Summer Times 2024

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Welcome to

in the high country summertimes

Take a deep breath in the High Country — where summers are special

We welcome summertime with open arms. A perfect mixture of sun and climate combine to create an atmosphere of outdoor fun in the High Country

Whether you’re into hiking the scenic trails along the Blue Ridge Parkway, exploring the charming streets of our towns, or indulging in local art and culture, the High Country has something for everyone. From outdoor adventures to leisurely picnics, the possibilities are endless.

High Country summers are a dream come true, and our Summer Times guide is your key to unlocking the best of it. Available in both print and digital formats at www.highcountrync.com, it’s packed with ideas and inspiration for your High Country exploration. This 2024 edition is bigger and better than ever, offering more ways to embrace the High Country.

This 2024 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.

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.

NUMBERS OF note

u Watauga County

Watauga County Sheriff’s Office (828) 264-3761

Boone Police Department (828) 268-6900

Blowing Rock Police Department (828) 295-5210

Appalachian Regional Healthcare System Police (828) 262-4168

Appalachian State University Police (828) 262-8000

u Ashe County

Ashe County Sheriff’s Office (336) 846-5600

Jefferson Police Department

(336) 846-5529

West Jefferson Police Department (336) 246-9410

u Avery County

Avery County Sheriff’s Office (828) 733-2071

Banner Elk Police Department (828) 898-4300

Elk Park Police Department (828) 733-9573

Newland Police Department (828) 733-2023

Seven Devils Police Department (828) 963-6760

Sugar Mountain Police Department

(828) 898-4349

Beech Mountain Police Department (828) 387-2342

u Health Care

Watauga Medical Center (828) 262-4100

Cannon Memorial Hospital (Linville) (828) 737-7000

Ashe Memorial Hospital (Jefferson) (336) 846-7101

FastMed Urgent Care (Boone) (828) 265-7146

Blowing Rock Medical Park (828) 295-3116

u Animal Control/ Shelter

Watauga County Animal Control (828) 262-1672

Watauga Humane Society (828) 264-7865

Animal Emergency & Pet Care Clinic of the High Country (828) 268-2833

Ashe County Animal Control (336) 982-4060

Avery County Humane Society (828) 733-9265

Area chambers serving the High Country

By JAMIE SHELL

When visiting the High Country, a useful stop for questions or basic information is a local chamber of commerce. Ashe, Avery and Watauga counties have informative chamber of commerce offices.

Following is a list of area chambers and their contact information.

ASHE COUNTY CHAMBER OF COMMERCE

Ashe County, home to the towns of Jefferson and West Jefferson, is just about as far as you can go in the High Country before entering Southwest Virginia. Ashe County is considered by some to be like taking a step back in time. 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.

Address: 1 N. Jefferson Ave.,

Suite C, West Jefferson, N.C. 28694

Phone: (336) 846-9550

Website: www.ashechamber.com

AVERY COUNTY

CHAMBER OF COMMERCE

The Avery County Chamber of Commerce Visitor Center is located in the Shoppes at Tynecastle at the intersection of N.C. 105 and N.C.

Photo submitted

Banner Elk Chamber of Commerce is located in downtown Banner Elk at the intersection of Shawneehaw Ave. and Main Street at 100 Main St W.

UPDATE:

Townhomes At Brookshire Continues to Provide New Construction Options in the High Country Advertisement

“An innovative community where sunrises and sunsets are exquisite, and stars are the only sounds at night. ... homes are contemporary and innovative. The grounds are safe and pristine. It is a community with a happy heartbeat and visionary professionals.  From reservation to closing, my experience was seamless.  This is an oasis tucked on the top of a mountain.”

Beth C.

When looking for a mountain getaway, we were so excited to find Townhomes At Brookshire – great location, mountain views, new construction, perfect size – and we were not disappointed! We were so pleased with the process from contract to construction to closing.  The team was easy to work with, responsive, and professional.  Our home is well-built and the property well-maintained.  We appreciate the partnership and guidance from everyone involved.”

Developers with RCPBD Investments, LLC have completed construction in phase I and 2A of Townhomes At Brookshire, with 89 new townhomes to date and underway with phase 2B. This is a community with 206 homes proposed, located 4/10ths of a mile on the left past the Appalachian State University soccer fields off Brookshire Road.

Developers Rick Miller (Owner of Miller Properties Inc.), Patrick Morgan (with Keller Williams High Country), Chris Hodges (Owner of Chris Hodges Construction, LLC), Dan Nguyen and Bryan Pitts partnered to purchase the 95.12 acre property in January 2020 for the project. Miller said he and his partners had recognized for years that

Sue D. and Lynn T.

there was a need in Watauga County for this type of housing.

“The project is designed and marketed to serve individuals and families who seek moderately priced housing that is convenient to town, parks and amenities,” according to the project’s proposal. Morgan said the project was created to assist individuals at all stages of life. Those looking to buy their first home, those retiring and anyone who would like a home where outside maintenance is provided.

“It’s our attempt, although hard because of pricing in our area ··· at trying to make a more affordable housing project,” Morgan said. Prices

“I’ve loved living in the Townhomes At Brookshire community for the past two years. It’s perfectly located close to town, but it still feels like you are in the countryside. I’ve seen it grow in amenities and landscaping, both of which add value and beauty to the community. I’m so thankful to call it my home.”

Savannah S.

start in the mid $300s; with options available for one, two and threebedroom with and without garages. New Construction agreements for phase 2B are being accepted with a limited number of properties still available for the remainder of 2024.

The best way to learn more about this project and availability is to call Patrick Morgan at: (828)-773-2960 or visit www. townhomesatbrookshire.com.

184. The center offers information on lodging, dining, attractions, shopping and other businesses in Avery County.

Address: 4501 Tynecastle Highway, Unit No. 2, Banner Elk, N.C. 28604

Phone: (828) 898-5605

Website: www.averycounty.com

BANNER ELK

CHAMBER OF COMMERCE

Located in the heart of town, the Banner Elk Chamber of Commerce in Avery County 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.

Address: 100 W. Main St., Banner Elk, NC 28604

Phone: (828) 898-8395

Website: 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. Beech Mountain, which straddles both Avery and Watauga counties, 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.

Address: 403-A Beech Mountain Parkway, Beech Mountain, NC 28604

Phone: (828) 387-9283

Website: 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.

Address: 132 Park Ave., Blowing Rock, NC 28605

Phone: (828) 295-7851

Website: www.blowingrockchamber.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. The Boone chamber is an ideal place to stop for information on area activities, brochures and maps of the community.

Address: 579 Greenway Road Suite 101, Boone, NC 28607

Phone: (828) 264-2225

Website: www.boonechamber.com

Photo submitted

The Boone Area Chamber of Commerce celebrated the opening of its new location with a ribbon cutting at the new office in March of 2023.

File photo

The Ashe County Chamber of Commerce is located at 1 N Jefferson Ave. in West Jefferson.

INFORMATION High Country Host a hub for

By MOSS BRENNAN

The beautiful summer landscape and multiple exciting destinations in the High Country offer many adventures for those traveling.

With the High Country a popular destination in the summer, a stop or call to the High Country Host regional welcome center is a must. They can help you plan your day trips so you’re not spending hefty chunks of your vacation in the car.

The North Carolina High Country Host operates the Official Regional Welcome

Center, a comprehensive hub of services located between Boone and Blowing Rock. Nestled within view of part of the area’s portion of the Blue Ridge Parkway at Milepost 291, the Welcome Center offers more than just maps and brochures. It provides coupons, upcoming event handouts, and travel counselor support, as well as clean public restrooms and an area to walk your pets. The center, housed in (but not affiliated with) Appalachian Ski Mtn.’s visitor kiosk, is your one-

stop destination for all your travel needs.

For more than 40 years, High Country Host has represented destinations in five counties, including the towns of Boone, Blowing Rock, Banner Elk, Beech Mountain, West Jefferson, Wilkesboro and Sparta.

During that time, they answer questions from thousands of visitors each year. The most common question is “What’s going on today?” High Country Host keeps a weekly calendar of all events in the area, which can be found at highcountrycalendar. com.

High Country Host also offers insider information and updates that

many visitors won’t find anywhere else. In addition to helping you plan day trips with travel time in mind, High Country Host can advise on which hotels and lodging facilities have vacancies.

With the cold weather, a lot of questions can come from people who came up to ski, but the conditions aren’t good for it.

Some of the other places High Country Host suggests to people include Linville Caverns, Apple Hill Farm, and Grandfather Mountain.

The visitor center staff can also advise on group size limits at various establishments, and whether you can walk in on the day of your visit or need to book several days in advance.

The High Country Host Official Regional Welcome Center is located at 6370 U.S. Highway 321 South in Blowing Rock, N.C. The center is open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Saturday and from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Sunday. For more information, call (828) 264-1299 or (800) 438-7500, or visit highcountryhost.com.

File Photo

The High Country Host official regional welcome center is located on U.S. 321 between Boone and Blowing Rock

High Country TOWNS

The

place to be in the summer

By JAMIE SHELL

High Country towns are special in many ways. From Newland in Avery County, Blowing Rock in Watauga County and West Jefferson in Ashe County, there’s a little something for everyone. In the summer, expect busy roads and main streets, as the High Country is a hot spot for tourism. Don’t worry, though; once you find parking, many of these great towns are very walkable and offer great places to hang out for the day.

WATAUGA COUNTY BOONE

Boone is the county seat of Watauga County and is affectionately known as “The Heart of the High Country.”

Boone is the hometown of Appalachian State University, the sixth-largest school in the N.C. public university system with more than 20,000 students. With the mix of students, tourists and easy-going locals, there’s something for everyone in Boone.

Downtown Boone hosts a unique collection of local boutiques and businesses. For funky, handpicked, second-hand clothes, head over to Anna Bananas on King Street. For an exceptional shopping experience at a family-owned and operated business since 1924, check out The Shoppes at Farmers. There, you can find anything from jewelry to art, toys, and more. Tired of shopping? Kick back at one of Boone’s many breweries, many of

which host live music and events in the evenings. Appalachian Mountain Brewery, Booneshine, and Lost Province Brewing Co. are a few local favorites for a brew and a bite to eat.

The Jones House, a historic home turned local cultural center in downtown Boone, also hosts live music on weekends. They feature musicians of all genres, spanning from jazz to bluegrass and everything in between. In June of 2023, the Jones House was one of three stages set up for the inaugural Boonerang Music Festival. The festival will again take place this June.

For those interested in Boone’s bluegrass traditions, check out the Doc Watson “Man of the People” statue located on King Street. Doc Watson was a famous guitarist and bluegrass musician who was local

to Boone. During his active years, Watson won seven Grammy awards and a Lifetime Achievement award. Though he passed away in 2012, his celebrity and spirit are alive and well in Boone.

For shopping, good food, good music, and definitely good times, Boone is the place to be. For more information, visit www.townofboone. net.

BLOWING ROCK

Don’t be fooled by the small size of Blowing Rock — there’s enough natural beauty for a lifetime in the just three-square-mile town. The town’s name comes from the rocky cliff overlooking Johns River Gorge, where it is said the winds blow in such a way that light objects falling from the rock float back up, almost like a boomerang.

Anyone wishing to experience the

File photo

Downtown Boone is always a popular place to be in the summer.

phenomenon and learn some of the rich Indigenous history of the town can visit the attraction located on The Rock Road.

The small portion of the Blue Ridge Parkway that falls into the town’s limits includes beautiful hikes and views like those at Moses Cone Manor and Julian Price Park. Visitors can find the same beauty off of the Parkway at Bass Lake Trail and Broyhill Park.

For those seeking educational enrichment, the Blowing Rock Art and History Museum is a year-round museum that houses exhibitions and programs celebrating and remembering the culture, history and traditions of the Appalachian region displayed throughout time in the High Country. The museum is just moments away from the bustling sidewalks of downtown Blowing Rock.

Numerous shops, restaurants, and hotels line the picturesque sidewalks, with options ranging from casual to high-end available for all accommodations.

From hiking to gallery viewing to enjoying a spa day at the hotel, Blowing Rock crams a lot into its small stature. For more information, visit www.blowingrock.com.

SEVEN DEVILS

Seven Devils sits between Banner Elk and Boone. Moments away from Boone, Blowing Rock, Banner Elk and Valle Crucis, it is the perfect place to stop and rest amidst the mountains.

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 and the many coincidental references to ‘devils.’ ‘Seven Devils’ seemed to suggest a frivolous, mischievous resort where people could experience the temptation of Seven Devils.”

Sugar Mountain, Grandfather Mountain, and Beech Mountain surround the elevated town. For those looking to adventure, take a trek to Otter Falls. The trail is a 0.6-mile hike to the falls; in total, the hike is 1.2 miles, including the way back. The trail encourages those going to the falls to bring furry friends to hike alongside.

The town is growing with new additions, such as plans for a new community center and trails. The new trail would connect existing trails, Otter Falls and Peak Mountain Trail, and would end near the Seven Devils Resort Club. Separate plans to create a trail that connects Bear Paw State Preserve to the town and bike trails are in the works as well.

The town of Seven Devils was established in the 1960s; the town has continued to adapt and grow while maintaining a commitment to its community.

For more information, visit www. sevendevils.net/.

VALLE CRUCIS

Just off N.C. 105 south of Boone, Valle Crucis offers simplicity and serenity in a pastoral riverside community. The valley contains the site of the only known Native American village in the immediate area. The first European settler of Watauga County, Samuel Hicks, also

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File photo

In the summer, Blowing Rock is full of flowers.

built a fort in the area during the American Revolution.

Today, the community offers several historic inns, restaurants, art galleries, farms, and churches that provide service and comfort to all who enter. The Episcopal Church has played a role throughout the community’s history. An Episcopal bishop entered the community in 1842 and provided its name, which is Latin for “Vale of the Cross.”

The Valle Crucis Conference Center, on the National Register of Historic Places, stays busy with retreats for numerous groups, and Crab Orchard Falls is a short hike from the conference center. The original Mast General Store provides a central gathering space in the community, as it has since 1883. 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. For more information, visit www. vallecrucis.com.

FOSCOE

Tucked between Boone and Banner Elk is the unincorporated community of Foscoe. Although small, the community is packed with opportunities to shop, dine and explore.

Shopping includes antiques at Front Porch Antique Marker, souvenirs and sundry at Bear Creek Traders, ceramics and porcelain at Maggie Black Pottery, and custom blades at Winkler Knives. Interested in outdoor fun? Check out Foscoe Fishing Company, or pan for gold with the Greater Foscoe Mining Company.

Soups, sandwiches, sweets, and

more are on offer at The Dog House Cafe, while at Country Retreat, Family Billiards, burgers, and a shooting pool are on the menu. Foscoe is also home to some of the most gorgeous mountain scenery in the High Country, including the famous profile views of Grandfather Mountain.

For more information, visit www. foscoenc.com.

ASHE COUNTY

JEFFERSON

Jefferson, the county seat of Ashe County, is home to roughly 1,600 residents within the town limits.

The town was founded in 1799 and was named after then-Vice President Thomas Jefferson. The town was initially called “Jeffersonton” for a short period of time and originally encompassed approximately 50 acres of land.

Now, Jefferson is home to the

Ashe County Courthouse, Ashe County Park, the Ashe County Law Enforcement Center, as well as numerous restaurants, shops, and stores. The town also has the restored 1904 Courthouse on the National Register of Historic Places. The old courthouse is currently home to the Museum of Ashe County History, next to the Jefferson Police Department.

WEST JEFFERSON

File photo

West Jefferson is a great place to stop when in Ashe County.

The bustling downtown area of West Jefferson is one of the most popular destinations in Ashe County. West Jefferson currently has around 1,300 residents who live within the town limits and has a wide variety of shops, art galleries, local restaurants, and much more that bring tourists to the area. The Ashe County Arts Council calls West Jefferson home, as does the Ashe County Cheese Plant, West Jefferson Park and the local office of the New River Conservancy.

West Jefferson was incorporated in 1909 and originally saw much of its growth and popularity increase due to the Virginia Creeper Railroad that passed through downtown.

West Jefferson has numerous events in the downtown area that take place throughout the year. In addition to concerts throughout the spring and summer months, the Christmas in July festival and the Ole Time Antiques Fair in September are two of the largest annual events in Ashe County.

LANSING

Lansing was the third and final town in Ashe County to be incorporated officially. The town of about 130 residents was first incorporated in 1928 and was another major stop along the Virginia Creeper railroad along with West Jefferson, Todd and the community of White Oak. The town has significant historical significance to the area as there are currently five places in the town that are included in the National Register of Historic Places: The Old Lansing School, Perry-Shepherd Farm, Miller Homestead, ClarkMiller Mill and the Lansing Historical District.

The population of Lansing within its town limits has dropped throughout the years after the railroad industry ceased in the county. The 1960 census showed 278 people lived in the town, while the most recent census in 2020 showed just 126 town

residents.

GLENDALE SPRINGS

Located just off of the Blue Ridge Parkway, Glendale Springs is most well-known for the fresco painting at Holy Trinity Episcopal Church and the Glendale Springs Inn & Restaurant, where President Bill Clinton and Vice President Al Gore once dined after a visit to Ashe County in 1998. The Glendale Springs Inn was also added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1979. In addition to its easy access to the Blue Ridge Parkway, Glendale Springs is near the New River and offers some beautiful opportunities for enjoying nature.

FLEETWOOD

Fleetwood is located between West Jefferson and Deep Gap and is another of the many small communities in Ashe County that offer easy access to the New River. Whether you want to kayak, canoe or float down the river, areas between Fleetwood and Todd off of Railroad Grade Road are popular places to get into the water. Fleetwood is also home to a new fire department from U.S. 221.

GRASSY CREEK

The community of Grassy Creek lies right on the state line between North Carolina and Virginia. Grassy Creek is home to The Old Store and features the Grassy Creek Historic District, which is part of the National Register of Historic Places. The historic district was added to the registry in 1976. As you will notice driving through the area, much of the land in Grassy Creek is used for growing Christmas trees.

CRESTON

Creston Township can be found in the northwest corner of Ashe County. It is home to Worth’s Chapel, a church that was constructed in the early 1900s and added to the National

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Register of Historic Places in 1976. A drive through Creston brings you close to the Tennessee state line in one direction. Creston is also home to the Riverview Community Center, which holds numerous community events throughout the year and is home to a local fish fry every other week.

LAUREL SPRINGS

The town of Laurel Springs is right on the border between Ashe, Alleghany, and Wilkes counties. The town offers quick and easy access to the Blue Ridge Parkway and is home to several family-owned businesses. The Thistle Meadow Winery is open in the spring, summer, and fall months. Thistle Meadow Winery offers tours and tasting events and an online store to order products if you live outside of the area.

TODD

Todd is a small town shared by Watauga and Ashe counties, nestled in a bend of the South Fork of the New River.

Todd is an area with a rich history, one dating back to nearly 6,000 years ago. According to the Todd Community Preservation Organization, that is when the earliest human activity in the area occurred. For more recent history, look to the Todd General Store. Before a devastating fire destroyed the store in 2021, Todd General Store was the oldest functional business in Ashe County.

As for recreation, the New River — one of only a few rivers in the U.S. to flow North — is the main attraction in Todd, especially in the summer.

Go fly fishing, kayaking or tubing with one of the several river outfitters in the Todd area, such as RiverGirl. Anyone wanting to explore on their own should check out Green Valley Community Park. The park features playground equipment, playing fields, a paved walking track, a picnic shelter,

restrooms, a canoe ramp, hiking trails and access to the New River.

Being one of the smaller towns in the High Country, Todd is a closeknit community. To connect with nature (and friendly locals), be sure to check it out.

AVERY COUNTY BANNER ELK

The mountain town of Banner Elk lies between two major ski attractions and 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 founded in 1900 and is affiliated with Presbyterian Church U.S.A., with more than 900 students from more than 20 states and countries. The old stone buildings, some of which are currently being renovated and restored, are nestled across campus to 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 in the town park during summer or within various venues in all seasons, enjoy exquisite shopping, or simply 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, from slopes to hiking trails to wineries and waterfalls.

Banner Elk also offers many cultural happenings, with a celebrated summer theater program by LeesMcRae College and numerous art festivals by some of the area’s many galleries and artisans.

Visitors are encouraged to return to Banner Elk in the fall each year for its Woolly Worm Festival, which attracts close to 20,000 people annually on every third weekend in October.

Cutting between the peaks of Sugar Mountain, Beech Mountain, and Grandfather Mountain, the topography of the town provides natural definition and gentle undulation through the town’s boundaries.

For more information or a calendar of events, call Banner Elk Chamber of Commerce at (828) 898-8395, or visit www.bannerelk.org.

BEECH MOUNTAIN

At 5,506 feet, Beech Mountain is the highest town in Eastern North America. That means two things: When summer comes, it’s a great place to go biking as the ski resort offers a bike park. Even on the hottest day of the summer, it’s cool atop the peaks of the mountain. The town is shared by Watauga and Ashe counties.

Even when it’s steamy in the “lowlands” of 3,000-plus feet, the temperature stays comfortable.

The rest of the world seems distant when you settle down on the front porch of a rental condominium and survey the magnificent view that is one of Beech Mountain’s trademarks.

Beech Mountain is a four-season resort with 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, such as a golf course, horseback riding, tennis, swimming, and hiking. In warmer weather, there are nearby canoe and raft runs that are among the best offered in the Eastern United States, while in the cool of winter, there are skiing and snowboarding opportunities, as well as the town’s very own sledding hill near the town hall. 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 large that much of it remains in a natural state, with rich forests dotted by rolling farmland. Not to mention, it’s only a short drive from the “downtown” area to the country or resorts. Take your pick.

Our guess is if you spend some time in Beech Mountain, you’ll want to come back to do some real estate shopping or at least book a slopeside condo for the ski season.

For more information, visit www. beechmtn.com.

CROSSNORE

Crossnore is a town steeped in educational history. The town is home to Marjorie Williams Academy, founded by doctors Eustace and Mary Martin Sloop.

The Sloops traveled the steep dirt trails in isolated mountain valleys to bring medicine to the people and convince farmers to let their children come to school. Because of poverty and distance, the Sloop school in Crossnore eventually took in boarders and built dormitories to accommodate them.

It gained a national reputation

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Photo by the Town of Banner Elk Concerts in Banner Elk are a popular summer activity.

The High Country’s Premier Steak & Seafood Restaurant

• Dinner nightly from 5pm

• Martini & Meatloaf Mondays with $7 house martinis and comfort food specials

• Tuesday – Specialty burger night

• Wednesday – 25% off bottles of wine

• Private room available

The High Country’s Best Choice for Event Catering

• Creativity, passion and culinary excellence

• Parties of all sizes

• In-home catering

• Fully insured and licensed

• Largest mobile kitchen in the High Country

The High Country’s Best Vacation Rentals

• One main lodge and three cabins with mountain views

• Up to 6 bedrooms available

• Event barn, picnic pavilion, open field, meandering streams, and ponds all onsite

The High Country’s Best Space for

Gatherings

• Vacations, weddings, family reunions, church events, and business retreats

• “Avery County Chamber Business of the Year”

• Located in the heart of Sugar and Beech Mountains, with proximity to all High Country attractions

• Pet-friendly

• Newly built barn with 1,700 sq. ft., and 18-ft. high ceilings

• Barn equipped with a complete catering kitchen

• 1,750 sq. ft. outdoor pavilion with fire pit

• Lodge and cabin rentals

• Fields, streams, and ponds

for its effectiveness in changing lives and breaking the cycle of poverty, moonshine, and child marriages among mountain families. Mary Martin Sloop eventually put these tales to paper in her autobiography “Miracle in the Hills,” which has since been used as the basis for a drama of the same name that takes place each summer in present-day Crossnore.

The Sloops built a school, hospital, dental clinic, and, eventually, a boarding school to give children the basis for an improved life. They brought to Avery County the first electricity, telephones, paved roads, and boarding schools. Through the Sloops’ advocacy, public schools flourished in Avery County.

Today, Williams Academy carries on the work of the original school and has reclaimed the educational foundation beneath its commitment

to give hurting children a chance for a better life. The school’s teachers enable it to meet not only the special needs of Crossnore residents but also the needs of area students who live at home and whose educational needs are best met at Crossnore.

The school is also home to Miracle Grounds Coffee Cafe & Creamery, a working vocational classroom featuring specialty coffee drinks, homemade snacks, sandwiches, milkshakes, ice cream, Wi-Fi, and more.

Crossnore is famous for its Independence Day parade and celebration, and the town’s Meeting House is home to the Crossnore Jam, a series of gatherings and concerts by local musicians on the first Friday night through the summer and fall months.

For more information, visit www. crossnorenc.com.

ELK PARK

The town of Elk Park borders the state of Tennessee and offers a unique visiting experience. From the old-time feel of Brinkley’s Hardware Store to the additional Lower Street antique shops and classic mural wall, Elk Park takes visitors back to a simpler time.

Elk Park thrived due to the industry and remained vibrant after the trains stopped running through town.

In 2013, Elk Park opened its new town hall facility to the public, adjacent to its town park, which was named after longtime former mayor Lucille Winters.

Elk Park is also the home of Trosly Farm and The Liar’s Table Restaurant. Owners Amos and Kaci Nidiffer were named 2020 North Carolina Small Farmers of the Year by NC A&T State University Cooperative Extension. For more information, call Elk Park Town Hall at (828) 733-9573.

LINVILLE

The town’s original thoroughfare, Lower Street, and many businesses originated when Elk Park hosted a train depot for the old East Tennessee and Western North Carolina Railroad, better known as Tweetsie.

The community of Linville is located just south of the intersection of U.S. 221 and N.C. 105 in Avery County. The community was founded in 1883, designed by Samuel T. Kelsey of Kansas and named for William and

SEE TOWNS ON PAGE 24 u

Photo by Henry Volk

An elk statue greets visitors passing through the town of Elk Park on Highway 19E.

John Linville, who were reportedly killed by Cherokees in 1766.

East Tennessee and Western North Carolina Railroad passed through the community from 1916 through 1940, when a major flood washed away the tracks. The old rail route later became N.C. 105 in 1956.

Linville has three country clubs in the area: Eseeola, Grandfather Golf and Country Club, and Linville Ridge, all open from late spring to early fall.

A number of local tourist areas within a short drive share the Linville name, including the Linville River and majestic Linville Falls, Linville Caverns on U.S. 221 and the Linville Gorge wilderness area.

