Blog Archives ⋆ Page 5 of 15 ⋆ Blowing Rock, NC

Support Local Businesses Post-Helene

Though the storm is over, recovery is ongoing. As most of our visitors know, the fall leaf season is vital to businesses in the High Country, but that kind of robust economic activity wasn’t possible this October. Additionally, lots of our local businesses showed up for our community in big ways. Several directed a large portion of their resources to relief efforts like providing free meals, resident and responder support, and supply collection work. Many are still contributing and helping their employees and neighbors. Even if you have postponed a visit, there are still ways you can support your favorite High Country businesses during this difficult time! Jump to link list for gift cards, online shopping, and special initiatives >> Here are some ideas: Restaurants Purchase a gift card from your favorite High Country restaurant! This cash flow will help our local restaurants stay on their feet. Several local restaurants are helping to feed the community, and extending support to their staff still without basic utilities. Some offer gift card sales online, and you can also call to inquire about purchasing a gift card over the phone. You may also consider purchasing gift cards to be used for free meals for displaced residents or meal deliveries- call individual businesses to inquire about that possibility. See all Blowing Rock restaurants & their contact info here >> Shops & Retail Buy online from those great shops you’d usually visit on a fall getaway! Blowing Rock shops are operating, and those in Boone are as well. These business owners need our dollars to stay open. If they don’t have an online shop, check to see if they are posting merchandise on social media instead. Complete your holiday shopping and support small businesses at the same time! See all Blowing Rock shops & their contact info here >> Lodging Sponsor a room for a local resident or a relief worker! If you can support our local hotels in this way, it will help make a huge difference. Many local hotels hosted utility workers and recovery crews, while also providing places for displaced residents to stay or even simply take a shower. They are true community partners! Reach out to your favorite lodging operator to see how you can “reserve” a room for this use to help cover these costs. See all Blowing Rock lodging & their contact info here >> Some local attractions offer online gift cards! The annual economic boost in the fall helps keep the lights on during the quieter winter and spring months. Please do what you can to help support local businesses who had to miss out on such an important economic boost. It’s Easy to Support Local! For your convenience, here is a list of Blowing Rock businesses and local attractions that offer gift cards or online stores. Viewing on mobile? Turn your device or scroll over to see all four columns. Business Name Gift Card Shop Online Initiatives Almost Rodeo Dr. Call 828-295-3422 Alpine Village Inn Click here >> Provided lodging to linemen & workers. Call 828-295-7206 for rates. Appalachian Outfitters Shop now >> Aqua B Boutique Shop now >> Arcadian Massage Click here >> Donate a massage to a volunteer. Art Walk Shop now >> Azalea Garden Inn Click here >> Provided lodging to linemen & first responders – call 828-295-3272 for rates. Bald Guy Brew Click here >> Shop now >> Best Cellar Click here >> Bistro Roca Click here >> First Responders Meals Blowing Rock Ale House Click here >> Shop now >> Blowing Rock Furniture Gallery Shop now >> Blowing Rock Inn Click here >> Housed linemen Blue Deer Click here >> Shop now >> Bolick & Traditions Pottery Click here >> Shop now >> Blowing Rock Art & History Museum Shop now >> Cafe Violette Click here >> Provided free meals for residents Camp Coffee Roasters Shop now >> Buy a can of gas for generators >> Chetola Resort Click here >> Housed linemen & workers Christmas in Blowing Rock Click here >> Shop now >> Cliff Dwellers Inn Housed linemen & workers Cupcrazed Cafe Click here >> Doc’s Rocks Gem Mine Shop now >> Famous Toastery Click here >> FA Supp Shop Shop now >> Final Touches Shop now >> Finley House Couture Call 828-295-6373 Shop now >> Firelight Book & Candle Shop now >> Donate emergency candles >> Funky Tulip Shop now >> Gamekeeper Restaurant Click here >> Gilded Lily by Patra Click here >> Shop now >> Grandfather Mountain Sponsor Animals>> Avery County Helene Relief >> Green Park Inn Special rates provided to linemen & workers Gregory Alan’s Click here >> Shop now >> Grounded Works Shop now >> Hanna’s of Blowing Rock Shop now >> Hellbender Bed & Beverage Click here >> First Responders Meals. Housed displaced residents. call 828-295-3487 to sponsor a stay. Hemlock Inn Click here >> Volunteers stay at 15% off 828-295-7987 High Country Candles Shop now >> High Country Woodworks Call 828-372-7021 High Gravity Adventures Click here >> Holiday Inn Express Housed linemen and volunteers Homestead Inn Call 828-295-9559 Housing displaced residents. call 828-295-9559 to sponsor a stay. Inn at Ragged Gardens Click here >> Housing displaced residents. call 828-295-9703 to sponsor a stay. Jack Hamrick Art Shop now >> Jerky Outpost Shop now >> J. McLaughlin Click here >> Shop now >> Martin House Gallery Shop now >> McCoy Minerals Click here >> Shop now >> Meadowbrook Inn Click here >> Housed linemen & first responders. Mellow Mushroom Click here >> Monkee’s of Blowing Rock Shop now

