Eseeola Magazine 2020

ESEEOLA THE MAGAZINE OF LINVILLE RESORTS

A CREEK AND ITS COURSE

A SPORT FOR THE AGES

•

2020

WILD FOR WEST JEFFERSON

A POINT OF VIEW t

here have certainly been some changes at The Eseeola Lodge in 2020, not the least of which is adapting to this “new normal” in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic sweeping the world. We trust and pray all of you are safe, practicing “social distancing” and looking forward to resuming our special daily routines here in Linville very soon.

As we bid farewell to long-time General Manager John Blackburn and welcome Dan DuBreuil to our community, we understand that a change in perspective is a healthy process to preserve the best qualities in a place and the people who love it. We can take a look with fresh eyes and appreciate all that we‘ve collectively created and move forward knowing this may be a new chapter, but our point of view remains the same––to promote a thriving experience for our members and guests.

In our 2020 edition of Eseeola Magazine, our beloved Grandmother (Creek) finally gets the attention she deserves. Want to improve your golf score? We‘ve got a spa for that. Croquet, you say?

Yes, in a big way! Want to discover an original?

We suggest a day trip to West Jefferson, where you‘ll find one-of-kind artists, musicians and brew masters.

Yes, 2020 is a new decade. New opportunities.

Familiar faces. More places to explore. One common thread––for those who come here, we understand that a change in scenery is always good for the soul.

CONTENTS Photo of massage

8 16 18 22

WATER WORLD

Grandmother Creek aesthetically pleasing and strategically challenging at Linville Golf Club.

FLEX TIME

Mobility and pliability are key elements to a good golf swing, and The Spa at Eseeola has just the treatment.

BOWLER UP

The sport of croquet has evolved into one of the most popular summertime diversions in Linville.

DAY TRIP

A venture over to West Jefferson appeals to everyone’s artistic, musical and culinary tastes.

details

Writer/Editor: Lee Pace Graphic Designer/Writer: Sue Pace Director of Communication: Betsy Austin Front cover photo: Katie Langley Photo Credits: John Blackburn, Todd Bush, Jim Magruder, Brantley Price, Martin Seelig Published by Linville Resorts Inc.

4 6 12 28

WELCOME DAN DUBREUIL A MESSAGE WITH HISTORY RECIPE: TROUT EN PAPILLOTE FAREWELL TO JOHN BLACKBURN

4

ESEEOLA MAGAZINE

DuBreuil Takes Reins

.........................................................................................................................................................................................................

d

an DuBreuil was the dining room manager at Hound Ears Club while attending school at Appalachian State in the mid-1990s.

While recruiting and interviewing potential staff for the club located just 10 miles northeast of Linville on Hwy. 105, he often got a polite “No.” “I’m going to work at Eseeola,” DuBreuil heard frequently.

“I heard ‘Eseeola, Eseeola, Eseeola,” DuBreuil remembers. “I thought, ‘What is an Eseeola?’ I asked around and learned that the Eseeola and Linville were ‘the place to be,’ not only if you were visiting the High Country but also if you wanted to be employed.

“From that point on, Linville always existed in my mind as kind of this mystical place. It still is in many ways. It always set on a very high plateau.”

DuBreuil graduated from ASU cum laude with a BSBA Finance degree in 1997 and set off on a career in private club and resort management, including posts further west in the North Carolina mountains in Cashiers at The Country Club of Sapphire Valley and on the South Carolina coast at Spring Island. He visited Linville Golf Club and the Eseeola Lodge on occasion, getting ideas for spa and fitness center design, club décor and overall attention to detail that has marked the Linville experience over so many years.

“Eseeola and Linville Golf Club have always been a benchmark for me at other properties,” he says.

DuBreuil kept his eyes on Linville through his career and thought if longtime General Manager John Blackburn should ever retire, he’d be interested in pursuing the job. When Blackburn announced his retirement after 37 years at the club and resort in early 2019, DuBreuil applied, was interviewed and offered the job last fall.

DuBreuil started as general manager in October,

just one week before the close of the resort season, and spent the off-season getting to know the staff, the operation, the community infrastructure, as well as the membership traveling to Charlotte, WinstonSalem, and Greenville, S.C. to visit with members over the winter.

“My number one responsibility is being a good steward to the community as a whole while ensuring we are delivering exceptional member and guest experiences,” says DuBreuil. “Number two is to support the very remarkable team we have here. I approach everything as a team. It’s important to open doors and collaborate with everybody in the room. I am a firm believer that the employee experience be just as remarkable as the member experience.”

DuBreuil has moved to Blowing Rock with his wife Jodie and two golden doodles. They are renting for now and plan to build their “forever home” around Linville. Jodie is continuing her education, enrolling at Appalachian State to study graphic design while continuing her personal marketing and design business.

The DuBreuils are proud of their three children: Daughter Jordan, who teaches middle school in Wilmington, where she lives with her husband after meeting him at UNC-Wilmington; son Alec, a recent graduate of Coastal Carolina with a B.A. in National Security and Intelligence, is pursuing a career in law enforcement; and daughter Lauren, now a senior in the Honors Program at College of Charleston with a double major in Fine Art and Biology.

“We’re excited about being back in the High Country,” DuBreuil says. “This is a special area and Linville and Eseeola are special places. This was a great place to start a career and equally great to return to many years later.”

5

ESEEOLA MAGAZINE

Timeless

message t

he Linville Improvement Company was founded in 1887 by a group of businessmen led by Donald MacRae of Wilmington to develop a resort for health, pleasure and recreation. The Eseeola Lodge first opened in 1892 (“Eseeola” being the Native American word for “river of cliffs”) and soon after guests played a rudimentary 14-hole golf course that was eventually abandoned when Donald Ross came from Pinehurst in 1924 to design a new one.

6

“There is no place where one enjoys more refreshing sleep, a better appetite or feels better able to work.”

An early brochure from the late 1800s extols the same virtues that have thrived for 125 years and remain today magnets for members and guests.

Some interesting passages from this piece in the club archives follow: • “Western North Carolina already has a wide reputation for healthfulness and for the beauty of its scenery. The area, with its valuable forests, rich soil, promising mineral resources, pure water and fine climate has now entered an era of great progress.

• “In the plans, out-door games have been provided for—tennis, archery, ball and cricket, and grounds have been reserved for fair-grounds and a trotting course [one assume “fair-grounds” references a golf links].

• “The atmosphere is pure and invigorating.

• “The healthfulness of Linville is assured. For many years tired, nervous people, and those suffering from malarial poison and throat and lung troubles, have frequented this region and have, we believe, invariably benefitted.

• “Grandfather Mountain has a ruggedness and grandeur not possessed by any other peak in the Eastern States.

• “Pure water is sufficient to meet all demands, hurrying down the steep slopes, through dense, cool forests, the numerous branches of the Linville River unite to form a stream of rare beauty.