Visitors considering making Linville a part- or full-time home can visit Linville Land Harbor, where units are available for sale or rent in a cozy community featuring its own golf course, tennis and pickleball courts and amenities.

Several residents reside at Land Harbor part-time, while others stay year-round to enjoy the beauty of the area’s four seasons.

During the winter months, Linville is only a short drive to nearby ski slopes at Sugar Mountain and Beech Mountain, popular skiing and snowtubing destinations.

Perhaps the most popular tourist attraction housed in Linville is Grandfather Mountain.

The Grandfather Mountain attraction offers picturesque views during all four seasons, animal habitats, and the famous Mile High Swinging Bridge.

Grandfather Mountain State Park offers hiking trails and backcountry camping opportunities.

NEWLAND

The highest county seat east of the Mississippi River at 3,589 feet, the town of Newland was incorporated in

1913 as the county seat of the newly formed Avery County.

Its original name was “Old Fields of Toe” because it is located in a broad, flat valley and is at the headwaters of the Toe River.

Newland was a mustering place for Civil War troops. Toe is short for “Estatoe,” an Indian chief’s daughter who drowned herself in the river in despair because she could not marry a brave from another tribe.

A town of approximately 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 the Newland Volunteer Fire Department. Just outside of Newland is Mountain Glen Golf Club. The club consists of an 18-hole golf course, clubhouse with a large upstairs dining

facility for special events or occasions, pro shop, snack bar, driving range, golf shed, and putting green.

Another popular location near town is Heritage Park, which houses the Avery County Cooperative Extension office and community building and hosts everything from rodeo events on weekends during the summer to concerts and functions. The location also serves as the permanent home for the county’s annual Agriculture and Heritage Fair each September.

Newland hosts an annual Christmas parade downtown, with decorations adorning the town reflecting the area’s rich Christmas tree industry.

With a number of restaurants and boutiques downtown, Newland is a prime destination for dining and shopping or just to stop in on a visit to nearby Roan Mountain, Tenn., or Grandfather Mountain. For more information, visit www. townofnewland.com.

SUGAR MOUNTAIN

If outdoor activity is your thing, look no further than the village of Sugar Mountain.

Offering more than just great skiing, Sugar Mountain also provides its visitors with an array of ways to get outside and enjoy the beauty of the High Country.

The Village of Sugar Mountain provides plenty of outdoor adventure and relaxation for family summer trips, whether it’s a day or a week. Located at 5,300 feet elevation, enjoy cool breezes and spectacular views from a variety of vacation rentals, ranging from mountaintop condos to log cabins.

Their public golf and tennis club, owned and operated by the village, is a local favorite. Voted the No. 2 short course in the U.S.A., the 18-hole golf course has immaculate greens and plenty of mountain views. Green fees start at just $15. The friendly pro shop and Caddyshack Café round out

the perfect golf day.

Next door, play on six tennis courts, meticulously maintained of fast-dry, Har-Tru clay. Men’s, women’s, and mixed play “friendly’’ can be found every day of the week. Tennis lessons are available.

Another local’s favorite is the annual summer music series, Grillin’ & Chillin’. Enjoy live bands every Wednesday evening while watching the sunset over the Blue Ridge. The free concerts take place on the big outdoor deck at the village’s golf and tennis club, and food is available from the Caddyshack Cafe.

At Sugar Mountain Resort, the ski slopes become home to a network of downhill mountain bike trails and scenic lift rides. On most summer weekends (Friday-Sunday, Memorial Day Weekend and July through Labor Day Weekend), ride the lift up to the summit and race down 1,200 feet in elevation to the lodge. For a more relaxing option, take a leisurely round-trip scenic chairlift ride to the top for panoramic views.

On the Fourth of July, ride the lift for a bird’s-eye view of the fireworks. Earlier in the day, join the fun with the challenging Summit Crawl. Another popular event is the Fine Art & Master Crafts Festival on two weekends.

Located adjacent to Grandfather Mountain and surrounded by Pisgah National Forest, the Village of Sugar Mountain provides plenty of other adventures, including the alpine coaster, gem mining, whitewater rafting, and hiking. Unwind at 25 restaurants within five miles, along with plenty of galleries and boutiques to browse.

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.

File photo

Downtown Newland features an annual Independence Day Parade.

provides cultural enrichment

By JERRY SNOW

The Blowing Rock Art & History Museum (BRAHM), located at 159 Ginny Stevens Ln., was opened 13 years ago to showcase American art, history and the Appalachian culture with exhibits, classes, tours and events throughout the year.

The Blowing Rock Art & History Museum “provides 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,” according to blowingrockmuseum.org.

The BRAHM hours are from 11 a.m. until 5 p.m. on Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday and Saturday; 11 a.m. until 7 p.m. on Thursday; and 11 a.m. until 4 p.m. on Sunday (from May until October); it is closed on Monday.

During the summer, BRAHM offers guided tours and in-depth Focus Tours for members that are both led by knowledgeable docents. Private tours are also available.

“The Hard Edge & The Soft Line: A Retrospective of Maud Gatewood” will be exhibited starting June 28, 20024 until Jan. 5, 2025 at Fort, Atwell and Rank East Galleries.

“Maud Gatewood (1934–2004) remains a central figure in the art history of North Carolina and

America. A painter of exacting technique with a keen eye for composition and cultural commentary, her pictures captured the Carolinas— and the world beyond—across much of the 20th century,” reported the Caswell Messenger on April 10, 2024. “Gatewood’s paintings reveal rural landscapes and people in the midst of transformation while cleverly framing the experience of modern life with acerbic wit and a wealth of empathy.”

The BRAHM permanently displays work by Elliott Dangerfield (18591932), who spent his summers in Blowing Rock and painted landscapes, religious scenes, still lifes and portraits.

Coffee with the Curator is a monthly program that allows guests to take a walk through the galleries with the curator and get a behind-thescenes look into one of the current exhibitions. Afterward, visitors can converse and pose questions while sharing complimentary coffee and sweets.

General admission is $8 and Museum members can take part for free.

Stephan Dragisic will celebrate his one-year anniversary as the BRAHM’s Executive Director in July.

The BRAHM has an event calendar that offers dozens and dozens of opportunities for the community to engage with art this summer.

Following are some examples:

MITFORD MUSEUM FEATURED

On June 6, Jan Karon’s Mitford Museum will be featured from 11 a.m. until noon. In 2021, Karon started a non-profit in her hometown of Hudson, N.C.”with a mission to advance the common good through literacy, creativity, and community.” The public is encouraged to join Mitford Museum Director Sarah Thomas to hear about Jan’s childhood stories and life growing up in Caldwell County as well as about the years Jan lived in Blowing Rock.

Admission is $8 for the general public and tickets are available online at blowingrockmuseum.org.

SCATTING

High Country Jazz Festival will present “Scatting: From Ella Fitzgerald to Jazzmeia Horn” on June 7 from 11 a.m. until noon. Todd Wright, Appalachian State University Jazz Area Coordinator, will share “a musical journey about Scatting or scat singing. In scat singing, the singer improvises melodies and rhythms using the voice solely as an instrument rather than a speaking medium,” according to the website.

It is free for members and $8 for others.

3-DAY WORKSHOP

Alla Prima Portraits using the Zorn

Palette (with Robin Wellner) will be a 3-day workshop June 11-13 from 9 a.m. until 4 p.m. daily at a cost of $349 for members and $399 for others. Registration is available on the Museum’s website.

LEARN TO PAINT

Cork & Canvas: Tom Thomson’s “The West Wind” will be a chance to learn to paint in a relaxed atmosphere on June 20. The cost is $45 for Museum members and $50 for others. Complimentary wine, beer and light snacks will be available. Tickets should be purchased ahead online. Participants must be at least 21 years and have a valid ID to consume alcohol. Anyone under 18 is welcome with an adult.

ART CAMP

The 3D Art Camp from July 9-11 is for ages 8-12. The cost is $90 for BRAHM members, $110 for others and $60 per additional sibling. Campers “will explore a variety of three-dimensional art materials and styles,” according to the website.

2024 GALA

The 2024 BRAHM Gala will be held in Appalachian State University’s Grandview Ballroom on July 20 starting at 6 p.m.; it will include cocktails, dinner, live music, dancing, and silent and live auctions, according to blowingrockmuseum.org

File photos

Admission into the Blowing Rock Art & History Museum is free.

Since 2011, the Blowing Rock Art & History Museum has been a must see for anyone interested in the High Country arts scene.

By JERRY SNOW

Fun and educational for the entire family

Mystery Hill, located at 129 Mystery Hill Ln., is a big hit in the High Country.

Among the top attractions is Prospector Hill Gem Mine. Guests can take home the gems they find.

The Natural Gravitational Anomaly is a chance to watch a ball roll upwards and water flow uphill. There’s a hands-on science attraction and visitors can get encased in a giant bubble at Bubblerama. Some will

be able to beat the elusive 8 seconds at the Rodeo Rampage Bull Riding Challenge.

Mystery Hill (mysteryhill.com) is open daily, and activities sell out most days. Booking in advance is recommended. Mystery Hill reports Anomaly tours and old time photos typically sell out daily.

Tour routes take guests to the Mystery House and through the Hall of Mystery for optical illusions. Located just outside of Boone,

Mystery Hill has been an attraction in the High Country for more than 70 years.

According to Mystery Hill’s website: “Our gravity vortex is what brings over 70,000 visitors from throughout the world to our location every year. This vortex causes all sorts of amazing gravitational anomalies, and despite your best efforts to stay standing completely upright, your body will be forced into a 45-degree angle.

General admission into Mystery Hill costs $29.95 according to the

website. The Appalachian Heritage Museum offers an opportunity to view the Native American artifacts collection and a tour of the 1903 Dougherty House Museum.

Mystery Hill is “both fun and educational for the entire family.”

To contact Mystery Hill, call (828) 264-2792.

Learn more about Mystery Hill at www.facebook.com/MysteryHill/ and at www.instagram.com/mysteryhill_ nc/

File photos

Mystery Hill is located at 129 Mystery Hill Ln. in Blowing Rock.

Mystery Hill has a wide assortment of Indian artifacts.

Grandfather MOUNTAIN

File photo

Grandfather Mountain offers numerous hiking options.

Grandfather Mountain AN ADVENTURE WAITING FOR YOU

By TAYLOR JONES

As spring fades into summer, the warm weather brings with it a variety of activities and attractions at Grandfather Mountain State Park. The park features wildlife exhibits, a high swinging bridge, and views that overlook the Blue Ridge Mountains.

The mountain range that graces the horizon of the park appears to form the face of an old man, hence the name “Grandfather.” Every year, Grandfather Mountain hosts up to 300,000 visitors from across the U.S., according to data collected by Lees-McRae College.

Grandfather Mountain State Park’s website (www.grandfather.com) reports that at 5,946 feet in elevation, the mountain is home to 11 hiking trails, ranging from easy to challenging. Each trail shows off different aspects of the park. The Woods Walk is just under half a mile and offers a route through the woods and picnic tables. For a more scenic route, hikers can explore The Bridge Trail, which leads up to the “mile-high swinging bridge.” For more seasoned hikers looking for a challenge, the Grandfather Trail contains two and a half

Photo by Monty Combs | Grandfather Mountain Stewardship Foundation In the summer of 2023, the Williams Outdoor Learning Space was unveiled, featuring an amphitheater with terraced seating and a pavilion built around the existing natural landscape adjacent to the Wilson Center. This new addition to Grandfather’s growing Conservation Campus is an ideal place for special events, naturalist presentations or a picnic.

t GRANDFATHER FROM PAGE 32

miles of rocky ridgeline, ladders, and steep sections of trails that can be taken to Calloway Peak.

The iconic mountain offers something for everyone. The state park leaves much to be explored. According to the National Park Service, the

trails found on Grandfather Mountain connect to several longer trails that can be utilized by backpackers and hikers alike. Asustu Trail is a less strenuous

option at half a mile. At 13 miles, Tanawha Trail gives visitors a High Country hiking experience dotted with creeks, rock faces and thick forest terrain.

File photo A High Gravity Adventure guide shows off some nifty moves on the new Zipline Tour.

ZIPLINE

Zipping THROUGH THE HIGH COUNTRY SKY

By PEYTON ASH

The High Country offers a variety of attractions to its residents and visitors, such as the Blue Ridge Parkway’s expansive views that extend for miles or a day on its boundless trails, allowing for an up-close

experience of our diverse ecosystem. But what are other ways visitors can experience the beauty of these Appalachian Mountains?

Try soaring through the treetops and above lively mountain terrain on a zipline for an exciting adventure. There’s nothing quite like taking in the scenery by gliding through the cool mountain air. A thrilling adventure like this will surely be a memorable experience for families and visitors alike.

Three foremost outfitters in the High Country provide a fun and safe outdoor adventure. Hawksnest Zipline in Seven Devils, High Gravity Adventures, and Sky Valley Zip Tours of Blowing Rock.

HAWKSNEST ZIPLINE

About 10 miles outside Boone is Hawksnest Zipline. Originally a ski resort and golf course, this outfitter has worn many hats since opening in 1964. Hawksnest ski season officially ended in 2008 when it shifted focus

to creating the East Coast’s largest snow tubing park. Shortly after, in 2009, it added a zipline course to its resume.

Here, there are three ziplining trips to choose from: the Hawk, Eagle, and Do It All.

The Hawk Tour is the most popular option for visitors. For two hours, adventurers will travel on 11 cables for a total of 1.5 miles through the sky. This scenic route is a great option for families and first-time zipliners, as it gives you the most opportunity to take in the views.

Participants must be at least five years of age, and children under the age of 12 must be accompanied by an adult. For this tour, riders cannot be more than 250 pounds, and there is no weight minimum.

The Eagle Tour takes about two hours to complete as participants will be soaring through nine cables for a total of three miles. This tour features two cables that are more than 2,000 feet long and a suspension bridge. It is recommended that adventurers on this tour have some zipline experience and are relatively physically fit. At certain points, participants will be zooming around 200 feet above the ground.

Living up to its title, the Do It All Tour combines the Hawk and Eagle Tours for a total of 20 cables, four mega zips, and three swinging bridges. This fourhour trip is an exciting adventure for visitors looking for an all-day thrilling glide through the High Country and its wonderful scenery.

Both the Eagle Tour and the Do It All Tour require participants to be at least eight years old and a minimum of 80 pounds. Riders cannot exceed 220 pounds.

Hawksnest Zipline requires reservations for each trip. To make a reservation, visit www.hawksnestzipline. com or call (828) 963-6561.

SKY VALLEY ZIP TOURS

Tucked away on more than 140 acres of serene mountain landscape is

Sky Valley Zip Tours. Located about 15 minutes from Blowing Rock, Sky Valley immerses participants from start to finish. The tours they offer are the Canopy Tour, Kid Zip, and the Night Flight.

The Canopy Tour enthusiastically starts with an ATV ride that takes you through the river and up the mountain to get to the first zipline destination. Before riders set off into the sky, they will zip through a training course to prepare for the adventure to come.

While up in the air, participants will have the chance to take a leap of faith and cliff jump. The jump descends back to the earth before embarking on the final leg of the tour. But that’s not all; a 120-foot-long swinging bridge extends 50 feet in the air, overlooking a tall cascading waterfall.

If that isn’t exciting enough, Sky Valley also offers a Night Flight tour. This tour covers the first five cables of

the Canopy Tour. The platforms are lit and participants will have headlamps to illuminate their path through the trees. The tour ends with the cliff jump, where the ATV will bring them back to the Zip Shack.

The nighttime tours are available on select weekends after dark and take about an hour and a half to complete, while the Canopy Tour is three hours long. For both tours, participants must be 10 years or older and between 70 and 250 pounds.

The Kid Zip turns the thrill of the adult tour into a kid-sized option that offers seven zip lines, a bridge, and a 20-foot slide. Participating children must be between the ages of 4 and 18 years old, less than the height of 5-foot-6 and less than 180 pounds. Riders also must be able to reach up and touch 48 inches high.

Sky Valley encourages booking your tour in advance, but walk-ins are welcome on a first-come, first-serve basis. For more information, visit www.

skyvalleyziptours.com.

HIGH GRAVITY ADVENTURES

The High Gravity Adventures park is jam-packed with opportunities for fun in the air. The park officially opened in 2015, and the Aerial Adventure Park was completed. In 2017, the High Altitude Zip Line Tour was added. The park currently has four different adventures to choose from. You can zipline, climb, swing, or combine them all for the ultimate mountain adventure!

The two-hour zipline tour travels across five cables with one 70-foot freefall. This adventure starts slow and builds in speed as you go. High Gravity has a slow-moving rappel option if speed is not on your agenda.

Purchase of the zip tour will also give participants access to the ground-level Ninja Course. Participants must be 7 years or older and weigh a minimum of 75 pounds. The maximum weight for

File photo

Jenny Hunter of Mount Holly ziplines at Sky Valley Zip Tours.

this course is 265 pounds.

The Aerial Adventure Park has two options: the Foothills Park and Zipline and the Blue Ridge Park. Both parks give participants access to the Ninja course as well.

The Foothills Park is ideal for young adventurers. The park features 13 aerial obstacles and three kid-friendly zip lines. The ticket supplies kids with two hours of adventure time. This park is open to ages 4 and older. All participants must have a minimum reach height of 5-3 or be accompanied by a guest who can.

The Blue Ridge Park goes the extra mile with 64 obstacles and four rappels. For three hours of fun, guests can traverse swinging logs, sky bridges, spiderwebs, and more. Participants must be 7 years old or older and reach 6-1 or be accompanied by a guest who can.

Exactly as it sounds, the three-person giant swing is the final attraction. At four stories tall, three people are harnessed

into the giant swing for a wild ride. Each ticket includes two swings and participants must be at least 48 inches tall.

If you can’t pick just one adventure, do not fret. High Gravity offers the Ultimate Adventure package that bundles it all together for a chance to zip, climb and swing. Age restrictions and weight requirements apply and vary depending on the attraction.

For more information on High Gravity Adventures, call (828) 201-2507 or visit www.highgravityadventures.com.

If you are searching for the perfect adventure activity to do in these mountains, come zip through the High Country this summer with any one of these local outdoor adventures. As with all outdoor activities, visitors are advised to wear comfortable clothing and are often required to wear closedtoed shoes. The mountain weather can be unpredictable and change on a dime, so stay prepared for anything and bring layers of clothes, in addition to rain gear.

File photo

Joe Babcock takes a ride on the zipline at Hawksnest.

Summer festivals

across the HIGH COUNTRY

By NATHAN HAM

With warmer temperatures and longer days during the summer months, the anticipation of the numerous summer festivals fill the air as tourists and residents prepare to enjoy some fun and unique events across the High Country. Festivals in Watauga, Ashe and Avery counties all offer something different to do while enjoying some beautiful summer weather.

The Town of Lansing in Ashe County will be hosting the Third Annual Creeper Trail Park Music and Mountain Craft Festival on June 1. The fun day will include music, crafts, activities and food. Festival information can be found at www.glad-nc.org/.

highcountryjazzfestival.

The third year of Boonerang will fill the streets of downtown Boone June 14-15. The free street festival will feature live music, food, local vendors, dancing and children’s activities. Learn more about the festival at www. boonerangfest.com.

The 77th Annual Roan Mountain Rhododendron Festival just across the state line in Roan Mountain, Tenn., will offer lots of delicious food as well as handmade arts and crafts and music entertainment. The festival, started in 1947 by the Roan Mountain Citizens Club, will take place June 22-23 and continue to celebrate the beautiful rhododendrons that cover the mountainsides throughout the area. Additional festival information can be found online at www.roanmountain.com.

Jazz music lovers are invited to the 2024 High Country Jazz Festival on June 7-9. Events take place in Boone and Blowing Rock. Some of the musical performers include the Brubeck Brothers Quartet, Ziad and Jazzmeia Horn. Festival information is available online at www.apptheatre.org/

One of the most popular summer festivals is the month-long An Appalachian Summer Festival that features over 20 different events going on in Boone from June 29 through July 27. The headlining event this

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Visitors from all over come to Grandfather Mountain each summer for the annual Highland Games

High Country has world-class views

Blue Ridge Parkway offers ‘America’s favorite drive’

By CHRISTIAN GARDNER

HIGH COUNTRY -- Tucked away in the Appalachian Mountains of North Carolina, the High Country region is well known for its beautiful views, landscapes, charming small towns, and outdoor recreational opportunities. The High Country offers an array of attractions that draw visitors yearround, from scenic heights to cultural and unique landmarks.

Rising at a high elevation of 5,946 feet, Grandfather Mountain in Avery County is a worldly-renowned landmark and a haven for nature enthusiasts. The iconic “Mile High

Swinging Bridge” offers breathtaking panoramic views of the surrounding mountains, and the rugged hiking trails cater to various skill levels. The Nature Museum and Animal Habitats provide opportunities to learn about the diverse flora and fauna of the region, making Grandfather Mountain a must-see attraction for outdoor lovers and families alike.

The town of Blowing Rock is known for its vibrant downtown area, which is filled with unique shops, art galleries and eateries.

The famous Blowing Rock itself is a natural wonder where visitors can experience the unusual phenomenon

of strong winds that seem to blow upwards. The scenic Glen Burney Trail, which leads to a series of waterfalls, is a popular hike, and the nearby Moses H. Cone Memorial Park offers opportunities for leisurely strolls amidst beautiful meadows and historic buildings.

Dubbed “America’s favorite drive,” the Blue Ridge Parkway is a scenic highway that winds through the High Country, offering unparalleled vistas of the Blue Ridge Mountains. The parkway is a gateway to countless outdoor adventures, including hiking, biking, and camping, as well as opportunities for wildlife viewing and picnicking. The fall season along the parkway is particularly spectacular, drawing

visitors from all over to witness the vibrant display of colors.

Located in Blowing Rock, Tweetsie Railroad is a beloved family-friendly attraction that takes visitors on a nostalgic journey back to the Wild West. The park features a historic narrowgauge steam locomotive that offers scenic rides through the mountains, as well as a variety of entertaining shows, rides and games. From panning for gold to meeting costumed cowboys and cowgirls, Tweetsie Railroad is a unique blend of history and amusement that delights visitors of all ages.

Mystery Hill on Highway 321, between Boone and Blowing Rock,

SEE ATTRACTIONS ON PAGE 40 u

attracts many visitors with its various exhibits, including artifacts and a room that seemingly defies gravity.

Located at an altitude of 3.333 feet in Boone, Appalachian State University is a thriving educational and cultural hub in the High Country. The campus is home to a wide range of cultural events, including concerts, plays, and art exhibitions, as well as sporting events that draw enthusiastic crowds. The Summer concert is a must see, this year featuring Brad Paisley. The Turchin Center for the Visual Arts, located on campus, is a premier art museum, showcasing contemporary art from regional and national artists.

If you enjoy the outdoors, numerous walking and hiking trails, in addition to natural wonders including waterfalls, are a regular summer attraction. To beat the heat, there are also locations such as Beech Mountain, with the

highest elevation of any town in Eastern America, which offers shops and activities for individuals and families. Don’t forget to swing by one of many breweries and vineyards scattered throughout these mountains, and see some of the great towns the area has to offer. West Jefferson has plenty to offer including the Old Barn Winery and Vineyards, which opened recently. Visitors at the Old Barn Winery are typically treated to live music and food trucks on the weekends, along with lots of great conversations with friends, family and other visitors that want to enjoy a nice glass of wine. Old Barn Winery offers a wide variety of white wines, red wines, and rosé wines. Visitors should also visit Ashe County Cheese and see how cheese is made. Other great notable locations include the Linville Falls Winery and Grandfather Winery. These are just some of the many attractions that the High Country has to offer.

From trout fishing to bumper cars

HIGH COUNTRY has plenty to do

By CHRISTIAN GARDNER

Amidst the natural beauty, the High Country offers many thrilling opportunities.

Here are a dozen things to do in the High Country in the summer before the chill of fall arrives.

FUN ‘N’ WHEELS: Fun ‘N’ Wheels has fast go-karts in Boone, while also offering an arcade, bumper cars, and more. Find Fun ‘N’ Wheels at 2788 Highway 105, Boone. It is open from June to October.

GRANDFATHER TROUT

FARM: The Trout farm in Seven Devils offers a great family fun opportunity, from experienced anglers to first-times, folks can stop by and wet a line. You are practically guaranteed to catch a nice trout. Find Grandfather Trout Farm at 10767 NC Highway 105 S, Banner Elk, NC. GTF is open from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday, and 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday.

GRANDFATHER MOUNTAIN & BLUE RIDGE PARKWAY:

Grandfather Mountain is an attraction for people of all ages.

Check out the Wilson Center, and some of the attractions, including animal habitats, the Mile-High Swinging Bridge and the Top Shop, which is 6,220 square feet. The Top Shop was built in 1961 and rebuilt in 2010.The entrance to the nature park is located on U.S. 221, one mile south of the Blue Ridge Parkway at Milepost 305. The Grandfather area of the Parkway includes the famous Linn Cove Viaduct. For more information, visit www.grandfather. com.

HAWKSNEST ZIPLININE

& WHITEWATER RAFTING:

Hawksnest offers a variety of fun for all the thrill seekers that come to the High Country. Hawksnest offers 20 different cables including 4 mega zips, and 3 swinging bridges. Visitors can zip all 20 cables on the same visit. Hawsknest also offers two whitewater rafting experiences, one on the Watauga River and also on the Nolichucky.

HERO’S AXE HOUSE: Take your best shot at throwing a bullseye at Hero’s Axe House. The venue offers SEE FUN ON PAGE 42 u

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The Wilderness Run Alpine Coaster is located in Sugar Mountain on Highway 184, with a climbing tower adjacent to the coaster facility.

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Actors perform the House Raising Dance during a previous Horn in The West production. Horn in the West performances take place each summer in Boone.

6 throwing lanes. These lanes all have projected targets with exciting games and digital scoring. Try Bottle Axe, Tic-Tac-Toe and Duck Hunter. Hero’s Axe House is open Tuesday through Thursday from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m., Friday from 5 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. and on Saturday from 1 p.m. till 10 p.m.; it is closed on Sundays. Hero’s Axe House is located at 4501 Tynecastle Hwy, Suite 6, Seven Devils. To make a reservation visit herosaxehouse.com

HIGH COUNTRY LANES:

Striking fun for the whole family, High Country Lanes offers bowling, a bar and food. With something for everyone, book a party or go for a few hours. Hours vary by day; click the link to get rolling www.highcountrylanes.com/contact/ or call (828) 264-3166.

