AA Learn more about in-home care options for your loved ones

Given the choice, most of us want to stay in our homes. Sometimes, people need help to remain at home. That's where Always Best Care Senior Services comes in.

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TESTIMONIALS

“ABC in Fletcher has an amazing team, and they made a huge difference for myself and my mother. We had them as in-home caregivers for 10 months. They are responsible, flexible and just a solid group with whom to work. I could reach them by phone immediately almost every time I needed to contact them. They handled billing and insurance claims and kept the caregiver plans absolutely up-to-date. As well as the regular RN visits. Jan, Mary and Melissa rock in addition to our caregivers. My only reason for not giving five stars has to do with the systemic challenge of finding enough caregivers. And in our case, caregivers who are proficient with Parkinson’s patients.”

Jennie G.
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TESTIMONIALS

“I feel like I'm part of the family every time I'm there! A lovely bunch of ladies! The best quality care provider in the business!”

John Z.
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TESTIMONIALS

“I have had many dealing with Always Best Care during my professional healthcare career. They have always provided great care to the seniors they serve. Jim and his team are great to work with and always go above and beyond not only in serving seniors but supporting many events in the community. I would highly recommend ABC for any in home needs.”

Bob P.
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TESTIMONIALS

“I like working with Always Best Care Senior Services because the office staff are so nice and understanding and I have gotten to know them on a level that I know they are here to help me, when I need help or have a questions. From day one when I have called, they have ALL been here to help guide me and they have been there every time I’ve had a questions. Working for ABC has been an honor because I really do love the company and we have some sweet clients. The ladies that work in the office are amazing and without them I do not think our company would thrive like it does. When I did an application, it was on accident and then I got a phone call asking me to come in and interview and honestly I’m so blessed. I love my job because it is my passion to help people and to do what I can to make their daily living better and easier. I honestly don’t think there is anything that needs to change about ABC. I have never worked for such an amazing company before”

Craig R.
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TESTIMONIALS

“I own a financial services business and share clients with Always Best Care. Recently, one of our shared clients experienced a fall which resulted in a broken hip. One of my first calls, after EMS, was to ABC. Mary Steiner responded immediately and offered to meet the client at the ER. She was wonderful and so very professional in the manner in which she handled the entire harrowing experience. She arranged for overnight care since the family had to arrive from out of town. I am so grateful for her genuine care for our client and stepping in during an emergency to help us handle the situation. I would recommend ABC for services because they absolutely go above and beyond with such a special touch. Robbie Chenault, Elevated Living Services”

Elevated L.
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TESTIMONIALS

“I love working here! Jim truly cares about his clients and employees. The staff goes to great lengths to make sure that the clients are cared for. I am proud to represent Always Best Care.”

Sandra D.
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TESTIMONIALS

“My husband was placed with always best care after leaving the hospital. he has received outstanding care from this company, The caretaker taking care of my husband did an outstanding job working with him , helping with daily care , cleaning, and his physical therapy, would recommend her and this company to anyone looking for home Assistant to take care of a loved one! Thank you always best care for being there for us and my family .”

Diane M.
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TESTIMONIALS

“Always Best Care is one the best company’s to work for. Treats everyone like Family”

Danielle O.
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TESTIMONIALS

“Always best care is very professional and they love the clients and their patients”

Javell F.
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TESTIMONIALS

“From the first day that I started it was an experience to learn your ways but with all the staff people that I became aware of oh my gosh it was wonderful. I have been very pleased with Mary, Melissa, and Danielle of letting me decide if my clients are a perfect match for me and them. I am pleased that I chose this company. Jim is doing a very good job of hiring a amazing staff in the office to work with. Thanks to all!”

Vicki B.
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TESTIMONIALS

“Absolutely the best staff. They come to the house for 4 hours to take care of my dad and are so friendly. My dad loves the attention. Thanks so much for seeing to the needs of dad.”

