Car Accident Injury Attorneys in Boone, NC

Rhode’s Motor Lodge is delighted to announce a new culinary venture in collaboration with esteemed local chef and restaurateur, Andy Long. Chef Long, formerly of the celebrated Over Yonder restaurant in Valle Crucis, will helm the lodge’s on-site dining establishment, aptly named ‘Over Yonder Boone.’ This partnership promises to bring a fresh and authentic Appalachian dining experience to both locals and visitors of Boone.

Over Yonder, which opened in 2014, quickly became a cornerstone of the High Country’s dining scene, renowned for its modern take on classic Appalachian cuisine. The restaurant operated successfully for nearly a decade, earning accolades for its commitment to regional flavors and culinary excellence. However, in January 2025, Over Yonder closed its doors permanently due to the financial strains following Hurricane Helene. The aftermath of the hurricane posed insurmountable challenges, leading to the difficult decision to cease operations.

Chef Long’s resilience and dedication to his craft have led him to this new chapter at Rhode’s Motor Lodge. ‘Over Yonder Boone’ will embody the spirit of its predecessor by offering a menu that honors Appalachian traditions while incorporating contemporary culinary techniques. Guests can anticipate a variety of dishes that showcase locally sourced ingredients, reflecting the rich heritage and flavors of the region.

“Although we will surely miss that old spooky house on the hill in Valle Crucis, we are beyond excited to move into our new digs in town and put a fresh spin on something we’ve been doing now for over a decade,” said Chef Andy Long. My gratitude to Loden Hospitality and the folks at Rhode’s Motor Lodge for this opportunity, and y’all…the PARKING! And we’ll have a bar, an actual bar people can sit at!”

Rhode’s Motor Lodge, a meticulously renovated mid-century modern boutique hotel, opened its doors in October 2023. The 54-room lodge has since become a favored destination for travelers exploring the Blue Ridge Parkway, Appalachian State University, and other attractions in the High Country. The addition of ‘Over Yonder Boone’ aligns with the lodge’s commitment to providing unique and memorable experiences for its guests.

Russ Jones, president of Loden Hospitality—the Raleigh-based hotelier behind Rhode’s Motor Lodge—expressed enthusiasm about the collaboration: “We are thrilled to partner with Chef Andy Long to bring ‘Over Yonder Boone’ to our property. His passion for Appalachian cuisine and his reputation for culinary excellence make him the perfect fit for our vision. We believe ‘Over Yonder Boone’ will become a beloved gathering place for both locals and visitors, further enriching the vibrant community of Boone.”

‘Over Yonder Boone’ is slated to open its doors to the public in late spring 2025. Until then, the restaurant will offer a sneak peek with pop-up dinners every Friday and Saturday night starting

March 21st, from 5–9 PM. Guests can look forward to a warm and inviting atmosphere, reflective of the lodge’s mid-century modern aesthetic, combined with the rustic charm that characterizes Chef Long’s culinary style.

For more information about ‘Over Yonder Boone’ and updates on its opening, please visit https://www.overyondernc.com/ or contact:

Over Yonder Boone Media Contact: Peden Council, [email protected] Rhode’s Media Contact: Catherine Kobe, [email protected]

About Rhode’s Motor Lodge: Rhode’s Motor Lodge is a boutique hotel located in Boone, North Carolina. Originally a 1950s motel, it has been thoughtfully renovated to offer modern amenities while preserving its mid-century modern charm. The lodge provides guests with a unique and comfortable base for exploring the scenic beauty and cultural richness of the High Country. Rhode’s Motor Lodge is owned and operated by LODEN Hospitality, the team behind The Longleaf Hotel in Raleigh, NC.

About Chef Andy Long: Chef Andy Long is a distinguished chef and restaurateur known for his innovative approach to Appalachian cuisine. As the former owner and chef of Over Yonder in Valle Crucis, he garnered acclaim for his dedication to local ingredients and culinary traditions. With ‘Over Yonder Boone,’ Chef Long continues his commitment to delivering exceptional dining experiences that celebrate the heritage of the region. He also owns and operates Holloway Corner Kitchen in Foscoe.

