Update: Green Park Inn sold in courthouse sale
Thursday evening’s auction of the historic Green Park Inn in Blowing Rock didn’t go the way its owner, Ronnie Wrenn, and the auctioneers hoped it would.
Auctioneer Mark Rogers started the bidding at $5 million for the century-old resort hotel and the 3.8 acres that it sits on. Looks like bidding is up to $1.2 Million
Heavenly Mountain to become sustainability center
by: Scott Nicholson— Development of a 2,000-acre property in that once was planned as a spiritual retreat is shifting toward sustainability and affordable renewable technology.
David Kaplan, along with his brother Earl Kaplan, are planning an advanced development that uses latest research to combine solar and wind energy with contemporary green building techniques to offer affordable and sustainable houses. Kaplan said he had the goal of establishing the property as the “Center for Sustainability” in the United States.
Kaplan formerly owned thousands of acres in the southwestern corner of Watauga County, which was planned as Heavenly Mountain Resort and at one time was associated with the Transcendental Meditation movement. Kaplan broke ties with the group about five years ago and eventually sold about 6,000 acres to the Ginn Company for the Laurelmor Development. That property has since been sold again after the Ginn Company faced foreclosure.
The Boone Town Council may decide on two rezoning requests at its regular monthly meeting Thursday. Click here for more from the Watauga Democrat
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by Bob Hunt - Tue, Aug 18, 2009—Like politics, all real estate is local. This is drummed into us time and time again. You hardly ever see a report about state or national real estate trends without the cautionary caveat that “local markets are all different.” So how, then, does it make any sense for real estate appraisals to be conducted by out-of-the-area appraisers who lack (and don’t have time to get) specific local-market knowledge?
Well, it doesn’t, of course; but the practice has become commonplace thanks to the recent adoption of the Home Valuation Code of Conduct (HVCC). The HVCC is not a result of legislation. Rather, it is the result of an agreement, a settlement, entered into by Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac, and the office of the New York State Attorney General. The agreement went into effect May 1, 2009. Its aim was to put an end to corrupt practices in the business of appraising residential properties. Perhaps, to some degree, it has achieved its aim; but what we know for sure is that it has caused a lot of problems so far.
The 54th annual Farm City Celebration, held on Saturday, recognized some of the key contributors to local agriculture, part of an afternoon focusing on local crops, produce, livestock, and the people who share them with the community.
Dick Hearn, who served on the organizing committee, read from a proclamation adopted by local governments.
“Cooperative networks strengthen our community and quality of life,” Hearn said, noting that Aug. 8 through Aug. 15 had been designated “Farm City Week.”
The Lofted Forest Home is one that defies categorization. It cannot be called strictly modern, traditional, or naturalistic. Rover Harvey Oshatz did not have a particular style in mind when he designed the home, but instead focused on a source of inspiration from the owner.
Watauga County Habitat for Humanity announces the completion of a new reclamation center building, located at the entrance to the Watauga County Landfill.
This newly constructed building was built with the Habitat ReStore philosophy of using recycled materials that would have otherwise been landfilled, said a spokesperson for Habitat. More than 50 percent of the building materials used include recycled windows, doors, roofing and siding.
The Board of Trustees for the Mariam and Robert Hayes Performing Arts Center announced Tuesday that it would be suspending all operations at the center immediately after the closing of the Blowing Rock Stage Company Production of the musical biography Hank Williams: Lost Highway. That production is scheduled to end Sept. 6 but could possibly have an extended run after that date.
Local Marine League Detachment formed Jefferson Post Tom “Tugboat” Northrop of Ashe County is among the area Marine veterans who helped form the High Country Detachment 1389 of the North Carolina Department Marine Corps League. Senior Vice Commandant of the Mountaineer Detachment in Watauga County, ... |
Snow on the slopes in Western North Carolina TriCities.com Established in 1967, Beech Mountain Resort — formerly called “Ski Beech” — ranks among three ski slopes in North Carolina's High Country, a scenic region where mountains stand like stacks more than a mile high. Over the past couple of years, ... |
POSTED BY: Mike Dojc TORO Magazine Daniel Boone Nestled between the peaks of the Blue Ridge Mountains of North Carolina, the charming towns of Boone, Banner Elk and Blowing Rock make up the North Carolina High Country. The kite high moniker reflects the awesome elevation, not hydroponic ... |
Our View: When the whistle stops, heed the call Watauga Democrat Beverly Perdue has been often more visible in the High Country than other state-elected CEOs. And as we move forward with the recent news that Perdue will not seek a second term, this is a trend any contender must be committed to continuing. |
2011 state park attendance matches record WSOC Charlotte WATAUGA COUNTY, NC -- Visits to North Carolina state parks continued at record levels in 2011, and the High Country's natural gems were among the highest achievers, according to a report released last week. Approximately 14.25 million visits to state ... |
 Boone Mountain Times | Positive Vibration Boone Mountain Times Founded in Boone in 2004, Hope Massive was bred out of a shared admiration of Marley amongst Brown and friend Justin Butler. The reggae and dancehall six-piece has been a musical mainstay in the High Country and also received regional recognition upon ... |
Our View: Seeing the mountains for the trees Watauga Democrat After polishing its natural gems for millennia, it's no surprise that state parks in the High Country are among those most visited in North Carolina. Our state parks did well overall in 2011. More than 14 million visitors hiked, picnicked or just ... |
Our View: Volunteer to make a difference Watauga Democrat Thumbs-down: to the number of volunteer vacancies on committees and boards assisting Boone Town Council. Many of us already volunteer our time with our church, with scouts or with an area nonprofit, by way of example. Many more of us don't. |
 Boone Mountain Times | Back in Black Boone Mountain Times By Frank Ruggiero (frank.ruggiero@mountaintimes.com) Comedian Lewis Black returns to Boone Feb. 9, promising a show filled with all new material. The standup comedian, actor and author is known for his impassioned – and oftentimes steaming – views on ... |
 Watauga Democrat | Thank you, Jim Greene Watauga Democrat In honor of Jim, I wanted to share this updated piece about “The Voice of Avery County,” whom our community will dearly miss. I am a better person because of having known Jim, and his contributions to countless Avery County and High Country lives will ... |
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