Beech Mountain NC Vacation

Beech Mountain Winterfest This Weekend Jan 7-8, 2012

2012-01-05T14:02:00.000-08:00

Beech Mountain, NC - January 7 and 8, 2012 is Winterfest Weekend!

In cooperation with the town of Beech Mountain, Beech Mountain

Resort will present a number of events throughout the weekend.

The town of Beech Mountain will host the NC State Championship Snowshoe Race on Saturday, January 7. Saturday events at Beech Mountain Resort will include the annual Bathing Beauty competition held at 11 a.m. on the Play Yard slope. The Village Rail Jam will begin at 4:30 p.m. in the Beech Tree Village followed by live music at the Beech Tree Bar & Grill from 7:30-10:30 p.m.

Events for Sunday, January 8 include the Cardboard Box Derby’s Visual Competition, beginning at 12:30p.m.; the Cardboard Box Derby Race begins at 2:30 p.m. The Slopestyle Competition will be held at Beech Mountain Resort’s Terrain Park and the Roots Ride Shop Fashion Show will start at 4:30 p.m.

Huge sales on apparel and equipment will be held throughout the weekend. The latest ski and snowboard equipment demos will also be featured. Other attractions, including a live ice-sculpting demonstration and figure skating demonstrations will also be held at Beech Mountain Resort.

For more info check
http://www.beechmountainresort.com/

N.C. Snowshoe Championship on Beech Mountain Jan 7th, 2012

2011-12-28T10:08:00.000-08:00

N.C. Snowshoe Championships on Beech Mountain

Beech Mountain is less than two weeks away from hosting the first North Carolina State Championship Snowshoe Race, which will be held at 1 p.m. on Saturday, Jan. 7, 2012 in Beech Mountain’s Emerald Outback. All spectators are welcome to come enjoy the contests for free.

Endurance athletes from the Mid-Atlantic will come and compete to earn their spot to race in 2012 U.S National Snowshoe Championships in Frisco, Colo. The events will include a 5K race with recreational and competitive categories, a 10K competitive State Championship Race and a Kid’s Snowshoe Scramble.

Online registration is now available by clicking to www.prerace.com . For every participant who registers online, a donation of $1 will be made to United Stated Snowshoe Association.

Two racecourses, one 5K and one 10K, have already been established. Maps of both courses are available by clicking to www.beechrecreation.org . Both racecourses are arranged entirely in the Emerald Outback, Beech Mountain’s new multi-use trail system, which boasts long-range views and sprawling forests, all above a challenging 5,000 feet of elevation.

According to Brie Powell of Beech Mountain’s Buckeye Recreation Center, snowshoeing is budding as an up-and-coming sport, and the Southeast is a great place to get involved.

“Snowshoeing provides a great outlet to keep your fitness level up and get outdoors even in the inclement weather of winter,” said Powell, who encouraged anyone interested in learning more about snowshoeing to attend the championship as a way of introducing themselves to the sport.

For more information, call Brie Powell at (828) 387-3003.

Unbelievable! Sugar Mountain Opens Tommorrow 11/12/11 !!

2011-11-11T08:25:00.001-08:00

Skiing, snowboarding and ice skating will be available tomorrow at Sugar Mountain 11/12/11.

Snowmaking began Thursday, November 10th and continues. A manmade powder surface covers

the Upper and Lower Flying Mile slopes. The Summit #1 Lift will be in operation to the ¾'s station. Weekend lift/slope ticket prices will be $25 for a full-day session and $20 for a half-day session.

Check it out http://www.skisugar.com/ or
the live streaming webcam

Beech Mountain Ski Resort Adds New Snow Guns & More!

2011-11-11T07:57:00.000-08:00

Beech Mountain Resort continues to increase it's offerings in the snowmaking department. Ten SMI Automated Polecats were added to the automated system, bringing the total number to 18. The automated system is now located on every slope to give Beech Mountain Resort the largest snowmaking capacity in the resort's history.

In addition to the hard work it required to install the new snowmaking system, the resort staff was able to tackle many other improvements.

Some of the new items include:

•The removal of Chair #2, increasing the skiable terrain on Southern Star and Robbins Run

•A new beginner slope. The "School Yard" will be located behind the View Haus Cafeteria

•A new freestyle ski and snowboard shop. "Roots Rideshop" will offer demos, retail and the only public indoor half-pipe in the area.

•Beech Mountain Coffee and Gift Shop. Located in the Beech Tree Village, the shop will offer souvenirs, drinks and snacks.

•A new building for shuttle pick up and drop off. The newly designed space will shield customers from the cold conditions, while waiting for the shuttle.

•New Snowboard Rentals

Beech Mountain Resort will again offer the 30/20 plan for the weekday skiing! The 30/20 plan offers $30 day/twilight tickets (Monday-Friday) and $20 night tickets (Monday-Thursday), during non-holiday periods. The resort is now offering the Super Saver Season Pass sale for it's third year. The sale highlights 200 unlimited season passes for only $375.

Photo and Info from Beech Mtn Ski Resort

Plan your ski vacation now.. Check out this Luxury 5 Bedroom home less than 2 miles from Beech Mtn Ski Resort

WOW, Sugar Mountain Has Started Making SNOW !!

2011-11-10T11:23:00.001-08:00

Sugar Mountain NC has started making SNOW !!

Snowmaking is in progress and the ice rink has begun the process of making ice. Please check the Sugar Mountain website often for opening information.

Hopefully, it will look like this photo soon >>>>>>>
Historical opening and closing dates as well as annual snowfall statistics can be found on the site. Here are the last few years stats.

SEASON HISTORY: 2010-2011:

Opening: Nov 6, 2010 • Closing: March 23, 2011

Skier Days: 126 • Total Snowfall: 130"

2009-2010:

Opening: Nov 27, 2009 • Closing: March 28, 2010

Skier Days: 122 • Total Snowfall: 136"

2008-2009:

Opening: Nov 17, 2008 • Closing: March 24, 2009

Skier Days: 128 • Total Snowfall: 69.7"

If weather cooperates look for ice skating and tubing at Sugar Mountain to be open by Thanksgiving.

Plan Your Ski Vacation In Beech Mountain NC

2011-11-10T11:00:00.000-08:00

Looking for a luxury home for your North Carolina
Ski Vacation?

We have exactly what you are looking for.
This stunning 5 bedroom home has upscale decor
and every amenity you could ask for.. Less than
2 miles from Beech Mountain Ski Resort or from the
sledding hill, 15 minutes from Sugar Mountain and about
20 minutes from Hawksnest Snow Tubing & Zipline.
A short drive to the Blowing Rock Outlet Shops.

This gorgeous home has 3 levels, lots of room to spread out. It is decorated in creams, soft blues, greens and other natural colors. Cozy up to either of the 3 remote control gas log fireplaces - 1 on each level. There are 5 bedrooms and 3 baths. The home comfortably sleeps 9 adults OR 8 adults/1-2 children with 2 kings, 2 queens and 1 full bed (no sleeper sofa).

A huge outside hot tub comforts those aching muscles after a long day skiing or serious shopping. There is also a jacuzzi tub in the upstairs bath. You will have high speed internet, Wifi, a stainless steel grill, front loading washer and dryer, lots of decks & more!

Beech Mountain Ski Resort hopes to be making snow soon.. You will then have a choice of snow skiing, snowboarding, ice skating and more.. They even have a second terrain park and offers a ton of features for advanced skiers and snowboarders.

For more info check our Beech Mtn Luxury Vacation Home vrbo listing
or go straight to the Availability Calendar and check your dates..
or Email info@heavenlycabins.com

NC Ski Resorts Hope For Cold Weather !!

2011-11-10T08:42:00.000-08:00

BEECH MOUNTAIN, NC (WBTV) – People working at
North Carolina Ski Resorts say they need the weather to
turn cold to get people working and people skiing.

At Beech Mountain Resort the snow guns are in place and all the other equipment is being readied for the season.

"All we need is cold now," said Gil Adams. Beech Mountain will hire about 400 seasonal workers; other slopes will be adding similar numbers to their work force in the coming weeks.

"It pays the bills," said Steve Potter, who heads up the rental area of the ski resort. He's hoping for colder weather too so he can get people working. "If you ain't got the right weather you have to lay people off."

Economists say the ski industry in North Carolina pumps close to 150 million dollars a year into the economy.

Tourists spend money at the slopes, shops, restaurants and lodging establishments. The past two ski seasons have been near records for the industry.

The season started early both years and continued well into March. In 2010, some slopes were open before the second week of November.

This year, officials aren't sure when the opening day will be. Forecasters expect a cold front to come through the area this weekend but also expect a rapid warm-up into the middle of next week.

"We need 36 to 48 hours of below freezing weather to get the slopes in shape," said Adams. Beech Mountain Resort has added ten new state of the art snow guns for this season.

Other resorts have added equipment as well.

The goal for many right now is to open by thanksgiving, though officials say there have been many profitable seasons in the past when opening day was later than that.

The key will be staying open once the season starts.

Story By WBTV

Autumn At Oz - Beech Mountain NC Oct 1-2, 2011

2011-08-19T08:36:00.000-07:00

The 18th Anniversary of Autumn at Oz,
October 1st & 2nd, 2011 on Beech Mountain NC

Guests will take a tour of Auntie Em's and Uncle Henry's farm and meet Dorothy and friends along the Yellow Brick Road. You may choose your guided tour session times when you purchase your ticket.

Everyone is encouraged to wear something "Ozzie" and bring their photos and treasures to add to the event. There will be a mini-museum to visit and artifacts to share. Bluegrass bands, local dancers, and a small petting zoo will add more fun at the Farm.

There will also be face painting, food treats, and special Oz concessions in "Kansas"! New and old trivia will be available for purchase, with part of the proceeds going back into upkeep and restoration.

Arrival times and day-of ticket sales are on Saturday and Sunday from 10 to noon, noon to 2, and 2 to 4pm. Saturday and Sunday are broken down into 3 sessions to accommodate our visitors. It does not mean that you can only spend 2 hours at the OZ Party.

The ticket price is $16.50 in advance, $20.00 the day of the party. Children 2 and under are admitted free. There are a limited number of tickets for each session. Each ticket will include a 10% discount coupon for participating Beech Mountain lodging and dining. Each ticket will also include a discount coupon from Grandfather Mountain good for $2 off each adult ticket and $1 off child's ticket. More information about participating locations coming soon.

Discount group tickets of 15 or more are available Sunday, October 2nd. Contact Beech Mountain Chamber of Commerce at 800-468-5506 for details.

Tickets are Non-Refundable, No Exceptions. Autumn at Oz will be held Rain or Shine, Snow and Twisters Too! Identification required with your printed ticket confirmation.

Click here to buy tickets online..

Click your heels! Come & Take a Nostalgic Stroll to The Land of Oz!

For more information on Historic Land of Oz and Private parties and tours go to www.emeraldmtn.com .

Mile High Kite Festival - Beech Mtn NC - Sept 5, 2011

2011-08-19T08:19:00.000-07:00

Mile High Kite Festival at Beech

How much string does it take to fly a kite a mile high?

Only a couple hundred feet if you visit the ninth annual Mile High Kite Festival on Labor Day weekend atop Beech Mountain, NC.

This festival takes place Sunday, Sept. 4, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. in the town meadow, located above 5,000 feet in elevation.

Ample room is available for everyone to fly, plus there's a reserved field for demonstrations from the Wings Across Carolina Kiting and Okra Society (WACKOS) and the Richmond Air Force club from Richmond, Va.

Kite-flying music and announcing will be provided by Terry Murray of Kitebus Festivals. Meanwhile, prizes will be given for biggest kite, smallest kite and best-decorated kite.

Other activities include races with kids pulling parachute kites, face painting and a variety of craft and food vendors.

"We like to float the idea to come up and make a weekend of it," event organizer Calder Smoot said.

"There's a kite maker's competition Saturday judged by master kite builder Charlie Dunton and an all-ages street dance Saturday night in front of town hall. It makes for a great early fall weekend on Beech Mountain."

There's no admission charge to Saturday's street dance or Sunday's kite festival, and the first 300 children under age 12 receive a free kite on Sunday. Volunteers will be on hand with materials to help decorate the free kites, while vendors will have kites for sale.

For more information or lodging options, call (800) 468-5506 or visit www.BeechMtn.com.

Article by The Mountain Times Online

Newland, Avery County NC - Grand Celebration July 29,30 and 31st, 2011

2011-07-27T10:27:00.000-07:00

Avery County is North Carolina's 100th County and is having it's 100th Birthday and Newland NC - the county seat is having a Grand Celebration July 29, 30th and 31st, 2011.

Friday - July 29th, 2011 from 4pm till Dark - Art Festival, Live Entertainment,
Kidz Area, Cruz-In, Sock Hope featuring The Tams and Fire Works !!

Saturday July 30th, 2011 10am to 8pm - Art Festival, Live Entertainment,
* 11:00am Parade of Decades
* Veterans Program and Civil War Encampment
* Dog Daze of Summer
* Historical Tours
* Quilt Show

Sunday July 31st, 2011 10am to 2pm - Praise Bands, Art Festival, Closing Ceremony

More Info about Avery County NC
Need more to do while staying in Avery County? Visit the storied peaks of Grandfather Mountain. View the majestic vistas from Sugar Mountain, Seven Devils, and Beech Mountain – known as some of the High South’s most popular playgrounds! Stop by Banner Elk the quaint one red light town, and home of the World Famous Woolly Worm and Art Festivals and visit its winery and the many shops along the way, hike the Blue Ridge Parkway, Linville Gorge and Elk River Falls.

With the highest county seat in North Carolina (Newland,elv. 3,589 ft.) and the highest incorporated town east of the Rockies (Beech Mountain, elv. 5,506 ft.), Avery County is the place to come to clear your head, connect with family and friends and get above the rush of daily life.

Avery County, recognized as the premier Ski destination of the South and frasier fir Christmas tree capital of the world makes coming to the High Country, in winter the perfect family family getaway. Avery County is also home to the 13th Annual Blood Sweat and Gears bike ride coming up in two weeks. More information is available here

See more info at http://www.averycounty.com/ or call 828-898-5605

The Wizard Of Oz Club's National Convention - Beech Mtn NC - Aug, 5-7, 2011

2011-07-13T09:31:00.000-07:00

August 5-7, 2011: The International Wizard of Oz Club's National Oz Convention, Beech Mtn/Banner Elk, North Carolina. Co-chairmen Sean Barrett and Karen Owens welcome Oz fans to the Beech Mountain site of The Land of Oz Park for a weekend of fan-focused fun.

