Seasonal Businesses are Open 

The Garden Shed, Little Red Schoolhouse, and Dutch Creek Ice Cream are open for the season!

The Garden Shed features outdoor games, garden statuary, wind chimes, and lots of items for our feathered friends. Check out the wreaths, bird feed, and Ollie the Owl birdseed ornaments from Mr. Bird to keep the singers of songs returning to your yard throughout the season.  

The Corinthian Bell chimes are made in Virginia by Wind River. Their skilled craftspeople tune and assemble each chime by hand. Each one is tuned to a scale to ensure a harmonious sound.  

Also in the Garden Shed – Tonka Trucks! If you had one of these growing up, it’ll be hard to stifle the urge to take it out and run it through the gravel in the parking lot. There’s just something about the big yellow dump truck that excites the kid in all of us.  

As a side note, the Garden Shed dates to the early 1900s and has been moved at least twice. Its first location was approximately where the current Knife Shop is located. It was moved in the 1980s by the Coopers and restored to a usable structure.  

Beginning Friday, June 13, the Garden Shed is open daily, 11 a.m.-5 p.m., for the summer season. 

Take a short walk over to the Little Red Schoolhouse. This building, constructed in 1907, was originally located across the road from the Mast Store Annex and has served the community in many ways – as a school (one of the finest in the county), an auxiliary classroom, a gym, a lunchroom, a tobacco barn, and now as a sale center. 

The selection found in the Schoolhouse will vary throughout the year and can include sale shoes (now the prices are as marked and are 50% off regular prices), clothing (the collection may be sample sizes only or a mixture of sizes with prices being 40-50% off), mercantile and home goods with prices 40-50% off. It’s always worth popping your head in to see what’s inside because it’s always changing. 

The Little Red Schoolhouse is open daily through the fall, 11 a.m. - 5 p.m. 

According to a survey conducted in 2024 by the International Dairy Foods Association, 97% of Americans like or love ice cream. The survey found that the top favorite flavors are tried and true - 1. Vanilla, 2. Chocolate, and 3. Strawberry. Americans prefer either bowls or waffle cones as their vessel of delivery of the sweet treats. It was also noted that only 10% picked “straight out of the carton” as their favorite method of consumption. 

Dutch Creek Ice Cream at the Mast Store Annex is open daily (Monday – Saturday 11 a.m. - 5 p.m. and Sunday 11:30 a.m. - 5 p.m.) serving up your favorite flavors from Blue Bell. The offerings may change throughout the summer, so stop back in often to taste what’s new or to enjoy it in a cake cone vs. a waffle cone. Remember, all tips are donated to the Valle Crucis Community Park.  

Is There a Place to Eat? 

Yes! Pearl’s Kitchen and Tiny Market is now open next to Rivercross Made in USA. Named for Tina Houston’s grandmother, Pearl’s Kitchen features fare that is made from scratch with high quality ingredients – just like what Pearl served up in her kitchen.  

Executive Chef Andres Rosado lives in Mountain City and graduated from the Art Institute of Nashville with a culinary degree. “We pulled our recipes from my years of serving our community and finding what was most comforting,” shared Tina. “Together we feel pretty happy about our menu at Pearl’s.” 

The menu includes sandwiches, soups and salads, and picnic fixin’s. With only a few weeks of business in this location, Tina said the most popular items include Bald Guy coffee (including espresso and cappuccino), handmade pastries, and the turkey BLT on sourdough.  

Pearl’s is open Monday – Thursday 8 a.m. - 2 p.m., Friday – Saturday 8 a.m. - 6 p.m., and Sunday 9 a.m. - 3 p.m. Additional parking can be found behind the Original Mast Store. You can enter off the porch.  

If you are looking for the popular lunch and supper spot Over Yonder, it has relocated to Rhode’s Motor Lodge in Boone. https://www.overyondernc.com/ 

Rivercross Made in USA 

While you’re waiting for your sandwich at Pearl’s, take a walk through Rivercross. It’s filled with pottery, paintings, and pieces to make your house – or someone else’s - a home.  

Jody, the area manager for Rivercross, pointed out the fun pottery designs by Meghan Bernard in the front of the gallery. The collection features whimsical designs of flowers, birds, and foxes. Based in Hendersonville, North Carolina, Meghan creates wheel-thrown porcelain, which is then carved and inlaid with colorful underglaze and finished with food-safe glazes. She draws her inspiration from the plants and animals she sees in her neighborhood.  

New additions to Rivercross are napkins from Dot & Army. Choose from light and airy seersucker or more formal linen napkins as beautiful accessories for a summer table. If you’re looking for a scenic reminder of your visit, try some of the artwork from Richard Platt. He captures some of the historic buildings and scenery around Valle Crucis in his paintings.  

Rivercross is open daily 10 a.m. - 6 p.m. Monday through Saturday and 11 a.m. - 6 p.m. on Sunday. 

But Wait, There’s More 

Jerky has its roots in Incan culture and was a form of sustenance in America’s pioneering days. As a matter of fact, the community of Meat Camp may have derived its name from the “jerky” that was left for future hunters to eat as they were dressing their meats for transporting down the mountain. 

Today, jerky is so much more than dried and salted meat; it has many flavors and is made from everything from beef to alligator to ostrich. If you want to try some for yourself, stop by the Jerky Outpost in Valle Crucis. Suzanne Stevens, who along with her husband Damon, operate the Jerky Outpost, shared, “We have our own Jerky Outpost brand, which is tasty and tender, and people will also find other brands that are made in North Carolina.” 

AND, if you are into hot sauces, you won’t be disappointed. They have quite the collection to light up your life!  

The Jerky Outpost also has gourmet popcorn, snacks, and BBQ sauces and rubs. They are open daily 10 a.m. - 6 p.m. 

Take a Hike 

The trail to Crab Orchard Falls has been popular for years. Last year, a new trail was opened with the help of Explore Boone and the Watauga County TDA. It is slightly longer than the previous route to the trail, but it is more friendly to hikers of all ages.  

Park in the upper parking lot above the Inn, then head toward the Dining Hall (look for the big dinner bell). Just past Johnson Hall (on the left), you’ll see a port-a-potty. Make a pitstop, as this is your last opportunity until you return from your hike. The new trail begins right behind the port-a-potty. Round trip, it’s right around two miles. The trail is wide, rolling, and easily navigable.  

If you hike it soon, be sure to slow down to see the Mountain Laurel in bloom and in the parking lot, smell the honeysuckle (it was quite fragrant over the weekend). 

There is a place to wade into the water but be prepared because it will be cool. 

The trail is maintained by the Valle Crucis Conference Center, which is a non-profit organization. You can make a donation to help with maintenance HERE.  

On the Road 

If you’ve been in the area over the last five years or so, you’ve no doubt noticed the road work on Highway 105. That’s the main route to get to Valle Crucis. The rockface near the  Watauga River Bridge and Old Tweetsie Road has been removed, and it’s almost ready for constructing the new bridge, which will allow for four lanes of through traffic. There may be some delays near the bridge as work continues, but it usually clears quickly. If you don’t want to wait, there are a few different routes you can take to see some different scenery. You can find directions HERE.  

We look forward to seeing you soon in Historic Valle Crucis!