A Year-Round Guide to Franklin and Nantahala

As we look forward to 2019 and reflect on the past year, we're reminded of the beautiful destinations throughout North Carolina we've visited, the fascinating people we've met, and the

Rosemary and Goat Cheese Strata

As we look forward to 2019 and reflect on the past year, we're reminded of the beautiful destinations throughout North Carolina we've visited, the fascinating people we've met, and the

Our Top Stories of 2018

As we look forward to 2019 and reflect on the past year, we’re reminded of the beautiful destinations throughout North Carolina we’ve visited, the fascinating people we’ve met, and the delicious food we’ve eaten. So as we say goodbye to this year, we’re sharing five of our readers’ favorite stories: from learning to ski at App State to finding the eastern-most edge of the state on Knotts Island; from an escape to a scenic Blue Ridge Mountain town to a mystery below the waves of Badin Lake. And, for dessert, Angus Barn’s chocolate chess pie!

Happy reading!


 

The Mystery of Badin Lake

WRITTEN BY ROBYN YIÄžIT SMITH   |  PHOTOGRAPH BY CHARLES HARRIS

A wartime tragedy became lake lore in Stanly County. Setting the record straight, easing the heartbreak, and putting rumors to rest has taken more than 75 years — and counting.

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Appalachian State Creates

Students of the Slopes

WRITTEN BY KATIE SCHANZE   |  PHOTOGRAPH BY SPECIAL COLLECTIONS, ASU

On snow days, there’s one class at Appalachian State University that’s never canceled: ski school. For 50 years, the state’s second-oldest ski mountain has groomed generations of fearless — some might say foolhardy — Southern skiers.

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Legendary & Landmark Pies of North Carolina: Chocolate Chess Pie

WRITTEN BY EMMA LAPERRUQUE   |  PHOTOGRAPH BY CHARLES HARRIS

Van Eure runs the Angus Barn, where the chocolate chess pie recipe was developed by her mother and a waitress in the 1960s.

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Photo Essay: Black Mountain

WRITTEN BY KATIE SAINTSING   |  PHOTOGRAPH BY C2 PHOTOGRAPHY

This Buncombe County community boasts a lively downtown rich in good food, cultural arts, and friendly faces. It’s a perfect destination for a day trip — but you may find yourself wanting to pull up a rocking chair and stay in this mountain town much longer.

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The Lines That Shape Us

WRITTEN BY JEREMY MARKOVICH   |  ILLUSTRATION BY JOHN S DYKES

To live in North Carolina is to live within our borders, but those boundaries are more than just lines on a map.

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This story was published on Dec 31, 2018

Our State Staff

Since 1933, Our State has shared stories about North Carolina with readers both in state and around the world. We celebrate the people and places that make this state great. From the mountains to the coast, we feature North Carolina travel, history, food, and beautiful scenic photography.