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Todd Bush’s Picture Book of Blowing Rock

"Blowing Rock: Crown of the Blue Ridge" comes out in June.
“Blowing Rock: Crown of the Blue Ridge” comes out in June.

By Jesse Wood

May 23, 2014. Acclaimed photographer Todd Bush has a new coffee table book coming out in June. This time around Bush depicts Blowing Rock in 160 pages.

While “Blowing Rock – Crown of the Blue Ridge” won’t be shipped until June 10, a pre-release price with a 10 percent discount is available by ordering the 200-photo pictorial, which brings “the charm of Blowing Rock into your living room,” at www.bushphoto.com through June 3.

The book is formatted similarly to his first book – “Banner Elk – Jewel of Appalachia” – that was published in 2011, and features images Bush has taken over the years of the seasonal landscapes, people, attractions and businesses of the quaint village located in Southern Watauga. Chapters of the book include “In the Neighborhood: Around Town and Beyond” and “Adventurous Peace: Fun in the Sun.”

Book Cover
Book Cover

“Blowing Rock has been really special to me ever since I got married,” Bush said.

Years ago his parents arranged for Todd-and-Lorie’s honeymoon in Blowing Rock. At the time the couple lived in Charlotte, but they would return many times to go camping with their dogs at Price Park, view the stars from the Blue Ridge Parkway, shop on Main Street and eat at Kilwin’s – all things they still do since moving to the High Country more than two decades ago.

The impetus for the Blowing Rock coffee table book began much the same way as the Banner Elk book. Don Iverson, a publisher and Bush’s neighbor of 20 years, suggested this past winter to Bush that he ought to create another picture book.

The cover of his book features an image of owners of Kilwin’s chocolate and ice cream shop Bill and Cathy Williamson sitting on the iconic, historic attraction The Blowing Rock.

In addition to thanking his wife Lorie, his brother and editor Bruce, publisher Don and and his wife Cathy Iverson and all the businesses and people that grace the pages of the book, Bush thanked the Town of Blowing Rock and its Tourism Development Authority, Chamber of Commerce and Historical Society.

Like the Blowing Rock book, which was printed in Maryland, only 1,000 copies of the Banner Elk book were published. The Banner Elk book has essentially sold out with only a few copies remaining. Bush mentioned that the folks of Banner Elk were “overwhelmingly supportive” of the book and that local families and business literally bought boxes of the books.

“It looks like the project is evolving into a series of books about High Country towns,” Bush said, noting that the next book is still in the brainstorming stages.

The pre-release price is $43 for a limited time until June 3. Afterwards the retail price is $48. The Blowing Rock Chamber of Commerce will sell copies of the book beginning June 10, and on June 14, Bush will be at American Legion during Art in the Park showcasing and signing copies of the book.

Check www.bushphoto.com for other pickup locations, retail locations offering the book and dates, times and locations of future book signings.

Reserve a copy of the book by calling 828-898-8088 or www.bushphoto.com. See a sample of images in the book below.

A couple sits on The Blowing Rock. Photo by Todd Bush
A couple sits on The Blowing Rock. Photo by Todd Bush
Tweetsie Railroad - Photo by Todd Bush
Tweetsie Railroad – Photo by Todd Bush
Tweetsie Railroad - Photo by Todd Bush
Tweetsie Railroad – Photo by Todd Bush
On the Blue Ridge Parkway, Price Lake glistens on a fall day. Photo by Todd Bush
On the Blue Ridge Parkway, Price Lake glistens on a fall day. Photo by Todd Bush

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Since closed down, Sonny's Grill was an iconic institution in Blowing Rock. Photo by Todd Bush
Since closed down, Sonny’s Grill was an iconic institution in Blowing Rock. Photo by Todd Bush
Downtown Blowing Rock - Photo by Todd Bush
Downtown Blowing Rock – Photo by Todd Bush
A time lapse of a car on the viaduct on the Blue Ridge Parkway. Photo by Todd Bush
A time lapse of a car on the viaduct on the Blue Ridge Parkway. Photo by Todd Bush
A beautiful sunset near Blowing Rock. Photo by Todd Bush
A beautiful sunset from Blue Ridge Mountain Club. Photo by Todd Bush
Camping near Blowing Rock - Photo by Todd Bush
Camping at Blue Ridge Mountain Club – Photo by Todd Bush
Another time lapse vehicle shot - Photo by Todd Bush
Another time lapse vehicle shot on the Blue Ridge Parkway just south of Thunder Hill Overlook – Photo by Todd Bush