MAYVIEW PARK BLOWmO ROCK, NORTH CAROLINA 4 IN CLOUDLAND Mayview Park, Blowing Rock, North Carolina "Written and Arranged by Crete Hutchinson W. L. Alexander, Owner, Blowing Rock, North Carolina Copyright, 1920, by W. L. Alexander Photographs from H. W. Pelton and Earl Hardy SEP 22 i920 ©C1A5758V2 Press of Judd & Detweiler, Inc. Washington, D. C. Fa 6 /-* ^—^-4 Curves God thinks in such convincing curves and chaUces; Mountains and hills, lilies and birds in flight — And in the sky where Beauty's palace is, Bubble on bubble of transcendent light. Disc upon disc of fire, jewel on jewel. Fed ceaselessly by His undying fuel. Rocks Rocks are jagged and weird and wild. Or they are beautiful and glad. Or they are wistful as a child. Or they are grim and sad. Some days they are like dancing flame. . . . They never are the same. They never are the solid mass We think they are, and could we pass Before them in their native key, Another substance they would be. Rocks may betray an undulating grace. Warm gestures and a living face. Teaching a secret we have not been told — That we, not they, are dull and hard and cold ! ©John Lane Co. Angela Morgan. Wonderland Trail in Mayview Park commands the finest and most soul inspiring views of the Blue Ridge in Western North Carolina. In Cloudland -I) " IGH above the clouds and over hanging the John's River Gorge are the finest and most soul inspiring views of the Blue Ridge in Western North Carolina. From Blowing Rock to the Tryon Mountain the Blue Ridge forms a deep curve half encircling the jumble of wild rocky peaks and cliffs that belong to the foot hill formation of the Appalachians. The little village of Blowing Rock lies on one arm of the horseshoe while the Tryon Mountain forms the other. From both points, directly in front is an enormous bowl filled with a thousand tree-clad hills and ridges that become higher and wilder toward the encircling wall of the Blue Ridge. The conspicious bare stone summits of Hawk's Bill and Table Mountain rise sharp as dragon's teeth above the rest, while the sheer and shining face of the terrible Lost Cove Cliffs, dropping into some unexplored ravine, come to view on a clear day. Mayview Rock, in Mayview Park, is forty-five hundred feet above sea level. It is accessible and is approached both from the Tennessee side through Johnson City, Tennessee and through North Carolina by way of Hickory. Johnson City is on the Southern Railway and is the preferred route for tourists from the south and all western points. At Johnson City a change is made to the East Tennessee and Western North Carolina Railroad which operates a parlor car service to ShuUs Mills, North Carolina. This part of the journey is through the Doe River Gorge and affords the traveler views of many superb scenic wonders. The trip from Shulls Mills to Mayview Park is by automobile stage, the short distance of six miles over the Yonahlossee Road, a twenty-five foot motor road of maximum four percent grade. Pullman service on the Southern Railway is obtainable to Hickory, where a change is made to the Western North Caro- lina Railroad to Lenoir. The Hickory route is the one usually preferred by travelers visiting this region from the north and east. At Lenoir an automobile stage meets all trains and the climb is made over a fine turnpike, a distance of twenty miles. The broad winding road is along the banks of the Catawba and Yadkin Rivers and the peaks of Grandfather, Beech Mountain, Hanging Rock, Hawk's Bill and many other peaks of the Blue Ridge are constantly in view. It is possible to make the trip from Lenoir to Mayview Park, Blowing Rock in one and a half hours and every moment is filled with exquisite glimpses of wonderful deep hemlock coves, of craggy rocks moss-grown and covered with the profuse blooms of the rhododendron. Above the mad waters of the Doe River, the roadbed, chiseled through solid rock, climbs to the famous Blowing Rock region, matchless in climate and beautiful in scenic wonders. Through the Canon of the Doe the skill of modern engineering enables the traveler to approach the summits of the Blue Ridge with ease and comfort. Grandfather Mountain at sunset is silhouetted against the sky in fiery splendor. The Famous Blowing Rock Region REAT STONE FACE, that remarkable profile, which appears on Grandfather Mountain, and is said to have named the mountain itself, is just a short drive from Mayview^ Park. Along the Yonahlossee Road untold beauties unfold and the true lover of the grandeur of the mountains here receives full measure. It winds around and crosses the Grandfather passing some of the loveliest spots in the east. The many trips that may be made by motor, buggy and by horseback about the peaks of Grandfather are replete with surprises. On the road to Linville, a distance of twenty-two miles, a stop may be made at the Great Trail where a climb of three and a half miles brings one to the highest point in this region, 5,997 feet, the Calloway Peak of the Grand- father. On Calloway Peak was situated the hotel so long conducted by the Calloway family and here Shepherd M. Dugger wrote "The Balsam Groves of the Grandfather." About eighteen miles further along at McRae's Gap is a trail up to the Linville Peak. This is a most delightful horseback ride through galax-covered slopes where the balsam and spruce trees are silhouetted against the blue sky. On the Yonahlossee Road are the shimmering Bridal Veil Falls, the headwaters of the John's River, and the Wilson Creek Falls, the headwaters of that stream. Both are a joy to the sportsman for in their limpid waters the epicure's speckled trout abounds. The circuitous drive continues through Linville to Newland where a short climb enables one to look into six states. North Carolina, Georgia, Virginia, Tennessee, Kentucky and South Carolina. The Linville River which empties into the Ohio is a slender ribbon winding through a cleft in the mountain on the western half of the watershed. From Newland to Banners Elk, where the peak of Hanging Rock Mountain may be reached by horseback is a wonder- ful view of practically all the peaks in Western North Carolina. Beech Mountain is only four miles from Banners Elk and is well worth while if one enjoys the gentle ambling of a horse and buggy. Years ago the village of Banners Elk had its beginning in the foundation of what is now known as "The Grandfather Orphanage," a fine institution conducted for the benefit of the poor homeless orphans of the mountains. It is situated in a sheltered spot in a grove of giant sugar maples. The Lees-McRae School for Girls is also here and is an admirably equipped and liberally patronized institution. Continuing on to Valle Crucis the way grows wilder, and if possible more beautiful. Under detached boulders covered After a summer rain the great bowl of John's River Gorge is filled to the brim with creamy, billowy clouds. \ with thick green moss and waving ferns, through open places on the edge of deep gorges, the highways winds. Bridle paths invite one to return for more feasts of beauty up among the balsam firs. Those paths seem to climb like stair steps up over the strong red roots of the trees and through moss-trimmed crags with their queer contorted spruces clinging like the dwarfed trees in a Japanese garden scheme. From the peculiar topographical crossing of two streams Valle Crucis received its name. The freakish flowing of water forms a cross that is plainly discernible from the eminence of the road as it drops down into the village. In this valley it is claimed that more corn per acre is raised than in any other county in North Carolina. From Valle Crucis to Shulls Mills the road follows the Watauga River revealing a magnificent wilderness of dignified hemlocks and great unapproachable spruce and pine trees on the dizzy cliffs above, and a sparkling tumbling rocky torrent beneath. Surely the early days of summer when nature makes for man's enjoyment a wonderful garden of this region, is the ideal time for a visit. The picturesque old-time log houses on the roadside with their patches of tilled ground nestled within the thickets of rhododendron, the wonderful soft breezes that are wafted from the peaks, add to