Tag: fishing

Winter Fun in the High Country

~ Karen J Rieley, M.A. ~ Leave a comment

Karen Rieley

Published in the Winter 2021 issue of Carolina Mountain Life – pp. 31-35

Think of the High Country in the winter and, no doubt, you think of snowboarding and snow skiing. After all, the area boasts three great ski mountains along 42 miles from Beech Mountain Resort to Sugar Mountain Resort to Appalachian Ski Mountain.

But make no mistake, the High Country is no one-trick pony in the winter. There’s lots to do for all ages, whether there’s snow or not. If standing at the edge of a mountaintop with nothing between you and the bottom but two skis and a couple of poles or one lone snowboard isn’t your cup of tea (or hot cocoa), or if you’re ready for a change of pace from snow skiing/snowboarding, check out these other fun winter activities!

Visit the websites for these to check out times, days of the week, costs, age restrictions, advance reservation requirements and other specifics.

Snow Tubing & Ziplining

If snow tubing and ziplining are more your speed and comfort level, you have three great choices in the High Country. All three offer sweeping views of the Blue Ridge Mountains, plenty of lanes, snowmaking, plus moving carpet lifts to quickly transport you back to the top. Check out Beech Mountain Resort, Hawksnest in Seven Devils, and Sugar Mountain Resort, all in the northwest mountains of North Carolina.

Ice Skating

While others are skiing or snowboarding on the slopes, you and your children may enjoy ice skating. Two resorts, Beech Mountain Resort and Sugar Mountain Ski Resort, have the added advantage of ice skating located next door to restaurants, retail stores and other amenities. Appalachian Ski Mountain in Blowing Rock is the only ski area in North Carolina with a Zamboni to cut the ice floor on its skating rink.

Kids’ Camps & Lessons

Downhill skiing is a lifelong sport. While you can learn at any age, kids have the advantage of being flexible, nimble and relatively fearless. Enrolling your child in one of the region’s ski or snowboarding camps is a great way to introduce them to a positive and fun first-time experience. Plus, while they’re in camp, you’re freed up to enjoy some adults-only time! Appalachian Ski Mountain, Blowing Rock, N.C., has SKIwee and Cruiser Camp programs designed to teach beginning skiers, ages 4-10, and snowboarders, ages 7-12. Beech Mountain Resort offers several kids’ camps: Burton Learn to Ride Center for ages 6-12 to learn the basics of snowboarding; Snow Kamp for ages 3-5 to provide a positive and fun first-time experience; and Traxx ski instruction for ages 6-12. Also, Ski & Ride School offers hourly lessons for ages 4 and older and Snowflakes Childcare watches kids, ages 1-5, while adults hit the slope. Sugar Mountain Ski Resort’s Children’s Snowsports School includes Sugar Bear Ski and Polar Bear Snowboard schools to teach skiing to children, ages 5-10, and snowboarding to children, ages 7-14.

Sledding

Sledding is the easiest and most accessible winter activity for all ages. It can be done almost anywhere there is a hill and public property, an inexpensive plastic sled will do, and snow in the High Country is almost certain throughout the season!

Beech Mountain has a new sledding hill across the street from the Visitor Center and behind the Brick Oven Pizzeria. It can be accessed from Bark Park Way, the paved road that runs beside the pizzeria. Parking is either in the public gravel lot just before the restaurant off the Beech Mountain Parkway, or the new, paved pay-to-park lot on Bark Park Way. Two state-of-the-art snow guns ensure a good base and quick coverage when the weather is optimal for snowmaking. Weather permitting, the hill will be open for the winter season beginning Nov. 27. Only plastic sleds may be used, no tubes or sleds with metal runners.

Cross-Country Skiing/Snowshoeing

If you’re looking for fun, easy, and safe new ways to stay active and energized over the winter months, cross country skiing and snowshoeing offer great alternatives for active outdoor enthusiasts of every age and skill-level to get out and explore winter.  They are a fantastic way to stay active, are much faster to learn, and are also more affordable as a sport. Eight options, in particular, in the region offer a variety of options. Beech Mountain has an extensive trail system available for snowshoeing with all levels of difficulty. Experienced snowshoers might consider the Emerald Outback trails at the top of the mountain. An easier snowshoeing option is the 1/3-mile walking track surrounding the Buckeye Recreation Center. Sugar Mountain Resort offers a snowshoe guided tour that can be a casual walk or an intense workout in a wonderful winter wonderland. Boone Greenway Trail, Boone, N.C., is a nice flat trail that meanders through the woods and mountains and along creek beds.  The trail is maintained by the Town of Boone, but it is “last on the list” to be scraped for snow after all town sidewalks and roads are clear, so there is a good chance you can get in some skiing if you arrive right after a good snow!When the Blue Ridge Parkway is closed to vehicles due to ice or snow, it is open to hiking, cross-country skiing and snowshoeing. Visit the National Park Service website for Blue Ridge Parkway road closures. Two good starting points are the gate on U.S. 221 near Beacon Heights to travel to the Linn Cover Viaduct and off U.S. 221, just outside Blowing Rock and south of the Cone estate on the parkway. In both cases, make sure to park without blocking the gates in case a park ranger needs to enter the area. Elk Knob State Park in Todd is the only North Carolina State Park to offer cross-country skiing. Moses H. Cone Memorial Park near Blowing Rock offers some fine cross-country skiing in an attractive and historic venue. Roan Mountain State Park in Tennessee sits at the foot of the soaring ridgetop for which it is named. Roan Mountain gets more snow than other local areas. It offers a variety of terrain — from scenic routes for novices to thrilling downhills for experts (though none of the trails are groomed). Valle Crucis Park has a nice and flat ¾-mile paved loop that is great for cross-country skiing. (The park also offers great trout fishing locations that are accessible on snowing days.)

Hiking

If there isn’t enough snow for cross country skiing or snowshoeing, a winter hike is in order! Winter hiking offers crystal clear views, less people on the trails and peace and quiet. And it’s worth braving the chill to make your way to one of the area’s waterfalls that transform into wondrous works of icy art during the winter season.

In Blowing Rock, Glen Burney Falls Trail is less than two miles long and offers several mini falls along the way that make for good photographs.

Blue Ridge Parkway has many trails to explore:

Moses H. Cone Memorial Park Trails, Milepost 294, near Blowing Rock are 25 miles of historic carriage roads that are now wide, gravel trails. Three top hiking picks are: Flat Top Road Trail, about a six-mile hike from Flat Top Manor; Bass Lake Trail, an easy eight-tenths of a mile loop that takes you around the lake that is accessed from the Bass Lake entrance on U.S. 221 just outside downtown Blowing Rock; and Rich Mountain, about a five-mile roundtrip hike from Shulls Mill Road.

Julian Price Memorial Park, Milepost 296.7, is a majestic 4,200 acres at the foot of Grandfather Mountain. The park lies directly adjacent to Moses H. Cone Memorial Park. Price Lake Trail, Milepost 297, is a 2.5-mile loop trail that is mostly flat with plenty of lake vistas. Green Knob/Sims Pond Trail, inside Julian Price Memorial Park is a 2.4-mile loop trail by a pond and cascades and through a highland pasture. Boone Fork Trail, another loop trail in Julian Price Memorial Park is five miles, taking you by many small waterfalls and through rhododendron tunnels.

Tanawha Trail stretches 13.5 miles from Julian Price Memorial Park to Beacon Heights and parallels the Blue Ridge Parkway on Grandfather Mountain in North Carolina. The many accesses from the parkway let hikers choose as long a section as they like. Marked with white blazes, the Mountains-to-Sea Trail (MST) runs jointly with Tanawha Trail. The MST stretches from Clingmans Dome in Great Smoky Mountains National Park to Jockeys Ridge State Park on the North Carolina coast. Rough Ridge, Milepost 302.8, is actually a part of the larger 13.5-mile Tanawha Trail, but it is also a popular trail in its own right.

