The High Country Host Blog

Archive for the ‘Attractions’ Category

Art in the Park was created in 1962 by a handful of area artists and craftspeople to showcase local talent. 46 years after its start, Art in the Park is host to 90 artisans at each show. Some of the best local and regional artists and craftspeople showcase their handcrafted jewelry, pottery, fiber, glass, photography, painting and more.

Art in the Park’s high standards and professional jury attract artisans from all over the Southeast to exhibit in a series of six shows, May through October. The quality of work exhibited draws thousands to the mountains each month.

Art in the Park is planned and administered by the Blowing Rock Chamber of Commerce. The Chamber emphasizes the arts focus of this event. The town and area businesses are enthusiastic and participate with Art in the Park, and the public eagerly anticipates each season.

For more information, visit: http://www.blowingrock.com/artinthepark

For more info on The High Country of North Carolina, call (800) 438-7500, or visit www.MountainsofNC.com.

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Each year, for over 50 years, guests come from all over the world and the United States to visit Mystery Hill. They are all compelled to come for various reasons; “My mother came here as a child,” “I remember coming here with my Grandfather,” “I drove by this place and just had to come and see what the mystery really was,” “I just can’t get this place out of my mind.”

No matter what the reason, they come back time and time again, bringing relatives and friends to experience the mystery of our “crooked house.” People do remember the remarkable defiance of gravity, where you can see a ball roll uphill, and where folks are pulled from an upright position to an uncanny standing angle of nearly 45°.

This strange phenomenon has been amusing and puzzling visitors to Mystery Hill for generations. Since there is a variety of things to see and do, no one leaves disappointed. Mystery is a family oriented “edutainment” center that offers fun for children ages 2 to 102. We welcome you to join us at any time of the year.

For more, visit http://mysteryhill-nc.com

For more info on The High Country of North Carolina, call (800) 438-7500, or visit www.MountainsofNC.com.

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Winter sports enthusiasts are invited to ring in 2010 on the slopes in the High Country of North Carolina. Each of the three High Country ski resorts offers a fireworks extravaganza this New Year’s Eve.
 
The festivities begin with a 10:30 p.m. fireworks show at Beech Mountain Resort, while Appalachian Ski Mountain and Sugar Mountain Resort light the skies at midnight.
 
Beech Mountain Resort provides night skiing until 10 p.m., followed by ice skating from 10 p.m. to midnight. Folks can watch the 10:30 p.m. fireworks display from the Viewhaus restaurant or anywhere in the Alpine village at the base of the slopes. There will also be live music in the Beech Tree Bar & Grill from Chasing Edison, a Charlotte-based rock band.

Sugar Mountain Resort has skiing, tubing and ice skating until 10 p.m. on New Year’s Eve. At midnight, the public is invited to a combined torch light parade and fireworks show, while the Terry Batson Band provides live beach music and oldies in the lodge.
 
Appalachian Ski Mountain’s alcohol-free celebration begins with night skiing at 6 p.m., followed by moonlight ice skating at 10 p.m. A torch light parade takes place at 11:45 p.m., with fireworks at the stroke of midnight. Breakfast is also available from 9 p.m. to midnight.
 
“We’ve provided fireworks on New Year’s Eve since 1992. It’s one of our best nights of the year,” said general manager Brad Moretz. “They shoot them off on the slopes and people watch from the deck, or on the base of the slopes or the front porch.”

For info on these three celebrations, call High Country Host at (800) 438-7500, or visit the website for each resort: www.appskimtn.com, www.skisugar.com and www.skibeech.com.

For more info on The High Country of North Carolina, call (800) 438-7500, or visit www.MountainsofNC.com.

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VALLE CRUCIS – Constructed in 1909 of locally harvested chestnut, maple, and pine, the Mast Store Annex, located on Broadstone Road in Valle Crucis, is celebrating its first 100 years July 16-18.

The building was constructed as a competing general store by R. L. Lowe of Banner Elk and opened under the name of the Watauga Supply Company. It was purchased one year later by C.D. Taylor and his son-in-law Dr. Henry Baker Perry and was re-named the Valle Crucis Company. It carried a myriad of lines including suits, brogans, tools, piece goods, and the like. Although it was competition for the nearby Taylor and Mast General Store (later the Mast General Store), its lines were also complementary.

Regardless of the official name, it became known locally as the Farthing Store because it was managed by Aubyn Farthing, who later owned the business outright.

In addition to items for purchase, the store also housed the Valle Crucis Post Office until Aubyn was forced to retire as postmaster in 1963. In the time between its operation as a general store and becoming the Mast Store Annex, the building also served as an antique store and a storage area.

Today visitors can see the authentic rolling ladder that was used by Mr. Farthing to fetch items off the top shelves and evidence of an “old-time theft deterrent” just above the front door. Be sure to ask about the Valle Crucis Post Office moving back and forth between the Mast Store and what is now the Mast Store Annex.