the storehouse of memories gleaned during the drive from Mayview Park and back again through Shulls Mills, a distance of nearly sixty miles. Another journey to Boone, recalls incidents in the early history of the United States. The road follows the New River through dense thickets of laurel and high evergreens, for about ten miles. It is so well graded that it is hardly possible to perceive whether one is traveling up or down although the descent from Mayview Park to Boone is about one thousand feet. It has frequently been called the "road that is downhill both ways." Here Daniel Boone, the hunter, blazed his trail into Kentucky. The Daughters of the American Revolution have placed stone markers at various points in the town of Boone to preserve to posterity the route Boone was supposed to have taken when making his memorable journey. The present court house is the third one to be erected in the town and gives an interesting bit of American history to the visitor. The return may be made through Aho with a very steep climb around Flat Top and Thunder Hill Mountains. The views from these mountains are well worth the effort in bringing a car to the top. The trip to Dutch Creek Falls affords the greatest enjoyment to the motorist. About one mile west from Valle Crucis the Dutch Creek rises on Grandfather Mountain and slides over great shining rocks in a sheer drop of seventy or eighty feet, forming the headwaters of the Watauga River. One leaves the car on the roadside and climbs up a path to obtain the view. It is easily one of the iinest of the many waterfalls in this part of the Blue Ridge, and nowhere else do botanists find so large and fine a variety of wild flowers as on the byways of the Grandfather up through the untouched forests and moss-carpeted trails. In Mayview Park the trout lurk beneath the Glen Burnie Falls and the sunset trails lead to heavenly vistas of the great A field of daisies high above tli- range of which Grandfather is a part. On clear days the Black Mountains with Mount Mitchell outlined against the sky are easily distinguished while down below in the bottom of the gorge the John's River races merrily along, sometimes hurrying over a rocky bed in riotous cascades, sometimes flowing leisurely through straight sandy stretches. Little farm houses dot its banks and tiny plots of carefully tilled fields stretch in diminutive landscapes on the floor below. From Wonderland and Valley View Trails the views are superb. No words can describe the magnificent beauty and grandeur of the hoary old Grandfather with one of his many faces upturned against the sky, as viewed from the various points in Mayview Park and from the famous Blowing Rock. In the winter this genuine old man of the moun- tains when silvered with frost or blanched with snow presents the appearance of great age and in the summer is rejuvenated with mantels of softest green and purple. His slopes are tapestried in hangings of the richest hues in the autumn and at all seasons of the year he welcomes the lover of wild unspoiled spaces. The wild flowers are finest in May and June but are profuse all through the mild warm days of summer and even into the crisp autumn which lingers well on into December. The shining galax is everywhere and is best about Christmas time when busy people gather the richest red ones for the Yuletide market. Galax picking is a profitable industry among the simple kind-hearted mountain folk. They come to the high ridges from the lowlands and erect rude shelters for their families for the season of gather- ing. All along the Yonahlossee Road enroute to Linville these little rock houses with their thatched roofs of hemlock and spruce Glen Burnie Falls. View from Valley View Trail when the moon casts her gentle rays on the pristine loveliness of the clouds beneath. boughs may be seen. For several weeks the leaves are a beautiful soft shade of red, the mellowed red of old wine, and they find a ready market in the cities where they are used as backgrounds for the brilliant cultivated flowers of the holiday season. The ginseng is gathered too and shipped to far off China and the many health-giving herbs that grow in secluded glens known only to the mountain folk are in demand in laboratories the world over. In their season blackberries and blueberries are plentiful and the wild strawberries are everywhere. It is in this section that the delicious Indian peach is grown and when the cherry and peach trees, the apple blossoms too, are in bloom, the mountains form a veritable fairyland of colorful beauty. Enormous gooseberries invite you to taste and then impishly prick your fingers and the red strawberries seem sweeter here and more delectable than in other places. For the one who loves to wander on foot, new joys are ever unfolding and the freshness and fragrance of the air will remain in memory to the end of earthly days. Truly it is all so wonderful that you abandon yourself to the mere primitive instincts of utter enjoyment through the senses. Up Laurel Lane and Bird's Nest Trail the air is filled with tonic bitter fragrance. Great rhododendron and mountain laurel line the way and you go on and on without fatigue. At the top-most point of Wonderland Trail, Mayview Rock rears its lichen-covered face. Here the vista is unsurpassed and from its dizzy heights the gorgeous summer sunsets with the ever changing hues of the rich after-glow gives one an experience for lifelong retrospection. Sometimes one rises early after a summer rain to find the great bowl beneath filled to the very brim with level creamy clouds that reach away from the shores of the peaks in a mighty ocean of billowing snowy whiteness. If the day is heavy perhaps the clouds will remain until the moon casts her gentle rays over the pristine loveliness. The dream-like forms immersed in such a sea of mystical delight disclose a thousand enchanting pictures. When the atmospheric sea recedes the wild forms in the great basin seem so near and the dark colors are transmuted into the delicate blue of the Blue Ridge. A place for rest and recuperation from the cares of the city is Mayview Park. Here the visitor can dream and idle away the vacation time in the purifying altitude of the Grandfather. The air is considered by scientists incomparable, rich in ozone, and the beauty of scenery and salubrity of climate make it an ideal playground for the hot summer months. For the resident it affords the opp>ortunity to not only make a living through the richness of the land but a home of satisfying beauty and comfort. In winter it is cool crisp and bracing without being rigorous. The months of July and August each have an annual mean temperature of seventy-one degrees and the month of February, a mean temperature of thirty-seven de- grees. The average humidity is very low and because of the topography of Mayview Park and its elevation above the sea, the highest temperatures are not accompanied by the oppressive, enervating and sultry conditions so frequently expe- rienced in less favored sections of the mountains. The mean average rainfall of the region is only forty-one inches, evenly dis- tributed throughout the year. Snow falls have averaged for several years only ten inches annually, generally in short flurries, distributed usually through six months of the year. Nature has lavishly bestowed a wealth of health-giving, invigorating bal- samic atmosphere in an altitude so high above the surrounding country, so rare and bracing that the lungs inhale liberally of the pure oxygen. Children are particularly benefited by the climatic conditions and tired mothers with small children who fret in the torrid months of July and August have been seeking relief here for many years. Persons, not ordinarily fond of walking, tramp up and down the hills apparently without fatigue. The nights are always cool with the temperature averaging in the hottest months, about fifty degrees. It is always necessary to sleep under blankets and the deep, nerve-relaxing slumber rehabilitates and brings a renewal of strength. Here one may enjoy the isolation of unexplored mountain fastnesses amid the comfort of modern and up-to-date hotels, in the quiet of the little