September 21, 2023 Mustard Seed Home will host their second annual Sip N Stroll event on Friday, October 20th, and Saturday, October 21st. The Sip N Stroll event will feature a tent sale with 50% off select artwork, decor, and gifts and 25% off select furniture (casegoods, throw pillows and upholstery) during the weekend-long event
September 20, 2023 I remember when the only way a person could get to Boone was to be born there.” These words of a homespun philosophy were credited to an anonymous speaker at a railroad convention over a century distant, although the quote is debatable among avid railfans who enjoy fond remembrances. “Hear that train a’commin through the valleys and up the mountain side?” Locals and visitors to the High Country of Western North Carolina have been able to answer in the affirmative since 1957, when the Tweetsie Railroad amusement park opened between Boone and Blowing Rock, and its high pitched horn signaled a limited 30-minute ride through the park. By Peter Morris
September 19, 2023 High Country Caregivers, a non-profit organization dedicated to providing comprehensive, whole-family care to empower caregivers who take on the responsibility of caring for a relative’s or a friend’s child, hosted a spectacular fundraising event last Thursday evening. By Kris Testori
September 19, 2023 BLOWING ROCK, N.C. — With town elections fast approaching, understanding today’s issues and where candidates for public office stand on them has never been more important. Whether the issue is paid parking, development standards for Valley Boulevard, or to raise property taxes, knowing which candidates’ viewpoints align with YOURS is critical to the democratic processes we hold dear.
September 14, 2023 Letters to the Editor. By Wayne Miller / I didn’t want to write this letter. I have been a full-time resident of Blowing Rock for over 32 years and felt very blessed to have raised my family in such a wonderful community. Blowing Rock is a diverse community made up of long-term legacy citizens, families that moved here for a better life (such as my family) and seasonal residents. During this time the Blowing Rock community has been fortunate to have been represented by skilled and dedicated elected leadership and we have all worked together with a sense of community, despite our differences, to make Blowing Rock a better place.
September 8, 2023 High Country Caregivers is thrilled to present its inaugural 2023 High Country Sporting Clay Championship, set to take place on Saturday, September 23, 2023, at the Chetola Sporting Reserve.
September 7, 2023 The official, astronomical end of summer isn’t until Saturday, September 23, though the meteorlogical summer ended August 31. While the mercury is still spending a lot of its time in the upper range of the thermometer, pumpkin spice has hit the coffee shops and if you look you will notice the leaves are beginning to change. We are 2/3 of the way through 2023 and it won’t be long before the temperature is dropping and the leaves are displaying their most glorious season of splendor. By Sandi Dascoulias, REALTOR
September 6, 2023 Before Hurricane Idalia made its way through Florida last week, Samaritan’s Purse was ready and waiting in nearby Georgia to begin picking up the pieces left behind by the quickly-moving storm. Just as soon as the hardest-hit areas were identified, and it was safe to do so, the response teams of the Boone-based international disaster relief organization — with two tractor-trailers packed with tools and relief supplies, in addition to shower and kitchen trailers — moved in, set up and hit the ground running. By Sherrie Norris
August 31, 2023 When most people think about “The American Dream,” homeownership is always a major component of that dream. But purchasing a home is just the first step of homeownership. Homeownership is a living investment, not a static one. It’s more than just making your mortgage payment. Well, theoretically, a homeowner could simply make their mortgage payment (along with taxes, insurance and utilities) and still maintain their investment. Theoretically. By Breanna McKay, REALTOR
August 24, 2023 While we look at statistics at least once a month, occasionally we like to take a look at what we call a “snapshot” of the market. Looking at three different homes in different areas in similar price ranges and compare their characteristics. By Stephen Holland, REALTOR
July 17, 2023 BLOWING ROCK, NC — Hickory, NC native and longtime Blowing Rock summer resident, Lee Harper, will return as Artist-in-Residence at Edgewood Cottage for the week of Aug. 28-Sept. 3, 2023. Harper will be at the cottage each day of her residency from 10 a.m. – 5 p.m. to discuss and sell her work. She will also paint new works while onsite. (www.leeharperfineart.com) This will be Harper’s eighth year as Artist-in-Residence at the cottage, located on Main Street in Blowing Rock, and she will again share the space with fellow artist and friend, Tunde Afolayan Famous, whose talent and work are well-known to the Blowing Rock community (www.tundevisualart.com).
