Blowing Rock in Watauga County, North Carolina — The American South (South Atlantic)

Appalachian Ski Mountain

Photographed by Duane and Tracy Marsteller, October 30, 2022

1. Appalachian Ski Mountain Marker

Inscription.
Opening in 1962 as Northwestern North Carolina's first ski area, Appalachian Ski Mtn. transformed Blowing Rock into a year-round vacation destination from a summer town where only one restaurant and one motel stayed open during its inaugural winter.

Original ski area developer Bill Thalheimer chose Blowing Rock because of its climate and acclaim as “the best known (summer) vacation destination between Newport, Rhode Island, and Palm Beach.” The inspiration for bringing skiing to North Carolina also came from the advent of snowmaking technology, the notoriety of 1960's snowiest winter on record, and excitement from the U.S.-hosted Winter Olympics of 1960.

Appalachian Ski Mtn., has been owned and operated by the D. Grady Moretz, Jr. family since 1968, and is renowned for its snowmaking capability that can provide snowy slopes from mid-November to April. Known as “The Place to Learn to Ski and Snowboard,” and for its French-Swiss Ski College, terrain parks and outdoor ice arena, Appalachian Ski Mtn. is the major catalyst for Blowing Rock's winter economy.

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Industry & Commerce. A significant historical year for this entry is 1962.

Location. 36° 7.938′ N, 81° 40.715′ W. Marker is in Blowing Rock, North Carolina, in Watauga County. It is on Laurel Lane west of Main Street (Business U.S. 321), on the right when traveling west. Marker is in Mayview Plaza. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Blowing Rock NC 28605, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in North Carolina’s and he Mountains in the High Country. It is also in the American South,

specifically in the Upper South,

in Appalachia,

and specifically in Southern Appalachia. Globally, it is in North America,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once the original Cherokee Nation,

the territory of the Mississippian Culture,

one of the original Thirteen Colonies,

one of the Confederate States of America,

and the Antebellum South.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: Blowing Rock's History (here, next to this marker); Main Street Through the Years (a few steps

Photographed by Duane and Tracy Marsteller, October 30, 2022

2. Appalachian Ski Mountain Marker

from this marker); Mayview Manor Hotel (a few steps from this marker); Blowing Rock Charity Horse Show (a few steps from this marker); Tweetsie Railroad (a few steps from this marker); Martin House (within shouting distance of this marker); Sonny's Grill (within shouting distance of this marker); Yonahlossee Theater (within shouting distance of this marker). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Blowing Rock.

Also see . . .
1. History. The ski resort was built in 1962, but didn't take off until after it was bought at a foreclosure sale six years later. (Appalachian Ski Mountain) (Submitted on November 17, 2022, by Duane and Tracy Marsteller of Murfreesboro, Tennessee.)

2. A Half-Century of Boone Area Skiing, Appalachian Ski Mtn. The people of skiing’s first half-century are quite a cast of characters, a truly colorful group. (Randy Johnson, High Country Magazine, reposted on Dec. 2, 2012) (Submitted on November 17, 2022, by Duane and Tracy Marsteller of Murfreesboro, Tennessee.)

Credits. This page was last revised on November 17, 2022. It was originally submitted on November 16, 2022, by Duane and Tracy Marsteller of Murfreesboro, Tennessee. This page has been viewed 326 times since then and 34 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on November 16, 2022, by Duane and Tracy Marsteller of Murfreesboro, Tennessee.