cottages nestled in the hills or one may camp out in the open along the trails. Oppor- tunities for vigorous exercise exist for the golf enthusiast and the tennis devotee and the indefatigable equestrian is in a Paradise of his own. The horseback trails furnish temptations irresistible. A favorite trip is the climb up to the very top peak of the Grand- father before sunset and bivouac above the clouds for the night. Rising early with the sun the glorious views on every side disclose the entire territory with its scenic wonders. The incomparable Twin Falls. and solemn magnificence of the views have been told and retold in song and poem after the writer has experienced the joy of a night on the Grandfather. The charming and fragrant valleys which lie at the foot of the venerable old mountain with their fields and orchards, the primeval untouched tree-clad hills and the gigantic upheaval of boulders stand forth at the break of day in a vivid array of riotous greens which blend gorgeously into the sapphire blue of the morning sky. The ancient trunks of fallen trees bright with yellowish green moss, the balsam groves and fern-covered rocks line the rich-carpeted moss-grown trails. Over the deep emerald ocean flossed with golden sun- shine the Blue Ridge stands forth with its line broken in a hun- dred peaks, many of them nearly six thousand feet above the level of the sea. Returning to Mayview Park in the early morning along the open stretches and rocky bluffs new sights and sounds abound on every side. The birds have cleverly hidden their nests among the thick mosses and the charm of such a ride is filled with end- less variety. Another ride that is always taken by the energetic one is over the trail to the famous Blowing Rock. There is an excel- lent motor road quite to the very brink of the eminence but to go by the trail skirting the great cliffs, passing Jaggy Point and enjoying the bounteous fragrance of the wild flowers, is by far the most satisfying way of enjoying the "Rock" itself. It is visible from every point along the devious way and stands like a great citadel overlooking the grand gorge beneath. Drooping violets under shading boughs of evergreen invite one to loiter by Bird's Nest Trail to The Pinnacles. John's River Gorge from Wonderland Trail. A second growth of hickory trees. the path while darting rays of sunshine beckon and the music of hidden waters gives forth the strains of invisible choirs. On the high plateau above great hotels with their busy murmurings of pleasure-seeking vacationists reach one while below all is wild and in its unspoiled splendor invites day dreams and fantastic imagery. The wild flowers and sweet-smelling herbs that love only high places permeate the evening breezes with sweet per- fume while the great purple rhododendron and rose-hued laurel crowding against the hills and filling the open spaces remain in view until the last ray of the sunset's glow deepens into the lovely night. The views from Blowing Rock and Mayview Park change continually in the atmospheric sea that encloses the mountains and deep valleys. The solid rock seems to melt into a myriad of fairy forms and the elemental, the primordial, the silence of the ages bring the hush and repose of a measureless antiquity to one, while musing from a coign of vantage. Wild shapes seem to ap- pear in the depths of John's River Gorge sometimes very near, and again phantoms wander in wraith-like and fantastic fashion disappearing in mystical shadows beneath the trails. The "Rock" is gray and weather-worn, a veteran of many battles, green in a rich carpet of dark moss in the Spring and covered with great lichens of interesting variety. A motor road has been cut to the very brink of the gorge and all foot trails and bridle paths also lead to the topmost point. The overhanging ledge is like the ruins of some great earth temple and is a curious relic of a world that we know not of. In the cliffs and crags be- neath there are memories of a million years of terrestrial history Jaggy Point. and the geologic history is written on the granite boulders and inscribed on the face of every cliff. Indian legends with primitive love stories of beautiful maidens and warriors bold are woven about the great platform, a generous trysting spot for the youth of other centuries huge enough to build a house upon. Weighing hundreds of tons it stands in solitary grandeur jutting out from the side of Blowing Rock Mountain defying the incessant war- fare of the elements, never yielding to the attacks of frost and rain and shining sun. The youth of the earth is in the soil, in the trees and verdure that spring from it, but the age of the earth is in the great rocks, in the granite boulders which form the rugged foundation of all things. At times when Blowing Rock lies far above the clouds encircled in the delicate flaky veils of mist it seems detached from all the world and floating there like an island in a wind- tossed sea. Again the ledges of rugged rocks appear to peril- ously lean far out over a gorgeous garden of green and purple, peering into the darkened coves and fern grown dells. The colors of the Orient rapidly changing to softest rainy greens lightly touch the slopes of old Grandfather and as the evening falls a burning flush fades into the narrow line of blue, the blue of the wonderful Blue Ridge. From beneath many of the gigantic rocks through Mayview Park the coldest purest springs gush forth, the clear narrow streams tumbling recklessly down dizzy heights through tree grown coves. Delightful pools are lairs for speckled trout, and anglers find long remembered pleasures in the translucent waters. The artist, the poet, the student and lover of all primitive open-air Cliffs under Blowing Rock. White Oak Gap from Wonderland Trail. things here may reap a rich harvest of satisfying joys. The small wild creatures that find their homes in curious dens and nests, secluded with surprising cunning, give interesting pastime to the naturalist. Gray squirrels, red squirrels, chipmunks and greedy field mice hoard their winter food supply all through the lazy days of summer. The drum of the grouse when he calls to his mate from their old rendezvous among the chestnuts, the chirping of invisible insects, the occasional short shrill whistle of the woodchuck affrighted by your foot-fall and the sweet song of the brown thrasher whose notes in splendid har- mony rise from the tiny nest hidden in the thickets, gives you a happy sense of kindly companionship. In the myriad of drives and walks, in the opportunities for exercise and healthful enjoyment, Mayview Park with its splendid new clubhouse, its comfortable, charming little cottages, the many miles of excellent motor roads is an ideal place not only for the summer months but for the autumn and the early days of spring. In the spring Grandfather is clothed in a delicate coat of new green and the running sap in the balsam and spruce gives forth a fragrance of purifying goodness. In the autumn the golden hues of late summer blend with the deep crimson of early fall and the whole basin is in magnifi- cent royal array, and the innumerable birds sweeping southward, pause for a song among the forest trees. The great tower- ing chestnuts give forth their fruit and many happy hours may be spent in nutting expeditions. So each season has its offerings and the visitor lingers on and on loath to leave a land so near the skies. The Great Stone Face of the Grand- father carved in rock and plumed with ferns, worn by the elements of time invites the traveler to return again and again for the enjoyment and rest that comes in the solemn grandeur of the great heights of the mountains. On the Yonahlossee Road near Hanging Rock Mountain. Sunset from Pinnacle Path. The Development of Mayview Park ONDERLAND TRAIL represents one of the greatest achievements in modern road building in the eastern part of the United States. Forty-five hundred feet above sea level it vi^inds along the brink of great cliffs which command views unsurpassed in Eastern North America. Grand- father Mountain is the predominant feature of the marvelous landscape as viewed from various points along the drive and the depths