Southern Documentary Journal

Debbie -Young - Savior of the Good Stuff ........ I met Bill and Judy through Young Mountain Music. My cousin, Dale Young, played the first year the Orchard was open, and I played a little; I just loved it from the start! Back then our band was called Hit or Miss, and we were the first band the Orchard hired. Now our band is called True Blue and we play several times a season at the Orchard. I’ve been coming to the Orchard since I was a little girl. My grandmother was Dolly Vance, who lived in North Cove at the time of the flood of 1916 and Bill tells her story on most of the hayrides. She was five years old when the flood happened. My grandmother used to take me riding on the Parkway on Sundays and we’d always go by the Orchard. My grandmother is one of the strongest people I have ever known. She’s my hero and Bill telling her story helps keep her alive. Being at the Orchard is like being at home. The people here feel like family. Bill and Judy have been so good to us. Judy and I have worked on many projects together and grew close through it. There’s nothing I wouldn’t do for them!

Calvin Hall - Savior of the Good Stuff ........ I’ve been here all my life. My father did hard labor for fifty-five years for the Orchard when it was still a commercial operation. I was in and out over here during that time. My dad lived to be ninety-six and never owned an automobile. He worked with mules to pull machines that were used at the Orchard during that time. I’ve got the motor of the old hit and miss machine he used. I collect old motors and such and there was a ring that goes on top of a gas pump that was just sitting around at the Orchard, when Bill first took it over. I went by and asked Bill how much he wanted for it. He said I could just take it. That’s the kind of people Bill and Judy are, but I give him something for it. I just couldn’t take it for nothing even though Bill kept insisting. Besides old motors and machinery, I love to dance! I do just about every kind of dance - waltz, clogging, two stepping… and I’d be on the floor for every song. I’ve got trouble with my bones now, but I still love to hear music and watch the dancing!

Sherry Lovett - Savior of the Good Stuff ........ Bill Carson (Founder and CEO Emeritus) asked me to come to the Orchard to tell stories because that is what I do. That was an easy “yes”, then he asked me to dance – and I have been dancing with Bill ever since. I didn’t know any of these mountain dance steps but to have Bill twirl and lead me all around made my heart sing. The Orchard's attributes and values are identical to mine. The conservation initiative to protect this place and its respect for the natural world with its monarch butterfly stewardship program are so important to me. I feel at home when I come here and the “from here’s” and “not from here’s” are at home as soon as they arrive, too. I can see it in their faces.

Jim Harllee - Savior of the Good Stuff ........ We traveled along the Parkway all the time and we saw this place and for a while I said, “no, I don’t want to stop there. It’s touristy.” About seven years ago, we finally stopped in anyway. We saw the band playing and everyone dancing, and we loved it right away. We sat behind Bill that day, and right away, he just adopted us, made us feel like we were family. The people who come to the Orchard make this place. We love the people we have met here: people from all walks of life, people we would never have met if it weren’t for the Orchard. All of us who come here bond over the music and dancing. And we think so highly of Bill and Judy and the mission of the Orchard to preserve the mountain tradition - the music, stories, history, crafts, and the land.

Jo Ann Harllee - Savior of the Good Stuff ........ My husband, Jim, and I used to keep a motorhome at Linville and one day riding along the Blue Ridge we saw the Orchard and stopped in. That was about six years ago. Jim and I love to dance and we did all kinds of dancing, but when we stepped into the Orchard my mouth flew open. I’d never seen people dancing like this, a style called flat footing, and I thought, “I gotta learn this!” I took some lessons, bought a DVD, a board, and cornmeal and practiced for a year. I felt unsure and a little nervous when I finally got on the dance floor at the Orchard, but I did it. Right away Bell said, “You’re a great dancer!” Everyone at the Orchard is like that; they just make you feel right at home, welcome, and at ease. The orchard is like that old TV show, Cheers, where they sing “everybody knows your name.” It’s like that here, and I have so many friends from all walks of life, people I would never have met otherwise. A defining moment for me was when Turtle had a heart attack at the Orchard. Dollar Brothers band was playing and on the last song she just suddenly sat down and then slumped over. She looked so gray. Jim and two other nurses who were there did CPR for a long time waiting for the ambulance to arrive. When Turtle came back to the Orchard a little over a month later we all cried with joy to see her. The Orchard didn’t have a defibrillator, and I decided after that they really needed one, so I started raising money, and we got one. Now I’m on the board, I’m a dance instructor, and I make announcements.

