The Springhouse on Mill Creek

29/04/2022

Come and join the fun

WEST JEFFERSON - This year’s musical entertainment list for Christmas in July in West Jefferson was released on Friday, April 29. Rock Bottom Bluegrass Band will kick off the music

28/01/2022

17/12/2021

It’s almost snow season, watch the weather and book your winter wonderland ❄️❄️❄️

01/07/2021

We hope everyone has a safe and fun 4th of July 💥🇺🇸💥

05/06/2021

New hammocks for relaxing at The Springhouse...

29/05/2021

Take a walk in nature at The Springhouse ⛰🥾🐝🦋🐌🦃🦝🦌

28/05/2021

New Trails are opening 🥾⛰

25/05/2021

New Creek Trail to the creek for leisure sitting, reading a book, or just letting the kids get wet💦

25/05/2021

25/05/2021

Ashe Co.,The coolest county in North Carolina.....🥾

25/05/2021

Pond Mountain... just a short drive away 🔭

06/04/2021

Have you heard? April is Connected Conservation Month for the National Park Service!

Connected Conservation highlights how we all come together to conserve our cultural, natural, and recreational resources. From land agencies, to non-profits, and yes, even YOU, we all play a role in conservation. After all, water, wildlife, and air don't stop at park boundaries. By working together, we can make real progress in protecting our special places.

Check out the 30 Days of Connected Conservation Calendar to learn more about how you can practice conservation in your everyday life: https://www.nps.gov/articles/000/30-days-of-connected-conservation.htm

Image Description: A volunteer and Park ranger work together to rake debris from a fire ring.
NPS Photo

30/03/2021

FloydFest 2021~Odyssey (July 21 to 25, 2021) is five days of Music, Magic, and Mountains featuring adventure, vendors, food, brews and more than 100 artists on eight+ stages. FloydFest.com!

30/03/2021

17/03/2021

Wow! Do you have a favorite spot? 💙🌄

The Blue Ridge Parkway was the most popular park in 2020, with more than 14 million visits thoughout the year, accoding to the National Park Serivce.

16/03/2021

Enjoy tubing on the lazy New River that provides a scenic passage through abundant wildlife and beautiful mountain scenery outside of Boone, North Carolina

16/03/2021

Gardeners often swear at them, and green lawn lovers typically nuke them with poisonous sprays. But dandelions are also important wildlife food, a boon for early spring pollinators - and a superb health food!

16/03/2021

WEST JEFFERSON — The Ashe Civic Center will play host to the WKSK Old Time and Bluegrass Radio Show with Gary Poe this Saturday, March 20. Starting a “little after

04/03/2021

Have you visited any of these historic sites? I’ve added a few to our family’s list that we haven’t been to yet.

NC High Country Top 10 Historic Locations Hickory Ridge Museum of Ashe County Whipporwill Village Green Park Inn Moses Cone Manor

27/01/2021

Who is excited? ❄️❄️❄️❄️❄️

A vigorous upper level disturbance jetting through Missouri and Arkansas will ignite low-pressure along the Carolina coast by Thursday morning. A period of rain will move in later this afternoon and evening, but cold air will arrive very quickly after sunset in the mountains, changing rain to snow from the top down and from west to east. Rain ends as snow or flurries in the Foothills late tonight and Thursday morning. Snowfall totals will be highest across the northern mountains and in SW VA, and then southward down the spine of the Appalachians into the Smokies. East of the mountains, amounts will be more patchy, but focused from the Brushy Mountains into Surry and then down east into the Triangle. Here is our map of forecast snow accumulations for tonight into early Thursday.

27/01/2021

Check us out on Airbnb and Vrbo!

23/01/2021

Boone NC Winter Activity Guide Things to Do, Boone Winter Outdoor Guide, events, indoor activity guide

23/01/2021

❄️❄️❄️

21/01/2021

Next time you head to the mountains with a 5-weight in tow, use this guide to fly fishing the Blue Ridge Parkway to help you along the way.

21/01/2021

The scientific consensus states that the likelihood of two large snow crystals being identical is zero. Winter scenes: Snowflakes. ca. 1920-1950. ...

21/01/2021

BOONE – Showcasing a wealth of talent and enthusiasm, an ensemble of dancers from the High Country will be representing North Carolina on the national stage during the upcoming presidential

21/01/2021

Have you ever wondered what a day in the life of a ski patroller is like? Wintergreen’s award winning ski patrol is hosting their ski with a patroller day. Open to ages 16 and up. Come experience everything from getting the slopes ready in the morning to closing the slopes up at night. This is the...