of the John's River Gorge far below with the ever chang- ing shadows make a picturesque and wonderful experience for the motorist. Two years ago the development of Mayview Park was begun and today in its finished state is the most beautiful and without exception the finest resort in the Blue Ridge Mountains. M The original tract was six hundred acres of splendid virgin timber, four hundred of which were sold to the Government to become a part of the great National Forest Reserve. Two hundred acres have been commercially developed into a beautiful park with five miles of graded auto- I mobile roads of four percent maximum grade with a minimum width of twenty-five feet and a maximum width on the turns of fifty feet. At least two miles of these roads were cut through solid rock at tremendous ex- pense and are monuments to the skill of the engineer who surmounted the great difficulties attendant upon the undertaking. Valley View Trail follows the cliffs below Wonderland and finds its terminus in a wide turn at the very brink of Thun- der Hole. From this point the view is magnificent, facing Grandfather Mountain and the entire range of the Blacks. The lovely homes which have been erected on this road are scattered along the cliffs and are in the most secluded section of May- view Park and yet are conveniently within reach of the village of Blowing Rock. Wonderland Trail begins at the main street of Blowing Rock at the entrance to Mayview Park and continuing past Lake Mayview, an artificial lake of three acres, it climbs in circuitous broad turns and long stretches, along the crest of the peak to Mayview Rock. All trails within the property lead to this point where one obtains the marvelous views of the Blue Ridge. Table Rock, Hawk's Bill, Beech Mountain and Hanging Rock with Clingman's Dome and Mount Mitchell in the distance in the great Black Mountain group are visible with countless other gigantic peaks on the fine clear days of sum- mer. Mount Mitchell is the highest point east of the Rockies, rearing its great blue dome 6,711 feet above the level of the sea. There are twenty-three peaks in North Carolina higher than Mount Washington in New Hampshire, and Watauga Wonderland Trail in the jt construction. County is in the highest general altitude, its lowest level being 3,000 feet, of any other county in the mountainous section of North Carolina. All roads in the Blowing Rock region and on the Mayview Park property find their devious ways at an alti- tude which varies from four thousand to five thousand feet. North Carolina contains the oldest forest land in the United States and seventy-six percent is still forested, a little more than three million acres in the sixteen counties which enclose within their boundaries the range of the Blue Ridge. Watauga County is all in this section and Mayview Park is at the top-most point of one of the many peaks of the Grand- father. All roads and foot paths are carefully graded and the viewpoints are easily accessible either by motor, on horseback or by walking. The clear waters of Lake Mayview are ideal for swimming and give an added beauty to the park. It has been stocked with mountain trout and is a very picturesque spot. Three and one half miles of water mains have been laid with fire plugs at every twelve hundred feet and five miles of electric transmission lines have been carried through the property for the lighting of the roads and cottages. The coolest and purest mountain springs furnish an abundance of water which is pumped to a great reservoir on the highest point, from which pipes carry it by gravity to all parts of the property. This system produces a method of supply which is both constant and reliable and no habitations or cultivated fields exist above the points from which the water sup- ply is taken. The sewerage system is complete, modem newly installed and no town or city has a more satisfactory and sani- tary water and sewerage system. Beside the natural growth of rhododendron and other mountain flora, twenty car loads of nursery stock have been added. Along the banks of the newly cut roads wild honeysuckle has been planted and no expense has been spared to make this park the finest and most beautiful mountain resort in the East. The red spruce or tamarack, the hemlock and balsam, the great towering chestnut trees and the exquisite undergrowth of flowering shrubs make their contribution to the superb scenery. The lichen-covered crags and moss grown banks beguile one through shady paths to vistas of delight. Edgewood Path and Laurel Lane, Meadow Lane and Pinnacle Drive all join Wonderland Trail and Valley View making five miles of the most wonderful roads for motoring, every portion of the road plan representing a feat in the art of engineer- ing. At various points many hundreds of dollars were expended to preserve gigantic rocks of scenic grandeur and at no point is the descent dangerous. All curves have wide turns and heavy cars of long wheel base may be driven with safety to every part of the park. An annual trip to Grandfather will surely replenish the tired brain and give a renewal of inspira- tion and bodily vigor. Wonderland Trail in the autumn of 1919, cut through soUd rock at an elevation of forty-five hundred feet. Laurel Lane skirts the edge of Mayview Park, winding high above the clear waters of New Year's Creek. An ideal home for both summer and winter in Mayview Park. The Cottages in Mayview Park I AKE MAYVIEW is but one of the several lakes that add beauty to the grandeur of the views abounding in the Blowing Rock region. Overlooking its banks are charming little cot- tages, each one newly built, and modern in every detail with appointments that appeal to the most fastidious. The exteriors, artistic and pleasing to the eye, have broad roofs which extend over the verandas in wide sweeping shade. The floor plans were drawn with a careful attention to large living rooms, spacious fire-places and comfortable well proportioned sleeping chambers. All sleeping rooms have ample closet space and the baths and kitchens are not only conveniently arranged but have the finest plumbing material of porcelain and iron. Fire-places furnish the heat necessary for the coolest summer days and cord wood is obtainable in the village of Blow- ing Rock. There is a variety of design in the various cottages and they contain from five to seven rooms with kitchen and bath. Each one is tastefully furnished in walnut of Queen Anne design and the verandas have spe- cially built rustic hickory sets. The bed chambers are carpeted in hand-woven rugs and the beds are particularly comfort- able with good felt mattresses and soft dowTiy pillows. The sitting rooms are brightened with soft-toned grass rugs and attractive, comfortable and durable furniture and everything necessary for immediate occupancy has been supplied with the exception of portable kitchen utensils, linen, china and silver. The cottages situated along the Valley View and Wonderland Trails are especially attractive. Bark-covered exteriors blend into the natural green of the foliage almost obscuring them from view. They are simple in design and nestled on the very brink of Thunder Hole, afford the opportunity for solitude while enabling the occupant to enjoy the conveniences of Mayview Park. The spacious living rooms have an abundance of light and wide entrances into the dining rooms add to the comfort and beauty of each bungalow. Handsome pergolas and artistically hooded verandas disclose views of marvelous sunsets on the Grandfather and shaded walks lead to charming dells in the woodland beneath. Electric lights with fixtures harmonious in design are installed in every home. The sewerage system compares favorably with that of any large city. The water supply is derived from nine large mountain springs on the property and an excellent "Hidden Waters." 