Zipping down the mountain now has new meaning at Hawksnest. We have doubled the fun!

Recognized for having the largest Snow Tubing Park on the East Coast, we’ve added the longest Zip line Tour as well, featuring 19 cables, four of which are known in the zip line industry as super or mega zips.

Gliding through the air with ease is trouble-free. Zippers–ages five and up–enjoy the exhilarations of speeding treetop high over valleys having expansive views and threading through the forest canopy over creeks, wild turkeys, deer, groundhogs and the occasional bear. In winter, zippers can yell to their snow tubing friends from way above as they begin their journey.

For more info, visit: http://www.hawksnest-resort.com

Plan Your NC Snow Skiing Vacation! Visit: http://www.skithehighcountry.com!

The High Country Host is a regional travel promotion organization.  For more information on accommodations, attractions, dining or shopping in the area please visit www.mountainsofnc.com or call 800-438-7500.

Stay Connected!

The High Country Host is pleased to welcome new member, Frogurt!

Located on at 668 Blowing Rock Road in Boone,

Frogurt Frozen Yogurt is…

Good for your bones :
An excellent source of calcium: Based on 2 servings (8 fl oz)
A well-balance diet with adequate calcium may reduce the risk of osteoporosis.

Good for your tummy :
Contains probiotics to promote good health and wellness.
Helps maintain general digestive health

Good for you overall — Promotes good health and wellness :
Live Active cultures and probiotics to promote a healthy immune and digestive system
Low Sodium: Diets low in sodium may reduce the risk of high blood pressure.
Low Cholesterol: (NonFat / No sugar Added products)

Visit http://www.frogurtusa.com for more information!

The High Country Host is a regional travel promotion organization.  For more information on accommodations, attractions, dining or shopping in the area please visit www.mountainsofnc.com or call 800-438-7500.

Stay Connected!

North Carolina Ski Areas Association (NCSAA), Banner Elk, NC Purchase your North Carolina Ski Areas Association Gold Card and ski or ride at any of the six North Carolina ski areas this winter season.

Gold Card holders may ski or ride at any North Carolina Ski Resort during any session regardless of holiday or weekend rates. Only 100 Gold Cards are available at a cost of $795 each winter season. They sell quickly.

North Carolina ski areas include Cataloochee Ski Area, Sapphire Valley Ski Area, Beech Mountain Resort, Appalachian Ski Mtn., Wolf Ridge Ski Resort, and Sugar Mountain Ski Resort.

For more information or to purchase a gold card, please go online www.goskinc.com/goldcard. Or call 828-898-4521 Monday through Friday from 8am 4pm.

The High Country Host is a regional travel promotion organization.  For more information on accommodations, attractions, dining or shopping in the area please visit www.mountainsofnc.com or call 800-438-7500.

Stay Connected!

Celebrate Halloween with the creatures of the Grandfather Mountain Animal Habitats Saturday October 29th. Join in the first ever “Beary Scary Halloween” festivities and help the Mountain raise funds for renovations on Grandfather’s eagle habitat.

“We wanted to create a fun event that would give kids a chance to be more involved in the animals’ day and provide us with the opportunity to raise awareness about the improvements that we hope to make to our eagle habitat,” said Christie Tipton, habitat manager.

Halloween activities take place from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. and are included with regular admission. Kids in costume will get in at half price.

The day begins at 10 a.m. with Halloween-themed crafts in the Nature Museum. At 10:30 a.m. kids can go trick or treating in the animal habitats, which will be decorated in mummy, werewolf, ghost and graveyard themes.

At 11 a.m. Naturalists will meet by the Mildred the Bear statue in the Nature Museum to lead an interactive program titled “Going Batty for Bats.” Participants will learn all about bats and their importance to the environment.

Prepare to be captivated by ghost stories at 11:30 a.m. in the Nature Museum Auditorium. Local storytellers Maggie Christenbury and Owen Gray will lead scary tales to thrill the whole family.

At 12:30 p.m. kids get a chance to compete in a costume contest and vote on their favorite costume worn by the animal habitat staff. Voting takes place in the Nature Museum lobby.

Immediately following the costume contest, guests have a unique opportunity to participate in the animal enrichments by decorating pumpkins and other treats that will later be given to the animals. An enrichment is anything different that can help to break up the animals’ day such as a scent, a new toy or a treat.

