rhododendron oﬀ the remote paths and backroads of our state.” • July 13-18: Beth Parham, Gene Parham and Earl Davis. “In addition to carving songbirds, waterfowl and birds of

prey, Beth Parham has branched out to pyrography, the art of burning a design on the surface of the wood with a heated metallic point. Gene Parham is a versatile wood carver who specializes in realis-

tic waterfowl and birds, all hand painted, as well as creating the habitat for the decorative birds. Earl Davis paints with the expectancy that on his canvas will appear a scene calling him into it, to experience peace or to explore or revisit some wonderful place that spoke to his soul.” • July 20-25: Ronda Hale and Susan Grant. “Color and light are what attract Ronda Hale to subjects such as old buildings, water and landscapes. Some of her favorite subjects include a glorious garden, a rustic barn and rushing water. Susan Grant’s engineering background naturally leads her realistic style of painting. Her medium choice is transparent watercolor, fresh clean colors that result from building layers of washes on paper.” • July 27-August 1: Lee Harper. “Lee Harper paints landscapes, figures and abstracts in oil and acrylic, using a style of flowing, full of motion and heavily pigmented, vivid colors.” • August 3-8: Richard Wright. “Richard Wright is a Catawba Valley potter who focuses on native materials and producing functional wheel-turned pots. His pieces vary from simple mugs to three or four foot pieces.” • August 10-15: Susan Payne. “Susan Payne’s most current artwork showcases landscapes and neighboring towns. She finds the stunning views in constant flux and the abrupt changes in weather can alter the colors, lights and shadows.” • August 17-22: Ryan Kirby. “Once old enough to venture deep into the woods of the family farm, Kirby’s subject quickly became wild things. He has traveled far and wide to see fur, feathers, trees and water diﬀerently than the rest of us…and the same.” • August 24-29: Raney Rogers. “Art makes the world a more beautiful and meaningful place in which Raney Rogers wants to live and wants to add to. At her West Jeﬀerson gallery, Acorn Gallery, her workshops and classes bring out the artists in everyone.” For more information, visit the Blowing Rock Historical Society’s Facebook page.

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High Country comes alive with outdoor music this summer

BY BRIAN MILLER brian.miller@wataugademocrat.com

this summer. Performances will include Three Redneck Tenors on June 19, Double Grandѐ on June 26, Western Piedmont Symphony Orchestra on July 3, Vivace on July 10, Scotch, Soul, Rock and Roll on July 17, The Joe Gransden Big Band on July 24, Barbara Frank and the Concert That Never Was on July 31 and The Broadway Boys on August 7. For more information, click www.lmc.edu/ community/forum.htm.

hether it’s a hot summer day or a cool summer night, it’s always a good time to hear some live

music. The High Country is a music-lovers haven, with opportunities to see outdoor concerts nearly every night of the week throughout the summer. Music events range from social gigs to intimate shows to full-on festival experiences, with genres spanning on a spectrum from bluegrass to rock and roll. For those looking to start a routine, several local venues dedicate specific days and times for weekly shows, most of which feature local and regional acts, who are often times repeat performers. Outdoor concerts are the perfect time to familiarize with the areas eclectic, yet intimate music culture. Whether you’re out to discover your new favorite artist, or are just wanting to hang outside with friends and a little bit of background music, the High Country has it covered. Following is a list of outdoor music series listed by town.

BOONE

FILE PHOTO Melissa Reaves performs at 2016’s Sirens on the Mountain Festival. She will return to play at the festival again this year.

BANNER ELK Tate-Evans Park — Every Thursday evening from June 22 to Aug. 31, Banner Elk comes alive with the sounds of music for its Concerts in the Park series. Musicians take the stage at 6:30 p.m. at the Robbins Amphitheater of Tate-Evans Park, and the event is sponsored by the Banner Elk Chamber of Commerce. The series hits on genres of country, funk and rock and roll, and also includes covers of 80s music, oldies, classics and classic rock. A few featured bands are Soul Benefactor, Jocassee with Wilson Braswell and Hope Harvey, The Flying Saucers and Dave Calvert Collective. For more information and the complete schedule, visit http://www.townofbannerelk.org. Grandfather Vineyard and Winery — Grandfather Vineyard and Winery hosts a summer full of live music on Sunday afternoons from May 14 to Oct. 15. Concerts are a nice compliment to the

PHOTO SUBMITTED The Sheets Family Band are one of several acts to appear at this years’ Backstreet Concert Series in downtown West Jefferson.

wine tasting room. The summer lineup includes musicians Matt Bizzell, Don Vallarta, Tom Pillion and Klee & Mike, just to name a few. For more information

and the complete schedule, visit http:// grandfathervineyard.com. The Forum at Lees-McRae College presents an entertaining music series