1 "» Bungalow on Meadow Lane. filtration plant is constantly in operation. The water is carried to each cottage through three and one-half miles of water mains with fire plugs every twelve hundred feet. The gravity system insures a con- stant flow of the purest drinking water and is one of the desirable features of the Mayview Park development. It is always cool and refreshing and has been pronounced by scientists as containing many beneficial properties. The reservoirs are made of concrete and buried in the ground, therefore the water always remains at a low tempera- ture. A telephone system has been installed with long distance connec- tions and the Western Union Telegraph Company maintains a service in Blowing Rock. There is a daily mail service, east and west, and north and south, leaving Blowing Rock at eight A. M. and arriving at three P. M. Newspapers issued in Charlotte, North Carolina, reach Mayview Park in the afternoon of the same day. Each cottage occupies an acre or more of ground commanding the most attractive views. Paths and drives are well graded and converge into the main roads. Automobile storage has been provided on the property and a shop is maintained for repair work. Automobiles driven by competent chauffeurs may be rented by the day or hour and surreys and riding horses are also for hire. Physicians are accessible and a good pharmacy is conducted in Blowing Rock. Meals are served at the Mayview Club for both transients and cottagers. For those who wish to keep house there are eight stores where excellent food supplies are obtain- able. Trucks operated between Lenoir, North Carolina, and Blowing Rock; and Shulls Mills and Blowing Rock; deliver fresh Western meats, fish and vegetables every day. Milk, eggs, cheese and good country butter are for sale in the village and at the farms in the immediate vicinity. Many of the finest farms in North Carolina are in this region and the small fruits, apples and peaches are famous. The prices which prevail are less than in the nearby towns and the large cities of the eastern and southern states. An ice plant has been installed with Spring in Mayview Park. Blowing Rock at Sunset. 11 IT .•- Overlooking John's River Gorge. a capacity sufficient to meet the requirements of all cottagers and an up-to-date laundry renders excellent service. No cows or pigs are permitted on the property and only clean private stables for horses may be main- tained. All stables must be kept in a strictly sanitary condition and fly-screened and no accumulation of waste is allowed. All fences erected are rustic or of stone and do not exceed five feet in height. All service quarters are screened by plants and trellises of attract- ive design. In fact every effort has been made to pro- tect the cottager from annoyances and at the same time conduct a resort on a sound business basis. The cottages are for sale as well as for rent and being strongly built of the best materials, convenient 2nd inviting in arrangement are suitable for occupancy the year round as well as for the summer months. The foundation sill, floor joists, the sub-flooring, the regular tongued and grooved flooring, the studding, the wall sheathing, the siding, the win- Qow and door frames, the outside finish, the rafters, the roof sheathing, the steps, the stairs and all porch framing are of the best materials obtainable in the market today. All building paper used, the lock sets, double acting door hinges, window weights, nails, paints, varnishes, oils, stains, hip shingles, tin flashing and all other important parts necessary in the con- struction of these homes are superior in quality. The lumber is well sea- soned, sound and unsurpassed in finish, and was cut in the great forests of North Carolina. The wall board used throughout the interiors is the highest grade manufactured and makes an artistic finish for both the side walls and the ceilings. Every house which is painted has two coats of the best grade and the varnishes, oils, stains and paints for the interior finish are the highest-priced on the market. The doors are of special design and carefully built of finest clear stock of velvety grain, beautifully finished on surfaces lylirian CI "Cheetola," a beautiful mountain estate. 'i The Norwood Golf Course, at an altitude of four thousand feet, is one of the most picturesque in the United States. and edges. The windows and door frames are carefully machined and finished and all jxjrch columns are of finest stock and built with lock joints. The window sashes, all edges and surfaces sanded and finished with great care, are of fir and all the outside walls are of a high grade yellow pine. The interior woodwork, the baseboards, base shoe, door and window casings are well machined and the casings are molded and of modern back band design. The front doors are fitted with night latches and two way knobs of frosted brass of good design and all windows are fur- nished with substantial locks, weights, sash lifts, hinges and glass. All outside steps are of correct width and height and conform to the lines of the houses. The interior stairs are built from selected stock with especial attention to grain. The newel posts, molded caps and bases, circle treads, steps, risers, railings and balusters are well finished, and all timber and other materials are guar- anteed to be of the highest grade obtainable. In an attempt to accommodate the ever increasing influx of summer visitors the Mayview Park cottages have been con- structed and each one is snug, attractive and modern- in every detail. The "Plaza" situated on Meadow Lane at one of the highest points of the property, is a thoroughbred bungalow of architecture purely American. Its shingled side walls are like those built by our early ancestors in the North while the broad spacious veranda is a reminder of the homes in the sunny South before the Civil War. The West is portrayed in the beautiful California pergola at the end of the porch. There are seven rooms, spacious and artistically finished and the location is at a point where the views are unsurpassed. Lake Cheetola. The "Pasadena" is a beautiful little home of sunshine and shade built in a secluded spot, overlooking Thunder Hole on the Valley View Road. The pergola and uncovered veranda enables one to look with undisturbed quietude upon the wonderful range of the Blue Ridge, while the artistic hooded doorway at the side entrance gives egress to the long shady winding path which drops down into the very depths of the gorge. The room arrangement has more charm than usual in convenience, comfort and spacious- ness. An abundance of light and good mountain air and the de- parture from the rough blunt lines of the average mountain home makes it a delightful place not only for the summer, but for all the seasons of the year. There are seven rooms with ample closet space, three bedrooms, a dining room, living room, kitchen and bath. The "Raymond" situated near the "Pasadena," also on the Valley View Road, commands an unobstructed view of Grand- father Mountain and is on the very brink of the gorge. The un- covered veranda, the exposed rafters and casement windows all contribute to the general attractiveness of this five-room bunga- low. A road ends at the door step and the view of the wild unspoiled timbered slopes with John's River more than a thou- sand feet below is one of the finest in the "Park." The "Pomona" on Edgewood Path is a seven-room bungalov.' of the California type nestled among the giant forest trees and rhododendron thickets. The overhanging eaves and broad ve- randa, the brown shingled side walls and green roof will appeal to the seeker after rest and beauty. The "Burbank" is a near neighbor of the "Pomona" and in Lake Mayview. Hunters' Guide and Harmon Knob from the Valley View Road. Near Edgewood Path. its extreme simplicity of outline with the shingled walls of velvety brown and soft green roof is almost lost to view in the verdure. There are three fine bedrooms, a dining room of unusual proportions, and an excellent living room for the accommodation of a large family. The kitchen lighted by two windows is commodious and attractive and the partial seclusion of the porch gives the cottage individuality and distinction. The little six-room "Winthrop" on the Wonderland Trail is a charming compact and conveniently arranged bungalow. The large living room with its three windows and open fireplace at the end is an inviting portion of the house. An interesting bay window in the dining room adds to the length and the