Gearing Up for Winter

File Photo from 2010-2011 Winter

All indications are that we will have a moderate winter this season, with periods of fluffy snow, though snow totals are predicted to be less than the last two seasons.  

We have had 4 snows so far this year, with about an 1"  for the latest one.  Looking forward to hiking and watching our village turn into a winter wonderland.

Thanksgiving and Christmas are around the corner and there is no better time to come visit.  Pick out your Christmas tree at a local Choose 'N Cut farm, rent a cabin, chalet, condo or hotel room to explore our area, or come for the day and drive around our beautiful town, visit the stores, restaurants and our Chamber of Commerce.  We are all friendly here so wave back when we wave to you.

Autumn at Oz to Feature More Park Memorabilia, Oct. 1-2

September 13, 2011
Press Release - by Craig Distl

Follow the yellow brick road to Beech Mountain this fall for the 18th annual Autumn at Oz celebration.

The event takes place Oct. 1-2 and celebrates the old Land of Oz theme park, which operated from 1970 to 1980 high atop Beech Mountain.

Autumn at Oz has grown from a reunion of park employees into two days that attract thousands of fans from near and far. A highlight this year will be a display of items from the original park that were recently reacquired. The items had been in storage in Boone for years.

"We're going to showcase a few pieces from a big collection that has come back to us," says event organizer Cindy Keller. "In the early 1980s, several park items were donated to Appalachian State University under the assumption the Land of Oz was gone for good."

As always, attendees will tour Dorothy's House and walk the iconic road of 44,000 yellow bricks. Along the way there are visits with: Dorothy, Tin Man, Cowardly Lion, Glinda the Good Witch, the Scarecrow, Auntie Em, Uncle Henry, and the Great & Powerful Wizard.

Also on hand will be Mrs. Gulch, the gatekeeper, Professor Marvel, Munchkin Mayor, and the Wicked Witch of the West with her Winkie guards and flying monkeys.

"We have more characters now than when the park was open," Keller says. "Several theater groups assist us, some from as far away as New York City. They're interested in helping us rekindle, rebuild and resurrect what we can of the Land of Oz."

Although this is her 18th year organizing the event, Keller admits she's still surprised by the lasting impression the Wizard of Oz movie has on American culture.

"Hardly a day goes by that somebody doesn't make some reference to a line in the movie. It is part of the American fabric," says Keller. "I'm amazed how integrated it is into our culture."

Autumn at Oz has three sessions daily. The sessions are at 10 a.m., noon and 2 p.m. Tickets are $16.50 in advance and $20 at the event, if not sold out. Advance tickets are available online, and total ticket sales will be limited again this year.

Children age 2 and under are admitted free, and the property is not wheelchair accessible or accommodating to large strollers.

For tickets or info, visit: www.AutumnAtOz.com, or call: (800) 468-5506.

Berners Visit Beech

July 2011

The Blue Ridge Bernese Mountain Dog Group met at the home of Jill Ezell in July.

They visited, did some drafting, and the Berners had a ball. 

Weather was perfect for the furry friends and humans alike.

Good job, Berners!  I'm sure this Club loved visiting Jill and her three Berners with the cool weather and beautiful play yard that Jill and her husband, Boyce, have established for them.

How Much String Does It Take to Fly a Kite a Mile High?

August 17, 2011
Press Release

Craig Distl has provided information on the upcoming MILE HIGH KITE FESTIVAL ON BEECH MOUNTAIN.

Only a couple hundred feet if you visit the ninth annual Mile High Kite Festival on Labor Day weekend atop Beech Mountain.  This festival takes place Sunday, Sept. 4, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. in the meadow, located above 5,000 feet in elevation across from Town Hall.

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," says Calder Smoot, the event organizer. "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 info or lodging options, call (800) 468-5506, or visit: www.BeechMtn.com.

Welcome...International Wizard of Oz Club! A Beech Mountain Tribute.

August 5-7

We are pleased to welcome the members of The International Wizard of Oz Club to Beech Mountain for their annual convention.

There are several events presented by the Club as well as Emerald Mountain, our town businesses and the Town of Beech Mountain to bring all Oz fans together.  Take this opportunity to meet Club members, walk the yellow brick road and/or see the classic film under the stars.

