The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1885-08-20
A TRIP TO ROAM MouNTAIN,' N. C..
BY HAL STRICKLAND.

Mr.. EDITOR: We started from Knox.
villc at about 10 o'clock q. ~, and after
q very pleasant ride on the E. T., V. G.
q. II. II. train, we arrived at johnson
City, very delightful little growing
town. Johnson City Is in full view of
the mountains, and In very rich coun.
try. We spent one or two hours very
we'll in that place. AT 4 o'clock In the
afternoon We boarded the Cranberry, or
rather East Tennessee & Western North
Carolina Railroad, and started out for
Roam Mountain. II ia about thirty five
miles from one end of this narrow gauge
road to the other.
The frat fifteen miles of the ride Is not
very interesting, but after you pass
through the Gap into the "Happy Val.
ley" and ride up the Watauga River,
you are charmed with the beauties of the
mountain district. The fiue wheat and
cats have been cut and arc standing in
shocks very close together, and tho corn
Is of dark green color, nearly black,
showing how healthy 1t is. The noun
tain scenery is worry fine, indeed. You
are entirely surrounded by mountains.
The water In the streams ia as clea. as it
can be, and teem with fish.
In little while you leave this beauti.
full little valley behind you and enter the
"gorgo" or canon of the Doe River.
This Is said to be the widest and grand.
es, scenery in the States east of the
Rocky Mountains. Away down below
you 10 the beautiful stream of water !;
above you is the wall o: solid rock
500 feet high. In this wild gully the
train curves and twists around, going up
terrible grade, through tunnels and
over bridges, across s:a' river, until at
last you come out at the "other end of
the horn" In few minutes you are OF
Roam Mountain Station.
There is a very nice hotel there, and
you pay your dollar day and feel splea.
didly. After little while you begin to
feel sery sleepy, and the clever proprie.
tors show you where you camp, beneath
one or more heavy blankets, and you
sleep free from the buzz Of any kind of
insect.
After eating good breakfast in the
morning, you start in q hack, on horse
back or on foot, whichever you prefer, to
the top of the mountain, Therosd is a
very goou ne when you come to think
what kind of place it is built in. As
you get near the top you begin to have
some very fine views of the surrounding,
mountains. You get thirsty on the road
and stop at cold spring, and quench
your thirst with water that makes your
teeth chatter. Occasionally on the road
you hear the deep bass voice of thin
hairsd mountain "razor back, indulging
in grunt. After while you see a
great smooth place up to your right.
This is the "bald headed" part of Roam
Mountain. Nothing at all on it but
beautiful grass. Upon this beautiful
place is being built what promises to be
first. class hotel. When you reach the
top you are tired bnt not sore.
The view from the hotel veranda Is
perfectly grand. OF to your right is the
tall and majestic Mt. Mitchell, named
after the great DR.. Mitchell, who lost his
life somewhere son the mountain. To
the left is the "Grandfather's Mountain u
and in front and behind are great many
very high mountains. There are a great
many iine views around the place, among
which the finest are the "Profile Rock u
"sunset Rock" "High Point" Eagle
Cliff"
A person can spend month up here
very pleasantly, and will gain good
health all the time. When the hotel Is
finished and all things made ready, !!
will be the most popular resort in the
South, If not in the North. There is q
spring within few hundred yards Of the
hotel in which Thermometer will regis.
ter 4s. This is the coolest water the
writer has ever had the pleasure Of
drinking. The climate is ss fine as any
lone could wish for. A FIRE is O comfort
to sleep by at Dight, and blankets are the
joy Of ones soul.
The writer will remember as long al
he lives his visit to Roam Mountain with
9 great deal of pleasure.
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