Serving Boone, Blowing Rock, Banner Elk, and other towns of the North Carolina High Country | Founded 05-05-05

February 22, 2007 issue

High Country Magazine Annual Winter Issue Available Now

Story by Sam Calhoun

High Country Magazine—a member of High Country Press’s family of publications—has garnered a tremendous readership in the High Country since it debuted in 2005. The magazine’s first winter issue in 2006 gave readers a look into the lives and accomplishments of Gunther Jochl at Sugar Mountain, Gil Adams at Beech Mountain, Jim Cottrell and the French-Swiss Ski College, Hiram Lewis and Bob Quinlan of Alpine Ski Center, Fred and Margie Pfohl of Fred’s General Mercantile and Brad and Grady Moretz of Appalachian Ski Mountain.

For this year’s annual ski issue, High Country Magazine tells the tales of Carolina Caribbean, the original developers of Beech Mountain, and of Ray Costin, the present-day owner of Ski Beech. The magazine also delves into the past, present and future of Hawksnest Resort and its owners, Lennie and Leonard Cottom, as well as the story of Ski Country Sports. Readers will also find stories on High Country ski instructor Brenda Binning, highlights of the ASU football team’s road to a second national championship, a look at the Banner Elk Café and the complete history of snowboarding.

Readers can find the magazine wherever they find the High Country Press, so add some history to your High Country winter and pick up a copy of High Country Magazine.

Here’s a preview of what you’ll find inside.

The Big Dream: Carolina Caribbean Corporation

To fully understand present day Beech Mountain, you must first understand the time period between 1965 and 1974 when a company called the Carolina Caribbean Corporation developed the region. Led by imagineer Grover C. Robbins, Jr., Carolina Caribbean invested $16 million into Beech Mountain from 1965 to 1968, constructing a ski slope, a Bavarian-type village, chalets and other resort amenities. That investment would grow into a real estate powerhouse that at one time looked at developing 9,000 lots on 10,000 acres in and around Beech Mountain. Patrons came from all over the world to buy a piece of Beech Mountain back then and the amenities that grew out of the Carolina Caribbean Corporation are a big part of what Beech Mountain is today. The article, “The Big Dream,” tells the stories of three salespeople who worked for Carolina Caribbean in the 1970s—just years before the company went bankrupt.

Ray’s Mountain: How Ray Costin Came To Own Beech Mountain

After Carolina Caribbean folded, an East Coast businessman came to own Ski Beech. Ray Costin, who had previously owned three ski slopes in Virginia and Pennsylvania, began his dealings in the High Country with the lease and subsequent purchase of Sugar Mountain in the late 1970s and then purchased Ski Beech in 1985. Today, Sugar Mountain operates under a lease agreement with the trust that Costin and his one-time partner set up for their children, and Costin owns Ski Beech, running the mountain with the help of his son John and general manager Wayne Hoilman. “Ray’s Mountain” chronicles the history from the 1980s and 1990s that led to today’s Ski Beech.

The History of Boarding: Banner Elk, Greg Barrow, Edge of the World and the Birth of a New Way of Living

What would a ski issue be without a glimpse into the world of snowboarding, the snowsport that revolutionized the industry in the High Country and around the world over the last two decades? Contributing writer Randy Johnson takes readers on a crash course of the history of snowboarding, pointing out milestones, focusing on the High Country’s contribution and explaining the rise of a sport that created a new breed of youthful participant. What skiing couldn’t offer the youth, snowboarding could, and the love affair continues today.

Ready for Takeoff: Hawksnest Resort

Perceived as “The Little Slope That Could” Hawksnest Resort has long been a locals’ favorite in the High Country. In the resort’s four decade existence, only two families—the Reynolds and the Cottoms—have owned the mountain and its former golf course. The current owners, Lennie and Leonard Cottom devised a plan two years ago after closing the golf course, but a dispute with the Town of Seven Devils has forced the Cottoms to abandon their vision of expansion—to an extent. Find out what comes next for Hawksnest Resort as its owners attempt to take off on a new trajectory at the Hawk.

Home Away From Home: Ski Country Sports and Bill and Susan Leonard

Bill and Susan Leonard’s climb to success with their snowsport outfitter Ski Country Sports in Banner Elk is a true High Country story that illustrates the attitude of longstanding business people in the High Country. Constantly reinventing themselves to stay on top of the game and progressively expanding their business scope, Bill and Susan now have a year-round business that they perceive as their home away from home. Who knew that a brief stint in the military in a small ski village in Germany would lead Bill to a life sharing the gift of snowsports with the thousands of visitors and locals that frequent the ski slopes of Banner Elk?

Brenda Binning: Going Downhill for 20 Years

Brenda Binning taught skiing at Sugar Mountain Resort for the last two decades, and “Going Downhill for 20 Years” explores her journeys and life along the way. As one of the first female instructors hired in the High Country, Binning worked to hone her skills and her instruction methods, partly influenced by the desire to be a better instructor than her first instructor. Binning has retired from teaching skiing but still hits the slopes whenever she can and may make a comeback in future years. 

12th Man Celebration: ASU Fans Energize Back2Back Championship Victories and A Tale of Two Quarterbacks

Perhaps one of the biggest stories in the High Country in 2006 was the ASU football team’s second national championship. In two years, ASU has become a football powerhouse in North Carolina and part of that accomplishment is because of the quarterbacks. Richie Williams, heir apparent, Trey Elder, and Armanti Edwards—the freshman quarterback who made it consecutive in 2006—are the focus of “A Tale of Two Quarterbacks,” and their energetic booster club is celebrated in the “12th Man Celebration” article.  

Banner Elk Café: The Place To BE in Banner Elk

Les Broussard was only a sophomore in college and still living in the dorms when he decided to use some stock proceeds to buy the 25-seat Banner Elk Café. Almost two decades later, Broussard’s 25-seat café has grown to more than 200 seats a café, a lodge, pizzeria and coffee shop and an ice cream shop. Broussard shares some of his most popular recipes and his story of how the Banner Elk Café became the place to BE in Banner Elk.