Beacon Heights Overlook Trail, Blue Ridge Parkway, Milepost 305.2, near Linville, N.C., is a short hike along the Blue Ridge Parkway to a stone summit with big views, especially nice for picnics.

Flat Rock Nature Trail, Milepost 308.3, is a mostly flat, ¾-mile loop nature that takes offers panoramic views from a “stone mountain” as you walk across the smooth rock summit.             Linville Falls, Milepost 316, is the most popular waterfall in the Blue Ridge Mountains. It is a spectacular, three-tiered waterfall plunging into Linville Gorge, the “Grand Canyon of the Southern Appalachians.” The Falls Trail distance is 1.6 miles round trip and easy. The Gorge Trail distance is 1.4 miles round trip and strenuous. The Plunge Basin Trail is a one-mile round trip and moderate.

Grandfather Mountain, the privately owned nonprofit nature park near Linville, offers access to 12 miles of premier hiking trails, some of which venture into the adjacent Grandfather Mountain State Park. The nature park offers access to 11 trails varying in difficulty from a gentle walk in the woods to a rigorous trek across rugged peaks. In-park trails include the Woods Walk, Black Rock Nature Trail and Bridge Trail. The nature park also provides access to backcountry trails in the adjacent Grandfather Mountain State Park. Along the Grandfather Trail, a very strenuous trail that runs from the mountain’s Hiker Parking Lot out 2.4 miles to Calloway Peak, hikers use in-place cables and ladders for extra steep sections and at times are traversing the ridgeline of the mountain. If guests plan on hiking the backcountry trails, they’re asked to fill out hiking permits before setting out. These permits also give the hiker contact information to utilize if needed. Profile Trail is a 3.6-mile strenuous trail inside Grandfather Mountain State Park that takes you up the side of Grandfather Mountain to Calloway Gap.

Williams Park in Sugar Mountain is a wooded 14-acre boulderfield forest with three short hiking trails that follow a cascading stream.

Beech Mountain Trails offer hikers of all ages and skill levels a number of options:

Emerald Outback Trails features more than eight miles of outstanding trails near the mountain’s summit.

Upper Pond Creek Trail is Beech Mountain’s favorite trail with an easy one-mile hike and 15 different educational stations.

Wild Iris Trail is an easy 2.5-mile woodland trail with only a moderate elevation change. A trail for all seasons, Wild Iris is perfect for hiking and biking as well as skiing and snowshoeing.

Lower Pond Creek Trail is a one-mile moderate to strenuous trail that offers some of Beech Mountain’s greatest natural beauty.

Hi-Lo Trail starts at Beech Mountain and offers you three choices of trails – the Tasters Loop, Lakeside Loop and Mountain to Mountain Loop.

Elk Knob Summit Trail in Todd, in one of North Carolina’s newest state parks, is 1.9 miles to one of the highest peaks of the Appalachians.

Otter Falls Trail in Seven Devils is a short 6/10th mile trail to a 25-foot waterfall.

Crab Orchard Falls Trail in Valle Crucis is a 1.5-mile roundtrip hike that takes you to the beautiful Crab Orchard Falls waterfall. Access to the trail is behind the Valle Crucis Conference Center.

Elk River Falls Trail in Elk Park is a short half-mile hike that leads you to a 50-foot waterfall cascading over a cliff.

Waterfalls Park in Newland is a small roadside park on NC Highway 194 across from Ingle’s grocery store with a 50-foot multi-tier waterfall for easy enjoyment for all, including picnic tables and a short trail.

Big & Little Lost Cove Cliff Trails near Newland are two sections of Lost Cove Cliffs in Pisgah National Forest and in the Wilson Creek Wild and Scenic River Area. You can hike to both Big Lost Cove Cliffs and Little Lost Cove Cliffs with this 5.5-mile trail combo.

Hawksbill Mountain Trail in Burke County is a 1.5-mile roundtrip hike to the summit of Hawksbill Mountain offering panoramic views of the canyon of Linville Gorge Wilderness Area with the valley floor and Linville River 2,000 ft. below you.

Indoor Climbing

When being outside is less than appealing, indoor climbing offers a great alternative. With indoor climbing you will get both aerobic and anaerobic exercise engaging and working all muscle groups simultaneously, while using and improving balance and coordination. You will burn 500 to 700 calories per hour and work both strength and endurance simultaneously. To facilities in Boone offer great options. Center 45 Climbing & Fitness has 2,000 square feet of indoor climbing (bouldering) terrain. The walls are all 14 feet at the apex with varied terrain. Every week talented and creative route setters craft new and exciting climbs. The facility also offers additional weightlifting and general fitness opportunities, along with a climbing-specific training area. Rock Dimensions Tower stands about 40 feet tall and has more than 4000 square feet of varying climbing terrain to accommodate both beginners and seasoned veterans. The “Tower to Rock” program combines a tower experience with climbing out on real rock all in a day! Staff belays as well as belay classes and certification opportunities for belaying at the tower are also offered.

Attractions

Wilderness Run Alpine Coaster, Banner Elk, N.C., is the first alpine coaster in the North Carolina Mountains. Each cart accommodates one or two people. Once the cart is pulled by a cable to the top, the remainder of the ride is downhill — fed by gravity — on multiple 360-degree loops with riders using hand brakes to control the speeds, which reach up to 27 miles per hour.

Mountain Warriors UTV, Elk Park, N.C. is a recreational UTV touring business that offers scenery, fun and adventure started by mother and son Regina and Carson Gordon. It has more than 80 acres of land and trails, with top-of-the-line Polaris Rzr 1000 XP 4-seater vehicles. This is a guided UTV tour that offers views of the Appalachian Mountains, beautiful trail riding and intense hill climbing.

Sugar Creek Mining Company, Banner Elk, N.C., lets you experience the thrill of prospecting for your very own North Carolina authentic gemstones. You’re guaranteed to find precious and semi-precious gemstones in every bucket. The expert staff will set you up on the heated flume line and then help you pan for gems and identify them. If desired, expert gem cutters can cut your rough gemstones and set it into a piece of jewelry.

Apple Hill Farm, Banner Elk, NC, features llamas, alpaca, donkey, goats, horses, pigs and dogs. Take the 60-minute tour and get back to nature! Public tours are Wednesdays, Fridays, and Saturdays during the winter months, with private tours offered seven days a week. Tours by advanced reservation only. 

Tweetsie Christmas, Blowing Rock, N.C., celebrates the holiday season, Nov. 19 – Dec. 30, 5 p.m., with a winter wonderland and a nighttime train ride among thousands of dazzling lights! Enjoy the rides, shops, Santa, and much more.

The Blowing Rock, Blowing Rock, N.C., is North Carolina’s oldest tourist attraction.  Enjoy the endless winter views and read the legend. Call ahead for hours, especially during inclement weather.

Mystery Hill, Blowing Rock, N.C., is a unique blend of indoor and outdoor adventure. Explore the mysterious Natural Gravitational Anomaly, watch a ball roll upwards and water flow uphill! Have fun with weird science in the hands-on science attraction, the Hall of Mystery, or encase your friends in a giant bubble at Bubblerama. Try your hand at axe or knife throwing and brave the Bull Riding Challenge at Tomahawk Hill. This winter experience Crazy Christmas at Mystery Hill with daily elf hunts, Christmas Crafts, Christmas-themed photos, gem mining for Christmas jewels and snowball fights and weekend activities, including a YETI encounter, roaming carolers, Christmas light walk, Santa’s landing and more!

The Children’s Playhouse, Boone, N.C., provides children from birth to age eight with an enriching, educational play environment while at the same time offering their parents and caregivers friendly support in the important job of raising children.

