Mountain Heritage
Maggie Valley and Waynesville NC ... Wanna know more?... I'll be sharing links, videos, photos, events, Real Estate and more... I'm going to be exploring the mountains of Maggie Valley, Waynesville and Haywood County NC... Lynda Bennett
Information
Location:
Maggie Valley, NC, 28751
Phone:
929-926-5200 www.MountainHeritage.com
Photos

2 of 13 albumsSee All

Wall PhotosUpdated about 2 months ago
Brown Mountain lightsCreated about 3 months ago
Events

6 past eventsSee All

 
Mountain Heritage

Mountain Heritage Support local Businesses - buy Local!
I-40 rock slide and economy has tourism industry reeling... Written by Vicki Hyatt
During a year where Haywood County’s tourism revenue was down for seven months straight, including a 21 percent dip in May, a welcome uptick in September was more than offset by an October rock... slide that closed Interstate 40 to Tennessee and left the tourism economy reeling.
Area tourism officials are working furiously to mitigate the damage by letting people know they can still visit mountain communities in Western North Carolina.
A top priority, said Lynn Collins, the county’s tourism director, is changing the state highway signs that warn people around traveling west on I-40 to turn around before they even hit Haywood County.
“I just talked to a woman from Charleston who was here for the weekend and she saw people pulling over and turning around to go back to Asheville after seeing the sign,” Collins said of the electronic notification boards telling people about the road closure. “They literally turn you around and send you back.”
She said she is working closely with Mary Jane Ferguson, who heads the Cherokee Tribal Travel and Promotion effort and state officials, who offered to consider different sign verbiage submitted.
“We’re trying our best to get the messaging changed,” Collins said, noting there are three alternative routes provided on the organization’s Web site. All detour routes, including travel via N.C. 209 or N.C. 19 to U.S. 441, are also being handed out at visitor centers.
The rock slide is the latest piece of bad news to hit the tourism industry this year. There have been fewer visitor overnight stays in Haywood than a year ago for seven of the past nine months in 2009.
The most accurate measure of tourist activity locally is through tracking occupancy tax revenues, a 4 percent assessment on all accommodation rentals in the county. Small gains were shown only in January and September 2009 when compared to the same months in 2008. The 2009 figures include an extra 1 percent occupancy tax that kicked in this year, which would naturally raise the collections.
Collins said the biggest economic blow hit a year ago September when a gas shortage struck. From that low point, occupancy tax collections were up by 4 percent in September 2009. January showed a 2 percent gain, and February collections were down by 10 percent. March and April were off by 9 percent; May was down 21 percent, June by 17 percent; July down 14 percent, and August was off 9 percent.
In addition to the sour economy, 2009 was the first year the Wheels Through Time Museum was not open on a regular basis for tourists, and Ghost Town had a bad year getting its signature roller coaster up and running, something that didn’t happen until the season’s end.
In addition to working with the state on signage issues, Collins said press releases are being issued regarding skiing, shopping and enjoying the mountains during the holidays and the tourism board is looking at rearranging advertising campaigns in light of traveling difficulties on I-40.
U.S. Rep. Heath Shuler is working to make emergency loans available through the Small Business Administration to companies that have lost substantial business due to natural disasters. To qualify, Gov. Bev Perdue has requested an SBA economic injury declaration and has shown at least five businesses have suffered substantial economic injury from the I-40 closure.
To date, more than a dozen Haywood and Buncombe business owners have contacted Shuler’s office saying they have experienced “severe economic damage” that can be directly traced to the rock slide, according to an e-mail from the Congressman’s staff.
Those with questions about the SBA emergency loan program can contact Shuler’s office at 252-1651.
For more information on I-40 detours, visit www.smokeymountains.net. Wednesday, 18 November 2009 15:26

www.smokeymountains.net
Visit the Smoky Mountains in Maggie Valley and Waynesville in Haywood County, North Carolina and enjoy breathtaking sunrises and stunning landscapes. An inexpensive and unforgettable Smoky Mountain Vacation is just around the corner.
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Mountain Heritage

Mountain Heritage Thanks giving for all good things in 2009... come to Maggie Valley to buy your Christmas tree fresh from the Farm!

November 21 at 10:21am
Mountain Heritage

Mountain Heritage Praise for the Morning... Carolina Blue Skies in Maggie Valley this crisp Autumn day... enjoy...

www.youtube.com
Art Garfunkel
Mountain Heritage

Mountain Heritage Ghost Town - Open with all rides and the "Cliff Hanger Roller Coaster" ready to ride...

