Many years ago, I lived and worked on Beech Mountain. It is still a favorite destination. Out on business this past weekend, I paid a short visit to Beech and to a nearby town, Valle Crusis, which is the location of the original Mast General Store. If you have an opportunity to visit this store, you will be in for a real treat! It is a very old building. After going up the creaky stairs and then seeing the partially slanted floor, I asked a clerk if the building is expected to collapse this century or the next. He responded that it would likely be the next century. After all, it’s only 139 years young!
I hope you enjoy these photos!
This is the original Mast Store, located in Valle Crusis, North Carolina.
Once inside, if the game is not already taken, you can sit for a friendly game of checkers! Of course, you do know how to use bottle tops, yes??
The small community of Valle Crucis is North Carolina’s first rural historic district and is where you’ll find the Original Mast General Store and the Mast Store Annex. Still the center of the community, the Original Mast Store houses the Post Office and offers up a 5ยข cup of coffee. (source Google)
During the winter, you will likely find a few folks gathering around this pot-bellied stove, maybe to warm up, or just to experience something a little different! It is cozy, for sure!
When it’s nice outside, you’ll find visitors and tourists sitting on the back porch. Seems to be quite popular!
Just a few hundred yards from the Mast Store, you will find the Mast Annex. This is simply an expansion of the original store, with one main added feature. Barrels and barrels of candy!!
On the back lot of the Mast Annex, you will find delicious ice cream!
This is the Beech Mountain Ski Village. There are many stores and some offices surrounding this area. When the mountain was being developed in the early 1970s, there was an ice-skating rink in the center.
As I drove on Beech Mountain, these deer were very close to the road. Unlike the deer in my backyard, these were not afraid. I stopped and lowered my window. The deer paused and looked at me, as if to say hello, and then returned to grazing!
Here is a link to the Mast Store. It’s titled “The Rest of the Story”.
https://www.mastgeneralstore.com/cms/index.cfm/history/the-rest-of-the-story/
Ski Beech, think snow!