• “Because of the quantity of fine timber, ash, oak, poplar, maple, cherry, birch, etc., this section offers superior advantage to wood-working industries.

• “There is no place where one enjoys more refreshing sleep, a better appetite or feels better able to work.”

Well said in the late 1800s. Well said in 2020.

7

Grandmother Creek first comes into play at Linville Golf Club on the third hole, crisscrossing the fairway twice. It’s a key part of the golf course the rest of the way.Â

8

ESEEOLA MAGAZINE • GOOD SPORTS

Up the Creek t

he Linville golf experience is defined by the greens (slick and undulating) and the slopes (the course nestled as it is in a valley beneath Grandfather Mountain). But it’s also very much about that beautiful but persnickety creek— Grandmother Creek, which winds its way through the heart of the course and directly influences two-thirds of the layout.

9

ESEEOLA MAGAZINE • GOOD SPORTS

“It would be hard to find a creek and its tributaries that have more of an impact on a golf course than Grandmother Creek at Linville,” says Bobby Weed, the club’s golf architecture consultant. “It speaks to how the golf course sits down in a valley. In order to accommodate golf, you’ve got to cross the creek.”

“It’s beautiful and strategic. It’s impactful but not penal if you hit just normal shots,” adds Tom Dale, the club’s longtime director of golf. “Most of the time, you’re hitting shots over the creek.”

Grandmother Creek flows from the slopes of Grandmother Mountain, with its peak at 4,603 feet elevation located about four miles southwest of Grandfather Mountain. Grandmother Lake, positioned just northeast of Eseeola Lodge and the golf course, feeds the creek as it meanders down and eventually flows into the Linville River—which, in turn, connects to Lake James, the Catawba River and eventually on to Lake Norman north of Charlotte.

The first and second holes as the course heads south from the clubhouse and the 17th and 18th as it returns are bereft of the creek and its winsome visuals and dastardly pulling force on wayward golf balls. The fifth hole is framed from behind the teeing ground by the beauty of Lake Kawana, but otherwise there’s no hazard.

But every other hole on the 1924 Donald Ross-designed course either crosses the creek or its tributaries or is bounded by the crystalline water and its ancient rock beds.

And the third and eighth holes require a double-cross of the creek.

It’s a testament to Ross’s skill as a designer that he could integrate a natural hazard like Grandmother Creek but not require a gallery of heroic forced carries at every blink of an eye.

“If you play the island hole at TPC Sawgrass, that’s meant to be devious and penal,” Dale says. “If you play 18 at Bay Hill, those rocks and ponds are meant to be a bad place. Here, it’s not. The creek is aesthetic, it sets the holes

.................................................................................................................................................................................................................

Donald Ross’s original plan for Linville Golf Club shows the creek as a dominating feature throughout; the creek bisects the fairways of the 15th and ninth holes (opposite).

10

ESEEOLA MAGAZINE • GOOD SPORTS up visually, but it’s not meant to be in the way. The only time it’s really at the landing area is No. 14, if your ball hits the bank and falls down.”

Course superintendent Tim Cooke has been working at Linville Golf Club since 1991 (his father, David, was the longtime superintendent before recently retiring). The challenges of maintaining the creek and repairing the damage from its overflow are substantially more today than two decades ago. The course’s network of 10 bridges over the creek have been rebuilt or fortified to make them stand up stronger to floods, and the creek sides are refurbished each winter with large stones placed to keep the water from eating out the banks.

“Used to, we got rains from thunderstorms that would give you half an inch,” he says. “Now we have rains give us five or six inches, sometimes up to 10, at a time. Floods are a more common occurrence.”

Grandmother Creek first appears on the par-four third hole—and its crisscrossing flow on that hole is one reason it’s the number-one handicap hole on the layout.

The creek flows from left to right across the fairway about 300 yards out, turns toward the green and then switches back to the left, running at an angle about 60 yards from the green.

The downward slope of the fairway off the tee can add roll to the drive, so longer hitters have to be careful not to be too bold and knock their ball into the creek. But

it behooves everyone to hit their tee shots as far as possible as the approach shot is long, uphill and often hit from an uneven lie—and it has to cross the creek twice. Shorthitters might have to plan a layup into the middle part of the fairway between the two legs of water.

“The course is shaped by the way that creek flows and has shaped the land over time,” says Will Duckett, whose family has been longtime visitors and members at Linville.

“I always feel like the influence of the creek first shows up as you walk down No. 2, which heaves downward with the pull of the creek. Then on three tee, the creek forces you to make a decision. Usually I hit a three-wood. The perfect three-wood utilizes the slopes to get to the bottom. But an unlucky shot can careen into the water.”

Will is a low single-digit handicapper. His brother Charles shoots in the 80s. The creek means different things to their respective games, and that’s no more evident than on the third hole.

“Given the extreme slope off to the right and the various indentations along the fairway, tricky shot angles and footing make overcoming the bank and the creek difficult,” Charles says.

The creek crosses the par-three sixth midway down and then winds its way in front of the tee on the par-four seventh. Neither shot is in danger unless the golfer hits a cold-top. But the creek skirts the right side of the seventh fairway and acts like a magnet on the dogleg-right hole.

11

ESEEOLA MAGAZINE • GOOD SPORTS

“Every golf bag at Linville has a ball retriever–– for good reason.”

–Charles Duckett

12

ESEEOLA MAGAZINE • GOOD SPORTS

“In my opinion, this is the most underrated effect of the creek,” Charles says. “You cannot see it from the tee, and cutting the corner off the tee box seems harmless. I can’t count how many times I and/or my playing partners hit what looked like fine shots that simply disappear.”

“I bet I’ve seen a hundred balls go into that creek on the right—even four-irons and hybrids,” adds Will. “The ball seems to want to bounce down there.”

The creek poses a good risk-reward option from the tee of the eighth hole, a par-five that bends from left-toright. The tee shot has to clear the creek about 150 yards out, then the hole turns right and the creek turns left—prompting another crossing. Long-hitters who can hit a fade 260 yards can clear the creek and the corner of the woods to the right and have a long iron or fairway wood into the green.

“You’ve got a great strategy shot based on time and place and how you’re feeling,” Will says. “The risk is hitting into the trees and landing in the creek. Then you’ve got a big number on what should otherwise be a birdie hole.”

The creek is merely a nice visual crossing the parthree ninth well away from the green and just in front of the back tee on the par-four 10th. But it makes another important appearance crossing the fairway of the par-four 11th. The creek runs diagonally and falls about 225 yards from the tee on the left side but more like 275 on the right side.

“Billy Joe Patton was one of the few who could ever carry the creek in the old days, and that certainly established his stature in these parts,” says Weed.

Today that shot is a little easier with long-flying balls and souped-up drivers.

“If the wind’s favorable and I’m feeling good, I’ll hit driver to the left corner and try to clear the creek,” Will

says. “Otherwise, I’ll hit a hybrid and have 200 yards in.

That’s a tough, long approach to a severely sloped green. It pays off if you take the risk and pull it off.”

