Blowing Rock Archives

Blowing Rock Voted a Top Adventure Town By Blue Ridge Outdoors Readers

November 7, 2023 BLOWING ROCK, NC (November 2023) – Over 24,000 votes poured in to Blue Ridge Outdoors magazine’s thirteenth annual Top Adventure Towns contest, presented by LOWA. From 100 adventure hubs across the Southeast and Mid-Atlantic, readers narrowed down nominees in four different categories: tiny town (population less than 3,000), small town (population 3,001-16,000), mid-sized town (population 16,001-75,000), and large town (population 75,001+).

October 25, 2023 Letters to the Editor. By Richard Gambill/ Author and Philosopher Robert Fulgham says “The older I get the less attention I pay to what people say and the more I watch what they do…” I watched several videos recently of candidates for Blowing Rock Town Council telling why they were qualified. Hunt Broyhill in several videos painted a dark picture of Blowing Rock’s finances so I set out to check it out.

October 17, 2023 On October 17th, 2023, shortly before 10:00 am, the Boone Police attempted to stop a vehicle on NC Highway 105, that was reported as stolen. The driver of the vehicle failed to stop and fled resulting in a chase that ended in a vehicle crash outside the Boone city limits on Blowing Rock Rd. near Niley Cook Rd. Both occupants of the suspect vehicle fled on foot following the crash and were quickly apprehended.

October 17, 2023 Noted pianist Bair Shagdaron will bring a romantic flourish to the final concert of the season at St. Mary of the Hills with the music of Chopin and Rachmaninoff. The concert, sponsored by the Friends of Music at St. Mary’s, will be in the nave of the church on Main Street in Blowing Rock on Sunday, October 29 th at 3 pm.

October 11, 2023 Approximately 1250 guests and dozens of volunteers helped set a fund-raising record during this year’s Blowing Rock Tour of Homes on July 28. On behalf of St. Mary of the Hills Episcopal Church, which hosts the much-anticipated tour each year, chairperson Jo Ann Hallmark shared with High Country Press this week that the 2023— and 65th home tour in the historic town — raised $103,000. “These funds will be distributed to several non-profit organizations serving the needs of High Country residents,” she explained. By Sherrie Norris

October 5, 2023 Welcome to October in the High Country, also known as the closest thing to heaven known to humans. It’s not just about pumpkin spice and sweater weather that accompany the dropping temperatures. With the leaves changing daily, every ride in sight of trees is a burst of glorious color that is different with every single trip. There is a golden quality to the light that kisses these slightly shorter days but it only lasts such a short time. By Karen Cleghorn, REALTOR

October 4, 2023 The High Country Breast Cancer Foundation is excited to announce the 5K Run for Breast Cancer Awareness, scheduled to take place on October 28, 2023. This event is a significant step in our ongoing mission to raise awareness and to provide support to local breast cancer patients and their families.The High Country Breast Cancer Foundation has been serving our community for 7 years, supporting individuals and families affected by breast cancer. Our commitment to this cause is unwavering, and the 5K Run is a testament to our dedication to making a difference.

September 30, 2023 Hundreds of people from the community came together on September 30 to make the Blowing Rock School’s Fall Festival event a success. “This is our second year,” explained Ashley Salley, PTO Board member. “Our PTO was defunct during the covid years, but we built it back up last year, and we’re really proud to host this event for the second time.” By Harley Nefe

September 28, 2023 The Blowing Rock Chamber of Commerce recently hosted their much-anticipated Partner Appreciation Reception at the esteemed Gideon Ridge. This event was an occasion to extend gratitude to their partners for their unwavering support. The annual gathering celebrated the contributions made by these partners, contributions that go beyond regular membership. By Kris Testori

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.

LETTERS/ I didn’t want to write this letter. I have been a full-time resident of Blowing Rock for over 32 years…

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.

+ More Articles

Blowing Rock Voted a Top Adventure Town By Blue Ridge Outdoors Readers

LETTERS/ Praxis: Actions over Words

Police Chase Ends in Crash

Noted Pianist Closes Concert Season at St. Mary of the Hills

Blowing Rock’s 2023 Tour of Homes Sets Fundraising Record — $103,000 Going to Local Nonprofits

High Country Real Estate: September Statistics

High Country Breast Cancer Foundation Announces the 5K Run/Walk to Support Breast Cancer Awareness

Many Families and Friends Enjoy Blowing Rock School Fall Festival on September 30

Event Spotlight: Blowing Rock Chamber Partner Appreciation Reception

Mustard Seed Home to Host Second Annual Sip N Stroll Event in October

All Aboard! History of a Beloved Train

High Country Caregivers A Night at Chetola Gala: Dancing the Night Away While Raising Needed Funds

Blowing Rock Candidates Forum set for October 9, 2023

LETTERS/ I didn’t want to write this letter. I have been a full-time resident of Blowing Rock for over 32 years…

High Country Sporting Clay Championship Fundraiser Takes Aim for a Great Cause

High Country Real Estate: Adieu August

Samaritan’s Purse Responds To Hurricane Idalia’s Destruction in Florida

High Country Real Estate: Best Upgrades to Add Value to Your Home

High Country Real Estate: July Snapshot

Fine Arts Painter Lee Harper to Celebrate her Eighth Year as Artist-in-Residence at Blowing Rock’s Edgewood Cottage

July 2023 MLS Report From High Country Realtors

Blowing Rock Charity Horse Show: Celebrating 100 Years, 1923-2023

Yonahlossee Stables: Hoofbeats in the High Country

Edgewood Cottage Features David Nelson Collins as Artist in Residence This Week Through August 13

Susan Sharpe and Evenlight Eagles Share Edgewood Cottage as Artists in Residence This Week Through July 30