Welcome to The Mountain Ledger, a weekly email newsletter highlighting things to do and news to know in Blowing Rock, Boone and the High Country. If you like this newsletter and find it useful, tell a friend! And feel free to drop us a line. Find out more about The Mountain Ledger here.
If someone forwarded you this newsletter, you can sign up here:
—
Only a 0.7-mile section near Grandfather Mountain remains closed; completion expected this fall
Almost all of the Blue Ridge Parkway between Blowing Rock and Grandfather Mountain is now open, making it easier to get to popular spots such as the Rough Ridge Trail, Julian Price Memorial Park and Cone Manor.
The National Park Service, which operates the Parkway, said in an update last week that the only portion still closed is a 0.7-mile stretch just north of Grandfather Mountain, which contains a viaduct.
Here’s the latest map, released Aug. 7:
You still can’t drive the entire route between Blowing Rock and the Grandfather Mountain area on the Parkway, as work this spring and summer has continued to modernize the scenic road. But that day is coming close, with work expected to finish this fall.
Throughout the busy summer tourist season, it has been tricky to access some of the Parkway’s top attractions in the portions outside Blowing Rock, with different segments closed at different times.
The major stops along the Parkway have remained open but sometimes required detours. For instance, if you were traveling to Cone Manor from Boone in July – perhaps to hike or to take in the Manor’s craft center, you couldn’t get there from U.S. 321. Instead, you had to drive through Blowing Rock, turn on U.S. 221 and enter the Parkway from the south.
We’re getting there, folks — just in time for leaf season!
THINGS TO DO
Guided night hike, Doc Watson Day, Art in the Park
FRIDAY
“Night Hike on Mount Jefferson,” 8:30-9:30 p.m., at Mount Jefferson State Natural Area, 1481 Mount Jefferson Road, West Jefferson. Join a park ranger for a guided 1.5-mile nighttime hike and experience the mountain after dark. Participation is limited to 15 people, and registration is required by calling (336) 246-9653 or emailing [email protected].
FRIDAY AND SATURDAY
“Doc Watson Day,” beginning at 5 p.m. Friday at the Jones House Cultural Center, 604 W. King St., Boone. The annual celebration honors the legendary Grammy-winning guitarist with a free Friday evening concert on the Jones House lawn featuring traditional bluegrass and old-time musicians, followed by a ticketed Saturday night performance at the Appalachian Theatre.
FRIDAY TO SUNDAY
“Murder Mystery Weekend,” at Meadowbrook Inn, 711 Main St., Blowing Rock. Spend the weekend solving an interactive murder mystery while enjoying themed meals, cocktail receptions and a two-night stay at the downtown hotel. Packages start at $499 per person, double occupancy, plus tax.
SATURDAY
“Art in the Park,” 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., along Park Avenue in downtown Blowing Rock. One of the High Country’s longest-running arts festivals returns with dozens of artists showcasing paintings, pottery, jewelry, photography, woodwork, fiber arts and more. Free.
“Living History Museum Day,” 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., at Hickory Ridge History Museum, 591 Horn in the West Drive, Boone. Step back into the 18th century as the museum's historic cabins come alive with demonstrations of blacksmithing, open-hearth cooking, weaving, woodworking and other frontier skills, along with guided tours. Included with museum admission.
—
🎵 Live music this weekend
Speckled Trout chef warns of trout shortage; subbing in catfish, recommending burgers and tacos
The executive chef of The Speckled Trout restaurant in Blowing Rock is cautioning diners about a temporary trout shortage linked to hot summer temperatures.
In an Instagram video posted last week, chef Michael Foreman said: “It’s been a rather hot summer. “Due to that, it stresses the trout out to the extreme. Feeding has been lowered on the trout so as to not overstress the trout, and this has created a shortage from our North Carolina farms.”
Foreman, who said he has been with the restaurant for eight years, asked for patience and understanding and said the shortage “is not something that is made up – it is really extreme to the industry.”
You might have to wait a little longer before getting the trout at The Speckled Trout (seen here prepared with almond and cornmeal).
Foreman said the restaurant has brought in catfish from Aiden and will prepare the catfish in the same ways it typically prepares trout. He also highlighted non-fish items on the restaurant’s menu, including Wagyu burgers, tacos and chicken dumplings.
The Speckled Trout is one of the best-known restaurants in the region. Read our review of it.
🎥 Watch the chef’s video on Instagram here:
App State move-in brings traffic back to Boone
Boone is about to get much busier as thousands of Appalachian State University students return for the fall semester.
On-campus move-ins started Tuesday. Traffic is expected to pick up throughout the week, especially along major routes near campus.
New first-year and transfer students are scheduled to move in Aug. 11-13.
Upperclassmen move in Friday to Sunday, Aug. 14-16.
Classes begin Monday, Aug. 17.
App State has about 18,000 students in Boone.
LOCAL NEWS OF NOTE
Town Tavern remembers employee who tried to save his father; Republicans pick replacement congressional candidate
Town Tavern worker remembered: A 20-year-old employee at Blowing Rock's Town Tavern died while trying to save his 46-year-old father after the two got into trouble in the ocean during a family vacation at Holden Beach. Both died despite rescue efforts. Town Tavern remembered Dylan Roberts, as a valued employee and beloved member of its family, and a GoFundMe for the family has raised nearly $48,000. (WBTV)
Republicans select replacement candidate: North Carolina Republicans have selected state Rep. Jennifer Balkcom of Henderson County to replace U.S. Rep. Chuck Edwards as the party's nominee in the November election for the 11th Congressional District after Edwards withdrew from the race following an ethics report. The 11th District covers much of Western North Carolina, including Avery County, but not Watauga or Ashe counties. (CBS News)
App State band director resigns after investigation: Appalachian State University's director of bands and an associate professor of music, John Stanley Ross, resigned in July after an internal investigation found a sustained pattern of alleged sexual misconduct. (WCNC)
Thanks for reading The Mountain Ledger newsletter. You can find more on our website.
Let us know what you think! Or tell us what we should write about next. Or share your questions. Drop us a line at [email protected].
➡️ Why not share this email with a friend?