Tom J.
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TESTIMONIALS

“My mom and her husband are 80 and 92 years old. They’ve both had Covid, pneumonia, and heart issues among many other things. Always Best Care sent out a caregiver named Pat. Pat is incredible! She cooks homemade meals for them, grocery shops for them, goes to the post office, bank, and anywhere else they need, helps with showers, takes them to church, and visits them when they have to go to the hospital or nursing home. Pat truly cares about them! It’s such a blessing to have a caregiver who really cares! They love her and she loves them! Pat is truly amazing and we are so grateful that Always Best Home Care sent her to our family!”

Lu A.
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TESTIMONIALS

“It is a privilege to serve this company's clients and staff. I am impressed every day by the lengths that all will go to to make sure people's needs are met.”

Mary S.
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TESTIMONIALS

“ABC Asheville was always prompt and responsive to our family needs. Mary was thoughtful and efficient in all communications.”

Joel A.
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TESTIMONIALS

“Always Best Care has helped me grow so much as a person and it is truly the best company I have ever worked for.”

Melisa L.
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TESTIMONIALS

“Great home care agency who really cares about their clients. Highly recommended.”

Nate R.
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TESTIMONIALS

“I wanted to say thank you to all the ladies that helped look after Mom. I'm so appreciative. And thank you for all the times you helped me over the phone. I surely am thankful for your services!”

Becky C.
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TESTIMONIALS

“I've been a business peer of Jim Smeaton's at Always Best Care Senior Serivces for several years. Jim is one of my favorite leaders in the local buiness community. This is because of his ethical and service-oriented mindset. I have seen first hand that Always Best Care, who specialize in providing personalized, in-home care for seniors, is the best way to keep your loved ones independent and safe in the comfort of their own home in order to maximize their quality of life. Thank you Jim & team for all you do for our community!”

Jared B.
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TESTIMONIALS

“I’ve known Jim Smeaton and his company for several years. His energetic and genuinely caring spirit inspires Always Best Care which has an excellent reputation for always providing the best home care for it's clients. If your loved one needs support in living independently at home, you can't go wrong with Always Best Care.”

Mark W.
 In-Home Care Zirconia, NC

How does In-home Senior Care in Zirconia, NC work?

Home is where the heart is. While that saying can sound a tad cliche, it's especially true for many seniors living in America. When given a choice, older adults most often prefer to grow older at home. An AARP study found that three out of four adults over the age of 50 want to stay in their homes and communities as they age. When you begin to think about why, it makes sense. Home offers a sense of security, comfort, and familiarity.

The truth is, as we age, we begin to rely on others for help. When a family is too busy or lives too far away to fulfill this role, in-home senior care is often the best solution. Home care services allow seniors to enjoy personal independence while also receiving trustworthy assistance from a trained caregiver.

At Always Best Care, we offer a comprehensive range of home care services to help seniors stay healthy while they get the help they need to remain independent. As your senior loved one ages, giving them the gift of senior care is one of the best ways to show your love, even if you live far away.

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 Senior Care Zirconia, NC

Aging in Place: The Preferred Choice for Most Seniors

While it's true that some seniors have complicated medical needs that prevent them from staying at home, aging in place is often the best arrangement for seniors and their families. With a trusted caregiver, seniors have the opportunity to live with a sense of dignity and do so as they see fit.

In-home care makes it possible for millions of seniors to age in place every year. Rather than moving to a unfamiliar assisted living community, seniors have the chance to stay at home where they feel the happiest and most comfortable.

Here are just a few of the reasons why older men and women prefer to age at home:

Comfort
Comfort

How much does a senior's home truly mean to them? A study published by the American Society on Aging found that more than half of seniors say their home's emotional value means more than how much their home is worth in monetary value. It stands to reason, that a senior's home is where they want to grow old. With the help of elderly care in Zirconia, NC, seniors don't have to age in a sterilized care facility. Instead, they can age gracefully in the place they want to be most: their home. In contrast, seniors who move to a long-term care facility must adapt to new environments, new people, and new systems that the facility implements. At this stage in life, this kind of drastic change can be more harmful than helpful.

