Latest news with #AppalachianStateUniversity
Daily Mail
03-07-2025
- Daily Mail
North Carolina mountain paradise becomes surprising boomtown
As summers in the south get too hot to handle , savvy residents have found an escape nestled in the Blue Ridge Mountains that stays 20 degrees cooler than the low country. Southerners love to stay in Boone, North Carolina , a mountain town filled with culture and crisp breezes, and escape from the heatwaves that blaze across southern states like South Carolina and Florida during June, July and August. Boone offers 70 to 80 degree summer days and a lifestyle for everyone from antique lovers to outdoor enthusiasts. The town, considered a hidden gem, is repeatedly listed as one of the best summer getaways in the South. 'In general, we're having a warm week this week and we're only touching low to mid-80s,' local realtor Brandon Freyer told the Daily Mail. 'When it's 90 down [in Charlotte] and it's 77 up here, it's enough for people to say, 'I'll head up for the weekend,' Freyer explained. The mountaintop haven is a vibrant college town home to Appalachian State University, where over 20,000 undergraduates bring young energy and diversity to the region. 'We got a variety of different folk,' Freyer said. 'We have a bunch of locals that live here. We get a lot of people who have gone to school at App and now they're settled maybe somewhere else in the Carolina region. 'They still have fond memories of the place and dream of having a second home.' Many people have enjoyed Boone so much that they have purchased a second home either as a weekend retreat or an investment property to rent out. 'It's probably... maybe two-thirds to 75 percent of our homes are second homes up here,' Freyer said. He added that Boone's population surges in the summer as out-of-staters – particularly from South Florida and other sweltering regions – seek out the area's milder climate and high-altitude adventures. 'We have a bunch of locals that live here. We get a lot of people who have gone to school at App and now they're settled maybe somewhere else in the Carolina region. 'They still have fond memories of the place and dream of having a second home.' There's plenty of hiking, fly fishing, golf, or ziplining in Boone and its neighboring towns like Blowing Rock, Banner Elk, and West Jefferson. Boone is also the main hub for nearby towns. 'We've got a bunch of small mountain towns... Boone's kind of the main hub,' Freyer said. 'You get a lot of folks that come up here to play tennis, play pickleball, golf, lots of great hiking, water sports as well.' For those in the know, Boone also remains a four-season destination. 'We're also kind of as far south as you can ski more or less,' he added. 'So we do get a lot of folks again from the Carolina region that'll come to ski in the winter time.' Food, festivals, and lawn chair concerts also add to Boone's appeal. From summer concert series at the base of Beech Mountain's ski slopes to Friday night food truck rallies in Valle Crucis, Boone has no shortage of entertainment. 'There's a whole lot of great dining in the area,' Freyer said. 'The town has something going on pretty much every weekend. 'People are sitting out in their lawn chairs along the slopes for the concerts, it's very family friendly. People bring their kid and hang out.' Art shows, farmer's markets, and community events make it easy to see why so many visitors flock there for summer. Boone's popularity has raised the median home price slightly. 'As far as single-family [homes] go, you're definitely getting over $500,000,' Freyer said. 'We're pushing kind of into that $600,000 range now.' Still, for many, it's worth the break from scorching summer heat. There is such an influx of visitors that Boone was awarded an $850,000 grant to revitalize Howard Street, the 'largest downtown Boone street revitalization effort in modern history,' according to the Town of Boone. The grant will support several Howard Street updates: relocating electrical utilities underground, improving water, sewer, and stormwater systems and converting part of Howard Street into pedestrian and bicycle only.
