Moses H. Cone Memorial Park
Encyclopedia
Moses H. Cone
Moses Herman Cone was an American textile entrepreneur, conservationist, and philanthropist of the Gilded Age who was active in the southern United States...
in Blowing Rock, North Carolina
Blowing Rock, North Carolina
Blowing Rock is a town in North Carolina, USA, situated in both Caldwell and Watauga counties. The population was 1,418 at the 2000 census. However, during the summer the town's population increases to about 10,000.]]\\...
. It is on the Blue Ridge Parkway
Blue Ridge Parkway
The Blue Ridge Parkway is a National Parkway and All-American Road in the United States, noted for its scenic beauty. It runs for 469 miles , mostly along the famous Blue Ridge, a major mountain chain that is part of the Appalachian Mountains...
between mileposts 292 and 295 with access at Milepost 294. Most locals call it Cone Park. The park is run by the National Park Service
National Park Service
The National Park Service is the U.S. federal agency that manages all national parks, many national monuments, and other conservation and historical properties with various title designations...
and is open to the public. It contains 3500 acres (14.2 km²), a 16 acres (64,749.8 m²) trout lake, a 22 acres (89,030.9 m²) bass lake, and 25 miles (40.2 km) of carriage trails for hiking and horses. The main feature of the park is a twenty-three room 13000 square feet (1,207.7 m²) mansion called Flat Top Manor
Flat Top Manor
Flat Top Manor, as it is known to the locals, is also referred to as Moses Cone Manor, Moses Cone Estate, the Moses H. Cone Mansion, or just Flat Top. On the Blue Ridge Parkway it is located at Milepost 294 in Blowing Rock, North Carolina...
built about 1900. At the Manor there is a Craft Shop and demonstration center, along with an information desk and book store.
Walking
Walking is one of the main gaits of locomotion among legged animals, and is typically slower than running and other gaits. Walking is defined by an 'inverted pendulum' gait in which the body vaults over the stiff limb or limbs with each step...
, hiking
Hiking
Hiking is an outdoor activity which consists of walking in natural environments, often in mountainous or other scenic terrain. People often hike on hiking trails. It is such a popular activity that there are numerous hiking organizations worldwide. The health benefits of different types of hiking...
, cross-country skiing
Cross-country skiing
Cross-country skiing is a winter sport in which participants propel themselves across snow-covered terrain using skis and poles...
, and horseback riding. More people use the park for hiking and horseback riding than any other activity. There is also fishing
Fishing
Fishing is the activity of trying to catch wild fish. Fish are normally caught in the wild. Techniques for catching fish include hand gathering, spearing, netting, angling and trapping....
available at the two nearby fishing lakes. Many people also do amateur and professional photography, especially in the Autumn. The park is open year-round and sees 225,000 people each year being the most visited recreational place on the Blue Ridge Parkway
and second in visitors after the Folk Art Center
Folk Art Center
The Folk Art Center is a museum of Appalachian arts and crafts located at milepost 382 on the Blue Ridge Parkway near Asheville, North Carolina...
that sees 250,000 visitors. Together with the Julian Price Memorial Park
Julian Price Memorial Park
Julian Price Memorial Park is a park of at the foot of Grandfather Mountain in North Carolina, named in honor of Julian Price. It is at milepost 297 on the Blue Ridge Parkway and directly adjacent to the Moses H. Cone Memorial Park. Together these parks comprise the largest developed area set...
it is the largest developed area set aside for public recreation on the Blue Ridge Parkway.
Moses obtained advice from Gifford Pinchot
Gifford Pinchot
Gifford Pinchot was the first Chief of the United States Forest Service and the 28th Governor of Pennsylvania...
, the pioneering forester for the Cradle of Forestry of America, on planting white pine forests and hemlock hedges.
The town of Blowing Rock
Blowing Rock, North Carolina
Blowing Rock is a town in North Carolina, USA, situated in both Caldwell and Watauga counties. The population was 1,418 at the 2000 census. However, during the summer the town's population increases to about 10,000.]]\\...
is two miles (3 km) away where many novelty shops are located along with the area restaurants.