The Cone Estate and Family

The Cone Estate and Family. . Blowing Rock was forever changed in the 1890's when the “Denim King,” textile magnate Moses H. Cone, purchased 3,500 acres to fulfill his boyhood dream to construct and supervise an estate of his own design. On his magnificent site, Moses and Bertha Cone built Flat Top Manor, a grand home with twenty rooms on four floors. The expansive grounds featured three man-made lakes, white pine forests, and hemlock hedges. The Cones imported whitetail deer from Pennsylvania, constructed carriage trails, and established the first “Grade A” dairy in Watauga County. , Perhaps most important to the Cone legacy, the Cone Estate orchards became a major force in the economic well-being of Blowing Rock. Extending over 300 acres, the orchards represented a benevolent effort by the Cones to establish an alternative economy to support area subsistence farmers. At their peak of operation, these orchards provided employment for 15% of the residents of Blowing Rock Township. , Today, the Moses H. Cone Memorial Park, adjacent to downtown Blowing Rock, is part of the National Park System. Hikers, picnickers, and horseback riders from throughout the High Country continue to enjoy the lakes and expansive trails laid out by the Cones. , Caption: Cone-era Bass Lake