Ellwood’s Hatchet House, Boone, N.C., is the town’s Boone’s first & only indoor axe throwing tavern. Enjoy eight axe throwing targets, two corn hole lanes, a giant connect four, pool table, air hockey, pinball, cold craft and domestic beer and great food.

Let’s Be Artsy!, Boone, N.C., unleashes your creative side. The talented team of instructors guides you step by step through the session’s featured painting. All painting supplies and artist instructions are provided. No art experience is needed. You can even take a fun, introductory belly dancing class, too!

Grandfather Mountain, Linville NC, features the Mile-High Swinging Bridge. Weather permitting, the swinging bridge is the perfect spot to take in the endless winter vistas and capture the snowcapped mountains. Afterwards, head down to the animal habitats and see how otter, bear and eagles stay busy during the winter months!

Linville Caverns, Marion, NC, are the only show caverns in North Carolina and have a constant year-round temperature of 52 degrees. This is a perfect place to visit on a cold and windy winter day! See the winter hibernation of granddaddy long-legs and unique limestone formations. The caverns are only open on weekends in winter. Bring a raincoat or a coat with a hood. The cave tends to drip!

YMCA of Avery County has something for everyone! Visitors can get a day pass and access everything the YMCA has to offer including access to the indoor swimming pool with water slides and aerobics classes, a wide variety of group exercise classes, the Wellness Center with cardio and strength machines, basketball courts, indoor batting cages, golf simulators, drop-in childcare and more! If you’re staying longer, ask about YMCA membership opportunities. You can also see upcoming holiday programs and events on the YMCA website and social media accounts. 

The Fred and Margie Pfohl Buckeye Recreation Center, Beech Mountain, N.C., offers nonmembers day passes for full access to the facility, including a weight room, regulation-sized gym, indoor tennis courts and a soft playroom for kids, eight and under. The lobby provides wi-fi, cozy seating and an extensive lending library, when a quiet day indoors is preferred. Fitness classes are offered as well. The recreation center also manages the free canoe and kayak rentals on Buckeye Lake.

NC High Country Fresco Trail throughout the High Country includes more than a dozen frescoes painted in small mountain churches in the 1970s by artist Ben Long, a native of North Carolina. Follow the trail to see the following: 1849 St. Paul’s Episcopal Church Fresco, downtown Wilkesboro; Holy Trinity Church Fresco, Glendale Springs; St Mary’s Church Fresco, West Jefferson; and Sloop Chapel, Crossnore.

Museums

BRAHM (Blowing Rock Art and History Museum), Blowing Rock, N.C., promotes the arts and Southern Appalachian heritage and history, through educational programs, exhibitions, activities and permanent collections. Current exhibitions include “Wildflowers: Glass Sculptures” by Ronnie Hughes, Sept. 14, 2021 – May 3, 2022; “Emergent Landscapes: Mountains, Music, & Improvisation in the Paintings of Abie Harris,” Aug. 24, 2021 – Jan. 15, 2022; “Potters & Patrons: The Gorelick Collection at BRAHM,” Sept. 7, 2021 – April 16, 2022; “Storyland: A Trip Through Childhood Favorites,” Oct. 1, 2021 – Jan. 22, 2022; The Janet H. Wilson Collection, ongoing; Philip Moose, permanent collection; and “The Village of Blowing Rock: Exploring Our History,” permanent exhibit.

Appalachian State University’s Turchin Center for the Visual Arts, Boone, N.C., offers free admission to the following permanent collections and rotating exhibitions: “Matters of the Heart (and Other Abnormalities)” by Shawn Morin, Sept. 3, 2021 – Feb. 5, 2022; “98.6 – A Creative Commonality,” July 2, 2021 – Feb. 5, 2022; “35th Rosen Sculpture Competition and Exhibition,” May 15, 2021 – April 16, 2022; “In the Garden of Healing” by Dara Mark, Dec 3, 2021 – May 7, 2022; “To Remain Connected,” Dec. 3, 2021 – May 7, 2022; and “19th Annual Appalachian Mountain Photography Competition” March 4, 2022 – June 5, 2022.

Mystery Hill Museums include the 1903 Dougherty House: Appalachian Heritage Museum and Appalachian Fossil Museum, Blowing Rock, N.C. The Dougherty House was the first home in the area to have electricity and running water. The home is being restored to its original 1903 condition. Guests can tour the home, which is filled with turn-of-the-century furniture, antiques and memorabilia. Appalachian Fossil Museum displays North Carolina’s largest private collection of fossils.

Festivals

24th Blowing Rock Winterfest, Blowing Rock, N.C., returns Jan. 27 – 30, 2022. Jump into winter with the Polar Bear Plunge and Beer Garden. Keep warm with restaurant specials, Chili Challenge and family activities at area attractions. Shop till you drop on Main Street while enjoying the Ice Sculptures outside various retailers. Whether you’re looking for a couple getaway or family friendly weekend, WinterFest has something for everyone!

Chetola Resort at Blowing Rock’s Festival of Lights, Blowing Rock, N.C., becomes a Winter Wonderland, Nov. 26, 2021 – January 2022, with over 50,000 dazzling lights around Chetola Lake. Make the drive around the resort and Chetola Lake for a stunning winter lights experience – the warm colors against a cool mountain background makes for a view like no other and highlights the natural beauty of the High Country. The displays illuminate at dusk each evening. The festival is a High Country tradition that culminates in Blowing Rock’s Winterfest, a four-day festival at the end of January packed with family friendly events such as a polar plunge, ice carvings, dog shows and auctions.

Sugarfest 2021, Sugar Mountain, N.C., is a weekend of winter fun, December 10-12, 2021, at Sugar Mountain Ski Resort. Participate in a preseason ski clinic and then try out the latest ski and snowboard equipment; celebrate the ceremonial opening of Sugar’s new Big Birch quad chairlift; kick off the winter right with the first Girls Go Shred Ride Day of the season; and enjoy food, drinks and dancing to live music by Glen Harlow & North Fork band, followed by fireworks.

Horseback Riding

Riding a horse or taking a carriage ride through snow-covered woods can be a one-of-a-kind experience. Two services offer 2.5-hour guided tours with trustworthy horses on easy carriage trails throughout Moses H. Cone Memorial Park, Milepost 294 on Blue Ridge Parkway.  VX3 Trail Rides offers custom rides for individual riders with experienced trail guide Tim Vines. Rides are limited to a maximum of five to give you the best experience possible. If you are a party of only two people and don’t see any availability for when you want to ride, contact Brad. Carriage Run Carriage Service offers carriage rides on the 32 miles of carriage trails in the Cone Estate.

Fishing

If your passion is fishing, winter is an ideal season to stalk wily mountain trout. The crowds are gone, leaving you with solitude, spectacular scenery, and brook, brown and rainbow trout. There are guide services around the High Country offering outings.

Holiday Festivities

Holiday decorations and twinkling lights are especially magical against a background of snow in the High Country. Check out the parades and Christmas tree and art exhibits offered in each town.

Live Theatre

When the weather turns blustery and cold, a matinee or night at the theater may be in order. Check out the offerings around the region, such as the Appalachian Theatre of the High Country, several groups at Appalachian State University (Department of Department and Dance, Hayes School of Music, and the Schaefer Center for the Performing Arts), BeanStalk Community Theatre and Blue Ridge Community Theatre in Boone; Ensemble Stage and Lees-McRae College performances in Banner Elk; and Ashe County Little Theatre in West Jefferson, among many others. See the CML Cultural Calendar for a complete listing of upcoming productions and contact information for each theatre.

