Parkway Craft Center

Since I’m a craft fanatic and Etsy-​holic, I was in heaven the second I stepped foot into the old Cone house. You’ll find all sort of North Carolina and regional crafts, though I would say the emphasis is on ceramics and jewelry. I actually went one day to browse and take in everything and returned the next day to actually purchase the items I decided were worthy of procurement. Well, pretty much everything was worth buying but it’s not as though I had a spare million dollars. I was stoked to be able to knock out a lot of Christmas gifts in one stop!
My friend says sometimes they have craft demos, and check the hours before you go since it’s open seasonally. When you’ve gotten your fill of handmade, you can just step outside and take in the gorgeous view and spy Bass Lake down below.

This is an ok stop on the parkway. The house is beautifuil but you cannot tour it because it is only a first floor gift shop. We had saw some nice views and enjoyed a trail around the house. We took a shorter one but they have a few which are longer. They have bathrooms but were not in order when we were there. Hopefully they will be fixed soon.

Unilocal didn’t take into account that this place is open seasonally (April to November) so it told us it was open when it was not. No big deal though, the grounds are the most beautiful part! The plantation /​large Victorian home is quite the photo op. Would love to come back when it’s actually open!
The drive to this place along the Blue Ridge Parkway is also quite lovely

Amazing array of outstanding indigenous crafts housed in a lovely, period home nestled beside a gorgeous lake. We visited on a rainy day and the mist clouded the views, but not the experience. The woven textiles captivated me and a few different styles and threads were featured. I particularly liked the linen towels, the colors are rich yet subtle, lending themselves to marriage with a friend and transformation of the now I’m a pillow variety.
The wood working is also top notch, prices are more than fair for the sheer artistry and beauty of the chosen woods. Jewelry was tasteful and individual, many original selections to choose from.
The children’s book section featured some illustrated by local artists and featuring appalachian tales.
The sales help were uniformly friendly, familiar with the artists, but not in the least obtrusive.

This was a wonderful area although when we arrived everything was closed, but thankfully that stunning view can’t ever close! It was incredibly windy and a bit on the chilly side, assuming the weather had been summer weather all weekend. Our purpose was to go here and have a picnic but we got sidetracked on our trek out there via car and had a picnic elsewhere. But upon our departure, we happen to pass it anyways and stopped and we were SO glad that we did. Literally we took so many pictures and the view of the mountains cascading with some distant mountain homes was incredible. You can tell there’s a lot more traffic that goes through there when it’s not early evening on a Sunday but I’m so glad that we went — definitely stands out in our memory on that trip!

While driving down the Blue Ridge Parkway yesterday afternoon, we saw a sign saying «Crafts». That’s really understating the selection, as this place sells (handmade) items of high quality (and some of them are rather pricey, unsurprisingly). The artisans are members of the Southern Highland Craft Guild, which has been in existence for about 75 years and it serves a nine-​state region. The selection is very good and the interior of the shop is attractive. Also, the two women working there were pleasant.
The shop is in the former home of Moses & Bertha Cone (ca 1900 or thereabouts) and they donated it, along with a huge amount of acreage. It’s high above the water and the view is lovely.

What a nice center to display the crafts of local artists! The drive is beautiful and the views can be spectacular. The old house looks like it fell out of «Gone With The Wind.» It needs a little maintenance, but still makes a beautiful statement with the white columns against the green of the countryside.
The items for sale are a bit on the pricey side, but are very nicely made. There are many things that I’d love to have from the jewelry to the housewares. For now they’ll have to wait, but I’m in high hopes of «someday…»

We stopped here for something free to do. Great hiking trails and beautiful views. Manor house was nice and the family was very tired afterwards but had a great time!

