Origins of Area Names between milepost 276-291

• Seven Devils: Seven men on horseback who were interested in developing the mountain with seven peaks encountered a rumor that there was an old man who had seven sons "as mean as the devil." The founders wanted a catchy, unique name that would bring attention to the mountain. They noticed the repeated appearance of the number seven, including the seven predominant rocky peaks surrounding Valley Creek--and also many coincidental reference to "devils"--people also commented about the mountain, "it is as cold as the devil," or "as windy as the devil."
• Valle Crucis: Means "Valley of the Cross," named for two mountain streams that flow toward each other and when emptying into Dutch Creek, form a St. Andrews cross.
• Watauga County: Cherokee name which is said to mean "Beautiful Waters," "River of Islands," and "The Land Beyond," but no one knows for sure.
• Tweetsie Railroad : Gets its affectionate name from the mountain people who loved the train's shrill whistle. The train began in 1882 as the ET & WNC Railroad and finally ran from Boone to Johnson City in 1918. It is now a popular theme park between Boone & Blowing Rock.
• Meat Camp : Meat Camp was so named because of a cabin that stood on the land where hunters would store their meat and hides while they hunted the land.
• Aho Gap : Aho was actually named by a committee. When a name was in the process of being chosen, there was always a conflict with whatever was suggested, so the committee decided that the next word spoken, no matter what it was, would be the name of the new community. After a long silence, BB Dougherty (father of ASU) stood up, stretched, and said, "Aho."

Birds You Might Spot From Milepost 276-291

• Red-tailed Hawks
• Chestnut-sided Warblers
• Black-throated Blue Warblers
• Canada Warblers
• Slate-colored Juncos
• White-breasted Nuthatches
• Rose-breasted Grosbeaks

Wildflowers You Might Spot From Milepost 276-291

• Dwarf Iris - Mar-April
• Birdfoot Violet - Mar-May
• Buttercups - Mar-June
• Wild Strawberry - Mar-June
• Crested Dwarf Iris - Apr-May
• Flame Azalea - May-June
• Fraser Magnolia - May
• Catawba Rhododendron - June
• Beard Tongue - June-July
• Mountain Laurel - June-July

