News

Opening Day for the 2025/2026 Ski Season!

Today at 1 pm on a crisp late fall day Appalachian Ski Mountain opened for the 2025/2026 ski season. The sun shone bright, the slopes were snow covered and the temps were chilly. Perfect for opening day . Below are photos we shot today as the first skiers and snowboarders of the season headed to Boone For information on reservations visit Appskimtn.com

Appalachian Ski Mtn is not the only ski option in Boone. There are two additional ski venues. There’s Sugar Mountain and Beech Mountain. Sugar Mountain And Appalachian Ski Mtn are open now. Beech Mtn is currently making snow and should be opening beginning of December.

Be sure to check out our cabins for availability to make it a ski getaway for you and your family!

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Ski Resorts Opening in Boone

Since it is the end of November that means it is finally time for skiing in the Boone area!

While Hurricane Helene caused massive damage to the Boone area, all 3 ski resorts near Boone, Sugar Mountain, Beech Mountain, Appalachian Ski Mountain plan on opening on time.

Beech Mountain is located in the nearby town of Banner Elk, about 30 minutes away. Appalachian Ski Resort is located directly beside Boone, about a 5 minute drive.

Beech Mountain plans on opening November 29. Appalachian Ski Mountain plans on opening November 70. Sugar Mountain is about 15 minutes away near Grandfather Mountain.

Sugar Mountain in fact is already open!  The first major event at the mountain is SugarFest between Friday, December 13 and Sunday, December 15. SugarFest has many events for those who don’t ski too, such as food, drinks, and dancing to live music. On Saturday will be a fireworks show at 5:45.

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What is and isn’t open in Boone and Blowing Rock. 

It has been a few weeks since the devastating Hurricane Helene ravaged the Northeast, especially North Carolina and Tennessee. In the Boone area, many businesses and towns have reopened while some areas are still closed off. So which are they?

Grandfather Mountain will be reopening on October 23 at 9 am. From then forward, the park will be open 7 days a week opening at 9 am with the trails closing at 5 pm and the park at 9 pm.

Blowing Rock, where there are many areas to shop and eat, is fully open with the major highways safe and open for travel. For instance, the Oktoberfest celebration is this Saturday the 26th.

The Blueridge Parkway is closed until at least October 31 and then it will be re examined.

Boone is also fully opened with Appalachian State playing its first home football game since the Hurricane this Saturday against Georgia State

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Outdoor activities in Boone for those with disabilities

The Blue Ridge Mountains have many, many activities to do ranging from hiking, kayaking, climbing and more. Unfortunately, many have health issues which can make it seem like participating in any of these activities near impossible. 
Fortunately, that is where Waypoint Adventure comes in, they provide guided tours for those with physical, intellectual, and emotional disabilities to be able to participate in these activities still.
Climbing can be done either outdoors or at an indoor climbing gym if that’s more convenient. Kayaking can be done either independently or with a member of the household in a tandem kakyak, though there will be a guide there as well.
More information can be found at https://nc.waypointadventure.org/private-lessons/

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Symphony by the Lake at Blowing Rock, July 19.

For 36 years, Blowing Rock has hosted an annual Symphony by the Lake every summer, and this year it is taking place this weekend, on July 19th. 

Featuring the Symphony of the Mountains. They began in 1946 as a local orchestra of 27 musicians and today it has expanded to more than 70 professional musicians and performs in Tennessee, Virginia, and North Carolina.

This year’s theme is “Live From Vienna”. Visitors can bring their own food, beverage, and chairs. There also will be food, fireworks, and other activities. 

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Old Barn Winery

If you are looking to spend a very relaxing and enjoyable day in Boone and the surrounding area, look no further than the Old Barn Brewery in nearby West Jefferson. The Old Barn Winery is a family run winery first started in 1960 and has been running now for four generations. It is located at 2152 Beaver Creek School Road, West Jefferson.

The winery is open on Thursday, Friday, Saturday, and Sundays. Outside of the wonderful wine they have available to try, the Old Barn Winery also has lots of musical performances bands most days. The music variety included jazz, bluegrass, rock, and country. 

For food, they DO allow outside food into the winery. For food they sell, they have a food truck on Friday, Saturday, and Sundays. The food truck includes bbq shrimp cocktails, tuna tacos, chimichurri steak subs, and lobster rolls. No hamburgers or hot dogs.

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