Snow is Here in NC Mountains! Ski, Snowboard, Tube, Sled or Zip!

Snow is Here in the NC Mountains! Ski, Snowboard, Tube, Sled or Zip! Check out all the choices. 12/10/09

North Carolina's ski season hits full steam this weekend as all the state’s ski and tubing attractions are open. The resorts feature several new activities and special deals. Visitors traveling to North Carolina's High Country resorts near Boone are reminded that these areas are easily accessible through a variety of routes despite the detour on U.S. 321 between Lenoir and Blowing Rock. For more information on skiing in North Carolina, go to visitnc.com.

This weekend, Sugar Mountain celebrates SugarFest to kick off its 40th anniversary as one of North Carolina's premier ski resorts. Hawksnest Snow Tubing has all four parks open for snow tubing and now offers one of the only winter zip lines in the nation. This weekend only, Appalachian Ski Mountain has a "Ski and Tree" package offering a discount on a 'choose and cut' Christmas tree with purchase of a lift ticket. Ski Beech opens its Upper Shawneehaw run and high-speed quad lift this weekend. And the free kid's sledding hill is open in the Town of Beech Mountain.

U.S. 321 in Caldwell County near Lenoir between Kirby Mountain Road and Waterfalls Road is expected to be closed through the weekend as construction crews remove boulders loosened during road construction. Blasting has been taking place weekly on the U.S. 321 widening project from Blowing Rock to Lenoir. Alternatives to U.S. 321 include Interstate 77 North, U.S. 421, U.S. 221 and N.C. 18 to N.C. 181 from Interstate 40. For information on current road conditions, visitors should check the North Carolina Department of Transportation Traveler Information Management System website at ncdot.gov/traffictravel or call 511, the state’s free travel information line.

North Carolina features the highest ski areas and the largest snow tubing resort in the eastern U.S. Visitors to Western North Carolina can enjoy skiing, snowboarding, snow tubing, snowshoeing, ice skating, and a winter zip line or just sitting in a warm cozy lodge drinking hot cocoa. Here is an overview of North Carolina's facilities open for the weekend.

Appalachian Ski Mountain is now the home for Burton Snowboards' first Progression Park in North Carolina. With the completion of a multitude of ski area improvement projects, Appalachian Ski Mountain has now invested $3 million in snowmaking and other improvements in the last three years. More snow blowing fan guns were installed this summer; Appalachian Ski Mountain now has the greatest snowmaking capacity per acre in the Southeast. 828-295-7828; appskimtn.com.

Cataloochee Ski Area, located in the Great Smoky Mountains of Western North Carolina is traditionally the first ski resort in the Mid-Atlantic region to make snow and open for the season. The oldest winter area in North Carolina, Cataloochee continues to make significant improvements to its snowmaking capabilities, allowing the resort’s operational staff to be aggressive in helping skiers and snowboarders with their first tracks of the season. 828-926-0285; cataloochee.com.

Hawksnest Snow Tubing and Zip line Course A new addition this year is the country’s longest zip line course. The Hawksnest zip line course is 1.5 miles long and is open all year. In addition to the longest zip line course, Hawksnest has taken snow tubing to new levels of fun. Hawksnest’s expanded snow tubing operation makes it the biggest on the East Coast. Hawksnest Snow Tubing has four different areas to snow tube with more than 20 lanes of fun. Lanes are 400 – 1000 feet long with two moving carpet lifts to take guests back to the top. Hawksnest has 100 percent snowmaking and lighting on all lanes to provide the best possible conditions and fun for the whole family. 828-963-6561 or 800-822-4295; hawksnesttubing.com.

Sapphire Ski Valley Resort and Frozen Falls Tube Park Sapphire Ski Resort is a four-season resort located in the Blue Ridge Mountains. Sapphire prides itself on being a learning and group-friendly facility. Sapphire is also a family friendly resort for those who are looking to spend quality time with their loved ones. Sapphire Ski Resort features skiing, snowboarding and a tube park. 828-743-7663; sapphirevalleyresort.com.

