Valle Crucis, North Carolina: The Original Mast General Store of Appalachia

[@catherinemelnyk]

I'm Canadian and I took this byway back in 1999. Gorgeous scenery! The prettiest place south of the border as far as I'm concerned....❤

[@chipmunksyndrome]

I grew up in Watauga county. My grandma’s family is from a holler up in Valle Crusis. The Valle is basically said like Valley. Love seeing that area get some recognition. It’s absolutely beautiful.

[@colabear2490]

From videos to back roads to all your hot spots. Love the history of your sweet voices.

[@pvjohnson52]

The Store was awesome. And the trees were so beautiful. Thanks for sharing

[@MillerMeteor74]

Back in the 70s after my grandparents moved to North Carolina (1971) we took many trips down south. I know we stopped at the Mast General Store at least a couple of times, but I don't remember it anymore. There are probably pictures of it among my dad's slides. I'm pretty sure it wasn't painted white in those days. I loved that church and cemetery at the end. The more churches and cemeteries you show, the better. I also loved Mast Gap Road. Oh, and I believe we always pronounced the name like "valla crucis".

[@sharrontaylor4744]

This run reminds me of Flatwoods to Webster Springs , god I miss that ride !! Thanks guys 🤗

[@bonnieodea5383]

I am a new fan from Canada ,,,love your video's

[@randykey5700]

We greatly enjoyed the video! Y’all just keep rolling out great videos! We’ve been there many times to the Mast general store that’s our favorite one! I would love to see the church you showed it’s beautiful! Have a great time see ya later!

[@Shermaxphil]

Beautiful scenery, great stories. I too love outhouses. I also grew up using them when I was little. My great aunt always had one that was attached to the house by a breeze way so it was so spooky going out at night to use it. Love following you two around the countryside. Virginia is one state that is on my bucket list to visit. I have been to many other states but not the southern ones yet. I live in Canada, but, I have family all throughout the US. I look forward to your next video. Safe travels. God bless you both.

[@lawrencetaylor8064]

I grew up with an outhouse too. We didn’t go out to it at night but had chamber pots. People today have no idea of such things for the most part.

[@garyjones2582]

Nice video Shane, grab me an RC and a moon pie..lol.. thx for taking us along for the ride...

[@Eagle-zl4gz]

I loved hearing that floor squeak in the general store brought back memories

[@ramonparson7695]

I would love to have a home there my kind of place keep up the good work my two friends all my best Ramon from Athens GA.

[@billkitchin4123]

Another great Adventure. Liked the Store, we have the same mailboxes in our store in northern michigan. Once again, thanks.

[@beachbum9869]

Nice video guys. Loved it. Always enjoy the old stores. We still have a few around here in the valley. The church was beautiful. Thank you for doing what you do. Have fun, stay safe and stay healthy.

[@DChristina]

A beautiful drive, and so well narrated...thank you! 💕🌳

[@dianaoneil5469]

Great video as always. Didn’t know general stores are still in business in 2021. Sends me back to being 5-years-old and watching Petticoat Junction and Maybury on tv. Boone NC...Always make me think of the great Eric Church country singer

[@larrym.johnson9219]

Thanks Shane and Melody, appreciate the download! Maybe you have Hobbits in the woods! 😁.

[@benlaw4647]

Enjoyed this! I have family from the 1800s buried in several church cemeteries in Valle crucis....very beautiful area , the mast general store seems to always be busy....I have trout fished alot in the watauga river which runs through the valley ....thanks and God bless 🙏

[@lawrencetaylor8064]

I enjoy your drives together. It reminds me of me and my wife.

[@alvankarpas6245]

"That ain't how it goes!" Medicate and serenade that lady! Love it! My darling wife has been to the Mast general store and the Mast store in downtown Boone multiple times. She loves it. She also mentioned the Mast farm inn and old homestead, if they're still around. Haven't seen the Brown mountain lights but I have seen the Vander lights! :-D

[@d0nproffitt216]

Brought back some memories of moon pies rc colas and tootsie rolls standing next to the pot bellied stove.I bet that Church is beautiful around Christmas 🎄 people singing Christmas Carol's and maybe just maybe the dearly departed are listening 💒

[@deedrafulkerson2919]

Beautiful video! Very interesting. Thanks for Sharing!