EVENTS

Friday, August 5th @ 7pm:  Historic presentation and short performance by various speakers from the 1970s theme park, the LAND OF OZ, our own local theme park which operated in what is now Emerald Mountain.  This event will be held at Evans Auditorium on the campus of Lees McRae College.  $7 per person.

Friday, August 5th @ dusk (typically around 9pm):  Showing of the classic film The Wizard of Oz in the field next to The Brick Oven and across from Town Hall.  Bring your folding chairs and/or blankets for this free event.

Saturday, August 6th from 2:00 - 5:00 pm:  The historic LAND OF OZ will be open to the public for a walkthrough and a visit with 1970s costumed characters.  See the characters as they were portrayed when LAND OF OZ was open and visited by untold numbers of people during the 70s on Beech Mountain.  $10 per person.

Saturday, August 6th at dusk:  The Town of Beech Mountain will present the classic MGM film The Wizard of Oz outdoors on the sledding hill.  Bring your blanket and enjoy this free event.

Sunday, August 7th from Noon - 4:00 pm:  Dressing of a Legend, a display of a collection of Judy Garland's gowns, as well as a tribute to Oz films, at Buckeye Recreation Center.  Another free event for all to enjoy.

We invite town residents, guests and the public to help us welcome the members of The International Wizard of Oz Club.  If you have questions about membership in the Club, please feel free to ask any of them while they are here.

FOR MORE INFORMATION, PLEASE CALL THE BEECH MOUNTAIN CHAMBER OF COMMERCE AT 828-387-9283

47th Annual Roasting of the Hog.....Coming this Saturday, July 2nd

June 26, 2011

Be sure not to miss the annual Roasting of the Hog event on Saturday, July 2nd, at the Beech Mountain Resort.  6pm - ??  $15/adults; $7/children 7yrs of age and under.

Our volunteers work hard to serve the smoked turkey and pork, beans, salads and don't forget to pick up your drink and Moon Pie at the end of the line.

Whether you dine inside the huge View Haus or outside, you will love the food and have a blast all day.

Our local volunteer fire department personnel are hard at work from the night before to well into the event day getting the meats roasted over a pit with real wood.  Mmmmmm.....you've got to taste it to appreciate it.  There is always enough left over so stick around after the meal to buy some by the pound to take home.

Our DJ will be spinning your favorite tunes to dance by under the stars.  He always has a patriotic sequence of music to introduce the fireworks for the night, which will leave you with a lump in your throught.

People come from all over the country to visit Beech Mountain.  Some of these have made Beech Mountain their vacation or permanent home.  You'll see why once you visit for the first time.

USA Cycling Mountain Bike Gravity National Championships comes to Beech!

June 1, 2011

Press Release

provided by Talia Freeman, Beech Mountain Resort

Beech Mountain Resort has been named host for the

2011 USA Cycling Mountain Bike Gravity National Championships, Sept. 22-25.

The popular North Carolina High Country resort has also been awarded the 2012 championship, and is the first resort in the South to host the event.

“Beech Mountain Resort realizes the increased popularity in cycling, and the demand for a facility with lift access, “ says Ryan Costin, general manager of Beech Mountain Resort, “ We are pleased to host Gravity Nationals, while also producing a facility for all Mountain Bike Enthusiast.“

The resort will begin construction of the facility in preparation for the championships, which will bring mountain bikers from around the country to the area. Brevard native Christopher Herndon, 2007 Dual Slalom National Champion, and a Southeast leader in course design, will oversee construction. “We feel confident that Christopher Herndon will design a unique facility ensuring that Beech Mountain Resort will produce an innovative product,” says Costin.

Beech Mountain Resort will offer a world-class venue for competitors in a spectator-friendly atmosphere, filled with plenty of family-friendly activities.

Beech Mountain Resort is excited to share this event with the Western North Carolina community, and will soon provide local cyclists with a mountain bike destination in their backyard.  “There is a lot of untapped terrain on Beech Mountain, ultimately providing a unique facility for Gravity Nationals,” said Shaw Brown of Boone Bike and Touring. “We are thrilled Beech is producing a legitimate Mountain Bike facility in the
southeast.”

Michael Thomas, a Boone resident and 2008 and 2009 collegiate downhill champion, said: “This will be the first time that the National Championships have ever been held in the South, and it’s a big step forward in the progression of downhill racing here. We have great mountains to ride in, but actual downhill specific trails to ride on have been very limited until now.”


To find out more about USA Cycling Mountain Bike Gravity Nationals, please visit skibeech.com.