The creek runs along the left of the par-five thirteenth hole, and since the fairway cants from right to left, the bounce of the ball is always headed toward the water. Then the short 14th hole requires a full carry over the creek to an uphill green.

“That’s such a daunting view,” Will says. “Anything that lands on the front edge of the green or short, you have to watch it for 30 or 45 seconds as it trundles down into the creek. It never, ever stops. On that hole, you’re better safe than sorry, hitting it long and being on 15 tee chipping back.”

A 200-yard tee ball on the par-five 15th will stop short of the creek as it crosses the fairway, but a 270-yard bomb will clear it and leave a mid-iron into the green. Weed in recent years has added one large bunker and two small ones in a cluster in the left corner to give long-hitters pause for thought.

“Clearing the creek on 15 wasn’t much of a question in the early days,” Weed says. “But when metal woods and hard balls entered the game, it created that opportunity. Anyone carrying the creek with persimmon was certainly the talk of the locker room and the annual Four-Ball.”

Finally, the creek borders the right of the 16th fairway but is fairly distant and rarely comes into the play. The final two holes are water-free, leaving the last vestige of Grandmother Creek a golfer will experience being one of the succulent trout that thrive in cold, clear mountain streams appearing later on his dinner plate.

As Charles Duckett says, “Every golf bag at Linville has a ball retriever for––good reason.”

13

E S E E O L A M A G A Z I N E • G O O D C ATC H

“To him, all good things—trout as well as salvation—come by art and art does not come easy.”

Norman Maclean

CREAM OF THE

t

he author of the acclaimed fishing novel A River Runs Through It understood the challenge and lure of fly-fishing. The sport was one of the early draws to the Eseeola Lodge, and writers have rhapsodized over a century about the brook, brown and rainbow trout pulled from the Linville River.

Of course these small fish, generally six to eight inches long and weighing around a pound, found their way onto the plates of mountain dwellers and visitors.

A tradition was established in the Eseeola Dining Room of serving pan-sautéed trout alongside scrambled eggs, and trout is a regular on menus around the resort and club.

The fish are generally dusted with corn meal between the skin and flesh and pan-fried at breakfast. The

14

rest of the day, you might find them grilled, blackened or pan-seared.

“I enjoy preparing and serving trout,” says Eseeola Executive Chef Patrick Maisonhaute. “They are a small fish, very delicate, with a slightly sweet flavor. Preparing them is very technical and very precise. Because they are small, it’s easy to overcook them. Prepared correctly, trout has a very nice texture in your mouth.”

Maisonhaute often prepares this dish, leaning on his French heritage to assemble the ingredients in parchment and then steam.

“This is a classic recipe, papillotte a popular way to cook fish,” he says. “It’s very healthy, also. Just a little olive oil and the fish steamed inside paper. It’s really a lovely dish.”

TROUT EN PAPILLOTTE 1 butterflied whole trout 1 teaspoon olive oil, plus extra for drizzling 1 cup fresh spinach tightly packed 1 teaspoon chopped tarragon 1 tablespoon capers 3 slices lemon Salt and pepper One large rectangle of parchment paper 1 teaspoon chopped shallots Pinch of nutmeg

Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F. Rub the trout outside and in with olive oil to coat.

The more thoroughly you do this, the less likely the fish will be to stick to the parchment. Season each piece inside and out with salt and pepper.

Open the trout up and place two slices of lemon, 1 teaspoon chopped tarragon, 1 sprig of thyme, 1 cup fresh spinach, 1 teaspoon chopped shallot, a pinch of nutmeg and 1 tablespoon of capers in the center of each trout.

Lay the trout in the middle of each sheet of parchment. Then seal the package. Bring the edges of parchment parallel to the length of the fish up, and fold and fold and fold again until the fold rests sealed against the fish. Then fold the ends up like a Christmas gift, and fold under. All the folds will seal in the steam and the flavor.

Bake the trout for 15 minutes.

15

A visit to the Spa at Eseeola Lodge can give golfers a new perspective on flexibility, mobility and power.

By Lee Pace or 62 years of age, I’m in good overall health— blood pressure is low, still in size 33 trousers, can go five miles running at a reasonable gait or lugging my golf bag around for 18 holes.

But the fact is, I’m stiff.

My range of motion with any bone or appendange at any angle is limited. That sound you hear is my joints screeching through a practice-tee limbering-up session.

Occasionally after golf, I’ll wake up the next morning with my lower back knotted up like a pretzel. The golf pro says to turn my back to the target at the top of the backswing.

Yeah, right.

“Lower-back tightness is the thing for golfers, particularly the guys,” George Bunton is saying one afternoon in the Spa at Eseeola Lodge. “They’ll get hurt, come into the Spa for an hour, walk out and say, ‘Gosh, I can’t believe this is so good. I wish I’d known this 10 years ago.’”

I am splayed across one of the massage tables while Bunton, the proprietor along with wife Mitzi, kneads and rubs and rolls my body. Bunton’s strong and skilled hands work my shoulders, my buttocks, my hips and the upper and lower legs.

In other nooks of the Spa, Linville members or Eseeola guests might be enjoying a full-back exfoliation, a Swedish massage or the “Signature Eseeola facial” treatment after enjoying a cup of the Spa’s signature cranberry hibiscus tea. The soft sounds of harp music and aroma of lavender or peppermint oil waft through the serene environment.

“We have a nice mix of fluff, of feel-good, feed the

16

brain with happy thoughts treatments,” Bunton says.

“Most people want a massage to be therapeutic, but they also want it to be relaxing.”

He smiles as he positions me on my stomach and plies the muscle tissue in my lower-back region.

“With you, I’m being a little more aggressive in places,” he says. “I want you to walk out of here with more freedom in your hip and pelvis area. That’s so important to the golfer. We’ll have guys come in for a weekend tournament and schedule a couple of stretching sessions. They know it will help them recover.”

The Buntons have operated Eseeola’s spa and massage services since 2003, and one of their calling cards is combining the sensory delights of a typical spa treatment with precise and firm pressure and action on tight areas.

Mitzi and George both have backgrounds and training in physical therapy, so both have skills and insights into the physiological workings of the body over and beyond the skills of a masseuse.

“If you can find a balance between being therapeutic but not losing that ‘make-you-feel-special’ kind of experience, then that’s a winning combination,” he says.

“That’s what’s been successful for us.”

Bunton grew up nearby in Valle Crucis, learned golf in his late teens but never had the time nor inclination to develop his game. When his son was born in 2011, he decided to revisit the sport, thinking it would be an excellent father-son activity, and has spent numerous hours the last decade learning the swing, watching videos

ESEEOLA MAGAZINE • GOOD SPORTS

of accomplished ball-strikers like Ben Hogan and Moe Norman and playing the game himself. Today he has a deep understanding of how various body parts are recruited and taxed during the golf swing.

