PLACES TO GO
PLACES TO GO
From the Fall 2003 Issue

Mountain High: Blowing Rock’s hundred-year welcome

For more than a century, summer visitors have been swelling the population of Blowing Rock during the warmer months of the year, drawn by the cool temperatures at 4,000 feet, by the charm of streets lined with quaint shops offering art, sweets, antiques and native crafts, and by the fine dining and accommodations at Chetola and other beautiful resorts in the area.

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Also see:
Chetola Property: Consistent Appreciation For 20 Years + Where To Stay: Chetola! + Instant Conversion: Beach People To Mountain Goats
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Nestled in the western part of the Blue Ridge Mountains of North Carolina, the village of Blowing Rock sits atop the Eastern Continental Divide at an elevation of 4,000 feet. It is an exquisite combination of climate, activity, scenery and history that began humbly as a place of relief from the summer heat of the lower elevations. Growth of the railroads and improved transportation raised visitation to a booming business in Blowing Rock during the late 1800s, and the tiny village began to take on an air of gracious living.

Boarding houses, hotels and summer cottages appeared to accommodate travelers, and magnificent private homes began to dot the landscape. Guests strolled Main Street in white linen suits and straw hats; rushed to tennis dates and afternoon teas. Ballroom dances were hosted in the great halls of grand hotels, where white-gloved bellmen stood as vigilant sentinels. Croquet was played on lawns of velvet-turfed grass, and old friends gathered around open fireplaces, in airy parlors and rocked on porches with panoramic views of the valley below.

Main Street is still the heart of this picture postcard town, complete with an old-fashioned park at its center that is the site for Sunday concerts and for the annual summer Art in the Park, considered one of the finest arts and crafts shows on the East Coast. Visitors stroll streets lined with flower boxes spilling over with begonias and geraniums, and browse quaint shops offering art, sweets, antiques, and native crafts and pottery. Bob Timberlake’s first gallery stands on Main Street, horse-drawn carriages offer a ride and strangers say hello with a smile.

Dining in the village ranges from a hearty mountain breakfast of home-style biscuits and gravy to fresh mountain trout and elegant European cuisine served on stone patios in turn-of-the-century homes. Crippen’s Country Inn & Restaurant, just off Main Street is one of these treasures. A warm parlor greets you and sets the ambiance in this rustic old restored inn. Whatever you choose – from an elaborate but reasonable five-star cuisine – the choices from seafood to beef are creative and innovative, right down to the hearty homemade soups and breads.

After your first visit, owner Jimmy Crippen will remember your name and favorite dish and treat you like family.

Another favorite is Heirlooms Restaurant located in the Inn at Ragged Gardens on Sunset Drive. The restaurant reflects the rustic yet elegant atmosphere of this restored 1890s stone summer cottage. Paneled walls, granite fireplaces, candlelight, crystal and freshly cut flowers on soft linen tablecloths present the perfect setting for intimate dining. Heirlooms serves up the finest organic ingredients from local growers, free-range beef and chicken, and homemade breads and pastries. The sophisticated new-American cuisine changes seasonally and is served with impeccable personal attention. A 2,000-bottle wine cellar has recently won a Wine Spectator Award of Excellence.

Then, on the other side, there’s Sonny’s Grill, where country ham and strong coffee are the signature fare. A sign on the wall claims a two-choice menu: Take it or leave it!

Today, this once tiny village that mushrooms from a permanent population of 1,500 to more than 6,000 in the summer, is truly an elegant town for all seasons, alive with interests for everyone. Cool in the summer, dazzling in the fall, a skiers paradise in winter and a brilliant array of flowering dogwood, rhododendron and wildflowers in the spring.

Outdoor activities abound for nature lovers. You can enjoy hiking trails that wind their way to majestic waterfalls, ride a horse through lush forests, picnic atop a mountain or relax beside a murmuring stream. A favorite pastime is walking the Glen Burney Trail, an ancient Indian path that leaves civilization behind without leaving the city limits. The Flat Top Manor House, once the home of textile magnate Moses Cone, is the centerpiece of Moses H. Cone Memorial Park near milepost 292 of the Blue Ridge Parkway. The home offers crafts for sale by 2,500 crafts people from the Southern Highland Handicraft Guild. Across the road, the Blowing Rock Equestrian Preserve is undergoing a $4 million renovation of its boarding, riding and show facilities.

Professional guide services offer white-water rafting, canoeing and caving expeditions in the area. There are plenty of trout for fishermen and scenic golf courses with varying degrees of challenge.

For a quiet little village, Blowing Rock has one of the busiest social calendars in the Southeast. There are museums, concerts and old-time Tweetsie Railroad theme park for the kids, the Blowing Rock Annual Charity Horse Show, one of the most prestigious equestrian competitions in the country. The Blowing Rock Stage Company brings New York productions to town and designer bargain shopping at the Tanger Outlet Center. If you don’t do anything else, take the time to drive a stretch of the Blue Ridge Parkway, ranked as one of the most scenic drives in America.

For more than a century, stories have been told of Blowing Rock, from the first pioneers struggling up the mountain in wagons and carts to today’s growing numbers of second-home and retirement residents. And everyone who visits, leaves with another story of its leisurely pace and easy-going ambiance.