Healthy Living
Healthy Living

Institutional care facilities like nursing homes often put large groups of people together to live in one location. On any given day, dozens of staff members and caregivers run in and out of these facilities. Being around so many new people in a relatively small living environment can be dangerous for a seniors' health and wellbeing. When you consider that thousands of seniors passed away in nursing homes during the COVID-19 pandemic, opting for in-home care is often a safer, healthier choice for seniors. Aging in place has been shown to improve seniors' quality of life, which helps boost physical health and also helps insulate them from viral and bacterial risks found in elderly living facilities.

Independence
Independence

For many seniors, the ability to live independently with assistance from a caregiver is a priceless option. With in-home care, seniors experience a higher level of independence and freedom - much more so than in other settings like an assisted living community. When a senior has the chance to age in place, they get to live life on their own terms, inside the house that they helped make into a home. More independence means more control over their personal lives, too, which leads to increased levels of fulfillment, happiness, and personal gratification. Over time, these positive feelings can manifest into a healthier, longer life.

Cost and Convenience
Cost and Convenience

More independence, a healthier life, and increased comfort are only a few benefits of aging in place. You have to take into consideration the role of cost and convenience. Simply put, it's usually easier to help seniors age in place than it is to move them into an institutional care facility. In-home care services from Always Best Care, for instance, can be less expensive than long-term solutions, which can cost upwards of six figures per year. To make matters worse, many residential care facilities are reluctant to accept long-term care insurance and other types of payment assistance.

With Always Best Care's home care services, seniors and their families have a greater level of control over their care plans. In-home care in Zirconia, NC gives seniors the chance to form a bond with a trusted caregiver and also receive unmatched care that is catered to their needs. In long-term care facilities, seniors and their loved ones have much less control over their care plan and have less of a say in who provides their care.

Empowers Seniors

Affordable Care Plans

In-home care is a valuable resource that empowers seniors to age in place on their own terms. However, a big concern for many families and their loved ones is how much in-home care costs. If you're worried that in-home care is too expensive, you may be pleasantly surprised to learn that it is one of the most affordable senior care arrangements available.

Typically, hiring an Always Best Care in-home caregiver for a few hours a week is more affordable than sending your loved one to a long-term care facility. This is true even for seniors with more complex care needs.

At Always Best Care, we will work closely with you and your family to develop a Care Plan that not only meets your care needs, but your budget requirements, too. Once we discover the level of care that you or your senior need, we develop an in-home care plan that you can afford.

In addition to our flexible care options, families should also consider the following resources to help offset potential home care costs:

Veteran's Benefits
Veteran's Benefits

Aid and Attendance benefits through military service can cover a portion of the costs associated with in-home care for veterans and their spouses.

Long-Term Care Insurance
Long-Term Care Insurance

Many senior care services like in-home care are included in long-term care insurance options. Research different long-term care solutions to find a plan that provides coverage for senior care.

Private Insurance
Private Insurance

Home care can be included as part of a senior's private insurance plan. Read over your loved one's insurance policy carefully or speak with their insurance provider to determine if in-home care is covered.

Life Insurance
Life Insurance

Depending on the life insurance plan, you may be able to apply your policy toward long-term care. You may be able to use long-term-care coverage to help pay for in-home elderly care.


Respite Care Zirconia, NC

During your Care Plan consultation with Always Best Care, your Care Coordinator will speak with you about in-home care costs and what options there may be to help meet your budget needs.

Compassionate Care. Trusted Caregivers

When you or your senior loved one needs assistance managing daily tasks at home, finding a qualified caregiver can be challenging. It takes a special kind of person to provide reliable care for your senior loved one. However, a caregiver's role involves more than meal preparation and medication reminders. Many seniors rely on their caregivers for companionship, too.

Our companion care services give seniors the chance to socialize in a safe environment and engage in activities at home. These important efforts boost morale and provide much-needed relief from repetitive daily routines. A one-on-one, engaging conversation can sharpen seniors' minds and give them something in which to be excited.