Join us for a weekend in the marvelous Land of Oz where you can...

Follow the Yellow Brick Road Saturday morning, encounteri...ng Oz characters along the way

Meet Munchkin Margaret Pellegrini on our Sunday program

See 18 Judy Garland gowns and other treasures from an extensive private collection of Michael Siewert

Meet artists Rick Ewigleben and Joe Shipbaugh with their fresh-from-the-press Oz coloring book

Bid for Oz treasures in the IWOC auction of collectibles, toys, books & ephemera

See Oz film projects, including a presentation by the production team behind “L. Frank Baum’s The Wonderful Wizard of Oz”
Programs and displays include Oz jewelry, Oz-theme cakes and parties, Oz in personal art and on public display, Oz home decor and much more.

The Land of Oz was North Carolina’s No. 1 tourist attraction throughout the 1970s. Today Dorothy’s house and the Yellow Brick Road remain, drawing loyal fans to one annual event and exclusive private parties. But we won’t just tour the grounds; our Friday evening program first celebrates the park with past cast and crew members, including Lori Hafer, the original voice of Dorothy. Stories, songs, pictures and costumes will set the stage for our own Saturday morning on-site Oz adventure -- including lunch and a stop at the Oz Museum where authentic MGM screen-used park artifacts are on display.

Meeting venues include both indoor and outdoor sites; private transportation is necessary. Group rates are available at the Alpen Inn and Top of the Beech; the Pinnacle and Best Western are additional local options. Watch for updates here and in the forums at http://www.ozclub.org/

Friday, August 5 at 3:00pm - August 7 at 4:00pm

Email Sean (SeanOz@aol.com), Karen (Storylandmi@aol.com) or Jane Albright (Ozisus@aol.com) with your program suggestions, ideas and offers to help.

Beech Mtn NC Bike Trails To Host National Championship!!

2011-06-28T10:04:00.000-07:00

Beech Mountain, North Carolina To Host National Bike Championship

Christopher Herndon spent his youth not only riding his mountain bike on the trails of Pisgah National Forest, but also crafting jumps and other cool terrain alterations for some gnarly bike stunts.

He continued to do so years later while cycling for Lindsey Wilson College in Kentucky, satisfying the daredevil side of the Brevard native.

Now a 30-year-old general contractor from Etowah, Herndon has reached the pinnacle of race-course design, having been chosen to oversee the construction of a race track at Beech Mountain Resort in Avery County that will host the 2011 and 2012 USA Cycling Mountain Bike Gravity National Championships.

Herndon, the 2007 dual slalom national champion in mountain biking, drove up on Sunday and, beginning today, will spend the next 11 weeks constructing the riveting courses in time for this year's nationals Sept. 22-25, 2011 which for the first time will take place at a resort in the South.

“It's going to be fun and challenging but also safe,” said 14-year-old Luca Shaw of Hendersonville, who races on Herndon's Specialized/GROM elite juniors team with his 15-year-old brother, Walker. “It seems that every race we went to this year with Chris, he'd always have better ideas and was always thinking, ‘That could be so much better,' or, ‘That's really dangerous.' ”

“Which is funny,” Herndon said, “because when I was in college, I built a lot of crazy stuff that was really fun to ride because I was wanting to push myself to my limits. But now that I'm building for other people, I've kind of gone back to building something that's safe and fun for everyone to ride.”

Designing three race tracks Along with Etowah's Danny Cesare and Mike Thomas of Boone — both of whom also have impressive racing and course-design resumes — Herndon will be carving out three race tracks: a pro and amateur downhill track and a dual slalom track on which both amateurs and pros will race.

The sport is much like skiing in that competitors race down the mountain — time-trial style against the clock — executing turns and jumps. World-class gravity racers often reach speeds of 45 mph on a downhill course and 30 mph in slalom racing. While some of the downhill course at Beech Mountain will feature ski-slope sections, Herndon said, what happens in the woods is what will really wow spectators.

“Most people would walk into the woods and say, ‘There's no way anyone could ride a bike down this,' ” Herndon said of the numerous boulders and drop-offs that riders navigate. “These guys come through it at 30 mph — pretty impressive.”

So, too, Herndon added, is the commitment to excellence shown by Beech Mountain Resort.

He said officials there approached him last fall about submitting a bid to USA Cycling for hosting nationals. After walking the area one day, Herndon determined the beautiful location, unique High Country terrain and top-notch accommodations in and around the resort made Beech Mountain an ideal spot.

However, he told officials the trails there needed a lot of work, and that turning the resort into a national championship-caliber venue would require a substantial investment.

The entire project — including course construction — will cost about $100,000, Herndon said, and “they were fully on board for it.”

In addition to hiring Herndon and his team, the resort will purchase and install lift trays, which hold competitors' bikes on the ski lift as racers are shuttled up the mountain. This is a necessity for increasing the capacity of riders atop the mountain during an elite race like nationals, Herndon explained. Now, each lift chair will hold four riders instead of one.

“You have to go nine hours from here to get that kind of product,” Herndon said. “It's a huge investment, but they knew that that's what they needed to do. ... It's great to see a resort actually taking the right steps, and not just trying to host an event to make money off of it. They truly want to do it right, and that's the only reason I'm involved with them.”

Conversely, resort officials were eager to work with a man recognized as one of the best around in creating first-class courses.

“We feel confident that Christopher Herndon will design a unique facility ensuring that Beech Mountain Resort will produce an innovative product,” Ryan Costin, general manager of the resort, said in a statement.

The Shaw brothers, who will be together at Hendersonville High this fall, certainly are excited about having such a venue so close to home. The closest mountain-bike park of its kind is six hours away in Snowshoe, W.Va., the boys pointed out.

”It's huge because next year, the stuff that Chris is doing now to it is going to make it sustainable for the years to come — the courses he's building, the people he's bringing in,” said Walker Shaw, who competed with his brother at junior nationals last year in Colorado. “I actually really look forward to next year because it's going to be a great training tool, having a place like that to ride downhill. There's not many places you can ride downhill bikes. It's very specific, and it has to be good for it to be fun.”

Luca Shaw added that he hopes the new course at Beech Mountain will elevate the popularity of the sport in the Southeast.

Talia Freeman, marketing director at Beech Mountain, said Herndon brings “a real insight to safety and beginner terrain,” which is important to the progression of mountain biking in the region.

“We are very fortunate he is overseeing our efforts,” Freeman said. “To say (Herndon) is knowledgeable of the sport and trail building is an understatement. He really takes an innovative approach to everything he does, which will ultimately differentiate us from other areas.”

Info, Photo from BlueRidgeNow.com

See Dora & Diego At Tweetsie Railroad - 6/24-26, 2011

2011-06-24T08:44:00.000-07:00

Meet Dora the Explorer and Diego from Go, Diego, Go this weekend, Friday - Sunday June 24-26, 2011 at Tweetsie Railroad in Blowing Rock NC. Tweetsie is open from 9am till 6pm..

July 23- 31, 2011 - Tweetsie will hosts K-9's In Flight "Frisbee Dogs" - Show times - 11am, 1pm and 3pm... For 9 days, you can see the Frisbee Dogs in their high energy perfomances showcasing a team of dynamic dogs in acrobatic freestyle routines..

These dogs have dazzled audiences nationwide at half time shows and on TV.
**First come, first served seating.
**Reservations not required
**Shows are included in regular park admission.

For more information about Tweetsie Railroad see the website.

Balcony Of The Blue Ridge - Avery County North Carolina

2011-03-25T08:25:00.000-07:00

Beech Mountain NC Is Split Between Avery & Watauga County, two
of the most beautiful mountain counties you will ever visit !!

Avery County NC is known as the Balcony of the Blue Ridge.. Extraordinary mountains, art galleries and even the Avery Quilt Trail . Need more to do while staying in Avery County? Visit the storied peaks of Grandfather Mountain. View the majestic vistas from Sugar Mountain, Seven Devils, and Beech Mountain – known as some of the High South’s most popular playgrounds! Stop by Banner Elk the quaint one red light town, and home of the World Famous Woolly Worm and Art Festivals and visit its winery and the many shops along the way, hike the Blue Ridge Parkway, Linville Gorge and Elk River Falls.

See more attractions here in the High Country of North Carolina

Snow Tubing - Easy & Fun In The NC Mountains !!

2011-01-28T07:08:00.000-08:00

Joe Tennis from The Bristol News recently tried out Snow Tubing - here's his story.

Insanely popular’

These days, Hawksnest’s snow business focuses on a zipline and more than 20 lanes of tubing at Seven Devils, N.C., said owner Lenny Cottom.

“Tubing really started in the mid-’90s in this area,” Cottom said. “And it’s gone very well here. The thing about tubing is it allows you to do something without a whole lot of knowledge. You don’t have to take the lessons. If you can sit down, you can ride a tube.”

Not far from Seven Devils, Ski Beech boasts a tube run atop Beech Mountain, N.C., that can be braved in the darkness – with floodlights shining on the powder-packed surface during weekend nights.

“A lot of people want to enjoy the snow,” said Ski Beech’s marketing manager, Talia Freeman. “But they don’t want to try snowboarding or skiing.”

That’s where tubing slides in.

“Tubing is insanely popular,” Freeman said. “Tubing is something, obviously, that everyone can do.”

And, this year, Ski Beech features three tubing lanes, including a new J-shaped curve.

‘Anybody can do this’

Near Beech Mountain, Sugar Mountain Resort operates a set of medium-length tubing lanes at Banner Elk, N.C.

“Tubing is a real business,” resort owner Gunther Jochl said. “We’re doing real well in tubing.”

Stopping at Sugar, I tested a tube on a Tuesday.

And it proved just as sweet as sliding down Beech Mountain in the dark.

Still, Sugar’s tube supervisor advised me to put my feet down and apply brakes as I passed the tubing run’s orange-and-black “SLOW” signs; not slowing down could cause you to fly onto a hill and spill into a patch of pine trees.

Braking certainly sounded like a good idea after my slam-bam-I’m-sorry-ma’am with Rhonda Johnson the day before.

Only, applying brakes soaked my legs with snow.

But, hey you can count me luckier than a sidelined Sunny Garcia, a Raleigh, N.C., artist who split apart a shoe on her fourth run down Sugar Mountain’s tube slope. “I was trying to stop myself as I was going down,” said Garcia, 37. “And I guess the shoe – the sole – just separated.”

Busted shoe or not, Garcia stood anxious to try it all again with her 7-year-old daughter, Bianca.

And so did Julie Alkire, a florist from Hilton Head Island, S.C.

“We love it,” said Alkire, who went tubing at Sugar Mountain with her six-year-old daughter, Gracie. “And anybody can do this, which is great."

Check out all the snow fun at Beech Mountain Ski Resort.

or Hawksnest Snow Tubing and Zipline

or Sugar Mountain Skiing and Tubing

Lots Of Snow-Great Skiing On Beech Mtn NC

2010-12-29T11:42:00.000-08:00

BEECH MOUNTAIN, NC --

This year's ski season is shaping up to be one of the better ones in recent memory thanks to the recent snow and cold. North Carolina's Beech Mountain Resort has already received more than four feet of snow this month alone. That's a third of what fell on Beech Mountain all of last year and the season has just begun.

“I would say these are some of the best conditions you’re going to have here,” Beech Mountain Resort Director of Marketing and Sales Talia Freeman said. “You can’t ask for better ski conditions than having natural powder out.”

Thousands of skiers took to the slopes Tuesday to take advantage of the good conditions.

“They’re excellent,” George Seaton of Washington County, TN said. “It’s a beautiful day. I don’t know how it could be any better.”

138 inches of snow fell on Beech Mountain last season, which was considered a good year. With 50 inches of natural snowfall so far this season, Beech Mountain hopes things are looking up again this year.

"It's a great feeling,” Freeman said. “The slopes are in great shape.”

Guest Comments - Beech Mtn Vacation Home

2010-11-29T08:58:00.000-08:00

Thanks to Janet & Kirk from Charlotte for the great comments about our Beech Mountain Vacation Home... See full comments below.

"We thoroughly enjoyed our stay at your beautiful home. The Christmas decorations were a wonderful surprise. The children were not the only ones who admired them.

Thank you so much for doing so much extra to make our Thanksgiving a special time. As I mentioned, we have visited the mountains for many years, your home is so well appointed and equipped. It was perfect for us."
Janet & Kirk - Charlotte NC

Thanks so much for the kind comments, we look forward to hearing from you again soon..

Wooly Worm Festival - Banner Elk NC This Weekend 10/16 & 17

2010-10-12T08:29:00.000-07:00

Wooly Worm Festival
Banner Elk NC
This Weekend - 10/16 & 17, 2o10
Saturday 10/16/10 9am-5pm
Sunday 10/17 10 9am - 4pm

For the 33rd year the town of Banner Elk has welcomed both old and new friends to the annual Woolly Worm Festival.

This family event co-hosted by the Avery County Chamber of Commerce and the Kiwanis Organization of Banner Elk welcomes more than 23,000 people to the community to make family memories and also to win the prestigious title of predicting the High Country weather and the chance to win the $1000 bounty.

Some changes and additions from last year’s festival continuing through this year; opening the gates at 9:00 a.m. on both Saturday and Sunday and the expansion of the kid’s area in the park. There was special music on Sunday by the John Schuffler Band and local family pricing as well on Sunday.

For more info about the Wooly Worm Festival - check the website.

Artists & Craftsmen - Fantastic New Resource - The Hive

2010-09-17T11:50:00.000-07:00

Artists and Craftsmen - Check out this great new online community called "The Hive". Come and join with other creative forces..

CreatingTheHive.com - Arts & Crafts Community

The Hive is a dynamic social community designed to help provide a connection between everyone in the arts, crafts and hobby industry. Whether you are a manufacturer, professional artist, hobbiest, retailer or consumer, you have a voice.

Autumn At Oz-Beech Mtn NC Oct 2-3, 2010 Limited Tickets

2010-09-17T07:20:00.000-07:00

Walk the Yellow Brick Road to Oz on Beech Mountain NC - Saturday & Sunday October 2 & 3, 2010.