Jones House — In downtown Boone, the Jones House features a free outdoor concert series held at 5 p.m. every Friday on the lawn from June 2 to Aug. 25. Genres range from old-time string bands to jazz and blues. A few featured performers this year include Strictly Strings, King Bees and Lazybirds. Likely the most anticipated day of the series comes on June 16 with the Doc Watson Day Celebration. On this day, the late High Country legend will be celebrated with music by some of Doc’s old picking pals along with stories from some of his family members. Guests are encouraged to bring blankets or lawn chairs. For more information and the complete schedule, visit www.joneshouse.org. Appalachian Mountain Brewery — Appalachian Mountain Brewery is known for hosting local musicians on a weekly basis, and continues to expand with the recent installment of it outdoor music stage. With multiple shows a week, this is a great place to grab a couple of drinks and hear live music in a relaxed environment. For more information, visit https://amb.beer. Daniel Boone Park — Daniel Boone Park, located in the heart of Boone near the “Horn in the West” outdoor drama facility, hosts the weekly Watauga County Farmers’ Market every Saturday from 8 a.m. to noon. While at the market, buyers can enjoy an array of local bands playing in the morning. For more information, visit http://www.wataugacountyfarmersmarket.org.

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MUSIC

until Sept. 8. Concerts begin at 7 p.m. May 26 to Aug. 11, and at 6:30 p.m. Aug. 8 to Sept. 8. Admission to the concerts is free, but a $5 donation per person or $10 donation per family to the park is recommended. Seating is not provided, so it’s encouraged to bring chairs or a blanket. Local artists featured this year include The King Bees, Dashboard Hula Boys, Alexa Rose and Worthless Son-in-Laws, just to name a few. For more information and the complete schedule, visit https:// vallecrucispark.org.

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 137

BLOWING ROCK The Inn at Ragged Gardens — The Inn at Ragged Gardens at the Best Cellar Restaurant hosts a “Music on the Lawn” concert series each summer. Performances take place from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. on Fridays from May 12 to Oct. 13. A diﬀerent band is featured every week, and a cash bar and lawn menu are available. Concerts are free and guests are encouraged to bring a lawn chair. Each week a private nonprofit organization is featured to educate and inform the public about its cause. For more information and the complete schedule, visit http://www. ragged-gardens.com. Timberlake Restaurant at Chetola Resort — Timberlake Restaurant features live entertainment three nights a week from April 27 to June 30. Weather depending, shows will be in the pub, on the patio or by the bonfire. Music & Oyster Night takes place from 5 to 10 p.m. on Thursdays, featuring music by contemporary swing band, The Lucky Strikes. Jazz Night take place from 6 to 9 p.m. on Fridays and features local musicians Edward Main, Mark Guest, Wendy Jones, Andy Page and Mike Holstein, Sound Traveler and BE Jazz. Bonfire Nights are from 7 to 10 p.m. on Saturdays, featuring various local and regional artists. For more information, visit http://chetola.

WEST JEFFERSON

PHOTO BY JEFF EASON Musical duo Zoe and Cloyd perform at Valle Crucis Park as part of the Music in the Valle summer concert series.

com/dining/.

NEWLAND Riverwalk — Fridays from June 23 to Aug. 18, the Greater Newland Association welcomes locals and visitors for the summer’s Riverwalk Concert series. Performances begin at 6 p.m. and last until 9 p.m. In addition to eight weeks of bands, the GNA will host a bonus “Songwriter Showcase” concert on Aug. 18, highlighting local talent from Avery

County and beyond. Featured acts this year include The Dave Calvert Collective, The Johnson Brothers, Asheville Aces, Rick Strickland Band and more. For more information and the complete schedule, visit http://www.greaternewland.org.

VALLE CRUCIS Valle Crucis Park — Valle Crucis Park is starting its outdoor concert series, “Music in the Valle,” on May 26, running

SUMMER MUSIC FESTIVALS For those looking for a more in-depth musical experience, the High Country is host to several music festivals unique to the area’s culture and roots. From Fiddlers Conventions to Celtic jam sessions, here is a list of music festivals happening this summer. Ashe County Bluegrass and Old Time Fiddlers Convention — The 48th annual Ashe County Bluegrass and Old Time Fiddlers Convention is a celebration and showcase of the musical talent and heritage of the High Country. The Ashe County Arts Council will sponsor the event happening July 28 and 29 at Ashe County Park in Jefferson. Highlights include the Gary Poe Bluegrass and Old Time Radio Show live broadcast with special guest Strictly Strings, Appalachian Barn Dance with Whitetop Mountain Band and adult and youth music competitions. Camping is available on site starting on July 27. Admission is $5 and children under 12 are free. Camping fees vary. Musicians will register the day of the competition. For more information and the complete schedule, visit www.asheﬁddlersconvention.