“Most golfers are completely oblivious to the stress the golf swing creates with the hips, pelvis and lower-back,” he says. “The golf swing is rotary. The hips are very stable at the pelvis, and the low-back is very mobile. When people swing as hard as they can, the hip reaches a point it won’t turn any more. That increases the torque on the low-back.

“The back then goes into spasm mode to try to protect itself from the overuse or over-rotation that’s happening.”

One of the goals over an hour-long massage and stretching appointment is to loosen the hips and particularly work the lead hip (the left hip for a right-handed golfer) into having more range of motion.

“Hip rotation is really key for the golfer and getting the proper balance between the backswing and forward swing,” Bunton says. “If you’re tight on your left side, your range of motion is limited.”

It doesn’t take long for George to detect an imbalance in the degrees to which my various body parts can move.

Laying on my back with my femur pointing upward and the lower leg at a 90-degree angle, I can rotate my left foot to the outside nearly a full 90 degrees. But on the right side, that movement is limited to well less than 45 degrees.

“That’s good news,” he says. “You have all the range of motion on the left side you need. We’ll address the right side and give you some stretches to open that side up.”

Part of good therapy is to provide the client some specific stretches and strengthening protocols they can take from the Spa and work into their everyday lives.

Bunton gives me three stretching exercises I can do on my bed or a massage table at my gym—one for hip flexors and two for the internal and external rotation of my hips.

“The important thing is to give you something that’s

achievable,” Bunton says. “Instead of an hour’s worth of stretching the whole body, hone in on what you need. You know you’ll get results. I have guys who’ve been doing stretches for 15 years. They’re faithful to it because it’s not overwhelming.”

I also learn I have limited range of motion in my right arm in one particular dimension that’s crucial for holding lag and retaining the clubface-to-ball angle at impact.

Holding my right upper arm straight out and turning the forearm and hand toward the sky, George gently pushes my wrist and hand backward while rotating the upper arm to accommodate the move. Nimble golfers and elite touring pros can bend the upper arm back to 90 degrees.

Mine goes 20 or 25 degrees and stops.

George pulls up a photo on his cell phone of the Canadian pro Norman that shows him at impact position with his right elbow leading his arms and club into the hitting area.

“A lot of people lose yardage because they have limited motion with their right shoulder,” he says. “Lag comes from the right shoulder. If you don’t have movement with the right shoulder and arm, it’s hard to hold that angle to the bottom and release into the ball.

“Look at Moe. It’s amazing the lag he has into the ball.”

Bunton hands me a golf club and demonstrates how I can maneuver the club into making a pulsing motion with my right forearm and gently improve that range of motion.

“Whether it’s the hips, the pelvis, the shoulders— freedom of movement equates to yardage,” George says.

“That’s something that every golfer wants and needs.”

I take some photos on my phone of Bunton making the various stretching movements he’s prescribed. I promise to work them diligently and report back come summertime, ostensibly when I’m creaking less and firing those hips through the ball.

....................................................................................................................................................................................................................

George Bunton works on a client at The Spa: Movement in the hip, pelvic and lower back areas is paramount for good golf.

17

ESEEOLA MAGAZINE • GOOD SPORTS

18

ESEEOLA MAGAZINE • GOOD SPORTS

ROLL No Longer Relegated to the Backyard BBQ, Croquet has Become a Sport for the Ages.

„L

et’s play some croquet.” Who doesn’t recall hearing those words bellowing from the backyard on a hot July day?

The sound of a wooden mallet kissing a ball through a metal wicket is as much a sound of summer as water splashing in the pool. The Linville Croquet Club may still be big on fun, but its growing popularity is an indication people of all ages are taking this game out of the backyard and onto professionally manicured grass with skill and gusto.

David and Mieke Maloof understand the resurgence in the game. They have been the coaches of the sport in Linville for twenty-two years. But they lay credit to Chessie Crosby for being its steadfast local ambassador.

Serena Chesnut Fitz Randolph MacRae Crosby, otherwise known as Chessie, was as colorful as her name was long.

She was raised in Linville and her first husband was George MacRae, a descendant of the family that founded the town of Linville. Stories of riding “mostly pregnant” through the wheat fields of Virginia training blood hounds and hopping out of a plane that had taken off from Beech Mountain only to crash land in a tree nearby in 1973 explains her curiosity and energy.

While having lunch in the late 1980s with a friend at Grandfather Golf & Country Club, she watched a croquet game and became fascinated by the sport. Etiquette, both

in form (all-white dress code) and function (elaborate rules), also caught her eye. From there a passion was born in Linville as she quickly went to work campaigning for a court to be put in at Eseeola. Alan Dickson, at the time the president of Linville Resorts, said if she could raise the money, they would build the court. And so she did.

Her fundraising tenacity paid off as Chessie found enough support through various friends and good old-fashioned face-toface networking.

The court opened on July 3, 1989 on the same spot where the 18th hole of the original Linville golf course was positioned. Unfortuantely, due to heavy rains and flooding, the court was forced to close the very next day. Despite this Independence Day disaster, play resumed within the week.

Today, the Maloofs are carrying on the croquet tradition every Wednesday morning from mid-June through mid-September on this very lawn instructing, observing, socializing and playing along with the members.

They were introduced to croquet while in Florida by a couple who also belonged to Linville. “I was reluctant at first to learn,” says David. “Like everyone, I thought— croquet? But after a few lessons I was hooked and I’ve been passionate about the sport ever since.”

David has competed and thrived on national and international levels; in 2016 he placed second in the Individual Association Croquet World Championships.

....................................................................................................................................................................................................................

David Maloof (pictured wearing hat in inset photo) begins Wednesday morning croquet sessions with a short address, then players take to the lawn to work on technique and strategy.

19

ESEEOLA MAGAZINE • GOOD SPORTS

“You can compete against a man or woman of any age. No gender has a better advantage. It’s based solely on skill. No other sport offers that kind of equal playing field.”

–Mieke Maloof

..................................................................................................................................................................................................................

The Maloofs were hired to share their skills and enthusiasm in Linville and are now going into their 23rd season. Because of demand they have added a third coach to join their 2020 team. Matt Essick hails from Arcadia, N.C., and is the pro at The Country Club of Orlando in the winter. He is currently one of the top players in the United States and is only 21 years of age, proof that croquet is taking on a whole new generation of enthusiasts.

The version of croquet favored in Linville is “golf croquet,” a far different game than the one most of us remember playing as kids. There are six wickets as opposed to nine and they allow only one-sixteenth of an inch clearance for the ball to pass through. High-tech equipment made of secret formulas of wood and carbon fiber offer players more challenges and skill sets. Balls weigh one pound and are three-eights inch in diameter.

Mallets weigh three pounds and can cost between $100-500.

David says that it’s the one sport where, as you age, you can actually see improvement in your game. “With people staying far more active physically and mentally as they grow older, golf croquet is the perfect blend of skill, exercise and good old fashioned fun,” he says. “It doesn’t take all day like golf. It’s not hard on the joints like tennis.