Come meet your favorite Oz characters, Dorothy, Tin Man, Lion, Scarecrow, Witches and the Wizard. They're all there. Visit Auntie Em's farm and hide from the tornado in the basement.

Lot's of fun, food, music, hay rides, memorabilia and more. Tickets are $16.50 in advance and $20.00 at the party. Children 2 years and under are free. ****A limited number of 7000 tickets will be sold and are available on line. ** Buy Tickets Online

Tickets are non-refundable, no exceptions. This event is rain or shine, snow or twisters too.

Ski Beech Resort will offer scenic lift rides from Land of Oz to Ski Resort and back to Oz for $10.00.

The weather at Oz can be rather blustery after a tornado so bring a jacket, umbrella, sweatshirt just in case. Oz is not handicap or large stroller friendly.

Tour sessions are Saturday and Sunday from 10 to 12, 12 to 2 and

2 to 4. Both days are broken down into 3 sessions to accommodate our visitors. It does not mean that you can spend only 2 hours in Oz. The sessions indicate the date and hours you can load on a bus or hay ride to the Autumn at Oz Party. Both days events are the same.

If you are unable to buy tickets on line they may be purchased, pending availability, from the Beech Mountain Chamber of Commerce by mail or by visiting the chamber office prior to the event date.

Groups of 15 or more may purchase group tickets (Sunday Only) at $13.50 each. Contact the chamber office at 800-468-5506 for special mailing instructions and group tickets.

No credit card sales will be accepted Oct 2-3 (event dates) or by the Beech Mountain Chamber of Commerce. Cash and Checks only. Visitors are strongly encouraged to purchase tickets on line to assure your choice of day and session.

Visit www.emeraldmtn.com for driving directions and the history of the Land of Oz.

Mile High Kite Festival - Beech Mountain NC Sept 5, 2010

2010-08-27T12:24:00.000-07:00

Mile High Kite Festival

Beech Mountain, NC

will be held on Sun,

Sept 5th 10am - 4pm

This will be the eighth year for the Mile High Kite Festival. The Richmond Air Force and the Charlotte WACKOS kite club will be partaking in the Festival. The 8th Annual Mile High Kite Festival is hosted by the Beech Mountain Chamber of Commerce.

There will be refreshments, and many vendors at the Kite Festival. Kids of all ages can come out and enjoy participating or watch the kites fly! There will be FREE kites for the first 200 kids. There will be prizes given out for the smallest and largest kites and best decorated kite.

On September 4th, there will be a kite workshop in the field across from town hall for those kids that want to learn how to make a kite. Also on Saturday evening from 7p.m. to 9p.m - 9/4/10. there will be a street dance for all ages to enjoy!

For more information please call the Beech Mountain Chamber of Commerce: (828) 387-9283 or (800) 468-5506

Photo from Town of Beech Mountain site

2010-08-19T12:04:00.000-07:00

Another very happy Beech Mountain - Heavenly Hideaway guest, see the review below!

Having stayed at many homes on Beech, this is simply the best! It is beautifully decorated with every amenity one could want or need. Elegance in the woods does not get better than this. I plan to come back as often as possible and would highly recommend this home. The owners could not be more accommodating.

Our vacation was great because of our surroundings. Thank you for everything. I took many photos and will share them with our friends in the hope they too will get to enjoy this location.

Carole C - Stuart FL

Carole, Thank you so much, we look forward to having you as our Beech Mtn neighbor - one of these days !

Check out our luxury Beech Mtn NC Vacation Rental - 5 BR/3 BA. Winter Ski Season will be here before you know it..

Escape The Heat! Enjoy Cool Temps In The 70s on Beech Mtn NC

2010-06-17T10:39:00.000-07:00

Escape The Heat! Enjoy Cool Temps In The 70s on Beech Mtn NC !

What better place to escape 90 degree summer days than in the Blue Ridge Mountains of NC.. The average summer temperature on Beech Mountain NC is in the mid 70s!

Check out Ray's Weather for Beech Mtn - the prediction for the week of 6/14-20 shows a high of 74.. Perfect for hiking, fishing or just relaxing !

The Town of Beech Mountain is located in North-Western North Carolina near the North Carolina - Tennessee state line. The Town is situated on the Watauga/Avery County Line at the end of NC 184. NC 184, also known as The Beech Mountain Parkway, is the main road into the town from Banner Elk.

Beech Mountain is nestled in the Southern Appalachian Highlands between Roan Mountain, Tennessee, and Boone, North Carolina. It's less than six hours from Atlanta, less than seven from Cincinnati, and only five hours from Nashville, Tennessee.

Bike Beech Mountain NC On Lance Armstrong's Route

2010-05-06T08:35:00.000-07:00

Welcome to Beech Mountain, eastern America's highest town (elevation 5506 feet), where you can follow the route of Lance Armstrong and the Tour Du Pont or enjoy 50 miles of great riding on the town's road bike routes. Beech is a bikers mountain offering something for everyone.

Annually, hundreds of bikers ascend the south side of the mountain from Banner Elk to the site of the Tour Du Pont finish line. A climb in elevation of 1400 feet in three and half miles, the Beech Mountain Parkway offers a great route most of the year.

Once on Beech, a variety of great biking awaits you with the town's 51.20 miles of paved bike routes. All routes begin at the visitors center, adjacent to the town hall.

You will retrace routes used by Lance Armstrong when he trained on the mountain. While most routes are through residential neighborhoods, others will take you by Buckeye Lake and the town's new recreation center. Traffic is usually minimal and Beech's 25 mph speed limit is a positive for cyclists.

Find out more info at Bike Beech Mountain

Hiking - Beech Mountain NC

2010-05-05T10:27:00.000-07:00

Something for everyone is the best way to describe the twenty miles of designated hiking trails on Beech Mountain, North Carolina.

Depending on your desire for an easy stroll through the woods with your family, or for those more adventurous, an eight mile trek through a thousand feet of elevation change, Beech's trails can fulfill your need for adventure.

Whether it is for hiking, mountain biking, cross-country skiing or trail runs, we have the trails for you on Beech Mountain.

See all the area hiking trails and info at "Hike Beech Mountain's" website..

Beech Mountain NC to Host Porsche 928 Rally June 5, 2010

2010-05-05T06:48:00.000-07:00

Beech Mountain to Host Rally for Porsche 928s on June 5

By Craig Distl 04.MAY.10 Beech Mountain, N.C. --

Fans of the Porsche 928 can witness the nation’s largest gathering of this powerful sports car on Saturday, June 5, atop Beech Mountain. The 13th annual Sharks in the Mountains rally, hosted by 928 Specialists of Spruce Pine, will attract a fleet of more than 100 cars. These unique Porsches are called “sharks” because their front profile resembles that of a shark.

David and Jeannie Roberts, owners of 928 Specialists, invite sports car fans to visit Beech Mountain for this special event, beginning with a 10 a.m. “park in” of all participants. This takes place in the central business district of Beech Mountain in front of Town Hall.

“We have an ideal setting right here at the top of the mountain. Car owners can use our parking area and visitors can come through and see these cars,” said Beech Mountain town manager Randy Feierabend. “It’s also an opportunity to get people up here in June so they can see how beautiful our mountain is in summer.

”The front engine V8 Porsche 928 is a lesser known model in the Porsche stable. There were only 60,000 made over a 17-year period and there aren’t many left.

“To see that many 928s at one time is rare,” said David Roberts. “This is one of only two such annual events of this size in the United States, and ours is the biggest and oldest. If you’re a car person and like classic cars, it’s quite a sight to see.

”Roberts said folks are welcome to stroll along the isles of cars and chat with owners.

“Porsche 928 owners are some of the most down to earth folks you’ll find,” he said. “They love to talk to about their cars and are happy to expose others to the Porsche 928.

”After spending the day in the town of Beech Mountain, the group departs in grand style with a 5 p.m. parade that follows the route of the former Beech Mountain Hill Climb race and continues down the mountain to Banner Elk.

“It will be a parade of more than 100 beautiful sports cars driving through town,” said Feierabend. “Even if you’re not a fan of the Porsche 928, it will still be cool to watch.”

For more info, visit BeechMtn.com or call (800) 468-5506.

Porsche 928 Photo from Wikipedia

Snow A Blessing to Beech Mountain & NC's High Country Ski Slopes

2010-03-05T12:37:00.000-08:00

Snow Days: Cold, snowy winter a blessing for ski resorts

BEECH MOUNTAIN, N.C. – Nobody’s complaining about this winter’s abundant snowfall in the ski-lodge villages of North Carolina’s High Country.

“When I see the snow everywhere I get really excited,” said Talia Freeman, the marketing director for Ski Beech. “It’s beautiful – the mountain range and the trees. It looks great when it’s covered in snow. It’s how it should look all the time.” All the time? Well, at least, during winter, said Ilena Accardi, co-owner of Beech Mountain’s Brick Oven Pizzeria. Just as there can be no such thing as too much sunshine in Florida, Accardi said, there can be no such thing as too much snow at Beech Mountain, N.C. “We are absolutely weather-related,” Accardi said. “If the weather is good and there is a lot of snow, then business is good.” And this year?

“Business has been great for the shops and the restaurants and the ski resort,” said Peggy Coscia, the director of the Beech Mountain Chamber of Commerce. “The skiers have reveled in the natural snow.”

‘NO MELTING’ Incorporated in 1981, Beech Mountain calls itself “Eastern America’s Highest Town.” Located slightly east of Carter County, Tenn., Beech Mountain rises 5,506 feet along the Watauga-Avery county line.

It’s been a ski resort destination since 1967, when Ski Beech opened, originally promoting itself as a Bavarian-style village with Austrian instructors.

Here, people take snow seriously. On the front steps of the A-frame that houses Fred’s General Mercantile, a big white pole proudly measures how much white stuff has covered the community each winter.

The high point marks 123.5 inches having fallen in 1995-96. But this year, storeowner Fred Pfohl said, “I’ve had people telling me we’re going to have to raise the snow pole in front of the store.” Pfohl serves as Beech Mountain’s official weatherkeeper for the National Weather Service. And, this winter, Beech Mountain has sat beneath a blanket of snow, with more than 100 inches having fallen. “Every business has a mountain of snow in the parking lot,” Pfohl said. That is unusual, Coscia added. “There has been no melting since December. This is just snow on top of ice on top of snow.”

Actually, about the only time even a bit of snow melted occurred on the third weekend of February. But, even then, the sunshine that melted the snow turned it into black ice on the streets. And then? More snow fell within days. “This is as constant as I ever remember seeing it,” Pfohl added. “It’s just kind of been one shot after another.” But, hey, he said – that’s cool. “If it had been a snowless winter,” Pfohl said, “we would have all been broke by now.”

‘MOST CONSISTENT’ Snow gets people in the mood to do go skiing, Freeman said. And business literally snowballs. “Definitely, this late in the season, our ski rental business is up,” said Rob Hancock, the night manager of Alpine Ski Center on Beech Mountain. “The amount of business we have steadily coming in is unusual.”

“I think any time we get a large amount of snow, it sparks interest among people in surrounding areas to come,” Freeman said. “And that combines with the excitement of people watching the Winter Olympics.” Business has doubled – maybe tripled – at Ski Beech, Freeman added. “It’s definitely the most consistent winter that we’ve had in years.” Beech Mountain authorities have reported little trouble with access to the isolated community, Coscia said.

“The state clears the main road to the slopes as it is a state road,” Coscia added. “Only problem is when people come here without chains or four-wheel drive. If the state light is on at the foot of the mountain, one must have use of chains or four-wheel drive. Or, else, park at foot of mountain and take the shuttle up to Ski Beech.”

Sometimes, still, an abundance of snow can scare away visitors, said Brad Moretz, the general manager of nearby Appalachian Ski Mountain in Blowing Rock, N.C. “Sometimes it helps, and sometimes it doesn’t help,” Moretz added. “Even though we scrape our roads and salt them, some people feel a little bit nervous about coming.”

Without snow machines, Moretz said, there would be no skiing in the mountains of North Carolina’s High Country. But, this year, resorts like Ski Beech and Sugar Mountain have turned off their snow machines. “It’s been cold enough,” Hancock said, “and they’ve been able to hold onto the snow ... Last year, they had to shut down without the snow.” The mild winter of 2009, Pfohl said, nearly wrecked the wintertime industry on Beech Mountain. “Last year, we didn’t hardly have any snow,” said Judy Decker, the manager of the Pinnacle Inn at Beech Mountain. “There wasn’t any snow up here, and they were skiing around bare spots ... People were leaving early because there was no snow.”

‘PLAY IT BY EAR’ Now, everyone wonders how long winter will last. If the snowy conditions and cold weather continue, will that mean a longer skiing season? “We haven’t released an exact closing date yet,” Freeman said. “We always shoot for the middle of March. We’re just going to play it by ear and see what the weather does.”

At nearby Sugar Mountain Ski Resort in Banner Elk, “Weather and skier traffic will dictate our closing date,” said marketing director Kim Jochl. “Our season typically ends in late March.” Freeman, for one, has contemplated a season extension.“We’d like to try,” she said. “It’s just going to be a last-minute decision that we make, depending on the weather.” Moretz, meanwhile, already has his mind made up. “We’re now skiing to April 11,” Moretz said. “Last year, we closed on March 30 ... But if winter holds on, it will really be something.” Indeed. Still, Decker said, spring will eventually arrive. “It doesn’t matter how much snow they have,” Decker said. “Once the daffodils and the tulips are popping out, people are thinking about flowers. They think about gardening, and they don’t even think about skiing any more.”

IF YOU GO

What: Beech Mountain Chamber of Commerce Where: 403-A Beech Mountain Parkway, Beech Mountain, N.C.Info: (800) 468-5506 E-mail: chamber@beechmtn.com
Web: http://www.beechmtn.com/

Article from Bristol TN Herald Courier

Snow is Here in NC Mountains! Ski, Snowboard, Tube, Sled or Zip!