2017

PHOTO BY JEFF EASON Shelby Rae Moore performs with her band at the Blowing Rock Music Festival.

org. Blowing Rock Music Festival — The Blowing Rock Music Festival will take place on Sept. 16 at The Blowing Rock. Hosted by local legends The Harris Brothers, the festival will highlight several genres featuring Soul

Benefactor, Shelby Rae Moore Band and an Elvis impersonator. For more information, visit www.theblowingrock.com. Blue Bear Music Fest — From Sept. 7-9, the annual Blue Bear Music Fest will take place at Blue Bear Mountain Campground in nearby

Backstreet Park — The Backstreet Concert Series returns to downtown West Jeﬀerson this summer, starting Friday June 2 and running through Sept. 1. The 10 free concerts start at 5:30 p.m. and run to 7:00 p.m. They are sponsored by the West Jeﬀerson Community Partnership, a volunteer organization of businesses, nonprofits and interested citizens. All concerts will be at the Backstreet Park (corner of Backstreet and West Second Street.) In the event of rain, the concerts will be moved to the Ashe Arts Center. Bring your lawn chairs and blankets. Mark your calendars to see performers including Wayne Henderson, Crooked Road Ramblers, Strictly Strings, Sheets Family Band, Mountain Laurels and more. For more information, visit http:// www.ashechamber.com.

Todd. Music is prominently bluegrass, folk and roots. The schedule and lineup have yet to be announced. For updates, visit http://musicfestatbluebearmountain.com. Grandfather Mountain Highland Games — From July 6-9, the 62nd annual Grandfather Mountain Scottish Highland Games will take place at MacRae Meadows at Grandfather Mountain and will include outdoor live traditional Celtic music, as well as nighttime Celtic Rock concerts throughout the weekend. More information can be found at www.gmhm.org. Sirens on the Mountain — The fourth annual Sirens on the Mountain festival features local woman musicians of the High Country, including Melissa Reaves, Ashley Heath, Amethyst Kiah and Downtown Abby & The Echoes. This year, festivities are taking place in the town of Todd along the banks of the New River on June 24. Sirens 2017 will be hallmarked by a smaller, local community vibe. Included in this year’s ticket is a catered meal (meat, vegetarian and gluten-free options will be available), and also non-alcoholic beverages. For more the full schedule and ticket, parking and camping information, visit http://www. sirensonthemountain.com.

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Concerts on the Lawn: Where the livin’ is easy Blowing Rock starts the weekend with free live music shows BY JEFF EASON jeff.eason@wataugademocrat.com

eorge Gershwin’s famous lyrics, “Summertime, and the livin’ is easy,” set a laid back tone for the season. Similarly, the Music on the Lawn series at the Inn at Ragged Gardens in Blowing Rock creates a relaxed atmosphere for the beginning of summer weekends. Held on Sunset Drive in downtown Blowing Rock, the Music on the Lawn series presents live music concerts from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. every Friday from May through the middle of October. Music lovers are invited to bring lawn chairs and blankets to the front lawn of the historic inn and listen to some of the best in local and regional music talent. The event is free and food and beverages are available for sale. No pets, coolers or outside food or beverages are allowed. “The event has grown in popularity over the years and attendance in the hundreds can be expected,” said Lisa Stripling, co-owner of the Inn at Ragged Gardens and Best Cellar Restaurant. “A

diﬀerent band is featured every week. “Each week a private non-profit organization is featured to educate and inform the public about their cause. We encourage you to come and enjoy music, food and drink on the beautifully landscaped grounds at the Inn at Ragged Gardens. See you on Fridays.” The 2017 Music on the Lawn schedule includes The King Bees (May 12), The Worthless Son in Laws (May 19), The Harris Brothers (May 26), Supa Tight (June 2), Shelby Rae Moore Band (June 9), Soul Benefactor (June 16), Drive South (June 23), The Harris Brothers (June 30), The Lucky Strikes Band (July 7), Klee Lyles and Jonathan Birchfield Band (July 14), Soul Benefactor (July 21), The Harris Brothers (July 28), Smokey Breeze (August 4), Klee and Mike (August 11), Soul Benefactor (August 18), Out of the Blue (August 25), The Harris Brothers (Sept. 1), Rama Jay Intercoastal Band (Sept. 8), Soul Benefactor (Sept. 15), Shelby Rae Moore Band (Sept. 22), Buck Haggard Band (Sept. 29), Erick Baker Band (Oct. 6) and TBA (Oct. 13). For more information, visit ragged-gardens.com or call (828) 295-3466.

PHOTO BY JEFF EASON Music lovers gather at the Inn at the Ragged Gardens in Blowing Rock to kick off the weekend at the weekly Concerts on the Lawn series.

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PHOTO BY JEFF EASON The High Country’s own Soul Benefactor cranks up the classic rock and Motown during a Concert on the Lawn series show.