Join the Mountain’s Naturalists in the Nature Museum at 1 p.m. for the “Creepy, Crawly Critters!” program. Participants will learn about creatures of the night, creatures that bite and other spooky animals.

At 2 p.m. the Habitat Staff will begin the animal enrichments. Meet at the deer overlook to watch the animals enjoy their decorated treats.

The last of the day’s programming will take place in front of the fudge shop at 2:45 p.m. An “Owl Encounter” allows guests to meet and learn about the spooky night prowlers that can be found in the High Country.

Throughout the day guests can learn more about the eagle habitat, special programs offered by habitat staff and additional opportunities to get involved on the Mountain. For more information, contact the habitat staff at 828-733-8715.

Grandfather Mountain is a globally recognized nature preserve famous for its 360-degree vistas, native wildlife habitats and Mile High Swinging Bridge. The attraction is located on US Highway 221, two miles north of Linville, NC, and one mile south of the Blue Ridge Parkway at milepost 305.

The Grandfather Mountain Stewardship Foundation is a not-for-profit corporation established to preserve Grandfather Mountain, operate the nature park in the public interest and participate in educational research activities.

For more information phone 800-468-7325 or plan a trip at www.grandfather.com.

The High Country Host is a regional travel promotion organization.  For more information on accommodations, attractions, dining or shopping in the area please visit www.mountainsofnc.com or call 800-438-7500.

Stay Connected!

Howie Neufeld, Ph.D.
Professor of Plant Physiology
Appalachian State University

This has been an interesting week in the mountains. Beginning on Friday, the temperatures dropped, and the winds picked up.

Jesse Pope, chief naturalist up on Grandfather Mountain, reports that on Saturday winds reached 60 mph with gusts up to 74 mph.

Luckily, for most trees, they were still holding on to their leaves quite tightly, so even though some were blown off, most are still there, and if we don’t get more wind storms like that one, they should turn color quite nicely in the next two weeks.

READ THE ENTIRE REPORT

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

Stay Connected!

Black Bears
October 9th, 2011
Visitor Center
2:00 pm

Join a park ranger at the US Hwy 221 Access Visitor Center on Sunday October 9th, for this informative program. Black bears can be found throughout a large portion of NC. They often make the news when they pass through a populated area. This program will separate the facts and myths about black bears. Meet at the Visitor Center auditorium at 2:00 pm.
Call the park office for more information. 336-982-2587 (982)

River Otters
October 16th, 2011
Visitor Center
2:00 pm

Join a park ranger at the US Hwy 221 Access Visitor Center on Sunday October 16th for this informative program. You will learn about the Otters and their habitats. Call the park office for more information. 336-982-2587 (981)

Fall Color Hike
October 22nd 2011
Visitor Center
2:00 pm

Join a park ranger for a fun filled hike along the Hickory Trail at the 221 Access Area of New River State Park. You will see some of the wonderful colors of gall and discover some of the amazing things that live in the park. Make sure to wear sturdy shoes and bring a bottle of water, as we will be hiking just over a mile. Call the park office for more information. 336-982-2587 (810)

Tree ID Hike
October 23rd 2011
Wagoner Access
2:00 pm

Join a park ranger at the Wagoner Access for a short hike. We will learn the basic trees of New River. Be prepared to walk one mile.  Call the park office for more information. 336-982-2587
(811)

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

Stay Connected!

For more information, visit http://tweetsie.com!

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.

Stay Connected!

Located in Blowing Rock, Boone, App Ski Mtn, and Banner Elk. We have luxury and budget cabins in the Boone/ Blowing Rock areas of the Blue Ridge Mountains of North Carolina. Our cabins are close to all the activties in the area. You can ski at one of the three resorts, snow tube at the Eastern United States largest tube runs, spend a day at Tweetsie Railroad, go whitewater rafting, horseback riding, golfing, fishing, hiking, canoeing and you are close to Boone, Blowing Rock, Banner Elk, Linville, Jefferson and many other mountain towns.

Located halfway between Boone and Blowing Rock, our office is in the gray building at Mystery Hill.

Stop by our office and meet the friendly staff who can assist you in your vacation needs. The Blue Ridge Mountains are calling you to explore the high country so come on up and visit us soon!