Points of Interest - Milepost 292 to 298

• Tanger Shoppes on the Parkway - Time spent depends on your stamina...You could spend all day! - Outlet shoppes including Gap, Liz Claiborne, Ralph Lauren, Geoffrey Beene, Corning, and over 30 others. Also, there's a restaurant, ice cream shop and much more. From MP 292 it's a straight shot down 321 (Shoppes will be on your right). From MP 294, take 221 to Main Street Intersection, make a left. At stoplight, make a left and Shoppes will be right there on your left. 800-720-6728 or www.tangeroutlet.com
• The Green Park Inn - Drive By or stop & have a picture made with green horse & buggy! - On the National Register of Historic Places, the Green Park Inn is rich with heritage. Overlooking the Blowing Rock Golf Course, the stately, white-framed, Victorian manor is one of the South's oldest resorts established in 1882. Such figures as Franklin Roosevelt, Calvin Coolidge, and JD Rockefeller have graced the Green Park for opulent galas and weekends of rest and relaxation.
• Moses Cone Manor - 1-3 hrs. The Manor House was the summer home of textile magnate Moses Cone (also called the Denim King!). The home was one of the first in the mountains to have indoor plumbing. He planted orchards and had two lakes made for his fishing enjoyment: Bass Lake and Trout Lake. Today, the Cone House is home to the Southern Highlands Craft Guild, an organization that only accepts high-quality crafts for sale and display. Here you will also find 26 miles of bridle paths and carriage trails. The carriage house and main house are rumored to be haunted! FREE
• Rich Mtn. - Carriage, Horse & Hiking Trail: 3.0 miles, Moderate FREE
• Flat Top Mountain - Carriage, Horse & Hiking Trail: 3.0 miles, Moderate FREE
• Watkins - Carriage, Horse & Hiking Trail: 3.3 miles, Moderate FREE
• Black Bottom - Carriage, Horse & Hiking Trail: .5 miles, easy FREE
• Bass Lake - Carriage, Horse & Hiking Trail: 1.7 miles, easy FREE
• Deer Park - Carriage, Horse & Hiking Trail: .8 miles, Moderate FREE
• Maze - Carriage, Horse & Hiking Trail: 2.3 miles, Moderate FREE
• Duncan - Carriage, Horse & Hiking Trail: 2.5 miles, Moderate FREE
• Rock Creek Bridge - Carriage, Horse & Hiking Trail: 1.0 mile, easy FREE
• The Village of Blowing Rock - 1.5 to 3 hrs. - Unique shops, boutiques, antique markets and restaurants in a picture-perfect village setting complete with a Main Street Park with benches for weary shoppers. From MP 294, take Hwy. 221 into Blowing Rock, make right on Main Street and you're there! From MP 292, take 321 into Blowing Rock, make a right on Sunset and that will take you to Main Street. 800-295-7851 or www.blowingrock.com
• Glen Burney Falls - From MP 294 take US Hwy. 221 North for 2 miles to Main Street in Blowing Rock. At the traffic light, turn right onto Main Street/Hwy. 321 S and go through one traffic light. Take a right onto Laurel Lane and proceed straight through 4-way stop sign. Next left is driveway for Anne Cannon Memorial Garden (across from pond with Gazebo). The trail head for Glen Burney Trail is at far end of parking area. The Trail goes to two waterfalls. 1.6 miles. Moderate to Strenuous. FREE
• Art in the Park -All day! - Featuring unique crafts, fine art, great food, mountain music, and much more. One of the area's most popular festivals. Takes place one Saturday per month each year from May to October. 800-295-7851 or www.blowingrock.com FREE
• Blowing Rock Stage Company - Top notch theatrical and musical performances right in the town of Blowing Rock. Musicals, Comedies and Reviews featuring professional talent and children's theatre productions. Year-round productions to begin with the completion of the new Blowing Rock Community Arts Center. From MP 294, make left onto Hwy. 221, then right onto Main Street. Make left onto Sunset and Blowing Rock Stage Company is on right. From MP 292, take 321 to Blowing Rock and turn right onto Sunset Drive. Stage Company will be on your left. Be sure to call or visit their web site for a schedule and to reserve tickets. 828-295-9627. www.blowingrockstage.com $
• Westglow Spa - 1 hr. to overnight - Pamper yourself for an hour, a day...or a whole week! From MP 294, make a right onto Hwy. 221. Westglow is approximately 4 miles on the left from the turn onto 221. 800-562-0807 or www.westglow.com $
• Figure 8 Trail -A short, self-guiding loop nature trail. Milepost 294.1, .7 mile, Easy FREE
• Trout Lake - Hiking & Horse Trail One mile loop, easy. At MP 294.6 FREE
• Historic Fort Defiance- About 20 miles from Milepost 292,on Highway 321,towards Lenoir- 1792 Fort Defiance Drive, Lenoir-Fort Defiance, circa 1792, is the restored home of General William Lenoir. Considered one of the most unique restorations country-wide, it contains over 300 pieces of original furnishings and artifacts. 828-758-1671. www.FortDefianceNC.org $
• Julian Price Park - 1 hr. to overnight - 4,344 acre park with lake, canoeing, campground, picnic area, fishing, trails, amphitheater and more. Campground has no showers but does have bathrooms. Lake on premises--canoeing, fishing & trails. No reservations accepted. Cost is based on number of persons in tent space (usually around $14 or so) Dump station for RVs at office. Cold water, grills but no electricity. Great trails. Excellent fishing. FREE
• Green Knob Trail - Excellent hike that goes under a Parkway bridge, over the ridge and across many different types of terrain. Great for wildflower and bird enthusiasts. Could spot a deer. Great for winter hiking, too. 2.3 Miles, Moderate to Strenuous. MP 295.9 FREE
• Boone Fork - Trail Great trail to see stream, forest and meadows. Kids and dogs LOVE it! 4.9 miles, moderate to strenuous. Also great picnic area at trail head. MP 296.5 FREE
• Price Lake Loop Trail - Great way to explore Price Park and Price Lake. Especially beautiful when Mountain Laurel & Rhododendron are out and is breathtakingly beautiful in the fall. Also a neat hike in the winter when there is snow on the ground. 2.3 miles, Moderate. Fairly flat. MP 297. FREE