[@lynnjacques3632]

great stores to visit! Valle Cruses and the one in downtown Boone, NC. Peaceful mountain living.

[@realappalachia]

Amen to that

[@specialk5296]

There’s great trout fishing in those streams! Mast General store is a lot of fun.

[@nicknichols3810]

Lots of interesting and cool stuff at the Mast Store. I remember an epic assortment of hard candies..but maybe that was at the Annex? Got some sourwood honey too. Also been to their stores in Boone and Asheville.

[@robinhaupt9119]

Great trip, thank you Melody and Shane! I'd love to visit that store.

[@realappalachia]

It is amazing, we hope you get the chance because it lives up to the hype

[@bruceperron3796]

My wife and i ride thru there occasionally on the bike,nice roads,curves,nice scenery,and not congested with traffic. NC has some really nice places to ride for motorcyclists.

[@karenbrewer5864]

I usually go to the Mast General Store at least once a year and always enjoy it. Love to go in the Fall.

[@billcockerham3263]

I love that area! I discovered Valle Crucis in the days before the internet and gps searching a roadmap for squiggly roads for motorcycle adventures. 194 caught my eye and led me there. I have yet to stop at the church and see the frescoes. Now I have another reason to return. I have to visit the church at the end of the video.

[@steveevansfloridaoutdoors]

like stepping back in time great video y'all

[@mpgarr]

The only Mast General Store location I have had a chance to visit is the one in downtown Knoxville. I'd like to get around to as many as I can one of these days. It sure looks like a fun place to pay a visit. This surely is pretty country in this area. St. John's is a pretty old Episcopal Church. Love following along with you. I have been thinking of doing some sort of KZbin videos myself. If you don't mind, maybe I will copy you and start this winter, taking video tours of the backroads of North Central Florida, through the horsefarms near Ocala where horses that race in The Triple Crown have trained in recent years, the Florida Scrub and swamps, making some stops at some interesting places I like to make pit stops. Take care out there.

[@DChristina]

Good for you- the more videos showing the beauty of these areas, the better for us who can’t travel very much :-)

[@robertgladden9458]

Su'mae! Hello from Wales. Love the video. The Mast General Store is charming. There is a 'Valle Crucis' here in the Principality - a Cistercian monastery founded in 1201 by Madog ap Gruffydd, prince of Powys Fadog. It's just north of Llangollen. 'Valle Crucis' is Latin for the Valley of the Cross - 'Glyn y Croes' in Welsh - apparently named after the 9th century 'Pillar of Eliseg' that stands in the valley. Perhaps the Appalachian valley is named after the Welsh. Maybe there it was settled/founded by Welsh settlers?

[@realappalachia]

That is very possible, in fact, Melody and I both have Welsh heritage so there's a lot of it in the area

[@markisb3585]

I live here in North Carolina. I have always heard of the brown mountain lights. I seen videos on them. Very interesting.

[@Ckswank]

Love the creaky floors!

[@audramatney1148]

Luv the road trips

[@danalynch8889]

I love the old church. When I able to visit relatives in West Virginia I would seek out old churches and take pictures. Unfortunately it was on film and never got the rolls of film developed. Even if they are still viable I checked how much it would cost to develop all the film and way to expensive.

[@beverlyhill6783]

I love the first store the one built with the post office in it - can’t bet it - that’s something you can’t recreate

[@randallringwald5059]

I'm catching up on some of y'alls older videos. This one is near and dear to my heart. Working in Watauga County has the benefits of some beautiful scenery! The Original 1883 Mast General Store is such a treasure. It was also featured in a movie. The 🎥 movie is called Where the Lilies Bloom. It was shot all over Watauga County and Boone, NC. Have you ever seen it? It' a gem! 😊 Happy travels.