Breweries & Wineries

The High Country is home to several great breweries, including Appalachian Mountain Brewery, Beech Mountain Brewing Company, Blowing Rock Brewery, Boondocks Brewing Tap Room & Restaurant, Booneshine Brewers, KETTELL BEERWORKS and Lost Province Brewing Company.

If wine is your preference, check out the wineries on the High Country Wine Trail including Banner Elk Winery & Villa, Eagles Nest Winery, Grandfather Vineyard & Winery, Linville Falls Winery, Thistle Meadow Winery, and Watauga Lake Winery.

Live Indoor Music

Check out the restaurants, breweries and wineries throughout this issue to find live music from jazz to traditional mountain jams all season long.

Winter Fun in the High Country

~ Karen J Rieley, M.A. ~ Leave a comment

Karen Rieley

Published in the Winter 2021 issue of Carolina Mountain Life – pp. 31-35

Think of the High Country in the winter and, no doubt, you think of snowboarding and snow skiing. After all, the area boasts three great ski mountains along 42 miles from Beech Mountain Resort to Sugar Mountain Resort to Appalachian Ski Mountain.

But make no mistake, the High Country is no one-trick pony in the winter. There’s lots to do for all ages, whether there’s snow or not. If standing at the edge of a mountaintop with nothing between you and the bottom but two skis and a couple of poles or one lone snowboard isn’t your cup of tea (or hot cocoa), or if you’re ready for a change of pace from snow skiing/snowboarding, check out these other fun winter activities!

Visit the websites for these to check out times, days of the week, costs, age restrictions, advance reservation requirements and other specifics.

Snow Tubing & Ziplining

If snow tubing and ziplining are more your speed and comfort level, you have three great choices in the High Country. All three offer sweeping views of the Blue Ridge Mountains, plenty of lanes, snowmaking, plus moving carpet lifts to quickly transport you back to the top. Check out Beech Mountain Resort, Hawksnest in Seven Devils, and Sugar Mountain Resort, all in the northwest mountains of North Carolina.

Ice Skating

While others are skiing or snowboarding on the slopes, you and your children may enjoy ice skating. Two resorts, Beech Mountain Resort and Sugar Mountain Ski Resort, have the added advantage of ice skating located next door to restaurants, retail stores and other amenities. Appalachian Ski Mountain in Blowing Rock is the only ski area in North Carolina with a Zamboni to cut the ice floor on its skating rink.

Kids’ Camps & Lessons

Downhill skiing is a lifelong sport. While you can learn at any age, kids have the advantage of being flexible, nimble and relatively fearless. Enrolling your child in one of the region’s ski or snowboarding camps is a great way to introduce them to a positive and fun first-time experience. Plus, while they’re in camp, you’re freed up to enjoy some adults-only time! Appalachian Ski Mountain, Blowing Rock, N.C., has SKIwee and Cruiser Camp programs designed to teach beginning skiers, ages 4-10, and snowboarders, ages 7-12. Beech Mountain Resort offers several kids’ camps: Burton Learn to Ride Center for ages 6-12 to learn the basics of snowboarding; Snow Kamp for ages 3-5 to provide a positive and fun first-time experience; and Traxx ski instruction for ages 6-12. Also, Ski & Ride School offers hourly lessons for ages 4 and older and Snowflakes Childcare watches kids, ages 1-5, while adults hit the slope. Sugar Mountain Ski Resort’s Children’s Snowsports School includes Sugar Bear Ski and Polar Bear Snowboard schools to teach skiing to children, ages 5-10, and snowboarding to children, ages 7-14.

Sledding

Sledding is the easiest and most accessible winter activity for all ages. It can be done almost anywhere there is a hill and public property, an inexpensive plastic sled will do, and snow in the High Country is almost certain throughout the season!

Beech Mountain has a new sledding hill across the street from the Visitor Center and behind the Brick Oven Pizzeria. It can be accessed from Bark Park Way, the paved road that runs beside the pizzeria. Parking is either in the public gravel lot just before the restaurant off the Beech Mountain Parkway, or the new, paved pay-to-park lot on Bark Park Way. Two state-of-the-art snow guns ensure a good base and quick coverage when the weather is optimal for snowmaking. Weather permitting, the hill will be open for the winter season beginning Nov. 27. Only plastic sleds may be used, no tubes or sleds with metal runners.

Cross-Country Skiing/Snowshoeing

If you’re looking for fun, easy, and safe new ways to stay active and energized over the winter months, cross country skiing and snowshoeing offer great alternatives for active outdoor enthusiasts of every age and skill-level to get out and explore winter.  They are a fantastic way to stay active, are much faster to learn, and are also more affordable as a sport. Eight options, in particular, in the region offer a variety of options. Beech Mountain has an extensive trail system available for snowshoeing with all levels of difficulty. Experienced snowshoers might consider the Emerald Outback trails at the top of the mountain. An easier snowshoeing option is the 1/3-mile walking track surrounding the Buckeye Recreation Center. Sugar Mountain Resort offers a snowshoe guided tour that can be a casual walk or an intense workout in a wonderful winter wonderland. Boone Greenway Trail, Boone, N.C., is a nice flat trail that meanders through the woods and mountains and along creek beds.  The trail is maintained by the Town of Boone, but it is “last on the list” to be scraped for snow after all town sidewalks and roads are clear, so there is a good chance you can get in some skiing if you arrive right after a good snow!When the Blue Ridge Parkway is closed to vehicles due to ice or snow, it is open to hiking, cross-country skiing and snowshoeing. Visit the National Park Service website for Blue Ridge Parkway road closures. Two good starting points are the gate on U.S. 221 near Beacon Heights to travel to the Linn Cover Viaduct and off U.S. 221, just outside Blowing Rock and south of the Cone estate on the parkway. In both cases, make sure to park without blocking the gates in case a park ranger needs to enter the area. Elk Knob State Park in Todd is the only North Carolina State Park to offer cross-country skiing. Moses H. Cone Memorial Park near Blowing Rock offers some fine cross-country skiing in an attractive and historic venue. Roan Mountain State Park in Tennessee sits at the foot of the soaring ridgetop for which it is named. Roan Mountain gets more snow than other local areas. It offers a variety of terrain — from scenic routes for novices to thrilling downhills for experts (though none of the trails are groomed). Valle Crucis Park has a nice and flat ¾-mile paved loop that is great for cross-country skiing. (The park also offers great trout fishing locations that are accessible on snowing days.)

Hiking

If there isn’t enough snow for cross country skiing or snowshoeing, a winter hike is in order! Winter hiking offers crystal clear views, less people on the trails and peace and quiet. And it’s worth braving the chill to make your way to one of the area’s waterfalls that transform into wondrous works of icy art during the winter season.

In Blowing Rock, Glen Burney Falls Trail is less than two miles long and offers several mini falls along the way that make for good photographs.

Blue Ridge Parkway has many trails to explore:

Moses H. Cone Memorial Park Trails, Milepost 294, near Blowing Rock are 25 miles of historic carriage roads that are now wide, gravel trails. Three top hiking picks are: Flat Top Road Trail, about a six-mile hike from Flat Top Manor; Bass Lake Trail, an easy eight-tenths of a mile loop that takes you around the lake that is accessed from the Bass Lake entrance on U.S. 221 just outside downtown Blowing Rock; and Rich Mountain, about a five-mile roundtrip hike from Shulls Mill Road.

Julian Price Memorial Park, Milepost 296.7, is a majestic 4,200 acres at the foot of Grandfather Mountain. The park lies directly adjacent to Moses H. Cone Memorial Park. Price Lake Trail, Milepost 297, is a 2.5-mile loop trail that is mostly flat with plenty of lake vistas. Green Knob/Sims Pond Trail, inside Julian Price Memorial Park is a 2.4-mile loop trail by a pond and cascades and through a highland pasture. Boone Fork Trail, another loop trail in Julian Price Memorial Park is five miles, taking you by many small waterfalls and through rhododendron tunnels.