At Always Best Care, we only hire care providers that we would trust to care for our own loved ones. Our senior caregivers in Zirconia,NC understand how important it is to listen and communicate with their seniors. A seemingly small interaction, like a short hug goodbye, can make a major difference in a senior's day. Instead of battling against feelings of isolation, seniors begin to look forward to seeing their caregiver each week.

Understanding the nuances of senior care is just one of the reasons why our care providers are so great at their job.

Unlike some senior care companies, our caregivers must undergo extensive training before they work for Always Best Care. In addition, our caregivers receive ongoing training throughout the year. This training ensures that their standard of care matches up to the high standards we've come to expect. During this training, they will brush up on their communication skills, safety awareness, and symptom spotting. That way, your loved one receives the highest level of non-medical home care from day one.

 Caregivers Zirconia, NC

Taking the First Step with Always Best Care

The first step in getting quality in-home care starts with a personal consultation with an experienced Care Coordinator. This initial consultation is crucial for our team to learn more about you or your elderly loved one to discover the level of care required. Topics of this consultation typically include:

An assessment of your senior loved one

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An in-depth discussion of the needs of your senior loved one to remain in their own home

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Reviewing a detailed Care Plan that will meet your senior loved one's needs

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Our caregivers are trained to spot changes that clients exhibit, like mental and physical decline. As your trusted senior care company, we will constantly assess and update your Care Plan to meet any new emotional, intellectual, physical, and emotional needs.

If you have never considered in-home care before, we understand that you and your family may have concerns about your Care Plan and its Care Coordinator. To help give you peace of mind, know that every team member and caregiver must undergo comprehensive training before being assigned to a Care Plan.

When you're ready, we encourage you to contact your local Always Best Care representative to set up a Care Consultation. Our Care Coordinators would be happy to meet with you in person to get to know you better, discuss your needs, and help put together a personalized Care Plan specific to your needs.

Latest News in Zirconia, NC

Norfolk Southern agrees to sell 31-mile rail line for Saluda Grade Trail

FOOTHILLS–A coalition of nonprofits with plans to develop a 31-mile rail line into the Saluda Grade Trail has reached an agreement with Norfolk Southern to sell the portion of the r...

FOOTHILLS–A coalition of nonprofits with plans to develop a 31-mile rail line into the Saluda Grade Trail has reached an agreement with Norfolk Southern to sell the portion of the railroad.

The coalition has a signed agreement with the Norfolk Southern establishing the price and other terms of the future purchase.

This coalition, consisting of Conserving Carolina, PAL (Play, Advocate, Live Well) and Upstate Forever, plans to repurpose the inactive rail line as a trail that will run through Tryon, Saluda and Landrum. The Saluda Grade Trail will begin at Inman and end in Zirconia, N.C.

In South Carolina, the coalition is advocating for an $11 million investment by the state this year.

The Saluda Grade Trail is expected to be a multi-use trail. Along its route, the trail will feature rural scenery and historic landmarks.

“We’re pleased to announce this exciting progress toward the goal of a rail trail that will serve as an economic engine for our communities, provide an abundance of recreational opportunities, and improve people’s health by encouraging exercise and time in nature,” says Kieran Roe, Executive Director of Conserving Carolina.

The coalition also has begun the process of an economic impact and feasibility study that will shed light on how the trail will shape local economies and how to move forward with the project. This summer, the coalition will be reaching out to landowners and stakeholders along the trail to seek their input on the opportunities and challenges presented by the trail and approaches that will best meet the needs of the community.

In addition, the coalition is preparing a website for the Saluda Grade Trail where the public will be able to find information and ways to get involved. The website is expected to launch this spring.

“In addition to being beloved community assets, trails energize economies,” said Andrea Cooper, Executive Director of Upstate Forever. “The Saluda Grade Trail will bring new jobs and money to the area, encourage safe outdoor recreation, and improve quality of life for residents.”

Laura Ringo, Executive Director of PAL, touted the economic boost and health benefits of the Saluda Grade Trail.

