Upstairs Tour of Moses Cone Manor
The Cone Manor, a a gleaming white, 23-room, 13,000 square foot mansion that looks across acres of apple orchards onto Bass Lake, was built by textile entrepreneur Moses Cone in the 1890s as a refuge from the rigors of his business empire. His estate is now run by the National Park Service as Moses H. Cone Memorial Park. The first floor of the manor house is home to the Parkway Craft Center, a craft shop of the Southern Highland Craft Guild, exhibiting works by artisans from nine Appalachian states. The second floor is opened for public tours from 10:30-12:30 every Wednesday from June through October. The tour is do-it-yourself, but rangers will be on hand to answer questions.
Campfire Programs
Ranger-led campfire programs are a Parkway tradition meant to teach residents and visitors about the rich natural and cultural history of the region. Currently, four Parkway campgrounds have programs every Saturday. For more information, contact the campgrounds individually.
Linville Falls Campground, Milepost 316.4 – (828) 765-1228
Price Park Campground, Milepost 296.9 – (828) 295-6308
Crabtree Falls Campground, Milepost 339.5 – (828) 765-1228
Mt. Pisgah Campground, Milepost 408 – (828)-298-5330
The Johnson Farm – Milepost 86
The Johnson Farm, accessible by trail from the Peaks of Otter Visitor Center, is a restored living history farm, currently operated and furnished as is appeared in the 1930s. The farm is open to the public Wednesday through Sunday from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. during the Blue Ridge Parkway season. Costumed interpreters work the farm on a daily basis and offer interpretive discussions and programs for Parkway visitors.
Humpback Rocks Pioneer Farm – Milepost 5.2
The mountain farm includes a single-room log cabin and a series of outbuildings that represent elements of regional architecture of the late 19th century. Costume interpreters provide demonstrations of weaving, basket making and gardening.
Folk Art Center
The Folk Art Center is home to the Southern Highland Craft Guild. The center showcases the finest in traditional and contemporary crafts of the Southern Appalachians. In addition to an Eastern National bookstore and Blue Ridge Parkway information desk, the center houses three galleries, a library and Allanstand Craft Shop. Beginning in March each year, visitors can see live craft demonstrations daily in the Folk Art Center lobby.