Ski Beech at Beech Mountain Resort The popular Oz run returns this winter with new padded quad chairs and newly installed airless electrical snowmaking hookups along the run so the slope can be blown in within 24 hours. Also this winter a second terrain park will be unveiled with a fully functional lift that will access a multi-featured park with rails, boxes and jumps for intermediate to advanced freestyle riders. The resort also features a tubing park. Additionally, all reservoir lakes have been dredged to push the mountain’s water capacity to eight-million gallons. 828-387-2011 or 1-800-438-2093; skibeech.com.

Sugar Mountain Resort is even sweeter this year with special programs and deals throughout the season to honor its 40th anniversary. The Resort opened in 1969 with four lifts and 11 slopes for skiing. Since then Sugar has grown to include seven lifts and 20 slopes for skiers and snowboarders. Winter activity offerings have expanded over the years to include snowshoeing, tubing and ice skating. 828-898-4521 or 1-800-SUGARMT; skisugar.com.

Wolf Ridge Ski Resort Formerly Wolf Laurel Slopes, offers 15 acres of additional ski slopes, a new quad lift, a new terrain park and much more. There is something for everyone from beginner to expert at this family-oriented resort now with an expanded 82 acres of ski terrain. 828-689-4111; skiwolfridgenc.com.

MORE WINTER ACTIVITIES:North Carolina also has a number of other snow related activities. Snow tubing and sledding, though not as big as skiing, is a fun family friendly activity that everyone can enjoy. Here are more of North Carolina's facilities.

Beech Mountain Sledding Park The Town of Beech Mountain once again offers children a winter full of fun with its free youth sledding hill, one of the highest sledding hills in the eastern United States. The hill is adjacent to Town Hall and provides good sledding conditions with a combination of man-made and natural snow. Beech Mountain, at an elevation of 5,506 feet, is the highest town in Eastern America with an average annual snowfall of more than 80 inches. The Beech Mountain sledding hill is for kids age 12 and under, although parents may ride with smaller children. Plastic sleds are required. 828-387-9283; beechmtn.com.

Jonas Ridge Snow Tubing Located six miles south of Linville, Jonas Ridge features three tubing runs. They also offer night tubing. Will open for the season on Sunday - will maybe open on Saturday if conditions allow. Call to confirm opening and hours. 828-733-4155

Info from Raleigh Downtowner Magazine

Sugar Mountain Ski Resort is Open! SugarFest 12/12 & 13

SUGAR MOUNTAIN RESORT, NORTH CAROLINA

SugarFest kick starts the winter season with a weekend of pure winter fun! Sponsored by the Village of Sugar Mountain Tourism Development Authority (TDA) and hosted by Sugar Mountain Resort, SugarFest will be held December 12th and 13th, 2009.

The seventh annual, two-day festival is packed with a long list of winter activities and coincides with Sugar's 16th Annual Adult Preseason Ski Clinic www.skisugar.com/specials/#15 in which Olympic Gold & Silver medalist Diann Roffe and two-time Olympian, Krista Schmidinger will be special guest coaches.

Watch Olympic Figure Skating Silver Medalist, Paul Wylie dazzle us with his amazing talent followed by an on-ice skating clinic and a meet and greet session Saturday at 10 a.m. and 1 p.m. Sugar's ice rink www.skisugar.com/skating is located next to the Dave Nixon Pro Shop adjacent to parking lot D.

Both Saturday and Sunday from 9:00 a.m. until 3:30 p.m. 2010 ski & snowboard equipment will be available for demo from Salomon, Volkl, Nordica, Burton, Head, Never Summer, K2, Atomic, Dynastar, Rossignol, Ride, Line, Fisher and Forum. A valid driver's license or credit card is required to demo equipment.

If the weather cooperates, Sugar’s Tubing Park www.skisugar.com/tubing will be open. Both ice skating and tubing activities will be open for one hour and forty-five minute sessions from 10 a.m. until 10 p.m.