“The Saluda Grade Rail Trail will be a transformative project for the region,” said Ringo. “This rail-to-trail will be a destination and provide a boost to the Spartanburg County tourism economy, especially for the cities along the route like Landrum, Campobello and Inman. During the first year that the trail is open to the community, 125,000 visitors are expected.”

Conserving Carolina is leading efforts on the North Carolina side of the trail, while PAL and Upstate Forever are leading efforts in South Carolina. To learn more, visit conservingcarolina.org/saluda-grade, palspartanburg.org/saludagradetrail, or upstateforever.org/saluda-grade.

NC apple orchard named one of nation’s best in USA Today voting

USA TODAY readers voted a North Carolina apple orchard as one of the best in the United States.The annual 10Best Readers’ Choice Awards are determined by readers’ votes. Initial selections came from travel experts choosing the top 20 nominees in a number of categories, including best art museum, best farmers market, best outdoor water park and more.As of Oct. 31, many 10Best categories are still pending, and results will be announced over the next few weeks.All categories, winners and pending winners can be f...

USA TODAY readers voted a North Carolina apple orchard as one of the best in the United States.

The annual 10Best Readers’ Choice Awards are determined by readers’ votes. Initial selections came from travel experts choosing the top 20 nominees in a number of categories, including best art museum, best farmers market, best outdoor water park and more.

As of Oct. 31, many 10Best categories are still pending, and results will be announced over the next few weeks.

All categories, winners and pending winners can be found at 10best.com/awards/travel.

Sky Top Orchard won a top-10 readers’ choice award for the best apple orchard in the United States. The orchard is located in Zirconia, just south of Flat Rock, and open for apples through the end of November.

“Less than an hour south of Asheville, North Carolina, Sky Top Orchard offers its guests the chance to celebrate fall on the mountain with a roadside stand feel and nostalgia of yesterday,” USA TODAY 10Best said.

“The cool summer nights and warm days create perfect conditions for growing over 22 varieties of apples, with the U-Pick season lasting from August through the end of October. Gala, Honeycrisp, Fuji, Red and Golden Delicious, Granny Smith and Pink Lady are just a few available varieties.”

Sky Top Orchard came in seventh place on the list. The top spot went to Milburn Orchards in Elkton, Maryland.

Zirconia is about a four-and-a-half hour drive from Raleigh.

For more on Sky Top Orchard, visit skytoporchard.com.

Beulaville: Mike’s Farm in Beulaville, North Carolina also came in ninth place for the best pumpkin patch in the United States.

Beulaville is under a two-hour drive from Raleigh. For more on Mike’s Farm, visit mikesfarmnc.com.

This story was originally published October 31, 2022, 12:53 PM.

A place called Frog Level; How I-26 changed a way of life

Times-News ColumnistDuring the Great Depression, local people could not imagine that prosperity would ever come to the mountains again. Hard times were surely here to stay. At least, that’s the way it seemed to most folks.However, Uncle Mont Jones, the Zirconia, NC, postmaster, had a different world view. He foresaw an economy so prosperous that U.S. Highway 25 would no longer be sufficient. In those days, north-bound traffic from Greenville, South Carolina, came through Tuxedo and Zirconia.It contin...

Times-News Columnist

During the Great Depression, local people could not imagine that prosperity would ever come to the mountains again. Hard times were surely here to stay. At least, that’s the way it seemed to most folks.

However, Uncle Mont Jones, the Zirconia, NC, postmaster, had a different world view. He foresaw an economy so prosperous that U.S. Highway 25 would no longer be sufficient. In those days, north-bound traffic from Greenville, South Carolina, came through Tuxedo and Zirconia.

It continued to Flat Rock and downtown Hendersonville on the way to Asheville. Uncle Mont predicted a time when thousands of daily vehicles would overwhelm the existing two-lane highway.

He told people he’d been figuring how the government could possibly manage to get a big, wide highway through the small, Tuxedo community. The only way he could see it happening would be to bring the new road from the east.

