WOW, Sugar Mountain Has Started Making SNOW !!

Sugar Mountain NC has started making SNOW !!                          

Snowmaking is in progress and the ice rink has begun the process of making ice. Please check the Sugar Mountain website often for opening information.

Hopefully, it will look like this photo soon >>>>>>>
Historical opening and closing dates as well as annual snowfall statistics can be found on the site.  Here are the last few years stats.

SEASON HISTORY: 2010-2011:


Opening: Nov 6, 2010 • Closing: March 23, 2011

Skier Days: 126 • Total Snowfall: 130"

2009-2010:

Opening: Nov 27, 2009 • Closing: March 28, 2010

Skier Days: 122 • Total Snowfall: 136"

2008-2009:

Opening: Nov 17, 2008 • Closing: March 24, 2009

Skier Days: 128 • Total Snowfall: 69.7"

 If weather cooperates look for ice skating and tubing at Sugar Mountain to be open by Thanksgiving.

Plan Your Ski Vacation In Beech Mountain NC

Looking for a luxury home for your North Carolina 
Ski Vacation? 
         
We have exactly what you are looking for.
This stunning 5 bedroom home has upscale decor
and every amenity you could ask for.. Less than
2 miles from Beech Mountain Ski Resort or from the
sledding hill, 15 minutes from Sugar Mountain and about
20 minutes from Hawksnest Snow Tubing & Zipline. 
A short drive to the Blowing Rock Outlet Shops.

This gorgeous home has 3 levels, lots of room to spread out.  It is decorated in creams, soft blues, greens and other natural colors.  Cozy up to either of the 3 remote control gas log fireplaces  - 1 on each level.  There are 5 bedrooms and 3 baths.  The home comfortably sleeps 9 adults OR 8 adults/1-2 children with 2 kings, 2 queens and 1 full bed (no sleeper sofa).  

A huge outside hot tub comforts those aching muscles after a long day skiing or serious shopping. There is also a jacuzzi tub in the upstairs bath.  You will have high speed internet, Wifi, a stainless steel grill, front loading washer and dryer, lots of decks & more!


Beech Mountain Ski Resort hopes to be making snow soon.. You will then have a choice of snow skiing, snowboarding, ice skating and more.. They even have a second terrain park and offers a ton of features for advanced skiers and snowboarders.

For more info  check our Beech Mtn Luxury Vacation Home vrbo listing  
or go straight to the Availability Calendar and check your dates..
or Email  info@heavenlycabins.com  

NC Ski Resorts Hope For Cold Weather !!

BEECH MOUNTAIN, NC (WBTV) – People working at
North Carolina Ski Resorts say they need the weather to
turn cold to get people working and people skiing.


At Beech Mountain Resort the snow guns are in place and all the other equipment is being readied for the season.

"All we need is cold now," said Gil Adams. Beech Mountain will hire about 400 seasonal workers; other slopes will be adding similar numbers to their work force in the coming weeks.

"It pays the bills," said Steve Potter, who heads up the rental area of the ski resort. He's hoping for colder weather too so he can get people working. "If you ain't got the right weather you have to lay people off."

Economists say the ski industry in North Carolina pumps close to 150 million dollars a year into the economy.

Tourists spend money at the slopes, shops, restaurants and lodging establishments. The past two ski seasons have been near records for the industry.

The season started early both years and continued well into March. In 2010, some slopes were open before the second week of November.

This year, officials aren't sure when the opening day will be. Forecasters expect a cold front to come through the area this weekend but also expect a rapid warm-up into the middle of next week.

"We need 36 to 48 hours of below freezing weather to get the slopes in shape," said Adams. Beech Mountain Resort has added ten new state of the art snow guns for this season.

Other resorts have added equipment as well.

The goal for many right now is to open by thanksgiving, though officials say there have been many profitable seasons in the past when opening day was later than that.

The key will be staying open once the season starts.

Story By WBTV

Autumn At Oz - Beech Mountain NC Oct 1-2, 2011

The 18th Anniversary of Autumn at Oz,          
October 1st & 2nd, 2011 on Beech Mountain NC 


Guests will take a tour of Auntie Em's and Uncle Henry's farm and meet Dorothy and friends along the Yellow Brick Road. You may choose your guided tour session times when you purchase your ticket.

Everyone is encouraged to wear something "Ozzie" and bring their photos and treasures to add to the event. There will be a mini-museum to visit and artifacts to share. Bluegrass bands, local dancers, and a small petting zoo will add more fun at the Farm.

There will also be face painting, food treats, and special Oz concessions in "Kansas"! New and old trivia will be available for purchase, with part of the proceeds going back into upkeep and restoration.

Arrival times and day-of ticket sales are on Saturday and Sunday from 10 to noon, noon to 2, and 2 to 4pm. Saturday and Sunday are broken down into 3 sessions to accommodate our visitors. It does not mean that you can only spend 2 hours at the OZ Party.

The ticket price is $16.50 in advance, $20.00 the day of the party. Children 2 and under are admitted free. There are a limited number of tickets for each session. Each ticket will include a 10% discount coupon for participating Beech Mountain lodging and dining. Each ticket will also include a discount coupon from Grandfather Mountain good for $2 off each adult ticket and $1 off child's ticket. More information about participating locations coming soon.

Discount group tickets of 15 or more are available Sunday, October 2nd. Contact Beech Mountain Chamber of Commerce at 800-468-5506 for details.

Tickets are Non-Refundable, No Exceptions. Autumn at Oz will be held Rain or Shine, Snow and Twisters Too! Identification required with your printed ticket confirmation.

Click here to buy tickets online..

Click your heels! Come & Take a Nostalgic Stroll to The Land of Oz!

