Ummm it’s becoming extremely commercialized and urbanized; please don’t move here! Way too much building going on, countless multi story buildings now. The small town is becoming a small city; It sucks! And App state is killing the small town vibe n charm and the liberals and Democrats are becoming too many!!!
I agree. I was born and raised here. Actually, my dad's side of the family are natives to Watauga County going back many generations. I hate seeing all of these new buildings that are being built all the time. This town is running out of room! Most of them are apartments that cater to the college students. Housing in Watauga County is ridiculously high because of the college students as well. Landlords have jacked up the cost of rent on everything and it's almost impossible for a family to afford rent. My 2 oldest daughters couldn't afford to rent here, so they rent places in Mountain City and West Jefferson. They pay around $675 a month for places that would cost double that amount if they were located here. It's ridiculous!
@@MarcyTrivette ... Annual statistics have long and often had Boone rated as the city with the highest cost of living in North Carolina. That’s quite a statement given the state has both mountains and beaches, not to mention the more heavily populated Piedmont region.
@@WagnerBoy55 welcome to the high country. Its very different. Added advice. Prepare for long unexpected winters. Occasionally blizzard in march. So have a good Subaru like they recommend in Alaska or something. Warning. Just friendly advice.
We presently lost one bear and awhile back an otter at Grandfather Mountain. We go every year to support the animals but not this year. To much crap going on. Got to meet Doc Watson when his sister was in hospital in same room with my mother in law. He was so nice. We buy season tickets to Tweetsie also and this year we didn't get to go there either. Dang it this year sucks. The only good thing is we're all still alive and kicking.
I live 15 miles south of Boone but I seldom go there because the traffic is worse than in Chicago or New York City. Finding a parking place in the downtown business district is impossible. Most of the shops are throwbacks to the hippie 1960s or are overpriced boutiques. Appalachian State University has become a hodgepodge of educational buildings and cheap, ticky-tack dorms scattered all around the city. Students have to take the free buses from one class to the next. On the plus side, Boone has a great selection of restaurants and the prices at most are reasonable. ps --Almost all of the people in Boone are all friendly and polite.
I’m considering a move down there from Ohio. I’m not one of those crazy northerners. I just want to be in the mountains. Boone seems to have the small town feeling
My family is from Triplett….just outside of Boone. This town is much different today. It will always have a special place in my heart, but I believe inch by inch it’s losing some of its charm. I’m glad my mom taught us how to prepare Appalachian dishes.
It is truly full. Nowhere to live or build more. 53% of watauga residents are below the poverty level because shops and restaurants and houses are catered to the tourists with money. Try living downtown for 900 a month, nothing included, and most likely not even making 15 an hour. Boone is truly full and is being torn down everyday.
@@reneebru1 My family's from here. I lived in Commifornia in the 60's when I was little and it was great. It's a shame it's turned to crap. Actors used to be classy now their just a**y. We came back to the mountains of NC when I was 13 and I didn't ever think I would be happy but been here 50 years and wouldn't live anywhere else. Come on over to the bright side of life and leave the darkness behind. My entire family and friends are Patriots. Take care.
Love the Appalachian Culture, Hillbilly born, bred, raised and still living in the best culture in the world. I loved your segment until the food. Appalachian quinine does have fresh water caught trout but Napa cabbage??? Never. We have biscuits and gravy, grits but not shrimp, that would have been crawdads. We have pickled onions, cucumbers with pinto beans, cornbread, fried okra, fried green tomatoes, fried corn and tomatoes. The staple meats were chicken and pork! Just saying. We were not gourmet but very simple, hearty, food which is produced in the rugged terrain of the Appalachian Mountains.
Lol. Living here isn't all that great. Driving to work sucks when stuck behind super slow driving tourists. Even if they aren't looking at the scenery, there are too scared to even go the speed limit on the twisting roads.
WOW...lots of inaccuracies in this video. 1-Neither Boone nor Watauga County is located within the Cherokee National Forest. 2-Grandfather is not the tallest in the Blue Ridge....that would be Mt Mitchell. 3-Tweetsie was not the first amusement park in NC. Pullen Park has it beat by 70 years.
uhm wow as well. he never said boone was in the cherokee national forest. he mentioned it as things to do.... its about the 2:45 mark Grandfather Mountain is in fact the tallest in the blue ridge. Mt Mitchell is in ths black mountain range. And i dont know pullen park. it is the oldest public park, but being that its a public park i think teeetsie and pullen would be different categories.
WAS a great place BEFORE ASU. I am 67 born in Boone and raised there. Moved because no work and the Collège has ruined it. Driven taxes up forcing locals out. WILL NEVER be the SAME. The Mast General Store in Valle Crucis is nothing like the original. Blowing Rock is a small quaint little town because of the tourists who own SUMMER homes there. They keep it stifled for the natives most of who have had to leave because of property taxes being totally outrageous. They finally got an Food Lion and I'm surprised they let it in. But they have had an ABC store for years for the summer home owners. The ONLY thing they have done for the locals is raise taxes driving them out! Go to Eastern Tennessee the people are great and friendly. Hampton, Elizabethton area before tourist build too many homes and destroy Watauga Lake.
