On March 15th, 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 enjoy a marriage of spectacular views, Georgian Revival architecture and stunning handmade crafts at the Manor House. Parkway Craft Center is one of five shops of the Southern Highland Craft Guild and features work from over 300 Southern Appalachian craftspeople. Work on display includes clay, glass, leather, fiber, jewelry, wood, natural materials, paper and metal. Whether visitors are looking for a special accent piece for the home or a unique gift for a special occasion, they will find the perfect selection. Gift certificates are also available. This year a 10% discount on purchases over $50.00 will be offered to those living in North Carolina’s Watauga, Ashe and Avery counties during March. Don’t miss this opportunity to check out Parkway’s new look and merchandise while getting a discount.
Everyone knows about the beauty of the Blue Ridge Parkway, but the Boone-Blowing Rock area is especially fortunate to have the Moses Cone Memorial Park. With 3600 acres of pristine mountain terrain and the Manor House, a wide variety of activities is available at no cost to the public. The Moses Cone Manor house, completed in 1901, is an impressive piece of period architecture popping out of the mountain landscape. The entrance is a shady road that is private and relaxing. The walk down the steps provides a breath-taking view of Bass Lake below and the surrounding mountains accented by the always changing sky. Rocking chairs are available to relax and enjoy the fresh air and views from the covered porch. All this would be enough to take in, but there is still more! The National Park Service (NPS) offers free tours of the second floor each weekend from June to mid-October. Call 828-295-3782 to reserve space on these tours. The combination of the architecture and the beauty of the crafts offer something for everyone.
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, as he ambles along the trails. 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.
Parkway Craft Center (PCC) is open every day from 9-5 beginning March 15 and ending November 30. With a wide variety of crafts from which to choose, something is sure to strike the shopper’s fancy. 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 yummy lotions and rubs will be on hand. Take this opportunity to see what is new and different at the craft shop.
Several special focus events will be offered this year at the Craft Center. March 22nd will bring the Fifth Annual Egg Scramble on the Manor House Lawn; an egg hunt for children ages 2 – 11. 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. As always, events are free to the public. Come early as parking is limited and be sure to bring your own egg basket. Due to a lack of indoor facilities the Egg Scramble will be cancelled if there is inclement weather.
August 9th is Heritage Day featuring many demonstrations, storytelling, music and other activities not to be missed. Craft demonstrations are scheduled on a regular basis throughout the year on the sun porch where a portion of the movie, “The Green Mile,” was filmed. For other special events please contact the craft center.
A visit to Moses H. Cone Memorial Park and Parkway Craft Center is a “must” to kick off spring in the mountains. Consider this unique way to spend a day: beautiful scenery, skillfully made crafts, educational demonstrations and 25 miles of hiking trails. The entrance is located on the Blue Ridge Parkway at milepost 294 between the entrances at US 321 and US 221. Please let us know about your experience during your visit. We do care and we would love to meet each one of you. For more information, call 828-295-7938 or visit www.craftguild.org.