• October 08th, 2010

• Author:

  leahgrove

The High Country is an area that’s rich in natural beauty, outdoor recreation activities, excellent dining establishments and shopping that can take you back in time. Take the day and enjoy a General Store Tour through the High Country!

Located just minutes from Echota, the Original Mast General Store  is a destination that shouldn’t be missed. Built in 1883, the store has operated as a general mercantile, post office and community gathering point for over a century. The original building that is still in use is on the National Register of Historic Places and has many distinctive features that show us its age. The Original Mast Store location features mercantile items that you may remember from your grandma’s house like jams and jellies, real maple syrup, stoneground cornmeal, comfortable rocking chairs, sturdy hiking boots, comfortable casual shoes, and more. Located along the Mission Crossing Scenic Byway, this mountain tradition will greet you with the warmth of its potbellied stove and its people. Also be sure to visit the Mast Store Annex and the Candy Barrel while you’re in Valle Crucis.

The Todd General Store was built in 1914 in anticipation of the arrival of the Western “Virginia Creeper” Railroad as a place for locals to buy and trade supplies that the railroad would bring into town. The historic town of Todd, NC is situated between Watauga and Ashe counties, located on Hwy 194 about 20 minutes from Boone. The general store is a true mercantile of days gone by and is on the National Register of Historic Places. Displayed throughout the store are memorabilia from the early 1900s as well as a deli, crafts, home-made jellies, ice cream, antiques, collectibles, music and tapes, rustic furnishings and local author books.  Seasonal outside dining on the front or back porches are great locations for the homemade dinners and bluegrass jams on Tuesday and Friday nights. And if you’re feeling adventurous, visit The River Girl along Railroad Grade Road for all of your canoeing, kayaking and river tubing needs.

Sitting high atop Beech Mountain at an elevation of 5049 feet, Fred’s General Mercantileis a store like no other. Owned and operated by Fred and Margie Pfohl since its inception in 1979, the store began out of necessity. Rumor is that Fred was appalled at the cost of a can of tuna at another local Beech Mtn. store, so he decided to open his own shop where he could name the price. Through the years, Fred’s has expanded and now consists of a grocery store, a hardware store and a clothing store. So basically, anything you could need while visiting Beech Mountain, Fred’s has it. Open 365 days a year, this is a store and a town devoted to serving the needs of visitors, skiers, snowboarders, summer folks, and locals alike.

Last stop on the tour, but certainly not least (especially if you love BBQ & homemade sourdough bread) is the Old Hampton Store in Linville. This quaint store is located on a side road in Linville not far from the large sign pointing the way to Grandfather Mountain. Built in 1921, this area was a stop for the ET&WNC (Tweetsie) Railroad. Tweetsie was the narrow-gauge railroad that served East Tennessee and northwestern North Carolina when timbering and mining were important parts of this region’s economy. Now the shop is a stop for locals and visitors alike to step back in time and enjoy things the way they used to be. You can pick up fresh ground cornmeal from their grist mill on property, tour the art gallery next door, or just sit on the porch and enjoy live bluegrass while dining on their delectable treats.

Whether you can visit all of the stores or just one at a time, these historic and infamous General Stores are the place where you can find those “I haven’t seen these in a long time” items!