But mentally, you are still very challenged and surrounded by like-minded players.”

And there’s an even more appealing reason to take up the sport. “You can compete against a man or woman of any age,” says Mieke. “No gender has a better advantage.

It’s based solely on skill. No other sport offers that kind of equal playing field.”

Every Wednesday morning during the season, members will get about 15 minutes of instruction from the Maloofs and then play the game. The Maloofs will observe the players, offer advice and educate them on the rules of play. There can be up to 30 people on any given Wednesday playing on what David says is the most wellmanicured lawn in the country.

Every August, there is a Golf Croquet Championship with around 30-36 participants. It’s a sight to see—players outfitted in all-white wielding colorful equipment on an emerald lawn. The aesthetics are something to behold.

“It’s a scene out of The Great Gatsby,” David says.

Last year’s champion happened to be a spry 90-yearold. Jerry Adamson beat out a field of much younger players and provides inspiration to all for his longevity and passion.

From Baby Boomers to Millennials—all who enjoy a good happy hour—there’s even a “Wine and Wickets” club where an instructor will give a brief lesson before guests enjoy wine and social time. Originally organized last year by Tracy Hallet for friends and family, this has now become another way to promote the growing popularity of the game. Wine and Wickets has become so popular that this season it will be far more organized and sponsored through the lodge. Essick will be the instructor on deck for these fun events. You can check the Linville Weekly for specific dates and times. This season you can also reserve your very own private Wine and Wickets event for friends and family by calling The Eseeola.

“So many people, from the twenty-somethings on up, are shocked and surprised at just how fun croquet really is,” says Tracy. “It’s an easy game to learn, but you’ll love finding out there is a real strategy and skill involved.

It brings people of all ages together.”

....................................................................................................................................................................................................................

Matt Essick (above) brings a new perspective to the game as he joined the croquet coaching staff for the summer of 2020. Opposite: The yellow sign is the original poster from the grand opening of the croquet lawn at Eseeola in 1989. Since then, the sport has grown in popularity as players enjoy the skill and challenge, not to mention the social aspects and elegance of the “all-whites.” The Wine and Wickets group (lower right) organized by Tracy Hallet is attracting a younger dimension to the sport.

20

ESEEOLA MAGAZINE • GOOD SPORTS

21

WiLDLY

ORIGINAL

JEFFERSON A C U L T U R E O F C R E AT I V I T Y

22

E S E E O L A M A G A Z I N E • D AY T R I P P I N G

L

inville’s close proximity to unique day-trip destinations is just one more reason to love the High Country. One such pastoral adventure is West Jefferson, a town where three metal holstein statues the size of a hulking farm tractor stand ready to greet you and whimsical outdoor murals dot and delight the downtown landscape.

While some sleepy cities have sold their souls to tourism, this wonderful little gem is big on originality.

It’s worth the 60-minute plus drive to experience everything from a prolific arts community to thriving breweries showcasing the best in local craft beers. There’s even a 19th century western town replica complete with a lineup of legendary musicians.

WELCOME TO WILDLY ORIGINAL WEST JEFFERSON

Florence Young Thomas lived for most of her 98 years on the farm she grew up on in West Jefferson. A prolific artist and lover of the mountain landscape, she brought a passion for creativity and self expression to the town. When she died, she left a legacy with direction and funding for the Paul and Florence Thomas Memorial Art School, which was built in 2007. This was the impetus for a new

direction for the town.

At that time, West Jefferson wasn’t much more than a utilitarian town, comprised of the railroad, dry cleaners, a hardware store and not much else.

“Store fronts were boarded up,” remembers Joan Bell, owner of Originals Only Art Gallery. “That’s when the local arts community suggested putting original artwork in empty store-front windows to spruce things up around here. It worked.”

From there, members of the Ashe County Arts Council were instrumental in getting people to start opening up shops in these vacant locations. Today about a dozen thriving galleries can be found offering everything from photography, pottery and paintings to fiber art, music, jewelry and much more.

Along with Bell’s collection of bold oil paintings of local landscapes and scenes from her travels, she also supports a handful of local artists in her shop.

One such craftsman, Elijah Holman, takes local trees, one of which

.........................................................................................................................................................................................................

Opposite: Murals such as “New River Traditions” by Mary Ann DiNapoli-Mylet are a huge attraction in West Jefferson and depict the proud heritage of the region. Top: Downtown West Jefferson. Lower left: Catchlight Gallery artists mingle with guests during a Gallery Crawl. Above and lower right: Originals Only Art Gallery displays Joan Bell’s work in progress and offers unique finished pieces such as Elijah Holman’s carved trees.

23

E S E E O L A M A G A Z I N E • D AY T R I P P I N G

was Joan’s felled Beech tree from her yard, and turns them into whimsical Dr. Seuss-like treasured pieces.

“This isn’t just a side hobby for Elijah,” says Joan. “He supports a family of five crafting these trees and furniture for people to enjoy.”

Joanie Rae, Gallery Director of the Florence Thomas Art School, says anyone can take a three-hour or three-day workshop in the gallery.

Class sizes are small, giving individual attention to each participant. The range of classes offered is extensive.

Rae says visitors are encouraged to just drop by.

“Even if someone doesn’t have

time to take a class, we encourage people to observe artists at work,” she says.

A few blocks down at Catchlight Gallery, you’ll find a range of photography from stunning local mountain vistas to the Florida Cracker Cowboys photographed by Jon Kral, a retired photo journalist with the Miami Herald.

West Jefferson is also known for its ever-growing collection of outdoor murals. More than a dozen can be found on the brick exteriors along side streets and alleyways. Locals and visitors alike can have fun becoming part of the painted landscape with all scenes depicting the charm and history of this town.

..........................................................................................................................................

“I remember driving down into town and I saw about 15 people standing there taking selfies in front of my mural and I just cried with joy.”

–Whitney Landwermann

24

The mural movement started in 1996 when book publisher McFarland and Company commissioned local artist Jack Young to paint a mural titled “History of Ashe Through the Ages,” which is located on the Regency Properties building next to the Ashe County Arts Center.

One of the more recent projects, Tree of Appalachia, graces the side of Third Day Market. Whitney Landwermann, a vibrant young artist, has joined the ranks of mural legends

E S E E O L A M A G A Z I N E • D AY T R I P P I N G

R.T. Morgan, Stephen Shoemaker and Jack Young. A graduate of Appalachian State and a student of Shoemaker’s, Landwermann says it was a daunting task but one she was up for doing.

“At first it was suggested that I do a very black and white type of regional scene,” she says. “But seasonal depression is very real in the long winter months here, and I wanted my mural to express the vibrancy of this region.

So I went with color, lots of color.”

She came up with “Tree of Appalachia,” incorporating local flora, such as hostas and hellebores, along with a beloved hummingbird, all set in front of a majestic North Carolina mountain range. She added a swing to make the image feel more interactive, saying that “when a person stands in front of it, they look like they’re a part of the mural.”

