road trip memorial day 2015– 2 riding the...

Road Trip Memorial Day 2015– 2

Riding the Skyway

Thomas and Shawn Watson from Lavonia, Tenn. recently rode the Cherohala Skyway from Tennessee to North Carolina in Graham County. The road reaches more than one-mile high near Hooper Bald. The couple said they were on their longest trip and plan to ride The Dragon through Graham County and back to Tennessee.

Eric Kearney, left, of Wilson, N.C. rides an Electro Glide Harley-Davidson Ul-tra Classic and Dwight Ennis, of Wallace, N.C., rides a Harley-Davidson Ultra Limited. Their longest trip was to Lynchburg, Tenn. The pair was recently on the Cherohala Skyway in Graham County.

Photos/Sam Marlow


Fading Voices celebrates Cherokee culture

See Cherokee page 15

Fading Voices will be May 23Set among forest-covered moun-

tains the annual Fading Voices is a time-honored tradition for the Snow-bird Cherokee people. It is a time that Native Americans use to celebrate a bygone era and the traditional ways of their people.

Held on the several-acre field of the Little Snowbird Church playground, the cultural demonstration stations are set up under a restful canopy of trees with Little Snowbird Creek bab-bling close by.

From handmade crafts to traditional games and authentic Cherokee foods, the day is spent in remembrance by the Eastern Band and their American cousins. Demonstrations, dances, tra-ditional games, soap making, herbal medicine, beadwork, pottery and quilting are just a few of the examples

Even the little guys get in on the annual game of stickball at the annual Fading Voices celebration in Snowbird.

pick up the ball.After picking up the ball, players

could then transfer the ball to the hands, then run for the goal, which were tree limbs stuck into the ground

provided at the annual event, many of which involve participation by the spectators.

A rousing game of stickball is of-fered to any that are brave enough to try, but be warned. It is one tough sport.

A-ne-jo-di, or stickball, used to be a popular sport played not only by the Cherokee, but many other Southeast-ern Woodland tribes, including the Muscogee (Creek) and Seminole.

The game resembled the modern European game of lacrosse, using ball sticks handmade from hickory. The game began by opposing teams enter-ing the field with battle yells, which signified the strength of the team.

A small deer hair and hide ball is tossed into the air by the medicine man, and the teams use the stick to

on either end of the field.There werenít any rules on the play-

ing field, any player could get the ball and any tactic could be used to stop


Minis rally in Graham County in 2015

See SHINE, page 17

Rally fans raised more than $13,000 for local charities

‘Moonshiner 28’ from Fontana to S.C. popularScenic route goes from Fontana to Walhalla, S.C.

By Ron Johnsonand Nancy JohnsonSpecial to The Star

The two-lane roads of Western North Carolina evoke the image of moonshiners in their hopped-up coups making a run to deliver hooch like in the movie Thunder Road. It’s in memory of these hard living, risk taking souls that N.C. 28 could be ap-propriately called “Moonshiner 28.”

We have always had an interest in shine, but it is purely intellectual; not as consumers. As explorers of back country roads we once accidentally found a White Liquor Museum ex-

hibition on the campus of Ferrum University in Virginia. We spent more than an hour browsing the news articles, mock still and a 1951 Ford pick-up truck once used to haul ille-gal whiskey.

Closer to home was the legendary Popcorn Sutton who “cooked” for decades in the hills of North Carolina and Tennessee. One of his stills was recently for sale on eBay for $20,000. Arrested many times in his 61 years, he took his own life in 2009 rather than go back to prison. Popcorn once reminisced about the heyday of moon-

shining from 1965 to 1972 when you could buy “likker” about every 200 feet in places.

There is little doubt that many gal-lons of 180 proof has passed along Moonshiner 28. And some still moves today. But this two-lane high-way passes through the most unique scenery in the Carolinas along its 105-mile path from U.S. 129 at the Tail of the Dragon to Walhalla, S.C.

Tourists will find many points of interest. The twisty road along the of-ten foggy Cheoah Lake can be mysti-cal. Stretch your legs on a short hike to Twenty-Mile Falls. Fontana Vil-lage is a long standing resort. Nearby

Fontana Dam is a wonder of engi-neering at the western most end of the 17-mile long Fontana Lake which borders the Great Smoky Mountains. The next waterfall is Rainbow Falls right on the highway.

Don’t blink as you pass through Stecoah, a country crossroads. But the Stecoah Valley Cultural Arts Cen-ter is worth a visit to learn more about Appalachian folklore. Nearby is the Ironhorse Motorcycle Lodge dedicat-ed to the two-wheel traveler. Moon-shiner 28 briefly turns into four-lane as Fontana Lake and the Smokies once again come into view.

The 2015 Minis on the Dragon (MOTD) Event at Fontana Village raised a total of $13,620 for Graham County charities.

There were 750 registered Mini Coopers and an unknown amount of unregistered cars traveling from across the country to explore the roads of Graham County form April 29 to May 3.

