~ August 12 & 13 ~
~ August 26 & 27 ~
~ September 9 & 10 ~
~September 16 & 17 ~
*Join us for the weekend or a day!*
This is the history & sightseeing tour!Fraser's Ridge History Tour focuses on the history & beauty of the North Carolina mountains! Choose to join us for one day or both!
Our first day of the tour begins at Historic Fort Defiance where you will learn about General William Lenoir who fought in the Battle of King's Mountain. From there, we will journey to Leatherwood Mountains Resort for a lunch & learn with Overmountain Victory Trail member, RG Absher. RG will talk to us about the Overmountain Men & their march which led to victory at King's Mountain in October 1780. Thomas Jefferson said that this battle turned the tide of the American Revolution. Our next history stop is at the Wilkes Heritage Museum where we will enjoy a tour through 27 tour rooms in the main museum which was originally the Wilkes County Courthouse built in 1902. These 27 rooms include the Blue Ridge Music Museum, history of the area and early settlers, Revolutionary War, Moonshine, and the birthplace of NASCAR, just to name a few. Behind the museum, we will tour the Old Wilkes Jail where the legendary Tom Dooley was incarcerated and the Captain Robert Cleveland Home. Robert Cleveland was the brother of Colonel Benjamin Cleveland and fought alongside his brother at the Battle of King's Mountain. After all of this immersion into 18th century history, it will be time for a refreshing sip of moonshine at Copper Barrel Distillery where we will also receive a guided tour. Did you know that Wilkes County is the Moonshine Capital Of The World? Dinner follows at 6th & Main in Wilkesboro. The evening ends with a Candlelight Ghost Tour in historic downtown Wilkesboro. If you are joining us for Day 2, check into the accommodations of your choice in Wilkesboro. Recommendations are below.
Join us for our first evening in Wilkesboro as enjoy dinner at 6th & Main followed by a Candlelight Ghost Tour of Historic Wilkesboro facilitated by R. G. Absher. RG is the author of "Ghosts of The Yadkin Valley" and a great friend to NC Sassenach Tours! If you are joining us for Day 2, check into the accommodations of your choice in Wilkesboro. See accommodation recommendations below.
Our Fraser's Ridge History Overmountain Tour continues on Day 2 as we head UP the mountain to Stone Mountain State Park where we will hit the walking trail to visit the The Hutchinson Homestead. The homestead sits at the base of Stone Mountain and is complete with a log cabin, barn, blacksmith shop, corncrib, meat house and original furnishings. The farm was built in the mid-19th century. Restored in 1998, the homestead is representative of the lives of early settlers in the area. After our excursion into the past, we'll be ready for some homestyle cooking and what better place than on the Blue Ridge Parkway at the newly restored 1949 restaurant, The Bluffs! After lunch, we go back through the stones once again to visit Brinegar Cabin, the 1889 home of Martin & Caroline Brinegar. Like Claire, Caroline was a healer and provided herbs and other medicinals to the members of the surrounding community. The 2.5 acre roadside interpretive site features four wooden outbuildings clustered in the southeastern corner of the property. The farmstead includes a cabin, granary, springhouse, an interpretive garden, the location of a former orchard, and several small scale features. All buildings are sided in wooden clapboards and roofed with wooden shingles.The Brinegar Cabin is significant on the state level as an Appalachian farmstead and was listed in the National Register in 1972. From Brinegar Cabin, we will ride south on the beautiful Blue Ridge Parkway. We will allow time for stops at three overlooks so you can capture the unparalled views with your phone or camera. Before we end our day, we will make a stop at Holy Trinity Church in Glendale Springs. The church was built in the early 1900's and is the home to the luminous, life-size fresco, "The Last Supper" created by world-famous fresco artist Benjamin F. Long IV. , a North Carolina native. Long went to Florence, Italy to spend 8 years apprenticing in the art of fresco painting. Unfortunately, there wasn’t much demand for his newly honed skills when he returned to the U.S. until a chance meeting with an Episcopal minister of two small churches in Ashe County, NC. Long offered to gift the churches with his talent, using locals as models for his recreation of the Last Supper painting. Thousands of people visit the frescos each year - both for their religious significance and because they are magnificent works of art. To end our day and our tour, we will enjoy our very own wine tasting at Park Vista Inn with select wines from local winery, Thistle Meadow, followed by dinner at Park Vista Restaurant. If overnighting, please check in to the accommodations of your choice. Recommendations are below.
