Itching to visit the NC mountains? From hiking to dining, here’s what’s open.
Tired of being stuck at home?
Plenty of attractions await in North Carolina’s High Country towns along the Blue Ridge Parkway, just a couple of hours drive from Charlotte.
And whether it’s hiking, canoeing, fishing, dining or shopping you seek, it all fully complies with government COVID-19 health and safety orders, officials from the towns said during a news conference on Zoom Friday.
“We’re here and ready when you are,” Amanda Lugenbell, assistant director of the Blowing Rock Tourism Development Authority, said during the conference. “We have a really big backyard to come out and play in and experience.”
N.C. High Country towns also include Banner Elk, Boone, West Jefferson, Wilkesboro and Sparta.
Tourism is a $560 million industry for the towns, according to the latest available figures, from 2018, said Candice Cook, tourism marketing director at NC High Country Host, the region’s welcome center.
Like everywhere else across the world, High Country towns have seen businesses and attractions temporarily close and famous festivals and other events cancel this year due to the pandemic.
Longtime tourist attractions that remain closed include Linville Caverns in Avery County and Tweetsie Railroad in Watauga County. Popular events such as MerleFest and the Grandfather Mountain Highland Games were canceled.
But countless events, activities and attractions continue to welcome the public — with social distancing, sanitizing and other measures in place to prevent spread of the coronavirus, tourism officials in the towns say.
Blue Ridge Parkway trails have been open throughout the pandemic, according to Jordan Calaway, development officer for the Blue Ridge Parkway Foundation.
The Blowing Rock, billed as North Carolina’s oldest travel attraction, is open. So are zip lines, many wineries and landmark businesses such as Ashe County Cheese in downtown in West Jefferson, Mast General Store in downtown Boone and the Original Mast General Store in Valle Crucis.
Grandfather Mountain is open, although with limited online reservations only, and no sales at the gate.
Sugar Mountain Resort is open, while Beech Mountain Resort opens June 5.
And Wilderness Run Alpine Coaster debuted May 9 in Banner Elk. The coaster’s 3,160-foot run begins with a cable-pulled climb of 770 feet. From that point, riders control the speed of the coaster with two braking handles. The coaster goes no faster that 27 mph.
To better control crowds and ensure proper social distancing, coaster officials require you to make online reservations if visiting on a Friday, Saturday or Sunday through July 12.
The Brushy Mountain Peach & Heritage Festival is on for July 25 in Wilkesboro, and the Beech Mountain 4th of July Family Celebration.
And Blue Ridge Parkway officials look forward to the July 24 ribbon cutting for the refurbished iconic Bluffs restaurant at Doughton Park along the parkway, Calaway said.
Kate Gavenus, Beech Mountain’s director of tourism and economic development, noted all of the events and activities still on for summer and fall in her town, the highest in the Eastern U.S. at 5,506 feet.
“We really are well positioned, where you can get out and enjoy life but stay away from people and (coronavirus) hot spots,” she said during Friday’s hour-long news conference.
NC High Country Host and Regional Welcome Center updates its list of High Country openings and closings daily at HighCountryHost.com.
This story was originally published May 30, 2020 at 12:33 PM with the headline "Itching to visit the NC mountains? From hiking to dining, here’s what’s open.."