When coming to Boone, Blowing Rock or any place in the High Country of NC, consider our Log Cabins, Chalets, and vacation rentals.

We want to provide the best selection and service for your vacation cabin needs in the North Carolina High Country. We have cabins in the Boone and Blowing Rock areas. Our number one goal is to make sure you are satisfied and have a pleasant trip. Our mission is to do anything we can do to make your stay more enjoyable.

For more information, visit: http://www.witsendrentals.com

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

Stay Connected!

Summer Craft Enrichment classes are now enrolling, and the 2011 summer series offers something for everyone. Are you already in the High Country for the summer, and ready to get out and make new connections? Classes in pottery, fiber spinning, and stain glass start in the next few weeks.

Are you a High Country weekend visitor? Beginning in June, you can take Saturday classes in stain glass, glass fusing, or sewing. There are also pottery day and evening classes in June and July, and evening classes in jewelry, quilting, drawing, and painting. There is even a four day mosaics class in August… really, there is a class to fit every schedule!

Whether you are an advanced student or someone who wants to get started on a new hobby, these lively and creative classes are energizing. You will learn alongside fellow artists-at-heart, and have time to explore your creative self while you see where an idea leads. Small classes provide individual attention from faculty who are dedicated professionals, both as teachers and craft artists.

Interested? You can read more about all our summer classes at www.craftenrichment.com!

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

Stay Connected!

Boone Drug Company, located in historic downtown Boone, NC, was founded by Dr. George Kelly Moose in 1919.

Moose had studied law at Georgetown University, graduated and passed the North Carolina Bar Exam. So what made him go from law to pharmaceuticals?

It is not exactly clear, but one man may have had something to do with it. G.K. (as he was called by friends) met John R. McNairy, who owned a pharmacy in Lenoir.

McNairy was in search of a business partner and somehow convinced Moose to go to pharmacy school at George Washington University. While he was in school, he was a part-time assistant to various pharmacists in the U.S. Department of Commerce. Moose returned to North Carolina with his pharmacy degree and together with McNairy, established the Boone Drug Company in 1919.

Shortly after, G.K. took over full ownership to allow McNairy to return to his own drug store in Lenoir. Moose soon became a prominent distributor of drugs to the area. Boone Drug was your typical pharmacy and soda fountain; a place to greet your neighbors and bring your kids to enjoy vanilla cokes and giant cinnamon sticks.

For 50 years, George set the standards for friendly, honest service and made Boone Drug a place customers looked forward to visiting. Customers adored him for his good sense of humor and dependable service. People walked from miles away to get their medicine from Boone Drug. One man even walked 15 miles from what used to be a small community called Sampson, next to Lenoir, every time he needed medicine.

Moose rented the second story of his building to a group of doctors who formed the Hagaman Clinic. There was J.B. Hagaman Sr., his son, J.B. Hagaman Jr. and their nurse, Miss Mary Krider. There was also a well known dentist named Dr. William Matheson who practiced upstairs from Boone Drug. These doctors offices meant constant traffic through the drug store and great business for Dr. Moose. He would keep his drug store open until each doctor had seen his last patient. This was sometimes very late at night.

Read More About Boone Drug Company!

For even more, visit: http://www.boonedrug.com

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

Stay Connected!
 

The Turchin Center for Visual Arts invites you to celebrate a fantastic Spring Exhibition.   The Turchin Center is located at 423 West King Street in Downtown Boone.  This event will be held from 7:00 to 9:00pm, on Friday April 1^st.  This event is FREE and open to the public! 

There will be Food, Live Music, a Cash Bar and a chance to meet the artists!  On the first Friday on each month the Turchin Center participates in the Downtown Boone’s First Friday Art Crawl, and this celebration is part of Aprils.  The Spring Exhibition Celebration is a wonderful program to get engaged with the Appalachian community and intact with the arts which is both therapeutic and educational for all ages. 

The Turchin Center takes pride in the ability to provide visitors and residents with a dynamic, year-round program rotation of visual art exhibits.  The center’s mission is to make programming accessible in support of the university’s role as a key educational, cultural and economic resource for Appalachian State University’s campus, greater community, and beyond.