August 16, 2023 During July High Country Realtors® have been busy. There were 187 closed sales on residential properties for a combined worth of just over $103 million in the four county High Country Association of Realtors® area of Alleghany, Ashe, Avery, and Watauga Counties.
August 16, 2023 Once again, the horses have come to the High Country in record numbers as the Blowing Rock Charity Horse Show began its three-month residency for extended weekends in June, July and August. Literally hundreds of riders and horses appear during these multi-day shows at the Broyhill Equestrian Preserve, with Saddlebred events and Hunter Jumper competitions that took place over the summer. By Peter Morris
August 8, 2023 Many counties within the Tar Heel State have been celebrated as the horse country for well over a century. The horse people of the High Country have owned, rode, showed, and enjoyed these four-legged friends for multiple generations. Horses are surely a contender for the title of “man’s best friend,” as animal-human connections like these are rarely seen outside of those formed with dogs and cats. By Peter Morris
August 6, 2023 Coming to Blowing Rock this week? We sure hope you’ll drop by Edgewood Cottage to enjoy the work of David Nelson Collins, acrylics in studio and en plein air, from August 7 through August 13, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
July 30, 2023 There are lots of reasons to come to Blowing Rock this week, but Edgewood Cottage is a big one. Susan Sharpe, fiber artisan extraordinaire (in our opinion) and our favorite leather artisan, Evenlight Eagles, share the Cottage from July 31 through August 6.
July 24, 2023 Coming to Blowing Rock this week? Stop by Edgewood Cottage and visit Kathryn Regel, mixed media and pencil drawing artist, and Waitsel Smith, watercolorist and oils, from today, July 24, through July 30.
July 17, 2023 Known far and wide as one of the High Country’s most anticipated events of the year, the annual Tour of Homes in Blowing Rock always attracts hundreds of eager visitors to the area. The 2023 tour, celebrating 65 years and scheduled for Friday, July 28, promises to be one of the best ever as St. Mary of the Hills Church rolls out the red carpet for its signature fundraising event for local charitable organizations. The tour offers guests a rare glimpse into some of the area’s most unique and amazing private residences. By Sherrie Norris
July 6, 2023 A walk down main street in Blowing Rock would not be complete without a visit to High Country Candles and Blowing Rock Pottery, located in the historic Martin House. Visitors and homefolk alike have found the unique shop to be more than the perfect place to pick up the perfect gift for any occasion. Many recognize the family-owned and operated business to be a “connection” to the High Country area. By Sherrie Norris
July 6, 2023 Lead is a naturally occurring element in the earth. It’s symbol is Pb on the Periodic Table of Elements and it’s atomic number is 82. It is a soft metal, dense, yet malleable, ductile but corrosion resistant. Lead has a relatively low melting point making it an ideal metal for industrial and manufacturing uses. By John Thomas, REALTOR
June 29, 2023 The 4th of July Parade is a procession of families in costume, decorated vehicles & floats, musical performances, local officials, and a handful of characters. The Blowing Rock 4th of July Parade will be held on Saturday, July 1 at 10:00 am. It’s presented along Main Street from Mellow Mushroom to the Museum.
June 26, 2023 Find women doing outstanding work in their field via Blue Ridge Women in Agriculture, a female-led organization dedicated to fostering a sustainable and fair food scene in the High Country. To do this, the organization bolsters local producers and creates connections among the community that contribute to knowledge and excitement of eating farm-grown food—ultimately upping the local demand and desire for local fare. By Anna Beth Adcock
June 15, 2023 Locals and visitors are encouraged to fight hunger in the High Country by joining Alair Homes and the Blowing Rock Chamber of Commerce in supporting the Hunger and Health Coalition at the 2023 Alair Homes High Country Summer Concert Series. This year’s concert series serves as a food drive for the Hunger and Health Coalition’s A Simple Gesture Program. Attendees can drop off canned and other nonperishable food items at the Alair table.
June 15, 2023 The Shoppes on the Parkway in Blowing Rock is the new home to The Incredible Toy Company. Bennett Larsen & Ashley Hutchins purchased the store in January of this year. The toy store, formerly located on US Hwy 321 South, celebrated its new location with a ribbon-cutting ceremony with the Blowing Rock Chamber of Commerce last week
June 13, 2023 Cat Perry was the first candidate to announce her intention to run for Blowing Rock Town Council. She publicly announced her candidacy Monday night at the Blowing Rock American Legion building. The plan was to start at 5:30 p.m., but the announcement was shared just a moment later because the capacity crowd waited as additional chairs were pulled out of the closet and set up. By Sam Garrett