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An Appalachian Summer Festival highlights diversity in the arts BY BRIAN MILLER brian.miller@wataugademocrat.com

usic, dance, theatre, visual arts and film — the blend that makes An Appalachian Summer Festival

one of a kind. Celebrating its 33rd season, spanning from June 27 to Aug. 4, the festival continues to highlight diversity in the arts, with opportunities for folks with all tastes and backgrounds. What began in the summer of 1984 as a chamber music series, An Appalachian Summer Festival has expanded to include acts from local showcases to national superstars, all appearing on the campus of Appalachian State. Venues include the Schaefer Center for the Performing Arts, Rosen Concert Hall at the Broyhill Music Center, Valborg Theatre, Holmes Convocation Center and Turchin Center for the Visual Arts. As stated in its mission, “The festival forges a unique national identity through artistic excellence, innovative programming, commissioning new works, educational opportunities, and by bringing the most accomplished and respected creative and performing

PHOTO SUBMITTED Yestival, featuring Yes with special guests Todd Rundgren and Carl Palmer’s ELP Legacy will perform at the Convocation Center Aug. 5 as the ﬁnale of An Appalachian Summer Festival.

artists from around the world to the Appalachian State University community.” A few festival highlights this year include the Weicholz Global Film Series, an evening with Tony Award-winning actress, singer and dancer Sutton Fos-

ter, a concert by Grammy Award-winning country superstar Jennifer Nettles, a Bruce Hornsby & the Noisemakers concert and a performance by the Charlotte Ballet. All of this culminates to the festi-

val’s grand finale concert experience, “Yestival: Yes with special guests Todd Rundgren & Carl Palmer’s ELP Legacy.” Yestival is a prog-rock, “full festival experience,” featuring headliners, Yes, the recent Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductee. On this national tour, Yes will treat fans to a setlist of greatest hits from all of the band’s nine studio albums up to 1980. Fans can expect to hear iconic tunes such as “Roundabout,” “Close to the Edge,” “I’ve Seen All Good People,” “Owner of a Lonely Heart,” Starship Trooper” and others. Todd Rundgren will be playing in support of his new “White Knights” LP, and Carl Palmer’s ELP Legacy will honor Palmer’s deceased bandmates Kieth Emerson and Greg Lake. Tickets for all events are now on sale. Purchase any five adult tickets, in any combination and receive 10 percent off. The “Pick 5” discount is only applied to purchases at the box office or by phone. To purchase tickets, call or visit the Schaefer Center box office at (800) 8412787 or (828) 262-4046. Tickets can also be purchased online at app summer.org. For detailed information on each event, visit appsummer.org.

Jones House Outdoor Concert Series showcases eclectic blend of music BY BRIAN MILLER brian.miller@mountaintimes.com

here are few better ways to wind down after a long work week than with a cold drink and a concert on the lawn. The Jones House in downtown Boone has been oﬀering that exact remedy for nearly 30 years, and plans to continue to do so this summer with its annual Outdoor Concert Series. These free shows highlight local and regional artists, taking place weekly

on Friday evenings from June through August. Performers this year include Time Sawyer, Strictly Strings, King Bees, Amantha Mill, Todd Wright and Lazybirds, just to name a few. Genres will range from traditional and string bands to blues, jazz, rock and soul. “This area, traditionally, has been a hotbed for music, and still is,” said Jones House concert organizer Mark Freed. “Our region has provided so many wonderful musicians, which is one of the SEE SERIES ON PAGE 146

PHOTO SUBMITTED Jack Lawrence and Patrick Couch perform during a Doc Watson Day Celebration.

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Stepping back in history with live outdoor drama series Home to ‘Horn in the West’ outdoor drama, living history museum BY KACEY HOWARD

ake a step back into the 1770s with a live outdoor theater experience featuring characters from the Revolutionary War, at Daniel Boone Park in Boone. The Southern Appalachian Historic Association hosts “Horn In The West,” a live outdoor drama featuring stories from 1776-1780. The drama is located in the center of Boone, right next to the Watauga Farmers’ Market. “The Horn In the West is the oldest Revolutionary War outdoor drama in the United States,” said Carson Sailor, executive director of the Southern Appalachian Historical Association. The outdoor drama originally started in 1952 when community leaders came together to celebrate Watauga County’s 100{sup}th{/sup} anniversary. “Echoes of the Blue Ridge” was the first outdoor drama production held for two years. From there, county leaders hired playwright Kermit Hunter to write a story of the area. That story is still told 66 years later as “Horn In The West.” “It talks about North Carolina’s place in the American Revolution and how people sought freedom in the mountains. Daniel Boone is a key player,” said Sailor.

FILE PHOTO SAHA Executive Director Carson Sailor, far left, with Grayson Butler and Cami Clark on the grounds of the Hickory Ridge Living History Museum in Boone.

Every year actors from all around the United States come take part in “Horn in the West.” Local High Country businesses donate supplies for production setup as well. Sailor said roughly 14,000 people attended the outdoor drama in the 2016

SERIES CONTINUED FROM PAGE 145

main driving forces of our culture here.” And when the music is played at a historical venue in the heart of downtown Boone on a beautiful lawn and under big maple trees, it only adds to the experience. Freed said what makes this series stand out, is the fact that the audience is in it for the music. “We present good, quality shows,” he said. “People come here to truly listen, and to celebrate live music. The community really cares about the music scene, and it makes for a great experience for both the listeners and performers.” One of the major highlights of the series is the annual Doc Watson Day Celebration, taking place on June 16. This year’s performance will feature several of Doc’s old

season, and attendance is increasing yearly. The “Horn in the West” drama starts on June 23 and lasts through Aug. 5. The Southern Appalachian Historical Association oﬀers many ticket deals throughout the season. Normal ticket prices are $25

musical companions, including Charles Welch, Jack Lawrence and Patrick Couch, Presley Barker and the Jeﬀ Little Trio. “This is always an amazing way to celebrate Doc,” said Freed. “We bring in some of his old picking pals and old family and friends to share a lot of great music and a lot of great stories.” The concerts at the Jones House take place every Friday, starting at 5 p.m., rain or shine. Patrons are encouraged to bring their own chairs or blankets to sit in the Jones House lawn. Musicians and bands will typically perform from the front porch of the community center. Events are family-friendly and alcoholic beverages are permitted on the grounds on a BYOB basis. For more information on the series and about the individual performers, visit joneshouse.org or call (828) 268-6280.