2009-12-11T10:25:00.000-08:00

Snow is Here in the NC Mountains! Ski, Snowboard, Tube, Sled or Zip! Check out all the choices. 12/10/09

North Carolina's ski season hits full steam this weekend as all the state’s ski and tubing attractions are open. The resorts feature several new activities and special deals. Visitors traveling to North Carolina's High Country resorts near Boone are reminded that these areas are easily accessible through a variety of routes despite the detour on U.S. 321 between Lenoir and Blowing Rock. For more information on skiing in North Carolina, go to visitnc.com.

This weekend, Sugar Mountain celebrates SugarFest to kick off its 40th anniversary as one of North Carolina's premier ski resorts. Hawksnest Snow Tubing has all four parks open for snow tubing and now offers one of the only winter zip lines in the nation. This weekend only, Appalachian Ski Mountain has a "Ski and Tree" package offering a discount on a 'choose and cut' Christmas tree with purchase of a lift ticket. Ski Beech opens its Upper Shawneehaw run and high-speed quad lift this weekend. And the free kid's sledding hill is open in the Town of Beech Mountain.

U.S. 321 in Caldwell County near Lenoir between Kirby Mountain Road and Waterfalls Road is expected to be closed through the weekend as construction crews remove boulders loosened during road construction. Blasting has been taking place weekly on the U.S. 321 widening project from Blowing Rock to Lenoir. Alternatives to U.S. 321 include Interstate 77 North, U.S. 421, U.S. 221 and N.C. 18 to N.C. 181 from Interstate 40. For information on current road conditions, visitors should check the North Carolina Department of Transportation Traveler Information Management System website at ncdot.gov/traffictravel or call 511, the state’s free travel information line.

North Carolina features the highest ski areas and the largest snow tubing resort in the eastern U.S. Visitors to Western North Carolina can enjoy skiing, snowboarding, snow tubing, snowshoeing, ice skating, and a winter zip line or just sitting in a warm cozy lodge drinking hot cocoa. Here is an overview of North Carolina's facilities open for the weekend.

Appalachian Ski Mountain is now the home for Burton Snowboards' first Progression Park in North Carolina. With the completion of a multitude of ski area improvement projects, Appalachian Ski Mountain has now invested $3 million in snowmaking and other improvements in the last three years. More snow blowing fan guns were installed this summer; Appalachian Ski Mountain now has the greatest snowmaking capacity per acre in the Southeast. 828-295-7828; appskimtn.com.

Cataloochee Ski Area, located in the Great Smoky Mountains of Western North Carolina is traditionally the first ski resort in the Mid-Atlantic region to make snow and open for the season. The oldest winter area in North Carolina, Cataloochee continues to make significant improvements to its snowmaking capabilities, allowing the resort’s operational staff to be aggressive in helping skiers and snowboarders with their first tracks of the season. 828-926-0285; cataloochee.com.

Hawksnest Snow Tubing and Zip line Course A new addition this year is the country’s longest zip line course. The Hawksnest zip line course is 1.5 miles long and is open all year. In addition to the longest zip line course, Hawksnest has taken snow tubing to new levels of fun. Hawksnest’s expanded snow tubing operation makes it the biggest on the East Coast. Hawksnest Snow Tubing has four different areas to snow tube with more than 20 lanes of fun. Lanes are 400 – 1000 feet long with two moving carpet lifts to take guests back to the top. Hawksnest has 100 percent snowmaking and lighting on all lanes to provide the best possible conditions and fun for the whole family. 828-963-6561 or 800-822-4295; hawksnesttubing.com.

Sapphire Ski Valley Resort and Frozen Falls Tube Park Sapphire Ski Resort is a four-season resort located in the Blue Ridge Mountains. Sapphire prides itself on being a learning and group-friendly facility. Sapphire is also a family friendly resort for those who are looking to spend quality time with their loved ones. Sapphire Ski Resort features skiing, snowboarding and a tube park. 828-743-7663; sapphirevalleyresort.com.

Ski Beech at Beech Mountain Resort The popular Oz run returns this winter with new padded quad chairs and newly installed airless electrical snowmaking hookups along the run so the slope can be blown in within 24 hours. Also this winter a second terrain park will be unveiled with a fully functional lift that will access a multi-featured park with rails, boxes and jumps for intermediate to advanced freestyle riders. The resort also features a tubing park. Additionally, all reservoir lakes have been dredged to push the mountain’s water capacity to eight-million gallons. 828-387-2011 or 1-800-438-2093; skibeech.com.

Sugar Mountain Resort is even sweeter this year with special programs and deals throughout the season to honor its 40th anniversary. The Resort opened in 1969 with four lifts and 11 slopes for skiing. Since then Sugar has grown to include seven lifts and 20 slopes for skiers and snowboarders. Winter activity offerings have expanded over the years to include snowshoeing, tubing and ice skating. 828-898-4521 or 1-800-SUGARMT; skisugar.com.

Wolf Ridge Ski Resort Formerly Wolf Laurel Slopes, offers 15 acres of additional ski slopes, a new quad lift, a new terrain park and much more. There is something for everyone from beginner to expert at this family-oriented resort now with an expanded 82 acres of ski terrain. 828-689-4111; skiwolfridgenc.com.

MORE WINTER ACTIVITIES:North Carolina also has a number of other snow related activities. Snow tubing and sledding, though not as big as skiing, is a fun family friendly activity that everyone can enjoy. Here are more of North Carolina's facilities.

Beech Mountain Sledding Park The Town of Beech Mountain once again offers children a winter full of fun with its free youth sledding hill, one of the highest sledding hills in the eastern United States. The hill is adjacent to Town Hall and provides good sledding conditions with a combination of man-made and natural snow. Beech Mountain, at an elevation of 5,506 feet, is the highest town in Eastern America with an average annual snowfall of more than 80 inches. The Beech Mountain sledding hill is for kids age 12 and under, although parents may ride with smaller children. Plastic sleds are required. 828-387-9283; beechmtn.com.

Jonas Ridge Snow Tubing Located six miles south of Linville, Jonas Ridge features three tubing runs. They also offer night tubing. Will open for the season on Sunday - will maybe open on Saturday if conditions allow. Call to confirm opening and hours. 828-733-4155

Info from Raleigh Downtowner Magazine

Sugar Mountain Ski Resort is Open! SugarFest 12/12 & 13

2009-12-01T11:20:00.000-08:00

SUGAR MOUNTAIN RESORT, NORTH CAROLINA

SugarFest kick starts the winter season with a weekend of pure winter fun! Sponsored by the Village of Sugar Mountain Tourism Development Authority (TDA) and hosted by Sugar Mountain Resort, SugarFest will be held December 12th and 13th, 2009.

The seventh annual, two-day festival is packed with a long list of winter activities and coincides with Sugar's 16th Annual Adult Preseason Ski Clinic www.skisugar.com/specials/#15 in which Olympic Gold & Silver medalist Diann Roffe and two-time Olympian, Krista Schmidinger will be special guest coaches.

Watch Olympic Figure Skating Silver Medalist, Paul Wylie dazzle us with his amazing talent followed by an on-ice skating clinic and a meet and greet session Saturday at 10 a.m. and 1 p.m. Sugar's ice rink www.skisugar.com/skating is located next to the Dave Nixon Pro Shop adjacent to parking lot D.

Both Saturday and Sunday from 9:00 a.m. until 3:30 p.m. 2010 ski & snowboard equipment will be available for demo from Salomon, Volkl, Nordica, Burton, Head, Never Summer, K2, Atomic, Dynastar, Rossignol, Ride, Line, Fisher and Forum. A valid driver's license or credit card is required to demo equipment.

If the weather cooperates, Sugar’s Tubing Park www.skisugar.com/tubing will be open. Both ice skating and tubing activities will be open for one hour and forty-five minute sessions from 10 a.m. until 10 p.m.

"Ready, get set, go!" is what you'll hear if you enter the snowball eating contest at 3:00 p.m. on Saturday, December 12th. You'll have two minutes to eat as many tasty snowball look-a-likes as your stomach can stomach! Later at 5 p.m. join us in the base lodge for cake, ice cream and refreshments as we officially begin celebrating Sugar’s 40th Anniversary www.skisugar.com/forty.

Be sure to bring the whole family to watch a thunderous and spectacular fireworks display at the base of Sugar Mountain Resort, Saturday evening at 5:45 p.m. After a hard day of skiing, snowboarding, ice skating or tubing there's nothing better than good food, warm drinks, and fun music. Come dance while you listen to live bluegrass music by Boss Hawg from 4:00 p.m. until 7:00 p.m.

Don't miss the Edge of the World/Burton Rail Jam Expression Session at 12 noon on Sunday as talented snowboarders pull off some of their best tricks. Later in the day marvel as blocks of ice become beautiful winter works of art.

For more information please contact Sugar Mountain Resort at 800-SUGAR MT. For a complete list of events and times please log on to www.seesugar.com/sugarfest.

Photo courtesy of Sugar Mountain

Get Season Pass Special at Ski Beech Before 11/1/09

2009-10-23T11:11:00.001-07:00

Don't Miss the Season Pass Special Price for Ski Beech Until 11/1/09 . Ski Beech is scheduled to open November 21, 2009.

Super Saver Season Pass Sale! From September 28 through November 1, all season passes will be $350.00 for an unlimited individual season pass. Only 200 passes are being sold so book early to assure the best deal in North Carolina!

All passes must be purchased through the Beech Mountain Resort Ticket Office in person or by phone (1-800-438-2093) Monday-Friday, 8:30 to 4:00.

This is the annual favorite for many skiers. You can ski all season long, any day, any session. Family discounts too! A discount is also offered for immediate family members (parents and dependent children) purchasing season passes together.

Click the etix logo at the SKI BEECH website to order Season Passes online.

Type of Pass - After November 1 2009

First Adult (age 13-64)
$500

Second Adult in immediate family
$450

Each additional immediate family member
$400

Individual Junior (ages 5 thru 12)
$425

Individual Senior (age 65 - 69)
$425

Individual Student
$425

Photo courtesy of Ski Beech

Return To The Land Of Oz-This Weekend 10/3 & 4, 2009 -Beech Mountain NC

2009-09-29T07:41:00.001-07:00

It's that time again........to FOLLOW the yellow brick road to Beech Mountain NC..

All the Ozzie characters will be back to the Land of Oz on Beech Mountain this weekend - Saturday October 3rd and Sunday Oct 4th, 2009 - 10:00am to 5:00 p.m. Just head up the mountain and you can't miss the fun...

How interesting! I posted the photo to the right that I took last year of Dorothy, Toto and the Cowardly Lion on Facebook..... and guess what? "Dorothy"...contacted me to say this was a pic of her.. So this weekend, Lord willing... I will "officially" meet this Dorothy from Kingsport TN..

Come and enjoy !!!

See more info here

or call
800-468-5506

Mile High Kite Festival On Beech Mountain NC - Sept 5 - 6, 2009

2009-08-31T12:32:00.000-07:00

BEECH MOUNTAIN, N.C. Why not go fly a kite on Labor Day weekend?

The seventh annual Mile High Kite Festival will be held in the meadows at the top of Beech Mountain, the highest destination in the North Carolina mountains. The free event gives children of all ages an opportunity to fly a kite at an altitude of 1 mile above sea level.

Festivities get under way Saturday 9/5/09 with a clinic for kite makers from 2 to 4 p.m. Folks are encouraged to bring their homemade kites, and members of the kite clubs will be on hand to discuss the intricacies of kite building.

Two members of the Richmond Air Force kite club--Terry Murray and Will Smoot -- will serve as announcers for the Kite Festival on Sunday 9/6/09. The hours are from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Free kites will be given to the first 200 children younger than 12. There also will be kites for sale, and folks are welcome to bring their own. Other activities will include children's races and face painting, and there will be craft vendors.

Contests will be held for biggest, smallest and best-decorated kites. For more information, call (800) 468-5506 or visit http://www.beechmtn.com/.

Kite photo by wolfpix on flickr

Get Discounts On NC High Country Attractions, Restaurants & More

2009-08-21T07:25:00.000-07:00

Get Discounts On NC High Country Attractions, Restaurants & More !

Real Deals Now has a new way of advertising many of the businesses around Blowing Rock, Boone, Grandfather Mountain, Tweetsie and Banner Elk. Go to the Real Deals Now website and register by email for a chance to win discounts to Tweetsie, The Blowing Rock, Mystery Hill and Grandfather Mountain and lots more..

Real Deals Now also has a variety of restaurant coupons - including Woodlands BBQ, The Best Cellar and the Blowing Rock Grille in Blowing Rock.. Some of the choices in Boone are The Daniel Boone Inn, Makoto's Japanese Steak House, The Peddler Steak House, Boone Drugs and even - Cheap Joe's Art Stuff... Check out the Real Deals Now Business Page for the full list . The "How To Use This Site" page will get you up to speed on just how you can take advantage of some great deals in the NC High Country !

We had the privilege of using this site last week to win discount tickets to Tweetsie. Not only did we get a fantastic deal, owners - Tim and Janice Baxter went out of their way to help us secure our tickets at the very last minute !!! These folks are not only nice and helpful, they really want you to have a great time in the NC mountains..

If you are planning a trip to Boone, Blowing Rock, Banner Elk, Beech Mountain, or Grandfather Mountain - you must check out Real Deals Now

Autumn At Oz - Beech Mountain NC - October 3 & 4, 2009

2009-08-04T13:43:00.000-07:00

Autum at Oz - Beech Mountain NC To be held Saturday, October 3rd and Sunday, October 4th, 2009 from 10:00 to 5:00 p.m.

When you arrive on Beech Mountain, you can park in the meadows across from the Beech Mountain Town Hall then walk, or catch the bus, up to the private garden of OZ. The walk is approximately 1 gentle, uphill mile.

Guests will take a tour of Aunt Em's and Uncle Henry's farm and meet Dorothy, Toto and friends along the Yellow Brick Road. While you wait for your bus, you will enjoy all the visitors decked out as Dorothy, TinMan, Scarecrow, the Cowardly Lion, Glinda-The Good Witch or the Wicked Witch.. it is a blast!

The tour takes from 1 1/2 to 2 hours - or a little longer, depends on how long you linger in Emerald City. You can go anytime between 10 am and 5 pm but the buses generally run at 10am, 12noon and 2pm. * Strollers and wheelchairs will need to be parked.

There will be a mini-museum to visit and artifacts to share all about Oz. The bands are not yet determind but some will provide music, Peter McTavish will provide Magic Shows in between, and Genesis Wildlife Sanctuary will exhibit a small petting zoo, adding more fun at the Farm. There will be face painting, food treats, and special Oz concessions in "Kansas".

