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    The Blowing Rock

    3.1 (67 reviews)
    Closed 9:00 am - 5:00 pm

    The Blowing Rock Photos

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    Erica R.

    Definitely a tourist trap, and absolutely not worth having *any* kind of entrance fee - let alone something like $9/per person. It's a large-ish (I guess?) rock coming out from the cliff area the trail exists on. Honestly, you know what? It's not even large. I expected it would be much larger. It takes about 2 seconds to climb up and get a photo. There's a short trail on the underside of the blowing rock as well... and then there's a short trail (maybe 50 feet?) to an observation deck-type platform where you can see the mountains without much of an obstruction. There's a little turtle pond on your way back to the main building, and I think there's one other little bitty trail that leads to something that I apparently decided at the time didn't even matter - because I have no idea wtf it was. Honestly, the only reason I'm not giving this place a single star is because the walkways are nicely maintained and it's fairly friendly for children or, as I did, bringing elderly grandmother's who have a bit of trouble walking (but for some reason are themselves insistent on visiting this place). TL;DR In Blowing Rock (the town) itself and figured stopped at the Blowing Rock (the rock) was kinda an obligatory part of the visit... but my gawd, definitely a tourist trap. I wouldn't recommend it to anyone, honestly, unless you find it necessary to just check off "to visit" list for the sake of it.

    Pristine C.

    The views in my photos are pretty, but you can find that all throughout NC/Virginia, etc for FREE. This place is a tourist trap. I initially went in under the impression it was free due to what I was told by a friend (it seems like it used to be), only to find out it's now $9 to get in. $9 is not expensive, but I think it is for what you get. I finished walking the whole thing in less than 10 minutes. The gift shop is nice, but everything is overly priced. Since I wasn't impressed with the place, I didn't feel like purchasing a sweater (it was cold) that said Blowing Rock for $80. I went to Bryson City, NC a month later and it was a much better experience, with better gift shop prices.

    Vincent L.

    Don't go, it is nothing special and it cost money. Unless you just want to use their restroom .$9 per person. T shirts from this little private rock is about $33. Come on man. The family is really milking this place. It is a tourist trap. Rock formation is tiny. There is an nicely built old Indian trail by the cliff you can try. Also there is an extended overlook you can get a good view of the valley and grandfather mountain. But then you can also get the same at Wheelies or blue ridge parkway

    Entrance
    Andrew K.

    This is probably a tourist trap! It costs about $9 per person. That's a lot for what you get. There are basically no trails; all you get is to see the Blowing Rock (with a bunch of other people). The Blowing Rock is a cool historical spot, but I don't think it should cost money. Especially not $9! There are so many other cool historical things to do in the area and views to see for free. However, this might be a good choice for people with mobility issues. You can see some cool views without much hiking, which is great if that is what you are looking for!

    Valerie G.

    Staff was very friendly. The price of admission wasn't horrible for me as others are saying ($9), but I do sure with the gift shop prices. They were ridiculous. There is a little snack bar and items were not overpriced. It was great to sit and eat with s gorgeous view. Easy to get to and free parking.

    Meng H.

    The blowing rock Not much wind today. Warm and calm. What I like about this place is that everything is close. You don't have to climb a steep hill or cross a deep river. Simple. Beautiful rock! Good shop. Awesome pictures! Highly recommended

    Laura A.

    Ok, I should have read the previous reviews but hey, when in Rome right? We had a small dog with us and he loved it, mainly because it was a very short walk in the shade and there were several other dogs to meet. We were there in late September and despite it being afternoon 1:00pm, there was so much fog, we couldn't see anything from the overlook. The rock was, well a rock that I wasn't about to climb upon but apparently people do. I did enjoy reading about the legend of the blowing rock. Other than that, we weren't impressed and literally spent 20 minutes before heading back to the car $18 poorer ($9/ticket and I think seniors were $7 and children were $5). The prices in the gift shop were high in my opinion. Most of the people visiting were at the cafe/restaurant sitting outside but we didn't check it out.

    George V.

    Quick overlook attraction Blowing Rock . Pretty nice view .. short but lot steps trail with dead end and cant see anything. Food and beverages also gift shop. The view is probably better then the rocks . Worth it to go see it when u drive by but not when u have to travel to see it ..

