Blue Ridge Country - September/October 2014 - 12

C New Forest Tower at 4,200 Feet

Country
Roads

Jorge Hersel marked his first
steps on the new High Knob Tower
on the last day of June. Smiling
beneath the brim of his U.S. Forest
Service cap, Hersel points to the
pointy peaks beyond Big Stone Gap
and nearby Norton. "On a clear
day," he says, "they claim you can
see five states."
Standing on this tower might have
been a small step for Hersel. But it
was a giant leap in his time since 2009
- the year he took the reins of the
Clinch Ranger District in the Jefferson
National Forest of southwest Virginia.
Rebuilding this observation post for
the thousands of visitors who come to
High Knob - at an elevation of more
than 4,200 feet - has been on Hersel's
to-do list since day one.
High Knob's old wooden lookout
tower burned to the ground in 2007:
an act of arson. Since then, more
than $500,000 has come from various sources, including restitution paid
by the arsonists, to cast a new High
Knob Tower in stone. That material -
plus concrete and steel - fulfilled
Hersel's requirement for a structure
that "could not burn."
The octagonal tower has risen in
time for autumn's colorful leaf season. And it's strong: The metal top,
resembling an umbrella, can withstand winds of up to 180 mph. "It
takes time to put something like this
together and get it up properly,"
Hersel says. "The last one lasted 30
years. We want this one to last as
long or better."
fs.usda.gov/gwj // 888-265-0019
- JOE TENNIS

High Knob Tower rises on a peak above Norton, Virginia with an elevation on the
deck of about 4,233 feet above sea level.

New Museum Celebrates Bristol's Title as "Birthplace of Country Music"
Come tHe tHird weekend of
September, the Virginia/Tennessee
state line-straddling city of Bristol
bursts with music during the Rhythm
& Roots Reunion. This multi-stage celebration recognizes the twin city's title
as "Birthplace of Country Music."
Today, that's a title also being
12 | BlueRidgeCountry.com

touted - and explained - at Bristol's
new Birthplace of Country Music
Museum. This 24,000-square-foot
facility, an affiliation of the
Smithsonian Institution, features a
replica of a country church, vintage
photographs, a musical timeline, performance center, exhibits and a site

where you can "yodel with Jimmie
Rodgers," says Dr. Jessica Turner, the
director of the facility.
"We wanted it to be fun, innovative. We wanted it to be colorful."
Bristol boasts many musical footnotes. It's the birthplace of Tennessee
Ernie Ford. It's the hometown of


http://www.fs.usda.gov/gwj http://www.BlueRidgeCountry.com

Blue Ridge Country - September/October 2014

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Blue Ridge Country - September/October 2014

