Mast General Store
Looking for a place to feel the grace of a time that has passed? A romantic weekend at Valle Crucis, North Carolina is that place to slow down ,even if just for a short time. A beautiful valley, surrounded by mountains, this is one of the most beautiful spots around North Carolina. The history of the area just streams from every view and as the pace slows, your mind wanders. When you come upon the Mast General Store you will know you have arrived to that different time. This place will remind you of the stories you’ve heard from your grandparents about life “when times were so much simpler”. You will want to grab a rocker on the back porch and swig a grape NeHi soda as you listen to stories of travelers who have all found themselves in the same special place.
The Mast General Store was built in 1892 by Henry Taylor. He had worked in smaller stores in the area but wanted to open his own. In 1897 he sold half of the business to W.W. Mast, who had descended from a pioneering family who settled in Valle Crucis. Together they wanted to carry everything anyone could need. They extended credit to all in the area who needed it and payment was often in trade. Today there is still a chicken hatch door in the floor in the back where they kept the chickens they received for payment. This was the location for community gatherings, an office for the first doctor in the county and it was where the mourners gathered after the big flood in the 1940’s. The store was passed down to family members for years, but in 1973 it was sold to a doctor from Atlanta and a professor from nearby Appalachian State University. This was when the site was named to The National Register of Historical Places. When the store closed for winter in 1977 it was thought to reopen in April, but that didn’t happen. It was when residents of Valle Crucis banded together to save the store that it was bought by John and Faye Cooper who then revived the business. With the success of the store secured, they expanded with stores in Boone, Waynesville, Hendersonville and even Asheville. Although a visit to the original store can never be duplicated ,these other locations certainly can give you a taste of yesterday. I would tell you about the entire room devoted to candy, 500 different kinds of old fashioned and new ones , but then there wouldn’t be any left when I came back.
If you want to make a weekend out of it, the Mast Farm Inn is the perfect B&B for a romantic time. It’s a wee distance down from the store and is also listed on The National Register of Historical Places. It has a farm house period décor in the guest rooms as well as cozy cottages and rustic cabins for a splendid getaway. Also offered are several theme packages which include many sightseeing adventures, but don’t miss the organic gardens filled with herbs, flowers and vegetables, all on the property, and all of which are used throughout the Inn. The organic gourmet restaurant is a real treat in the middle of the North Carolina mountains. Many dishes are organic specialties, most using local ingredients for the freshest experience. Whether it’s chicken and dumplings or smoked trout, the taste will always be crisp. Be sure and save room for the chocolate flourless torte… what a dream dessert! From the fresh flowers in your room to the tea basket in the morning you will wonder why you ever have to leave this paradise. You will feel as if you have totally stepped back into time. A place to relax, sit back and smell the organic flowers.
Robin Gardner
Editor at Large
The Mast General Store was built in 1892 by Henry Taylor. He had worked in smaller stores in the area but wanted to open his own. In 1897 he sold half of the business to W.W. Mast, who had descended from a pioneering family who settled in Valle Crucis. Together they wanted to carry everything anyone could need. They extended credit to all in the area who needed it and payment was often in trade. Today there is still a chicken hatch door in the floor in the back where they kept the chickens they received for payment. This was the location for community gatherings, an office for the first doctor in the county and it was where the mourners gathered after the big flood in the 1940’s. The store was passed down to family members for years, but in 1973 it was sold to a doctor from Atlanta and a professor from nearby Appalachian State University. This was when the site was named to The National Register of Historical Places. When the store closed for winter in 1977 it was thought to reopen in April, but that didn’t happen. It was when residents of Valle Crucis banded together to save the store that it was bought by John and Faye Cooper who then revived the business. With the success of the store secured, they expanded with stores in Boone, Waynesville, Hendersonville and even Asheville. Although a visit to the original store can never be duplicated ,these other locations certainly can give you a taste of yesterday. I would tell you about the entire room devoted to candy, 500 different kinds of old fashioned and new ones , but then there wouldn’t be any left when I came back.
If you want to make a weekend out of it, the Mast Farm Inn is the perfect B&B for a romantic time. It’s a wee distance down from the store and is also listed on The National Register of Historical Places. It has a farm house period décor in the guest rooms as well as cozy cottages and rustic cabins for a splendid getaway. Also offered are several theme packages which include many sightseeing adventures, but don’t miss the organic gardens filled with herbs, flowers and vegetables, all on the property, and all of which are used throughout the Inn. The organic gourmet restaurant is a real treat in the middle of the North Carolina mountains. Many dishes are organic specialties, most using local ingredients for the freshest experience. Whether it’s chicken and dumplings or smoked trout, the taste will always be crisp. Be sure and save room for the chocolate flourless torte… what a dream dessert! From the fresh flowers in your room to the tea basket in the morning you will wonder why you ever have to leave this paradise. You will feel as if you have totally stepped back into time. A place to relax, sit back and smell the organic flowers.
Robin Gardner
Editor at Large
The Flag This button throughout the site will add items here
Travel Folder
Information Goes in Here
Indian Motorcycle