"Ready, get set, go!" is what you'll hear if you enter the snowball eating contest at 3:00 p.m. on Saturday, December 12th. You'll have two minutes to eat as many tasty snowball look-a-likes as your stomach can stomach! Later at 5 p.m. join us in the base lodge for cake, ice cream and refreshments as we officially begin celebrating Sugar’s 40th Anniversary www.skisugar.com/forty.

Be sure to bring the whole family to watch a thunderous and spectacular fireworks display at the base of Sugar Mountain Resort, Saturday evening at 5:45 p.m. After a hard day of skiing, snowboarding, ice skating or tubing there's nothing better than good food, warm drinks, and fun music. Come dance while you listen to live bluegrass music by Boss Hawg from 4:00 p.m. until 7:00 p.m.

Don't miss the Edge of the World/Burton Rail Jam Expression Session at 12 noon on Sunday as talented snowboarders pull off some of their best tricks. Later in the day marvel as blocks of ice become beautiful winter works of art.

For more information please contact Sugar Mountain Resort at 800-SUGAR MT. For a complete list of events and times please log on to www.seesugar.com/sugarfest.

Photo courtesy of Sugar Mountain

Get Season Pass Special at Ski Beech Before 11/1/09

Don't Miss the Season Pass Special Price for Ski Beech Until 11/1/09 . Ski Beech is scheduled to open November 21, 2009.

Super Saver Season Pass Sale! From September 28 through November 1, all season passes will be $350.00 for an unlimited individual season pass. Only 200 passes are being sold so book early to assure the best deal in North Carolina!

All passes must be purchased through the Beech Mountain Resort Ticket Office in person or by phone (1-800-438-2093) Monday-Friday, 8:30 to 4:00.

This is the annual favorite for many skiers. You can ski all season long, any day, any session. Family discounts too! A discount is also offered for immediate family members (parents and dependent children) purchasing season passes together.

Click the etix logo at the SKI BEECH website to order Season Passes online.

Type of Pass - After November 1 2009

First Adult (age 13-64)
$500

Second Adult in immediate family
$450

Each additional immediate family member
$400

Individual Junior (ages 5 thru 12)
$425

Individual Senior (age 65 - 69)
$425

Individual Student
$425

Photo courtesy of Ski Beech

Return To The Land Of Oz-This Weekend 10/3 & 4, 2009 -Beech Mountain NC

It's that time again........to FOLLOW the yellow brick road to Beech Mountain NC..


All the Ozzie characters will be back to the Land of Oz on Beech Mountain this weekend - Saturday October 3rd and Sunday Oct 4th, 2009 - 10:00am to 5:00 p.m. Just head up the mountain and you can't miss the fun...


How interesting! I posted the photo to the right that I took last year of Dorothy, Toto and the Cowardly Lion on Facebook..... and guess what? "Dorothy"...contacted me to say this was a pic of her.. So this weekend, Lord willing... I will "officially" meet this Dorothy from Kingsport TN..



Come and enjoy !!!



See more info here

or call
800-468-5506

Mile High Kite Festival On Beech Mountain NC - Sept 5 - 6, 2009

BEECH MOUNTAIN, N.C. Why not go fly a kite on Labor Day weekend?

The seventh annual Mile High Kite Festival will be held in the meadows at the top of Beech Mountain, the highest destination in the North Carolina mountains. The free event gives children of all ages an opportunity to fly a kite at an altitude of 1 mile above sea level.

Festivities get under way Saturday 9/5/09 with a clinic for kite makers from 2 to 4 p.m. Folks are encouraged to bring their homemade kites, and members of the kite clubs will be on hand to discuss the intricacies of kite building.

Two members of the Richmond Air Force kite club--Terry Murray and Will Smoot -- will serve as announcers for the Kite Festival on Sunday 9/6/09. The hours are from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Free kites will be given to the first 200 children younger than 12. There also will be kites for sale, and folks are welcome to bring their own. Other activities will include children's races and face painting, and there will be craft vendors.