Helene Recovery Information

The NC High Country has bounced back from Hurricane Helene, which hit the area on September 27, 2024. We are so grateful for the outpouring of concern for our town and our community. Blowing Rock was incredibly fortunate through the storm, and our neighbors are now open and welcoming visitors as well! Learn more about local recovery and how you can help those in need. For comprehensive NC resources, see NC Department of Public Safety’s information about Hurricane Helene here. Hurricane Helene Impacts: Updated Tuesday, April 15, 2025 Town of Blowing Rock infrastructure is undamaged and operational. All Blowing Rock businesses are open, and all utilities are restored. Roads in our area are safe and open for travel. Local businesses are open and eager to serve and visitor support is vital to their survival. Western North Carolina needs you! ClosuresBlowing Rock attractions are operating on normal schedules. Nearby NC State Parks have some trail and campsite closures- check ahead with individual parks before visiting. Some Blue Ridge Parkway areas will be closed for some time, though the motor road and trails are open in the Blowing Rock area. Getting AroundTravel on main routes and major secondary routes is open. Check ahead confirm the status of routes for more remote activities. Twenty miles of the Blue Ridge Parkway is open near Blowing Rock (weather permitting). NPS warns that visitors should be aware that trail trail conditions can’t be guaranteed and caution should be exercised when hiking. Areas to AvoidAll High Country towns are welcoming visitors! The spirit of the NC High Country is strong, and we stand together in support of those affected by this storm. We are deeply grateful to all those helping western NC- Thank you. If you are visiting soon, we urge you to visit thoughtfully and keep a few things in mind. For more on how to visit thoughtfully, see our tips here! Local Updates Follow these accounts and local news sources for updates about Hurricane Helene impacts on our immediate area: Watauga County Emergency Services on Facebook High Country Press– local news Watauga Democrat – local news Boone Area Chamber of Commerce on Facebook Avery County on Facebook Ashe County on Facebook NC Department of Transportation- road closures & updates Where to Donate Funds These are some of the organizations are coordinating drives for monetary donations that will stay in the community and NC for Hurricane Helene relief. Follow these links to donate or to learn more. Please note that this is not an exhaustive list! Feeding Avery Families Casting Bread Blowing Rock Cares Grandfather Mountain Stewardship Foundation Build For Good Foundation (Venmo: @Build4Good) Ashe Food Pantry Hospitality House NWNC Wine to Water High Country United Way Appalachian State Disaster Relief Fund Boone Area Chamber of Commerce Foundation Samaritan’s Purse FARM Cafe NC Red Cross NC Hospitality Workers Relief Fund Southern Smoke Foundation (Food & Beverage worker relief) NC Disaster Relief Fund Official Donation Drop-off Sites Please coordinate donations with local non-profits and volunteers, potentially with organizations listed above. Volunteer Opportunities Explore Boone is maintaining an excellent Volunteer Opportunity list- see it here! Please coordinate with organizations BEFORE traveling and do not self-deploy without connecting with an organization that is providing services. Those wishing to volunteer can also register at nc.gov/volunteer to be connected with a NC Volunteer Organization currently active in Helene response. Recovery Assistance Red Cross Shelters Small Business Resources How to apply for FEMA assistance for homeowners How to apply for Disaster Unemployment Assistance WNC Strong: Helene Business Recovery Fund NC Hospitality Workers Relief Fund Southern Smoke Foundation (Food & Beverage worker relief) Restaurant Disaster Relief Fund Get more information on assistance and resources for residents on the Blowing Rock Chamber of Commerce website >>

Blowing Rock Halloween Festival

Join Blowing Rock Parks & Recreation for tons of FREE fun with an evening of spooky activities! With downtown trick-or-treating and the famous Monster March, this is among the best Halloween events for kids of ALL ages.

3 Family-Owned Motor Inns with Timeless Charm

Throughout the years the “motor inn” has been a staple of American travel. Blowing Rock is home to several of these iconic properties and three of them are still directly operated by the local families that own them.