That meant it would pave over the area locally known as Frog Level and continue across the forested mountain above Tuxedo to South Carolina.

Then traffic from Atlanta could be connected through Greenville into Asheville, toward Tennessee to the north and west, and into Winston-Salem, Durham, and Raleigh to the east.

Such an idea was so ludicrous that folks laughed in his face.

They tried to point out that after the summer residents left, only an occasional car or truck used the two-lane highway. Most country people walked everywhere they went and couldn’t afford to drive, even if they’d bought a car before the Great Depression.

In this era of “Hoover Buggies” country folk sometimes hitched mules to their Model-A Fords. This made a statement about their opinion of the economy — and provided a creative and quite comfortable mode of transportation.

But Uncle Mont was undeterred by their derision, their laughter, or their guffaws. He admitted the new road probably wouldn’t happen during his lifetime, but said, “Mark my words, the widest highway anybody’s ever seen will come from the east and go right through Frog Level.”

He was correct on all counts. After World War II, the economy did recover with unheard-of prosperity. Although Uncle Mont passed away in 1952, his ideas were on target.

Today, traffic swarms the wide I-26 connecting highway — that came from the east. Thousands of cars and trucks from Atlanta and Greenville travel a new road on the mountain above Tuxedo. Then, they cross tall bridges constructed over the area formerly known as Frog Level.

Transport trucks, tourist cars, as well as local vehicles, drive on four lanes to Asheville, toward Tennessee to the north and west, and into Winston-Salem, Durham, and Raleigh to the east.

The Frog Level tourist shops on two-lane U.S. Highway 25 have given way to an astounding level of growth. And Uncle Mont knew it before anyone else.

Even he might consider 21st century highway expansion amazing. Construction is now under way to widen I-26 between Hendersonville and Asheville to six lanes.

Projected for completion in 2024, the years-long project will ease the almost daily traffic backups experienced by trucks, commuters, and tourists.

Times have certainly changed from the days of the Great Depression when only a few vehicles used the two-lane U.S. Highway 25.

It is likely Uncle Mont determined the exact route for the I-26 connector, not only because he was a really smart person, but because he’d picked blackberries on those mountains as a child. In the late 1800s, folks lived on farms, and he would have spent time in the forests hunting and gathering wild foods.

Uncle Mont understood the lay of the land in the Zirconia and Tuxedo communities and could logically comprehend where a future road might be constructed.

Having served as the local postmaster since 1909, he regularly received mail bags that had been processed in places like Atlanta and Greensboro. So, he understood the wide connecting network of railroads and highways in other cities and states.

He could envision a time when Henderson County would eventually link up with some of those roads. While other folks’ imaginations had been immobilized by the very real fears of the Great Depression, his vision for the future never wavered.

Think about old-time visionaries you may have known, who also foresaw great changes that eventually came to pass.

Frog Level, the area Uncle Mont predicted would be acquisitioned for the new road, was a real place. In fact, there was a plausible reason for the comical nickname. A gurgling creek flowed beside U.S. Highway 25 through the narrow valley between Tuxedo and Zirconia.

When numerous frogs hopped onto the pavement, pickup trucks and “tourister” cars smashed scores of them: Squish! Splat! Crunch! So, the locals jokingly called the area Frog Level.

The humorous, unofficial name became so commonly accepted that older Henderson County residents still remember it.

Despite the unsavory label, Frog Level was quite a charming place, especially when it blossomed with tourist businesses every summer. During my childhood, in the late 1940s and early 1950s, beach travelers returning to northern states like Michigan and Ohio preferred the well-known U.S. Highway 25.

Before interstate highways, that two-lane road was one of the best routes from the south to the north, and local entrepreneurs looked forward to busy summers.

Competing shops on both sides of the highway displayed multi-colored chenille bedspreads on long clotheslines. Red, yellow, purple, orange, blue or pink flower patterns were interwoven with bright-green leaf designs.

Summer breezes floating down the valley danced and frolicked with the bedspreads, charming tourists as they drove around the Lake Summit curve.