A message on the back of an old postcard sent from Blowing Rock at the turn of the century reads, “At last I am in God’s country… I don’t want to ever go home again.” You will find this true whether you come to Blowing Rock for a visit or stay for a lifetime.

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Chetola Property: Consistent Appreciation For 20 Years

Both the easiest and the hardest thing about Chetola is the range of choices offered for vacation, second home, retirement or investment rental property.

There are one-, two-, three- and four-bedroom condominiums available in new construction at Chetola. Spacious floor plans ranging from 1,482 to 1,972 square feet offer the highest-quality state-of-the-art construction and materials and all the luxury features you would expect in a price range of $300,000 to $420,000. Custom building is also available to meet any homeowner’s special needs or desires.

In addition to new construction, there is always an attractive selection of resale condominiums on the market in the $200,000 to $500,000 price range. There are also limited time-share properties available in resale at prices ranging from $2,000 to $8,000 per interval owned.

Membership in the Chetola Club provides owners and guests full access to all resort amenities and is optional but encouraged. An active sales program is professionally managed on-site by Chetola Resort Properties whose staff provides exceptional customer service and market knowledge. The rental program is also handled on-site. An aggressive commitment to advertising expenditures, public relations and marketing have resulted in steady increases in gross condominium rental revenue and property appreciation over the years.

Buyers are a diverse group. Young professionals with children living within a four- to five-hour drive are attracted to Chetola for either a second home for themselves or for the strong rental history. With a consistent appreciation for almost 20 years in both sales and rentals, many owners have taken advantage of this unique investment opportunity by purchasing more than one property. Florida residents contribute to a strong relocation/retirement market for those seeking the tranquility of a natural environment, a mild but seasonal climate and the security of a gated community.

For a vacation, a second home, a rental property or a lifetime commitment, Chetola steps both back in time as a peaceful place in history and forward in time to future growth. All good choices. —LK

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Where To Stay: Chetola!

When visiting Blowing Rock, you can’t find a better place to stay than Chetola, one of the area’s most spectacular resorts and a proud part of the community.

The vision of Chetola began in 1846. The property changed hands many times over the years and in 1924 was purchased by Luther Snyder, “the Coca-Cola King of the Carolinas.” Preserving and enhancing the natural beauty of the 87 acres of Chetola has been a constant commitment. Elegant guest rooms in the Chetola Lodge and one-, two-, three- and four-bedroom condominiums are available that feature fireplaces, fully equipped kitchens, decks and all the modern conveniences you would expect of first-class accommodations. In addition, eight bed-and-breakfast suites are planned for the near future.

Reserve early though, because everyone loves Chetola! Part of the appeal of Chetola is its self-containment. The recreation center offers guests tennis, mountain biking, a fitness center, indoor pool and whirlpool, horseback riding, sauna, boating, massage therapy and fishing. Catch a trout in Chetola’s seven-acre lake and take it to the chef or cook it yourself!

Direct access to hiking trails is especially enjoyed by guests for either a leisurely stroll or a more strenuous trek for experts.

Year-round, on-site events never end at Chetola. Winterfest, wine auctions, jazz concerts, fly fishing lessons, restaurant samplings and symphony performances are just a few offerings planned and executed by an exceptional and very busy management staff.

Indulge yourself during your stay, by dining at the 1846 Manor House Restaurant and Pub, over-looking the Chetola Lake. The chef describes the cuisine as having an “uptown flair with a down South flavor,” and is a favorite with residents as well as visitors.

The staff at Chetola is dedicated to providing its guests with a unique experience, a “haven of rest,” which is, after all, what the name Chetola means in Cherokee. —LK

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Instant Conversion: Beach People To Mountain Goats

Cynthia Broome and her husband Donald discovered Chetola in Blowing Rock, N.C. in 1997 when they stayed for a weekend. Raised as “beach people,” they had no idea they were about to become “mountain goats.”

After researching the market, they decided on Chetola for several reasons. A close drive from their home in Charlotte, a self-contained community with full recreational facilities, a short walk to town, a community of diverse and friendly people, an exceptional management staff and a laid-back lifestyle that was a peaceful and tranquil respite from their hectic lives. Cynthia notes that her husband’s car stops at Chetola and he cannot be lured to visit any other surrounding towns!

In 1998 the Broomes' bought their first condo at Chetola for investment and rental as well as for their own use. The excellent year-round rental history enticed them to buy a second condo in 1999, a third in 2000 and a lot in 2001 to build a home for future retirement.

A page from the Broomes’ guest book in one of their condos speaks eloquently of the Chetola experience. May 1999. “We looked forward to holiday in the mountains and found your paradise. Our experience goes well beyond the comfortable graciousness we enjoyed in your home. The magic happiness we shared from discovering the stream-side symphony, the warmth of the fire glow and the serenity of an alpine setting for our picnic and the wonderful gift basket that made it all happen. Nothing is more perfect than books to read, a crackling fire, a comfy chair and cozy afghan. Thank you for providing a spot on earth to feel warm, safe, secure and to enrich our souls with meditation in the beauty of nature that surrounds us here. We plan to return in the fall. Many thanks. Joy and Elliott.”

As you leave the Broomes’, a plaque on the door says it all. “I wasn’t born in Blowing Rock, but I got here as fast as I could.” —LK



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