for a reserved seat and $20 for a lawn seat. You can get your ticket online at horninthewest.com or at the ticket oﬃce located on site. The Hickory Ridge Living History Museum is also located on site on at Daniel Boone Park. The Hickory Ridge Living History Museum allows you to get a first-hand look into the 1700s by walking through historic cabins while experiencing live demonstrations. Six cabins are staged to take you back to what life was like in the 1700s. As you walk through the cabins, characters come to life featuring costume interpretation and live demonstrations of candle making, blacksmithing, and spinning wool. “Guests like to come out here and experience what the early years of the nation was like,” said Sailor. “We like to get to the core of these are all individuals that came from diﬀerent walks of life to create a unique society in Appalachia.” You can also stop by the gift shop to pick up local hand-made items and museum memorabilia. The Hickory Ridge Living History Museum is open April-November. Tours are given daily (excluding Monday) at 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. Tickets are $5 for adults and $3 for children.

JONES HOUSE OUTDOOR CONCERT SERIES LINEUP June 2 – Time Sawyer and Sirius B. June 9 – Carolina Ramble Review: Possum Jenkins, Wurlitzer Prize and Molly McGinn June 16 – Doc Watson Day Celebration with Charles Welch, Jack Lawrence/Patrick Couch, Presley Barker and the Jeff Little Trio June 23 – Strictly Strings and Strictly Clean and Decent June 30 – Good Vibes Trio and King Bees July 7 – Tellico and Amantha Mill July 14 – Jazzfest: Swing Guitars, Shane Chalke and Todd Wright July 21 – Josh Daniels & Mark Schimick and Shelby Rae Moore July 28 – Jon Shain, Angela Easterling and Earleine August 4 – Aaron Burdett Band and Lazybirds August 11 – Hiroya Tsukomoto, Steve & Ruth and Mountain Laurels August 18 – Bluegrass Showcase: Never Too Late, Jonah Riddle, Brian Osborne and Sureﬁre August 25 – Touche with Meade Richter and Hank & Pattie

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The show must go on LMC Summer Theatre returns for 32nd season BY MATT DEBNAM matt.debnam@wataugademocrat.com

n what has become a celebrated tradition in Banner Elk, Avery County and the High Country as a whole, Lees-McRae College Summer Theatre returns for its 32nd season of musical theater this summer. With the season upon us, theatergoers have much to look forward to this summer as three Broadway-quality musicals, and one original play, hit the stage in Banner Elk.

program. “I used to have to go to New York and other places for casting and technician calls, but now most everything is done online,” Speer mused. “We have built an amazing family of designers, actors, technicians and managers. With Lees-McRae Performing Arts and Summer Theatre alums, we have a huge network. Our top priority is that persons we use are team players and come with good references. Talent is next, but that ability to keep the environment healthy with dedicated and kind workers is crucial to us. Professionals want to work with us, and I think this is due to the quality of our product and the beautiful environment of the High Country.”

MAKING A MUSICAL While audiences will undoubtedly be dazzled by the glitz and glamour of each of these shows, few realize how much effort goes into their production. Speaking with Summer Theatre Director Janet Speer, it takes a great effort on the part of many people to take these shows from script to stage. “This season will bring in our largest company of 131,” Speer said. “This includes actors, children, directors, managers, designers, orchestra, technicians and the like, front of house, PR, playbill and the like.” Drawing talent both locally and from throughout the country, preparations for the program’s larger-than-life productions typically begins a year in advance, as Speer and her colleagues begin brainstorming what shows will play well with their audiences, as well as fit into the program’s pattern of producing two large musicals bookending a smaller production. “We have to take into account what we can produce (talent, sets, costumes) and what our audiences want,” Speer said. “The directors also have a say. I must feel a connection to the musicals I direct. I must believe that I can offer something new to it. I want our audiences, even though they may have seen renditions of our plays elsewhere (frequently on Broadway), to say ‘That was such a refreshing approach.’” Casting for the productions typically begins in January, as Speer reviews roles and technical needs. While she is often able to recruit Summer Theatre alumni, roles and technical positions are also advertised in trade magazines and on the program’s website. When casting time comes each winter, Speer reviews hundreds of headshots, resumes and video reels from professional actors and actresses seeking a place in the

THE PRODUCTIONS This summer season promises a diverse assortment of shows, each with a unique message and style all of its own. From the energetic retelling of the Biblical story of Joseph and his coat of many colors, and the story of fabled recording session that brought together four of the greatest names in rock-n’-roll, to a stage adaptation of the 2001 film “Legally Blonde” and original play on the issues surrounding excessive screen time, audiences both young and old are sure to enjoy these productions immensely.