Contests will be held for biggest, smallest and best-decorated kites. For more information, call (800) 468-5506 or visit http://www.beechmtn.com/.

Kite photo by wolfpix on flickr

Get Discounts On NC High Country Attractions, Restaurants & More

Get Discounts On NC High Country Attractions, Restaurants & More !

Real Deals Now has a new way of advertising many of the businesses around Blowing Rock, Boone, Grandfather Mountain, Tweetsie and Banner Elk. Go to the Real Deals Now website and register by email for a chance to win discounts to Tweetsie, The Blowing Rock, Mystery Hill and Grandfather Mountain and lots more..

Real Deals Now also has a variety of restaurant coupons - including Woodlands BBQ, The Best Cellar and the Blowing Rock Grille in Blowing Rock.. Some of the choices in Boone are The Daniel Boone Inn, Makoto's Japanese Steak House, The Peddler Steak House, Boone Drugs and even - Cheap Joe's Art Stuff... Check out the Real Deals Now Business Page for the full list . The "How To Use This Site" page will get you up to speed on just how you can take advantage of some great deals in the NC High Country !

We had the privilege of using this site last week to win discount tickets to Tweetsie. Not only did we get a fantastic deal, owners - Tim and Janice Baxter went out of their way to help us secure our tickets at the very last minute !!! These folks are not only nice and helpful, they really want you to have a great time in the NC mountains..

If you are planning a trip to Boone, Blowing Rock, Banner Elk, Beech Mountain, or Grandfather Mountain - you must check out Real Deals Now

Autumn At Oz - Beech Mountain NC - October 3 & 4, 2009

Autum at Oz - Beech Mountain NC To be held Saturday, October 3rd and Sunday, October 4th, 2009 from 10:00 to 5:00 p.m.

When you arrive on Beech Mountain, you can park in the meadows across from the Beech Mountain Town Hall then walk, or catch the bus, up to the private garden of OZ. The walk is approximately 1 gentle, uphill mile.

Guests will take a tour of Aunt Em's and Uncle Henry's farm and meet Dorothy, Toto and friends along the Yellow Brick Road. While you wait for your bus, you will enjoy all the visitors decked out as Dorothy, TinMan, Scarecrow, the Cowardly Lion, Glinda-The Good Witch or the Wicked Witch.. it is a blast!

The tour takes from 1 1/2 to 2 hours - or a little longer, depends on how long you linger in Emerald City. You can go anytime between 10 am and 5 pm but the buses generally run at 10am, 12noon and 2pm. * Strollers and wheelchairs will need to be parked.

There will be a mini-museum to visit and artifacts to share all about Oz. The bands are not yet determind but some will provide music, Peter McTavish will provide Magic Shows in between, and Genesis Wildlife Sanctuary will exhibit a small petting zoo, adding more fun at the Farm. There will be face painting, food treats, and special Oz concessions in "Kansas".

New and old trivia will be available for purchase, with part of the money going back into upkeep and restorations.Our very special guests of honor will be ??? from the 1939 movie. Everyone is encouraged to wear something "Ozzie" and bring their photos and treasures to add to the event.

A special invite is extended again to past employees of Carolina Caribbean and the Land of OZ. The price is $15.00, children under 3 free. We'll gladly take original yellow bricks or other park remains for trade.

Unfortunately, I never visited the Land of Oz as a child.....but last year I came to Autumn at Oz for the first time.. I was very impressed with the organization of the event, the costumes, the Ozzie characters and thoroughly enjoyed the entire day there.. The folks of Beech Mountain and everyone that participates in this event should be commended. Well Done ! Lord willing, I will be back this year..

A limited number of advance tickets are available at the Beech Mountain Chamber of Commerce, http://www.beechmtn.com/ . 800-468-5506.

Photos by C. Gilliam