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Blue Ridge Mountain Host Visitor Guide

The following is the introductory section to the Blue Ridge Mountain Host, an annual travel guide for the Blue Ridge Mountains of North Carolina.

Blue Ridge Mountains of North Carolina

Whoever said “the best things in life are free” was probably sitting on a lofty precipice somewhere in the Blue Ridge Mountains of North Carolina. This breathtakingly beautiful land of soaring peaks, lush green valleys, rushing streams and stately forests is worth a handsome admission price—but you don’t have to pay it. Just open your eyes, breathe deeply and take in the most spectacular show on earth—for free!

“If you read in dim light, you’ll ruin your eyes”. –Mom

As a public service, Anderson Ophthalmology would like to keep you informed about good eye health. So what about the above warning from your favorite font of wisdom? Sorry, Mom, it’s probably not true. There’s little evidence that reading in low light causes permanent damage to the eyes, but it can, however, cause eye strain.

Trains are alive and chugging in the Smoky Mountains

Working on the railroad

It was December of 1883 and Anderson Drake shivered as the makeshift flatboat bobbed and groaned its way across the rain-swollen Tuckasegee River. Drake and his fellow convicts were on their way to another day of hard labor digging the Cowee Tunnel for the Western North Carolina Railroad. Without warning, the shaky vessel capsized, dumping the 20 prisoners and a guard into the icy waters. Nineteen shackled prisoners sank to their deaths, but Drake, who was not in irons, managed to save not only himself, but prison guard Fleet Foster as well. Visions of a pardon danced in his head as he heroically dragged the guard to the shore. Unfortunately, it was later discovered that the slippery prisoner had stolen Foster’s wallet during the rescue. The next day, Drake was back working on the railroad…with an extra 30 years tacked onto his sentence.