New and old trivia will be available for purchase, with part of the money going back into upkeep and restorations.Our very special guests of honor will be ??? from the 1939 movie. Everyone is encouraged to wear something "Ozzie" and bring their photos and treasures to add to the event.

A special invite is extended again to past employees of Carolina Caribbean and the Land of OZ. The price is $15.00, children under 3 free. We'll gladly take original yellow bricks or other park remains for trade.

Unfortunately, I never visited the Land of Oz as a child.....but last year I came to Autumn at Oz for the first time.. I was very impressed with the organization of the event, the costumes, the Ozzie characters and thoroughly enjoyed the entire day there.. The folks of Beech Mountain and everyone that participates in this event should be commended. Well Done ! Lord willing, I will be back this year..

A limited number of advance tickets are available at the Beech Mountain Chamber of Commerce, http://www.beechmtn.com/ . 800-468-5506.

Photos by C. Gilliam

Mountain Bike Racing - Triple Crown on Beech Mountain NC

2009-07-30T13:52:00.000-07:00

Downhill Mountain Bike Racing Returns to Beech Mountain Resort with reintroduction of Triple Crown Series!

Beech Mountain Resort has teamed up with local mountain bike aficionado and professional downhill racer Ryan Taylor to offer three gravity-fed mountain bike racing events in 2009. Together, the team will reintroduce the Beech Mountain Triple Crown Series to attract professional and amateur riders across the Southeast.

Three race dates are set for the 2009 Triple Crown: June 27-28; August 8-9; September 5-6, so mark your calendar now! Competitors will earn points at each event, culminating in series champions in September. Amateur and professional categories will be offered. All racers will compete on a single course descending the full elevation of Beech Mountain. Race entry fees will be $55 for all classes.

According to Taylor , during the 1990’s Beech Mountain was the premier downhill mountain bike racing venue in the Southeast. “Beech was always a classic downhill race venue because of its elevation, turbulent weather and rough terrain. I do not think I can remember a race where weather was not a factor, or where my palms were not sweating at registration.” Now, nearly a decade later, downhill racing returns!

Helmets are mandatory for all competitors. Recommended safety equipment for competitors includes, gloves, long pants, long sleeve shirt, leg armour, arm armour and solid running or bike specific shoes.

To find out more information about the 2009 Triple Crown Series contact Ryan Taylor via email at mbrp07@yahoo.com.

2 Beech Mountain, Banner Elk, NC High Country August 2009 Events

2009-07-30T11:50:00.000-07:00

Beech Mountain, Banner Elk, NC High Country August 2009 Events

Beech Mountain - August 1, 2009

The Beech Mountain Chamber of Commerce is preparing for their 28th Annual Crafts on the Green festival. The festival will be held on Saturday, August 1, 2009 on the top of Beech Mountain. Approximately 70 craftspeople are expected to be there with a variety of items ranging from fine jewelry, woodturnings, photography, and other craft items. Live music, a magic show, and food will all be on hand at Beech Mountain’s 28th Annual Crafts on the Green. The festival will run from 9:00 a.m. until 4:00 p.m.

Sunday Concerts at Fred’s Gazebo - Beech Mountain August 2 & 9, 2009Summer Sunday concerts are featured at Fred’s Gazebo with lots of fun for the whole family. Each Sunday starting at 6:30pm. For more information contact the Chamber of Commerce at (828) 387-9283 or (800) 468-5506.

Summer Guided Hikes Beech Moutain - August 4, 2009Take the Beech Creek Bog Trail - 1.8 miles. Check in at the Beech Mountain Chamber and enjoy nature at it's best. For more information contact the Beech Mountain Chamber of Commerce at (828) 387-9283 or (800) 468-5506. http://www.hikebeechmountain.com/Ski Beech - Beech Mountain - August 8-9. 2009Downhill Mountain Bike Racing Returns to Beech Mountain Resort with reintroduction of Triple Crown Series! Bike race dates are set for the 2009 Triple Crown Bike Race: August 8-9; September 5-6. For more info - see the websitehttp://www.skibeech.com/news/26.html

Banner Elk - Lees McRae - August 11, 2009Lees McRae presents "Everything is Rosie" starring Wendy Hayes, is a one woman show that pays tribute to the life and musical contributions of one of America's favorite girl singers . . . Rosemary Clooney! Tuesday, Aug 11 at 7:30 pm Hayes Auditorium - Lees McRae Tickets: $ 20.00 - General Admission Buy tickets at the box office or at the dooror check online http://www.lmc.edu/web/SummerTheatre/ All shows will be held in Hayes Auditorium. Box office hours: Noon - 5 pm, Monday - FridayBox office phone: 828-898-8709
Beech Mountain Club - August 14, 2009Frogmore Stew - Good lo country shrimp boil at the Beech Mountain Club Pavilion. Everyone welcome. Reservation recommended. Price TBD 6pm-9pm Music by Jesse Smith (singing Jimmy Buffet tunes)
Street Dance at Town Hall - Beech Mountain - August 15, 2009August 15, 2009 Our D.J., Mac Mast, is a master at reading the crowd and playing music that will get your heart pumping and your feet moving. Music starts at 7 pm, weather permitting. This is a free event, brought to you by the members of the Beech Mountain Chamber of Commerce. For additional information, call the Beech Mountain Chamber of Commerce at (828) 387-9283 or
(800) 468-5506.
Blowing Rock NC - 47th Annual Art in the Park August 15, 2009Art in the Park 10 am - 5 pmDowntown Blowing Rock, American Legion GroundsThis series of juried art and fine handcraft shows has garnered numerous awards through the years and showcases 100 exhibitors at each show. Call 800-295-7851
Grandfather Mountain - August 15-16,2009Daily Naturalist ProgramsGrandfather Mountain naturalists present a special nature program each day during the summer(August). The one-hour programs are scheduled for 1:00 p.m. and are included in the price of admission. 800-468-7325Grandfather Mountain Amateur & Professional Camera ClinicAug. 15-16Top photographers gather to share on the nuts & bolts of making good photographs. 2009 speakers include Bill Fortney, John Chastain, Duane Hall and Melissa Southern. Free to working press, additional cost for non-professionals. Seating is limited, so pre-registration is required. Online registration begins July 15. 800-468-7325

Summer Guided Hikes - Beech Mountain August 18 , 2009August 18, 2009 Take the Westerly HillsTrail - 4.5 miles. Check in at the Beech Mountain Chamber and enjoy nature at it's best. For more information contact the Beech Mountain Chamber of Commerce at (828) 387-9283 or (800) 468-5506. http://hikebeechmountain.com/Banner Elk - Lees McRae August 22, 2009Marvin Hamlisch in Concert at the Hayes Auditorium - Lees McRae College Banner Elk NC - Saturday August 22, 2009 7:30pmCall 828-898-8719 or click the link to buy tickets online..http://www.lmc.edu/web/specialevents/marvin_hamlisch.htmValle Crucis Park - Valle Crucis NC August Dates See website at ValleCrucisPark.org or call the Park Office at 828-963-9239.Music in the Park 2009 ScheduleAll performances begin at 7 p.m. unless otherwise noted.•August 7 - The Neighbors - Bluegrass•August 14 - The Blue Notes Dixieland Jazz Band•August 21 - Family Ties - Bluegrass•August 28 - The Forget-Me-Nots - Celtic, ClassicalSee the website at ValleCrucisPark.org or call the Park Office at 828-963-9239During the month of AUGUST - Banner ELk NCThe Tate Evans Park in Banner Elk is located behind the Bank of America building off Highway 194 and features a play area, doggy area, a ¼ mile walking path, a stream, gardens, pavilions, picnic tables, grills and playground equipment. During the summer months, you can bring blankets and chairs to enjoy the summer concerts in the park sponsored by the Banner Elk Chamber of Commerce. These free summer concerts take place on Thursday evenings throughout the months of July & August and usually start around 6:30 p.m. You will find food vendors there or bring your own picnic.

Beech Mountain, Banner Elk, NC High Country - August 2009 Events

2009-07-30T09:16:00.000-07:00

Beech Mountain - August 1, 2009
The Beech Mountain Chamber of Commerce is preparing for their 28th Annual Crafts on the Green festival. The festival will be held on Saturday, August 1, 2009 on the top of Beech Mountain. Approximately 70 craftspeople are expected to be there with a variety of items ranging from fine jewelry, woodturnings, photography, and other craft items. Live music, a magic show, and food will all be on hand at Beech Mountain’s 28th Annual Crafts on the Green. The festival will run from 9:00 a.m. until 4:00 p.m.

Sunday Concerts at Fred’s - Beech Mountain August 2 & 9, 2009
Summer Sunday concerts are featured at Fred’s Gazebo with lots of fun for the whole family. Each Sunday starting at 6:30pm. For more information contact the Chamber of Commerce at (828) 387-9283 or (800) 468-5506.

Summer Guided Hikes Beech Moutain - August 4, 2009
Take the Beech Creek Bog Trail - 1.8 miles. Check in at the Beech Mountain Chamber and enjoy nature at it's best. For more information contact the Beech Mountain Chamber of Commerce at (828) 387-9283 or (800) 468-5506. www.hikebeechmountain.com

Ski Beech - Beech Mountain - August 8-9. 2009
Downhill Mountain Bike Racing Returns to Beech Mountain Resort with reintroduction of Triple Crown Series! Bike race dates are set for the 2009 Triple Crown Bike Race: August 8-9; September 5-6. For more info - see the website
http://www.skibeech.com/news/26.html

Street Dance at Town Hall - Beech Mountain - August 15, 2009
August 15, 2009 Our D.J., Mac Mast, is a master at reading the crowd and playing music that will get your heart pumping and your feet moving. Music starts at 7 pm, weather permitting. This is a free event, brought to you by the members of the Beech Mountain Chamber of Commerce. For additional information, call the Beech Mountain Chamber of Commerce at (828) 387-9283 or (800) 468-5506.
Frogmore Stew

Beech Mountain Club - August 14, 2009
Good lo country shrimp boil at the Beech Mountain Club Pavilion. Everyone welcome. Reservation recommended. Price TBD 6pm-9pm Music by Jesse Smith (singing Jimmy Buffet tunes)

Banner Elk - Lees McRae - August 11, 2009
Lees McRae presents "Everything is Rosie" starring Wendy Hayes, is a one woman show that pays tribute to the life and musical contributions of one of America's favorite girl singers . . . Rosemary Clooney! Tuesday, Aug 11 at 7:30 pm Hayes Auditorium - Lees McRae Tickets: $ 20.00 - General Admission Buy tickets at the box office or at the dooror check online http://www.lmc.edu/web/SummerTheatre/All shows will be held in Hayes Auditorium. Box office hours: Noon - 5 pm, Monday - FridayBox office phone: 828-898-8709

Summer Guided Hikes - Beech Mountain August 18 , 2009
August 18, 2009 Take the Westerly HillsTrail - 4.5 miles. Check in at the Beech Mountain Chamber and enjoy nature at it's best. For more information contact the Beech Mountain Chamber of Commerce at (828) 387-9283 or (800) 468-5506. www.hikebeechmountain.com

Grandfather Mountain - August 15-16,2009
Daily Naturalist Programs
Grandfather Mountain naturalists present a special nature program each day during the summer(August). The one-hour programs are scheduled for 1:00 p.m. and are included in the price of admission. 800-468-7325
Grandfather Mountain Amateur & Professional Camera Clinic
Aug. 15-16
Top photographers gather to share on the nuts & bolts of making good photographs. 2009 speakers include Bill Fortney, John Chastain, Duane Hall and Melissa Southern. Free to working press, additional cost for non-professionals. Seating is limited, so pre-registration is required. Online registration begins July 15. 800-468-7325

Banner Elk - Lees McRae August 22, 2009

Marvin Hamlisch in Concert at the Hayes Auditorium - Lees McRae College Banner Elk NC - Saturday August 22, 2009 7:30pm
Call 828-898-8719 or click the link to buy tickets online..
http://www.lmc.edu/web/specialevents/marvin_hamlisch.htm

Valle Crucis Park - Valle Crucis NC August Dates

See website at ValleCrucisPark.org or call the Park Office at 828-963-9239.
Music in the Park 2009 Schedule

All performances begin at 7 p.m. unless otherwise noted.
•August 7 - The Neighbors - Bluegrass

•August 14 - The Blue Notes Dixieland Jazz Band

•August 21 - Family Ties - Bluegrass

•August 28 - The Forget-Me-Nots - Celtic, Classical

See the website at ValleCrucisPark.org or call the Park Office at 828-963-9239

During the month of AUGUST - Banner ELk NC

The Tate Evans Park in Banner Elk is located behind the Bank of America building off Highway 194 and features a play area, doggy area, a ¼ mile walking path, a stream, gardens, pavilions, picnic tables, grills and playground equipment. During the summer months, you can bring blankets and chairs to enjoy the summer concerts in the park sponsored by the Banner Elk Chamber of Commerce. These free summer concerts take place on Thursday evenings throughout the months of July & August and usually start around 6:30 p.m. You will find food vendors there or bring your own picnic.

Hawksnest - The Newest Zipline in NC's High Country

2009-07-23T11:01:00.000-07:00

Hawksnest Resort in Seven Devils, NC has always been known as a skiing destination until last year... They switched over entirely to Snow Tubing.....now they have added the longest Zipline on the East Coast.... over 2 miles of zipping!!

At the Hawksnest Zipline, you can ride 13 different cables taking you through the trees, over creeks and even over snow tubers during the winter months. Make sure you try the SuperZip cable that is over 2500 feet in length and over 200 feet high.

The zipline course is set in the middle of some of the best views in the High Country. Zipline riding is an exciting and safe experience for the entire family; children must be 5 years old to ride. In addition to being the largest zipline course on the east coast they are a great value.

The course progresses in length and speed. Professional guides accompany each group of riders, providing advice and safety tips along the way. According to the guides, the first-timer’s tentative step off tower number one into nothingness is soon replaced with their exclamations of “whoopee.” The learning curve is quick, the guides said.

