A Few of Our Favorite Things - Just off the Blue Ridge Parkway

Cherry trees around one of the trout ponds within The Cove at Celo Mountain

Forsythia, flowering quince, cherry trees, and Bradford Pear are heralding the beginning of our celebrated spring in the Blue Ridge Mountains of North Carolina. While there are many spectacular views, those within THE COVE AT CELO MOUNTAIN are among the most memorable. Come enjoy a few of our favorite spring openings. The activities listed below are within 10 - 15 minutes of your Cove at Celo Mountain home or Cabin at Celo.

April 16th Patience Park and Toe River Campground open - Swimming Pool, River Tubing, Trout Fishing, Campground Store

April -Nov Mt. Mitchell Golf Course (consistently ranked 4 1/2 stars by Golf Digest - a "Must Play Public Golf Course.")

Springmaid Mountain Horseback Riding, Tubing, Fishing. Open in clement weather year-round. The trail rides ford the Toe River at least twice with water coming up to your stirrups amid breathtaking scenery of the Blue Ridge Mountains.

Spring Hikes along the Rivers and Blue Ridge Parkway

Kayaking, Tubing, Floating, Canoeing along the South Toe and North Toe

Breathe the Mountains...Live the Dream

For more information: The Cove at Celo Mountain movie clip (2 1/2 minutes) Springmaid Farm Mt. Mitchell Golf Course Patience Park and Toe River Campground Hiking in Yancey County Rafting, Tubing, Kayaking

An Historic Hometown, An Ancient River, A Continuing Legacy

Photos: Fresh Organic Produce - Farmers Market; Our Middle School Drama Department's State Overall Best Actor and Actress, Mountain Heritage High School Eco-Club Students rafting down the South Toe River, Toe River Arts Council Chamber Ensemble and Toe River Community Chorus, OakMoon Farm and Creamery local handcrafted goat cheeses, Ayles Creek within THE COVE AT CELO MOUNTAIN.

Do you love outdoor adventures, ecology, wonderful arts and crafts, farm-to-table organic foods, orchestral ensembles and choral groups that YOU can join, not just enjoy.

Our small,historic hometown of Burnsville, NC, boasts its own Toe River Chamber Ensemble and Toe River Chorus - actually comprised of musicians from 5 local counties, ages 10-89, and pulled from every walk of life - farmers, librarians, real estate salesmen, potters, ministers, photographers, administrative workers, construction workers, teachers, students, doctors, hospital technicians and more. Come hear them perform the Easter portion of Handel's Messiah on April 12th at 7:00 pm at First Baptist Church on the town square of Burnsville - for free, of course. The talent here will simply astound you. Remember that I have said that when we claim more artists, per capita, than anywhere else in America, this includes the performing arts as well as the visual arts.

Speaking of which...Mountain Heritage High School has taken top state honors in drama for many years. But just recently our Middle School Drama Department took top state awards - Superior Play, Best Overall Actor, Best Overall Actress, Excellence in Directing, Acting, Live Music, Overall Design, Ensemble and Set Design.

One of my favorite things about this area is the co-mingling of all ages in most all activities - the building of Habitat for Humanity houses on campus at our high school with students and community volunteers working side-by-side, youth and adults throwing pots together for an Empty Bowl Benefit, painting Quilt Blocks together for the Quilt Trails of Western North Carolina, performing in music and theater productions alongside one another, and even farming and selling their own organic produce in our farmers markets.

Each year, one of our young farmers is recognized for excellence in agriculture. Come meet these amazing farm owners at our Farmers Market - opening April 23rd behind Town Square and the Town Center on Saturdays from 8-12. Market activities often include such events as health screenings, face painting, live music, and gourmet cooking demonstrations. Featured on opening day will be lots of plants, baked goods, crafts, cheese, meat, jams and jellies, honey, and some early produce. My personal favorite cheese in the world is OakMoon Farm and Creamery's Mountain Mediterranean Goat Cheese with Fresh Garlic and Olive Oil served on homemade bread from Nana's Kitchen. Both will be at the Farmer's Market and will sell out quickly.