HIGH GRAVITY

ADVENTURES: Zip, swing and adventure your way through High Gravity Adventures. It’s sure to be fun for the whole family. For more information visit www. highgravityadventures.come or call (828) 266-0176. Summer hours begin May 26.

HORN IN THE WEST: Go back in time with outdoor theater and learn about the High Country during the 18th-century Revolutionary War period. Check out the Hickory Ridge Living History Museum while you are there.

The 2024 season begins on June 21 and performances will run Tuesday through Sundays starting at 8 p.m. Take a blast to the past here www.horninthewest.com/abouthorn-in-the-west-outdoor-drama.

MYSTERY HILL: Come experience the gravitational anomaly

at Mystery Hill in Blowing Rock and the historic artifacts, bubble science and other attractions. Learn more about the mystery at mysteryhill. com/

SUGAR CREEK GEM MINING:

Do you want to experience the thrill of prospecting for your very own North Carolina authentic gemstones? Then join the fun at Sugar Creek Gem Mine, where you are guaranteed to find precious and semi-precious gemstones in every bucket. Sugar Creek Gem Mine has experienced gemologists on staff. Call to reserve your Gem Mining experience at 828 898-GEMS. Walk-ins are welcome, but you may experience a wait time before you can start gem mining, as gem mining in the summer is popular. The covered gem mine is open year-round in Banner Elk.

TWEETSIE RAILROAD: Have

Handmade arts and crafts from select local and regional artists

fun with friends and family at this wild-west themed amusement park, It is open Saturday and Sunday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. For more information on events and specialized hours visit tweetsie.com/plan-your-visit/ schedule.

WILDERNESS RUN ALPINE

COASTER: Take a ride with the help of gravity thanks to the Wilderness Run Alpine Coaster, located at 3229 Tynecastle Highway near Sugar Mountain Resort. The attraction features a 2,930-foot track, including 2,160 feet of down track, which includes full left and right looping turns, a u-turn and a three-quarter turn. Riders control the speed of the ride through a brake system but can reach speeds up to 27 miles per hour. The ride starts and ends in the same spot. Wilderness Run has also recently added the Wilderness Run Adventure.

year is a performance from country music star Brad Paisley at Kidd Brewer Stadium on July 27. A full list of events and tickets can be found online at appsummer.org.

The annual Christmas In July Festival, taking place July 5-6 in West Jefferson, will have plenty of music, food, arts, crafts and fun for everyone to enjoy. Stroll the downtown streets of West Jefferson to check out the festival vendors as well as the numerous shops that will be open during the two-day festival. Vendor information and the 2024 music lineup can be found online at www.christmasinjulyfestival.com/.

The Highland Games at Grandfather Mountain is another popular event that brings in visitors from all over the country and the world. The Highland Games fire up on July 11 and will continue through July 14. The Highland Games is the largest

Scottish festival in the country with well over 100 Scottish clans represented at the games each year. The events feature athletic events, dancing, music, and other cultural events that highlight the Scottish ways of life. Learn more about the Highland Games at gmhg. org/.

In Lenoir, the 2024 NC Blackberry Festival will take place July 12-13. The festival celebrates all things blackberry, including a blackberry pie eating contest, blackberry cobbler parade and the Little Miss Blackberry Pageant. There will be plenty of live music and fun activities for families and children. A full schedule of events can be found at downtownlenoirnc.com/events/ncblackberry-festival23/.

In Jefferson, the annual Ashe County Bluegrass and Old Time Fiddlers Convention is set for July 26-27 at Ashe Park. The event is sponsored each year by the Ashe County Arts Council. Contest information and musical acts

can be found online at ashecountyarts. org/fiddlers-fest/.

In Wilkesboro, the Brushy Mountain Peach & Heritage Festival returns on July 26-27. The festival kicks off with the “Peach Party” from 5-9 p.m. on Friday night and then the rest of the events follow on Saturday. The festival always takes place on the last Saturday of July. The festival offers locally grown peaches, hand-made crafts and a wide variety of food to

June - august June 14-15

concerts on the lawn every Friday at 5:30 pm www.joneshouse.org/SummerConcerts

www.boonerangfest.com

enjoy. For more information, visit brushypeachfest.com.

For those that enjoy beer tasting, the High Country Beer Fest is the place to be. The 17th annual event will take place on Aug. 24 at the High Country Fairgrounds. The event features beer tasting, music and plenty of fun for beer lovers. It is estimated that over 40 breweries will participate in the festival. More information can be found online at hcbeerfest.com.

august 16-17

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The Ashe County Bluegrass and Old Time Fiddlers Convention will take place at the end of July.

A High Country TREASURE

By DEREK HALSEY

The beautiful Blue Ridge Parkway is one of the most traveled roads in all of America. Beginning in the Shenandoah Valley of Virginia, the 469-mile-long drive was built to ride the high ridge lines of the Blue Ridge Mountains to showcase the immense natural beauty of the region.

Constructed during the Great Depression and sanctioned by President Franklin D. Roosevelt, the Blue Ridge Parkway (BRP) has a historic aspect to it; the beautiful stone archway bridges found throughout the length of the roadway were constructed by the WPA workers of the day.

Ultimately, however, it is the incredible vistas and views that make this road a destination for tourists from all over the world.

The BRP is a draw for the High Country; it’s a chance for visitors to see communities like Boone, Blowing Rock, Banner Elk, Linville Gorge, Linville Falls and Mount Mitchell, which is the highest peak found east of the Rocky Mountains.

The following is a guide to some of the best places to frequent along this particular stretch of the BRP going from north to south. There will be attractions noted for the normal everyday tourists and some adventures listed are meant for the more adventurous among us who want to hike the trails, mountains and gorges of the area.

Make sure to always check www.nps. gov/blri/planyourvisit/roadclosures. htm to ensure that sections of the Parkway are open. Some portions of the Parkway in Ashe County are closed

due to bridge construction. The north side of the journey starts with the Deep Gap exit on the BRP that is located at milepost 276. The turnoff will put you onto U.S. 421. Heading west, this is one of the main ways to get to the lovely mountain college town of Boone, where there is much, includig restaurants, live music, art, antiquing, retail shopping and festivals.

The music and arts scene in Boone are flourishing. During the spring and fall, there is a lot of activity in Boone due to classes at Appalachian State University. In the summer months, however, it is tourism that sometimes creates traffic jams in Boone – as folks escape the hot weather of the lower altitudes by driving up into the cooler weather of the mountains.

If you get back on the BRP to

explore, there are exits that lead to other wonderful mountain towns in the area. At milepost 291, you will find the U..S 221 exit to Blowing Rock, which has been a famous tourist stop since the 1800s. There is much to do and take in while visiting Blowing Rock, from the many distinctive shops found on Main Street to mountain views and fine restaurants.

Further down the roadway, taking an exit onto another section of U.S. 221 at milepost 305 will take you to the entrance of Grandfather Mountain and the resort town of Banner Elk. Banner Elk is surrounded by the ski resorts, including Sugar Mountain Ski and Beech Mountain Resort.

Right up the mountain from Banner Elk is Beech Mountain Resort, and

SEE TREASURE ON PAGE 46 u

during the summer season the venue opens up its 5506’ Skybar club on top of the mountain on Saturday afternoons for brews, live music and incredible views. Downhill mountain biking trails and a mountainside disc golf course are also open to the public.

For those seeking adventure, there are multiple gorges including the Linville Gorge, the steepest gorge in eastern America that is also called “The Grand Canyon of the East.”

Moses Cone Manor is located at milepost 294. The house and 1,000plus acres of wonderful land is now a park. There you will find a gift shop, friendly tour guides and a 4-mile round trail to the fire tower that overlooks Boone.

At milepost 296 on the BRP, you will come across Price Lake and its adjacent campground, amphitheater, picnic area and boat ramp with plenty of summertime activities offered for visitors.

If you go three miles farther south to milepost 299, you will find the beginning of the more adventurous mountain hiking trails located on the BRP, with the Boone Fork Trail leading things off. Exploring the northern side of Grandfather Mountain, this popular pathway is a moderately hard trail with a lot of good scenery.

For those not wanting to hike, you will find a pullover at milepost 301 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, one of the more popular mountain trails on this section of the BRP begins. Known as the Rough Ridge Trail, the parking lot 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.

Back on the road, if you drive or bike

a little further to the south, you will experience one of the more famous sections of the BRP, the Linn Cove Viaduct. This was the last section of the BRP to be completed and it is a curvy engineering marvel as the road shoots out over Wilson Creek Gorge. Before the main part of the viaduct begins, there will be a parking lot to the left called the Yonahlossee Overlook which provides a trail that goes alongside and underneath the viaduct.

At milepost 305, you will find what many consider to be the “Coolest Short Trail in the East,” the Beacon Heights Cliff Trail. It is a quick 1,400-foot hike to the top of the path, as long as you follow the Beacon Heights Trail signs while crossing other trails. Once near the peak, you will find a stone bench. Go straight past the bench for a cool view, but the better view can be found if you take a left at the bench, then hike up the natural rock stairs that lead to a flat cliff where the sights are spectacular. From there you can see Grandfather Mountain to the left, Wilson Creek Gorge in the middle and the dual elbow-shaped mountains to the right that mark the peaks of Hawksbill and Table Rock Mountains overlooking Linville Gorge.

For those with families, the one-

Nature Center, many trails to hike including the famous and challenging Profile Trail, a gift shop, a restaurant and the famous Mile High Swinging Bridge to walk across. The views are stunning from the top of Grandfather Mountain, which is 54-feet shy of 6,000 feet in elevation. And, on a rare crystal-clear day, you can see the skyline of Charlotte, NC, 90 miles away on the horizon. More information on entry reservations at Grandfather Mountain State Park can be found at grandfather.com.

mile drive into Grandfather Mountain State Park at milepost 305, followed by a turn to the west on Hwy. 221, leads you to many impressive views and fun activities. The Grandfather Mountain Park has a zoo that has bears, elk and mountain lions. There’s a new

Back on the BRP, at milepost 308 you will find a parking lot for an easy 30-minute hike known as the Flat Rock Trail. The fairly level trail leads through some thick woods and ends up with 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 below the horizon.

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The Moses Cone Manor along the Blue Ridge Parkway is a great spot to go picnicking or hiking as it offers great views.

As you continue traveling south on the BRP, you will find a series of three exits that lead to 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.

For an amazing view of Linville Gorge, continue on the BRP to milepost 317 where you will find the right turn onto the Hwy. 221 exit. Once off the Parkway, turn left onto Hwy. 221 and then take another left less than a mile ahead onto Hwy. 183. About 0.7 of a mile farther on Hwy.

183, you will find a gravel road on the right with signs that will lead you to “Wiseman’s View” and Linville Falls.

The first parking lots you will see on the left are for the two trails that lead to different views of Linville Falls. If you take Route 1238 for almost exactly four miles further, however, you will see the sign for the Wiseman’s View parking lot on the 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.

Please remember, however, that Route 1238 to Wiseman’s View is a gravel mountain road that can be very

rough in spots; if you have a 4-wheel drive or all-wheel-drive vehicle, 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 ruts ahead of you, and turn around if you have to, but otherwise, the heart-stopping sights at Wiseman’s View are very much worth the effort.

Continuing down the BRP, your adventure 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 and the live music venue (afternoons) known as the

Orchard at Altapass. A few miles south of the BRP, Route 221 will take you to the entrance of the popular Linville Caverns.

As you continue on your way, you will eventually come across the turnoff 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.

Once your day of adventure is over and you return to your lodging in Boone, Blowing Rock, Banner Elk or another High Country town, there is a wealth of fine restaurants, craft breweries and wineries to enjoy.

File photo

The 469-mile Blue Ridge Parkway as it approaches Grandfather Mountain in the distance.

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Christmas In July

By NATHAN HAM

The streets of West Jefferson will be jam packed this Independence Day Weekend as Ashe County’s longest-running festival, Christmas in July, returns on Friday, July 5 and Saturday, July 6. As always, the festival will include a full lineup of entertainers and food vendors, making downtown West Jefferson the perfect spot to spend your Friday and Saturday.

This year’s lineup includes a variety of local musicians and award-winning artists from multiple musical genres.

Beth Snapp from nearby Kingsport, Tenn., will be the festival’s opening act at 5 p.m. Friday evening. Many will recognize this singer-songwriter from last summer when she opened at Symphony by the Lake in Blowing Rock. She sings contemporary country songs with catchy melodies

and genuine emotion.

At 6:30 p.m., Presley Barker, a Wilkes County native and up-andcoming star on stage, will perform. He is returning to Ashe County after he opened for the Ashe Bash concert last year.

Put on those dancing shoes and dance the night away with Hot Sauce, a North Carolina-based party band that brings high-energy soul, rock, pop, and everything in between.

As has become tradition for Christmas In July, the Ashe County Farmers Market will open at 8 a.m. on Saturday, July 6, as it does every other Saturday during the spring, summer and fall. Craft vendors, local nonprofits, and specialty food vendors will open at 9 a.m. The festival will extend throughout the downtown area along Jefferson Avenue, with sidewalks left clear for walking and browsing the shops.

Downtown West Jefferson

Photo submitted

Past performers include Jeff Little on the keyboard, Josh Scott on bass, Steve Lewis on banjo and Luke Little on mandolin.

Photo submitted

Funnel cakes and other sweet treats are always popular at Christmas In July.

The Ashe County Arts Council will host children’s activities, performers will rove the streets showcasing their talents, and Santa and Mrs. Claus will arrive straight from the North Pole.

Music kicks off on Saturday morning with local favorite Wayne Henderson and Friends as the opening act starting at 9:30. Wayne’s guitar playing has been enjoyed at Carnegie Hall and across the globe. He will be joined by Herb Key, a favorite who grew up in a musical family in Wilkes County and has played music for most of his life, spending more than 30 years making, repairing, and restoring instruments. Randy Greer and Josh Scott will join Wayne and Herb

on stage. Josh Scott is on bass, and Randy Greer is considered an expert mandolinist.

The Jeff Little Trio will be next on stage. Jeff’s hands will do some fast work on the piano as he plays with a distinctive two-handed style influenced by the mountain flatpicked guitar tradition and regional musicians like Doc Watson. Steve Lewis, national banjo champion, will join Jeff and Luke Little will be on mandolin.

The Special Occasion Band returns to Ashe County with good vibes. The band specializes in beach music and be sure to have those dance shoes ready. For over 20 years, the Special Occasion Band has entertained young and old all over

the Carolinas. This band always aims to please and will play songs that bring back special memories.

Next up, Darin and Brooke Aldridge will perform at Christmas In July for the first time. This husband-and-wife duo, originally from nearby Avery County, has regularly delighted Grand Ole Opry audiences. Brooke is a fourtime winner of the International Bluegrass Music Association award for Female Vocalist of the Year, while Darin earned the IBMA Mentor of the Year. The couple plays Country, Bluegrass, and Gospel favorites.

The Christmas in July Festival celebrates Ashe County, a leading producer of Christmas trees

and our mountain heritage with arts, crafts and local entertainers representative of the region.

The Christmas in July Festival is a non-profit organization whose Board of Directors and committee members are volunteers who work tirelessly throughout the year to host a fun, safe, family-friendly event for the entire community and those visiting Ashe County.

For more information and updates on the festival, follow on Facebook at Christmas In July Festival or visit www. christmasinjulyfestival.com to learn more about the music lineup, food vendors, fun and festivities planned. Make plans to visit downtown West Jefferson on July 5-6.

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Visitors will pack the streets of West Jefferson for the annual Christmas In July festival July 5-6.

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Street performers will be at the festival.

Rock climbing to new heights in the HIGH COUNTRY

By MOSS BRENNAN

When visiting the High Country, it’s not hard to miss the incredible scenery around you. With mountains reaching high peaks, many find curiosity as they hope to see an up-top view of the area.

Since August 1998, Boone’s Rock Dimensions adventures have been widely popular with both tourists and locals. This establishment allows visitors to follow guides on rock climbing and reach the top of some of the most beautiful natural areas.

The PCIA-certified climbing guides are dedicated to providing a safe and enjoyable climbing program for all their clients.

Anyone who has spent time in downtown Boone has noticed the giant climbing wall next to Footsloggers. That would be Rock Dimension’s 40-foot climbing tower, the focal point of its “Tower to Rock” instructional program. The “Tower to Rock” program is an excellent introduction to the world of climbing, combining a two-to two-and-ahalf-hour course on the tower the first day and a half-day climb on natural rock the next day. All required equipment is provided, and the course is designed to be a full dive into climbing.

Something unique about climbing is that there is no wrong age to start. Climbing is something that young people can be introduced to in a safe environment. Rock Dimensions also holds camps for children ages 8-16 to begin their life in the climbing world, with a five-day camp that takes participants through the ins and outs of climbing.

If you’re starting out, you can visit Downtown Boone to stock up on gear, learn more about the experience, and practice on

their climbing tower. With this, you can train, take classes, work with partners, and even bring the kids along for a chance at the wall. After visiting the tower or if you’re ready to hit the ropes, the following locations are offered by Rock Dimensions.

HOLLOWAY MOUNTAIN

Holloway Mountain is just minutes away from Boone, just down N.C. 105 in the Foscoe area. It’s an excellent spot for new climbers as it offers a variety of routes at different levels. As it’s so close to Boone, it can be crowded at times, but with 10 routes that range from easy to complex, it’ll be a fun trip. To get there from Boone, take NC 105 to Foscoe and take a left on Church Road. Drive a short distance and then take another left on Holloway Mountain Road. Holloway Mtn Rd. will turn from a paved road to an unpaved, and a small cut-out for parking will be on the right.

THE CHIMNEYS OF LINVILLE GORGE

Linville Gorge was formed by the Linville River, which now meanders some 2,000 feet below the rim of the gorge. This wilderness area is part of Pisgah National Forest, located in the Mountains of N.C. The gorge offers breathtaking views, a variety of climbing options, exciting rappels, and an exhilarating Tyrolean Traverse for a unique recreational experience! Primitive camping, suitable for groups, is available about a quarter mile from the parking lot and picnic area. In the summer, Linville Gorge is a nice break from the heat and humidity of the Piedmont. Fall brings an array of colors to the forest and perfect camping weather. In spring, the rhododendrons and mountain laurels are in beautiful bloom.

Photo courtesy of Rock Dimensions

Hanging off the edge of a cliffside can provide unmatched views when rock climbing in the High Country.

WILSON CREEK AREA

Wilson Creek begins its journey at Grandfather Mountain and flows into Johns River 23.3 miles downstream. Surrounded by Pisgah National Forest, the creek makes its way through some of the oldest rocks in the Southern Appalachians. The climbing is scenic and exposed, with views of Grandfather and Grandmother Mountains. Primitive camping is available along the forest service roads near the climbing access.

Photo courtesy of Rock Dimensions

The views that can be had are breathtaking during a rock climb.

and Climbing Gear Shop

BOONE • BLOWING ROCK, NC

Climbing, Rappelling & Caving

Plenty of public parks scattered across the HIGH COUNTRY

By JERRY SNOW

Watauga County offers public parks and there are several state parks within driving distance where residents can spend time enjoying the outdoors.

JUNALUSKA PARK

Junaluska Neighborhood Park in Boone is a forested park with picnic shelters, a playground, basketball courts, swings, walking track and an open field. Dogs are welcomed.

The Town of Boone (townofboone.net) states of Junaluska Park: “Another hidden gem in the Town of Boone! The Junaluska Park, located just above King Street, is a wonderful place for people of all ages to come and enjoy! This park has basketball

courts, children’s playground equipment and a nice open field to picnic or play soccer. … You may even see a deer playing in the woods surrounding this beautiful park.”

Junaluska Park is located in the Watauga American Legion Post #130 at 135 Bear Trail.

Anyone with questions about the Park can call the Public Works Department at (828) 268-6230.

BOONE JAYCEE PARK

Boone Jaycee Park (728 Horn in the West Dr.) has grills, a pavilion, picnic areas, picnic tables, a playground, swings and restrooms.

The Town of Boone (townofboone.net) states Boone Jaycee Park “has been a staple for children in Boone for generations.

It has a variety of different play equipment for children of all ages, including two sets of swings, a play place for younger children, multiple climbing areas and a sandbox! It even has a community library with books for all ages. In the back of this big park is an extremely unique tree which has withstood many a storm. Come on out to the Boone Jaycee Park and enjoy!”

Hours are dawn to dusk.

CHAMPION TREE ‘BABY’

Champion Tree “Baby” is located at 150 Clay House Dr. “Behind the Rivers House, a trail leads up the hill to “Baby,” a sugar maple that is a North Carolina Champion Tree and thought to be one of the largest in the state,” the Town of

Boone states on its website.

To learn more about it, call the Cultural Resources office at (828) 268-6280.

CLAWSON-BURNLEY PARK

Clawson-Burnley Park is located at 355 Martin Luther King Jr. St. in Boone.

It offers the Clawson-Burnley Wetlands, a pavilion, picnic areas, picnic shelters, picnic tables, a walking track and a water fountain. Located at the Clawson-Burnley Park on the Greenway, their “manufactured wetlands are extremely helpful to the Town of Boone,” according to townofboone. net. “All rainwater from 30 acres around the Clawson-Burnley park is filtered through these wetlands using a pipe system. Runoff from

Junaluska Neighborhood Park in Boone is a forested park with picnic shelters, a playground, basketball courts, swings, walking track and an open field.

File photos

Boone Jaycee Park (728 Horn in the West Dr.) has grills, a pavilion, picnic areas, picnic tables, a playground, swings and restrooms.

streets, baseball fields, parking lots and even pet waste is filtered through these wetlands, and, once the water is clean, it’s released into the South Fork of the New River.”

To contact the Park call (828) 268-6230.

JIMMY SMITH PARK

Jimmy Smith Park, located at 884 Rivers St. in Boone, has education material, a pavilion and

a walking track. It was dedicated in 2005.

Jimmy Smith is honored for his service on the Boone Town Council and as a professor at Appalachian State University. The Town of Boone states: “He was well known in the community and across the state for his work in higher education. As a Town Council member, Jimmy was

an integral part of creating the Town of Boone’s state-of-theart wastewater treatment plant, formerly known as the Jimmy Smith Wastewater Treatment Plant, which has won engineering excellence awards from the American Council of Engineering Companies of North Carolina.”

The Jimmy Smith “Maranon” and Street Party is held at the

Jimmy Smith Park annually.

STRAWBERRY HILL ARBORETUM

Strawberry Hill Arboretum is located at 321 E. King St. in Boone, and has a pavilion and trails. To learn more about it, call (828) 2686230.

The Strawberry Hill Arboretum

Champion Tree “Baby” is located at 150 Clay House Dr. behind the Rivers House.

Clawson-Burnley Park includes wetlands, a pavilion, picnic areas, picnic shelters, picnic tables, a walking track and a water fountain.

Jimmy Smith Park is named after Jimmy Smith because of his service on the Boone Town Council and as a professor at Appalachian State University.

Strawberry Hill Arboretum is located at 321 E. King St. in Boone, and has a pavilion and trails.

began as one of 15 sites across the state of North Carolina chosen to be part of the North Carolina Urban Tree Evaluation Program in the 1990’s, according to the Town of Boone; the purpose of the program was to develop an information data base on the survival, performance, and limitations (disease, insect, and cultural problems) of a wide assortment of tree species and cultivars in North Carolina.

Appalachian State has an interactive map which labels every tree and provides information about the trees in the Strawberry Hill Arboretum.

ELK KNOB STATE PARK

Elk Knob State Park, located in Watauga County 11 miles north

of Boone, was established in 2003 “to protect the mountain and the headwaters of the North Fork of the New River,” according to ncparks.gov.

It offers a 5.5 mile hike, has an overlook summit and campsites that are one to two miles into the forest.

The High Country also has three other state parks: Grandfather Mountain, Mount Mitchell and Mount Jefferson.

Elk Knob State Park is under the guidance of N.C. Division of Parks & Recreation. To learn more go to www.ncparks.gov/state-parks/elkknob-state-park

GRANDFATHER

MOUNTAIN STATE PARK

Grandfather Mountain State Park is located in Linville, and has backpacking trails and wildlife

habitats as well as the Wilson Center for Nature Discovery. Brave visitors at Grandfather Mountain can walk across the Mile High Swinging Bridge, which is the highest suspension footbridge in the United States.

Grandfather Mountain offers

events and workshops from April to October.

The Nature Photography Weekend, from June 7-9, will include “presentations from top nature photographers”; tickets can

Grandfather Mountain State Park is located in Linville.

SEE PARKS ON PAGE 60 u

High Country CAMPING

By MOSS BRENNAN

After spending a beautiful day in the High Country, visitors can continue to enjoy the scenery in the moonlight by staying at one of the many campgrounds in the region. Imagine sitting around a campfire with the cool evening air rolling in as the sun sets. The stars creep in, marshmallows roasting, flashlights flicker to find more firewood. There is nothing quite like a night under the stars in the High Country.

Whether campers are packing their gear into a backpack or pulling their car into a campsite near the lake, the region offers many different camping experiences.

LINVILLE FALLS CAMPGROUND

At Milepost 316.3 of the Blue Ridge Parkway, this campground is central to the Linville Gorge Wilderness. Often referred to as the Grand Canyon of the East, Linville Gorge is formed by the Jonas Ridge

on the east and Linville mountains on the west and is bisected by the Linville River. The river drops 2,000 feet into the valley below, creating steep and rugged terrain. Visitors have the opportunity to climb above the treetops for magnificent views or hike down to the waterfalls.

Linville Gorge wilderness offers both backcountry camping as well as RV/car camping. For more information call (828) 765-7818 or visit www.linvillefalls.com.

BUCK HILL CAMPGROUND

Buck Hill has been family owned and operated for more than 50 years. Nestled in a tranquil valley on 144 acres of the Blue Ridge Mountains, the North Toe River flows through the campground where campers can enjoy a lazy ride down the river or spend the day fishing. If campers are looking for a little more luxury, Buck Hill also has tiny home cabins with full kitchens, bathrooms and SEE CAMPING ON PAGE 60 u

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The Grandfather Campground is one of many great places in the High Country to get connected with the outdoors.

more primitive cabins that have electricity but no running water. Call (828) 766-6162 or visit www. buckhillrvcampground.com.