Spring break and the beginning of warmer weather are approaching. If you're still looking for a destination, there are plenty right here in Western North Carolina.

The Citizen Times has covered countless mentions of WNC locations praised in publications from Forbes to the New York Times and beyond.

Here are a few of the locations that travel experts keep coming back to in WNC, and what they suggest to travelers and locals alike for warm weather fun.

What to do in Asheville spring 2025

As the Asheville Citizen Times, we're obviously fans. But beyond our bias for our beloved city, Asheville has received glowing reviews when it comes to travel - even following the destruction caused by Tropical Storm Helene. Among praise for Asheville:

What to do in Boone spring 2025

Home of Appalachian State University and countless beautiful outdoor areas, Boone was recently honored on a list by AFAR travel magazine - and it wasn't the first time the town has received recognition. Here are some suggestions from publications that have praised Boone:

What to do in Brevard spring 2025

The Brevard area in Transylvania County is often called "the land of waterfalls" for the more than 250 waterfalls in and around the town - so it's probably no wonder that travel writers often praise Brevard's natural areas. Here are some of their suggestions for travelers:

What to do in Bryson City spring 2025

Home of several USA TODAY 10Best Readers' Choice wins, and a favorite of travel list writers at WorldAtlas, Bryson City is another small WNC town with a lot to offer. Suggestions from past pieces included:

What to do in Hendersonville spring 2025

Last but not least, Asheville's neighboring Hendersonville offers not only plenty of outdoor areas to explore, but options for exploring local history, critically acclaimed restaurants and Southern charm. Past pieces have suggested:

Iris Seaton is the trending news reporter for the Asheville Citizen Times, part of the USA TODAY Network. Reach her at [email protected].

Western North Carolina is pushing full steam ahead this winter tourism season, welcoming visitors back after months of recovery from Category 4 Hurricane Helene.

Posted 2/18/2025, 5:42:15 PM

Annie Ham, UNC Media Hub

Western North Carolina is pushing full steam ahead this winter tourism season, welcoming visitors back after months of recovery from Category 4 Hurricane Helene.

Among the crowds visiting Boone over Martin Luther King Jr. Day weekend was a Boy Scout troop from central North Carolina, chaperoned by Clayton resident Jonathan Barnes.

The troop supported the area in the direct aftermath of the hurricane this past September by delivering supplies to Asheville a few months before. But this time around, Barnes and the young scouts came out to have some fun on the slopes of Appalachian Ski Mountain in Watauga County – the sense of normalcy business locals are calling for in the area.

Barnes and his troop stayed at an Airbnb, filled up at a gas station in Yadkinville, shopped at a local grocery store and skied at a resort raising money for the community. He coined these actions “unintentional contributions” to local business.

Unintentional, yet impactful.

In the wake of Hurricane Helene, tourism is a vital lifeline for western North Carolina. In a small survey conducted in December by the Watauga County Economic Development Commission, 65% of respondents said their business failed to meet revenue expectations for November – 50% reported a November year-over-year loss of 0-25%.

Visitors to the area are contributing to what co-owner of Appalachian Ski Mountain, Brenda Speckmann, describes as a snowball effect. Every ski season, the trend starts with recreational tourist hot spots booking up. The next to be positively impacted: restaurants and stores.

“We’ve been blessed with a lot of cold weather and snow,” Speckmann said. “So, when we have a good winter, then that affects all the local businesses in the local economy.”

In a statement from Sept. 28 – just a day after the worst of the storm – David Jackson, president of the Boone Area Chamber of Commerce, thanked people for their thoughts and prayers in a Chamber News post, but he urged them to stay home.

“Our community is usually the first to welcome others,” Jackson wrote. “THIS IS NOT THE TIME TO VISIT.”