I was born there in 1952 and remained in the area until my family moved to Ohio in 1966. My parents always said in changed because of the college and the tourists.
You are spot on. Boone is only for the rich and the last general store is a chain now and full of overpriced tourist junk. They raise taxes deliberately to run out locals.
Sorry...as if you exit directly off of any of those interstates to get to Boone... Boone is approximately an hour from any interstate. Which I love!!...
While not interstates, the two main highways from off the mountain, Hwy 321 (from Charlotte) and Hwy 421 (from Winston Salem), are four lanes now. Wasn’t always the case. Always beautiful and now an easy drive.
I grew up in Boone, and live about 2 hours south now. I go up through TN on the back roads through Unicoi to Hampton, around Watauga Lake and through Mountain City.
Boone used to bepretty nicetovisit,but no more. Its transformed to a place for tree hugging,Subaru driving earth girls now. But the land is still beautiful.
if you visit West Jefferson, camp at Raccoon Holler Campground. It is within eyesight of the BR Parkway and located about a 10-minute drive from town. The campground is very nice, clean, well run and a great place.
I am proud to be a Tarheel and the Boone/Blowing Rock area is one of many fun and interesting places to visit in North Carolina. If you have never visited our state please make plans to do so soon. You will not be disappointed.
You all prolly dont give a shit but does someone know of a trick to log back into an instagram account..? I stupidly forgot my login password. I would appreciate any help you can offer me!
@Lawrence Brett I really appreciate your reply. I found the site through google and im trying it out now. Looks like it's gonna take a while so I will get back to you later with my results.
This is a great travelogue for this town. I did an insurance inspection in 2003 on a Burger king in this town staying overnight. I must admit I totally missed the true marvelous character of this town while I was there.
The zip line wasn’t for me due to the hand-braking, but my kids loved it. I was terrified once I got up there and couldn’t stop. 😂 Next time I think I’ll start with a course without hand-braking.
Mast general store is a chain now and has stores everywhere full of over priced tourist junk. One of the last real general stores is a tiny little hardware store in hot springs NC.
I’m sorry to hear that. I believe the ads were skippable. Even if they were not, they were most-likely less than a minute for 25 minutes of editorial information and entertainment. But I would venture to note you do appreciate watching videos for free? If not ad-supported, what model would be more suitable to you? BTW, it’s Erik asking not some intern who responds to YOuTube comments.
Thanks for the introduction. I was supposed to be attending a workshop at Cheap Joe's......but it cancelled because of COVID. So....we are coming anyway and creating our own tour and workshop. I am surprised you didn't feature Cheap Joe's......he is a nationally recognized entity in the art world.
Agreed! It was an awesome trip! Thank you very much for your comment(s). Remember to subscribe to my channel. It really helps more people find our videos.
I grew up outside of Boone in the Zionville area (halfway between Boone and Mountain City, TN). I'm 4 generations deep. My daughter worked at the original Mast Store for years, and I have a second cousin still employed there. All these places, like Howard's Knob, Grandfather Mountain, Matney, Cove Creek, Bethel/Bever Dam, Mabel and the like were my stomping grounds. I love that people are discovering how great we had it growing up. WHS Class of '94!
Boone is nice. Blowing Rock only 15 miles or so away and is so much nicer, smaller and very quaint and very walkable. Nice shops and some great restaurants and bars. A beautiful city park right downtown. The Blue Ridge Parkway runs right through the edge of the town.
Most people living in Blowing Rock are extremely wealthy Floridian transplants who live there half the year; it isn't representative of North Carolina's mountain people. If it wasn't for the charm of the mountains, you might as well be in Miami.
It’s not Boone OR Blowing Rock. It’s Boone AND Blowing Rock. What are they, 5 miles apart? Both have so much to offer, and complement (not compete with) each other. I prefer Boone for the cultural opportunities and vibe that comes with being a college town, but also love Blowing Rock for the restaurants and Bass Lake. No one has to choose one or the other.
What no mention of the Daniel Boone Inn's home cooked family style meals? No mention of the Appalachian Trail or the Skyline Drive? No mention of skiing at night near Blowing RocK? Technically Doc Watson is from Deep Gap. No mention of the Highland Games near Grandfather Mountain.
People have no idea the wonders available in the mountains of NC. Mast is one of my oldest favorite places from a kid. From the candy to the tools, mail, special cooking pans...., clothes... It IS a very unique and independent place. Many of the families that are the oldest and now prominent families take this responsibility very very seriously. They have no other politician aspirations, but they have brought great honor to making sure their heritage is protected and preserved. I dearly love Western NC
I don't suggest moving to Boone. I live right below it and the town is dying. They're very rude you conservatives that most of the businesses especially in downtown. I used to go up there a lot but I don't suggest going there now. Take it from me basically being a native and it's dying and will be a ghost town and I don't see the college lasting much longer if I was doing to the students.
The KKK was in Boone, but it's been more than 25 years ago....and it should be pointed out that they weren't invited. They came on their own. I am a boone native and do not agree with the KKK.....BUT, they had a right to march....nobody liked them being here....but there you have it.
