Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
14.
Moses H. Cone Memorial Park
Just before the turn of the century, Moses Cone, a textile magnate who was known as the
Denim King, chose this site for his country estate he called Flat Top Manor. Building this
mountaintop hideaway was not easy; materials had to be hauled up by oxcart. Once Cone
was settled here, he planted several apple orchards and built 25 miles of carriage roads on
his property; today, these shady lanes induce visitors to explore the nearby hills and lakes.
Cone's mansion, with its impressive columned entryway, is now a parkway crafts center
and gift shop.
OntheancientslopesofGrandfatherMountain,afewmilesfartheralong,thefirstsigns
of the spruce-fir forest of the North Carolina high country begin to appear as dark green
swatches in the blanket of forest. Here, too, is the amazing Linn Cove Viaduct, bending
gracefully around the eastern slope of the peak. Elevated on seven pillars to avoid envir-
onmental damage, the quarter-mile-long viaduct was formed of 153 individually designed
segments.Thebridgewasdedicatedin1987andmarkedtheofficialcompletionoftheBlue
Ridge Parkway, 52 years after it was begun.
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