Get Ready Beech Mountain....The Sharks Are Coming!!

If you saw the Porche 928 parade last year, you'll want to make sure you see it this year. 

We are expecting over 100 cars on June 4th and they are a spectacular site.  Click the link below to view the flyer:

http://www.docstoc.com/docs/document-preview.aspx?doc_id=80650023

Adventure Park Opens 8 Miles of Emerald Outback Trails

May 2, 2011
Article by Craig Distl

Photo contributed by Kristian Jackson

Avid mountain bikers and hikers now have a superb new venue in Western North Carolina.

The Beech Mountain Adventure Trail Park officially opened its Emerald Outback section May 1. The eight-plus miles of Emerald Outback trails range in elevation from 4,700-5,400 feet, giving the park the distinction of being among the highest such venues on the East Coast.

There’s a nice combination of single track, double track and gravel road trails traversing the mountaintop, all accessible from a trail head in the town of Beech Mountain.

The Emerald Outback is the first phase of the Beech Mountain Adventure Trail Park, which will grow to three phases encompassing 25 miles of trails. It was designed by mountain bikers, hikers and trail runners to meet the recreational demands of serious outdoor enthusiasts.

Credit for building the park goes to Beech Mountain Parks and Recreation Department. Fitness and wellness coordinator Daniel Scagnelli conceived the idea in 2009, and spearheaded an impressive trail-building effort of mostly volunteer labor.

Workers used hand tools and hand-held power tools. Heavy machinery was not involved. The process reclaimed a few abandoned trails and blended them into a cohesive network of trails showcasing unique topography atop Beech Mountain.

“We actually routed one trail over a former ski slope. It’s fairly flat with moderate elevation change,” Scagnelli said. “Then we have the typical rocky, rooty East Coast mountain biking single track.

“There are also untouched woods with small waterfalls and creeks rushing by, plus phenomenal mountain vistas and overlooks throughout. Whether you’re in the Oz Forest or out on Overlook Loop, you have 100-mile views around. The terrain is rolling and changes well. There’s not a whole lot of climbing and you’re always surrounded by something beautiful.”

Signage and the official trail head were installed this spring for the Adventure Trail Park, which is free and open to the public seven days a week.

“People want outdoor experiences on Beech Mountain,” said Scagnelli, “and the Emerald Outback has the potential to be the trademark trail system for this town.”

For trail park information, call (828) 387-3003, or visit: http://www.beechrecreation.org/.

April Snow Brings May.......Snowmen?

April 1, 2011

Yesterday it began to snow....again.  It has continued all day today, bringing us to an approximate total for our season so far to 133".  This is no April's Fool joke!

We are puppy sitting for friends for a week and Harlie really loves the snow.  I've yet to meet a child (2 and up...my granddaughter used to cry if you took her out in it at 2 yrs. of age) or dog that doesn't.  I agree...it is beautiful and fun to play in....but I'm ready for spring!

According to Ray's Weather, the following are official totals through March 28th:

Date       Snowfall (inches)

October 5 trace
November 4-6 5.8"
December 1-2 2.2"
December 4-5 8.0"
December 5-7 11.2"
December 12-15 13.7"
December 19 0.1"
December 21 0.1"
December 23 0.1"
December 25-27 17.0"
January 5-6 2.0"
January 6-8 25.5"
January 10 5.0"
January 11-13 12.3"
January 17 0.3"
January 20-21 3.0"
January 24 1.0"
January 26 6.0"
January 28 0.75"
February 7-8 3.0"
February 9-10 1.5"
March 6 4.0"
March 10-11 5.0"
March 15 0.5"
March 25 0.5"
March 28 0.6"

Total: 131.25"



For Sale, Looking to Buy, Donating or Lost and Found? Post it here...

March 26, 2011

THIS IS THE PLACE TO POST YOUR BEECH MOUNTAIN ITEMS FOR SALE, LOOK FOR SOMETHING, REPORT LOST AND FOUNDS OR OFFER FREE ITEMS TO THOSE LOOKING FOR SOMETHING.  THE EXCEPTION IS THAT NO REAL ESTATE PROPERTIES ARE ALLOWED ON THIS POST. 

JUST CLICK ON THE LINK UNDERNEATH THE PICTURE AT THE TOP, AND POST A COMMENT, REMEMBERING TO ADD YOUR CONTACT INFORMATION.