Stories from this Author

Fli-Back paddle with balls and yo-yos

Many Happy Returns

In 1931, a High Point salesman turned a simple child’s toy into the Fli-Back paddle ball, a worldwide sensation that entertained millions of kids — and helped create North Carolina’s very own Paddle Ball King.

Linn Cove Viaduct along the Blue Ridge Parkway

North Carolina’s Blue Ribbon

The Blue Ridge Parkway stands out among America’s national parks: Unfurling across six Appalachian mountain chains, it connects dozens of rural communities and binds together generations of families through shared memories.

Andrews Geyser, and the rail road through Old Fort.

Appalachian Spring

The story behind Andrews Geyser is deep, complex, and as irrepressible as the man-made fountain itself. It goes back to the 1870s, when the railroad finally climbed the Blue Ridge Escarpment near Old Fort. The tragic cost of that achievement is still being uncovered today.

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