The Mini’s seemed to take over the roads and restaurants in Graham County, providing an added boost to the local economy.

Gigi Lewing drove her Mini Coo-per from Lafayette, La. as part of the group, MINI Skirts. This year marks the fourth consecutive year the MINI Skirts, who raised $6,100 for Graham County Breast and Cer-vical Cancer Control Program, have been involved with MOTD.

“The MINI Skirts are committed to supporting Graham County every year,” said Lewing. “We enjoy the beauty there and want to give back for all we receive.”

The MINI Skirts donate all of the money received from their booth.

“We eat our overhead so it’s not giv-ing what is left over after our expens-es,” said Lewing.

The MOTD organization donated a total of $6,743 to the Graham County Food Bank. The donations came from a variety of events, sales, registration fees and personal donations, including popcorn and shirt sales, website regis-trations, bingo games and raffles.

MOTD donated $787 to the Graham County First Responders through a dinner raffle.

In addition to donations to Graham County charities, MOTD donated $915 to four year old Jack Sims, of Portsmouth, United Kingdom, needs

surgery to enable him to walk, due to Cerebral Palsy Spastic Deplegia through American Job Donations.

Among the Mini Cooper drivers was Kathleen Gerwien fron Virgin-ia Beach, Va., who is part of a dual Mini family. Her husband Harry, who

was in the market for a new Honda, went to the grocery to get lemons and came home with a Mini Cooper. She fell in love with the car and they have driven Mini Cooper’s ever since.

Next years MOTD event will be held from May 11- 16.

By Sam MarlowThe Graham Star

Kathleen Gerwien, of Virginia Beach, VA. sports her white 2010 Mini Cooper S Turbo. She was among more than 700 Mini Cooper owners who came to Graham County earliers this month.

Road Trip Memorial Day 2015- 5

By Kim HaingeThe Graham Star

Teaberry Hill RV Campground in Graham County recently received a visit from the Sisters on the Fly, an outdoor adventure club for women.

Their mission statement is “offer-ing empowerment and sisterhood through exceptional outdoor adven-tures.”

A group of “Sisters” recently camped at Teaberry Hill, but not be-fore a recon group checked out the facilities.

Last Fall, representatives of the group paid a visit to Teaberry Hill RV Campground, owned by John Hoffman and Becky Holder. Becky Holder explained, “Karen Pyne and Sharon Lambert walked all around the campground with us, looking at

everything. After checking us out completely, they chose our camp-ground as the site of their spring visit. In fact, they reserved the campground exclusively for their group.”

Up to 6,000 women from all around the country have joined the organiza-tion and it has over 3,500 active mem-bers. Their website explains that “as a group of women, we challenge our-selves in all that that we set our mind to. There is no age, color, religion or political group. All women who want to share in the adventures of “sister-hood” are welcome.”

In Graham County, the group checked out Joyce Kilmer Memorial Forest and visited other sites in the area.

Best friends Cindy Pritchett and Donna Smith (“Thelma and Louise”) in front of the camper, ‘Bella.’

Photos/Kim Hainge

‘Sisters on the Fly’ breeze into Teaberry HillOrganization boasts 6,000 members who

travel for adventure, companionship

Robin Gieniewski sits inside her vintage 1964 Airstream at the Teaberry Hill RV Campground in Graham County. She is part of a nationwide group of women who travel.

See Sisters, page 8

Road Trip Memorial Day 2015 – 6


Motorcycle safety tips given by expertsSafety tips also offered to vehicle drivers

The great riding conditions we ex-perience in the spring and summer months result in increased motorcy-clists on the road requiring additional caution among all motorists.

According to multiple case stud-ies including the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHT-SA), 62 percent of motorcycle fa-talities occur between May and Sep-tember and a majority of motorcycle accidents are caused when a vehicle motorist fails to detect and recognize the motorcyclist.

With these tips for vehicle motor-ists from the NHTSA, we hope that all motorists will stay vigilant:

n Allow the motorcycle the full width of a lane at all times.

n Always signal when changing lanes or merging with traffic.

n If you see a motorcycle with a signal on, be careful: motorcycle signals are often non-canceling and could have been forgotten. Always ensure that the motorcycle is turning before proceeding.

n Check all mirrors and blind spots for motorcycles before chang-ing lanes or merging with traffic, es-pecially at intersections.

n Look twice when pulling out onto roadway.

n Always allow more follow dis-tance when behind a motorcycle. This gives them more time to maneu-ver or stop in an emergency.

n Never drive distracted or im-

paired.Motorcyclists can increase their

safety by following these tips from the NHTSA:

n Always wear long pants and closed toed shoes.

n Wear a DOT-compliant helmet and other protective gear.

n Obey all traffic laws and be prop-erly licensed.

n Use hand and turn signals at ev-ery lane change or turn.

n Wear brightly colored clothes and reflective tape to increase vis-ibility.

nRide in the middle of the lane where you will be more visible to drivers.

nNever ride distracted or im-paired.


