Pilar Harding Owner
Draperies | Curtains | Cornices Balloon & roman Shades Table Skirts | Dust ruffles | Pillows Drapery Hardware & Fabrics
Jimmie Knoll (pictured left) and her late husband Hank bought the Azalea Garden Inn in 1978 with dreams to fix it up and make it their own. The couple immediately went to work restoring the motel from its humble beginnings to become what is now arguably one of the most beautiful motels in North Carolina. Since the passing of her husband, Jimmie’s daughters have been learning the ropes of the day-to-day operations, leaving Jimmie all the time in the world to spend taking care of the beautiful gardens-which is just fine by her! Jimmie says that she finds Blowing Rock to be one of the most beautiful places and truly couldn’t be happier than to spend her days in Blowing Rock. Today, Jimmie spends her winters in Florida, while residing in the High Country through summer and spring.
eSTimaTeS glaDly given
185 azalea Circle Banner elk, nC 828-719-0455 baileydraperydesign@gmail.com
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John D. Davis, III Owner/Broker
34
YEARS
828.260.1550
PO Box 336, 161 Silver Springs Dr. Banner Elk, NC 28604
www.bannerelkrealty.com
38
High Country Magazine
This easy familiarity with others and the fun that comes with socializing leads to guests returning again and again. “A couple will come one year and then they’ll bring their children, and then the children grow up and then the children bring their children and we get different generations here together,” she said. “There’s one grandfather who brings the grandchild who turns thirteen and I’m always looking forward to seeing which one’s coming this time” The sense of coming home that repeat guests feel in the family inns of Blowing Rock sometimes evolves into a sense of proprietorship. “Yes, some of them come again and again and the room they stay in, it becomes their room. If they phone up to book and can’t get their room, they’ll change their schedule for when they can,” said Brian Summers who owns the Hemlock Inn on Morris Street with his wife Donna. The Hemlock is one of two inns there: the other, across the street, is the Homestead. Although off Main, the Hemlock and Homestead can boast that they are closest to every activity that makes summer special in Blowing Rock, for they are only half a block or so from the Sixpence Pub (fish & chips, good British beers; or real Scotch – the drink that is); or a block or so from Ensemble Stage’s summer theater at the school auditorium, with the Blowing Rock Ale House & Inn alongside and the Inn at Ragged Gardens opposite. In the same direction, there’s Kilwin’s – the primary outlet
July 2014