They admired long outside tables loaded with fresh peaches, watermelons, cantaloupes, tomatoes, squash, and green peppers.

Displays of Native American dolls and bow-and-arrow sets were enticing to children — especially when one enterprising shop owner (wearing bright feathered regalia) war-whooped through the parking lot and posed for “Indian” pictures.

For snacks, each shop featured glass-bottled Coca-Colas, Lance peanuts, R.C. Colas, moon pies and candy bars. Dozens of triangular-shaped felt pennants, emblazoned with red or blue Great Smoky Mountains logos, brightened the pine-paneled shop walls.

Out front, multi-colored pinwheels on sticks whirled in the wind with the bedspreads, enhancing the roadside appeal. In this cacophony of sight, sound, and color, dozens of cement chickens, ducks, and deer stood at attention facing the highway.

Yard art was popular, but if tourists didn’t want to overload their cars, they could opt for scenic postcards or “genuine” corncob pipes.

Unfortunately, Frog Level’s color tourist shops disappeared when the I-26 connecting artery came through the valley. Admittedly, I enjoy driving on the new highway, but I always imagine dozens of flowery, old-fashioned chenille bedspreads blowing in the breezes — when I venture off the modern freeway onto the old-two-lane road.

Those locally owned fruit stands were flamboyant, unique to the area, and were limited only to the imagination of the proprietors (who sometimes dressed as Indian chiefs). To appeal to homefolks, they did a brisk business selling watermelons, cantaloupes, and peaches. Locals enjoyed stopping for a Coke, visiting, and sharing the latest tall tales. Before interstate highways with look-alike franchises at every exit, these individual roadside stores flourished.

Owners competed to display the latest varieties of souvenirs, the largest selection of cement statuary animals, and the longest clotheslines of chenille bedspreads in loud, bright colors to attract vacationers’ attention.

Think about tourist shops you may have enjoyed on road trips years ago and recall unique, eye-catching items exhibited for sale beside those two-lane highways.

Janie Mae Jones McKinely's new book, "The Legacy of Bear Mountain, Volume 2," (340 pages) is available in Hendersonville at the Historic Court House Gift Shop, The Curb Market, Henderson County Genealogical & Historical Society, M. A. Pace General Store (Saluda) and at Amazon.com. Over three years of her Back in the Day newspaper columns are included, along with new stories of Granny’s life on Bear Mountain.

Saluda Grade Trail in NC gets $250,000 pledge from Polk County Community Foundation

SALUDA, N.C. (WLOS) — A plan to turn a mountain railroad line into a recreational trail has received a big financial pledge.Saluda Grade Trail in NC gets $250,000 pledge from Polk County Community FoundationThe Polk County Community Foundation has pledged a $250,000 grant toward the Saluda Grade Trail — the first major grant toward purchase of the rail corridor and trail development in North Carolina.A coalition of three nonprofits — Conserving Carolina, PAL: Play, Advocate, Live Well and Upstate Foreve...

SALUDA, N.C. (WLOS) — A plan to turn a mountain railroad line into a recreational trail has received a big financial pledge.

Saluda Grade Trail in NC gets $250,000 pledge from Polk County Community Foundation

The Polk County Community Foundation has pledged a $250,000 grant toward the Saluda Grade Trail — the first major grant toward purchase of the rail corridor and trail development in North Carolina.

A coalition of three nonprofits — Conserving Carolina, PAL: Play, Advocate, Live Well and Upstate Forever — are in negotiations to purchase the historic Saluda Grade for a 31-mile rail trail.

While the South Carolina legislature has appropriated funding toward the trail in that state, this grant is the first major step toward funding land acquisition, trail development and related costs on the North Carolina side.

NONPROFITS SEEK TO TURN SALUDA GRADE RAILROAD LINE INTO 31-MILE RAILS-TO-TRAILS PROJECT

The Saluda Grade Trail would begin in Inman, South Carolina (north of Spartanburg), and pass through Campobello, Landrum, Tryon and Saluda before reaching Zirconia, North Carolina (south of Hendersonville.) The route features scenic rural landscapes, small towns, historic landmarks, unique nature preserves, lakes and waterfalls.