Spring Exhibition Celebrating:
Appalachian Alumni in the Arts
8^th Appalachian Mountain Photography Competition
Open Spaces, Sacred Places: Tom Stoner & TKF Foundation
Beyond Their Natural Range: April Flanders
Places for Contemplation in the Public Buildings: Alex Poorman
Chromata: Laura Berman

For more information about the Turchin Center for the Visual Arts or these Exhibits please call 828-262-3017 or visit www.tcva.org

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

Stay Connected!
 

When: February 5, 2011
Where: Appalachian Ski Mtn.
What: Fist event in ATP’s Shred for the Cup Series

App Terrain Park will kick off the 10-11 Shred for the Cup event series on Saturday Night, February 5th with the Big Air. Shred for the Cup is the premier event series in the region, and is better than ever going into its 5th season. As always, Shred for the Cup is open to Skiers and Snowboarders of all age and ability. Tons of prizes are up for grabs, as well as points for the entire series winners.
 
All event participants will receive lunch and Shred for the Cup series T-Shirts.

Categories:
The Shred for the Cup series is for everyone, no matter your ability level. Skiers and Snowboarders are judged separately, and the categories for both include:

Beginner:
-No Sandbagging
-Can hit smaller flat rails and boxes
-Can hit small table tops
 
Intermediate:
 -No Sandbagging
 -Comfortable doing variety of tricks on smaller rails and boxes
-Can hit some kinked/curved rails and boxes
-Can hit smaller and medium sized tabletops
 -Can do a variety of grabs or small rotations (180’s, 360’s)
 
Advanced:
 -Comfortable doing variety of tricks on all rails and boxes
 -Comfortable spinning and grabbing on all size jumps (180’s, 360’s, 540’s, 720’s, etc…)
If in questioning your ability placement you find yourself in the middle of 2 categories, ATP encourages you to compete in the higher category and try to push yourself to a new level.

The Shred for the Cup series also offers Ski and Snowboard categories for Women who want to get out and ride.

For more info, visit AppSkiMtn.com!

King St., between Hardin St. (Dan’l Boone Inn) and Water St. (county courthouse)

(Lineup is at 9am at Horn in the West; parade starts at 1oam).

Note: several municipal parking areas in town provide ample one-hour parking, with metered spaces available on Queen St.

Downtown Boone Development Association Mission Statement

The mission of the association is to improve the Municipal Service District of Boone by encouraging property owners to maintain, improve and beautify downtown; providing more cultural events; promoting “smart commercial development”; encouraging transportation and parking improvements; and encouraging greater involvement of all property owners, professionals, and stakeholders in the district.

Funding for the DBDA comes from two major sources; taxation and private funding. Visit: http://boone-nc.org/

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

Stay Connected!

North Carolina ranks second in the nation in live Christmas tree production. Here in the North Carolina High Country it is truly an electrifying time of the year! There are thousands of acres of Christmas trees. Sure there’s holly and mistletoe but a Christmas tree is a must have during the holiday season! Christmas trees bring happiness and cheer to the faces of children throughout the nation. Maybe its time to start your family tradition, after all, the holiday season is quickly approaching!

The Watauga County Christmas Tree Association helps promote and educate the public about Christmas trees and their local growers. They also work closely with the Choose & Cut tree farmers to ensure top-quality products and a wonderful experience for their customers. Christmas tree farms send their trees throughout the Carolinas for purchase each year and also have individual sales through their Choose & Cut programs!

There are twenty-nine Choose & Cut farms in Watauga County. Each Choose & Cut Christmas tree farm is a little different. All twenty-nine Choose & Cut farms provide Fraser Fir Christmas trees and a select few provide Canaan Fir and White Pine Fir Christmas trees. If you are planning to decorate with garland or wreaths this holiday you can find these items and even a few Christmas shops at some Watauga County Choose & Cut farms. Some farms have put the idea of family first into your Christmas tree hunt experience by having animals, hayrides, sled and pony rides! For more information, or if you have any questions about the Watauga County Christmas Tree Association, please contact them at 828-264-3061

READ THE ENTIRE PRESS RELEASE!

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

Stay Connected!

4th Annual Hometown Christmas celebration on Friday, November 26th!

Early bird shopping, costumed characters walking around downtown, lighting of the community Christmas Tree at 5pm in the Backstreet Park!

Also, don’t forget about the Ashe County Holiday Market!

