PDA

View Full Version : More info for Roan Mtn Wedding



ihavenoname1237
05-19-2010, 20:07
First time poster here,
After Thruhiking in 2008 I absolutely fell in love with the Roan Mountain area and now that I am planning my wedding (to my childhood sweetheart!!) we are both looking at this beautiful wilderness spot to have our small ceremony at.

We _did_ have a few questions for anyone more familiar with the area and I figured after lurking for years, I might as well join up and see if anyone in the whiteblaze community could help.

1) The Roan Highland area is obviously much more than the area that the trail passes through, is there anywhere in particular that would be appropriate for a small ceremony (less than 20 ppl)?

2) Due to the 8 hour drive we will probably want to spend the night somewhere decent and were also looking for a more upscale restaurant for dinner. We found a few links online but any personal recommendations for lodging or dinning would be awesome.

3) Of course any other info from locals or anyone who has spent a lot of time in the area would be greatly appreciated too. :)

Thank you in advance,

Peace
walker game 08

bigcranky
05-19-2010, 20:37
Mountain Harbour B&B is on 19-E right where the trail crosses the road. Get the king suite with the jacuzzi. Very nice -- and great people. I don't think they are big enough to sleep 20, though. And it's kinda remote.

You are also close to Boone and Blowing Rock. B.R. is more upscale and you should be able to find something nice there.

As for location, if you park at Carvers Gap it's a climb to the top of the first bald north of the parking area. I photographed a mountain wedding (not at Roan) for a hiking buddy last year, and I think some of the guests found the climb difficult. In season (summer) you can drive to the top of Roan and park there. Great views, easy access -- BUT the road is closed right now, IIRC, and you'll need to check with the forest service to see when it's open.

Sounds like a great wedding -- congrats.

Tennessee Viking
05-19-2010, 21:02
How did you steal my idea...lol

I have a some recommendations.

For lodging near Roan, I would recommend probably Johnson City if you are looking for something on the higher end. There is the Doubletree Hotel, Holiday Inn, and Carnegie Hotel. About another 30 minutes north in Kingsport TN is the Meadowview Marriott Hotel. If B&Bs are your thing, then Mountain Harbour in Roan Mtn, TN would be to your liking. There is also on in Minneapolis NC. Over on the Parkway, is Bear Den Campground and Cabins. Then there are probably rentals all over the place such as Beech Mountain, Banner Elk, Sugar Mountain, and Boone.

For eating, Elizabethton has a few chain restaurants. Johnson City is the closest higher end dinner destination. The Carnegie in JC and Marriott in Kingsport both have high end restaurants. Johnson City has your Olive Garden, Carrabba's, Stir Fry Cafe, Carinos, Cheddars, and Red Lobster. Kingsport is also home to Chop House, OG, Stir Fry, and Giuseppe's. Hidden treasures: Ridgewood BBQ in Bluff City is old and nothing fancy, but very well famous in BBQ.

For event spots on Roan, places are limited at the moment. The Gardens and Cloudland are only accessible from first week of June to first week of July 2010. The forest service trails and restrooms may be closed as well. The AT will not be affected.

If Roan Bluff is open you can have it on the overlook. Or at Cloudland overlook. Roan High Shelter. If your party doesn't mind a hike. Then there is Grassy Ridge Bald. Or the grounds around Overmountain Barn Shelter.

Grits
05-19-2010, 22:15
Check out these places in Blowing Rock http://www.chetola.com/ and http://www.gideonridge.com/ both great.

hellomolly
05-20-2010, 07:19
No insight into the logistics of planning such an event from me, just...







AAAAAWWWWWW! :D:D:D:D so cute! CONGRATS!

left turn
05-20-2010, 11:15
Check out these places in Blowing Rock http://www.chetola.com/ and http://www.gideonridge.com/ both great.

i been living between the boone area and wilmington nc for the past 12 years and chetola and gideonridge are very nice places to stay especially for a honeymoon but they are about an hour give or take from Roan. Banner Elk is a little closer (20 minutes), and there are some nice upscale restaurants there like Jackalopes view, Zuzda, and my favorite banner elk restaurant the Lousianna Purchase http://www.louisianapurchasefoodandspirits.com/, all three very nice "upscale" restaurants. Roan doesn't really have much places to offer in the "upscale" dinning/hotel area, it's pretty remote. there could be a hidden upscale B&B there i don't know about. the Mountain Harbour in Roan was nice, but not upscale, but that's what i like, we were just there around the 1st of May when we hiked Roan, i don't think you will get a "upscale" dinner there, but like i said it's only 20 minutes away from banner elk.

left turn
05-20-2010, 11:16
oh and by the way :welcome

bus
05-20-2010, 12:04
If Mountain Harbour is booked, try 'Bird Town', Bakersville, NC. 2 Cabins on 60 acre property and awesome hosts..

http://www.homeaway.com/vacation-rental/p169292

http://www.homeaway.com/vacation-rental/p130348

Bakersville is just down HWY 261/226 from Roan.

turtle fast
05-20-2010, 12:30
Mountain Harbor has perfectly acceptable rooms in the main house, they are nicely appointed and much, much better than rooms at a hotel. Why have a hiker wedding with upscale snootyness anyway. Im sure too the B&B would cut you a price break too for renting the place out if you talked with the owners. Great idea on the hiker wedding! Just remember to wear your boots under your dress!

K2
05-22-2010, 03:17
:welcome And congratulations!

FWIW, I googled "hiker wedding", and here's what I found:

http://www.whiteblaze.net/forum/vbg/showimage.php?i=1699&catid=member&orderby=title&direction=DESC&imageuser=314&cutoffdate=-1

Hiker cake topper:
http://www.cresthavenneighbors.com/wp-content/uploads/hiker%20wedding%20cake%20topper.jpg

Don't forget your gaiters and Deet! K2

Cabin Fever
05-22-2010, 09:41
Roan Mountain State Park. Rent cabin(s) for the guests and do the ceremony there somewhere or on Round Bald which is the first bald north of Carvers Gap.

MarCn
05-22-2010, 11:44
Mountain Harbour B&B is on 19-E right where the trail crosses the road. Get the king suite with the jacuzzi. Very nice -- and great people. I don't think they are big enough to sleep 20, though. And it's kinda remote.

You are also close to Boone and Blowing Rock. B.R. is more upscale and you should be able to find something nice there.

As for location, if you park at Carvers Gap it's a climb to the top of the first bald north of the parking area. I photographed a mountain wedding (not at Roan) for a hiking buddy last year, and I think some of the guests found the climb difficult. In season (summer) you can drive to the top of Roan and park there. Great views, easy access -- BUT the road is closed right now, IIRC, and you'll need to check with the forest service to see when it's open.

Sounds like a great wedding -- congrats.

Thanks for details