centralized hall and entrance from dining room, kitchen, bath and bedrooms is a good feature. Rough country rock forms supports for the veranda and the heavy timbers and broken lines make an attractive exterior. The "Detroit" is one of the few two-story or story-and-a-half bungalows in Mayview Park. Built on Wonderland Trail it is exceptionally pleasing. There are seven rooms, four on the first floor and two bedrooms with bath on the second. The closet space is generous and the chimney built of stone on the side of the house adds a touch of color to the brown side walls. Many other cottages are ready for occupancy and all are equally attractive, built with careful thought and a fine attention to every detail. There are also still available a number of splendid lots in locations where unobstructed views of the Blue Ridge and the deep gorges make ideal sites for homes. Building materials may be obtained in the near vicinity of Blowing Rock and advice will be given by engineers experienced in construction problems in Mayview Park if desired. The village of Blowing Rock. Motoring above the clouds on Pinnacle Path. Watauga County RIMITIVE methods in manufacture of various household necessities still prevail in the little mountain cabins in Watauga County. Baskets of willow and white oak splits are made by both lien and women and durable rugs and draperies are woven by the simple kind-hearted house- wives for the adornment of their small domiciles. The quaint log houses recall early American history and the peculiarities of speech surely hark back to the old English of the early settlers. Chronicles of the early inhabitants are replete with interesting bits of Indian legendry and pre- revolutionary times. Little is known of the Cherokees who first lived in the mountain fast- nesses, but the good Scotch and Irish ancestors who came here from Pennsylvania, have left the imprint of their sturdiness on the present generation. Daniel Boone, as early as 1763 made his first trip through these mountains blazing the trail g into Tennessee. At the present town of Boone a monument of stone and concrete has been built on the identical spot on which once stood the log cabin in which Daniel Boone and his companions used to sleep while on their hunting trips. The cabin has long since disappeared, but the stones of the chimney remained in their original foundation until 191 1. Boone is the county seat of Watauga County and the court house is within a few hundred feet of where the old hunting camp of Daniel Boone once stood. The trail through the county has been marked with stone tablets in accordance with the traditions preserved by Colonel W. L. Bryan, a direct lineal descendant of the wife of Daniel Boone, and the patriotic ladies of the North Carolina Historical Commission actually placed the stones. In Virginia, Tennessee and Kentucky the Daughters of the American Revolution have marked the trail so today the entire route is permanently preserved to posterity. Tales of perilous adventure, of long and arduous hunting trips of men famous in Ameri- can History are recorded as having taken place here. Riding a horse and leading another heavily laden with supplies, the pioneers journeyed in absolute solitude, sometimes crawling on hands and knees, cutting a way for their animals. The mountain wilderness remains for the enjoyment of the visitors to Mayview Park, but the old Indian paths have been broadened for motorists and the by-paths on the Grandfather are well beaten with the tramp of many feet. Boone is only a short motor ride of ten miles over a well-graded pike and the Yonahlossee or Bear Trail is a delightful country road winding in and out around the peaks forming a link between the many beautiful mountain resorts of Watauga County. A "Penelope of the hills," Mrs. Finley Mast at her loom. Valle Crucis OTORING along the Yonahlossee Road, past Linville and Newland to Banners Elk and Valle Crucis, it is customary to rest awhile at the home of Mrs. Finley Mast. Here in a quaint log loom house, which is over one hundred years old, Mrs. Mast, on primitive looms, weaves lovely drug- gets, beautiful coverlids and charming draperies. Taught to weave by her mother when a child, she first learned to make delightfully absorbent towels from flax grown in her father's meadows. ;- Twenty- five years ago bolts of handwoven cloth for toweling were on the counters of every cross-roads store and the children of the cabins on the mountainside wove most of the material under the direction of their thrifty mothers. Today these children grown to womanhood, their angel-faced babies clinging to their skirts still spin and weave from drawings brought by their forebears in old world chests from England, Ireland and Scotland. The coloring used is still __ ^ ^^-^^^^^^^ brewed from the variety of barks, leaves, flowers and roots which grow around the peaks of the "^^">*TSil^HBBiBB Grandfather and even the children are trained to gather the black-eyed Susan for the petals which yield the exquisite yellow, and the many dye-flowers from which the brilliant indigo is made. The patterns are passed from cabin to cabin and the names are truly inspirational. The "True Lover's Knot," the "Downfall of Paris" and "Noah's Wonder" are evidently old world designs, but the "Hickory Leaf," "Sunrise," "Foxtrail," "Forty-nine Snowballs," "Magnolia Blossom," "Rattlesnake Trail" and "Tennessee Trouble," surely had their origin in these mountains. Mrs. Mast has three looms, very old and primitive, one large enough for druggets and wide rugs and the other two for the narrow pieces. An ancient spinning wheel is in constant use and the wool in her fabrics is shorn from sheep on the farm. She still grows her own flax in the fields of "Brookside" where for forty years she has spun and woven her beautiful wares. Since demonstrating the early methods of weaving at the Knoxville Exposition her fame has spread afar. In the lovely "Bloomingleaf" design she has woven a large rug, chair covers, hangings and embroidered a knotted bedspread for the "Blue Mountain Bedroom" in the White House at Washington. Many orders for the matched sets for which she has become famous have made it necessary to enlist the aid of other women versed in the homespun arts in the vicinity of Valle Crucis and today a profitable industry has been stimulated through her work among these "Penelopes of the hills." The journey from Mayview Park to "Brookside Farm" is one of the many interesting trips from Blowing Rock. Sunlight on Laurel Lane. Recreation ICNICING along the by-paths of the Grandfather gives one glimpses of fairyland. The peace- ful valley of the John's River below the crags, the sylvan beauty of the deep hemlock coves and the gorgeous views of the towering peaks of the Blue Ridge afford pleasure unalloyed to the lover of the beautiful. Nature's richest and warmest hues decorate the steep hillsides and the multi-colored wild flowers hold a high carnival of riotous splendor from early Spring to late Autumn. The great variety of mushrooms for which this region is justly famous are most delectable when prepared over a fire of crackling balsam boughs and to camp in the shadow of Chimney Rock, a gigantic tower so delicately poised that it would seem a mere gust of wind vv'ould unbalance it, is in truth a treat for the urbanite. Everywhere one encounters the unex- "* pected. Rocks weighing hundreds of tons, have stood through storm and the stress of seasons for countless centuries and the mountains in their rugged grandeur reveal to inquisitive man the story of the world in its making. To climb to the top of Thunder Hill where one lone forest ghost remains on guard, is one of the joys that are so plentiful for the energetic. A narrow trail leads one to the highest point where a marvelous view is the reward. Ransom and Grand Views, the view from the famous Blowing Rock itself and from Mayview Rock are all sublime, but not more so than the many viewpoints that may be obtained in v/andering along the less frequented trails. There are thirty-five hundred acres in the Moses H. Cone estate and the beautifully kept roads and charming paths are open to horse-driven vehicles and