Altapass Apple Orchard opens May 7th. It is open on Saturdays and Sundays till May 31st. June-October it is open Wednesday-Saturdays. This is a place you will not want to miss, not only do they have apples hanging from the trees.( you can pick if you like) but they have 11 hiking trails. This year they have maps printed for you with the mileage and the ratings.
There is a new Butterfly Garden that was Judy Carson’s dream. I can’t wait to see it. Also the Apple Can Grille has just hired 5 new chefs to join the Orchard Family. I love there apple pie and ice cream!
While you are there, check out the Square Dancing, They have a new floor that was donated to this year. It is a true joy to see how the locals love to square dance. As always, the music is great too.
The train project will be seen more this year. The Driver Model Railroaders return to enlarge the vista, to include the Over mountain men saga and reenactment ( that will return this season).
Four hundred more apple “big trees”. were grafted and put in pots in the nursery and 600 planted in the ground. It is amazing to see how large the apples are on the trees.
Bill Carson tells the poignant and hilarious stories about the families that lived in “these hills” generations ago. He is the funniest former NASA rocket scientist you’ll ever meet. He helped put the first man on the moon, developed the air traffic control and launched the GPS system. He is one of the men that take you on the “heyrides,”
Enjoy the music, people, art and natural beauty of the Blue Ridge Mountains. It is “easy to get to, hard to leave.” Thats what they say!
Blind Elk Tap Room will have Monday night trivia from 6-8pm. Categories change weekly. Banner Elk Cafe will have MINGO (Bingo with Music) Wednesdays 6:30pm. Free to play and Gift card prizes.
Beech Mountain- Mountain biking will start with lift to the top. Restaurants at 5506′ and the Village will have virtual concerts and yoga on the deck. Freds Mercantile continues to be the center of activity with Freds deli, grocery, hardware, shoes and memorabilia. Their motto is “If they don’t have it, you don’t need it.” Alpen Inn and Bulwinkles offer salads to prime rib. On Sundays, they have concerts on the Lawn. The deer are always there to entertain. (lots of them)
Next blog is about new bear at Grandfather… stay tuned!
Bobbie