Looking for a great gift idea for the holidays? Plan to attend the Ashe County Farmers’ Market annual “Holiday Market” during the months of November & December! Crafters will be on hand with a wonderful selection of handmade arts & crafts.

You will have 4 opportunities to attend this year! November 20^th, 26^th, 27^th & December 4^th. Each day will be open from 10:00 am – 2:00 pm. The market will be held on the backstreets of downtown West Jefferson.

For more information please contact the Ashe County Farmers’ Market at info@ashefarmersmarket.com This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it or the Ashe County Chamber of Commerce at 888-343-2743. Also visit: http://www.ashechamber.com

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

Stay Connected!

A new system of automated snow guns will have a major impact on snowmaking capacity this winter at Beech Mountain Resort.
 
The resort, which is the highest ski area in eastern North America, has added six SMI Super PoleCat guns for 2010-2011. General manager Ryan Costin is excited about the new guns based on the performance of two installed last year.
 
“The automated PoleCat system is able to produce copious amounts of snow. The guns added last year were the highlights of our snowmaking,” Costin said. “Now we’ve upped that 300% by installing six more. The nice thing is this system is self-monitoring and constantly controls the output. It really increases our snowmaking capability.”
 
Last season’s snowmaking upgrades paid big dividends on the Robbins Run and Upper Shawneehaw trails. This year, the resort set its sights on the long, black diamond White Lightning run, along with the Lower Shawneehaw trail, Powder Bowl and Freestyle trail.
 
“We’re almost 100% better than three or four years ago because of the new automated system, plus we still have PoleCats that operate on carriages,” said Costin. “In addition, we’ve added 40 JCI tower guns the past couple years, and dozens of Ratnik guns. Significant money has been invested in snowmaking over the last 36 months. It’s paying off in the finished product.”
 
Also receiving attention was the alpine village at the base of the slopes. Three outside businesses moved in to lease a trio of storefronts. Skiers can now take advantage of a new equipment rental operation, coffee café and souvenir photo shop.
 
Meanwhile, new lockers were installed in the locker rooms, a third lane was built on the snow-tubing run and a shipment of ski/snowboard equipment was added to the rental fleet.
 
“We’ve really focused on bringing our offerings to a higher level,” Costin said. “A lot of time was spent this summer painting buildings and on general facility upkeep to give the resort a fresher look. The Beech Tree lounge was painted for the first time in 25 years. We are focusing on the details. We not only work here, most of us live here so we have a vested interest.”
 
Costin said skiers are excited about another season on the Oz trail, re-opened last year on the mountain’s back side. “I never realized how popular it was until we re-opened it,” he said.
 
For Beech Mountain skiing info, call (800) 438-2093, or visit: www.skibeech.com. For general info about Beech Mountain, call (800) 468-5506.

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

Stay Connected!

Mandie and the Cherokee Treasure Premieres in Blowing Rock!

After filming at locations throughout the High Country, including Tweetsie Railroad, Mandie and the Cherokee Treasure will premiere at Blowing Rock School on November 6 at 2 p.m. and 7 p.m.

Approximately one third of the motion picture, which is based on the popular Mandie children’s book series, was filmed at Tweetsie Railroad in April 2010 including scenes in the park’s Old West Town and Tweetsie’s historic steam engine No. 12.  Set at the turn-of-the-century, the movie is filled with rich history about Mandie’s Cherokee Indian heritage and life in the Blue Ridge Mountains of North Carolina, which made Tweetsie Railroad an ideal setting.

“There were several reasons we chose to film at Tweetsie Railroad,” stated Joy Chapman, one of the film’s producers.  “Tweetsie offered so much that fit in perfectly with the Mandie stories including the scenery of the Blue Ridge Mountains, the authentic Main Street and an early 1900’s steam locomotive.  In addition, the Mandie book series is geared towards children and perfect for family reading, and it doesn’t get more family-friendly than Tweetsie Railroad!” 

Several of the film’s stars will attend the November 6 premiere which benefits Blowing Rock C.A.R.E.S., a non-profit organization helping local families in need of food, non-perishable items and clothing.  Attendees are encouraged to donate non-perishable food items.  Tickets are available for purchase at Blowing Rock School (828-295-3204) for $8 each.