equestrians. The clear mountain lakes are stocked with trout and twenty-five miles of winding roads through picturesque orchards of apples and cherries give an added charm to Blowing Rock. "Cheetola," now the estate of E. C. Holt, of Burlington, North Carolina, is just a short distance beyond the village. The driveway wanders through a labyrinth of trees and thickets around a beautiful lake. The garden extends to the shores in undulating grassy terraces and the cultivated flowers are exquisite in their penetrating sweetness. The Norwood Golf Course is available to residents of Mayview Park on the same basis as the guests of the Green Park Hotel. It is considered one of the most picturesque and unique courses in the United States and is fascinating in its alluring environment. The turf is always in perfect condition and although showing sand in cuts, the greens are entirely covered with beautiful grass. The course carries the player over glistening streams and natural hazards affording every latitude to the skill- ful, without however, requiring superhuman drives. There are magnificent sweeps, downhill and up again with just enough trouble to put a premium on first-class golf. Encircling on every side is range on range of hills and the invigorating atmosphere permits long hours of this facinating and beneficial sport. Each season a classified series of contests are arranged with appropriate and handsome prizes. Tennis courts have been prepared on the Mayview property and all other outdoor sports usually enjoyed at mountain resorts are available here. Each summer riding horses are for hire and horse-drawn vehicles as well as automobiles may be rented by the hour or day in the village of Blowing Rock. There are several excellent hotels and boarding houses in the village and cottages may be rented by the season. The Green Park Hotel caters in every possible manner to the comfort and pleasure of its guests. Its equipment is distinctly modern and of the best and the management takes pleasure in arranging for the amusement as well as for the comfort of its patronage. The hotel is situated near Blowing Rock on Green Hill at an elevation of 4,300 feet and with its broad verandas and white balconies is a landmark which can be seen fifteen miles away. The Blowing Rock Hotel, the Watauga Inn and the Martin Cottage are all hospitably located and convenient to Mayview Park. The daily menus of the numerous boarding houses and private cottages offer fresh mountain trout, sweet country ham, beef from western grazing lands, home-grown vegetables, fresh Picnicing near Chimney Rock. eggs and rich cream in abundance from the nearby farms. The water is pure and the comfortable quarters that may be obtained are unusual in mountain resorts. The Presbyterian Church, built from country rock, is situated in a picturesque spot on the main street and the clergy of the Episcopal Church extend a warm welcome to all visitors that come to their village. A number of well-stocked shops, drug- stores and a motion picture theater add to the convenience and pleasure of the cottagers. An exchange is maintained during the summer season for the sale of the many articles made by the mountain people. The hand-embroidered knotted bedspreads are very much in demand and the loom products and hand-made laces find a ready sale. Delicious jellies and jams, old-fashioned beaten biscuits, articles made of laurel, and willow and split baskets are brought from the hills. The postoffice and bank are centrally located and every courtesy is extended to the temporary resident. At the spacious new club house in Mayview Park all visitors to Blowing Rock are cordially received. Reservations may be made for private dancing parties and tea is served on the verandas every day during the long season. Dinners and lunch- eons are prepared regularly and separate dining rooms for chil- dren and for white and colored servants are maintained. The Mayview Club makes a delightful rendezvous for riding and driving parties and the windows of the ballroom overlook Grandfather Mountain, Beech Mountain, Hanging Rock, Saw- tooth, Hawk's Bill and the far range of the Blacks. At sunset the wonderful panorama of the Blue Ridge is a picture of marvelous beauty, and the verandas of the club are a coign of vantage unex- Khododendron on Calloway Park. Old Grandfather Mountain, his face upturned against the sky. The vast panorama of the Blue Ridge from the topmost point of the beautiful motor road, Wonderland Trail. celled in this region. Here Nature has furnished most awe-inspir- ing views prepared by her titanic forces and the hand of time has carved huge edifices that suggest ancient religious temples of races long extinct. A matchless playground, a geological wonderland and a soul- satisfying resting place, is the Blowing Rock region. The village is the highest town in North Carolina and Boone the highest county seat. Mount Mitchell, Clingman's Dome, Potato Knob, Balsam Cone and Cat-tail Peak in the Black Mountain Range, each one over six thousand feet above sea level, are in full view from many points of Blowing Rock. Asheville is seventy miles from Blowing Rock, Charlotte, one hundred and four miles and it is seventy-one miles from Johnson City, Tennessee. The new national highway now being constructed passes through the town. The Southern Railway to Hickory and the Carolina and Northwestern Railroad to Lenoir enable the traveler to make the journey from the north and south with ease and comfort and through tickets are sold to Lenoir. Automobiles meet all trains and the trip from Lenoir can be made in less than two hours. Table Rock Mountain, Mount Mitchell and other peaks of the Blacks can be seen on a clear day during the drive from Lenoir and the climb is about thirty-five hundred feet. The road crosses both the Catawba and the Yadkin Rivers and the natural beauties which unfold along the way give a foretaste of the grandeur to be enjoyed from the top of Grandfather Mountain. The western gateway through Johnson City, Tennessee, up the Doe River Gorge cannot be surpassed in scenic wonders in any section of The New River Falls. the east and is a very comfortable approach to the Blowing Rock Region from the west and southwest. Through tickets to John- son City by way of the Southern Railway with Pullman accom- modations are obtainable and the journey over the East Tennessee and Western North Carolina Railroad from Johnson City to Shulls Mills, North Carolina, is through a marvelous gorge where giant hemlocks and towering chestnuts line the roadbed and little cabins of rough-hewn logs nestle in the shade of deep coves. Here and there a well-worn path leading to a mountain spring catches the eye and pale green ferns along the banks of the Watauga River, the crystal clearness of the tumbling water, the sweetness of all the odors of the forest interwoven with the fra- grance of wild flowers quickens the pulse and gives a satisfying sense of relief from the memory of intense heat experienced in the lowlands. You emerge from the train at Shulls Mills to enjoy, for forty-five minutes, the six-mile drive by motor over the excellent pike to Mayview Park. It is a far cry from the pioneer hunters in fringed leggins, moc- casins, hunting shirt and powder horn to the debonair frolicking people that come to Blowing Rock during the hot months each year in comfortable motors over splendid well-kept roads; and the ever increasing influx of visitors has made it necessary to increase the number of cottages, hotels and boarding houses and to keep pace with the demands of travelers accustomed to the conven- iences of city hotels. Mayview Park makes its offering to the tourist, the summer visitor and to those who wish to make a per- manent home high above the clouds, in a climate salubrious the year round and abounding in views incomparable in the East. The New River. Moonlight from Valley View Road. Altitudes LD GRANDFATHER MOUNTAIN extends his rugged magnitude into three counties of North Carolina, Watauga, Mitchell and Caldwell. Calloway, his highest peak, is 5,997 feet above the level of the sea. Other peaks in Watauga County are more than five thousand feet and the peaks of the Black Mountain chain as viewed from Mayview Park are in an altitude of between six and seven thousand feet. Grandfather's black rocky top is eight miles long and a rude trail has been blazed that seems to lead ladder-fashion straight up into the sky. On the Calloway peak wild heather grows and from the highest summit two viewpoints command the entire circle of the horizon. In the distance lies White Top where three states meet and the Black Mountains ^,^ stand forth in their great heights very blue, and beyond them among the many familiar forms the faint blue line of the Smokies is discernible. The views in this region are all very impressive, be- cause of the deep descent of the mountain into the foothills, the long spurs sweeping downward in fine lines into a great depth. The splendid slopes of the Grandfather are enchanting when autumn colors them in tall gold and crimson forest trees and the outpouring of fragrance does not pass with the summer as in northern forests. The resinous perfume, distilled from a thousand pines, firs and hemlocks remains until the leaves grow scarce during the mild winter days of January. Watauga County Elevation — feet Mayview Park 4,500 Blowing Rock .' 