Beth Hilton - Savior of the Good Stuff ........ I found out about the Orchard through a family member and became a volunteer, and then, eventually, was hired as the Executive Director. When I left that position, I continued to stay involved and later became a board member, eventually becoming chairman of the board. Now, I am the acting Executive Director. The thing that drew me to the Orchard and continues to be what I value most is the preservation of the place - the mountain, the apples, the history and the music - for families to come and enjoy for generations. The Mission of the Orchard is what I love! What families get to experience here is a big deal. Whenever I get to talk to people about this place, about the history of the Overmountain Men and the way this place is being preserved to keep the “Good Stuff” alive, it makes me cry; it just chokes me up to be a part of something I feel is so important.

Marty Wise - Savior of the Good Stuff ........ I’ve been working at the Orchard about four years driving the tractor for the hayride. I was born and raised here, and I’ve always known about the orchard. My neighbor worked out here when I was a boy. He was a Biddix. He used to ride his bicycle to work. It was the Holstein orchard then, and it looks basically the same as it did back then. My favorite things about this place are the views and the people I work with. I also play music with a couple of bands that play out here: South Bound and Home Grown. Other than working here and playing music, I’ve always liked just being here and there’s one story I’ll always remember. You know we’ve got a lot of black bears around here. Back in ‘07 I was laid off work, and I’d park by the Parkway overpass and walk the gravel road. One day I was doing that, and I just grabbed me a fallen limb to use as a walking stick. About then, I happened to look up the hill toward the Parkway, and there was a black bear looking back at me. It was so close it scared me. We just watched each other, and then I started walking backwards so I could keep an eye on it. That bear watched me for a long time, and then he finally rambled up the mountain, and I went on my way too.

Ray Hollifield -Savior of the Good Stuff ........ I grew up in Turkey Cove, which is pretty close by. As a young boy, we’d get apples here too and my grandpa, he’d keep his apples in a cellar. The Orchard still looks pretty much the same except they don’t have the big conveyors for processing the apples. We love the dancing and the people and especially Bill and Judy. Bill is so funny making his announcements; he always makes us laugh.

Patty Hollifield - Savior of the Good Stuff ........ I grew up in North Cove at the foot of the mountain, and I used to come with my daddy every fall to pick apples at the Orchard. It was the Holstein orchard then. Those apples would last us all winter. Roy and I met at North Cove School, and we both went to Appalachian State University. We’ve been coming to the Orchard for about fifteen years. I think I read about it in the McDowell News. We love music and dancing. We had been taking ballroom dance lessons in Ashevillie for years, and when we saw the dancing here, we knew it was the place for us! We only live about fifteen minutes away, so it’s a lot closer, but what we like best about it, is the people. The people here are down-to-earth, friendly, and welcoming. This is my happy place! Everybody has a good time, and it brings all kinds of different people together. Bill is so outgoing. He makes everyone feel welcome; he treats everybody the same.

Belle Canipe - Savior of the Good Stuff ........ I’m a clogger from birth, and I’ve been coming to the Orchard for at least twenty years. I was born in Spruce Pine, but moved away to Charlotte and was there for a long time. I taught Sunday school and didn’t dance during that time because it was frowned upon. When my husband died of pancreatic cancer, I decided to move back to the mountains and found my dancing shoes, which I put to good use at the Orchard! I only live about five minutes away, so when the Orchard is open you’ll find me here. This place has been a great comfort and support to me, a real God-send. I feel more fellowship here than anywhere else. I especially love Bill and Judy Carson, who have always made me feel like family; I love everyone I’ve met at the Orchard! The music, dancing, encouragement, and fellowship make this a place like no other!

