By J.D. Dooley
Where: Iron Horse Motorcycle Lodge
Location: Stecoah, NC
Price: Camping $15, Bunk $25, Semi Private Room $75.95, Private Room $89.95
The Iron Horse Lodge
The Iron Horse Motorcycle Lodge in Stecoah, NC is perfectly situated amongst some of the best riding there is. The lodge is only a short distance from the Tail of the Dragon and the Cherohala Skyway, not to mention Fontana Lake, the southern terminus of the Blue Ridge Parkway, the Great Smoky Mountains National Park as well as hundreds and hundreds of miles of paved and unpaved motorcycle nirvana.
Tucked away on 39 secluded acres the Iron horse offers camping, rooms and cabins with weekend dining.
The dining hall offers dinner on Friday and Saturday evenings. Last weekend Friday evening’s choices were the pulled pork plate, beef brisket plate or BBQ chicken plate each of which included your choice of collard greens; baked beans; baked potato casserole or broccoli cheese casserole all for $8.95.
On Saturday they took it up a notch with the choice of either prime rib ($15.99) or Salmon ($12.95) both of which included salad bar, baked regular or sweet potato and a dinner roll. Make sure that you reserve dinner ahead of your stay. They take walk ups but on a first come first serve basis.
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By J.D. Dooley
Where: US 321 Blowing Rock, NC
Address: 8146 Valley Blvd, Blowing Rock, NC 28605
Price: Lunch from $7.95 Dinner from $9.95
Just off the Blue Ridge Parkway, Sledgehammer Charlie’s, locally owned and operated by Chase Luddeke and his father Chuck, is one of the newest offerings in Blowing Rock, NC. If you enjoy fresh smoked brisket or pulled pork barbeque, delicious custom burgers or huge burritos you have to give Sledgehammer Charlie’s a try.
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Pipestem Resort State Park
By J.D. Dooley
Where: Pipestem Resort State Park, WV
Location: Near Athens WV
Price: $87 (Standard Room) – $182 per night (Executive Suite)
The entrance to Pipestem Resort State Park.
Pipestem Resort State Park near Athens, WV is known as the “Crown Jewel of West Virginia State Parks.” I remember visiting this park as a child and thinking then that it would be a great place revisit. It never occurred to me that it would be 30 some years later and on a motorcycle, not a Ford Fairlane.
There are a number of way to get to Pipestem Resort from Boone, NC. The fastest, about three hours door to door, would be to make your way to I 77 north to Princeton, WV, then 14 miles north to the park for a total of 150 miles. But that’s not how we roll.
Instead, a more inspiring ride is to take Hwy 194 through Todd to West Jefferson, then US 221 to Independence, VA (60 miles). Where you can pickup US 21 north to Wytheville, VA which includes crossing the Jefferson National Forest (30/90 miles). In Wytheville take US 52 north back into the Jefferson National Forest. After 10 very scenic miles you will come to the Big Walker Mountain Lookout (10/97 miles). …
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