She spent two months on the

at night. They’d stand guard and move the projector around so I could remain in the bucket working it like a pro, eventually,” she recalls with a chuckle.

Whitney went through many gallons of paint and worked from the background of her design forward.

project starting in May 2019. She first used plaster to cover some of the deep grooves between the bricks.

She then painted the exterior white, projected her image and outlined her design in black marker, all the while learning to navigate being in the bucket of a cherry picker.

“The sheriffs were great. I’d work

Asked how she felt when the project was completed, she said, “I remember driving down into town and I saw about 15 people standing there taking selfies in front of my mural, and I just cried with joy.”

Outdoor murals aren’t the only large-scale works of art in West Jefferson. Frescos inside the Episcopal

Parish of the Holy Communion are equally breathtaking in scope, skill and subject matter. “Mary, Great with Child,” “John the Baptist,” and “The Mystery of Faith” were created by North Carolina native Ben Long in 1974 and are a popular attraction for locals and tourists alike.

If you don’t know what a “barn quilt” is, now’s the time to learn while in West Jefferson. Stop by the Quilt Square Girls Shop to see a 21st century tradition at work. Hand-painted, typically on wood, these bucolic “billboards” are a colorful and creative homage to rural farm life and are typically hung on the side of barns and other buildings.

Jeff Fissel, Executive Director of the Ashe County Arts Council, says that the West Jefferson arts community offers an extensive list of events

....................................................................................................................................................................................................................

Opposite top and lower right: “Tree of Appalachia” by Whitney Landwermann is one of the newest and brightest murals in West Jefferson.

Interactive photo opportunities are popular with visitors like these two women trying to playfully outrun “Train to Nowhere” by Stephen Shoemaker. Top: Ben Long’s frescos in the Episcopal Parish of the Holy Communion are one of West Jefferson’s most visited attrac­tions. The Ashe County Cheese Factory holsteins stand ready to greet guests. A barn quilt shines bright.

25

E S E E O L A M A G A Z I N E • D AY T R I P P I N G throughout the summer and fall.

The town sponsors a Gallery Crawl the second Friday of every month from June through October.

“You get a real taste for how unique West Jefferson really is,” says Fissel.

“Our galleries extend shop hours, there’s live music, not to mention the great breweries and restaurants.”

Now back to those Holsteins.

They reside in front of the everpopular Ashe County Cheese Factory on East Main Street, where you can watch how cheese gets made. It’s a self-guided tour. Then you can cross the street to the Ashe County Cheese Store to sample and purchase everything from your basic hoop cheeses to their famous salty “squeaky” cheese curds (nicknamed because of the noise they make when you eat them).

The store has an assortment of specialty cheeses, candies and a fine selection of wines from local vineyards.

Make sure you get a picture standing with the trio of metal bovines. And yes, we can’t resist—don’t forget to say CHEESE MADE!

MUSIC ON THE MOUNTAIN Not more than five miles south on U.S. Route 221, you’ll find a wild West Jefferson experience of a far different sort. Saloon Studios is a 19th century replica of an old western one-block town. A saloon serves as a music venue at one end with an outdoor stage at the other end and a stunning view of the Appalachian mountains as a

..........................................................................................................................................

If they build it, bands will come, and they do––Fog Hat, Molly Hatchett, Dave Mason to name a few.

26

backdrop. It’s West Jefferson’s newest and most unique destination and the brainchild of Mike and Laura Jones.

Saloon Studios is an intimate music venue anchored within a setting reminiscent of Gunsmoke. But music was not on Mike’s mind initially when he built it. All he wanted to do was recreate the personal childhood memories of watching old westerns on TV with his father.

“I just wanted to kick back in front of my jailhouse with a beer and think about those times with my dad,” he says.

But they were soon paid a visit by their friend Dave Mason—yes, that Dave Mason of pop-rock fame and

E S E E O L A M A G A Z I N E • D AY T R I P P I N G the singer of such hits as We Just Disagree and Will You Still Love Me Tomorrow? Mason marveled at the creation but said to his friend: “Mike, what the heck are you doing? You need music up here.”

Up went the saloon—complete with stage, bar, balcony and sound room—built using locally-sourced materials, furniture and antiques, including a restored billiard table that was sitting in a construction worker’s basement. The sound engineering component of this venue is impressively state-of-the-art.

If they build it, bands will come, and they do––Fog Hat, Molly Hatchett and, of course, Dave Mason to name a few.

Ticket costs for the indoor venue may seem pricey, but Mike says as one of only 100 guests, you’re getting a VIP experience. You will hear both legends and newcomers, playing in an intimate setting.

There’s no bad seat in this house.

“Afterwards those same musicians will belly up to the bar along side of you, chat and sign auto-

graphs,” Mike says proudly.

This season Saloon Studios will host four Battle of the Bands competitions to showcase the local music scene as well as two Legend Series performances and an end-of-season Music on the Mountain Festival.

They also host events for the whole family like Frontier Day, where you’ll find people in costume demonstrating skills used in 1897 such as blacksmithing and soap-making. All ages will get a kick out of visiting the “town” shops complete with a jail, barber shop, an undertaker, post office and more, painstakingly detailed

by Laura.

“We’d pause and take screen shots of old westerns to get our inspiration,” she says. “Mike loves antique shopping, so that was the easy part.”

The outdoor stage accommodates many more guests, and ticket prices reflect a more modest rate.

You’ll find plenty of daytime and evening activities, not to mention just enjoying the gorgeous view as a stunning backdrop to a day filled with music and more on the mountain.

TIME FOR A BREW AND SOME GOOD FOOD The West Jefferson brewery scene is as original and diverse as the town’s cultural arts and offers visitors a great way to end the day with an ever-changing variety of locally-crafted beers and fresh, seasonal pub fare.

Long standing Boondocks Brewery (sample the Crumpler Crippler) and newcomer New River Brewery (Farmhouse Ale is a popular choice) are perfect options to unwind and soak in all you’ve experienced during your day trip to West Jefferson.

Linville and West Jefferson— what sublime contrasts. Linville, where nature provides an escape in so many ways, and eclectic West Jefferson with its color and vibrancy. The ying and yang of the High Country.

Take a hike. Run from a train.

Visit a gallery. Listen to a legend. You will certainly find a common theme when visiting both Linville and West Jefferson. People are treated not as tourists, but welcomed guests. Now isn’t that wildly original?

KNOW BEFORE YOU GO Visit the Ashe County Arts Council when in West Jefferson to get more information about the downtown galleries, shops and murals.

Online resources: visitwestjefferson.org ashecountyarts.org ashefrescoes.org saloonstudioslive.com ....................................................................................................................................................................................................................

Opposite top and bottom: Saloon Studios welcomes Foghat to the stage for a memorable evening performance. The recreation of an “Old West“ town takes visitors back to the days of Gunsmoke and other TV westerns. Above: Locally owned Boondocks Brewery has been serving up craft beers since 2012.