GRANDFATHER CAMPGROUND

Located in the foothills of Grandfather Mountain, this campsite is close to some of the High Country’s greatest attractions including the Mile-High Swinging Bridge in Grandfather State Park. With lots of hiking trails around the area, campers are close enough to explore Boone, Banner Elk, Linville and more. With RV hookups, tent campsites and cabins, this campground is versatile, conveniently located and open year round. For more information visit www.grandfatherrv.com or call (800) 788-2582.

THE LITTLE CAMPGROUND

For a more primitive, quiet night under the stars, campers can make their way to the town of Elk Park. Right next to Banner Elk, this campground offers large campsites, full hookups, concrete patios, TV and wifi. This family-owned-andoperated campground is located at 3,500 feet of elevation and provides campers with a peaceful surrounding

t PARKS FROM PAGE 56

be purchased online through the website.

The free educator workshop that will focus on Black Bears in North Carolina is scheduled for June 13. It is intended specifically for educators (not the general public).

The Grandfather by Night

and well-deserved escape into the mountains. For more information call (828) 733-8412 or visit www. thelittlecampground.com.

JULIAN PRICE CAMPGROUND

Located along the Blue Ridge Parkway at Milepost 297, this campsite is located right next to the pristine and sparkling Price Lake. This is a popular spot for boating, hiking, fishing and camping. With access to canoe rentals, grills, showers, picnic tables, an amphitheater and more, Julian Price is a great family-friendly destination. These non-electric campsites can be reserved in advance or there are a number that are on a first come first serve basis. For more information call (828) 963-5911.

HONEY BEAR CAMPGROUND

Just three miles down the road from downtown Boone and Appalachian State University sits Honey Bear Campground. Honey Bear is a family friendly campground with both RV and tent camping available. With a full service coffee shop, fishing pond, swings, bathhouse, wifi and being centrally located, Honey Bear has everything campers need. The facility also offers outdoor activities for adults and kids

alike. For more information visit www.honeybearcampground.com.

BOONE KOA HOLIDAY

At an altitude of nearly 4,000 feet this is the highest KOA east of the Mississippi. Boone KOA is located 15 minutes from downtown Boone. This campground is nestled atop a beautiful mountain with lush green scenery and offers tent sites, RV sites and cabins. Amenities include mini golf, a pool, arcade games and a farm animal mini zoo. For more information on this campsite call (828) 264-7250 or visit www.koa. com/campgrounds/boone/

FLINTLOCK CAMPGROUND

Family owned and operated since 1970, Flintlock features a newly remodeled bathhouse, wifi, electricity and water, laundry services, a play area and more. A gentle stream surrounded by shaded trees flows through the heart of this campground making it a beautiful space to enjoy the North Carolina mountains. Flintlock is open from the end of March through Nov. 12. For more information contact (828) 963-5325 or visit www. flintlockcampground.com.

BLUE BEAR

MOUNTAIN CAMP

Open year round, this campsite is

located 8 miles north of downtown Boone in Todd, NC. Blue Bear has spacious, private, car accessible tent camping as well as RV camping. Nearby is Elk Knob State Park for a moderate hike with 360 degree views of the Blue Ridge Mountains. For the more adventurous campers Rocky Knob Mountain Bike Park is only a 20-minute drive away. Call (828) 406-4226 or visit www. bluebearmountain.com.

NEW RIVER STATE PARK CAMPGROUND

Believed to be one of the oldest rivers in North America, the New River’s waters are slow and tranquil. Surrounded by rolling hills, countryside meadows and farmlands, the banks of the river are fertile and blanketed with wildflowers.

Located on the border of both Ashe and Alleghany counties, the New River State Park offers a variety of activities. Visitors can entertain themselves with canoeing, hiking, swimming, fishing, camping and more. Local outfitters in the area offer canoe and kayak rentals as well. The park has a variety of different campsites that can be reserved online. For more information call (336) 982-2587 or visit www. ncparks.gov/new-river-state-park.

Adventurous Edition recurs on Friday nights (7:30 until 9:30), Junior Naturalist Day is planned for Sept. 7 and the Fall Color Rambles begin on Oct. 5.

For more information go to grandfather.com

MOUNT MITCHELL STATE PARK

Roughly 70 miles from Boone is Mount Mitchell State Park in Burnsville. Mount Mitchell has the highest peak east of the Mississippi River — at 6,684 feet above sea level. Visitors can use the observation deck to get a more detailed view.

The park has campsites (permit required), hiking trails and picnic

shelters. The trail system at Mount Mitchell connects to the Mountains-to-Sea Trail and offers parking for campers who want to adventure into the Pisgah National Forest.

For more information on Mount Mitchell State Park, visit www. ncparks.gov/state-parks/mountmitchell-state-park

Public Transportation in the HIGH COUNTRY

By LUKE BARBER

Public transportation plays a crucial role in the everyday functioning of the High Country by providing accessible and sustainable modality options for residents and visitors alike in rural areas.

Public transportation is usually free or relatively inexpensive for the public, proving to be an invaluable community resource for folks from various socio-economic backgrounds, such as elders, people with low incomes and students.

Public transportation in the

High Country ensures that one’s economic status is not a barrier to mobility.

AppalCART, which stands for Appalachian Regional Comprehensive Transit, is the primary public transportation provider in Watauga County,

serving Boone and the surrounding areas. AppalCART offers fixedroute bus services as well as paratransit services for individuals with disabilities. The buses are also equipped with bike racks, making it convenient for riders to combine cycling with public transit for the

File photos

AppalCART provides an electric bus for its riders, thus promoting further sustainability efforts.

Avery County Transportation is the primary public transportation provider in Avery County and offers its services to visitors and local residents alike. The service provides public transportation across a vast rural area primarily through demand-response transportation, which means passengers need to schedule their trips in advance by calling the Avery County Transportation office. The service operates from Monday to Friday and provides access to medical appointments, shopping centers and other essential services through the transportation provider.

Ashe County Transit System is the public transportation provider in Ashe County, offering transportation services to residents and visitors in the rural and

scenic county. The service offers fixed-route bus services, as well as demand-response transportation.

The fixed-route bus service operates on weekdays, providing connections between West Jefferson, Jefferson and serving destinations such as schools, medical facilities and shopping areas. The demandresponse transportation service requires passengers to schedule their trips in advance by calling the Ashe County Transit System office.

Public transportation is also environmentally sustainable, which is one of its greatest advantages. By reducing the need for personal vehicles, public transportation minimizes air pollution and greenhouse gas emissions. Public transportation encourages a cleaner, healthier environment for the area and helps the local counties and

municipalities in their sustainability efforts. Public transit also encourages social connectedness,

communication and interaction among individuals

AppalCart Director Craig Hughes invites guests to view the new bus up close.

and creating a sense of community.

Public transportation provides a social component that promotes a more welcoming and inclusive community, provides a mode of transportation that is more sustainable and environmentally friendly than mass vehicle transit and ensures transit for people from various socio-ecnomic backgrounds in rural areas that have historically gone without the public service. transportation services to residents and visitors in the rural and scenic county. The service offers fixed-route bus services, as well as demand-

response transportation. The fixed-route bus service operates on weekdays, providing connections between West Jefferson, Jefferson and serving destinations such as schools, medical facilities and shopping areas. The demandresponse transportation service requires passengers to schedule their trips in advance by calling the Ashe County Transit System office.

Public transportation is also environmentally sustainable, which is one of its greatest advantages. By reducing the need for personal vehicles, public transportation minimizes air pollution and greenhouse gas emissions. Public transportation encourages a cleaner,

healthier environment for the area and helps the local counties and municipalities in their sustainability efforts. Public transit also encourages social connectedness, facilitating communication and interaction among individuals and creating a sense of community.

Public transportation provides a social component that promotes a more welcoming and inclusive community, provides a mode of transportation that is more sustainable and environmentally friendly than mass vehicle transit and ensures transit for people from various socio-ecnomic backgrounds in rural areas that have historically gone without the public service.

AppalCart getting ready for departure at the Library Circle on App State’s campus.

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Hiking in the HIGH COUNTRY

Photo by Peyton Ash

The difficulty of trails can range from easy to hard.

By PEYTON ASH

Summer in the Blue Ridge Mountains is unlike any other. This unique region of northwestern North Carolina, often referred to as the High Country, is home to the highest elevations in the state. The High Country is made up of seven counties: Alleghany, Ashe, Avery, Mitchell, Watauga, Wilkes and Yancey. This lush green region is full of rhododendrons towering over the trails, water trickling over the river rocks, and treetops dancing in the wind over beautiful vistas. There are so many more unique features that make our mountains special.

Hiking is one of the most popular activities in the High Country. Boone, Blowing Rock and Banner Elk have an array of hiking trails, making them popular destinations for travelers looking to get outside.

Whether you are a resident, adventurer or nature lover, there are many trails to fit into your style, such as leisurely strolls through the forests to steep inclines. Most of these trails can be easily found

via GPS, Google Maps and other navigational apps. While hiking in and around these mountains, know your physical limits and come prepared. The weather can change quickly in the High Country, so pack sunscreen, a jacket and rain gear. Remember to leave no trace of your venture into the woods.

The best way to show respect for wildlife is by maintaining a safe distance and never feeding them. Be considerate of other visitors as summer brings a lot of traffic to the High Country,

and everyone is itching to enjoy the scenery. Because a day on a trail is a day well spent.

Following is a visitor’s guide for local trails.

Banner Elk Greenway — This

hike consists of 1.1 miles of paved greenway trail in the Banner Elk downtown.

The park has two playgrounds, wading

Photo courtesy of Grandfather Mountain Stewardship Foundation

One of Grandfather Mountain’s most popular hikes is in Grandfather Mountain State Park, wherein hikers use ladders to summit MacRae Peak.

pools, picnic tables and covered shelters. The lower section of the greenway loops along Shawneehaw Creek next to Lees-McRae College. The upper section follows the same creek along Main Street and ends near Flat Top Brewing Company. This greenway is a beautiful and easy way to experience Banner Elk and its natural beauty. For more information, call (828) 898-5398 or visit https://www.bannerelk.com/ members/banner-elk-greenway/.

Boone Fork Trail — Part of Julian Price Memorial Park, this scenic trail follows a stream and features several waterfalls and swimming holes. The entire loop is 5.2 miles with minimal elevation, making it a great option for hikers looking for casual hikers. This trail is accessible from the Blue Ridge Parkway at milepost 296.4, which is located between Boone and Blowing Rock.

Cone Manor to Bass Lake — This longer trek is located in Moses Cone Memorial Park on the Blue Ridge Parkway. The park has over 25 miles of trail systems for hikers to explore. Hiking down to Bass Lake is a great way to experience the park. This wide gravel trail travels 6.2 miles in a loop, taking you from Flat Top Manor down to the lake and back. This is a popular trail for families.

Elk Knob — About 11 miles north of Boone, and a stone’s throw from the Tennessee border, sits Elk Knob State Park. With a few hiking trails to choose from, the summit is the most rewarding. The trailhead starts from the main parking lot and winds up the mountain for 1.9 miles. The trail contains many switchbacks and has a gradual yet steady incline. Toward the top, the scenery begins to change from towering trees to short shrubs.

Once you reach the summit, the trail will split in two. Toward the left, you will be greeted with a southern view of Sugar Mountain and Mt. Mitchell. On the right, you will see the northern view toward Virginia and Mount Rogers.

Greenway Trail — Located in the heart of Boone, this fully accessible trail has both paved and gravel sections. Open to walkers, runners, cyclists, wheelchairs and hikers, this trail is mostly flat and calm for novice hikers. The trail twists and turns in many directions, allowing each hiker to create their own path. While walking, you are met with beautiful green mountaintops, golden valleys and trickling streams.

Green Valley Community Park

— This multipurpose community park backs up to the New River in Todd, N.C. The park has a picnic shelter, restrooms, benches, hiking trails, a playground and a canoe ramp. The paved walking trail loops about a quarter mile around athletic fields and along the river. The park is free to visitors and open daily from sunrise to sunset. Directions

is a gravel road that twists and turns, so remember to drive with caution. Howard’s Knob County Park

— At 4,396 feet above sea level, Howard’s Knob has an astonishing view overlooking downtown Boone. This small park has picnic tables, a picnic shelter and has a short walk. The park is open from sunrise to sunset typically from May 1 to Oct. 20. To access the park, you go through residential areas, so drive with caution and care. Directions can be found on a standard GPS app.

to the park can be found via GPS or on the park website at www. greenvalleypark.org

There are many different entry points to accessing the greenway. The most convenient place is right behind the Watauga Recreation Complex, which has ample parking. For more information and maps, visit www.exploreboone.com/ outdoors/hiking/boone-greenway/.

Hawksbill Mountain Trail and Table Rock Trail — Hawksbill and Table Rock are both steep trails that overlook Linville Gorge. Hawksbill is 2.5 miles and climbs about 682 feet. Table Rock is shorter at 1.4 miles. Both out-and-back trails have sharp elevation gain, which can be challenging for those unfamiliar with such steep inclines. Both trails have incredible 360-degree views of the Blue Ridge Mountains.

The trailheads are located a couple of miles from each other. Driving from Highway 181, you turn onto Gingercake Road, then travel for about 3.5 miles until you see a small parking lot near the trailhead. This

Linville Falls — This moderate hike leads to a series of waterfalls that drop into Linville Gorge. The trail offers multiple overlooks of the falls and the gorge. Another incredibly popular spot in the High Country, Linville Gorge, is often referred to as the Grand Canyon of the East. Venturing into Linville Gorge’s dramatic cliffs and plunging waterfalls is a one-of-a-kind experience.

Linville Falls is accessible via the Blue Ridge Parkway at milepost 316. Make sure to stop by the visitor center to learn about other hikes in the area.

Profile Trail to Calloway Peak

— This strenuous hike brings visitors up close and personal with Grandfather Mountain. The 8.5mile out-and-back trail steadily climbs 2,162 feet in elevation. The hike begins with a scenic pathway crossing the Watauga River and gradually shifts to rockier terrain. The upper sections get much steeper, and hikers should prepare for intense inclines as they enter a boulder forest. To get up to Calloway Peak, hikers will have to carefully navigate climbing ladders to get on top of the boulders and get grand

Photo courtesy of Lindy Morris

Elk Knob is close to Boone and offers a variety of hikes for all levels of hikers.

views. Climbing down can be just as challenging. Make sure to plan your day accordingly and give yourself enough time for the ascent and descent. The parking lot is located on the west side of Grandfather Mountain off Highway 105 and can be found via GPS.

Rough Ridge Trail — One of the most popular hiking trails in the area, this trail is 2.5 miles. The trail is located at milepost 302.8 on the Blue Ridge Parkway. Once on the trail, it almost immediately splits with a sign that reads “Tanawha Trail.” Hikers will keep left and walk over a wooden bridge with a stream running beneath. The trail is well maintained and has rocky terrain. Halfway up, hikers will reach a wooden boardwalk with benches and space to enjoy the views. If you keep climbing, you’ll be greeted by a rocky summit with incredible views of the Blue Ridge Parkway. This out-and-back trail is great for hikers who are looking for a little bit of a challenge but don’t want to be hiking all day. Once you reach the summit, take a seat and breathe in the fresh Appalachian air.

Sterling Creek Park — Between Boone and Blowing Rock, this 3.7-acre park is a hidden gem and a beautiful stroll. The path winds along a creek with blooming wildflowers, birdhouses and plenty of spots for fishing. From Boone, travel 3.5 miles south toward Blowing Rock on Highway 321. Before Mystery Hill, turn left onto Whitener Mountain Road. An immediate sharp right will lead down to a small parking lot. For more information, visit https://www. middleforkgreenway.org/

Stone Mountain Loop Trail — Further out toward the foothills of

the Blue Ridge Mountains is Stone Mountain State Park. Located in Alleghany and Wilkes counties, this park is named after the 600-foot granite dome that is a designated National Natural Landmark. This 4.5-mile loop trail takes around two hours to complete. The trail weaves through beautiful meadows dotted with wildflowers and up the big rock face known as Stone Mountain. Spending a day in the foothills is a different way to experience the beauty of the High Country. No matter what trail you choose, remember to soak it in. The High Country is a special place with a rich history and rich culture. Remember to stay aware of your physical limits. Take that into consideration when choosing where to spend time outside this summer. For more information and tips on hiking, visit www.nps.gov/articles/hiking-safety. htm.

Summit and Rhododendron Trails Loop — Located in West Jefferson, the Mount Jefferson State Natural Area has both the Summit and Rhododendron Trails. The hike to the summit is a short but steep 0.3 miles. Leading off the Summit trail is the Rhododendron Trail, which travels along the mountain’s ridgeline for a total of 1.1 miles. On a clear day, the view stretches for miles, overlooking the fields and pastures that makeup Ashe County.

Valle Crucis Community Park

Behind the original Mast General Store in Valle Crucis is a beautiful park that backs up to the Watauga River. With paved pathways, a playground, picnic tables, fly fishing, and soccer fields, this park is a great place to relax or take a brisk walk. For more information, visit www. vallecrucispark.org.

waterfalls Western N.C. has hundreds of breathtaking

By JAREN GRAGG

There are 881 waterfalls that are documented in North Carolina, and hundreds of those falls are located in Western North Carolina. To make the best of your summer days in the High Country, take in the

breathtaking views that many of the waterfalls around the area have to offer.

Here are some of the best waterfalls to visit while in the High Country:

LINVILLE FALLS

Located in the Linville Gorge, also known as the “Grand Canyon of the Southern Appalachia,” is home to arguably the most famous waterfalls in North Carolina, the Linville Falls. The Linville Falls is a three-tiered

waterfall that has a 90-foot drop into the pools at the bottom of the falls. There are several trails that visitors can hike to be able to see the view of the falls, ranging from

File photos

The lower section of Trash Can Falls is a scenic mini gorge.

Fly fishing CASTING FLIES AND PASSING TIME

By CHRISTIAN GARDNER

When it comes to the beloved sport of fly fishing in the High Country region, technique can be more important than anything else. Depending on which type of person you are, fly fishing is a pastime that participants will find to be either challenging or soothing. Anglers looking for trout and other species are drawn to the High Country region, which is packed with an endless number of picturesque rivers and streams. The rivers in these parts are filled with beautiful Brown and Rainbow trout, to name a couple, but the small streams that stretch in the “hollers and hills” also hold a treasure fish of their own being vastly spread with the great Speckled trout,

specifically known as the Native Brook trout.

The High Country is well known for babbling brooks and meandering streams, but it also plays home to many beautiful lakes, some along the Blue Ridge Parkway. With a slew of impressive mountains surrounding us, including some of the highest peaks found east of the Rockies, many rivers, streams and creeks originate and flow off of these summits. As a result, due to the natural conditions found in our waterways, trout fishing is of a very high quality here in the High Country. In fact, the trout fishing sport and industry has become one of the biggest businesses in the area.

Whether you’re new to the sport of fishing or a longtime angler, you can

venture off and wet a line on your own terms and take your time catching some fish, but also any angler can be guided by one of the many knowledgeable professionals the HC area has to offer. Outfitters offer an easy set up and trip to the hidden creeks and streams for a perfect day of casting.

Compared to the typical rod, reel, and can of worms form of angling that many of us learned to do as children, fly fishing has distinct differences. Depending on the species and fishing conditions. A spinning reel or bait caster reel is used to cast live bait or artificial lures to trick, catch, and bring in a variety of freshwater fish breeds, including bass, bluegrass, crappie, catfish and much more.

“The High Country offers some of the greatest fly fishing in the state of North Carolina. We have a large amount of free stone rivers and spring creeks winding through these beautiful mountains and they are full of hungry fish. Brook Trout are most abundant in isolated, high-altitude headwater streams where the water is free of pollution and rich in oxygen.” said local outfitter Greyson Stafford of Deep South Co. “We have a passion here to see other people enjoy the outdoors as much as we do. Whether you are looking to get into fly fishing

or an advanced angler, we will share our experiences and expertise with you,” said Stafford.

Fly fishing, however, is not necessarily a more refined approach to fishing, but can be considered more precise due to the behavioral nature of a trout. As a result, trout fishing requires a different kind of fishing system that is both easy to learn and fascinating to experience.

The trout found in this region are a variety of fish that require certain environmental conditions to survive. First of all, trout are fish that prefer colder waters to dwell in. They belong to a species that struggles in midsummer water that is excessively hot. Even though North Carolina is in the South, the High Country’s altitudes provide the cooler waters that trout need to thrive. Because of this, the three types of trout found in North Carolina are the brown, rainbow and native brook, all which do well in the cooler waters of local rivers, creeks and streams, the majority of which have their beginnings on the summits of the neighboring mountains.

Greyson Stafford, Travis Kiriluk and Stetson Stafford of Deep South Co. Outfitters.

Photos by Christian Gardner

Patrick Buchanan casts a fly in the water on a sunny summer day.

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For trout, the ideal water temperature range is between 45 and 70 degrees fahrenheit.

Originating in the streams of the Pacific Northwest, the rainbow trout was successfully introduced into the waters of North Carolina starting in the 1880s. The brown trout, a species that was introduced from Europe and Asia, is another example of human introduction. The smaller species of trout that is native to the eastern U.S. and Canada is the brook trout. Because brook trout are native to the area, many anglers value and appreciate them more than might be thought from first impressions. Currently the state of North Carolina, the North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission regularly stocks many rivers across the state.

Smaller trout eat a lot of aquatic insects. Older trout consume terrestrial

and aquatic insects, but they also eat smaller vertebrates like crawdads, fish and smaller animals. Being the big brutes of the trout world in North Carolina, brown trout can consume larger fish than the other species. Trout also eat flies.

Fly fishing rods, reels, and baits are thus required to catch trout due to their peculiar feeding habits. The artificial lure, which is at the center of the trout fishing system, is made to resemble the aquatic, terrestrial, and avian species that trout love to eat.

Generally referred to as trout flies, many of these artificial lures are small and handmade. “Flies” are made from different materials to create a furry fly that will land just so on the surface of the water, prompting a strike from a waiting trout. The unique construction of the fly rod and reel is what allows a floating artificial fly lure to settle perfectly on top of the water. The fly fishing fisherman learns to forcefully

yet gracefully throw a longer-thanusual rod back and forth in the air in order to release enough fishing line to reach the area where the trout are hiding.

Fly fishing as an activity is quite enjoyable to most, especially since it typically takes less than a day to learn how to use fly fishing rods, reels, and baits. Because fly fishing adds a completely new dimension to the

fishing experience, many beginning fly fishing anglers quickly discover a passion for the activity.

To get started, visit an area trout farm. The farm operator sells fishing equipment to help ensure a prize catch, and nearly all offer cleaning and preparation services.

Elsewhere, the numerous fly fishing

Dawsen Turbyfill shows off the hooking of a native brook trout.

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Watauga Lake’s shoreline

borders ‘THE TOWN THAT WOULDN’T DROWN’

By JERRY SNOW

Watauga Lake was just someone’s idea until 1942, when the Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) impounded Elk River, Roan Creek and Watauga River to create what is now known as Watauga Lake, according to the USDA Forest Service. Boat launches, picnic areas and a campground were provided by the Forest Service.

Hikers who take the Appalachian National Scenic Trail #1 can follow the west and north sides of the expansive man-made Watauga Lake, which was created in 1948, as part of the Watauga Dam that was built to control the flooding

in the Tennessee River Watershed. The creation of the 6,430-acre Lake required roughly 650 families and 1,281 gravesites in Butler, Tenn. to be relocated to higher ground.

For 75 years now, Butler has been known as “The Town that wouldn’t drown.” What the locals have called New Butler for generations is located along the northern shore of Watauga Lake.

The Butler and Watauga Valley Heritage Museum, also known as the Museum of Butler, opened in 2000 to honor the citizens of Butler as well as Watauga Valley, Roan Valley and Elk Valley, according to the Museum’s website.

Submitted photos

Because it is a difficult drive, located deep in the woods of northeast Tennessee, Watauga Lake doesn’t get many visitors.

Visitors can learn about the history of the area at the Museum of Butler (123 Selma Curtis Rd.), which first opened in 1999; it opened again for the 2024 season in mid-May.

The Museum prominently displays the legendary Daniel Boone, who went to Butler in 1769 and stayed for about two years until he completed a survey. Before leaving, he named Roan Creek after his horse, according to the Museum’s website.

The Museum of Butler gives visitors a chance to learn about the rich history of Old Butler, which was mostly occupied by lumberjacks and farmers. Butler is the only incorporated town to be intentionally flooded by the Tennessee Valley Authority, according to the Museum. Watauga Lake was made to provide flood control and cheap electricity.

Watauga Lake covers 10.05 square miles across two rural

counties, according to www. wataugalaketennessee.com. Watauga Lake is also known as Lake Watauga. The Appalachian Trail crosses the southwestern tip of Watauga Lake.

It’s about a 30-mile drive from downtown Boone to the Museum of Butler, which has historic exhibits of Old Butler and a gift shop. Accessible only by winding mountain roads, Watauga Lake is west of Boone and just below Mountain City, Tenn.

The Lake has seasonal marinas and restaurants with a view of the water, which has a 105-mile shoreline, according to wataugalaketennesseee. com. The Watauga Lake Dam is 331 feet high, 925 feet long and 1,275 feet thick at the base.

New Butler is located lakeside and has the Museum, of Butler, which preserves Old Butler’s history. Butler now has 346 residents, according to point2homes. com. The median age of Butler residents is 60 and the population has

dropped by 11.5% over the past year.

Watauga Lake’s water level usually drops seasonally by as much as 10 feet to about 1,949 feet above sea level, according to the Lake’s website. In times of drought, like 2007-2008, the water level can drop by 20 feet or more.

Watauga Lake accommodates power boating, house-boating, sailing, canoeing, kayaking, parasailing, water skiing, jet skiing and wakeboarding. Local marinas offer a wide variety of services, and there is lodging available. Watauga Lake has full-week vacation rentals. Rates vary based on the season — summer time is the peak season. RV and other campers are welcomed.

Watauga Lake is stocked with Black Crappie, White Crappie, Bluegill, Brown Trout, Lake Trout, Rainbow Trout, Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass, Spotted Bass, and Walleye. A Tennessee State Fishing License is required.