"Turtle" Whiteheart - Savior of the Good Stuff ........ I am a “California hippie” who ended up at the Orchard in 2014 after my friend, Debbie Young, told me to come see her play music here. At the time I was feeling down and dancing always lifted my spirits, but I really wanted a place where I could dance during the day. I found out when I went to see Debbie, that the Orchard is open between 1:00 and 5:00 and the dancing is non-stop. When I got there, I never looked back! My friends at the Orchard know me as Turtle, a dancing Turtle! I am happy because when I smile, my Orchard friends smile back at me. I have been a regular since that first visit and I feel a special connection with my new friends, especially Bill and Judy Carson. This community surrounded me the day I had a heart attack at the Orchard. I was unconscious and Jim, an integral member of the Orchard, performed CPR on me for 25 minutes. Finally, the ambulance arrived; it had been delayed because of an accident. The whole time everyone stayed, praying for and watching over me. My heart had to be restarted, and I was taken to the Spruce Pine emergency room and immediately helicoptered to Asheville. While I was in the hospital, I received a card signed by everyone, including the musicians, who had been there that day. When I opened the card, my heart overflowed with love! My heart attack happened on July 15, and I was back at the orchard on August 27; I came in a wheelchair just so everyone could see that I was okay. By November I was able to dance briefly with Bill, and one year later, I was mostly recovered and back on the dance floor. The Orchard helped me get well and to this day you will find me most weekends dancing at the Orchard with friends who feel like family. The sincere smiles that return my own are imprinted on my heart, which they helped heal!

Elaine Tangman - Savior of the Good Stuff ........ I was at the Marion Depot Station (the old train station), when I heard people talking about the Orchard. I had recently started learning how to clog and someone said, “You should go!” The truth is, I have always loved dancing and have been dancing since I was a little girl. Rhythm and timing seem to come naturally to me, so when I first started learning to clog people would say, “you’ve only been doing this a couple of weeks?!” I eventually switched from clogging to flat footing, which is a little slower, you don’t raise your feet so high, and it’s not as stressful on my knees. The Orchard is the perfect place for me because I can dance till my heart’s content with people who feel like family. It doesn’t matter what dance steps you decide to do, or where you come from, or how much money you have or don’t have; you are accepted for who you are, and all are welcome! I have brought my grandson here and taught him how to dance. I’ve also brought my dogs who are always welcome. This place is full of good clean fun and so many joyful memories that it’s impossible to pick out just one. When I turn into the Orchard driveway, it just feels like I’m home.

Denise Hoebeke - Savior of the Good Stuff ........ My husband and I camped along the Blue Ridge for 36 years. About 15 years ago, we discovered the Orchard while living in Florida. Right away I felt at ease with the people, enjoyed the music, and loved watching the dancing. I really wanted to dance but didn’t have the courage. I always avoided Bill’s eyes because I knew he’d get me on the dance floor. Finally, my desire to dance won out, and Bill helped me have the courage to get out there and have fun. Now, in honor of the gift he gave me, I organize dance lessons at the Orchard because I want to perpetuate what Bill Carson does - the way he invites people to celebrate life, have fun, and make friends: the good stuff! I love the way people are so willing to share at the Orchard. In fact, the thing I love most is the people, and Bill and Judy top the list.

Bernie Burleson - Savior of the Good Stuff ........ Debbie Young told me about the Orchard, and I stopped in to ask about playing music. That was 24 years ago, and I’ve been playing music at the Orchard ever since. I play bass, and I have played with Avery County Ramblers, Hit or Miss, and now with True Blue. We play mountain music, and right from the start, Bill and Judy focused on true mountain music. Judy used to do all the music bookings and she wanted to showcase the people of this area. She would call me and say, “Bernie, we need some good bands. Who do you recommend?” It tickles me for this place to be preserved and the fact that Bill and Judy were outsiders who came to this area and took on taking care of this place shows a lot of heart! What Bill and Judy have done here is really something! I have met so many people from all walks of life, and I have made so many friends here. This place feels like home! One example of how special this place is, is when, Gerald, a fellow musician was diagnosed with cancer. It was real bad, and I knew he was going to need some help financially, so I went to Bill and Judy and asked if we could do a benefit at the Orchard for him. They wanted to, but the Orchard was being remodeled and needed lots of work, so I pitched in along with other folks, and we got it in shape in time to have the benefit in April before the Orchard was even open. The turnout of the Orchard community was tremendous. That benefit raised lots of money for Gerald and was a big help. People helping people is what mountain people do and that’s what happened at the Orchard. I’ll tell you, no matter what we give back to Bill and Judy, it can’t compare to what they have given us through the Orchard!

