A Community's Community – The Historic Orchard At Altapass
Saving the "Good Stuff" - The Historic Orchard at Altapass
The Historic Orchard at Altapass
When Kit Trubey purchased an apple orchard near Spruce Pine, NC in 1994 on a big sweeping balcony curve of the Blue Ridge Parkway, her intent along with her brother and sister-in-law, Bill and Judy Carson, was to save one of the Parkway’s most significant views. But from the beginning, there became more to the story and MORE to the story and MORE to the story.
On September 29, 1780, the location that is now the orchard saw the passage of the Overmountain Men, coming from settlements in Indian Territory, across Bright’s Trace and the Blue Ridge to defeat the British at King’s Mountain and change the course of the Revolutionary War.
In the next decade, a prolific procreating local by the name of Charles McKinney produced 48 children via 4 separate wives who lived in 4 separate houses but attended church as a passel of five plus kids.
Then the railroad came (which they all do eventually) in 1908 produced the Alta Pass Inn, a railroad station, and an apple orchard.
When Bill and Judy started trying to make some thing out of it, both on paper and in their heads, one of the old orchard managers (now deceased) said “you ought’ta have a feed and some music”. It took a rocket scientist (Bill was an engineer on the Apollo moon shot) to figure it out but as anyone who grew up here knows, when that you mix food and music, you have the ingredients for a meal with it own unique cultural and historical heritage which will sooth a man’s soul and weaken a woman’s heart.
Every major holiday during season – Memorial Day, 4th of July, Labor Day – there is a community feed with BBQ and and an overabundance of covered dishes. It’s $10 or a covered dish to get in. The lit-up expressions on people’s faces, the lively chatter of kids underfoot, and an 8-sheet dance floor that is full for every dance says it all. This is as rich as it gets.
Check out Orchard at Altapass products available at the Blue Ridge Parkway Foundation Store.