Um, wow! This was my first (and sadly, perhaps last) time in this neck of the good old US of A. My mom and I were doing a little sightseeing, and I saw a sign for a craft center. Well, let me tell you, that little store beat the pants off the entirety of Blowing Rock (where everything was basically made in China and overpriced) (except for the French store — go to the French store).
Part of it is Blue Ridge Parkway, I think government-​run, souvenir-​type stuff. Cute items at fair prices. The other part (much larger) is like a pottery store/​craft fair/​artisan jewelry boutique on crack. There was a huge variety of items at fair prices (in all ranges). Lots of nice Christmas ornaments, for any other collectors out there.
I think there could be better marketing (maybe on the sign on the road say «Craft & Souvenir shop» or something, as I think most people would find things there, but the word «craft» might not do it for everyone). Also, they had bathrooms, they had hiking, they had the most gorgeous view I’d seen in my two days out there, but there was nothing to eat. I’m not saying that they should have a snack bar, but it would be nice if they had like granola bars or pretzels or something in the souvenir shop. Or maybe add homemade candies/​fudge (though not sure if that’s considered a craft, as I did hear one shopper get schooled on what a craft is when she asked if the store sold paintings — they do not (not crafts)).
Beware of bees! It’s a great spot to take pics, but there are quite a few of the little buggers buzzing around.

A great stop along the Blue Ridge Parkway. It is a great place to stretch your legs and take a break from the drive. Or, you can spend a few hours there as well.
The views from the house are great. If you have time, take a walk along one of the trails. You can also take a peek at the crafts offered inside the house. Although quite pricey, it does not cost anything to browse around.
We were there at the end of April and the weather was pretty crappy, so we were not able to fully enjoy the property. I also didn’t know that tours of the upstairs of the house are offered and will definitely ask about that next time.
Oh, and the restrooms are super clean!

I am a frequent visitor to the Blue Ridge Parkway and this is one of my favorite stopping points. But I have to say I rarely go into the house. I take pictures of it and the grounds around it and take advantage of the miles of trails around the property.
As you’re looking down the mountain from the Cone house, you can see Bass Lake down in the town of Blowing Rock. A few miles down one of the trails and you are there. The trails here are carriage trails which provide a nice walk for humans, dogs and horses. Other sites to visit in your walk are an old apple barn, a fire tower and the Cone gravesite. Most of the trails are through the woods but you do hit some open space so it’s still best to wear your sunscreen.
If you’re not into the walks, check out the Cone house which houses one of the Parkway Craft Centers as well as a Parkway information center. Or you can just find a bench or a grassy patch to have a picnic and relax. On my last visit I saw two people relaxing in hammocks tied between two of the trees.
Just be aware… parking can be difficult here on a nice day. It’s best to get there early!

The view from the front of the house is amazing! I wish they would have kept up the apple orchards. There are tons of trails up and down the BRP, down all the side roads off of the BRP. The craft center is very interesting but everything inside is ultra expensive. Check out the barn and hike towards the cemetery and tower.

This place and the surrounding grounds is a must stop on the parkway. It is also one of my favorite places to run in Appalachia. Miles of hiking, running, horse trails, a gorgeous setting and a gorgeous lake. Try walking off the beaten path through the old pastures and orchards for more privacy.
The craft center is in the old mansion. The mansion has an interesting history. The sisters of Mr. Cone were a fun bunch that amassed a massive collection of modern art… one was rumored to be a lover of Gertrude Stein.
Last, the craft center has great high quality stuff… but its expensive.

Driving down the Blue Ridge Parkway, we happened upon a house. A really big freakin’ house. With an incredible view. And knick-​knacks. Lots of them. It is like a bunch of busy-​bee grandmothers decided to empty out their closets and sell their quilts.
The really impressive thing is the house. Called Flat Top Manor by the locals (apparently — I had to look it up), this monstrous 23-​room, 13,000 square foot estate sits perched atop a mountain. It is no Biltmore, but it still receives a respectable 250,000 visitors a year — perhaps even more impressive since it sits on a nondescript turnout off the parkway, rather than having no dedicated property like the more famous mansion built by George Vanderbilt. And the view is actually much more spectacular.
While it is maybe a bit more difficult to reach, rather than being just outside of Asheville, a nice benefit is that there is no charge for admission, and since you are generally away from crowds, you can sit and enjoy the view in relative peace and quiet. Definitely worth a trip if you are in the area.