[@debbieepperly3821]

OMG! I thought we'd been the only ones who had a two-seater outhouse! The church my family started going to when I was little started out with shavings for a floor & an outhouse for a bathroom! It was renovated several years ago by my brother-in-law before he passed away. My parent's names are now on a pew in the church. Daddy usually went with my brother-in-law to help (or supervise mostly, lol). It's a beautiful church now but I'm not able to get out & go much. I loved seeing the Mast General Store! When I was growing up we had a store very similar on the main Belspring Road. It was ran by a Mr. Thomas. It had the post office inside but it was partitioned off from the store & you went up to a window & asked for your mail. It had all the necessities in it that country folk might need. I remember my niece (only 2 yrs younger than me, my oldest sister was 17 when I was born & got married a month after) & I would ride our bikes or walk to the store. We'd have maybe a quarter each & we'd get a Grapette & a candy bar & some gum! Boy how times have changed! Y'all really take us to some interesting places! I, for one, am truly enjoying all of this! Y'all seem to find the most beautiful places! Just stay safe & God be with y'all!

[@angelahudson1568]

Many years since I've been to the area. I used to do tree work in Boone & Blowing Rock.. and I would sneak off to Valle Cruces. I wanna say that is where my 1st pair of Moccasins came from. Either way; I appreciate your video & I want some Strawberry Rhubarb Preserves. I have seen the Brown Mountain Lights. And I've burnt down on top of a mountain yard down a trail while on a tree job. I walked down a rocky path to the customer's Overlook he had a Panaromic View under glass at the end of the trail. And a bench. Excellent view of Grandfather Mountain, down 181 Lake James and even recognized my hometown during my years in NC-> Morganton, Burke County

[@redalrt4]

Have visited the store, its like stepping back in time with all the old time brands I thought were long gone. A must see if you are in the area. There is a park with a fast flowing stream nearby open to the public for swimming/bathing. Very nice place.

[@Hey_its_Koda]

I been to that store. My ex mother in law lives in banner elk NC. Beautiful place. First time i ever seen christmas tree farms.

[@Julie-ms9ss]

Great video. I enjoyed it all. The store was so cute. It reminds me of the old store down from my grandmas house when I was a small kid. I loved the church. It’d make a beautiful place for a wedding. Those ghost- lights were really neat. Did you guys say you made a separate video of that ? Thank you !

[@carolyns5596]

Love the Mast!

[@NCWoodlandRoamer]

Great video! I love the Boone area so much! Have you guys been to Meat Camp? It's a small community near Boone. Elk Knob State Park is there. Beautiful area, would love to see a video of Meat Camp!

[@realappalachia]

No we havent had the chance to get to meat camp but just for the name alone we'd like to check it out

[@MrGruffteddybear]

So beautiful. I would love to live there. Unfortunately I would have to have a trunk full of Benadryl. I see causes of my seasonal allergies everywhere. The only time I’m safe is winter. On a lighter note, I could spend hours and lots of money in that store.

[@wilderheartland3920]

If you enjoyed the Mast Store, you should watch the movie "Where the Lilies Bloom". They filmed a scene or two there, and the whole film is about a family who lived and wildcrafted in those mountains. I used to play checkers with the elders around the big woodstove in the middle of the store. Alot of years spent there growing up.

[@maggiesmith9083]

Came around the Mountain in Norton Virginia...the mine had lights strung up the entire mountain..looked like Close Encounters...

[@mildredrharmon4032]

I got family all around there! Cove creek, Dutch creek, valle crucis, banner elk, foscoe, 🥰❤️😍🙌🏼 valley of the cross! 🥰🙌🏼❤️ This is literally Gods country….

[@realappalachia]

Amen to that

[@daveperryman291]

Thanks

[@spacemandudley6237]

At 19:58 that must be steps to get on a large horse.....lol😉I didn't see one of my all time favorite candies last time I was there....BB Bats taffy suckers.