BRC Unlocked
From the Editor
From the Farm
Creature Feature
Great Buys
Country Roads
Festivals & Events
50 Great Things to Do in the Mountains this Fall
Photoessay: The Crispness of the Air and of the Leaves
Roanoke, Va.: A Resident Enjoys her Town as a Visitor
Blue Ridge Parkway Views: The Detail
Cyrus McCormick: The Agricultural Industrial Revolution Began Here
Locavore Dining: It’s All in the Details Right Out Back
Mountain Garden
Cabin in the Woods: Hidden Mountain Resort
Guest Column
Blue Ridge Country - September/October 2014 - Intro
Blue Ridge Country - September/October 2014 - Cover1
Blue Ridge Country - September/October 2014 - Cover2
Blue Ridge Country - September/October 2014 - 3
Blue Ridge Country - September/October 2014 - 4
Blue Ridge Country - September/October 2014 - BRC Unlocked
Blue Ridge Country - September/October 2014 - From the Editor
Blue Ridge Country - September/October 2014 - 7
Blue Ridge Country - September/October 2014 - From the Farm
Blue Ridge Country - September/October 2014 - 9
Blue Ridge Country - September/October 2014 - Creature Feature
Blue Ridge Country - September/October 2014 - Great Buys
Blue Ridge Country - September/October 2014 - Country Roads
Blue Ridge Country - September/October 2014 - 13
Blue Ridge Country - September/October 2014 - 14
Blue Ridge Country - September/October 2014 - 15
Blue Ridge Country - September/October 2014 - Festivals & Events
Blue Ridge Country - September/October 2014 - 17
Blue Ridge Country - September/October 2014 - 18
Blue Ridge Country - September/October 2014 - 19
Blue Ridge Country - September/October 2014 - 20
Blue Ridge Country - September/October 2014 - 21
Blue Ridge Country - September/October 2014 - 22
Blue Ridge Country - September/October 2014 - 23
Blue Ridge Country - September/October 2014 - 50 Great Things to Do in the Mountains this Fall
Blue Ridge Country - September/October 2014 - 25
Blue Ridge Country - September/October 2014 - 26
Blue Ridge Country - September/October 2014 - 27
Blue Ridge Country - September/October 2014 - 28
Blue Ridge Country - September/October 2014 - 29
Blue Ridge Country - September/October 2014 - 30
Blue Ridge Country - September/October 2014 - 31
Blue Ridge Country - September/October 2014 - 32
Blue Ridge Country - September/October 2014 - 33
Blue Ridge Country - September/October 2014 - Photoessay: The Crispness of the Air and of the Leaves
Blue Ridge Country - September/October 2014 - 35
Blue Ridge Country - September/October 2014 - 36
Blue Ridge Country - September/October 2014 - 37
Blue Ridge Country - September/October 2014 - Roanoke, Va.: A Resident Enjoys her Town as a Visitor
Blue Ridge Country - September/October 2014 - 39
Blue Ridge Country - September/October 2014 - 40
Blue Ridge Country - September/October 2014 - 41
Blue Ridge Country - September/October 2014 - 42
Blue Ridge Country - September/October 2014 - 43
Blue Ridge Country - September/October 2014 - 44
Blue Ridge Country - September/October 2014 - Blue Ridge Parkway Views: The Detail
Blue Ridge Country - September/October 2014 - 46
Blue Ridge Country - September/October 2014 - 47
Blue Ridge Country - September/October 2014 - 48
Blue Ridge Country - September/October 2014 - 49
Blue Ridge Country - September/October 2014 - Cyrus McCormick: The Agricultural Industrial Revolution Began Here
Blue Ridge Country - September/October 2014 - 51
Blue Ridge Country - September/October 2014 - 52
Blue Ridge Country - September/October 2014 - 53
Blue Ridge Country - September/October 2014 - Locavore Dining: It’s All in the Details Right Out Back
Blue Ridge Country - September/October 2014 - 55
Blue Ridge Country - September/October 2014 - 56
Blue Ridge Country - September/October 2014 - 57
Blue Ridge Country - September/October 2014 - 58
Blue Ridge Country - September/October 2014 - 59
Blue Ridge Country - September/October 2014 - Mountain Garden
Blue Ridge Country - September/October 2014 - 61
Blue Ridge Country - September/October 2014 - 62
Blue Ridge Country - September/October 2014 - 63
Blue Ridge Country - September/October 2014 - Cabin in the Woods: Hidden Mountain Resort
Blue Ridge Country - September/October 2014 - 65
Blue Ridge Country - September/October 2014 - Guest Column
Blue Ridge Country - September/October 2014 - Cover3
Blue Ridge Country - September/October 2014 - Cover4
https://www.nxtbook.com/leisuremedia360/leisure/BlueRidgeCountryMarchApril2022
https://www.nxtbook.com/leisuremedia360/leisure/blue-ridge-country-january-february-2022
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/leisure/BRCND21
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/leisure/BRCSO21
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/leisure/brcja21
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/leisure/brc_2021_0506
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/leisure/brc_2021_0304
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/leisure/brc_2021_0102
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/leisure/brc_2020_11_12
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/leisure/brc_2020_0910
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/leisure/brc_2020_0708
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/leisure/brc_2020_0506
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/leisure/brc_2020_0304
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/leisure/brc_2020_0102
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/leisure/brc_2019_1112
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/leisure/brc_2019_0910
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/leisure/brc_2019_0708
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/leisure/brc_2019_0506
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/leisure/brc_2019_0304
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/leisure/brc_2019_0102
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/leisure/brc_2018_1112
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/leisure/brc_2018_0910
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/leisure/brc_2018_0708
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/leisure/brc_2018_0506
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/leisure/brc_2018_0304
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/leisure/brc_2018_0102
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/leisure/brc_2017_1112
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/leisure/brc_2017_0910
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/leisure/brc_2017_0708
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/leisure/brc_2017_0506
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/leisure/brc_2017_0304
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/leisure/brc_20170102
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/leisure/brc_201612
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/leisure/brc_20160910
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/leisure/brc_20160708
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/leisure/brc_20160506
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/leisure/brc_20160304
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/leisure/brc_20160102
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/leisure/brc_20151112
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/leisure/brc_20150910
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/leisure/brc_20150708
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/leisure/brc_20150506
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/leisure/brc_20150304
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/leisure/brc_20150102
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/leisure/brc_20141112
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/leisure/brc_20140910
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/leisure/brc_20140708
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/leisure/brc_20140506
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/leisure/brc_20140304
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/leisure/brc_20140102
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/leisure/brc_20131112
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/leisure/brc_20130910
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/leisure/brc_20130708
https://www.nxtbookmedia.com