Care WITH Confidence

The lower part of the reservoir is one of the best places to fish for smallmouth bass, according to TN.gov.

outfitters found here in the High Country are helpful for people who wish to take the leap and discover a great new way of interacting with nature that will last a lifetime. They not only sell equipment, but they can also teach you how to fly fish for trout and direct you to the greatest, most secluded waters where the huge trout reside. This region is wonderful for vacations, visits, and residence for a variety of reasons, and the sport of fishing is just one such motivation.

For details on fishing restrictions, go to NCWildlife.org. Note that in 2024, hatchery supported trout waters are only open to fishing from April 6 until July 31.

For those interested in booking a guide, or finding the proper equipment you may need, here is a list of outfitters local to the High Country region.

Deep South Co. Outfitters located in Elk Park, N.C.

WebDeepsouthcooutfitters. square.site Phone(828) 260-5963

Due South Outfitters located in Boone Webduesouthoutfitters.com

Phone (828) 355-9109

Elk Creek Outfitters located in Boone Web-www. ecoflyfishing.com Phone (706) 957-5864

Foscoe Fishing Company located in Foscoe Web-www. foscoefishing.com Phone (828) 963-6556

High Country Guide Service located in Boone Web-www. flyfishthehighcountry. com Phone- (828) 3866216

MountainTroutfitters located in Linville Webmountaintroutfitters. com Phone- (828) 3876534

Dawsen Turbyfill wades in the middle of the stream during a fly fishing expedition.

Scenic byways help protect, preserve

HIGH COUNTRY TREASURES

By JAMIE SHELL

The state of North Carolina is home to 62 scenic byways, stretches of highway that accentuate the natural beauty and wonder that makes the Tar Heel State so unique and breathtaking to see.

The byways allow motorists to experience a bit of the state’s history, geography and scenery while also raising awareness for the protection and preservation of these treasures.

The byway routes are carefully selected by the N.C. Department of Transportation as safe and interesting alternatives to the faster pace and commercial areas found along major highways and interstates. Travelers get to know North Carolina’s people and communities and see the diverse beauty the Tar Heel state has to offer – from the high peaks of the Appalachian Mountains to the

to the marshes, sounds and beaches of the Coast Plain.

In the High Country, several byways offer peak viewing opportunities, whether it is the greenery and lush vegetation and historic sites during the summer months, or even a return trip in the fall to see the kaleidoscope of autumn colors and leaves on a leisurely drive in the backcountry.

The byways in some cases traverse through major thoroughfares of rural communities, while others take travelers through roads less traveled. Following the byways, motorists will see some of North Carolina’s most breathtaking scenery, from the Blue Ridge Mountains to the fertile plains of the Piedmont to the crystal blue shores of the coast. The routes are clearly marked with N.C. Scenic Byways signs, and motorists

fertile hills of the Piedmont

Photo by Hugh Morton

The Linn Cove Viaduct carries the Blue Ridge Parkway gently across the slopes of Grandfather Mountain, the final piece connecting the entirety of the multi-state roadway.

are encouraged to follow maps and route descriptions carefully.

NC Department of Transportation notes that portions of some routes are not suitable for various types of vehicles, and also states that a few routes may be briefly interrupted by commercial or municipal areas. In such cases, the scenic byway may temporarily end, but directions are available to help drivers resume the route.

N.C. Scenic Byways vary in length from 1.5 to 170 miles and in character from curvy mountain roads to ferry rides across coastal sounds. If following the byways in reverse order from the descriptions given, please keep in mind that the directions will be used in reverse order as well.

The following are a number of NC Scenic Byways that traverse through the High Country of Avery, Ashe

and Watauga counties.

BLUE RIDGE PARKWAY

The Blue Ridge Parkway is often referred to as the original “scenic byway.” The parkway’s 252 miles in North Carolina are recognized as an “All American Road” by the Federal Highway Administration. The route provides spectacular mountain and valley vistas, quiet pastoral scenes, sparkling waterfalls, and colorful flower and foliage displays.

Construction began in 1935 under President Franklin D. Roosevelt’s New Deal program. During President Ronald Reagan’s administration, the last mile was completed around Grandfather Mountain. An effort of 52 years, nine presidents, and $130 million resulted in the 469 miles that connect the Shenandoah National Park in Virginia to the Great Smoky Mountains National Park in North Carolina.

MISSION CROSSING

Mission Crossing byway guides motorists through Avery and Watauga counties along NC 194 through North Carolina’s ski country and along the northern range of the Roan Mountains in Pisgah National Forest before descending into the Watauga River Valley, the name of which is derived from the Native American word for “beautiful water,” and ending in the community of Vilas. Before leaving the valley, be sure to visit the Mast Farm Inn and Mast General Store, an authentic general store that opened in 1882. The farm, established in 1812, is one of the best preserved 19th-century farms in Western North Carolina and is listed in the National Register of Historic Places. After leaving Valle Crucis, notice the unusual

BoonE - 237 Boone Heights Drive & 128 Crossing Way lenoir - 960 Blowing Rock Boulevard NE | morganton - 118 Bost Road West Jefferson - 1291 Mount Jefferson Road | Wilkesboro - 1001 Gateway Avenue

Thanks to our generous donors, Goodwill stores are packed with a treasure trove of items. The result is a bargain–hunter’s paradise with proceeds of every sale supporting our local job training and employment services.

The Good We Do Is Because of You | goodwillnwnc.org

Submitted photo

The Elk River runs through the Mission Crossing Byway through Elk Park and Banner Elk in Avery County.

barn on the right while climbing out of the valley. The Baird Barn, built in the late 19th to early 20th century, is an excellent example of a transverse crib barn.

LITTLE PARKWAY

Little Parkway byway begins at the intersection of US 221 and NC 105 in Linville. Follow US 221 (Blowing Rock Hwy.) for 18.5 miles to the intersection with US 321 Bus (Main Street) in Blowing Rock where the byway ends.

Little Parkway traverses through Avery, Watauga and Caldwell counties. Built in 1889 by men and mules as a toll road, Little Parkway, also known as Yonahlossee Trail (one of many privately-owned roads in the state), winds its way along the side of Grandfather Mountain and served as the link between Blowing Rock and Linville before the completion of

the Blue Ridge Parkway in 1987. Linville, established in 1883 and designed by Samuel T. Kelsey of Kansas, is located on the Linville River. South of Linville are Linville Falls and Linville Gorge. All were named for William and John Linville who were killed below the falls by Native Americans in 1766. The upper and lower falls, accessed from the Blue Ridge Parkway, are 12 feet and 90 feet tall, respectively. Linville Gorge is among the nation’s largest gorges and is located in one of the wildest uninhabited areas in the Eastern United States. While traveling from Linville to Blowing Rock, watch for signs marking the Eastern Continental Divide, an invisible line that separates the waters flowing to the Atlantic Ocean from those flowing to the Gulf of Mexico.

NEW RIVER VALLEY BYWAY

New River Valley Byway begins at the intersection of US 421/US 221 and NC 194 in Boone. Follow NC 194 north for

17.8 miles to the intersection of NC 194 and US 221 in the Baldwin community where the byway temporarily ends.

Turn left onto US 221 and follow for 3.5 miles to the West Jefferson town limits. Continue on US 221 for another 4.5 miles through West Jefferson and Jefferson to the intersection of US 221 and NC 16/ NC 88. Follow NC 16/NC 88 straight for another 3.1 miles to the intersection of NC 16 and NC 88. (This section is not part of the designated scenic byway.)

Continue straight on NC 88 for 10.1 miles to continue the designated byway to the intersection of NC 88 and NC 18 in Laurel Springs where the byway ends.

Venturing through Watauga and Ashe, the New River Valley Byway allows motorists to experience some of the most beautiful mountain scenery and the largest concentration of Christmas tree farms in the state. The route travels north from Boone to Laurel Springs through

An example of the rolling hills along the New River Valley Scenic Byway in Ashe County.

the Stone Mountains, which forms a common boundary between North Carolina and Tennessee. The byway bends and turns as it crosses mountains and passes over rivers and streams through the New River Valley. As you travel on NC 194 along what was once called the “Old Buffalo Trail,” imagine buffalo herds using this route as a migration path like they once did. The route provides access to areas that are popular for hiking, white water rafting, and canoeing as well.

US 421 SCENIC BYWAY

As the US 421 Scenic Byway travels across Watauga County through the Blue Ridge Mountains, it offers sweeping views of the valleys, woodlands, and mountains between the towns of Deep Gap and Boone. It also runs near the former home of multiple Grammy Award winner and cultural icon Doc

Jim’s Corner

Watson. Near the beginning of the route, you will see where the Blue Ridge Parkway crosses US 421 on a bridge covered with native stones to reflect the beauty of the area. As the byway ascends the ridge toward Boone, the home of Appalachian State University, motorists are provided with panoramic views of Snake Mountain and Elk Knob, which are a part of the Amphibolite Range. Along the way, motorists can take in views of the area’s hardwood and mixed forests, as well as horse and cattle farms. Also visible are a number of Fraser Fir Christmas tree farms. Watauga County is one of the nation’s top producers of these firs.

BIG HORSE CREEK BYWAY

In Ashe County, Big Horse Creek Scenic Byway highlights rural life in the beautiful mountains of Ashe County. The county was

The High Country's Oldest Furniture Store

once known as one of North Carolina’s “lost provinces,” a remote, inaccessible county cut off from the rest of the state by the Eastern Continental Divide where, it was said, that the only way to get there was to be born there. As the byway begins, notice the peaks (4,710 feet elevation) of Phoenix Mountain to the east. Just as the rugged mountains close in with their densely wooded terrains, the byway gives way to the verdant pastures along the creek bottoms that extend up the bluffs. This rustic countryside is a short distance from undisturbed natural areas such as Pond Mountain and the Cherokee National Forest. The byway parallels Big Horse Creek all the way into the town of Lansing and crosses it again in numerous locations, making it a great place to cruise with the windows down to enjoy the sound

of the rushing water. Occasionally, the road rises and follows the ridge above the creek where travelers can witness spectacular views of the narrow valleys with farmhouses, farm animals, old barns, and country churches. The hillsides feature mixed forests with intermittent pastures and Christmas tree farms. The byway also offers a snapshot of culture through the renowned songwriting and performances of former folk music artist Ola Belle Reed, a National Heritage Fellowship award winner, who was originally from the New River Valley in the Blue Ridge Mountains.

For more information on North Carolina’s Scenic Byways, visit https://www.ncdot.gov/travelmaps/traffic-travel/scenic-byways/ Documents/nc-scenic-bywaysguidebook.pdf

beginner friendly for the everyday hiker to the more strenuous trails for the more experienced hikers. To make the most of your day at the falls, the visitor center that is located in Marion on Warrior Lane has information that visitors can use to make the most of their trip.

LAUREL CREEK FALLS

Also known as “Trash Can Falls,” Laurel Creek Falls is one of the most popular falls located in the area. The 15-foot-tall falls leads to a deep, but chilly, swimming hole. For hikers that are wanting to take a hike and cool off from the hot summer days, follow US Highway 321 toward Sugar Grove. From there you’ll turn left when the highway splits, and stay on 321 for about five and half miles. Then take the gravel turn off on the right, and the falls are just a hike ahead down an unmarked trail. It’s a relatively short hike, but hikers must be careful because, depending on the weather, the trails can be slippery on the steep halfmile trek. There is a reason why this swimming hole is a favorite amongst locals.

CRAB ORCHARD FALLS

Located on private property at the Valle Crucis Conference Center, it welcomes hikers and has designated parking areas for those who are wanting to see the falls. The center has well-maintained trails that lead to a gorgeous view of the Crab Orchard Falls. It is a short but steep hike, about 1.5 miles round-trip. The boardwalk at the end of the trail allows for great views of the falls. The Mast General store tests their equipment on the trail.

GREEN MOUNTAIN CREEK FALLS

Green Mountain Creek Falls is a

Linville Falls is one of the most famous waterfalls in the Blue Ridge. The trails include four overlooks to the waterfalls, where wildflowers and foliage abound along the way.

small waterfall located right off the side of the road on US Highway 221 about 8 miles outside of downtown Blowing Rock. The Green Mountain Creek Falls are perfect for those that want to see waterfalls, but are not in the mood for a long hike.

The water free falls 15 feet to a pool below, which makes for a beautiful photo opportunity.

ELK RIVER FALLS

Located near Beech Mountain, Banner Elk and the small town of Elk Park is the impressive Elk River Falls (formerly called Big Falls) in Pisgah National Forest (Appalachian Ranger District). This 50-foot mountain waterfall cascades over a rock cliff and into a picturesque oval pool. The trail to the top of the falls

is an easy five-minute walk. You can safely stand on a flat rock area and watch the waterfall plummet over the cliff. A short but steep trail runs below the falls. From the boulders above the waterfall, you will see your next destination in front of the falls. Return to the trail and head downhill. It’s a steep but short walk with steps and tree roots for hiking assistance. At the bottom, there’s a

long flat boulder that is perfect for sitting and picnicking. To the left of the boulders is the safe wading area downstream. The currents in the pool directly in front of the waterfall are too strong for wading and have been deadly.This beach and swimming area well below the waterfall can be a little crowded on hot summer weekends, but it’s often very quiet. It’s free to enjoy.

Elk River Falls is a popular destination for visitors, but also has a dangerous undertow, prompting officials to prohibit swimming and jumping near the falls.

Health Care in the High Country

By LUKE BARBER

The High Country region in northwestern North Carolina, like many mountain communities, faces unique challenges and opportunities in providing quality and accessible health care to its residents.

With a predominantly rural landscape and geographical barriers, access to health care can be difficult for many residents. In the High Country, healthcare has been a priority for many years, with some of the best practices for general and specialized medicine available on the mountain. The High Country region is home to several healthcare facilities that play a crucial role in providing medical

services to the communities.

UNC Health Appalachian, a not-for-profit healthcare system, operates two hospitals: Watauga Medical Center in Boone and Cannon Memorial Hospital in Linville. These two medical centers offer a wide range of services, including primary care, specialty care, surgical services, emergency care and behavioral health services.

Ashe Memorial Hospital, a critical access hospital in Jefferson, provides acute care, emergency care and other health care services to the residents of Ashe County. Moreover, rural health centers and clinics in the region offer primary care and preventative care services, which helps bridge the gap for underserved populations.

The High Country region offers comprehensive healthcare services to meet the wide range of needs in its communities. Primary care services, including family medicine, internal medicine and pediatrics are available through various healthcare providers in the region by offering preventative care, health screenings and chronic disease management. Specialty care services, such as cardiology, orthopedics, obstetrics and gynecology and mental health services are available through hospitals and specialized clinics. Providing equitable access to health care in the High Country can be challenging due to potential geographical barriers, health disparities and workforce shortages. However, there are opportunities

to improve access and delivery by utilizing available healthcare resources such as telehealth services, rural health centers and clinics and promoting preventative care and health education programs.

Encouraging healthcare professionals to practice in rural areas can also help address workforce shortages. By working together and implementing innovative solutions, all residents and visitors to the High Country can have access to quality healthcare and better health outcomes.

Gearing up for CYCLING SEASON

Blue

Ridge Brutal ‘not for the faint of heart’

By JERRY SNOW

With so many steep mountains to spice up the degree of difficulty, the High Country is a great place for the most well-conditioned cyclists to compete.

Here’s a look at some of the cycling events scheduled in the High Country in the summer of 2024.

BLOOD, SWEAT AND GEARS

Blood, Sweat and Gears (BSG) considers itself “the North Carolina High Country’s’ premier cycling event,” according to

bloodsweatandgears.org.

BSG starts and finishes in Valle Crucis.

The two routes through Watauga and Ashe counties cover 95 miles and 45 miles. Snake Mountain is the biggest challenge on the 95-mile course.

To register for the BSG, go online to bloodsweatandgears.org.

BSG Events, Inc. a non-profit, “works to develop, promote and execute recreational cycling events”

File photos

Blood, Sweat and Gears (BSG) considers itself “the North Carolina High Country’s’ premier cycling event.

Your trusted healthcare partner

Primary Care in the High Country

Whether you’re dealing with a routine sickness, living with a chronic condition, or want to stay current with regular preventive checkups, your family’s health is in good hands with our team of experienced primary care providers in the High Country. All of our Primary Care offices have Telehealth appointment options available and are accepting new patients

AppFamily Medicine

(828) 386-2222

148 Hwy 105 Ext, Ste 102 Boone, NC 28607

Mon - Fri 8 a.m. - 5 p.m. Sat 8 a.m. - noon

Accepting new patients

Same-day clinic

AppInternal Medicine

(828) 386-2746

194 Doctors Drive Boone, NC 28607

Mon - Fri 8 a.m. - 5 p.m.

Accepting new patients

Same-day availability

Baker Primary Care Center (828) 737-7711

436 Hospital Drive, Ste 230 Linville, NC 28646

Mon - Fri 8 a.m. - 5 p.m. Sat 8 a.m. - noon

Accepting new patients

Same-day clinic

Elk River Medical (828) 898-5177

150 Park Avenue

Banner Elk, NC 28604

Mon - Fri 8 a.m. - 5 p.m.

Accepting new patients

For more information about our Primary Care Providers, use this QR code or visit apprhs.org/pcp

In 2021, the state granted AMOREM’s request to build a hospice patient care unit for the High Country. Please consider a tax deductible donation to make this a reality. Donate today or learn more at www.amoremsupport.org, 828.754.0101 or scan here!

TO THE HIGH COUNTRY

—Greene Construction, Inc.

in Boone and the High Country,” according to its website. “We strive to create cycling events that are accessible and challenging for all participants. Proceeds from these events are redistributed to support local nonprofit organizations and to provide valuable resources for the underserved and unmet needs of the High-Country community.”

BOONE GRAN FONDO

The Boone Gran Fondo will be held on Aug. 4 and participants who register by July 9 will get a free jersey.

Boone Gran Fondo “twists and turns through wooded climbs and descents before returning to the party atmosphere of downtown Boone,” according to www. granfondonationalseries.com/granfondo-boone.

Bikers have the option of competing on courses that cover 94, 57 and 24 miles; the event is part of the Gran Fondo National Series.

The Boone Gran Fondo is not a closed course so riders must obey traffic laws. The Watauga Pioneers Mountain Bike Team will man the aid stations.

To learn more, go to www.

granfondonationalseries.com/granfondo-boone.

BLUE RIDGE BRUTAL

The 2024 Blue Ridge Brutal, an intense 100-mile cycling race, will be held for the 33rd year in Ashe County on Aug. 17.

“The Blue Ridge Brutal is not for the faint of heart,” according to blueridgebrutal.org. The ride options are 100, 70, 50 or 25 miles. All take the rider through the scenic Blue Ridge mountains and over many hills.

For the 80 riders who register to climb Mount Jefferson, event organizers want them to know this

course rises almost 1,500 feet over 3.4 miles with an average grade of approximately 8%.

Noah Niwinski of Vilas won the 100-mile race in 2023 by finishing in just over four hours and 22 minutes (4:22:06.3).

Rest stops are offered along all the routes, but there are no rest areas on the ride up Mount Jefferson. Proceeds from the Blue Ridge Brutal benefit the scholarship fund for graduating seniors.

For riders who register by July 15, the entry fee is $75 and after July 15

File photos

The Boone Gran Fondo will be held on Aug. 4. t CYCLING FROM PAGE

Mountain biking in the HIGH COUNTRY

Rocky Knob Park a popular destination

By ZACH COLBURN

A refuge for outdoor enthusiasts and people of all ages, the High Country is known for its natural beauty, and is prime territory for mountain biking.

Surrounded by miles of trails that offer some of the best mountain biking experiences in the region, there is something for everyone in the area — regardless of level of experience.

For true beginners, the Boone Greenway Trail is an ideal spot to start. The Greenway offers a single track trail as well as an assortment of smooth and leisurely paved riverside paths.

For those looking to make the step up Rocky Knob Park is one of the most popular mountain biking destinations in the area. Located just a few miles from downtown Boone, this 185-acre county park features more than eight miles of trails that wind through forested hills.

The trails are well-maintained and offer a variety of difficulty levels, ranging from beginner-friendly to challenging for even the most experienced riders. With stunning views and thrilling descents, Rocky Knob Park is a must-visit destination for any mountain biker.

A similar style of difficulty level are offered at Beech Mountain Resort’s “Emerald Outback” trail system, as well as a course at nearby Sugar Mountain Resort. Both resorts feature chairlifts to take riders to the top of their bike parks, and each location has specific

days of operation. Check skisugar. com and beechmountainresort.com/ summer for more information.

For those looking for a more challenging experience, trails in Pisgah National Forest near the Wilsons Creek Wild & Scenic River Area offer some of the most technical and difficult mountain biking terrain in the region. Pisgah offers miles of trails that wind

through the rugged landscape, but beware. Riders beware, these trails are challenging to say the least – even the most experienced riders will be tested by the steep climbs and rocky descents.

There are also several local outfitters that offer guided tours and lessons for those looking to improve their mountain biking skills. These tours are a great way to explore the area and learn from experienced riders who know the trails very well.

Local businesses to check out include Headquarters Bike and Outdoor (Sugar Mountain), Boone Bike and Touring (Boone), Action Cycle Sports (Boone), Hill River Cycles (Fleetwood), Rhoddie Bicycle Outfitters (Blowing Rock), Stameys Cycle Center (Boone) and Magic Cycles (Boone).

In addition to experiencing mountain biking on an individual level,

The Watauga mountain bike team competed in the Dark Mountain Dash in Wilkesboro last year.

the High Country is also home to the Watauga High and Watauga Middle School Bike Teams and compete in the North Carolina Interscholastic Cycling League.

Lees-McRae College in Banner Elk fields a cycling team that competes in the Division I mountain biking during the fall and spring seasons. They’ve hosted the Collegiate Mountain Bike National Championships on the LMC campus.

With trails suitable for riders of all skill levels, it is no wonder why mountain bikers flock to this region year after year.

Whether you’re a beginner or a savvy veteran, grab your bike and hit some nearby trails to experience a day of unforgettable mountain biking.

available at blueridgebrutal.org.

the fee is $95. No refunds will be given after July 19. The race is capped at 500 riders.

The start and finish point for all rides is the Ashe Civic Center (962 Mt. Jefferson Rd.) in West Jefferson starting at 8 a.m.

There is parking at the Ashe Civic Center and in the parking lot across the street.

All riders are required to wear a cycle helmet at all times and have a bike that is in good working condition.

Each rider will be provided with a map showing all 4 routes and listing all turns with distance between each and cumulative total; route maps are

All riders are required to obey North Carolina traffic laws and will be provided with a chip supplied by Start 2 Finish, LLC. The chips will be attached to the bikes (details to be provided at registration). The finish times will be published on their website.

Riders exceeding nine hours will not receive a finish time. E-bikes will be chip timed separately.

All riders will receive a goody bag prior to the ride.

Training routes are mapped out with ridewithgps.com.

For more information, call (336) 846-9550 or email info@ blueridgebrutal.org.

File photos

Noah Niwinski of Vilas won the 100-mile race in 2023 by finishing the race in just over four hours and 22 minutes.

t CYCLING FROM PAGE 107

t BIKING FROM PAGE 108

Metro Creative Connection

13th ANNUAL RAIN OR SHINE

HIGH COUNTRY has some of North Carolina’s best golf courses

By HARRIS PREVOST

North Carolina’s tourism slogan for many years was

“Variety Vacationland.” The state boasts a great coastal region, rolling hills, urban piedmont and the majestic mountains. In the winter, you could walk in the ocean in the morning, play 18 holes in Pinehurst and ski that night in the High Country. Variety is the perfect description of the High Country’s eight public courses, each with its own memorable holes, awaiting local and visiting golfers in Ashe, Watauga, Avery and Mitchell counties.

I have played all the High Country courses many times, so I’ll pass on my thoughts on these fun courses, and talk about some of the special holes, especially on each public course. For reference purposes, my handicap is eight, 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 with your playing partners. More importantly, I hope the conversation gets you to play the memorable and exciting holes awaiting you in the High Country this season and beyond!

Courses will first be divided into courses open to

the public, then semi-private courses open to the public under certain conditions, usually staying at the club’s/resort’s lodging facilities. Also, I will briefly mention the region’s famous private courses. For the private courses, find a member, make friends with him, and have him invite you to play his course! It will be worth your effort. These courses all rank among North Carolina’s best.

Be sure to look up each of the courses to get more information about green fees, location, phone numbers, etc. and for most, see photography of the courses.

PUBLIC COURSES

Mountain Aire Golf Club

There is a private club named Mountain Air in Burnsville, but our Mountain Aire is in Ashe County just south of West Jefferson. A four lane divided highway, US 421, then US 221, takes you from Boone to West Jefferson. A turn left on a side road before West Jefferson takes you there. Mountain Aire is the third oldest course in the High Country behind only Linville and Blowing Rock. The course began as West Jefferson Golf Course 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 from Boone—Austin, Sam and Tom—learned to play golf at Mountain Aire. Austin became a great amateur player, Sam a PGA Tour winner and Tom serving as a longtime head golf professional. The three brothers are major owners of the Boone Golf Club. They make me wish I learned to play golf at Mountain Aire!

When the farmer died, Carl Hagel, a casual golfer who built wooden frames for windows, purchased Mountain Aire in 1971. The course has been in the family ever since. In 1985, Caro’s son Mark expanded the course to 18 holes, using Dennis

Submitted photo

Mountain Aire Golf Club in West Jefferson is an 18-hole course.

Lehman, who helped design Jefferson Landing, as his designer. In 1998, some holes were replaced with new ones on different parts of the property, and the course has continued to improve each year. Mountain Aire is now under the supervision of Mark Hagel’s son-in-law, Philip Shepherd.

One of the new holes is the third, Mountain Aire’s signature hole. It is the most dramatic hole in the High Country, if not Eastern America! The tee shot to the 468 par 4 drops over 200 feet in elevation, and if you hit your tee shot a little left, the drop is even more. The landing area is very narrow. If the wind is blowing hard, this is the most intimidating tee shot in the state. It is also one of the most beautiful. You feel like you are on top of the world looking out at surrounding mountain ridges. Shepherd says the hole is “either your favorite or least favorite.”

For the longer hitters, Mountain Aire has two drivable par fours. The ninth is 305 yards long from the very elevated regular tees. A great drive will be a birdie, one a little right or short is in a pond, and a little left is in the trees. The 13th is a 275-yard par 4 with a creek 15 yards in front of the green. The course is well kept and its greens are relatively small, thus accuracy is important here.