The organization originated with two sisters who were raised by an adventurous mother.

In 1999 the sisters went on a fish-ing trip in Montana and had such a wonderful time that they invited sev-eral female friends to join them for another adventure.

They had so much fun that they de-cided to “outfit some vintage trailers and drag them down the road with us. “How good it is to fall into your own feather bed at the end of a long day of fishing and wake to the smell of coffee right outside your door in the morning! Pretty good, I’d say,” wrote one of the sisters.

The trailers and campers took on personalities of their own, and that of their owners. The group began to grow as more and more women heard about it.

Sharon Lambert, owner of the camper named “Goldie,” said there are just a few rules. “No men, no kids, no pets and be nice.”

Additionally, the women must be over the age of 21 years to join. One might suspect that the members of Sisters on the Fly are women who are alone, divorced or widowed and possibly retired. Nothing could be further from the truth. 75 percent of the membership are married and still work.

Bea Black arrived with her camper, a whitewater Retro (produced by the Amish). The name of her camper is “Fandango.”

When asked how she became in-volved with the group she explained, “My sister Laura had tried and tried to get me to check out the group. Fi-

nally, she paid for a membership for me and told me emphatically ‘you will do this!’ I attended my first get together and couldn’t believe how great it was. The women who come are just basically taking a quick little vacation to get some alone time. Here they are just themselves, not mothers, not wives, not daugh-ters…just themselves. My husband completely supports me. In fact, he helped me outfit Fandango. He add-ed little things like a lockbox for me to hide an extra key. He hangs out with his friends while I’m gone.”

During the club’s get-togethers, de-pending on how many people come, teams of cooks are organized. The group at Teaberry Hill was relatively small and there was one woman, Sal-lianne Brown, who loves to cook for people.

“There is nothing I like better than to cook wonderful food and then watch people eat and enjoy it,” Brown said.

Teaberry Hill usually uses their exquisite outdoor kitchen to provide breakfast for their campers. Adjacent to the kitchen is a prettily decorated laundry room and bathroom that look exactly like rooms you would find in-side a home. The outdoor kitchen is surrounded by a deck so that you can admire the stream that runs through the campground. In the case of the Sisters on the Fly, Teaberry Hill al-lowed them to take over the kitchen completely during their stay.

Two best friends, Cindy Pritchett and Donna Smith, attended together. They are fondly nicknamed “Thelma and Louise.” The actually ended up marrying each other’s brother. They were camping on a site adjacent to a

stream and a tackle box was close by their two lawn chairs.

Lambert, extremely knowledgeable about campers and the organization itself, was happy to answer questions about anything. She showed almost everyone’s campers and new their names and the names of the camp-ers too. “There are only three or four people in the United States that can restore vintage trailers. They turn the campers into works or art, in some cases.” When asked about the deli-cate subject of what the woman used for restrooms in some of the smaller campers Lambert laughed and de-scribed a wonderful invention called “The Luggable Loo”. Modern tech-nology allows for a modern bedpan arrangement that, due to a mixture a chemicals in a bag, is odorless and completely disposable. It’s wonder-ful when we do have restroom facili-ties, but these Loos make life a lot easier, especially at night!”

One 1964 Airstream trailer, a Bam-

bi II, glistened like a mirror. It is owned by Robin Gieniewski and she had it repolished by a professional. She joked, “I practically had to take a second job to pay for it.”

Daisy Bailes is called a Wrangler because she helps guide women in Alabama, North Carolina and South Carolina who need more information about the group. She runs a cattle ranch in Alabama and treasures the time she is able to spend with Sisters on the Fly. “Our motto is “We have more fun than anyone” and it is ab-solutely true.”

The Sisters group visited the Joyce Kilmer Memorial Forest during their time in Graham County. They also visited several artists and shops in the area. Many of the attendees said that they would like to come back next year. As they settled back to listen to Frank Lee, a member of the band “The Freight Hoppers” play his guitars and banjos, the women were happy, smiling and relaxed.

From page 5

Sisters: Adventure club for women visits Graham CountySisters on the Fly rolls through county

Sharon Lambert, a longtime member of the group ‘Sisters on the Fly’ in front of her camper, ‘Goldie.’ There are a few rules she says, ‘No men, no pets, no kids and be nice!’

Photo/Kim Hainge


Thunder Mountain General Store & Deli

Ken and Melissa Osburn, owners of the Thunder Mountain General Store and Deli in Robbinsville, are quickly gaining a reputation for great food. The store is located on N.C. 143, 7 miles west of Robbinsville, four miles from the Cherohala Skyway and on the way to the Joyce Kilmer Memorial Forest. It is the last place where you can purchase gas and use an indoor restroom before making the 40 mile crossing of the Cherohala Skyway. The next opportunity is in Tellico Plains, Tenn.