Tanawha Trail stretches 13.5 miles from Julian Price Memorial Park to Beacon Heights and parallels the Blue Ridge Parkway on Grandfather Mountain in North Carolina. The many accesses from the parkway let hikers choose as long a section as they like. Marked with white blazes, the Mountains-to-Sea Trail (MST) runs jointly with Tanawha Trail. The MST stretches from Clingmans Dome in Great Smoky Mountains National Park to Jockeys Ridge State Park on the North Carolina coast. Rough Ridge, Milepost 302.8, is actually a part of the larger 13.5-mile Tanawha Trail, but it is also a popular trail in its own right.

Beacon Heights Overlook Trail, Blue Ridge Parkway, Milepost 305.2, near Linville, N.C., is a short hike along the Blue Ridge Parkway to a stone summit with big views, especially nice for picnics.

Flat Rock Nature Trail, Milepost 308.3, is a mostly flat, ¾-mile loop nature that takes offers panoramic views from a “stone mountain” as you walk across the smooth rock summit.             Linville Falls, Milepost 316, is the most popular waterfall in the Blue Ridge Mountains. It is a spectacular, three-tiered waterfall plunging into Linville Gorge, the “Grand Canyon of the Southern Appalachians.” The Falls Trail distance is 1.6 miles round trip and easy. The Gorge Trail distance is 1.4 miles round trip and strenuous. The Plunge Basin Trail is a one-mile round trip and moderate.

Grandfather Mountain, the privately owned nonprofit nature park near Linville, offers access to 12 miles of premier hiking trails, some of which venture into the adjacent Grandfather Mountain State Park. The nature park offers access to 11 trails varying in difficulty from a gentle walk in the woods to a rigorous trek across rugged peaks. In-park trails include the Woods Walk, Black Rock Nature Trail and Bridge Trail. The nature park also provides access to backcountry trails in the adjacent Grandfather Mountain State Park. Along the Grandfather Trail, a very strenuous trail that runs from the mountain’s Hiker Parking Lot out 2.4 miles to Calloway Peak, hikers use in-place cables and ladders for extra steep sections and at times are traversing the ridgeline of the mountain. If guests plan on hiking the backcountry trails, they’re asked to fill out hiking permits before setting out. These permits also give the hiker contact information to utilize if needed. Profile Trail is a 3.6-mile strenuous trail inside Grandfather Mountain State Park that takes you up the side of Grandfather Mountain to Calloway Gap.

Williams Park in Sugar Mountain is a wooded 14-acre boulderfield forest with three short hiking trails that follow a cascading stream.

Beech Mountain Trails offer hikers of all ages and skill levels a number of options:

Emerald Outback Trails features more than eight miles of outstanding trails near the mountain’s summit.

Upper Pond Creek Trail is Beech Mountain’s favorite trail with an easy one-mile hike and 15 different educational stations.

Wild Iris Trail is an easy 2.5-mile woodland trail with only a moderate elevation change. A trail for all seasons, Wild Iris is perfect for hiking and biking as well as skiing and snowshoeing.

Lower Pond Creek Trail is a one-mile moderate to strenuous trail that offers some of Beech Mountain’s greatest natural beauty.

Hi-Lo Trail starts at Beech Mountain and offers you three choices of trails – the Tasters Loop, Lakeside Loop and Mountain to Mountain Loop.

Elk Knob Summit Trail in Todd, in one of North Carolina’s newest state parks, is 1.9 miles to one of the highest peaks of the Appalachians.

Otter Falls Trail in Seven Devils is a short 6/10th mile trail to a 25-foot waterfall.

Crab Orchard Falls Trail in Valle Crucis is a 1.5-mile roundtrip hike that takes you to the beautiful Crab Orchard Falls waterfall. Access to the trail is behind the Valle Crucis Conference Center.

Elk River Falls Trail in Elk Park is a short half-mile hike that leads you to a 50-foot waterfall cascading over a cliff.

Waterfalls Park in Newland is a small roadside park on NC Highway 194 across from Ingle’s grocery store with a 50-foot multi-tier waterfall for easy enjoyment for all, including picnic tables and a short trail.

Big & Little Lost Cove Cliff Trails near Newland are two sections of Lost Cove Cliffs in Pisgah National Forest and in the Wilson Creek Wild and Scenic River Area. You can hike to both Big Lost Cove Cliffs and Little Lost Cove Cliffs with this 5.5-mile trail combo.

Hawksbill Mountain Trail in Burke County is a 1.5-mile roundtrip hike to the summit of Hawksbill Mountain offering panoramic views of the canyon of Linville Gorge Wilderness Area with the valley floor and Linville River 2,000 ft. below you.

Indoor Climbing

When being outside is less than appealing, indoor climbing offers a great alternative. With indoor climbing you will get both aerobic and anaerobic exercise engaging and working all muscle groups simultaneously, while using and improving balance and coordination. You will burn 500 to 700 calories per hour and work both strength and endurance simultaneously. To facilities in Boone offer great options. Center 45 Climbing & Fitness has 2,000 square feet of indoor climbing (bouldering) terrain. The walls are all 14 feet at the apex with varied terrain. Every week talented and creative route setters craft new and exciting climbs. The facility also offers additional weightlifting and general fitness opportunities, along with a climbing-specific training area. Rock Dimensions Tower stands about 40 feet tall and has more than 4000 square feet of varying climbing terrain to accommodate both beginners and seasoned veterans. The “Tower to Rock” program combines a tower experience with climbing out on real rock all in a day! Staff belays as well as belay classes and certification opportunities for belaying at the tower are also offered.

Attractions

Wilderness Run Alpine Coaster, Banner Elk, N.C., is the first alpine coaster in the North Carolina Mountains. Each cart accommodates one or two people. Once the cart is pulled by a cable to the top, the remainder of the ride is downhill — fed by gravity — on multiple 360-degree loops with riders using hand brakes to control the speeds, which reach up to 27 miles per hour.

Mountain Warriors UTV, Elk Park, N.C. is a recreational UTV touring business that offers scenery, fun and adventure started by mother and son Regina and Carson Gordon. It has more than 80 acres of land and trails, with top-of-the-line Polaris Rzr 1000 XP 4-seater vehicles. This is a guided UTV tour that offers views of the Appalachian Mountains, beautiful trail riding and intense hill climbing.

Sugar Creek Mining Company, Banner Elk, N.C., lets you experience the thrill of prospecting for your very own North Carolina authentic gemstones. You’re guaranteed to find precious and semi-precious gemstones in every bucket. The expert staff will set you up on the heated flume line and then help you pan for gems and identify them. If desired, expert gem cutters can cut your rough gemstones and set it into a piece of jewelry.

Apple Hill Farm, Banner Elk, NC, features llamas, alpaca, donkey, goats, horses, pigs and dogs. Take the 60-minute tour and get back to nature! Public tours are Wednesdays, Fridays, and Saturdays during the winter months, with private tours offered seven days a week. Tours by advanced reservation only. 

Tweetsie Christmas, Blowing Rock, N.C., celebrates the holiday season, Nov. 19 – Dec. 30, 5 p.m., with a winter wonderland and a nighttime train ride among thousands of dazzling lights! Enjoy the rides, shops, Santa, and much more.

The Blowing Rock, Blowing Rock, N.C., is North Carolina’s oldest tourist attraction.  Enjoy the endless winter views and read the legend. Call ahead for hours, especially during inclement weather.

