High Falls and Moccasin Creek State Parks, GA and Boone, NC

Remnants of Old Grist Mill

April 22, 2012, We left home, last week, headed for Boone, NC.  Along the route, we made our standard family visits as we headed north.  We manage to turn a 2-day drive into a 5-day trip, but since we are not really on a schedule that doesn’t matter.  Even though we have made the trek along I-75 more times than I can remember, we discovered a delightful new campground.

  High Falls State Park is located about one hour south of Atlanta and less than 

  5 minutes off of I-75.  The 1050-acre park also includes a 650-acre lake for boating and fishing, with renowned bass fishing.   There are several waterfalls along the Towaliga River, with the 135-foot High Falls being the tallest waterfall in central Georgia.  Trails through the park lead you along the river and provide lovely overviews of the falls and the remains of a grist mill, which used to operate along the river.  High Falls was a thriving little industrial town with a cotton gin, shoe factory, several stores, and the mill until around 1880 when a major railroad passed it by and it suddenly became a ghost town. 

High Falls State Park

Canoe, kayak and boat rentals allow you to get out in the lake to try your luck with the bass, even if you don’t have your own watercraft.  Yurts, with one of the best views in the park, are available for rental to visitors without camping gear.  The Falls View Restaurant, about half a mile from the park, provided lip-smacking, fresh catfish for our dinner.  In fact, the last time we had better catfish, at a restaurant, was about 25 years ago near Lake Okeechobee in Central Florida.   On that occasion, we literally saw the fisherman enter the back door with the days’ catch as we were parking.  That’s as good as catching your own, without the work. 

After a whirlwind 24-hour visit with our daughter, Nicole and her fiancé, Robert in Atlanta, we got back on the highway and headed for NE Georgia.

Staying previously at the Moccasin Creek State Park, we were familiar with the layout of the area.   So, we returned to the same vicinity.  Alan was enamored with the fishing in the stream running along the edge of the park.  Previously, he had landed a string of trout in almost no time.  Hoping for a replay of this type of fishing action, he gathered up his fishing gear, bought his license and headed to the stream.  Unfortunately, a couple hours later he returned with one trout.  The next morning was no more productive.  Our North Carolina fishing licenses are still valid, so maybe we’ll have more luck near Boone. 

April 29, 2012.  As we approached Boone, heavy clouds and fog prevented us from taking the drive up Grandfather Mountain but we stopped to give our brakes a rest from the mountain roads and to take a short hike to Linville Falls.  A bridal party was making the trek along the muddy trail along with us.  Preparing to shoot pre-wedding pictures the brides’ helpers created an informal dressing room in the wilderness for her to change to her wedding dress.  Having hiked to the falls in jeans, a sweater, and jacket she was transformed into a spring bride.  The falls would be a lovely backdrop for a wedding but I’m certain she was glad this chilly, gray day was not her wedding date. 

Spring flowers?

Before leaving home we had checked the forecast for North Carolina.  Lows in the mid-40s and highs in the 60s is what we were expecting.  Our heavy jackets remained at home, which turned out to be a mistake.

Waking the morning after our arrival, the interior of the RV was 40 degrees—the heater had gone off during the night.  Looking outside we found strong winds and a beautiful covering of snow on the ground. 

Our destination had been planned a few months earlier so that Alan could participate in another Mel Stabin Watercolor Workshop.  As he headed off to the warmth of the art studio, I tried to find a place to hide from the cold.  With the wind chill at 20 degrees, it wasn’t a day to enjoy the outdoor splendor of the Boone area.  Our heating system had never been tested before.  The electric heat stops working once the exterior temperature reaches 36 degrees, at this point the gas heater is supposed to kick on.  We just assumed it would work.  Luckily by the next night, the low temperatures wavered around 36 so we kept warm. High winds and rain persisted for the next 3 days.  Obviously, springtime in the mountains can be unpredictable. 

Flat Top Manor

The workshop kept Alan busy throughout the week; I hunkered down and tried to stay dry and warm.   Luckily by the end of the week, the rain stopped and the sun made an appearance.  Having researched things to do in Boone, I found the #1 ranked attraction to be the Moses Cone Manor.

In the late 1800s, textile magnate Moses Cone (aka “The Denim King”) and his wife started buying property near Blowing Rock, NC.  Over a number of years, they accumulated 3600 acres.  In 1901 their home, Flat Top Manor, was completed.  The home provides an outstanding overview of the Blue Ridge Mountain area.  Through the years Moses Cone built 25 miles of carriage roads on the homestead and planted over 75 varieties of apples, as well as oaks and maples.  The National Park Service now maintains the home, grounds and carriage roads.  The Southern Highland Craft Guild operates the interior of the structure.  Outstanding crafts, from the area, fill the home.  Crafts range from cornhusk dolls, pine needle and kudzu vine baskets, jewelry, weaving, ceramics, and fine woodworking.

Being advised that one of the prettiest drives in the state started just outside Boone, along Hwy. 194, we took off to explore.  The lovely, gentle mountain drive took us to Todd, NC where we discovered a newly opened Bakery and Mercantile (and Real Estate Office.)  Alan indulged in chocolate biscotti and snapped up a loaf of freshly baked bread and a jar of blackberry jam.  The drive provided overviews of cow pastures, numerous old barns, cornfields, and Christmas tree farms.

Bass Lake

Late afternoon found us walking at Bass Lake, between Boone and Blowing Rock.  The short, level and easy trail around the lake, surrounded by mountains, oaks, and rhododendrons, was a lovely interlude.  We followed this with dinner by a campfire back at our site along a mountain stream.  What a perfect day! 

The following morning we were scheduled to leave the Boone area but decided to explore the downtown area before departing.  Appalachian State University (16,000 students) takes over much of the city, but numerous highly-rated restaurants, clothing stores, and antique shops line King Street, the center of the downtown area.  Mast General Store, an employee-owned business that first opened in 1883, operates in a building that was built in 1913.   Shoppers can find a wide diversity of merchandise.  Everything from clothing to tents and cast-iron cookery to boots can be purchased.  The popular “penny” candy of yesteryear is available in large barrels and now sells for $6.99 a pound.  After stocking up on a variety of goodies from our past, we hooked up to the RV and headed south.