Like other popular rail trails such as the Virginia Creeper Trail and Swamp Rabbit Trail, the Saluda Grade Trail would be a dramatic win-win for local communities. Among its numerous benefits, it would strengthen the local economy, expand opportunities for outdoor recreation and improve public health.

VOLUNTEERS CLEAN UP VIRGINIA CREEPER TRAIL

“The mission of the Polk County Community Foundation is to improve the quality of life for all of our citizens, and we believe this project will do just that, for generations," foundation board chairman Sherry Carter said in a news release. "Our board voted unanimously to support the trail, which has game-changing potential for building a stronger, healthier, more connected community.”

Conserving Carolina’s executive director Kieran Roe said the foundation's financial contribution is a testament to the value the trail will provide the local community.

PROPERTY OWNERS ALONG PROPOSED ECUSTA TRAIL ARE PART OF LAWSUIT AGAINST FEDERAL GOVERNMENT

The proposed route includes about 16 miles in South Carolina and 15 miles in North Carolina. Donations toward the North Carolina section of the trail can be made through Conserving Carolina.

More information about the trail can be found here.

Saluda Grade Trail would be ‘extraordinary recreational amenity’ for region, says Conserving Carolina

The Saluda Grade Trail project, a 31-mile stretch between South Carolina and North Carolina, would be an “extraordinary recreational amenity” for the region, according to the executive director of Conserving Carolina, one of three nonprofits planning to purchase the inactive Saluda Grade railroad corridor.The three nonprofits working together to purchase the rail corridor are Conserving Carolina, PAL: Play, Advocate, Live Well (PAL) and Upstate Forever. These nonprofit partners have made an offer to Norfolk ...

The Saluda Grade Trail project, a 31-mile stretch between South Carolina and North Carolina, would be an “extraordinary recreational amenity” for the region, according to the executive director of Conserving Carolina, one of three nonprofits planning to purchase the inactive Saluda Grade railroad corridor.

The three nonprofits working together to purchase the rail corridor are Conserving Carolina, PAL: Play, Advocate, Live Well (PAL) and Upstate Forever. These nonprofit partners have made an offer to Norfolk Southern, which owns the rail corridor, according to a news release from Conserving Carolina. Negotiations are ongoing. The recently passed South Carolina budget contains a $5 million appropriation to support the purchase of the corridor.

“Saluda Grade Trail will be an extraordinary recreational amenity for the residents of our region and could become a hub for a burgeoning network of connecting parks, trails and greenways across several counties,” said Kieran Roe, executive director of Conserving Carolina. “The trail will also help preserve and promote awareness of the remarkable history of the Saluda Grade railroad, a 19th-century engineering marvel that was key to the growth and development of this part of the Carolinas.”

The Saluda Grade rail trail would run from Inman, South Carolina to Zirconia, North Carolina, with approximately 16 miles of the trail in South Carolina, and the other 15 miles located in North Carolina.

The route includes “dramatic scenery along the Blue Ridge Escarpment and passes through historic downtowns in Saluda, Tryon, Landrum, and Inman,” according to Conserving Carolina. When active from 1878 to 2001, the line was renowned as the steepest standard gauge mainline railroad ever built in the United States.

Conserving Carolina compared the trail to the popular Prisma Health Swamp Rabbit Trail or Virginia Creeper Trail, and said the rail trail would “spur economic growth while providing new opportunities for outdoor recreation.”

Laura Ringo, executive director of PAL, told the Spartanburg Herald-Journal that the first step is to negotiate a purchase from Norfolk Southern. The rail company will then need to go through an abandonment process with the U.S. Surface Transportation Board, she said.

After that, the nonprofits will work with engineers to plan the removal of old rails into construction of trails, according to the Herald-Journal. The construction phase will require fundraising and the project could be finished in roughly five years, Ringo said.

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