    Blowing Rock
    Maria D.

    Save your money, some nice views but not worth the admission price. They tried to add some staircase trails around the mountain but really not much to do once you see the rock. This is not a hike, just a tourist trap.

    Shannon D.

    They offer a military discount. Huge plus! When you enter you can walk immediately to a viewing area. Blowing rock is off to the left. We had no issues with climbing and capturing photos. There are trails to go below and an additional observation deck with great panoramic views. There is a snack shop that offers ice cream and popcorn. There wasn't much else to view other than Blowing Rock (meaning actual rock) but glad we took our kiddos.

    Turtles sunning themselves
    Lee D.

    2.5 stWe resisted the hype during our last visit to the Blue Ridge Parkway but gave into it this time. I was a bit underwhelmed as I was expecting a rock off in the distance that would make for great scenic photos. But you encounter "The Blowing Rock" almost as soon as you walk out the door onto the trail. Photo worthy- yes but just not what I was expecting. The admission price of $7 ($6 for seniors plus other military and child discounts) is not totally unreasonable but almost so. Don't go if you are expecting a peaceful hike in the woods. Also, I was able to get some nice autumn photos but I could get similar photos from BRP overlooks. At other times of the year, I think I would be disappointed. You can enjoy and believe (or not) the Indian legend behind the Blowing Rock. To me, this is another case of over-commercializing natural beauty.

    North Carolina
    Sue G.

    I was looking through some of my photos of places I have been in the past and I wanted to share a place that some people may not know of in North Carolina. Blowing Rock ~ You pay a small admission to get in and you park your car and walk to see some amazing views and sights! Anyone who likes to take photos this is the place to go!! I took my Mom and Dad and we all enjoyed this place. Nothing obstructing your view as you look over at the surrounding mountain and valley of trees and just amazing views! . There is two observation decks with binocular viewers and a few paths you can walk and the actual "blowing rock" itself, along with the Native American legend behind the name. There is also a gift shop with souvenir t-shirts, mugs, calendars, postcards, all the items you expect to find to bring back home A very relaxing time you can just take your time and take a bunch of pictures! Even though it has been a few years since going here, views don't change much except maybe with season changes so this is something I would highly recommend if you are anywhere near this location, I know it was something I will not forget!

    This place was gorgeous! It was even more beautiful than I thought it would be. It was well worth the money. My husband was also able to get a military discount. There is a cute little cat that resides there and will follow you into the visitor house that has historical pics of Blowing Rock throughout the years.

    The Rock

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    3 years ago

    Not really that impressive. Same gorgeous Mountain View's from many free scenery look outs.

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    They have a cat. It is a beautiful cat. A fluffy cat. An absolutely unit Chonky baby!! 10/10 would pet again. The view was good too.

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    Page 1 of 2

    Ask the Community - The Blowing Rock

    Review Highlights - The Blowing Rock

    There is two observation decks with binocular viewers and a few paths you can walk and the actual "blowing rock" itself, along with the Native American legend behind the name.

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    Murray's Mill Historic Site

    Murray's Mill Historic Site

    4.5(6 reviews)
    43.8 mi

    Murray's Mill is easy to find from I-40. The gristmill was built in 1913 and the Murray & Minges…read morestore from the 1890s is also open. When you arrive, find a spot to park on either side of the street. Then go into the Murray & Minges General Store to pay for your self-guided tour. You will receive a binder to read through of the history and photos of the equipment and what it does. You can tour all three levels of the mill as there are stairs to the top floor and stairs to the basement. The mill used the barter system to grind wheat and corn. The water wheel is 28 foot high and 4 foot wide. the buckets on it have rusted so they are raising money for the needed repairs. The water wheel is attached by a shaft to a gear on the wall and powers everything in the mill except the lights. The mill is still operational and grinds on the 3rd Sunday of the month when it is warm enough. The stones weigh 2400 pounds and were used to cut corn and wheat. Leather belts were used and were pieced together to make them long enough. They could make 300 pounds of flour an hour which was much less than what modern mills could produce. 10 sets of pins are needed to make flour and roller mills are used to crush the wheat. Each screen has an elevator and each set basically sifts the flour to get it to where it needs to be. Making flour creates a white dust and that dust is explosive. If you are looking for a historic mill to visit this one is a great one to visit and learn how the mill operated.