Mystery Hill, Blowing Rock, N.C., is a unique blend of indoor and outdoor adventure. Explore the mysterious Natural Gravitational Anomaly, watch a ball roll upwards and water flow uphill! Have fun with weird science in the hands-on science attraction, the Hall of Mystery, or encase your friends in a giant bubble at Bubblerama. Try your hand at axe or knife throwing and brave the Bull Riding Challenge at Tomahawk Hill. This winter experience Crazy Christmas at Mystery Hill with daily elf hunts, Christmas Crafts, Christmas-themed photos, gem mining for Christmas jewels and snowball fights and weekend activities, including a YETI encounter, roaming carolers, Christmas light walk, Santa’s landing and more!

The Children’s Playhouse, Boone, N.C., provides children from birth to age eight with an enriching, educational play environment while at the same time offering their parents and caregivers friendly support in the important job of raising children.

Ellwood’s Hatchet House, Boone, N.C., is the town’s Boone’s first & only indoor axe throwing tavern. Enjoy eight axe throwing targets, two corn hole lanes, a giant connect four, pool table, air hockey, pinball, cold craft and domestic beer and great food.

Let’s Be Artsy!, Boone, N.C., unleashes your creative side. The talented team of instructors guides you step by step through the session’s featured painting. All painting supplies and artist instructions are provided. No art experience is needed. You can even take a fun, introductory belly dancing class, too!

Grandfather Mountain, Linville NC, features the Mile-High Swinging Bridge. Weather permitting, the swinging bridge is the perfect spot to take in the endless winter vistas and capture the snowcapped mountains. Afterwards, head down to the animal habitats and see how otter, bear and eagles stay busy during the winter months!

Linville Caverns, Marion, NC, are the only show caverns in North Carolina and have a constant year-round temperature of 52 degrees. This is a perfect place to visit on a cold and windy winter day! See the winter hibernation of granddaddy long-legs and unique limestone formations. The caverns are only open on weekends in winter. Bring a raincoat or a coat with a hood. The cave tends to drip!

YMCA of Avery County has something for everyone! Visitors can get a day pass and access everything the YMCA has to offer including access to the indoor swimming pool with water slides and aerobics classes, a wide variety of group exercise classes, the Wellness Center with cardio and strength machines, basketball courts, indoor batting cages, golf simulators, drop-in childcare and more! If you’re staying longer, ask about YMCA membership opportunities. You can also see upcoming holiday programs and events on the YMCA website and social media accounts. 

The Fred and Margie Pfohl Buckeye Recreation Center, Beech Mountain, N.C., offers nonmembers day passes for full access to the facility, including a weight room, regulation-sized gym, indoor tennis courts and a soft playroom for kids, eight and under. The lobby provides wi-fi, cozy seating and an extensive lending library, when a quiet day indoors is preferred. Fitness classes are offered as well. The recreation center also manages the free canoe and kayak rentals on Buckeye Lake.

NC High Country Fresco Trail throughout the High Country includes more than a dozen frescoes painted in small mountain churches in the 1970s by artist Ben Long, a native of North Carolina. Follow the trail to see the following: 1849 St. Paul’s Episcopal Church Fresco, downtown Wilkesboro; Holy Trinity Church Fresco, Glendale Springs; St Mary’s Church Fresco, West Jefferson; and Sloop Chapel, Crossnore.

Museums

BRAHM (Blowing Rock Art and History Museum), Blowing Rock, N.C., promotes the arts and Southern Appalachian heritage and history, through educational programs, exhibitions, activities and permanent collections. Current exhibitions include “Wildflowers: Glass Sculptures” by Ronnie Hughes, Sept. 14, 2021 – May 3, 2022; “Emergent Landscapes: Mountains, Music, & Improvisation in the Paintings of Abie Harris,” Aug. 24, 2021 – Jan. 15, 2022; “Potters & Patrons: The Gorelick Collection at BRAHM,” Sept. 7, 2021 – April 16, 2022; “Storyland: A Trip Through Childhood Favorites,” Oct. 1, 2021 – Jan. 22, 2022; The Janet H. Wilson Collection, ongoing; Philip Moose, permanent collection; and “The Village of Blowing Rock: Exploring Our History,” permanent exhibit.

Appalachian State University’s Turchin Center for the Visual Arts, Boone, N.C., offers free admission to the following permanent collections and rotating exhibitions: “Matters of the Heart (and Other Abnormalities)” by Shawn Morin, Sept. 3, 2021 – Feb. 5, 2022; “98.6 – A Creative Commonality,” July 2, 2021 – Feb. 5, 2022; “35th Rosen Sculpture Competition and Exhibition,” May 15, 2021 – April 16, 2022; “In the Garden of Healing” by Dara Mark, Dec 3, 2021 – May 7, 2022; “To Remain Connected,” Dec. 3, 2021 – May 7, 2022; and “19th Annual Appalachian Mountain Photography Competition” March 4, 2022 – June 5, 2022.

Mystery Hill Museums include the 1903 Dougherty House: Appalachian Heritage Museum and Appalachian Fossil Museum, Blowing Rock, N.C. The Dougherty House was the first home in the area to have electricity and running water. The home is being restored to its original 1903 condition. Guests can tour the home, which is filled with turn-of-the-century furniture, antiques and memorabilia. Appalachian Fossil Museum displays North Carolina’s largest private collection of fossils.

Festivals

24th Blowing Rock Winterfest, Blowing Rock, N.C., returns Jan. 27 – 30, 2022. Jump into winter with the Polar Bear Plunge and Beer Garden. Keep warm with restaurant specials, Chili Challenge and family activities at area attractions. Shop till you drop on Main Street while enjoying the Ice Sculptures outside various retailers. Whether you’re looking for a couple getaway or family friendly weekend, WinterFest has something for everyone!

Chetola Resort at Blowing Rock’s Festival of Lights, Blowing Rock, N.C., becomes a Winter Wonderland, Nov. 26, 2021 – January 2022, with over 50,000 dazzling lights around Chetola Lake. Make the drive around the resort and Chetola Lake for a stunning winter lights experience – the warm colors against a cool mountain background makes for a view like no other and highlights the natural beauty of the High Country. The displays illuminate at dusk each evening. The festival is a High Country tradition that culminates in Blowing Rock’s Winterfest, a four-day festival at the end of January packed with family friendly events such as a polar plunge, ice carvings, dog shows and auctions.

Sugarfest 2021, Sugar Mountain, N.C., is a weekend of winter fun, December 10-12, 2021, at Sugar Mountain Ski Resort. Participate in a preseason ski clinic and then try out the latest ski and snowboard equipment; celebrate the ceremonial opening of Sugar’s new Big Birch quad chairlift; kick off the winter right with the first Girls Go Shred Ride Day of the season; and enjoy food, drinks and dancing to live music by Glen Harlow & North Fork band, followed by fireworks.

Horseback Riding

Riding a horse or taking a carriage ride through snow-covered woods can be a one-of-a-kind experience. Two services offer 2.5-hour guided tours with trustworthy horses on easy carriage trails throughout Moses H. Cone Memorial Park, Milepost 294 on Blue Ridge Parkway.  VX3 Trail Rides offers custom rides for individual riders with experienced trail guide Tim Vines. Rides are limited to a maximum of five to give you the best experience possible. If you are a party of only two people and don’t see any availability for when you want to ride, contact Brad. Carriage Run Carriage Service offers carriage rides on the 32 miles of carriage trails in the Cone Estate.

Fishing

If your passion is fishing, winter is an ideal season to stalk wily mountain trout. The crowds are gone, leaving you with solitude, spectacular scenery, and brook, brown and rainbow trout. There are guide services around the High Country offering outings.

Holiday Festivities

Holiday decorations and twinkling lights are especially magical against a background of snow in the High Country. Check out the parades and Christmas tree and art exhibits offered in each town.