Blowing Rock is a NC Trail Town

Blowing Rock is thrilled to announce its designation as a Outdoor NC Trail Town and celebrate the launch of the Official North Carolina Trail Town Guide! Join us and Outdoor NC in celebrating 15 destinations across the state offering beautiful trails and championing efforts to encourage responsible travel and outdoor recreation.

Blowing Rock is Great for Birding

The Blowing Rock area is an ideal spot for birding. Whether you’re brand new, or a seasoned veteran, there are birds to be spotted all over the High Country of North Carolina. To help educate us on why this area is so great for birding, and to guide us on how to get started, we reached out to Jesse Pope, President and Executive Director of Grandfather Mountain Stewardship Foundation, Inc. and avid birder. This area is important for both native and migratory birds, and that makes it a great spot for birding. “The High Country of Western North Carolina is one of North Carolina’s premier birding destinations. Our rich biodiversity and unique high elevations provide critical habitat for some of the world’s most critically imperiled bird species,” says Pope. He also pointed out the importance of the Blue Ridge Escarpment, where the edge of the Appalachian Mountains swiftly descends into the Piedmont. Pope explains, “A hike from the base of the escarpment, near Lenoir, to the summit of Grandfather Mountain mirrors the life zones one would experience driving from Atlanta to Maine. This variety of climates and habitats provides ideal stopover conditions for migratory birds.” Since this area has so many unique and endangered species, it draws birders of all stripes. “Watauga and Avery Counties offer pristine nesting habitats for species such as the Golden-winged Warblers, Magnolia Warblers, Black-billed Cuckoos, Cerulean Warblers, and Vesper Sparrows, to name just a few,” said Pope. These are native birds that nest in the area. However, we are a critical stopover for migratory birds as well. Pope extrapolated, “Many neotropical migrants, such as Canada Warblers, Blackburnian Warblers, Hermit Thrushes, Rose-breasted Grosbeaks, and Scarlet Tanagers, frequent our area. Additionally, we host one of the few Peregrine Falcon nesting sites found in North Carolina.” It’s no wonder birders travel here to experience these species! Starting out as a birder is relatively easy and popular as birds can be found everywhere. “Whether in local parks, greenways, or even your backyard, it’s easy to start birdwatching, yet it offers a lifetime of learning and challenges,” explains Pope. He also goes on to explain that birders keep life lists that detail what birds they saw and where as well as local lists. “Seeing a new species, a life bird, is very fulfilling even for a novice birder,” says Pope. He also suggests doing a little bit of research on birding hotspots before you go out because birds nest on both public and private lands. If you think birding is for you, there are a few things that can help you get started. We asked Pope what he thinks novice birders should know. “If you’re keen on birding, consider investing in a pair of binoculars—even an inexpensive introductory pair can greatly enhance your bird-watching experience. Utilize resources like the iBird and Merlin Bird ID apps from the Cornell Lab of Ornithology. eBird is another excellent platform where you can view local bird sightings and contribute your own findings, connecting with local birding communities, says Pope” He also suggests getting involved in local birding communities, “Reach out to organizations like the High Country Audubon Society for local bird walks and birding trips led by experts familiar with local birds and hotspots. Joining bird watching activities is a fun way to connect with a community of enthusiasts who enjoy the outdoors.” His top tip? “The best advice for new birders is to go birding with experienced birders. It’s the most effective way to learn the tips and tricks for finding and properly identifying birds.” We couldn’t agree more, and are excited to start birding here in Blowing Rock right away! Maybe we’ll see you out there. Images taken and generously provided by Judi Sawyer, GMSF. For more on Birding in Blowing Rock, CLICK HERE!

2024 Rosebay Rhododendron Bloom Report

The wild Rosebay Rhododendron did not bloom in full this year due to unseasonably dry weather. We did see some blooms but not the usual…