ALL admission prices, meals, tips, souvenir glasses, snacks and non-alcoholic beverages (except as indicated) are included in your one or two day ticket. ~ PLUS ~ BOOK BY JUNE 3 TO RECEIVE $15 OR $20 AMAZON GIFT CARD DEPENDING ON TOUR TYPE CHOSEN! *See our note about Accommodations in the section below.*
Hello from Beth & Carolyn! We are lifelong North Carolina residents plus hopelessly obsessed Outlander fans. We are honored to be your guides as we explore the vast area of Fraser's Ridge. We are excited to share the rich history as well as the Outlander connection of our home state with YOU! Travel through the stones to 18th & 19th century North Carolina. Read more about our Outlandish story by clicking on the "Your Guides" title above.
Due to its popularity last year and results of a recent survey, we will be touring the area "caravan" style. Follow us in the comfort of your own vehicle as we visit Fraser's Ridge. Narration provided along the way via walkie talkies.
Accommodations are NOT included in the ticket price; however, we have offered our suggestions for accommodations for each day of the tour below. We will be happy to help you find accommodations. When booking, please let us know that you would like help in finding your perfect stay. Find your perfect stay by clicking on the "Accommodations" title above or select "Help Me Find Accommodations" when booking your tour. *Included with Day 1 Tour. Optional for Day 2 Guests.*
We want YOU to stay healthy & well! Masks are NOT required unless required by the sites that we visit; HOWEVER, If you feel more comfortable wearing a mask on our tours, please do so.
> Please wear comfortable clothing and appropriate walking shoes. > A folding chair or camp chair. > Rain gear. This is a rain or shine tour. > In the event you would like to make incidental purchases throughout the day or additional alcoholic beverages, please bring a method of payment. > Camera or cellphone for photo taking. > FULL tank of gas. > Your smiles, good nature and adventurous spirit!
NO children under 13 years of age. The ringer on your cellphone (please silence cellphones when with the group). Besides, cell phone service is unavailable in many areas on the Ridge.
Payment of a non-refundable deposit equal to one-half of the tour cost is required to book a tour. Balance is due ten (10) days prior to the tour date. We MUST have at least 8 people to sign up for the tour in order to proceed. If 8 people have not signed up seven days prior to the tour date, the tour will be canceled and ALL monies paid refunded less a $25 reservation fee OR you may transfer to another tour date. Click "Payments & Refunds" in the title above to see our refund and cancellation policy
Before booking through AirBnb or VRBO, please message the owner to find out the distance from our meet up point, Hampton Inn Wilkesboro.
Before booking through AirBnb or VRBO, please message the owner to find out the distance from Park Vista Inn & Restaurant.
Don't stop with Day 1! Join us for Day 2!
Join us for our first evening in Cherokee as we witness the tragic and triumphant story of the Cherokee that traces back to the years before the heartbreak of the Trail of Tears to present day. The outdoor drama, Unto These Hills, is performed during the summer at the 2800-seat Mountainside Theatre and is the third oldest outdoor historical drama in the United States having run for more than 60 years. Before the drama, we will enjoy a barbecue dinner provided by the theatre and you will receive a souvenir program. If you are joining us for Day 2, check into the accommodations of your choice in Cherokee or Bryson City. Recommendations are below.
Check out our Fraser's Ridge Cherokee Adventure one and two day tours below! We can’t wait to show you around!
Don't Wait, Sassenach!