Live Theatre

When the weather turns blustery and cold, a matinee or night at the theater may be in order. Check out the offerings around the region, such as the Appalachian Theatre of the High Country, several groups at Appalachian State University (Department of Department and Dance, Hayes School of Music, and the Schaefer Center for the Performing Arts), BeanStalk Community Theatre and Blue Ridge Community Theatre in Boone; Ensemble Stage and Lees-McRae College performances in Banner Elk; and Ashe County Little Theatre in West Jefferson, among many others. See the CML Cultural Calendar for a complete listing of upcoming productions and contact information for each theatre.

Breweries & Wineries

The High Country is home to several great breweries, including Appalachian Mountain Brewery, Beech Mountain Brewing Company, Blowing Rock Brewery, Boondocks Brewing Tap Room & Restaurant, Booneshine Brewers, KETTELL BEERWORKS and Lost Province Brewing Company.

If wine is your preference, check out the wineries on the High Country Wine Trail including Banner Elk Winery & Villa, Eagles Nest Winery, Grandfather Vineyard & Winery, Linville Falls Winery, Thistle Meadow Winery, and Watauga Lake Winery.

Live Indoor Music

Check out the restaurants, breweries and wineries throughout this issue to find live music from jazz to traditional mountain jams all season long.

Big Heart, New Hope

~ Karen J Rieley, M.A. ~ Leave a comment
KAREN RIELEY
Published in the Summer 2019 issue of Carolina Mountain Life – p. 107

When twin brothers Mark and Will Adkins, 51, first saw High Valley, 160 acres in the mountains of North Carolina on the New River in 2006, they thought it would be a perfect place to build, develop or sell. After all, as owners of Waterfront Group, which they established in 1994 and which has become one of the Southeast’s most successful land development and second-home marketing companies, they know a good business deal when they see one, such as their purchase of The Lodges at Eagles Nest and development of its second phase.

But the Adkinses also believe that land is more than just real estate. “It’s where you lay down roots and build your dreams,” Mark Adkins said. “Our mission is to turn your dreams into realities.”

That mission and the brothers’ strong commitment to helping others led them to put High Valley to special use as a place for families with children who have life-threatening diseases, rather than develop or sell it. They renovated the hunting lodge built in the early 1950s on the property into a place where these special families could come for a week of much-needed relaxation. The Adkinses committed to provide the lodge and food for the week at no cost to the families, so that more could participate.

They began work immediately, with the help of many volunteers, funding the costs themselves. Camp New Hope opened to its first family in just 14 weeks. During the short season of the first year, the lodge provided nine families with a week’s vacation.

Renovations continued in 2007 including glassing in the 30-foot long front porch, adding a 20’x50’ stone patio and grill, picnic areas and a waterwheel with a swing. Camp New Hope is now hosting an average of 42 families each year. Families are able to enjoy canoes, kayaks, tubes, volleyball, baseball, soccer, fishing and a “swimming hole.” A play set caters to the smaller children.

The Adkins brothers want to meet the growing need for no-charge facilities like Camp New Hope. They are actively searching to find another special piece of property that can one day become the second Camp New Hope.

Their mission is to provide campers with a life-changing moment and renewed hope for the future, knowing miracles happen every day. The children who come to the camp have a range of diseases, such as Spinal Muscular Atrophy (SMA), Trisomy 18, mitochondrial disorders and Batten disease which is always fatal. Randy Brown, camp director, remembers one child in particular, Gabriel, who had liver cancer.

“When he arrived at camp, he looked very sick, didn’t smile and was withdrawn for the first couple days,” Brown said. “We tried to interact with him, but weren’t successful until we told him he was going to be visited by Santa Claus.”

Sam “Santa” Simmons, a retired dentist from Sparta, N.C., comes to the camp every week. After he retired, Simmons decided to go to school to become a professional Santa. He loves to tell the campers the story about the best gift of all given at Christmas, Jesus Christ. And the children love him.

“When I told Gabriel that Santa was coming, his face lit up,” Brown said. “He said, ‘Here, he’s coming here?’ I told him, ‘Yes, just to see you.’”

The next day, when Santa arrived, Gabriel went running out to him as fast as he could given he used a crutch. “Santa asked Gabriel what his biggest wish would be if Santa could grant it,” Brown said. “Gabriel told him that it would be a hug from Santa.”

Gabriel ended up having such a great experience that he made “Miss Randy” promise him that he could come back next year. But in December Gabriel’s father emailed the camp to let them know that Gabriel had died.

“Gabriel’s parents said that all he ever talked about was coming back to camp and seeing Santa,” Brown said. “I still cry when I think that I wasn’t able to fulfill my promise to him.”

Brown admits the work is hard, but she finds it very rewarding. “We are so heartened when we see campers enjoying themselves, like turning a caterpillar into a butterfly,” she said. “It keeps your life in perspective. Your back and legs may hurt and you may be tired, but then you remind yourself that’s not that big a deal compared to what the kids put up with every day.”

Mary Sue Street, broker-in-charge for Eagles Nest Real Estate Office, is mother to the Adkins brothers. She shared a special story about a time when Will took one little girl staying at the camp up in his helicopter. “After the ride, her parents told Will that it was the first time she had smiled or laughed in years,” Street said.

“Just look at the smiles on the children’s faces and you will know why this camp is so important to my brother and me,” Will Adkins said.

“Camp New Hope has become an important part of the West Jefferson community, which is next door to the camp,” Street said. “Many of its citizens volunteer regularly to help the campers and their families.

“Eagles Nest occasionally does fundraisers to benefit Camp New Hope as well,” Street said. Proceeds from this year’s Open House & Builder Showcase, May 4-5, which Eagles Nest hosted were donated to Camp New Hope, Spirit Ride, Feeding Avery Families Inc. and Hospitality House.

The lodge was renovated last year to sleep up to 18 people for big family vacations. “Right now, we’re tweaking what we have, buying some new equipment and improving the roads,” Brown said.

Camp New Hope depends on donations and volunteers. Visit http://campnewhopenc.com/ to learn more.

The Way We Were: Hank Bonar

~ Karen J Rieley, M.A. ~ Leave a comment

Bonar family photo of son Robert Gregory, Hank II, wife of 43 years, Barbara, and son Henry III

KAREN RIELEY
PUBLISHED IN MARCH 2018 ISSUE OF THE RESIDENT NEWS –https://residentnews.net/2018/03/07/the-way-we-were-hank-bonar/

Henry Bascom (Hank) Bonar II grew up on a lake in Tampa and loved all that the water had to offer – boating, fishing, skiing and even duck hunting – so the opportunity to buy a house on the St. Johns River was one he couldn’t pass up. When his friend, Francis Langel, who worked at the time for the now defunct Stockton, Whatley, Davin & Company, urged him to buy Langel’s mother’s home on Morven Road, Hank examined his finances, worked up a budget and decided to buy it.

Nancy and Hank
Nancy Soderberg and Hank Bonar at his Morven Road home

That was in 1975, the same year he opened his own business. “My first wife, Barbara, thought I was crazy,” Hank said. Hank himself thought he might be able to afford the house for maybe a year. Hank acknowledges that his timing was a little suspect, given that the country was still feeling the negative effects of the 1973-75 Recession.

“I guess I’m kind of the dean of Morven Road at this point,” said Hank, who, at age 77, has lived in the house for 42 years, well past original predictions.That was in 1975, the same year he opened his own business. “My first wife, Barbara, thought I was crazy,” Hank said. Hank himself thought he might be able to afford the house for maybe a year. Hank acknowledges that his timing was a little suspect, given that the country was still feeling the negative effects of the 1973-75 Recession.

The home, built in 1941, sits on nearly one and three-quarters acres with amazing views of the Jacksonville skyline along the St. Johns River. It is the second largest home site on the road and has a huge rear yard lined with oak trees.