‘Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat’ — Directed by Dr. Janet Speer Before “Phantom of the Opera,” Tim Rice and Andrew Lloyd Webber wrote “Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat.” The Biblical saga of Joseph and his coat of many colors comes to vibrant life in this delightful musical parable. Joseph, his father’s favorite son, is a boy blessed with prophetic dreams. When he is sold into slavery by his jealous brothers and taken to Egypt, Joseph endures a series of adventures in which his spirit and humanity are continually challenged. Color, engaging dances, wonderful music and one Vaudeville act after another, “Joseph” will make you laugh and cry as you enjoy “the best Bible lesson” you’ll ever experience. Approximately 40 children from the High Country and beyond will have parts in this show. “Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat” is sponsored by Skyline/Skybest.

‘Million Dollar Quartet’ — Directed by Dr. Michael Hannah “Million Dollar Quartet” is the smash hit musical inspired by the famed recording session that brought together rock-and-roll

IMAGES COURTESY LEES-MCRAE COLLEGE Four productions will grace the stage at Lees-McRae College this season, as the college’s Summer Theatre Program enters its 32nd year.

icons Elvis Presley, Johnny Cash, Jerry Lee Lewis and Carl Perkins for the first and only time. On Dec. 4, 1956, these four young musicians gathered at Sun Records in Memphis for what would be one of the greatest jam sessions ever. “Quartet” brings that legendary night to life, featuring a score of rock hits including “Great Balls of Fire, “Walk the Line,” and “Hound Dog.” “Million Dollar Quartet” is sponsored by Nanette Mayer.

‘Legally Blonde The Musical’ — Directed by Dr. Janet Speer Based on the adored movie, “Legally Blonde The Musical” stays true to form with a peppy score and playful book. This musical is ridiculously enjoyable, from start to finish. Elle Woods appears to have it all. Her life is turned upside down, however, when her boyfriend dumps her so he can start getting serious about his life and attend Harvard Law. Determined to get him back, Elle uses her charm to also get into Harvard Law. At school, she struggles with peers, professors and Warner Huntington. With the help of Paulette and Emmett, though, Elle quickly realizes her potential and sets out to prove herself to the world. “Legally Blonde” is sponsored by Glenn and Carol Author.

‘Screen Test’ — Directed by Jennifer Poarch Young people spend as much as eight hours or more in front of a screen; phone screens, TV screens, monitors and tablets have become the norm. Research is indicat-

ing that this is causing problems that range from inability to concentrate, to aggressive behavior to physical issues such as strained eyesight and obesity. “Screen Test” gently reminds children that too much time spent with these technological addictions can be detrimental to a healthy lifestyle. “Screen Test” is a new play written by Janet Barton Speer with lyrics and music by John Thomas Oaks. Children will have a wonderful time laughing at the funny moments and thinking about how screens are good in our lives but should be used in moderation.

A TRADITION OF EXCELLENCE As to what has made the Summer Theatre program so successful over the years, Speer attributes the program’s longevity to three factors: talent, honest messages onstage and a genuine love for the art of theater. “The key to success is to surround yourself with outstanding talent,” Speer said. “Over the years we have built a Lees-McRae Summer Theatre family who are thrilled to be in the High Country, understand our audiences and who execute their art beautifully. We pride ourselves on presenting a clear and honest picture onstage. We strive to provide plays and musicals that encourage the pursuit of truth. I think people are frequently pleasantly surprised that we can produce such quality in our little environment, but much of that is due to the heart. We genuinely love our audiences and our art.”

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Browsing the local farmers markets BY TROY BROOKS troy.brooks@wataugademocrat.com

armers Markets play an important role in the communities of the High Country. Providing our local farmers and artisans a place to showcase and sell the food they grow and the art they create, the local farmers markets have grown to become popular community hubs during the summer. There is a big push to eat fresh, local food. According to Ashe County Farmers Market Manager Lori Goodman, produce at a farmers market is a “thousand times fresher than anything you would receive at your local grocery store.” Here in the high country there is a big push to eat fresh local food provided by growers from farms small and large from all over the High Country. Many foods are picked the day before or sometimes the morning of the market. You can’t get any fresher than that. “The local Farmers Markets introduce a side of the community that many don’t see and I think a lot of people like to be a part of that hub. That really speaks to the need to have a community gathering place,” said Goodman. “We often see both locals and tourists come through here to explore what our citizens have to oﬀer. When we first moved here, this was one of the first places we came to because there is no better place to learn about your county and the community you’re living in. Everybody is represented here.” For those who love to explore, there’s more to find than just local produce. From local greenery, meat and milk to arts and crafts, including pottery, wood crafting, painting, photography and artwork, there is something here for everyone while exploring the creativity of the local populations. Don’t forget to keep an eye out for local community organizations and groups at the local markets.