Local Guide Wins Orvis Fly-Fishing Award

Chetola Resort’s manager of fly-fishing and head guide Dustin Coffey was named the 2024 Orvis-Endorsed Fly-Fishing Guide of the Year on April 5 during the organization’s annual owners and partners meeting in Manchester, Vermont. Coffey calls the award the “heavyweight championship of the world for fly fishing guides.” It goes annually to the Orvis-endorsed guide who earns the highest customer satisfaction rating, while also excelling in the areas of conservation and recruitment of new people to the sport. Pete Kutzer, head fly-fishing instructor and endorsed operations manager at Orvis International, presented the honor to Coffey. Kutzer noted that Coffey not only received the best customers ratings, he also received the most customers ratings. “Dustin blew us out of the water,” Kutzer said. “He created a new standard for getting guest reviews.” Coffey, 44, began fishing with his grandfather at age five, and has 25 years of experience as a professional guide. He’s known for his friendliness, attention to detail, and ability to explain complicated fly-fishing techniques to everyday anglers, while making it fun and rewarding. Chetola is one of only two Orvis-endorsed fly-fishing lodges in North Carolina, and Coffey says the award is definitely a team effort. He gives credit to each of the resort’s guides and to his wife, Morgan Tarbutton, with whom he co-manages the fly-fishing program. A native of Western North Carolina, Coffey grew up just outside Blowing Rock in the small community of Globe. In addition to his work at Chetola Resort, Coffey is a member of Trout Unlimited and owner of Native Innovation Consulting, which provides consulting for land owners who are interested in fly fishing programs. Chetola Resort is a 78-acre mountain resort tucked between downtown Blowing Rock and the Blue Ridge Parkway. For information about fly-fishing guide service and lodging options, visit www.Chetola.com or call 800-243-8652. More information about Fishing, Hiking, Canoeing and other Outdoor Adventure experiences >>

Join the Movement!

Join the Movement Blowing Rock, North Carolina is a proud partner of the Outdoor NC Alliance and we’re thrilled to share our commitment to stewardship of our shared outdoor spaces with you. We have joined the Outdoor NC movement to preserve and protect our cherished outdoor spaces for future generations to enjoy.Our goal is to actively promote stewardship and responsible recreation in the outdoors, which will ensure our state is the world-class destination we know and love, forever. It’s simple, really: a call to action for both residents and visitors to embrace responsible recreation and leave things better than you found them. Everyone is invited to join the mission to preserve North Carolina’s beloved outdoor spaces! Exciting new opportunities are available for outdoor stewards to win rewards. By joining the movement between December 17, 2024 through June 18, 2025, you will be entered to win quarterly outdoor gear prize packages and one fantastic getaway here in Blowing Rock, NC. Come be a part of this rewarding journey! Join the Outdoor NC Movement & Enter Sweepstakes What is Outdoor NC? Outdoor NC is a movement that is committed to promoting stewardship throughout North Carolina, inspiring everyone to not only experience the outdoors, but embrace and protect it as well. It provides a wide variety of resources which educate outdoor adventurers on how they can recreate responsibly, respectfully, and safely. As an Outdoor NC Alliance partner, we actively encourage everyone to join our collective movement to protect our beloved, shared outdoor spaces. Whether it’s cycling on the Blue Ridge Parkway, hiking though some of the most unique mountain ecosystems, birdwatching, or fly fishing for trout in our pristine streams, there are so many outdoor activities to enjoy in our beautiful corner of the Blue Ridge. We welcome you, knowing you share our passion for seeing these special places protected and preserved for current and future generations. Join the Outdoor NC Movement with us and find out what it means to be a good steward of the great outdoors. Click the button below! Learn More About the Outdoor NC Movement Thank you for joining us and Outdoor NC in being good stewards of our environment. Future generations will greatly benefit from your commitment to preserving our natural resources.

Blowing Rock a Top Fishing Destination

As the chill of winter fades away, anglers across the United States eagerly await the arrival of spring and the start of another exciting fishing season. FishingBooker has announced the release of its 9 best spring fishing destinations for 2024. From the rugged coastlines of California to the tranquil lakes of Alabama, these destinations promise unforgettable fishing experiences for anglers of all skill levels. Blowing Rock made the list! Why did Blowing Rock rank so well? A picturesque mountain village, Blowing Rock is nestled amid the stunning wilderness near the Blue Ridge Parkway. Its tranquil streams and lakes offer excellent fishing opportunities, with abundant rainbow, brown, and brook trout waiting to be hooked. Anglers can even participate in the annual Blowing Rock Trout Derby held in early April, adding excitement to their fishing experience. Beyond fishing, Blowing Rock invites visitors to explore its natural wonders, from hiking trails in Pisgah National Forest to horseback tours of the Moses Cone Estate. With its blend of outdoor adventure and serene surroundings, Blowing Rock promises an unforgettable spring getaway. See the full unranked list of 9 best spring fishing destinations to learn more about FishingBooker’s top recommendations. About FishingBooker: With an offer of more than 42,000 fishing trips spanning over 2,000 cities across 110 countries, FishingBooker has gained the trust of countless fishing enthusiasts. Their platform has enabled hundreds of thousands of anglers to embark on fishing trips and create long-lasting memories with friends and family across the US – and beyond. By connecting anglers with skilled captains and the best locations, they are committed to making the sport accessible and enjoyable for everyone.

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