To experience a welcoming and friendly atmosphere, a fun course to play and that intimidating tee shot on the third hole, call Mountain Aire’s pro shop at 336/877-4716 or reach them at MountainAire.com to set up your tee times. Their street address is 1396 Fairway Ridge Road, approximately 30 minutes from Boone.

Boone Golf Club

The dream for a golf course in Boone began with one of Boone’s greatest citizens, Wade Brown, in 1940. After several false starts, which turned out to be blessings in disguise, Brown’s dream was realized in the summer of 1959.

Brown’s quest to provide a golf course for Boone was inspired by the success of the Blowing Rock Country Club and the Linville Golf Club. Potential “false start”

locations for the course included Tater Hill, land from Rivers Street up to the former Broyhill Inn & Conference 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. Boone’s collection of par 3s average 199 yards and are as strong and well-designed as any in the state. It’s par 5s average 556 yards, and they aren’t too shabby, either!

Drivable risk/reward par 4s are a delight to galleries watching PGA Tour events and are fun to play for the rest of us. Boone has three. It’s uphill ninth is reachable for the big boys. It is 333 yards from the back and 299 from the regular tee. The risk is a creek fronting most of the green, deep to the left and out-ofbounds 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) line to an elevated, sloped, narrow green that is challenging to putt. A pond on the left catches balls that are the slightest bit offline. This is one of the better finishing holes in the High Country’s 18 golf courses.

To experience one of the finest sets of par three holes in North Carolina, call the pro shop at 828/264-8760. Email address is boonegolfclub.com. Lunch is served at the Fairway Café, which is part of the clubhouse complex. Make your tee times 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 has some challenging and fun holes. Three holes are longer than 200 yards, and taken as a whole, the nine holes average 182 yards from the tips. Several sets of tees make Willow Creek’s holes enjoyable for all levels of golfers. Five of the nine holes 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! The course is open from mid-April through October with tee times from 9 AM to 5 PM. Often you can just show up and play. Green fees are very reasonable. 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 the second time around to add variety.

Willow Creek’s greens are relatively small, so accuracy is the key to a good round. Since 75% of the shots in a round of golf on a regular course are from 160 yards in, there is a lot of golf to be played at Willow Creek. There is a lot to learn as you develop and refine a winning short game.

Willow Creek’s 221-yard 9th hole (from the tips) will hold its own on any course in America, and it gets my vote for both the most intimidating tee shot and signature hole. The green is guarded by a small pond in its front-left that winds around to the left side. A shot that lands six yards left of the green ends up in the pond, and out-of-bounds is 15 yards from the green to the right. The green is only 31 feet wide. A par on this hole will make your day!

If time is a factor in whether you can play, or if price is a factor, or if long, hard holes beat you up, you can enjoy a relaxing round at Willow Creek. Call ahead to the pro shop at 828/963-6865 and get ready to have a great day. If you are looking for a place to spend the night, Willow Creek is part of the Willow Valley Resort, so overnight lodging is available. There are lots of “Willow Creek” golf courses, so google “Willow Creek Golf Course in Boone, NC” for more information.

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-season 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, where the Linville Ridge golf course is today

A perfect storm of bad luck hit the MacRaes in 1974, the year their executive course opened: bad economy, high inflation and interest rates, gas rationing, warm winter and little skiing, and no one buying real estate. As a result, the MacRaes had to declare bankruptcy, and the bank foreclosed. One of the MacRaes’ partners leased the course until he died.

The village of Sugar Mountain wanted to buy it, but it was too young a town to take on debt, so the Sugar Mountain Ski Resort purchased it until the town could buy it back. Today, the course is well run, in great condition and very popular.

Sugar, like Willow Creek, is a perfect niche golf course for the player who doesn’t have time for a five-hour round or doesn’t enjoy playing 500-yard par 4s. While Willow Creek is a par three course, Sugar is an executive course with nine par 3s, eight par 4s and one par 5. It measures 4,443 yards from the tips and 4,071 from the regular tees, and is par 64.

Surprisingly, despite Sugar’s short yardage, it has only one drivable par 4, its ninth hole. The hole is slightly uphill and is 259 yards from the back tee, 239 from the regular tee. There is no trouble on the hole, so it is no risk/all reward. Fire away. There is one hole, though, that is worth a shot just for fun. The sharply downhill 321-yard (back), 288-yard (regular) tee shot on the fifth hole has to be perfect.

SEE GOLF ON PAGE 116 u

Submitted photo

An aerial view of Sugar Mountain Public Golf Course.

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 a steeply 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 a treat once they tee off the first hole. The greens are as good as any in the High Country, and that’s saying a lot. To set up an enjoyable day of golf with friends, call McAuliffe at (828) 898-6464.

Mountain Glen Golf Club

The idea to build Mountain Glen arose from a devastating fire in January 1961 that destroyed one-third of the town of Newland. Local leaders felt something needed to be done to spur economic growth in Avery County.

They knew large manufacturing was not an option because of Avery’s rough winters and isolated location. They looked four miles down the road at Linville and saw their answer: Build a golf course and develop the property around it for second homeowners. They formed the Avery Development Corporation and

sold shares of stock to raise money for the project.

Thanks to great leadership and a generous landowner, Todd Lecka, Mountain Glen would become a reality. George Cobb, who first designed Quail Hollow in Charlotte, the Augusta 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

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 served as head pro for more than four decades and holds the course record with a 62. Before coming to Mountain Glen, Foster was assistant pro at Grandfather Golf & Country Club in season and an assistant at Augusta National in the offseason.

Linville Land Harbor

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 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

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

Land Harbor was created by the Robbins brothers — Grover, Harry and Spencer — who also brought to the High Country Tweetsie Railroad, Hound Ears, Beech Mountain, Land of Oz and the Elk River Club. The original idea was to build a recreation resort for short-term or extended-stay vacationers who used their campers or RVs to live in. Back in the 1960s and early ‘70s, campers were the rage.

The RV lots made up 1,510 of the 1,933 lots, with homesites making up most of the rest. Later on, people wanted to spend more time at Land Harbor, so many of the RV lots were combined to provide an additional 500 building lots.

The Land Harbor property belonged to a lumber company in the early 1900s. In 1923, 5,000 acres of that property was purchased by Howard Marmon, an engineering genius whose parents took

Submitted photo

There are golf courses in the High Country, both public and private, including Linville’s Grandfather Golf and Country Club, that have some of the most picturesque scenery in the region for golfers to enjoy.

him to the Eseeola Lodge when he was a boy. Apparently, Marmon had health problems when he was young, and being in the mountains healed him. He came back to build a second home.

In 1909, Marmon built the car that won the first Indianapolis 500. The following year, 61 of the nation’s official speed records were owned by Marmon cars. Amelia Earhart rode in a Marmon in her New York City ticker-tape parade, and supposedly, Bonnie and Clyde used the speedy car to outrun the police after their bank robberies. Marmon was good friends with Harvey Firestone, Henry Ford and Thomas Edison. They came for visits and fished in the lake Marmon built, which is now the Land Harbor lake.

Mr. and Mrs. Marmon left their estate to their nephew, and when he died, he put it in a trust to benefit the hospital, library and airfield in Avery County. Warren Buffett now owns the Marmon Company. Part of the Marmon property was developed into a nursery, and that is the property that is Land Harbor.

Land Harbor was a subsidiary of Carolina Caribbean, owned for the most part by developers of Beech Mountain and 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 were designed by architect Tom Jackson in collaboration with local golf hero Ernie Hayes. It measures 2,950 yards and plays to a par 36. It is a delightful nine with smallish greens and well-placed hazards. The course is in excellent shape.

The 463-yard first hole is a great start. It is downhill with a sharp dogleg left and creek running down the left side of the fairway. The creek crosses the fairway at a sharp angle about 120 yards out and forms a pond to the front left of the green. The small, undulating green has a very narrow opening with trouble all around the green. If you go for the green

in two, you best have your “A” game right out of the chute.

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 from 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 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.

Grassy Creek

Grassy Creek Golf & Country Club is located in Spruce Pine in Mitchell County, the southernmost county in the High Country. It is named for neighboring 6,684-feet tall Mt. Mitchell, the highest peak in Eastern America. It is in this picturesque setting of mountains, rolling hills, valleys, rivers and streams, that we find Grassy Creek.

The golf course site played a role in the Revolutionary War victory to form our country. A thousand American patriots, called the Overmountain Men, helped turn the momentum of the war to the Continental Army’s side. British major Patrick Ferguson’s devastating march

through the South had to be stopped, and mountain men ranging from as far as Southwest Virginia and East Tennessee joined forces with Western North Carolina patriots to stop Ferguson. They succeeded in a surprise attack on the British at Kings Mountain, near Charlotte.

Their pathway to victory is now a National Historic Trail and Grassy Creek is on that trail. On September 28, 1780, the Overmountain Men camped at Grassy Creek, which back then was a plantation with plenty of water for the horses and room for campsites.

Mitchell County is the gem and mineral capital of North Carolina with at least 247 different gemstones and minerals discovered in the mines that dot the county landscape. Some mines have the purest quartz crystal on earth, which is used to make computer chips. Some of the quartz in the form of a derivative called feldspar is not pure enough for computer chips, but when

ground up, it produces a beautiful white sand. Clifford Roberts, a co-founder of Augusta National and The Masters with Bobby Jones, was a summer resident at Grandfather Golf & Country Club and he heard about the sand, had it tested, and replaced all the sand in Augusta National’s bunkers with “Spruce Pine sand.” After the viewers saw the new, white sand while watching the Masters on television, they were amazed at the beauty of its contrast with Augusta’s green fairways. The rest is history. Just about every great golf course in the country, and all the courses in the High Country now have Spruce Pine sand in their bunkers. Golf courses in Saudi Arabia even use it.

In the mid-1950s, a group of civicminded businessmen decided the county needed a golf course. The Grassy Creek site had water and a gentle rolling terrain that was perfect for a golf course. In fact, it used to have one. Preceding Grassy Creek was a rudimentary nine hole course with sand greens that was abandoned years earlier. The property then became a dairy farm. Civic leaders secured a 99-year lease on the property, and all chipped in one way or another to make a nine-hole course a reality.

In the early 1960s, they decided their course needed to be 18 holes, so they hired New England golf course architect John Van Kleek to build a second nine. In the early 1930s, Van Kleek was hired by the immortal Bobby Jones to design his namesake golf course in Atlanta.

The 18-hole Grassy Creek is only 6,277 yards long from the back tees, but it defends itself well. On many holes, drives not positioned correctly make approach shots a stiff challenge. If you miss one of the small poa annua grass greens at Grassy Creek, getting up and down for a par isn’t likely to happen. An example is the 298-yard 16h hole. It is a slight dogleg right with a huge oak tree guarding the right side of the hole. Play too far left to avoid the tree and there is trouble. The sloping green is difficult to putt. A par on

the 385-yard uphill and sidehill fourth hole is quite an accomplishment! Because the course is so strategic, it is best to play it several times to figure out where to hit it, and where not to hit it. All the while, playing Grassy Creek is a fun and rewarding experience.

The course is located on NC 226 between Spruce Pine and the Blue Ridge Parkway (near Little Switzerland). US 19-E gets you to Spruce Pine. Green fees at Grassy Creek are very reasonable. Call the pro shop at 828/765-7436 for a tee time and a good time.

SEMI-PRIVATE CLUBS

There are two, Jefferson Landing and Beech Mountain.

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. It

opened in 1991 and was renovated in 2019.

At 7,110 yards, it is the second longest course in the High Country. Diamond Creek’s 7,175 yards is first.

The most intimidating tee shot for me is on the 376-yard eleventh 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 tee shot down the narrow right side gives me a short iron in. A hooked or pulled drive leaves me in the river. This is 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 a great risk/reward 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.

Jefferson Landing has an excellent practice range and putting green, and unique to just about every course in the state, a neat four-hole short course practice area or play area just for fun.

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.

Jefferson Landing has a neat lodge available for overnight stay as well as a rental program for private residences. The course is semi-private, meaning it is available for members and their guests, and also guests of the club staying overnight in its lodge or in the club’s rental program with members’ residences. The clubhouse, club facilities and the golf course are all first class. Staying and playing at Jefferson Landing is a great experience!

Photo courtesy NCGA

A drone shot of Jefferson Landing in the summer.

Beech Mountain Club

Beech Mountain’s golf course is another of Spencer, Harry and Grover Robbins’ golf contributions to the High Country. Others are Hound Ears and the Elk River Club, both private, and Linville Land Harbor.

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 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.

Note: If you plan on staying on Beech Mountain and want to play golf, make sure where you stay offers golf packages.”

PRIVATE CLUBS

The beautiful mountain terrain in the High Country is perfect for world class golf courses. All seven private courses are highly ranked among North Carolina’s top 100 courses. Grandfather Golf & Country Club is ranked second in the state by the North Carolina Golf Panel, only behind the historic Pinehurst #2 courses, site of numerous national championships. The Elk River Club is also ranked in the Top 10. Business North Carolina magazine publishes the NC Golf Panel annual rankings in its annual April golf issue. Private courses are for their members and guests, but sometimes the clubs donate their courses for charitable fundraisers. Sign up to play in those tournaments! Your entry fee goes to a good cause and you get to play a great course you might not get to play otherwise. Win-win on your part!

Golf in the High Country began in 1895 with Linville Golf Club’s predecessor course, called Tanglewood. The golf course inspired the building

of private second homes. (NOTE: Moss, I can get you a photo of golf on Tanglewood if you want it.) Tanglewood was nine holes to begin with, and each hole had a name, not a number. The course was later expanded to 14 holes. In 1926, Linville opened its Donald Rossdesigned present course, and eight years later Tanglewood was abandoned.

The Linville Golf Club, combined with its Eseeola Lodge, originally built in 1892, has a rich history in North Carolina golf circles. It has hosted a number of important statewide and region-wide golf tournaments, and all who play the course love it. Linville, the granddaddy of golf in the region, inspired the development of many of the other great courses in the High Country. Linville’s third hole, a 472yard par four that crosses a creek twice, is considered one of the finest par 4 holes in the country. A number of its holes have dramatic views of Grandfather Mountain in the background. In the winter of 2023-24, some renovations were done on

some of the holes. Early reports about the changes are very positive. There is something about Linville and its rich tradition that makes it one of the most beloved golf courses in the state. The golf course and the lodge are now both private and are open only to members and their sponsored guests.

Blowing Rock Country Club is the oldest existing course in the High Country. The course began as the ninehole Green Park-Norwood Golf Course in 1916, with a $15,000 construction budget. It was based out of the Green Park Inn, which was built in 1891, and it has gone through several variations through the years. Several of the holes circled around the hotel with the first hole being across the street. They weren’t designed by a golf course architect. The second nine holes, plus renovations to the first nine, were completed in 1926. The course owner, the Blowing Rock Development Company, contracted with one of the all-time great golf course architects, Seth Raynor, to design and build a “new” 18-hole course.

Unfortunately, Raynor died a year before its completion and his assistant Charles Banks put the finishing touches on the course. That is one story. There are two others: One is that the great Donald Ross, whose headquarters was based in Pinehurst, designed the new course. He was in Linville designing its course around the same time. The second theory is that Blowing Rock is the creation of both architects.

In 1939, the Blowing Rock Country Club became an entity that was formed to lease the course from its owners, and in 1941 it built a clubhouse, and the club changed the routing of the course to begin and end at the clubhouse instead of the Green Park Inn. In 1952 a routing change was requested which resulted in a DOT bridge built over US 321 for golfers playing the then sixth hole.

In 1973, the Blowing Rock Country Club formally purchased the course and its facilities from the Blowing Rock

Improvement Company. The next year it hired South Carolina golf architect Tom Jackson to design four new holes to replace the four holes around the Green Park Inn that included the bridge over US 321. Unfortunately, a disastrous fire in September 1974 totally destroyed the beautiful clubhouse. Golf course improvements took a back seat for the next ten years while the club rebuilt and paid for the new clubhouse.

Tom Jackson restarted his design work for the four new holes in 1985, and in 1988 the new holes were in play. Three existing holes were also renovated as part of the process. In the mid-1990s, the abandoned bridge over US 321 was finally torn down. Kris Spence, a noted North Carolina restoration golf course architect was later hired to bring the course back, as much as possible, into conformance with Seth Raynor’s original design in time for its 100th anniversary. Blowing Rock today reflects Seth Raynor’s design, and it is truly a gem to play. The course isn’t long by today’s standards, but with its creativity and challenging greens, it defends itself very well against low scores.

An unusual feature of the course is that it has five par 3s. Three stand out: The second hole is steeply uphill with a challenging green to reach in the first place, and then just as challenging to putt. On the back side, #s 15 and 16 are back-to-back downhill par 3s with the second one around 200 yards long. Outof-bounds is very much in play along the right side of both holes with dropoffs and trouble along the left side. Big numbers can sneak up on you on both holes with a strayed tee shot! The course is always in excellent shape.

The Hound Ears Club was the first of four local golf courses built by the Robbins brothers—Grover, Spencer and Harry. The other three are Linville Land Harbor, Beech Mountain and top 10 in NC ranked, the Elk River Club. The Robbins had a profoundly positive impact on the area that will carry on for decades. They founded Tweetsie Railroad, Ski Beech (Mountain) and the

Land of Oz. In the early 1960s, they saw the popularity of the Boone, Blowing Rock and Linville courses and felt the demand in the area was strong enough for another course. They chose a site in the rural Shulls Mill area five miles south of Boone, which in the early 1900s was a commercial center of the area due to the railroad. Spencer was working at the Pine Needles golf resort in Pinehurst at the time and he felt what they had and how they ran their business would work in the Boone area. They did Pine Needles one better by adding a small ski slope to fill in the gap when the golf course was closed in the winter. The Hound Ears development had a Bavarian theme.

The Robbins hired George Cobb to design their course. Cobb was a highly respected designer who did a lot of design work for Augusta National. Hall of Fame golf instructor Bob Toski was the club’s first professional. Their second was Bob Kepler, Ohio State golf coach who worked with Nicklaus, Weiskopf and Ed Sneed. Most of the golf course is located in the flat bottom land of Shulls Mill. The Robbins brothers didn’t have a plan for the course to be part of a development, but it was so popular that people wanted to live there. The course is just over 6,000 yards, so it is a fun course for men and women, young and old. The beautiful 110 yard, 70 feet straight down 15th is Hound Ears’ signature hole, A creek and bunker in front of the green. A bogey here can sneak up on you. Speaking of beautiful, the par 5 sixth hole’s first shot is from an elevated tee to a tight fairway, which is a problem, but the big problem is keeping your eye on the ball. In the distance is an incredible view of rugged Grandfather Mountain! The 18th is a 414 yard last-minute dogleg with a creek along the right side. Too far right and you are either wet or trees block your second shot. The creek runs in front of the green and to the left of it, which is another opportunity to hit your ball into it! Nothing less than two precision shots will do. Director of Golf Peter Rucker’s favorite hole is the 500-yard par 5 12th. A large pond along the left side comes into play for both first and second shots. The

green is elevated and challenging. Why would anyone want this challenging hole to be their favorite? Rucker has doubleeagled it twice!

Linville Ridge has some of the most beautiful views of any golf course in America. It sits atop Flat Top Mountain where the views are 360 degrees. Linville Ridge’s prized scenic view is looking at Grandfather Mountain. Several area courses look up at Grandfather, but Linville Ridge is eyeballing it face-to-face. In fact, Linville Ridge’s par 5 13th hole is the highest elevation hole in Eastern America. Its 15th hole looks face-toface from tee to green with Grandfather on the left and straight ahead Linville Gorge and the mountains on the eastern escarpment of the Blue Ridge. This hole has to be one of the most beautiful in America, and the par 3 16th is not far behind. The vertical drop from tee to green lets you brag to your friends that you hit an eight iron 190 yards!

Linville Ridge has more than pretty views. It was well designed by George Cobb, the original designer of Quail Hollow in Charlotte, Hound Ears near Boone and Augusta National’s famed par three course. He also designed Mountain Glen in Newland. Linville Ridge was Cobb’s last design. Bobby Weed, who designed Michael Jordan’s personal private course in Florida, made some excellent renovations to the course over recent years. Linville Ridge’s clubhouse sits on the edge of the mountain and features dramatic, 180 degree views facing the western slopes and peaks of Grandfather Mountain and neighboring peaks. Linville Ridge is lovingly owned by the Lutgert family from Naples, Florida. Grandfather Golf and Country Club was “the course that couldn’t be built.” The course is fairly flat, sitting in the valley looking straight up at Grandfather Mountain, so moving dirt was not a problem. The problem was the infinite number of large and smaller rocks that needed to be cleared, the many, many springs and streams throughout the property that required piping, and the jungle-like rhododendron thickets totally

covering the property. Like Linville and Linville Ridge, the 16,000-acre property was owned by Hugh MacRae in the late 1800s and early-to-mid 1900s. Upon MacRae’s death, grandson Hugh Morton inherited Grandfather Mountain, Morton’s cousin George MacRae inherited Flat Top (Linville Ridge) and Sugar Mountain, and Hugh Morton’s sister Aggie inherited the valley where the champion golfer built the course of her dreams. Grandfather’s construction cost was beyond her means so she enlisted the help of her brother Hugh, and the two of them realized they needed more help, so they brought in longtime friend John Williams from Tulsa, OK, and a summer resident of Linville, who did have the financial resources to get the job done. The three had a great relationship and the outcome was a world class golf course consistently ranked as the second best in the state, only behind famed Pinehurst #2.

Aggie was a champion golfer in the Carolinas and she had played many great golf courses during her career. She had specific design objectives, one being that golfers could not see other holes from the one they were playing, and another, that each hole had to be unique. She also wanted some holes designed with specific views of Grandfather Mountain. She chose Ellis Maples to design her course. Ellis’ father Frank was Donald Ross’s construction superintendent and Ellis worked for Ross beginning at age 14. Ellis’s first mountain course was Boone. Aggie and her brother Hugh insisted the course have a lake so, unique to area golf courses, Grandfather has a 35-acre lake that plays a major role on its finishing hole in addition to being a major source of recreation and scenic beauty. Bob Kletcke, Grandfather’s first and longtime pro, was also co-head professional at the Augusta National Golf Club, home of The Masters golf tournament. Tee shots on the par 5 sixth hole and par 4 eighth look directly into the face of Grandfather Mountain. You never get tired of those views! In 1978,

Grandfather added a second 18 holes, an executive course called Mountain

Springs. It’s 7th hole, a short par three, is made up of a tee and green and a huge boulder field in between. There is no hole like it in the state!

Grandfather leadership is constantly looking for ways to make the 7,000-yard course even better. One of the nation’s top golf course design companies will be studying the course and surveying the membership in the summer of 2024 to make some improvements over the winter of 2024-25.

Diamond Creek is the High Country’s newest golf course, opening in 2003. It is also the longest at 7,175 yards. Diamond Creek is both a golf course and an experience, and the experience is no accident. Every effort is made and every detail is taken care of to ensure golfing members and their guests are warmly engaged with every need met. It doesn’t hurt Diamond Creek to also have one of the nation’s best clubhouses in addition to a great golf course and well-trained, helpful staff!

Diamond Creek’s founders were John McNeely, former head golf professional at Grandfather Golf & Country Club, and Wayne Huizenga, now deceased, but former owner of the Miami Dolphins, Blockbuster Video, Waste Management and AutoNation. John provided the vision and Wayne the financial backing. They worked great together. Their partnership was a handshake agreement. John McNeely has recently retired from Diamond Creek, but he maintains a summer home in the area.

Diamond Creek is the only High Country golf course designed by Tom Fazio, considered one of the finest golf course architects in the history of the game. A few years ago, 13 of Fazio’s courses were ranked in Golf Digest’s “Top 100 Courses In America.” Fazio said, “The common thread in my courses is nothing physical, it’s enjoyability. If I make a course fun, exciting, fair and a test of skills without being overly difficult, I have succeeded. I want to hear someone say about my course, ‘I can’t wait to come back and play.’” That would be the case for Diamond Creek.

John McNeely said, his vision for Diamond Creek is enjoyability and relaxation. “Diamond Creek is a way of life,” he said. “Golf is just a part of it. It’s how you live up here. Everything we do, we try to create that way of life from the minute someone arrives at our gate. We want the pace here to be relaxing. The golf course doesn’t require starting times; you are never rushed during a round of golf.” Caddies are required, and they are extremely well trained and add to the experience.

And then there’s the course. It starts out with some tough holes so you need to bring your ‘A’ game right off the bat. There are many great holes to talk about, but we’ll look at one on each side. The 450+ yard, par 4, ninth is a beautiful hole with the clubhouse in the background. You have no choice but to hit two great shots to reach the putting surface. On the back side, the 175-yard downhill par three 17th with a small creek around the green is a challenge, but the 100foot waterfall as a backdrop makes golf somewhat irrelevant! Indeed, Diamond Creek is an unforgettable experience!

The Elk River Club was the Robbins brothers last of the four golf clubs they developed, the other three being Hound Ears, Beech Mountain and Linville Land Harbor. Elk River is a wonderful test of golf and is ranked in the top ten of North Carolina golf courses. It is the only Jack Nicklaus designed course in the area and one of the very few golf courses in North Carolina that has its own private airport. Harry and Spencer Robbins felt there was room in the High Country for another high-end planned resort community. They found the right property on the backside of Banner Elk and just past the road leading to Beech Mountain. The Nicklaus-designed course took two years to build and was dedicated in 1984 with legendary UNC basketball coach Dean Smith joining Nicklaus in an exhibition golf game. Nicklaus said in his dedication remarks that the water features, rolling hills and flat areas pretty much designed the course themselves.

Back-to-back hurricanes Frances and

Ivan in September 2004 turned Elk River into the Amazon River and resulted in major damage that closed the course until the next September. The club used that time to renovate the entire course with Nicklaus’ help and make it even better. When asked what Elk River had given him the most pleasure, Spencer Robbins smiled and responded, “Seeing the end result. We started out with a plan on paper and it worked out exactly as planned. Our goal was to create a development that would have a positive impact on the area without destroying the natural environment. And the people here are some of the finest you could ask to be associated with. I have made many lifelong friends.” Indeed, Spencer’s lifelong friends have become lifelong friends of the High Country. The club’s members have been very generous benefactors to Avery County and its people.

