Bass Lake and Moses H. Cone Memorial Park
Moses Cone, dubbed the “Denim King,” brought his wife, Bertha, and his NC textile fortune to Blowing Rock in the late 1800’s, establishing Flat Top Manor and the Cone Estate. These two were conservationists before the term was popular, planting trees on their grounds, and seeking advice from foresters about maintaining indigenous species and a few new ones. Today, one can experience the wonder of so many old-growth trees, and their spectacular fall show. Take a walk around Bass Lake, built by the Cones, where you can watch the wildlife, and see Flat top Manor peeking through the reds and yellows on the ridge, reflected onto the glassy water below.
This beautiful historic site also has 26 miles of carriage trails, winding through acres of Blue Ridge forest. Take a stroll—they are all open to the public. Find serenity, just one mile from Main Street in Blowing Rock. You can also drive or hike up to the Manor House, where you can enjoy amazing views from the rocking chairs on the front porch. Take a peek inside the Manor—the Southern Highlands Craft Guild operates a shop on the first floor. On weekends in October, you can also take an upstairs tour, and revel in the views that the Cones themselves enjoyed. See the hills where Moses planted his prized apple orchards, and gaze farther out along the peaks of the Blue Ridge range.
The Moses H. Cone Memorial Park is located on the Blue Ridge Parkway, and operated by the National Park Service.
www.BlueRidgeParkway.org (more info about Moses Cone Memorial Park)
www.nps.gov/blri (more info about the Blue Ridge Parkway)
photos by Todd Bush
photo by Scott Graham