MOUNTAIN ADVENTURES
Todd Bush
2 MOSES CONE & JULIAN PRICE PARKS Watauga County By Karen Olson House
T
he Moses Cone estate is the legacy of early textile entrepreneur Moses H. Cone, known as the “Denim King,” who bought 3,600 acres near Blowing Rock and built a premier country estate. It was donated to the U.S. government in the late 1940s, and today visitors can enjoy its beautiful forests and meadows and see first-rate crafts. Flat Top Manor, once Cone’s summer The Cone estate offers crafts and carriage trails. Julian Price Park has campsites home, houses a National Park Service informaon well-stocked Price Lake. tion desk and the Parkway’s only official craft center, where artisans such as glass blowers and JULIAN PRICE MEMORIAL PARK weavers demonstrate their skills. Located just three miles away from the Moses Cone estate, Entering the manor, visitors see a grand staircase with a this park boasts picturesque picnicking and the largest curving banister made from a single piece of cherry wood, campground on the Parkway. Roughly 3,900 acres offer then an arresting mix of contemporary and traditional numerous recreational opportunities, including hiking, mountain crafts for sale. The manor no longer has Cone canoeing and fishing. furnishings, but rangers lead 30-minute weekend history Like the Cone estate, this land was also donated. Insurance tours (reservations only) on its second floor. executive Julian Price bought it in the late 1930s and 1940s A few yards from the manor lies Craftsman’s Trail, a to create a retreat for Jefferson Standard Life Insurance 20-minute loop that passes between white oaks and under Company employees. Price’s death in 1946 postponed plans, red maple, black cherry and tulip poplar trees. and Jefferson Standard eventually gave the property to the Moses Cone was a naturalist before the term became pop- National Park Service. ular. He replaced any tree that was cut and planted extensive Campsites are located right at or near Price Lake. (If white pine forests. Perhaps the most appreciated aspect of you like lakeside, ask about sites in the A-loop.) The park his estate is the more than 25 miles of carriage roads for has seven trails including the Price Lake Loop Trail (2.7 walking and horseback riding. Gently sloping roads reveal miles) that circles the well-stocked lake and the Tanawha Bass Lake, remains of apple Trail (13.5 miles), which wraps around part of Grandfather orchards and the Cone cemMountain. Moses H. Cone Memorial etery. Visitors can bring horses Sandy Flats Ranger Station Canoe and rowboat rental is & Visitor Center or take rides through stables in available from Memorial Day 5580 Shulls Mill Road 667 Service Road Blowing Rock. Blowing Rock, NC 28605 to Labor Day, and on weekends Blowing Rock, NC 28605 Estate admission is free. in early May, late September (828) 295-7591 Trails are open year-round. (828) 295-3782 and October. No motorboats The craft center’s dates of www.nps.gov/blri Campground reservations allowed. The campground is operation are typically from (877) 444-6777 open year-round. Fee required Parkway Craft Center mid-March through October www.RECREATION.gov for campsites. (828) 295-7938 or November.
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