Exploring Blue Ridge Mountain Communities

Exploring Blue Ridge Mountain Communities

Blue Ridge Mountain communities have a special charm unlike any other. From panoramic vistas with breathtaking views and outdoor adventures in some of this Nation’s most beautiful parks and forests, to cruising the Blue Ridge Parkway, “America’s Favorite Drive”. It’s not hard to imagine why so many people retreat into the Blue Ridge Mountains to find solace and relaxation.

The towns that are scattered throughout the Blue Ridge Mountains are rich with history and Appalachian culture, where time moves at its own unhurried pace. Their picturesque streets & charming town squares create a small-town vibe where locals and visitors alike gather to experience all the mountain life has to offer.

Whether you’re looking to hike, bike, paddle, climb, take a scenic drive, shop, dine, visit a brewery or vineyard, Blue Ridge mountain towns have something for every traveler and adventurer.

I’m on a quest to experience more of these towns, and all they have to offer.

 

I have been thinking a lot about my conversation with Eric Woolridge from the Season 1 episode with Destination by Design where we talked about destination mountain towns, urban planning, and place-based economics. That was a new term to me and I have been thinking a lot about it. If you didn’t listen to that episode I encourage you to check it out. Eric explained place-based economics as the practice of using a community’s public amenities to make economic progress. It asks the question, what resources do we have both within the town or city, as well as surrounding areas that can build or boost our economy (think parks, rivers, trails, etc).

As we discussed place-based economics as it relates to our mountain towns, and Eric shared examples of projects that his firm has worked with like Boone, Elkin, Old Fort, and Chimney Rock, I had an immediate context and his work became relatable to me because I have spent time in those towns, and I’ve seen first-hand the fruits of his work. I started thinking more about why I love mountain towns…but from a different perspective.

You see, For as long as I can remember, and for reasons that honestly I am just now beginning to understand, I have been drawn to small towns.

I remember as a kid visiting my dad’s hometown of Caro Michigan, a small, flat, rural farming town whose population hasn’t increased much above 4000 since the early 70’s. What I most vividly remember is rolling into the downtown area, the heartbeat and hub of the town and seeing all of the American Flags lining the street and store fronts. My dad used to tell me it was because he was coming home and they were celebrating his return, and then he shared the real reason…because it was the 4^th of July, which also happened to be my dad’s birthday.

I also remember other little downtown areas as a young boy too, like Summerville, SC…Downtown Charleston…tree lined streets of Battle Creek, Michigan…and then moving to Europe in the mid-70’s opened an entirely different world and culture. Traveling throughout Europe, we visited numerous small towns and winding streets throughout France, Belgium, Italy, Switzerland, Holland, Austria and Spain. They were so amazing and drenched in history. They were vibrant and full of life. People coming and going, shops full of merchants, and people just seemed to be hanging out…visiting, talking, eating and drinking. They seemed to live and move at a much slower pace of life.

When we moved back from Europe we lived in the small coastal town of St. Mary’s GA. which was first settled in the mid-16th century by the Spanish. I was in the 6 grade and it was the day and time when you could leave on a summer morning and ride bikes for miles and stay out until sundown. We used to ride our bikes to the State Park and the small downtown that hugged the riverfront where visitors prepped to go to Cumberland Island, Georgia’s largest and southernmost barrier island.

So many fond memories of that town. We still stop by whenever we can when we travel to Florida and the memories of those care-free days come flooding back.

Other towns have left an impression on me too over the years. Each one of them tied to memories and experiences that have helped shape who I am – and what I am passionate about even to this day. Places like Blacksburg, VA…Williamsburg, VA…Elkins, WVA…UP Peninsula of Michigan…Gunnison, CO…Albuquerque, NM…Laredo, TX…Damascus, VA…Georgetown in Northwest Washington DC…Savannah, GA…Cape Hatteras, NC…Birmingham, AL…New Orleans…Richmond, KY…Oxford, MS…and numerous towns throughout western North Carolina, starting with my first visit to Montreat and Black Mountain in 1991.

When I was younger, I am sure I was unaware of the connection between the size and location of these towns and how they inherently caused people to slow down, become less hurried, and make room to breathe and connect. Although I do believe I was aware at some level. As I got older, these types of towns and places are what I sought out. They are where I felt peace, hope that there is more to this crazy fast paced world. I believe their cumulative affect are why I live where I do. Actually I KNOW that is why I live where I do.

Blue Ridge mountain towns are really the focus of where I’m going, but before we get there, I still would like to share some background with you so you can have a better understanding of where this is all ultimately headed.

In 1993, fresh out of graduate school I moved to Memphis, TN. That same year, Congress appropriated funds for the Urban Revitalization program, and this was my first experience of seeing old meet new. Over the next seven years I witnessed the revitalization of existing historic buildings, the infusion of new urbanism focused on compact, walkable neighborhoods in an attempt to create Memphis’ version of the historic southern elements of Savannah or New Orleans.