Elk River has some of the most beautiful and challenging holes in the High Country. Its first hole, a long par four with a pond on the left side of the fairway, requires a long, accurate drive right out of the chute. The par 5 sixth, a dogleg right with water on both sides of the fairway is both beautiful and deadly. Hooks and slices on #6 equal doublebogeys. Sometimes you can see bald eagles flying around the mountain in the background. The dogleg right ninth is a bear: Elk River is on the right off the tee, then in front of you for your second shot. The green defends the hole really well! On the back, #s 11, a slight dogleg left. A creek to the right of the green and then in front of it makes for nothing less than a really precise second shot. The steeply downhill 14th, around 450 yards long, has a creek just off the left side of the green and along the left side of the fairway. The 17th is a short but deadly par 4 where the second shot is over a pond and it seems to play longer than its actual yardage. Often, that means loss of ball . . .and a double bogey if you are lucky. The 18th is a long par five with Elk River running in front of the green. Par 5 18th holes are a great design feature for a golf course because of risk/reward opportunities. 2024 • SUMMER

Disc golf popular in the HIGH COUNTRY

By ZACH COLBURN

Disc golf continues to grow in popularity, including in the Northwest North Carolina area, which happens to have some of the best disc golf courses in the state.

Disc golf is the ideal solution for anyone that wants to teach, share and enjoy a lifetime sport, as it’s a healthy

mastering shots and negotiating obstacles, while players that are in less than tip top physical condition can still enjoy the sport, starting slowly and gradually increasing their level of play.

Disc golf is played much like regular golf, but instead of a ball and clubs, players use a flying disc, similar to a frisbee. According to the Professional

challenging obstacles to reach the final destination. When the “putt” lands in the basket, the hole is complete.

According to the PDGA, the flying discs are made of solid, non-magnetic plastic material and are between 21 centimeters to 30 centimeters. The maximum weight of a disc can not exceed a weight of 200 grams.

park offers 20 holes of disc golf. Throughout the two-mile course on every hole, concrete and platform rubber decked tee-pads and easy-tospot DiscCatcher baskets have been installed.

The last nine holes are located deep in the woodland while the front nine more in the open. Some of the holes have alternate baskets for newer players. The course also provides “Birdies” and “Tree Love” scorecards that also double as field guides, which allow players to identify birds and trees during their round.

For more information, visit www. kidsinparks.com/ashe-countyparkntdgc.

WAHOO’S ADVENTURES

Another great disc golf course is at Wahoo’s Adventures where you can also camp, canoe and tube in the New River.

The course features nine holes that each have both long and short tees. It also has a warm-up hole for players to prep their throwing arm. The course itself is a beautiful hike in the New River area for disc golf players. It features a catwalk bridge over a creek, perfect for a hot summer’s day.

The cost of the course is $5 per person or free for those tubing with Wahoo’s Adventures. More information can be found at www.

wahoosadventures.com.

BEECH MOUNTAIN RESORT

Beech Mountain Resort is welcoming for players of all skill levels. The course features 18 holes designed into the mountain landscape. Players can walk the course for free, or they can take a scenic lift ride for $12 to tee off from the summit.

A rental of three discs cost $10. For more information, call 1-(800)-438-2093 or visit www. beechmountainresort.com/summer/ disc-golf/.

CHETOLA RESORT

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

ROAN MOUNTAIN DISC GOLF COURSE

Located mere minutes from Avery County at 133 Freeman Rd. in Roan Mountain, Tenn., Roan Mountain Disc Golf Course was created in 2006. RMDGC is a basically flat course that makes it friendly for all levels of ability. A river runs along Hole Nos. 1 and 9, with dual tees on Hole No. 18. and alternate layout plays 3, 5 and 1.

Primarily a beginners’ course or a practice course for letting loose long drives, the final hole on the 9-hole course calls for a long tee-off throw. The course is a popular destination for those hiking, vacationing in the area and is only a few minutes drive from nearby Roan Mountain State Park.

MORE INFORMATION

For more information in disc golf and its rules, visit Professional Disc Golf Association at www.pdga.com

Your complete guide to everything tourism in the High Country

File photo

A disc golf hole begins from a tee area and ends at a target, the most common of which is an elevated metal basket.

Pickleball popular throughout the HIGH COUNTRY

By ZACH COLBURN

Combining the skills and techniques from both tennis and table tennis, pickleball is a sport for all ages and experience levels to enjoy.

The origin of the sport’s unique name is widely debated, but many say that the name is after the founding group’s pooch, Pickle.

However the sport was founded, and it is growing in popularity in the High Country.

As a beginner friendly game, pickleball consists of two teams on either side of a net slightly smaller

than a tennis net, using paddles to rally a polymer ball. Both an indoor and outdoor sport, it can be played in singles or doubles.

The Watauga Community Recreation Center has multiple levels of classes, teams and available courts for the sport — two outdoor courts and four indoor courts.

The outdoor courts are first-come, first-serve, which applies to all outdoor courts. To use the indoor courts, there is a list that needs to be signed in advance. The indoor courts are free with a membership, or are available

for use with a day pass. For those who are coming solo, a rotation of teams happens at the end of a game for allinclusive fun.

Seasonal teams and classes are available and updated weekly on the WCRC website. All skill levels are invited to join the league. To be in the league, you do not have to pay for a daily pass or membership, only the dues to be in the league. A youth league is not typically offered in the summer due to instructors not being available.

As for the classes, there are ones that range in skill level and all ages are

welcome.

There are also personal lessons available for those interested that can get as specific as needed. Personal lessons range from honing skills to learning new ones. There are classes for beginners, intermediate clinics and an advanced class..

For more information on pickleball at the Watauga County Recreation Center, visit www.wataugacounty. org/ App_Pages/Dept/ParksRec/ home.aspx.

To find more about pickle ball in Boone and in the high country, visit pickleballboone.com/

File photo Pickleball consists of two teams on either side of a net slightly smaller than a tennis net.

Area general stores offer

NOSTALGIC SHOPPING EXPERIENCE

By JAMIE SHELL

Over the years, society has progressed and continues to move away from the past. Shopping is often done online these days. Many stores have everything you could ever want and in every color, but they are lacking something– a sense of community.

General stores populated many rural towns in the U.S. before the introduction of the car; many folks

bought most of what they needed in these establishments. People would gather and socialize at the general stores and barter with the owner for their goods. This is still true for the communities in the High Country, where owners know everyone’s names and customers can purchase goods from local vendors.

Being a big part of the communities, these general stores often offer goods not carried in

other stores as well as community events. Summer is one of the most popular times for these events and seasonal goods and local general stores offer many. The following are a few of the general stores that offers a myriad of products to customers,

FRED’S GENERAL MERCANTILE, BEECH MOUNTAIN

In operation since 1979, Fred’s General Mercantile is a staple in

the Beech Mountain community. It includes a grocery store, hardware store, and a deli as well as seasonal fruits and vegetables.

Fred’s General Mercantile will be presenting its annual summer sunset concerts on July 13, 14, 21, 28 and Aug. 4 at 6:30 p.m. Along with these summer concerts, Fred’s will also host the annual Crafts on the Green at Beech Mountain from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., where more than 40

Photo by Mayesivy Carlson

Goober Peas Country Store carries gifts, groceries, local meats and cheeses, plus bait for fishing and more. The store is convenient to Meat Camp township and Boone.

Fred’s General Mercantile lives by the slogan “if we don’t have it, you don’t need it.”

different artists will be featured with entertainment and food.

For more information about the general store and its activities, visit their website at https://fredsgeneral. com/, give them a call at (828) 387-4838, or email them at fred@ fredsgeneral.com.

GOOBER PEAS

COUNTRY STORE, BOONE

Goober Peas Country Store is’ one-stop shopping for local meats and cheeses from the surrounding area. Visitors can also purchase various gifts and other goods such as local jams and jellies and farm-

fresh eggs.

During the summer months and into the fall, Goober Peas hosts various food trucks and holds weekend barbeques where patrons can enjoy foods and good company. The store also has a new vendor from Caldwell County that supplies them with cookies, fried cakes, cupcakes and pies. Anyone wanting to contact the store should reach out via Facebook, phone at (828) 3861017 or drop by the store.

Contact your local general store to see what they may have to offer during the summer, or just drop by and say hello.

Carlton Gallery

Celebrating 42 Years

Owner/Artist Toni Carlton says

“These original artworks open our hearts and touch our souls to inspire and lift our spirits”

Located 10 Miles South of Boone on Highway 105 in Grandfather Community 828-963-4288 | www.carltongallery.com | carltongallery@carltongallery.com

File photo

HIGH COUNTRY arts growing in popularity

By NATHAN HAM

The art scene across the High Country has come a long way over the last few years. From flourishing art galleries throughout downtown areas to successful arts councils and organizations, the excitement for art and creativity continues to blossom. Artists have embraced the community support that they have received and have turned that into ways to create even more artwork, share ideas with other artists and collaborate with artists to share each other’s works. Watauga Arts Council and the Ashe County Arts Council have been steady outlets for artists to not only display their creations, but also become involved in workshops and events with like-minded artists. Both councils offer events to the public as well, giving people the opportunity to learn about and appreciate the talents of many local artists.

Art galleries and museums have become great places for creators to economically benefit from their work. By having multiple outlets to keep their creations on display, artists can catch the eye of interested buyers and be able to turn their passion into a sustainable income.

The Turchin Center for the Visual Arts on the campus of Appalachian State in Boone has over 7,000 square feet of gallery space. The Turchin Center has the space to showcase a wide variety of art forms. At any given time you can find paintings, photography, sculptures, metal works and other mixed media pieces of art. The Turchin Center also offers

numerous workshops, lectures and other educational opportunities.

In Blowing Rock, the Blowing Rock Art and History Museum (BRAHM) has rotating exhibits throughout the year that showcase the creativity of local and regional artists. Similar to the Turchin Center, BRAHM has its own creative educational workshops and events for artists and community members that appreciate the fine arts.

The theatrical scene has also become a growing art form in the area. Ensemble Stage in Banner Elk, Ashe County Little Theatre in West Jefferson, the Appalachian Theatre in Boone and Lees-McRae Summer Theatre in Banner Elk each offer unique shows and performances throughout the year. Theater lovers will surely be able to stay busy throughout the summer with many shows and performances.

File photos

Whether through creating, consuming, or supporting art, everyone can find something meaningful in the High Country. For

additional information on local art, visit ashecountyarts.org, wataugaarts.org/, and blowingrockmuseum. org/.

The Ashe County Arts Council is located in downtown West Jefferson.

The Turchin Center for the Visual Arts in Downtown Boone is celebrating 20 years of existence.

CONCERTS, FESTIVALS POPULAR AT Jones House Cultural Center IN SUMMER MONTHS

By LUKE BARBER

Boone offers an overwhelming assortment of fun festivities, events and activities to take part in during the summer months. It is this time of year when Boone blossoms as locals and visitors alike enjoy the

town’s lively music scene, local art and some of the best cuisine in the High Country.

In the heart of the hustle and bustle of downtown Boone is the Jones House Cultural Center, which is located at 604 West King St. and is one of the oldest homes in

existence in Boone.

As part of the town’s Cultural Resources Department, the Jones House is the cultural heart of the High Country, and one could spend their whole summer simply enjoying the myriad of offerings it has.

Mark Freed, who is the director of cultural resources for the Town of Boone, recommends visitors stop by the Jones House as part of their visit to Boone. There, folks can find brochures, maps and fliers about

Courtesy of Jones House

In the heart of the hustle and bustle of downtown Boone is the Jones House Cultural Center, which is located at 604 West King St. and is one of the oldest homes in existence in Boone.

Carlton Gallery

Celebrating 42 Years

SPRING GROUP EXHIBITION

Alchemy of Abstraction – Harmony Unveiled May 25 - July 15

Opening Reception May 25, 2-5

MID-SUMMER GROUP EXHIBITION

Nature’s Symphony: A Multifaceted Landscape Exhibition July 27 - September 15

Opening Reception July 27, 2-5

For information on 2024 Workshops please call 828-963-4288 or visit www.carltongallery.com

Located 10 Miles South of Boone on Highway 105 in Grandfather Community 828-963-4288 | www.carltongallery.com | carltongallery@carltongallery.com

CLAY

things to do around the area, public restrooms, a water cooler and rotating art exhibits during regular operating hours.

The Jones House also offers a multitude of weekly activities, as well as special events through the town’s Cultural Resources Department.

Every Thursday, the Jones House hosts an old time jam from 7 to 10 p.m. where folks can bring their instruments and play along with fellow musicians of all skill levels and backgrounds. For those looking to get their feet wet, the Jones House is beginning a slow jam for folks becoming accustomed to playing old time music with others.

“ That will be a nice opportunity for those folks to get involved and sort of learn the ropes and what it’s like to play music with other people in a jam environment,” Freed said.

During the summer months, visitors can also find a drum circle

taking place from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. each Wednesday on the front lawn of the Jones House.

Through the Cultural Resources Department, visitors and locals alike can enjoy concerts and festivals, throughout the summer months.

“A lot of the stuff that people have grown to love that we are busy with, will of course continue, and we’re excited to kick off our summer concert series, which will start the first Friday in June,” Freed said.

The summer slate of shows kicks off with the High Country Jazz Fest at the Appalachian Theater from June 7 to 9. Then the following weekend, Boone’s premiere music festival, Boonerang, will be held June 14 to 15, in which downtown Boone transforms into an energetic arts and cultural festival, with over two dozen musical performances.

The town will hold its Fourth of July parade with fireworks right around the corner and then the

File photos

Participants and spectators of Old-Time Jams meet on Thursdays at the Jones House.

t SUMMER FROM PAGE 129

annual Doc Watson Day is set for Aug. 16. Through it all, the Jones House will be hosting its summer concert series, where people can enjoy free music every Friday at 5:30 p.m.

Freed also recommends visiting the Hickory Ridge History Museum and Horn in the West for anyone interested in learning what life in Boone was like in the days of Daniel Boone. The Watauga Farmers Market is also held in the parking lot of the Hickory Ridge History Museum every Saturday morning.

The Daniel Boone Native Gardens is also expanding its slate of summer offerings including its

summer concert series, with the construction of a new stage inside the gardens. The shows are held every other Thursday starting on June 13.

“They’ve been doing concerts the last couple of summers and they’re ramping it up in a bigger way this year,” Freed said. “We’re looking forward to a fun, busy summer in the High Country.”

For more information on the Jones House and its schedule of events, visit joneshouse.org.

For more information on the Boonerang Music and Arts Festival, visit boonerangfest.com.

File photos

Melissa Reaves returns to the Boonerang lineup after performing at the inaugural festival.

BLOWING ROCK Charity Horse Show Foundation

continues century-old tradition

By MAYESIVY CARLSON

Founded in 1923, the Blowing Rock Charity Horse Show Foundation has been entertaining patrons and guests for more than 100 summers with its annual horse show. Along with horse and carriage trails in the Moses Cone Memorial Park, the show has kept alive the tradition of horse sports and equestrian activities in Blowing Rock.

The first show was held by the founder of the organization, Lloyd M. Tate, a rider from Pinehurst, behind what is now the Green Park

Inn on Greenhill Road. The location was moved in the early 1920s to a small golf course on land owned by Thomas H. Broyhill hoping to be an attraction for nearby Mayview Manor Hotel guests. The grounds became the official location for the show when Broyhill sold the grounds in 1934 to the Blowing Rock Charity Horse Show Foundation for $1.

Claiming to be the oldest continuous outdoor horse show in America, the foundation carries on with tradition by continuing with

• Cardiology

• Cardiopulmonary

• Chemotherapy

• Diabetes Management

• Endoscopy

• Express Care Clinic (Mountain Family Care)

• Geriatrics

• Gynecology

• Hematology and Oncology

• Hospitalist Program

• Imaging Services

• Internal Medicine

• Mountain Heart Wellness Center

• Obstetrics

• Ophthalmology

• Otolaryngology

• Pediatrics

• Podiatry

• Primary Care

• Rehabilitation Services

• Respiratory Services

• Urology

• Vascular Surgery

• Women’s Health

File photo

Tori Bilas and her horse, Brisbane, after a winning performance at the Blowing Rock Charity Horse Show in the summer of 2021.

HORSE FROM PAGE 133

traditional horse sports, but has also expanded to a resort that is open year round.

The Broyhill Equestrian Preserve, where the horse show is held, also offers both short- and long-term horse boarding, horse trailer parking and overnight camper parking. The preserve is open from May to midNovember and features greater than 20 miles of horse and carriage access to beautiful trails and roads through the Moses Cone Memorial Park.

The foundation’s mission is to preserve traditional horse sports through education as well as donating to various charities such as the Blowing Rock Fire Department,

Appalachian State University Equestrian Team, Watauga County Humane Society, and Blowing Rock Rotary Club.

This summer Blowing Rock Horse Show Foundation will be hosting its annual saddlebred and hunter/ jumper competitions from early June to early August over the course of three weeks. The first will be the saddlebred division from June 6 to 9. The hunter/jumper divisions are held over the following weeks with the first being from July 23 to 28, and the second being July 30 to Aug. 4.

These events are all open for the public to come and cheer on their favorite horses and riders. The foundation also works with a collection of hotels, bed and

breakfasts, and cabins for guests to find lodging.

For additional information, visit the Blowing Rock Charity Horse Show website at brchs.org or give them a call at (828) 295-4700.

Photo courtesy Blowing Rock Charity Horse Show Foundation archives

A competitor in the hunter/jumper division of the Blowing Rock Charity Horse Show clears a hurdle in a past event.

Photo submitted

The hunters and jumpers competition allows horses to show off their athleticism during the Blowing Rock Charity Horse Show.

Artist: Brian Sykes

Ensemble Stage celebrates 15 YEARS

By JERRY SNOW

BANNER ELK —

The

Ensemble Stage, which has been around since 2009 and includes a 99-seat theater, is located in Historic Banner Elk School in Downtown Banner Elk. The Stage Ensemble, a non-profit organization, reports selling more than 25,000 tickets for more than 500 performances.

The kid’s summer theater camp, “Better Together Summer Children’s Theatre Camp,” is a place where young actors can immerse themselves “in the world of theater and collaboration,” according to the non-profit’s website.

The 2024 lineup will include: “Moon Over the Brewery” by Bruce Graham from June 14-23; “Mind Game” by Anthony Horowitz June 19-28; “Robin Hood” by Kathryn Schultz Miller June 29, July 13, July 27 and Aug. 10; Hitchcock Radio Hour Oct. 25-26; and “A Banner Elk Christmas” musical Dec 6-21.

The theater will host a camp for kids June 24-28.

Join us

Campers will work together to write, direct and perform an original play. There will be daily acting and writing workshops, costume and scenic design sessions, improvisation and rehearsals. The camp costs $250 per child.

Natalie Braswell, who has a BFA in Theatre from Tarleton State, is the camp director.

“Ensemble Stage is a professional theater … dedicated to culturally enriching the lives of High Country residents and visitors alike by providing a broad range of live theatrical presentations of the highest possible quality at an affordable price,” according to ensemblestage.com. “Our mission is to inspire, challenge and nurture the

and help support the children of Crossnore.

Kim Abernethy

Landscape Artist Opening July 18th

Rebecca King Hawkinson

Landscape & Still Life Artist Opening August 15th

Rachelle Davis

Jewelry Artist Opening September 5th

Katherine McCarty

Abstract & Mixed Media Artist Opening October 10th

imagination and social skills of youths and adults through performances and theater based educational programs.”

To reach the Ensemble Stage, call (828) 414-1844.

Photo submitted

Ensemble Stage’s 2024 lineup will include “Moon Over the Brewery” by Bruce Graham June 14-23.

Curvy roads in HIGH COUNTRY a challenge for motorcycle riders

By JAREN GRAGG

Some motorcyclists like taking on challenging curves and mountain roads that are plentiful and spread out across northwestern North Carolina. Ashe, Watauga and Avery counties have magnificent views for riders to enjoy on their trips through the High Country during the summer months.

The Ashe County Chamber of Commerce debuted the Devil’s Stairs in 2022 – this ride covers 118 miles of highway in Ashe, Allegheny and Watauga counties in North Carolina,

which also stretches into Johnson City, Tenn. The ride starts and ends in a big loop in downtown West Jefferson, a loop featuring more than 167 curves that takes riders nearby to at least 30 restaurants and 40 lodging locations in the area – if one should decide to stop and grab a bite to eat or like to stay overnight.

The Devil’s Stairs also takes riders through Laurel Springs and Scottsville and Allegheny County, as well as into Trade, Tenn. It also includes scenic routes in Boone, Todd and through Appalachian State University in Watauga County, as well

as some scenic stretches of highway along the New River.

Another loop along with the Devil’s Stairs to consider is the 124-mile “Post Office Loop,” which makes stops at several townships in Ashe County that have post offices which include Lansing, Laurel Springs, Todd, Warrensville, Creston and Crumpler.

If these rides are not challenging enough, there are four other roads that will take you on a longer adventurous drive where you will need an entire day to complete

without consideration of stopping for an overnight stay along the routes.

Skulls Gap covers 175 miles, and it will take riders from West Jefferson to Mouth of Wilson, Va., into Chilhowie and Saltville,Va., as well before going through Glade Spring and Damascus, Va., and on into Tennessee. Riders will travel through Butler and the Doe River Valley in Tennessee before going back into North Carolina and coming out, New, Sugar, Grove and Vilas.

“The Crumpler” begins in West

A group of motorcyclists ride on the Blue Ridge Parkway.

Horn In the West begins 72ND SEASON IN JUNE

By JERRY SNOW

Horn in the West™ Outdoor Drama brings to life the famous frontiersman Daniel Boone and the settlers of the Blue Ridge Mountains in their struggle to preserve their freedom during the years before and during the War for Independence, according to horninwest.com. “The drama highlights the settlers who came to the region seeking freedom and escape from British tyranny.”

Horn in the West will begin its 72nd season on June 21 and it will

run until Aug. 10. The performances are Tuesdays through Saturday and the house opens at 7:30.

The mission of the Southern Appalachian Historical Association is to explore, preserve, and share the region’s rich cultural heritage. The Southern Appalachian Historical Association acknowledges and recognizes the land and labor of the Tsalaguwetiyi (Cherokee), Watauga, S’atsoyaha (Yuchi) and Moneton people, per the website; their connection to this land we remember, and whose presence -- past, present,

and future -- we respect.

Anyone who is interested can find out what life was like when the Western North Carolina high country was first being settled at Hickory Ridge History Museum.

APP SUMMER FESTIVAL

At least 22 shows are planned for an Appalachian Summer Theatre, which is being held June 29 through July 27, according to appsummer.org.

The season will be capped on July 27 when country music legend Brad Paisley takes the stage in Kidd Brewer

Stadium starting at 7 p.m.

Paisley has won three Grammys, two American Music Awards, 15 Academy of Country Music Awards, and 14 Country Music Association Awards, including the coveted Entertainer of the Year honor.

Artists from all genres — alternative rock, blues, soul, country

and Broadway, to bluegrass, chamber, classical crossover and dance — will perform on and around the campus of App State.

The Appalachian Summer Festival is held at the Schaefer Center for the Performing Arts, located at 733 Rivers St. in Boone. For more information, call (828) 262-4046.

LMC SUMMER THEATRE

Lees-McRae Summer Theatre is a professional theater company at LMC.

The Lees-McRae Summer Theatre, which has more than 150 members in its company, specializes in musicals. It has been performing for more than 30 years. Their shows are in the Hayes Auditorium in Banner

Elk.

More than 20 college students from across the country are selected each year for the intern and apprenticeship program. The cast and crew for LMC’s Summer Theatre move onto campus in late May.

Lees-McRae’s Summer Theatre is led by Managing Director Gabriel Vanover and staff. It is funded by ticket sales, grants and donations by individuals and businesses.

To contact the Box Office, call (828) 898-8709.

The Blowing Rock Jazz Society has jazz concerts every second Sunday of the month from May through October at Appalachian Theatre of the High Country in downtown

Darius Rucker performed in Kidd Brewer Stadium in 2023 as part of the Appalachian Summer Festival.

Boone (559 W King St.). Concert admission ranges from $25 to $100 per person.

To learn more about it go to highcountryjazzsociety.wordpress. com

File photos

File photos

Horn in the West™ Outdoor Drama brings to life the famous frontiersman Daniel Boone and the settlers of the Blue Ridge Mountains.

Jefferson and covers 309 total miles. This loop takes riders through Virginia into West Virginia. This rod goes through Crumpler in Ashe County and all the way into Crumpler, W. Va., which is a small town west of Princeton, W. Va.

Another ride that cyclists might like to take is called “Paint Bank” that covers around 346 miles. This ride takes travelers through Tazewell, Va. across West Virginia before crossing back into Virginia near Paint Bank and New Castle. It travels south to Roanoke, Floyd, and eventually heads back into Hillsville and Galax, Va.

“The Lansings” ride is the longest trip, which covers exactly 400 miles. The journey takes riders through Lansing in Ashe County and all the way up through Southwest Virginia to Lansing, West Virginia. The loop circles back through Hillsville, Galax, and Mouth of Wilson, Va., before circling back on into Ashe County.

For more information and GPS directions for all of these rides visit www.devilstairs.com

With its elevation changes and scenic views, motorcycle riders can enjoy a smooth summer ride in the High Country.

Views and winding roads make for spectacular motorcycling in the High Country.

Downtown icon App Theatre THRIVING

By JERRY SNOW

BOONE — Appalachian Theatre of the High Country, located at 559 W King St., is the centerpiece of entertainment in Watauga County and the bordering communities.

The 85-year-old venue was built in 1938 by W. Ralph Winkler and A. E. Hamby. The non-profit’s rich history includes performances by the legendary late Doc Watson.

according to the website.

It reopened in October of 2019, after sitting dormant for more than a decade, but the reopening lasted just five months due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

The theater began operating again in September of 2021.

“The theater started out as a whites-only theater, but when new manager Robert Agle arrived in 1948, he changed the rules, making it a segregated theater permitting black seating in the balcony — a fairly progressive move for a small, conservative mountain town in the South,” according to Downtown Boone (downtownboonenc.com).

After operating for nearly 70 years, and overcome damage from a major fire in 1950, App Theatre closed down in 2007.

