BLOWING ROCK RECREATION Step out into the sunshine and draw a deep breath of cool, refreshing mountain air. Within town limits, visitors may walk, run, or bike around Blowing Rock with relative ease. Families with small children might enjoy visiting Robbins Pool in the summertime, playing catch at Davant Field, or spending time on the playground and the tennis and basketball courts in Memorial Park. For those folks who would like to experience more of the town’s natural beauty at its best, we offer these suggestions:
JULIAN PRICE MEMORIAL PARK In 1946, the family of Julian Price donated 4,200 acres of land to the Blue Ridge Parkway. Price originally purchased this land as a recreation spot for his many insurance employees, but came to value its natural beauty so highly that after his death, his heirs wanted to share the land with others. Families with young children will enjoy the main park area featuring wide green fields, creekside views, and scenic picnic areas with wooden tables and charcoal grills. Visitors wishing to hike have many options between scenic trails varying from easy, moderate, to strenuous.
MOSES H. CONE PARK
In the mid 1890’s, textile magnate Moses H. Cone, known as the “Denim King,” came to Blowing Rock with his wife, Bertha, to design and build his grand summer home. The resulting estate, Flat Top Manor, spanned 3,516 acres and included both Flat Top Mountain and the nearby Rich Mountain. Today, the manor is the home of the Southern Highland Craft Guild and Park Service information desk. It is open daily from April 5 through November 30. One of the best parts of the estate is its 25 miles of carriage roads that are now walking trails. From the manor, visitors may go to the Cone cemetery, nearly a mile from the house, or continue two miles to the Flat Top fire tower, offering a breathtaking view of the High Country area. Visitors may also walk down to Bass Lake and explore The Maze trail featuring the old apple barn, whose bounty was provided by the 32,000 apple trees planted in the estate’s orchard. Most of these trails feature a lush landscape of rhododendron, mountain laurel, white pines, or sugar maples alongside the designated path, in addition to the other species of trees, wildflowers and woodland plants. They are perfect for large groups and families, and are one of Blowing Rock’s best features. (Please note: Bicycles are not permitted on Parkway trails. Dogs and other pets must be leashed. Horses are permitted, though designated parking for horse trails varies for each location.) 6
• Green Knob is a steady 2.3 mile climb looping through woods, pasture and a distant view of Price Lake and Calloway Peak. Entry can be found at Parkway milepost 295.9 in the Sim’s Pond parking area. • Price Lake is an easy 2.7 mile loop circling the 47 acres of Price Lake. It is accessible from both milepost 296.7, Price Lake Overlook, and milepost 297.1, Boone Fork Overlook. • Boone Fork Trail offers a moderate to strenuous 5.5 mile loop accessed at milepost 296.4, in the Price Park picnic area. Allow about three hours to wind through meadows, woods and rock outcroppings just beyond Boone Fork Creek. • Boone Fork Trail also runs jointly with the North Carolina Mountains-to-Sea Trail for almost half its length. Signs with white blazes will mark the trail, as well as entry and exit points for that portion of the trail. • Tanawha Trail is a strenuous 13.5 mile trail accessed at Parkway milepost 297.1, the Boone Fork Overlook, and ends at milepost 305.5, Beacon Heights. It begins in Price Park and runs parallel to the Parkway, ending at the foothills of Grandfather Mountain. Separate maps for this trail are available for intrepid hikers.
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