This is the first post of many great weddings taking place at Laurel Ridge Country Club in Waynesville, NC.  Laurel Ridge is Haywood County's most prestigious event venue.   Choose the Club House, the Pavillion or many breathtaking outdoor areas.  For more information please contact:  Amy Bennington at http://www.laurelridgegolf.com.

Photos courtesy of  Corey McNabb Photography 

Author:  Leslie Merrell

Enjoy Repertory Theatre at it’s finest!  Experience the award-winning Haywood Arts Repertory Theatre, showcasing the talents of regional actors, musicians, and artists performing classic Broadway and off-Broadway productions. 

Located in the heart of Waynesville, HART began in 1985 as a small theatre company of amateur performers.  The historic Strand Theatre on Main Street served as main stage until 1993.  The current location, opened in 1997 as the Performing Arts Center at Shelton House, is uniquely constructed in the style of the traditional Summer Stock Playhouses of the 1920’s providing visitors the opportunity to connect with the performers.

HART is a volunteer-based community theatre, with a year-round schedule on both the Main Stage and in the StudioTheatre.  Main Stage performances, often featuring nationally-known actors, operates from April – November.  The Studio Theatre showcases more experimental productions throughout the Winter months.

No matter the time of year, visitors to the County will want to include a night at the Theatre in their schedule.  For a complete schedule of performances, visit http://www.harttheatre.com/.

The HART theatre has also served as a co-sponsor and venue for many creative and musical events in the community.

The Smoky Mountain Brass Band, made up of 30 musicians, performs quality music and the presentation of a unique concert experience. The brass band is committed to the advancement of music education in western North Carolina.  Inquiries about open chairs in the Band, call  828 253-6083, visit the website at www.smbrass.com

Razzle Dazzle Children’s Arts Festival, sponsored by the Haywood County Arts Council,  is held annually in the spring, on the HART grounds, with a full day of arts activities and entertainment for children of all ages. 

Voices in the Laurel, a not-for-profit community organization, provides an opportunity for young singers to develop as musicians through the study, rehearsal and performance of choral literature.  Voices in the Laurel is a regional choral music program with more than 120 singers ranging from third to 12th grade.  Performance groups have traveled throughout the region and nationally, sharing their musical talents. For further information about becoming a member and for audition schedules, call 828 335-2849, or email voiceslaurel@aol.comThis email address is being protected from spam bots, you need Javascript enabled to view it .  You may also visit the website at www.voicesinthelaurel.org.

The Swannanoa Chamber Music Festival comes to the Performing Arts Center in June and July each year.   For further information and to view other concert sites, visit www.warren-wilson.edu/~chamber/index.html.  You may write for tickets at The Swannanoa Chamber Music Festival, P.O. Box 9000, CPO 6062, Asheville, NC 28815 

The Performing Arts Center at the Shelton House
250 Pigeon St.
Waynesville, NC 28786
Box Office: 828-456-6322

Asheville is considered “home” for the Parkway since the park headquarters is located at Milepost 382.

If you are driving, be aware, there are no gas stations actually on the parkway.  Also, don’t plan on getting anywhere fast. 30 miles on the parkway can easily take an hour to drive.  The speed limit is 45 miles per hour or less in some places. Finally, you will surely want to slow down anyway to take in some of these spectacular views. 

As a side note:  many of you are familiar with the Biltmore House built by George Vanderbilt.  While building the house, he purchased around 125,000 acres including Mount Pisgah for a private hunting retreat for family and friends.  Most of this land was later sold to the federal government to become Pisgah National Forest.

Here's a quick north to south overview:

• Milepost (MP) 418.8: Created by fire and wind, Graveyard Fields, a popular hiking spot at a 5,600’ elevation, is visible to the north of the parkway.
• At MP 420.2, a spur road to Shining Rock Wilderness descends from here to more than 13,000 acres of land marked by a striking white quartz outcropping, visible from MP 431.
• Silvermine Bald, MP 421, is named for an old silver shaft mine that operated here in the late 19th and early 20th centuries.
• Between Bear Pen Gap, MP 427.6, and Bear Trail Ridge, MP 430.4, there are 10 recorded spots named after the bears that used to be hunted here in great numbers.
• Heading on to Lone Bald at MP 432.7, you’ll reach the highest point on the parkway’s 469 miles (at Richland Balsam Knob).
• At MP 439.7, Pinnacle Ridge Tunnel’s 750 feet reach an end just before Saunook, with a view of Waynesville below from a height of 6,000 feet (MP 440.9 also overlooks the town).
• In 1776, the first white settlers crossed the Balsams at Rabb Knob, MP 441.9, beginning a period of conflict with the Cherokee who lived in this area already. In 1883 Southern Railway laid the highest standard-gauge crossing in eastern America across this gap, at an elevation of 3,335 feet
• At night, lights illuminate a 60-foot-high cross placed here, MP 445.2, in 1962. The cross and Mt. Lynn Lowry are both dedicated to the memory of a girl who died of leukemia at the age of 15. The cross was dedicated by evangelist Billy Graham in 1965.
• Waterrock Knob, MP 451.2, rises to an elevation of 6,292 feet, second only to Richland Balsam as the highest peak in the Balsam mountains. At the top is a 360-degree view and a memorial to H. Getty Browning, who secured the parkway route through N.C.