In celebration of 100 years of service to the community, the Mast Store Annex will offer small ice cream cones on Thursday, July 16 for just 100¢ and on Friday, July 17, stop by around 2 p.m. for cake and punch, while supplies last. There will also be other promotions into the weekend.

For more information, call the Mast General Store Annex at 828-963-6511.

For lodging and other travel information, contact North Carolina High Country Host at 800-438-7500 or visit: www.mountainsofnc.com.

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Enjoy this video tour of The High Country in NC!!!

For lodging and other travel information, contact North Carolina High Country Host at 800-438-7500 or visit: www.mountainsofnc.com.

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Gem mining has played a vital role into shaping the history of the mountains of North Carolina. Today, you too can share in that experience in our clean, safe, family friendly environment. At Foggy Mountain Gem Mine we do all the hard work for you. Simply purchase a bucket filled with gemstone ore from local and non-local mines and sift the material in our covered flume area. Over forty different minerals may be found at our mine, and gemstone quality ore is guaranteed in every bucket. Emeralds, sapphires, rubies, aquamarine, tourmaline, garnet, amethyst, citrine, smoky quartz, topaz, and many others are waiting to be discovered! We supply all of the necessary equipment and provide assistance throughout the entire process to ensure that you find all of your precious stones. Fun for kids of all ages! We are handicap accessible and provide assistance to those with special needs.

For more information, visit: FoggyMountainGems.com!

For lodging and other travel information, contact North Carolina High Country Host at 800-438-7500 or visit: www.mountainsofnc.com.

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Blue Ridge Learning Centers, Inc. is a leader in experiential education. We develop, deliver, train, facilitate exciting team building events and retreats.

Using new and innovate tools, such as ropes courses (challenge course) we offer programs that help individuals and organizations develop leadership abilities, communication processes, and teamwork skills.

Blue Ridge Learning Centers, Inc. is much more than our average team building company. We can offer our clients a range of services including, but not limited to, outdoor adventures, team building retreats, environmental programs, Earth Education, outdoor living skills, challenge course (ropes course).

Along with offering programming we construct a variety of fun and exciting learning activities.

To Learn More, Visit: www.brlc.org

To request a free High Country vacation guide, call (800) 438-7500 or go online to: www.MountainsofNC.com.

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Welcome to High Mountain Expeditions. We are located in the heart of the Blue Ridge Mountains, with two locations to serve you in Boone and Banner Elk, North Carolina. High Mountain Expeditions offers outdoor activities, such as North Carolina whitewater rafting for every member of your group or family!

The high country of western North Carolina is one of the most biologically and geographically diverse regions in North America. Carved by some of the world’s oldest rivers, the Blue Ridge Mountains provide a home for a variety of exciting outdoor activities such as North Carolina hiking, caving, mountain biking, kayaking and whitewater rafting.

For more, visit: HighMountainExpeditions.com!

To request a free High Country vacation guide, call (800) 438-7500 or go online to: www.MountainsofNC.com.

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Mystery Hill – Each year, for over 50 years, guests come from all over the world and the United States to visit Mystery Hill. They are all compelled to come for various reasons; “My mother came here as a child,” “I remember coming here with my Grandfather,” “I drove by this place and just had to come and see what the mystery really was,” “I just can’t get this place out of my mind.” No matter what the reason, they come back time and time again, bringing relatives and friends to experience the mystery of our “crooked house.” People do remember the remarkable defiance of gravity, where you can see a ball roll uphill, and where folks are pulled from an upright position to an uncanny standing angle of nearly 45^°. This strange phenomenon has been amusing and puzzling visitors to Mystery Hill for generations. Since there is a variety of things to see and do, no one leaves disappointed. Mystery is a family oriented “edutainment” center that offers fun for children ages 2 to 102. We welcome you to join us at any time of the year.

To Learn More, Visit: http://www.mysteryhill-nc.com/

To request a free High Country vacation guide, call (800) 438-7500 or go online to: www.MountainsofNC.com.

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In operation since 1883, the Mast Store has not changed all that much with the times – it still offers the down-home feeling commonly associated with a country general store to both its local regulars and its many visitors from all over the world.

The Mast General Store was built, at least the first of its many rooms, in 1882 by Henry Taylor and opened in 1883. 1883. Henry had run a much smaller store across the road for many years previous to the building of the new structure. In 1897 half interest in the store was sold to W. W. Mast, a member of a pioneer family that settled in the valley. The store was known as the Taylor and Mast General Store up until 1913 when the remaining half of the enterprise was purchased by W. W.

READ MORE about the history of The Mast General Store!

To request a free High Country vacation guide, call (800) 438-7500 or go online to: www.MountainsofNC.com.

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