|
|
Blowing Rock North Carolina
is a historic mountain village that sits astride the Eastern Continental Divide at a cool 4,000-foot elevation. It straddles Watauga and Caldwell counties and is named for a cliff over the Johns River Gorge where a strong updraft is said to blow objects back up to you when dropped. Blowing Rock was the location for the 1999 movie, “The Green Mile,” starring Tom Hanks. It’s the only full service community on the Blue Ridge Parkway and is centrally located to all the attractions, such as Grandfather Mountain and Linville Falls. Cultural opportunities include a professional summer stock theatre (the Blowing Rock Stage Company) an indoor drama, “Horn in the West” (in nearby Boone) and Concerts in the Park on Sunday evenings. “Art in the Park,” which is a series of six juried Arts and Crafts shows, are held in the Town Park on Saturdays from May to October. Blowing Rock is surrounded by National and State Park systems, and so recreational opportunities abound in the region, such as boating, canoeing and fishing as well as riding trails, golf courses, campgrounds, hiking, picnic areas, and an excellent nearby ski facility. Restaurant choices in Blowing Rock range from Southern style “home cooking,” such as biscuits and gravy to fresh spring trout served five ways to multi-course continental feasts. Blowing Rock is also famous for its shopping. The village streets are lined with shops offering antiques, designer clothing, local arts & crafts, elegant accessories, unique gift items and more. Blowing Rock retains all of its small town charm, but its’ unique location in the middle of one of the country’s most popular vacation destinations gives it many of the amenities of a much larger city.
Blowing Rock real estate prices vary, depending on the type of home you’re seeking – a vacation cabin, large mountain estate, condominium or a single family home in the village. Many people come to Blowing Rock as a “vacation get-away,” while many others are choosing to make it their permanent home. The schools in Blowing Rock are rated among the top five in the state, the crime rate is very low, medical facilities and services are top rate, and the people are warm and friendly. The Appalachian State University is just a few miles away in the town of Boone. Blowing Rock has very pleasant mountain temperatures and four distinct seasons. The town is also close to several Interstate highways, and just two hours from two International airports, giving it easy access to almost anyplace in the country.
If you are thinking of a permanent relocation to Blowing Rock, remember it is really a collection of communities, including Banner Elk, Boone, Spruce Pine and Linville, just to name a few. There isn’t a lot of industrial manufacturing in the Blowing Rock region – tourism, hospitality, restaurants and the ski resorts are the main industries, but for anyone looking for a slower way of life, surrounded by fresh air and gorgeous scenery, Blowing Rock is an excellent choice.
|
|
|
