Update about blogCa

Who knew all this would happen afterwards! The view out my window Oct. 30, 2024. They all fall down...autumn leaves decided last night it was time to let go!

Saturday, March 7, 2020

The B&B close to me

It's set back from the road, up on a tall hill, overlooking both Old US 70, and the newer US 70, and the railroad running from east to west and back. Many trees are on the slope up to the old building, but they were cleared out a bit a few years ago, so you can now see the building from the road. For many years it was wild looking land, and only some brave folks would go up the gravel road to see it.

This sign shows a favorite gathering place, the Dynamite Coffee Shop with its red roof. It lies very close to the junction of the 2 US 70 highways. I live in the other direction a couple hundred feet also off Old US 70. This was the first time I drove up the steep driveway to take some photos.

Here's the link to their own internet site.

And I wanted to find out a bit of the history of the building, so I'm quoting from their web-page.

Originally designed as a stagecoach stop, the inn was built circa 1830 and for more than 100 years it underwent several transformations. At the turn of the 20th century it operated for several years as the Franklin Humanitarian Home (a TB sanatorium).
Notably, in 1940, as the famed Black Mountain College approached its zenith, the property was purchased by Mary Aleshire and Daisey Erb. Mrs. Aleshire was the manager of the Norton Art Gallery in Palm Beach, Florida. She artfully restored and updated the historic property. In 1942, the house was opened as the Oak Knoll Art Studio, which served primarily as a summer artist's retreat for Mrs. Aleshire and her many famous guest; Ernest Hemingway, John Steinbeck, Norman Rockwell, Helen Keller, Anne Sullivan and Joan Sutherland among them.
In 1965, wishing to preserve the house, and prevent commercial development the Aleshires sold the house to their caretaker Jim Reid.
The house was purchased again in 1989 and lovingly restored by its current owners, who transformed it into the Black Mountain Inn. Since then, we have been privileged to return this wonderful inn to the tradition of welcoming guests to the magnificent Blue Ridge Mountains.

I think when they say "prevent commercial development" they were referring to something besides a B&B...maybe?

The following photos are all from their web site.






13 comments:

  1. Replies
    1. I'll have to visit sometime and see if family would like to stay there rather than a motel.

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  2. It looks appealing both inside and out.

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    Replies
    1. I'm glad I drove up the drive to check it out (from the outside so far.)

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  3. Hello, it is a beautiful B&B, they have a lovely garden. Enjoy your day and have a great weekend!

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    Replies
    1. Thanks, hope your weekend is going well for you all!

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  4. Wow, what a beautiful place. The inside looks very inviting.

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  5. What a superb building, especially the interior.

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  6. Wow, it had some illustrious guests back in the day!

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  7. lol, would not mind staying there for a night of two :)

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