Boone KOA

Tweetsie railroad

Tweetsie's one-price admission includes a full day of fun at Tweetsie Railroad, including the adventure-filled Wild West train trip, live entertainment, Country Fair rides, a visit to the petting zoo and much more. Summer schedule: open daily May 7 to September 1 from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Fall schedule: open weekends, Friday to Sunday, September 2 to October 31 from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Grandfather mountain

Grandfather Mountain is one of the most environmentally significant mountains in the world. It is set apart by the U.N. as an International Biosphere Reserve, a place where man and nature thrive in harmony. Only 324 biospheres exist and this mountain is the only one that is privately owned. There are 47 rare and endangered species here. Enjoy Mile High Swinging Bridge, Wildlife Habitats, hiking, picnicking and Nature Museum. Open daily all year except Thanksgiving and Christmas from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. (winter), 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. (spring/fall) and 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. (summer). Average visit is approximately 2 to 3 hours.

Blue Ridge Parkway

Ranked “America’s most scenic drive” by leading travel writers. This is more than a scenic highway, the Blue Ridge Parkway is a spectacular route to fascinating worlds of vacation fun and excitement.

Horn in the west

This is Kermit Hunter’s famous Drama of the American Revolution. Each summer Horn in the West explodes into action on three spectacular stages to relive the incredible saga of the struggles of the rugged mountain settlers of the late eighteenth century and their role in the winning of this great country from British oppression. Held nightly except for Monday at 8:30 p.m. (late June through Mid-August).

Mystery hill

Admission ticket includes unlimited all day access to the following Mystery Hill attractions: The Mystery House, The Shadow Wall, The Spooky Spigot, The Dancing Duo, Optical Illusions, Mystery Rocks, Elusive Sights and BubbleRama. Open year-round seven days a week (rain or shine). Hours vary June to August and September to May.

Todd General Store

Established 1914 - only 9 miles from the campground - revisit a time when life was simple and genuine. Meet the mountain folks and listen to tales of the railroad days when Todd was the largest town in both Watauga and Ashe Counties. Old time music jam - Fridays 7:00 til - . While there see the old train depot and tin buildings or go for a canoe or tube ride down the New River. Todd Store in located on Railroad Grade Road, one of the the most scenic bike routes in North Carolina.

All kinds of other good information on the area is available at the following locations:

High Country Host - Local tourism organization http://www.highcountryhost.com

Boone Chamber of Commerce - http://www.boonechamber.com

Appalachain State University - http://www.appstate.edu

Interesting Watauga county information

The average temperature for the winter months December, January, & February is 36 degrees Fahrenheit; for March, April, and May is 50.4 degrees; for June July and August is 68 degrees; for September, October, and November is 52.7 degrees. The average yearly rainfall is 57 inches.

There are eight peaks higher than 5,000 feet, including the mighty Grandfather Mountain rising to 5,964 feet above sea level, Snake Mountain 5,594; Elk Knob 5,555; Bald of Rich Mountain 5,369, Hanging Rock 5,237; Tater Hill 5,156; Beach Mountain 5,020, and Rich Mountain 5,000. Three of these mountains can be seen from the campground. Looking across the swimming pool towards the distant mountains - Snake is the one that looks like a Volcano blasted it out - Elk is to its right, and the back side of Rich Mountain to its left. Our KOA is the highest one east of the Mississippi at almost 4000 feet. Watauga County has the highest average elevation of any comparable area east of the Rockies.