I owe an enormous amount of gratitude to my friend, Whit Sutton who was one of the first guys I met in Memphis. We both worked at UT Memphis, and Whit became a very close friend of mine…as well as my personal tour guide. Whit knew Memphis. I mean, REALLY knew Memphis. The history, the ins and outs, the politics, the development strategy, and he was in the know about the revitalization going on throughout downtown and midtown Memphis. He brought me around to many historic places so I could gain a better understanding of where I was living. To get from campus in mid-town to Whit’s condo on the banks of the Mississippi, I would often times take the long route to pass by the Lorraine Hotel, where Martin Luther King, JR was assassinated. It is also home of the National Civil Rights Museum. I can’t explain why I took that route, but it grounded me, connected me, to a person, place, and event that changed this Nation forever. Other times I would pass by the weathered downtown alley across from the Peabody Hotel where the Rendevous was located. I would imagine what it must have been like in the late 40s, when Downtown Memphis was the shopping and business hub of the city during that period of time. And, no trip to downtown Memphis would be complete without a stop by Beale Street, “America’s Most Iconic Street” and “The Official Home of the Blues”.

I will forever be grateful that I lived in Memphis during a time when the city was experiencing a modern-day Renaissance. History was being infused with modern-urbanism, resurgence and revitalization was bringing pride and awareness to the city, people were moving back downtown from the suburbs, and I experienced a “sense of place”…in the truest sense…perhaps for the very first time in my adult life. Memphis is also the birthplace of my oldest daughter so Memphis will definitely always be near and dear to my heart.

Fast forward several years later and we find ourselves here in the western North Carolina mountains. We have been fortunate to call Hendersonville, NC home for the past 8 years, and extremely fortunate to experience the fruit of the hard work and vision of so many who were responsible for the five-year process to completely transform Historic Downtown Hendersonville. To make our downtown safer and more inviting for residents and visitors, they incorporated an intentional serpentine street design, crosswalks at mid-blocks and at every intersection, extended sidewalks for increased walkability, additional street signage signaling street curves, decorative mid-block extensions, tree-shaded mini-plazas, outdoor seating, and alternating street parking.

According to Main Street America, since the project’s completion in 2013, Hendersonville’s Downtown Main Street district has seen both positive economic impacts and increased safety. Historic Downtown Hendersonville’s Executive Director Lew Holloway, who I’ve met personally and can say is a great guy with a huge vision for our town, says we’ve seen continued gains in property investment in the form of sales and rehabilitation, new business investment, job growth, building occupancy rates, and property value increases.

The result is a town that has tapped into its rich history, recognizes all of the amazing ways to adventure, explore, renew, shop and experience all this area has to offer. A sense of place has been created for residents and visitors alike to enjoy for years to come.

We’ll talk more about Hendersonville in a later episode, but for now, I wanted to share where we’re headed and what you can expect in upcoming episodes of Exploration Local.

There is no place I would rather live than in the Blue Ridge Mountains, and there is no place I would rather explore than the small towns that help to make these mountains what they are. They are the life-blood of the mountains connecting the past with the present, and they can pave the way for the future if we protect them, invest in them, support them, and live stories they’re waiting for us to tell.

My hope is to introduce these adventure towns in a fresh way. But I mean, let’s be real. I’m not a pioneer heading west to discover uncharted territory and chart new lands. You can pick up a map and visit their websites to find all you want about places to eat, things to see and do and where to stay. That’s not my focus.

What I hope to do is make these towns personal in three ways: 1) share a first-hand account of my experience by introducing their history, 2) talk about the characteristics and the personality of the towns, and as much as possible, talk with the people that make them special. 3) and lastly, I’ll share the opportunities for adventure and exploration – which will always be an important of the podcast and why we exist.

If there has been one redeeming silver lining from this pandemic, it’s that more and more people have been staying local – and when I mean local – I am talking like 1-3 hours from home. Towns like Bryson City and Chimney Rock, for example, have reported a significant increase in in-state travelers due to the pandemic. I think it’s awesome that more and more people are turning to the mountains for rest and relaxation during these times.

And this brings me full circle back to Eric Woolridge and Destination by Design. One of the reasons their work resonates with me, is because they partner with communities who recognize who they are and what they have to offer travelers and locals alike. They are helping communities tap into their heritage and resources to create a sense of place for its residents, and a destination where you and I can relax and unwind. In some instances the towns where they work, are right now on the precipice of a modern day revival – Old Fort, NC immediately comes in mind.

There is also something else I hope comes from these episodes…a desire in you to explore where you live with fresh eyes and an open mind. I encourage you to look at where you live through the eyes of a tourist or visitor. Visit your local visitors center or chamber of commerce, take a walking tour of your city, visit a museum to learn interesting facts or history about where you live, head out to the outskirts town with a full tank of gas and no agenda and see what new things you can discover. I promise you, it will be worth it…it always is.  

Next week I’ll introduce Hickory Nut Gorge, a place that has become very special to me and is packed with so many things to do and places to discover. Every time I leave there I do so with an anticipation to return and a longing to experience the things time didn’t allow.

Well that’s gonna do it for this episode. I really hope you’ll join us next week as we explore & discover the Hickory Nut Gorge, Chimney Rock Village, Lake Lure and the surrounding area…and perhaps grow your list of places to visit for your upcoming get-a-way, or see this area with a fresh perspective if you’ve visited before.

Until then…I encourage you to wander far, but explore local.