    A fun historical site, preserved so well & well worth the $7. Remarkable how industrious & sharp…read morethis family was. From a time when attention to detail was valued, all the chutes are made of wood with beveled edges & beadwork because...some of it is furniture quality. Pay your way & get the 3-ring binder of pics/info & step back in time. This is the heartbeat of America. "1965-1966 - Lloyd & brother Ernest run the milling operation by themselves to cut cost. In 1966 Lloyd let Ernest go & ran the whole mill on his own. Ernest went to work for Southern Furniture. 1967 - The mill closes due to government taxing. In 1964, the federal government levied a grain tariff that heavily taxed corn & wheat. Small mills were put out of business by larger industrial mills. Lloyd Murray had been working by himself for the last year, he locked up the mill & went home for the last time. He goes to work for Pinnacle Furniture Company. 1980/81 - With help from NC Preservation Fund & Stewart Family, the Catawba County Historical Assoc. purchases Murray's Mill, the General Store, & the Wheathouse for $68,000. 1982 - John Murray dies one month shy of his 105* birthday. At the time he had 10 children, 20 grandchildren, 28 great-grandchildren, & 3 great-great-grandchildren. 1986 - Murray & Minges General Store reopens to the public. 1988, April 30 - Murray's Mill reopens to the public after a $2M restoration". That's just a taste of the recent info, go get a history lesson...wheel is still in the process of being replaced

    Photos
    Murray's Mill Historic Site - Taking a Group Shot

    Taking a Group Shot

    Murray's Mill Historic Site
    Murray's Mill Historic Site

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    Grandfather Mountain - Wilson Discovery Center

    Grandfather Mountain

    4.3(255 reviews)
    9.7 mi

    Despite the colder than expected weather and the wind, my wife and I had a great time exploring…read moreGrandfather Mountain. The park is so nicely maintained, well mark, and cleared hiking trails for all skill levels. The Wilson Center for Nature Discovery is an amazing add on with so much fun, and educational info for all ages. The Wilson center also has a cafe, offering reasonably priced "ball park" cuisine, well maintained bathrooms and a souvenir shop. Next to the Wilson Center is the Mildred The Bear Environmental Habitats where you can get up close and learn about some of the species that call this area home. Consider it a miniature zoo with habitats for some animals needing rehab. We were able to see some bears, bald eagles, river otters, and elk, OH MY! Each area had signs posted for ranger talks, which we caught for the river otters. They tell you about the animals, and and answer any questions people have. After exploring the Wilson Center and habitats, we continued our trek up on the mountain to the swing bridge, and that's when the wind really kicked in...with wind gusts, the temp dropped quickly, with a wind chill of -9degrees, but we trudged on, and made the most of it. In the end, we had a great time, and look forward to returning to explore more of the trails. Based on other reviews, some may feel that the $35 ticket price per person may be a bit much at the main entry, but it's a small cost of maintaining such an amazing resource. If you enjoy being outside, hiking, and exploring, this is a must visit NC destination

    Nice park and mountain, but $37 PER PERSON? With NO…read moresignage/pricing posted anywhere ... yikes I could understand for something like Yosemite or Yellowstone, but just a state park ...tough pill to swallow especially when it's not posted anywhere. I was planning to hike with some friends and we were going to start at one of the other lots but the roads were closed leaving us no choice but to enter the park. I really just wish the pricing/fees were posted somewhere-anywhere- because they weren't online or on the park signs out front. Had to pull up to the gate/window and even then the park ranger seemed to want to withhold that information as long as possible. The actual park is beautiful and well maintained- and you do get an audio guide plus map upon entry. But the lack of transparency here is a hard no for me. @azfitfoodfun

    Photos
    Grandfather Mountain - Exploring the Wilson Center

    Exploring the Wilson Center

    Grandfather Mountain
    Grandfather Mountain - Mile high bridge

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    Mile high bridge

    The Blowing Rock - landmarks - Updated May 2026

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