Mountain Heritage
September 24 at 10:01pm
Mountain Heritage

Mountain Heritage It has been raining in Atlanta... Ya think?

Brooke Bosselmann Morrissey
Brooke Bosselmann Morrissey
Wow that is scary!
September 22 at 5:16am
Kathy Gory Crisler
Kathy Gory Crisler
Lynda,
Come on down for a visit! This pic is not far from our house. My daughter, Susan, had to get around this area this morning to go to work. This is 285 going west at the 75 interchange. Luckily, Susan needed to go east.
Our house had some water in the basement, but not too much. Many of our friends have flooded basements. How is Kelly's house??? Miss you!
September 22 at 8:12am
Lynda Carter Bennett

Lynda Carter Bennett Autumn is in the air

Mountain Heritage

Mountain Heritage Tonight - the Most Patriotic Candle Lighting Memorial for 9-11. The Police and emergency Departments across the County are really getting involved and all fire departments in the County will be represented lining Main Street!!! This is going to be really Awesome.

Please invite ALL to Attend…

tinyurl.com
A candle light memorial... Sponsored by Foundation Group of “the 9-12 Project – Haywood County”. Did you see the article in the paper? Haywood County Court House – front Lawn Date: 9/11/09 Friday Time: 6:45 PM – A candlelight 9-11 memorial service will be held in Haywood County Friday, Sept. ...
Mountain Heritage

Mountain Heritage Haywood County has once again captured the attention of Hollywood.
It may very well capture the attention of the world. Members of a Hollywood film crew who arrived weeks ago to begin shooting scenes for an up and coming feature film, “Road to Nowhere,” said they feel magic in the air.
Their goal is to bring that magic... to life through an entertaining and, at times, a twisted story about a Hollywood filmmaker who

www.themountaineer.com
The Mountaineer. Waynesville, Maggie Valley, Clyde, Canton, NC, Hometown Newspaper. Proudly serving Haywood County North Carolina community for 125 years.
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Mountain Heritage

Mountain Heritage So many FREE things to do this weekend - i hope to enjoy them...

September 2 at 8:02pm
Mountain Heritage

Mountain Heritage September 5th... BLOCK PARTY in Waynesville Downtown is Alive at Night, dancing in the street with live bands,7-10pm, children’s area, eats & treats, many shops & restaurants open, a portion of Main St. is closed. Call 828-456-3517.

September 2 at 8:00pm
Mountain Heritage

Mountain Heritage September 6th Wrap up your Labor Day weekend celebration with a “Fireworks Display” at the Maggie Valley Festival Grounds. Free Event. Approximately 9:15 PM.

September 2 at 7:59pm
Mountain Heritage
Mountain Heritage
I love fire works in the mountains - they really go BOOM!
September 2 at 8:01pm
Mountain Heritage
Mountain Heritage
That is Tonight - Sunday Night!
September 6 at 10:24am
Mountain Heritage

Mountain Heritage September 5th & 6th “Labor Day Weekend” Maggie Valley Arts & Craft show at the Maggie Valley Festival Grounds. Saturday 9am – 5pm, Sunday 9am – 4pm. Call 828-497-9425 for more information.

September 2 at 7:59pm
Mountain Heritage

Mountain Heritage September 4th & 5th... Smoky Mountain Folk Festival - Two full evenings celebrating our mountain folk music. Celebrating Great Smoky Mountains National Park’s 75th anniversary. Stuart Auditorium, Lake Junaluska, 452-1688.

September 2 at 7:58pm
Mountain Heritage

Mountain Heritage Parkway sign

Mountain Heritage
Mountain Heritage
Broen Mountain Lights - Among the most fascinating natural wonders of the High Country are the Brown Mountain Lights. The mysterious lights appear and disappear, seeming to move over the ridge of Brown Mountain (in Burke County, near Morganton). The Brown Mountain Lights have been have been made famous by Cherokee legends dating back to the 1200s... See More and by modern reports. White settlers of the High Country reported seeing the lights throughout the 1700 and 1800s. They are the stuff of story and song.
The Appalachian Vistor Center
August 19 at 10:33pm
Mountain Heritage

Mountain Heritage Short Hike to Mingo Falls, near Cherokee - but the best part is sitting beside the waterfall and soaking up the negative ions - bring a book!

July 29 at 4:38am