27

JOHN

thank you

j

ohn Blackburn grew up in the shadow of The Eseeola Lodge and was introduced to the hotel business when General Manager John Pottle hired him in 1971 to work the front desk during the winter ski season. Blackburn then worked the next three summers as he finished college before entering the banking business, and he was on staff at Avery County Bank in Newland in 1982 when Linville’s Board of Directors set about looking for a replacement for Pottle, who had run the lodge and club for 31 years.

Pottle and two long-time club officials, golf professional Burl Dale and green superintendent George Cooke, all gave Blackburn a recommendation for the job to Stuart Cramer and Alan Dickson, who were heading the search.

Blackburn was a “refreshing contrast” to the seasoned hotel executives interviewed for the job, wrote Howard Covington in his 125-year anniversary book on Linville.

“He knew the place, knew the people, knew who liked what, and who to confide in when things went wrong,” Covington wrote. “And he knew something about business and finance. His academic record and work experience offered some comfort to Cramer the banker and Dickson the businessman. He was even-tempered and measured in his words.”

Those skills served Blackburn exceedingly well over the next 37 years.

He led the lodge and staff into earning a coveted Mobile Four-Star Award in 1986 and shepherded the operation through multiple physical upgrades and expansions, a longer resort season, changing tastes in club and travel life and managing thousands of acres of real estate around the resort and club to preserve its singular personality.

Blackburn retired in 2019 and left in his wake countless fond memories among those he touched. Following are a sample of tributes from members, guests, staff and community leaders.

28

T H E E S E E O L A LO D G E • J O H N B L A C K B U R N

We are so thankful to John for the many ways he has served Linville over the past four decades including general manager, resident historian, dog catcher, bear tracker, referee, mentor but, most of all, treasured friend. The impact of his leadership in Linville and throughout the High Country will endure for generations.

—Dianne and Brian Bailey ........................................................................................................................................................................................................................

I feel very fortunate to have worked with Mr. Blackburn at the Eseeola Lodge. He set a good example for all of us by keeping calm even in the middle of such a fast paced, sometimes chaotic environment. Furthermore, Mr. Blackburn serves as a role model for his philanthropic work in the community.

As a Frenchman, I really appreciate his sense of style. He’s a gentleman!

—Patrick Maisonhaute, Executive Chef ..................................................................

A true leader is someone who leads with encouragement, respect, and kindness and in doing so allows those around him to reach their true potential.

This is what John Blackburn has done for me and so many others in Linville, Avery County and beyond. I will be forever grateful for his impact on my life.

—Barbara Pollygus F&B Manager/Event Coordinator ..................................................................

John is one of the finest men I have had the privilege of knowing. He is compassionate, professional and when he says he is going to do something, he means it. Having a friend like that in your life is a gift and he also is one of the finest executives I know. There are many moving parts to Linville, and he always was able to handle them all, from the smallest detail to overall management, and he never lost touch with his people skills.

—Joannie Newton ..................................................................

“I’ve enjoyed getting to know John in recent years and congratulate him on his well-deserved retirement. His life-long service to the state of North Carolina and to the betterment of Avery and Watauga counties is commendable.

John’s leadership in our state’s higher education system, regional healthcare systems and the Linville community have made positive impacts, and he has

left a lasting impression on all who have had the pleasure of knowing him. Enjoy yourself, John!”

— Attorney General Josh Stein ..................................................................

Since January 1, 1983, we have all had the joy and good fortune to have been a part of John Blackburn’s life and legacy at Linville Resorts. I have had the added honor of serving as Linville’s local attorney, affording me daily or weekly contact with John on a myriad of legal adventures and challenges. John has given generously to all the communities which he has served, freely and willingly, in money and time. His gifts are always without any expectation of benefit for himself. John has been and is a friend to us all. His integrity is the cornerstone of those friendships. There are many stories about John’s contributions to Linville, its members, employees and staff, and to the people of Linville and Avery County. Each one of us has a favorite “John” story: Each a gem we treasure.

—Kathryn G. Hemphill, Attorney at Law ..................................................................

During his tenure John Blackburn successfully carried out a number of rather complicated rebooting plans. He put in place significant and positive infrastructure change. He accomplished these and other difficult tasks while protecting the integrity of the place we all love and are blessed to enjoy. And with all of the above said, he leaves us in a sound financial position. Thanks, John for a job really well done.

—Charlie Bradshaw ..................................................................

John has been one of our earliest and best friends since we moved to Avery County 40 years ago. It was clear from the start that he wanted to improve access and quality of health care in our

community. He has worked continuously toward that goal and through his work with the hospital boards and YMCA has probably accomplished more than any other single person toward helping underserved people here have the care they need and deserve.”

—Charlie Baker, MD ..................................................................

John has a remarkable gift of hospitality! He knows how to make you feel at home when you walk through the Eseeola door. Wonderful asset for Linville, the mountains and our state. A much admired and appreciated friend.

—Robin and Barbara Hayes ..................................................................

John Blackburn is a Rock Star!!

We love him.

—Lacy Chapman ..................................................................

John is a superstar. He fills all our needs with pleasant, personal attention and efficiency. We’re thankful for his years of care and service to all of us.

—Ann and Tom Cousins ..................................................................

I just finished reading a book called It’s Not About You. It’s a business book about the true meaning of success.

It was very powerful. Everything in the book pointed to John Blackburn.

With John, nothing is about him, it is always about others and the greater good of the community. He likes to do things without being recognized for what he does. Prime examples are Cannon Hospital and the YMCA. They simply would not exist if it weren’t for John’s behind-the-scenes efforts and leadership. He makes good things happen. Countless lives have been saved and the quality of life in Avery County has been enhanced because of the hospital and Y. The people of Avery County and their wellbeing are his

29

ESEEOLA MAGAZINE • JOHN BLACKBURN

passion and the motor that drives him to always look out for others, especially those who need help the most. There’s no finer example or inspiration for the rest of us than John Blackburn’s life. ­—Harris Prevost, Grandfather Mountain Stewardship Foundation ..................................................................

John and I grew up together as Avery County boys. John has enriched our Avery County over the years through giving of his heart, his wallet, his business experience and his influence.

He has touched so many lives without seeking recognition. I’m proud to know John and proud to have known his family.

—Judge Alexander Lyerly ..................................................................

Mr B. or “The Czar” was like family to my wife and me as well as Audrey, Jared and Riley. He gave unlimited advice to us all. He was the most supportive and encouraging boss I’ve ever had. The entire Linville family, both staff and members, has played a huge roll in all our lives. Mr. B. made it all possible.

—Bill Zopp, Director of Tennis ..................................................................

John was a very effective leader with the best interest of the club and its members always at heart.

He understood the club and its memberships, its history, its culture and what was right and what was not. We were fortunate to have his leadership for as long as we did. He became a good friend, as I am sure he did to so many other members. We will miss him.

