Valle Crucis, North Carolina [Hardcover]

David W. Yates (Author), William A. Bake (Author, Illustrator)

Book Description

Publication Date: October 1997

The scenic mountain area known as Valle Crucis has changed little since Susan Fenimore Cooper described it in 1889. Because of its long-time isolation, the present-day valley leaves a magical impression on the thousands of people who visit it each year. In this book, William Bake, one of the South's premier landscape photographers, has captured much of that magic with his perceptive full-color photographs. Because of his close family ties to the area, David Yates was able to gain access to many of the old families of the region who shared their stories and old photographs. Together the two have produced a tribute to a region with a rich heritage and stunning scenery. The book follows North Carolina's first designated Scenic Byway as it winds along the Watauga River valley through the Valle Crucis Historic District to the community of Banner Elk. There is a section about the famous Mast General Store, which was built in 1883 and remains the model for most of the area's rejuvenated general stores. It remains one of the oldest continuously operated general stores in the United States. Another section tells about the history of the Mast Farm Inn which the U.S. Department of the Interior describes as "one of the most complete and best preserved groups of nineteenth century farm buildings in western North Carolina." The New York Times described the bed-and-breakfast inn which occupies the old homestead as "about as close as you can get to the word homespun." The book then traces the evolution of the Valle Crucis Mission School and the Church of the Holy Cross. It also covers St. John's Church, the Inn at Taylor House, and the Valle Country Fair. With development quickly encroaching, the vistas and lifestyles of the valley may soon be irretrievable. Valle Crucis insures that these treasures will be preserved for future generations.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

David W. Yates is a former Assistant Attorney General for Tennessee whose family has lived in Valle Crucis for over 150 years. Dr. William A. Bake is a former student of Ansel Adams. Among his published photography books are Wayfarer: A Voice from the Southern Mountains with James Dickey; The American South: Four Seasons of the Land and The American South: Towns and Cities, both with James J. Kilpatrick, and The Blue Ridge. They both live in Boone, North Carolina.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 97 pages
• Publisher: John F. Blair Publisher (October 1997)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 089587203X
• ISBN-13: 978-0895872036
• Product Dimensions: 8.3 x 7.8 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,985,563 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A love story to Appalachia., January 27, 2002

By 

ChowhoundPlus - See all my reviews

This review is from: Valle Crucis, North Carolina (Hardcover)

I broke my own heart by moving away from the old grandmotherish mountains. But David Yates' Valle Crucis brought it back to me in the Northwest by portraying that mountain community so gorgeously. This is a photographic love story written to Western North Carolina, and also to East Tennesseans (I was one all my life). This book works as a coffee table book, and should be more vastly promoted so that the rest of the world can see what I have always known: Appalachia is the most beautiful region on earth.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Wonderful photos!!, October 15, 1999

By 

Therese D. Barry (NC) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Valle Crucis, North Carolina (Hardcover)

We have visited the places written and photographed for this book. The photos are so vivid and realistic. We came across this book in a general store and sat in the rockers enjoying every page.