4,090 Boone ... -3 -3-32 Valle Crucis . 2i726 Beech Mountain 5,522 Elevation — feet Sugar Mountain 5,289 Grandfather Mountain 5,964 Hanging Rock 5,237 Bald of Rich Mountain 5,300 Elk Knob 5.555 Black Elevation — Mount Mitchell 6,711 Clingman's Dome g'gii Balsam Cone 6645 Rocky Trail \ [ g.^gS Mountain Range ■f'=< Elevation— feet Potato Hill 6,487 Cat-tail Peak 6,609 Potato Knob 6,419 Dome Gap 6,352 After a summer's rain, from the higfiest point on Wonderland Trail the clouds extend in snowy masses. Legends of Blowing Rock LIMBING to the highest point of the famous Blowing Rock, one recalls the ancient Indian legend of the Cherokees as told by the mountain people. Here the beautiful daughter of the chief of the tribe would come in the soft twilight to keep tryst with a handsome warrior who had not found favor in the eyes of her father. He wooed her long and ardently, but through her father's opposition she soon tired of him and at the same spot entertained other lovers who were high in the good graces of their chief. The infuriated discarded lover, meeting her at the old trysting place, threatened to cast himself from the cliff if she refused to agree to an alliance. Begging her sweetheart for a reprieve, so that she might consult with her father, she hastened to the tepee of the great chief who refused to allow his daughter to marry a man who had failed to win a high place in the tribe by performing heroic deeds of valor to win her. The frenzied suitor, heartbroken, jumped from the precipice before the eyes of the maiden and the tremendous force of the wind hurled him back into her arms. Declaring her choice was made by the Great Father she defied the mighty chief and followed her lover into the wilderness. Having heard the legend many visitors have calmly thrown their possessions over the cliffs, only to see them in obedience to the law of gravity, instead of that of fancy, disappear beneath the treetops far below, for it is only when the northwest wind blows in its tremendous force that articles are blown back to the point from which they are thrown. The Brown Mountain Light About ten years ago the mountaineers were attracted by a peculiar moving light which appeared at the top of Brown Mountain. After a Spring storm it has been seen to flash as many as fifteen times within an hour. The Geological Survey reached the conclusion that the light was a reflection from the locomotives of some new railroad, but the observations of vari- ous people who make their homes in these mountains have destroyed this theory, as trips have been made to the spot and vari- ous signals established with parties encamped in other sections. The light frequently occurred before and after the passing of locomotives and at times when no trains were being operated. One interesting theory advanced declares a phosphorescent rock or perhaps vapor rising from the peat bogs produces the light, and another observer claims it to be a mirage. Laurel Lane in Mayview Park, Flat Top Mountain in the distance. Main Automobile Routes OTORING from New York City Philadelphia, Washington and other points north of Mayview Park, the route usually taken is by the Southern National Highway, through Fredericksburg, Virginia, to Richmond, Petersburg, South Hill and Clarksville ; to Oxford, North Carolina, Dur- \^, ham, Greensboro, Salisbury, Statesville and Hickory, North Carolina. The trip from Hickory to Blowing Rock and Mayview Park by way of Lenoir takes about three hours and is over a fine well-kept pike. The Lincoln and Atlantic Highways are followed from New York to Philadel- phia and Washington and the entire trip may be made with comfort in three days. There are good hotels in the various towns, the scenery is very fine the whole distance and the roads in excellent condition. The trip south from New York through Gettysburg is not recommended by the Ameri- can Automobile Association as a satisfactory motor trip to Blowing Rock. The roads are good through Frederick, Maryland, to Johnson City, Tennessee, over the Lee Highway, but the moun- tain road from Johnson City to Blowing Rock is very much in need of repair. If this route is taken, however, motorists are advised to continue on through New Market and Newport to Asheville, turning back over the Southern National Highway to Hickory. From the Southwest the Dixie and Southern National Highways are the preferred routes. There are splendid roads from Atlanta, Georgia; Chattanooga, Tennessee, Nashville and Memphis through Knoxville^to Asheville thence to Hickory and to Mayview Park and Blowing Rock. The lack of bridges across many of the streams accounts for the frequent mention of "fords" in the maps issued by th" American Automobile Association. Several unbridged streams are encountered, especially in the mountainous districts and are not always the result of willful neglect, but rather an indication of a country of long distances and relatively small popula- tion. On approaching a stream which overflows the road, it is advisable to go into low gear — not so much on account of hid- den obstacles as to be prepared to pull quickly and safely out of a soft bottom. All states from New York to Florida, inclusive, now grant sufficient reciprocity to enable tourists to make the trip either north or south without the necessity of taking out separate licenses and the mountainous region of North Carolina is fast be- coming the principal touring center of the states east of the Mississippi. Lake Mayview, an ideal swimming pool of three acres. Mayview Club House The Mayview club house has been erected for the pleasure and comfort of the residents of Mayview Park, but is also open to motorists and to the summer visitors and residents of Blowing Rock. Situated on the very brink of John's River Gorge and overlooking Grandfather and the Black Mountain Range it affords views unexcelled even in this marvelous country of wonderful vistas. The main dining room accommodates more than two hundred guests and afternoon teas and bridge lunch- eons are served during the summer season. Dancing in the evening is one of the many attractions of the club and special arrangements can be made for private parties. The dining rooms are available to transients as well as to the cottagers who do not wish to prepare their own food, and separate dining rooms have been reserved for children and for white and colored servants. A refrigerating plant has been provided for the imported meats and sea food, and fresh green vegetables and fruits, good country butter, milk and eggs are used in every menu. The rate for meals is moderate and cuisine the best. Vista of Rich Mountain from Laurel Lane. PLAN or SUBDIVISION OF MYVILW PA^ 5L0V1NG ROCK. NORTH CMOLINA WL. ALEXANDER. OVNEL tUI filstDJt [OON WUMIM-UICUM ifirfr- (rUSU]niN( BDILIOKD IHBUUfJUO 6l i4Wft(T0H-UB3(U( imWl-lXml. HI. Location of Cottages in Mayview Park Developm. For detailed information address W. L. ALEXANDER Mayview Park, Blowing Rock, North Carolina LIBRARY OF CONGRESS 014 417 902 A