If you are planning an early start to your day, whether you are going fish-ing, hiking, biking, motorcycling or driving, Thunder Mountain is the per-fect one-stop store to collect supplies and treat yourself to delicious food.

Melissa and Ken serve breakfast. Their breakfast specialty is a hot Breakfast Biscuit consisting of Pills-bury dough biscuits filled with ei-ther Jimmy Dean Sausage or Tyson Chicken, choices of cheese, tomato and onion and various condiments. They offer fresh coffee, tea, juices and fresh apples or bananas so that you can start your day with plenty of energy. Ken grinned and explained that “I have to get up at 4 each morn-ing and start the biscuits cooking so that breakfast is fresh and ready to go when out first customers come through the door. The biscuits are baked fresh every day.”

The store carries a large selection of groceries, fishing supplies includ-ing live bait and souvenirs to browse through while you are having your breakfast prepared. You can buy a copy of the local paper there too, and

sit at the picnic table outside with breakfast, coffee and a good read be-fore heading off for the day.

As tasty as the Breakfast Biscuits are, the lunch menu, including the legendary Thunder Dogs, is the real claim to fame for the general store.

Ken and Melissa serve three dif-ferent levels of hot dogs, all made from Nathan’s Famous Frankfurters. The Franks are huge and they are the store’s No. 1 selling product, accord-ing to Melissa.

“We sell more Thunder Dogs per customer, than gasoline. People love them! Nathan’s Frankfurters are Ko-sher and gluten-free and made of 100 percent beef. They are the hot dogs that are used in the famous hot dog eating contest in Coney Island every year.”

The Thunder Dog is the largest dog you can order and has a ¼ pound wie-ner slathered with any condiment you desire. The Thunder “Pup” is a hot dog that fits nicely into a normal size hot dog bun but still is served with all the condiments included in the price. They also serve just a plain, old fash-ioned hot dog. All three kinds of hot dogs are Nathan’s Franks; they just vary in size and extras. You can order Meemaw’s Hot Slaw with the various thunder dogs and pups. The hot slaw is fast becoming the hottest item for sale at the deli.

Melissa explained, “The original recipe was Ken’s mom’s. Her name was Zonie Osburn. She raised a fam-ily of five and loved to cook. Ken was the youngest of the five siblings. Zonie would prepare food for the women’s clubs she belonged to and would cook big family meals. She wrote down the recipe and every

family member has a copy. It can be used as a side item, a relish, or a chow chow.”

Ken added that “We have custom-ers that come in almost every day, like slaw addicts, demanding a big serving. We are planning on packag-ing the Meemaw’s Hot Slaw in larger containers for take home and perhaps even shipping it country wide be-cause of all the requests.

The Osburns also have vegetable salads and sandwiches designed for vegetarians that stop by and also sell numerous other foods at the deli, in-cluding a local favorite, Melissa’s double stuffed orea cookies with va-nilla icing and sprinkles. There’s also tons of ice cream and other goodies.

The Osburns live above the store with their daughter Anna. The store’s phone number is (828) 479-4171.

Ken and Melissa Osburn serve up one of their famous ‘Thunder Dogs’ at Thunder Mountain General Store & Deli near the start of the Skyway.

By Kim HaingeThe Graham Star

Home of the famous ‘Thunder Dog’

‘Only in RObbinsville’

Road Trip Memorial Day 2015– 10 Road Trip Memorial Day 2015– 11


Ride up Santeetlah Creek steeped in history

Stewart Cabin Road, which is known as the Old Wagon Train Road (Forest Service Road 81) is a 12-mile gravel road, beginning at Santeetlah Gap near the Cherohala Skyway in North Carolina at a 2,660-foot eleva-tion.

This 12-mile trek meanders along Santeetlah Creek (known as Big Creek) for most of the way as it climbs to Stratton Meadows on the Cherohala Skyway at the Tennessee border and reaches more than 5,000 feet along the way. Along the route are some great trout fishing spots.

There are several remote camp-ing and picnic areas. During hunting

season it can be crowded with camp-ers, but usually there are just a few people on this back road. The large camping site at Mile 3 is the location of Stewart Cabin which dates back to the 1880s. It is listed on the National Historic Register and is part of the Nantahala National Forest.

A small bridge crosses Sand Creek at Mile 6. This is a good place to cool off and take some photos of the small cascade with headwaters 1,300 feet higher up the mountain.

There are three side roads along Stewart Cabin Road which dead end and provide lots of exploring. Other side roads are gated year round.

The Wolf Laurel Road at Mile 6.7 is an interesting climb.

Old cabins, high ridges, tall tales featured

The old Stewart Cabin in a popular picnic site off the gravel road.

By Ron Johnsonand Nancy JohnsonSpecial to The Star

See RIDE page 14


Get a room, garage at Two Wheel InnBarry and Linda Levy are beginning

their 12th year of operation of the Two Wheel Inn, located off U.S. 129 just south of Robbinsville.

The unique motel, ranked the 18 rooms with king or twin beds, satellite TV, WiFi, private baths, coffee maker, fridge and microwave.