Sandy Porter - Savior of the Good Stuff ........ About three years ago, I was asked to come help out at the grill. I hadn’t worked at a grill since I was a young girl working at the Lazy L Burger Hut, and I thought it would be fun to do something like that again. The beauty of the Orchard strikes me everytime I come to work. I’ll stop at the Orchard overlook on the Parkway and say a prayer of gratitude. I feel so close to God here; it is so peaceful and beautiful. It takes me 50 minutes to get here from the Cat Tail Creek area, but it is worth it! I love Bill and Judy and they both make me feel at home here, and I want to make them proud and live up to all that Bill is trying to create here. Our little grill is small, but we strive for the food to taste big! I always tell people this is the best food, and I get a special thrill when people come back to the window and say, “you know what, this was the best burger I have ever had!” I always encourage people to see everything at the Orchard - walk the trails, pick apples, take the hayride… Just soak in the beautiful views!

Terry McKinney - Savior of the Good Stuff ........ The orchard has been a part of my life since I was born. You see, my great, great, grandfather is Charlie Mckinney, the man who, back in the 1800s, owned all the land where the orchard is. My older brothers worked mowing there, my mother worked in the packing house, and I went there as a kid. My brother, Jack, and our cousin, Buddy played music, and I played too; I’ve been playing music all my life. My brother loved to go visit the orchard and the family cemetery on the gap, and one day he stopped in and talked to Bill about playing music there. Buddy and Jack were the first band to play, and they kept encouraging me to come. I started playing with my brother and also by myself; my band is called the Heritage Band because I want to keep the old country music, like Johnny Cash and Hank Williams, alive. I used to play every Friday and every fourth Saturday, and me and my wife did numerous special programs. I was also one of the first board members. I’d have to say, Judy Carson is one reason I love the Orchard so much. Judy is such a wonderful person and she managed the music for a long time. We became friends very quickly! Judy used to dress as Minnie Pearl from Hee Haw and join our act sometimes. People loved it! Bill Carson’s storytelling is another reason. As I mentioned, this land goes back to my great, great grandfather, Charlie Mckinney and for a while he had sort of a bad reputation and the family was embarrassed by it. Uncle Jake Carpenter wrote - He was a good man, and I knew him. Thanks to Bill’s storytelling, people have come to know about Charlie in a whole new way, they’ve come to know he was a good man, and now the family is proud to be related to him. Bill has made a household name out of Charlie Mckinney! Something I’m especially proud of is that my wife and Judy and her sister Margaret and I worked on a book using records Clinchfield railroad gave to ETSU Archives. When we’d learned about families with connections to the Orchard, I’d go by and ask them if we could borrow pictures. We went to their houses and did interviews, and we took all of the information and made a book called Altapass. Bill said the proceeds from the book that year helped the Orchard survive the season. You see, the trees didn’t produce due to the weather, so the book turned out to be the financial backbone of that season. The Orchard is just a wonderful family place. People who don’t know each other get to know each other; we have made hundreds of friends. And everyone ends up feeling at home, and truly, for me, it is home.