Both the first movie in the Mandie series, Mandie and the Secret Tunnel, and Mandie and the Cherokee Treasure will be available for purchase at the premiere, and drawings will be held to win autographed photos of the film’s cast, including Lexi Johnson as Mandie. 

The Mandie books, authored by the late author Lois Gladys Leppard, have been charming the hearts of young readers for almost 20 years and over seven million copies are in print.

Check out the website at: http://www.mandieandthecherokeetreasure.com

For the 33rd year the town of Banner Elk has welcomed both old and new friends to the annual Woolly Worm Festival.

This family event co-hosted by the Avery County Chamber of Commerce and the Kiwanis Organization of Banner Elk welcomes more than 23,000 people to the community to make family memories and also to win the prestigious title of predicting the High Country weather and the chance to win the $1000 bounty.

Visit: http://www.woollyworm.com

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

Stay Connected!

Visit: http://tweetsie.com/special-events/ghost-train

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

Stay Connected!

Sarah Pinnix is a highly sought after blogger, speaker, social media expert and founder of HighCountryMomSquad.com and RealLifeBlog.net. Sarah and her team are gearing up for a third round of “Talk of the Town” Social Media Workshops…to be held once again at The Broyhill Inn & Conference Center on the campus of Appalachian State University.

The series will kick off with a FREE introductory session on Monday, October 4th at 9am at The Broyhill Inn.

The first two rounds were huge successes and consisted of 6 sessions where local area businesses could come to the workshop and learn how to effectively use social media to promote their products and services.

Doug Uzelac, General Manager of The Broyhill Inn & Conference Center and host of the workshop series states, “Social Media Marketing is such a fast growing segment and it is the Broyhill Inn’s pleasure to be to be able to host these very informative sessions.  I would greatly recommend folks that have an interest in increasing their social media knowledge to attend.”

Vicki Stevens, Marketing Manager for the Appalachian Regional Healthcare System adds, “The Talk of the Town series provided phenomenal insight to the world of social media and assisted our organization in establishing a new presence with our audience. I highly recommend the series!”

Mast General Store also comments, “The Talk of the Town Series helped us understand the power of social media and how we might use it to start a conversation with our customers. We found the interaction with Sarah, Boomer, and Scott to be informative and refreshing and also enjoyed brainstorming ideas with our fellow classmates. Our Facebook page has grown by leaps and bounds – surpassing all of our expectations, and it is a ready resource to convey timely happenings.”

Barbara Kelley from My Sister’s Kitchen adds, “Attending the social media workshops put on by Talk of the Town has been the most worthwhile professional development time I’ve spent all year. Each session was practical, hands-on, and relevant; Sarah, Scott and Boomer taught me exactly what I needed to know. Before I ever left the Broyhill Inn after each session, I was able to implement what I’d learned — on my own computer for my own website. I can already see a significant up-tick in traffic to my website as a result of utilizing what I’ve learned during these last six months. Thanks so much!”

These workshops cover such hot-button topics as Website Design & Development, Search Engines, Blogging, Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, Analytics and much more.

Success stories abound as attendee, Mast General Store has over 5,000 Facebook likers. Also, The NC Christmas Tree Association is experiencing online traffic growth on their site and the Appalachian Regional Healthcare System is setting up multiple Facebook pages, writing social media policies and growing followers on Twitter.

Learn more about Sarah Pinnix and her team of coaches and speakers at the workshop series. Visit: http://www.talkofthetownworkshop.com/speakers-and-coaches

For more information and to register for the upcoming sessions, please visit: http://talkofthetownworkshop.com

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

Stay Connected!
 

From their website:

We are a small, family-owned artisan bakery where high quality baked goods and great service come together to create a special experience for you, our customer.  We offer everything from fresh baked breads, steaming cappuccinos, delicious cinnamon rolls, and decadent chocolate tortes.

The best part is that everything is made right here in our bakery using the best ingredients and methods. Nothing that we serve is shipped in frozen from thousands of miles away like in most “supermarket” bakeries.   Nothing is taken out of a box, put in the oven for 10 minutes, and then labeled “fresh baked”. This is the real thing. We promise – and we promise that you will be able to taste the difference.

Check out: http://www.stickboybread.com

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

Stay Connected!

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.

Stay Connected!

