BANNER ELK, N. C. -- Western North Carolina's Blue Ridge Mountains region holds a wealth of history and tradition amid a backdrop of lush green mountains and punctuated with quaint country villages appearing through the fog that lingers until late morning and for many the traditions and lifestyles of the early settlers and their descendants are still practiced today.
The High Country area is a place where you can see beautiful colorful quilts adorning roadside barns, banjo and fiddle players entertaining visitors on front porches, beautiful riverside inns beckoning to all, hot springs washing away pains, country stores offering unique wares or even a modern mountaintop hotel offering four-star food and accommodations.
This is a land of postcard views and a kinship to Norman Rockwell Saturday Evening Post covers.
One such attraction is Shatley Springs, owned and operated by Lee Q. McMillan and his family.
In 1890 Martin Shatley discovered the springs and found that the water had healing powers that cleared his skin disorder. Soon the spread and crowds would flock to the springs hoping to cure as array of ailments.
The water is considered one of the purest springs in the world and people still come to the springs for it's curative properties. The water is always running and free.
As the word spread so did the springs to accommodate the influx of visitors but preserving the rustic and peaceful atmosphere that the Springs still has today.
Ten cabins surround a fishing pond and a country restaurant serving good home style cooking family style. The restaurant is so popular with the locals that reservations are recommended for Saturday and Sunday lunch and dinner.
There is a lot going on at Shatley Springs on any given day, it's a popular spot for musicians to gather for a pickin’ and singing session on the porch of one of the many log cabins that rest under large shade trees while children dip their toes in the cool stream nearby.
Lee's great-great-grandfather owned and operated a sawmill there and Lee still uses it today and several kilns operate for the pottery where Lee's wife and daughter and son-in-law make and design pottery items. They have a small shop to display and sell their wares.
There are jamborees held throughout the year and naturally Lee says " a big kettle of beans cookin and a mess of cornbread for all.”
Shatley Springs Inn opens in mid-April and closes the last of November. They are open daily 7 a.m. to 9 p.m. located in Ashe County on Highway 16 just 5 miles north of Jefferson, N.C. Telephone 336-982-2236 or visit www.shatleysprings.com
While visiting Boone and the surrounding towns the Broyhill Inn and Appalachian Conference Center is a grand choice, centrally located for area attractions at Boone, Blowing Rock, Banner Elk, Valle Crucis and Beech Mountain to name a few.
Piano music sets a pleasant mood for fine dining with a large variety of menu items. The Sunday buffet is a feast that would even wow Henry The Eigth and there is no lack of imagination from the chef that prepares the many salads, desserts and pasteries that fill the tables.
The numbers for reservations are 828-262-2204 or 800-951-6048.
The rural roads promise surprises just around any bend, hills dotted with log cabins, antique shops, little cabins selling honey and local crafts and who would turn down a moonpie and and RC cola from the Mast country store in Valle Crucis.
Open an old screen door that slams as you leave and take a look at the past. A potbellied stove, a checkers board on an old keg and old barrels filled with this and that from days gone by.
If you are a fan of wines, the state of North Carolins offers a guide and map of wineries,76 at present and still growing. Banner Elk and Thistle Meadow Wineries are two in the western region near Boone and Jefferson. These wineries offer samplings and during the year have festivals with local artists and musicians and arts and crafts. Refere to listing of wineries for contact numbers.
Barns are not only a functional structure they have also been a favorite subject for artists and painters. They are part of rural America that is being preserved for our future generations and barn quilts are one way to draw attention to these structures.
Barn quilts are patterns painted on boards and hung on barns. Some of the patterns are copied from great grandma's design or a tribute to a family member or a new design, many bring the culture and history of the area alive with bright colors and shapes.
This project in funded by a Blue Ridge National Heritage Grant. The Ashe County Arts Council at 303 School Ave., West Jefferson, N.C., can provide a listing of participating barns or call 336-846-ARTS. There are approximately 1,500 such barn displays in two dozen states nationwide and the numbers are growing.
The historic River House B&B; built in 1824 and owned and operated by Gayle Winston is a favorite for locals and returning vacationers. It's not uncommon to see the white rockers on the long front porch full of guests sipping their favorite beverage and watching the kayakers on the New River that flows lazily by on the property.
It is very peaceful but if you want a more active time there is tennis, hiking and the River House provides canoe and kayak in house service. The dining room is charming and the gourmet chef can please the most sophisticated palate and they have many local wines to choose from. Musicians gather there weekly from April to October and a wine fest is held in July. A flowered archway leading down to the New River is the backdrop for many weddings and many honeymoons are spent at the River House.
On a hill behind the main house are nine guest houses, they are warm and inviting with all the amenities. For more information call 336-982-2109 or visit www.riverhousenc.com .

This story was published on 23 Sep 2009.