Innkeeper's Blog 2012
Hemlock Inn, Bryson City, in the Great Smoky Mountains

Owner Mort White keeps you updated! For questions or comments, email him at hemlock@dnet.net.

Read the 2011 Blog | 2010 Blog | 2009 Blog

January 28, 2012
New Year's Resolutions and Winter Views

I am not very good at making New Year's Resolutions,  and worse at keeping them, but I try to make a few every year with varying degrees of success.  I won't bother to reveal what's on my list this year except for one item.  I resolved to get out more and hike the great trails in our area.  I have been so consumed with running Hemlock Inn that I have let it run me.  I live in one of the most beautiful areas and don't take advantage of its majesty.  In addition, last year we began an "Innkeepers Hiking  Week"  in September.  It was so much fun that we are going to do it again this September and even start a weekly "Innkeeper Hike" this year.  I am committing myself to lead a hike one day every week.

So I thought it was necessary that I start now and try to hike some trails.  Surprisingly, I have been pretty successful so far and I have enjoyed it more than I ever dreamed. I started with some of the trails I already knew, but have lately begun to hike the areas I have only heard our guests speak of.  One thing I have learned is that I should have started this years ago.

Early in the winter, I went up on the mile long trail here on our property.  Now, I have lived here for 23 years, but I am still amazed at the simple yet glorious mountain views all around us.   This is more evident in the winter.  I walked up our trail to the ridge and just stopped and gazed in wonder.  All the leaves were off the trees and everywhere I looked, there was a spectacular view of the mountain ranges visible only in the winter.  It was just before dusk and I could see the early signs of sunset to my west with brilliant red and orange skies.  I would turn to the east and see the glows of purple as the shadows crept across the range.  I literally had a mountain view all along the trail except when it took me into the thickets of mountain laurel and rhododendron. 

How sad that sometimes we fail to see what is beautiful right where we live.  I try not to take it for granted.  .  I will be leading weekly hikes all year and daily hikes during "Innkeeper Hike"  week in September.  I want to see more and I want to share it with you.

If you are looking for a short get away and want to see the wonderful winter views, remember that we are open President's Day Weekend, February 17-19.  Hope to see you soon!

--Mort

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January 9, 2012
Ringing in the New

It has been a while since I have written.  We have been very fortunate to have a busy fall and holiday season.  We loved seeing many of our regular guests in the beautiful month of October while November and December have been filled with wonderful families in town to ride the Polar Express.  2011 was our best Polar season yet.  Thanks to all of you who came and made 2011 a good year for us.

Our family was  home for the holidays.  Andrew brought his fiance Jeanette Howell (they will be getting married in February in Durham), Steven brought his girlfriend, Sara Loiacono, and John Thomas was home as well.  It was a wonderfully full household and we had a great time.

We are now looking forward 2012, hoping, wishing, and praying that it will be an improvement for many of those who have been so severely affected by the economic turmoil of the last few years. I hope your families are well and that you have great plans for the new year that include a trip to Hemlock Inn. 

This is another milestone year for us.....2012 is the 60th Anniversary of Hemlock Inn.  Seth and Lorraine Haynie opened the inn on July 4, 1952.  Raymond and Georgia Johnson bought the inn from the Haynies in 1964 and my inlaws ,John and Ella Shell, from the Johnsons in 1968.  Lainey and I have been here since 1988.  We have just completed our 23rd year as innkeepers.  We are thankful to now have Chad Gilbert, our nephew, here helping us now.

We will be having some special $60 per person per night rates available throughout the year staring with two holiday weekends this winter.  We will be open January 13-15 for Martin Luther King holiday and February 17-19 for Presidents Day weekend and will offer the $60 per person rate both weekends.  There is room still available for both weekends! Look for this and other specials throughout this special year.

Another important event for us this year will be the reprinting of the Hemlock Inn cookbook, "Recipes from our Front Porch".  The cookbook will be updated, recipes and photos added, as well as  with lots of interesting sidebars on the history of the inn and of the various recipes.  Much more on this later

Let's all make 2012 a year of celebration...giving thanks for our families and friends, for the freedoms we share, for the opportunities we have been given,  even for 60 years of operation.

We hope you will celebrate with us.

Read the 2011 Blog | 2010 Blog | 2009 Blog

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Hemlock Inn
B&B Adjacent to the Great Smoky Mountains National Park
P.O. Box 2350, Galbraith Creek Rd, Bryson City, NC 28713
phone: 828-488-2885 / fax: 828-488-8985
Reservations taken from 8:00 AM until 10:00 PM EST
e-mail: hemlock@dnet.net

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