What’s different, you ask? What sets the Two Wheel Inn apart is each room has an adjoining room to house a motor-cycle.

“Barry thought of a hotel with garages for motorcycles,” Linda said.

The business attracts clientele from allover the world and business is good. This year they added a bathhouse for campers.

The Levys started the business after they fell in love with the area. “We fell in love with it immediately and sold our property in Florida,” Linda said. “It was hot in Florida.”

Although the couple used to ride, they don’t anymore. However, they enjoy the camaraderie with the guests.

The six-acre grounds have a fire pit, covered picnic area and barbeque grills for guests.

“It’s not a rowdy crowd,” Linda said. “We’ve never had a single call to the po-lice. By 10 p.m., most are ready to go to bed.”

Perhaps one of the reasons the business does not attract a rowdy crowd is because usually there are two to three vacation-ing police officers staying as guests each night during the season, Linda said.

“Our first guest were police officers from Dallas,” Linda said. “We have a lot of police here.”

In fact, a group of New York City mo-torcycle police stayed a few years ago, booking the whole place, and asked to put a New York Police patch on the of-fice wall.

Now, the wall has dozens and dozens of police patches from all over America and Canada.

Two Wheel Inn is located two miles south of Robbinsville on U.S. 129.

The phone number is 828-479-4248.Barry and Linda Levy, owners of Two Wheel Inn, just south of Robbinsville.


Ride: Santeetlah Creek hits high countryFrom page 12

There are a number of moderately steep switchbacks on this 4.5-mile gravel road that rises to 4,600 feet. From the parking area at the dead-end you can take a 1.5-mile hike to Stratton Bald at 5,341 feet. This is one of the more popular camping sites for back country hikers because of the views and ease of access. One of the most spectacular views in Joyce Kilmer Wilderness Area is from the rocky crags of Hangover Bald at 4,900 feet. This is a rather strenuous hike of 3-miles one way from the parking area at Wolf Laurel.

There is the rustic Swan Cabin (and we mean rustic) on Wolf Laurel Road that can be rented from the Forest Service for $25 a night. Reservations have to be made early in the year for this popular escape deep in the wilderness. Built in 1931 the log house has nine rope beds (bring your sleeping bag), a wood burning stove for heat, and spring water that must be boiled to be safe. Of course there is no electricity.

Back onto Forest Service Road 81 at Mile 7.7 Santeetlah Creek turns south-ward and climbs to its headwaters near the Cherohala Skyway at 5,200 feet. A side road veers off to the left from 81 and parallels the creek for 2-miles.

At Mile 9 another road leads off to the right climbing to Swan Meadows. This road is gated after a mile.

Another couple of miles and Forest Service Road 81 intersects the Chero-hala Skyway at Stratton Meadows. This is Mile Marker 1.6 on the Skyway. Just up the hill next to the modern concrete bridge in the resting place of Ab-solum (A.B.) Stratton. Stratton was born in 1772 in North Wilkesboro, Wilkes County, North Carolina and died Aug. 8, 1852 in Tennessee.

According to a story told by a Stratton researcher, “Absolum was visiting his son John who lived at Stratton Meadow, in a big two-story log house about 200 yards inside Tennessee. Absolum got sick and he and others in the family knew he was going to die. Since he did not fear death, they discussed it freely. John and some of his sons cut a large tree and from it they hewed a coffin. Absolum said he liked Tennessee and North Carolina equally well and wanted to be buried in both states. They buried him astride the line, with his head in Carolina and his feet in Tennessee.”

The Strattons were a rugged bunch to survive in these isolated mountains with none of our modern conveniences. John and his brother Robert Strat-ton lived and hunted these mountain tops in the 1850s. John is said to have shot panthers, deer and bears selling the hams and shoulders. He also herded cattle on the balds (grassy mountain tops). Robert was murdered by the Kirk-land Bushwackers in 1864. These ruthless renegades are another story. Today some of the mountains retain the names of these Stratton men.

Continuing on the gravel road into Tennessee the road becomes Forest Ser-vice Road 217 or the North River Road. It descends to River Road 12 miles distant.

Forest Service Road 81 and Forest Service Road 217 are for licensed vehi-cles only. Forest Service Road 81 is closed early January through late March. The Forest Service frowns on anyone taking a vehicle past a closed gate. Penalties can include impounding of the vehicle.

Forest Service Road 81 rises to nearly 5,000 feet along the Santeetlah Creek

The Old Wagon Train Road goes along Santeetlah Creek (some call it Big Creek) from near the start of the Cherohala Skyway west of Robbinsville and continues into Tennessee near Tellico Plains. The road has a rich history with scenery that’s hard to beat. There are numerous camping spots along the unpaved road. The road is closed during the winter.

Several bridges cross the creek along the Old Wagon Train Road. The U.S. Forest Service maintains several designated campsites along the creek, but be sure to camp only in designated places or a ranger might issue you a fine. The road rises from about 2,600 feet in elevation to nearly 5,000 feet.