Come back to the simple way of life of our American roots. Join us in this back-to-nature, we-can-do-this-together approach to living. Our lifestyle and our mountains are breaths of fresh air.

The Handel's Messiah concert is under the direction of Lisa Mauney and is made possible by the Toe River Arts Council with a Grassroots Arts grant awarded to the council by the North Carolina Arts Council.

Heroic Season for the Parkway Playhouse - NC's Oldest Continuously Operating Summer Theater

Photos: The legendary Parkway Playhouse showcasing "The Bard of Avon" Quilt Block (part of the Quilt Trails of Western North Carolina - underwritten by the owners of The Cove at Celo Mountain) and the locally commissioned, hand-forged entrance gate to THE COVE AT CELO MOUNTAIN. Enjoy our acclaimed art, our history, and some of America's most spectacular natural beauty. This is your Gateway to a new Lifestyle.

The 2011 Season (the 65th consecutive season!) of this Blue Ridge Parkway historic theater located in Burnsville, NC, is almost here!

This is the lineup of a Season of Heroes with added curtain-raisers during leaf season and Christmas! You are in for a treat that equals metropolitan theater across America. When we say we have more artists, per capita, in Yancey and Mitchell Counties than anywhere else in America - we are alluding to not only the visual arts and crafts but to the incredible talent in the performing arts here, as well.

May 6-14 THE MIRACLE WORKER by William Gibson-An inspiring and true story of heroism and faith about the remarkable Annie Sullivan who, against all odds, taught the deaf, mute, and blind child Helen Keller to communicate with the world.

June 3-11 WORLD PREMIER -AN UNCIVIL UNION: THE BATTLE OF BURNSVILLE-by Britt Kauffman-Set in Yancey County at the zenith of the Civil War and the 'worst winter in memory' a group of war weary mountain women make a courageous stand. Funny and touching, this world premiere play is an imaginative look at an actual event that reminds us that heroes can come from surprising places.

June 24-July 9 - 1776- a musical by Sherman Edwards and Peter Stone-Daring to stand up and declare their independence from the British, the founding fathers of America embodied fearlessness and conviction. This powerful musical puts a human face on one of the most stirring events in our history: the signing of the Declaration of Independence.

July 22-August 6 - SEUSSICAL-a family musical by Lynn Ahrens and Stephen Flaherty- A clever musical based on the works of the legendary Dr. Seuss will transport you to the Jungle of Nool where an elephant named Horton makes a bold stand on faith alone. Join us (and a certain famous hat-wearing feline) for an evening where anything imaginable.... is possible.

August 12-20 ROBIN HOOD: THE LEGEND OF SHERWOOD- a swashbuckling adventure by Jeff Douglas Messer and Robert Akers- The legend comes to life as the most famous "outlaw" in the world takes to the Parkway Playhouse stage to defy the menacing and oppressive Prince John and the evil Sheriff of Nottingham.

August 23-September 6 - ALONG ABOUT SUNDOWN- an Appalachian mountain musical by Brenda Lunsford Lilly and Sandra Lunsford Mason-Meet Bascom Lamar Lunsford: minstrel, politician, and visionary hero. This intimate look at one of the most influential and creative native sons of North Carolina will have you clogging in the aisles.

October 21 (Tentative Opening) - DRACULA- a Gothic thriller- adapted from the Bram Stoker novel by Andrew Gall and Jeff Douglas Messer- The classic vampire story comes to heart-pounding life - a young woman falls victim to an unexplainable illness, a ghastly shipwreck is discovered, and a reclusive stranger from a remote land arrives in a seaside resort in England. Good is threatened by an unspeakable evil. As an unlikely band of heroes face off against one of the most feared and famous monsters of all time in this new adaptation of the first vampire novel.

December 1 (Tentative Opening) BEAUTIFUL STAR: AN APPALACHIAN NATIVITY-by Preston Lane and Laurelyn Dossett- A heartwarming retelling of the original Christmas story. Faith and redemption, new possibilities, and hope for all are re-discovered as a small mountain church uses music and love to tell the story of the birth of Jesus Christ.

For season or individual tickets