The Mast Farm Inn, in Valle Crucis, North Carolina, is very pleased to announce that our good friends at The Mast General Store have offered a full scholarship for an artist to attend the Dan Tyminski & Ronnie Bowman retreat at The Mast Farm Inn. If you know a highly talented emerging Bluegrass Artist, who could not otherwise afford to attend, please let them know. See details below.
:::::::::::::::::::::::::::
THE SCHOLARSHIP
:::::::::::::::::::::::::::
The Mast General Store will pay all expenses and fees for a student who meets the qualifications; For the retreat, workshops, materials, all lodging, dining, beverages and all applicable taxes included, excluded are travel expenses to and from the workshop. Application must be submitted by email to bluegrasslegacy@mastfarm.net by June 30th. In order to submit an application, please send your submission by email using the template provided at the end of this note.

:::::::::::::::::::::::::::
THE WORKSHOP
:::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Dan Tyminski & Ronnie Bowman
The Bluegrass Legacy at The Mast Farm Inn
A four day & three night, musicians retreat for 12 Bluegrass Artists. August 1st, 2nd, 3rd, and 4th, 2010

The Course:
Songwriting, Arranging, Production & Business

The Professors:
Dan Tyminski & Ronnie Bowman will be running the workshops, providing group and personal one-on-one tutoring, mentoring, and be lodging the entire time onsite at The Mast Farm Inn.

Participants Who May Qualify:
Intensive Retreat for Professional or Semi-Professional Artists Committed To Bluegrass Music. Call Henri Deschamps at 828-963-2626 for more information.

The Costs, In The Case of This Scholarship Paid For By The Mast General Store:
All Inclusive Price for the Retreat, Workshops, Materials, All Lodging, Dining, Beverages and all applicable taxes included. Special Free Programs & Activities for spouses and significant others not participating in workshops. The cost is heavily subsidized by supporting organizations, and you will need to qualify, so call Henri at 828-963-2626 for more information, and to see if you qualify to participate.
$1,090-$1,290 per couple for lodging and dining, depending on your lodging options, and with one person of the couple taking the courses. To make regular reservations for this retreat click here: http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=108289632549422

From “The Bluegrass Journal”
“In what may be a once in a lifetime opportunity for twelve students, two of Bluegrass’ biggest names and former bandmates, Dan Tyminksi and Ronnie Bowman will be joint instructors for a three and a half day intensive Mentoring Session.”
CLICK HERE FOR FULL ARTICLE: http://www.bluegrassjournal.com/2010/05/17/dan-tyminski-ronnie-bowman-holding-bluegrass-mentoring-sessions-workshop-at-mast-farm-inn-in-august/

From “The Bluegrass Blog”
“The Mast Farm Inn, a lovely B&B in western North Carolina, has announced a new series of intimate musical retreats, designed to offer serious students of bluegrass music an opportunity to study closely with its top practitioners.”
CLICK HERE FOR FULL ARTICLE: http://www.thebluegrassblog.com/bluegrass-legacy-launches-artist-in-residence-series/

Dan Tyminski
Dynamic on stage, down to earth off stage, 13-time Grammy winner Dan Tyminski has the voice, instrumental chops, and charisma to be counted among the most recognizable and popular male vocalists on today’s bluegrass and country music scenes. Yet his demeanor – low-key and laconically sly – ensures that all the accolades are the product of his own innate gifts. Since 1994, his ace instrumental skill (mainly on guitar, but also on mandolin) and burnished, soulful tenor singing have been key components of Alison Krauss and Union Station, arguably the most visible and successful bluegrass band in the modern era. Tyminski notably stepped ever more deeply into the popular conscience as the singing voice of George Clooney in the Coen Brothers’ Odyssean farce O Brother, Where Art Thou? In addition to being a pivotal element in the plot of the film, his powerful rendition of the Stanley Brothers’ version of “I Am a Man of Constant Sorrow” became a surprise hit single – firing off a popular renaissance in bluegrass in the process. The song was given the Country Music Association (CMA) award for Single of the Year, the International Bluegrass Music Association (IBMA) Award for Song of the Year, and a Grammy Award for Country Collaboration with Vocals. The project was also honored with the IBMA Award for Album of the Year, as well as the Grammy Award for Album of the Year – a rare achievement for a soundtrack project. ~ http://www.dantyminski.com/
VIDEOS
Dan Tyminski ~ “The Boy Who Wouldn’t Hoe Corn”
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z5X4Q6jFtHg
Dan Tyminski, Alison Krauss & Union Station featuring Jerry Douglas ~ “Simple Love”
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Os8E_k8FwCY
Dan Tyminski, Alison Krauss & Union Station featuring Jerry Douglas ~ “My Poor Old Heart”
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MuGJaU25ZIA
Dan Tyminski, AKUS ~ “Goodbye is All We Have”
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X8O9eCxgOjw
The Dan Tyminski Band ~ “Wheels”
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k0GyL4kHpqM
Dan Tyminski, Alison Krauss & Union Station featuring Jerry Douglas ~ “The Lucky One”
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2P7J1_hZ7iM