Iron Horse specializes in relaxation

Cherokee: Fading Voices will be May 23From page 3

John and Charlene Powell own the Iron Horse Motorcycle Resort.

Iron Horse owners John and Char-lene Powell have steadily expanded their business in Stecoah Valley over the years, and are ready to celebrate their 12th anniversary this season.

Although technically called a camp-ground, the establishment has more of a resort feel. The Powells have added a 1,600-square-foot media room com-plete with couches, and a big screen television which allows visitors to watch theater-quality movies.

They’ve also paved all their roads, for ease of travel with their motor-cycle guests.

One could easily mistake the Iron Horse Motorcycle Lodge in scenic Stecoah Val-ley for a set from a Western movie.

Iron Horse has an Old West charm with modern comfort.

Natural wood structures, including a large pavilion for dining and so-cializing, bunk houses for sleeping, cabins for renting and a large covered porch for relaxing, ensure guests are well cared for when they visit the 39-acre resort.

The Powells have found their little slice of heaven on the backside of N.C. 28 in Stecoah Valley, and the couple doesn’t mind sharing the paradise with their fel-low motorcycle enthusiasts.

“We started riding here in 1992 and fell in love with the area,” John said. “We loved it so much we decided to sell our business in Georgia and invest in a mo-torcycle resort. We looked in several dif-ferent counties for the best location, but once we found this area, we knew it was exactly what we wanted.”

There’s also a spa room with mas-sages by appointment, and a game room with pool tables upstairs in the main building.

“It’s been a fun 10 years for us,” John said. “We’ve enjoyed living here in the mountains. It’s been a lot of hard work, but it’s been worth it.”

The Powells started with a house and a few camping sites, but soon had to expand to meet the needs of a growing business.

“You never plan to fail, but at times I’m amazed at how this place has grown,” John said.

Charlene agreed.“God led us here and he’s been

faithful to us,” she said. “We love it here and it’s our home.”

The Iron Horse is open from April to November and are currently taking reservations.

Call 828-479-3864 for more infor-mation about Ironhorse. The grounds of Iron Horse Motorcycle Resort in Stecoah Valley off N.C. 28

Iron Horse starts 12th year as top resort

them from running with the ball. This resulted in many injuries,

and in some cases death, and only men with the greatest athletic ability played the game.

Many times the game was played to settle a dispute between tribes and could last all day.

Fishball, which also is played at the

Fading Voices event, was a game cre-ated to help provide a more peaceful living environment within the vil-lage.

Once a month, men and women would face off against each other in an effort to gain seven points, and the win, by hitting a fish that was placed on top of a pole about the size of a telephone pole.

Men had to use small netted stickís made from hickory to pick up the ball or throw it, but women were allowed to use their hands, an advantage used to overcome the strength of the men.

The men of the village were re-quired to go without shirts or shoes and could not retaliate against the rough housing of the women, who often hit, shoved, or wrestled their

way into position to hit the fish.The point of the game was to re-

lease any hostilities that might have built over the month among members of the same village, thus ensuring peace within.

Fading Voices can be enjoyed this year on May 23 at the Little Snowbird Church playground. There is plenty of food and drink, both traditional and contemporary.


‘Tail of the Dragon’ has iconic dragon at Deals Gap1,800-pound ‘fire breathing’ dragon already a hit with motorcyclists

Pete Macaluso and his sons had to roll the dragon they built for Ron and Nancy Johnson down a gravel driveway to level ground in order to load it. The dragon can be seen at Tail of the Dragon at Deals Gap.

A trip out to Deals Gap is well worth the effort it takes to get there, just to see the newest addition to Ron and Nancy Johnson’s Tail of the Dragon.

The Dragon has become a great attraction in the Deals Gap area, a go-to place for photographs.

Just to the right of the entrance way sits an 1,800 pound dragon. You really can’t miss it. Made out of motorcycle parts and sheet metal, the ginormous structure was created by Pete Macaluso of Ranger.

“I’ve known Ron and Nancy for a while, they are great people,” Macaluso said. “I’ve made several things for them in the past, including an automatic gate with a dragon design for their home. One day Ron comes to me with a picture of a dragon and wants to know if I could build something like that. I told him it might take me a while, but I probably could, and so it was start-ed.”

Macaluso said he and his sons worked on the dragon for about seven months, and it cost him more than $3,000 to complete in material and labor.

“This is the biggest thing I’ve ever worked on,” Macaluso said. “The legs and head are made from motorcycle parts, and the body is made from sheet

metal. Both of my sons, Chad and Joey, helped me with the project. My old-est is a great artist and he drew out the designs for the dragon. My youngest is a welder and he helped me put it together. This was definitely a family project.”

Although the project was time consuming and difficult, the hard part came after it was completed.