Check the great rates at Hawksnest Zipline. Please call ahead for updates and reservations. Tour TimesTours start at 10am, 12pm, 2pm, 4pm and 6pm. Reservations are required. No single person tours, must be 2 zipliners for tour. You can buy your tickets online at the Hawksnest website or call us at 828-963-6561 or 800-822-4295.

Tour Rates

Ride the first 6 cables and SuperZip cable
$65

Ride 12 cables
$65

Ride 14 cables and SuperZip cable
$90

Hawksnest is located just off Hwy 105 between Boone and Banner Elk NC..

2058 Skyland Drive Seven Devils NC 28604

1.800.822.4295 828-963-6561

From Interstate 40 take Hwy 321 North or Hwy 221 North to Highway 105. You'll see the sign at the entrance to Seven Devils. Just follow the signs up the mountain.

Info and Photos from HighCountryPress.com and http://www.hawksnest-resort.com/

Also check out our trip to ScreamTime Zipline near Boone NC

J L Trent's Seafood - Beech Mountain NC !!

2009-07-08T11:01:00.000-07:00

We truly enjoyed our stay on Beech Mountain last week... The weather was perfect!! Escaping 90 degree heat was fantastic.. 65-78 degrees was the temperature range during the day. We had one night with a low of 52 degrees...great sleeping weather in July! Relaxing was the main objective and that we did....of course everyone..... except hubby --- he put out tons of new mulch and worked in the yard - a lot!!

We visited a new restaurant called J L Trent's Seafood located just outside Banner Elk on the Beech Mountain Parkway across from Los Arcoiris.. Trent’s was started in 1997 in Jacksonville, Fla., by J.L. and Deena Trent. It's a family business with many of them working in the two Florida locations. Their son, Michael, will be running the new Beech Mountain restaurant and Mom and Dad are there getting it up and running..

Even though the restaurant was busy, we had the privilege of meeting and chatting with Deena and her son, Michael...... great folks !!

A popular dish is the baked stuffed flounder, filled with crabmeat and cheese..... sounds yummy but they were out of it by the time we got there... We did have the fried pickle chips as an appetizer and they were very good.. Because they are thin- it was just the right combo of sour pickle and crunchy batter.

Hubby had the salt and pepper catfish and said it was some of the best he had eaten.. The batter is very light and not greasy at all... I enjoyed the fried squash with my bite sized (calabash) shrimp.... To top off our great meal, we had Key Lime Pie and it was delish!!

They have a great variety of food choices... Buffalo shrimp, corn nuggets, clam chowder, Buffalo wings. You get hushpuppies and two sides with each dinner - choose from potatoes, grits, beans, collard greens, sliced cucumbers, slaw or corn on the cob. They will also have some daily specials..

Trent’s is located at 444 Beech Mountain Parkway, just outside Banner Elk. For more information, including catering, call (828) 898-7555.

Give them a try, it's wonderful to have another food choice in Beech Mountain !!

Grandfather Mountain NC

2009-05-27T17:30:00.000-07:00

I feel so very blessed to be a native North Carolinian !! I have lived at the foot of the Blue Rige Mountains most of my life and Grandfather Mountain has been kind of a "fixture" to me..

When traveling to Beech Mountain from Hickory NC via "curvy" NC 181 or up Hwy 321 ~ ~ ~ through Blowing Rock, I am able to view "Grandfather" on opposite sides of his profile....

Over the years, I have witnessed Grandfather clothed in frozen snow capped splendor, arrayed in beautiful golden fall foilage or ablaze with rhododendrum's purple majesty.. Grandfather Mountain is like an old friend....

It's been many, many years since I have walked across Grandfather's Mile High Swinging Bridge or visited the Black Bear Habitat but maybe....... this summer. I hope you will visit this glorious natural wonder ... Check out all these great Grandfather Mtn Events...

Daily Naturalist Programs

June - Aug
Grandfather Mountain naturalists present a special nature program each day during the summer. The one-hour programs are scheduled for 1:00 p.m. and are included in the price of admission.
800-468-7325

The Remarkable Rhododendron Ramble
June 1-14
Our staff naturalists can't wait to share their excitement for the showy rose-lavender Catawba Rhododendron that blooms its way up Grandfather’s slopes throughout the month of June. Join us for special activities designed to help you get the most out of this memorable sight.
800-468-7325

National Trails Day Volunteer Project
June 6
Come help us maintain Grandfather's trails and let the backcountry rangers share their knowledge of and passion for Grandfather Mountain. Free admission for volunteers.
828-737-0833

85th Annual Singing On The Mountain
June 28Alwaysthe fourth Sunday in June
All-day gospel sing and fellowship held in MacRae Meadows. Host group The Greenes welcome The Primitive, The Cockman Family, The Melodyaires, Jubilee, Four Anointed, The Gospel Enforcers, Michael Combs, Naomi & The Segos, and George Hamilton IV with George Hamilton V and Tim & Roddy Smith. The Rev. Freida Hartley Hobson will bring the message. Free admission. Camping (without hookups) available on the field.
800-468-7325

54th Annual Grandfather Mountain Highland Games
July 9-12
Brawny athletes, delicate dancers, noisy bagpipe band parades, rocking Celtic music and a spectacular highland setting makes this colorful celebration of Scottish culture the best highland games in America. Admission charged.
828-733-1333

The Bear: Assault on Grandfather
July 9
A five-mile road race that climbs 1,568 feet in elevation from Linville to the summit of Grandfather Mountain. Part of Highland Games. Admission charged.
828-263-5207

The Grizzly Bike Ride
July 10
The Grizzly is a beautiful and challenging route with 7000 feet of climbing in 65 miles. Part of Highland Games. Admission charged.
828-263-5207

The Grandfather Mountain Marathon
July 11
Billed as "America's Toughest" marathon. Part of Highland Games. Admission charged.
828-263-5207

Grandfather Mountain Amateur & Professional Camera Clinic
Aug. 15-16
Top photographers gather to share on the nuts & bolts of making good photographs. 2009 speakers include Bill Fortney, John Chastain, Duane Hall and Melissa Southern. Free to working press, additional cost for non-professionals. Seating is limited, so pre-registration is required. Online registration begins July 15.
800-468-7325
Rods in the Park Classic Car, Truck & Vintage Bike Show
Aug. 2009
Over 45 classes from Antique pre-30's through 1989 cars, trucks, vintage bikes and road tractors. MacRae Meadows. Admission charged. Call 828-963-2723 with questions or to register.
828-963-2723 Email for more information.

Kidfest Sept. 12
Guided hikes, games, storytellers, music and fun. Included with park admission.
800-468-7325

39th Annual American Girl Scout Day
Sept. 19
All Girl Scouts and troop leaders are admitted free with proof of membership. Discount admission for other family members. Staff naturalists provide free nature programs throughout the day.
800-468-7325

Bridge-To-Bridge Incredible Challenge Bike Ride
Sept. 20
This 102-mile bike ride departs the Lenoir Mall and makes its way uphill to the Mile High Swinging Bridge. Registration fee.
828-726-0616

Find out more info on Grandfather Mountain

Linville Caverns NC

2009-05-27T12:31:00.000-07:00

Linville Caverns is located in Western NC outside of Marion ---- just a short drive from Beech Mountain NC. While visiting the Blue Ridge Mountains of NC, take a little time to visit this spectacular display of God's handiwork....

For centuries, the marvels of Linville Caverns were unknown to man. In the early 1800's a fishing expedition headed by Henry E. Colton, of eastern NC, were astounded to see fish swimming in and out of what appeared to be rather solid rock. A small opening in the mountainous terrain allowed them to enter the subterranean recess that is still home to native trout in an underground stream.

The cost for a visit to Linville Caverns is really a bargain...... Just $7.oo for Adults, $5.50 for Seniors(62 & older) and $5.00 for Children (Ages 5-12) Children under 12 are F*r*e*e

The Caverns are open daily in June, July and August from 9am - 6pm.

Find more info - Linville Caverns ~ 19929 US 221 North ~ Marion, NC ~ 28752 800~419~0540 828~756~4171 info@linvillecaverns.com

Linville Caverns photo by Salem Elizabeth on Flickr

Visit Beech Mountain's "Buckeye Recreation Center" For Lots of Fun !

2009-01-15T07:05:00.000-08:00

When you visit Beech Mountain NC, you will have lots of activities to choose from, golf, hiking, fishing, skiing, snowboarding, snow tubing or sledding.... but you might just want a little something extra to do.....

IF so, check out the beautiful new "Buckeye Recreation Center" on Grassy Gap Creek Rd in Beech Mountain NC.

The Buckeye Recreation facility is top notch with friendly staff to help if needed.. With over 22,000 square foot, there is certainly something for everyone..

Indoor Basketball or Volleyball

Fitness Room with state of the art Nautilus equipment

Indoor Tennis-Call for reservations 828-387-3003 $5/per hr-Residents $7/hr -NonResidents

Living Room to relax or check email on the Wireless Internet Connection

Kid's Playroom

Tennis Ball Machine

Hours of operation at Buckeye Recreation Center are

Mon - Sat 8:30am till 8:30pm Sunday 12-6pm

Click here to find the fees for resident and non-residents..

Directions: Buckeye Recreation is located at Buckeye Lake on Grassy Gap Creek Rd. Follow Beech Mountain Parkway(main road into town by Fred's Store, etc) to Pine Ridge Rd and follow it until it becomes Grassy Gap Creek Rd. Buckeye will be on the right.

For more information contact

Buckeye Recreation at

206 Grassy Gap Creek Rd.
Beech Mountain, NC 28604
Phone: (828) 387-3003
Fax: (828) 387-4103
Email: buckeyerec@townofbeechmountain.com

Come To Beech Mountain NC For The Holidays, Skiing, Sledding & More

2008-12-18T11:25:00.000-08:00

Beech Mountain, North Carolina seems to be the perfect place for a NC Christmas or winter vacation....of course I LOVE it also in the summer with average temps around 70.... but back to the winter part.

It's a quaint little town on top of the world, at least it feels like it - being the highest town east of the Rockies at 55oo foot elevation !

Beech is about 35 miles from Boone NC, 15 minutes to Banner Elk, 2.5 hour drive from Charlotte & Winston Salem, 1.5 hours from Hickory - so very convenient as well.

Beech Mountain normally has a lot of snow in the winter but...... if they don't - Ski Beech is sure to make some for skiiers, snowboarders, snow tubers, sledders and ice skaters. When it does snow on Beech, you are in for a true Winter Wonderland !

The Town of Beech Mountain also makes a lot of snow for the sledding hill beside Town Hall. Tons of sledding fun for kids up to 12..... all for free ! You gotta love that !! Step across the street for hot chocolate, pizza or sandwiches at The Brick Oven Pizzeria-Yum!!

Fred's General Mercantile is always decked out for Christmas. Since it's an old fashioned general store....... you'll feel like slowing down and enjoying Christmas at a more relaxed pace - isn't that what we all need ;-)

There will be a Santa Visit at Fred's Gazebo, 4:00PM to 5:00 PM this Saturday-12/20/08 and the Christmas Tree Lighting at Beech Mountain Chamber office 5:00PM to 6:00 PM

What about an old-fashioned hay ride and bonfire on December 30th - call Beech Mountain 800-438-7325 for more info.

If you are interested in snow skiing, sledding, snow boarding, snow tubing or just relaxing..... Beech Mountain NC might just be the place for you ---- winter, summer, spring or fall.. Cold temperatures are moving back into Beech on Sunday and we MIGHT see snow on Christmas Eve !!

Bring the whole family and stay in our luxury, 5 bedroom, 3 bath vacation home on Beech Mountain, just minutes from Ski Beech !

Merry Christmas From Beech Mountain North Carolina !

2008-12-18T10:40:00.000-08:00

We wanted to wish you the most wonderful Christmas ever by sharing the ONLY perfect gift - JESUS CHRIST..

May God richly bless you this Christmas and in 2009 !!

Luke Chapter 1:28 And the angel came in unto her, and said, Hail, thou that art highly favoured, the Lord is with thee: blessed art thou among women.

29 And when she saw him, she was troubled at his saying, and cast in her mind what manner of salutation this should be.

30 And the angel said unto her, Fear not, Mary: for thou hast found favour with God.

31 And, behold, thou shalt conceive in thy womb, and bring forth a son, and shalt call his name JESUS.

32 He shall be great, and shall be called the Son of the Highest: and the Lord God shall give unto him the throne of his father David:

Luke Chapter 2:8 And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night.

9 And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them: and they were sore afraid.

10 And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people.

11 For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord.

12 And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger.

13 And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying,

14 Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.

You can accept this wonderful gift of eternal life through Jesus Christ !

John 3:16
16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.

17 For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.

18 He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.

19 And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil.

Ski Beech Opens 11/22, Sugar Mtn & Hawksnest Are Open Now!

2008-11-19T11:44:00.000-08:00

Great News for SNOW LOVERS ! After getting several inches of natural snow on Beech Mountain, Ski Beech is now prepared to open on Saturday 11/22/08. they also have added a tubing run this year. SNOW TUBING ON BEECH HAS RETURNED !

Ski Beech - Opening Day - 11/22/2008

Opening weekend, November 22 and 23, our slope tickets will be at weekday rates, and for the following week, our mid-week specials will be in effect, including half price adult day tickets on Tuesday, $25 adult day tickets on Wednesday, and Ladies Day on Thursday, Thanksgiving Day. We will be skiing day session only as our season begins with plans for night skiing to start later in December.

Sugar Mountain NC currently has 7 slopes and 3 lifts open. Go, have a great day of skiing or riding. We have a man-made packed powder surface. Summit #1 lift is in operation to the top of our 1200-foot vertical, servicing Northridge, Switchback, Load Off, Upper & Lower Flying Mile. We also have Easy Street and Magic Carpet open serviced by the Brown lift and the Magic Carpet conveyor lift.

Night skiing will begin this Thursday, November 20th at 6pm!Regular week-day rates will apply.

Sugar's 10,000 square foot outdoor ice rink is scheduled to open on Saturday, November 22, 2008, weather permitting. Season passes are still a great deal. Plan to spend your Thanksgiving at Sugar. For one low price of $109, you can ski or ride the four days of Thanksgiving weekend. Turkey Treats are available through November 23rd at 4pm.