A month later the message shifted. Jackson invited tourists back to the region, this time requesting they be mindful with their visits – shop and eat locally but leave space for progress in places that are still recovering.

Neighbors helping neighbors

Although many towns like Black Mountain and Asheville are still in recovery mode post-hurricane, Emily Neeley, director of marketing and public relations for the municipal department of tourism, Explore Boone, said there is a perception that the mountains were completely destroyed.

Boone is one area that was able to bounce back quickly.

“We got right back in the office as areas started reopening, like Blowing Rock and Boone proper, to let people know to please come back and support these small businesses even if you couldn’t stay overnight,” Neeley said.

While coverage of western North Carolina has decreased as communities have slowly recovered, many local business owners and families faced devastation that could take years to repair.

Others are simply trying to recover from months of slowed business in the community-based tourist destination, Neeley said.

Despite an expected $250,000 loss in sales across multiple bakery and shop locations, Mindy Coatney, co-owner of Stick Boy Bread Co., said they were able to stay afloat and partially operational, their main bakery maintaining power unlike many others.

“We just saw that a lot of businesses were kind of unequally impacted,” Coatney said.

The bakery made bread and soup to give out to those in need and set up stations across town to provide free morning coffee for locals.

Most recently, Stick Boy sold a special coffee roast called “Resilient” that raised $24,000 in funds to go toward individual families and other local hurricane relief efforts. Another Coatney business, Booneshine Brewing Co., collaborated with other breweries in town to create a beer called “Hello from the Holler,” raising over $20,000 for the community.

'We were okay when many weren’t'

About 35 years ago, Hurricane Hugo created a mudslide on the Appalachain Ski Mountain property that cost thousands of dollars to repair. This time around, the ski mountain was lucky to be amongst the handful of similar businesses least affected by Hurricane Helene.

That meant Speckmann and her team could focus on helping neighbors in need. The mountains operation crew went to work repairing culverts, ditches and drainage issues in the two weeks following the devastation. The resorts’ annual ski and snowboard pre-season sale was also combined with a fundraiser for a beloved family in town who lost their home to the hurricane.

Sugar Mountain Resort, a nearby ski destination in Avery County, faced more damage including mudslides, fallen trees and conditions that damaged pavement and several buildings.

However, this Martin Luther King Jr. Day weekend, Sugar Mountain’s slopes were buzzing with activity. Vika Romanovskaia, a skier from Atlanta, returned for her third annual trip to Sugar Mountain this January. Despite knowing only a little about Hurricane Helene, Romanovskaia said everything was operating just as always – this time busier than her previous visits.

Daniel O’Neill, Airbnb owner near the top of Sugar Mountain, said he was impressed and relieved by the resort’s quick recovery. His Airbnb has had a handful of bookings since his long-term renter – a woman whose apartment was damaged in the storm – left in November.

“It was worrisome when the hurricane hit,” he said. “Years of savings plus all the time away from my wife and kids to get it (the Airbnb) ready was a risk. In the end though, we were okay when many weren’t.”

Empowering local heroes

Today, Appalachian Ski Mountain continues to support those still recovering from Hurricane Helene through a donation opportunity available during the booking process. Speckmann said the benefit of donating to western North Carolina through local organizations is their firsthand awareness of who needs the most assistance.

Resources like Explore Boone continue to promote Watauga and Avery counties as fun destinations, but Neeley said including a volunteer opportunity in a vacation to Boone or surrounding areas is encouraged.

“We really appreciate folks still thinking about us,” she said.

Kristen and Jerrod McConnell from Apex are living examples of this support.

During a recent weekend trip to Appalachian Ski Mountain, the couple finally revisited their favorite local businesses like Ashe County Cheese and Mountain Running Company after having only been able to support from afar after the hurricane.

“We’ve been up here for years, and it’s just the greatest community,” Jerrod McConnell said. “And if you don’t support it, they can’t be.”

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