—Paul Fulton ..................................................................

Thirty years ago John Blackburn welcomed us to the Eseeola Lodge.

We were frequent guests, and each time John and staff made us feel as family. Twenty-five years ago we bought our home and our family became permanent members of this wonderful community. We have John Blackburn to thank in so many ways.

—Janis Guzzle Chapman

30

I was privileged to work with John Blackburn for over twenty years to assure access to quality healthcare services for the Avery County community. Time and time again, John’s great gift of leadership would make what seemed impossible doable.

He was devoted to improving the quality of life for all people and worked tirelessly to achieve that goal.

—Richard Sparks, Retired CEO Appalachian Regional Healthcare System ..................................................................

John has been such a great asset to our community. He has a heart for our community and challenges us to continually work toward improvement – whether it’s healthcare, recreation, workforce, the environment, etc. He has been a wonderful friend, mentor, advocate and the moving force behind getting things done!

—Carmen Lacey, President Cannon Memorial Hospital ..................................................................

Neither Linville Golf Club nor Linville community would be such delightful places without John’s inspired leadership and careful management over so many years. He has always sensed and supplied just what is needed for service to the members and for their full enjoyment.

—Russell Robinson ..................................................................

Over the course of 37 years, John Blackburn transformed a regionally known private club and lodge into a first-class, world-renowned exclusive destination. To have done this in the remote northwestern corner of North Carolina is no small accomplishment.

John is to be commended for his management and talent, support of the local community, and its collaboration with Linville Golf Club which has made them both stronger for the partnership.

Linville is better that John Blackburn was at the helm.

—Thomas Dale, Director of Golf ..................................................................

Several years back attending my first meeting as a Linville Foundation Trustee, before the meeting began John Blackburn looked across the

table, smiled, and said, “This is my favorite day of the year.” Getting into the meeting I could see why. With each Linville Resort student employee’s arrival, John knew their name, school attended, and personal items about their employment role with Linville.

You could see the way students spoke with John. They knew he cared and was there for them. Many times as they departed from their interview John would say, “Stop by and visit me this week, we’ll work it out.” Thank you John for your belief and support in today’s youth!

—David Thompson ..................................................................

John was a true mentor to me and always taught me to err on the side of kindness.

—Chris Byars, Rental Agent ..................................................................

I have been coming to Linville for 73 years. It borders on almost a religious experience to return to the mountains that I love each year. For almost half of that time John has been primarily responsible for making my and my family’s summers enjoyable, relaxing, and full of wonderful memories.

He has guided not only our Linville community but the region through both good and bad times in the most professional way possible. He has very quietly made as big a difference as any one person I know to the Linville we all love. I am blessed to call him a friend.

—Bick Cardwell ..................................................................

John Blackburn has been a good friend even before I bought my house in 2004 and was staying in the Lodge. He would always have time for me when I would stop by his office now and then, seeking his wisdom on some issues of mine or just to talk. I loved the talks that we had in his office, especially with the door closed! The subject matter often went far beyond the daily happenings at the Lodge! His kindness and compassion are beyond compare for all those lucky enough to be his friend or employee I am very lucky to count John as my very dear friend.

—Adelaide Skoglund

ESEEOLA MAGAZINE • JOHN BLACKBURN

As I think about the years that John Blackburn has been so important to Linville––not just our community and Linville Golf Club but to much of western North Carolina––I think of the totally unselfish person that John is and how we will miss his leadership.

Thank goodness he will continue as a Linville resident as he starts this next chapter of a wonderful life.

—Hugh Morgan, Jr. ..................................................................

John Blackburn—friend and mentor.

Before coming to work as General Manager of Linville Resorts, Mr. Blackburn worked with my dad at the Avery County Bank, so we have a long history. I fondly remember that as I arrived as a nervous freshman at King College, I was met by the student body president, who reached out to me at the request of John Blackburn. The nerves settled and all was well. Then a few years later, as I was working at a neighboring club, we formed a professional relationship. It was my hope that one day I would be able to work with him. Sixteen years ago, that day came. As the years have passed, I have learned more than I could have ever imagined from him, both personally and professionally.

The best part is that we share a love for helping those less fortunate. If only everyone had this opportunity, our world would be a better place. Thank you John Blackburn!

—Marcye Ollis ..................................................................

John is a dear friend, an accomplished leader and a gifted strategist who possesses a kind and generous spirit.

His work with the High Country community and his longstanding leadership with Appalachian State University have led to significant advancements in the health care and educational offerings of this region. His approach is quiet, but his accomplishments are bold.

Generations of North Carolinians will continue to enjoy the benefits of John’s influence for many years to come.

—Sheri Everts, Chancellor Appalachian State University

All you have to know about John Blackburn’s contributions to Linville is review where Linville was when he arrived and where we are as he retired.

A tremendous success for a complex organization.

—Jim Hynes ..................................................................

I appreciated so much John’s complete openness when discussing issues. His caring for the Linville membership as well as the entire Linville community made it such a joy to work with him.

—Katy Shoemaker ..................................................................

John was a big part of recruiting me to Crossnore and went out of his way to introduce me to the community. He is the best advocate for the High Country that there is–– he loves Avery County like no one else.

—Brett A. Loftis, CEO Crossnore School & Children’s Home ..................................................................

Too often in life, people use their God given talents for personal gain. John Blackburn is one of those “once in a generation” people that use their unique talent and passion to make life better for others. This community, region and world is a better place because of John’s relentless pursuit of the impossible.

—Chuck Mantooth, CEO Appalachian Regional Healthcare

people, I’m impressed by his public achievements, but it’s the tremendous work that happens quietly and out of sight that I find most inspiring. John has an uncanny ability to see the needs of others. But, more than that, he’s unafraid to get involve. I’ve witnessed his unsung kindness and generosity time and again. He is an exceptional role model and dear friend.

—Betsy Austin, Director of Communication ..................................................................

I met and started working for John Blackburn as a high school student hired as a waitress. Over the past nearly four decades I have been privileged to call him not only an employer, but also a friend, mentor and role model. He taught me the hotel and country club business, but more importantly, he exemplified patience, forgiveness, tolerance and generosity. Linville and Avery County will continue to benefit from his contributions, hard work within the community, and an over all legacy of helping others.

—Starr Tennant, Assistant Manager

..................................................................

Without John Blackburn there would be no YMCA, and without the Y, I would have never developed one of the most special relationships of my life. I have learned many things from John in the past few years but nothing more meaningful than “when you can help others in need, you do.” His service to this community is unmatched and sets the standard for the rest of us to live up to. I am truly blessed to be able to call him my friend.

—Trey Oakley, CEO Williams YMCA of Avery Count ..................................................................

I’ve had the privilege of working with John for over thirty years. Like most

31

PRSRT STD U.S. POSTAGE PAID PPCO 175 Linville Avenue, Post Office Box 99 Linville, North Carolina 28646 eseeola.com • linvillegolfclub.com 800.742.6717