Otago Daily Times
21-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Otago Daily Times
Stalwarts of bluegrass to treat town
A band hailing from the Blue Ridge Mountains, where bluegrass is firmly rooted, is coming to give Gore an authentic taste of Americana. In his slow, southern drawl, Randy Gambill said three out of the four members of his band Sassafras come from the Blue Ridge Mountain area of North Carolina. The band have been to New Zealand two times before, but not to Gore and he was always in awe of the friendships and connections he made with people through music. He spoke of playing at the Niagara Falls Bluegrass & Roots Festival on one of his visits, saying that he felt he could relate to the "really neat" locals. "These are our people, you know, they're country people, and that's what we are, you know," he said. "So we fell right in there with them." On top of bluegrass, he said the band play a mix of old country classics, like Johnny Cash, a few originals and some Western swing mixed in too, just to keep it interesting. "We go to have fun and make sure we emanate that from the stage and let everybody else have a good experience." He said where he grew up, near the mountains, was a "hotbed" for country music, where the influential Carter Family originated in the 1920s. Earl Scruggs, who originated the three-fingered way of playing a banjo which bluegrass music is based on, also grew up in North Carolina. "I was steeped in it from the start, I didn't have much of a choice, that's what was around," he said. Gambill said in their live show, between songs, the four-piece try to give a bit of background to bluegrass, how it formed and its context. "We like to give a little background on the history of the music, so they feel more connected to it," he said. He found New Zealanders were an "attentive", music loving audience, that was very keen on live music, compared to the watching-TV-at-the-same-time types that they sometimes experienced in the United States. Mr Gambill plays guitar while Ken Dowell is on banjo, Billy Gee on bass, Wes Tuttle switches from mandolin to fiddle and the group all contribute vocals. They try to give bluegrass a little twist and the odd one out, Gee, who comes from Maryland, only got hooked on playing country and bluegrass when he attended Appalachian State University in North Carolina, Gambill said. Originally a rock and roll player, Mr Gee brings a different angle to Sassafras's music, Gambill said. "I guess you could say Americana is really what we do," he said. When the guitar player spoke to The Ensign , the group were in Kaikoura and about to visit a seal colony. Gambill said when he was playing a solo gig in New Zealand around 18 months ago, a local came up and started jamming with him. This jammer became a friend, who coincidentally owned a whale watching business in Kaikoura, which the group were going to enjoy during their stay. "So, again, if it hadn't been for music, you know, I would have never met my buddy," he said. "There's music again, connecting. "Isn't it awesome?" • The band will be playing at the Bayleys Tussock Country music festival this Saturday at The Little Theatre. Doors open at 7pm. Tickets are $25 on iTicket.
The Star
19-05-2025
- Sport
- The Star
Sprinter Azeem makes statement of intent to go faster this season
PETALING JAYA: National sprinter Mohd Azeem Fahmi (pic) continues to show that he is a different breed of athlete. Just days after a challenging outing at the Southeastern Conference Championships, the 21-year-old returned to make strong statement by winning at the Appalachian State University Track and Field Championships on Sunday.
New Straits Times
19-05-2025
- Sport
- New Straits Times
Sprinter Azeem scorches Appalachian track
KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia's fastest man, Azeem Fahmi, was on fire at the Appalachian State University Track and Field Championships on Sunday. Azeem ran a blistering 10.01 seconds in the men's 100m heats in Boone, North Carolina. The time was actually faster than Azeem's own national record of 10.09s, but it was not recognised because of a tailwind (plus 4.7). The 10.01 came close to the 10.00 qualifying mark for the World Championships in Tokyo in September. Azeem, representing Auburn University, won his heat, and two hours later, won the final with 10.09s (tailwind plus 3.7). Deonte Hardy of Coastal Carolina was second (10.41) and Armonte Ferguson was third (10.43). Malaysia Athletics technical director John Ballard said: "Azeem ran fantastic times, but unfortunately they cannot be recognised as national records because of tailwinds. "Azeem has shown tremendous progress under coach Ken Harnden. He has a very good chance of qualifying for the NCAA grand final next month in North Carolina. "All his hard work in training is paying off and he has improved on his body strength. After clocking 10.01, he definitely will move up the world rankings.
The Star
19-05-2025
- Sport
- The Star
Azeem wins 100m race at Appalachian State Championships
PETALING JAYA: National sprinter Mohd Azeem Fahmi has won the 100m race at the Appalachian State University Track and Field Championships, equalling his national record time in Boone, North Carolina on Sunday (May 18). The 21-year-old, who competed in the Southeastern Conference on Saturday, drove six hours with his coach, Ken Harnden, to the meet, and it proved worthwhile. Azeem finished first in the final, clocking 10.09s. Coastal Carolina's Deonte Hardy was second with a time of 10.41s, while App State's Armonte Ferguson came third with 10.43s. Azeem holds the national 100m record of 10.09s, set at the 2022 World Junior Championships in Cali, Colombia. Azeem was hoping to improve his rankings to compete in the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Regionals.