For more information on Historic Land of Oz and Private parties and tours go to www.emeraldmtn.com .

Mile High Kite Festival - Beech Mtn NC - Sept 5, 2011

Mile High Kite Festival at Beech

How much string does it take to fly a kite a mile high?

Only a couple hundred feet if you visit the ninth annual Mile High Kite Festival on Labor Day weekend atop Beech Mountain, NC.

This festival takes place Sunday, Sept. 4, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. in the town meadow, located above 5,000 feet in elevation.


Ample room is available for everyone to fly, plus there's a reserved field for demonstrations from the Wings Across Carolina Kiting and Okra Society (WACKOS) and the Richmond Air Force club from Richmond, Va.

Kite-flying music and announcing will be provided by Terry Murray of Kitebus Festivals. Meanwhile, prizes will be given for biggest kite, smallest kite and best-decorated kite.

Other activities include races with kids pulling parachute kites, face painting and a variety of craft and food vendors.

"We like to float the idea to come up and make a weekend of it," event organizer Calder Smoot said.

"There's a kite maker's competition Saturday judged by master kite builder Charlie Dunton and an all-ages street dance Saturday night in front of town hall. It makes for a great early fall weekend on Beech Mountain."

There's no admission charge to Saturday's street dance or Sunday's kite festival, and the first 300 children under age 12 receive a free kite on Sunday. Volunteers will be on hand with materials to help decorate the free kites, while vendors will have kites for sale.

For more information or lodging options, call (800) 468-5506 or visit www.BeechMtn.com.

Article by The Mountain Times Online

Newland, Avery County NC - Grand Celebration July 29,30 and 31st, 2011

Avery County is North Carolina's 100th County and is having it's 100th Birthday and Newland NC - the county seat is having a Grand Celebration July 29, 30th and 31st, 2011. 

Friday - July 29th, 2011  from 4pm till Dark - Art Festival, Live Entertainment,
Kidz Area, Cruz-In, Sock Hope featuring The Tams and Fire Works !!

Saturday July 30th, 2011 10am to 8pm - Art Festival, Live Entertainment,
* 11:00am Parade of Decades
* Veterans Program and Civil War Encampment
* Dog Daze of Summer
* Historical Tours
* Quilt Show

Sunday July 31st, 2011  10am to 2pm - Praise Bands, Art Festival, Closing Ceremony

More Info about Avery County NC
Need more to do while staying in Avery County? Visit the storied peaks of Grandfather Mountain. View the majestic vistas from Sugar Mountain, Seven Devils, and Beech Mountain – known as some of the High South’s most popular playgrounds! Stop by Banner Elk the quaint one red light town, and home of the World Famous Woolly Worm and Art Festivals and visit its winery and the many shops along the way, hike the Blue Ridge Parkway, Linville Gorge and Elk River Falls.


With the highest county seat in North Carolina (Newland,elv. 3,589 ft.) and the highest incorporated town east of the Rockies (Beech Mountain, elv. 5,506 ft.), Avery County is the place to come to clear your head, connect with family and friends and get above the rush of daily life.

Avery County, recognized as the premier Ski destination of the South and frasier fir Christmas tree capital of the world makes coming to the High Country, in winter the perfect family family getaway. Avery County is also home to the 13th Annual Blood Sweat and Gears bike ride coming up in two weeks. More information is available here



See more info at  http://www.averycounty.com/  or call 828-898-5605

The Wizard Of Oz Club's National Convention - Beech Mtn NC - Aug, 5-7, 2011

Register now... see a listing of the events for the weekend at Beech Mountain/Banner Elk, North Carolina!

August 5-7, 2011: The International Wizard of Oz Club's National Oz Convention, Beech Mtn/Banner Elk, North Carolina. Co-chairmen Sean Barrett and Karen Owens welcome Oz fans to the Beech Mountain site of The Land of Oz Park for a weekend of fan-focused fun.

Join us for a weekend in the marvelous Land of Oz where you can...

Follow the Yellow Brick Road Saturday morning, encounteri...ng Oz characters along the way

Meet Munchkin Margaret Pellegrini on our Sunday program

See 18 Judy Garland gowns and other treasures from an extensive private collection of Michael Siewert

Meet artists Rick Ewigleben and Joe Shipbaugh with their fresh-from-the-press Oz coloring book

Bid for Oz treasures in the IWOC auction of collectibles, toys, books & ephemera

See Oz film projects, including a presentation by the production team behind “L. Frank Baum’s The Wonderful Wizard of Oz”
Programs and displays include Oz jewelry, Oz-theme cakes and parties, Oz in personal art and on public display, Oz home decor and much more.

The Land of Oz was North Carolina’s No. 1 tourist attraction throughout the 1970s. Today Dorothy’s house and the Yellow Brick Road remain, drawing loyal fans to one annual event and exclusive private parties. But we won’t just tour the grounds; our Friday evening program first celebrates the park with past cast and crew members, including Lori Hafer, the original voice of Dorothy. Stories, songs, pictures and costumes will set the stage for our own Saturday morning on-site Oz adventure -- including lunch and a stop at the Oz Museum where authentic MGM screen-used park artifacts are on display.

Meeting venues include both indoor and outdoor sites; private transportation is necessary. Group rates are available at the Alpen Inn and Top of the Beech; the Pinnacle and Best Western are additional local options. Watch for updates here and in the forums at http://www.ozclub.org/

Friday, August 5 at 3:00pm - August 7 at 4:00pm

Email Sean (SeanOz@aol.com), Karen (Storylandmi@aol.com) or Jane Albright (Ozisus@aol.com) with your program suggestions, ideas and offers to help.