Oct. 5, 2016. Since 1976, the Avery Museum has been supplying the community with a unique look into the county’s heritage of railroads. Join the museum on Oct. 7 at 6:30 p.m. for birthday cake, punch, and coffee to celebrate this milestone! The museum’s 40th birthday is a great time to get to know the people behind and the projects they’re working on right now. By Emily Willis. / Read more…

Sept. 16, 2016. “John Muir visited Grandfather Mountain in late September of 1898,” said Mickey Shortt, director of education and natural resources for the Grandfather Mountain Stewardship Foundation, the nonprofit organization that oversees the Linville nature preserve and travel attraction. “While here, he seemed most impressed by the diversity of trees in the deciduous forest around Grandfather and the endless ridges that came into view from the peaks.” / Read more…

May 27, 2016. The Mast General Store celebrates Land Trust Day with the Blue Ridge Conservancy (BRC) and the New River Conservancy (NRC) onSaturday, June 4th. Recognized for 14 years at Mast Store, Land Trust Day is a friend-raising event encouraging new memberships in local land trusts, as well as an educational opportunity to learn how these groups are preserving our land heritage. / Read more…

May 24, 2016. “This set of shrubs in the heath family are the gems of the mountain,” said Mickey Shortt, Director of Education and Natural Resources for the GM Stewardship Foundation, the nonprofit organization that oversees the Linville attraction. “They are the showiest, the brightest, the ones that we turn our heads to look at.” / Read more…

March 9, 2016. Did you know that one of our nation’s first state parks was created 100 years ago at the summit of Mount Mitchell right here in North Carolina? Whether you said yes or no, visit your local state park today to celebrate and learn about how the system has grown by a quarter of a million acres for conservation, recreation and education. By Kaitlan Morehouse. / Read more…

March 8, 2016. Lee Carter and Greg Bradley first bought a home in Blowing Rock 23 years ago on a southeastern ridge of Grandfather Mountain and have promoted and supported the preservation of its natural beauty ever since. Over the years, they have added additional parcels of land to complete their 17 acres tract, and, have recently completed their new dream home there. / Read more…

Feb. 11, 2016. This interactive citizen science experience will guide you through watching and counting the birds you see in your own backyard. You and other participating birdwatchers will go online to birdcount.org anytime between Friday and Monday, Feb. 12-15, to record the number of birds you see. By Jessica Isaacs. Photos from Audubon.org. / Read more…

Jan. 7, 2016. Local residents and conservation advocates John and Faye Cooper recently donated to the Blue Ridge Conservancy more than 20 acres of pristine Valle Crucis farmland, ensuring the property’s future as a valuable part of the community and an educational resource. The Coopers, owners of The Mast General Store, purchased the property in two parcels — the first in the early 1990s and the second almost 10 years later — and knew from the beginning that they needed to protect the land. By Jessica Isaacs. / Read more…