Visit Boone - Mast General Store

The mayor of nearby Banner Elk is quoted at a celebration of the E.T. & W.N.C Railroad finally making its way to Boone in 1918…"I remember when the only way a person could get to Boone was to be born there." Tweetsie, as she was known to the locals, opened up a whole new world for the town.

Daniel Boone, the town’s namesake, used a series of hunting cabins in the area as he was exploring and blazing a trail for others to follow across the mountain in the 1700s. You can still experience the time of ol’ Dan’l in the cabins at the Hickory Ridge Living History Museum.

The Mast Store in Downtown Boone resides in two buildings constructed in the early years of the 20th century. Many a memory was made and shared in the old Hunt’s Department Store, which is the main part of the Boone location. Its Y-shaped staircase has carried thousands of footsteps upstairs to find overalls and footwear. Today, it’s hard to find the old drain pipes for the sinks in the beauty shop once located inside, but what you will find is eager people ready to help you locate just what you are looking for and to share some helpful hints along the way.

FOOD FOR KIDS 2018 MARKS TEN-YEAR PARTNERSHIP WITH MERRELL FOOTWEAR

"Have you eaten?"

That's the secret code for love and care in many families, but it's a question of real consequence for more people than many realize. That's why Mast Store is partnering with Merrell Footwear and local food agencies to turn the answer to that question

into a resounding "yes" in our communities, especially for one of the most vulnerable populations, our children.

Fall Foliage Primer - October 10, 2018

It's Week Three for the 2018 Fall Foliage Primer. More color is appearing, but it is appearing slowly. Most areas will have rain through the middle of the week, but the weekend will be great for getting out to local farmers' markets, music festivals, state and national park tours, or a drive along your favorite country road. All locations are filled with abundant color - it's just not from the leaves quite yet.

Fall Foliage Primer - October 3, 2018

Week two of the 2018 Fall Foliage Primer finds that someone has pushed the pause button on the colors ... and fall temperatures, too. There are spotty colors in some of the highest elevations of the mountains, but if you know where to look, there's still fall color to be had. Look for events, mushrooms, vines, and the late blooms of summer. Check out what our reporters are recommending this week.

On the Cutting Edge

Do you carry a knife? What kind is it – traditional, like a “grandpa” pocket knife, or more modern with open assist and a clip? If you spend much time in the Mast Store knife shop, you’ll find that a simple question can open the door to a million and one possibilities. Purchasing a knife is a personal experience, much like choosing a purse for a woman or a wallet for a man. When you visit the Knife Shop at the Original Mast Store in Valle Crucis or the knife collections in any Mast Store location, you’ll want to consider the answers to three basic questions: What is your budget? How will you be using your knife? Do you prefer a folding or a fixed blade?