Bill Carson - Savior of the Good Stuff ........ There are two experiences that have come together in my mind that perfectly express the feeling of the Orchard. One is a time I needed a survey in order to finish the paperwork on buying our house. The mother of the surveyors, who were not around at the time, was helping me look for my survey in their office, but we couldn’t put our hands on it. I expressed, in my best IBM voice, the importance of me getting the survey, once, twice, three times, and that was one time too many. Finally, the elder woman looked right at me and said, “If’n they said they’d do it, they will, but time don’t hurry them none.” I learned Mountain Tradition values personal use of time as a higher value than simply using it to make money. Now, hold on to that, and let me tell you about the second experience. I was at a conference for IBM managers and there was a fella explaining a study he had done about why some IBM middle management people weren’t being productive, in fact, it was as though they were retired without actually leaving the job, if you know what I mean. What he went on to explain is that there is something called a peak experience, which these employees were not having. When someone is having a peak experience, time flies; when you think back on it, you remember the good parts and exaggerate them, and you make time in your schedule to have the experience again. Think about someone who loves to golf or fish and you get the idea. Or think about the Orchard experience. Patrons are often totally involved, not being hurried by other priorities.They are in the eternal present moment giving total attention to picking apples, swapping stories with new and old friends, singing along or dancing with the familiar music, absorbed in the beauty and solitude of the mountains. As a result, time flies imagining how all of this came to be, appreciating the preservation of traditions and the land all around them. They tell the tales about the fun they had and the friends they made, and they make plans to come back again soon to a place where problems are forgotten and lives are changed: a peak experience. I carry a multitude of stories in my heart about the magic of this place. It has been my peak experience for the last twenty five years. Time don’t hurry me none at the Orchard, and the magic will continue because the land is protected and the beauty of the mountains, the family reunion feel of the music, and the delight of the history will keep people coming back again and again. Saving the Good Stuff!

Judy Carson - Savior of the Good Stuff ........ I love the Orchard! I arranged a bunch of music. I love the music and the musicians! Sometimes I’d get in on the act by playing Minnie Pearl. I’d give a big, “howdeee!” It was fun! *Judy Carson has Alzehimer’s and five years ago she had to give up scheduling the music and creating the posters. She still comes to the Orchard and sings every word to the songs she loves and she and Bill still dance. The musicians and everyone at the Orchard have a deep affection for her. Bill says she was the best at scheduling music because, “she’s so sweet everyone was agreeable to whatever she asked.” He also says, “Judy and I have been in this all the way; we’ve been in it entirely, and we have been a team without fractures.” Another big contribution Judy made was working with Elizabeth Hunter, who was a featured writer for the Blue Ridge Country magazine and also a monarch expert, on an experiment to see if an orchard that uses chemicals could invite and sustain butterflies. Together they created the butterfly garden, and to quote a famous movie, “if you build it, they will come,” and they did. Turns out they could thrive at the Orchard and Judy and Elizabeth worked to tag monarchs. To everyone’s delight, six monarchs tagged at the Orchard were discovered in Mexico, where they winter.

Samuel McKinney - Savior of the Good Stuff ........ I’ve just sort of always been here. Charlie Mckinney, who famously or infamously had four wives and forty-eight children and owned 1200 acres including the Orchard back in the 1800s, is my 6th great Grandfather. My family worked at the Orchard, and I was toddling around here as early as three years old. My paternal grandparents picked apples, and my great grandfather once owned the Orchard. The first time I played music at the Orchard I was eleven. I feel like it sounds selfish, but my favorite thing about the Orchard is that Kit, Bill, and Judy have preserved my family’s land, and now people from all over get to enjoy it.

Bill Bonner - Savior of the Good Stuff ........ Friends of ours told us the Orchard was a good place to visit, and we should go see if we like the music. Having owned an apple orchard in up-state New York, I thought it would be interesting to see how a North Carolina mountain orchard looks. I was amazed the first time I came; the views are spectacular! The band playing that day was an interesting act to enjoy. It was Tom Sparks and Bob Lomaninack, and they played a mixture of country music. It was good for dancing, and I like to think I am a dancer, but some might argue the point. One of the things I like best is that we have made many dear friends there over the years. And, like I say, you just can’t beat the view. I always tell Bill, if you’re having a rough day, just come out to the deck and look at the mountains; you can’t possibly have a bad, when you take in that view! There’s no doubt the Orchard is a special place to enjoy life, good people, and mountain culture!