Where to shop Ashe County Farmers Market Saturdays through October, 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. Wednesdays, starting July 5 through the end of September, 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. Back Street, West Jefferson, N.C. 28694 (336) 877-5052. www.ashefarmersmarket.com

Avery County Farmers Market Thursdays through September, 4:30 to 7 p.m. Old Banner Elk Elementary School,

PHOTO BY TROY BROOKS Produce won’t be the only thing you’ll discover at your local farmers markets, as at this market in West Jefferson, N.C. Artisans and craftsmen also abound.

185 Azalea Ciircle Banner Elk, N.C. 28604 (828) 733-5052 www.averycountyfarmersmarket.net

Blowing Rock Farmers Market Thursdays, May 25 through Oct. 12, 4 to 6 p.m. Park Avenue, Blowing Rock, N.C. 28605 (828) 295-7851 blowingrock.com/calendar/farmersmarket

Johnson County Farmers’ Market Saturdays, May through Oct., 9 a.m. to noon Courthouse Parking Lot, 110 Court St. Mountain City, Tenn. 37683 (432) 213-3450 johnsoncountyfm.org

Watauga Farmers’ Market Saturdays May through Oct., 8 a.m. to noon Saturdays through November, 9 a.m. to noon 591 Horn in the West Drive Boone, N.C. 28607 (828) 355-4918. www.wataugacountyfarmersmarket.org

PHOTO BY TROY BROOKS The local farmers markets have become local community hubs for many people, including musicians Dan Davis and Joe Clayton at the market in West Jefferson.

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ADVERTISER INDEX Animal Emergency Clinic Of The High Country ........... 119 Antiques On Howard ........................................................ 39 Antiques On Main ............................................................122 Appalachian Antiques Mall .............................................. 38 Appalachian Blinds ......................................................... 102 Appalachian Furniture ..................................................... 70 Appalachian Regional Healthcare System .....................123 Appalachian Summer Festival ..........................................74 Ashe Chamber Of Commerce ............................................47 Ashe County Arts Council .......................................123, 129 Ashe County Cheese ...........................................................47 Ashe County Little Theater .............................................. 78 Ashe Rental Agency ...........................................................47 ASU-Turchin Center For The Visual Arts ......................110 Banner Elk Consignment Cottage ................................... 59 Bear Creek Traders ..................................................... 57, 63 Bites & Brews .................................................................... 66 Black Cat Burrito ..............................................................142 Blackberry Creek Mattress Company .........................33, 57 Blowing Rock Art/History Museum .............................. 100 Blowing Rock Attraction ................................................ 106 Blowing Rock Chamber Of Commerce ............................ 90 Blowing Rock Estate Jewelry ............................................67 Blowing Rock Frameworks ................................................ 9 Blowing Rock Furniture Gallery ..................................... 116 Blowing Rock Market ......................................................143 Blowing Rock TDA ...........................................................110 Blue Mountain Metal Works ........................................... 59 Blue Ridge Professional Property Services ................... 130 Blue Ridge Realty & Investments .................................... 22 Bo’s Bodacious Familty Entertainment .......................... 64 Boone Bagelry ............................................................. 38, 52 Boone Drugs Inc ................................................................. 8 Boone Paint & Interior ..................................................... 95 Boone Rent-All .................................................................126 Brass Exchange, The ........................................................ 115 Brushy Mountain Motor Sports, Inc ............................... 43 Bumgarner Camping Center ...........................................125 Caldwell Chamber ............................................................128 Caldwell UNC Health Care ............................................... 63 Camp Coﬀee .......................................................................67 Capone’s ............................................................................. 38 Cardinal, The ...............................................................39, 50 Carlton Gallery ...................................................................61 Casa Rustica Of Boone Inc ..............................................142 Cha Da Thai ....................................................................... 39 Chetola Resort At Blowing Rock ....................................... 71 Chick-Fil-A .......................................................................144 Christmas In July ...............................................................72 Cobo ................................................................................... 39 Corriher Tractor Inc Dba Bob Cat Of Lenoir .................. 63 Crossnore School Inc .........................................................61 Crye-Leike Realtors .........................................................133 Cumberland Marketing .................................................... 99 DBDA Town Of Boone Cultural Resources ..................... 43 Derekas Sugar Mountain Realty/Accomodations ...........74 Dewoolfson Down ........................................................57, 73 Dianne Davant ........................................................... 57, 151 Dutch Creek Trails ............................................................ 65 Echota ........................................................... 30, 57, 113, 152 Ensemble Stage ................................................................134 Ericks Cheese & Wine ......................................................134

