If you want to consider nature tripping to relax and enjoy your weekend, the Altapass Orchard is the place to be. This 100 year old orchard is located at the heart of North Carolina. It is considered as one of the heritage sites for family fun due to its rich history and cultural influence. Spruce Pine NC is along the Blue Ridge Parkway, providing you a scenic drive through the wonderful sights of nature. Visiting the Orchard at Altapass is the right location to create memorable moments with your family and friends.



Going to the east of the orchard, you may find the historical McKinney Gap which is the lowest point of the Blue Ridge Mountains. The Altapass Orchard was surrounded by railroads and tunnels such as the Vance Tunnel and Blue Ridge tunnel. This was the former site of the Clinchfield Railroad which brings constant supply of visitors to the Altapass. Unfortunately, these railroads are now abandoned due to the discontinuation of the railroad service along Clinchfield.

The Altapass Orchard is renowned for its apple orchards. It is situated along the Eastern Continental Drive, which provides excellent climate conditions suitable for growing apples. The local residents of the Orchard at Altapass grow apples as their main source of income. It was once the primary supplier of apples in Spruce Pine delivering a total of 125,000 bushels of delicious apples yearly. The apples are transported to several locations around the country through the Clinchfield Railroad.

As of today, the orchard is the main site for growing a large assortment of apples and at the same time providing traditional entertainment. The Altapass Orchard delivers old-style Appalachian music. With the combination of great hospitality and the essence of the heritage site, the location is highly appreciated by its visitors as one of the great sites to visit during the fall or summer season.

The Altapass Orchard attracts visitors not only from the country but also from different parts of the world. The orchard not only boasts its home grown apples but also its rich cultural heritage. Local residents have different areas of expertise when it comes to music, handicrafts and artistry. If you want to experience the muster of these talented people, you may want to schedule your visit during weekends.

The Altapass Orchard houses which is close to the Penland School of Crafts that produces a large number of talented artists and craftsmen every year. If you are one of the aficionados of the scenic views of the nature, you may want to enroll at Penland. There are several tours scheduled every Thursday in which Penland exhibits some of the exquisite works of its resident artists. Most of the artists move to the area to be a part of the art-friendly scenery and quiet features of the location.

If you want to bring home the art of the local residents of the Altapass Orchard, there are several products available for sale on its shops. You may also want to visit some online shops established by orchard residents that displays the wonderful woodworks, jewelries, cloths and metal crafts produced locally. Photographers may also find the sceneries found on the orchard to be wonderful art spots. Those who are interested in literature would take advantage of the rich cultural stories, humor and philosophies of the local story tellers.