But in 2011, a group of business and community leaders from Watauga County, led by John Cooper, founder of Mast General Store, conducted a capital campaign to raise support for the purchase, renovation, and restoration of the 1930’s-era Appalachian Theatre on King Street in Downtown Boone, according to the theater’s website (apptheatre.org).

Appalachian Theatre was to be reopened “exclusively for charitable, cultural, artistic, historic or educational non-profit purposes,”

App Theatre of the High Country needed a $10 million overhaul before it could become vibrant again, but it is now thriving, and again serving as the centerpiece of Downtown Boone.

Most weeks, the theater offers several entertainment options for residents of the High Country, including live performances on stage and films on the big screen.

In the month of May 2024, Appalachian Theatre hosted at least a dozen shows. Most require reserve seating and ticket prices range depending on the popularity of the performer.

Most movies shown at App Theatre cost $6, and sometimes a movie is offered for free.

App Theatre’s summer 2024 lineup includes the Brubeck Brothers Quartet, who have a performance scheduled on June 7 (7:30 p.m.). The theater describes the Brubeck Brothers as “rooted in ‘straight-ahead’ jazz,” and “their concerts reveal an inherent ability to explore and play odd time signatures while naturally integrating the influences of funk, blues and world music.”

Chris and Dan Brubeck have been making music together practically all

their lives. Drummer Dan and bassist, trombonist, and composer Chris cut their first record together in 1966. Guitarist Mike DeMicco and pianist Chuck Lamb, complete the quartet.

Tickets to see the Brubeck Brothers Quartet are $35 for reserve premium section seating and $32 per person for

the regular section.

The Appalachian Theatre has partnered with the Boone Sunrise Rotary and Appalachian State University’s Jazz Studies program to present the High Country Jazz Festival (June 7-9),

The Appalachian Theatre of the High Country lights up Downtown Boone at night.

Jazmeia Horn will perform at App Theatre on June 8 starting at 7:30 p.m.

Tickets to see Jazzmeia perform are $42 (premium) and $35 (regular).

Horn won the 2013 Sarah Vaughan International Jazz Vocal Competition and the 2015 Thelonious Monk Institute International Jazz Competition and, shortly after, was signed by Concord Records. In 2017, she released her debut album, “A Social Call,” which was nominated for a Grammy.

Ziad, a tenor saxophonist based in Charlotte, will perform at App Theatre on June 9 starting at 3 p.m.

He has performed live with or performed as an opening act for Herbie Hancock, Dizzy Gillespie, Tony Bennett, Aretha Franklin, Gladys Knight, Lou Rawls, Grammy winning jazz artist Greg Karukas and Edwin McCain, among others.

Tickets to see Ziad are $45 in the regular section.

To learn more about Appalachian Theatre and what it offers, go online to apptheatre.org

The Brubeck Brothers Quartet will be at Appalachian Theatre on June 7.

Photo by Jacob Blickenstaff

Jazzmen Horn is coming to App Theatre on June 9.

Photo by Jacob Blickenstaff

Tenor saxophonist Ziad has a June 8 performance scheduled at App Theatre.

Fiddler on the Roof

being performed at ASHE COUNTY

LITTLE THEATRE JUNE 20 TO 23

By JERRY SNOW

The Ashe County Little Theatre will host four performances of “Fiddler on the Roof” June 20 to 23 at the Ashe Civic Center. Auditions were held in March.

The June 20 through 22 shows will start at 7:30 p.m. and the June 23 performance will begin at 2 p.m.

Also in March, the Ashe County Little Theatre presented “Ripcord.”

led by trained teachers of theater to strengthen eight areas: developing and strengthening language and communication, problem solving, positive self-concept, social awareness, empathy, values and attitudes, and developing an understanding of the art of theater.

The Ashe County Little Theatre will host the “Cre8tive Drama Day Camp” this summer in the Ashe Civic Center.

Ashe County Little Theatre offers “fun drama and theater activities,” according to ashecountylittletheatre. org.

Appalachian State University faculty member Gordon Hensley and his assistants lead the classes. The drama camp is divided into two age groups: 7 to 9 years old and 10 to 13 years old. The camp is $100 per child for the week.

A limited number of scholarships are available. Email ashecountylittletheatre@gmail.com with scholarship requests.

Per the website, the curriculum utilizes eight drama structures. Process-style drama activities are

The Ashe County Little Theatre is a community group that performs plays each year.

The Summer Drama Camp is supported by the Ory Owen Memorial Fund. The fund was established in honor of Ory Owen after he passed away in 2019. Ory was a passionate lover of theater, the arts and life. He is honored with this camp in an effort to pass on that passion to another generation of young thespians.

The cast for “Fiddler On the Roof” has been announced :

Tevye – Jeff Dreyer

Golde – Junine Johnson

Yente – Jan Gambill

Tzeitel – Mary Greenwood

Hodel – Phoebe Wagoner

Chava – Anna Simmons

Fruma Sarah – Linda Dreyer

Grandma Tzietel – Robyn Dean

Lazar Wolf – Michael Kotula

Motel – Reid Idol

for the June 20 to 23

Perchik – Stephen Banks Fyedka – Levi Blevins

The ensemble includes: Janie Adams, Basil Boley, Colette Boley, Jocelynn Chatham, Ashlyn Dean, Emily Dean, Kimmy Dunning, Melissa Edmondson, Delia Gambill, Jill Gambill, Connie Hardison, Cynthia Harless, Maggie Harless, Malorie Harless, Michael Howell, Gage Lambert, Monica Lumley, Michael Malloy, Edie Miller, Les Miller, Vicki Mincey, Mike Rocha, Khela Turnmire and Christina Wagoner.

“We have started our musical rehearsal, learning the music, getting the voices in shape,” said Program co-Director Rebecca Williams in mid-April. “We have a

large cast of 38, so we are breaking down the show to learn it in pieces. My co-director, Della and I will start staging/blocking rehearsals the first of May. All the backstage tech and all the other aspects, sets and costumes, are under way and orchestra members are practicing the music. By showtime, more than 60 volunteers will be involved. The Ashe County Little Theatre works very hard to bring quality theater to the High Country.”

To contact the Ashe County Little Theatre email ashecountylittletheatre@gmail.com or call (336) 846-2787.

More information about the theater is available online at www. ashecountylittletheatre.org.

Photo submitted

Rehearsals

performances of “Fiddler On the Roof” in the Ashe County Little Theatre began in April. .

Downtown Burnsville HAS SOMETHING FOR EVERYONE

By JAREN GRAGG

Burnsville was formed in 1834 and gets its name from Captain Otway Burns, who became a naval hero in the War of 1812. Burnsville has come a long way since its founding, remaining a community that cherishes and holds onto its past, but also at the same time looks to the future and embraces new traditions.

Nestled in the heart of the Blue Ridge Mountains, Burnsville has a rustic Southern charm that draws many travelers in from all over the country. If you are adventurous, you can go explore nearby Mount Mitchell State Park or go fishing, hiking or camping along the many trails in Yancey County. If that is not your speed, you can take a Quilt Block Trail or take a history tour learning about the area. Visitors often enjoy what vendors offer at local craft fairs, or the possibility awaits to explore the cosmos at the nearby Bare Dark Sky Observatory. But what makes Burnsville a special town? Upon walking its downtown area and visiting Main Street, the answer becomes abundantly clear, as people treat visitors like lifetime friends and

local business owners greet you with a welcome and warm smile that feels like home.

From its vibrant hand-drawn murals and art scene to its bustling downtown reminiscent of locations like nearby Asheville, Burnsville sets itself apart from other quaint western North Carolina communities. In Burnsville, the old adage of small towns is true that “everybody looks out for everybody.” Businesses that make Burnsville great do so through helping and supporting one another to help the community thrive and grow.

“I love the small-town vibe. Everyone knows everyone,” said Bradd Hendricks with Appalachian Java. “I like knowing my neighbors and sitting out front and sipping my coffee, and you see people driving by and they wave at you. I almost get a Hallmark-type vibe when I’m here.”

Hendricks continued that he loves working in a small town and loves the reaction of people that might come from a bigger city to experience small town hospitality for the first time.

“If you’re not from a small town

and from a bigger city, and this is your first time here and I’ve got a genuine smile and I say ‘Welcome to Appalachian Java,’ they are almost taken aback by that,” Hendricks said.

With its small-town hospitality, Appalachian Java serves a wide variety of food and coffee with some Southern flare. Some of its food items include AJ Southwest quesadilla, salads with homemade dressing, quiche, soups, and much more. Java excels at coffee, and people look forward to white chocolate and caramel, which is some of the shop’s staple drinks. Breve Latte is another drink that AJ serves, along with locally grown coffee. Some other staple drinks

that Java serves are the Appalachian Fog, which is an English black tea that mixes milk and tea together, along with another favorite, chai coffee. Hendricks mentions that he takes pride in his work and is glad to work in an environment like Burnsville. Hendricks expressed that he takes pride in his work, and is thankful to work in an environment like Burnsville.

“The one thing about the businesses here in Burnsville is that we like to work together and help out one another,” Hendricks said. “For instance, if I happen to see that there are young kids, I tell them to go to Monkey Business and let them go play. It’s the greatest toy store ever.”

Photo by Jaren Gragg

The town of Burnsville, located in Yancey County, has a vibrant downtown with numerous small businesses and shops.

While finishing up that coffee, one might want to get some fresh mountain air and enjoy the scenic views that surround Burnsville. A walk around downtown opens visitors’ eyes to a plethora of shopping options.

The Colorful Gypsy is a place to take a peek at while you are in town. The Colorful Gypsy is an estate sale company with a bit of an edge to it. The Colorful Gypsy focuses on unique items that are from around the world, as the operators like to find items that are from womanand minority-owned businesses, sourcing their many products from all around the world. They have many unique items ranging, from hand-knotted rugs and jewelry to candles, along with many beautiful estate pieces.

Five years ago Jami Prince and her husband moved to the Burnsville area from Charlotte and fell in love with the area, deciding to open up The Colorful Gypsy. Prince says that she really likes the diversity and the art that is showing up around the area.

“We really like Burnsville because it’s rural, but still close to Asheville. We have season passes to Biltmore so we are there quite a bit. We can go to Asheville or Johnson City but get back to a nice peaceful and tranquil area,” Prince said. “You can enjoy that ‘new rural,’ as I call it, where there is a nice mix of not just people who have been there for a long time, but there’s a lot of young farmers and a lot of young people that are homesteading. It’s a nice mix. We are finally getting diversity that wasn’t there before, so it’s nice that even though it’s rural there’s still different people moving in which are attributing to the mix and

art that are around the area.”

There is something for everyone in Burnsville to explore and to enjoy. For the environmental and eco friendly customers in the area, drop in and see Sue Bayliff and the Fill-More. The Fill-More is a refill shop and eco friendly store, which means that it is good for you and for the environment.

At Fill-More there are more than 100 products that you can purchase by the ounce. These items help people in the community do away with single-use day to day items. Fill-More also has a wide array of plastic-free items that are biodegradable. There are no products at the Fill-More that have sodium lauryl sulfates, phosphates, phthalates, parabens, artificial colors or fragrances.

When the Fill-More opened in 2020, there were only 50 refineries in the United States, and the FillMore is only one of two in North Carolina and also the largest on the East Coast, so the Fill-More is both unique and special for the Burnsville community. Bayliff says that the majority of her business are regulars that come in weekly to monthly to stock back up on their supplies.

“A lot of the time, folks start with one product-usually laundry soap, dish soap or body wash, and then start adding products from us as they run out of things at home — all-purpose cleaners, facial wash, shampoo, etc.,” Bayliff said. “Pretty much, if you buy a product at the store and it comes in a plastic container, you can start refilling that product here. People want to do good for themselves, and for the earth. I think they like the fact that we can help steer them toward the

best products for them.”

Bayliff says that when she saw that there was a need in the community for a store like this, she said she felt she had to act. Bayliff shared that she wants to make a difference and impact in her town and her fellow residents, explaining that she loves living in an area like Burnsville and owning a business in the downtown area.

“We originally settled in Fairview, as it was close to Asheville where I had originally found a job when we were moving up here. I love living in a small town, and Fairview is beautiful and full of great people, but it lacked something I had always wanted-a cute little walkable downtown. You know, like Mayberry, or Stars Hollow,” Bayliff added. We would take weekend trips all the time all over Western North Carolina, but we just kept ending up in Burnsville. We loved the views, the farms, all the water. The downtown was so cute and full of the nicest shop owners you could ever meet. I didn’t think all those nice folks would turn into my ‘Main Street’ family, but they did.”

The picturesque small-town charm was not lost on the local business owner, which she is thankful for upon each walk to her shop.

“We originally bought a small farm here, but then moved to town about two years ago. I walk back and forth to work almost every day. Waving good morning to my fellow shopkeepers on the way is a great way to start off my day,” Bayliff said. “Burnsville is full of artists, homesteaders and a lot of other folks who are trying to live a little closer to the earth; people who want to slow down a bit. Burnsville

might not be a big town, but we’re right in the middle of a lot of places. People like to take day trips a bit ‘off the beaten path,’ but when they find a gem like Burnsville, they keep coming back.”

If you are filling artsy and are looking around downtown Burnsville to feel crafty, drop by Burnsville Candle Company. Owner Kem Muller handcrafts every candle which is 100-percent soy wax and environmentally friendly. The candles can also double as a glass and the lid can be reused as a coaster. Muller has been making candles since 2009 and selling them since 2019. She has been in her place of business since Dec. 21, 2021 and loves to share the art of candle making with people. Muller says that her favorite fragrance is Naga Champa, and shares that the particular scent has been around since the 1960s, an aroma that she has loved since she was a teenager. By far, the most popular and best sellers among the patrons would be “There is No Place like Roan.” Muller jokes that that is a nod to her favorite hike.

“Burnsville is a very unique town. We are surrounded by a beautiful environment, with lots of things for people to do,” Muller says of the allure of the downtown district. “(There’s) lots of nature to take tips from, and we are also surrounded by the highest number of artists per capita in the United States. So it’s very unique to be able to partner with local artists to make things specific and unique to Burnsville. It’s a great downtown community. 99.99 percent of the businesses on Main Street are here to support and uplift and promote

one another. Our chamber puts on events that include local businesses that generate support for us and our business, so it is a great community to be involved in.”

Another downtown business in Burnsville offering an alternative to traditional thirst quenchers and pick-me ups is Tulsi Rose Tea.

“I wanted to provide tea to everyone. Even if they don’t think they like tea, there are herbal options. There are different options to get everybody drinking tea and drinking a different beverage than people are used to,” said Cheryl Martin, owner of Tulsi Rose Tea.

At Tulsi there are 108 varieties of tea that people can come and try. Many of the blends that Tulsi Rose carries are herbal blends because of the health benefits that go along with drinking those teas. Tulsi tries to accommodate for every taste, young and old. Martin says that Gracie’s Cotton Candy is really popular among the kids that come in. Tulsi has only been at their current location for six weeks, and in that period sold more than 1,000 ounces of tea from its location.

Martin mentioned that living in a town like Burnsville is like living in a movie.

“The friendliness here, it’s like you are not a stranger. People talk to you and they care,” Martin said. “When we first moved here our first week, every day somebody different knocked on our door and brought a basket. You hear about that and see it in the movies, but literally every day all the neighbors welcomed us. It was amazing.”

Martin spoke glowingly about operating a business in Burnsville.

“It’s great because you have a community, so we band together. It’s amazing how much they have welcomed me since I’ve opened. Others will offer you advice and answer your questions. We have a community chat where we throw ideas off of each other. We help promote each other’s business. Owning a business in this town, you have a community.” Martin said.

To end the day or to start the weekend right, it’s never a wrong move to grab a group of friends and have a cold one and a great pizza while listening to live music in downtown Burnsville. Homeplace Beer Company gives guests an opportunity to unwind and enjoy the atmosphere around Burnsville. Homeplace is a threestory, 4,500-square-foot facility with an outside yard of almost an acre that includes a large stage for performances. Homeplace brews its own beer and Homeplace’s food partner Hog Hollow makes food throughout the week. Every Thursday, Friday, and Saturday, music can be heard keeping Homeplace rocking through the weekend.

Dustin Ferguson, taproom manager at Homeplace, enjoys being in business in Burnsville.

At Homeplace, there are 16 to 20 beers on draft at any given time. The Golden Heart, Brown Mule, Faith Healer and Biscuit and Gravy brews are some of the patrons’ favorites. It’s not just beer available, as Homeplace has cider, while during the summer months Homeplace offers alcoholic slushes.

“We’ve been here a little over three and a half years now, and just being able to host as many people as possible has been great, having the big outside area where we’ve lot of picnic tables and standard tables to be at, or we’ve got the inside space if people aren’t looking to be outside,” Ferguson explained. “Being able to host a lot of people Is fantastic. We’ve been able to generate a lot of local following, so we’ve always got our locals that come in and that really helps us. Burnsville is great, we’ve got a lot of small-town vibe with a lot of opportunities for folks to explore.

“We’ve got a nice Main Street that has most of our big businesses that are walking distances from one to

the other, and we’re able to work with a lot of the businesses here in town to do cross promotions,” Ferguson continued. “We’re always talking to one another. This is a small-town atmosphere while also being able to host folks that are looking for a little reprieve or looking to get out to somewhere new, but also have several options to dine or shop or to recreate. Those are the selling points of Burnsville, to where if you’re looking for something to do, you can generally find it here.”

Is it the scenic views from the mountains or the myriad activities that makes Burnsville so special? Is it the quaint sleepy Southern charm mixed with a little urban flare? Take a trip to Burnsville yourself and see what makes it so unique and inviting for so many people.

Photo submitted

At Fill-More in Burnsville, customers can bring their containers and refill their cleaning supplies, soaps, laundry, shampoos, conditioners, body care, skincare, and more.

COLLEGE TOWN living

STAFF REPORT

As one of the larger schools in terms of enrollment in the University of North Carolina system, Appalachian State University adds a myriad of economic and quality-of-life benefits to the residents of the High Country.

Founded in 1899 as the Watauga Academy and later becoming the Appalachian State Teachers College, today Appalachian State is one of the largest campuses in the UNC system, with a fall 2023 enrollment of 21,253.

The student-to-faculty ratio is 16:1, while the average class size is 25. The school is divided into six undergraduate colleges, a school of music, plus a graduate school. Appalachian’s colleges and schools offer more than 150 undergraduate and graduate majors to students. App State regularly places highly in the U.S. News and World Report’s Best Colleges rankings.

The more than 141,000 living alumni from the university are spread out in all 50 U.S. states and many countries across the globe.

A university offers many advantages to those living in the surrounding community, including lectures, classes, readings, forums and other educational events that are open to the public — and often free. These include the University Forum Lecture Series, Hughlene Bostian Frank Visiting Writers Series, and numerous timely and informative events organized by faculty and students throughout the

year.

The university also offers multiple arts and entertainment opportunities, including exhibition programs and workshops in the visual arts; a performing arts series featuring world-renowned visiting artists; theater productions, concerts and recitals by Appalachian’s highly acclaimed Hayes School of Music and Department of Theatre and Dance; programs supporting student authors of poetry, fiction, plays in creative nonfiction; presentations and workshops by renowned authors; a popular craft enrichment series offering workshops for all ages; a nationally recognized summer arts festival; and a student-run programming series featuring an eclectic mix of artists and entertainment.

The 210,000 square feet Belk Library and Information Commons is open to regional residents and visitors, and public access computers and library cards are available.

Many programs at App State focus on community outreach, including support for families of children with special needs, arts education swim and lifeguard classes, support for App State employees and alumni and starting a business, the Communication Disorders Clinic, fitness testing, summer camps for children, trail upkeep and maintenance, public viewing nights at the Dark Sky Observatory and after-school programs. In addition, area nonprofits and service-focused businesses benefit from countless volunteer hours from Appalachian’s

students, faculty and staff.

Sports lovers will appreciate Appalachian State’sstate’s athletics programs’ double-digit NCAA Division 1 varsity sports. They include the Mountaineer football team, which won three consecutive FCS national championships from 2005–2007 and, since 2014, has competed in the Division I Football Bowl Subdivision, going 6-1 in bowl game appearances. App State is recognized around the country for its game day atmosphere and the scenic Kidd Brewer Stadium. In the process has attracted multiple “Power Five” conference opponents to come play in Boone, and for the first time in history, attracted the ESPN’s College Gameday television program to the school. For more information about events at Appalachian State, visit today. appstate.edu/events.

Appalachian State offers a beautiful setting in which to

study, work and visit. It’s campus is nestled among the peaks of the Blue Ridge Mountains, including the prominent Howards Knob overlooking campus and downtown Boone. Campus members can often be spotted relaxing and recreating in Appalachian’s Durham Park, on open lawns and in hammocks strung between shady trees.

The campus encompasses 1,200 acres, with 375 acres developed, as well as 30 academic buildings, 20 residence halls, three dining facilities and 11 recreational and athletic facilities. Appalachian State has recently expanded its footprint, from constructing a new outdoor track and fieldhouse at the location of the old Watauga High School campus on N.C. 105, to the Leon Levine Hall of Health Sciences building in Boone’s medical district.

For more information about Appalachian State, visit appstate. edu.

Photo by Chase Reynolds

The west side of App State’s Boone campus is pictured above.

Family Billiards: A Tradition of Excellence Since 1996

Country Retreat Family Billiards & Grill is conveniently located in Foscoe - 8 miles south of Boone and Blowing Rock off highway 105 (next to the Dollar General), and 8 miles north of Banner Elk and Linville. This summer Family Billiards is celebrating 25 years in operation as the high country’s only pool room, featuring 10 professional pool tables. Family Billiards is a family friendly non-alcohol recreational destination as well as a full service restaurant I grill. They host weekly handicapped pool tournaments for the more dedicated pool players of all levels, as well as catering to recreational and first time pool players. The grill operates from 11 am - 8:30pm Monday through Saturday, with the pool room remaining open until 11 pm Monday through Saturday. The dining area includes a covered front porch for those wishing to eat outside. Family Billiards is closed on Sundays.

Family Billiards & Grill’s pool room and pool tables have always been considered as top notch and are maintained in immaculate condition, but their main business is their quality food & beverage operation, of which close to half of which is take-out orders. The majority of regulars come for their quality, consistent and affordable food offerings, although many have never played pool here. The room features numerous large screen TV’s generally featuring sports I news I weather during the daytime and sporting events at night. Chef Brian Anderson prepares daily specials Monday through Friday, which virtually always sell out. Family Billiards is a small operation that caters to and depends largely on their loyal following of regulars, but everyone is welcome as a family friendly recreation I entertainment and dining option for locals as well as tourists visiting the high country.

10 Professional Pool Tables

SALADS AND GRILLED CHICKEN!

Advertiser INDEX

A FLOORING OUTLET 96

ABBEY CARPET & TILE 63

ALPINE VILLAGE INN 22

AMOREM FORMERLY CALDWELL HOSPICE 106

ANNA BANANA’S 66

ANTIQUES ON HOWARD 67

ANVIL ARTS STUDIO 131

APPALACHIAN FURNITURE 45

APPALACHIAN JAVA 71

APPALACHIAN REGIONAL

HEALTHCARE SYSTEM 105

APPALACHIAN THEATRE 66

ASHE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE 77

ASHE COUNTY ARTS COUNCIL 132

ASHE COUNTY CHEESE 77

ASHE MEMORIAL HOSPITAL 133

AVERY CHAMBER OF COMMERCE 140

AVERY COUNTY HABITAT FOR HUMANITY 65

AVERY PARKS AND RECREATION 65

BANNER ELK BOOK EXCHANGE 40

BANNER ELK OLIVE OIL & BALSAMICS 74

BANNER ELK TRADING CO 73

BANNER ELK WINERY 75

BASILS FRESH PASTA AND DELI 155

BAYOU BANNER ELK 73

BEST CELLAR, THE 151

BIG MIKE’S COFFEE SHOP & ICE CREAM 154

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BLACK BEAR WINE + SPIRITS 9

BLACKBERRY CREEK MATTRESS COMPANY 47

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BLOWING ROCK ART/HISTORY MUSEUM .... 69

BLOWING ROCK ATTRACTION, THE 32

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CHAMBER OF COMMERCE 135

BLOWING ROCK FRAMEWORKS & GALLERY 7

BLUE DEER ON KING 39

BLUE RIDGE ELECTRIC 82

BLUE RIDGE PROPANE 56

BOONE BAGELRY 156

BOONESHINE 155

BULL’S WESTERN STORE 96

CABIN FEVER 68

CABIN STORE 111

CLASSIC STONE WORKS 27

CORNERSTONE BOOKSTORE 66 COURTYARD BY MARRIOTT 83 CROSSNORE COMMUNITIES

GRANDFATHER MOUNTAIN

CABINS 26

HOLIDAY INN EXPRESS 77

HOMESTEAD INN & COTTAGES 22

JENKINS REALTORS 8

JIM’S CORNER FURNITURE 101

JONES HOUSE, THE 44

KAYE’S KITCHEN 18

KELLER WILLIAMS - PATRICK MORGAN 11

KINCAID FURNITURE OUTLET 3

LACEY REALTY 65

LAKEVIEW NURSERY 76

LAS BANDERAS 152

LEES MCRAE SUMMER THEATER 140

LIFE CARE OF BANNER ELK 95

LIVE OAK GASTRO PUB 154

MAST GENERAL STORE 13

MCCOY MINERALS 89

MITCHELL COUNTY

CHAMBER OF COMMERCE 38

MITCHELL COUNTY SHOP LOCAL 76

MO’S SWEETS 153

MOLLY NORTHERN INTERIORS 36

MOUNTAIN AIRE GOLF COURSE 113

MOUNTAIN GLEN GOLF 117

MOUNTAIN HERITAGE SYSTEM 65

MOUNTAIN HOME AND HEARTH INC 10

MOUNTAIN OUTFITTERS 85

MOUNTAIN TIME ON MAINSTREET 71

MUSEUM OF ASHE COUNTY HISTORY 77

MY BEST FRIENDS BARKERY 74

MYSTERY HILL 10, 22, 55, 92, 101, 125, 136

NAJLA’S BOUTIQUE 69

NEW LIFESTYLES CARPET ONE 74

NEW RIVER BUILDING SUPPLIES 49

NEWLAND CHRISTMAS TREE FESTIVAL 85 NORTH WILKESBORO TOURISM 61

TIME ANTIQUES FAIR 111

TIE CO. INC. 77

PIG 155