Fancy Gap and Blue Ridge Parkway - 10/26/26

 

Monday, October 26 

  My sister wanted to go to Fancy Gap Pottery and Fabric Outlet in Virginia, so I tagged along to make it a day trip.  

  After browsing the multi buildings in that complex, we headed to the Parkway to eat lunch at The Gap Deli at the Parkway.  Next to the restaurant is Thistle and Thread, a locally owned boutique that has a garden center and gift shop.  

 

Thistle and Thread

 

 

The Gap Deli at the Parkway

I had the Foggy Gap Wrap (Ham, Turkey, Provolone, Lettuce, Tomato, Onion, Black Olives, Banana Peppers, Italian Dressing, and Mayo, in a Tomato Basil Wrap) with a side of Chicken Noodle soup.

  

 

J. had the Turkey Gone Wild wrap (Sliced Turkey, Swiss, Our Homemade Apple Cranberry Chutney, Lettuce, Tomato, Onion, Drizzled with Ranch in a Tomato Basil Wrap) with a side of Italian Summer Squash soup.

 

  After lunch we took the Parkway to the Blue Ridge Music Center, while stopping at an overlook along the way. 

 

 

You can see Pilot Mountain in the distance from this overlook.

The Blue Ridge Parkway

 

 

  The Blue Ridge Music Center is part of the National Park Service, so I got the normal cancellation stamp as well as the commemorative America 250 one for this year.  The last time I visited this center was in 2014.

 

 

 

 

There are two hiking trails on the property.  We walked the High Meadow Trail.

 

 

 

  

 

 

 

 

 

Reynolda in the Fall - 11/5/2024

Back view of the house from the Welcome Center's picture window

 

This beautiful painting, Mounts Adam and Eve by Jasper Francis Cropsey, hangs above the Library fireplace.

The Library

Floor tile in the Sun Porch

The Sun Porch and Reception Hall

Music rolls for the organ's player attachment

A guest organist plays this for special events, which includes the Friday caroling at Christmas.

The dutch doors, made to blend in with the wall, conceal the Butler's pantry from the Dining Room.

Dining Room fireplace

This is hanging in the Bulter's pantry

Panaramic view of the Breakfast Porch and the Lake Porch

Lake Breakfast Porch

Lake Porch

My favorite table in the house

           Balcony left: Sleeping porch                        Balcony right: Gentleman's guest room           

Climbing the attic stairs

Next to the main organ chamber in the attic

The current Northwest Bedroom Gallery exhibit 

 Good Impressions: Portraits Across Three Centuries from Reynolda and Wake Forest

Oil on canvas portrait of writer Jared Sparks by Thomas Sully

Oil on canvas Portrait of Lawrence Alexander Harrison, Esquire by John Singer Sargent

Worthington Whittredge in his Tenth Street Studio by Emanuel Gottlieb Leutze

Left:  Portrait of Mrs. Daniel Rogers (Elizabeth Gorham Rogers) by John Singleton Copley                                           Right:  Portrait of Elizabeth Browne Rogers (Mrs. Robert Rogers) by Joseph Blackburn     

More organ pipes are behind the tapestry

In the basement

Outside the front of the house on an overcast day

Cabin near the Gardens

The Boat House

What used to be Lake Katharine

The walking path from Reynolda Village to Wake Forest University

Foot bridge and Lake Katharine waterfall

Exploring other trails on the property

Back of the house from the Woodland Trail

The former pump house that was later used with an outdoor swimming pool.

Mary and Nancy Reynolds swimming in outdoor pool with Smith Reynolds standing to the side

(Picture from Reynolda House online estate archives)