Hawksnest Ski Resort is also open - Seven Devils NC!
Hawksnest expands! As a leader in snow tubing, Hawksnest has taken our snow tubing to new levels of fun. Hawksnest’s expanded snow tubing operation will make it the biggest snow tubing operation on the East Coast.

Hawksnest's Snow Tubing resort will now have 4 different areas to snow tube with 20 lanes of fun, lanes will be 400 – 1000 feet long and 2 moving carpet lifts to take you back to the top. Hawksnest has 100% snowmaking and lighting on all lanes to provide the best possible conditions and fun for the whole family. Also, don't forget to enjoy our Coffee Bar, Carolina BBQ and Pizza before, during and after your tubing session!

Tubing Photo Courtesy of http://www.skibeech.com/

Plan your skiing trip to the NC mountains and rent our 5 bedroom luxury Beech Mountain vacation home. It's close to all the snow and skiing action..

Snow, Snow Cream & Skiing on Beech Mountain NC

2008-11-19T10:13:00.000-08:00

When we hear the word "SNOW", we start to get excited. Normally, that means we are off to Beech Mountain even if only for a few hours!

Tuesday afternoon, we took off to see the fresh snowfall in the High Country of NC. Nearing Grandfather Mountain, the sunset highlighted the snow on the mountaintop. A beautiful site !

On top of Beech Mountain, clouds mingled with sun to offer this incredible view.

We stopped by Fred's General Store to get some milk, went to the house, scooped up some snow and made our first snowcream of the season!! YUMO!

Now, Ski Beech is opening this weekend! Opening weekend, November 22 and 23, our slope tickets will be at weekday rates, and for the following week, our mid-week specials will be in effect, including half price adult day tickets on Tuesday, $25 adult day tickets on Wednesday, and Ladies Day on Thursday, Thanksgiving Day. We will be skiing day session only as our season begins with plans for night skiing to start later in December.

Plan your winter skiing trips now, our luxury 5 bedroom Beech Mountain vacation home is only about 2 miles from Ski Beech! Winter dates are filling quickly.

First Snowfall Of The Season On Beech Mountain NC!

2008-10-28T13:39:00.000-07:00

It was very exciting to see the first snowflakes of the season on Beech Mountain NC, Thursday night October 27, 2008. Since it was dark when I left the mountain, unfortunately, I didn't get any photos. You can check out the white dusting of snow on this High Country Webcam IF you hurry!

I realize that it's not uncommon to see some snowfall in October at higher elevations such as Beech Mountain's 5500 ft elevation. According to Ray's Weather the average snowfall on Beech in October is 2.5 inches.

Last night, I could have sworn that I saw snow blowing machines on the slopes at Ski Beech and sure enough - today according to the website they did in fact, start snowmaking last night! Wow! in October!

All you die hard snow skiers and snowboarders, start making plans to hit Ski Beech around mid November. Even though they have started snowmaking, they want to have a great base before opening. You can still order Coupon Books by calling 1-800-438-2093.

Photo courtesy of Ski-Beech

Plan ahead for your ski trips to the NC mountains, dates are booking fast!

We Followed The Yellow Brick Road to Oz on Beech Mountain NC

2008-10-13T12:33:00.000-07:00

Wow, we finally made it to "Autumn at Oz" after 4 years of trying. It was well worth the wait. See all the info about the yearly opening on my blog post - Autumn At the Land of Oz on Beech Mountain NC.

We enjoyed all the costumed visitors to the Land of Oz on Beech almost as much as the characters on the Yellow Brick Road in the park. Everyone is encouraged to wear Ozzy wear and that........ they do!!!

<<<<>.

A trio, Little Dorothy, Witch and ahh>>

<<<<<<Horse of a different color

The characters have incredible costumes and makeup. There are numerous Dorothys, Tin Mans, Scarecrows and Cowardly Lions around for those photo ops. They also are so gracious in gladly accommodating all the flashing cameras for this 2 day event!

Much of Oz is located around the Ski Beech slopes but is not open to the public except during this event, once a year.

See more photos and details about our trip to the Land of Oz at Beech Mtn on my other blog.

We're OFF to see the Wizard................

Scream Time Zipline In Boone NC Is A SCREAM!

2008-10-01T15:19:00.000-07:00

What could be better than a SCREAMIN' birthday at the Scream Time Zipline near Boone NC? Gorgeous views, long ziplines and fun galore!

Even though it was raining, we truly enjoyed our birthdays - ZIPPING!!

There are several zipline choices, check out the site for Scream Time Zipline just outside of Boone in Vilas. They are even adding a Zorb.

Check out my other blog to see our Zipline video, the surprise birthday story and more zippin' photos.

Come stay in a luxury vacation home on Beech Mountain NC - It's just a short drive to the Scream Time Zipline, Grandfather Mountain, SkiBeech, Blowing Rock and lots more!

Autumn At The "Land Of Oz" On Beech Mountain NC

2008-09-11T12:23:00.000-07:00

The 15th Anniversary of "Autumn At Oz" will be held Saturday, October 4th and Sunday, October 5th, 2008 from 10:00 to 5:00 pm on Beech Mountain NC. Once a year, visitors have the privilege of going back in time to visit the Emerald City again. WE'RE OFF to see the WIZARD - bring your ruby slippers!!

This magical theme park was open from 1970 to 1980, after that much of the park was destroyed by vandals and neglect. In the 1990s - most of the park was restored and now only opens the first weekend each year in October.

You will find Dorothy, Aunt Em, Uncle Henry and their farm. You might even see the Wicked Witch and the Cowardly Lion. Visitors can park in the meadows across from the Beech Mountain Town Hall and walk, or catch the bus, up to the private garden of OZ. The walk is approximately 1 gentle, uphill mile. Catch up with Dorothy and friends along the Yellow Brick Road.

The tour takes from 1 1/2 to 2 hours, and may be taken any time between 10 am and 5 pm. Strollers and wheelchairs will need to be parked. There will be a mini-museum to visit and artifacts to share. Peter McTavish will provide Magic Shows and Genesis Wildlife Sanctuary will exhibit a small petting zoo, adding more fun at the Farm. There will be face painting, food treats, and special Oz concessions in "Kansas". New and old trivia will be available for purchase, with part of the money going back into upkeep and restorations.

THE very special Oz guests of honor are still a mystery but will be ??? from the 1939 movie. Everyone is encouraged to wear something "Ozzie" and bring their photos and treasures to add to the event. Remember the top of Beech Mtn is 5506 ft elevation so bring a jacket!!

A special invitation is extended to past employees of Carolina Caribbean and the Land of OZ. The price is $15.00, children under 3 free. We'll gladly take original yellow bricks or other park remains for trade. A limited number of advance tickets are available at the Beech Mountain Chamber of Commerce, . 800-468-5506.

Links about the once famous - Land of Oz on Beech Mtn, North Carolina

http://www.emeraldmtn.com/LandofOz/oz.htm

Wikipedia's definition of Oz Park

Roadside America Reviews of Oz

If you make the trip to Beech - be sure and visit Freds General Store and have some delicious pizza at the Brick Oven Pizza

Need a luxury vacation home rental on Beech Mountain ? Visit Oz or plan a ski trip to SkiBeech. Relax in the huge hot tub, enjoy the outdoor decks, stay in touch with WiFi and lots more.

Tweetsie Railroad - Family Fun in the NC Blue Ridge Mountains!

2008-08-14T07:07:00.000-07:00

Tweetsie Railroad - Have you ever been there?? If so, you would never forget it. It has been around since I was a kid and that's been a really LONG time!! It's so well known in the South, that just the mention of "Tweetsie" will bring a grin to most folk's face.

The Tweetsie Train is a classic, steam locomotive with a distintive shrill whistle that sounds like "Tweet, Tweet, thus the name, Tweetsie. Once the whistle has sounded then the conducter yells - ALL ABOARD the Tweetsie Railroad!! Then the excitement begins.. You ride the rails through the mountains on guard against the train robbers but have no fear - the US Marshalls are on the train to protect you (it's really not too scary-kids love it)!! It's not your run of the mill theme park, it's smaller, more personal and less crowded with beautiful mountain scenery.

This family park brings back the old fashioned fun of the Wild West with dance halls, cowboys and Indians.. There's also entertainment, live music, a deer and goat park, face painting, ferris wheel, chair lifts and lots of other fun rides, etc.. You can even try your hand at panning for gold. Check out the scary, Ghost Train Ride in October for Halloween.

Tweetsie Railroad is located on Hwy 321 between Boone and Blowing Rock NC, just a short ride from Beech Mountain - about 45 minutes and only about 40 minutes from Hickory. After your Tweetsie adventure, why not drive into downtown Blowing Rock to check out all the unique shops. Our personal favorite is Kilwin's Ice Cream and Candy Store - try the old fashioned Vanilla milkshake - it comes with whipped cream on top - YUM !!

We recently enjoyed the day at Tweetsie for a family reunion. It was a beautiful day in the Blue Ridge Mountains with temps in the high 70s and low 80s.. I hope you enjoy the photos from Tweetsie Railroad in Blowing Rock NC. Check the Tweetsie website for more information.

If you are coming to the Blue Ridge Mountains, why not stay in a luxury vacation home rental on Beech Mountain NC.. Beech Mountain is a central NC Mountain location to visit all the great attractions nearby, Grandfather Mountain with the Swinging Bridge or Linville Caverns. In the winter, you can ski at SkiBeech, Sugar Mountain or Appalachian Ski Mountain.. You can hike the mountain trails off the Blue Ridge Parkway or fish in the rivers and creeks. Biking is another favorite here.

Tweetsie Photos by C. Gilliam

Eating Pizza & Meeting People on Beech Mountain

2008-06-30T17:03:00.000-07:00

What could be better than eating fabulous pizza at the Famous Brick Oven on the top of Beech Mountain? Well, meeting great people - that's what..

While waiting for our dinner, I met and chatted with Dr Bill Julius and his lovely wife, Rhoda.. They are from Miami, Florida but have called Beech Mountain, NC their home away from home for over 28 years. Bill is a retired optometrist and Rhoda is retired from social work.

They so graciously shared with me how they came to love this area of the Blue Ridge Mountains. Bill and Rhoda came skiing at Hounds Ear in 1980 and by chance drove up the mountain to discover Beech Mountain for the first time. They loved it so much, they bought property and were building a home there by 1981..

They both enjoyed coming to Beech each summer and staying till October, then they often came back in the winter to enjoy the snow.. One of their favorite pastimes at the Beech Mountain Club was playing tennis - something they still enjoy. Bill started his own "Mens Morning Out" group that met every morning by 7:30am at Fred's when they were in town. His friends ragged him about originally being from Pittsburgh and loving GRITS, he said Fred made great grits with extra butter ! They sold their home several years ago due to illness but still love coming to the mountains and are renting for the summer..

Dr Bill and Rhoda had just arrived from Florida when I met them. Dr Bill had his jacket on since the temps on the mountain had been hovering between 56 and 65 on the last day of June, quite a change from the heat in Florida.. I always love meeting folks that have a love for Beech Mountain and The Julius' were just a precious couple.. Thanks so much for sharing with me !! Great pizza, great burger for Bill, great place, great people !!

Famous Brick Oven - Cheeseburger with Homemade Chips - Yum !

Photos & Story by Cheryl Gilliam

Highland Games On Grandfather Mountain July 10-13

2008-06-17T14:33:00.000-07:00

Grandfather Mountain will host its 53rd annual Highland Games and Gathering of Scottish Clans from July 10-13. This event brings together over 160 tartan plaids and up to six different bagpipes bands to the North Carolina Highlands.

Because the Highland Games are set among this spectacular mountain setting they are considered to be some of America's grandest games. The peak of Grandfather Mountain reaching 6,000 feet and the show of red, yellow and green striped tents is reminiscent of Scotland. You will hear traditional bagpipes and kettle drums sounding over this incredible festival.

Open Ceremonies will begin on Thursday afternoon, July 10. A piping concert, sheep herding exhibition and the running of "The Bear" are among the celebrations’ opening events. Concessions are available at the Meadows for spectators to enjoy or some choose to bring a picnic dinner.

At dusk, a torchlight ceremony occurs in which a representative of each of the 160 clans present announce their families participation in the games. This "raising of the clans" shows their unity in celebrating their Scottish heritage.

"The Bear" is an annual tradition in which over 800 runners make the 5 mile footrace from Linville to the base of Grandfather Mountain. This race, which climbs 1,568 feet in elevation, will occur just prior to the torchlight ceremony.

The Grizzly Bike Ride, on July 11, will also be a returning event to the Games this year. This ride, which begins at Grandfather Mountain, has cyclers climb over 7,000 feet in 65 miles through Avery County. Bikers will also trek over a two mile section of dirt road on the backside of Beech Mountain.

On Saturday July 12 the running of the Grandfather Mountain Marathon will take place. This marathon is in its 41st year and special prizes will be awarded to any athlete that completes all three events.

Other festivities throughout the weekend will include heavy-weight Scottish athletic events; highland dancing competition; bagpipe band parades; piping, drumming and harp competitions; sheep herding demonstrations by Scottish border collies and concerts featuring a wide variety of Celtic music.

The Scottish heavy weight athletic events are comprised of competitions such as "Turning the Caber" and "Tossing the Sheaf." These require athletes to turn telephone pole sized tree trunks on end and toss 16 pound hay sacks over 20 foot bars. Other tests of strength traditional of ancient Scotland are highland wrestling, putting the stone, the hammer throw and various weight throws.

Celtic music is enjoyed Friday and Saturday nights during the games. The Celtic Jam performs traditional and contemporary Celtic music and can be heard on Friday evening. Saturday’s performances in the Celtic Rock Concert will be by various artists including Barleyjuice, The Killdares, Coyote Run, Mother Grove and many others. Each night and during the day in the Celtic Grove you can listen to Albannach, a drum and pipe group with tribal rhythm. More traditional Appalachian and Celtic folk musicians appearing at the Games include Ed Miller, Clay Lunsford, Jim Malcolm and Colin Grant Adams.

Other evening activities include a concert by Alex Beaton & Friends, and a piping concert, both held at the Broyhill Inn in Boone and a concert of Scottish folk music and dance called a Ceilidh (pronounced kay-lee) held both Friday and Saturday nights at Lees-McRae College in Banner Elk.

