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MOSES H. CONE JULIAN PRICE MEMORIAL PARK
The late
19th century saw the emergence of a new upper class, composed of
those men who had made their fortunes in the Gilded Age. Textile
entrepreneur Moses H. Cone purchased 3,600 acres of land near
Blowing Rock and built one of North Carolina's premier
turn-of-the-century country estates. Julian Price, an insurance
executive, in the late 1930s and early 1940s, bought thousands of
acres of land to create a retreat for the employees of the Jefferson
Standard Life Insurance Company. Both the Cone and Price lands were
later given to the Parkway.
It offers a wide variety of recreational activities, including miles
of hiking and horse trails, boating and fishing, camping and
picnic areas, mountain handicraft demonstrations and sales, and
daily guided walks and evening campfire programs.
OTHER LODGING
Several motels, bed-and-breakfast inns, and log cabin rentals are
available nearby.
CLICK HERE
to see offerings.
PLACES TO VISIT:
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Visitor Center - A visitor information desk,
bookstore, and craft center are all located in the Cone
Manor House (milepost 294.0). Linn Cove visitor center
(milepost 304) features a model of the Linn Cove Viaduct, an
engineering marvel and the last section of the Parkway
completed.
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Picnic Area - The Price picnic area (milepost 296.4)
has 100 sites and handicap accessible comfort stations.
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Cone Park - In addition to the historic manor house,
there is a family cemetery, carriage barn and apple barn.
Interpretive talks are frequently given during the summer on
the steps of the Cone Manor House.
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Parkway Craft Center - The Southern Highland
Handicraft Guild operates the Parkway Craft Center inside
the Cone Manor House that features contemporary and
traditional mountain crafts as well as demonstrations by
Guild craftsmen during the summer months.
THINGS TO DO:
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Interpretive programs - There is a 300-seat
amphitheater located at the Price Park Campground (milepost
297) where interpretive talks are given during the summer
months. Interpretive talks, demonstrations, and guided walks
are also given throughout the Cone and Price Parks during
the summer months.
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Trails - The Cone/Price area has more trails than any
other developed area on the Parkway. There are more than 26
miles of historic carriage roads for hiking and horseback
riding on the Cone estate. Visitors may bring their own
horses or take advantage of trail rides offered on the
Carriage Trails by neighboring Blowing Rock Stables. The
Cone Carriage Trails range from easy to moderate. Several
strenuous trails can be hiked within Price Memorial Park.
Price Campground offers direct access to three trails,
including the ingeniously engineered Tanawha Trail, total
length 13.5 miles, half of which is on Grandfather Mountain.
The five-mile strenuous Boone Fork Loop Trail is accessible
from both the campground and the picnic area.
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Fishing - There are several fishing opportunities in
the Cone/Price area. Anyone with a valid Virginia or North
Carolina fishing license is welcome, but please check at the
visitor center or at Price Campground for any special
regulations.
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Canoe/Boat Rentals - During the summer months, there
is a boat dock located on Price Lake at the campground. No
motorized craft or sailboats are permitted.
 Moses
H. Cone Memorial and Visitor Center
Milepost 293 near the town of Blowing Rock. Today the
rambling white manor house is home to a craft shop displaying the
work of the Southern Highland Handicraft Guild. The mansion faces
a picturesque lake, and the grounds are threaded with miles of hiking
trails and include two trout ponds (check at the center for fishing
information).
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