bryson city Archives - Ashley Hackshaw / Lil Blue Boo

The River Culture of Bryson City

November 10, 2016 by Ashley Hackshaw

Months ago I got an email from Our State Magazine asking if I could take writer Leigh Ann Henion around Bryson City. Of course I said yes and as the days led up to Leigh Ann’s visit I had a running list in my head of things I might take her to see. I had a choice: I could take her to all the main tourist sights or I could take her to my lesser known secret-wonder-places. I decided on the latter and we spent an entire day riding around Bryson City. We followed the river from one end of the town to the other and I showed her the quiet places where I like to go write, the locals I like to visit and of course where the river meets the lake. I took her to see the Hemlock Inn and Darnell Farms. I took her to see old abandoned buildings, silos and barns that I love to marvel at. As we drove past Kituwah, the most sacred ground of the Cherokee, we saw what looked to be tribal elders performing a ceremony…something I’ve never witnessed before. When we drove out to where the river meets the lake we happened upon a few men with an vintage fire truck filling up with water. I introduced Leigh Ann to my chicken flock and gave her a tour of the old depot. We ate a late lunch at Mountain Perks by the real train depot and I showed her the enormous Gingko tree in town. Later that night my friend Ron LaRocque (owner of the Everett Hotel) and I took Leigh Ann up Lakeview Drive to the Road to Nowhere tunnel. We stood on the guard rails of an overlook and watched the sun set. And as we drove home, I had no idea what Leigh Ann would write her article about…I just knew that I felt like I’d shown her the mysterious and wonderful side of Bryson City that not many people stay long enough to see.

The article came out recently in Our State’s November 2016 issue, the Rivers Collector’s Issue. Leigh Ann had also spent time with other business owners in town included my husband Brett and his partner Ben. The first page of the article has a photo of the two of them in front of the hand-painted map mural in their store Bryson City Outdoors:

I was so nervous at first when I opened the magazine, wondering what shape the story would take. I love how it turned out because I feel like this is the first time someone has really understood who I am and why I do the quirky things I do. Leigh Ann was totally on board with any plans I had, even traveling all day in an old Chevy with no air conditioning!

Photographers came in May to take photos. They wanted a photo with me and the chickens. FoShizzle was the only chicken that cooperated. Here’s a behind the scenes photo:

And the final photo in the magazine:

Bryson City got a whopping eight pages in Our State this month! There are so many layers to this town I’m sure it could have filled an entire magazine but I know there are other wonderful river towns too. In the article it references where I found the beginning of the river too, I wrote about that here.

I’d love for you to go and read the article today. You can find the full article here with all its beautiful photos:

Thanks so much Our State for entrusting me to take Leigh Ann around town and for recognizing the beauty of this area.

Each month, Our State magazine celebrates the very best of North Carolina from the mountains to the coast through lively storytelling and stunning photography. Our State reflects the beauty, nature, nostalgia, travel, and food of the state. It’s the perfect source of information for those who’ve lived in North Carolina all their lives, those just becoming acquainted with the state, or those looking to visit or relocate. Published by Mann Media, Inc., the award-winning magazine reaches more than 1,100,030 readers each month, with subscribers in every state and nearly 30 foreign countries. Learn more at ourstate.com.

Kayaking on Fontana

July 19, 2015 by Ashley Hackshaw

Here is Boo learning to kayak out on Fontana tonight:

This was an exciting weekend because Bryson City Outdoors starting adding kayaks to the current fleet of stand-up paddle boards. The local Crossfit group (Crossfit 2232) was the first to take them all out to get some lake training in yesterday:

I followed Brett and Boo across the lake tonight as they shared a tandem kayak. Never in a million years would I have imagined living here and being a part of an outdoor business:

I was trying to take some video. Instead I got this awesome accidental selfie of my shoe (Salomon Techamphibian shoes rock):

We stopped and watched these guys jump off the rope swing across the lake. You have to cross the lake to get there. This guy must have been about 30 feet in the air:

I think this place must be one of the most beautiful places on earth:

Romantic Asheville just did a great story on Bryson City here voting it the “Coolest Mountain Town.” They included a photo of Bryson City Outdoors partner Ben King and his dog Lager on the river. Yes, you can paddle board and/or kayak on the Tuckaseegee River right downtown in Bryson City too:

(photo courtesy of Romantic Asheville Travel Guide)

Information on stand-up paddle board and kayak rentals can be found at Bryson City Outdoors. You can even reserve the boards and kayaks ahead of time here.

And just a few awesome things about renting from BCO:

1. There’s water-side valet. “BCO knows that not every one can haul a 12ft SUP around. That’s why we actually deliver the boards & kayaks to the fingerlake and even carry them down to the water for you at no additional charge.”

2. Life jackets are provided. Just bring yourself to Bryson City.

3. You are supporting local small business! Thank you!

P.S. I get a LOT of emails asking for recommendations on things to do in Bryson City and the Great Smoky Mountains so I’ve started my own little “things to do” page. It’s brand new and I’m just updating it as I get time but check it out if you get a chance. Thanks!

Summer Sunsets: Infinity of Earth and Sky

June 10, 2015 by Ashley Hackshaw

“…as if the day in leaving had gathered all of the golden sunshine into one last lingering flame to burn away the weariness of the day – for twilight is a time of peace and tranquility – and the dusk is filled with memories as night is filled with stars – and they burn even more brightly as the darkness deepens – and this we share and understand – because we have so much in common.” – Letters of Chickadee Hill by Winston O. Abbott

Tonight the town was glowing with this pinkish light:

Another sunset at Naber’s Drive-in by the Tuckasegee River:

And another sunset reflected in the rails of the Great Smoky Mountains Railroad:

From Schoolhouse Hill:

From the Tuckasegee River near Darnell Farms:

From the Hemlock Inn’s porch:

Not a sunset, but it still looks like infinity from above the clouds:

If anything, this:

“…perhaps it would be an exaggeration to say that all aches and pains will vanish beneath the warmth of the summer sunshine – but I do know that there is a miraculous healing power available to all who will let the spirit become absorbed in the infinity of earth and sky – I have learned that the refreshing coolness of the rain can wash away the dusts of doubt that settle upon the spirit – and the summer breezes can dissipate the wisps of selfishness that often come between us and our better selves…” – Letters of Chickadee Hill by Winston O. Abbott

A good sunset can make me feel totally at home in this world. A gentle timekeeper. A dozen can go by sometimes without remembering to take notice.