Ronnie Bowman
From the tender age of three, Ronnie Bowman has been performing music. Starting in a family band playing churches in North Carolina and Virginia, he eventually joined the acclaimed Bluegrass band The Lost & Found. Shortly after Ronnie joined The Lonesome River Band, and became a participant in the band’s recording of “Carrying the Tradition”; an album that was named the International Bluegrass Music Association’s (IBMA) Album of the Year in 1991. It wasn’t long before Ronnie Bowman became a household name in the Bluegrass community. He has been awarded IBMA Male Vocalist of the Year three times, has twice earned the IBMA song of the Year award (“Three Rusty Nails”, and “Cold Virginia Night”), and was awarded the Gospel Performance of the Year award for “Three Rusty Nails”. As a songwriter Ronnie has earned a great deal of respect not only among Bluegrass professionals, but also in Country Music. Both Brooks & Dunn, and Kenny Chesney have brought Ronnie Bowman originals to #1, and Lee Ann Womack also included a song by Ronnie on the multiplatinum selling album “I hope you Dance”. Ronnie Bowman has achieved remarkable heights in his musical career as an award-winning Bluegrass songwriter and vocalist, and a respected, successful writer in Country music. ~ http://www.ronniebowman.com/
VIDEOS
Ronnie Bowman ~ “Rise Above”
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XE-dsDzMdS4
Brooks & Dunn Recording of Ronnie Bowman’s Song “Getting Better All The Time”
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DRuqOFHrOy8

The Mast Farm Inn
The Mast Farm Inn is a world renowned award winning full service North Carolina Country Inn & Restaurant in Historic Valle Crucis, NC, is on the National Register of Historic Places, and is a Member of PAII and Of The Select Registry ~ http://www.facebook.com/mastfarm

The Bluegrass Legacy
The Objective of “The Bluegrass Legacy” FaceBook FanPage is to present, honor and celebrate Bluegrass Music & Artists ~ http://www.facebook.com/the.bluegrass.legacy

Media Contact:
Henri Deschamps, 828-963-2626
bluegrasslegacy@mastfarm.net

We’d like to thank Keith Case & Associates and DS Management of Nashville, TN, and The Mast General Store in Valle Crucis, North Carolina, for helping make this unique event possible. See:
Keith Case & Associates
~ http://www.facebook.com/KeithCaseAndAssociates
The Mast General Store
~ http://www.facebook.com/pages/Mast-General-Store/179544156710

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

Stay Connected!

Our 20 Lane Snow Tubing Park has four different areas to snow tube; lanes are 400 – 1000 feet long.

Our 2 conveyor lifts take our snow tubers back to the top for more rides.

Hawksnest has 100% snow making and lighting on all lanes to provide the best possible conditions and fun for the whole family.

Snow tubing is a great outdoor activity for large groups of family, friends, students or church groups. Hawksnest has four different areas of snow tubing with different rollers and pitch. No experience or special skills are required. Please check out our list of “Things to Keep in Mind” which will give you ideas on clothing and weather related precautions. Reservations for groups are required for group discounts.

Also, don’t forget to enjoy our Coffee Bar, Carolina BBQ and Pizza before, during and after your tubing sessions!

Sessions are 1 hour and 45 minutes. Children must be 3 years old to snow tube. Holidays are December 21st to January 1st, January 17 & 18 & February 14 & 15. A liability waiver must be signed for each adult 18 and over.

For more, visit http://www.skihawk.com!

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

Stay Connected!