May 29, 2008 issue
Woodcarver’s Shop Changes Location On Grandfather Mountain
A whole new window of opportunity has opened for Tom Wolfe, the character carver whose shop has been located in the Visitors Center next to Grandfather Mountain’s Mile High Swinging Bridge for several years. Because the 1960s-era Top Shop was demolished this spring to make room for the construction of a new Visitors Center, Wolfe’s craft shop was packed up and moved to a new location near the base of the mountain.
“At first I wasn’t too sure about the move,” Wolfe said. “Now that I am in my new location, I really like the change. The new location is definitely a better environment for me to do my thing.”
Wolfe said that being located beside the Woods Walk Picnic Area is much quieter and slow-paced. He also commented that he could be open to the public more often, not having to be concerned about the weather conditions at the top of the mountain.
The new space shines a whole new light to what Wolfe can do around the shop. With a more rustic shop, Wolfe said that he has high hopes for expanding the size of pieces that he sells at Grandfather Mountain. His talent allows him to make carvings large and small, so he hopes to set up a demonstration area outside of the shop where guests can watch him work on larger pieces made to be displayed outside, while the smaller pieces will be on display inside.
Wolfe, who lives near Boone, has recently released his 50th how-to-carve book. Published worldwide, the newest is titled Carving Santas for Today. In this publication with 340 photographs, Wolfe takes readers through a step-by-step carving process. His books instruct beginners on how to get started from a block of wood, as well as encourage experienced carvers to try new techniques in carving. He is currently working on three more publications that will be released at a later date.
For more information on Grandfather Mountain and its showcasing of Appalachian Mountain heritage, click to www.grandfather.com or call 800-468-7325.
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