“I put wheels on it so we could move it around the shop, but then we made it too tall to get out the door,” Macaluso said. “We had to cut it down some, and then we couldn’t load it at the garage. So here we go, pushing this big dragon down a gravel driveway to get him to flat land. It was a two-day project just to get him loaded on the trailer.”

Macaluso has been a welder all his life, and has a Web site at custombuil-tornamental.com.

He mostly builds gates and railings, but is developing an interest in drag-ons, thanks to the work he’s done for the Johnson’s.

“I made about 10 baby dragons which we put under the belly of the big dragon,” Macaluso said. “They sold in a matter of days. I’ll be making more for him soon. People really seem to like dragons.”

In addition to the awesome size of the dragon, Macaluso made a saddle for it so people could get their picture made riding the dragon. It also blows smoke.


From page 4

Shine: ‘Moonshine 28’ offers a ‘great ride’ from North Carolina

high country to Upstate S.C.

The highly rated Tsali Recreational Area has some 40 miles of mountain biking and horse trails, camping and a boat ramp on Fontana.

Soon 28 joins U.S. 19/74 for a few miles and then becomes its own road again as it turns to the southeast. The next eight miles are an adventure with tight turns and rock cliffs. Then 28 joins the Little Tennessee River sweeping through country hollows.

The Town of Franklin has an inter-esting museum and the large Nikwasi Indian Mound. South on 28 is the Wilderness Taxidermy Outfitters with a moonshiner still replica on display.

The most challenging section of asphalt comes eight miles south of Franklin. Moonshiner 28 climbs into the mountains as the roadway nar-rows. Suddenly you are looking down at a sheer 200-foot plunge into the Cullasaja Gorge on one side and ver-tical rock wall on the other. Then the magnificent Cullasaja Falls appears in the distance. There is only a small two-car pull-off so be careful.

The twist and turns continue the

next few miles to Dry Falls. Lots of parking here where you can walk un-der this roaring wonder. Another few miles south on 28 and you can actual-ly ride/drive under Bridal Veil Falls.

The Town of Highlands is an in-teresting place to explore. There are many quaint shops, old hotels and good places to eat. There was a major skirmish here between the moonshin-ers and revenuers in 1885. The three-day gun battle was waged right on Main Street.

From Highlands, which is one of the highest elevation towns in the Eastern U.S., Moonshiner 28 descends from 4,000 feet in elevation to 1,000 feet in South Carolina, cutting through a mountainous corner of Georgia. Be sure to stop at Stumphouse Tunnel and Isaqueena Falls near Walhalla.

Moonshiner 28 is one of the most exciting roads that we have found. Make a run and see if you can imag-ine the “likker runners” of the past.

To learn more about the great roads in the area visit: Tailof-t h e D r a g o n . c o m ; M o o n s h i n e r 2 8 .com;Cherohala .com;SixGap.com; DevilsTriangleTN.com

About the cover

Follow the Tail of the Dragon through the beautiful Nantahala National Forest and Great Smokies and make the best pit stop of your life at Fontana Village. The breathtaking mountain vistas and panoramic views from Fon-tana Village Resort as well as Fontana and Cheoah lakes set the perfect scene for your summer entertainment and adventures.

Not only does Fontana Village provide endless outdoor adventure from hik-ing the Appalachian Trail and boating on Fontana Lake to competitive rounds of Disc Golf and Putt-Putt to floating around the lazy river, it also has a packed calendar of entertainment and events to entertain you all summer long.

Located in the center of the Fontana Village Resort, the Wildwood Grill offers the perfect casual patio dining with the sunset Summer Concert series nearly every Friday and Saturday night throughout the summer. The live mu-sic line-up includes performances by Randy Flack, the Soco Creek Band, and Aaron Tracy Band.

In addition to great live music, you can also take part in several unique events that are open to all Fontana Village guests. The Fourth of July Cel-ebration is definitely one you won’t want to miss! Spend the day on the lake, hiking the trails, and enjoying games, a hometown parade, and BBQ cookouts. Then, at night, experience the best fireworks ever on the Village Green! At the end of the summer, you can join in the LakeAlooza and Labor Day weekend celebration with great food, dancing, live entertainment, lake games, paddle-board and kayak races, and more.

Fontana Village Resort also offers all full schedule of recurring events throughout the summer. You can join in clogging or swing dancing lessons on Fontana’s Famous Floating Hardwood Dance Floor or try your luck at Bingo. You can showcase your talent at the weekly Talent Show, Karaoke Night, and Guitar Hero Tournaments. You can also make fun family memories at the Campfire and Marshmallow Roasts, Historical Walking Tours, T-Shirt Tie Dying, and Field Games. There is truly something for everyone at Fontana Village.

Whether you make a spur-of-the-moment, unplanned pit stop during one of your summer road trips or plan your visit to Fontana Village based on your fa-vorite event on their calendar, you are guaranteed to find great entertainment and great adventure with a great view at Fontana Village Resort.