Facts and Folklore between milepost 292 - 298

• Annie Got Her Gun!- Did you know that the fashionable Mayview Manor in Blowing Rock employed Annie Oakley, herself, to operate their trapshooting range.
• Blowing Rock Named Best Place to Visit- Did you know that Blowing Rock was named Best Place to Visit by Our State magazine in 1999? That is just one of the many awards this resort town receives each year.
• Blowing Rock is Mitford!- Did you know that Blowing Rock is the hometown of author Jan Karon, and is the basis for the town, Mitford, in her "Mitford Series" of books? Those who have read the books will recognize the Episcopal and Presbyterian churches, local shops and restaurants...and maybe...just maybe...a few of the characters!
• The Resort Tradition- The resort town of Blowing Rock has been hosting visitors since well back into the 1880s. It was once called Summerville because of all the people who spent their summers in full-time residents' homes, inns, etc. Today, Blowing Rock continues to uphold its excellent reputation as a resort town with such reputable resorts as Chetola and fine hotels like Meadowbrook Inn.
• Movie Filmed in Blowing Rock!- If you visit Moses Cone Manor, you may remember it from the Steven King film, The Green Mile. The opening and closing scenes where the main character is in a nursing home were filmed at the Manor. The cemetary scene was filmed at Laurel Fork Baptist Church off Aho Road.

Birds You Might Spot From Milepost 292-298

• Solitary Vireos
• Red-eyed Vireos
• Rose-breated Grosbeaks
• Acadian Flycatcher
• Black-throated blue warbler
• Canada Warbler
• Red-breasted Nuthatch
• Wood Thrush
• Eastern Kingbird
• Indigo Bunting
• Scarlet Tanager
• Belted Kingfisher
• Belted Kingfisher
• Barred Owl
• Raven
• Peregrine Falcon
• Broad-winged Hawks

Wildflowers You Might Spot From Milepost 292-298

• Mayapple - Mar-Apr
• Serviceberry Sarvis - Mar-May
• Buttercups - Mar-June
• Wild Strawberry - Mar-June
• Crested Dwarf Iris - Apr-May
• Soloman's Seal - Apr-May
• Bloodroot - Apr-May
• Foam Flower- Apr-Jun
• Witch Hobbie-Hobblebush- Apr-Jun
• Flame Azalea - May-June
• Fraser Magnolia - May
• Catawba Rhododendron - June
• Mountain Laurel - June-July
• Mountain Ash - Jun-Jul (bloom), Sept-Oct (berry)
• Black-eyed Susan - July
• Angelica - Aug-Sept
• Goldenrod - Sept
• Witch Hazel - Late Sept-Oct

The Legend of The Blowing Rock

It is said that a Chickasaw chieftain, fearful of a white man's admiration for his lovely daughter, journeyed far from the plains to bring her to The Blowing Rock and the care of a squaw mother. One day the maiden, daydreaming of the cliff, spied a Cherokee brave wandering in the wilderness far below and playfully shot an arrow in his direction. The flirtation worked because soon he appeared before her wigwam, courted her with songs of his land. They became lovers, wandering the pathless woodlands and along the crystal streams.

One day a strange reddening of the sky brought the brave and maiden to The Blowing Rock. To him it was a sign of trouble commanding his return to his tribe in the plains. With the maiden's entreaties not to leave her, the brave, torn by conflict of duty and heart, leaped from The Blowing Rock into the wilderness far below. The grief-stricken maiden prayed daily to the Great Spirit until, one evening with a reddening sky, a gust of wind blew her lover back onto the Rock and into her arms. From that day a perpetual wind has blown up onto the Rock from the valley below.

This is the explanation of The Blowing Rock's mysterious winds which cause even snow to fall upside down.