21/01/2021

Our State Parks Family is mourning the sudden loss of Ranger Doug Blatny. The following tribute to Ranger Doug was written by his friend and colleague, Superintendent Joe Shimel, who worked with him at New River State Park.

"It is with great sadness surrounded by feelings of shock and disbelief that we try to process the passing of Ranger Doug Blatny. Ranger Doug did not follow the normal path that most rangers take. He worked several years in marketing in the private sector before seeking fulfillment and purpose following his true passion, protection of our natural resources.

He was introduced to a career in state parks when he took a seasonal position at Crowders Mountain State Park. It did not take long for him to realize that NC State Parks would be his career home. He was hired as a park ranger Falls Lake State Recreation Area and worked there for a few years before taking a promotion to New River State Park in 1997. He spent the next 20 years plus as an ardent supporter of our natural resources in and around New River State Park.

Although he was not a native to the High-Country Mountains, this soon became his home and his passion. The New River became his to take care of. He felt a personal responsibility to become a custodian of the New River and Wagoner Access at New River State Park. He continually pushed everyone, whether park visitor, conservation partners, even co-workers to become better stewards of our environment.

He had a love of clean energy and spurred the park to invest in solar energy on several different projects and to do things differently to try to make this place and our planet better. He had a complete love affair with nature, doing his best to protect it at every opportunity.

Over 14 years ago, Doug was the catalyst for the state park’s research of the Eastern Hellbender in the waters of the New River. It began with inviting experts to show staff how to conduct these surveys and research. Over the years it morphed into a week-long, huge collaboration that brings in a multitude of volunteers from other parks, universities, and agencies to see and learn how it is done by NC State Parks. There have been public information initiatives including education programs, informational brochures, posters, and riverside signs. New River Celebration Day has been an event that was born of this effort to not only celebrate the river but educate people about the river using the Eastern Hellbender as a sort of mascot.

Speaking of mascots, it was Ranger Doug’s brainchild to partner with the NC Zoo as well as Randolph Community College to create “Snotty” the snot otter, the actual mascot costume that has travelled the eastern U.S. to connect people with this creature ever since. I have many fond memories of snorkeling in wet suits in the search of hellbenders with Ranger Doug at the helm of the effort, as do many others I have heard from since his passing. I can only imagine what the next hellbender survey will be like without Ranger Doug, and what memories and tributes will be shared during that week.

He also loved to see and listen to the Woodcocks with their elaborate mating rituals, and to share this experience with others through guided hikes and programs every spring. Every time I see a Woodcock dancing in the early night, I will think of Ranger Doug.

He loved river life. He helped develop paddle-in camping sites along the New River to expand the paddling and camping opportunities for everyone. He took advantage of these himself. When the paddle-in campsites needed maintenance attention, he set up a system for staff to paddle in the equipment needed to take care of the sites. Yes, it was work, but you had to take the time to paddle to the campsites and be in nature and on the river to get to the “work.” He took many paddle trips with beloved friends across the country to explore the natural wonders that many of our nation’s rivers hold in secret except for those daring travel by watercraft. This is a whole different way to experience the natural world that has rewards for those who attempt it, and Doug knew this.

Doug leaves behind his wife, Jackie Nelson, and his mother, Marcye Blatny. Doug had a way of getting everyone involved with his passions. I recall times seeing Jackie taking photos during special public events that Doug help to coordinate, and his mother spending countless hours tending to the butterfly garden at Wagoner Access. He would not let anyone close to him sit idle and not get involved to do their part to make this world a better place.

Ranger Doug retired on November 1, 2020 and had plans to travel in the RV with Jackie. He planned to use retirement as an opportunity to not only explore our amazing public lands around the country, but to continue his public service through volunteering and camp hosting in these special places. Doug’s plans were to continue his public service and commitment to conservation, education, and recreation. Ranger Doug has left us too soon.

We have truly lost a champion for protection of our natural resources. He will be greatly missed. We will reflect on the achievements and accomplishments that Ranger Doug had and continue to build on those. This is a heartbreaking loss for the NC State Park’s family, conservation partners that have worked with Doug, friends, family, and especially Jackie and Marcye. Please keep them in your thoughts and prayers and continue the legacy he has left us with."