Tony Mecia

After Helene, mountain river life rebounds

Oct 8, 2026

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7 min read

After Helene, mountain river life rebounds

PLUS: Fall festivals this weekend, log cabin lists for $599K, prime leaf season approaches

Tony Mecia

Oct 1, 2026

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5 min read

Parkway paving project completed

PLUS: Things to do this weekend

Tony Mecia

Sep 24, 2026

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5 min read

Peak color points to mid-October

PLUS: Things to do this weekend

Tony Mecia

Booneshine fined by ABC Commission over pickleball sponsorship

Sep 17, 2026

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8 min read

Booneshine fined by ABC Commission over pickleball sponsorship

PLUS: Things to do this weekend, $16.75M estate for sale, local stone-skipping champ

Tony Mecia

Sep 10, 2026

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7 min read

An ‘au revoir’ to Blowing Rock

PLUS: Things to do this weekend, 5 bedrooms on Beech Mountain, App State enrollment

Tony Mecia

Sep 3, 2026

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6 min read

Our favorite High Country finds

Labor Day weekend ideas in the mountains

Tony Mecia

Boone to consider downtown open-container ‘social district’

Aug 27, 2026

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6 min read

Boone to consider downtown open-container ‘social district’

PLUS: Boone Beer Fest, Fairy Day, Railroad Heritage Weekend, live music, $800K Boone cabin, Mack Brown in Banner Elk, New otter at Grandfather Mountain

Tony Mecia

A weekend of rescues at Grandfather Mountain

Aug 20, 2026

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5 min read

A weekend of rescues at Grandfather Mountain

PLUS: Gatsby Gala in Boone, music/arts festival at App State, EMS base for Blowing Rock, $2.3M house listed near Boone, Beech Mountain rental dispute

Tony Mecia

Aug 13, 2026

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4 min read

Blue Ridge Parkway nears full reopening

PLUS: Things to do this weekend, trout shortage, App State students return

Tony Mecia

Aug 6, 2026

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4 min read

☔️ Rainy day fun

PLUS: Things to do this weekend, $2.75M house near downtown Blowing Rock, flooding prompts rescues

Matthew Mecia, +1

Jul 30, 2026

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6 min read

Boone's best (and only) rooftop bar

PLUS: Tweetsie Frisbee dogs, live music spots, 6 rental cabins for sale, Ledger readers say there are too many deer

Matthew Mecia, +1

Jul 23, 2026

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6 min read

Cool off on the New River

PLUS: Rick Springfield and Jon Pardi in concert, Chetola food and wine festival, $350K mountain cabin, a warning on deer overpopulation

Tony Mecia, +1

Boone's wellness retreat isn't your typical spa day

Jul 16, 2026

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6 min read

Boone's wellness retreat isn't your typical spa day

PLUS: Weekend of music: Symphony, MusicFest, Darren Criss; Blue Deer in West Jefferson for sale; Boone named a top underrated college town

Matthew Mecia, +1

Jul 9, 2026

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11 min read

🛍️ Blowing Rock shopping guide

PLUS: Baby goat yoga, Symphony on the Mountain, Highland Games, New BBQ restaurant, Hikers rescued

Matthew Mecia, +1

Jul 2, 2026

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5 min read

🇺🇸 4th of July fireworks and parades

Your guide to the 4th in the Boone/Blowing Rock area

Tony Mecia, +1

Jun 25, 2026

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8 min read

Where to indulge your sweet tooth

PLUS: Autumn 'Land of Oz' tickets go on sale this week, backpacking and pottery classes, report says winter storms hurt tourism, 2 $6M houses go up for sale in Blowing Rock, part of Parkway to open

Tony Mecia, +1

Jun 24, 2026

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1 min read

New report shows winter tourism decline

Visitor traffic fell 7.5% as storms kept travelers from reaching Boone and Blowing Rock

Tony Mecia

🍴 Restaurants

Best dessert stops near Boone and Blowing Rock

Jun 23, 2026

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3 min read

Best dessert stops near Boone and Blowing Rock

Warm cookies. Homemade ice cream. Donuts. Chocolate.

Matthew Mecia, +1

Starting the weekend at the farmers market

Jun 18, 2026

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6 min read

Starting the weekend at the farmers market

PLUS: Boonerang festival this weekend; Plans for the new Bistro Roca; 3 questions with library association president

Matthew Mecia, +1

SCOOP: Bistro Roca owners to open BBQ restaurant

Jun 14, 2026

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2 min read

SCOOP: Bistro Roca owners to open BBQ restaurant

'Feral BBQ' targeting June 25 opening at former Woodlands/Peddlin' Pig spot on U.S. 321

Tony Mecia

Jun 11, 2026

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7 min read

More like Linville Gorge-ous

PLUS: Art in the Park, Thomas at Tweetsie, jazz festival, Q&A with longtime homeowner, luxury house + event venue on 45 acres for sale

Tony Mecia, +1

Jun 4, 2026

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7 min read

🎵 Play me some mountain music

PLUS: Geodome Airbnb vacation rental; things to do this weekend; 3 questions for home decor shop owner; man rescued after fall from cliff

Matthew Mecia, +1

May 28, 2026

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7 min read

Newsletter 5/28: wineries, Appalachian storytelling, firefly tour tickets

PLUS: Appalachian storytelling and 'tall tale contest,' full moon paddle, firefly ticket lottery, Boone summer concerts, local population holds steady

Matthew Mecia, +1

A guide to wineries near Boone and Blowing Rock

May 27, 2026

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2 min read

A guide to wineries near Boone and Blowing Rock

5 mountain wineries worth visiting

Tony Mecia

📍 Boone

May 22, 2026

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1 min read

For pizza and beer in Boone, it's Lost Province

It's a lively scene for a reason

Tony Mecia