The house is unique among others on Morven Road as it is a one-story home. Hank renovated the house, most notably so that it would have no steps, a design feature that, while more common now, was unusual at the time. That turned out to be a help because Barbara was in a wheelchair before she died from pancreatic cancer in 2002.

The most unusual room in the house is the bar between the family room and living room. It features the original cypress wood from the Ponte Vedra Inn and Club bar. The house was designed by a New York architect in the Prairie School style that Frank Lloyd Wright and Henry Klutho made famous.

“This was a perfect environment for our two sons to grow up in,” Hank said. “They had woods for adventures, bonfires, dock parties, easy access to water so that they could enjoy our boat.” They named their boat “Skiduckfish,” because they used it to waterski, hunt ducks and fish.

Barbara also grew up in Tampa and met Hank in high school. Hank attended the University of the South for two years on full scholarship. “I wouldn’t give anything for that experience,” he said. Then, he went to the University of Florida for his engineering degree. Barbara and he moved to Jacksonville in 1967, and Hank spent a few years working for a construction company until he opened his own business, Bonar Engineering and Construction on Edgewood Avenue in 1975. Hank’s company provides engineering, general construction, refrigeration and training courses.

 

Nancy, Hank and Heads
The late Robert Head, his wife Elizabeth Head, Hank Bonar II and Nancy Soderberg enjoying time on the St. Johns River. Elizabeth is responsible for Hank’s and Nancy’s first date, according to Hank.

They have two sons, Henry III and Robert Gregory Bonar. Henry attended The Bolles School, and both sons graduated from The Episcopal School of Jacksonville. They inherited their father’s love of sports, playing soccer, tennis and especially football.

After college, Henry III spent a lot of time in Honduras and eventually married Jessica, a native of Honduras. They have two children, Henry IV and Valerie. Robert lives in California with wife Heather, from Connecticut. They have three children, Robert Gregory Bonar, Jr., Anna Barbara and Nick.

Like many admiring sons, Hank wanted to follow in his father’s footsteps in the refrigeration industry. But, just following Henry B. Bonar Sr. wasn’t enough. Hank want to take refrigeration further, and he has accomplished his goal.

Hank’s relationship with freezing goes all the way back to his grandfather, however. Hank’s grandfather moved the family from the home place in Kentucky to New Mexico then to Okeechobee, Florida, in the early 1900s, when Hank’s father, Hank Sr., was a boy. Now deceased, Hank Sr. used to tell stories about his father bringing home chunks of ice from the Okeechobee ice plant.

Hank included a quote by his father in his book that hints at his own philosophy of industrial refrigeration: “The biggest breakthrough in refrigeration really came when God made water freeze at 32 degrees Fahrenheit and turn to steam at 212 degrees Fahrenheit. These are the cornerstones of our knowledge. Then God related the growth of bacteria to these temperatures. These are the facts we live – or die – with. It’s up to man to take it from there.”

Today, his six employees, including son Henry, and he design and oversee construction of some of the largest, most complex, cutting-edge freezer and refrigeration facilities all over the world, including India, Russia, Ukraine, Trinidad, the Cayman Islands, St. Kitts (an island in the West Indies), and more. They primarily work with ammonia refrigerant to cool public refrigerated processing facilities as well as warehouses that serve just one company, such as Publix.

Hank has worked closely with the International Association of Refrigerated Warehouses. He is often asked to advise professionals in other countries who want to learn more about the niche industry of big refrigeration. “They seek out our company because the local A & E’s (architects and engineers) don’t know how to build big refrigeration buildings correctly, and we have the reputation of being trustworthy and capable of doing the job right,” Hank said.

With his son, Henry, Hank has reached out to help the citizens of Puerto Rico. When one of their good clients said that they needed a generator, Henry found a $115,000 industrial generator and sent it to the country in faith that he would eventually be paid. To meet the need for home generators, Hank bought 30 and sent them to Puerto Rico, too. The company sent a repair person to Puerto Rico, as well, to help repair generator buildings, refrigeration systems for food and roofs. Henry and the repair person have been making regular trips to continue the work.

 

newspaper
Clipping from St. Petersburg Times, April 11, 1958, about Hank Bonar’s participation in one of the main attractions of the Third Annual Florida State Science Fair. Hank (center) directed the robot’s moves that another student and he had built.

Hank has accomplished so much in the fields of engineering, construction and refrigeration facilities one could easily define the man by his work. What really drives Hank, however, is sharing his knowledge.

“Education is my thing,” he said. “It is the hallmark of good living standards.”

Bonar’s book, Florida Comes of Age, tells the history of Florida’s refrigeration and frozen food distribution. He wrote the book partly as a way to help developing countries envision how they might handle perishable food more effectively.

“If the insights presented here help save or improve the quality of life of one individual, I have received my reward,” he wrote in the acknowledgments in his book. Maybe that is why he dedicated the second edition to “The Hungry Children of the World.”

“The evolution of refrigeration and the changing face of Florida are inextricably bound,” he wrote. Likewise, he believes, it is for developing countries. “Some of these places don’t even know what refrigeration is all about,” Hank said.

His belief in the importance of education led Hank to establish The Casey Carter Bonar Leadership Award in 2010 for Vanderbilt University to honor the memory of his late wife, Casey Carter Bonar, who Hank married after first wife Barbara died in 2007.

The university’s description of the award speaks to the many positive qualities of Casey, who died in 2010: “Based on the legacy of extraordinary leadership she left behind, this award is presented annually to a Vanderbilt undergraduate student who embodies the unique qualities that Casey brought to the university – leadership, broad collaboration, enthusiasm, passion for campus involvement, selfless service to Vanderbilt, and, always, dedication to positive change.”

Hank is engaged to Nancy Soderberg, a foreign policy expert who moved to Jacksonville 12 years ago and has taught at the University of North Florida for 10 years as Distinguished Visiting Scholar and Director of Public Policy Initiatives. Currently, she is running for Ron DeSantis’ seat in Congress in Florida’s sixth congressional district.

“Nancy’s thing is negotiating,” Hank said. “She gets things done.”

She founded the Public Service Leadership Program at UNF when she arrived and uses her extensive contacts in government and the nonprofit world to build a network of opportunities for UNF students to gain first-hand experience in the field, building their resume and contacts —keys to future employment.

Nancy and Hank say they are amazed at how many of the same countries they have visited throughout their lives but not at the same time. Elizabeth Head, who is the former associate vice president of development at University of North Florida, introduced Nancy and Hank seven years ago. Hank had been given tickets to the Florida Forum Speaker Series when Bill Clinton was scheduled to speak. He wanted someone to go with him, and Elizabeth suggested Nancy.

“Do you think she’d want to go with me?” Hank asked Elizabeth. She did.

 

“Hank later asked me to go to a boat show with him,” Nancy recalled. “I thought it was going to be a small boat. Well, a small boat did pick me up, but it took me to Hank’s 67-foot yacht that he calls ‘The Magic Castle,’ because, before Hank bought it, the boat belonged to a family relative who was a magician.”

With Hank, there is always something more to learn. Hank’s hobbies are quite a departure from big refrigeration systems. He loves woodworking and made all the continuous-bow Windsor armchairs in his dining room. He won first place in the Florida State Fair for one of the other chairs he made. He likes to paint as well, and his works are hung around the house.

Also on shelves and tables throughout the house are examples of agatized coral, which his father got the State of Florida to officially declare in 1979 as the state stone. The coral is cut open and the exposed interior surface is polished until it is smooth and shiny to show its beautiful colors.

“I have tons of these pieces of coral stored in boxes that I hope will be displayed somewhere someday,” Hank said.

Hank is fond of motivational sayings, too. One of his favorite is “You’re only as old as you think you are.” A favorite toast of his is “May the best in your past be your worst in your future.” And, “Remember this is not a dress rehearsal.”

With Hank, there is always something more to learn.