Boone, N.C.: Get into the college town groove
Named for Daniel Boone, the American pioneer, explorer, and frontiersman born in 1734, Boone is tucked into a mountain valley in Watagua County, so named for the Watauga River, which takes its name from an Indian word meaning “beautiful water.” For years, the area around Boone was a seasonal hunting spot with few established settlers, but after the Civil War the community began to grow. By 1899, Boone supported 150 residents. This same year saw the Watauga Academy established.
Today, Boone is a bustling college town and the tiny Watauga Academy is Appalachian State University, where 17,000 students root on the Mountaineers in black and gold. The school is known for both its commitment to environmental education and its championship football team—a juxtaposition that defines Boone’s unique sense of place and the people who live there.
A King Street staple is Mast General Store, which provides outdoorsy clothing, shoes, adventure equipment, and housewares. Meanwhile, Footsloggers is the premier outfitter for the area with a paddle shop, climbing gear, camping supplies, knowledgeable guides, and more. Footsloggers partners with Rock Dimensions, an in-house rock climbing guide service that welcomes novices and experienced climbers.
Funky tie-dyes, incense, and posters are all the rage at Indo and Boone Rock-N-Roll Emporium located next door to Anna Banana’s, a youthful but tasteful consignment store. Such shops represent a large portion of what’s to be found in King Street and add to the town’s unique vibe. Remember this is a place with a hookah bar. For more of a boutique experience, look to Gladiola Girls or Lucky Penny.
Glug Beverages has made a nice addition to the wine and beer scene with an emphasis on regional brews and owners have created their own red and white wines. Stop in to the tiny store for a chat and to pick up a local libation—though note that Boone’s only local brewery, Cottonwood, was started in 1992 then acquired by Carolina Beer, which brews Carolina Blonde. Carolina has in turn sold to Winston-Salem’s Foothills Brewing. Cottonwood’s slogan—Brewed with Altitude—came from its High Country origins. Of particular note is Cottonwood’s award-winning fall seasonal, Pumpkin Spiced Ale.
Outside of downtown on Highways 321 and 105 are the town’s larger retailers and chain stores. Head here for family-friendly dining, grocery shopping, and more. A visit to the only two-story, free standing Wendy’s in the country, and one of the busiest in the world, is obligatory. Find it located at the intersection of 321 and 105.
Fierce rivalry
The ASU Mountaineers play their rivals, the Western Carolina University Catamounts, in Boone on Nov. 12. Known as the Battle for The Old Mountain Jug, the rivalry has been—and will continue to be—one of the finest and most enduring in NCAA Division I-AA football, the State of North Carolina, and the South. In the mid-1980s, Sports Illustrated called it “the best football rivalry you’ve never heard of.” The jug— a representation of an old moonshine jug commonly used by bootleggers in the mountains of western North Carolina—came about in 1976. It bares the logo of the winning school in the rivals’ annual match. The Mountaineers have maintained possession of the Old Mountain Jug since 2004
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