Merchants will be selling Gaelic and tartan gift items adjacent to the Meadows throughout the weekend. This bazaar will also offer traditional Scottish meat pies and other concessions. You can trace your Scottish roots and learn about your heritage at one of the more popular tents.
Adult tickets are $10 Thursday, $20 Friday, $25 Saturday and $15 Sunday. Tickets are $5 each day for children ages 5-12 with children under five free. Tickets are available at the field on the day of the event.

Parking near the Games field is open to the public Thursday and Friday, but public parking is not available at the field on Saturday and Sunday. Shuttle services are provided between MacRae Meadows and parking areas in Linville, Newland and Boone. Shuttle fees vary depending on the location of the satellite lot.

Tickets to the off-mountain evening events vary. For more information call 828-733-1333 or visit online at www.gmhg.org. For lodging and other travel information, contact North Carolina High Country Host at 800-438-7500 or www.mountainsofnc.com.

Amaze your friends at the Highland Games by sharing all of your knowledge of Grandfather Mountain!

Learn about the history of this famous landmark and destination from its beginning in prehistoric times to modern day. Written by award-winning journalist, Miles Tager, Grandfather Mountain: A Profile will enrich your experience at Grandfather Mountain for years to come.

Grandfather Mountain is just a short drive from beautiful Beech Mountain NC, come check out the other side of the mountain..

Got Pizza ?? Beech Mountain NC Has The Best!!

2008-06-16T18:52:00.000-07:00

It's hard to believe that you can find some of the best pizza ever on the top of Beech Mountain NC.... I am a real pizza lover and I can tell you, The Famous Brick Oven Pizzeria is the real deal... The delicious pizza is not all they offer.. They also have a variety of fantastic chicken wings.. Salads, sandwiches and an ice cream parlor are the newest additions to the Brick Oven.

The Brick Oven has a great atmosphere with plenty of fun for the kids. The indoor arcade game room is loaded with exciting games.. My mom even had fun on the racing game - she was hilarious !! Outside, you can enjoy a game of miniature golf, better known to me as Putt-Putt.. They even have a ton of TVs for watching sports..

Enjoy reading satisfied customer messages on the walls from just about everywhere around the world...

Check out the Famous Brick Oven Pizzeria's website, it's under construction but soon should provide all the delicious details !! They are located across the street from the Beech Mountain Town Hall.

Famous Brick Oven Pizzeria

402 Beech Mountain Pkwy

Beech Mountain, NC 28604
Phone: 828-387-4209

Tell 'em Cheryl sent you .... Enjoy !!

Fred's - An Old Time Country Store on Beech Mountain NC

2008-06-10T14:39:00.000-07:00

Step back in time, slow down and enjoy just looking around an old time country store.. Fred's General Mercantile on Beech Mountain NC is just the kind of place that makes you want to stop for a while..

Even though Fred's has the feel of simpler times, he does have most anything you might need.. Groceries, hardware, flowers and plants, a deli, t-shirts, clothing, shoes, ski rentals in the winter. The slogan at Fred's is ""If you don't see it, ask for it...If we don't have it, you don't need it."

Fred and Margie Pfohl are the nicest people that

you will ever met.. On February 9, 1979, began the history of Fred's General Mercantile. Fred and Margie purchased a rectangle piece of property that was considered "useless", except for billboard advertisement, and transformed it into a thriving business.

The main store consists of a grocery store, hardware store, and clothing store. At Fred's they can outfit the entire family for a weekend vacation. The grocery is a fully stocked grocery store that carries everything from canned goods to gourmet foods. Try the homemade Toll House pie, it is the BEST - but you have to be quick - they get gone in a hurry !! Can you tell I love chocolate ???

In the hardware section we feature such quality items as Stanley tools, Laclede tire chains, and more screws, nails, nuts, and bolts then you can shake a stick at! The clothing section is filled with hundreds of T-shirts and sweatshirts, and we also carry high quality clothing from Columbia Sportswear, Woolrich, Alps, & Merrell.

Check out Fred's website, he even has an online store - now that's a country store revved up for this century ! Come and enjoy the beautiful Blue Ridge Mountains and Fred's Store on Beech... It's a blast from the past...

Why Not A Cool Summer Vacation In Beech Mountain NC?

2008-06-10T13:23:00.000-07:00

Beech Mountain NC is best known for winter sports, like skiing, snowboarding, sledding or ice skating but summer is an excellent time to visit... When you are suffering 90 degree heat and above, Beech Mountain is likely around 75-78 degrees, now that's my kind of temperatures..

Beech Mountain in the Blue Ridge Mountains is Eastern America's highest town at 5506 ft above sea level.. Escape the crowds, enjoy the slower pace and cool mountain air.. There are tons of activities for the whole family just a short drive away.. (Top photo-View from the top of Beech near Fred's Store)

There are trails for hiking and biking around Beech Mountain and several lakes and streams for fishing.. Coffey Lake and Buckeye Lake offer a beautiful place to fish and there's a great walking trail around Coffey Lake. The rhododendruns are blooming - how beautiful!

Of course, you can't miss a trip to Fred's Store also known as Fred's General Mercantile, it's a Beech Mountain institution.. Step back in time and come enjoy an old fashioned country store.. The great folks at Fred's have just about anything you might need.... They also have a deli downstairs, ski shop in the winter and a toy shop next door..

Here's a list of a few events coming up on Beech Mountain NC.

Annual Kiddo Fishing Derby
June 28, 2008 One of Beech Mountain's annual events that is open to all children ages 4 to 12 (children have adult supervision). This event is free and is sponsored by the member businesses that comprise the Beech Mountain Chamber of Commerce. Prizes and trophies are awarded for boys and girls who catch the first trout, largest trout, heaviest trout, and the first to catch the limit of 4 trout. Just bring your fishing gear and favorite bait. Registration is at 8 am and the derby begins at 9 am. Call the Beech Mountain Chamber of Commerce at (828) 387-9283 or(800) 468-5506 for additional information.

47th Annual Roasting of the Hog
July 5, 2008 One of the High Country's premier Independence Day celebrations. The Town of Beech Mountain , the Beech Mountain Volunteer Fire Department, Ski Beech and the Beech Mountain Chamber of Commerce host this event. After years of perfecting the seasonings and charcoal blends, our carolina pork barbeque and smoked turkey breast is arguably the best in the High Country. Enjoy music while dining outdoors (weather permitting, of course). And at dark, enjoy one of the best fireworks displays in the high country. Serving at 6 pm and fireworks at dark. Tickets can be purchased in advance at the Beech Mountain Chamber of Commerce, Fred's General Mercantile, or they may be purchased at the gate. Tickets are $15.00 per person and $5.00 for children 10 and under. Call the Beech Mountain Chamber of Commerce at (828) 387-9283 or (800) 468-5506 for additional details.

Sunday Concerts at Fred’s Gazebo
July 13, 20 and 27, 2008 Summer Sunday concerts are featured at Fred’s Gazebo with lots of fun for the whole family. Bring your blanket and enjoy the local music groups. This free event is paid for by merchants, Fred's Mercantile and the Chamber of Commerce. For more information contact the Chamber of Commerce at (828) 387-9283 or (800) 468-5506.

If you can't find enough to do on Beech, just a short drive away, you will find Grandfather Mountain, Blowing Rock, Boone, Banner Elk, Tweetsie Railroad, Roan Mtn, TN and much more !!

Come to Beech Mountain NC and stay in a luxury vacation home called Heavenly Hideawaysleeps 9-10, has a huge hot tub, upscale decor and amenities, Wifi and much more - ENJOY the "Beech" Mtn in style !!

Call or email for availability 828-310-6305

Email- heavenlycabins@charter.net

photo Top of Beech Mountain NC - by c.gilliam

Beech Mountain Vacation - A Success !!

2008-02-27T15:03:00.000-08:00

It's always a blessing when your guests have a wonderful vacation but it's even more exciting when your vacation rental home is almost a bigger hit than skiing on Beech Mtn !! This great group had rented another vacation home on Beech Mountain in advance for their February ski weekend but got a last minute surprise - the owner accidently doublebooked the home and they had no place to stay!! Adam called me frantically trying to locate a vacation home suitable for their group... Luckily, we were able to accommodate them and I think their NC skiing trip was totally a success !!

The greatest compliment of all is when folks feel "right at home" whether they are staying in our Beech Mtn vacation home or our Heavenly Cabins in the Smoky Mountains of TN. Adam & Allison, thanks so much for sharing your great comments -sorry you missed the big SNOW that just arrived on Beech Mtn NC last night and today.. You will have to come back to Heavenly Hideaway on Beech again soon..

Guest Comments
I just dropped a card in the mail to you! I am still on cloud nine from the vacation! Your home was perfect! I have never felt so at home in someone else's house before. It was as if we were just at a friend's house instead of at a rental property. Your talent for home design and decoration really shows. The slopes were foggier than you could ever imagine. You could barely see the chair in front of you on the ski lift. It didn't matter though- we had more fun cooking and relaxing at the house. In the event that the house doesn't sell in the near future and you keep it as a rental property, I would absolutely love to come back!

Again, thank you so much!

Adam & Allison Roberts
100 Berea Drive Greenville, SC 29617 akward@greenville.k12.sc.us

See our VRBO listing here http://www.vrbo.com/170565 or Email heavenlycabins@charter.net or call 828-310-6305 for availability and rates for Heavenly Hideaway on Beech Mountain NC less than 2 miles from Ski Beech and about 20 minutes to Sugar Mountain...

Presidents Day Weekend Special Beech Mtn NC-Luxury 5 BR Vacation Home -$899 Total - 3 Nts 2/15 - 2/18/08

2008-02-13T13:51:00.000-08:00

Bring your Valentine or your whole family to "A Heavenly Hideaway" - Luxury 5 Bedroom/3 Bath Vacation Home in Beech Mountain NC.

Enjoy 3 fireplaces, fantastic hot tub with stereo/CD player, jacuzzi and total relaxation! Ski Beech is just a couple miles away and Sugar Mountain is about 20 minutes. Lots of great restuarants to choose from on Beech Mountain or nearby Banner Elk.

Grand Opening Special - Friday 2/15 - Monday 2/18 President's Day weekend 3 nts $899 Total includes NC & Lodging tax. Call 828-310-6305 or Email - heavenlycabins@charter.net

**Special GRAND OPENING RATE - Remaining dates in February $279/NT PLUS TAX -2 Nt Minimum/3 Nt Min-Holidays & Peak season.

Relax by the fire and enjoy a movie with Bose surround sound in the downstairs den. Experience a great nights sleep with high quality bedding and luxurious, high thread count linens. This king size bed is fit for a prince and princess !!

If you are a Food Network Star or foodie wannabe, check out the fabulous stainless steel gas grill on the back deck - bring the steaks -a chef's dream !!

Beech Mountain NC is in the High Country region of the Blue Ridge Mountains.. Just a short drive from Banner Elk - home to Lees Mcrae College and Sugar Mountain ski resort. Boone NC and Appalachian State University is about 45 minutes away. It is a wonderful place to enjoy mountain scenery, hiking, biking, skiing, snow boarding, sledding, shopping or just "chillin" out..

Come to "A Heavenly Hideaway" in Beech Mountain NC now while our Grand Opening Special rates are in effect for a limited time.. Just compare - other 5 bedroom/3 bath NC mountain vacation homes - you will not find anything as luxurious as this home for such a bargain !!

Call 828-310-6305 or Email heavenlycabins@charter.net

http://www.vrbo.com/170565 pending publication

Grand Opening Beech Mtn Vacation Rental Home Special $279/nt

2008-02-12T14:55:00.000-08:00

Come and enjoy the natural beauty, peace and quiet of this well kept secret -Beech Mountain NC. Escape the big city traffic, experience this tranquil Blue Ridge mountain luxury getaway. There's still snow on Ski Beech and the Sugar Mountain slopes - hurry plan a last minute ski trip - you might even try snowboarding or just sled with the kids !

**Special GRAND OPENING RATE $279/NT PLUS TAX -2 Nt Minimum. Please call or email for info/rates Ph- 828-310-6305 Email heavenlycabins@charter.net

Bring the whole family and the family pet/dog* on your Beech Mtn vacation. We have 3 levels with stacked stone fireplaces on all 3 floors. With 5 bedrooms and 3 baths, you can easily sleep 9-10 people with plenty of space to relax. The outside hot tub is spectacular, 6 person luxury with stereo/cd player.

We call our Beech Mountain vacation home - Heavenly Hideaway. Busy lives, hectic schedules all seem to fade away once we hit the top of Beech.. When we reach the famous "Fred's General Mercantile Store" (our old fashioned general store on Beech Mtn)we feel as if a weight is lifted and we can breathe the fresh Blue Ridge Mountain air and relax ! Beech is a hideaway, a well kept secret vacation town in an uncrowded atmosphere - like Fred's Store - it's a step back in time!

The town of Beech Mountain boasts an elevation of 5506 ft about sea level.. It's the highest incorporated town east of the Rockies - you must experience this special place -come for a weekend or a week, make your reservation at our luxury Heavenly Hideaway vacation rental home - you will NOT be disappointed ! It is a perfect vacation spot anytime of the year with snow skiing, snowboarding, sledding in the winter and perfect temperatures around 70 degrees most of the summer - sweet !

5 Bedrooms - 3 Baths
2 King Beds/2 Queens/1 Full
Pet Friendly w/Approval & Fee**
Family Friendly-Plenty of Room
Unique Chalet Design - Vaulted Ceilings
Beautiful Upscale Furnishings & Decor
4 TVs –DVD/VCR - Bose Surround -Dwnstr
Three Spacious Levels
Three Stone Fireplaces w/Remote Control Gas Fire Logs
Master Bath has Jacuzzi Tub & Shower
Full Kitchen/Granite Countertops
Garage - Landscaped Paved Circular Drive
Beautiful Wooded Lot –Great For Viewing Deer
Professional Landscaping
Decks & Balconies All with Comfy Outdoor Furniture
Large Stainless Steel Grill & Stainless Sink/Prep Area
Large Luxury Hot Tub w/Stereo & CD Player –Covered Deck
Built in Sandbox tucked under the back deck
Distant View -Ski Beech Slope in Winter Cool NC Mountain Breezes in the Summer

Check our listing on VRBO http://www.vrbo.com/170565 CALL 828-328-6305 or Email heavenlycabins@charter.net for Specials and Availability !