Serving Boone, Blowing Rock, Banner Elk, and other towns of the North Carolina High Country
Founded 05-05-05
February 28, 2008 issue
Parkway Craft Center To Open March 15
On Saturday, March 15, Parkway Craft Center, located at Milepost 294 on the Blue Ridge Parkway, will open its doors to begin the 57th season at Moses Cone Manor.
Visitors to the Cone Manor will enjoy a marriage of spectacular views, Georgian Revival architecture and stunning handmade crafts at the craft center.
Parkway Craft Center is one of five shops of the Southern Highland Craft Guild and features work from more than 300 Southern Appalachian craftspeople. Parkway Craft Center is open every day from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. This year the shop will have a whole new look with new displays and many new artists. The jewelry area will showcase work in silver, gold, platinum, precious and semi-precious stones, as well as beaded work and handmade glass beaded jewelry. New personal care items such as goat’s milk soap products and lotions and rubs will be on hand. Other work on display includes clay, glass, leather, fiber, wood, natural materials, paper and metal.
Gift certificates are available, and residents of Watauga, Ashe and Avery counties will receive a 10 percent discount during March on purchases greater than $50.
Before or after visiting the Parkway Craft Center, take advantage of the other attractions at the Moses Cone Estate, including 3,600 acres of pristine mountain terrain and the manor house. The manor, completed in 1901, is an impressive piece of period architecture popping out of the mountain landscape The walk down the steps provides a breathtaking view of Bass Lake below and the surrounding mountains. Rocking chairs are available to relax and enjoy the fresh air and views from the covered porch. In addition, the National Park Service offers free tours of the second floor each weekend from June to mid-October. Call 828-295-3782 to reserve space on these tours.
Twenty-five miles of carriage trails wind through the property. The roads were originally designed for the Cones to see their property while riding in carriages on a sunny summer day. Now hikers and horseback riders can enjoy the woods, meadows, lakes and spectacular views offered from the mountain tops and throughout the estate. The hiker may encounter a wide variety of “woods critters,” such as deer, turkey, fox and more. Bass Lake and Trout Lake boast great fishing areas and serene settings. A day of hiking and experiencing some of nature’s finest benefits both the body and the spirit.
The Parkway Craft Center is offering several special events this year, with the first one happening in late March. All events are free to the public.
Fifth Annual Egg Scramble—Saturday, March 22
The Fifth Annual Egg Scramble on the Manor House Lawn is an egg hunt for children ages 2 to 11 and will take place Saturday, March 22. Age categories will be separated so all children will be able to have fun. A scavenger hunt and egg toss, orchestrated by the National Park Service, will be available to challenge older children. Drawings for baskets filled with goodies will be held after the scramble. Arrive early because parking is limited and be sure to take your own egg basket. Inclement weather will cancel the Egg Scramble.