Eseeola Lodge ...................................................................144 Family Billiards .......................................................... 57, 141 Farmers Rentals & Power ................................................. 42 Festiva At Blue Ridge Village ..........................................126 Flat Top Brewery ............................................................... 59 Florence Thomas Art School ............................................ 46 Footsloggers ...................................................................... 28 Foscoe Realty Rentals ........................................................ 11 Fred’s General Mercantile Co. ...........................................16 Grandfather Mountain ......................................................91 Grandfather Mountain Campground ...............................41 Grandfather Vineyard ..................................................25, 57 Green Park Inn ...................................................................10 Gregory Alan’s ................................................................... 66 Hands Of Light & Fire Reiki ..............................................47 Hawksnest ......................................................................... 35 High Country Antiques ..................................................... 62 High Country Tactical ....................................................... 92 Highland Outfitters ........................................................... 34 Home Acres Fine Furniture ............................................127 Hound Ears Club ...............................................................81 Incredible Toy Company .................................................. 66 Jeﬀerson Rent-all .............................................................. 22 Jenkins Realtors .................................................................12 Jim’s Corner Furniture ................................................ 17, 47 Kayes Kitchen ...................................................................139 Kincaid/Bernhardt Furniture Outlets ................................3 Lakeshore Marina Captains Table ................................... 94 Lazy Bear Lodge ................................................................ 65 Leatherwood Mountains .................................................. 89 Lees McRae College, Seasonal ....................................... 100 Lees McRae Performing Arts ........................................... 48 Linville Area Mountain Properties ................................ 103 Linville Land Harbor P.O.A ............................................. 87 Logs America, LLC. ........................................................... 45 Lost Province ..................................................................... 38 Lucky Penny ...................................................................... 38 Magic Cycles ...................................................................... 38 Makoto’s ...........................................................................144 Mast Farm Inn .................................................................. 65 Mast General Store ....................................................... 2, 65 Meadowsweet Gardens ..................................................... 46 Mitchell County Chamber Of Commerce ........................ 42 Monkee’s .............................................................................19 Mountain Aire Golf Course .............................................. 82 Mountain Aire Seafood ..................................................... 46 Mountain Dog And Friends ........................................... 120 Mountain Home And Hearth Inc. ....................................37 Mountain Outfitters .......................................................... 33 Mountaineer Garden Center ............................................ 59 Mountainside Lodge Bed And Breakfast ........................ 65 Museum Of Ashe County History .................................... 46 My Best Friends Barkery .................................................. 59 My Favorite Kitchen Things ..............................................47 My Mountain Home ..........................................................67 Mystery Hill ........................................................................18 New Lifestyles Carpet One ..............................................110 New River Building Supplies ..........................................135 North Wilkesboro Tourism ...............................................97 Oﬀ The Grid Mountain Adventures ................................ 58 Over Yonder ...................................................................... 65 Paramount Motors ...........................................................150

Parker Tie .......................................................................... 46 Parkway Craft Center .........................................................72 Past & Present Antiques/Classic Designers Inc. ............. 46 Peabody’s ............................................................................12 Pedalin’ Pig ....................................................................... 141 People’s Furniture ............................................................. 45 Perry’s Gold Mine ............................................................ 131 Preferred Mountain Real Estate ...................................... 59 Premier Sotheby’s International Realty ...........................27 Proper .............................................................................. 140 Ram’s Rack ........................................................................ 38 Red Onion Cafe’ ...............................................................143 Rhoddie Bicycle Outfitters ............................................... 48 Rivercross ................................................................... 65, 114 River And Earth Adventures Inc. ..................................... 26 Rock Dimensions ........................................................38, 50 Shoppes At Farmers Hardware ....................................... 38 Shoppes At Tynecastle .......................................................77 Six Pence Pub ................................................................... 140 Sky Valley Zipline ...............................................................51 Skyline Telephone Corp ................................................... 32 Spice And Tea Exchange .................................................144 Stonewall’s ..................................................................59, 142 Storie Street Grille ............................................................ 141 Sugar Mountain Golf ........................................................ 86 Sugartop Resort ................................................................ 56 Tanner Outlet .................................................................... 66 Tapp Room .......................................................................143 Taste Grill ........................................................................ 140 Tatum Galleries ............................................................25, 57 Taylor House Inn .............................................................. 65 Temple Of The High Country ........................................... 69 The Art Cellar ...................................................................107 The Best Cellar ................................................................. 143 The Cabin Store .................................................................111 The Gamekeeper Restaurant ............................................15 The Gilded Age Antiques, LLC. ........................................ 99 The Local ....................................................................39, 141 The Mustard Seed Market .............................................. 108 The Pet Place .................................................................... 118 The Village Inns Of Blowing Rock ..................................107 The Woodlands Barbeque ...............................................142 Toe River Arts Council ...................................................... 45 Tom’s Custom Golf ........................................................... 83 Town Home ..................................................................... 108 Town Of Seven Devils ......................................................105 Town Of West Jeﬀerson TDA .......................................... 64 Town Tavern ................................................................... 140 Tweetsie Railroad ........................................................... 103 Tynecastle Realty ...............................................................76 Valle Crucis Conference Center ....................................... 65 Village Jewelers ................................................................. 39 Wahoo’s ............................................................................. 40 Watauga River Fly Shop ................................................... 34 West Jeﬀerson Antique Fair ...........................................122 Westglow Spa .....................................................................37 Willow Valley Resort ......................................................... 84 Zaloo’s Canoes ................................................................... 98

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MOUNTAIN

LIVING