[@dudleydorite7678]

I watched deliverance once. But never been there before

[@BFTEgodswarrio5939]

Simply beautiful sure would like a rc cola in a glass bottle. And I have not had a cheerwine in a glass bottle since I was 15 soon to be 40 years ago 😅😢😭😱

[@icxcnikalastname3317]

I was hoping that you two would go into that church but I didn't think you'd even get out of the car. but you did, then as you walked up the church steps, I said it going to be locked and it was. Thankfully, you did get some shots of the interior through the window. Why was the fan on inside when no one was there?

[@realappalachia]

Good question about the fan, no idea

[@christophermaggard9917]

First again! I need to get a life! Great video and content!🐶🐱🐈

[@realappalachia]

Thank you so much lol

[@heatherfulmore3412]

Nice hills

[@jamesmaxwell3247]

Gee, I really like that store... perfect opportunity for 'Smash-n-Grab' oh.. didn't I mention? I'm from California Yah-all. "So goes California, so goes the nation"... "comin to a town near you".

[@beverlyhill6783]

That is a fancy outhouse - they have toilet seats - the ones I’ve used only wooden seats

[@realappalachia]

Very true, I'm sure these seats were added after it was built

[@judypierce7028]

I wondered if you were going to travel to Valle Crucis! Isn't the Mast General Store a great place to visit? Every time I travel to Boone I always go to Valle Crucis. Love that place. P. S. I am glad that thirdary is now part of your vocabulary. Ha!!

[@realappalachia]

We absolutely loved the Mast General Store and, yes, thirdary is an amazing word lol

[@kimberlyisme]

I thought that the lights flickering like that was ball lightning 🤔

[@mikeanderson7165]

I’ve lived in 2 houses growing up with out houses 🤣

[@leontineholmstrom118]

Never heard of ‘Moon Pies’

[@toirmetalshaping]

In the holler

[@viking7560]

The lights, Fox fire?

[@kennymartin379]

Come to blacksburg south carolina

[@karencaddle7288]

I might have missed this, if you mentioned it, but is St. John’s church still an active congregation?

[@spencerforsberg4594]

You forgot to visit the second floor of the store.

[@viking7560]

The mountain lights, Fox fire?

[@realappalachia]

very possible

[@BFTEgodswarrio5939]

Lord Melody is way to young to remember or using outhouses but then I remember the area she grew up in and she may have. 😀

[@marius278]

😀👍🏻

[@GalenKiserrr]

Its Valle like a valley lol it means Valle of the cross

[@stevenbradford6824]

This is closer to Banner Elk right?

[@realappalachia]

Yeah pretty close

[@carriecook2871]

Im curious do you know if the original owner was mennonite or not ?? I know mast is a popular mennonite name here in pa

[@susettesoja1482]

Your driving so darn fast u can't see anything. Hope you get a ticket.

[@wendysmith8365]

PLEASE! Next time get the REAL information about the area you're covering!!! We lived in Valle Crucis for 23 extremely happy years and you've mutilated the names and history! This is a hallowed valley for many of us fortunate enough to be able to live here and be a part of a wonderful place. Currently they are recovering from a hurricane and need peace and understanding.

[@SatoriRose]

Seeing that you guys make so many videos about Appalachia I would have thought you’d have more information about the places you’re making videos about. Mispronouncing the name so badly the entire time and just bumbling like dumb tourists, speeding on a small narrow road where the LIMIT is 25. This was hard to watch. I’m going to watch the others I see you’ve made in my area and hope for better, but I felt the need to say that this is not good content. I feel robbed.

[@realappalachia]

Since you feel obligated to give constructive criticism then I feel compelled to do likewise. Your hairstyle is from circa 1976 (pretty sure I saw it featured in the movie Jaws) and you kinda resemble the lead singer of The Georgia Satellites. I feel cheated by hearing from someone whose opinion I couldn’t possibly care less to learn.