Lake Fontana is known for its amazing recreational opportunities. The spectacu-lar lake scenery was the backdrop for much of the 1994 movie, “Nell,” with Liam Neeson and Jodie Foster.

Fontana has full lineup for summer fun

Staff photographer Sam Marlow took the cover shot at Tapoco Lodge on U.S. 129 North. The Lodge, which is on the Historic Registry, has undergone renovation in recent years. Part of the renovation was to match the ambiance of the 1930s, when the Lodge was constructed for corporate outings for the Tallassee Power Company (thus the name Tapoco). Yel-lowhammer Creek and the Cheoah River traverse the 124-acre property which showcases the flora of the Southern Appalachians. The gravity-fed gasoline pumps create the feel of days gone by as visitors arrive on the property. Dining and lodging are available, including the Slickrock Grill with seating along the river.

Road Trip Memorial Day 2015 – 18

Cherohala Skyway offers top sceneryScenery is what the Cherohala Skyway is all about. Often compared

to the Blue Ridge Parkway, the Skyway is a connector between the Chero-kee National Forest in Tennessee and Nantahala National Forest in North Carolina, hence the name Cherohala.

The Unicoi Mountains, where the Cherohala Skyway is located, are an extension of the Great Smokies, which can be seen to the north from many view stations on the Skyway.

Drivers reach the Skyway after a 12-mile drive west out of Rob-binsville along N.C. 143. A scenic overlook marks the beginning of the Cherohala. The Skyway offers breathtaking views of Joyce Kilmer Memo-rial Forest, the Smokies and the Santeetlah Valley. Some stops along the way are Stratton Meadows (4,320 feet), Haw Knob Slopes (4,890), Big Junction (5,240) and Santeetlah (5,390). Hooper Bald (elevation 5,429 feet) is the highest paved point along the Skyway.

Huckleberry Knob, which can be seen from Hooper Bald, is the high-est mountain in the region south of the Smokies at 5,560 feet above sea lev-el. A short hike off the Skyway will take visitors to the summits of Hooper Bald and Huckleberry Knob. About 5 1/2 miles from Hooper Bald is Beech Gap. This is the crossover into neighboring Tennessee on Tenn. 165.

Connecting Robbinsville to Tellico Plains, Tenn., the Skyway is about 40 miles long and takes 1 1/2-2 hours to travel, allowing for stops. The Sky-way is a convenient and a gorgeous way to get from Robbinsville to Athens, Cleveland and Chattanooga, Tenn.

The Skyway climbs more than a mile high just west of Robbinsville.

Here are the five developed campgrounds in the area:Joyce Kilmer

Directions: From Robbinsville take U.S. 129 north 7.9 miles to campground sign (Joyce Kilmer Road - State Rt. 1147). Turn left onto Joyce Kilmer Road and go 0.5 miles to a “T” intersection. Turn right at intersection, staying on Joyce Kilmer Rd., and go 5.5 miles. Rate: $10 per day; Maximum stay: 14 days; Tent sites: 11; Combined sites (tent or RV): seven; Tables: 18; Grills: 18; Flush Toilets included, no hot showers.

Cable CoveDirections: From Fontana Village take N.C. 28 south 5.5 miles to Cable

Cove sign. Turn left at sign and go 1 mile to campground on the right. Details: $10 per day; Maximum stay: 14 days; Combined sites (tent/RV): 26.

Cheoah PointDirections: From Robbinsville take U.S. 129 north 6.8 miles to Cheoah

Point Recreation Area sign. Turn left at sign and go 0.1 miles to Cheoah Point campground sign. Turn left at sign and go 0.7 miles. Details: totally renovated flush toilets, showers and six electrical hook-ups. Two cabins - $35/day, 6 RV sites - $20/day, 17 campsites - $15/day; maximum stay: 14 days. Reservations only for electric sites and cabins. Call Reserve USA at 877-444-6777 or www.recreation.gov

Swan Cabin, Rattler FordNow reserved under National Reservation System. Call 877-444-6777 or www.

recreation.gov

Developed campgrounds in area


Riding in Graham County

Warren Reagan and Brent McMinn are from from Naples, Fla. They recently toured Graham County and Western North Carolina. The stopped at one of the landmarks in the county, Crown Food and its “Big Chicken.” Both men ride Hon-da Goldwings with California Side Trike Kits. Their longest trip was 6,000 miles in 30 days from St. Louis to Durango, Colo. to Black Hills, S.D. and back to St. Louis.

Four riders recently took on the roads in Graham County, including the Cherohala Skyway. Above, left to right, are Steven Huemner, of Hampstead, Md., riding a Triumph Tiger 1050; Roland and Diana Troms, of Saranac, Mich., driving a Tri-umph Daytona 675 (her), and a Kawasaki Ninja ZX10R (him); and Patrick Bradley, Iona, Mich., riding a Honda 954. They were all on the longest ride they’ve ever taken.

20 – Road Trip Memorial Day 2015

road trip memorial day 2015– 2 riding the...

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